New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” July 15-July 21, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  This is like nachos and poutine meet up and party on a sheet pan. The basis is Disco Fries which first emerged along with the dance craze, reportedly in NJ as a fortifying dish that became popular in late night diners serving folks who got up and boogied into the wee hours. This version starts with the classic trio of fries, cheese and gravy but then adds toppings. It’s called Breakfast Disco Fries because those toppings are bacon and fried eggs. Mine shown here has a somewhat simpler gravy, but still bacony and creamy and yum. For this prep, a shoo-in for our end of the year fave list, and 20 others, thanks to . . .  MyRecipes

I usually use a lot more gravy but wanted you to be able to see all the ingredients. Btw, I love poutine, making my version with tots or fries or diced baked potatoes, sharp cheddar, and beef gravy. And leftovers are almost always joined by fried or poached eggs. 

21 Sheet Pan Brunch Dishes

Other Disco Fries recipes on Google    Sheet pans in many styles

♦♦♦  Chilled wine + hot day + patio = warm wine. Noooooo. Here’s a  clever fix, though in some households it may elicit a chuckle and, Can’t work for us. The Secret to Chilling Wine Fast on Hot Days, According to a Winery Chef.   Food and Wine

♦♦♦  What I really like about these Best Easy Chicken Croquettes is that the celery, onion, and poultry seasoning give the patties a flavorful stuffing vibe that’s a natural with the chicken. Part of the “easy” is that instead of having to cook up a roux as a thickener, you simply use some cream of chicken soup. Even better the rest of it forms the basis for the sauce. All very tasty. I made them them smaller than the prep specified so they would be a good fit for the snack table.  AllRecipes

Chicken appetizer cookbooks, 4 stars & up

♦♦♦   Well how fun is this, a conversation piece taking up residence right in your cocktail. Round ice cubes! How do they do it??? Well, one way is this clever machine that pops out two large “cubes” {speaking categorically} that the maker says “keep drinks colder, longer, and with less dilution.” As a bonus it also makes air bubbles disappear like magic to create crystal clear spheres. There are other choices too, going roundy by different means, but will just note that the featured one is Amazon’s Choice.  Amazon

All round ice cube options

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June17-June 23, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  Well who wouldn’t be giving this a woohoo upon finding it on the snack table. Crispy Twisty Bacon. Sunny Anderson made this tempter on a recent episode of The Kitchen, seasoning the tight spirals with brown sugar, thyme, and spices. All you creative CS-ers will likely come up with your own variations. When I saw this I immediately thought of it as perfect for one of our special brunch editions. But then Katie Lee noted it would be great for cocktail hour. Yes!  Food Network

The episode is called, The Kitchen’s Take on Trends

FN page for that episode

Youtube demo with a flip tip    Youtube demo for air fryer

Other Twisted Bacon recipes on google

 

♦♦♦  We just never know. Valerie Bertinelli, who seemingly just has it all, in fact has dealt with personal struggles pretty much all her life. In her memoir, “Enough Already,” she takes us along on her journey of two progressions. First from Hollywood star to Food Network star. Second, her determined steps toward finally declaring that title.

In her own words, “As I have redefined my relationship with food over the past decade – first with my trip to Italy, then by writing a cookbook, and then with the tv series – I have redefined my life and reconnected with values I consider important.” Btw, recipes too, and we’ll be making her famous chocolate cake when baking season returns.  Amazon

Valerie’s cookbooks

Valerie’s DVDs – fitness, movies, tv

Valerie’s show page on Food Network

♦♦♦   In our 05.27.22 Salon we featured Ocean Spray’s crab, cranberry and cream cheese appetizers, served in mini phyllo shells. Those snacks use such bitsy amounts of ingredients that I had leftover shells, cream cheese, and cranberry too, and decided to put them to use in an easy and pretty dessert plate. For some I beat cranberry and cream cheese till smooth, topped with reserved cranberry. For others I beat the cream cheese with a little juice from mandarin oranges, finished with halves of the mandarins. One important thing to note is that for cream fillings, or similar, you really want to do this as close to service as possible, as the shells can eventually go soft.  CS

Athens, who makes the shells I use has literally a whole book of recipes on their site

