SOUTHERN MACARONI SALAD WITH SWEET DILL PICKLES  

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OK, I had never (to the best of my knowledge) tasted a sweet pickle before making this salad. I’m a dill and bread and butter pickle gal. Well, that is, until I offered to make one of the salads for Duck Fest. Allow me to describe “Duck Fest”. An annual get-together for friends to eat duck (this time duck mousse, duck quesadillas, duck tenders, 5 salads, and the best cake you ever tasted).

This was this year’s Duck Fest cake. Amazing to look at, and irresistibly delicious. Part of the cake was chocolate and the other white cake with a blueberry filling. Yum to the max!

To this event, each person is asked to bring a “duck” gift wrapped in a brown paper bag. Then it’s a regular white elephant gift exchange where guests exchange gifts that are impractical or humorous. The goal is to have fun, not to get a valuable gift. Players then draw numbers and take turns picking a gift from the pile. Players can also steal a gift that another player has opened. But hosts Mark and Vicki have limited the “steals” to only one. Good thinking! Otherwise, it’s just too chaotic. (And presently, we all have enough “chaotic” in our lives.)  Anyway, it’s a fun event. And all of us who are lucky enough to be invited always have a great time. And thank you Mark and Vicki for yet another wonderful afternoon of friends, fun, and wonderful food. But back to this salad.

Vicki gave me the recipe from the foodiecrush.com site and provided the ingredients. She had made a couple of changes to the recipe herself, but I told her I would follow the recipe closely. Which I did. Almost. But I have been experiencing more and more how raw onions often have a sharp taste. So, soaking cut onions in ice water that you plan to serve raw significantly reduces the strong, pungent flavor by leaching out the sulfur compounds responsible for the sharp taste. So, that’s what I did. I also may have inadvertently added a bit more chopped sweet pickle to the mix. My bad!

But let me make this perfectly clear. This recipe makes for one delicious macaroni salad. It’s easy to prepare. It should be made ahead. And it feeds an army. Although the recipe calls for hard boiled eggs, I personally think they could be left out and no one would know the difference. And eggs, well, they’re a bit pricy now. So, forget the eggs if you must and spend those extra dollars on good quality pasta instead. Using good quality pasta and cooking it al denté is the key to making any macaroni salad better.

The other tiny, itsy-bitsy modification I made was what I always do when preparing salad ahead of time. I take the salad out of the fridge before serving it, stir it, taste it, and if not perfect, I figure out what is needed to make it better. In this case, the salad was a bit dry, and it needed just a bit more pickle flavor. So, I made a bit more dressing and chopped up a couple more pickles.  

I do this every time I serve a salad that has been happily residing in my fridge overnight. And why I never serve salad to guests in the original mixing bowl. And yes, it means one more bowl to wash. But we all eat with our eyes first. And a messy bowl of salad is not as appealing as one served in a nice bowl with a bit of something decorating the surface.

Well, that’s it for today. I’m just about finished with Louise Penny’s 2024 book entitled The Grey Wolf set once again in and around the Québec village of Three Pines. Great writing as always. So, I recommend you read this book. And make this salad. You will not be disappointed. You can even eat this salad while reading this book. A two thumbs up if ever there was one!

And as always, peace and love to all.  

1 lb. sm. tube shaped pasta like ditalini or tubetti (small shells or small elbow macaroni works too)

⅓ red onion, finely minced

2 celery ribs, diced (leaves too) 

1 red bell pepper, small dice

1 yellow or orange bell pepper, small dice

 heaping ½ c. chopped sweet pickles (sweet gherkins) 

1 c. mayonnaise

¼ c. plus 1 tablespoon sweet pickle juice

2 tsp. granulated sugar

1½ T. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. kosher salt, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

3 hard-boiled eggs, diced, opt.

1-2 T. chopped fresh parsley, opt.

Cook the pasta in salted water until al denté. Drain in a colander and rinse under cold water until the pasta is cool to the touch. Shake the colander to drain away as much pasta cooking water as possible. While the pasta sits, toss it occasionally with clean hands. (I drain the pasta and just leave it sitting in the colander in my sink while I chop the veggies and do all the other prep work.)

Place the finely minced red onion in a bowl with ice water. Set aside for about 20 minutes before draining. Dry the minced onion in a paper towel.  

Place the cut celery, minced red and yellow bell peppers, chopped sweet pickles, and onion in a large mixing bowl.  

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the mayo, pickle juice, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper together.

Add the dressing to the veggie mixture along with the drained pasta and chopped hard boiled eggs. Stir carefully so as not to break up the chopped hard-boiled eggs.

Taste and adjust seasoning.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour, but even better if refrigerated overnight.

Before serving, especially if the salad has been refrigerated overnight, stir the salad and if it seems a bit dry, make just ⅓-½ cup more dressing (rough estimate of amounts) and ⅓ cup more minced pickles and add them to the mix. Stir the salad again, taste, and add salt and/or pepper as needed.

Transfer the salad to a nice salad bowl and sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley.

Best when allowed to be unrefrigerated for about an hour before serving.   

SPÄTZLE (GERMAN EGG NOODLES)

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Spätzle in a creamy garlic sauce

My new Spätzle maker

And yes, the correct spelling of the German word for this egg noodle is “Spätzle” with an Umlaut (ä). Pronounced schpehtz-luh. When anglicized the spelling becomes “spaetzle”. (Your German lesson for today.)

