Cell Phones and Table Manners – A Not So Futuristic Rant
I didn’t think I would become a curmudgeon but here I am complaining again about manners, or more importantly about lack of manners. Don’t you think it is about time to put those cell phones on hold, at least during family dinners? ‘Course then again who has family dinners anymore. Don’t get me started on that!
Growing up we had no cell phones at the table, we had no tv on during dinner. All we had was good food and a chance to talk to each other. As my kids were growing up we had two, make that three, rules at dinnertime. The first was when I put the food on the table you’d better be in your seat. Shirts were required and there were no hats, with the exception of stupid birthday hats, allowed. It didn’t take long for my kids’ friends to catch on. They were always welcomed at the table as long as they followed the rules. Many good conversations took place at that table and I think both the adults and the kids learned from them.
Back to the phones at the table thing. I spend time and energy creating good meals. I find it very annoying to have people constantly checking their phones while attempting to have a meal. Are they that important that their texted comments, if not immediately sent, would set in motion the end of the world? Perhaps their friends would not be able to LOL, and we all need to LOL on occasion, if not for their texted insight into how the world works. One frightening aspect about this new phenomenon is that the adults now feel free to join in on the texting at the table. Maybe we should spend more time teaching how to use a knife and fork properly and less time LOL’ing; but them again I am just a grumpy old man.
Add comment January 21, 2010
Back in the Kitchen Again – Doing the Happy Dance
(From the Dessert Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Dana's Flourless Chocolate Cake
I’m doing the happy dance, I am back in the kitchen again. Some of you will think I am nuts, some only semi-nuts and a few will understand. For those of us who cook, eating in fast food restaurants, getting take-out, or even going to the chain restaurants is a punishment, not a plus. The food is never as good as it should be, the atmosphere not great and not up to the high standard we set at home. So you can see that now that my move is complete and my kitchen almost back to where I know what is “behind door number 3″, I am extremely happy to be “home” again. I am still trying to get everything situated in the kitchen, what goes in what drawer and where the particular plates are but man it is good to be making the food the way I want it and besides, no tipping required.
My wonderful brother-in-law came to town to help with the move and we are working on his kitchen skills. Over the years he has paid attention, more attention than I thought, in the kitchen as we caught up on our lives. We cooked a few meals together and I was pleasantly surprised that he had absorbed many of the basics. Anyway, during the NJ Christmas trip he put in his “wish list” for desserts, we did 4 out of the 5 he requested. The odd man out was a flourless chocolate cake so I thought it was fitting that we, actually he, would make this while he was here. He did a great job on the cake. We did think it took longer to bake than it should have so a good lesson here is to check the oven temperature on a new or different oven when baking for the first time. Apparently my oven beeps when it is preheated; only problem was that it beeped about 20 minutes and 100 degrees before it reached the proper temperature. This threw the total baking time off somewhat. Anyway, the cake was great and I froze the leftovers, so last night I had a piece. The cake was good, the memories better, so here’s to your, Campy, for all your help and for the cake.
Dana’s Flourless Chocolate Cake
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Serves: | 10 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | Happy Birthday (Celebration Meal Plans) |
| 8 | Tb | butter, salted |
| 16 | oz | chocolate, semi-sweet bits |
| 9 | large | egg, separated |
| 1 | cup | sugar, white |
| 3 | Tb | cocoa |
| 1 | recipe | chocolate ganache |
Preheat oven to 350. butter a 9” springform pan; line the bottom with buttered wax paper, dust with cocoa powder. Melt chocolate and butter together, allow to cool slightly. Separate eggs; beat yolks on medium for 1 minute, add sugar and beat until light yellow. In a separate bowl beat egg whites until just peaking. Blend cooled chocolate with egg yolks, add cocoa; fold in egg whites. Pour into pan, bake for 40-45 minutes. This is a very moist cake and an inserted knife should come out barely wet. Allow to cool for ½ hour prior too removing from pan. Pour chocolate ganache over top, leave on counter until ready to serve.
If you refrigerate this cake the ganache will lose its shine.
·Note: This is almost a souffle; it will rise and drop, if the center caves in don’t panic. Fill with berries and pretend it was on purpose. It happens to all of us.
Add comment January 19, 2010
Recipe of the Week – French Onion Soup
(From the Soup Collection at emealsforyou.com)
French Onion Soup
It’s still cold, very cold, here in the Midwest. I am staying with my soup theme. What could be better than a steamy bowl of onion soup to warm you after a tough day. This basic and yet terrifically comforting soup is easy to make. A little pre-planning may be necessary to have the bowls or bowl available that may be used in the oven. You can make individual bowls or just one big one; but then there may be fights over who gets the most cheese and bread.
