by Krista | Feb 12, 2010 | Fabulous Friday
Last Friday I wrote about planning one thing every week to look forward to, and this week I had a doozy! 🙂 I kept catching myself grinning at work, while puttering away at my chores or out on my walk, simply because today I get to head down south to spend a whole weekend with one of my very besties – Trish!! Her hubby is such a luv, totally cool with us having an utterly girlie weekend of movies, reading, eating whatever suits our fancy, and of course, talking our heads off. 🙂 I can’t wait!! 🙂
My contribution to our feasting is, of course, dessert! 🙂 Inspired by finding my missing old-fashioned jelly molds (yay!), I experimented with another gelatin creation.
Since the latte version was such a hit last week, I had to try it again, this time layered with creamy blackberry. Mmm. It was great using my coppery molds for the first time, and I think the results are so fun – like something out of Dr. Seuss or Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory. 🙂 I thought I got all the gelatin dissolved, but when the finished product shlooped out of the pan (yes, it did make that sound :-)), I realized I did not. It looks like I added toasted coconut to the bottom of the mold. 🙂 We’ll just pretend I meant it to look like that. 🙂
Fake toasted coconut or not, I love the flavors of this dessert. Made with half water and half fat-free evaporated milk, the texture is smooth and creamy, the flavors rich but not too sweet. Yum! 🙂
Last night I thought I was having company, but work intervened at the last moment and they weren’t able to come. Sadness. 🙁 On the bright side, I have a beautifully set table and heaps of fab leftovers so I won’t have to cook for days. HUZZAH! 🙂
I started with Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts. Ever since seeing them on Kevin’s blog the other day, I simply had to try them. So I popped in the next dvd in the Churchill’s Bodyguard series and set to work. 🙂
Ooeee – how I love the caramelized sprouts drenched in the zingy dressing and sprinkled with beautifully browned nuts. Delish. 🙂
I also made one of my favorite salads – green bean with feta and basil. Mums found the recipe years ago and every time I see bundles of fresh green beans I want to make it. The beans are lightly steamed until they’re bright green, immediately dunked in ice water until cool, then drained, dried and mixed with feta cheese, basil and a dijon vinaigrette. Mmm – such perky flavors!
I served both dishes with fresh kalamata olive bread from the bakery, warmed in the oven and dipped in fruity olive oil. Delectable! 🙂
Now I must go pack: flannel pjs and woolly socks, too-tall-stack-of-books-to-read, ipod with old time radio mysteries for the drive down, yup! I’m ready to go! 🙂
Happy Weekend, dear ones! 🙂
Mum’s Green Bean Salad with Feta and Basil
Ingredients:
3 pounds green beans, trimmed
1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
3 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper
1 4-oz package Feta cheese, crumbled or grated
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, cut in ribbons
Directions:
- Place beans in steamer basket over boiling water. Cover and steam 4 minutes or until crisp tender. Plunge in ice water. Drain.
- Whisk together Dijon mustard and next four ingredients in large bowl.
- Add beans, feta and basil. Toss gently to coat.
Balsamic Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts
(From Closet Cooking)
Ingredients:
2 pounds brussels sprouts (trimmed and halved)
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1/4 cup pine nuts slices (toasted)
1/4 cup parmigiano reggiano (grated, optional)
Directions:
- Toss the brussels sprouts in the oil along with the salt and pepper.
- Arrange the brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Roast in a preheated 400F oven until they start to caramelize, flipping them once in between, about 30 minutes.
- Toss the brussels sprouts in the balsamic vinaigrette along with the pine nuts and garnish with the parmigiano reggiano.
Latte Gelatin – posted here🙂
Blackberry Gelatin
Ingredients:
1 box blackberry Jell-O
1 cup boiling water
1 can evaporated milk
Directions:
- Pour Jell-O mix in bowl, add boiling water and stir until granules are dissolved. Let sit until lukewarm.
- Add evaporated milk and stir until incorporated.
- Pour into mold and chill for 2 hours.
by Krista | Feb 11, 2010 | Plucky Thursday
After days of glorious sunshine, our beautiful Washington rain is back, gentle and refreshing. Even though we still have frost on our windshields in the morning, it feels like spring is so close! On my morning break at work, I stroll through the neighborhoods of the little Dutch town where my office is located. Yesterday I meandered through back alleys and down side streets, delighting in budding branches, twittering birds and the first greens of spring. There are actually snowdrops blooming! And crocuses!
Tonight my dear friend Kat is coming over for dinner (yay!!) and because she loves veggies as much as I do, I’ve been plotting some marvy vegetarian dishes such as Kevin’s Balsamic Roasted Brussells Sprouts with Toasted Pine Nuts and Mum’s Green Bean Salad with Feta and Basil. I think Latte Gelatin will do nicely for dessert. 🙂
Today I want to share some of the beauties of rainy Washington. 🙂 There is an abundance of new growth in my heart these days, and these pictures delight my soul and remind me that after a hard winter the healing rains come and what seems dead is in fact green and full of life.
