

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
MENU FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 30, 2009
Thanksgiving is over
all the people have gone home
how quiet it is
Mon. AM Vegetable Soup
Mon. PM Broiled Tilapia Fillets with Orange Butter Sauce
Steamed Orzo
Ratatouille
Tues. AM CIA Poblano Cheese Soup
Tues. PM Swedish Meatballs
with Sour Cream Sauce BOTB Vol 12
Fresh Pasta
Roasted Red Onions with Balsamic Vinegar






[Lunch became a turkey club]
Weds. AM Campanelle with Italian Sausage
and Red Pepper Sauce GM 2/97 1095
Weds. PM Basil Roasted Chicken in Garlic Sauce BA 5/91 84
Fresh Peasant Bread
Sautéed Zucchini with Marjoram


Thurs. PM Pork Schnitzel
Fresh Spaetzle with Butter and Basil
Tossed Salad

[What was planned for Wednesday AM]
Fri. AM Poblano Cheese Soup CIA ODM 33


Fri. PM Chicken Fried Steak
Smashed Potatoes
White Gravy
Sautéed Green Beans
Sat. AM Waffles with Maple Syrup
Home Cured Bacon

Sat. PM Country Pate
Patricia Wells’ French Garlic Sausage
with Yukon Gold Potatoes PWVH 128
and Red Wine Vinaigrette
Sautéed Cucumber with Dill

[Sunday AM about 7]
Sun. Garlic Shrimp
Catalian Beef Stew
with Orange Zest and Kalamata CIA ODM 59
Steamed Rice
Ratatouille
[Supervising cat]
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WORKING MENU
[Mostly final]
[I think shots are in the right place, directly above the dish named, but there was a lot, two people cooking for 4 days before the guests arrived. And a few, as the cranberries below, placed at the lead.]




[The above is a freshly opened proscuitto da Pomona, hung Jan. 5, 2009 opened Thanksgiving morn.]
WEDS. PM
SUN DRIED TOMATOES & GOAT CHEESE TARTLETTES CIA





BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIBS WITH DRIED CHERRIES OVER RICE FW 2000 230
JULIA CHILD’S GRATIN OF GRATED ZUCCHINI WTC
DARK CHOCOLATE COOKIES GM 2/03
AUNT JENNY’S PIZZELLES VB
MY MOTHER’S CHRSITMAS COOKIES VB
THURS AM
PUMPKIN PECAN PANCAKES WITH MAPLE SYRUP VB
WARNER’S HOME SMOKED MAPLE HOME CURED BACON
JUICE, COFFEE
THURS LUNCH
ALPHABET VEGERABLE SOUP BA 12/83 88
THANKSGIVING DINNER
APPETIZERS COLD
COUNTRY PATE WWJ
PICKLE PRINCE OF POMONA’S SELECTION OF PICKLES WITH HARD SAUSAGE
MARINATED MUSHROOMS AND OLIVES
BONED DUCK STUFFED WITH PATE - WWJ
CHOPPED CHICKEN LIVERS - WWJ
COLD SMOKED TROUT SALAD WITH APPLE IN ENDIVE FW 12/86 156
BANDERILLAS – TAPAS
(ONE SPANISH GREEN OLIVE, ONE PIECE OF PICKLED HERRING ONE PIECE OF PIMENTO ½ CORNICHON AND MARINATED PEARL ONION 1 ANCHOVY ON A SINGLE TOOTHPICK)
SHRIMP IN CAPER SAUCE –TAPAS 80

MEDITERRANEAN SEAFOOD TERRINE WITH RED PEPPER
COULIS CIA GM
CRAB STUFFED CHERRY TOMATOES GM 8/86 71
SAVORY BLUE CHEESE CAKE CIA GM 758
APPETIZERS HOT
HOT ARTICHOIKE DIP WITH TORTILLA CHIPS GM 5/03 64
PORK RIBS IN GARLIC SAUCE TAPAS
MAIN COURSE
SOUTHERN CLEMANTINE BRINED TURKEY WITH RED EYE GRAVY BA 11/09 106
SWEET POTATO STUFFING WITH BACON AND THYME BA 11/09 112
BONED TURKEY WTIH FRENCH GARLIC SAUSAGE HAZELNUT STUFFING AND MADIERA GRAVY GM 11/86 14 3 WWJ
SIDES
TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BROCOLI PUREE BA 11/80 88
MASHED POT. AND CELERY ROOT WITH MARSCAPONE BA 11/97
HARICOTS VERTS IN MUSTARD SAUCE CCII 475
BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CRANBERRIES FW 2008 188
BRAISED FENNEL WITH BLACK OLIVES GM 1/86 72
SLOW ROASTED RED ONIONS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGEAR ISS 265
TOSSED SALAD WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE
CRANBERRY SAUCE – WWJ
DESSERTS
YOUNG PEOPLE’S DESSERT BUFFET
INDIVIDUAL PUMPKIN PIES
INDIV. CHOCOLATE MINT POTS DE CRÈME
INDIV. LEMON MERANGUE TARTS
INDVI. NEW YORK CHEESE CAKES
CHEESE PLATTER
NOT SO YOUNG PEOPLE’S DESSERT BUFFET


PRALENE CHEESE CAKE - WWJ
[Yes that is canned cranberries, I canned them in 2008 right after Thanksgiving]


CRANBERRY CHEESE CAKE - WWJ
PECAN PIE – JP
PUMPKIN CAKE WTI CARAMEL ICING FW 2008 3371
CHEESE PLATTER
FRI AM
SCRAMBLED EGGS
SAUSAGES/BACON
JUICE/COFFEE
FRI PM
PHYLLO TRIANGLES WITH ROSEMARY AND PARMESAN OR SPINACH AND FETA SPCB9
CHEESE PLATTER
JULIA CHILD’S VEAL MARENGO OVER STEAMED ORZO JCI
BABY PEAS WITH MINT
TOSSED SALAD
MY CHOCOLATE CAKE
SAT AM
BAGELS
COFFEE
JUICE
SAT BRUNCH

SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH SOUR CREAM SAUCE BOTB VOL 12 x 1 1/2
AUTHUR AVE FRESH PASTA
RATATOUILLE
ASSORTED DESSERTS
[The above lump is the cat].
The rest is silence.
MENU FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 16, 2009
[Prep for Thanksgiving has begun.
Thanksgiving 2009 minus 14 days, the prep]
This week we are coming down to the wire in terms of Thanksgiving preparations. Ergo, a high percentage of our meals will come out of my freezer stash. After all, that’s what it’s there for…. We are finishing up things we can freeze for next week and final house preparation. We go from a household of 2 (and one cat ) to a house hold of 13 so there are a lot of logistics that have to come into play.
My mother always began her Christmas season with her Christmas cookies at Thanksgiving. I do the same. Although this year not so many, as I won’t be sending a stash home with the family of the diabetic child. I’ll start cooking cookies towards the end of this week. I am thinking my Mother’s sugar cookies (a must) a chocolate drop cookie that is easy and one I love, and a supply of Aunt Jenny’s pizzelles – so glad to finally get her recipe!
Am still tweaking the Thanksgiving menu but hope to have that set in a day or two. Then all we have to do is prepare it and serve it…..
Mon. AM Tuscan Minestrone

Mon. PM Soy and Ginger Glazed Salmon
with Udon Noodles FW 2003 166
Tossed Salad with Ginger Dressing
Tues. AM French Toast
Tues. PM Braised Short Ribs
Steamed Rice
Sautéed Zucchini
Weds. AM Cold Cuts
[It seems I needed some rendered chicken fat for a duck pate, and in buying the duck ran into a manager's sale on chicken, Oven Stuffers at 59 cents the pound. I had been going to buy leg quarters and render them, this was cheaper]
Weds. PM Brisket with Cranberries f/i
Potato Pancakes
Red Cabbage
Thurs AM Scrambled Eggs with Sausages
Thurs. PM Italian Sausage and Potato Stew f/i
Baby Peas
Fri. AM Cold Cuts
Fri. PM Grilled Ham Steak
Baked Sweet Potatoes
Sautéed Cabbage with Caraway
Sat. AM Winter Borscht f/i
Sat. PM Pickled Herring
Shrimp Newberg over Rice pfcmc
Sautéed Green Beans
Sun. AM Cold Cuts
Sun. PM Aged Brie with Crackers
Roast Beef with Madeira Gravy
Mashed Potatoes
Baby Carrots with Dill
Mon. AM Scrambled Eggs & Bacon
Mon. PM Turkey Tetrazini f/i
Baby Peas
Tues. pm Roast Beef Revisited
MENU FOR THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 9, 2009
(please note that the Thanksgiving weekend menu, version 0.01, follows this one. It will not be changed, but the current version will be reposted following major changes. As with all about menus here, it is written firmly in gelled veal stock.)
Although we are very much thinking of fall foods and Thanksgiving delights this week, we are having a bit of an Indian summer. The thermometer will almost hit 70 today – beats heating bills!
We are back in the winter mode of cooking for 6 several times a week. That gives one dinner for the current week, one dinner for the following week. And one dinner for the freezer. It is awfully nice, from time to time, to be able to pull a home prepared meal out of the freezer and not really have to cook. Even dedicated cooks like some time off….This was also a life saver when I was still working!! It also is a great way of enabling us to enjoy the braises and stews that would not be feasible if I only cooked for two.
Mon. AM Winter Borscht fi
(which because of the weather got changed to Bratwurst).





