Celebrating Life Around The Table
December is here and Christmas Cookie baking is in progress. I will have lots to share soon but today wanted to share these delicious Brown Butter Mashed Potatoes. They have a nutty butter taste and make for a great side dish. December really is the month of giving. There are so many great organizations in need during this season. One woman told me how their local food ministry was struggling to provide food to everyone this holiday season. I work with Olive [...]
When I was little special family dinners included twice baked potatoes. They were a little crunchy on top and creamy, like mashed potatoes on the inside. When I knew Mom was making them I would look forward with anticipation all day. Just last week when I asked a friend of mine what he had for his birthday he said twice baked potatoes. A few days later, a box of Melissa’s Hatch Chiles arrived and I immediately thought about trying to remake them with the chilies. I turned on the grill and roasted all of them. I removed the skins and [...]
I found a new way to make corn yesterday! If you are a regular reader here you know I have made my share of corn recipes. This week’s special is Carmelized Corn, Mango and Bacon. Yes, I said mango and it was delicious. Last night I came home determined to use up food in my refrigerator. Sometimes my eyes are much bigger than my schedule when grocery shopping and I hate wasting food. I had opened up this cookbook Spur of the Moment Cook. It was a book my friend Deanna first discovered when we were both honing our cooking [...]
Roasted potatoes are so easy and a great side for barbecues. You put them in the oven and forget out about them until the timer goes off. I served them with this Peach Chicken at a outdoor shindig. My first week at work was halted when I came down with some horrid virus. I don’t think I have ever called in sick on day 3 of a new job! Have any of you? Back to potatoes, one of my favorite foods. These are versatile, throw in different herbs, squeeze some lemon, play around. If there are left overs, fry them [...]
Cooking Light arrived last week and featured a recipe for delicious Linguine with Green Peas and Pancetta. We have had “cold for southern California” weather and more rain, but rumor has it, spring will be seen this week. I love green peas and was anxious to try the combination with pancetta and shallots. I fiddled a it with the recipe by adding a tablespoon of Marscapone cheese and then I topped it shavings of the lovely Grana Pandano cheese I found at my favorite cheese store, The Breury. They sell amazing artisan beer but they also feature an amazing selection [...]
Corn is one of the foods that says summer to me. Fresh corn cut off the cob can be transferred into tasty summer dishes. A simple corn saute is heightened when you throw in a handful of fresh herbs. This summer I have enjoyed having an herb garden. I love being able to walk outside, clip a few herbs and add to a dish I am cooking. One of the best things is being able to grow different herbs that you don’t regularly find in your grocery store, like thai basil or lemon thyme. They are also one of the [...]
I never fry food. I might love french fries but at home I oven bake them. Then one day I saw a picture with a stack of crispy onion rings and that was it, I whipped out the Ipad and went to Google. Do you remember those bricks of onion rings Tony Roma’s served alongside a tangy barbeque sauce? Now those were dangerous. Gathering all the ingredients I soaked the onion rings in buttermilk and set up my station to dunk, dredge and dunk again. I slid them gently into the oil and watched the oil bubble around them until [...]
One of my favorite sides is the corn pudding dish. Usually I go right for Ina Garten’s but thought I’d try something new this year. I saw this one from Alton and was intrigued. Don’t forget to enter the Cookbook Giveaway by entering a comment on your favorite side dish here. I used the Parmesan cheese but think I would substitute cheddar next time. I would also add a cup of fresh corn.
Yesterday was International Bacon Day. Who knew and who creates these days? A few weeks ago I tried Summer Succotash, a recipe I saw in More magazine several years ago. It combined peas and corn, which are personal favorites with the addition of crispy bacon. I loved how easy this was to put together. The bacon gives a smoky flavor to fresh vegetables. Summer Succotash Serves 6 to 8 4 slices applewood smoked bacon, diced 1 sweet onion, diced 2 cups corn kernel 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 cups fresh or frozen sweet peas, blanched 3-4 sprigs of thyme Salt [...]
I have a refrigerator full of food bought before the heat came upon us here in the OC. One item was a few roasted Hatch chilies. I first hear about from my Adopt a Blogger Adrienne at Hungry Bruno. A few days later I saw them in Bristol Farms. Curious, I bought a few. The chile comes from Hatch, New Mexico and is the center of an annual Labor Day Weekend Chile Festival. Last night I had to give in and roast them. Not thinking clearly, I peeled them without gloves. Just not a good idea. I paid for that [...]
I'm Cheri Liefeld, radio host & producer, freelance recipe developer, food writer and cooking instructor. You will find easy recipes for family meals, entertaining ideas and ideas for cooking with kids.
