Friday, November 11, 2011

Wonderful,Easy Potatoes


MUFFIN TIN ONION GRUYERE POTATO STACKS~ FROM STONEGABLE'S KITCHEN
5 baking potatoes
2 onions, chopped
6 TBS butter
1 1/2 cups grated cheese, Gruyere or cheddar
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
heavy cream or half and half
cooking spray
thyme sprigs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Thinly slice raw potatoes. I use a Mandoline but they can be carefully hand sliced into thin even slices. Set aside.
Melt butter (about 4 TBS) in a large skillet and saute onion over a low heat until translucent and slightly golden. Add 2-4 TBS butter in the pan and melt the butter. Set aside.

Grate cheese. Gruyere is my favorite but cheddar works great too! Set aside.

Spray all twelve muffin cups of a regular size muffin pan.

Add 1 slice of potato to the bottom of each muffin cup. Salt and pepper. Add 1 more slice of potato. Top each potato evenly with 1/2 onion and butter. Add 2 more potato slices. Sprinkle 1/2 grated cheese evenly over potatoes. Add 1 more potato slice and salt and pepper. Add 1 more potato slice and evenly add the remaining 1/2 of onion and butter. Add 1 or 2 potato slices and top evenly with remaining cheese.

Pour 1 TBS cream over each potato stack.

Bake for 35 minutes until potatoes are tender. Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes.

Run a sharp knife around the edges of each muffin cup and pop each stack out with a fork.

Garnish with thyme.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Double Chocolate Zucchini Bread


Cooking spray
1 medium zucchini
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chocolate chunks


1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 4-inch loaf pan or 3 mini loaf pans with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Shred the zucchini lengthwise, turning to get as much flesh and as little seed as possible. When you get down to the seeds, stop shredding and discard the seeds. You should have a generous cup of zucchini. Squeeze the zucchini by hand to remove excess moisture.

3. Whisk together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and eggs in a large liquid measuring cup. Stir in the zucchini.

4. Combine the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

5. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just incorporated, take care not to over mix. Fold in 3/4 cup of the nuts and all of the chocolate.

6. Transfer the batter to the prepared loaf pan(s), scatter the remaining 1/4 cup nuts over the top. Tap the bottom on the work surface to distribute the batter in the pan evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour for the large pan and 35 to 40 minutes for the minis. Transfer the pan(s) to a wire rack to cool 30 minutes. Turn the bread out and let cool completely on the rack. Save in an airtight container for up to 1 week.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Burrata- "Fresh Mozzerella stuffed with Ricotta"


My new,fabulous find,Burrata! Many may have heard of it and even tried it.A Burrata comes form the word Burro meaning butter..Need I say more! Once you do, you will want it again and again. We recently dined out in Margate @ Johnny's Cafe. They served a Burrata (funny my hubbie already knew what it was)over arugula with warmed grape tomatoes and balsamic drizzle. It was so wonderful and I will recreate it home. I received a tip from the waiter that Claudio's in South Philly make the best. Many other specialty stores sell it but it must be fresh and used in about 4 days. The search for the best Burrata is on!

Saturday, August 13, 2011

Beach Box


This great off 33rd St find in Ocean Ciy is run by two best friends. Monica and Erin, with 8 kids btw them, still seem to manage a smile, great food and super kindness to all patrons. If you are on the beach or riding by, stop in for the best, casual bkfast and the most wonderfuls spinach salad for lunch. The gals make their own cookies and cupcakes with daily specials...Do not miss this!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Best Candles


Check out the Montag candles website. They are based in OK but sold throughtout the states. The butter rum is especially wonderful but all the scents are the highest quality,slow burning and extremely fragrant. Enjoy warming your home with the best!

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

E and S~ miss you


A summer for me would not be complete without my niece,Elise. She is turning into such a lovely teen at 14! This year she brought her friend,Siena. Both were lively and very fun to be around. I hope they had as great a time as I did hosting their visit. From bikeriding,to D.C. touring to Cape May, Atlantic City, boating, beach and lounging by the pool,they kept me going. Hope to see them again next summer. Love you girls!!!

Love this site

ButterYum

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Fabulous Watermelon Salad


This is a refreshing,easy summer treat.

