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

MAPLE MOUSE BA     1 2/ 93 18