almonds

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter B

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Sunshine Eats: Boursin Garlic Bisque! Have you been to a restaurant where the main course is served with a side of garlic smashed potatoes? The texture is incredibly smooth and the flavor is bursting with fresh herbs and garlic. Gourmet Boursin cheese may be their secret ingredient. Its airy-light texture is a marriage between spreadable cream cheese and whipped butterfat. You can find this French icon wrapped in foil in the cheese department of your favorite grocery store. Serve it with crackers, pita chips, or go all out and make this simple potato bisque. 
BOURSIN GARLIC BISQUE 
Ingredients:

2 cups chicken broth 

2 cups Yukon potatoes, peeled and chopped

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/4 cup sweet onions, chopped

3/4 cup light cream

5.3 ounce Garlic Boursin Cheese, crumbled

1/2 cup frozen baby peas, thawed

5 slices crisp bacon, pieces and crumbles

Fresh Garlic Chives

Ground Smoked Almonds
Instructions:

Combine chicken broth and chopped potatoes in a 2-quart pan over medium high heat. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until potatoes are tender, 15-20 minutes. Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, sauté garlic clove and sweet onions in olive oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Add to potato mixture. After potatoes are tender, partially smash the potatoes to thicken, leaving some potato chunks for texture. Add light cream and Boursin cheese. Stir until cheese is melted. Add baby peas and bacon pieces. Simmer 15 minutes. Ladle into bowls. Garnish with bacon crumbles, garlic chives, and smoked almonds. 

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Pretzel M&M Almond Bark!

Eating My Way Through the Holidays! Special Edition: Pretzel M&M Almond Bark! If you have a microwave, you can make this sweet and salty confection in mere minutes. Have all the ingredients measured out ahead of time for best results. Make it fun! Let the kids and grandkids be involved. By the time you are finished, everyone will be singing “Jingle Bells”. 
PRETZEL M&M ALMOND BARK
Ingredients:

2 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/2 cup almonds, sliced

3/4 cup pretzels, crushed 

1/3 cup mini M&M candies
Instructions:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Crush pretzel sticks into broken pieces and crumbs, reserving one tablespoon for topping. Place white chocolate chips in a glass microwave-safe bowl. Heat on 50% power for one minute. Remove, add vegetable oil, stir, and return to the microwave. Continue heating on 50% power for one minute longer. Stir until smooth. Repeat process, if necessary. Hint: The chips will not appear melted until you stir them. Do not over cook. When the white chocolate is melted and smooth, fold in the almonds, mini M&M candies, and pretzel pieces. Quickly spread the mixture onto the lined baking sheet. Spread in an even layer. Dust the warm white chocolate with crushed pretzel crumbs. Chill one hour or until set. Break into bite-size pieces. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet; Letter A

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Home Cooking: Asian Noodle Salad! Not only does this dish make a stunning presentation of color, it also boasts a crunchy taste of the Orient. The sesame and ginger dressing is so yummy, you’ll find yourself making excuses to eat this salad every week. 
ASIAN NOODLE SALAD
Ingredients:

1 package ramen noodle soup mix, any flavor

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup almonds, sliced

1 pound of shredded broccoli and carrot slaw mix

3/4 cup roasted Cardini’s Gourmet Asian Sesame Dressing

2 green onions, sliced
Instructions:

Melt butter in a medium skillet over low heat. Remove noodles from soup mix. Discard seasoning mix. Break up uncooked noodles. Add to the skillet, along with the almonds. Stir to combine and brown until slightly toasted and brown. Do not burn. Remove from heat. In a large bowl add broccoli/carrot slaw and the noodle/almond mixture. Pour salad dressing over all and toss until combined. Garnish with green onion snips. Serve immediately. Leftovers may be refrigerated but the noodles will lose their crunch. 

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.