Spinach Salad

My mother made this spinach salad all the time. It's been over thirty-one years since we lost her to cancer and I've been making her spinach salad for about forty years.

Two bunches of fresh spinach
1 pound bacon, cooked and crumbled
2-4 eggs, hardcooked and grated or sliced
1/2 pound thinly sliced mushrooms

Dressing
2/3 c. oil
1/4 c. wine vinegar
2 T. Chablis 2 t. soy sauce 1 t. sugar 1 t. dry mustard 1/2 t. curry 1/2 t. salt 1/2 t. garlic salt

Poppyseed Dressing

This week we are in our second home in Marion, MA on Wildflower Lane. I seem to have misplaced my favorite recipe for Poppyseed Dressing - one I have had for years and given to me by Karan Slates, my best childhood friend. Luckily, I caught her at home last night and she sent it to me this morning. It's now safely tucked up on this blog where I won't lose it again!

½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon salt
½ cup olive oil
½ cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup vinegar
¼ cup grated red onion
1 ½ teaspoon poppy seeds

Beat together (with a beater or whisk) sugar, mustard, salt, oils & vinegar. Add onion & poppy seeds. Refrigerate in a tightly closed container.

Serve with crisp greens, slivered almonds, mandarin oranges, sliced scallions and chopped strawberries.

Ciaralicious Sparkler

When Ciara asked Gerry to create a signature cocktail for the wedding in Cancun (of Ciara Rabbitt and Patrick Sanders at Zama Beach Lounge on Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, Mexico) Gerry was absolutely thrilled. He found a recipe online for a Blood Orange Spritzer which was quickly modified to be an orange juice drink instead (lacking blood oranges on Isla Mujeres.)
Note that this drink was named the Ciaralicious Sparkler after we found out at the wedding that some of Ciara's lovely friends call her Ciaralicious. Ciaralicious she certainly is!
One part simple syrup made from sugar, rosemary and bay leaf *see below
One part Gin
One part fresh-squeezed orange juice (blood orange juice preferred)
One part tonic water
Shake and serve over ice.


*Simple Syrup:
2 cups water
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons (~2 sprigs-worth) fresh rosemary leaves
1 bay leaf
Combine the water, sugar, rosemary, and bay in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer for 3-5 minutes, or long enough for the sugar to dissolve, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and let infuse for 10 minutes. Strain into a jar to cool completely. Keep in your refrigerator for refreshing drinks all summer (week?, day?, hour?) long.

Two Peas And Their Pod

My hero, Nancy Pearl, posted this link on Facebook. She suggested that her fantasy life would contain culinary adventures. That's funny because my fantasy life contains a lot more reading adventure. A category in which Nancy is Queen Bee. Every time I attend one of Nancy's workshops or luncheons, I wonder how she finds the time to read as much as she does and travel to talk about it.She'd love to be cooking, entertaining and cleaning up? Go figure. Anyway, this is a recipe for Sea Salt Honey Almond Butter and that is right up my alley. It's from the TwoPeasAndTheirPod blog. They actually borrowed it from the TastyKitchenBlog Maria and Josh also have a recipe for Sea Salt Pretzels which I must try.

Showery Spring Night - Baked Beans

Gerry found this recipe on a hospital chat today and decided to make it for dinner to (1) please his bean-loving wife and (2) make something new for dinner on this chilly spring night. I, the bean-lover, adored the dish. Colin, not so much, but that's okay. He had bread and enough beans to fill him up! This might not be a gourmet meal but it hit the spot tonight.

Bob Bell's Baked Beans
1 16 oz. can of butter beans, drained and rinsed
1 16 oz. kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 16 oz. Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 can Pork and Beans
1/2 large onion, chopped and browned
1 c. ketchup
1 T. spicy brown mustard
1 T. apple cider vinegar
1 c. dark brown sugar
1/2 lb. ground beef, browned
1/2 lb. bacon, cooked until crisp, and sliced
2 hot Italian sausages, sliced and cooked

Mix the ketchup, mustard, vinegar and brown sugar.

Add all together. Place in a shallow baking dish and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes.

Gerry's Honey Lime Prospect Cocktail

One part honey One part simple syrup made from sugar, rosemary and bay leaf One part Gin One part fresh lime juice Shake and serve over ice. Yummy stress reducer.

Easter Buffet April 8, 2012

Provincal White Bean Dip

Cucumber Shavings with Cilantro and Spring Onions on Butter Lettuce

Spinach Salad with Egg, Mushrooms and Bacon

Fresh Fruit Salad with Honey Vanilla Yogurt

New Potato and Fresh Pea Salad

Creamy Spring Onion Soup

Ham, Avocado and Shallot Quiche