tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-288315812024-03-05T01:48:01.211-05:00Karen CooksA blog about what I cook, when I cook.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-40344902442656668252014-11-08T13:02:00.000-05:002014-11-08T15:27:20.127-05:00Thanksgiving Vegetable Side DishIf you'd like to add a new dish to your Thanksgiving Dinner, this one should be it. It's super easy, and includes carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, all baked together in a creamy sauce. The crumb topping adds a nice crispiness.
I'm sure you'll agree this one is a keeper.
GARDEN VEGETABLES WITH HORSERADISH
SAUCE
3 c. cauliflower flowerets
1 lb. carrots, sliced 1/2" thick
1 lb. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-68435144574660325922012-04-26T20:29:00.000-04:002014-11-08T14:19:39.598-05:00Asparagus Pesto
Pesto is one of my all time favorite sauces for pasta.
I remember tasting pesto for the first time at a wonderful restaurant called Pronto, in Chicago. My ex-hubby was on a business trip, working on a computer conversion at the Chicago Stock Exchange, and I accommpanied him on this trip. The highlight was seeking out interesting places to dine, each Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-84735086634466882592012-02-04T17:45:00.000-05:002012-02-04T17:45:51.859-05:00Fish Tacos
On Thursday, I discovered a new fish monger in downtown Passaic Park. It is a small shop owned and operated by a local Hasidic Jewish family. For religous reasons, it is only open 4 days a week, so you know the fish is going to be very very fresh. This day I purchased Salmon, and Tilapia.
I saved the Tilipia for today and looked through my recipes and found one for Fish Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-51643965500710300592011-12-03T14:00:00.000-05:002015-02-17T12:07:28.274-05:00Black Bean Soup
I usually wouldn't think of making Black Bean Soup. Soaking the beans overnight, and all that, is just too much work for me. However, I was watching an episoide of Dr Oz and he showcased a really quick version, that was really, really tasty....and healthy, too!
I played around with the recipe, using different chili powders ( Chipotle and Ancho ), and liked it when I added a little Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-89142511703596403862011-11-24T15:35:00.000-05:002014-11-08T13:02:47.261-05:00Ultimate Pumpkin Pie
I know it's a little late to be posting this. Since, if you were going to bake for your Thanksgiving Dinner, it's been done by now. However, I consider this one a keeper, so, print it off and save it for another time. Hopefully, NOT next year.
One ingredient that sets this recipe apart from others is the addition of sour cream. It gives the filling a wonderful silkyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-36600353333809261392011-09-22T18:46:00.000-04:002011-09-22T18:46:47.342-04:00Sauteed Chicken with Garlic and Rosemary
This is a recipe taken from another cookbook of mine: Bon Appetit: Fast, Easy, Fresh.
It's takes very little time to prepare and is perfect for dinner on a weekday.
1 1/2 - 2 lb. chicken thighs
2 tbsp. olive oil
3 cloves garlic
2 tsp. chopped fresh rosemary or 1 tsp. dried rosemary, crumbled
1 c. chicken broth
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
Fresh rosemary sprigs; optional
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-41495286876868468782011-09-21T15:36:00.000-04:002011-09-21T15:36:09.422-04:00Roasted Beets and Oranges
I just love Ina Garten's recipe for Roasted Beets with Orange Vinaigrette.
Her recipe calls for canned beets, but, instead, I prefer to roast fresh beets with herbs, so they are more aromatic. The cooked beets are tossed with sectioned oranges and a flavorful orange vinaigrette. This makes a wonderful side dish., that can be served warm or cold.
Ingredients
3-4 medium Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-61342701383784972922011-07-25T08:15:00.000-04:002011-07-25T08:15:08.577-04:00Steamed Mussels for a Steamy Summer Day..Since it's been way too hot to put the oven on, and I can't grill out on my Condo Deck (Condo By Law), I decided to review my recipe files for something I could cook over the stove. Stews and soups were out,but I did find a recipe on Epicurious that would fit the bill: Mussels with Shallots and Thyme.
