Food

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter B

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Baked Brie!  I typically serve this as an appetizer, with French preserves and almonds on top, but it also makes a wonderful dessert with a light fruity wine. 

BAKED BRIE
Ingredients:
14 ounce wheel of Brie*
1/4 cup apricot preserves 
2 tablespoons almonds, sliced
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
* Camembert is a milder substitute. 
Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°. Remove Brie wheel from package and slice off the top surface of the rind. Place the wheel in a small oven-proof dish. Lightly score the cheese. Spread the apricot preserves over the exposed cheese surface. Sprinkle with almonds. Pour the butter over all. Garnish with red pepper flakes on top. Bake the Brie uncovered for 15-20 minutes until the cheese is soft and heated through. Serve in the same dish to keep it warm. 
Sliced fruit, deli crackers, and crusty baguettes make a nice compliment to the rich, creamy flavor. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter A

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Second Helping of Au Gratin Potatoes! How’s this for comfort food?  Butter, cream, and cheese……with potatoes thrown in. Can you say creamy and luscious three times very fast???

AU GRATIN POTATOES 
Ingredients:
6 medium potatoes 
1 clove garlic 
1 sweet onion, sliced thin
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup half & half cream
2 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese* 
Sea salt and pepper to taste. 
* Gruyere or Provolone or all three may be combined. 
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 400°. Lightly rub garlic all over a 9×13 baking dish. Butter dish then set aside unused portion of butter. Peel and slice potatoes. Hold in a bowl of cold water until ready to use. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion until cooked. Divide drained potatoes, cooked onion, and shredded cheese into three layers in baking dish, reserving last third of cheese until the final 5 minutes of baking. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Heat remaining butter with cream until the butter is melted and the cream is hot. Pour evenly over the top of the casserole. Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top is browned, the cream has been absorbed, and the potatoes are soft. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet-A Second Helping!

The Journey Continues……

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet-A Second Helping! The response has been amazing on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my friends and followers on snapshotsincursive.com for your support and encouragement. What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen?  Stay tuned and you’ll see more.  It’s as simple as A-B-C.  One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen.   I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET-A SECOND HELPING!”

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Z

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Zucchini Boats! Now before you roll your eyes and take the day off, promise me you’ll be open-minded. After all, you have to take the veggies along with the cake. My husband does, and he was pleasantly surprised. (Love him!❤️)

ZUCCHINI BOATS
Ingredients:
4 mini zucchini, cut lengthwise 
1/2 pound Mexican chorizo, mild
2 tablespoons onion, chopped 
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/8 teaspoon cumin powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper 
Dash of sea salt
1/2 cup black beans, rinsed
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
1 tablespoon diced pimento
1 green onion, cut up
1 tablespoon lime juice
1 cup pepper jack or white cheddar cheese
Fresh cilantro to taste
Instructions:
Scoop out seeds and flesh from center of zucchini, leaving a shell to hold filling. Discard flesh and seeds. Absorb moisture with paper towel. Place boats in a casserole dish. Divide half the cheese into the bottom of the boats. Set aside. In a medium skillet, fry chorizo, onion, garlic, cumin, red pepper flakes and salt. Cook until done, stirring frequently. In a small bowl, combine corn, black beans, pimento, cilantro leaves, and green onion. Squeeze lime juice over all. Top cheese-filled zucchini boats with chorizo mixture. Add a teaspoon of corn/bean salsa on top of meat. Cover with remaining cheese. Bake at 350° for 25-30 minutes. Serve with extra corn salsa on the side. Add more cilantro to taste. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter Y

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Yankee Potato Salad!  The new red potatoes at the market right now make the best-tasting side dish for all your casual meals. Wash them thoroughly so you can leave the skins on.  

Ingredients:
10 new red potatoes, small 
2 green onions 
3 ounces of hickory-smoked bacon bits
1 tablespoon fresh dill
1 cup real mayonnaise 
Instructions:
Quarter the red potatoes and put into a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce to medium heat and cook for 15-20 minutes. Drain. In a large bowl, add cooled potatoes, bacon bits, cut-up green onions. Mix in mayonnaise to blend well. (For a moist salad, add more.) Finally, gently fold in the fresh cut dill.  Refrigerate 1-2 hours for best flavor. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter X

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Xia, Gan Shao which translates to Sweet and Sour Shrimp!  I know I’m stretching the alphabet a bit thin with this one, but I am crazy about shrimp!  I improvised a little, so I apologize in advance. Hopefully this will become one of your all time favorites. 

