Oscar Night Eats & Treats!

Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams!

The menu:
Seared Scallops, Roasted Asparagus, Caviar Tarts & Golden-White Chocolate Strawberries.

Mason and I loved the movies! 

My love for old movies came from my grandfather. At the age of 8, my favorite movie was Gone With the Wind.

Mason and I often went to the movies. She always had to have her diet coke and small popcorn.

One year, she hosted a small Oscars gathering at her home...she made sure that there was popcorn!

In honor of Mason (and my grandfather) I came up with a special Oscars menu.

While I finished preparing our Oscar treats, the Hubs and I snacked on Cajun crab dip.
I found this one at the seafood counter of Publix.

Alton Brown taught me how to sear scallops.

Heat 2 tsp (each) of butter and olive oil over high heat. Make sure that your scallops are very dry and season them with salt and pepper. 

When the butter first begins to release steam place he scallops in the pan. Cook for 1 1/2 minutes on each side. 

Perfectly seared scallops!

In the meantime, Ina Garten taught me to roast asparagus. I might never eat asparagus any other way again!

Cover asparagus in olive oil and lay it evenly, and in one layer, on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Roast for 20 to 25 minutes (depending on the size of your spears) on 400 degrees.

Now for the Caviar Tarts!

Ingredients: Mini fillo shells, boursin- shallot and chives, Black Lumpfish Caviar 

We did not purchase expensive caviar; simple, black lumpfish is inexpensive and still gave us a fancy feel for the occasion.

I softened the boursin and pipped it into the shells. I then topped the cheese with the caviar.

It is a salty, savory treat!

Golden- White Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

White chocolate bakers bark and gold gem candy make these golden goodies!

These are so festive...and so easy to make!

I dipped the strawberries and sprinkled the golden gems on some and drizzled regular chocolate on others. YUM!

Mason loved theming- she would have loved these movie themed plates I found at Party City!

Remy- in his top hat!

It was fun and fancy evening! 

We're sending you Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Easy Slow Cooker Meal: Beef, Barley & Mushrooms

When the weather gets cold I look forward to hearty slow cooker meals. 

I like being able to come home to that wonderful smell and know that dinner is ready!

This one is from Sandra Lee's January issue: Swiss Steak with Wild Mushrooms.  

Ingredients: 8 oz sliced mushrooms, 1 cup chopped onions, 1/2 cup pearl barley, 2 packages (.5 oz each) dried mushroom medley, 2 1/2 lbs beef round steak- cut into serving portions, 4 cups reduced-sodium beef broth, 1 can (10.75 oz) cream of mushroom soup, 1 envelope (1 oz) onion soup mix.

I found this pack of dried mushroom medley in the refrigerated produce section. I used this whole package...we love mushrooms!

Add all of the mushrooms together with the onions.

The recipe calls for the pearl barley to be mixed in at this step. I did not find pearl barley at my usual store. I ended up buying quick cook barley. I cooked it according to the directions and then added it to the slow cooker mixture just before serving.

I used pre-cut round steak...saves time!

Place meat on top of the the veggie mixture. Mix the broth, cream of mushroom, onion soup mix and pour over the meat. 

Quick cook barley
I prefer the pearl barley, but this is what I had, so I used it.

Cover and cook on LOW for 8 to 10 hours.

We topped ours with a bit of cheese and some fresh cracked pepper!

This ended up being a bit more like a stew, but if I had used the pearl barley the consistency might have been a bit thicker.

The smell is wonderful; and it is so flavorful and delicious! I especially loved that it was ready when I got home.

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Ok- the Oscars are on Sunday and I have got a great menu planned for Oscar Night!

My theme is "Champagne Wishes and Caviar Dreams!"

Be sure to tune in to see what's cooking at La Bonne Vie!

Mardi Gras Celebrating: Jambalaya, Hurricanes & King Cake!

Laissez les bons temps rouler! (Pronounced: Lay say lay bohn tohn roo lay)
It means: Let the Good Times Roll!

Fun Mardi Gras masks and beads!

I did not do any major cooking. Mind you, I can make a mean Gumbo; but Mardi Gras was pulled together with ease this year. 

