Hamantaschen - Desserts with Three Corners

I purchased one of these packages of Hamantaschen at the recent Avahath Beth Israel "deli days" event. This version was a soft, chewy cookie and mine was filled with apricot preserves.

Burger Time

Fired up the grill for quick hamburgers last weekend. It finally feels like summer! This burger included bacon - that was also cooked on the grill.

Homemade Seafood Cocktail Sauce

I remember I used to buy jars of seafood cocktail sauce...until I read the label and discovered the ingredients were basically ketchup and horseradish. Now, I make my own, and make it much spicier than the jarred kind!

Shaved Ice Season

My daughter and I tried out the Shaved Ice Shack at Chinden and Eagle yesterday afternoon on what turned out to be the hottest day of the year so far! I'm a fan of shaved ice....but not snow cones :) And yes, there IS a difference! Above is the pina colada flavor I ordered. Below, cherry for my daughter.

Iced Lattes All Around

Tried out one our new reusable plastic cups that look like they're the disposable kind. These are perfect for summertime large iced lattes - and they hold 24 oz. Here's our iced latte recipe: pull 4 shots of espresso and stir in caramel sauce to taste. Fill cup 2/3 of the way with crushed ice. Pour shots over ice, top off with milk and stir. Perfectly crafted for just pennies at home - or more than $4 at Starbucks.

Pretty Please, with a Cherry on Top?

Today, our weather is supposed to be warm, but last Sunday was cold enough that my daughter requested hot chocolate....with whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Wedding Reception Food

We attended a wedding reception at BanBury Golf Course over the weekend. The appetizers were creative and the ham-wrapped asparagus was my favorite. I'll probably make this at some point. Black Forest ham around asparagus tips on top of cream cheese. The only change I expect is that I'll toast the bread.

Kid Favorite = Disappointed Mom

I try to cook up and serve interesting foods and my kid's favorite is still macaroni and cheese...and she prefers the kind out of a box. I add a splash of half-n-half when mixing it up to take an edge off the glow-in-the-dark orange coloring of the powdered cheese.

Pattypan Squash in Cream Sauce

Saute garlic, a little finely minced onion in butter, and add sliced pattypan for just a few minutes. Add heavy cream until sauce thickens and season with salt and white pepper and a dash of nutmeg. I also added a little shredded Parmesan cheese. I ate the whole thing!

Pattypan Squash

Adorable pattypan squash arrived in my organic box this week. I like to cook it up just like summer squash in a saute with Parmesan cheese. It has a mild flavor and does well roasted, too.

This is...Pasta?

I've never seen anything like this before! My mom sent it to me from Seattle. Mexican hat and bow-tie pastas. My plan is to do a filled shell-type dish with the hats. Suggestions? These amazing finds came from Pasta & Co. in Seattle. (those hats remind me of Fruit-Stripe gum - remember that?)

Strawberry Smoothie

We've had a lot of strawberries in our garden this week. This is a simple strawberry smoothie: berries, ice, milk, a couple of drops of vanilla and about 1/4 cup of sugar. There may or may not have been rum in this one ;) The flowers are lupines, which border the strawberry patch.

Pizza Night

Look at this wonderful pizza my husband made for dinner last night. Pepperoni, Canadian bacon and minced garlic.

Bar Food Night at Home

Beef taquitos for some bar food-type snacking as dinner last night. My husband pointed out that if you say that sentence really fast, it sounds like you're saying "barf food." Hmmm....

First-Timers at Rick's Press Club

We had our "first" taste test of Rick's Press Club in Meridian last weekend. Above is the crab melt. I want to order it again soon! Below is the chicken and rice wrap. Also very good. We'll be back because there are more things on the menu we need to try. Plus, we need to sign the wall ;)

Taste Test: Spaghettios

My daughter's dinner at Donnie Mac's last night...and her first taste ever of Spaghettios. She didn't like them. When I was a kid, I thought they were a special treat :) My hula chicken sandwich was very good and I love, love, love the sweet potato fries. My only complaint is that we asked Donnie to come to our table and say "hi," and he never showed up. Hey, Donnie!!!!!

Stuffed Noodles

My friend Lisa made these to share with our family this week. She said they were "stuffed noodles" - filled with shrimp, and sauteed seasoned cabbage, carrots, onion and celery. Great idea!

Pasta and Chicken in Parmesan Cream Sauce

Chopped grilled chicken and pasta in a basic cream sauce. Saute a minced clove of garlic in 2 tablespoons of butter, add about 1 cup of heavy cream and about a 1/2 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese and bring to a simmer. Let sauce cool to thicken. Re-heat and toss with cooked and drained pasta and the chicken. Pepper to taste and garnish with parsley.

Chopped Caprese Salad

A twist on one of our favorite salads. This is a chopped Caprese salad. Diced fresh mozzarella, diced tomatoes, shredded fresh basil, coarse sea salt, Romaine lettuce and white balsamic vinegar. A taste of summer.