Saturday, December 25, 2010

25 December 2010 – White Christmas!







Merry Christmas everyone! I know it's not Sunday, but it kind of feels like one. However, it is Christmas, and we actually had a white Christmas in Canton, Georgia this year! It has been snowing since this morning, and we are supposed to get more. We had big, fluffy snow flakes too, so it was a picture perfect Christmas day. We started the day with a wonderful brunch at Jeff's parents house. We feasted on homemade waffles, scrambled eggs, bacon and sausage. We returned to One Britt early afternoon and after a luxurious Christmas nap, we started to prepare for Christmas dinner. I made a horseradish crusted beef tenderloin with mashed potatoes and maple glazed roasted green beans. Jeff made some amazing homemade Parker House rolls, and we are sipping on a great bottle of Cabernet, The Crusher, complements of Richie Brown. As a holiday token of appreciation to all of my blog readers, I am posting a link to the recipes for tonight's supper! Everything came from Cook's Illustrated magazine, and they never steer you wrong. After all, they cook everything dozens of times so you only have to cook them once! Just go to the link for the tenderloin, and prepare all of the suggested side items: http://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/detail.asp?docid=20851

After dinner, we are planning to walk over to visit our great neighbors, the Golds! It has been a great Christmas so far, and the snow is still falling. We have to believe we are magic!

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

The Christmas Menu:

- Horseradish Crusted Beef Tenderloin with Horseradish Cream

- Roasted Maple-Mustard Green Beans

- Fluffy Whipped Potatoes

- Parker House Rolls

- Snow Cream

Monday, December 13, 2010

13 December 2010 - Redux


I had a large section of the standing rib roast left over from last night's Sunday Supper, so tonight I made homemade French Dip sandwiches. They were great.

Cheers!

Sunday, December 12, 2010

12 December 2010 – Grant Design Team








A special edition of Bill's Sunday Suppers! Tonight, we had the world's greatest design team over for a holiday dinner. I am truly blessed, and I don't use that term lightly, with amazing colleagues and friends. They inspire me on a daily basis, so it was an honor to cook Sunday Supper in their honor. We had snow flurries all day, and it was magical in the kitchen. Jeff helped me in many ways and made sausage balls and holiday sweets for the peeps. I prepared one of my favorite Christmas entrees, a standing rib roast, with all of the fixings. We had a great time and ate like kings and queens. Jazpur had fun too and is now sitting in my lap – and partially on my lap top – as I post. There are moments in your life when you realize you've surrounded yourself with just the right people, and then Julie London pops up on your iTunes and croons "Warm December." Exquisite!

Happy Holidays!

The Menu:

- Standing Rib Roast with Au Jus and Horseradish Cream

- Marscapone Mashed Potatoes

- Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic Vinaigrette and Crispy Bacon

- Ribbons of Organic Carrots with Honey and Thyme

- Salt and Pepper Cream Biscuits with
Jeff's Homemade Butter and Habanero Jelly

- Chocolate Pot de Creme

Sunday, November 28, 2010

28 November 2010




It is the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so tonight's Sunday Supper was all about leftovers. Since we have been eating turkey sandwiches in various formats, I tried to think of something different to do with the remaining leftovers. I made turkey pot pie last year, so I wanted to try something new. I searched a lot of leftover recipes, but nothing sounded good. Therefore, I decided to create an original dish: turkey and dressing ravioli with brown butter sage sauce! I placed some turkey, dressing and gravy in the food processor to make the ravioli filling. I used the leftover sage to make the sauce. It turned out really well! The raviolis were like a little bite of all the flavors of Thanksgiving in one bite. I think this recipe is a keeper. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Back to reality tomorrow...

The Menu:

- Turkey and Dressing Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce

- Salad with Cranberry Walnut Dressing and Whole Grain Croutons

- Jeff's Bourbon Pecan Pie

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Thanksgiving 2010









Many of you asked what I cooked for Thanksgiving, so I am doing a special, non-Sunday post. Thanksgiving is my favorite meal to cook all year! I love the traditional foods, and the aromas of turkey and baking seem to fill the house with love and comfort. This year was very different from past Thanksgiving celebrations, but it was great. We have always had a special gathering of dear friends for a huge feast, but due to the circumstances this year, I decided to skip a year for this event. Next year will be bigger and better than ever! So this year, we had Jeff's family over for dinner, and it was a great evening. Jeff helped a lot, and everyone brought a dish or two to share. Of course, I did the bird, my mother's cornbread dressing, gravy, mashed potatoes and salt and pepper cream biscuits. It was Jeff's mom's birthday, so I also baked a coconut cake for her. Jeff made his famous pecan pie but added some bourbon at the advice of my Facebook/college friend, Betty Crowell. It was delicious as usual! We also made a sweet potato pie from this month's Southern Living, and it turned out just like the cover photo! For the turkey, I used a young kosher turkey since they are processed with salt and do not need brining. It turned out very moist, and we combined a couple of roasting methods from Alton Brown and Martha Stewart. For the first time, I tried Martha's cheesecloth method of covering the turkey, and it worked beautifully! The bird was perfectly browned, and the skin was crispy. I will use it again next year. As always, I also cooked a separate turkey breast for leftovers! We had open faced turkey sandwiches last night, and they were divine! I will use the remaining leftovers for Sunday supper this week. While I have had "issues" with the gravy in years past, it was perfect this year! I decided to abandon the painstaking recipes and just go with my gut, and the gravy was amazing. I cooked my mom's cornbread dressing in a huge cast iron skillet, and it was also a big hit. Of course, the salt and pepper cream biscuits were in demand, and I always think of my friend, Matt Porter, when I make them. Both Matt and Jeff have labeled them "Bill's Crack Biscuits!"

