Author Archives: Patti

BAKED ZUCCHINI ROUNDS

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It’s hard for me to understand when I read about people opening their front door to find several fresh zucchinis on their porch and find fault. Or making jokes about offloading zucchini in the comics. If this bounty sharing ever happened to me, I’d be so very happy even one time, and darn right ecstatic if it happened several times. Why? Because I love zucchini. And for whatever reason, even though I have tried repeatedly, zucchini does not like our yard. Or me. Or “whatever” I am doing that results in “no zucchini again this year”. And frankly, I am tired of hearing – “anyone can grow zucchini” from well-intentioned people who have no idea how much they are hurting my delicate sensibility.

So, basically what I am saying is this. If you happen to be a neighbor or friend with an overabundance of zucchini, feel free to leave the darlings, large or small, on our front porch any time, night or day. But on to the real reason for this post. How to bake zucchini so that everyone in your family will be pleased to see it on the dinner table for the 5th straight day in a row.

And believe me, I am not unaware that some people find zucchini a bit lame in the flavor department. I get that. I too fell into that category until I discovered how the simple combination of butter, corn meal, seasoned salt, and pepper could turn zucchini into a terrific veggie side dish – Fried Zucchini. (Recipe on this site along with several other zucchini recipes.)

So, this is just one more simple way to turn zucchini (Cucurbita pepo), a summer squash that’s part of the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, into a tasty veggie addition to any dinner. BTW, it’s also known by other names, including courgette, a French word that means squash, and baby marrow, a term used in Great Britain. (Your botany lesson for today.)

Along with being easy to prepare, this recipe calls for baking the squash. And isn’t that nice. Less calories and more time to put the finishing touches on whatever else you happen to be serving. (I love it when I can just stick a dish in the oven and let this fantastic piece of engineering do the hard work.)

We are actually home today. I was wrong in a previous post and the ballet is not today but next Sunday. Hallelujah! It gives me time to write up this post and finish telling you about my latest book – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt.

Well actually, I am not going to tell you anything more about this brilliantly written book. Except of course to say – read it! It is an endearing and inspiring story. And I must agree with the premise. I have found many critters who are characterized as mentally inferior to humans who show compassion, understanding, empathy, sincerity, and wisdom ever so much better than some members of the human species who appear to have no brain or charitable characteristics at all. Enough said!

But as always, peace and love to all. (Except mosquitos and horse flies!) (I must draw the line somewhere!)

1 med. zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch thick rounds 

¼ c. Italian breadcrumbs

¼ c. finely grated Parmesan cheese

¼ c. yellow cornmeal

½ tsp. granulated garlic

pinch seasoned salt

freshly ground black pepper

milk

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a shallow dish (I use an 8-inch cake pan), whisk the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, cornmeal, granulated garlic, salt, and pepper together.   

Pour a bit of milk into another shallow dish (cake pan).

Place the cut zucchini rounds into the milk, making sure to coat both sides.

Transfer the slices to the crumb mixture and coat both sides.

Place on the prepared pan and bake in a pre-heated 400-degree oven for about 30 minutes or until the zucchini chips are very lightly golden. Serve immediately.

Note: No, baked zucchini is never going to be as crisp as fried zucchini. But it’s still delicious and better for us. Sigh…….

CREAMY OVERNIGHT COLESLAW  

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OK, I know, I already have several coleslaw recipes on this site. But I love coleslaw. Good coleslaw! Not just shredded cabbage with no dressing or at best, a wimpy dressing, which is what I encounter so often in restaurants. What’s with these people? Do they not think that some of us actually like coleslaw? Hello! I mean really! Put some savory/sweet dressing on the cabbage and I promise to stand up and applaud the cook who actually shows some interest in what he or she is serving.

Actually, there is one restaurant that I know of in our area, that makes really good coleslaw. And that’s Orlando’s Southern Barbecue in beautiful Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island. They make great coleslaw, fabulous fried catfish (in case you are interested), and other terrific, barbecued items. And they have live music. Mr. C. plays in some of the bands that are featured on their stage. So, good on them for serving good food and good music. A winning combination. But back to this coleslaw.

When I was preparing the menu for our last JazzVox concert, I needed some crunch. And what is better at crunch than coleslaw. And of course, it’s a very inexpensive dish to serve. And that is always a consideration.

But enough about coleslaw. (Even if this post is all about coleslaw!) I need to get back to my current read – Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt. So far, I love this book. So, more to come about this delightful read when I have actually finished the book.

But the book I can write about is one we have had on our shelves for a very long time. The book is entitled Through the Looking-Glass by Lewis Carroll. And although I must have read this book at some time in the past, it just jumped out at me when I was perusing our bookcase. And since I really couldn’t remember the story, I decided to just sit down and open my mind to this wonderful piece of writing. And to once again enjoy the poetry of Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (his pen name was Lewis Carroll) and the fabulous illustrations by Sir John Tenniel.

