Cranberry Sauce with Calvados and Molasses

The addition of the molasses and Calvados add a little something different to this staple that is on everyones Thanksgiving day table. Feel free to be liberal with the black pepper. It plays off nicely with the flavor of the cinnamon and the tartness of the cranberries.




2 Cups Fresh Cranberries
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 Cup Cider
1/4 cup Calvados
1 Tablespoon Molasses
1 Teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon
Pinch of Salt

Bring Cider up to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add cranberries and brown sugar and cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes. Stir occasionally. Add Calvados, Molasses, Black Pepper, Cinnamon and salt. Stir and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Let cool completely

#SUNDAYSUPPER #BEATTHEHEAT

PEEL AND EAT ROASTED SHRIMP COCKTAIL

Pre-Heat oven to 400 degrees
Arrange large shrimp on a sheet tray in a single layer. Drizzle with olive oil and sea salt. Roast shrimp for 8-10 minutes until opaque and pink. Let cool
SPICY COCKTAIL SAUCE
1/4 cup chili sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons horseradish
1/2 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon tabasco
Combine all ingredients

Summer Corn

There are many things that summer brings. Long lazy days, stone fruits, watermelon, trips to the amusement park, sandy toes, melty ice-cream cones, sun flowers and farm stands. One item you're sure to pick up at the farm stand is local corn.
The corn is delicious this summer and although I'm in NYC we have a great farm stand in Union Square where us New Yorkers can get a taste of the beach or country from many local farmers. So I picked up the first corn of the season for my family for Sunday Supper and along with delicious Green Chili Cheeseburgers I served Elote. Which is that delicious Mexican corn you get out at your favorite Mexican restaurant. Well guess what it's sooo easy to make.





Husk the corn removing all the silk, but don't remove all the husk. Soak the corn in cold water for about 15 minutes while preheating your grill pan.













Grill the corn on all sides about 5 minutes a side. (I turned mine about 4 times) Remove from heat and spread mayonnaise on corn and cover in grated cotija cheese. ( I actually used Parmesan and Romano mixture and sprinkled into the grated cheese some Smoked Paprika and Cayenne) Serve with lime wedges.

http://www.grownyc.org/unionsquaregreenmarket/

Getting to know You!

Sooooo....you're 40. Well I am. Actually I'm 41. Turning 40 for me was less then fun. I went into the year fine. No big deal. I still feel like me. But at my 41st birthday I felt like things had changed physically, emotionally psychologically. And all of a sudden I'm looking in the mirror staring at some one I don't know. So I have decided to try to get to know myself again. A lot of that just means acceptance. Willful acceptance. That is hard, but I'm trying. I do in fact appreciate more the things I truly enjoy. And of course the things I love. No more doing what I think I'm supposed to, wearing clothes cuz they are in, going to what is supposed to be the hottest trendiest restaurant. Now I make sure to choose how I spend my time wisely. And here are some of the things I love.
The first would have to be my family. My sons are teens now and don't spend too much time at home. My husband is a restaurateur so he works nights. So when we can all be home at the same time I really love a meal around our dining room table. A traditional Sunday Supper where cooking takes all day. Everyone helps and we can all sit in the evening together.




I eat pretty much a vegetarian diet with a little bit of shellfish. It's hard for me to give up meat completely mainly due to work. You see I'm a food stylist and recipe developer so sometimes for work I'm required to cook with meats. But as a personal choice I feel better eating mainly vegetarian. Now don't think I'm crazy but a little while back I purchased a juicer. Beware of addiction. Now you really think I'm nuts. Why not talk about chocolate cake, or the most memorable meal ever. No. I am addicted to the green drink. If you start drinking these you will feel why. My older teen age son even drinks them now. I do have a couple of different recipes for juicing but this one is
Kale, cucumber, celery, kiwi, jalapeño, lemon and ginger. And yes it tastes good!




Next is comfort. Although I appreciate fashion, I believe more in personal style. That for me means being comfortable. So I guess I would say I have a bit of a bohemian flare. And ultimate comfort for me starts with my feet and that is why am dying for these Dr. Martens. Yes they are a bit combat boot like. But these boots are so comfortable. They did me well on a film shoot in the desert and I can walk city block after city block all day in them. Also did you notice the feminine touch.




Therapy.....what forms of therapy do I do? Baking. Lots of it. I can de-stress focus and feel creative.




Upstate New York. I could say travel in general but I can get upstate in a matter of hours where I can completely be surrounded by nature and fresh air. This photo was taken at the Emerson Resort in Mt. Tremper. The place is amazing. Beautiful setting, the best spa services, food and they allow my Dog to come! And of course Central Park. Just a mind clearing pleasant beautiful walk outside. How lucky am I to have this amazing oasis just blocks from my home.








The Soul. I just can't get enough. Fast paced, mind clearing, reviving, intoxicating, inspiring complete fun!! All of these things are very therapeutic for me and simple. SIMPLE....I'm noticing this is a word for me to pay attention to.