Well, howdy everyone. I’m going to keep this post light and breezy today. I am tired of politics and the crazy that has taken place the last three weeks or so. So, to save my sanity, I’m only going to write about food and the book I just finished.

As for food, I had a blast yesterday making spätzle for the first time. Well, maybe “blast” is too strong a word. Because, not knowing what the heck I was doing, and using a spätzle maker (picture above) for the first time, I managed to get about 14 bowls, pots, cooking utensils, etc. dirty in the process of making this recipe. And because cooking the noodles is a last-minute thing, all the dirty pot, pans, etc. were on Mr. C. since he routinely has dish washing detail after dinner.   

Usually, I can wash the prep bowls, etc. as I go. So, next time, I hope I can be a bit more efficient. And you can bet your bottom dollar there will be a next time. The spätzle were delicious.

But as I stated under the picture, next time I won’t try to be so fancy. I will merely fry them in a little butter and call it good.

So, next time you need egg noodles as a base for some kind of heavenly meat with gravy or sauce entrée, or in a soup or stew, or any time an egg noodle would be perfect, I suggest you make a batch of these babies. They are a bit chewy, which is wonderful. They come out perfectly al dente. And isn’t that pasta perfection!

Now, about the book I just finished. The Paris Library, written by Janet Skeslien Charles is set in Paris, beginning in 1939 and Montana, beginning in 1983. I loved this book. It was hard to read because of all the hardship caused by the Nazis in occupied France, but it was well worth reading. Great writing and the story was very intriguing.

I think one of the things I like best about reading books is that I learn so much history as I live vicariously through the characters. I feel their pain, I rejoice in their accomplishments, and I often relate to their fears and insecurities.

And a book about libraries? How could I not love a book about libraries?

As a young girl, I was lucky enough to have a small branch of the King County library system in my neighborhood. Close enough to get there by bicycle in about 5 minutes. And I clearly remember the day the librarian informed me that I had basically read all the age-appropriate books this tiny library had to offer. I was crushed. Then she smiled at me and said, “but I’m going to recommend some books that might be a little over-your head, but I feel you’re ready for the challenge”. (Or words to that effect.) I’ve never forgotten that simple act of kindness. It made a huge impact on my life. Her fearless refusal to let a little girl down taught me a lot about how one person can make a difference. She truly won my heart that day. I only wish I could tell her that I’m still an avid reader. But I’m sure by now she is in heaven sitting in a comfortable chair, in front of a fire, with a cat on her lap, sipping a cup of tea, while reading a book. At least, that is what I hope for her.

Actually, that is my hope for each of you too. Well, maybe not the already in heaven part. Let’s wait a while on that!

But until then, peace and love to all.

2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed, plus more if needed   

1 tsp. kosher salt

4 lg. eggs

scant ½ c. whole milk, or more as needed   

Place the flour and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Use your dough hook to combine. Add eggs, then milk, starting with slightly less and adding more milk as needed. Or more flour if the dough is too runny. It is the right consistency if it pulls away from the edges of the bowl as you mix. If the dough is too thin, the dumplings won’t form properly. You’ll need to add a tablespoon of flour at a time until the right consistency is met. If the dough is too thick, you’ll struggle to get it through the spaetzle maker holes.  

Knead the dough (number 2 setting) for a few minutes. Then using a heavy rubber spatula, pull the dough away from the sides of the mixing bowl. This pulling action should look like the dough would rather stick to the sides but is willing to come reluctantly towards the middle of the bowl in one long wide sheet.  

Bring at least 2 quarts of lightly salted water to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Using a spätzle maker of your choice, press the noodles into the simmering water and cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until the noodles float to the top. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the noodles to a large colander set in an appropriately sized bowl to drain.

Use in any recipe that contains pasta, in place of mashed potatoes or rice, and in your favorite soups or stews. As a simple side dish, add it to a pan with a bit of butter and fry until it is heated through and beginning to brown a bit. Or use one of your favorite pasta sauces.  

And yes, spätzle can be made ahead and stored in the fridge and then reheated.  

GROUND BEEF AND ITALIAN SAUSAGE MEATLOAF  

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Some days, all I want is comfort food. So, yesterday I decided to make meatloaf. But I didn’t have any regular bulk pork sausage in the freezer. What I did have, however, was some bulk sweet Italian sausage. OK, that’ll do! And then, why not look for a new recipe? (My favorite thing to do!) And what I found, and only slightly modified, was this recipe on the bellyful.net site.

The meatloaf was so delicious! So, I knew I just had to share this recipe with you. I served it with baked gold potatoes and Simple Oven Roasted Eggplant Chunks. And if you haven’t tried this eggplant preparation yet, WHAT IN HECK ARE YOU WAITING FOR? Mr. C. commented again last night how much he liked the eggplant. And not every veggie gets that kind of review from this quasi-veggie lover!

Well, that’s it for today. I don’t even have a book review for you today because I have been continuing to read Cara Black books, and I’ve told you how fun her books are already. But soon I will be telling you all about the current book I am reading, written by Janet Skeslien Charles, a new author to me. The book is entitled The Paris Library. Set in Paris, 1939 and Montana, 1983. I’m almost finished with the book, so you don’t have long to wait for my review. (Spoiler alert. It’s going to be a good review.)

And there will be no political commentary today. I’ve been writing so much lately that I’m totally burned out on the subject. (And aren’t we all!)

So, as always, peace and love to all.            

