Chicken Wellington for Valentines!

Tweet

How do I love thee, let me count the ways! Valentines is on it's way. I am thinking a "Chicken Wellington".....much like a "Beef Wellington" featured on December 26, 2012, http://www.sewwhatscookingwithjoan.com/2012/12/beef-wellington-for-new-years-eve.html 

I am thinking light, as to NOT be tired or sluggish. Fried foods, meats with a high fat content, and oily snack foods, such as cheese curls, corn chips and potato chips, can bring on the yawns. That's because you are making your digestive system work harder than usual to process the fats. Eating a meal of high-fat meat, sauces, and cheese toppings can really make you feel robbed of energy once you leave the table. 

So, my theory is if you are planning a evening with your hunny of dinner, dancing and DOT, DOT, DOT...................well need I say more?

Champagne Cupcakes!

Tweet

I love everything about these cupcakes,  they're beautiful, they sparkle and they’re delicious. They’re cake. And they’re made with champagne. And, everyone that knows me.....knows I like champagne. In particular....Veuve Clicquot! Did I use Veuve in these delicious cupcakes.............of course! And to say I had some left over, well, that would be a lie! I opened a bottle of Veuve, used 1/2 of a cup in the cupcakes, and proceeded to drink the rest while baking these delicious melt in your mouth cupcakes!! Mmmmm were they good!!

Chicken in Wine sauce! Wee Bear style!

Tweet

Wee Bear cooks!! 

Wee Bear surprised me with this delicious chicken in wine sauce, on our very first Valentines Day dinner at his home nearly 20 years ago. He decorated with flowers, GIANT balloons and served on his finest china. He served this sumptuous dish with a mix of white and wild rice and grilled crostini. With his sister Kathy, standing by the phone for guidance, he took on this challenge, to impress his honey with his kitchen prowess. It was so cute and I was very impressed, when I arrived at his home, to smell of this amazing chicken baking in the oven. The recipe came from Wee Bear's Mother Pat, who was an accomplished cook and baker.

Valentine Poppers!! Embroidered Tee's for the Grandchildren!

Tweet

There's no reason to buy those cheesy pre-packaged valentine cards when making homemade Valentine's Day gifts is as easy as this! These Valentine Candy Poppers are the simplest Valentines Day craft for kids to make for their friends or for you to make for your kids or Grandchildren. Best of all, they're a great project for using up all of those cardboard paper towel rolls, or gift wrap rolls you've been saving up! I saw this on a morning show here in Scottsdale, and knew you would love it!! 

Chick Pea Bruschetta-Chef Stebner

Tweet

I had the rare opportunity,to attend this exclusive lunch class with Executive Chef Michael Stebner, who co-created (with Dr. Andrew Weil) True Food Kitchen, and shared recipes and techniques with a few fortunate observers! The focus of True Food Kitchen is to promote an anti-inflammatory diet while using seasonal, simple and pure ingredients. The menu included Chicken Farro Salad, Fettuccine with Kale Pesto, Chocolate Icebox Tart, AND a special appetizer that Chef Stebner served at Dr. Weil's 69th birthday feast and I am sharing with you today!! Love'n the Kitchen gave me free reign to take pictures and roam about the room....yes I used the "Blog card"!! 

Pulled pork Bruschetta or sliders! Superbowl!

Tweet

The ultimate post holiday party is about to happen! Superbowl Sunday  is almost here!! It happens once in a blue moon, but the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras are converging on New Orleans to bring a party of epic proportions. Mardi Gras and Superbowl in New Orleans on the same weekend!! 

These slow cooked  Pulled Pork Sliders or Pulled Pork Bruschetta make a great appetizer for game day or any gathering.

Chinese Spare Ribs -Courtesy of Lin!

Tweet

JJ, Wee Bear, TT and I went on our annual ski trip, this time to Whistler for a nice 10 days. During our time there we visited a couple times with a close friend of JJ and Wee Bears. They met him many years ago here in Washington (lives in the same neighborhood) and he spends the winter in Whistler as he loves to ski. Gerry and his wife, Lin invited us all for dinner a couple nights and on one of those nights, Lin treated us to a delicious meal of Chinese Ribs! 

JJ and I were lucky to be able to watch her make this dish in her kitchen and she was so kind to tell us what ingredients she used for the making. I did not get the exact measurements so I scoured many recipes and found a recipe that has the same ingredients but with a different cooking method. These ribs smell amazing during the cooking process and they taste even better! They are fall off the bone delicious. The spices and sauces used make these lick your fingers good! She served these along side some simple steamed broccoli and cauliflower using a bit of the broth she cooked the ribs in. Also, she treated us to her homemade fried rice, which we will feature in a future blog post!

Chinese Ribs
Linn Williams and food.com