29 July 2007

Going for some Mexican country cooking for tonight's Sunday supper. I crave Mexican molé sauce, an earthy and mysterious pepper and chocolate "gravy." It is a very complex concoction, so I mail ordered the molé paste online and added the chicken stock and other ingredients. I also made Rosa Mexicano's chunky guacamole, or as Lori Lorraine calls it "rockamole!" I will serve it all with warm tortillas and authentic tortilla chips. I bought all of the Mexican ingredients at McFarlands, a local grocery store that now caters to the large Hispanic population. It is great! We are off to visit a new client in Aurora, Ohio tomorrow through Wednesday. It is a resort, spa, residential community and golf club. It is called Walden, and we are totally rebranding it. Should be a fun trip!

Adios amigos!

The Menu:

• Chicken in Mole Negro Sauce

• Green Salad with Lime Vinaigrette

• Rosa Mexicano's Chunky Guacamole

Happy Birthday Jim!

Last week, I prepared a special dinner for Jim's birthday on Saturday, July 21. I even did the dishes afterwards – a first! Our friends Matt and George joined us for a quiet Saturday supper celebration on the dining porch. For the menu, I prepared several recipes from Seattle celebrity chef, Tom Douglas. He owns several successful restaurants in Seattle and was recently a contestant on Iron Chef. Jim's niece, Jill, and her husband Tim used him for their wedding reception at Palace Ballroom. The recipes were very interesting, and, of course, I put my own spin on them. The birthday cake, however, was all Georgia – caramel butter cake! All in all, a very successful and gourmet experience! I gave Jim an iPhone for his birthday, so expect a call or text soon...

The menu:

• Spinach and Asian Pear Salad with Curried Cashews and Slab Bacon
• Sake Steamed Wild King Salmon with Sake Butter Glaze
• Sesame Chili Fried Rice Cakes
• Wasabi Green Pea Flan (I added the wasabi - good call!)
• Butter Cake with Caramel Frosting and Fresh Orchids

14 July 2007

Well, it is NOT Sunday night, but I did do some cooking tonight! Jim is bumfuck Pennsylvania visiting his friends Matt and Michael. Michael is in summer stock theatre there, and they are doing a drag show, oh I mean "play." Anyway, whenever Jim is out of town and I am home alone, rare occasion, I always cook the things he does not eat: red meat, onions, tomatoes, etc. Tonight, I made a classic Steak au Poivre with a French Cognac sauce. Yummy! The coolest part is when you tip the pan to flame the Cognac! Of course, it is all on YouTube by now!

Well, that is how I entertain myself when I am alone. Also sipping on a nice red zinfandel, Dashe. Enjoy the videos and stayed tuned to tomorrow's Sunday Supper. Who wants fresh Georgia sweet corn fritters? Jim will be sorry he left me alone!

08 July 2007

Well, not much of a gourmet experience tonight folks... Today, we took a field trip with Matt and Millie down to Serenbe Farms in Palmetto, Georgia. We had lunch at the Farmhouse: fried chicken over cous cous and collards with sauteed asparagus and okra. Yum! The chicken could have been browner and crispier, however, but who am I to complain? We got back late in the afternoon and could not decide where to eat, so we wound up at Jocks & Jills sports bar in Canton. Classy! Much to Jim's dismay, we arrived too early for the Crazy Karaoke competition that started at 8 pm - see photo. I took all of these photos with my new iPhone! Yes, this weekend was all about the iPhone, so I did not have a chance to plan a Sunday supper. Below is what we ordered. Enjoy!

Bill, the "jock"

Jim:

• Politically incorrect Oriental Chicken Salad
• Diet Coke

Bill:

• Southern Sampler Platter - ribs, fried shrimp and chicken fingers
• Side salad
• $2.00 Domestic Beer Special - Bud Light

01 July 2007

Well folks, it's been a few weeks since I posted, but I have been on
the road most of the month of June! We floated in the pool for a while
today, but then it started to thunder. The water is now 85 degrees, so
I don't mind getting wet a little. I am waiting for the local corn to
arrive sometime next week. When I went up to check on my mom yesterday, I passed a handmade sign that read "sweet corn 7/7," and I got excited! Maybe next Sunday...

Tonight, we wanted something lighter than normal, so I made a simple Southern version of "arroz con pollo" chicken with rice. Pretty good overall, but Jim thought it was a bit too cold by the time I photographed it for the blog and served it. Oh well, we have to suffer for our art! For desert, I served root beer floats in frosty mugs – very refreshing on a humid southern summer evening!

Bon appétit!

Bill

The menu:

• Steawed chicken with carrots, leaks and celery

• Organic long grain white rice

• Garnishes (served on the side in small crocks):
- hot English mustard
- kosher salt
- butter
- chicken stock from pot

• Ice cold root beer floats in frosty mugs