For the meatloaf:

½ onion, finely minced

3 cloves garlic, minced

3 T. finely chopped parsley

2 lg. eggs, lightly beaten

3 T. ketchup

¾ c. Italian breadcrumbs

⅓ c. whole milk

¼ c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1½ tsp. dried Italian seasoning

1 tsp. kosher salt

½ tsp. paprika

freshly ground black pepper

1 lb. sweet Italian sausage

1 lb. lean ground beef 

Stir the onion, garlic, parsley, eggs, ketchup, breadcrumbs, milk, Parmesan cheese, W. sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, paprika, and black pepper together in a large mixing bowl. Add the Italian sausage and mix it into the other ingredients. (I use a serving fork for this. It does a great job.) When the Italian sausage is well dispersed, stir in the ground beef.

Form the meat mixture into 2 football shaped flat loaves in a 9×13-inch baking pan. Bake in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 45-minutes. Remove from oven and slather with the meatloaf sauce.

Return to oven for an additional 15-20 minutes or until the internal temperature of the meatloaf reaches at least 160 degrees.

Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Serve with mashed, baked, or roasted potatoes and a veggie or salad.  

For the meatloaf sauce:

½ c. ketchup

¼ c. brown sugar  

½ tsp. granulated garlic

½ tsp. granulated onion

pinch seasoned salt

freshly ground black pepper

In a small bowl, stir all the ingredients together.

CANNELLINI BEAN, SMOKED HAM HOCK, AND NAPA CABBAGE SOUP

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Believe it or not, I haven’t posted a recipe for soup for about 3 weeks.  Now, that has got to be a first, at least for February, which in my estimation should actually be renamed Soupuary! I mean really, if Donald is bent on renaming mountains and bodies of water, why not let Donnie rename some of the months of the year too. Here are my suggestions. And remember, you read it here first!

January – Attackuary in honor of January 6th, 2021, and all the “patriots” who were recently pardoned who were only doing their civic duty by answering the call to action demanding an end to the “big steal”.  

February – as stated above

March – MarchICE in honor of all the great “ICE” men and women.

BTW: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was formed to protect the United States by enforcing immigration laws and investigating crimes. ICE’s mission was to safeguard national security and public safety. However, the mission statement has changed. Past administrations have stated that ICE would mainly focus on criminals. But a key issue to watch is how the term “criminal” is now defined. White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said this week that the administration sees all undocumented immigrants as “criminals”.

April – Apereal for all the fine men and women who respect the ideal that only white people have the intelligence and moxy to make America (uh-MER-uh-kuh) great again.

May – This month name will remain the same. But now defined as (May everyone who has ever questioned the wisdom and foresight of the new administration be smitten with the bird flu that originated in Biden’s basement!)

June – Junior in honor of Donald Jr. And what a great guy he turned out to be! Donald Trump Jr has described his father as “an artist with real estate”. And made the case for the Trump Organization and for his dad, that he was a “genius”. Of course, a month should be named after him! It’s getting harder and harder to get someone to lick your boots!  

July – Julep instead of suggesting, “let them eat cake” as Marie Antoinette is attributed with responding when being told that her subjects had no bread, it would be more appropriate for the current administration to say instead – let them drink Juleps! Since like Marie, our current leader appears to be as oblivious to the poverty rate in our country, especially in some of our southern states, as she was. So, you’ all – drink up. There isn’t anything a good Julep can’t fix! (Except of course, pay the rent or put food on the table for your kids. But then, no problem, the kidlets will get food at school. Oops, no. Sorry, not anymore! Free lunches for children – cancelled!)  

August – Donald will leave the name of this month unchanged. Because the meaning of “august” is respected and impressive. But now in the dictionary there will be a new synonym – worthy of being honored; entitled to honor and respect. adjective. of or befitting a lord. “of august lineage” synonyms: grand, lordly, Donald T.

September – Collapse since September is often referred to as fall, and the collapse or fall of democracy is the end goal of the present administration, it only makes sense to change the name to fit the reality!

October – Harvest a new name for this 10th month of the year to entice all of our hard living, employment hesitant, gun toting, cigarette smoking, high school dropouts, preferably with a felony count or two, a chance to be the very best farm workers ever. Because of course they have only been holding back from taking these jobs out of a sense of charity. But now, they will all be just excited as hell to take the place of undocumented workers and show them how a real true American man performs a job. Yeah team!

November – Thanks A big “thanks” to celebrate all the faithful people who voted for the present administration without using their brain. And we, the current leaders, are especially grateful to those of you who are well educated. Because if we can fool you, then the sky’s the limit. (Unless it’s sky owned by Elon!) So, forget what we promised during the presidential campaign. Forget that we plan to destroy democracy in the name of God. And guys, forget how we are diminishing the rights of your wife, daughter, mother, sister. How, by our actions, we are informing everyone of color, different religious beliefs, LGBT, etc. that we are the master race. Heil Elon! So, again, thanks for your unfounded and unequivocal support. You’ve made us what we are today.   

December – Christ because every American must now profess to being a Christian. To tack up the 10 Commandments in every school room. And as Christians always supporting real inclusion and the importance of love, compassion, and helping others through our actions and words. And as Christians, showing love to our neighbors as ourselves. Or as Christians, welcoming all people into our churches, regardless of their background, beliefs, or differences. But really, surely Christ didn’t mean everyone! What Christ probably meant, was that as good Christians, we were allowed to pick and choose the commandments that meet our needs and beliefs. And to learn to love green Jello and tuna casserole.

