What Did You Eat?

Cranberry Conserve

My record of making this conserve is hit or miss because I was arguing on the phone with a person who will be unnamed to protect the innocent------me.  So, taking pictures was a hit or miss proposition.  I was so preoccupied I forgot to add the raisins.  But, I did remember to include the cranberries, so it turned out pretty good, when you consider that I was stirring and testing for the jellying point as I engaged in heated debate (with said unnamed person). 

This is a conserve, which is pretty much a jam, with nuts and dried fruit added to it.   Since this contains cranberries and an orange, both high in pectin, it should gel fairly easily. But, you never can tell with these things. In the event of gelling failure, you wind up with a lovely thick sauce for ice cream. 

Festive Food Fair: Pumpkin Yeast Bread And Cranberry Conserve

Anna at Morsels & Musings has come up with a great holiday event, Festive Food Fair. Bloggers from around the world are invited to share special foods they serve during their holidays.  So, why am I showing a picture of bread and cranberry conserve?  As Christmas approaches it's a tradition for me to bake bread and make jam to give people.  I do make the more typical holiday fare such as cookies and cakes, but I find that people enjoy getting a simple loaf of bread as well, to make toast and sandwiches. 

Several weeks ago I made tomato bread using this recipe, but substituted the pumpkin with tomato puree. It was very good, but the version that I traditionally make during the Christmas season is this recipe.  It has a lovely golden color and a light texture that makes very good toast.  It's faintly sweet, and goes well with spreads like cream cheese, peanut butter--and jam.  It also can be made into good dinner rolls that look quite nice.

Food Is Love Meme

Kristi at Interrupted Wanderlust, mom of the Incredible Isabella, tagged me for this meme. I'm very grateful that she did, because it forced me to track down all my cookbooks, which were scattered around in different rooms. Note to self:  Get organized!  OK, here goes.

1.  Total number of cookbooks that I've owned

I'm completely shocked to discover that I have 92 cookbooks. I keep finding more stuffed in drawers, or in the closet.  I found my old battered copy of LaRousse's Gastrominique on a shelf with some old windchimes that I never use.   (I never use LaRousse's Gastrominique, so I guess that makes sense.)  At least half of my cookbooks came from my mom, so I had help with my collection.  My core group of cookbooks are in my kitchen in a little book shelf, (which you can see pictured above).  These are all  books that I use as inspiration, entertainment, and sources for good recipes. 

WHB: Creamy Chicken Enchiladas And Cilantro Cole Slaw

This year my friend Nancy invited me to her house for Thanksgiving, so I have no leftovers.  That means I can't make turkey sandwiches or soup with the carcass.  And I can't make turkey enchiladas.  Every year, I always use some of the turkey leftovers to make enchiladas.  But, although I can't make carcass soup, I can buy a rotisserie chicken at the store and make a sort of homage to turkey enchiladas. After-all, it's still poultry.  These enchiladas are from a Sunset Magazine Readers Favorite Recipe, popular because they're extremely easy to make and tasty.  I've found that most people enjoy them a great deal, both adults and children. So, they're a nice party food.  They're rich, there's no doubt about that, and their creamy flavor is perfect with a cilantro cole slaw that I found at Epicurious.  The cilantro also makes this a good recipe for Weekend Herb Blogging, which was created by the lovely Kalyn at Kalyn's Kitchen, but is being hosted this weekend by the equally lovely Haalo at Eat (Almost) Anything Once.

As you see,the cole slaw contains a healthy dose of cilantro. Yes, cilantro again!  I'm sure the cilantro haters must be rolling their eyes.  If you can't abide it (and it's not your fault, this is a genetic thing), leave out the cilantro and substitute mint. Oranges would also be a nice addition to the salad. The enchiladas are very rich and creamy, so a crunchy, acidic salad is perfect with them.

WCB: Photo Op

Well, once again mom suddenly grabs me and takes me outside for a photo op, because it's Weekend Cat Blogging. I haven't been outside for a whole week, since.......last week's WCB!  It makes me feel like a fraud. OK, I'll play along.  Here I am on the box with the fava bean seedlings. 

Here I am on the broccoli box!  Whoop Dee Doo. 

Yes, they're still here, and crazier than ever! 

And these two are now purring and playing with string.

