MENU FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 8, 2010
The Thomas Keller Brined Chicken was spectacular last week. Highly recommend this brining process – it makes a huge difference in flavor and really takes no more effort. As predicted with chicken on sale this past week, we did chicken stock in the 40 qt pot so we have ample supplies of that. Warms the house up and, oh, the aroma!
Sunday, of course, is Valentine’s Day. We don’t go bananas over this as (a) that isn’t our style and (b) our wedding anniversary falls a few days later. Still, a standing rib is not a bad entrée for a celebratory meal. Heart warming, one might say….
[Well they improved it more, it still accepts Word directly, but now reformats the document, and it is too much trouble to remove the extra line spacing, so I won't.]
Mon. PM Tilapia Fillets with Red Wine
Sauce MIK 171
Fresh Fettuccini with Gorgonzola Sauce CIC I
Steamed Asparagus
Tues. AM Sausage Chili
with Cheddar and Sour Cream
Tues. PM Sauerbraten with Potato Pancakes,
Braised Red Cabbage, Cranberry Sauce, Sour Cream
Weds. AM Lemon Poppy Waffles with Blueberry
Sauce BA 9/2000
Bacon
Hazelnut Coffee
Weds. PM Jacques Pepin’s Stuffed Cabbage
Peasant Bread
Thurs. PM Braised Pork Shoulder with Onion,
Carrots, Butternut Squash,
Cranberries, Allspice, White Wine
and Apple Juice
Soft Polenta
Fri. PM Lamb Curry f/i
Steamed Basmati
Baby Peas
Sat. PM Spanish Shrimp Pancakes FWS
Roasted Chicken with Baby Red Potatoes
and Chorizo FW 2/99 99
Sautéed Green Beans
Sun. AM Sausage and Barley Soup f/i
Sun. PM Artichoke Parmesan Dip
with
Roasted Tortilla Chips GM 8/91
136
Standing Rib Roast,
Roasted Acorn Squash with Butter and
Brown Sugar
MENU FOR THE WEEK OF FEB. 1, 2010
Feb. 1st means it is only 47 days untilSpring. On the other hand, we in thenortheast know that February is the longest month of the year….. So we willcontinue to fire up the stove for those wonderful braises that sustain us sonicely this time of year.
Have been watching more of the PBS Createchannel. In addition to the chefs Imentioned last week, they run Jacques Pepin, Julia Child, Eric Ripert,etc. The other night Jacques Pepin madea perfectly spectacular, yet rustic looking stuffed cabbage. I will try that this weekend. Just thinkingabout it makes me hungry! And our first sauerbraten this year. Always atreat! My recipe is from Joyce Goldsteinand has the magic addition of ginger snaps. Wonderful! And with all the chilirecipes circulating this week for some odd reason, Warner queried as to whetherwe had one that could be made with his sausage. Emeril to the rescue. I’ll be doingthis with Warner’s andouille, but any smoked sausage should work.
Shop Rite has chicken half price this week. Warner reports that we’re down to 38 pints ofchicken stock, so you can guess what we’ll be doing….38 pints of chicken stock don’t last a hell of a long time in this house. They also have lobster on sale,but somehow that strikes me as more of a warm weather thing.
Mon. Jasper White’s Fried Fish with Fresh Tartare Sauce SSCB
Oven Fried Potatoes
Baby Peas
Tues. Thos. Keller’s Garlic Sausage with Lentils
Sautéed Kale
Weds. Lamb Breast Pot au Feu
Peasant Bread
Thurs. Thos. Keller’s Brined Roasted Chicken B-TK
Pan Gravy
Steamed Rice
Eggplant Fritters CC I
Fri. AM Buckwheat Gallettes with Creamed Chicken BA 2/10
Fri. PM Sauerbraten OHCB
Red Cabbage OHCB
Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream and CranberrySauce OHCB
Sat. AM Tuscan Minestrone f/i
Sat. Pm Parmesan Chicken Wings BOTB 2001
Emeril’s Sausage Chili with Warner’s HomemadeAndouille Food Network
Cheddar, Sour Cream
Fresh Biscuits
Sun. Sun Dried Tomato Tarts f/i
Jacques Pepin’s Stuffed Cabbage J&JCAH


MENU FOR THE WEEK OF DECEMBER 7, 2009
Last week's menu got moved around a bit as I attempted to deal with leftovers. I made an interesting Turkey Curry with Apples and Dried Cranberries that was very good. And I made a huge pot (more than 20 servings) of Turkey Gumbo with Andouille and Proscuitto. I added Shrimp to the amounts I cooked for our lunches and froze the rest. I'll add shrimp to the amounts I defrost.
We'll be enjoying this most of the winter. There is something very warming and satisfying about a gumbo as with a good winter borscht. A good inventory of hearty winter soups in the freezer also makes life easy.
Last night we had our first serious snow of the season. Where I used to see beauty in the landscape, these days I see heating bills. Good Soups, Braises and Stews warm up the soul and the kitchen both!!
Mon. AM Winter Bean and Squash Soup f/I 

Mon. PM Patricia Wells' Moules Provencale BC-PW
French Bread
Tossed Salad with Pear
Tues. AM Barley Soup with Kielbasa, Cabbage
and Provolone BA 3/90 72
Tues. PM Catalian Beef Stew with Orange Zest
and Calamata CIA ODM
Rice
Buttered Broccoli
Weds. PM Patricia Wells' French Garlic Sausages with Yukon Gold
Potatoes and Red Wine Vinaigrette PWVH 128
Sautéed Cucumber with Dill
Thurs AM Pasta Shells with Peas, Cream, Home Cured Proscuitto
and
Parmesan FW 2007 81
Thurs PM Lamb Chops with Mint Chimichurri Sauce BOTB Vol 8
Creamed Red Potatoes
Baby Peas
Fri. AM Barley Soup Revisited
Fri. PM T Bone Steak with Red Wine & Shallot Sauce CR 181
Fried Zucchini Sticks
Sautéed Radishes with Scallions
Sat AM Ricotta Pancakes BA 8/2000 32
Vermont Maple Syrup
Hazelnut Coffee
Sat. PM Charcuterie Plate with Cheese Selection
New England Boiled Dinner with Root Vegetables CCI
Horseradish Sauce
Fresh Biscuits
Sun. AM Eggs Benedict
Sun. PM Phyllo Turnover with Spinach and Feta
Sautéed Chicken
with Roquefort Cream Sauce BA 5/91 150
Steamed Orzo
Sautéed Green Beans