XIA, GAN SHAO
Ingredients:
1 pound of jumbo shrimp
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon crushed pepper flakes
1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning blend
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice
Instructions:

Put shrimp in a baking dish, single layer. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over shrimp. Marinate 1 hour. Remove shrimp from marinade and place in a nonstick vegetable grilling basket. Discard marinade. Preheat outdoor grill for medium heat. Grill 2 minutes on each side, or until opaque. Do not over-cook! Serve with Asian Sesame dressing infused with Sriracha sauce. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter W

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Watercress Bacon Dinner Salad! If you like salad, you will find yourself saying, “OMG, I want a second helping!”  My husband and I can literally eat this dinner salad until we think we will burst! And then we’ll have one bite more! (P.S. Spring is the best time of year to pick up watercress at the Farmer’s Market.)


Ingredients:

3 Eggs

7 slices Bacon

1 Vidalia Onion, Small

1 cup sliced Mushrooms

10 ounce package Grape Tomatoes

6 ounces Watercress

1 heart of Romaine Lettuce

1 cup seasoned croutons

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

5 Tablespoons Reserved Bacon Grease (*or substitute with olive oil)

3 Tablespoons Garlic Wine Vinegar

2 teaspoons Honey

1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard

Instructions:

Cook eggs: cover with water, bring to a boil, then turn off heat and allow to sit in water for 20 minutes. Drain off water and add ice on top of eggs. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel. Remove 5 tablespoons grease and set aside. Use 2 tablespoons of grease in a separate skillet over medium heat. Slice thin the Vidalia onion, then add to skillet. Cook slowly until onions are caramelized and reduced. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add mushrooms to the same skillet. Cook slowly until caramelized and brown. Remove to a plate and set aside. Cut bacon into pieces. Peel and slice eggs. Mix romaine and watercress in a large bowl. Arrange onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and bacon on top. 

Hot Bacon Dressing: Add 3 tablespoons bacon grease, vinegar, honey, and Dijon to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk mixture together and heat thoroughly.

Pour hot dressing over the salad; toss to combine. Arrange eggs over the top, add croutons, sprinkle on grated Parmesan cheese, and Voilà! Dinner is served!


Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter V

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Virginia Smoked Ham Sandwich!  The wonderful thing about baking a Virginia smoked ham is the assortment of menu options you glean from a three-pound ham purchase. And with picnic season upon us, this is a quick and easy meal to enjoy at the park. 

VIRGINIA SMOKED HAM SANDWICH 
Ingredients:
1/2 pound shaved precooked smoked Virginia ham pieces
4 slices sesame seed artisan bakery-fresh bread
2 tablespoons butter
2 slices Baby Swiss cheese
Mayonnaise or Mustard, optional to taste
Dill Pickle wedge for garnish
Instructions:
Butter top sides of bread all the way to the edge. Put two slices into a heated skillet over medium-low heat. Assemble ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread slices. Cook until golden brown on each side, turning once. Serve with the slightly tart taste of a dill pickle.  Add a tossed salad and sea salt Kettle chips for the perfect meal!

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter U

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Upside-Down Pineapple Bundt Cake!  This light and easy alternative for dessert will satisfy your sweet tooth without packing on the pounds. The secret is the tropical taste of pineapple. 

UPSIDE-DOWN PINEAPPLE BUNDT CAKE
Ingredients:
1 box Angel Food Cake Mix
1 20-ounce can of Crushed Pineapple with Juice
1/2 cup brown sugar
Directions:
Set oven rack to lowest setting. Preheat oven to 350°. Spray Bundt pan with non-stick cooking oil. Sprinkle brown sugar on the bottom of the pan.  Mix the Angel Food Cake Mix with the Crushed Pineapple, including juice, by hand for one minute or until well blended.  Pour into Bundt pan and place in oven on a foil-lined cookie sheet.  Bake for 35-45 minutes until  toothpick comes out clean and the cake is set. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate.
Option:  Garnish with a sprig of tarragon and top with maraschino cherries, stems removed. 
Serving Suggestion
Mixed Berry Sauce:
1 pound of fresh blueberries 
1 pound of fresh mulberries 
1 tablespoon water
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar
In a medium sauce pan add berries, water, lemon juice, and sugar. Cook on medium heat, while stirring until the berries reduce down. Change the heat to low setting and press the berries against the side of the pan to make them burst. Continue cooking for 30 minutes until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool for 10 minutes. Add 2 drops of lemon extract while stirring with a spoon. Pour into jar and store in refrigerator. 
Hint:  This is delicious on toast or pancakes or ice cream.