And lastly. The animals in your life and I mean literally. Being a Mom to teens and a husband that has to work at night I have found my self many evenings sitting at home with my cats and my beloved dog Aldo. Many bottles of wine have been had in their company. I am heavy hearted to say I had to put Aldo down just a few days ago. He was a very funny, loving family member. Aldo taught me to just appreciate the SIMPLE things in your life that you just truly enjoy. As this was how he spent his life. A walk in the park, a family meal, something comfortable (for him this was his favorite spot to lay down), a trip away to his favorite spot upstate, a good run. Sounds familiar to all the things I love. But the thing I love most is Aldo and all he contributed to my family. I will deeply miss him.

Orange Olive Oil Cake

Orange Olive Oil Cakes

2 1/4 cups cake flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

pinch salt

1 1/2 cups granulated sugar

3 large eggs

6 oz vanilla greek yogurt (I used Chobani vanilla)

6 oz milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 cups good quality fruity extra-virgin olive oil

zest from 3 large oranges

pre heat oven to 350

1. In a large mixing bowl whisk to combine eggs and sugar until lightens in color. Add in yogurt and milk and whisk until combined. Stream in Olive Oil while whisking. Add vanilla and zest until equally incorporated.

2. In another mixing bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder and pinch of salt.

3. Slowly add dry ingredients into wet while whisking until dry mixture is just incorporated but smooth. (batter may seem a bit on the loose side but that is ok!)

4. Pour batter into 12 muffin cups about 3/4 full

5. Bake on the middle rack at 350 for 30-35 minutes rotating baking sheet once. Cool completely on a wire wrack. 

Enjoy!

SPRING AHEAD

Spring is definitely in the air. After a some what mild winter the air and light have shifted subtly into Spring. For me Spring is just a natural inspiration. I just need to be outside to be inspired by any thing from the warm sun, to the new growth of flowers shooting up throughout the Earth. It's a time of de-clutter and clean fresh starts.... are you one to "Spring Clean?"

One obvious sign of spring for me is Food! This time of year it seems people want to eat lighter drink more water, get outside more. Naturally.. right? Spring is an exciting time for chefs and cooks. as all winter we have been busy in the kitchen cooking hearty comfort food we can transition into the bounty of all of the new spring vegetables we will start seeing at the farmers market.

Fresh leafy greens, spring peas, asparagus, ramps all make me think of spring. The new colors of greens slowly budding up on the trees can inspire clean fresh meals.

As a trained Pastry Chef I tend to want to bake. And this very sunny weather is inspiring me to bake some thing with a bright spring flavor. So I decided to make these lemon sugar cookies!

Bright Lemony Sugar Cookies

3 cups ap flour
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt

1 3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup lt brown sugar

2 sticks butter
2 lg eggs
Zest from 1 lemon
1 tbsp lemon juice

clear course sanding sugar

Pre-heat oven to 350

1. In your stand mixer (or electric hand mixer)

2.Mix on medium speed the sugars, butter and the zest until light and fluffy

3.Mix in eggs one at a time

4. Lower speed and add the lemon juice

5. Gragually add in flour mixture until just incoroprated

Use a 2 inch icecream scoop (or just roll into 2 inch balls)
Drop onto sil-pat lined sheet tray, flatten slightly and sprinkle with clear course sanding sugar

Bake until golden about 15 minutes rotating sheet tray half way through and cool completely on wire rack.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Sunday Supper

Its important to eat with others. I know that everone is busy and it can be easier to order up and sit your kids at the table while you answer e-mails or straighten up the house or just try to fit in something else to do. The Sunday Supper concept is such a wonderful one. Now if it cant be Sunday for you and your night is different that is just fine. Basically its the concept of preparing food while not rushing. Taking your time and letting it be relaxing. Letting the smells warm up the home into that state of comfort. Long cooked pasta sauces bubbling over, slow cooked soups, roasting chickens, baking chocolate chip cookies. These are the days that that these wonderful smells live deep in our minds and when smelled again trigger those Sunday memories of being home relaxing, eating and enjoying your loved ones company. About a month ago my son turned 17. Yes the time flew by and yes I feel the guilt of not doing enough or not being around enough, not savoring every moment like I should. Guilt and motherhood go hand in hand. But one thing I knew I could do was prepare a meal for my son to celebrate his birthday and enjoy time together.

We started with French Onion Soup. Lots of cheesy warm goodness

Of course I let me son pick the meal and he was in a burger kind of mood. No complaint here. I like to use a brisket blend for a very rich beefy flavor with just the right anount of fat to keep the meat nice and moist.

Next up Bacon shot! Really, theres no smellavision app yet?

And we have Burger action. I made a sauce that I named after my 25 year old step-son Max. The sauce is basically a Big Mac sauce but our version is the Big Max sauce. We are a family full of condiment lovers. And yes I went the TOT route. They are just so good.

And lastly it was washed down with a lovely Chaetauneuf du Pape. I guess I follow what some call the European mind set of letting your kids have a little wine with a special meal. And my boys are 17 and 14 so they are understanding and starting to learn the appreciation of wine and how it comlpiments a meal. It was a superbly lovely Sunnday Supper celebration day!