A Jeanne in the Kitchen

My dear friend Priscilla heard about my wrist and sent over a delicious care package to help things out.  She made a delicious tomato and herb soup, some cornbread and some festive sugar cookies.  She is always so thoughtful.  This is one of the many, many reasons why I love her so much.  We have known each other for about 45 years, and every year just keeps getting better and better.

 

Good News!!!!!  The Kitchen is once again open for business.  My wrist is not yet 100% healed, but it is about 85% healed, which means I can move it all around and can do almost everything.  Thankfully, it was NOT broken after all, and was indeed just a severe sprain.  WHOOOOOO HOOOOOOO!!!!!  Although, believe me, the sprain was certainly very painful indeed.

The first thing I made after reopening the kitchen was a simple turkey tetrazzini with some leftover turkey.  Snomeggedon.  This was a very simple and easy meal to make that did not put to much strain on my already sprained wrist.

I started with some of the leftovers we had from this golden bird.  I am sure there will be quite a few turkey and turkey leftover features, since November is after all the month of Thanksgiving, where everyone in America will have turkey on the menu.

Turkey Tetrazzini

1 lb cooked pasta – either spaghetti, linguine or fettuccine is best

3/4 stick butter

6 TBSP flour

4 cups turkey stock or chicken broth

3/4 cup heavy whipping cream

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp each dried thyme, sage, marjoram, oregano

1 tsp nutmeg

salt & pepper to taste

3 1/2-4 cups shredded or diced turkey

1 TBSP garlic

1/4 onion, diced fine or 2-3 TBSP dried onion

1 package of frozen peas

3/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs

1/2 cup Parmigiano cheese

 

Make a roux out of the flour and the butter by cooking the flour in the butter in a hot skillet and stirring it constantly to make sure it does not burn, until it makes a paste.  Because this is a light sauce, and is basically a buerre blanc or bechamel sauce, you do not want the roux to color to much.

Once the roux is made, add the turkey or chicken stock and mix together thoroughly, then add your spices and mix everything together well.

When the sauce is made, add the turkey and the peas and cook until everything is thoroughly heated and the peas are cooked and are no longer frozen.

Preheat the oven to 375* F and spray a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray.

Evenly spread the cooked noodles on the bottom of the baking pan, then evenly spoon the turkey mixture over the noodles.

When the pasta is completely covered with the turkey mixture, mix the breadcrumbs and the Parmiginao cheese together and spread over the turkey mixture, making sure to completely cover the dish.

Bake uncovered for 20-30 minutes or until the breadcrumbs are browned and cooked.   Serve immediately after taking it our of the oven.

This casserole doesn’t need anything else except some good white wine and bread to make the meal complete.  This is a delicious meal that also helps use up those leftovers.  I LIKE it!!!!!!

 

Larry’s work had a chili cook-off, like they do every Halloween.  Normally, I make the chili, but since I have been on the IR list (injured reserved list for all the non-sports people), and could not do it, Larry made his own chili this time.  He did a good job on it too.  For the most part, he did it all by himself, with only minimal help from me as a coach. He said there were about 25 different chili entries, but at the end of the day, his was all gone.  To me that says people liked it and it went over well.  He did not win though, but he put up a valiant effort.

He started off by searing a brisket, and then like the mad scientist, he just started throwing in all kinds of chili goodness into the crockpot.  I believe this was the last brisket we had from our partial cow we purchased from Larry’s sister.

Once the brisket was seared all around, Larry put it in a brine over night, then he cut it in small pieces for the chili.  I do not know what his secret brining recipe was.

This chili had both red and black beans, canned and fresh tomatoes and onions, and peppers of all kinds and colors.  It was definitely a loaded chili, although even Larry said he should have spiced it up more.  Chili, after all, is supposed to be bold and make a bold statement.

Larry’ Crockpot Chili

3 lbs brisket, seared and brined overnight, then cut into cubes

2 TBSP garlic

3 onions, diced medium

2 TBSP sugar

1 red pepper, 1 yellow pepper, 1 orange pepper, medium dice

2 jalapeno peppers, diced fine

1 can roasted jalapenos

1 can crushed or stewed tomatoes

2 fresh tomatoes, diced medium

2 cups beef broth or water

2 cans kidney beans, drained and rinsed

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed

3 TBSP chili powder

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp allspice

1/2 tsp coriander

salt & pepper to taste

2 TBSP red wine vinegar

 

Saute the onions and peppers with the sugar until the onions are translucent and they start to caramelize.  Then add the garlic and continue to cook for about 3 minutes.

Add everything to the crockpot and mix thoroughly.  Set to cook at low for about 8 hours or over night.  When you wake up, you have chili.  Serve it with all your favorite chili condiments.

