Mushroom lovers! Wild Mushroom Strudel!

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Mushroom lovers, this dish was made for you (us)! There is nothing like a medley of well flavored mushrooms to delight the palate and nourish the body. If you are gluten intolerant, you can substitute pan-fried polenta for the Fillo, and just top the polenta with the mushroom mixture. However you end up, this is a delicious, easy, and impressive way to begin a meal or as a side dish. 

Oh boy! The shitake's are finally down to the price where, well..... we can at least buy enough to make a topping!! I ran down to the Seattle Pike Place market for the dinner for 9, we were having over the Labor Day weekend. I had an idea, but, always leave myself flexible, as you never know what you may see,  what is fresh, or priced at season low. My plan was to have a filet roast on the rotisserie and saute some Parmesan crusted halibut cheeks, sort of a "Surf and Turf". Well, my plan was derailed, when I found the Pike Place Fish markets were closed on Labor Day! But, when I spotted the price on the Shitake mushrooms, my plan changed course and I was back on track!! My family famous "Mushroom Strudel" would accompany the filet and make it a memorable Holiday meal!

Just look at these beauties! $7.99 a pound!! Down from $24.99 a pound!!
It is time to stock up! I bought 1 pound of shitakes, 1/2 pound crimini, and 1/2 pound of button mushrooms. I could hardly wait to get home and start cooking!

I have been making this dish for 25 years, it is a family favorite. I make the crackly, caramelized crust here with buttered layers of phyllo instead of ultra-labor-intensive strudel dough.

2 lb mixed mushrooms

3 garlic cloves minced

2 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp thyme

1/4 tsp. freshly ground nutmeg

1 tsp.salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper

4 ounce cream cheese

Fillo dough

Saute mushrooms with garlic in butter.

Add lemon juice and finish with thyme, freshly grated nutmeg and season with salt and pepper to taste.

 Mix in the cream cheese.

Put your fillo between two sheets of plastic or parchment paper with a towel over the top. This is too keep the Fillo cool.

Love this towel! Made for me by my friend Fawn! She can embroider anything, check it out! www.fawnharmon.com

 Use 6-8 sheets of Fillo, buttering in between each sheet.

 Wrap up like a rectangular package. Carefully move to a parchment or Silpat lined baking sheet.

 Bake 350 for 30-35 minutes, until brown on top.

Just look at this flaky, pastry. Look at the mix of beautiful wild mushrooms..........ahhhhh, this is the picture you see when you open the dictionary and look up.... "Fall"! My dinner was a success and everyone lingered until long after dark on the veranda, next to the fireplace, enjoying each other and the last holiday of the Summer. Mmmmmm 

* Oh, and yes, this is a great side dish for Thanksgiving!

*If you love Shitake mushrooms as much as I do, you can buy up a few pounds of them now, while the price is low, saute them in butter or olive oil and freeze them in portions in Ziplock bags. This Winter when you are making a meatloaf, stroganoff or just a topping for a chicken breast or steak, pull out a bag and add in!

 

Enjoying the last bits of Summer weather..... take a moment to breathe in the fresh air, rejuvenate your soul and quiet your mind. All too soon we will be in the middle of the Holiday season and Winter, struggling to remember the warmth of Summer. I am so grateful for the beauty that surrounds me........

Cheers!
JJ 

Peach-Mascarpone Crostata!

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Samoas ~ The Girl Scout Cookie Clone

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My husband (aka, "tt") loves the Samoa girl scout cookie and will purchase several boxes from the girls during the selling season. I was looking around for an interesting cookie to make and came across this one. I changed several things from the original recipe (www.bakingbites.com) to give it my own spin and I have to say, that they came out marvelously! My only complaint was that I didn't make enough as they were spoken for rather quickly! Next time, I will make a double batch of these. I probably will be making them sooner than later!! I don't want you to be disappointed -if you are of the "slice and bake" cookie mind, making these cookies might not be for you. These cookies do take time and effort and a bit of skill. Some may call them tedious to make...I call them WORTH IT!! I broke the project up into two days so that you don't feel like you are spending too much time in the kitchen. It was totally manageable this way and one I would recommend. 

Mexican Stacked Dinner! Ole!

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 Football Season is upon us, and this is perfect for munching on during game. Chances are good you have a member of your household chomping at the bit, to watch football!!  Unless you live in another country, in which case you likely could care less about an American football game! This is also the perfect dinner for the kids! With school starting soon, this would be a fun to eat, one dish meal!

A "Duck" blanket using Minky!

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Moose and Bandit!

It’s no secret that Fall is quickly approaching and I must say I’m really excited.   It’s not that I don’t love Summer...…obviously I do, but there comes a time when a girl wants to dress in faded jeans, boots, sweaters, scarves and watch the leaves change colors. Even if the temperature hasn't dipped too much yet, the evenings are becoming noticeably shorter. It makes me all fuzzy and warm on the inside just thinking about it! Soon the pumpkins and apples will be appearing beside the peaches, corn and tomatoes.....ahhh, and, I just love watching the changing leaves! So much so, that Wee Bear and I are leaving for three weeks to see the East Coast leaves turn. I have loved the West coast color changes, all my life, going on long drives up to Kelowna, British Columbia over the North Cascades Highway, Highway 2 to Leavenworth and down the coast on Hy-way 1  through Oregon. This year we are going to New York, see a few Broadway shows, visit some friends and board a ship to Montreal!! Yippeee! There are multiple stops for eating lobster rolls in Maine, salmon in Nova Scotia and viewing the beautiful East Coast Fall leaves through the St. Laurence seaway to Quebec, then to Montreal and all it has to offer. Wee Bear has been brushing up on his French and I have downloaded a app to my Iphone that translates! Can't wait!!

Blueberry Streusel Muffins!

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I have been thinking about adding a blueberry bush to my garden and I think I just got the incentive after visiting my brother-in-law and sister-in-law's house over the weekend for a BBQ. As I wandered through their backyard with the dogs, I came across a blueberry bush that was bursting with fresh ripe blueberries ready for picking! 

I asked my sister-in-law if I could take a bag of blueberries and she said sure, but under one condition...If I made something with them and shared. I said "of course!" and immediately thought of blueberry muffins! Everyone was excited, even Wee Bear, who said he loved blueberry muffins. 

TT's Favorite Chicken Salad!

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 I have been making this salad for 20+ years. My children loved this one growing up, and it continues to be a popular choice, for a gathering on a warm Summer day. Admittedly, Sweet One has been making it more than I in recent years, it became a popular choice in her family as well. But, last weekend TT and Sweet One invited the family to their "Block Party". I made this salad as it is a perfect one to transport.