Easy, Entertaining Recipes

♦♦♦  Ever have an upside down martini {spilled ones don’t count}? The Who and the What came out in a chat with Bobby Flay on CNN in advance of the network’s special on Julia Child. He was recalling having lunch with Ms Child when she ordered that libation 🍸 and he learned it’s an inversion of the classic ingredients, meaning reversing the measures for gin and vermouth. Now I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure while the next question was being asked he said almost under his breath, 4 or 5 of them. Cheers Julia, hope you’re enjoying a heavenly golden fountain of endless upside down tinis.  Julia Child

It looks like you can watch a rerun of the documentary here

Julia Child books

Bobby Flay’s page on Food Network

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New “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June 10-June 16, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  So we did a different version of last week’s breakfast pizza boats, using hollowed out bolillos instead of pizza dough.  I first layered a mozzarella and cheddar mix, then some marinara along with garlic salt and Italian seasoning, then pepperoni, then topped with more cheese mix. Into the toaster oven at 375 just until the cheese melted and the roll had crisped a bit. Check after 2-3 minutes. Meanwhile cook the eggs. For an evening version I used the same idea, just replacing the pepperoni with Italian sausage cooked with onion and green pepper, skipping the egg, and cutting into snack size pieces. Btw, used lots of cheese so they’re nice and sturdy{or, any excuse will do}.  CS

You could certainly substitute any boat-y shaped rolls for the bolillos, say sandwich or hoagie rolls. Or go round and just don’t call them boats. Rafts maybe. 😁

Pizza cookbooks, 4 stars & up

♦♦♦  Could this be among summer’s most refreshing drinks? Maybe you’ve already heard of a Shandy? I had not, but now know it’s basically beer, lemonade and fresh lemon, and has British origins. What I like about the linked one above is that it gives you the classic prep including what beers are generally used, and then five international variations. Any I think would be happy beside those pizza boats. Cheers!  thekitchn

All over Shandyland on google

Beer & Food Matching Chart from Brewers Association

♦♦♦  The loaded tater casserole we featured in our 05.20.22 Salon is not only a crowd pleaser but also a crowd filler which is to say it makes A LOT. But that can be quite good news for the next morning and maybe even the next one after that. May we present Exhibits A & B. Topped with a poached egg. And, turned into extra flavorful potato pancakes, based on your own recipe or one of those in the link below. All you creative CS-ers will likely find other ways too, always ready to make leftovers sing a tasty new tune.  CS

Potato pancake recipes on google

♦♦♦  Do you fret about what wine glasses to use? This can make it easy as can be. “If it holds wine . . . it’s a wine glass” – from a current Woodbridge commercial

And the sheer variety of wine glass styles on Amazon sort of verifies that

This is just from the first page

       

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“Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June 3-June 9, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

<  Special Brunch Edition  >

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  So, here’s a brunch offering with a right proper touch of elegance and history. Coronation Chicken. The touch of curry in the dressing not only reflects its British origins but as well adds a nice extra dimension to the other flavors. We’re showing the site below that lays claim to the original prep, which also includes the back story. But we’re featuring via the link above that uses standard measures vs metric. And as a bonus it’s from a favorite and trusted site.  Serious Eats

Click the link at the top for the original prep, one at the end for an alternate . . . Coronation Chicken recipe from Le Cordon Bleu

Other recipes for this dish on Google

And why stop there . . .

“A Royal Cookbook – Seasonal Recipes from Buckingham Palace”

♦♦♦  Here’s yet another case of, that recipe idea came from where??? This time it’s a popular tv series and specifically the episode called “The Blacklist Declassified,” where in one scene Red, a known connoisseur of fine food and spirits, is enjoying French toast kabobs. Yum. There are several preps on google, but I like this French Toast Kabob recipe for its use of buttermilk and dense bread, plus a triple hit of fruitful color.  Martha Stewart 

Other French toast kabob preps on google

The Blacklist homepage

♦♦♦   After never hearing of a michelada for all of my life, in a short span I came across three separate references to this spicy Mexican beer cocktail. But not a recipe in sight for the trio. Ha! We know where to find a definitive prep, and they give us a demo too, where we hear it called a great daytime drink, combining the fizz of a mimosa and the savoryness of a bloody mary. Michelada recipeFrom Liquor.com