Well, that pretty much sums up the whole year at a glance. And before you think I might be anti-Christian, let me be perfectly clear. I was raised in a Christian home. Although I don’t go to church any longer, I believe in being the best person I know how to be. And the real Christians I know, and love, are kind, compassionate, loving, and caring people. And yes, there is a difference between people who love the Lord, and those who give Christianity lip service. They may be fooling themselves, but they are not fooling me. Christ was not discriminatory. He loved everyone equally. And if any of what I have written, makes you mad. Good. Frequent another site.     

And I know, Soupuary will never fly. Not political enough! But I don’t give a flying fig! I like it.

And I suppose before I let you go, I should say something about this soup. It’s easy to make, reasonably inexpensive, and mighty darn tasty. Enough said!

Peace and love to all.  

2 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. unsalted butter

1 lg. onion, diced

2 med. carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced (plus leaves)

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 lg. smoked ham hock

½ tsp. dried thyme

1 lg. bay leaf (or 2 small)

½ tsp. seasoned salt

¼ tsp. celery salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 tsp. dried parsley

tiny pinch crushed red pepper flakes

8 c. veggie stock (I use 8 cups water and 6 tsp. Better Than Bouillon Veggie base)

1½ c. dried cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

4 c. chopped napa cabbage

1 T. fresh lemon juice

Heat the olive oil and butter in a large, covered soup pot or Dutch oven. Sauté the onion, carrots, and celery until the onion is soft. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add the ham hock, thyme, bay leaf, seasoned salt, celery salt, black pepper, parsley, crushed red pepper flakes, veggie stock, and cannellini beans.

Bring to boil, reduce heat, cover, and simmer until beans are tender (about 2 hours).

Remove the lid and add the cabbage.

Cover the pot and continue to cook until the cabbage has softened, about 10 minutes. Add lemon juice, taste, and adjust seasoning.

Garlic bread makes for a nice side.

KANTO STYLE SUKIYAKI

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How do I love thee? (Sukiyaki) Let me count the ways! I love the veggies, the mushrooms, the tofu, the noodles, the beef, and of course the broth. In fact, I love every ingredient in this Japanese hot pot dish. Everything! But before I go any further, I should explain the difference between the two main ways Sukiyaki is prepared and presented in Japan.

In Japan there are two main styles of sukiyaki preparation. Kanto (Tokyo) style of Eastern Japan and Kansai (Osaka) style of Western Japan. Kanto style sukiyaki is prepared by heating sukiyaki sauce (warishita) in a pot before pouring the sauce over the veggies and meat and cooking them all together. Kansai style sukiyaki is eaten in stages. The beef is first seared in the pot and then sprinkled with sugar. Then the warishita is added to the pot along with the other ingredients. Since I prefer my sukiyaki Kanto style, that’s what you get today.   

When I was first learning to cook in 1964, my beloved Betty Crocker cookbook (1961 First Edition, Third Printing) was given to me by my Aunt Ruth (mom’s sister).

As a new bride I faithfully perused Betty’s recipes almost every day. But until I started working at the International Branch of Seafirst Bank in January of 1970, I paid no attention to the Sukiyaki recipe in my cherished BC cookbook.

But at work, surrounded by Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, black, one woman from England, a Brooklynite, and a few of us white folks thrown in for diversity’s sake, I learned to love all kinds of ethnic food, including of course, Asian cuisine. In fact, I went for Asian food like a moth to a candle. I was instantly smitten, and even after decades of making food from all over the world (American style), I never lost my love for Asian Inspired Dishes. Which BTW, you can find all my Asian inspired recipes under Categories, right hand column on this site.  

And never mind I’m 68% more Neanderthal than the average Neanderthal. And almost every gene in my body was lovingly inherited from my ancestors centered around Strasbourg (now part of France, but part of Germany at times). Mother French/German, father Swiss French. Last names like Amann, Kléber, and Merz.

But ethnicity apparently had nothing to do with my taste buds. Because culinarily speaking, I am half Italian and half American Chinese/Japanese. I can’t help this. Italian food rocks me to sleep, while Asian food wakes me up.

That is what is so exciting about living and being a cook in an immigrant nation. All the diversity of dishes that include unique and different ingredients create new and exciting flavors and textures for all of us to enjoy. We are so lucky. And this circumstance is never clearer to me than when I travel overseas.

As much as I adore Italian food, when I’m in Italy, by about the second week, I begin to crave Chinese or Mexican or Greek food. My mouth yearns for a change because it has become accustomed to the variety of flavors only a melting-pot nation can provide.

So, although I promised myself, I would stop writing about politics, I can’t help but remind all of us, me included, how lucky we are to live in a country that until recently, took pride in our diversity. We are, and have always been, an immigrant nation. Unless of course, you are a native American or your ancestors were brought here as slaves. (But I can’t go in that direction, or I will totally come unglued.)

And of course, many of you are as upset as I am about what is happening to our country. All we can do is be kind to each other and hope and pray that our elected officials, both democrats and republicans, can get their collective act together and stop the crazy.

So, stay positive, stay informed, take care of yourself and your loved ones, and don’t give up. We are well and truly all in this together.

Peace and love to all.

1 c. mirin

¼ c. water

¾ c. low sodium tamari or low sodium soy sauce   

½ sm. onion, halved and thinly sliced

½-¾ lb. fresh mushrooms (your choice), sliced

4 c. roughly chopped napa cabbage

6 green onions, cut into 1-inch lengths diagonally

1 bunch (5-6 oz.) Japanese noodles (udon, somen, or rice vermicelli), cooked and drained

1 pkg. extra firm tofu, baked (see recipe for Baked Marinated Tofu below)  

½ lb. marbled beef, cut into very thin slices (see how below)

steamed rice, opt.

