MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 15, 2010

 Officially, Spring hits us this Saturday – and not a moment too soon! And, of course, St. Patrick’s Day is Weds.  T his year I am trying to keep the tradition of Corned Beef and Cabbage, but in a little bit of a different way.  Hope it’s good!

Our farm stand has reopened and hopefully they will have the lettuce seedlings ere long.  I buy these as early as I can and plant big pot loads of them on the deck – along with herbs like parsley and thyme. (Others to follow in warmer weather).  It is such a pleasure to be able to take one’s colander and pick a fresh salad just before dinner.  And pansies!  I love pots of them out on the deck smiling at me through the rest of the lousy weather.  And again, I will force forsythia as soon as I can get out there.  Despite about 5” of rain in the last two days (thank heaven’s it was rain – that equates to a bout 5’ of snow), we still have large piles of snow in the yard, and of course, what ground is visible, is totally saturated.

Once again, we ate well last week. Before I married him, my husband loathed pasta (at some point I’ll share my mother-in-law’s recipe for spaghetti).  He really enjoyed the rigatoni (of course it was his sausages) – but it really was a great recipe – the sauce would almost be better the second day.  And the Gorgonzola sauce with the fillet was excellent.  Gorgonzola, cream and a hit of chipotle gave it more depth and flavor.  It would be a knockout dish to entertain with.

And soon we’ll be grilling!

Mon.           Russian Borscht CCI

                   Fresh Dill

                   Sour Cream

                   Pumpernickel Bread 

Tues.           Rock Cornish Game Hens with Red Grapefruit

                   Pan Sauce with Madeira

                   Steamed Rice

                   Baby Peas 

Weds.         Corned Beef and Cabbage 

                   with a Marmalade Whiskey Glaze A 306

                   Colcannon (A traditional Irish dish with Mashed Potatoes,                         Cabbage Onions and Butter) BAC

                   Horseradish Sauce

                   Irish Soda Bread BA 2/05 

Thurs. AM  Russian Borscht Revisited      

Thurs. PM   Shrimp and Andouille Pot Pie BA 3/09 91

                   Tossed Salad 

Fri.              Corned Beef Revisited 

Sat.             Blue Cheese Dip DI 32

   Irish Lamb Stew JOC

  Tossed Salad 

Sun.            Spinach Turnovers

                   George Lang’s Paprika Chicken with Egg Dumplings GLCH 278

                   Lemon Spinach

Cookie of the Week:  Mini Black and Whites.

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 8, 2010

We are slowly working our way out of last week’s snow.  Still can’t find the mailbox.  Even so, several days in the mid 50’s serve to remind us that there IS and end in sight.  The cat happily got out today – the first time in over a week and she was going stir crazy!  So much for her to do out there…. 

Still thinking braises, but starting to think more spring seasonal ones.  Next week, of course, Corned Beef.   And I’m thinking an Irish Stew might also be on the menu.  As my husband can testify – I can eat a ton of this….

[Husband testifying, the first time I made this dish for her we were not yet married. I watched this tiny barely 100 pound girl eat four helpings and think about a fifth. wwj]

Maybe an Irish Soda Bread.  Haven’t done one in ages.  Good for dinner, and almost better the next day as toast. 

We ate well this last week.  T he Pork Lo Mein is a fabulous (and healthy) use for leftover pork.  And the Shrimp Tacos were great for a change.  I find that I am doing more with soft tacos these days.  Again, an easy, fast preparation that fills the bill for “something different”. 

Our Shop Rite has been featuring inexpensive daffodils and I have been  buying them each week.  They do so much to brighten up a room this time a year – until such time as I can see my own in the front yard. Tulips too.  And when the snow melts I’ll cut some forsythia to force – the wonderful yellows of Spring!!!!

