French Fridays with Dorie ~ Slightly Off Cue!

Well, I totally botched this one!  I couldn't understand why the index and website said, "Quinoa, Fruit and Nut Salad," but when I went to make it, it was called "Coucous Salad" in the book, but I was off by a page!  Having read the excerpt on p. 137, I assumed they might be interchangeable.  Also, having made a trip to Trader Joe's specifically to buy Quinoa, I decided to try it.  It's nice to be abruptly reminded that I'm human once in awhile!  All I can do is shake my head & tell you what I made.  LOL!

This salad is an interesting mix of flavors & textures, and I think it turned out well, but isn't something I would make again. I can't eat cucumbers or bell peppers, so I created a Waldorf-inspired salad with a Fuji Apple, 3 ribs of celery, 3 green onions, toasted walnuts, raisins, lemon juice, lemon olive oil, and cilantro.  However, I did use the prescribed spices.

Baked Lemon-Pepper Chicken Breast

This was inspired by the Bonne Idee on p. 137.  The chicken was wonderful, and the saving grace of the meal for me.  It was so tender & flavorful that I'm sure to make it again with other spices.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
Drizzle Lemon Olive Oil in the bottom of a 8" x 8" baking pan.
Place 2 Skinless Chicken Breasts on the oil.
Sprinkle with Lemon Pepper and Salt.
Place Lemon Slices on Chicken, and fresh Dill around it.
Cover with foil, and bake for 30 minutes.

Print this recipe

Bon Appetit!

Los Angeles Farmers' Market

Today's the day!

On-line Bake Sale for Japan

My Amazing Oatmeal Cookies - I'll make 2 dozen just for you!

My brother & me showing off our kimonos in our house in Atsugi, Japan

Here's your chance to bid on 2-dozen delicious oatmeal cookies baked by me especially for you!  The Tomato Tart is hosting an on-line auction for baked goods and all the proceeds will go to Second Harvest Japan to help out in the wake of the earthquake, tsunami, and continuing 

aftershocks.

Many of us feel helpless in the wake of these disasters, but here is your chance to give a little and get something in return.  Please take a few minutes to visit the website, choose something you like, and place a bid!  Over 90 talented bakers are contributing homemade goods - sweet and savory - jams, etc.  You're sure to find something you like!

My mother and me in Japan 1967

Thank you for taking a look!

Boeuf a la Mode (aka Great Pot Roast) with Roasted Vegetables and Spectacular Orange Cake

Boeuf a la Mode (aka Great Pot Roast) with Roasted Vegetables

This is the third time we've made this amazing Pot Roast from Dorie Greenspan's Around my French Table.  Each time, it turns out perfectly.  We transform an inexpensive Chuck Roast into a feast with vegetables.  The recipe calls for cooking the vegetables separately, but we add them with the roast for the last hour of cooking so they absorb all the delicious flavors of the wine sauce. 

To see previous posts, click here:  October 2011; Christmas Dinner 2011.  As you can see, it's good enough for a weekend meal, and fancy enough for a holiday.  The key is being sure to start marinating the meat the night before you cook it so it is imfused with the flavors of red wine, herbs, and vegetables.

Spectacular Orange Cake

While I was looking for an orange cake recipe, I came across this one on http://www.cooksrecipes.com/ - it's a light chiffon cake filled with home-made orange curd and covered with orange buttercream frosting.  Triple orange!  This is it - the cake I was looking for.  In California, we have oranges all year-round, so I'm sure I'll make this again soon!

Enjoy!



Oranges for sale at the Santa Barbara Farmers' Market

 

Yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake ~ 2 Variations ~ The Daring Bakers Challenge for March 2011!

As you all know, baking is my true passion.  I was inspired to join The Daring Bakers in January when I saw what many of my fellow bloggers created.  Check out Lizzy's masterpiece here:  That skinny chick can bake!!!  My first impression was one of amazement, then I thought, "I want to do that, too!"  So, I joined.

First rising

 The Daring Bakers is a group of avid bakers who take turns challenging each other to bake wonderful things.  This month's challenge was hosted by Ria and Jamie for this Yeasted Meringue Coffee Cake.  The basis is a soft, lightly sweet yeast dough filled with meringue - the rest was up to us!  The dough was wonderful to work with and made enough for two coffee cakes, so I made two variations:  Raspberry Almond and Pina Colada. 

The Meringue

 

Dough with Meringue filling



Dough with Meringue, Raspberry Jam, and Almond Paste



For the Raspberry Almond version, I used Dickinson's Red Raspberry Preserves (which are made in Oxnard, too), and Odense Almond Paste, and topped it with sliced almonds.

