Corn Bisque

One of my favorite local restaurants is The House of William and Merry. The creativity and pure deliciousness coming out of that restaurant is impressive! A recent dinner there inspired me to use some of my CSA corn this week to make this Corn Bisque!

This silky corn bisque is delicious on its own, but I strongly suggest topping it with chopped bacon for extra saltiness and chives for brightness.

To make the corn bisque, you first make a corn stock. You’ll make more than you need for this particular recipe but don’t throw it away! You can use this lovely liquid like you would use vegetable or chicken broth.

Ingredients:

  • 6 ears of corn, shucked
  • 8 slices of bacon, cooked (I like to cook mine in the oven) note: reserve the bacon grease!)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon flour
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
  • chives, for garnish

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Prosciutto Asparagus and Quail Egg Tarts

Note: I was sent some quail eggs from Spring Creek Quail Farms in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

I love a recipe that looks fancy, but really takes minimal effort, like this recipe for Prosciutto Asparagus and Quail Egg Tarts, adapted slightly from a Spring Creek Quail Farms recipe, created by Chef Andrea Monzon. When Spring Creek Quail Farms contacted me with a bunch of quail egg recipes, I jumped at the opportunity!

Spring Creek Quail Farms, a small, family-owned, zero-waste farm in Saint Anns, Ontario, offers a small but powerful, nutritious alternative in the Egg aisle: quail eggs. Quail eggs have long captivated food enthusiasts with their exquisite taste, enticed health-conscious consumers with their remarkable nutritional benefits and have been viewed as a delicacy by many communities. Spring Creek Quail Farms eggs can be found in multiple stores across the US and Canada.

Quail eggs are an easy and effective way to elevate really any recipe where you’d use eggs. The quail eggs, buttery puff pastry, tangy goat cheese, salty prosciutto, and fresh asparagus result in an absolutely delicious dish that can be served either as an appetizer or as a smaller main course.

Ingredients:

  • 1 sheet puff pastry
  • 1 (4 oz log) goat cheese
  • ~40 pencil asparagus spears
  • 4 slices prosciutto, torn into pieces
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 8 quail eggs
  • chives, chopped, to taste

Continue reading Prosciutto Asparagus and Quail Egg Tarts

Pressure Cooker Deviled Eggs

Every time I ask my sister for any food requests I can make for her, she asks for this cornbread and Deviled Eggs. Every. Single. Time.

So, after years and years of her requesting it, I finally decided to make her a batch of deviled eggs using my Instant Pot (paid link).

Ingredients (makes 1 dozen deviled eggs):

  • 6 large eggs, right from the fridge
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • 2 dashes hot sauce
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • salt and ground pepper, to taste
  • sprinkle of paprika, for garnish
  • freshly chopped chives, for garnish

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Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones

Note: I was sent a copy of Father Dominic Garramone’s Breakfast Breads & Sweet Treats in order to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

I’m back with another awesome recipe from the Bread Monk himself, Father Dominic Garramone, with this recipe for Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones is from his latest cookbook Breakfast Breads & Sweet Treats (paid link). What better way to start off 2023?

I have only made “real” scones once before (as well as kind of a “cheat” drop scone), so this was a fun opportunity for me to do something I don’t often bake!

Breakfast Breads & Sweet Treats is a great cookbook for any breakfast afficionado in your life. Father Dominic really covers it all, from how to make puff pastry from scratch to baking mixes, to even a recipe for English muffin bread!

There is also an entire chapter dedicated to scones, which is where I found this mouthwatering recipe for Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones.

Ingredients (Serves 8):

  • 8 oz bacon, cooked crisp and chopped (about 1 cup)
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup (one stick) cold butter
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I went with sharp)
  • 1/4 cup minced fresh chives (the original recipe had 1/2 cup; I only had enough for 1/4 cup!)
  • 1 cup sour cream

Continue reading Bacon Cheddar Chive Scones

Leek and Potato Soup

I know it is quite late in the season for a soup recipe, but I made this Leek and Potato Soup recently and just had to share it. This is a fairly traditional Irish Leek and Potato Soup, but the simplicity means you can really make it your own with some tweaks if you wanted.

Leeks are in season late winter to early summer, so this soup is great for those slightly cooler days, or when you’re looking for something simple to make that is ultimate comfort food.

This recipe uses under 10 ingredients and can be made in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients:

  • 4 tablespoons salted butter
  • 1 yellow onion, chopped
  • 3-4 leeks (depending on their size), sliced
  • 1 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes
  • 3 1/2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • salt and pepper, to taste
  • fresh chives, for garnish

Continue reading Leek and Potato Soup

Herb Rice with Peas Prosciutto and Ricotta

Warmer weather is nearly here, and we can all use more recipes that won’t heat up the whole house. This recipe for Herb Rice with Peas Prosciutto and Ricotta is largely a no-cook recipe – you only have to make the rice!

Ideally, you can use day old rice so there is no stove use at all, but I personally have a hard time thinking a day ahead for a meal, so I wrote the recipe below to be made all in the same day. Feel free to make the rice the night before, refrigerate, and assemble everything the night you plan on having this for dinner for a quick and easy make ahead meal.