Nooksack River
Aren’t those ferns so vibrant?
I absolutely love this stark bit of moss against those burgundy leaves
The mist over the mountains is pure fairytale and I want to snuggle under a quilt with a fabulous British novel – John Buchan stories would do the trick nicely. 🙂
Thank you for bringing joy to my life, dear ones. 🙂
by Krista | Feb 10, 2010 | Compatriot Wednesday
After missing two weeks of CEC 🙁 I was so happy to be well enough to go this week! YAY! 🙂 Twas so splendid to see all my foodie pals, and hear their familiar banter and teasing.
The theme was Italian, but was adhered to rather loosely. 🙂 I started things off with antipasti of roasted yellow bell peppers, dilled green beans, Kalamata olives, and artichoke hearts.
Darren cubed a selection of fabulous cheeses including one aged with whiskey. Yum!! Selwyn made wonderfully chewy and buttery garlic bread sprinkled with roasted garlic, parsley and parmesan cheese. It disappeared in short order, especially when Deb set out a pan of piping hot pizza dip layered all manner of cheesy, tomatoey ooey, gooey goodness.
The Main Course folks were running late, so the rest of us sipped wine, looked through Darren’s cookbook collection, and visited contentedly. We also plotted ideas for the next few weeks and I’m so excited and can’t wait to share them with you. 🙂
Kat and Cameron arrived and Kat hustled to the stove to make a divinely creamy Alfredo sauce to go with the bits and bobs being assembled in the smoker.
Cameron disappeared into the woods for a bit, returning with just the right branches to impart the best smoke flavor.
Darren wrapped prosciutto around scallops while Cameron shucked oysters, and Kat chopped bell peppers and onions while Toby chopped Italian parsley and Mike stirred Kat’s Alfredo sauce.
Kristin and Noah arrived with beaming smiles and bottles of Italian wine and Selwyn served us Chicken Parmesan bites – yummy little nibbles with a crispy, cracker coating topped with tomato sauce and provolone.
Then the back door opened and Cameron entered bearing platters. The Main Feast was ready! Smoked salmon drizzled with Alfredo sauce, tender scallops with salty prosciutto, oysters on the half shell, smoky and briny, and shiny smoked vegetables providing a sweet balance.
It’s good to be back. 🙂
Deborah’s Hot Pizza Dip
(From Pampered Chef)
Ingredients:
1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened
1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
3/4 cup parmesan cheese
1 8-ounce can pizza sauce
2 Tbsp green pepper, chopped
2 Tbsp green onion, sliced
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Combine cream cheese and Italian seasoning and spread into an 8″ glass pan.
- In a small bowl combine mozzarella and parmesan. Sprinkle 1/2 on top of the cream cheese. Spread pizza sauce over the cheese mixture. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Top with bell pepper and green onion.
- Bake for 15-18 minutes.
- Serve with French bread or fresh vegetable dippers
Selwyn’s Chicken Parmesan Bites
Ingredients:
4 Chicken Breasts
Pasta Sauce, Sliced Provolone
2 eggs
1 cup breading of your choice (in this case I used about a cup of crushed gluten free crackers)
1 tsp of granulated garlic
1 tsp of Italian seasoning
1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan
Directions:
- Cut the chicken into half dollar size pieces.
- Dip in egg then breading.
- Place on baking sheet and cook at 350 for 10 minutes on one side. Turn pieces over, cook another 10 minutes.
- Top with a tsp of pasta sauce and a quarter of a slice of provolone and broil until you get a nice golden brown color on top.
by Krista | Feb 9, 2010 | Spring
Our exploration of the Old Fort in Corfu, Greece was exhilarating, beautiful, and roasting hot! As we clambered down steep wooden steps and entered the cobbled tunnel leading out we groaned with joy as great gusts of cold sea air whistled through the tunnel cooling us off deliciously.
We left the gorgeous views of ocean and town and entered the labyrinthine streets of Old Town Corfu.
As we wandered, we found lovely shops filled with soft pashminas, gorgeous hand-crafted jewelry, and exquisite antiques. Soon we were famished and parched and ready for a break. We found the perfect respite in a bustling little cafe set under an arbor of vines.
As we nibbled on fresh bread dipped in olive oil – is there any better way to start a meal? – we perused the menus handed to us by our jovial and hilarious elderly waiter.
I always love looking at the English version of menus while traveling. There’s always something lost in translation that amuses me. Impregnanted sardines? I think I’ll pass. 🙂
I settled on marinated, grilled chicken and pepper skewers on a bed of rice with heavenly crispy, fried potatoes and a big bottle of water.
The view from our table.