Bring the mirin, water, and tamari or soy sauce to a boil in a small saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Place the onion, mushrooms, cabbage, and green onions in a large, covered skillet (keep the veggies separated) and pour the mirin sauce over the veggies. Add the cooked noodles and baked tofu.

Cover, bring to boil, and cook for 2 minutes. Remove the lid and simmer until all ingredients are softened. Add the meat and cook only until it starts turning from red to partially brown.

Place a bit of rice in individual soup bowls. Add a bit of each veggie, cooked meat, and noodles to the bowl. Add broth.

Serve hot.

For the Baked Marinated Tofu:

2 T. tamari or soy sauce  

1 T. toasted sesame oil

¼ tsp. granulated garlic

1 pkg. (10.5 oz.) extra firm tofu, cut into ¾-inch cubes  

Combine the tamari, sesame oil, and granulated garlic in a large, flat-bottomed dish. Place the cut tofu in the dish, and using your fingers, turn the cubes until all sides of the tofu cubes have been introduced to the liquid. Allow the cubes to marinate covered in your refrigerator for at least 1 hour, turning the cubes periodically.

Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Pick the tofu out of the marinade and place the cubes on the baking pan. (Any leftover marinade can be added to the mirin mixture.)

Bake the marinated tofu cubes in a pre-heated 425-degree oven for about 25 minutes, turning after 15 minutes.

Remove from the oven and set aside until needed.

How: Place the meat in freezer just until it starts to get hard. Then remove from freezer and slice the meat as thinly as possible.

ITALIAN SALAD WITH HOMEMADE CROUTONS   

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I never cease to be amazed at how many ways there are to build a green salad. And how many different ingredients can be used to entice every member of a family to look forward to the salad portion of their meal. I personally love good salads. Especially if someone else builds them. But alas, that is not the story of my life. I am the salad maker unless of course I am dining at a relative or friend’s home, or at a restaurant.

So, periodically I go online to see what other cooks are inventing. Well, I found this recipe on the gimmesomeoven.com site. And this recipe makes for one absolutely marvelous salad. I made a few very small changes, but the hard work was all Ali’s inspiration. BTW – gimmesomeoven.com is a great cooking site. Check it out!

It all started because I plan to feature Italian food at our next JazzVox concert. And because I don’t want our guests to get bored with my food, I try to mix things up as much as possible.

Unlike many times when my unsuspecting guests are forced to eat food that has not previously been prepared and tested in my kitchen, I couldn’t wait. So, I made this salad for dinner the other evening and Mr. C. and I were both thrilled with the result. As I’m sure you will be too when you prepare this salad for your family and friends.

So, if you too love a fabulous green salad, this is the recipe for you. And for all of you out there who love main course salads, I think adding any kind of cooked meat or seafood would work very well with all the other ingredients.  

Now, would young children like this salad? Probably not. Would teenagers go for this salad? I believe they would. Because I’m sure my kids would have enjoyed eating this salad when they were in their teens. But then they had been exposed to curries, exotic soups, Chinese and Japanese dishes, etc. from a fairly young age.

By the time they were teenagers, they were conditioned to eat, or at least try, whatever was set in front of them. It was either that or starve! Just kidding. I was not one of those parents who forced their children to eat everything on their plate. They had to try everything. But they were not required to eat something they didn’t like. I mean really. Who do you know that loves every dish put in front of them? My kids were encouraged to develop a discerning palate. To know and recognize that some food preparations are just tastier than others. Or if a certain flavor just didn’t work for them, they didn’t have to partake. Like with me and cilantro. Yikes! Who washed this stuff in soap? And as with most of us, our tastes evolve over time. Why would I have expected my children to be any different than I was when I was young? Liver when I was young – yuck. Liver now – yum!  

And I must say, my three daughters all learned on their own how to prepare great tasting food. My son too! But each in their own way. And not because I forced them to cook while they were still living at home. Or learn from me. I knew that at some point as adults they would get hungry. And figure out, as I did, that if I wanted to eat good food, I better jolly well learn how to make it myself! So, thank you again “Betty Crocker” and the people at Better Homes and Gardens for teaching me how to cook. I could not have done it without you!

Well, that’s it for today. And just because I need a break from politics as much as you do, I’m going to keep my very personal and private thoughts to myself. I’m simply not going to bore you with my daydreams about certain people in the public eye getting the comeuppance they so richly deserve.

But, for all the rest of you, peace and love from our home to yours.     

Italian Salad:

4 c. chopped romaine lettuce

4 c. mixed Spring greens

¼ red onion, thinly sliced, covered with ice water, and then drained after 10 minutes (this helps reduce the strong, pungent flavor of the onion)

2 c. cherry or grape tomatoes, halved

2 c. croutons, store-bought or homemade (see recipe below)

½ c. grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for sprinkling

⅓ c. sliced pepperoncini peppers

½ c. sliced kalamata olives

Combine all ingredients in a large salad bowl, drizzle evenly with the Italian vinaigrette, add some croutons, and toss until evenly combined.  Serve sprinkled with extra Parmesan cheese.