So, if you have never read this fascinating tale or haven’t read it for a long time, I suggest you do so. And just to refresh your memory, I will give you a brief taste of what you will experience.

Jaberwocky.

“Twas brillig, and the slithy toves

Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:

All mimsy were the borogroves,

And the mome raths outgrabe.

Humpty Dumpty

Other wonderful illustrations in the book

Well, it’s Friday, and we actually have no plans for this evening. And that, my friends, does not happen very often. So, today I am trying out a recipe for arancini. (Italian rice balls.) I plan to serve them as an appetizer at an upcoming event at our home. And although I usually throw caution to the wind and try out new dishes on guests, I decided with these little darlings that I plan to bake rather than deep fat fry, I better use a bit of good sense and try them out on Mr. C. first. Wish me luck!

And as always, from our home to yours, peace and love to all.

¾ c. mayonnaise

2 T. apple cider vinegar 

1 T. Dijon mustard

1 T. pure maple syrup  

¾ tsp. celery seeds

¼ tsp. fine sea salt

freshly ground black pepper

6 c. thinly sliced and chopped green cabbage

2 c. thinly sliced and chopped red cabbage

2 carrots, grated

2 celery ribs, plus leaves, finely chopped

2 green onions, finely chopped

Whisk the mayonnaise, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, celery seeds, salt, and pepper together in a covered container.

Toss the green cabbage, red cabbage, carrots, celery, and green onions together in a mixing bowl. Add half of the dressing and toss until every bit of vegetative matter is coated with the dressing. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Also place the remaining dressing in the fridge.

About an hour before serving, remove both salad and reserved dressing from fridge. Using a large, slotted spoon, lift the salad into a pretty serving dish. (You want as much of the liquid that accumulated overnight in the bottom of the bowl to stay in the bottom of the mixing bowl. Discard the liquid in the bottom of the bowl.)

Stir in the remaining salad dressing, taste, and adjust seasoning if required.

GROUND BEEF PATTIES IN A BEEFY, ONION, AND SOUR CREAM SAUCE

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As I have written several times in my posts, I am getting lazier and lazier. And the other day I was in no mood to cook dinner. I’m currently recovering from cataract surgery, and it hasn’t gone as easily as predicted. Oh, not to worry. My eyes will eventually be just fine. They are just taking their own sweet time to stop being swollen. My eye doctor isn’t really concerned. (Of course he isn’t! They’re not his eyes!) But I trust him, and he is keeping a close eye (so to speak) on my progress.

But in the meantime, my “condition” is enough to keep me less than energetic when it comes to spending time in the kitchen. Or any other room besides my bedroom, for that matter. But I am getting better and I’m positive my energy will return after I stop feeling sorry for myself. But while I get my equilibrium back, I’m not terribly interested in trying new and amazing ways to tantalize our taste buds.

But dinner still must happen. So, with that in mind, I came up with the recipes you find below.

All three are easy to prepare, relatively inexpensive to make, and highly flavorful. And honestly, I have been making a variation of every one of these dishes for decades now. So, it was very easy for me to prepare this dinner combination.

After dinner, and I realized how yummy every part of our dinner had been, I decided I better pass the recipes along to you. Even if at most you would call them elementary efforts.  

None the less, below you will find three recipes that, as described above, would never be considered haute cuisine, but are perfect for a cold, fall repast. And I think everyone in your family would find this comfort food meal very tasty.

Well, that’s it for today. We are off to enjoy Village Theater’s production of Camelot this evening in Everett. This has turned out to be a week of cultural events. Last Sunday – ACT theaters Sunday matinee production of Mrs. Loman is Leaving. (Fantastic BTW). Tonight – Camelot. And this Sunday, we will be attending a ballet at McCaw Hall in Seattle. And no, we don’t always have weeks like this. But when they do happen, it’s like being on holiday.

In between caring for my eyes and attending cultural events, I have also managed to get in a bit of reading. I just finished reading Castle Skull by author John Dickson Carr. What a romp! The story is set in a castle on the Rhine River that happens to look like a skull from afar. Three inexplicable murders lead world-famous sleuth Bencolin into a strange case of twisted revenge. And to make things really fun, the characters include a fascinating list of suspects: a mad duchess, an actor with a Hamlet complex, a virtuoso who likes to play his violin in the dark, a glamorous young lady who paints in the modern manner, a dynamic Belgian financier and his beautiful, weak-willed wife, and a newspaperman whose job is to report on Europe’s haunted castles. Would I classify this work of fiction as a tour de force? Heck no! Is it a fun read? Absolutely!

And for maybe the last time before the 5th of November, please vote. If you have already voted – our nation thanks you. If you haven’t voted yet, get off your duff and do your civic duty.

But regardless, as always, peace and love to all.