 

 

 

Happy Halloween everyone.  Halloween is also known as All Hallows Eve, All Saints Day, and Samhain as well.  However you decide to call this day of celebration, it has always been surrounded with magic, mystery and superstition, dating back from its beginnings with the Druids and the Ancient Celts up through today.  The Ancient Celts and Druids celebrated this last day of October as the end of summer and harvest and the beginning of winter.  They believed this last night before their new year began was when the boundaries between the world of the living and the world of the dead blurred, and the ghosts of the dead returned to earth.  It was celebrated with bonfires and sacrifices made to the Celtic Gods.  Costumes have always been a large part of the ceremonies.  Because times were harsh and there was often not enough food, the poor would go out begging for food, but they dressed in costumes to fool the ghosts, hoping the ghosts and spirits of the dead would not recognize them.   Often times, people disguised themselves as animals or earthen elements.

Towards the end of the 8th century and the beginning of the 9th century, Christianity had spread into the Celtic regions, as well as the rest of Europe, and was beginning to have its own influences over the land and the people.  Pope Gregory, III was trying to rid the region of its Pagan heritage and was trying to establish Christian roots instead.   In order to make the crossover more successful, he blended a lot of the old Pagan traditions with the newer Christian traditions, in hopes of replacing the old Celtic festival of the dead with the Church-sanctioned Holiday.   This blending of the cultures is still very evident today (not just in the Samhein celebrations, but in many other holiday traditions as well).  So instead of celebrating Samhain, also know as Samhuin, or All Hallows Eve, Pope Gregory, III created All Saints Day, which is celebrated on November 1st.  In The South American countries, this is known as Dia de las Muertes, or the Day of the Dead, which is a big holiday that is celebrated by everyone.

The tradition of giving out candy started from the poor begging for food from the more well-to-do families.  At first, food was left outside as a sacrifice to the dead.  It was left outside so the ghosts of the dead would not enter the house and curse the families or the homes.    But this became a health hazard and was changed over time.  Instead of leaving food outside the home, “soul cakes” were given to the poor in exchange for the promise of them saying a prayer for the dead relatives of the more affluent people.  This was known as “going-a-souling”.    Over the years, the soul cakes evolved into the giving of candy to the children, eventually to become what is known as “trick-or-treating” today.

The carving of pumpkins is yet another old Celtic tradition, used to ward off the evil spirits, though originally turnips were used.  When the customs and traditions of Halloween spread to America, pumpkins were more readily available and were larger, and became the favored choice to carve rather than turnips.

However you celebrate, and whatever you call it, enjoy the day and Happy Halloween.

 

 

 

Hey All, I am still out of the kitchen, and still will be for a while to come, however, the wrist is slightly better today than it was yesterday.  I have a little bit more mobility and the swelling has gone down some.  So this is definitely good news.  I will keep you posted.  I will be back in the kitchen again as soon as possible.  Thank you for all your well wishes, thoughts and prayers.  Those along with the wine are really helping.  🙂

I have some sad news.   I was a victim of our latest snomeggedon.  I fell yesterday in the snow while letting the dogs out.  I thought for sure I had broken my wrist, but the x-rays did not show any breaks.  The doctor said it is a severe sprain, although I have to go in for more x-rays next week, just to make sure there are no hairline fractures.  The doctor called it “Foosh” accident – fell on out-stretched hand.  I have to wear a brace until I go back to the doctor next week, if not longer.  It is my right hand and I am very right hand dominant.  It is very swollen, and extremely sore and tender, and I have very limited mobility.  I am typing very slowly, and making a lot of mistakes.  I should be wearing my brace right now, but I took time out to let you all know why the kitchen will be closed for a minimum of a week.  I definitely feel the sharp pains all through my wrist and my arm if I move my hand to much.  There is no way I can cook.  I can barely move my hand, and holding anything is out of the question.  You never know how much you use certain parts of your body until the time comes when you can’t move them.  So, for all of you who live in snow country, BE CAREFUL out there.  We don’t need any more casualties of snomeggedon.

I apologize for this absolutely AWFUL picture of me, but …. I will blame it on my accident.   Of course, my left hand is still able to hold a glass of wine, Chardonnay, none the less, so I am still able to do the important things in life.  🙂

 

 

You all know I love my wines, and especially my rich, buttery, oaked chardonnays.  So when I found out that today, October 29, is Chardonnay day, I was overjoyed.  In the world of wine, cabernet sauvignon is known as the king of wines and its partner and queen is chardonnay.   Chardonnay grapes are the most widely planted grape variety in the world.  They grow all in all regions, and in most types of soil.   Though chardonnay grapes are very malieable, and can grow just about anywhere, they do have a few soil requirements to make them great.  Chardonnay grapes need soil that is rich with clay, chalk and limestone.  Today, chardonnay grapes are grown all over the world, but they originated in  …. Chardonnay, in the Burgundy region of Eastern France.  In California alone, there are over 100,000 acres of vineyards dedicated to chardonnay grapes alone and about 520,000 acres or 210,000 hectares worldwide.