I adapted this recipe slightly from a New York Times Cooking recipe from Emily Nunn.

Ingredients:

  • 1 (10 oz) bag frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • the zest and juice of 2 lemons
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 a red onion, halved
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cups white rice
  • salt, to taste
  • 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh basil
  • 1/2 cup lightly packed fresh mint
  • 1/4 cup lightly packed fresh parsley
  • ~5 fresh chives
  • 3-4 oz fresh ricotta
  • 18 slices prosciutto (omit to make vegetarian)
  • black pepper, to taste

Continue reading Herb Rice with Peas Prosciutto and Ricotta

Creamy Pappardelle with Smoked Salmon and Caviar

I’m guessing that I’m not the only one that has been having fewer dinners out at restaurants, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been making fun meals at home!

 

This recipe for Creamy Pappardelle with Smoked Salmon and Caviar is fancy enough for an at home date night, but is also so simple to make and comes together in just 20 minutes!

After receiving an affiliate box from Sitka Salmon Shares, I enjoyed their seafood so much that I signed up for a Premium Seafood Subscription Box. One of the boxes had smoked salmon in it, so I went to their recipes page to try and find a different way to use it.

I came across this recipe for Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Caviar and new I had to make it!

Ingredients (serves 2):

  • salt
  • 8 oz pappardelle pasta
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • 1 leek, white and light green parts, halved lengthwise and sliced thin
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh tarragon, chopped
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped, plus more for garnish
  • 6 oz smoked salmon, broken into large flakes
  • 2 oz salmon roe

Continue reading Creamy Pappardelle with Smoked Salmon and Caviar

Sauteed Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

Note: I was sent a copy of The Freds at Barneys New York Cookbook for review. All opinions are mine alone.

The Freds at Barneys New York Cookbook is the definitive cookbook by the celebrated chef and managing director (Mark Strausman) of Freds at Barneys New York, one of New York’s most beloved restaurants with locations in Los Angeles and Chicago.

Barneys New York, with its flagship store on Madison Avenue, is a world-famous cutting-edge fashion destination, and a true New York phenomenon. And since 1996, Barneys’ restaurant Freds at Barneys New York–named after found Barneys Pressman’s son Fred–has been offering in food what Barneys offers in fashion: a luxury destination that provides a level of personal service second to none, where the food keeps their celebrity clientele coming back for more.

In The Freds at Barneys Cookbook, Strausman invites you into the kitchen of this restaurant institution and teaches you how to bring a piece of New York chic into your own home. The cookbook is filled with awesome recipes from the restaurant, such as Belgian Fries or Estelle’s Chicken Soup, Mark’s Madison Avenue Salad or Chicken Paillard, Traditional Bolognese (or Vegan!) or Cheese Fondue Scrambled Eggs, and commemorates all of the delicious recipes Freds has served over the years at the Madison Avenue, Chelsea, Beverly Hills, and Chicago locations.

This recipe for sauteed hen of the woods mushrooms caught my eye. I love mushrooms, especially hen of the woods mushrooms. Also known as maitake mushrooms, these mushrooms have a feathery texture but pack some hearty flavor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound hen of the woods mushrooms
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 3 cups baby arugula
  • ¼ cup olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  • 2 garlic cloves, sliced
  • 6 tablespoons aged balsamic vinegar
  • Shaved slices Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  • 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives

Continue reading Sauteed Hen of the Woods Mushrooms

Peach, Vidalia Onion, and Pancetta Flatbread

Note: I was sent a box of Vidalia onions to make this post. Opinions are mine alone.

Spring is one of my favorite times of year for cooking. As the weather warms, all sorts of fun produce hits the shelves, bringing so many more options for creative meals! One of the most versatile spring produce options are Vidalia onions.

Vidalia onions are known as America’s favorite sweet onion.

Grown in 20 counties in Southern Georgia, their distinctive taste is a result of the combination of weather, water and soil in that specific region.

Vidalia onions are in season from April to August, so this is the perfect time to show them off in some recipes! This recipe for Peach, Vidalia Onion, and Pancetta Flatbread plays off the sweetness of Vidalia onions with grilled peaches, while balancing out the flavor with some pancetta and a touch of chili powder. The rosemary and chives add some freshness to the flatbread, brightening up the other flavors.

Ingredients:

  • 4 oz Pancetta, cubed
  • 2 Vidalia onions, cut into thin slices, then halved into half moons
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • Pinch chili powder
  • Store bought pizza dough (use gluten free dough to make recipe gluten free)
  • 2 large ripe peaches, cut into wedges (or, if not in season, frozen peach slices that have been thawed work too)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon fresh chives, chopped Continue reading Peach, Vidalia Onion, and Pancetta Flatbread

Spinach and Artichoke Breakfast Casserole

Last weekend, we were invited to a potluck brunch for a friend’s birthday. I wanted to bring a savory breakfast dish that would work well for a crowd.

With the big game this weekend, my mind went to making a breakfast version of spinach artichoke dip. I live in Philadelphia, so I clearly had to make a green dish too!

