Mandarin Salad With Caramelized Almonds

This was the salad I served at the ladies lunch, although I increased the caramelized almonds to 3/4 cup and the sugar accordingly to 1/2 cup.  I also omitted the celery.  

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tsps parsley (dried)
• 1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 pinch black pepper (ground)
• 1/2 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 head red leaf lettuce (- rinsed dried and torn)
• 1 cup chopped celery (optional)
• 1 red onion (chopped)
• 22 ozs mandarin orange segments (drained) 

Directions

1. In a jar with a tight fitting lid, combine the oil, vinegar, sugar, parsley, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Cover and shake well. Refrigerate until use.
2. In a medium saucepan over medium low heat, cook and stir the almonds and sugar until the sugar is melted and the almonds are coated. Remove from heat, cool, and break apart. Store at room temperature until ready to serve salad.
3. In a large bowl, toss together the lettuce, celery, oranges, almonds and dressing until evenly coated.

Serves 5

 Photo Allrecipes

A (Last Minute) Indoor Menu For A Soggy Labor Day!

If you live in the South or the Northeast, by now you know that all the plans you made last week for an outdoor BBQ just went out the window.  If you live on a lake and are expecting a small crowd you are frantic by now.

This happened to me years ago when I lived in North Carolina and we had a huge crowd for a pit barbecue on a Fourth of July.  A small house, a big soggy yard, a hundred people and downpours all day! That is one experience I never forgot, so since then I have always had a Plan B to resort to.

With everyone expecting barbecue for the holiday, here is something you can cook inside and make the day before (like today).  Trust me, you will never know the difference.

Plan A

Barbecue Oven Braised Brisket

My Mother's Potato Salad

Carrot Mint And Golden Raisin Salad

Blackberry or Peach Cobbler

Plan B

Rush to Costco and buy their Kirkland Pulled Pork.  It is fabulous, especially if you mixed it with homemade barbecue sauce.  As an alternative, use Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce! 

Serve with Caraway Cole Slaw and make a batch of Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies!

If you have the right crowd, plan a poker game!

Image Allweatherbbq.com

The Weekend Hostess...A Guide To Survival!

So here we are, finally, the first long weekend of the Summer season and the beginning of my summer job as head chef/housekeeper at the lake house. You think I'm kidding?  All of a sudden all your long lost friends and relatives remember there's a house on a lake, with full maid service, and a great chef.  All for free!  Just call and make a reservation...everyone is always welcomed...including dogs!

Whilst I love to entertain and have people over, my life now turns upside down and my weekends are my workdays.  The towels and bed sheets are the worst part, so this year I put my foot down and regulars get to make their own beds and leave the sheets in the laundry room when they leave.  Only first timers and "special" guests get the full treatment. It's called "tough love"!

The bathrooms are stocked with all kinds of goodies, including sun tan lotions and shampoo, but each guest gets ONE beach towel which they must guard with their life. The food is something else.  For this it pays to be organized and from years of entertaining at various places I have developed a method that is easy for me.  Light breakfasts, light lunches, and great dinners.

Breakfast

We are not big breakfast people.  Once in awhile, we will have brunch on Sundays, particularly in Fall and Winter; but when you come to a lake the main idea is to go boating or swimming and who wants to do that on a full stomach?

Breakfasts here consist of fresh fruit, orange juice, (great) coffee and English muffins or toast.  Homemade strawberry or peach preserves are a staple of the breakfast table, with cereal and granola also on hand. I usually leave a bowl of cut up cantaloupe and  blueberries or strawberries in the fridge the night before and when guests wake up they serve themselves.   Make a coffee cake in advance, freeze it and enjoy it for breakfast or tea.

Lunch

Lunch is a make your own sandwich event if we are swimming around the dock;  but if we are going on the boat, everyone helps put a picnic together.  Have fresh tomatoes, olives, lettuce, bean sprouts, mayo, different mustards, you get the idea. Make it special by having artisanal breads and interesting cheeses and chutneys.  It is sometimes less expensive to roast a chicken or turkey breast, have it for dinner the night before, and slice for leftovers the next day.  Better yet, make chicken salad sandwiches.

An antipasto tray of salamis, cheese, olives, and baguette also make a nice alternative for lunch.

Make a pound cake during the week and serve it for lunch or a mid afternoon snack.

Dinner 

Dinner is the highlight of the day and here I usually go all out.   Ribs, Shish Kebabs, chops, casseroles, and pies are at the top of the list.  I make it easy on myself by grilling the meat, making a casserole and serving fresh vegetables...whatever looks good at the Farmer's Market. Fresh corn and tomatoes are at the top of the list when available.  For dessert I make crumbles with whatever fruit is in season or serve home made ice cream with fresh fruit. Other times I cheat and buy a pie at the nearest Fresh Market.