What sets this soup off from many others is the crusty bread that soaks in the tasty broth; and then there is the cheese; gooey, stringy, melted cheese. A popular hit in many bistros why not try this at home and see how the oohs and ahhhs stack up.
French Onion Soup
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 4 |
| Category: | Soups |
| Meal: | other (General) |
| 8 | Tb | butter, salted |
| 4 | large | onions, sliced |
| 2 | cloves | garlic, chopped |
| 3 | medium | bay leaves, whole dried |
| 1 | Tb | thyme, fresh |
| 1 | tsp | pepper, fresh cracked |
| 1 | cup | wine, dry red |
| 3 | Tb | flour |
| 4 | 14 oz. can | beef broth |
| 1 | medium | baguette |
| 0.5 | lb | cheese, Gruyere |
| 0.5 | tsp | salt to taste |
Melt butter in a large pot or saute pan; add onions, garlic, bay leaves, thyme and pepper and saute until onions are caramelized, about 20 minutes. Add the wine and reduce, remove bay leaves. Sprinkle flour over onions and cook, stirring constantly for 5 minutes. Add broth and simmer for 10 minutes. Add salt to taste. To serve pour soup into oven-proof bowls, place slices of the baguette on top and cover with slices of the cheese. Place under broiler until cheese is bubbly and golden. Watch carefully as the cheese will color rapidly.
Add comment January 13, 2010
Recipe of the Week – Mexican Meatball Soup
(From the Soup Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Mexican Meatball Soup
I guess I owe you all a few recipes as I have been AWOL for a little while. The NJ trip at Christmas and then closing on a condo on the 30th took me away from the blog and I apologize. The move is just about complete now and being that I heard ( course nobody hears anymore; more like emailed back and forth, from my old partner Chef Teresa, I thought I would give you her recipe for Mexican Meatball Soup. I don’t know about where you live but here in “southern” Ohio we had really cold weather and now some snow to boot.
Nothing says comfort like a hot bowl of soup on a gray and cold day. Chef Teresa brings us this wonderful warming and fulfilling addition to our soup collection. Serve it up with some crunchy bread or crackers. It is perfect to warm the soul as well as the body.
Mexican Meatball Soup
| Complexity: | Medium |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Soups |
| Meal: | Mexican Supper (Quick Meals Planner) |
| 2 | Tb | oil, olive |
| 2.5 | cup | onions, chopped |
| 4 | cloves | garlic, minced |
| 2 | small | bay leaves, whole dried |
| 5 | 14 oz. can | beef broth |
| 1 | 28 oz. can | tomatoes, diced |
| 0.5 | cup | salsa |
| 0.5 | cup | cilantro, chopped |
| 1 | lb | beef, ground |
| 0.25 | lb | pork sausage |
| 6 | Tb | corn meal, yellow |
| 1 | large | egg |
| 0.25 | cup | milk, whole |
| 0.5 | tsp | salt, table |
| 0.5 | tsp | pepper, fresh ground |
| 0.5 | tsp | cumin |
| 0.5 | cup | rice, white |
Heat oil in large heavy pot. Add 1.5 cups chopped onion, 2 garlic cloves, and bay leaves; saute 5 minutes. Add broth, tomatoes with juices, salsa, and 1/4-cup cilantro, bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, combine ground beef, pork sausage, cornmeal, milk, egg, salt, pepper, cumin, then remaining onions, 2 minced garlic cloves and 1/4 cup cilantro in medium bowl. Mix well. Shape meat mixture by tablespoons into 1 to 1 1/2 inch meatballs. Add rice and meatballs to soup and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat, cover and simmer until rice and meatballs are tender, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Hint: Soup is shown in picture topped with sour cream and cilantro.
Add comment January 8, 2010
Recipe of the Week – Chicken Soup
(From the Soup Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Chicken Soup
It’s the flu and cold season and there is nothing that takes the edge off the aching feelings like a bowl of homemade chicken soup. All of us grew up with some form of chicken soup on those days when mom would bring a tray with soup and crackers to our room. Maybe it was the white and red can variety or maybe that somehow good, but strangely green-yellow soup with those thin noodles. Everyone of us can immediately identify that smell from memory.
I am here to tell you that there is real chicken soup, much better than those cans or packets and it is almost as easy to make. The broth should be darker brown, rich in taste and full of veggies. The color and flavor comes from browning the chicken parts, hopefully with skin on, before adding the vegetables and then the liquid. I use some chicken broth from cans to make this soup all that richer. Be careful to hold off on putting too much salt until just before the soup is finished. You will be reducing the stock while cooking it and any salt you add will be stronger in less broth at the end.
Soup’s on, enjoy!