Italian Vinaigrette:

3 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. red wine vinegar

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

½ tsp. dried oregano

½ tsp. fine sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 sm. clove garlic, finely minced 

Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl (or shake together in a jar) until combined.  Taste and adjust seasoning if desired.  Use immediately or refrigerate for up to 3 days.

Homemade croutons:

12 oz. crusty bread, cut into ¾-inch cubes (see my bread recipe below)

¼ c. extra virgin olive oil

1½ tsp. Italian seasoning

1 tsp. granulated garlic

¼ tsp. granulated onion

¼ tsp. fine sea salt, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

In a large bowl, drizzle the olive oil over the bread chunks.  Then sprinkle the Italian seasoning, granulated garlic, granulated onion, salt, and pepper over the bread.  Toss gently until well-combined.

Spread the bread cubes out in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.

Bake in a pre-heated 375-degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown, turning once halfway through.  

Remove from oven and let cool completely.  

Use immediately, or store in an air-tight container.

Note: And if you want to take the “homemade” one step further and bake your own bread for the croutons, allow me to recommend my recipe for Easy Same Day French Baguettes.  

RED CHILI SAUCE FOR TAMALES, ENCHILADAS, BURRITOES, ETC.  

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Do not be tempted to halve this recipe. Trust me on this. This red chili sauce from the tastesbetterfromscratch.com site is better than anything you can get in a Mexican restaurant. And it’s easy to prepare. I’m serious! Between this sauce and my red sauce for cheese enchiladas (find the recipe under Cheese Enchiladas with Red Chili Sauce) you are in for two very easy ways to prepare gourmet Mexican food at home. But do not be deceived. Wonderful Mexican food takes time to prepare.

It’s not like flinging a beautifully marbled steak on your grill. (No offence to beautifully marbled steaks everywhere.) Because there is serious time involved in getting a restaurant quality Mexican meal on the table. Is it worth the effort? You bet your sweet bippy! Anytime you make any kind of dish from scratch using mostly fresh or what I call “scratch cooking staples” like flour, you are eliminating a great many chemicals used in keeping prepackaged, processed foods fresh. Now, to be clear, I am not advocating that you begin making your own Worcestershire sauce, Dijon mustard, or the like. I’m just saying that the more you eliminate processed foods from your diet, the better-off you are nutritionally.

And of course, I’m not telling you I make everything from scratch. I use meat and veggie bases (like Better Than Bouillon) regularly. And big surprise! I don’t make homemade mayonnaise or ketchup. And there is always a can of cream of mushroom soup and a box of “Jiffy” corn muffin mix in my pantry for those times when even making a simple sauce or building cornbread from scratch requires more strength than I have at the time. We all have those moments. We are after all – human.

But I will always push for as many ways to stay away from packaged or processed foods as possible. And this recipe for red chili sauce is a perfect example.

Well, that’s it for now. But before I leave you to run for your kitchen to make this sauce, I need to tell you about the book I just finished. The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese. Wow! As I stated in one of my previous posts, Verghese had me after only 4 pages. But I was unprepared for this story of love, death, leprosy, and the historic reality that took place over three-quarters of a century (1900 to 1977) on India’s Malabar Coast. Because I absolutely fell in love with some of the characters, and was therefore devastated by how hard their lives were. And when each of these beloved characters died, it felt like I had lost a dear friend. That, my friends, is what happens when a book is written by a truly great author. And to my mind, Verghese fits that category perfectly.  

And even if parts of this book were very hard for me to read, I recommend you read it. I learned more about India and how true compassion can manifest itself from this book, than any other book I have ever read. And don’t we all need a lesson on compassion as we read about what is currently happening to our country.

If what I read and learn daily about how our democracy is being deliberately destroyed was simply a work of fiction, I would think this could never happen. But it is happening. All I can hope and pray, is that regardless of political preference, our elected representatives in congress get their collective act together to save our country from just a few rich men who want democracy destroyed. Think I’m exaggerating, do your homework. And I don’t mean simply listening to Fox News!

I mean reading what experts are predicting. Scientists, doctors, experienced politicians, historians, etc. Our constitution is under attack. And if you think it won’t affect you personally, you are sorely mistaken. For example: Your foreign built clothes washer dies. It requires a new part. Good luck. The United States is not importing from this country any longer or if they are still supplying parts, there is a huge tariff associated with the part you need. Who do you think will be charged with the difference? That $100 part that is needed to make your washer work again is now in the $750 range. You want a new Subaru this summer? Would you like to make a bet that you will be able to drive that car off the lot for about the same price as last summer? Think again.

So, what can we all do? We can write, text, email, etc. our elected officials demanding that first and foremost they protect and preserve democracy. They all, republican or democrat took the same oath of office. And in case you don’t remember what they swore to uphold, let me refresh your memory.

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”

This means, not just some of the time or when it might not serve them well personally. It means EVERY DECISION THEY MAKE SHOULD HAVE THE BEST INTERESTES OF OUR NATION AND THEIR CONSTIUENTS IN MIND BEFORE ANYTHING OR ANYONE ELSE!  They are not allowed to just turn their heads and ignore what is happening to our country. We as citizens have every right to demand that our elected officials do the job they were hired to do. And respect the oath they made freely before taking or continuing the office for which they were elected. And that they work for the good of all citizens, regardless of color, religious preference, etc. and definitely NOT FOR SOME DESPOT WANT-A-BE OR HIS RICH BUDDIES!  

Peace and love to all.              

