Creme Brulee with Orange Liqueur

by Ina Garten
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/creme-brulee-recipe.html

Creme brulee is probably my favorite dessert. The orange liqueur makes this recipe even more tasty and special.

Notes:
- cook longer than recipe says, at least in my oven
- use vanilla bean instead extract if possible

Sushi, California Rolls

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sushi-rice-masaharu-morimoto

My friends always ask me to make sushi for parties. So here are my notes.

4 cups of rice / 4 cups of water yield

~16 long rolls of sushi

- Tuna (1/4 lb) or 

- Salmon (1/3 lb)

- Carrots (2), precook for 10 minutes, so they are soft and still a little crunchy

- Cucumber

- Cream cheese, place in the freezer 1 hr before cooking for easy cutting

- Avocado (1-2)

- Sesame seeds, toast for stronger flavor. I sprinkle them inside of the roll

I always thought that you don't taste avocado in the rolls enough, and it was not a necessary item. I did not have avocado this time and I really missed it. Avocado adds more body and richness to the rolls. For the fish I always liked tuna for its strong flavor. I recently tried salmon (raw), and thought that it may not have enough flavor or be fishy like if you used smoked fish. I was surprised how nice and pleasant it tastes, and adds richness to the sushi from its fattiness. And it is a less expensive option than tuna. A good way to switch around for flavor variety. Above link has a great advise from Masaharu Morimoto how to season sushi rice.

Seaweed Comparison:

Somehow I ended up with a bunch of seaweed packages, so I decided to try them all out at once and compare. I layed them out in order from best on the left and then decreasing in quality. The #1 is clearly the best quality - it is strongest, thickest and has the most flavor. #2 and #3 were very similar, so I placed the #3 further as it had fewer sheets for the same package price and no substantial difference in quality. I was going place #4 to the 2nd place, but then one of the sheets tore and that happens very seldom when I make sushi. But overall very similar quality and I would use any of them when convenient.

Autumn Chicken Pot Pie

by Anne Burrell
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/anne-burrell/autumn-chicken-pot-pie-recipe.html


Anne is my favorite chef for meat recipes. Very complete, hidg quality and always have a special twist to take it to the higher level. Chicken Pot Pie is kids' favorite. I tried this recipe several tims, and it always turns out great and delicious. The crus is very easy and fool proof. The rest is time consuming but well worth the work. I worried that the pumpkin would make it taste strange, but it blended in very well. I liked using the green beans as they stayed crunchy.

Special Ingredients:
- Cream cheese (for the crust)

Notes:
Can use less meat and more vegetables.

Apple and Onion Stuffing Muffins

These were delicious. They fell apart and were hard to handle taking out of the tin, but the flavor more than made up for that. Great spice with the punch of apple and celery to offset the breadiness.

Recipe:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 stick softened butter

1 fresh bay leaf

4 ribs and greens chopped celery

1 medium chopped onion

3 Mcintosh chopped apples

2 tablespoons poultry seasoning

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

Salt and pepper

8 cups cubed stuffing mix ( recommended pepperidge farm)

2 to 3 cups chicken stock

Preheat oven to 375.

Preheat a large skillet over a medium high heat. Add extra virgin olive oil to skillet and 4 tablespoons butter. When butter melts, add bay leaf and add vegetables as you chop them, celery, onions then apples. Sprinkle vegetables and apples with poultry seasoning, salt and pepper. Cook 5 to 6 minutes to begin to soften vegetables and apples, then add parsley and stuffing cubes. Moisten the stuffing with chicken broth until all the bread is soft but not wet.

Butter 12 muffin cups, 2 tins, liberally with butter. Use an ice cream scoop to fill and mound up the stuffing in muffin tins. Bake until set and crisp on to 10 to 15 min. Remove muffins and sender hot or room temperature.

Sweet Potatoes with Amaretto

I have never liked sweet potatoes, and i have tried different recipies, one with burbeon and walnuts, and always not my taste... and this one won me over. They were delicious! This was my best discovery recipe this Thanksgiving.

Recipe:

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup maple syrup

1/2 cup amaretto

Salt

2 tablespoons butter

Preheat oven to 325. Spread the sweet potatoes in a 1 1/2 quart baking dish. In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup and amaretto. Pour over sweet potatoes  stirring to coat. Sprinkle with salt and dot with butter. Bake covered for 45 minutes or until sweet potatoes are easily pierced with fork.

Baked Mashed Potatoes with Parmesan and Bread Crumbs

Another favorite and a keeper from this Thanksgiving. We prepared it a night before and only had to put in the oven the day of.

Note:

If preparing a night before, take it out of the fridge in the morning to bring to the room temperature.

