12/06 i have no clue how i came across this recipe.....maybe in one of my searches for a low carb meal? all the same, it looked tasty and i was wanting something lighter for dinner. this is a baked nantucket cod fillet. tender cod topped with lemon juice, paprika, salt and pepper. then covered with tomato slices and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese. it was just enough cheese to not overpower the fish, but added a wonderful taste and texture when it melted into the tomatoes. i served it with a side of asparagus for a lighter meal!
12/07 i met some friends for happy hour at "barrel and bushel" tonight. it has the very trendy decor that seems to be popping up everywhere. blonde wood interior. exposed incandescent lightbulb. industrial fixtures. and a TON of craft beers, wines and bourbons! they also had a wonderful menu with twists on classic american foods. i had the chorizo sliders and cheesy jalapeño tater tots. and with the bar facing a seasonal out door ice rink? it made for some excellent people watching as well!
http://barrelandbushel.com
12/08 i've opened up the freezer to pull the hidden leftovers from thanksgiving. what to do with all that ham? being an ever-devote fritter fan, i decided to go through my tried and true fritter recipes and find one that would marry well with some diced ham. i opted for the cauliflower cheddar fritters. and it was the right choice! some shredded sharp cheddar and a little ground mustard in the mix made them a perfect vehicle for the sweet and tender ham. for a side i wilted some kale with caramelized onions.
*side note-these were even better the next day warmed up for breakfast and topped with a poached egg!
12/09 still digging through my leftovers, i stumbled upon the mashed potatoes. i was fondly reminded of having a wonderful dish of beef stroganoff served on a bed of fluffy mashed potatoes and knew that was the next meal to make! stroganoff is so easy, and so tasty! pan cooked pieces of steak simmered in a sauce of beef broth and sour cream. and never leave out the best part of the dish....the mushrooms!! even if you aren't a fan of mushrooms, they work wonders to add a rich earthy depth to the creamy sauce.
12/10 tonight's meal is a slight variation on one of the very first meals i taught myself to make. in one of my mom's cookbooks i saw a recipe for "macadamia encrusted chicken with orange sauce". i admit, it took a few tries before i really figured out what reductions sauces were all about. and very happy i did!!! the sauce is a equal parts chicken broth and orange juice reduced down to a glaze, and thickened slightly with a pat of butter. tonight i added thai pepper sauce and a dash of soy sauce to give it a little kick. over the years i found that i actually prefer pecans to macadamia nuts in this recipe. they're easier to find, cheaper and less of a hassle to chop! they're mixed with a few breadcrumbs, and used to coat chicken breasts that have been coated in beaten egg. i've cooked them in a pan, and also baked them in the oven. both turned out really tasty, but if you cook them in the pan? you can use the same pan to cook the sauce, and get all those lovely drippings!!!
12/11 so many leftover mashed potatoes!! i realize the irish aren't known for their cuisine. but they do know their way around a spud. "colcannon" is basically mashed potatoes mixed with your green of choice (kale, cabbage, swiss chard). and often colcannon is mixed with a little flour and beaten egg then formed into cakes and pan fried. which, yes, makes it a type of fritter!!! they are wonderful on their own. but they also serve as a wonderful base to top with fresh seafood. tonight i picked up a salmon fillet and oven baked it to go with my colcannon cakes!
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