Liquor.com homepage

♦♦♦  Well don’t these sound tasty, as well they should given their source. “Breakfast Pizza Boats” earn every word in their name with lots of cheese in a pizza crust, shaped boat-style, and an egg topper. Thinking you could certainly go with even more goodies, added in or on, related to pizza or breakfast or both.  Tasty

Next week, our shortcut version for the Happy Hour table

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” May 20-May 26, 2022

Continue reading »

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April 29-May 5, 2022, “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” Brunch, CooksSalon

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz

 🌸🌹🌺   Mother’s Day Brunch Edition 🌻🌼🌷

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  I was so happy to find Molly Yeh’s technique for filling roll-ups that makes the process so much easier. By spreading the ingredients on dough and then cutting wedges to be rolled, all the filling is done at once and distributed evenly vs parceling out individually for each piece. In her prep & demo, which we featured in our 03.25.22 Salon, the roll-up was spinach and feta on pie dough. We decided to go brunchy {and no-cook} with smoked salmon, onion & chive cream cheese, red onion, capers, and a sprinkling of dillweed on a slightly softened burrito size tortilla.  CS

Tip: It’s a good idea to do this as close as possible to service so the tortilla stays dry

Molly Yeh’s “Girl Meets Farm” show on Food Network

Molly Yeh cookbooks

♦♦♦   That sunshiny brightness, the tongue-tickling bubbles, the graceful glasses, all make Champagne and orange juice a pluperfect brunch choice. But turns out even here, pairing counts. Or at least that’s the premise of this guide to “9 Champagnes That Are Perfect for Mimosas.” Mixing tips too. And if someone wants to skip the juice? Says here these sparklers are ready to step up to that job too.  F&W The Wine List

MyRecipes tests grocery store orange juices

♦♦♦  You probably want to set out hand wipes for this one. It’s Bobby Flay’s  Pecan Pie Monkey Bread. The  classic pull-apart sweet treat is smacked with the famed Flay favor punch, here taking shape as rich caramel and chopped pecans over and between a double layer of sugary, cinnamon-y homemade rolls.   Food Network via Alexa

Bobby Flay’s show on Food Network

Flay’s cookbooks

While “from scratch” is always so good, Pillsbury offers this refrigerated biscuit version . . .

“Grands™ Monkey Bread,” a caramel-y pull-apart with walnuts & raisins, shown here

♦♦♦  You just never know where you might come across a recipe, let alone one with a past – in this case giving us the opportunity to dress up our brunch table with a famous salad. The source here is Sharon Gless’ memoir, an Amazon Editors’ Pick, where among other revelations we discover that her maternal grandfather, Neil McCarthy, a high-powered entertainment attorney for top Hollywood luminaries of the times {think Howard Hughes, Lana Turner, Katherine Hepburn, Ava Gardner, et al}, had a salad named after him at the Polo Lounge, a sort of re-imagined Cobb, where it remains on the menu to this day. Heck of a conversation piece.  Amazon

For these individual servings you’ll want to dice everything extra small – also you can either layer the foods as shown on the right, or blend them, left, as is often done with Cobbs, either one then with levels of dressing. 

The Polo Lounge is in the Beverly Hills Hotel, part of the Dorchester Collection

Authentic McCarthy Salad Recipe {& some backstory} from the Dorchester website

Google offers these choices for Brown Derby’s Classic Cobb Salad recipe

“Apparently There Were Complaints” by Sharon Gless

Next week, how Gless’ maternal grandmother made her own mark in the culinary world

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Zazzle

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Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

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Want to be among the first to know about new Salons?

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Use Search, Archives, Categories OR email me at the same link above with “CooksSalon” in the Subject line

Note

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Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

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April 15-April 21, 2022, “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  Just seeing the words, “bacon wrapped,” snags attention pretty fast for many of us. And what’s behind the wrap here is also quite enticing. We’re talking about Bacon Wrapped Chicken Taquitos. Yum. Some ranch dressing mix and sour cream also get in on the act. Mixing in some shredded cheddar too helps tighten up the filling and as a bonus adds even more good flavor.  Tasty via Alexa

Proceed at your own risk, and the book is Prime eligible too

“Bacon Wrapped Recipes”

You can browse the Amazon Echo {Alexa} styles right here – a foodster’s dream resource