8 dried California chili pods (you can find them in any grocery store) 

4 c. pork, beef, or chicken stock

2 T. veggie oil

2 T. unbleached all-purpose flour

2 tsp. dried oregano

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

2 tsp. granulated onion

½ tsp. salt

freshly ground black pepper

4 cloves garlic, finely minced

Using disposable gloves, remove the stem and seeds from the dried chiles while rinsing them under cold water. 

Place chiles in a saucepan with broth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes. Remove from heat.

Drain the broth into a container. Discard the chili skins.

In the same saucepan you used to cook the chiles, heat the veggie oil. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Then whisk in the oregano, cumin, chili powder, granulated onion, salt, black pepper, and garlic. Gradually whisk in the chili liquid. 

Cook, stirring occasionally until the sauce is slightly thickened.

Use for tamales, enchiladas, burritos, or any Mexican dish that would profit from a bit of red sauce.

Please note: Even if this sauce is made with chilies, it is not spicy hot. It offers mild to medium heat. And the flavor is marvelous!

ITALIAN PISTACHIO ORANGE POLENTA CAKE (GF) 

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“And now for something completely different.” And thank you again John Cleese for speaking this immortal line as the Announcer in the 1971 British sketch comedy film based on the television comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus. What a hoot!   

Anyway, my point is, this cake is different from any other cake I have ever built. And I have baked a great many cakes since I started baking at the ripe old age of 12. (That is, if you don’t count the mud pies, cakes, and cookies I assembled when I was 3.) (But that’s a story for another time!) So, you do the math! That’s a lot of years and a lot of cakes that have come out of my ovens.

So, what makes this cake so different? Well, just about everything! First and foremost, there is no gluten in this recipe. And no liquid like milk or buttermilk. And the recipe calls for olive oil. And uncooked polenta. You with me now? The recipe simply calls for many out-of-the-ordinary cake ingredients.

But what it does contain is a lot of tenderness and crunch at the same time. And a combination of flavors that are unique and delicious.  

I found this recipe on the mangiabedda.com site when I was looking for a new Italian dessert to serve at an upcoming JazzVox concert at our home. I used the polenta I had on hand that was probably grainier than fine cornmeal, but I loved the bit of crunch it provided. Next time I will make the cake with fine cornmeal just to change things up a bit. And yes, there will be a next time!

Mr. C. hosted a rehearsal at our home yesterday that began just when the cake was coming out of the oven. And of course, I had to offer the guys a piece of cake after their rehearsal ended. Both Mike and Brian asked for seconds. That pretty much says it all!

So, if you too are looking for a simple to prepare, gluten free dessert to make for family or friends, I suggest you make this pistachio cake. It truly is delicious. And refreshingly different.

Well, snow is predicted, and I could not be happier. I love snow. And even if I didn’t love snow, I have yet to learn how to make the weather conform to what I want. So, my only choice is to make the most out of whatever weather presents itself. If only I could feel as complacent about what is happening in our country as I do about the weather. Weather, I understand. What is happening in our country is beyond my comprehension. I never imagined the level of inhumanity that is currently on display.

All I can do is try to make the lives of the people around me as pleasant as possible.

Peace and love to all.  

4 extra large eggs, yolks and whites separated

1 c. + 2 T. granulated sugar, divided

⅔ c. extra virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing the pan

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1 lg. orange, zested (about 1½ tsp. lightly packed zest)

1½ c. finely ground raw unsalted pistachios (do not over grind), divided  

¾ c. uncooked fine cornmeal

1½ tsps. baking powder

¼ tsp. fine sea salt

2 T. freshly squeezed orange juice   

powdered sugar (for dusting the greased baking pan)

Prepare a 9-inch or equivalent sized baking pan by greasing it generously with olive oil. Lightly dust the bottom and sides of the pan with powdered sugar. Set aside.

In the bowl of your stand mixer, whip the egg whites to stiff peaks using the whisk attachment. Transfer the stiff egg whites to a small mixing bowl and place in your refrigerator.

Using the same bowl and the unwashed whisk attachment, whisk the egg yolks and 1 cup of granulated sugar together until pale and frothy. Stir in the olive oil, vanilla extract, and orange zest.

Combine 1¼ cups of ground pistachios, polenta, baking powder, and salt in a bowl. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three additions. Stir together until just combined. (At this point the batter will be quite thick and stiff. That is exactly what you want.)  

Use a rubber spatula to fold in half the egg whites. Gently fold in the remaining egg whites until there are no traces of egg whites visible. Do not over stir! Pour the batter into the prepared pan. 

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for about 40 minutes or until the top is brown, the sides of the cake pull a bit away from the pan and the cake bounces back when you gently press it with your fingertip.

Remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, make the sugar and orange juice syrup.  

Place the juice in a small saucepan along with the remaining 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes until thick and syrupy.

Brush the surface of the cake with orange syrup. Sprinkle with the remaining quarter cup of chopped pistachios. Let cool completely before serving.

The cake can be stored in your fridge for up to 2 days. Bring it to room temperature before serving.  

EAST INDIAN SPICY ROASTED ZUCCHINI  

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OK, here I go again with another quick and easy veggie side dish.

First of all, if you are new to this site, you need to know that I love veggies. Not all veggies. But most of them. However, if you put a fried parsnip, mashed rutabaga, or turnip gratin in front of me, even if the gratin is smothered in a beautiful Gruyère sauce, there would be no way on God’s green earth I would partake. Sorry, but the truth must be told! And I believe it all goes back to my childhood.

