All posts tagged: for the love of cooking

Food: Dinner Tonight – Oh Grilled Cheese Sandwich

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…you had me at first photo. I love the idea of grilled onions, cheese and this one is the winner of what dinner will be in my household tonight. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons salted butter 2 yellow onions, thinly sliced kosher salt and black pepper 3/4 cup apple cider 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes 4 slices prosciutto (optional) 8 slices sourdough bread 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 cups shredded fontina cheese 1 1/2 cups shredded gouda or white cheddar cheese 1 honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced  {more} I am going to let the pictures do the rest – tantalizing much? {photo and recipe source and credit}

Food: Dinner Tonight – Lemon butter Chicken and Mashed Cauliflower

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I realized last night, while up with eyes wide-open planning the week, that I wanted to make a chicken dish for dinner tonight. Something different and exciting and this recipe is just perfect, because everyone in my family loves cauliflower – let’s just hope they love mashed cauliflower – oh and the chicken too. INGREDIENTS 4 chicken cutlets, or 2 boneless chicken breasts, sliced in half horizontally kosher salt and black pepper 1/3 cup all-purpose flour (can use GF flour too) 1/4 cup grated parmesan 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/2 cup dry white wine, such as Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc 1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 12 fresh sage leaves 4 tablespoons salted butter 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 2 tablespoons capers MASHED CAULIFLOWER 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets 3 cloves garlic, smashed 2-3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature 4 tablespoons salted butter {more} On another note – if you are wondering what to watch on television tonight since you are probably all caught up on the rest – here’s my suggestion – a start -studded 2002 film with Paul Newman, Tom Hanks, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig among so many others. I normally …

Food: Home-made Pizza Night

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I love home-made pizza, even if making the crust is sometimes challenging – since I am not one who loves kneading dough to perfection. But…there is so much to be said about home-made and this recipe sound delicious…and naturally you are always welcome to bring your butter/oil of choice. INGREDIENTS 3 tablespoons Land O Lakes® Butter with Olive Oil and Sea Salt 2 cloves garlic, minced or grated 1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for serving 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 1 pinch black pepper 1/2 pound pizza dough, homemade or store-bought 1 cup baby spinach 3 ounces crumbled goat cheese 1 heirloom tomato, sliced ¼” thick 1 cup cubed provolone or mozzarella 2 cups heirloom cherry tomatoes, halved flaky sea salt   2 tablespoons balsamic or white balsamic vinegar  {more}  

Food: Panna Cotta and a Story

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When I was a child living in the middle east, my cousin, who was much older, 20plus years older, left our homeland to live in Paris so he could be a student of Le Cordon Bleu. Now, just in case you are not familiar with the culinary school, it is one of the best, was the best pack a century ago. I cried the day he left, not sure why, but I was only six and I hated seeing anyone in our extended family leave. Years later, we crossed paths in the states, and he invited our family for dinner. On the menu was  Panna Cotta adorned with fresh cherries he’d soaked in Grand Marnier, or a variation almost Panna Cotta, he’d learned to prepare at the very culinary school. Being a grown up and appreciating much of the finer things in cuisine, I ate one and then asked for a second serving and then stood in the kitchen afterwards discussing the ingredients he used to create the best dessert I have ever had. So …

Hello There, Would You Like Some Cake?

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I am back, after a week off to celebrate, reflect and contemplate how the rest of the year should pan out – taking into consideration of course the minor glitches, and/or set backs, I am thinking it will hopefully stay on course and if not, I know exactly where to escape for a few days to detox-if-you-will. So, before anything, I decided to share this cake recipe with you – not sure why I am craving cake all of a sudden, but I am and this one is on point and a easy to make for that July 4th picnic you are due to bring a dish to. INGREDIENTS 1 cup granulated sugar, plus 2 tablespoons 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 cup extra virgin olive oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1 cup whole milk, at room temperature 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon kosher salt CHAMOMILE STRAWBERRIES 1/4 cup honey 2 chamomile tea bags (optional) 2 cups fresh strawberries, …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Beef Stew Vietnamese Style