We thoroughly enjoyed our leisurely lunch where we were highly entertained by the colorful characters around us:
This guy talked on his cell phone in this posture the entire time – flexing his muscles for anyone who might be watching. We were watching. And laughing. 🙂
And these chaps who we are QUITE certain were mafia. 🙂 They sat facing the doorway for hours, smoking, drinking copious amounts of wine and an array of folks would wander in to confer with them in hushed or animated fashion. We had grand fun making up stories about them. 🙂
Then we were off for more exploring, eventually making our way over to the New Fort. But I’ll have to share that with you next week or I shall be late for work! 🙂
by Krista | Feb 8, 2010 | Bootstrap Monday
Good morning! 🙂 I am happy to report that I’m feeling better than I have in WEEKS! With rest, sunshine, and more rest, pain has ebbed and I’m so very grateful. 🙂
It was a lovely weekend, starting with Foyle’s War with Mike and Toby at Toby’s place. He made us all sorts of goodies – popcorn, chips and pico de gallo, but my favorite were oven roasted carrot chips with dill. Delish! Even though I’ve seen all the episodes of Foyle’s War, I can never remember whodunnit! It’s like I’m watching a new movie every time, and I’m not complaining one bit. 🙂
Saturday morning dawned beautifully sunny and after a lovely sleep in I trundled out to my sunshiny kitchen for breakfast. First I juiced a bowl of apples with a pile of grated ginger. Mmm, so fresh and tart.
Thus fortified I bustled about organizing my pantry, doing laundry and washing dishes until I was good and ravenous. Then I gathered ingredients for my absolute favorite hot cereal. Millet porridge with ground almonds, unsweetened coconut and dates. It’s my Mum’s invention and I love it!
Mixed with almond milk, honey and topped with slivered almonds, it’s a creamy, satisfying bowl of goodness.
By this time the afternoon sun was blazing through my windows, so I opened my door, spread a blanket on the floor and stretched out in the doorway with a good book. Protected from the icy wind all I felt was glorious warmth and I basked in it like a lazy cat, soaking up those healing rays, reading happily and eventually napping. Bliss. 🙂
Late afternoon I got inspired to try something I’ve been wanting to try for ages: molded gelatin. Of course I’ve made Jell-O salads and such, but these are different. I found them in an old Victoria magazine with a feature on banquets of old where chefs would create glistening molded jellies in wonderful shapes, colors and flavors.
The first one I tried was rich and creamy, two layers of almond gelatin sandwiching a thick, chocolatey latte one. Mmm! I did this in a Nordicware Bundt pan and served it in great quivery wedges.
Although the taste was great, the almond layers were softer than I would’ve liked (hence the photo not showing the mushed bottom :-)), and next time I will add more gelatin.
For the next batch I layered hibiscus gelatin with almond, and did mini ones in lovely molded muffin tins.
They were light and fruity, with delicate flavors that made me think of balmy summer mornings.
One day I will try the stunning, towering confections like they had in the magazine, but today I’m content with my little gelatin creations. 🙂
Sunday morning my friend Rose gave me a bouquet of pussy willows! (Thank you!!) I learned that you should never, ever, ever put them in water. If you don’t, they last for simply ages. 🙂
Sunday afternoon my pal Johanna did my taxes (THANK YOU!!!) and I made dinner for her and her man. I do love bartering. 🙂 Then we headed over to Mum and Dad’s for birthday cake (Happy Birthday, Johanna!!) and a good ol’ visit. After they left, Dad watched The Game and Mum and I cozied ourselves in the back room and had our own little movie day watching Foyle’s War and Campion whilst sipping Aussie wine and nibbling on Fritos, dark chocolate mint patties and crescent-roll-wrapped-smokies with sweet hot mustard. Clearly we were on a health food kick. 😉
I’m so grateful for such a good weekend, a grand mix of people and solitude, rest and accomplishment, sunshine and rain. 🙂
Millet Porridge
(From Mums)
1 cup millet
4 cups water
3 dates, chopped
1/4 cup almonds
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
Directions:
- Combine millet and water in saucepan. Bring to boil then lower heat and simmer 40-45 minutes.
- In food processor blend almonds, coconut and dates.
- Stir everything together and serve with almond milk and honey or maple syrup.
Almond Jelly
(From Lynn Siy)
Ingredients:
2 pkgs. unflavored gelatin
1 cup cold water
1/2 cup sugar
2 1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. almond extract
Directions:
- Sprinkle gelatin on cold water in a pot. Put on medium heat.
- Stir constantly until dissolved.
- Add 1 cup sugar, stir to dissolve. Remove from heat.
- Add almond flavoring to the milk and pour into the gelatin mix. Stir to blend.
- Pour into 9″ square glass pan and put in fridge to set.
Latte Jelly
(From recipezaar)
Ingredients:
1/2 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon gelatin
1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
1 tablespoon cocoa
1/2 cup sugar
375 ml ca evaporated milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Directions:
- Pour boiling water over gelatine in heatproof bowl.
- Stir till dissolved.
- Put coffee and cocoa in saucepan.
- Add sugar and milk.
- Stir over low heat till coffee is dissolved and mixture is hot but not boiling.
- Remove pan from heat, coll till lukewarm.
- Stir in gelatine mixture and vanilla.
- Pour mixture into 4 cup oiled mould.
- Refrigerate for at least 4 hours till firm.
- When ready to serve, dip base of mould into hot water then invert onto plate.
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