If you have guests arriving Friday don't plan to cook on the grill that night.  Instead make something that can be easily warmed up for those who arrive late.  My individual Mac And Cheese recipe from Harry's Bar in Venice is an old standby and a favorite of friends and family including little children.

One of the reasons everyone loves to come here is the food so I try not to disappoint by having special things that I can make ahead and freeze.  Like I mentioned before, a coffee cake goes a long way and brownies or butterscotch bars can be made ahead and served with ice cream for dessert or wrapped for a picnic.  I also prepare Beer Cheese, Pimento Cheese Spread or a  Goat Cheese Log the day before to accompany cocktails.  Chorizos that can be thrown on the grill and served with a honey mustard are always on demand!

While menus are simple,  try to buy the best ingredients you can find to make the meals special. Don't try to have three complicated menus a day.   Keep it simple, make some things ahead like appetizers and desserts and let everyone help you.  It's a long summer, and this is just the beginning!

A Derby Party

The original post was published in Lindaraxa on April 25. 2010

As my friend and fellow blogger Reggie Darling says in his wonderful blog, there is no excuse for not reciprocating and paying back all those invitations you've had during the year.  None.  There are great opportunities to have friends over and they need not be lavish or expensive.  Derby Day is one of them. 

The time of day and season couldn't be more perfect, particularly if you have a nice garden where to host the party.  If you schedule your party for 5:00 p.m. everyone will have time to mingle before the actual race starts at around 6:30.  You must have a friend or two who enjoy running the books, i.e. placing bets on the horses! That shouldn't be too hard to organize and its always fun.  Call him beforehand (I'm sure it's a he) and ask him to help.  You will make his day!

Make it Derby Day attire, so everyone has plenty of leeway to dress up and it gives the impression that something more than casual wear is expected  i.e. no jeans or t-shirts! Just because it's a casual menu doesn't mean we don't get to dress up.

I know this is too much to hope for, but wouldn't it be nice?!

The menu is a cinch, and you can go all out and make it yourself or buy some things already made like a sliced ham from Honey Baked Ham.  I have to admit it's one of those things that you can buy that is actually delicious. A couple of casseroles, biscuits, dessert, and you are done.  It is also one of those parties that you need not seat everyone down with place cards etc.  Set some tables out with pretty tablecloths and lots of flowers and lay the plates, napkins etc right on the buffet table.  This is a casual menu, that's what makes it so easy!

 Oh yes, and make sure you have one of those big TVs somewhere in the house were everyone can gather. And don't make them wait for the food too long. Set out the buffet after the winners are announced...not the horses, your guests!  As to mint julep cups, it is perfectly acceptable nowadays to serve mint juleps in highball glasses, so don't panic.  What is not acceptable is paper cups! If you have pretty linen cocktail napkins, now is the time to use them. 

Make sure you have plenty of appetizers, particularly munchies, both outside and inside where you'll watch the race.   A couple of homemade spreads and something hot to pass around.  Go to Costco, you'll find plenty of inspiration there!  Depending on how many people you have, you can add or cut back from the suggestions below.  Keep in mind this menu is very similar to the one served at the Governor's Party in Kentucky after the race so it's quite authentic.  I have eliminated the grits and a couple of other starchy things, considering the time of day and the fact I'm not a Southerner and can't see eating grits after 5:00p.m., but if you want, be my guest!

 Here's the menu, now go out and invite your friends!

Derby Day Menu

Mint Juleps

Assorted roasted nuts

Kentucky beer cheese with crackers

and/or

Smoked Salmon Spread
Cocktail meatballs or frankfurters

Baked Ham

and/or

Fried Chicken

Homemade Biscuits

Zucchini Tomato Casserole

Corn Pudding*

Tossed Salad (optional)

Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie

Orange Pound Cake

Vanilla Ice Cream

White and red wine

*The corn pudding recipe is posted in my country blog My Kitchen by the Lake

Keep in mind this is an early party, so don't be put off  if people leave early.  Remember, this party started at 5:00 so for those of you who hate to stay up, everyone should be happily gone by nine or ten at the latest, promise!



Winter Entertaining...A Country Brunch

If you live in the country and have a big plasma TV and a fireplace, what could be nicer than having friends for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. These days there is a solid schedule of football games throughout the weekend and unless you want to have yet another chili party, this is a nice alternative and a more relaxing way to catch up with friends and family.

