HAPPY 2013

Happy New Year to all!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year!!!

Thanksgiving 2011

I bought these turkey candles about 35 years ago for the first Thanksgiving dinner I made when Benjamin and Elizabeth were very young. Each year I take them out to put on the table.

This year we ate everything so quickly that I didn't have a chance to photograph the actual turkey, sweet potato balls, potato gratin, roasted Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, caramelized onions, or salads.
Sylvia's empanadas
Pecan tarte with chocolate

Pumpkin pie.

Bad picture but delicious pumpkin rice crispy treats with marshmallows made by Carla and Benjamin. A perfect way to end the night!

bon appetit!!!!

Chocolate Afternoon

I highly recommend Les Ateliers Chocolats in Lyon, France for a fabulous afternoon of chocolate making. Christine Grosjean is a wonderful teacher and provides so much information in addition to her passion. We laughed, we tasted, we stirred, we dipped, we cooled, but most of all we had a wonderful time!
These are chunks of caramel before they are dipped in a chocolate coating.

This is what my box of chocolates looked like after traveling from Lyon to New York. I packed it in my suitcase, hoping for the best. I made every one of these beauties and they were delicious!

Bon appetit!

Clare.

Little Banana Cakes

This is what you end up with after you add....
some very ripe bananas,
butter, eggs, flour, sugar......
to well mashed bananas.
really well mashed bananas with eggs and a little vanilla......
and flour.....
poured into a popover pan and baked at 350 degrees. I love the shape of popovers compared to muffins. Each one is a little different. I topped a few with chocolate just for fun. It melted slightly and just gave that chocolate taste to the first few bites. Delicious!
just out of the oven....
Here are my little babies cooling on a rack. I froze some immediately and saved the rest for a picnic.

Bon appetit.

clare.

Farro, My New Favorite

Mario introduced me to Farro last summer. I don't know how to describe it other than to say this is the most wonderful grain I have ever tasted. It has a slightly nutty flavor but a soft texture and can be used in so many ways. It is hard to find in NY but Fairway has it for $4.99 while Dean and Deluca sells it for $10.99! .....the same package, the same quantity, the same brand. Amazing. I have not been able to find it in a regular super market like Food Emporium or Gristedes.

We discussed many ways to use it and I am posting just one. Mario and I sat together for an hour each week discussing all kinds of wonderful recipes and foods. It was a conversation partnership at the International Center and the purpose was to help him with his English. For me it was my one hour a week to discuss cooking with someone who really knew what he was doing in the kitchen. Grazie Mario!!!!!!

I started with olive oil, onions, celery and carrots. I let it cook for a while until the onions were translucent.

I added some ground fat free turkey.

Add a little red wine, chicken stock and tomato sauce.

When it is done, add the cooked farro.

Can you smell how wonderful it is?

A perfect dinner for one of the snowy nights we have had in New York. I added some parmesan just before serving. Did I leave anything out, Mario????

Bon appetit.

Clare.

Menus du Monde, CT-USA

This picture comes from Washington, Connecticut, USA. This is a chopped cowboy ciao salad with arugula, tomatoes, asiago cheese, currants, pepitas, sweet roasted corn, and salmon pieces. It was served with a buttermilk pesto dressing.

Shelley and Rob served this as a first course at their dinner party for 14 people, held in honor of the combined 171 years of marriage of all those seated at the table. I would like the recipe for both the salad AND the 171 years of marriage!!!!!!!

Bon Appetit.

clare.