I planned to have a variation of lamb Rogan Josh for this Sunday’s dinner with the kids. A saucy meat dish calls for bread to sop it up. In an Indian feast this means naan.
Karl’s Crab and Lobster Bisque
Jan asked for crab bisque for Christmas Eve dinner—she saw a recipe in this week’s food section. Chris is down south, so Miriam is coming over and we will be celebrating just a bit early—the last Hobbit movie and a nice dinner. To make it special, Jan also asked me to add some lobster to the bisque. Miriam’s request for this holiday meal is for potato latke and as a green we have agreed upon a carrot and spinach salad.
Filed under California Fusion, Main Dishes, Seafood, Soups
Karl’s Roasted Pears with Caramel Sauce
We were planning to have Uncle Tom’s apricot pie for Christmas Eve dinner, but I forgot to defrost it. At the last minute I threw together this desert. I had a few pears and some leftover store-bought pear-caramel sauce from a previous dinner. Pears, butter, a bit of spice and whiskey and voilà.
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian
Karl’s Lightly Pickled Carrots Salad with Spinach
I needed a salad for Christmas Eve dinner. Jan really loves carrot salad, but I wanted at least some green veg in the meal, so I added some baby spinach. I have made this salad before as a spinach salad, garnished with carrots. Here I reverse the proportions, a carrot salad garnished with some spinach.
Filed under Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables, Vegetarian
Karl’s Scones with Dried Apples
Jan was using one of her few opportunities to sleep in this morning. I—of course—woke up at 6, like I usually do. I decided to surprise her with scones this morning.
Filed under bread, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Karl’s Stuffed Chicken Breasts in a Clay Pot
Jan is having her stitching friends over for a Christmas get-together. She requested a clay pot chicken, something with noodles and a vegetable soup. As I thought about what dishes I would make the theme became, sort of, Italian.
Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry
Karl’s Mushroom Parmesan Casserole
I have a problem with casseroles—as a result of having too many as a child. However, Jan really likes them and she has been asking me to make some recently. Jan is hosting this year’s Ladies Christmas Get-together and some of her friends are vegetarian and noodle lovers. I thought that a mushroom and noodle dish would fit the bill.
Filed under California Fusion, Casserole, Pasta, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
Karl’s Italian Vegetable Soup
Jan is hosting this year’s Ladies Christmas Get-together. Some of her friends are vegetarian. I am making a chicken dish for the meat eaters and a pasta dish for the pasta lovers. We decided that a soup would be a good dish for the vegetarians.
Filed under Main Dishes, Soups, Vegan, Vegetarian, Vegetarian MD
Karl’s Two Tapenade & Mini-Fry Bread
I have been into breads lately, trying my had at hallah and (American) Indian fry bread. Jan has friends over for a holiday meal this weekend and as an hors d’oeuvre I thought I would do tapenade and mini-fry breads.
Filed under bread, California Fusion, Side Dishes, Vegetables
Cherokee Fry Bread
Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. One of the dishes I copied was Cherokee Fry Bread. The name she called it is not politically correct, but those were the times.
Filed under bread, Side Dishes, Vegetarian









