A Stack of Dishes

Something good is cooking...

12 Days of Xmas Gift Giving: Starts Tomorrow!

by

I am so excited! Making treats to give away is one of the happiest things I like to do. This project of creating 12 different types of gifts you can make yourself is thrilling me to no end. I had a really fun time coming up with all the different ideas and now even more fun creating them all.
You can look forward to sweets and savories and even some drinks too. I promise you there is not a sugar cookie, nor a chocolate truffle in the lot and none of the same ol’ same ol’.
I will be adding a “resource” page also so that you can find where to purchase the packaging, ingredients and tools to make this come true for yourself. So keep an eye out for that.
Be sure to sign up for my feed or an email subscription so you don’t miss a day. And PLEASE, I would love to hear your feedback on what I’ve come up with.

We start tomorrow- so come on back for the fun and recipes!

Dulce de Leche for Breakfast makes me think of Alberto

by

Not Valorie’s table- but a taste of heaven in my home.
In celebration of my recent birthday my dearest Pam and I trucked on down to New Orleans for the weekend. It was our first road trip with our new Mazda Miata- and let me tell you- two girls traveling in a car with a trunk the size of a Barbie suitcase has it’s challenges, but not without laughs and good times.
After a few days on our own enjoying a romantically fantastic and culinary time, we toddled over to my dear friends Valorie and Alberto’s house in the Irish Channel. Val and I go way back to our early years in the wedding business. She was an exceptional floral and event designer and we made instant friends when we met during a set up for a wedding in a big NYC loft.
She is now an even more exceptional interior designer in NoLa and you may know her as The Visual Vamp. Her blog is chocked with great thoughts, ideas, Val’s great writing and her sense of joy and life living. When you have a minute it is a must read. You may also know she and Alberto, her Argentine husband, as US National Tango champions and instructors. And let me tell you darlings- this is only a small scratch into Val’s fabulousness.
The last time we visited we woke to one of Val’s beautifully set breakfast tables. A small table tucked into the kitchen was covered in a beautiful linen cloth. Stack of china, silver, pots and plates of goodness and “objets” covered the table and made it too beautiful to think about making a crumb amongst. However Val’s tinkling laugh, ease and grace made this fantasy feel like we’ve always belonged here. So with napkins on laps and Cholo, their King Charles Spaniel, at our feet- we dove right in.
Amongst the delights was a luscious bowl of dulce de leche that had come from Alberto’s Argentina from their last trip there to Tango. Val toasted up some chewy sourdough bread and with the dulce de leche on top it was divine….. Sweet and creamy on top of crunchy chewy and the tang of the sourdough made it heaven. Such a simple thing elevated- such is the magic that is always Valorie.
Homemade Dulce de Leche
 
makes approx 1c
I dusted off my crockpot for this. The slow low temp cooking is perfect and no need to keep an eye on it.
 
Take 1 can of sweetened condensed milk and remove the label.
 
Submerge the can in water in your crockpot and set on low.
 
Leave to work it’s magic for 8 hrs. Cool before serving.
 
No fears about bursting cans but if it concerns you alternatively you can empty the contents of the can into a small heatproof bowl and cover with foil. Add water up the edge of the bowl and proceed as above.
 
If you don’t own a crockpot you can use the alternative method in a pan and place into a low oven- as low as it can go for 5-7 hrs.

Ginger Poached Chicken Broth Soup

by

As the holidays season descends upon us and the days get short and compact, it’s a lovely thing to come home to a warm brothy soup that only takes a short while to assemble and prepare.
This soup is a standby for me and it lends itself to creativity depending on what’s on hand in the cupboard or vegetable drawer. You need just a few basics, such as garlic, ginger, chicken broth and chicken, but from there on- you can “McGuyver” this dish anyway you would like. Leftover noodles or rice can find their way into the pot, or left over veg and the odd ends of this and that- mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, spinach, etc.
I’ve set the stage for the classic here- but I’ll leave the rest to your interpretation. The primary thing is to make a warm flavorful broth and keep it healthy and light. The perfect revival to a day of dashing.
 
Ginger Poached Chicken Broth Soup
 
serves 2 generously
 
3T of fresh ginger peeled and sliced into matchsticks
2cloves garlic smashed and rough chopped
1T vegetable oil
2-3 star anise pods
48oz box of your best low sodium chicken broth
soy sauce to taste- start with 2T
1 large chicken breast or leftover cold chicken cooked
1 bunch scallions, sliced into rings including whites and greens
1 baby bok choy, quartered and washed
drizzle of hot chili sesame oil
 
In a large pot warm the oil over medium heat, gently cook the garlic to release the oils. Do not toast.
 
Add the ginger and the star anise and then pour in the broth and soy sauce. More can be added right before serving to adjust for taste. 
 
Allow to come up to a boil and then slip in the uncooked chicken. Gently simmer until cooked through. Time will vary based on the thickness of the breast, but allow 20 mins or so. If using precooked chicken allow the broth to simmer for 15 minutes to develop the flavors and then add the chicken to warm through.
 
Right before serving add the bok choy and allow to gently cook to a tender/crunchy stage- just a minute or so.
 
Top off with scallion and a drizzle of hot chili oil right before serving and add more soy sauce if needed to taste.