garden

Food Junkie Favorites

Hello, my name is Gail and I’m a Food Junkie. I confess that I eat to live and enjoy the ride. I like fresh ingredients, garden herbs, rich chocolate, and French butter…to name just a few. But I’m in good company. Some of my posts have been favored by the “Food Network” on Twitter as well as Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) on Instagram. Come along with me for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Food Junkie Favorites! This remarkable journey of the palate is special because it gives me a few moments with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. 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: FOOD JUNKIE FAVORITES!”

You Are What You Eat

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: You Are What You Eat! I’ve been hearing this phrase my entire life, and it wasn’t until recently I actually began paying attention to it again. Oh sure, I knew moderation was key, exercise important, and water essential. I tried to maintain a balanced diet of fruit, vegetables, grains, dairy, meats, and even fats because it made a difference in how well I felt. Plus it reflected in my energy level as well. So, as I was collecting all this produce, it seemed like a no-brainer to share the snapshot with everyone. Bon Appétit.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT

Ingredients:

Tomatoes

Green Beans

Assorted Peppers

Corn on the Cob

Zucchini 

Onion

Garlic

Squash

Instructions:

Wash the vegetables. Eat them raw, cooked, puréed, chopped, minced, buttered, grilled, roasted, par-boiled, or baked. 

“Make food simple

and let things taste

of what they are.”

~ Curnonsky (Maurice Edmond Sailland)

French Writer (1872-1956)

Jalapeños Pickled

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? The Daily Special: Jalapeños Pickled! As you may recall, I live in the country. However, I’m really not much of a gardener. Thank goodness my husband is. He cultivates the ground, plants the seedlings, and kicks the weeds to the curb. Then I gather the produce and transform its bounty into wonderful surprises. This pickled recipe makes me feel like a pro. It’s quick, it’s easy, and most of all it’s super delicious!  The spiciness has you asking for more. 

JALAPEÑOS PICKLED

Ingredients:

15 jalapeño peppers, sliced

2 garlic cloves 

1 cup white vinegar

1 cup water

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons kosher salt

Instructions:

In a medium sauce pan, combine the garlic, vinegar, water, sugar, and salt. Heat to boiling. Stir until the sugar and salt are dissolved.  As it continues boiling, add the sliced jalapeños. Keep them submerged under the pickling liquids. Remove the pan from the heat. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the jalapeños and garlic to a clean jar. Ladle the pickling juices over top until the jar is filled. Let cool at room temperature before securing a lid and storing in the refrigerator.

Ina Garten’s Crispy Potatoes

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? A Cut Above: Ina Garten’s Crispy Potatoes! One chef’s secret to crispy roasted potatoes begins with boiling them on the stove beforehand. The results create tender and fluffy potatoes on the inside while crispy and crunchy on the outside. The herbs and seasonings enhance layers of flavor, making it a comforting delight to the senses. Serve with a side of ranch dressing or natural ketchup. Oh……remember to share. These aren’t meant for the baker to finish off the entire batch, no matter how tempting that may be. 

INA GARTEN’S CRISPY POTATOES

Ingredients: 

1 1/2 pounds baby gold potatoes, halved, skin on

1/2 cup olive oil

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/8 teaspoon black pepper 

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano 

1/8 teaspoon dried parsley 

Instructions: 

Place baby gold potatoes in a saucepan; cover with an inch of water; bring to boil; simmer for 10 minutes. Drain completely. Return potatoes to the pan. Cover the saucepan tightly with a lid. Shake the pan for a few seconds. This makes the edges rough and craggy, allowing them to crisp up nicely when roasted. Preheat oven to 400°. Combine olive oil, kosher salt, black pepper, dried oregano, and dried parsley. Mix well. Pour over the potatoes, coating all sides. Transfer potatoes to a nonstick baking sheet, beginning with cut side down in a single layer. Bake for 45 minutes, tossing occasionally to brown the sides. Serve immediately. 

Bistro La Baguette in Naples, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Bistro La Baguette in Naples, Florida! When craving traditional French food without the cost of a plane ticket, look for a place that is tied to its roots. Bistro La Baguette offers classic French fare. The kitchen is a bounty of fresh ingredients for traditional dishes as well as decadent pastries, which are featured in a glass showcase at the counter. A shaded porch, surrounded by hanging draperies and green plants, offers open-air seating steps away from the dining room and wine cellar. The velvety green salads are overflowing with garden produce and topped with a heavenly house made dressing. Whether you’re nibbling over lunch or in for a gourmet experience, taking time is the secret to living like a Francophile.

Su’s Garden Chinese Restaurant on Marco Island, Florida

Dining Outside the Home: Su’s Garden Chinese Restaurant on Marco Island, Florida! Pay no attention to the golden lions guarding the serpent-wrapped columns as you enter through the glass doors, unless you want to take a photo. Dining areas are set with white tablecloths, printed placemats, and flatware. Meals are served in Old World style on blue and white designed dishes by attentive servers. Portions are generous and filling. The menu offers tasty appetizers, savory soups, and extensive house specialties with steamed or fried rice. Pay attention to the dishes that promote peppery hot, spicy ingredients for those who crave that Szechwan kick. One mustn’t forget a pot of the blended hot tea for the ultimate dining experience. When you can go no further, sit back, break open the fortune cookie, read the message, and eat the cookie. Perfect meals require perfect endings.