So even though circumstances change, love and comfort food prevail. My dear friends and family are always close in spirit, and new traditions and extended families gather to give thanks for abundance. I hope everyone had an equally joyful Thanksgiving, and I wish you a hearty and abundant holiday season.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

21 November 2010





It has been a great weekend! My friends Bill and Sheree Ramsey were in town from Little Rock, and we hung out with their three adorable kids on Friday night. Our friends and neighbors, Pat and Nugget Gold, also joined us for a nightcap. Afterward, Jeff and I played Scrabble on his iPad and rummy. Scrabble and rummy were two of my dear grandmother's favorite games, so I made some of her legendary old fashioned popcorn to snack on during our games. I think my best Scrabble word of the night was a triple word winning "humanoid!" Last night, we went into Atlanta to hang out. Jeff had never been to the Colonnade, so we ate there for dinner. I had the fried chicken, and it was SO good! It is a great Atlanta institution, and we ate ourselves silly. Time for some exercise. Today, we began to buy the provisions for Thanksgiving. This is my favorite meal to cook all year. I bought an Empire Kosher Turkey because they do not have to be brined since they are cleaned with salt. I hope it turns out well since I pride myself on the bird. Tonight, I made a roasted chicken and asparagus risotto for dinner. It was quick, simple and very tasty. Here's to a short week and lots of thanksgiving for great friends, good food and a life of interesting experiences.

The Menu:

- Roasted Chicken, Asparagus and Parmesan Risotto

- Garlic Bread Sticks

- Eggnog Shooters

Sunday, October 31, 2010

31 October 2010 – Happy Halloween!







Boo Ya'll!

Happy Halloween! As any Southerner knows, Halloween rivals Christmas as an important holiday below the Mason Dixon, and this year was no exception. We had a fun weekend here in Canton. After a hectic week and turbulent flights to and from Chicago, Friday night was slow and easy. After a great burger at Five Guys, we came home and settled in for a relaxing viewing of Yentl. It was Streisand's Director's Cut which included many deleted scenes. Cory came over to watch with Jeff and I, and we had a nice time. It is such a beautiful movie, and that voice singing those Bergman songs.....oy vey!

Saturday included the Great Pumpkin Festival in Canton's Historic Downtown Loop. Around 1000 miniature ghouls and goblins trick-or-treated the downtown merchants, and there was a kids costume parade and dog costume parade in Canon Park. It was sweet, fun and innocent. Afterward, Jeff and I prepared for a costume party at our friend's, Chip and Gabriela's house. We decided to go as a Cowboy and Indian. Getting dressed up in costumes brings out the kid in all of us, and it was a lot of fun.

Today, I got a lot of work done on a brand war room for a new client. But I couldn't let Halloween pass without my tradition of baking a huge pan of lasagna! We prepared for all of the trick-or-treaters but had none. I think they did most of their work last night. Regardless, we had a wonderful dinner. The dinner party included Jeff Brown, Cory Wilson, the newlyweds - Josh and Kim Messick, and our lovely host from last night, Gabriela Moon (Chip was out of town). Of course, Jazpur loved being the center of attention! In addition to the lasagna, Jeff roasted the pumpkin seeds from the ones we carved last weekend. They were delicious! He also made brownies for the Yentl viewing, so I "hotted them up" and added some hot fudge and ice cream for desert. All in all, it was a stellar weekend and Halloween.

Keep it spooky real kids!

The Menu:

- Classic Lasagna Bolognese with a Southern Twist

- Spice Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

- Toasted Garlic Ciabatta

- Warm Brownies with Hot Fudge and Vanilla Bean Ice Cream Quenelle

Sunday, October 3, 2010

03 October 2010






It's been a wonderful Fall weekend here in North Georgia! On Friday night, we went up to the Blue Ridge mountains to attend a 60th birthday dinner for our dear friend, Steve Martin. We had a wonderful time talking, laughing and dining on homemade chicken pot pie. Happy birthday Steven! We came back early Saturday morning, and I worked the Store at Grant Design Collaborative. We chilled on Saturday night, and I made a huge pan of lasagna. We watched Moonstruck while we ate, and it is even better the second time around. Cher was really great in that movie.