♦♦♦  Well here’s a fun way to gin up the party vibe. In place of, or in addition to, the straight versions of the spirit, how about some of the flavorful cousins found in these “16 Unusual Gins to Upgrade Your Home Bar”? Extra botanicals, fruits, spices, and more all variously make their tasty contributions.  Food & Wine

Liquor.com calls these the “16 Best Gins to Drink in 2022”

♦♦♦  OK, back to bacon. This though is an encore with an enhancement. In our 03.18.22 Salon we featured cheesy bacon bread pudding. Very good as is, but since traditional sweet bread pudding is usually served with a sauce, why not a saucy companion for this savory one. I kept it pretty simple – mayo, enhanced with a touch of ranch dressing, lemon juice and dried parsley.  CS

Other savory bread puddings on Google

♦♦♦  I feel like I’m being haunted by volcanos. In last week’s Salon, we featured our discoveries of volcano-shaped dishes for virtually every food group, plus wines from grapes grown on volcano slopes. Now a recent episode of “Bar Rescue” had a mixologist rimming a cocktail glass with volcanic salt. On Google it’s also called lava salt or black lava salt. Then searched using it for cocktails and found it’s mainly for rimming {but see below}. And among those finds was a pretty Strawberry Thyme Margarita from Food 52

Not in your store? Amazon has it here

Cocktails on Google with black lava salt rims

Liquor.com tells us about using a saline solution right in the drink. Can you imagine if you used black salt. Can you say Halloween? Here’s the full scoop . . .

How and Why to Use Salt in Your Cocktails

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Click link above for Amazon homepage, Below for Echo Show, Echo Dots, Echo Studio, Especially for Kids – 

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Zazzle

Click link above for Zazzle homepage, Below for CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items {direct Zazzle links on these pages}

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

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Want to be among the first to know about new Salons?

Easy! Just put “Preview List”  in the Subject line, and email me at the link shown above for comments & questions

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR email me at the same link above with “CooksSalon” in the Subject line

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2022 CooksSalon.com

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April 1-April 7, 2022, Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz   

🎈🎈  Brunch Edition  🎉 🎉

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  In a recent episode of The Kitchen, Broadway actor Daniel Breaker prepared a Baked Egg Bar. What an easy way to make multiple servings that are also fun and colorful. On the show, and in the linked recipe, delectable toppings are added to eggs and cream in ramekins before the whole panful is baked. The recipe notes that you can also have guests add their own to the unbaked dishes. Just thinking, what if you added, say, just some colorful chives and cheddar before baking, and then after baking have the guests top off as they wish from a “bar.” Whichever way, just a great idea.  Food Network

So many great looking ramekins on Amazon

♦♦♦  Wow, was I happy to find this recipe for Baked Pancake with Pancake Mix. I used to buy the store brand that had a good version on the box, but that is no longer available. Even better, this prep shows a preference for the brand sitting right on my pantry shelf. So much good going on here. First, and as usual foremost, the taste is phenomenal, and would be even without the chocolate chips I added. Now just look at the photo and you can see how tender this is, the way it curves onto its platemate. And because it bakes in a 9×13, you can feed a lot or freeze a lot.  The Seasoned Mom

Also to note in the photo – the top of the pancake {left} does not brown in the oven. but the bottom does. So just flip over and you’ll be serving the golden one on the right.

For another oven-to table brunch dish, go back right here to our March 18, 2022, Salon for Cheesy Bacon Bread Pudding

♦♦♦  One of the great things about brunch is the option to set out little bites of good stuff, often with a breakfast vibe. Sort of like an early cocktail hour. And wowsie does this dish fit the bill. Mini Cinnamon Roll Bites. Easy! Starts with a refrigerated pie crust. Butter it up, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, roll it up and bake. A simple glaze prep in also included, which is presented as a dip but seems it could also be a drizzle. Demo too. Add a cup of coffee and it’s the perfect brunch finale.  Tasty

I haven’t made this yet, but would be inclined to use the whole crust, even if a few of the rolls ended up less than uniform. My mom used to create a few of these from the dough scraps whenever she made a pie. Just one of the ways she was my role model in finding ways to not waste food.

