LUCK OF THE IRISH

When your monthly luncheon falls exactly on St. Patrick's Day, the most sensible thing to do is to wear green and ride on that luck of the Irish while feasting on a few "greenish" and Irish food.
And this being our last monthly gathering (after about 7 years running,we decided to move into a three-times-a-year schedule going forward), it's good to remember just how fortunate, blessed, and lucky indeed we are because the One who watches over us is always faithful and true.

Guinness Bloody Mary

Spinach Balls

Long Live The Irish Green Salad

Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread

Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower Mash

Pistachio Ice Cream Sandwiches

Recipes

Guinness Bloody Mary

Spinach Balls

Long Live The Irish Green Salad

Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread

Shepherd's Pie with Cauliflower Mash

Pistachio Ice Cream Sandwiches

MY CHINESE VALENTINE

By chance (or providence), in February 2018 we're able to celebrate Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year in the same week.
What could be more fitting than combining both festivities into one occasion filled with love and wishes for good health and prosperity?   With the good Lord on our side, we proclaim that life is indeed beautiful.

Mai Tai

Pork  Shumai & Vegetable Pot Stickers

Easy Chinese Egg Drop Soup

Chinese Cabbage Slaw

Mustard Green Beans

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Tangerines with Almond & Fortune Cookies

Recipes

Mai Tai

Pork Shumai  and Vegetable Potstickers

Easy Chinese Egg Drop Soup

Chinese Cabbage Slaw

2 cups Chinese (Napa) cabbage, julienned

1 red bell pepper, julienned

1 yellow bell pepper, julienned

1 shallot, thinly sliced

1/2 cup cilantro, chopped

1 tbsp canola or safflower oil

1/2 tsp sesame oil

1 tbsp rice vinegar

1 tbsp honey

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp toasted sesame seed (optional)

1. Whisk together oils, vinegar, honey & salt and pepper.  Set aside.

2. Toss all vegetables in a bowl with dressing, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hr.

3. Sprinkle with toasted sesame seed before serving.

Mustard Green Beans

1 tbsp butter

1 tsp coconut oil

1 tsp mustard seeds

1 shallot, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1 lb green beans, trimmed and cut into 3 inch pieces

salt and pepper to taste

1. In a medium size pan with lid, melt butter & oil on medium heat.

2. Add mustard seeds & cover with lid until seeds popped.

3. Add shallots, garlic & green beans and cook until beans are soft but still crunchy.

4. Serve with Hainanese Chicken Rice

Hainanese Chicken Rice

Chinese Almond Cookies

ONE POT WONDER

It sure seems that from the get-go 2018 is determined to fly by us unnoticed because here we are, already at the end of the first month of the new year.  As time becomes more precious, who would object to one-pot style everything?  Not us.  

Citrus Berry Sangria

One Pot Sticky Chicken Wings

One Pot Detox Soup

One Pot Green Beans Nicoise

One Pot Cornbread

One Pan Cobbler

Recipes

Citrus Berry Sangria
2 bottles Eppa Sangria Red Suprafruta (or any fruity red wine)
1 large orange, sliced into half circles
1 pear, cubed
1 pint fresh blackberries (or any kind of berries)
Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional).

1. Mixed cut up fresh fruit with wine in a large glass jar.
2. Serve over ice on small mason jars or low ball glasses.
3. Garnish each with a cinnamon stick.

One Pot Sticky Chicken Wings

One Pot Detox Soup
1 medium size cauliflower, slice florets into even thickness
6 cloves garlic
4 cups low sodium vegetable stock
2 tsp chopped fresh thyme
1 tsp chopped fresh sage
1 tbsp orange juice
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
12 sage leaves for garnish, roasted on a non-stick pan until crispy (optional)

1. In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil on medium.
2. Add cauliflower & garlic and sautee until garlic becomes aromatic.
3. Add vegetable stock, thyme, saga, orange juice, salt and pepper.
4. Bring to a boil then lower heat and continue cooking until cauliflower is soft.
5. Remove from heat.
6. Using an immersion blender, puree soup until blended well.
7. Top with roasted sage leaves before serving.

One Pot Green Beans Nicoise

One Pot Cornbread

One Pan Cobbler

DOWN HOME CHRISTMAS

We took a break in November due to the busyness around Thanksgiving, but somehow managed to get ahead of the hectic holiday season this month to sit down for a southern style Christmas luncheon. What a heartwarming time sharing a wonderful meal, gifts, life updates, prayers and best of all, lifetime friendships centered on the indescribable Gift of All who came to earth as a humble baby in a manger many years ago.  Joy to the world and joy in our hearts!

Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Cornbread Tartlets with Tomato-Lima-Bean Relish

Southern Pecan and Apple Salad

Old Fashioned Holiday Glazed Ham

Mashed Cauliflower

Ultimate Classic Collards

Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie

Recipes

Cider Bourbon Cocktail

Cornbread Tartlets with Tomato-Lima-Bean Relish

Southern Pecan and Apple Salad

Old Fashioned Holiday Glazed Ham

Mashed Cauliflower

Ultimate Classic Collards

Brown Sugar Sweet Potato Pie

  

ALL ABOUT PUMPKINS

As we continue to wait for the temperature in the southwest to cool down to reflect the fall season, visions of pumpkins everywhere help us get into the mood for autumn.

Needless to say, we're going all in for pumpkins!  Happy harvest, America!

RumChata Pumpkin Pie Martini

Cheesy Pumpkin Chickpea Croquettes

Easiest Ever Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Seed Spinach Salad

Girasoli with Pumpkin Sage Butter

Light Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

Recipes

RumChata Pumpkin Pie Martini

Cheesy Pumpkin Chickpea Croquettes

Easiest Ever Pumpkin Soup

Pumpkin Seed Spinach Salad

Girasoli with Pumpkin Sage Butter

2 tbsp butter

6 large fresh sage leaves, chopped plus a few more whole leaves for garnishing

2 cloves garlic, finely minced

1 jar of pumpkin pasta sauce

2 lbs fresh tomato basil & mozzarella girasoli (or any cheese tortellini if you can find girasoli)

2 tbsp olive oil

Fresh grated parmesan cheese

Salt & pepper to taste

1. In a large sauce pan, melt butter & fry chopped sage leaves until aromatic.

2. Add minced garlic and pasta sauce.

3. Season with salt & pepper to taste, set aside.

4. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.

5. Cook fresh girasoli or tortellini according to direction.

6. Drain pasta completely.

7. Mix with olive oil and sage butter pasta sauce.

8. Topped with grated parmesan & garnish with fresh sage  before serving,

Light Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake