For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. It has replaced cakes as the go-to dessert for special occasions. Jan has spent years perfecting the techniques of making this mousse, but it took her years more before she dared to tinker with mom’s recipe. This Easter, Jan made chocolate mousse with Drambuie.
Jan’s Drambuie Chocolate Mousse
Filed under California Fusion, Desserts & Treats, Holidays, Treats, Vegetarian
Jan asked me to make some cookies for a bake sale at the university. Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. Her chocolate chip cookies was one of my favorites, growing up.
Claudia’s Chocolate Chip Cookies
Filed under Desserts & Treats, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian
For me Claudia’s Chocolate Mousse is the mousse by which all others are judged. It is however, not a health food. It has replaced cakes as the birthday/holiday treat in our house. Jan has spent years perfecting the techniques of making my mother’s mousse, but it took her years before she dared to tinker with mom’s recipe. This weekend, I am making Israeli couscous with almonds, Jan decided that chocolate mousse with Amaretto would be a good dessert for my Father’s Day dinner.
Jan’s Chocolate Mousse
the Father’s Day Variation
Filed under California Fusion, Desserts & Treats, Holidays, Treats, Vegetarian
Adapted from an Ina Garten recipe
When I was a child my mother, Claudia, would make strawberry jam every strawberry season. With five kids and a tight budget, it was one more way to stretch a dollar—even then commercial jelly was expensive. Whenever she did this, she would also bake bread—the smell of fresh bread and jam would fill the house. We would all gather around anticipating the treat of hot jam on warm bread just out of the oven.
Karl’s Strawberry Jam
Filed under Breakfast, California Fusion, Treats, Vegan, Vegetarian
Every year, my sister Karen renews my subscription to Cooks Illustrated at Christmas time. Over the years, I have tried and usually adapted many of their recipes—I am frequently at odds with some of their philosophies of cooking. In the October 2006 issue, they presented a recipe Stir-Fried Chicken with Bok Choy and Crispy Noodle Cake.
Karl’s Spicy Chicken
with Pan Fried Noodles
Filed under Chicken, Main Dishes, Poultry, Stir-fry, Vegan, Vegetarian
Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. I just posted a salmon cake recipe that put me in mind of one of my mother’s recipes: Baked Salmon. Claudia’s recipe cards were remarkable in their brevity and assumed knowledge. I will present the card as written and then give more detailed instructions for making this dish. Continue reading
Filed under Fish, Main Dishes, Seafood
Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. I had a hankering for chili this week end. I dug out my mother’s recipe and I was amazed to find that her “chili” did not actually include any chili! Continue reading
Filed under Beans, Beef, Main Dishes, Stews
My mother, Claudia’s recipe for deviled eggs was fairly standard for the Fifties. This is mostly a Southern (US) recipe. If you went to any church potluck back then, someone would bring these deviled eggs. Everyone’s home recipe was virtually identical, so they almost always tasted the same. Continue reading
Filed under Side Dishes, Vegetarian
I am making chicken Madeira for Jan’s visiting friends. Sauce and meat needs starch. I decided that what was called for was a variation on my mother’s parsley potatoes.
Karl’s Potato Thyme
Filed under California Fusion, Potatoes, Side Dishes, Starches, Vegan, Vegetarian
Before I left home for the first time, I sat down with my mother’s recipe box and wrote down my favorite dishes. Her monkey bread is one of those recipes. While it was good and has a fond place in my memory, I still had to change it.
Karl’s Savory Monkey Bread II
Filed under bread, Side Dishes, Vegetarian
karllueck
Miriam
Jabberwocky Stew 