Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères
These Red Pepper, Garlic & Pecorino Gourgères are divine. A perfect make-ahead hors d'heurves for your holiday party, or any party! Gourgères is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. Basically, they are cheese puffs. These infuse puréed red pepper and garlic into them. I very recently posted a recipe for plain cheese Gourgères.
By - Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
Cheese Ball
The Cheese Ball is the centerpiece of any Midwest cocktail party. There are many variations of this recipe. Last year I made this Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Cheese Ball. I am not a big fan of serving a boring cheese platter at a party. It usually doesn't get eaten. I guarantee this cheese ball will be the hit of your next party. Cheese balls were all the rage in the 1970s. So easy to make and the best part is that it has to be made ahead, so you can enjoy your party.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
Green Chile Chicken Tamales
Every Christmas eve my mother-in-law served tamales and albondigas soup. She got her tamales from a local source in East Los Angeles. My friend asked if I wanted to make tamales with her. Absolutely! We corralled another friend, who actually knows what she’s doing and my daughter. We each bring our own filling. I've made Beef Tamales with Red Chili Sauce, pork and Green Chile Chicken Tamales. I had made tamales in the past, but only one dozen. This time, we made 150! My friend said that you have to take a shot after every dozen is completed! Given that it was 10 am when we started, I only did 2 shots, and then there were those mimosas…. It was so much fun, that we do it every year.
- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 1 hr
- Yields: Makes about 26
Hippie Waffles
I was listening to an NPR program called Good Food a few weeks ago and heard this story about these guys, Gideon Brower and his friend Jack, who is an “old-school hippie” that he calls Hippie Jack. They decided to devote an entire day to canvas the city in search of LA’s best waffle. The rule was that every waffle would be stacked up against something called the “Green-Sherman” waffle. The Green-Sherman is a creation of Jack’s friends in Seattle, and he calls it a legendary “hippie waffle.”
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Yields: Makes 8 waffles
Christmas Quiche
This Christmas Quiche is a delicious breakfast casserole that makes a great breakfast or lunch. It can be served hot, room temperature or cold.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings
Parmesan Cheese Biscuits
When my husband and I lived in London, our eccentric friend Sandra introduced us to these Parmesan Cheese Biscuits. They are very easy to make and unusual. I use mini cookie cutters and cut them into shapes – usually pigs or Scottie dogs. Unfortunately, couldn't find fun shapes for this batch. These would go well with any cocktail.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
Gourgères
Gourgères is a baked savory choux pastry made of choux dough mixed with cheese. Basically, they are cheese puffs. My daughter Zoe, went to a book signing for this new book by Rebekah Peppler, Apéritif, Cocktail Hour the French Way. She says the French have perfected the casual, pre-dinner practice of drinks and snacks. I thought Eric and I had perfected that! Anyway, it's a wonderful book and the cheese puffs are great for any party.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings, about 40 gougères
Spinach Salad from The Plantation Cookbook
I recently made this Spinach Salad from The Plantation Cookbook. The salad dressing is absolutely spectacular. The key is to make the dressing at least 6 hours ahead or the day before.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Dutch Oven Bread
I made this Dutch Oven Bread in my Lodge cast iron pan. Making crispy, crusty, golden loaves of bread at home has never been easier. It all starts with bread baking in a Dutch oven (heavy lidded pot). It's the perfect vessel for making artisanal style bread.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 45 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Ginger Miso Udon
I was shopping at Trader Joe's recently and this Miso Ginger Broth caught my attention. I thought I would make Ginger Miso Udon with it. If you can't find this broth, I have included a recipe to make it from scratch. You can add any number of things to this soup like tofu, chicken, pork, bok choy, etc.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