1 bag arugula greens or baby spinach
2 cups watermelon,cubed
1 crumbled block of feta
2 tbsp minced mint leaves

Dressing:
1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 tsp lime juice
2 tbsp. shallots or green onions
2 tbsp. honey
1 tsp. fresh thyme
1 tbsp. pepper jelly,optional
1/4 cup good olive oil

Combine and pour over salad...Refrigerate till serving.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Happy Fourth of July

The weekend is beautiful,family is near and lots of good,fresh food. Stay safe to all my family and friends...



"Freedom has its life in the hearts, the actions, the spirit of men and so it must be daily earned and refreshed - else like a flower cut from its life-giving roots, it will wither and die." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Limelight


Limelight Marketplace is a new and edgy, fun place in the heart of New York City..it has something for everyone; food, great shops and beautiful surroundings. Thanks to a tip from a dear friend who frequents the city as I do, I will be going here very soon...Enjoy.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Love this quote

"Sibling relationships - and 80 percent of Americans have at least one - outlast marriages, survive the death of parents, resurface after quarrels that would sink any friendship. They flourish in a thousand incarnations of closeness and distance, warmth, loyalty and distrust." -- Erica E. Goode

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Let me just say....


Happy 90th Birthday,Momma. You are my light, love and most admired woman on earth. Being with you fills every part of my being with joy. Watching for your face in the window as I walked home from Kindergarten everyday is my greatest memory. I knew that smile I looked for would be there as you always have been. God bless you my sweet Mom...

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Ana Ramon on Etsy!!

Do you love Etsy? I do and recommend it to anyone looking for a special gift,handcrafted and unique. Everytime I shop there,it reminds me how many talented,good people are out there and how lucky I am to own a piece or give a piece of their work to someone in my life. A new shop, Ana Ramon is worth checking out and I am anxious for my new earring to arrive. Ana was so eagar to help me and i thank her for her willingness to customize just what I was searching for in her shop.

Haha!


"Live so that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip."
~Will Rogers

Five Minute Scallops and Romaine


1 Lb. Wild Caught Sea Scallops,rinsed and patted dry
2 heads romaine,washed and split lengthwise,end intact
olive oil
1 lemon
1 tbsp butter
2 tsp. parsley flakes

On a hot grill pan, brush romaine with olive oil and place split side down, grill till tender about 5 mins. Repeat on other side then remove to plate.

In a small,flat, hot skillet, place scallops and cook till brown, turn once and repeat. While still in pan, add butter, lemon and parsley. Baste for a minute then remove to plate with romaine. Serve with a vinaigrette or more olive oil.

30th Anniversary "WOW!" Surprise Dinner



“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” — Marcel Proust

I think this is a quote that sums up our feelings for those at the table last night...beautiful faces of love and laughter. Blessed to have healthy, grown children whose faces to us are looking into the face of God. Friends, whose lives have intertwined ours with their grace, love, kindness and their children whom we cherish. To be married to your one true love and celebrate that with everyone you love is a gift in itself. With a grateful heart and a prayer of thanks, we truly are blessed and can only say thank you for the great memory you all created for us and with us. We love you!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Butter Yum

I love to blog and read blogs..especially about food, baking and cake decorating. Right now, my husband and I are on Weight Watchers, more to manage our food intact as summer approaches. The WW cookbooks, meal ideas and magazine are the best around. I am a lifetime member since 1988 and it is a lifestyle. You will keep the weight off and learn to eat well but eat all kinds of foods. Butter Yum is a great site for recipes and food topics..Browsing and looking at the pictures is fat free:0) :0) :0)

Touching...



"While we are mourning the loss of our friend, others are rejoicing to meet her behind the veil"~

I lost a dear friend yesterday. She had early onset Alzheimers. What to say... the agony, pain, sadness and void for her husband, family and friends. Since my Mother has the disease and we are living what so many know to be the longest good bye, I have prayed for the healing for my friend's family and blessings as her children reconnect with the "good" memories. My daughter sent me this quote early this morning when my heart was heavy and my tears, overflowing. What a gift,a joy and a reminder that all is never lost, only till we meet again. Goodbye my dear friend...

Friday, February 11, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day!


I was lucky enough to be asked,once again, to contribute to the Shore Memorial "Bake Sale" this year. It is always fun, a challenge to my decorating skills and I am glad to help out. The kind call last night, after the sale, from my wonderful sister-in- law, let me know how much it all meant to her. For someone who is always giving selflessly to others,this made me feel good to give to her through her job and fellow employees. I know we can shine again and put a smile on someone's face with our sweet goodies next year. Thanks,Steph, for inviting me to join this great cause and put my culinary, baking skills to the test. Love you!!