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San Francisco is filled with wonderful cuisine, fusion or traditional, Asian food has been one of my favorites. But I’ve never tried to make a dish at home, well, except Thai peanut sauce chicken, with store bought Peanut sauce which is no longer available in stores, I imagine because of the growing peanut allergy in this part of the world. Anyway, I have a pound of stew thawing out in the refrigerator, and while scrolling through Instagram this morning, I found this recipe and traced it back to the original article. Dinner tonight is beef stew Vietnamese style. Ingredients 2 pounds trimmed boneless beef chuck, cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks 3 tablespoons fish sauce, plus more as needed  {not a fan of fish sauce, so I will be omitting} 2 teaspoons light or dark brown sugar {also I never add sugar when a recipe requires it} 1 1/2 teaspoons five-spice powder 3 tablespoons canola or other neutral oil, plus more as needed 1 cup chopped shallot or yellow onion 3 tablespoons peeled and finely chopped …

Food: Dessert or Breakfast

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I came across this recipe when trying to figure out what is for dessert tonight – and then I realized if I add my own take on it – I can also have the ‘dessert’ for breakfast or mid-morning snack – Raspberry & Cream Fools with Amaretti Crumble (Original recipe I am having for dessert) 2 pints raspberries, washed 1 tablespoon sugar, divided 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 cup chilled heavy whipping cream 1 cup amaretti cookies, crushed {more}   My Take for the breakfast option raspberries or strawberries – washed Organic Honey to taste A dash of vanilla extract I cup coconut or almond yogurt Homemade granola crumble or store bought is fine if you are pressed for time and just layer or mix together – either way it will be delicious Undecided about dinner tonight – try this recipe for Frittata or add your favorites (bacon bits, green peppers, mushrooms, cheese) to an egg scramble – to be enjoyed with a couple of slices of rustic Italian bread – toasted of course. 

Food: Dinner Tonight – White Bean Soup

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I love white beans – and normally eat them with a touch of olive oil, and Parmesan cheese and  a dash of cilantro. But today I am craving a soup – and this one is perfect, minus the Crockpot, but for sure with a few slice of rustic baguette and a bottle of cab. INGREDIENTS 6 cups low-sodium chicken or veggie stock 1/2 cup uncooked quinoa 1 small sweet onion, chopped 2 carrots, chopped 1/4 cup basil pesto 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes 4 sage leaves kosher salt and pepper 1 parmesan rind 3 tablespoons lemons juice + 1 tablespoon lemon zest 2 cups roughly torn Tuscan kale 2 cans (14 ounces) cans cannelloni beans, drained grated parmesan, for serving  {more} 

Food: Dinner Tonight – Craving BBQ Chicken added to a Salad of Choice

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We’ve had more rain then I remember in a lifetime here in San Francisco, and I couldn’t be happier. We needed it, wish it would be the norm every year – but we know how it goes. Ten years of drought, one year of some rain. This year of course its an exception – or – wait I think we had this much rain back in 2009?  So, yup every ten years. 🙂 Anyway, with this much rain, we’ve had to postpone the idea of BBQ outdoors. But, since I am craving BBQ, and some sort of salad today, it is happening – either in a non-stick skillet, or my indoor grill – which is an older model and a pain to clean – I have a few more hours to decide which way to BBQ – either way, this is the salad I am aiming for tonight. And…I am not changing a thing in the recipe. INGREDIENTS 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breasts or tenders 1/3 cup barbecue sauce, store-bought or homemade 2 cups fresh grilled or frozen thawed corn …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Quesadilla

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You know, sometimes you have to follow your cravings. Like last night, where I knew exactly what I wanted to make for dinner while commuting home from work, and by the time I got home, I craved roast chicken from the grocers with a side of home-made mashed potatoes and  sauté-d string beans with garlic and olive oil – again my  recipe. Today, I am actually serving breakfast for dinner – or ingredients decided to be used mostly for breakfast and in the form of this Quesadilla recipe: INGREDIENTS 6 large eggs kosher salt 1 tablespoon butter at room temperature 1 can (4 ounce) diced green chiles 1-2 chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped   4 whole wheat or regular flour tortillas 1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese 1/2 cup shredded pepper jack cheese 4 slices cooked crispy bacon, lightly crumbled    {I’ll be using Turkey bacon for our family} 1-2 cups baby spinach or arugula 2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives extra virgin olive oil, for cooking AVOCADO SALSA 1/2 cup fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives or green onions 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped juice from 1 lime 1 avocado, diced kosher salt   {more} Followed by this …