photograph by Melissa Placzek “Are you going to Scarborough fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. Remember me to one who lives there. She once was a true love of mine.” ~Simon and Garfunkel Happy Friday friends! Today I woke from a strange, delightful dream still fresh in my memory. I was painting with oils on…
~Truffle Pommes Frites~ Have you fallen in love with truffles and truffle oil yet? If not, these salty little bits of potatoey goodness should do the trick! You’ll need: 6 large russet potatoes, skins on 1 quart peanut oil coarse kosher or sea salt black or white truffle oil Cut potatoes into strips the length…
~Johnny Cakes~ 1 cup cornmeal 1 cup self-rise flour 2 large eggs 2 cups buttermilk 2 Tablespoons olive oil 1 can corn, drained well 1 teaspoon onion powder dash of salt Combine all ingredients until just moistened. Fry in hot bacon grease on a hot cast-iron griddle. I like to make little “silver-dollar” sized Johnny…
photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Beef & Basmati Dumplings~ These Greek meat and rice dumplings are moist and flavorful, and surprisingly low in fat when you use extra lean meats. I have made them with fattier meats before, but because of the way these little dumplings are cooked, the extra fat really isn’t necessary. This way…
~Valentine’s Treat 7~ A Strawberry Menu “…Sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, and dine upon strawberries, sugar and cream.” ~From the Mother Goose nursery rhyme “Curly-Locks” Happy Valentine’s Day! We started celebrating yesterday… We started the day with Strawberry Milk and I made a loaf of Strawberry Breakfast Bread This got rave…
~Valentine Treat 6~ My vintage and antique valentines are featured in this weekend’s edition of The Rochester Post Bulletin! My friend, Sandy Erdman, wrote a great article! There was only enough room for two of the valentines to be pictured….soooo… I thought I’d share some of my other favorites here. and the following selections are…
~Hearing~ This gorgeous soundtrack from the beautiful movie Love in the Time of Cholera Love Hildebranda’s and this… Valentine playlist ~Seeing~ This romantic handkerchief coverlet ~Tasting~ Sweet & Salties Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line cookie sheet with heavy-duty foil. Grease foil. Cover tray with Saltine crackers… Mix 1 cup butter and 1 cup…
A Week of Valentine Treats ~Valentine Treat 2~ “But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?” ~Marquis De Sevigne (In circa 1677 letter to her daughter.) photograph by Jeffrey Placzek :: 10 Chocolate Sweets for your Sweetie :: Totally Chocolate Chocolate Chip Cookies Flourless…
~Bacon & Chocolate Bites~ Bake bacon in oven at 400 degrees until crispy (about 15 minutes…watch carefully for doneness.) Blot with a paper towel. Cool completely. Cut each strip into 3 pieces. Melt semi-sweet chocolate chips in microwave. Watch closely and remove when just melted. I only put the chips in for 15 seconds at…
photographs by Melissa Placzek ~Truffle & Black Pepper Scones~ 5 cups all purpose flour 1/2 cup sugar 1 teaspoon sea salt 2 Tablespoons + 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 2 teaspoons baking soda 1/2 cup + 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 and 1/2 Tablespoons freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon…