Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Goin' on a Little Trip

I'm getting ready to set sail this weekend on a cruise to the Bahamas. I'm starting to get really excited too! My sister got together with my family this summer and surprised me with this trip for my 50th birthday. What a present, huh? I haven't been feeling well this week, but my Doctor hooked me up yesterday and I'm starting to feel better.



I leave on Saturday for Florida. I'm going with my sister and her childhood friend, Cheryl. We are staying at a resort for 2 nights, then heading to Cape Canaveral to board the ship.


We will be going to Cococay, Nassau, and just cruising around and I won't be home until next Friday! You know I will keep you updated on the trip with pictures. I'm not bring my computer, but I can use my sister's.


So while I'm gone, and sipping on one of these, I will thinking about you all with the warmest of wishes.



This is the girl who made this goodness happen, my sister.
Thank-you again, Susie

XOXO

Monday, September 28, 2009

Happy Monday!


Just dropping by to say Happy Monday everyone! Have a great day.
I'm going away on Friday, I have so much to do and haven't even started yet because I have been sick. I need to get crackin'. I'll tell you where I'm going on my next post!

XOXO

Saturday, September 26, 2009

A visit to the Farmer's Market

I took a little trip to the local Farmer's Market in Flourtown, Pa today. It is one of my favorite places to go on the weekends. I was craving some kind of fresh seafood.


When you walk in, you get so many delicious smells, first one being fresh coffee beans.



They have a wonderful cheese selection. I got some Blue cheese spread.



This is my favorite stand. Fresh and very authentic!


Great homemade salsas and chips.


Homemade empanadas and burritos and chimichangas....



Check out the roasted chickens & ribs!



Here I got some fresh pasta. She is putting it through the machine to cut it.



Had to get a fresh baguette to go with my pasta dinner.



The fresh produce is amazing. Jersey and local tomatoes here.



Don't those beets look delicious?



There is nothing like fresh squeezed orange juice with fresh fruit!



Check out these shrimp! I decided to get some big scallops to sear, and then make a sauce to go with my fresh linguine.



Great looking meats.


Some beautiful cakes and pies, which I walked right on by!

Thanks for touring my Farmer's Market with me. As you can see, the food here is unbelievable!
I'll try to remember to get a picture of my scallop dish for you tonight.
Have a great rest of the weekend!

XOXO

Thursday, September 24, 2009

I Love the Fall

I just love this time of year. The weather is changing and getting a little cooler, and the pumpkins are starting to surface.


The leaves are starting to fall. You start thinking of the Holidays and the family meals that are soon to come.

The colors are getting prettier....



and even prettier!

Then I open my front door to see all of the beautiful colors and see this....

STINK BUGS!!!!

I don't know about you, but we have them all over the place. The porch, screens, side of the house, the front door, sometimes they even sneak inside of the house. If you squish them, they really do stink! I was just wondering if anyone else had these little critters roaming around?
Happy Fall everyone!
XOXO




Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Beef Bourguignon


I made this for dinner tonight, and it was so good that I wanted to share it with you. I actually made it yesterday on my day off, for tonight's dinner. It is one of those dishes that is better the next day! If you have the time, please try this recipe--it is delicious!!

Beef Bourguigon


INGREDIENTS:
•8 ounces bacon, coarsely chopped
•3 pounds well-trimmed boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes (from 7-bone chuck roast)
•1/3 cup all purpose flour
•1 1/4 pounds boiling onions, peeled
•3/4 pound large carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces
•4 celery stalks cut into 1 inch pieces on the diagonal.
•6 white new potatoes, peeled and quartered.
•6 large garlic cloves, peeled (left whole)

•3 cups canned beef broth
•1/2 cup Cognac or brandy
•2 750-ml bottles of good red Burgundy wine
•1 pound crimini mushrooms
•1 cup fresh or frozen green peas.
•1/3 cup chopped fresh thyme or 2 tablespoons dried
•1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
•1 tablespoon tomato paste

PREPARATION:
•Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Saute bacon in heavy large Dutch oven over high heat until brown and crisp, about 8 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels. Season beef generously with salt and pepper; coat with 1/3 cup flour, using all of flour. Working in 3 batches, brown beef in same pot over high heat, about 5 minutes per batch. Transfer meat to large bowl. Add onions and carrots to same pot and sauté until light brown, about 6 minutes. Add garlic and sauté 1 minute. Transfer vegetables to bowl with beef.

•Add 1 cup broth and Cognac to pot; boil until reduced to glaze, scraping up browned bits, about 8 minutes. Return meat and vegetables and their juices to pot. Add wine, mushrooms, thyme, sugar, tomato paste and 2 cups broth. Bring to boil, stirring occasionally. Cover pot and place in oven. Cook until beef is tender, about 1 hour 30 minutes.
•Add celery and potatoes after 30 minutes of cooking time. •Add peas at the end of the cooking time after heat has been turned off.

