Adapted from Rachael Ray and Cook’s Illustrated Recipes.
I am feeding a crowd today. Jan’s brother and cousin are coming, both with +2, so nine diners in total. The last time I did a shepherd’s pie it made enough for 6 diners. I will have to scale up my recipe and use a large baking pan, rather than my usual casserole.
Karl’s Shepherd’s Pie
Filed under Beef, Main Dishes
Our garden produced another spectacular cucumber and a few red and yellow tomatoes. I went to the farmer’s market and picked up some mixed baby greens (mesclun). We are having company this week end, so I did not want to use a bottled dressing. A few weeks ago Jan had bought fig balsamic vinegar at the farmer’s market, a few herbs, some olive oil and garlic and you have a dressing.
Karl’s Mesclun Salad with Fig Balsamic Dressing
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
Jan came back from England in love with the taste of elderflowers. She decided what this weekend’s meal needed was a spritzer.
Jan’s Elderflower Spritzer
Filed under Uncategorized
My brother-in-law is coming to visit and he is having trouble with his teeth. So I am planning a soft, low-chewing soup for dinner. This side of the family also likes their food pretty American standard, so heavy spices are out as well. However, I can work with that.
Karl’s Chicken, Kale and Farro Soup
Filed under Main Dishes, Poultry, Soups
It is a constant struggle to keep week day meals interesting. My mother, Claudia, was a strict budgeter; with 5 kids to feed she had to be. However, the result of this budgeting was that frequently you could tell what day it was by what was on the table. I had the same problem when I worked off shore, “If it is Tuesday it must be T-bone steaks.” No matter how good the food is, it gets boring if it is predictable.
Karl’s Tofu and Chinese Broccoli Stir-fry
Filed under Main Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian MD
A week ago the basil in the garden was beginning to look sad. I harvested what I could and turned it into pesto to preserve it. Jan saw it in the refrigerator and asked for something made with the pesto tonight. I came up with this dish.
Karl’s Chicken Pesto with Angel Hair Pasta
Filed under Main Dishes, Poultry
We have had a lot of trouble with bugs and pests in the garden this year. The basil was beginning to look sad. I salvaged what I could and made pesto to preserve what was left.
Karl’s Pesto
Filed under Sauces and Spices
I am always experimenting with quick ways to spruce up plain steamed green beans. This one was to go with my Chicken Pesto with Angel Hair Pasta.
Karl’s Garlic Oregano Green Beans
Filed under Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables
I am still trying to perfect my scone recipe. The last time I made scones I was half asleep and I added four cups of flour instead of four teaspoons of baking power. Fortunately I realized my mistake before I had added the butter. To recover I simply doubled the dry ingredients and then saved half in a plastic bag in the freezer for the next time I fancied scones.
Karl’s Orange-Infused American Scones with Currents
Filed under bread, Breakfast, Side Dishes
Jan and Eilene went on a walking tour of the coast of Devon while they were in England. They stayed at Home Farm, a B&B run by the Stubbs. During the day Michael led them on guided tours of the historic area and at night would come back to food prepared by a master cook. Alison Stubbs is working on writing a cookbook, creating healthy, locally sourced, takes on traditional Devon fare.
Karl’s Carrot, Coconut and Ginger Soup
Filed under Side Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetables
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Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 