GROUND BEEF PATTIES IN A BEEFY, ONION, AND SOUR CREAM SAUCE

1 lb. lean ground beef

1 T. + ¼ tsp. Montreal Steak Seasoning, divided

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

1 T. unsalted butter

1 onion, finely chopped

1 T. flour

1 c. water

1 tsp. beef base (I use Better Than Bouillon Beef Base)

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

¼ tsp. granulated garlic

¼ tsp. seasoned salt

freshly ground black pepper

⅓ c. sour cream

Combine the ground beef and 1 tablespoon of Montreal Seasoning in a mixing bowl. Divide into 4 balls and then form into four patties.

Heat the olive oil and butter together in a small frying pan. Add the ground beef patties and cook just until done. Remove from pan and set aside.

Using the same pan, cook the onion until soft and beginning to caramelize. Stir in the flour and cook for a couple of minutes.

Slowly add the water until smooth and no flour lumps remain. Then stir in the beef base, Worcestershire sauce, granulated garlic, seasoned salt, and pepper. Let simmer for a couple of minutes before stirring in the sour cream.

Place the cooked ground beef patties back in the pan and cook until they are once again warm.

The patties and gravy are just wonderful served with Easy Mixed-Rice Pilaf and Oven Baked Acorn Squash. (See recipes below.)

EASY MIXED-RICE PILAF (for 4)

The rice blend I used. (I like it a lot!)

2¼ c. water

2 tsp. beef base

2 tsp. dehydrated onion pieces

¼ tsp. granulated garlic

¼ tsp. seasoned salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 T. unsalted butter

1 c. mixed rice (not instant) (I used a blend of aromatic purple, red, and brown rice because that’s what I had on hand)

Combine all ingredients in a heavy, covered pan. Bring to a boil, stir, reduce heat, cover pan, and simmer for about 45 minutes. Stir occasionally.

Great served anytime you need a savory rice side dish.

OVEN BAKED ACORN SQUASH (for 2)

1 acorn squash, cut in two along the stem and all seeds removed

water

2 T. unsalted butter

2-4 T. brown sugar

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

Place the squash, cut side down, in a baking pan. Pour in enough water to bring the water to about ½-inch deep.

Bake the squash for 60-75 minutes in a pre-heated 400-degree oven.

Remove from oven when the squash is very soft. Turn off the oven.

Turn each half over and add a tablespoon of butter and 1-2 tablespoons of brown sugar to each. Then lightly sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place back in the cooling oven for about 5 minutes. (This allows the butter and brown sugar to melt together.)

FRIED CHICKEN IN A BASIL CREAM SAUCE  

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I think these are pork chops. But the fried chicken cutlets looked a lot like this. (Hey, I’m old! So please, cut me some slack!)

Basil Cream Sauce. (I think.) Or it could be the sausage gravy. Whatever! (Same applies, I’m old and the trip was a couple of months ago.)

I always begin a trailer trip with a variety of already prepared food that I can stick in our trailer freezer and bring out whenever I want. I try to vary the recipe selection, but the following items always accompany our journeys – a quick bread or two, cookies (usually two kinds), chili, a couple of soups, and meat loaf. But the items I have found the most helpful, because they often take time to prepare, are homemade sauces and gravy. I have been bringing marinara sauce along now for years. But on this last trip I also brought sausage gravy (for biscuits and gravy), and this basil cream sauce.

I was a bit hesitant to freeze these cream sauces, but both warmed up perfectly.

In addition to the food I prepare, I always bring packages of breakfast meat (bacon, Sausage, and ham), ground beef, pork chops or pork tenderloin, chicken breasts, steak, Italian dinner sausages, frozen peas, fresh ravioli, and ice cream. (Always must have ice cream on board!)

And of course, we visit grocery stores along the way. But if I have most of the dishes that take a lot of time to prepare made ahead, or cuts of quality meat that may not be available in a grocery store the size of our guest bath, I can rest easier on the road.

But enough about my food insecurities, and back to this recipe.

I found this recipe on the life-in-the-lofthouse.com site. I made some slight changes, but mainly to accommodate preparing the sauce and frying the chicken at different times. And I must say, served with 4-cheese ravioli and frozen petite peas, we enjoyed a delightful meal. (A “gourmet-on-the-go meal” if I do say so myself!)

So, I hope you enjoy this simple chicken dish as much as we do. (And no, you don’t have to own a trailer or be on a trailer trip to make this dish!)

But if you are a fellow travel trailer owner, don’t hesitate to build sauces ahead of time and take them along with you on your next adventure. Homemade sauces are just so much better than most sauces that beckon to you from the shelves of your local grocery store.

Well, it’s early afternoon, and since I don’t need to plan or cook dinner (Mr. C. has a gig in a restaurant this evening), I’m going to help Lucas Davenport find a deranged killer. OK, I’m not really going to be of any assistance, but I’m going along for the ride anyway. My current read is by John Sandford entitled Rules of Prey. And even though I know in the end the killer is going to be found and punished, I’m still excited to find out he gets his! (If only in real life, bad people would get their comeuppance too. But unfortunately, no one has appointed me judge and jury! But if they had, I would make certain that a certain felon would never be able to cause so many people distress or continue to wreak havoc on our planet.) (Just sayin”!)