♦♦♦   What can make a classic brunch beverage take on such additional traits as fun, festive, tasty, colorful, clever. Answer – the easy technique for making these Rainbow Mimosas. What’s so appealing about these glassfuls is their multiple flavors since they’re created mostly with natural juices – cranberry, carrot, mango, matcha lemonade, blue curacao, butterfly pea flower tea – topped off with Prosecco or Champagne. Wondering if  blueberry juice instead of curacao and grape juice instead of pea flower could work. There’s always of course food coloring, and as well you certainly don’t have to make all 6 colors.  Food Network

Other mimosa recipes on Google

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Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, linked below or in features above

Amazon

Click link above for Amazon homepage, Below for Echo Show, Echo Dots, Echo Studio, Especially for Kids – 

Browse Amazon Echo styles right here – all a foodster’s dream resource 

Zazzle

Click link above for Zazzle homepage, Below for CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items {direct Zazzle links on these pages}

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

ETC

Want to be among the first to know about new Salons?

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“Cocktail Hour Buzz,” Feb 25-March 3, 2022

®

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{any links under these items take you right to Amazon unless otherwise indicated}

♦♦♦   So, last week {02.18.22 Salon, recipe included} we referred to a cocktail called Izzy Bizzy that was featured in both Food & Wine and Food Network Magazine , and both gave a nod to its creator Tom Bullock, active in the “spirits” world in the early 1900s. As bartender at the St. Louis Country Club, a fave of local notables, he created other drinks as well, eventually gathered into the 1917 book, “The Ideal Bartender,” available in reprint in hardcover, paperback and Kindle, 4+ stars, Prime eligible.  Amazon

Other books of vintage cocktails on Amazon

♦♦♦  How cool is this. Wine  classes you can attend from the comfort of home. You’ll even find some that  guide you through a virtual tasting party. Some are free, some have a fee, some require memberships, and you’ll find choices for different aspects of this juicy subject. Online wine classes. Google

Or go directly to . . .

Top Ten Free Online Wine Classes

♦♦♦  When brunch is on the agenda, cocktail hour moves up the clock. The food offerings span the gap between the traditional first and and second meals of the day, and also likely evolve into something a little hardier. Just imagine how a nice icy glass of Champagne would pair with this sweet treat with a breakfast-y vibe. Nutella®-Filled Donut Muffins! Donut texture, baked in a muffin tin, with a nutty surprise inside.  AllRecipes

So, quite sure I’ll make these sometime, but meanwhile I had a package of jumbo biscuits loitering in the fridge and used these to make a version of those ^. Baked according to directions, sliced off most of the top, cut out the center of the top as you see here. Then sliced off most of the bottom of the removed piece, leaving just a thin piece of the golden top. Placed the ring back on the bottom, filled the center with Nutella, and then replaced the cap. You could also just leave the caps off and use them separately as mini biscuits. Really good lightly warmed.

Also, I used chocolate Nutella®, in your market, or here on Amazon, singles & packs

♦♦♦  Everybody party! Sure you can offer your non-drinking friends water, soda, iced tea, etc etc etc. But why not let them also enjoy the flavors and aromas and nuances of vino with 2022’s “10 Best Non-Alcoholic Wines.” You’ll find in this list all the usual suspects, Rose, Cabarnet, Chardonnay and more. Cheers!  Liquor.com

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Jan 7-Jan 13, 2022, Favorite Recipes from a Year of CS

Join us next week as we temporarily skinny down to a weekly Cocktail Hour Buzz while we explore an exciting new CooksSalon project

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 

Deconstructed Tamales – Pulled Pork  Cheese Grit Cake   Leave it to Trisha Yearwood to turn grits into a funfest. The dish starts with fried cheesy grits cakes. Then Mexi-seasoned pulled pork. And then on with the corn salsa, sour cream, green onions and cilantro. I did use the thick and creamy grits right from the pot rather than chilling and frying. Avocados make a great accompaniment. And, any leftover pulled pork makes a mighty fine sandwich or tortilla wrap.   Recipe    Trisha Yearwood Cookbooks    From 01.15.21 Salon

          

Cherry Cream Cheese Coffeecake   The base of this cake s a buttery marvel. Add the rich cream cheese layer and the flavor bombs that are cherries, and it’s destined to be a crowd pleaser. And, yep, it’s big enough to serve a crowd too. As you can see, I used a rectangular pan instead of the springform, though. Great for breakfast of course, but add a big scoop of ice cream and it transforms right into dessert. You really do want to let it cool completely before removing it from the pan.   Recipe    From 05.14.21 Salon