Mon.           Udon Hot Pot with Clams, Shrimp, Chicken and Vegetables                         and Dashi Broth CIAS 

Tues.           Julia Child’s Braised Beef with Onions and Carrots

                   Steamed Rice 

Weds.         Roasted Chicken with Orange, Basil and Garlic

                   Buttered Orzo

                   Roasted Asparagus 

Thurs.         Rigatoni with Spicy Sausage & Cannelinni Beans FW 2002 135

                   Tossed Salad 

Fri. AM      Thomas Keller’s BLT Fried Egg Sandwich on Toasted Peasant

                   Bread FW 2008 283

                   Hazelnut Coffee 

Fri. PM       Fillet Mignon with Chipotle Gorgonzola Sauce BA 2/07 34

                   Fresh Pasta with Red, Yellow and Green Pepper Parmesan

                    and Pine Nut Sauce PWT 136

                   Sautéed Green Beans with Marjoram 

Sat.             Shrimp Pancakes FWS

  Cornish Game Hens with Pink Grapefruit 

  and Madeira FW 10/88 168

                   Steamed Rice

                   Steamed Asparagus 

Sun.            Sun Dried Tomato Tartlets  f/i

   Roasted Lamb Riblettes PFSMC

                   Orzo with Grape Tomatoes, Feta Cheese 

                   and Scallions BA 4/06  106

                   Tossed Salad

Cookie of the Week:  Mother’s Sugar Cookies

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 1,  2020

This last big storm really hit us.  It was the worst one I remember here.  We got about 3 feet of snow – up to the deer’s shoulders…..Heavy winds caused lots of drifts – in the back yard they are about 41/2 feet up against a 5 foot fence.  The pile at the back of the driveway is about 7 feet! 

We lost power from before dinner on Thurs until 4 o’clock Friday. Lots of big pots on the big stove kept us warm – but we were worried about the freezers.  They were broadcasting that  there were about 20,000 outages in our area and some would not be in service again until the middle of next week. With over 50 pounds of Warner’s homemade sausages in stock – among lots of other things. Oy!  So there was a huge sigh of relief as we realized the power was back on! 

Crews worked through the night and the standard height here of the snow at the side of the road is about four feet.  The plows also took out any number of mailboxes, ours included.  Many, many trees down under the weight of this heavy, wet snow.  Schools, businesses closed.  And they are talking about anther storm for mid-week! It’s at the point where snow shoveling isn’t possible – there is no more room to put it! 

We focused on eating well – although I couldn’t do the pork with fig sauce.  I neglected to buy figs – and wasn’t about to run out and get them.  A simple pan roast with Potatoes Savoyard and White Asparagus with a stock reduction and parmesan did very nicely instead. And so we bundled up, ate very well and waited it all out.  It will be a long time before this all melts.  And Spring is in 19 days….

Mon.           Chicken and Dumplings revisited

                   Tossed  Salad

Tues.           Roast Pork Lo Mein AP 149 

Weds.         Bavarian Sausage Hot Pot with Potatoes, 

                   Cabbage, Green Beans, Carrots and Kielbasa  NGC 104

                   Tossed Salad 

Thurs. AM  Tuscan Minestrone f/i 

Thurs. PM  Chipotle Shrimp Tacos T-MM 58

                   Baja Cabbage Slaw T-MM 145

                   Guacamole CCI

                   Salsa 

Fri.              Bavarian Hot Pot Revised 

Sat.             Chinese Chicken Wings CCI

                   Julia Child’s Beef Braised in Red Wine and Madeira JCI 301

                   Herbed Spaetzle

                   Acorn Squash Baked with Butter and Brown Sugar 

Sun.            Parmesan Crisps BA 5/04 50

                   Provencal Roast Chicken with Orange and Basil FW 11/89 148

                   Steamed Rice

                   Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan

Cookie of  The Week:  CIA Chocolate Chunks

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 22, 2010

Again, a lot of good eating this past week.  The pork was wonderful – and would feed a crowd.  We got two big meals off it, with another three for the freezer (the freezer is starting to groan). The trout was excellent as was the Parmentier – and it was so pretty. I’m looking forward to the leg of lamb tonight – with curry to follow.  

Shop Rite has mussels on sale, we we’ll do these tomorrow and push the pasta dish back until later in the week.  Mussels with Chorizo, good bread and a salad…We won’t go to bed hungry!

Am looking forward to the pork roast.  We enjoy pork and we love figs – so this should be out of sight… 

I’ve gotten into the habit of sending my husband into work with a load of cookies once a week.  The crew seems to appreciate it.  The first I did was Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies (BOTB VOl 7), then a family recipe for Pizzellas (wonderful Italian cookies – somewhat like a waffle with orange zest) and last week I did a Dark Chocolate Cookie (GM 2/03) that is always a hit.  These drop cookies are all easy to prep and cook and basically hassle free. 