Peace and love to all.

Fried Chicken

1 lg.  boneless, skinless chicken breast, sliced into ½-inch thick cutlets and patted dry

2 T. whole milk

½ c. dried Italian breadcrumbs

3 T. unsalted butter

Place the milk in a shallow bowl, and the breadcrumbs in a separate shallow bowl. Dip each chicken cutlet thoroughly in milk, then coat with breadcrumbs.

In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium-low heat. Cook the coated chicken cutlets until golden-brown on each side and the internal temperature reaches 165-degrees.

Remove from pan and set aside.   

Basil Cream Sauce

3 T. unsalted butter

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. flour

½ c. chicken broth

½ c. heavy whipping cream or part whole milk

½ c. finely grated Parmesan cheese

¼ c. chopped fresh basil

freshly ground black pepper

Melt the butter in a frying pan. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute over medium heat. Add the flour and cook for a couple of minutes. Add the chicken broth. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir in cream. Bring to a light boil and cook for about 5 minutes.

Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan cheese, chopped basil, and pepper.

Serve over the fried chicken.   

CAJUN LEFTOVER SALMON CROQUETTES  

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Salmon Croquettes

Cajun Sauce

I love having leftover salmon in my fridge. First of all, it means the salmon is already cooked. And of course I could just serve it as prepared, but what fun is that? Why not make it into something new and exciting? So, that’s exactly what I did the other evening.

But first I went online for inspiration. And I found this recipe (with a couple changes) on the africanbites.com site. Then I made a simple sauce to serve with croquettes, because what doesn’t taste better when dipped in a sauce? Right? Then what to serve with the salmon cakes? Well, in for a dime, in for a dollar (as the old saying goes), why not polenta and sugar snap peas? OK, now we’re talking. I had a plan.

And I’m telling you the truth, the combination of dishes was perfect. A bit of savory, a bit of heat, a bit of spicy, and a bit of crunch from the snap peas. All in all, a fine meal if I do say so myself!

And best of all, the dishes were easy to fix. Yes, a bit of time was required, but then what doesn’t take time to fix? Anyway, I managed, and I’d bet dollars to donuts you could too.

So, if you ever find yourself with leftover salmon, give this recipe a try. And if you have never tasted or cooked polenta, what in the wild world of sports are you waiting for? Polenta is food from the Gods! It goes with bloody everything!

OK, I’m done now. Just make these croquettes and be happy.

And as always, peace and love to all.   

3 eggs, divided

½ -1 tsp. hot sauce (I use Frank’s RedHot)

½ finely diced onion

1 garlic clove, finely minced

¼ tsp. seasoned salt

¼ tsp. white pepper

1 tsp. Cajun seasoning (see my recipe below)  

1 green onion, diced

1 c. plain breadcrumbs, divided, or more as needed

2 c. flaked cooked salmon 

¼ c. veggie oil

2 T. unsalted butter

Beat 2 of the eggs in a large mixing bowl. Then mix in the hot sauce, onion, garlic, seasoned salt, white pepper, Cajun seasoning, and green onion until well combined.

Add ¼ cup of the breadcrumbs and the flaked salmon. Mix until well combined.

Place in the fridge for a good half hour to let everything firm up a bit.

Using a large ice cream scoop, form the mixture into balls and place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Then gently flatten them a bit.  

Whisk the remaining egg in a flat container (I use an 8-inch round cake pan). Place the remaining ¾ cup breadcrumbs in another flat container. 

Lightly dip the croquettes into the egg mixture until completely coated. Then pat them in breadcrumbs. Set back on the same parchment paper lined baking sheet. Refrigerate until ready to fry.

Heat a medium sized cast iron skillet or non-stick frying pan over medium heat, then add the oil and butter. Let the oil and butter heat until it reaches about 350-degrees.

Gently place the croquettes in pan using a slotted spatula. Fry for about two minutes per side or until golden brown.  

Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels and serve hot with Cajun Mayo Sauce, Creamy Polenta, and Stir-Fried Sugar Snap Peas. (See recipes below.)

CAJUN MAYO SAUCE

¾ c. mayonnaise

1-3 tsp. Cajun seasoning

½ – 1 tsp. hot sauce (I use Frank’s RedHot)

Mix all together and refrigerate until ready to use.

CREAMY POLENTA

2½ c. chicken broth

1½ c. water

1 tsp. kosher salt

tiny pinch white pepper or freshly ground black pepper

1 c. yellow polenta (not instant) 

2 T. unsalted butter

4 oz. (½ pkg.) cream cheese

Bring the chicken stock, water, salt, and pepper to a boil in a heavy, covered 2 or 3-quart pan. Slowly whisk the polenta into the boiling liquid to prevent any lumps from forming.