Adding thyme and cream are a change up from the typical Steamed Mussel recipe. And who doesn'tAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-53297417117340224142011-06-24T20:54:00.000-04:002011-06-24T20:54:18.385-04:00Beans, Beans....and Corn
A few months back, I picked up a book called Raising the Salad Bar. I found this book to be a wonderful resource for anyone looking to incorporate more vegetables into their diet. It features salads of all types, each in its own chapter. There is a chapter on seafood salads, one on chicken salads, one on potato salads, Leafy Greens, Beans, etc.
I've been working my way through Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-34897130107885918652010-11-11T13:30:00.003-05:002010-11-12T13:09:20.501-05:00Ginger Rules!
There are those who love the taste of ginger and those who hate it.
I put myself in the category of those who absolutely love it. I will buy anything I see that has ginger in it,.. ginger preserves, ginger cookies, ginger chews candy, ginger beer....you name it..I buy it.!
Did you know that even Hagen Daz has come out with a Ginger Ice Cream in their Five Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-33372534783335476102010-06-27T18:17:00.000-04:002010-06-27T18:17:26.938-04:00Fit for a BBQ
One of my favorite BBQ side dishes is from a recipe I found on the Food TV Network website.
It is a salad that combines roasted corn and jicama with mango, red onion and cilantro. It's best when made a few hours before, so the clean fresh flavors of the orange/ lime vinegarette can soak into the salad.
I'm sure this will become one of your backyard BBQ standards.
 Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-72221097739675331212010-06-19T14:07:00.003-04:002010-06-19T23:01:40.214-04:00Birthday Dinner
Last week was my brother's birthday.
Birthday dinners are a big thing in my family. A lot of time and effort goes into planning the menu, even if the dinner is for a small group. If you don't already know, my brother is a chef. That puts a little more stress on me, when it's my turn to host the dinner...sigh.
When I asked him what he wanted this year, he chose stuffed lobster,Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-72958556358609354312010-01-01T20:09:00.002-05:002010-01-02T14:40:27.291-05:00Macerated Oranges and MoscatoHappy New Year!
After all the eating and celebrating these past few weeks, I decided to make something light for dessert. I had some oranges left over from the Holidays, so I scoured my cookbooks and came up with this simple recipe from Eating Well.
Served up along side a 2009 Bartenura Moscato, it was the perfect foil for the sweet wine. Try them both and I think you'll Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-33750833379224941572009-12-29T10:46:00.005-05:002009-12-29T19:06:33.642-05:00Fig and Almond Cookies
I recently came across this recipe from Gina DePalma, who is the pastry chef at Babbo, one of Mario Batali's restaurants. It has all the wonderful flavors of Italian cookies, that I remember eating as a child.
The recipe calls for soaking the figs in orange juice to soften them a bit, before incorporating them into the dough.
I made them for our Christmas Eve dinner and got rave reviews.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-1148746302278101762006-05-27T12:09:00.000-04:002006-05-27T12:11:42.286-04:00Pomegranate MartinisHere's a few recipes I found that make great use of pomegrante juice.Pomegranite Martini3 oz. Absolut Citron2 oz. Pomegranite juice1 oz. of CointreauMix like a regular martini, strain into champagne glass.Add a few pomegranite seeds and a curl from a lemon peel for a nice presentation.Serves 1.POM-TINI 12 ounces pomegranate or citrus vodka2 ounces pomegranate juiceJuice of one lemon1 ounce Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28831581.post-1148733473028056282006-05-27T08:29:00.000-04:002006-05-27T08:37:53.036-04:00Karen CooksHi,Yes, Karen does actually cook!In these times of convenience food, it's nice to actually cook.I'll be posting about the weekend meals that I cook at home, as well as those for special occasions. Hopefully they will interest you and encourage you to try them. Recipes will be posted.Check back later for the first posting.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07295580497477979621noreply@blogger.com0