Now, we are in the country and in the South so meals here are hearty and plentiful. That doesn't mean you have to spend hours in the kitchen before or after your guests arrive. This menu will allow you to get everything ready by the time everyone gets there so you can have an enjoyable time too. You can prepare most of the recipes the day before, including the shrimp, and make the french toast and the grits that morning. There are great frozen biscuits available in most supermarkets that are almost as good as the recipe below. So give yourself a break if you need to. Nobody will be the wiser!

A Country Brunch For A Crowd

Mimosas

Bloody Mary's

Shrimp And Grits

Baked French Toast

Country Biscuits

Coffee

For more ideas, check out the city brunch in Lindaraxa.

Christmas Dinner At The Lake

For those of you who are spending Christmas at the lake or at one of your vacation homes lucky you!  I've put together and easy but appropriate menu to be enjoyed by many or just a few.  Let's face it, we want to enjoy our time away from the stress of our everyday lives, so why put an elaborate and complicated meal on the agenda. 

You can make these simple hors d'oeuvres ahead to bring with you or simply get some smoked salmon just like I did for the menu on Lindaraxa's Garden.  For those so inclined, there is nothing like popovers to delight everyone at the table.  They can be made while the tenderloin is resting. The cake takes a little effort but not as much as you think. You can make the layers the day before and the frosting early that day; or switch to the Mocha Cake which is a cinch.

So have fun instead and enjoy yourself.  Don't forget to think about what this holiday is all about.  We have many blessings to be thankful for.

Christmas At The Lake

Spiced Pecans

Cheese Wafers

Beef Tenderloin With Shallots And Shiraz Reduction

Roasted Fingerling Potatoes With Rosemary And Thyme

Golden Broccoli Gratin

Popovers

Caramel Italian Cream Cake

What's stress????

Fourth of July Weekend...Game Plan

If you have a house on the lake, the seashore or the country you will probably be bombarded with overnight guests for three nights over the Fourth of July weekend..  If you are the hostess, that can translate into stress very quickly  unless you are well organized.

 Let's face it, the idea of a getaway out of the city in this heat is a top priority on everyone's list so invitations to the country are in high demand.  Before you commit to the weekend, make sure you have enough room for everybody.  I don't mean footage wise, but comfort wise for you and for them.   You don't want to have so many guests as to make it miserable for everybody, including the dogs.

Your job is to ensure that everyone is well housed, well fed and well entertained.  The latter is a cinch here at the lake, all you have to do is open the back door and there is a lake with plenty of toys to enjoy. The former is also no problem, plenty of beds and pillows, air mattresses and sleeping bags.  A big rec type room in the basement with its own full bath, tv. laundry and stereo that you can close off and never hear from them again.  Except maybe throw them a bone once in awhile...!  That's where my nephew and his friends stay when they come over and visit. For the hearty ones, there is alway a tent on the dock! Then comes my part, the well fed portion, and that is the one that can be tricky and an ordeal if you haven't planned ahead.

I have already sat down and made a list of menus with a shopping list and a schedule of all meals.  There will be six of us staying at the house and a few more for the 4th of July cookout.  Two of our guests will be staying nearby and driving up for the day, so that means meals for eight for 3 days. 

This year, my daughter has begged me to cut back on the cooking so I can enjoy myself.  Most of the time I am exhauted by the second day and this time I am going to keep it simple and fun for me too.

Friday night is tricky since you dont know when everyone will be arriving.   Keep it a very simple and casual  meal.  This is not the time for a barbecue, the traffic everywhere this particular weekend is unpredictable.  If there are guests that will be delayed, you can always cook their pasta when they arrive.  Others may leave early and arrive mid afternoon.  Have a treat for them after their long drive.

Friday

Afternoon tea and pound cake

Dinner

Pasta and marinara sauce

Caesar Salad

Garlic Bread (buy frozen)

Chocolate and pistachio gelatos

Cookies

Saturday

Breakfast

Orange juice

Bagels and muffins

coffee and tea

Picnic Lunch on the island

Cuban Sandwiches

Potato Chips

Cookies
Watermelon 

Dinner

Cocktails

Southern cheese wafers

Sliced Pepperoni rounds with honey mustard

Grilled Chicken mojito*

Zucchini and tomato casserole

Saffron Rice

Rustic Blueberry Tart

Vanilla Ice Cream

Sunday 4th Breakfast/Brunch

Fresh fruit

Smoked Ham, Gruyere & Caramelized Onion Frittata

English Muffins & Jams

Cookout on the Dock

Appetizers

(brought by friends and neighbor guests)

Hamburgers with Double Cheddar Cheese, Onions & Horseradish Mustard

Bobby Flay's Cole Slaw

Baked Beans with Molasses and Bourbon (Bush makes the best ready made!)