The chardonnay grape is a neutral grape.  Many of its flavors and characteristics come from the terroir or land and soil of the region where it is grown.  There can be many different variations even within the same vineyard, depending on the soil.  You can find many different types of chardonnays too, once again depending on where they are grown and produced.  Some varieties are oaked and buttery, which are my favorites.  They are rich and full bodied and often have hints and flavors of butter, vanilla or caramel.  In cooler climates, chardonnays will have a more buttery taste.  In warmer climates, the wines will take on more citrus and tropical fruit characteristics and they will be more light to medium bodied.  A creamy chardonnay has hints of tropical fruits and butterscotch.  It too is a rich chardonnay, and is very, very good.  I will NEVER turn it down, that’s for sure.

Not only are are chardonnay grapes used for chardonnay wines, but they are also the basis for many other white wines as well, such as Chenin Blanc, Pinot Blanc and even champagne, just to name a few.

Chardonnay grapes after harvest.

Like all white wines, Chardonnay should be served chilled. If the wine is too warm, the alcohol tastes hot while the flavors are muddled. Too cold, and the aromas and flavors are muted. The best temperature range is 50–55°F, which can be achieved by two hours in the refrigerator or 30–40 minutes in an ice-water bath.

The most famous chardonnay in the world, is from Chateau Montalena, in Napa Valley, California.  It is “famous for winning the white wine section of the historic “Judgment of Paris” wine competition, in 1975.  Chateau Montelena’s Chardonnay was in competition with nine other wines from France and California under a blind tasting, with 11 judges participating in the event. All 11 judges awarded their top scores to either the Chardonnays from Chateau Montelena or Chalone Winery, another California wine producer”, which was represented in the 2008 movie Bottle Shock.  There is even a bottle of this famous wine displayed at the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.   Since I am originally from California, I am partial and perhaps more than a little biased towards the California wines, although I have had many, many good chardonnays from numerous other places in the world, such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa too.  And yes, even France.

THE famous bottle of Chateau Montelena Wine that beat the French wine in the historic “Judgment of Paris” wine competition now forever to be remembered in the Smithsonian Institute.  (This picture was taken in 2017).

The Chateau Montelena Vineyards in Napa Valley, California.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So celebrate this day of Chardonnay and sit back and enjoy a glass or two.  It doesn’t have to be expensive, nor does it have to be Chateau Montelena; just something you enjoy.  Although, if you have Chateau Montelena, it is a VERY, VERY good wine to enjoy.  I highly recommend it.

 

 

 

Our weather forecasters have been predicting this huge “snomeggedon” all week.  So far, we don’t have the snow levels they’ve been predicting, however, it is supposed to continue to snow for most of the week, which is really unusual for us.  More so than not, the sky dumps a ton of snow on us, and a few hours later, the skies are once again blue and most of the snow has already melted.  I don’t think this storm is going to be this way though.   It is late October, and so far, we have already had 3 really good, cold, snows, and the season is only just starting.  I think we are in for a cold, snowy winter.  Yesterday, when it started to snow, we did not get much, but it continued to snow all through the day and through the night.  So far, we have about 4-6 inches in our neck of the woods, and the roads are pretty bad.  The mountains are supposed to get at least about 18 inches, if not more.  When I went in to work this morning, my car thermometer read 17* F.  When I came home, it read 19*.  Work was really, really dead.  I work in pools, and NO ONE wanted to come in to swim.  But then, I can’t say I really blame them.  Even I do not want to swim when the weather is like this.  When the weather is like this, I have to say, all I really want to do is just stay inside, where it is nice and warm, and safe.  It’s days like this I want the oven on all day.

This was early this morning.

A bit later in the morning.

So, when it is this cold and wintery outside, this is what’s cooking inside.  We had a little pre-Thanksgiving supper with some roasted Brussels sprouts and vegetables, stuffing (from a box) and a delicious turkey.  Normally, as you know, I much prefer to make my own everything, but we had some boxed stuffing downstairs, so why not, right?!  🙂  It’s OK in a pinch, but … homemade is ALWAYS so much better.

The turkey was so moist and delicious!  Believe me, we have a lot of turkey leftover, and then Thanksgiving is just right around the corner, so there will be quite a few turkey recipes coming your way.

