Bouquet Garni

a little bit about a wonderful taste to stocks and stews.  i use fresh bouquet garni in many french recipes.  you might not think it's not much (at least i thought so) until you've used it.

you take either tied up cheesecloth or a bouquet garni bag.

http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-Supply-Bouquet-Garni-Bags/dp/B0006SYA3E

the bouquet garni is basically bay leaf, thyme and parsley.  you can add more spices depending to what the recipe calls for like peppercorns, rosemary, tarragon, etc.

as the stew or stock is cooking, you place it in which makes for easy removal when the dish is done.

Eggplant Surprise

this evening i tried something different.  i took a whole eggplant and cut it in half.  scraped out the insides.  i stuffed it with yellow peppers, onion, garlic, tomato paste, olive tapenade, gruyere cheese, parmesan cheese, pine nuts, salt, pepper, chopped beef, olive oil.  then i baked it at 350°F for about 30 min.  i might add that all these vegetables were from the Inwood farmers market.

this is how it turned out before and after.

Acorn Squash

yesterday evening we decided to to make an autumn meal.  we cut an acorn squash lengthwise, buttered the outside and salted all around.  baked the squash for about 45 min on 375°F.  it was filling and delicious.  we simply just spooned out the squash!

Spinach, tomato, and feta cheese quiche!

Mike made a quiche this morning.

and after.

Mac & Cheese with Beef

i made this tonight and it was a simple dish.  i baked it in the lovely casserole dish that Alma gave me.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/waynes-beef-macaroni-and-cheese-recipe/index.html

Rainbow Cookies

making cookies on a cool day is the best.  this is how the cookie looks before the chocolate covering,

and this is after,

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/05/rainbow-cookies

Caprese Salad & Red Onion/Green and Red Peppers

i have the day off recuperating from surgery.  i'm a little tried.  i thought about doing something a little lite and easy.  i decided to make Caprese Salad with fresh pesto and fresh basil and Red Onion/Green and Red Pepper salad. 

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/quick-recipes/2012/10/roasted-pepper-and-onion-salad-with-blue-cheese