Old Fashioned Chicken Soup
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 10 |
| Category: | Soups |
| Meal: | Weekly 8 (Quick Meals Planner) |
| 3 | Tb | oil, olive |
| 5 | lb | chicken, whole, cut up |
| 2 | tsp | salt, kosher |
| 2 | medium | onions, chopped |
| 1 | cup | carrots, diced |
| 4 | medium | celery ribs |
| 50 | oz | chicken broth |
| 70 | oz | water |
| 1 | pinch | salt and pepper to taste |
| 0.5 | recipe | spaetzle |
This recipe makes a lot of soup and you will have extra cooked chicken leftover for another use. Heat a large soup pot, add the olive oil, when it begins to shimmer add the cut up and dried chicken. Brown, don’t burn, the chicken on both sides. Add the onion, carrots, celery, salt, and stir. Lightly brown the vegetables; add the broth and water and stir. Cook on a low boil for 20 -30 minutes; until the chicken is fork tender. Remove the chicken to a platter and taste the broth. Depending on the chicken, the broth may need to be reduced to concentrate the flavors. Cook on the boil until the broth is tasty. In the meantime, remove the chicken from the bones. Cut half the chicken into small pieces and add back to the soup pot. Once the soup is done adjust the salt and pepper to taste. (It is important to not add the salt prior to reducing; as the soup will become too salty)
Bring the soup back up to the boil. Drop the spaetzle batter into the boiling soup to form small dumplings.
Use the remaining chicken in chicken salad or tacos.
Add comment December 30, 2009
So Many Desserts – So Little Time
(From the Dessert Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Croissant Bread Pudding
One Christmas weekend down and one to go. We celebrated with some of the family last weekend and will travel to New Jersey on the 24th for further celebration with more of the family. I have almost 100 different dessert recipes on the website and so it makes sense that I make the dessert for the meals. Last weekend we had a cheesecake with cherries and the cranberry cake shown on a recent blog. For the Jersey trip I have solicited suggestions and requests from my brother-in-law. His list includes: Ada’s Butterscotch Pie, Brenda’s Favorite Lemon Tart, the flourless chocolate cake, and a carrot cake. My wife suggested Croissant Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce and I am leaning towards the Tiramisu.
Now that our blood sugar levels are up just from reading the list, it’s time to get serious and decide what I will take for the trip. We will have four big meals during the visit. I always like to have a couple desserts for people to have a choice so I think I will take about 4 desserts. I have the lemon tart cooling its heels in the freezer so now my list is down to three more. The bread pudding is easy and travels well so that will probably make the list. I guess you will have to check back next week to see what the finalists are?
Croissant Bread Pudding
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 12 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | New Neighbors (Share-a-Meal Plans) |
| 3 | large | egg |
| 8 | large | egg, yolks |
| 5 | cup | cream, half and half |
| 1.5 | cup | sugar, white |
| 1 | Tb | cinnamon. ground |
| 1.5 | tsp | vanilla |
| 1 | cup | raisins |
| 2 | oz | bourbon, Jack Daniels |
| 6 | large | croissants |
| 1 | spritz | PAM |
Slice croissants and leave on counter overnight. Mix all remaining ingredients in large bowl. Dip croissants in mixture, place in large, greased, oven-proof pan, and pour remaining mixture over the top. Bake 40 minutes in a 350 degree oven, or until lightly brown
Add comment December 17, 2009
Recipe of the Week – Cranberry Cake
(From the Dessert Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Cranberry Cake
We had our “early” Christmas on Saturday. Some of us won’t be here for the real Christmas so we gathered together to celebrate and enjoy each other’s company. As usual the food highlighted the weekend. We had pan-roasted chicken, Caesar salads and pasta with four cheeses. Our finale was Steak Diane, twice baked potatoes, French Vinaigrette salad and homemade artisan bread.
I made my usual Christmasy dessert of cheesecake, this time with cherries on the side for that festive look. My wife made her always great Cranberry Cake. This buttery delight hits on all cylinders, sweet, tart, crunchy and moist. It goes together in a flash and can’t be beat for a wonderful company dessert or even a mid-week surprise for your family.
Cranberry Cake
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | Other (General) |
| 2 | cup | cranberries, fresh |
| 1.5 | cup | sugar, white, divided |
| 1 | cup | walnuts, halved |
| 2 | large | egg, lightly beaten |
| 1 | cup | flour |
| 0.75 | cup | butter, salted |
| 1 | spritz | PAM |
| 1 | Tb | sugar, powdered |
Place cranberries and nuts in a large bowl and pour 1/3 of the sugar over the top; mix. Mix the slightly beaten eggs, the remaining sugar, the flour and the melted butter together. Pour over the cranberries and mix. Spray PAM in a pie pan and add the mixture. Bake in a pre-heated 325 degree oven for 60 minutes or until lightly browned. Sprinkle some powdered sugar over the top just prior to serving.