 

 

Most people eat legumes and have no idea what they are.  Legumes are a class of vegetables that includes all beans, although not all legumes are beans.  Legumes are the fruit part or pods of the leguminous plant family that includes, beans, peas, lentils, and even many nuts.  There are many different types of nuts that are also a part of the legume family.  They are the tree nuts where the seed is surrounded by a dry fruit and a hard shell.  Many of our favorite nuts are included in the leguminous family like Macademias, Brazil nuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts, and pine nuts, just to name a few.  In general, they are all very healthy and loaded with protein, B vitamins, potassium, fiber and other necessary minerals.  Specifically, each type has their own special nutrients and characteristics as well.  Legumes are considered to be among the best source of proteins from plant sources.

Split peas and lentils are close cousins to each other, but they are technically different varieties of legumes.  Split peas are a type of field pea grown specifically for drying, where lentils are harvested as the seed and then dried after.  It is but a slight and subtle difference, but they are different enough to be considered different categories.  There are two types of split peas, green and yellow.  Green split peas are sweeter and less starchy than the milder yellow split peas, and yellow split peas tend to be a little earthier.  They are processed slightly differently too, but the results are the same.  Both can be cooked the same ways and can be used interchangeably.

It is good soup weather again, and one of my favorite soups is split pea soup, especially when I have a lot of left over ham.  Moroccan Spiced Ham  I always make split pea soup with the green split peas, but for a change of pace, I decided to use the yellow ones this time.  Split Pea Soup  There was very subtle taste difference, but not much.  Both yellow or green versions are delicious to me, which is a good thing, considering I have quite a bit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We eat sausage & peppers quite often.  We both love sausages, and this is a delicious, easy way to prepare them.  Sausage & Peppers  Like with most of my meals, there are always leftovers when I prepare sausage & peppers.  As you all know, The Queen of Leftovers and I are very close and are in contact with each other almost daily.  So rather than eating the leftover sausage & peppers as is, I decided to turn them into calzoni, plural for calzone.

One night this was for dinner.

A couple of days later, we had this for dinner.   Same basic ingredients, just made differently.  Both were delicious.  Since I was pressed for time, I told Larry he could pick the vegetables and cook them.  He chose asparagus.  I served it with a bold red blend.

A calzone is very close cousin to pizza.  Both were created in Naples, Italy in the 18th century.  The word calzone translates to mean pant or trouser leg, since calzoni, the plural for calzone, was known as the “walk around pizza”.  It was originally pizza that was folded over and then it was baked as a separate individual pizza turnover later, as it is done today.

I tried a new recipe for the dough, which I really like.  It will be my new pizza or calzone dough from now on.  My old one is very good too, but this one is a little lighter, and I like it better.

Calzone or Pizza Dough

1 package or 2 1/2 tsp dry active yeast

1 cup lukewarm water

1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for the bowl and to rub over the dough

2 1/2-3 cups flour

1 1/2 tsp salt

 

Mix the yeast and the water together and let stand for about 5 or so minutes, or until it becomes frothy.

Mix 2 1/2 cups of the flour and salt together thoroughly.

Add the olive oil to the water and yeast mixture, mix well, then add the flour and salt mixture.  Start kneading everything together by hand, then turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and continue to knead until the dough forms into a soft ball.  Rub olive oil all around the bowl and around the dough, put the dough back into the bowl, then cover it with a towel and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour.

While the dough is rising, make your filling.  Since my sausage and peppers were already cooked, I just cut the sausage into small little pieces, then I mixed everything together with marinara sauce.  I admit, I cheat on my tomato sauces.  My favorite sauce is Prego, and then I doctor up, to make it more my own.  Yes, I can easily make my own sauce, but why when there are so many good ones already out there, especially when time is of the essence.  I love big, bold flavors, so I always add more garlic, basil, oregano, thyme, marjoram and sage to my sauce to really make the flavors pop out and come alive.  But this is just me.  Make it how you like.

Preheat the over to 350* F or 180* C

When the sough has doubled in size, punch it down and divide it into 4 equal portions.  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to about 1/4 ” or less depending on how thick you like your dough, then fill with the cheese and the filling.  I used Mozzarella cheese, but any light cheese will be fine.  You can even use ricotta if you like, or a combination of both Mozzarella and ricotta.  Leave some room all around so you can fold your dough over the filling and pinch it together.

Once the calzoni are filled, roll the edges over and pinch them together tightly.  Then score the calzoni with a sharp knife and brush an egg wash over them and place them in the oven.  Bake for about 45 minutes or until they are golden brown.

Once the calzoni are done, serve them up.  I usually serve a little extra marinara sauce on the side as a dipping sauce.   It was a nice hearty, comforting meal for a cool, crisp evening.  Mangia!!!!