Reduce the heat to a very low simmer. Continue to whisk the polenta until it just starts to thicken. Then cover the pan and let the polenta cook for about 25 minutes. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon so that the polenta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan. The polenta should be soft and tender when done. If not, let it cook a little longer. Then stir in the butter and cream cheese. Serve immediately.

STIR-FRIED SUGAR SNAP PEAS

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

2 c. fresh sugar snap peas

¼ tsp. seasoned salt, or more to taste

freshly ground black pepper  

Rinse and dry the snap peas and (optionally) remove the tips and any strings that come off with them.

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Once hot, add the snap peas and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly until the peas are bright green in color and barely fork tender (we prefer them to still have a little crunch).

Remove from the heat and stir in seasoned salt and pepper. Serve hot.

CAJUN SEASONING:

2 T. paprika

1 T. granulated onion

1 T. granulated garlic

1 T. dried oregano (Mexican oregano preferred) (If the dried oregano leaves are   large, break them down a bit in a mortar and pestle or spice grinder)

1 T. dried thyme

1 T. freshly ground black pepper

1 T. kosher salt

1 tsp. cayenne

Combine all the ingredients and store in an air-tight container.

CORNMEAL BISCUITS WITH HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP COMPOUND BUTTER

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It is never easy to figure out exactly what to serve with soup. But at our house, there are two options that always work for us – garlic bread or cornbread.

So, when I was planning to serve soup at a recent JazzVox concert at our home, I decided to use my recipe for Garlic Bread from Scratch (recipe on site) and instead of cornbread, I thought cornmeal biscuits would be easier to serve. (Spreading butter on cornbread can be kinda messy.) So, based on a bit of research, I came up with the recipe you find below for a biscuit containing cornmeal which provided our guests with a surface on which to easily spread soft butter. And then I thought, why not flavor the butter, because I can’t be the only person who loves not only butter on my cornbread, but a bit of honey or maple syrup too! So, there you have it. The method to my madness!

For this event, I made the biscuits quite small (I used a two-inch biscuit cutter), because they would be easy to eat and because they looked so darn cute on a serving plate.

So, next time you serve soup, you might want to give this recipe a try. Yummy biscuits and the compound butter is really delicious.

Well, my work here is done. And the rest of my day is free of encumbrance. The only decisions I need to make today are 1) which book to read next and 2) what to cook for dinner?

And speaking of books, I just finished (for the second time), Gail Honeyman’s novel entitled Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. It is the kind of book that inspires the reader to strive to be a better person and to have compassion for others who might behave and act strangely. I absolutely suggest you read this book. And speaking of suggestions…..   

Please vote for the rights of others in the upcoming November election. For democracy, and civility, and compassion. Our nation is on the brink of losing the fundamental right to freedom. Freedom to believe as we choose, to care for our own bodies as we choose, and to assist those who were not born with the advantages that some of us take for granted.

Peace and love to all.   

CORNMEAL BISCUITS

2 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed  

1 c. yellow cornmeal

2 tsp. granulated sugar or maple sugar (if you are using maple syrup in your compound butter)

1 T. baking powder  

1 tsp. baking soda

1½ tsp. kosher salt  

½ c. (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cubed

1⅓ c. whole buttermilk

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In the bowl of your food processor, whirl the all-purpose flour, yellow cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and kosher salt together.

Add the cold butter and pulse until the dough resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly add the buttermilk to the flour mixture and pulse just until combined.

Place the dough on a lightly floured surface. Pat the dough with floured hands until about ½ inch thick.

Using a 2½ to 3-inch floured biscuit cutter, form and place the biscuits on the prepared baking sheet. (After cutting the first round of biscuits, pull the remaining dough into a ball, pat out again, and cut more biscuits until all the dough is gone.)     

Bake in a pre-heated 425-degree oven for 12-15 minutes, or until just set. Do not overbake.

Remove from oven and serve warm or at room temperature. Great smeared with Honey or Maple Syrup Compound Butter. See the recipe below.

HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP COMPOUND BUTTER  

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

⅓ c. honey or maple syrup

2 T. powdered sugar

¼ – ½ tsp. flaky sea salt  

Beat the butter in the bowl of your stand mixer using the paddle attachment for 1 minute on medium speed or until the butter is completely smooth and creamy. Add the honey or maple syrup, powdered sugar, and ¼ teaspoon of the flaky salt.

Beat at a medium-high speed until the mixture is completely smooth, about 1 minute. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat until the butter is completely smooth and creamy. Taste. Add more salt if desired. (For the creamiest and fluffiest compound butter, beat for 3-4 minutes.) Scoop into a pretty serving bowl.

Cover tightly and store it in your refrigerator.

Always serve the compound butter at room temperature.