I grew up on a 2½ acre plot of land in Kenmore, Washington. There were two houses on this site. My family (2 parents, 1 exceptional girl, and 2 rather dull boys) lived in the larger farmhouse. My maternal grandparents lived in a small house on the same property. And while my dad worked at Boeing and my mom as a secretary at various local schools, my grandfather raised chickens for the eggs he sold to a local feed and seed store. My grandmother grew veggies in a huge garden, every kind of berry imaginable, and tended to all of our fruit trees. Then she preserved every veggie, fruit, or berry that could be contained in a glass jar. Grandma also made all our bread. She also fed and raised a cow or two periodically for milk, for home churned butter, and then to provide us with various cuts of meat that we stored in an individual freezer locker in a big building in Lake City. This was just how it was for many families during the 40’s before home freezers or even refrigerators were common.

Heck, those were the days when an ice man delivered ice for the ice box that lived in our screened in back porch! (And you thought I was a spring chicken. Hardly! I even remember the Watkins man that appeared every so often to peddle a variety of household products, including liniment (a muscle pain relief product), which was the original product of the J.R. Watkins company, along with other items like spices, extracts, cleaning supplies, and personal care products. All sold door-to-door through direct sales.) 

But what I remember most were my loving parents and my grandparents. All 4, devoted Christians that were way ahead of their time. Never a harsh word. Never a condemnation about race, creed, or skin color. Just good people.

Both my grandparents and parents were products of the depression era. So, bottom line, nothing went to waste. And in those days, whatever grew quickly and well in grandma’s garden was served often. And included in this trio of veggies cooked to death and presented often were parsnips, rutabagas, and turnips. And I hated them with all the passion any child would exhibit when forced to eat something as loathsome as a root vegetable. (Except potatoes, of course. They were always welcome!)  

Now to my credit, these three root veggies are the only ones I still do not tolerate. All the rest I consider mana from God. But back to the reason for this post.

One of my favorite veggies (actually a fruit) is the humble zucchini. And last night when I planned to serve shrimp curry for dinner, I decided some kind of East Indian spicy roasted zucchini would make a great side dish. So, I went online and found this recipe on the cookwithmanali.com site. And it was the perfect accompaniment. Not too spicy. Just spicy enough to provide a new and interesting way to flavor roast zucchini.

So, if you also love a bit of spice on your food, I recommend this recipe.

Well, that’s it for today. Snow is predicted and frankly, I could care less. I love snow.

So, regardless of whether or not you love snow, I suspect you have no more control over the weather than I do. So, don’t fight it. Go outside. Make a snowman. Make soup. Make homemade bread. Bake cookies. Make it fun for your whole family.

And on that happy, possibly snow-filled, enforced time at home with ecstatic children and pets who refuse to go outside and freeze their lower reaches, I wish you and yours, as always, peace and love from our home to yours.   

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

½ tsp. fine sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp. ground cumin

¼ tsp. ground coriander

¼ tsp. smoked paprika

pinch cayenne pepper

2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil

2 med. zucchini, sliced into ⅓-inch rounds

Panko breadcrumbs

Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

Stir the garlic, salt, black pepper, ground cumin, ground coriander, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and olive oil together in a mixing bowl.

Add the sliced zucchini and toss together till combined.

Dip both sides lightly in Panko.

Place on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer. Roast in a pre-heated 425-degree oven for 23-25 minutes or until tender and the Panko is crisp.

Serve hot out of the oven.

FRUITY SPICED HOT TEA MIX

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OK, you all, just because Christmas 2024 is in our rear-view mirror doesn’t mean Old Man Winter isn’t up to his usual shenanigans. For the last few days, it has been just beautiful here on the western side of the Cascade Mountains. Cold, but clear skies and amazing vistas. But if the weather service is to be believed, we are in for a bit of snow this weekend. And for us, with our steep driveway, it means either risking life and limbs attempting to leave home, or staying home by our fake but warming fireplace, reading books until our eyes start to cross, while sipping a little something warm to cheer us up.

And even though most of you were not even a gleam in your father’s eyes in the years following World War II, and therefore not old enough to remember “Russian Tea”, it was very popular. The basic formula for instant hot black tea with citrus flavorings became a showcase for the convenience foods of the Space Age: Tang, powdered lemonade, and instant tea. 

So, for whatever reason, I decided to find a recipe and make some to gift unsuspecting friends as part of their Christmas package. And of course, saving some of the mix for us to enjoy also. Well, I don’t like hot tea. Never have. But this mixture of tea, citrus flavoring, and warm spices I love. A cup of this just plain warms the cockles of my heart. It simply makes me happy and filled with contentment.

Of course I can’t drink this lovely concoction every day. And neither should you. Too much sugar, caffeine, and unpronounceable ingredients. But as a treat while you watch snowflakes accumulate and inhibit your ability to leave the confines of your home, it can make a homestay acceptable. And what more could you ask of a non-alcoholic beverage?

So, if you want to try a retro hot drink, give this recipe a try. And while you’re at it, have a cookie too. Between all that sugar, you will probably get everything on your to-do list done, and in record time!

Peace and love to all.         

1 container Tang (26.2 oz.)

1 c. unsweetened instant tea  

1¾ c. instant lemonade (such as Country Time)

2 tsp. ground cinnamon

2 tsp. ground clove

Mix all the ingredients in an airtight container.

To make the hot tea, fill a mug with hot water (about 195-degrees) and stir in 2-3 teaspoons of the tea mix. Sip carefully. It’s a hot liquid after all.