This morning, we drove up to Jasper, Georgia for the Marble Festival. It was almost chilly but a glorious day. We bought some local jams and jellies and some natural soap. On the way home, we dropped by Sharp Mountain Vineyard to get a couple of bottles of their Cabernet Franc – really good local wine! Since the Farmers Market has closed for the season, it is difficult to eat local, but I have incorporated as many local ingredients as possible into tonight's Southern Sunday Supper. Hope everyone had a great weekend.

Cheers Ya'll!

The Menu:

- Grilled Pork Tenderloin Glazed with "One Screw Loose"
Habenaro Jelly, Stockbridge, GA

- Pinto Beans with Ham Hock and Hot Chow Chow from
Yahoo Farm, Jasper, GA

- Collard Greens Gently Simmered in Chipolte Infused Chicken Stock
with Mom's Pepper Sauce, Chatsworth, GA

- Cornbread Made with Barker's Creek Mill Water Ground
Corn Meal, Rabun Gap, GA

- Cabernet Franc, Sharp Mountain Vineyards, Jasper, GA

Sunday, September 26, 2010

26 September 2010 – ON-J's Birthday




It has been several weeks since I posted a Sunday Supper. After Mexico, I've had something going on every weekend, and tonight's Sunday Supper almost didn't happen. But, it's Olivia Newton-John's birthday, so I had to find a way to cook dinner. You may notice a different backdrop for the food shots. I am at Cory and Jeff's house because the power went off at One Britt. Luckily, I had prepared most of the food before, so I finished it up over here. It is finally raining here in Georgia, and we really need it. It has also cooled off by 20 degrees, so it is beginning to feel like Fall – my favorite season! I love cooking in Fall and Winter because it is a much better backdrop for comfort food. I debated about what to cook for the first Fall Sunday, and I finally decided on a hearty beef stew from scratch with a rosemary mashed potato topping. For dessert, Jeff made a homemade Ginger Pecan pie from Hans Rueffert's cookbook, "Eat Like There's No Tomorrow." Hans was first runner up on the original season of The Next Food Network Star. He now owns and operates the Woodbridge Inn in Jasper, Georgia.

So, it's a rainy night in Georgia, but good food and good friends make it all worthwhile. Happy Fall to one and all, and happy 63rd birthday Olivia!

The Menu:

- Hearty Old Fashioned Beef Stew with Rosemary Mashed Potato Topping

- Rosemary Ciabatta

- Ginger Pecan Pie

Sunday, August 29, 2010

29 August 2010






No Sunday Supper tonight kids. I have been in Mazatlan, Mexico for the past week and just returned late last night. I really needed a break, and fortunately, Jeff was able to secure a room time share room at the Pueblo Bonito Emerald Bay, and I cashed in points for our flights. We had a great time. It is the beginning of the rainy and hot off season in Mazatlan, but it was not too bad. We relaxed a lot, and of course, scouted out some great food. From one of my favorites, Mexican Mole, to fresh local lobster and shrimp, the cuisine was great, and the Mazatlan locals were very kind and entertaining. One of the biggest treats was the amazing Mazatlan sunsets! We got to experience quite a few, and the just became more spectacular every evening. Here are a few of my food shots from the trip. So it's back to work and reality tomorrow...hasta luego mis amigas y amigos!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

15 August 2010 - Julia Child's Birthday!







Today is Julia Child's birthday! As you may know, she was my rock star. I can't think of anyone else that influenced home cooks more than her. I have all of her cookbooks, and I've ready all of her and others books about her. Last night, I was lamenting to Jeff that I would be unable to cook tonight's Sunday Supper in honor of her birthday since I spent the day at the office writing a strategic brand road map for a client presentation this week. Jeff kindly offered to cook tonight's Sunday Supper as ah homage to Julia. After I determined that I could not talk him out of doing all of that work, we poured another glass of wine and grabbed Julia's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking." We closed our eyes and blindly selected an entree, starch, vegetable and desert from the epic cookbook. Jeff did a great job and definitely mastered the art! The meal was delicious, and what a special treat to come home from a Sunday at work and have a hot, delicious French meal to devour! Thank you Jeff for such a wonderful, kind and noble gesture! As Julia would say, bon appetite!

The Menu:

- Supremes De Volaille a' Brun (Chicken Breast Sauteed in Clarified Butter) – Page 270

- Purée D'Epinards Simple (Cooked Chopped Spinach) – Page 469

- Riz (Wild Brown Rice) – Page 528

- Tarte Aux Limettes (Lemon Soufflé Tart) – Page 645

- Homemade French Baguette


Comments from the guest chef, Jeff Brown:


Wow! Getting to cook with Julia has been quite a challenge and honor!If you plan to cook an entire meal from this cook book you had better set aside your entire day. Also, when she says "use your hands" she means it. I originally tried to make the pie crust with a mixer and it fell apart. I then did as she said and used my hands and "voila!" With that said, I learned many techniques today that I will use in my cooking future. It has been an honor to stand in on Bill's blog today, and I am on my way to mastering the art of French cooking. I hope everyone else had an excellent Sunday supper. Happy birthday Queen Julia!