When we go out for breakfast I will—if it is on the menu—get Eggs Benedict—soft poached egg, on top of a slice of Canadian bacon, over a toasted English muffin half, smothered in Hollandaise sauce. This is my comfort breakfast. My father did not cook a lot, but his making the sauce for this dish is a fond childhood memory.
Karl’s California Benedict
Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion
I’m making broiled salmon and steamed broccoli for a week night dinner. Looking for something different for a starch I thought about a wild rice pilaf. I happened to have a bruised apple on my counter—one that I was not going to put in someone’s lunch bag—that I needed to use up. Throwing it into the pot turned out to work very nicely.
Karl’s Apple Wild Rice Pilaf
Filed under California Fusion, Rice, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
I have done several variations of shepherd’s pie—1, 2, 3, 4, 5, & 6. The traditional recipe calls for a stew covered in mashed potatoes. For this dish, I decided to try a break from tradition and—instead of mashing the potatoes—covered the stew with my mother’s parsley potatoes.
Karl’s Rustic Shepherd’s Pie
Filed under Beef, California Fusion, Lamb, Main Dishes, Stews
The first time I made strawberry jam, wife Jan complained that it was too sweet. I cut the sugar way back and found I had to add some commercial pectin to get my jam to set. I had also tried adding some ginger and I found that it was not enough to rise above the strawberry flavor. Boosting the amount of fresh ginger did the trick.
Karl’s Low Sugar Ginger Strawberry Jam II
Filed under Desserts & Treats
Broadly adapted from an Epicurious recipe
Thinking about what to make for this Sunday’s dinner. I suggested Coca-Cola pork. This idea was well received, so I started looking up recipes and sides to go with it.
Karl’s Coca-Cola Pulled Pork Lettuce Cups
Filed under Main Dishes, Pork
I was making a very meat heavy meal with Coca-cola pork and I wanted to work in more vegetables. I added shredded cabbage to my potato salad, but I wanted one more dish. While I am not fond of cooked carrots, my family loves them. Glazing the carrots with the pork’s cola sauce seemed a reasonable next step.
Karl’s Coca-Cola glazed Roasted Carrots
Filed under Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
I had decided to go with Coca-cola pork as my main dish. Daughter Miriam suggested that Coca-cola pork calls for rice. However, I was doing a more Southern version of Coca-cola pork and that calls for potato salad.
Karl’s Potato Slaw Salad
Filed under Potatoes, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Daughter Miriam—who is still avoiding garlic and onions—has requested tomato soup and melted cheese sandwiches for Sunday’s dinner. She had bought a store “fresh” tomato soup and it had so much garlic that she could not eat it. Looking on-line for ideas, I find that virtually all of the recipes called for using at least one of the forbidden ingredients.
Karl’s Fresh Tomato Soup
without Garlic and Onions
Filed under Soups, Vegetarian
Daughter Miriam asked for tomato soup and melted cheese sandwiches for Sunday’s dinner. She was quite particular about what she wanted on the sandwiches—melted Gruyère cheese with fig spread and Japanese mayonnaise. She had recently had a Blue Apron order that combined these ingredients. I suggested that if she was going to have all that, that you should throw in some Dijon to top it all off—she agreed.
Karl’s Gruyère Melted Cheese Sandwiches for a Crowd
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Vegetarian
Daughter Miriam asked for tomato soup and melted cheese sandwiches for Sunday’s dinner. I thought that a salad would go well with this meal. Some time ago, Miriam introduced me to balsamic vinegar strawberries and I had the notion that would these would pair well with spinach.
Karl’s Spinach Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetarian
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 