Cheesecake Brownies

Lemon Squares

Monday

Breakfast

Orange juice

Muffins

Coffee and tea

Lunch

Cold Leftover Chicken Mojito

Green Salad

Leftover brownies & Lemon Squares

Afternoon tea and leftover pound cake

Dinner

Grown Up Mac And Cheese
Cold Sliced Tomatoes With Vinaigrette
Lemon Ice

Plan of attack!

Do as much as you can this weekend to get the house in shape.  Bake and freeze!

1.  This weekend, change beds, lay out clean towels.  Make sure guest bathroom has new soap, kleenex and toiletries for your guests.  Lay out some fun magazines and books  in bedrooms and coffee table. Wash lake towels and lay out in a hamper by lake door. Make marinara sauce and freeze

2. Monday -  Bake pound cake and cheese wafers and freeze

3. Tuesday -  Bake lemon squares and brownies and freeze

4.  Wednesday -  go grocery shopping

5.  Thursday - Get everything ready for the 4th cookout including, tablecloths, napkins, plates, serving dishes, glasses etc and set in a corner in basement or garage so you don't have to worry over the weekend.  REST UP!

Of course, this is all nice and dandy for those of us who don't work.  Plenty of time to sit and worry.  If you are not that lucky, use the menu as a benchmark and buy everything! The good thing about it is that it is casual and economical so it won't kill your budget if you go out and buy ready made things like coleslaw, brownies and pound cake.  Make sure you relax and enjoy yourself,  Otherwise your guests will feel your stress and it will dampen the weekend..

*Make enough to have cold for lunch on Monday

Photos #1 Getty images #2 Martha Stewart

Plan A Great Super Bowl Party!

Come next door to Lindaraxa's Garden for great recipes and entertaining tips in planning a Super Bowl Party!

A Budget-Friendly New Year's Eve Bash - Fine Cooking Menu

Caviar, lobster, and truffles? That's so 1999. Still, you want to celebrate making it through the oughts. This hors d'oeuvres menu for sixteen does it in style without going overboard. The five appetizers coax big flavors out of inexpensive ingredients (like caramelized onions) while putting the spotlight on splurge items (like shrimp). To keep your booze budget in check, choose one signature cocktail like these not-too-sweet, not-too-dry rosemary gin fizzes, and round it out as needed with beer and wine.


To serve 16, you'll need to double the spinach dip and toast points, and make additional cocktails (though one batch of rosemary syrup should be enough). The shopping list reflects the scaled-up amounts.

Menu

Poached Shrimp with Spicy Mayo and Garlic Breadcrumbs

Spinach & Artichoke Dip

Caramelized Onion & Thyme Tarts

Cucumber Rounds with Hummus & Yogurt

Endive Spears with Sweet Potato, Bacon & Chives

Toast Points

Rosemary’s Pink Diamond Fizz

For Shopping List, Timeline and Recipes go to:


A Budget-Friendly New Year's Eve Bash - Fine Cooking Menu

A Casual Halloween Dinner Party At The Lake

Obviously, this year with the move and all the unpacking still going on, there will not be a Halloween dinner party! I have, though, put one together for you, in case you decide to bite the bullet and invite a few friends.  Very casual, no fuss, enjoy!  The recipes have been posted recently on the blog.

A Casual Halloween Dinner Party

Kentucky Beer Cheese

Braised Short Ribs

Creamy Polenta With Pamagiano, Rosemary And Parsley

Pear Crisp With Star Anise

Serve a hearty cabernet with the meal.

An Easy and Inexpensive Fall Dinner

I don't understand why so many people, particularly young couples, are going out to dinner nowadays when there are so many things you can cook at home that are not that much trouble. You don't even have to get fancy, just a simple straightforward menu will be more appreciated if cooked at home than a fancy one served at a restaurant.

Today, home cooking has gone the way of the dinossaur, with more and more people eating out and wondering why they are getting fat! Here is a simple and cozy menu for four for a casual Saturday or Sunday night. Lay out some antipasti (sliced salami, cheese, marinated olives, crackers)to start with, a couple of bottles of red wine and crusty french bread to accompany the meal. That's it! Invite your best friends over to watch the game and then feed them some comfort food ...they will be eternally grateful!

You can make the baked apples and assemble the casserole that morning and cook the London Broil at the last minute. You could also cook it before they arrive and serve at room temperature. Whichever way you do it its quick, easy and cheap!

Serves 4-6

Antipasto
Kentucky Beer Cheese
London Broil
Zucchini and Tomato Gratin
Baked Apples

Most of these recipes are in Lindaraxa's Garden, the main recipe blog.  Just click on them and it will take you there.