Subtle hints of red chile add a bit of heat to these fantastic corn fritters. In less than 15 minutes you could whip these together for a great appetizer, or in our case, a light dinner. Delicious. Also, have I mentioned that this cookbook is amazing? Buy it for yourself, or ask Santa for it...
Beef Meatball Sandwich with Melting Mozzarella and Tomato Salsa
This fancied-up variation of a burger is a must-try. I love the fresh, bright flavors of the salsa combined with the perfectly seasoned meatballs and creamy mozzarella. No store-bought condiments necessary. Spectacular lunch on a cold day. Beef Meatball Sandwich with Melting Mozzarella and Tomato Salsa Credit: Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking by Gordon Ramsay Ingredients:...
Sirloin Tacos with Quick Pickled Cabbage and Wasabi Mayo
This Asian twist on a Mexican favorite made for a wonderful weeknight dinner, and it came together really quickly. The sirloin is marinaded after it is cooked, and it absorbs the flavors wonderfully. We will definitely be making these again soon. Sirloin Tacos with Quick Pickled Cabbage and Wasabi Mayo Credit: Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking...
Leek and Gruyere Rosti with Fried Eggs
For my birthday weekend at the cabin, we cooked up all sorts of delicious meals from my new Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking cookbook. We very much enjoyed this breakfast on a crisp, rainy, Fall birthday morning. If you want to save some time in the morning, you could par-boil your potatoes the night before and...
Beef Wellington
I am happy to say that I can check Gordon Ramsay's Beef Wellington off my cooking bucket list. I've always wanted to give it a try, especially after watching Gordon Ramsay make it so many times on TV. The crispy pastry crust filled with prosciutto, mushrooms, and juicy beef tenderloin is spectacular. The meat is...
Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe Cake
My birthday cake project was a tower of success. After the first time I tried making this and the less-than-satisfactory results, I was determined to pull it off this time with minimal tears or bloodshed. (You can read about my 2006 attempt here.) This is by no means a whip-it-together last minute type of dessert...
Ten Things I Can't Live & Cook Without For a Year
I'm a planner. It's as simple as that. When we found out we would be moving to Italy, I immediately began a categorized packing list, arranged according to priority, and size. The more time I spend thinking about what I want to bring with me, or what I feel like I NEED to bring, I...
Slow-Roasted Filet of Beef with Basil Parmesan Mayonnaise
Of all the recipes I planned to try this week from my Cookbook of the Week: Barefoot Contessa Foolproof by Ina Garten, I think I was most looking forward to this one. It had nothing but delicious written all over it: filet of beef, fresh basil, homemade mayonnaise, "slow-roasted". I was salivating just reading about...
Smoked Salmon with Fresh Dill Sauce
This recipe uses a charcoal grill and hickory wood chips to smoke the salmon, and the results are splendid. No fancy smoker needed, and the smoky flavor is just strong enough to shine through without being too overpowering for the salmon. The fresh dill sauce was a hit at our house, and I'll surely find...
Double-Glazed Pumpkin Spice Scones
I know I've mentioned before that I have a love for scones, and I usually make them with loads of fresh fruit in them. Well, it's a crazy gorgeous Fall day in northern Michigan today, and I got in the mood for some scones. This time I was determined to have a successful batch of...