Jun 022006
 

Recently, my grandmother passed away; before she died I was fortunate enough to spend some time with her.

There were a few things she said to me about our generation and waning manners: #1 opening of doors for women has gone to the way side and #2 she was saddened by the fact that it is no longer instinctual to say: “yes ma’am” and “no sir.”

These are just some thoughtful ideas to remember for the future. I wish I had more time to spend with her; she was a wealth of knowledge with one of the most incredible minds I have ever encountered.

 Posted by at 6:01 pm
Jun 012006
 
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I just recently learned this trick to always remember which is the bread dish and which is your drink. For some people it is just instinctual which to choose, but at a crowded table there is sometimes confusion. So to avoid an embarrassing situation, just think “b” and “d.”

Your left hand makes the “b” and your right hand makes the “d.” The bread plate is always on your left and the drink is always on your right! Thank you Evan…can’t tell to how many people I’ve relayed this trick!!

 Posted by at 6:03 pm
May 302006
 

I was making dinner for someone I had been seeing. No matter how much I cook, whenever I cook for someone who has never tasted my food I am very nervous. I thought I would make ratatouille. This is something I have made in the past with great success so I thought it would be no problem. Oh no, I definitely over salted the entire dish and it was a disaster.

After this embarassing and disappointing experience, I learned that when you have over salted something just place a peeled potato in the dish and it will absorb the salt.

Oh well- next time!

 Posted by at 6:31 pm
May 152006
 

A friend became engaged and, in the excitement, I ran up to her and said, “oh congratulations!” I was quickly corrected by my mother that to woman you say:

“Best Wishes” and for man “Congratulations”.

A week later when another friend got engaged I knew what to say!

 Posted by at 6:05 pm
May 122006
 

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Over the past year, I have discovered a new taste for crab cakes. I probably only recently developed an affinity for them because half the time I have them I am very disappointed. I was home visiting my parents and decided I wanted to make them. My mother and I each made our own batch and were able to come to an agreement of which ingredients we liked and disliked in our recipes.

½ Pound Fresh Crab Meat
1 Cup Diced Red Onion
¾ Cup Diced Red Pepper
¾ Cup Diced Celery
1 Tablespoon of Capers
½ Lemon Sliced
2 Teaspoons of Old Bay Seasoning
1 Teaspoon of dry mustard
2 Eggs
1 Tablespoon of Mayonnaise
¾ Cup Bread Crumbs
¼ Cup Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons of Butter

Salt and Pepper to taste

In a saucepan melt one tablespoon of butter in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Add onion, pepper, celery, lemon slices, capers, old bay season, and cook all these ingredients together for about 10 minutes. (Once cooked remove the lemon slices)

In a separate bowl beat the egg, dry mustard and mayonnaise together and then add the Crab Meat and bread crumbs.

Now mix together the crab and the vegetables let this stand for about 10 to 15 minutes.

Using a 1 tablespoon ice-cream scoop, make scoops full and place on a plate until ready to cook.

In a skillet heat the remaining olive oil and butter before frying the crab cakes. Each cake needs about 2-3 minutes on each side or until a golden brown color.

This will make approximately 32 mini crab cakes.

I found that these crab cakes are also great served cold. These would be great to serve on a salad or a sandwich.

 Posted by at 7:56 pm
May 102006
 
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1 Cup of Leeks slices (1/4 inches)
¾ Cup of chopped snow peas
1 Cup of Celery sliced (1/4 inches)
1 Cup of Carrots sliced (1/4 inches)
1 Tablespoon of Thyme
2 cloves of Mashed Garlic
3 Tablespoons of Butter
½ Cup of Flour
1 Cup of White Wine
½ Cup of Cream/ or milk
3 Cups of Chicken Broth
3 Sheets of Puff PastryPre Heat Oven for 450

Bake for 20 minutes

(Makes 12 Individual Pot Pies)

In a saucepan melt butter and garlic until melted, then add flour combine well and then pour in cream and bring to a boil. Pour in chicken stalk and vegetables and chicken. Bring to a simmer and pour in wine and thyme and cook on low heat for about 20 minutes.

Cut 12 circles with a four inch diameter of parchment paper and lightly grease. And place a piece of puff pastry over the paper and insert it into a muffin tin. This will form the cup to hold the pot pie stuffing. Repeat this twelve times. Fill each cup of puff pastry with filling and then top with a piece of puff pastry. Brush top with an egg wash and bake.

If you do not have time or do not want to use as much puff pastry, filling can be used in small souffle dish and just topped with the puff pastry.

 Posted by at 8:00 pm
May 062006
 
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Is there a more classic muffin than a blueberry one? Every summer, when I go home, this is something that my mother has waiting for us in the morning. I did not appreciate them until later in life! I have definitely adopted them into my own set of “go-to” recipes. I love freezing them so I can have them at all time! Friends Caroline and Eliza were there to taste this batch!

Pre Heat Oven 375

2 Cups of Flour
2 Teaspoons of baking soda
½ Teaspoons of salt
½ Cup of Butter Softened
1 and ¼ Sugar
2 Eggs
½ Cup Buttermilk
2 ½ Cups Blueberries
2 Tablespoons of Sugar for Muffin Tops

Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy add eggs one at a time. Add Flour with baking powder and salt alternating with buttermilk.

With a fork mash ½ cup of Blueberries and folding into batter and then gently add the remaining berries.

Fill muffin tins and sprinkle with sugar. Bake for 25-30 minutes.

This batter also makes a great coffee cake using a square pan and bake for 30-35 minutes.

 Posted by at 8:03 pm
Apr 252006
 
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When planning a party it is important to really make sure to think through the little details. For my sister’s 27th birthday she wanted a 70′s style party. I found a restaurant that had 70′s style decor to host the event, SHAG. Then a friend of hers and I made a CD’s with a picture of my sister from the 70′s (which coincidentally included shag carpeting). The CD had all her favorite 70′s songs to give to everyone to remember the night. The CD was propped up by all her favorite candy in a cellophane bag tied with pieces of Shag.Too often people have parties and forget that it is the little details that make something special.

 Posted by at 5:42 pm
Apr 172006
 
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A family friend brought these over for St. Patrick’s Day and I thought it was such an adorable idea. Irish Spring soap in a bag filled with gold grass and gold chocolate coins.

Mrs. Frost leave it to you to come up with such a cute idea!

 Posted by at 5:44 pm
Apr 152006
 
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This year I thought I would not do traditional Easter baskets. Instead of a basket I used plastic cartons and decorated them with flowers and a plastic egg (using my FAVORITE new toy- my glue gun, but you have to be careful because it’s so easy to burn yourself with one). Inside the egg, that was on the top, is where I placed the card to the individuals receiving it.

 Posted by at 5:47 pm