This Spinach and Artichoke Breakfast Casserole is packed with spinach, artichokes, bell peppers, onions and cheese. The result is a flavorful dish that can feed up to 12.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 (10 oz) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed
  • 1/2 cup chopped green onions
  • 1 (14 oz) can artichokes hearts, drained and chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 12 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1  teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 cup feta cheese, crumbled
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Continue reading Spinach and Artichoke Breakfast Casserole

Sheet Pan Paella

Over the last few years, my husband and I have moved too many times. Since 2014, we have lived in five different apartments/houses. Somehow in one of those many moves, I lost (or threw out) my paella pan. Sigh.

Paella is a favorite of mine. I love the combination of crispy rice, seafood, and spice. So when I saw this Epicurious recipe for a sheet pan version, I knew I had to try it.

I didn’t exactly stick to the original recipe, given what I could find in my post-snow supermarket. But one of the best parts about paella is you can basically throw in whatever you may have on hand to make the recipe yours! So here’s my adapted version – Sheet Pan Paella!

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 cup rice
  • 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon saffron, crushed
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons  salt, divided
  • 2 links of Spanish chorizo (about 6 oz)
  • 1 shallot, thinly sliced
  • 6 ounces medium shrimp, peeled, deviened, tails left intact
  • ~2 dozen clams, scrubbed
  • 1 (14 oz can) fire roasted diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1/2 cup frozen peas
  • 1/2 cup jarred roasted red peppers, sliced
  • 1/4 cup green olives, pitted
  • 1/4 cup thinly sliced chives

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White Bean-Tahini Dip with Toasted Pitas

Note: I was sent a Labell Board to write this post. Opinions are mine alone.

Cutting boards are a staple of any kitchen. They (of course) are used to cut, chop, mince, and dice vegetables, fruits, and protein for meals, but I love to also use them for presentation. There are some cutting boards, like this one from Planches Labell, that need to be shown off!

Labell boards are made from premium Canadian recovered/recycled hardwoods and are produced with the highest production standards. With the new abilities in wood manufacturing Planches Labell has the capacity to take this raw material, otherwise disposed of, and turn it into culinary works of art. Offerings include Rustic Tree-Cut Serving Platters, Paddle Boards, Utility Boards and Butcher Blocks.

To show off this beauty, I decided to make a White Bean-Tahini Dip inspired by a recipe I found on Food Network. This dip is very similar to hummus but uses cannellini beans instead of chickpeas. The added spices of cumin, za’atar, chile powder and garlic powder really amp up the flavor! (Za’atar, specifically the blend I used, is a combination of sumac, thyme, sesame, and salt.)

Ingredients:

Toasted Pita Chips:

  • 2 teaspoons ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons za’atar
  • 1 teaspoon chile powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 pitas
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

White-Bean Tahini Dip:

  • 1 (15 oz) can cannellini beans, drained with liquid reserved
  • 1/2 cup tahini paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
  • 2 cloves garlic
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon of reserved spices
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
  • 1 lemon, zested and juiced
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • minced chives, for garnish

Other:

  • Baby carrots
  • Broccoli florets
  • Cut celery
  • Grape Tomatoes

Continue reading White Bean-Tahini Dip with Toasted Pitas

Warm Buttered Radish and Edamame Salad

I have been thinking about this Warm Buttered Radish and Edamame Salad since I made it.

This recipe for Warm Buttered Radish and Edamame Salad is so unbelievably good!

This recipe pairs perfectly with Dijon-Herb Crusted Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce, and only takes a few minutes to make. I already have this back on the menu for this week!

Ingredients:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 cup radishes, quartered
  • 1/2 cup frozen shelled edamame
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
  • 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Continue reading Warm Buttered Radish and Edamame Salad

Cowboy Style Beef Ragout

Sometimes, you just need comfort food. And what is more comforting than a thick tomato meat sauce over polenta, or Cowboy Style Beef Ragout?

This recipe adapted from Cooking Light is reminiscent of Sloppy Joe’s, but is a bit more grown up.

I made a batch of this for my husband to thaw and eat on nights that I work late. Just heat and serve over polenta or egg noodles.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound 90% lean ground sirloin
  • 1 tablespoon reduced-sodium Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 3 sliced green onions, white and green parts divided
  • 1/2 cup frozen pearl onions, thawed
  • 3 cups strained tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives

Continue reading Cowboy Style Beef Ragout

Orzo with Crispy Pancetta and Chives

You can never have too many quick side dishes to help complete a meal. This one comes highly recommended by my husband; the first time I made it, I didn’t even get a taste because he gobbled up all of it before I could!

I changed the original recipe slightly because I was feeling particularly lazy and found diced pancetta in my supermarket. Everything else I kept the same.

Ingredients:

  • 2 1/2 ounces diced pancetta
  • 3/4 cup uncooked whole-wheat orzo (rice-shaped pasta)
  • 1 3/4 cups unsalted chicken stock
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives, plus more for garnish

Continue reading Orzo with Crispy Pancetta and Chives

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