CHOCOLATE SHEET CAKE WITH CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

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In my opinion, there is just nothing finer than a big old piece of chocolate cake. And I know, how plebian Patti. Chocolate cake, really, wouldn’t you prefer a piece of fabulous cheesecake or lemon meringue pie? And although I can’t argue that I love cheesecake and lemon meringue pie also, sometimes what my mouth yearns for is a piece of moist and tender chocolate cake topped with lots of creamy, dreamy chocolate frosting. And this recipe delivers all my requirements for a truly mouthwatering chocolate cake.

And no, this is not a low-calorie dessert. Between the cake and frosting you go through a whole pound of butter. Yikes. But if what you want is a rich, decadent chocolate cake, you have to just bite the bullet, unwrap those sticks of butter, and decide to start your diet the next day.

But it’s not as if any of us eat chocolate cake every day. That would get old pretty darn quickly. But as a special treat, occasionally, I say live it up. We only go around once, and if I die one day earlier from an occasional lapse of good judgement, then so be it. At least I will die happy. And believe me, this cake is the definition of edible happiness.

Well, that’s it for today. Yesterday I had cataract surgery on my right eye (I had my left eye done 2 weeks ago) and I’m feeling fine except I’m thinking a nap would be just what the doctor ordered. So, if you will excuse me, I’m going to sit in my wing-back chair and read a few pages until the sand man pays me a visit.

But I’ll be back soon to share more fun recipes with all of you. Isn’t life wonderful!

And as always, peace and love to all.      

For the Cake:

1 c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

3 c. packed brown sugar

4 eggs, room temp.

1 T. vanilla extract

3 c. unbleached all-purpose flour, fluffed

¾ c. cocoa powder (I use Ghirardelli Premium Cocoa Powder)

1 T. baking soda

½ tsp. kosher salt

1 rounded tsp. instant espresso powder (I use Medaglia D’oro Espresso Instant Coffee)

1½ c. water

1⅓ c. sour cream

Cream the butter and brown sugar together. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, and espresso powder. Add to creamed mixture alternately with water and sour cream, beating well after each addition.

Pour into a greased and floured 10×16-inch baking pan.   

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Don’t over-bake!

Remove from the oven and cool completely before frosting.

To freeze the cake, let it cool completely, do not frost it, cover with plastic wrap, and freeze until about 4 hours before you plan to frost the cake and serve it.  

If making the cake ahead to serve the same day, frost the cake and refrigerate it until about an hour before serving.

For the Frosting:

1c. (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3 c. powdered sugar

½ c. unsweetened cocoa powder

½ tsp. espresso powder

¼ tsp. fine sea salt

4 T. heavy whipping cream, plus more as needed

In the bowl of your stand mixer, using the paddle attachment, beat the butter at high speed until creamy, scraping down the bowl as needed. Add the vanilla and beat on low until combined.

Whisk the powdered sugar, cocoa powder, espresso powder, and salt together until there are no lumps. Add this mixture to the butter in three additions along with the heavy cream. Beat on low speed until sugar is incorporated then increase speed and beat for 3-4 minutes, scraping down the bowl as required. Add additional heavy cream if needed to thin the frosting to your desired consistency. (I prefer fluffier, lighter frostings, so I add more liquid than most.)

GARLIC BREAD FROM SCRATCH

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Well, I don’t know about you, but neither Mr. C nor I can think of anyone who doesn’t love garlic bread. I mean really, what’s not to love? It’s savory, garlicky, and crunchy. Well, at least it should be crunchy! (In my humble opinion.) Because I don’t appreciate soft garlic bread as much as I do garlic bread with a bit of substance to it. I want garlic bread that can be dunked in something like soup or broth from steamed mussels and not melt before I get it to my mouth. And I know, picky, picky. And no, I wouldn’t turn down a piece of garlic bread if it were soft. But, given a preference, I like my garlic bread to be crisp.

Anyway, the other evening I offered to bring garlic bread to a dinner party being given by a neighbor for another neighbor who was moving away. (Always hard to lose great neighbors.) And as I was looking for garlic bread on my blog, I realized I had never posted the whole enchilada. OK, not an enchilada, but the term applies. I had inadvertently failed to provide my readers with my favorite way to build really great garlic bread. And frankly, there is an art to making garlic bread. Especially at a reasonable price. 

It all starts with four simple ingredients. Water, yeast, flour, and salt. After that, the compound butter had better be really, really tasty! And there are as many recipes for garlic butter as there are blackberry bushes. And every good cook has their own secret formula. Maybe more than one. But I have found that this recipe really works for me. And people seem to love it, thus this post!

And I know what you are thinking. Patti, can’t you come up with a recipe for something a bit more exciting than garlic bread? But frankly, for this lover of all things bread like, no I can’t.

