Cheesy Roasted Red Pepper Skillet Soda Bread

Lately I've been thinking about soda bread.  Sure, St. Patrick's Day is coming up in a couple of months but that really wasn't why.  I've just been finding myself in the mood to make some or, more specifically, to eat some.  I really like my recipe for Simple and Sweet Irish Soda Bread but I'd never tried any variations other than the typical addition of raisins or currants.  But why couldn't it be more savory?

Cinnamon Bread Pudding with Salted Chocolate Rum Sauce

When the folks at Captain Morgan asked me to create Superbowl recipes, I was a bit stumped.  Not by the drink part because I can whip up a cocktail pretty easily.  But when I think of game day food I think of appetizers and wings and such.  Neither Brian nor I are much into that so I went blank for a while.  I even asked some football fanatic friends what they like to eat but it still felt foreign to me.

Roasted Cauliflower and Gruyere Soup

 

Another weekend with temperatures in the teens.  Another pot of soup.  I've actually been eating soup almost every day this winter but a lot of times I just get lazy and toss everything in a pot.  The result is good and warm and comforting.  But, when I take the time to do it right, I can develop layers of deep flavor.

Sweet, Spiked and Spicy Hot Chocolate

This month, the folks at Captain Morgan challenged us to make foods and drinks for a Superbowl gathering and the first thing that came to mind was Brrr.  As you probably know, this year the people responsible for choosing the venue have decided to kill all the players and fans by freezing them to death.  Um...wait...what I meant to say is that they've chosen to play, for the first time, in an open air stadium located in a cold weather climate. Yes, my very own beloved (and cold) New York will be co-hosting the event along with New Jersey which is another state that's currently covered in ice.

Cheddar and Thyme Cornbread Loaf

 

We're polar vortexing again!  Or maybe it's just January in New York.  Piles of snow and single digit temperatures means we're staying inside.  I put a pot of soup on the stove and this cornbread in the oven.  I'm sure the supermarket was packed with "panic shoppers" buying all the bread and milk.  But we're not exactly in the sticks here in Manhattan and I know the market will get a new supply truck within a day or two.  I'm pretty sure we have enough supplies to maintain us for a couple of days without having to eat the dog.  Actually, I'm pretty sure we have enough supplies to keep us, and the dog, fed till spring.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Martini

Welcome to Cocktail Day, a multi-blogger event co-hosted by Kim of Cravings of a Lunatic, Liz of That Skinny Chick Can Bake, and Donna of Cookistry. We are raising our glasses to toast you all with some unique and delicious cocktails and mocktails in anticipation of the Big Game and Valentine’s Day. Be sure to bookmark or pin these creative beverages for your next gathering. We hope you enjoy this marvelous event and the incredible giveaways from our generous sponsors. Cheers!

Crunchy Loaded Chicken Salad

Can you believe that, until I made this recipe, I had never tasted ramen noodles?  Even though every grocery store in my neighborhood sells them.  Even though I graduated from college and they're considered the inexpensive staple food of undergrads everywhere.  Somehow, they never happened until now.  I wanted to add some crunch to a chicken salad and read that ramen noodles are a great addition but I didn't understand how.  All of my experience with noodles is that they're not tasty when they're raw and soft when they're cooked.  This whole ramen business was very confusing.

Portable Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pots

Well, hello there, you little resolution breaker, you.  Little pot of chocolaty, peanut buttery wonderfulness that you are.  I don't know if you taste as good as skinny feels but it's damn close, I tell you.  Damn close.  But, no worries about that because this little pot of love is for you to give away to someone you love, or like, or need a favor from, whatever.  Of course, it's important to love yourself, too, so you might want to make an extra one and stash it away somewhere in the back of the fridge for those chocolate and peanut butter craving emergencies.  I will not judge you.

Beautiful Beet Salad with Walnuts & Gorgonzola

Beets are a big favorite with both of us.  Beet salad appetizer on a menu?  We're ordering it for sure.  At home, I throw a few into the oven to roast pretty often.  It's very easy to do and produces the best flavor.  And, while I mostly just chop them up into a big salad, they're so pretty that sometimes they just need to be the star of the show.

Creamy Onion Gratin

This was one of those recipes that I wasn't sure about but still couldn't resist.  And now that I've played with it a few times, I'm still not sure how to describe it except to tell you it tastes really good.  I came across it in Saveur and wondered about the fact that onions were the star of the dish instead of just an ingredient.  I also knew I'd need to lighten it up some because that much oil, butter and heavy cream in one dish better incorporate a whole lot of chocolate instead of onions!

Cheesy Butternut Squash Barley Bake

Polar vortex.  Arctic misery.  Fun terms from the newspaper to describe this 'hell's frozen over' weather we've been subjected to pretty much everywhere in the country.  Yesterday we woke up to a temperature of 6 degrees F but it rose to a balmy 8 degrees by Noon.  Joy.  Hadley and I ventured out wrapped in several layers of fur and cloth but it didn't last long.  She actually seemed OK and was busy sniffing the frozen city but I really needed to get back inside to restore the circulation to my legs and face.

Cinnamon Streusel Banana Bread

No sooner did we ring in the new year when everything I dislike about winter began arriving.  A snow blizzard, freezing rain, temperatures in the teens with wind chills in the single digits.  Oh, we're quite safe and warm in our apartment and grateful for it.  But we're already starting to feel the winter claustrophobia.  After a couple of inclement days, we finally ventured out with Hadley for some fresh air on Saturday.  But even with her thick fur and a doggie coat as well, it was too much for her.  The freezing slush and rock salt irritated her paws and she began yelping in distress.  We carried her home, washed her paws and tucked her into bed with us where all was finally well.

Baked Matzo Ball Dumplings

But wait, it's not Passover yet, so why am I making matzo balls?  Well, because matzo meal is available year round and they're absolutely delicious.  Also, I have some leftover brisket from our New Year's Eve meal.  Check out the brisket recipe, by the way, because it's one of the best beef dishes we've ever had.  But, back to the matzo balls.  It was tempting to put them in a nice hot soup because it's about 10 degrees outside.  But I also wanted a side dish for the meat and I was getting a little potato-ed out, if you know what I mean.  Happily, matzo balls are very versatile.

Chunky Veggie Soup with Gruyere Cheese Toast

Happy New Year!  Did you go wild and crazy last night and wake up naked in a public place this morning?  The subway is a popular spot for that, here in New York.  Brian and I had a few cocktails but it's been many years since I woke up indecent on public transportation.  Instead, we woke up in our cozy bed when the first ray of new year's sunshine peeked through our curtains and a 20 lb. ball of fur landed on our heads.  Damn, that dog is heavy.  I should probably put her on some kind of diet.