Wednesday, October 17, 2007

As good as Chez Panisse (almost)

Well ... the next best thing! Poached Egg with Curly Endive Salad, courtesy of Alice Waters and the Art of Simple Food. The salad was delicious - simply delicious! I love this style of salad and always forget just how much until I have it. This recipe will or has become a staple in our house!

Dessert was the last of the Mascarpone Ice Cream with the last of the season Blue Organic Strawberries which I roasted and we will have for another couple months - slurpy yummy!

Roasted Chicken Soup cont .....

Late night Tuesday w/working and the gym. So, I took the left over soup soup from last night and threw in some soup I had hid in the freezer ... remember that oh, so delicious soup from the past!? Served with a toasted baguette and goat cheese which was sprinkled with Thyme from the garden and cracked black pepper. The perfect way to end the evening? Why, homemade marscapone cheese ice cream drizzled with Scharffen Berger Chocolate Ganache.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Comfort Food

Sunday night I was exhausted from all the cooking I had done over the weekend, so I roasted a chicken for dinner. I took half of a chick, lifted up the skin and slide butter, shallots, garlic and thyme between the skin and meat. I then sprinkled course sea salt over the top, threw it in the oven with some acorn squash and roasted them all. The meal was simple and delicious. Monday night, I took the left over chicken and turned it into a simple roasted chicken broth & tossed in a little thyme and pasta, whipped up some biscuits and we had dinner. Perfect meal for an evening that came upon a rainy day.

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Two Days in France

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Well, not exactly but the next best thing. Denise of Chez spent the past weekend cooking, eating and tasting wine at Tante Marie .

I took a French Food and Wine Course over the weekend - which I highly recommend. The school is small, intimate and very professional with a casual and laid back feeling all rolled into one fantastic program. Mary Risley, the founder of Tante Marie is very personable and welcoming - as if we all just came to her home! Everyone taking the course was interesting (from all over the country as well as Bay Area) and we all enjoyed the same passion - COOKING and FOOD! The instructors, Jessica Lasky (food) and Shelley Lindgren (wine) are knowledgeable, fun and very personable. I can not say enough pleasant things about my experience - I will definitely go back!

We spent the entire weekend learning about the different regions of France with regards to food and wine as well as getting our hands dirty in the kitchen. We made everything from Pepper Gougeres (can you say super YUM), Salade Lyonnaise, Classic Bouillabaise, Beef Daube, Duck Cassoulet, Quail with Grapes, Celeryroot and Endive Salade, Fig Clafouti, Crepe Suzette, and the list goes on and one!

We tasted and drank wines from Champagne, Alace, Bordeaux, the Rhone and may other wonderful areas in France.

I wish I could give you all a nibble; but, I can't. You can entice your taste buds here! This is simply a wonderful way to spend a weekend!