Well, that’s it for today. We have a JazzVox concert here this Sunday. And that means, appetizer, main dishes, sides, and dessert for 39 people at 1:00 pm. And I can’t serve anything that requires a knife because unfortunately some people end up with plates on their lap. And there must be at least one crunchy dish. (Two would even be better.) Plus, I try really hard to fix enough dishes for people who are gluten intolerant, vegetarian, allergic to nuts, etc. etc. so that they don’t go hungry. I try my best to fill everyone up, but at some point, I just set my menu and stick to it. You would probably be surprised if I were to write that in all the work of putting on a meal for a large group, it’s the menu that causes me the most stress. The actual food preparation is the easy part. But that would be the truth.  

But lest you think I am complaining, rest assured – I love feeding people. It makes me happy.

On that happy note, as always, peace and love to all.

EASY OVERNIGHT BAGUETTES

1½ c. warm water 

2¼ tsp. instant yeast 

1¼ tsp. kosher salt 

3¾ c. bread flour (more or less)

extra virgin olive oil (for greasing the mixing bowl)

Combine the water and yeast in your stand mixer. Add the salt and enough flour to make a shaggy dough. (The dough shouldn’t be sticky. But tacky is perfect. A small amount of dough stubbornly sticking to the bottom of the mixing bowl.)

Pour some olive oil in the bowl (anywhere from 2-3 teaspoons) and using your hands and a stiff spatula, roll the dough into a lightly greased ball. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, remove the dough from fridge, punch it down, and let it rest for about 10 minutes. Divide the dough into 4 equal portions.

Shape each piece into about an 8-10-inch log, rounded on each end. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cover with a piece of plastic wrap that has been lightly greased with cooking spray. Let the dough rise again until it is almost doubled in size, about 60 minutes.

Lightly spray baguettes with water and place in a pre-heated 450-degree oven for 10 minutes. Then spray again and let bake for about 8-10 minutes more. (The bread is done when it reaches 205-degrees when tested with an instant read thermometer.)

Remove from oven and let cool completely before slicing.  

GARLIC BUTTER

¾ c. (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temp.

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

¼ tsp. granulated garlic

¼ tsp. kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

¼ c. finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano or Parmesan cheese 

2 T. finely chopped fresh parsley

Mix the butter, olive oil, minced garlic, granulated garlic, salt, pepper, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and parsley together until smooth and creamy.  

On a cutting board, cut the loaves (from the recipe above or your favorite purchased baguette) in half lengthwise. Then lay the bread cut sides facing up. Spread the garlic butter mixture evenly over the open surfaces of the bread. Then cut the pieces into individual portions.

Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Bake in a pre-heated 400-degree oven for about 15 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and crispy.

Serve hot or at room temperature.     

STEAK WITH CREAMY PEPPERCORN SAUCE  

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Peppercorn Sauce

Mr. C. has this wonderful habit of bringing lovely cuts of meat into our home. Since Covid, he mostly buys our groceries, and believe me, he is much less frugal than I am. So, when he brings home a steak, it’s a good one. And last night, I decided to cook one of his recent purchases.

And because I know how much he loves peppercorn sauce; I decided to try out the recipe I found on recipetineats.com. (One of my favorite cooking sites BTW). Of course, I made a couple small changes because, yes, I know, I never can leave well enough alone! And I used this new recipe, because I wanted to change things up a bit from my other recipe on this site entitled Pepper Steaks with Bourbon Sauce which he also loves.   

And since Mr. C. had unfailingly adhered to my last grocery shopping list, I had 4 small Yukon Gold potatoes to put to good use. But then, I had to find a new recipe for these beautiful potatoes too. Which I did. And of course I had to mess with this recipe too. So, thank you and apologies to another one of my favorite cooking sites – spendwithpennies.com.

Now, having confessed my sins, I can proceed with unabashedly telling you why you should give both recipes a try. Both the steak with sauce and the roasted potatoes were absolutely delicious. Not just good. Totally fabulous. As Mr. C. commented, “this sauce is as good, if not better, than I have ever had in a restaurant”. Plus, he liked the potatoes. And that is saying something because Mr. C. is not a potato lover.

Well, I have nothing more to say on the subject. And I have a few chapters left in my book to finish before we go off to Oak Harbor for one of Mr. C’s gigs.

The book I am currently reading, for the second time, (which should tell you something), is by John Sandford – entitled Dead Watch. Great story about dirty politics and greed. Sound familiar? This after just reading Heather Cox Richardson’s latest post. But at least in this book, the good guys win. Oh, that real life mimicked fiction. Especially in the upcoming November election.

Before my current book, I read 4 books by Harlan Coben, including Gone for Good and Tell No One. Any of Mr. Coban’s books are worth reading. In my humble opinion.

I also almost made it through Donna Tartt’s (winner of the Pulitzer Prize) book entitled The Goldfinch. But after 595 pages of poverty, drugs, horrid behavior, characters I came to detest, and lifestyles that I could not in any way relate to, I said, I’m done! There is enough retched behavior documented daily in the news. I don’t need to read the fictional equivalent.

Anyway, that is the beauty of books. If you don’t like what you are reading, you can simply close the pages and walk away.