Well, right after this shot, mom whisked me back inside!  Sigh.  Weekend Cat Blogging is being hosted by House Of (mostly) Black Cats this weekend with Sanjee, Boni Maroni, Mini, Gree,
and Pepi.       Stop by and see what's happening with all the really cool cats taking part in it this week.

Thank You Mr. Maalox

I had a talk with myself before I went to Nancy's house for Thanksgiving.  "Eat in moderation," I said.  Then I saw the food and it was the same old carnage.  Here it is. 

Ruth's Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

Several years ago, Ruth's Chris Steakhouse came to Sacramento and my friends and I went there to see what all the shouting was about.  I'm usually not a big steakhouse fan, but I thought Ruth's Chris was pretty darn good.  They have some of the best seared tuna I've ever eaten. Yes, I found the best tuna at a steakhouse and it was cooked (barely) perfectly.  While I was there, I noticed most of the tables had ordered small dishes of the restaurant's famous sweet potatoes and people were going batty over it.   So, I ordered some too.  I know, tuna and sweet potatoes?  Crazy. The potatoes arrived in a very small dish, but were so  incredibly rich I told everyone at the table that I needed help finishing them.   

Last Easter I found a recipe for the sweet potatoes and brought them to my friend Nancy's Easter dinner.  They were an enormous hit, so she asked me to make them for Thanksgiving dinner at her house this year.  I also decided to make a batch for myself, and freeze them to use during the upcoming Christmas holidays.  While the sweet potatoes were baking, I suddenly discovered that I had forgotten to mix in the melted butter.  Not to worry, the dish was very nice--and substantially lower in calories. 

Thank You Azithromycin

Even though your antibiotic powers made me sick to my stomach, so I can only tolerate Progresso Traditional Chicken Noodle Soup, I am worlds better today than I was Friday.  And thank you Progresso, for those easy to open cans, with pretty good soup. Yes, your carrots are mushy and the chicken is kind of dry, but the broth is good and the noodles are decent.  And thanks to Helen Mirren for playing DCI Jane Tennyson on Prime Suspect for all these years.  I hated to see Jane's saga end tonight.  And thanks, much thanks to everyone who left the lovely comments or sent funny e-mail. They lifted my spirits.  And final thanks to Glenna, who  remained patient and encouraging as I described all my aches and pains over and over and over......

My stomach is so shaky, I couldn't  eat these cute meringue cookies my husband bought me on Saturday.  Christine, do you recognize them?

Regular programming should resume on Wednesday.  I hope.

WCB: What Are Bacteria?

This will be short because mom is sick with a 102.4 temperature. She has a bacterial infection in her lungs, whatever that means.  Anyway, before mom got really sick today, she gave me lots of my favorite thing in the whole world, Meow Mix treats. Usually, I only get two a day because they are fattening. But, mom knows I'm a little upset, so she gave me more. 

I'm upset because she is taking care of 2 feral kitties that need to learn to like humans, so they can get a good home someday.  So, she has been cuddling them quite a bit, and that makes me feel insecure.  Dad will have to cuddle them this weekend cause mom is really not up to it. 

This week Weekend Cat Blogging is being hosted by Catsynth so go over there to see where all the cool cats are.  And, before mom got sick, she wrote a nice thing about how we met and how I got my name. It's at Skeezix's Scratching Post.  And if you want to vote for me there, that's cool too!

WHB: Chicken Stuffed With Rosemary Served With Roasted Root Vegetables

Bonjour, mes amis!!  My name is Maurice and I come from France.  Several months ago a woman I think you all know, named Sher, saw me in Williams Sonoma marked down to half price. It pains me to say that I was on sale!  Mon Dieu! Such disrespect!  In France it's well known that there is no finer cookware than me, a Staub La Cocotte.   You have of course noticed I am shaped like a chicken, and so heavy I can also be used for weight training and self defense.   When Sher bought me, she said I was just the thing for cooking a chicken and stews and so forth. Then she put me on a shelf and there I sat, collecting dust. Look close, I think you can still see the dust.  Tsk.  Finally, she pulled me down from the shelf and used me for the first time today---to cook a chicken of course.  I can see she will have to be brought along slowly, to learn how to truly utilize my abilities.  I do take some satisfaction in knowing that I was used for a special event called Weekend Herb Blogging, which was started by a lovely woman named Kalyn at  Kalyn's Kitchen.   This week WHB is being hosted by Nandita at Saffron Trail.