Sunday, May 29, 2011

Gourmet Girls Update

We've had two Gourmet Girl meetings since my last post. LEMON APPEAL and BREAKFAST/BRUNCH were the themes. As usual the food was fantastic. I'd like to share some of the recipes, check 'em out below...



LEMON TIRAMISU (Cindi)
LEMON SYRUP:
juice from 3 lemons
½ cup water
½ cup sugar
zest from 1 lemon
In a small saucepan, combine lemon juice, water, sugar and zest. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar has dissolved. Take the pan off the heat and allow the syrup to cool. Set aside.

FILLING #1:
1 ½ cups whipping cream
½ cup confectioners sugar
1-8 oz. mascarpone cheese
2 teaspoons vanilla
zest of 1 lemon

Whip the cream in a large bowl until thick. Add the lemon zest; continue to whip until the cream holds soft peaks. In another bowl, cream together sugar, mascarpone cheese and vanilla for 30 seconds. Whip the cream into the mascarpone mixture. Set aside.

FILLING #2:
1-8 oz. mascarpone cheese
1 cup lemonade concentrate, thawed
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
¼ cup cream mixture from above
yellow food coloring

In another bowl, cream the mascarpone and then add the concentrate, sugar, food coloring and cream mixture. Set aside. Mix until smooth. Set aside. Pull apart angel food cake into very small pieces. In serving bowl or baking dish put a layer of the crumbled cake, press down a bit. Spoon or brush the lemon syrup mixture over the cake crumbles. Just enough to lightly moisten. Spread a layer of the mascarpone/cream mixture. Spread a layer of the mascarpone/lemon mixture. Repeat with cake and both mascarpone layers. Top with the sweetened cream (1 ½ cups whipping cream, 1 tsp. vanilla and ¼ cup sugar). Sprinkle with lemon zest. {Even better if you can make a day in advance.}





LEMON CHICKEN PASTA SALAD (Brittany)
4 chicken breasts
2 stalks of celery, chopped
1 lb. bag of penne pasta (can use lemon juice when boil)
2 ½ c. mayonnaise
¼ c. fresh lemon juice (approx. 2 large lemons)
1 pkg. fresh dill, chopped
1 c. buttermilk
Feta (optional)

Cook chicken in oven at 350 for 45 mins. Season with lemon pepper,garlic salt,
onion salt. Combine chicken, celery, and pasta. In a separate bowl mix together mayonnaise, fresh lemon juice, dill and buttermilk. Add to chicken and toss (may not use all of the sauce – save so if you store in the fridge you can add later because the noodles will soak it up). Mix in one container of feta. Chill in fridge for 30 mins.




LEMON CAKE (Jen)
1 lemon cake mix
1 small instant lemon pudding
1/2 cup oil
1 cup orange juice
5 eggs

Icing:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice

In a bowl combine the cake mix and lemon pudding. Add the oil, orange juice and eggs. Mix well. Bake according to the directions on the cake mix package. Cool for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the icing. Combine sugar and lemon juice and mix with fork until smooth. Poke holes into the top of the cake with a fork. Drizzle icing over cake. Store in refrigerator.
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TRIPLE DEVILED EGGS (Cindi)


(all recipes are for 12 boiled eggs)
Start by boiling 12 eggs. In a large saucepan place eggs in cold water, enough to cover all of the eggs. Bring to a boil. Boil for 8 minutes. Remove from heat. Allow water and eggs to cool down to luke warm temperature. Peel immediately using cold water to aid in removal of shell. Slice eggs in half lengthwise and scoop out yolk. Reserve yolks in a mixing bowl.

Bacon Balsamic Filling:
¼ cup mayonnaise
1 tsp sugar
1½ tsp balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp celery salt
¼ tsp salt and black pepper
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled, plus garnish
1 heaping T. finely minced red onion
1 heaping T. chopped fresh parsley

Smoked Salmon Filling:
2-3 T. mayonnaise
1 T. sour cream
1 T. fresh lemon juice
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp dried dill, plus garnish
½ tsp salt
½ tsp pepper
2 oz. smoked salmon, finely chopped
1 T. fresh chives

Italian Filling:
3 T. mayonnaise
2 tsp. sundried tomato oil
1 tsp dijon mustard
½ tsp balsamic vinegar
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp salt
pinch of pepper
2 T. sun dried tomatoes (in oil), finely chopped
1 T. paquillo red peppers, finely chopped
1 teaspoon basil, fresh or dried
garnish with fresh parsley

Mash the yolks. Add the wet ingredients, herbs and spices; stir until thoroughly combined and creamy. Add the remaining ingredients; carefully stir until incorporated. Spoon the mixture into the egg whites. Garnish.




CARAMEL SOAKED FRENCH TOAST (Kathryn)
4 large eggs, beaten
2-1/2 cups half and half
1 T. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
1-1/2 cups brown sugar
3/4 cups butter
1/4 cup + 2 T. light corn syrup
3 T. sugar
1-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 cup melted butter
10 thick slices french bread (1-2 inches thick)

Combine eggs, milk, vanilla and salt. Stir and set aside. Combine brown sugar, 3/4 cup butter and corn syrup in a medium saucepan. Stir until combined and bubbly, about 3-5 minutes. Pour syrup mixture in greased 9x13 pan. Arrange bread over top of the syrup mixture. Pour egg mixture over top. Refrigerate over night. Combine 3 T. sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over top, drizzle with 1/4 cup melted butter. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees, until golden brown.


BACON, SPINACH & MUSHROOM CREPES (Michele)
12 sliced bacon, chopped
8 T. butter
1lb. sliced mushrooms
2 cups milk
2-1o oz. pkg. frozen chopped spinach
1/2 cup flour
2 T. chopped fresh parsley
4 T. grated parmesan
1 cup chicken broth
4 eggs
1 cup lemon juice
8 crepe wraps



Cook bacon pieces, drain and set aside. Use 2 T. butter and 2 T. bacon grease to saute mushrooms with your choice of seasonings. Set aside. In a saucepan melt 6 T. butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour stirring constantly until a smooth paste is formed. Gradually stir in milk stirring constantly until a smooth thick grave is achieved. Season with desired seasonings (salt, pepper, onion, garlic etc) Add the bacon, mushrooms, spinach, parsley and parmesan cheese. Let cook until thick, about 10 minutes. In another saucepan bring broth to a boil. In a small bowl whisk eggs and lemon juice together. Temper the eggs with a small amount of the broth. Add remaining broth slowly, stirring constantly careful not to scramble the eggs. Add salt and pepper to taste. Fill each crepe with the spinach filling. Roll and top with the warm lemon sauce.

Visit from Mom and Pop


Danny's Mom and Dad (Jane and Fino) came to visit us in April. It was such a nice time. There were here for a week and really enjoyed having them. We took a drive up to Snow Basin, then down around Pineview lake and the little town of Huntsville. We made a trip out to Smith & Edwards, Fino's favorite place to go. Danny also took them out to Cabella's one afternoon. We love when his family comes to Utah. Can't wait for the next visit.

Meatball Subs!

Ok, so I've tried my hand at meatballs a few times and I have never really been pleased with the outcome. Until now. My friend Kathryn recommended a food site to check out called Smitten Kitchen and while I was browsing I came across her Meatball Sub recipe. Oh My Goodness! These meatballs are FABULOUS! Even on my first attempt they came out perfect. The recipe makes quite a few for just 2 people, so I was able freeze a bunch of them to eat later. The first time I made them we had spaghetti, then we used the frozen batch for subs. Here is my picture dairy and the recipe. I hope you'll try 'em and LOVE 'em!



THE MEATBALLS

2 lbs ground meat of your choice
(I used beef, but she has used pork, veal, chicken, turkey or a blend thereof)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
1-1/3 cup fresh bread crumbs (2 to 3 slices bread)
3/4 cup beef broth, warmed
1/3 cup finely grated Parmesan cheese
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 small garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 large egg
sub rolls
Olive oil

Before preparing the meat; split your rolls almost the whole way through, leaving one side attached. Scoop out some of the roll to create a channel for the meatballs to rest in. Grind the bread you pulled out in a food processor or tear it into minuscule bits. You will need 1-1/3 cups of fresh breadcrumbs for the meatballs. If you’re not making subs, you can get this same amount of breadcrumbs from 2 to 3 sandwich bread slices. Set rolls aside until later.

Place the fresh breadcrumbs in a large bowl with 3/4 cup warm beef broth and all of the meatball ingredients except for the olive oil. Combine with a fork, breaking up clumps of meat until the ingredients are evenly distributed. Form mixture into 2-inch meatballs are arrange on a tray. I find wet hands make it easier to form meatballs without them sticking too much. Heat a generous slick of oil (few tablespoons) in a large saute pan with a lid.



Brown meatballs in batches, being careful not to crowd the pan or nudge them before they are nicely browned or they will stick and you’ll leave delicious meatball bits in the pan. These meatballs are soft, so use a gentle hand. Transfer meatballs to a paper towel-lined tray and continue until they are all browned.



Discard the oil and heat your tomato sauce in the pan. Add the meatballs, cover the pan and simmer them on the lowest heat possible for 25 to 30 minutes, until the meatballs are cooked through.


Butter sub rolls and sprinkle with garlic powder. Put under broiler until lightly browned.



Sprinkle one side of sub with parmesan cheese, on the other side add the meatballs, some sauce and top with mozzarella cheese. Place back under broiler to melt cheese.




Serve hot! SO YUMMY!


Friday, May 27, 2011

Some good reads...



Here are the last two books we've read at bookclub! Definite recommends. I really enjoyed them both.

The Snow Flower book is by Lisa See and we've read another one of her books that was just as good. I really enjoy her as an Author. It is all about Chinese culture and customs during the 19th century. Very informative and intriguing.

The Kitchen House is based during the days of slavery on plantations in th U.S. It follows a family of slaves, the plantation family and the connections between them. Very gripping.

Both books fall under the historical fiction category and while the stories are not completely true you do learn quite a bit about the era and life during those times.

The girls in the bookclub do such a great job at picking wonderful books. I still love meeting with them each month. They are a special group. Happy Reading!

A new season begins...

OLE OLE OLE OLE, REAL, SALT LAKE!

Another season has begun. We got season tickets again this year for the Salt Lake Real. The Correa's also got two tickets. We are really having fun, as usual. Our seats are great, front row-second deck. Perfect view and no one walks in front of us. I can't believe that I am enjoying soccer as much as I am. Never in a million years would I have guessed it. But I love RSL and their players and I am consider myself a true fan. Can't wait to see how the season turns out...