Unfortunately, that is not the case in the real world.

If you don’t like what is happening in the real world, you often need to take some sort of action. Even if that action is as simple as voting. Which I sincerely encourage everyone to do in the upcoming November election.

And as always, peace and love to all.  

STEAK WITH CREAMY PEPPERCORN SAUCE

2 thick (at least 1-inch thick) tenderloin, filet-mignon, or ribeye steaks (about 16- 20 oz. of meat)

kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

1 T. veggie oil

¼ c. cognac or brandy

½ c. water

1 tsp. beef base (I use Better Than Bouillon Beef Base)

½ c. half & half

1-2 tsp. coarsely ground black pepper

Take the steaks out of the fridge 20 minutes before sprinkling both sides generously with salt and black pepper. Set aside for an hour.

Hint: while the steaks are resting, get all the ingredients for the sauce ready.

When ready to cook, heat the oil in a small, heavy skillet over high heat until the oil is very hot. (I use my small cast iron skillet.)

Add the steaks and cook the first side for about 2 minutes until it is dark brown, then flip and cook the other side for 2 minutes, more or less depending on how you like your steaks cooked. (130-degrees internal temp. for medium rare.)

Transfer to a plate, cover loosely with foil, and let rest while you make the sauce.

Add cognac into the same skillet and let it simmer rapidly, scraping the bottom of the pan, until the cognac has mostly reduced. Add the water and beef base, bring to a simmer and let it simmer rapidly for 2 to 3 minutes or until it reduces by half.

Turn the heat down to medium. Add the half & half and coarsely ground black pepper. Stir, and let simmer for about 2 minutes or until it thickens. Taste and adjust salt and pepper if needed.

Cut the steak into thick, diagonal pieces and spoon the sauce over each serving.

This lovely savory entrée is perfect when served with Oven Roasted Potatoes. (see recipe below)

OVEN ROASTED POTATOES  

1 lb. unpeeled yellow or gold potatoes, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 T. extra virgin olive oil

freshly ground black pepper

¼ tsp. seasoned salt

¼ tsp. paprika

½ tsp. granulated garlic

1 tsp. Italian seasoning

Soak the potatoes in cold water for about 30 minutes. (This removes some of the starch and makes for fluffier potatoes.) Drain and dry the potato pieces with paper towels.

Whisk the olive oil, pepper, seasoned salt, paprika, granulated garlic, and Italian seasoning together in a mixing bowl.

Toss the dried potato pieces in the oil mixture.

Transfer to a small, rimmed baking sheet and bake the potato pieces in a pre-heated 425-degree oven for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown and tender.

Serve hot out of the oven.

CHEWY GINGER MOLASSES COOKIES WITH CANDIED GINGER

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OK, I know, I already have several ginger cookie recipes on this site. But, as far as I’m concerned, you can never have too many ginger cookie recipes from which to choose.

So, yesterday I decided to make a couple changes to one of my existing recipes and came up with these cookies. And it being fall and all, they just fit in perfectly with the season.

Fall means starting to hunker down for winter. And the warm spices (ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, allspice, etc.) are especially delightful this time of year. They just make you feel warm inside.

So, if you too are a ginger cookie lover, this recipe may just be what you need. Because it was exactly what I needed. And the cookies were very easy to build.

Along with baking these cookies, I also decided to bring a bit of autumn into our home.

When we got back from our recent trailer trip, our good friend and house sitter/cat sitter Peggy had a nice vase filled with leaves, foliage, and blossoms waiting for us. And I wondered why I had never thought to use all those late blooming and color changing stalks with leaves before in an arrangement.

So, I thought seeing a picture of what I subsequently put together might inspire you to do the same thing. It’s really a nice feeling to be able to bring a bit of color and texture into your home. And when it’s free of charge, all the better!

Well, that’s it for today. We are getting ready to go to the Lincoln Theater in Mount Vernon to see Arsenic and Old Lace. One of my favorite plays of all time.

So, on that happy note, I am going to “charge” into my bedroom and change into the proper clothing to attend this theatrical production. (In other words, I’m going to change into my dress jeans!)

And as always, peace and love to all.

¾ c. (1½ sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

½ c. granulated sugar

½ c. brown sugar

1 lg. egg

¼ c. molasses

2¼ c. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/8 tsp. salt  

2 tsp. ground ginger

¾ tsp. ground cinnamon

½ tsp. ground cloves

½ c. finely chopped candied ginger

sparkling sugar, opt.

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in egg and molasses. Whisk together the flour, soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, cloves, and chopped candied ginger.  Add to the creamed mixture; mix well.

Using an ice cream scoop (your choice for size), form balls and dip top into sparkling sugar before placing on a parchment paper lined baking sheet, sugar side up, and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Bake in a pre-heated 350-degree oven for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are just set. Do not overbake.

Remove from oven and allow to sit on the hot pan for 3-4 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely before storing in an airtight container.