Mon. PM Perch ala Milanese TGCF
Fresh Pasta with French Tomato Sauce
Tossed Salad with Red Wine Vinaigrette
Tues. AM Tuscan Minestrone TGC Soup 117

Tues. PM Sausage and Potato Stew
Peasant Bread
Tossed Salad with Apple






(Biscuits and gavy became scrambled eggs with sausage and juice)
Weds. AM Biscuits with Sausage Gravy CIABB
Weds. PM Chanterelle’s Chicken and Dumplings
Tossed Salad with Pear
Thurs. AM Tuscan Minestrone
Thurs. PM Braised Pork Shoulder with Apples and Oranges
Buttered Noodles
Baby Pea
Fri. AM Apple Honey Cottage Cheese Pancakes, Syrup BA 9/87 10
Bacon
Hazelnut Coffee


Fri. PM Les Halles Moules Portugaise with Chorizo LHC 79
French Bread
Tossed Salad




Sat. AM Curried Eggs on English Muffins
Sun. AM Spaghetti Frittata CIC II 350


Sun. PM Savory Rosemary Parmesan Madelines TPC 6
Beef Short Ribs with Fennel, Black Olives & Anchovies
a la Camargue SMK 192
Spaetzle
Sautéed Green Beans with Mustard Sauce
This is only a working menu, subject to rapid change, major changes will be published and the final version will be up on 11/22-24, depending. I would point out that work on this starts today, when I grind the pork and veal for the Swedish meatballs, and my wife makes and freezes them.
THANKSGIVING WEEKEND WORKING MENU I
WEDS. PM
SUN DRIED TOMATOEs & GOAT CHEESE TARTLETTES CIA
BEEF SHORT RIBS SIMMERED IN RED WINE, FENNE, BLACK OLIVES AND ANCHOVIES IN THE STYLE OF CAMARGUE SMK 192
FRESH SPAETZLE
JULIA CHILD’S GRATIN OF GRATED ZUCCHINI WTC
COOKIES
THURS AM
PUMPKIN PECAN PANCAKE WITH MAPLE SYRUP VB
BREAKFAST SAUSAGE
JUICE, COFFEE
THURS LUNCH
ALPHABET VEGERABLE SOUP BA 1 2/83 88
THANKSGIVING DINNER
THANKSGIVING WORKING MENU 11/09 1
A PPETIZER COLD
CHEESE PLATTER
COUNTRY PATE WWJ
CHICKEN LIVER PARFAIT WWJ
COLD SMOKED TROUT SALAD IN ENDIVE FW 12/86 156
BANDERILLAS - TAPAS
SHRIMP IN CAPERS SAUCE –TAPAS
MEDITERRANEAN SEAFOOD TERRINE WITH RED PEPPER COULIS CIA GM
CRAB STUFFED CHERRY TOMATOES GM 8/86 71
SAVORY BLUE CHEESE CAKE ICA GM 758
APPETIZERS HOT
MARINATED LAMB SKEWERS – CIC 92
HOT ARTICHOIKE DIP WITH TORTILLA CHIPS GM 5/03 64
PORK RIBS IN GARLIC SAUCE TAPAS
MAIN COURSE
SOUTHERN CLEMANTINE SALTED TURKEY WITH RED EYE GRAVY BA 11/09 106
SWEET POTATO STUFFING WITH BACON AND THYME BA 11/09 112
BONED TURKEY WTIH FRENCH GARLIC SAUSAGE HAZELNUT STUFFING AND MADIERA GRAVY GM 11/86 14 3
SIDES
TOMATOES STUFFED WITH BROCOLI BA 11/80 88
MASHED POT. AND CELERY ROOT WITH MARSCAPONE BA 11/97
HARICOTS VETRS IN MUSTARD SAUDE CCII 475
BRUSSELS SPROUTS WITH CRANBERRIE FW 2008 188
BRAISED FENNEL WITH BLACK OLIVES GM 1/86 72
SLOW ROASTED RED ONIONS WITH BALSAMIC VINEGEAR ISS 265
TOSSED SALAD WITH RASPBERRY VINAIGRETTE
CRANBERRY SAUCE – WWJ
DESSERTS
CHOCOLATE/MINT CHEESE CAKE or
PRALENE CHOCOLATE CHEESE CAKE - WWJ
CRANBERRY CHEESE CAKE - WWJ
PECAN PIE – JP
INDIVIDUAL PUMKIN PIES
INDIV. CHOCOLATE MINT POTS DE CRÈME
MY CHOCOLATE CAKE GKM 2/03 136
PUMPKIN CAKE WTI CARAMEL ICING FW 2008 3371
JULIA CHILD’S APPLE TART JCI 636
FRI AM
SCRAMBLED EGGS
SAUSAGES/BACON
JUICE/COFFEE
FRI PM
PHYLLO TRIANGLES WITH ROSEMARY AND PARMESAN OR SPINACH AND FETA SPCB9
SEAFOOD STEW WITH CLAMS, MUSSELS, SHRIMP, SNAPPER & CHORIZO-- DIABETES
GARLIC BREAD
TOSSED SALAD
ASSORTED DESSERTS
SAT AM
BAGELS
SAT BRUNCH
SWEDISH MEATBALLS WITH SOUR CREAM SAUCE BOTB VOL 12 x 1 1/2
BUTTERED NOODLES
RATATOUILLE SW
MAPLE MOUSE BA 1 2/ 93 18