A SPECIAL MOMENT

Welcome to Foodie Friday TLB friends!

In today's blog I am sharing a very special moment with my youngest daughter who knows

how crazy I am about Ina Garten! She hosted one of my favorite Food Network cooking shows, and I have every cookbook she has ever written!

My daughter surprised me with tickets to "An Evening with Ina Garten-The Barefoot Contessa," at the Rosemont Theatre in Illinois. It was a very special mother/daughter evening that I will never forget! 

APPLE PIE BARS

Welcome to Foodie Friday friends!

It's not Fall without a delicious Apple Pie or maybe an Apple Pie Bar. What is an Apple Pie Bar? Just feast your eyes on these.....

Foodie Friday---Sharing a "wee bit" of Irish Culture

I can't believe that March 1st is tomorrow. Our family is filled with March birthdays...starting with my brother, my daughter, my aunt, and ending with my sister. Wedged in between them is the infamous St. Patrick's Day!

 

Celebrations are held everywhere featuring parades, and festivals. The wearing of green attire and shamrocks help commemorate the official Christian feast day where Saint Patrick, the Patron Saint of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland is celebrated in many places through-out the world.

St. Patrick's Day is typically filled with lots of delicious food. Starting with breakfast. This may consist of bacon, sausages, eggs, potato Fadge (potato cakes) or the famous Boxty. (Irish griddle cakes) Add a few slices of Soda Bread, and tea, and you will be all set to start your day.

Irish Soda bread is probably the easiest bread to make. In later years I have made this to have for our breakfast on St. Paddy's Day morning. Sharing a "wee bit" of the Irish culture in celebration of St. Patrick.

 

 

My choice of recipes for Irish Soda Bread is from The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. Her recipe comes out beautifully every time.  http://www.food.com/recipe/ina-gartens-irish-soda-bread-414460

There are so many dishes that come to mind if you would like to make a tasty family meal on St. Patrick's Day.  Start out with a delicious Beef Stew or Corned Beef & Cabbage. Add to this a traditional potato dish found in Ireland, called Colcannon, and dessert of course, a warm and decadent Bread Pudding.  Some of you may throw in a pint of Guinness or Irish Coffee along the way as well!

However you chose to celebrate St. Patrick's Day------May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

                                                                        Enjoy!

                                                                    Kathleen

***Thank you for visiting The Lavender Bouquet today. Feel free to leave us a comment and also to pass our link along to your friends.  http://thelavenderbouquet.blogspot.com

 

Foodie Friday-----The Sweet Taste of Fall

Welcome to Fall folks!  Yesterday there was a chill in the air and today the temps were still chilly and darn, it has rained all day. It is always a bit sad when the leaves start falling to the ground, as the trees always look so bare and vulnerable to the winter ahead.

Fall days remind me of so many yummy smells and tastes. I love the scents of cinnamon, pumpkin,  and apples that permeate the kitchen.What could be more delightful than the sweet tastes of Fall?

Our oldest daughter was driving in to NJ on a business trip today, and she called to tell us that she was going to take a bit of a detour and spend Friday and Saturday with us. She really wanted to go to the apple farm on Saturday to pick up fresh apples so that she could make applesauce when she got home. All she had to do is mention applesauce, and I couldn't get it out of my mind. Unfortunately, she had a flat tire (thankfully she is fine) and was unable to make the trip, but that didn't stop me from running to pick up the apples to make our favorite applesauce.

The Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten has the most delicious recipe for applesauce. It has some interesting ingredients that give it a new twist, and does not use any sugar. My youngest daughter is just crazy about my mother, Mago's applesauce. Mom spoils my daughter every year, making it ahead of time and freezing it so that my daughter will not miss her applesauce on Thanksgiving day! Now that's a good Mago!

The prep time for Ina's recipe takes a bit of time because of the 6 lbs. of apples that require peeling. I am sure you will forget about the prep time once you taste it. I have taken a series of photos as I prepared the applesauce to kind of give you an idea of how very easy it really is.

 The recipe link may be found at the end of the photos.

The ingredients are so different I am sure you will LOVE the flavors as they meld together!

Zest and juice the oranges and the lemon.

Pour the liquid over the peeled apples.

Pour the apples into a non-reactive Dutch oven or enameled iron pot.

Spread them in a fairly even layer.

Add remaining ingredients, brown sugar, butter, and spices.

I have a very hot oven so it takes me just about one hour instead of the l 1/2 hrs. that is recommended. You may want to watch this step carefully the first time you make it.

Whisking the applesauce in the pan takes out the lumps. My family prefers it to have a few chunks of apples in it. Whisk according to your own final  preferences.

Cut and paste this link to Ina's Homemade Applesauce Recipe:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/homemade-applesauce-recipe/index.html

I hope your family enjoys this applesauce as much as mine does!

Have a wonderful weekend---------

ENJOY!
K

 

Marvelous Monday--Weekend Tailgating!

What a weekend! The first day of Fall has officially arrived and my husband and I spent an awesome Saturday with friends doing what many Americans like to do......watching football and tailgating!!

Wiki tells us that a tailgate party originated in the US......imagine that. Consuming alcoholic beverages and grilling food in parking lots at stadiums is as American as "apple pie!"

My husband and I were bowled over by the fantastic menu that our friend Brendan, prepared.
We started with his delicious lobster sliders that melted in your mouth. (those New Hampshire boys sure do know their lobster!) Moved on to freshly ground cheeseburgers, and our contribution Ina Garten's French Potato Salad, ending with Ginger's mini Brownie bites. Along the way of course the customary chips and salsa, and tasty beverages. Yummy!

Ina Garten's French Potato Salad                                                                        http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/french-potato-salad-recipe/index.html

 

 

We were one happy group after finishing all of that deliciousness! Thank you to our friends, Ginger and Chef Brendan, and thank you to their sweet daughter "M" for attending Lehigh!

The game was a "nail biter" to quote Ginger........with Lehigh beating Princeton at the very end 29-28. What a day.......great friends, great food and a winning team!

Were any of you fortunate enough to attend a game this weekend? What team were you watching and what did you serve? It's time to get our tailgating recipes floating around.........the season is just beginning!!

Please share your favorite tailgating recipes and ideas with us!