The first sure sign of spring comes on Friday when our local farm stands reopens after their winter break.  Only 26 days until Spring!  They are, however, predicting several snow storms this week as February continues to torture us. However, this should mean only a few more weeks where braising is the method of choice – so I’m trying to end up with some of our favorites.  Despite my husband’s gripe that I never cook anything twice, I love to do the Chicken and Dumpling recipe every so often.  It warms the heart and soul. 

[I have a computer again, so as soon as I can get to Photobucket, hopefully within the hour, I'll be posting pictures again. wwj]

[I took the day bed out of my office, unfortunately Ms Child had considered it hers, so we replaced it.]

Mon. AM             Steak and Eggs

                             Coffee 

Mon. PM              Jasper White’s Portuguese Steamed Mussels JWCFNEW 24

                             Peasant Bread

                             Tossed Salad 

Tues.                    Curried Lamb with Ginger Garlic Chutney FW 1/93 84

                             Steamed Rice

                             Baby Peas 

Weds.                 Veal Marengo f/i           

                             Steamed Rice

                             Sautéed Zucchini 

Thurs.                  Penne with Sausage Pancetta and Egg ICC-W

                             Tossed Salad 

Fri.                       Catalonian Beef Stew with Orange and Kalamata f/i

                             Orzo with Garlic and Onion

                             Tossed Salad 

Sat.                       Penelope Casas’ Garlic Shrimp Tapas

                             William Sonoma’s Spanish Roasted Pork Loin 

                             with Figs, Orange, Honey, Cinnamon, Almonds 

                             and Sherry WSSSP 119

                             Penelope Casas’ Potatoes 

                             with Green Beans Extremadura Style FSW 97 

Sun.                      Baked Stuffed Clams

                             Chanterelle’ Chicken and Dumplings BOTB 2001 101

                             Tossed Salad

Cookie of the Week:  Pumpkin Cookies TGCCC&C 102

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 15, 2010

This last snow storm took it easy on us – only a foot.  More snow predicted Tues/Weds…On the bright side of things, Shop Rite has been  selling small pots of fresh herbs.  I’ve picked up Parsley, Mint, Thyme and Basil and have repotted them and have them in my kitchen window. It is a joy to have fresh herbs here so early and the visual effect is good for my morale! As of the 15^th, only 33 days until Spring!!!

Lots of good eating this week.  The waffles with poppy seeds didn’t happen as I forgot to buy buttermilk.  However, the substitution of Gale Gan’s waffles with dried cherries and hazelnuts was wonderful.

The Sauerbratten is always good and the pork shoulder was worth trying. As was the stuffed cabbage.  It is a dish I never would have thought of, but after watching Jacques Pepin prepare it on PBS I couldn’t wait to try it.  It is a wonderful, inexpensive dish ( 1 pound of ground beef) with a wonderful, flavorful rustic flair.

Like everyone else, we’ll be spending a lot of the next few weeks watching the Olympics. It is always amazing to see what these young athletes can do.  Although, I do agree with my husband that I wish that they had limited admission to those only with amateur status.  But, big money creeps in to everything these days….

Mon.           Hoisin Braised Pork Shoulder with Mushrooms and Green Beans over

                       Udon Noodles BA 2/200 

Tues.           Madeline Kamman’s Hazelnut Stuffed Trout MKS 299

                   Gnocchi with Sweet Peas, Cherry Tomatoes, Sage and Brown Butter FW 2002 138 

Weds.                   Chicken Stew with Potatoes and Garlic Sausage

                   Sautéed Zucchini 

Thurs.         Jacques Pepin’s Beef Gratin Parmentier ECWJP 123

                   Carrots         

Fri.              Hoisin Pork revisited 

Sat. AM      Creamy Scrambled Eggs with Smoked Trout and Green Onions and

                      Fresh Dill BA 4/06 104

                   Warm Biscuits

                   Hazelnut Coffee 

Sun. AM     Cheese Blintzes with Sour Cream FW 11/91 145

                   French Roast Coffee 

Sun. PM     Patricia Welles’ Savory Rosemary Madelines

                   Anne Willan’s Gigot d’Agnew a la Brettone CF 155

                   (Roasted Leg of Lamb with White Beans)

                   Sautéed Mushrooms with Wine, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Herbs SW 194                

Mon. AM    Hot Rueben Sandwiches 

Mon. PM    Union Square Café’s Hot Garlic Potato Chips USC

Penne with Italian Sausages, Pancetta, Eggs and Lemon ICC-W 28

                   Baby Peas