Bon Appetite Maple Spice Cake

Don't you want to make this cake.

I got the issue of Bon Appetit with this recipe in it before Thanksgiving.  I have been wanting to make this cake since then.  I finally got the opportunity when I was asked to bring dessert to an Oscar party I was invisted to at my friends Ingrid and Sheri.  It was a hit!!!!  This is one of the most delicious rich cakes I have ever had.  It a great combination of salty and sweet.

Here is the Bon Appetit web link for the recipe.

http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2010/10/maple_gingerbread_layer_cake_with_salted_maple_caramel_sauce

It took hours to make.  It was totally worth it, though.

Enjoy!

Scalloped Potatoes

Scalloped potatoes is easy to prepare and delicious!!!  I like to use a new potato. (Not an old potato, LOL)  Peel the potatoes and slice very thin.  Use a mandolin it you have one.  There are some very inexpensive ones out there that work quite well.  You will need about 6 larger new potatoes for this dish.  Slice the potatoes into a large mixing bowl and add about 2-3 tablespoons of chunked unsalted butter and enough whole milk to make a juicy mixture.  Generously Salt and pepper this mixture. Pour the mixture into a buttered ceramic baking dish.  Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes to an hour.  You want the potatoes to by bubbling and lightly brown on the top.  How easy was that.  It's a great side dish with roasted meats.  Enjoy!!!!

BBQ Pulled Pork Pizza

My Mom said this was my best pizza.  It was really good.  I was inspired by watching Giada on the Food Network.  She cooks her pizzas at 400 degrees for about 15-30 minutes.  I use a pizza stone.  I preheat the pizza stone in the oven.  This pizza cooked for 30 minutes.  It takes a while to cook because the topping is pretty thick.

Here is the blog link to for the pulled pork topping.

http://scottscookingrecommendations.blogspot.com/2011/03/pulled-bbq-pork.html

The pulled pork can be made in advance.  I bought the dough ready to roll out and bake.  Roll the dough out on a floured surface.  Once the oven is ready take out the pizza stone and sprinkle it with corn meal.  This adds a nice crunch to the crust.  Roll the dough on a rolling pin and unroll on the pizza stone.  thickly spread the pulled pork evenly over the dough.  Sprinkle with mild white cheese and then chopped parsley.  Put back in the oven and cook for 30 minutes at 400 degrees.  Let the pizza sit for 5 minutes to let it cool a little bit before cutting.  Enjoy with a nice salad and wine or your choice, of course.

Let me know what you think.

Chocolate Pound Cake

First of all before I get started.  Is anyone other that Sean reading this blog.  He is the only one that has commented on it.  Thank you Sean!  An occasional comment would be nice.  With that said, this is a wonderful recipe I got from the Bon Appetit Dessert's Cookbook.  It's got recipes for just about any dessert you want to make.  This is the Dark Chocolate Pound Cake.  Looks good, huh?  It's not too hard to make just make sure you don't over bake it.  It turns dry in a heartbeat.  As soon as the toothpick comes out clean take it out of the oven.  You don 't want a dry pound cake.

 Here is the link for the recipe.  http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2008/10/deep_chocolate_pound_cake

This is the finished product.  It's really good when it is still warm with vanilla ice cream.  Yum!!!

Enjoy!

Kalamati Olive Bread

Sorry it's been a few days since I've posted.  I haven't been around or cooking.  Tonight I made an amazing bread.  You know how I love bread!!!  It's a simple bread to make and delicious to eat.  If you love olives you will love this bread.  It's made with chopped kalamati olives drizzled with olive oil to add crispness to the crusty.

 Ingredients:
3 Cups of Bread Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
3/4 tsp of Dry Active Yeast
12 oz of chopped Kalamati Olives
1 1/2 Cups of Cold Water

 Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl until the dough is uniform and sticky.  Cover and set aside for 12 to 16 hours.  Turn the dough out on a floured surface and fold dough over twice and form the dough into a loaf shape on a floured cloth.  Cover and let rise for 2 hours.  At the 1 1/2 hour point put the 3.5 quart oval enameled cast iron pot on the oven to preheat to 475 degrees.  I used a Le Creuset 3.5 quart oval pot so the loaf comes out oval and not round for this bread.  After the pot has been in the oven for 1/2 hour remove and gentle place the dough in the pot.  Be very careful it is super hot.  Drizzle the dough lightly with olive oil and cover.  Put back in the oven on the bottom 1/3 rack and cook for 30 minutes with the lid on.  Uncover after 30 minutes and continue cooking for 20 more minutes.  Remove from the oven and turn out the bread onto a cooling rack.  Let stand for 15 to 20 minutes before cutting into the loaf.  Enjoy!!!!!

Pan Seared Salmon with fresh Dill

This is truly one of the easiest things that I make for dinner.  If you love salmon you will love this.  It's so easy.  Buy a Salmon filet with the skin on.  Heat a skillet with a tablespoon of olive oil over medium high heat.  When the oil is hot but not smoking.  gently lay the fillet with the skin side down in the skillet.  Spinkle with salt, pepper and fresh dill.  Cover and cook until the salmon flakes apart.  10 to 15 minutes.  It okay it the skin gets crisp and almost burnt.  The skin will protect and insulate the salmon meat.  The salmon meat will easily separate from the skin after cooking so there is no need to remove the skin before cooking.  That is it.  Serve and enjoy!!!  The salmon will be juicy and moist and delicious.

Cajun Dirty Rice

This is a great thing to do with leftover rice.  It's an easy side dish.  It's kind of like a cajun risotto.  Here is what you need.

Ingredients:


3 Cups of Cooked Rice
1 Medium Onion Chopped
1 of each Green, Yellow and Red Bell Peppers Chopped
( The Black Pepper and Cyan should be added depending on the level of heat you want. 1/4 tsp of each for mild, 1/2 tsp of each for medium and 1 tsp of each for hot. )
1 tsp of Salt
1 Heaping Tbls of Bacon Grease ( This always adds great flavor. )
2 Cups of Chicken Stock

Heat up the bacon grease in a heavy pot over medium heat.  Cook the onions and peppers until they are soft.  Add everything else and simmer until the liquid is almost gone.  It's ready to enjoy.