I’ve been feeding our birds all winter: finches, bluetits and robins (European robin…. no relation to the American robin). But we don’t have hummingbirds here in Europe. We have hummingbird moths but, while interesting to watch, are pretty plain and not at all like the flashy hummingbirds. My mother always had a hummingbird feeder hung just outside her kitchen window so she could watch them easily with her morning coffee. … Continue reading →
Scalloped potatoes. It’s an old-fashioned dish that is as much winter comfort food as the current favorite of Mac & Cheese. My mother used to make it in a large roaster, the same one she used for the Thanksgiving Turkey. She layered sliced potatoes, sliced onions, and sliced Spam. Yes, you read that correctly. Spam. The final layer was bacon. Not one or two slices, but a solid layer totally … Continue reading →
One side dish that is traditional on many holiday tables is mashed potatoes. Of course, there are many opinions on what makes the best mashed potatoes. Some like them whipped, perfectly smooth and creamy. Some like them roughly mashed with a few chunks left. Some like them plain – potatoes, butter and milk only. Some like to add flavors – roasted garlic, crisp bacon, hot peppers. The white cheddar adds … Continue reading →
It’s vegetable stuffing season. Yes, I realize one can stuff any vegetable any time, but I do it in the fall. We cook on the grill in the summer, make soups and stews and braises in the winter and stuff vegetables in the fall. I stuff summer squashes and winter squashes and peppers and onions and tomatoes and mushrooms I stuff them for first courses and main courses. I stuff … Continue reading →
To be honest, I’m a relatively recent convert to couscous. Couscous is not a grain but a tiny semolina ‘pasta’. The first time I ate it, the couscous was dry and pretty tasteless. When I started cooking more Moroccan-style food I decided to see what I could do to / with it to make it more to my taste. I discovered, like rice and grains, it’s a blank slate that … Continue reading →
I’m so disappointed in my spinach. I picked the first few small leaves just 2 weeks ago – just a bit to use as garnish. I pulled all of it out today – it was bolting. Usually, I get lots of nice, large leaves…. More than I need or can use. I make gratins and salads and stir-fries and soup for the freezer. This year we barely got three salads. … Continue reading →
These are not as hot as the ‘real’ ones in Spain. To be honest, I, with my wimpy palate, do not eat the real ones in Spain. Mon mari loves them. He likes these…. If you would like more heat add red pepper flakes or a few drops of bottled hot sauce. Leftover Pimiento Sauce is good on pasta, grilled chicken, hamburgers…. The translation is ‘Fierce Potatoes’ (not ‘brave’). Faux … Continue reading →