Add comment December 15, 2009
Cookies Past and Present – A Look Back
My Mom's Sugar Cookies
It was about this time of the year, growing up in New Jersey, that my mother would make her buttery, sugar cookies. She had a can in the basement that held about 3 gallons, don’t know how many dozens that translates into, of these freshly cooked, crisp cookies. The patina on the can reflected all the years it was pushed into use to keep the cookies fresh throughout the Christmas season.
I found her recipe the other day and thought I would make some for the kids and the kids’ kids. I cut the recipe in half and still found that I really don’t have the patience to mix, roll, cut and bake all the cookies the recipe made. I don’t know how she stood there all day and rolled the cookies out and baked them. She must have made about 4 recipes to fill that old can.
I am glad I made them. For a short while my kitchen smelled just like hers a long, long time ago.
Find the recipe for these and many more at at emealsforyou.com.
Add comment December 10, 2009
Recipe of the Week – Nut Roll
(From the Dessert Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Nut Roll
Preparing for our early Christmas I suddenly realized that “Mr. Sweetooth” is coming home and I really didn’t have much in the way of goodies for him to eat. I remembered that my brother sent me his recipe, the old family recipe, for his nut roll. He makes it every Christmas but I have never given it a try. We had this at every house we visited during the holiday season growing up. You couldn’t pass up the Slovak treat of nut roll, by the end of the day you were so full you didn’t think you could eat any more, but then you did.
This is a very easy recipe, great for snacks around the holidays and especially nice to give away as gifts to friends and family. The nice thing is that it isn’t overly sweet, like the grocery store bakery makes. Give it a try and it may become a family tradition just like at my brother’s house.
David’s Nut Roll
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 12 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | N/A |
| 0.5 | lb | butter, salted |
| 0.5 | cup | sugar, white |
| 4 | large | egg |
| 2 | package | yeast, dried |
| 4 | Tb | water |
| 4 | cup | flour, all-purpose |
| 1 | tsp | salt, kosher |
| 1 | cup | milk, whole |
| 2 | lb | walnuts, chopped |
| 0.5 | lb | butter, salted |
| 0.5 | cup | sugar, white |
Cream butter and sugar, separate yolks and whites and reserve the egg whites. Add egg yolks and mix. Dissolve the yeast in warm (not hot) water; add to mixture. Add about 2 cups flour and mix; add the milk and then the rest of flour. You may have to add additional flour to make dough ball. Place dough ball in greases bowl. Put plastic wrap on top then dish towel. Allow to rise in a warm area until it doubles. Punch dough down and let rise again 1 hour
For the filling: Mix together the walnuts, melted butter and sugar.
To assemble: Roll dough on board ¼ – ½ inches thick. Spread nut mixture on dough and roll up. Place on cookie sheet covered with parchment paper. Cover with a towel and let it rise for about 1 ½ hours. Brush top with reserved egg whites. Bake 40-45 minutes at 350 degrees until golden brown. Makes about 5 rolls, may be frozen until needed.
Note: In a pinch for time, omit the first part of the recipe and use filo dough in place of the dough.
Add comment December 7, 2009
Table Talk – A Nostalgic Non-Rant
An Old Friend
We will be moving at the end of the month; not far, just down the street, but we will be making the move without an old friend. It’s time to make a change, our dining room table , with us since the early ’70’s will not be going with us. They say ” if walls could talk” but I am inclined to believe that dining room tables have the real stories.
This old pine table, purchased unfinished in Bordentown, NJ and squeezed into our first home, has made every move we have made. It’s been expanded to meet the growing needs of family and extended family. Used as a workbench; I once inadvertently drilled holes through my work piece and into the table top, I am still getting harassed over it. It has been dressed with tablecloths from Greece, Grandmother Story’s china, King Richard silverware and crystal from Tiffin, not to mention sippy cups and a few snoopy forks and spoons. We have dumped a Louisiana Crab Boil on top and served only the best Julia Child’s recipes during our recent “Julia weekend”. It has been used to celebrate births, promotions, and the lives of those no longer with us.
In its 35 years I remember lots of good meals, good company and good conversations; I can’t remember anyone ever leaving it in anger. Five generations have enjoyed sitting around it. As our family and extended family enjoy an early Christmas this year, we will once again raise our glasses and think about those who have graced us with their presence.
It is time to pass this table along to another family, to give someone else the benefit of its wisdom. Sitting there all those years, never commenting, just supporting family and friends.
Add comment December 3, 2009
