Monday 26 December 2016

Champagne Chicken Breasts







On New Years Day and New Years Eve, I like to have champagne and I love to include it in the dishes I serve, knowing this is my last Hoorah before my sanity comes back.....well hopefully! My guests always ask for the recipe and think I’ve been cooking for hours, but it is done in little more than half an hour. And there is zero fat added; the chicken cooks in Champagne. So, in reality, I have already eased back into my usual eating pattern. Cooking with wine adds flavor but the calories of the alcohol burn off in the pan. Vermouth, Pernod or any number of earthy reds or whites can add depth to a dish, but for elegance of finish nothing beats Champagne. 

Wednesday 21 December 2016

Lemon Rosemary Shortbread

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These cookies are crisp and buttery with just enough sweetness. The lemon and rosemary add a twist to a classic shortbread cookie. I just love biting into this delicious cookie and getting a hint of citrus and savory rosemary. A match made in heaven. 

Friday 16 December 2016

Standing Rib Roast - Prime Rib


A Standing Rib Roast claims center stage during holiday season for a very good reason. It is the king of beef cuts. This is my favorite way of cooking a Prime Rib. Both my Slow Roasted Prime Rib and my adaption of Eva Kenly's recipe (here) are excellent methods for cooking a Rib Roast. I have done it both ways, both ways, equally delicious.

Wednesday 14 December 2016

Twice Baked Potatoes- JJ's way






Twice-baked potatoes, much like biscotti require two – almost back to back – baking sessions. Thus, they are “twice-baked”. The first baking session is to soften the potatoes; you’ll need their centers to be soft enough to be easily scooped out. The second baking session is to warm the newly stuffed potatoes, crisp up their skins, and meld the magical cheeses.

Friday 9 December 2016

Brie Stuffed Mushroom's



I am seriously drooling....yes, they are that good! 

For some reason during the holiday season my taste for decadent food goes up 100%. Shopping in the grocery store is a lot more fun, as all the yummy ingredients are placed at the end of the isles and somehow make their way into my cart! Costco....well forget about the list.... Haha, my son-in-law will stop right here! He is one who sticks to the list at Costco....come on, who sticks to the list? I like to take pictures of my overloaded cart and send to him, with my list in the foreground....hahaha!

Monday 5 December 2016

Caramel Apple Streusel Pie

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Baking a homemade apple pie will make you feel like a kitchen champion, in that really awesome ’50s housewife or grandma way. However baking this Caramel Apple Streusel Pie will make you feel like a superhero. This pie is outrageously good and puts all store-bought apple pies to shame. Yes, making homemade pie dough and peeling and slicing a bunch of apples can be laborious but I promise you it is SO worth it. If you are looking to wow your friends and family this Holiday Season, this is the pie! The bonus your entire kitchen will smell like heaven on earth.