Recipe:

1 tablespoon butter

4 lbs russet potatoes, peeled, cut into 1 inch pieces

1 cup whole milk

1/2 cup butter, melted

1 1/2 cups grated mozzarella

1 cup freshly grated parmesan

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Coat a 13 by 9 baking dish with butter and set aside

Cook potatoes until tender in boiling salted water for about 15 min. Drain and mash. Mix in milk and melted butter. Mix in mozzarella and 3/4 cup parmesan. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer potatoes to prepared dish. Stir in the crumbs and remaining parmesan in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture over the mashed potatoes. Bake uncovered until typing is golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Thanksgiving 2014

Chefs Alma and Laima - We made it!

Menu:

- turkey, rubbed with spices and butter a night before, cooked in a bag, 16lb (took about 1/2hr longer than directions)

- gravy from drippings and flour

- mashed potatoe casserole (very good)

- stuffing muffins (great)

- brussels sprouts with butter, garlic and other spices (that came in the same package, trader joe's)

- 7 layer salad

- beans with cider and omions (rachel rae recipe)

- sweet potatoes with amareto and maple syrup (my favorite recipe)

- dinner roles from Rolling Pin Bakery

- coleslaw (made by Ninel)

- cranberries (made by Ninel)

- fruit salad (made by Pat)

- ukrainian pyrozky (made by Pat)

- herring with pickles

Appetizers: sausages and cheeses from Bavaria (Madison, WI)

Thanksgiving Table

Tom&Jerries before desert

Eggplant Caponata, Sicilian

http://www.saveur.com/article/Recipes/Caponata-1000087189#comment-form

Special Ingredients:
- eggplant
- rasins
- chocolate
- basil

Modifications:
I used anchiovi instead of salt.
Substituted pine nuts with walnuts

Very rich and tasty caponata. I hav made caponata before but this one is far better.

Will I make it again? - yes

Split pea soup

By Ina Garten

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/parkers-split-pea-soup-recipe.html

This is a very good splut soup recipe.

Modifications:

- I added celery, red pepper flakes, leek

Perch with Fennel, Onion and Tomato

By Melissa d'Arabian

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/snapper-with-fennel-onion-and-tomato-recipe.html

This is a very easy recipe for a weeknight. Tastes good but nothing complex or unique. Good garnish for a fast fish dish.

Will I make it again? - maybe not

Bavarian Apple Torte

Special Ingredients:

- cream cheese

- apples

Notes:

- for a 10" pan adjust ingredients by 20%

Delicious! I thought the recipe was like for a cheesecake and didn't know how the apples will fit. This is delicious and the filling tastes like from a real torte.

Double Mustard Crusted Pork Roast with Jus

by Guy Fieri

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/guy-fieri/double-mustard-crusted-pork-roast-with-jus-recipe.html

Special Ingredients:

- mustard

- fennel

- vermuth

Notes:
have to marinate for 6 hours

This was sooo I good, I don't want to try any other recipes for roast. My crust did not turn out crusty, but the meat was juicy and delicious.

Will I make it again? - definitely

Napa Cabbage Salad

Laima's Mom's Recipe

Ingredients:

- napa cabbage

- cucumber

- leek

- sour cream, liquify with buttermilk

- salt

Simple and joyful

Will I try it again? - yes

Pasta with Eggplant and Mint Pesto

from 50 Quick & Healthy Vegetarian Dishes, 1994

Special Ingredients:

- Eggplant

- Mint 

This is my oldest favorite recipe. I tried it first time maybe in 2003. This is easiest fool proof way to cook eggplant, and the mint pesto makes it heavenly.

Fried Pork Chops with Tarragon

from Tuscany the Beautiful Cookbook

Ingredients:

6 pork chops

3 T olive oil

1/2 cup dry white wine

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

3 T fresh tarragon leaves

(Comment to ask for directions)

This is my favorite way to cook pork chops. Tarragon transforms the flavor to the whole new level. Tastes very special and very easy to make.

Winter Lentil Soup with Kale

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/winter-lentil-soup

Vegeterian, vegan

Special Ingredients:

- Kale

- Lentils 

- Sweet potatoes (I used squash, carrots)

Changes:

I normally follow recipes to a t, but this one is perfect to use as a starting point and then throw in whatever you have in a fridge and pantry.