Menu: Hurricanes, Jambalaya & King Cake

The Hubs made the drinks utilizing this recipe...with a few changes.

The Hubs added more pineapple juice...the reason: well, no one light a match!!!

This is the less flammable drink:

2 ounces of rum, 1 ounce of Grand Marnier, 6 ounces of pineapple juice, and a splash of grenadine in the bottom of the glass

Look! Those Disney glasses did get reused after all!

This is such a fun drink!

Jambalaya with lots of cheese. Hit it hard with some Franks Red Hot and its perfect!

On a Tuesday night after work, I had neither the time nor the inclination to make my own roux for a home-made gumbo, nor tackle jambalaya from scratch.

Instead, I bought a box. Yes- I used Zatarans. (Gasp!) And I added sausage, Chicken and Crab.And you know what, it tasted great and it was ready in 25 minutes! No judging;-)

Remy was enjoying some Mardi Gras! The colors of Mardi Gras are purple, green and gold. I read that they were chosen in 1872 to honor the visiting Russian Grand Duke Alexis Alexis Alexandrovich Romanoff, whose house colors were purple, green and gold (mardigrasneworleans.com).

Purple represents Justice; Green represents Faith; Gold represents Power.

I bought this King Cake at Publix.
It was really delicious!

Ok...they came complete, with creepy baby figures...

Mardigrasneworleans.com says that the traditions of Mardi Gras are connected to the epiphany...or the arrival of the three kings to see the baby Jesus. The king cake is in honor of the three kings.

The baby (in the past it was porcelain or gold), now just a plastic toy, is inserted into the cake.

The "lucky" winner of the baby (meaning the one who finds it in their piece of cake) gets to host the party and/or brings the cake next year.

We did not keep these plastic babies or insert them into the cake. Mostly, we just stared at them and talked about how creepy they looked...

We finished dinner with a slice of our King Cake, a French Press and watched The Princess and the Frog...a movie with "man-catchin' begniets" and a "Mardi Gras weddin'".

The cats showed some interest at King Cake time...

Remy (in the foreground) was very hopeful. Being the eldest, and biggest cat in the Cunningham home he thought I said "King Cat" not "King Cake" and therefore thought the King Cat received the King Cake.

Very hopeful...

We caught him before he helped himself to some cake. 

Other than Remy's disappointment in not receiving his own slice of cake, we had a fun time!

At Party City, I found plastic beads for 29 cents and masks for $1.99. The bakery King Cake (with creepy babies) was only $5.99 at Publix.

This was a very easy and affordable celebration.

I love celebrating! I love finding reasons to celebrate!

There has been such sadness, loss and grief in the news and around the world. I'm sad, and grieve, and pray. I also know that these grievous things do not last forever, and there are sometimes that it is important to celebrate, to remember hope, and goodness, and life!

May the Joy of the Lord be your strength, and may you rest in His (Jesus') Love for you!!!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!!!

Oscar Night is coming! I really care very little about the show, but I'm very excited about the food! Stay tuned!

Valentine's Day: I've Been Blessed with So Many Gifts...Each Life is a Gift!

I hope you all enjoyed your Valentine's Day. 

I have always like Valentine's Day, even when I was single. It's not just about romance.

Certainly, we should show love daily, but, let's be honest...we are human, and sometimes we don't try to live out our love as we could or should.

Valentines reminds us to love our people- mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, spouses, children, friends...to love our people well! It is a reminder holiday. A day to remind us of those we love...and to encourage us to live that love out everyday!

I received a Mickey Mouse waffle iron for my birthday and decided to pull it out for a smiley breakfast!

These waffles used a bit of cornmeal and some pecans.

A little Valentines sparkling rose'.

We had dinner at one of our favorites: Terra Nostra!

A beautiful Blue Fin Tuna Tartare..

Lobster Torte...

I cannot say enough about this dish!!! It is truly, one of the best dishes I have ever eaten!!!
Seared Foie Gras with Morrells! 

The smell, texture and taste of this entire dish was perfection.

There are some meals that I just remember...this will be one of them!

It was plated beautifully, with pureed beets and little hearts cut out of apples.

