New Salon every Friday – c’mon in
CS friends, and help yourself to tasty resources
Hosted by Barbara J Nosek
My “Make America Decent Again” – 7 items crafted by CA-based Zazzle
See it right here on CS OR Go right to the Zazzle page
Let’s Chat
Quick Bites – Take a dog to lunch? Turns out quite a few restaurant chains will welcome Rover or Fifi 🐶 and maybe even sweeten the deal with water and treats. Often the pups and their moms & dads are seated outdoors which many places are now emphasizing anyway. Here are a lot of sources on google. 
Milk Street fans, Season 4 starts Sept 19. Now the team is going on the road, in fact around the world, where they’ll, as PBS says, “meet cooks who inspire a new style of home cooking.” In my time zone, Saturdays at noon.
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Shopping Finds – On a recent episode of Fieri’s GGG one of the contestants selected ginger syrup for his dish – and that was new to me so looked for at the grocery store but nope, but thank you Amazon, found it 
there. I guess we had to know it would be coming – face masks with food themes! I found these on the well established Eat This Not That site but the masks they show come from various sources so you may want to do a pre-check. If you do go on those sites, maybe even more food you can “wear.”
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Kitchen Talk – So far have used the ginger syrup on waffles and in tea. Much as I can’t abide ginger in
baked goods, love it every other way and this joins that collection. How else might you use it? Here’s what google says. Btw, did not waste that original caramel sauce from our 09.04.20 Salon, but instead mixed it with soba noodles, a little chicken bouillon, chicken, carrot shreds, topped with green onion & chopped peanuts. That worked. My quest continues for a really good oven fried chicken recipe – you’ll be the first to know.
On the Table
Cheese Ravioli Soup – just a big bowl of good
Such a satisfying dish, and thank you Taste of Home. Now, don’t be frightened by the long-ish ingredient list.
Step one, brown the ground beef, and then add and cook all the sauce ingredients.
Step two, cook the ravioli, combine with the sauce and heat through.
Step three, stir in parm, top with parsley. Done!
Even though I know this is a very tasty bowlful, I was curious why the recipe rated just 3 1/2 stars. Ha! we could have guessed this one – not like soup. The only other criticism was not enough ravioli for the sauce.
Commenters loved the taste and no one downgraded on this point. That’s all good in my book {bowl?}
Recipe ♦ Taste of Home cookbooks on Amazon
Recipe Notes – I used frozen ravioli and worked fine. What else? just bring on the crusty bread.
Next week – Peach Pecan Cobbler, a warm and satisfying fall dessert . . . or breakfast
A Cuppa with Alexa – Recipes, Tips, News & More
Visit with Alexa on Amazon Echo right here in the Salon on our own CS page. In the chat this week . . .
Philly Cheese Steak Bread – three come up but we like the one “in a box,” crispy fried chicken, a wine joke {alert – groaner!}
Cocktail Hour Buzz 
And as we say below – whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you
♦ Jello takes its place among the very best party centerpieces. Whaaaaat? It’s true and to believe it you really have to see these jello cakes on the Food & Wine site and also recently featured in the magazine. High art worthy of a 
museum, and edible too. But don’t know who could bear to bite into these beauties.
♦ Love leftover makeovers! “My favorite way to use leftover mashed potatoes. Plop the potatoes in the middle of saran wrap. Using the wrap, roll into a 3″ log and seal. Refrigerate on a plate (it will leak). In the morning, slice into discs and fry in a sprayed pan for perfect hash browns.” – Bob & Colleen
♦ This is probably more entertainment than research, but even so you might want to take a look at this brief video {X-rated for implied language} posted by Food & Wine. “Here’s What Bartenders Think of You Based on Your Drink Order.” I was watched it, was amused, then invoked that same implied language – OK, good, now just make my {darn} cocktail.
♦ “Never serve oysters in a month that has no paycheck in it.” – P J O’Rourke
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governmental bodies from DC to local? My 
dipped in a central well of melted butter. Btw, if you do want a recipe, you can click the link underneath in the story rather than going through their alternate process. 
frosting that is poked into the cake and spread on top as well. And then stir both butter and buttermilk into the mix. This is a really good cake.
And it’s a big cake, so you can play. I topped part of it with the sliced almonds called for in the recipe, though I didn’t mix them into the frosting as specified. Other parts of the rich, creamy surface were treated to a dusting of cinnamon, and yet others a 
sprinkling of unsweetened cocoa. Though truth be told it’s fabulous just as is, unadorned.
bourbon, cocoa powder, bananas, marscapone, peanuts, peanut butter, peanut brittle, coconut, dulce de leche, coffee, marshmallows, and yep even more. 
slightly crushed Doritos, queso from the jar warmed, salsa, sour cream, chopped cilantro. 
After some experimentation and a little inspiration from peanut sauce and salted caramel, here is my version: Prepare 1/2 c chicken bouillon and pour just enough into a medium saucepan to barely cover the bottom. Add a 16 oz tub caramel dip, 1 T mayo, and 1 t garlic salt. Heat and stir over low heat till well blended. Whisk in remaining bouillon a little at a time till it’s a nice pourable consistency but still thick. Let cool slightly.
Hosted by Barbara J Nosek
or add too much because a great deal of the culinary charm of Puck’s signature dish is its simplicity. And, no baking!
an awesome recipe.
. It comes together with the freshness of Mex veggies, the richness of cheese, and the heartiness of chicken and beans. And, so pretty!
The recipe calls for butter pecan, which I sure do like, but I made mine with vanilla bean. It would seem you could use any flavor, and if I do try another one will let you know right here.
cakes, dump cakes, sheets, bundts, a festive rainbow version. And cupcakes and shortcakes and even cone cakes and cake pops.
Their basic recipe couldn’t be easier, just the rolls, mini chocolate chips and optional powdered sugar. I had a few raisins to use up so after softening them in some hot water {then drained and blotted} added those in too. I chose not to top with powdered sugar because I didn’t want to cover up that beautiful golden exterior.
cooling avocado and a dollop of sour cream could be a tasty counterpoint.
the chips or chopped chocolate, cover fully with the syrup, nuke and whisk till smooth with a pinch of salt.