- added potatoes, carrots, celery

- used squash instead of sweet potatoes, or just carrots the first time

- red pepper flakes (Kate's brilliant idea)

- ate with sour cream (that's how Lithuanians like enrishing their soups)

The best vegetable soup I ever had, also very simple and quick. My co-worker Kate discovered this recipe, and i already made it twice this fall. Very basic ingredients, but so much flavor that it does not require broth. This time I had a bad accident. I dumped over a cup of salt into the soup because the container's lid fell off. I quickly dumped the soup into the strainer and had to rinse it with water washing all the leek sweettened tomato broth down the drain. I then added homemade broth - I always have homemade broths frozen in ziplock bags in the freezer. With the accident I forgot to add the lentis, so those went in later and I cooked the soup longer than needed. Despite all the soup turned out delicious.

Every time I have a bowl of this soup I think - omg this makes me so happy!

Notes:

I forget to add parmesan by the time I ladle the soup, but it adds great flavor.

I love adding the red pepper flakes.

Will I make it again? - yes, this will be my stape soup for fall.

Chili and Cornbread

Chili-Beans by Emeril Lagasse

Buttery Corn Bread

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/chili-beans-recipe.html

Extra fluffy cornbread
http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/buttery-corn-bread#. 

Betty Crocker's cornbread 

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/cornbread/8990e15c-fc1d-4a8d-b8b3-4b37f45eca49

Chili

I liked this chili recipe because it uses dry beans, and i like Emeril's essence mix. I used 2lb of ground venison because that's what I had to use up. I also added carrots and celery. And used honey instead of sugar.

Note: 

use more spices if add more ingredients. I should have doubled the spice.

Cornbread

Very fluffy. Excellent recipe. I was surprised it called for twice as much flour than corn meal, but that must be the reason for fluffiness.
Betty Crocker recipe tasted more grainy and more like corn. That's my preference.

Will I make this again? - yes, both recipes are great and no need to change.

Sopa de Ajo Blanco (almond and garlic soup)

http://www.andalucia.com/taste/gazpacho/rec3.htm

Vegeterian, vegan

I chose this recipe because it had no dairy and seemed more authentic because so simple.

Next time I would use good bread, and would make only a half of the recipe as it is very strong, so had to keep watering down.

Would I make it again? - probalbly. Have to make it in summer 

Polenta with Vegetables

from Tuscany The Beautiful Cookbook

Vegeterian, vegan

Very easy and hearty recipe. Great with butter. Second time I added celery and frozen peas for more variety, but I almos like the first simplier version better.

Will I make it again? - yes, made it several times. Great simple recipe for a fall sunday to have a filling snack for the next day.

Fresh Corn Salad

by Ina Garten

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/fresh-corn-salad-recipe.html

Vegeterian, vegan

I think this is a great and easy recipe. But i did not cook the corn and the salad turned out too starchy.

Will I make it again? - yes, I love corn and this is easy and refreshing recipe to kill that corn craving

Potatoes Anna, Petits Pois a la Francaise, and Tilapia

Potatoes Anna

http://m.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/laura-calder/potatoes-anna.html

Great potato dish, just have to have heavy cream. I would use less cream. 

Will try 2/3rds per recipe next time.

I also liked Martha's advite to parboil potatoes in the cream and later use it 

in the casserole - scalloped potatios from martha's cooking school.

http://www.marthastewart.com/1057199/scalloped-potatoes

Warm Pea Salad

http://m.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/laura-calder/petits-pois-a-la-francaise/reviews.html

I did not like the mix of fresh lettuce and cooked items. Peas were overgrown (bought at chinese

store). I would use peas only from farmers market next time.

Pasta with Asparagus and Prosciutto

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/pasta-with-asparagus-and-prosciutto-recipe.html

Great and simple way to use spring asparagus

Short list of ingredients and still very flavorful

Prosciutto adds flavor and smokiness, and used

packaged from trader joes.

Notes:

Did not have garlic, but ok

Last time used sage instead of thyme by accident

Used white pepper instead of black

Did not use salt (except for pasta) and didn't need it

Will I make it again? yes - my favorite way to cook asparagus

Smoked trout, lemon and fennel pasta

http://www.taste.com.au/recipes/9319/smoked+trout+lemon+and+fennel+pasta

Flavorfull and unique dish. Best way to use

smoked fish in a dish.

Smoked Fish Chowder

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/smoked-fish-chowder-amelia-oreilly

Chowder was delicious, flavorful and refreshing.

Adding fish was a bit too fishy. Should use small

amount for added flavor.

Best chowder recipe.

Beef stir-fry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sichuanpepperbeefwit_84326

Steamed Mussels with Fennel and Totatoes

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/steamed-mussels-with-fennel-and-tomato-recipe.html

Large mussels taste was very strong. They may be more suitable for recipes with stuffing. Tomatoes had too much acidity for my taste, although used less and the homecanned, which supposed to be milder. Was much better with linguini. Could be a good sauce with pasta but lacked depth. Overall fairly good recipe but will not make it again.