Cheese Plate

The Caramel Trio: flan, sea salt and caramel ice cream, and a caramel banana bundle. Delicious!!!

We shared loving messages with our family and friends both Friday and Saturday...Julie Darling Donuts both at work and with friends, cards and text messages with family, food with the Hubs...it was a wonderful reminder for me! I have been blessed with so many gifts...each life is a gift!

La Bonne Vie Y'all!

Stay tuned in...Fat Tuesday is this Tuesday...and the Oscars are just around the corner!

Blueberry Blintz Bake with a Farmhouse Scramble- Easy & Fancy!

I trust Ina Garten. 

Really. Everything I have made from her recipes...perfection!'

I remember the first time I saw her show on the Food Network: The Barefoot Contessa. 

I loved the name. It really seemed to fit me. I love being barefoot. I will wear flip fops or sandles, but I do not like having to wear closed-toed shoes (or the cold that usually accompanies them). 

And Contessa...I think I'm a Disney Princess at heart. 

It just seems to fit!

Blueberry Blintz Bake- Ina Garten...Farmhouse Scramble- something of Tracy's own creation.

There is an ease about Ina. She moves with such grace around her kitchen; and when she is finished cooking, and is ready to enjoy her beautiful meal with her guests...they have her undivided attention.

She has never let me down either.

When I need a good recipe...one that will impress, but that is easy enough for me to handle...one that will taste really, really, really great...that's when I turn to Ina...The Barefoot Contessa!

Love this Ninja food processor/blender!!!

My grandmother's birthday is on February 8th and my mom's is February 9th.

This year, I wanted to do a very nice brunch to honor them. So, of course, I looked at an Ina Garten recipe...Baked Blintzes with Fresh Blueberry Sauce!

I mixed 1 1/4 cups milk, 2 Tbsp sour cream, 4 Tbsp melted butter, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 4 large eggs, 1 1/3 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 Tbsp of sugar, and 1 Tbsp of baking powder in my Ninja blender.

I poured 1/2 of the batter in a 13 x 9 pan and baked at 250 degrees for 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, I mixed the cheese filling, whisking together: 3 cups of ricotta cheese, 8  oz mascarpone cheese, 2 large eggs, 1/3 cups sugar, 1 Tbsp grated lemon zest (I used 2 lemons), 2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp kosher salt.

I spread the cheese mixture over the top of the baked batter, then I covered the filling with the remaining batter.

I finished baking it at 350 degrees for about 35 minutes.
(Ina suggests letting it set for 10 to 15 minutes after baking.)

Now for the sauce!
I combined: 3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (I used 3 oranges), 2/3 cup sugar, 1 Tbsp cornstarch. I Brought this mix to a boil and allowed it to thicken.
Then, I added 4 half-pints of  blueberries!

I let it simmer for about 4 minutes, until some of the blueberries burst, but most remained whole.
I added 1 tsp of lemon zest and 1 Tbsp of fresh lemon juice, and then allowed it to cool.

Now to the Scramble...

I browned and drained 1 lb of hot turkey sausage.

I sauteed shallots and mushrooms in the turkey grease and 1 Tbsp of butter until tender.
I added halved cherry tomatoes and cooked until they softened.

I whisked 10 large eggs and about 1/2 cup milk with 1 Tbsp of Herbs De Provence.

I poured the egg mix over the veggies and scrambled the eggs.

I then poured the scrambled mixture over the drained sausage in a bowl and stirred in 1/3 cup cheddar cheese.

Baked Blintz and Farmhouse Scramble!

It went over so well that everyone had seconds and my grandmother asked me for recipe!

This would be a great Valentines brunch! It really is no-fail!!!

I pray you all enjoy Valentines Day. Sweethearts come in so many ways...moms, dads, children, spouses, old friends...

Love comes to me from my family, dear friends, the Hubs, my cats...but it comes to me daily in Jesus!

"Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you." Jeremiah 31:3b AMP

I'm thankful that: "He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]" Hebrews 13: 5b AMP

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3: 16-19 NIV

Je te aime, mes amis! 

(I love you, my friends!)

La Bonne Vie Y'all!!!