My friend, Megi, included the recipe on her post here:  Linden Tea.

The finished product!  Soft, sweet dough wrapped around Raspberry Jam, Almond Paste, and Meringue topped with sliced almonds - tasted like it was from the bakery.

For the Pina Colada version, I used a wonderful marmalade from Lourdes who sells it at the Channel Islands Farmers' Market, and I topped it with shredded coconut.

Stuffed, rolled, shaped, and cut - ready for second rise.

The bread tastes just like Hawaiian Sweet Bread, and the Pina Colada filling is over the top!  This version is really unusual and delicious - a wonderful combination of texture and flavor. 

Enjoy!

Fr. Junipero Serra in front of Ventura City Hall, CA

Scallops with Caramel-Orange Sauce ~ French Fridays with Dorie Recipe ~ with Wild Rice and Steamed Asparagus

Scallops with Caramel-Orange Sauce

This week's French Fridays with Dorie recipe is for these incredibly elegant, delicious, and easy-to-prepare scallops.  The caramel-orange sauce was the perfect complement to the slightly sweet scallops.  The addition of wild rice and steamed asparagus really set off the texture and flavor of the scallops with the sauce.  If you're looking to "Wow" someone, this is the perfect meal!

 Bon Appetit!

I happened to be in Hollywood on the day Elizabeth Taylor passed away. 

 Goodbye to the Queen of Tinseltown!

Red Wine Marinated Eye of Round Steaks and Smashed New Potatoes ~ 150th Post!

Red Wine Marinated Eye of Round Steaks

Place 2 Eye of Round Steaks in a ceramic or glass bowl with a lid. 

Sprinkle with seasoned salt. 

We used French Sea Salt seasoned with Basil and Green Pepper that we bought in Saint Paul-de-Vence in Provence.

Pour in 1 cup of wine, and turn steaks to coat. 

Refrigerate for 2 - 4 hours, turning every hour or so.

In a medium sized skillet, melt 2 Tablespoons butter.

Place steaks in butter and cook on each side 5 - 9 minutes, depending on desired doneness.

Deglaze pan with remaining marinade and 1/4 cup Brandy.

Turn steaks to coat.

Cover pan, and cook for 2 minutes.

Plate steaks and spoon sauce over them.

Smashed New Potatoes with Peas, Lemon, and Pearl Onions 

This great spring recipe from Tyler Florence is imbued with Olive Oil and fresh herbs.  It's a great variation on plain potatoes and peas that's fresh and new.  We thought it would be just as good chilled and served as potato salad. 

It would also be good with fish, chicken, or pork - a great all-around side dish.

Enjoy!

Braveheart wonders, "What's for dinner?"

Click here and leave a comment for a chance to win my favorite baking cookbook,

Dorie Greenspan's Baking From My Home to Yours!

Salted Butter Break-ups ~ French Fridays with Dorie Recipe

This week's French Fridays with Dorie recipe is for this salty-sweet treat. 

I just received this Sicilian Sea Salt with Fresh Blood Orange Zest and I was dying to try it, so I used it in place of the recommended Sel Gris.  Some of the people who left comments in Problems and Questions said they wish they'd used more salt, so I sprinkled a little on top of the egg wash.

This cookie is quite addictive and really surpassed my expectations!  Salty, sweet, chewy, crunchy, and versatile enough to serve any number of ways.  I served it with French Vanilla Ice Cream drizzled with Sicilian Wild Strawberry Honey.  But, it would really be perfect to take on a picnic now that the weather is warming up.

Wild Strawberries, called "Fragolini" in Italian, are a special summer treat.  They are often served with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of sugar.  They are much smaller, and sweeter, than regular strawberries - see the regular strawberries in the bottom left-hand corner?  Fragolini are a rare delight!

Photo from:  http://www.drack.de/rom.htm

Enjoy!

Don't forget to enter my one-year anniversary giveaway for a chance to win Baking From My Home to Yours!

Traditional Zucchini Pasta

This is my new favorite pasta!  It's quick and easy to make, and you can taste each fresh ingredient in every bite - zucchini, basil, olive oil, and garlic  (reminds me of my friend, Mary, at One Perfect Bite)!  I used a lot more basil than the recipe calls for - and fresh mozzarella instead of smoked provolone.

The funny thing is that I found the recipe in Family Circle magazine...and it's wonderful.

Bon Appetito!

Curlew at Oxnard Shores today