•Ladle liquid from stew into large saucepan. Spoon off fat. Boil liquid until reduced to 2 3/4 cups, about 40 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Pour liquid back over beef and vegetables. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.) Rewarm over low heat before serving. Serve over egg noodles.

8 Servings


*Changes I made:

-Didn't use the brandy

-Only used one bottle of red wine

-Added a can of chicken broth

-Added an extra tablespoon of sugar and tomato paste


Please give it a try, you will LOVE it!!

XOXO





Monday, September 21, 2009

Happy Monday


Just a quick hello to say Happy Monday, and hope you all have a great week. Just wondering if anyone watches Dancing with the Stars? I pulled my back out yesterday. So tonight I have ice on it watching t.v. and figured I check it out. I'm for Debbi Mazar so far. I like her and her husbands blog on cooking. http://www.underthetuscangun.com/index.html. (Go figure!) Have a nice night all....

XOXO

Friday, September 18, 2009

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!


I just wanted to tell everyone to have a fantastic weekend! This is a picture of my mother-in-law, Helen, (on the far left) with her college roommates. They both flew in from Florida this week to visit. She never asks me for anything, but she was adamant about really wanting me to come to Maryland to meet them. So yesterday after work I drove down to grant her request. We had a wonderful dinner of a nice salad, crab cakes, roasted asparagus, and corn on the cob.
They were up bright and early this morning, and are off to the airport. I'm really glad I got to meet them, very sweet and lots of laughs. The topic of conversation was grand kids, getting old, and pills! Funny.


XOXO

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Birthday Dinner Party

Hi everyone. Remember me? I hope everyone had a wonderful summer, and is embracing the Fall to come. I have been a little hectic lately, and went back to work last week. Busy, busy, busy.
Last night we went to a wonderful dinner party to celebrate my friend Betsi's 50th birthday. We had a great time, and the food was outrageous. What a beautiful home this couple had. This is Betsi and her husband, Bob, me and John.



The table was set beautifully. I loved the way she layed the flowers on the table, so a vase wouldn't block any ones view. There were 12 of us all together.




This is Max. He was the size of a horse! I don't think I have ever seen a dog this big. He was beautiful. 2 1/2 year old Great Dane. All he wanted to do was play, and he was so clumsy!





Pictures can't even describe how big he was!




Birthday girl! Strawberry shortcake for her cake and it was yummy!





Betsi and I have been friends forever. Isn't she pretty?





Here is a end of the night group shot. Good friends, good food, good times!
Have a wonderful Sunday!

XOXO

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Best Turkey Burger EVER!!


I saw these turkey burgers on Oprah last year. They are from Donald Trump's private club, Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach. I made them last summer, and they were the best turkey burger I have ever had. I wouldn't change a thing! A little bit of work, but well worth the effort! They are on the menu for this weekend. If you get a chance, give them a try!





Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger
Recipe courtesy of Jeff O'Neill

Oprah found a new favorite food when she tried this turkey burger at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump's private club in Palm Beach. "I believe [it] may be the best turkey burger in the entire world," she says. The Mar-a-Lago Turkey Burger will be permanently available at the Trump Bar and Grille in Trump Tower in New York City, open to the public for lunch and dinner. It will also be served during lunch in Chicago at Sixteen, the Trump International Hotel restaurant.

Ingredients:Serves 6
1/4 cup thinly sliced scallions
1/2 cup finely chopped celery
3 Granny Smith apples , peeled and diced
1/8 cup canola oil
4 pounds ground turkey breast
2 Tbsp. salt
2 Tbsp. black pepper
2 tsp. Tabasco® chipotle pepper sauce
1 lemon , juiced and grated zest
1/2 bunch parsley , finely chopped
1/4 cup Major Grey's Chutney , pureed
Sauté the scallions, celery and apples in the canola oil until tender. Let cool.Place the ground turkey in a large mixing bowl. Add sautéed items and the remaining ingredients. Shape into eight 8-ounce burgers. Refrigerate for 2 hours.Season the turkey burgers with salt and pepper. Place on a preheated, lightly oiled grill. Grill each side for 7 minutes until meat is thoroughly cooked. Let sit for 5 minutes.Serve with a side of Mar-a-Lago Pear Chutney and your favorite toasted bread, pita or hamburger roll.

Pear Chutney

1 Anjour Pear, peeled and diced
1/2 tsp. sea salt
1 1/2 cups Major Grey's Chutney
1/4 cup raisins

-Toss diced pears in a little bit of cinnamon and salt.
-Bake on parchment lined cookie sheet for 10 minutes @ 350.
-Cool and mix with chutney and raisins.



I hope everyone has a WONDERFUL Labor Day. I'm heading to Maryland tomorrow, and will try to keep in touch. Then it is back to work next Wednesday, YEAH!

XOXO