Loaded Mashed Potato Cups   This is such a perfect fit with all we love here at CS and it’s easy to see why. First, mashed potatoes just on their own qualify for the comfort food hall of fame. But here they’re joined by more good stuff – bacon, chives, parm and seasonings, cheese stuffing, sour cream topping. And it’s an easy prep. Ingredients that are few, familiar, likely already at hand. No complicated techniques. And a pan probably pretty much all of us already own. And by varying its platemates it can move from breakfast/brunch to lunch to dinner. Btw, also a great opp to use up leftover mashed.   Recipe  ♦  Top potato cookbooks on Amazon  ♦  From 01.29.21 Salon

Artsy Confections   For these Tie Dye Cookies, Molly Yeh divides sugar cookie dough into three pieces, each blended with food color, then formed into “balls” that are slightly flattened and baked. The finishing touch is a sprinkling of sanding sugar. “Fessing up, I did use refrigerated dough.  Then, this Painted White Chocolate Bark comes not surprisingly from Trisha Yearwood who just excels at making food fun. The chocolate mingles with different colors of candy melting wafers, all merrily swirled together into these edible works of art.    Cookie Recipe from 02.05.21 Salon    Candy Recipe from 02.12.21 Salon  ♦  Food color on Amazon    Decorating sugar on Amazon

Loaded Vegetarian Nachos   Yes, indeedy, veggies can be tasty and fun and appetizing, here even a bit of a showpiece. In fact we vote for renaming them Fiesta Nachos because, as you can see it’s just such a celebration of colors and textures. It’s more ingredients than we usually feature but so worth it and you actually could if you want limit the toppings. And, yes, there actually are chips in there, and then all topped off sour a scoop of sour cream. One shortcut that I used was canned lentils, still stirring in though  all the seasonings.  Recipe    From 09.24.21 Salon

Oreo Cake Balls {or just cake as shown here}  Oh my. Oreo crumbs and cream cheese packed like little snow balls, quick freeze, dip in melted chocolate, refrigerate, done.  They are so, so, easy to make and that might be the bad news because, mercy, they are rich and even luxurious. And they’re fun, the round shape ready to become sports balls, funny heads, bling, and in fact star pastry chef Buddy Valastro turned them into pretty eyeballs. As an alternative, you can just pat the mixture into a pan and use the chocolate chips to make a ganache frosting, as seen here.  Like the richest ever brownie.   Recipe from 06.25.21 Salon    Redo in 08.06.21 Salon    Cake ball books on Amazon

Ham & Beef Tavern Chili   My great uncles owned taverns in the Chicago suburbs, and served cups of this chili gratis to their patrons. I don’t know the dates of operation for those establishments. The family was sort of vague about that. So, this was passed down to me by my Aunty Peggy who actually won a recipe contest with it conducted by the Chicago Tribune. I do like a bit more chili powder and a couple of tablespoons of cumin. And depending on the heat level in the chili beans, I may add some hot sauce. It’s even better with such toppings as cheddar, sour cream and a bit of green onion. Recipe    Chili cookbooks, 4 stars & up    From 02.26.21 Salon

Snacks for Dinner   This is not so much a recipe you’d cook or bake, but rather one for putting together a pretty plate. It all began when I cam across this magnetic headline :“Why Snack Dinner is the Best Thing You Can Make for Yourself Tonight”  Wow, there are some fine looking assemblies here. And in fact we were pretty much already on board with this array, shown, even though it was actually representing our cheese board featured in a previous Salon and, btw, this plateful indeed added up to to dinner.    The full article    From our 02.12.21 Salon   Cheese board story in our 01.22.21 Salon

Lasagna Bites   Yikes, these are good, and very lasagna-y even though there’s no pasta in sight. Rather, they’re made with wonton wrappers that are fitted into your muffin tin. The filling holds to tradition though with pretty much classic lasagna ingredients. It calls for ground turkey, but notes the original used ground beef, and so did I. As you can see, its versatility carries it all over the hours. A great appetizer for sure. But also, send it morningside with a poached egg, so satisfying for breakfast or brunch. Add some sides and it moves right on in for lunch or dinner.    Recipe  ♦  From 05.28.21 Salon  ♦  Italian appetizer cookbooks

Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cheesecake   Rich cheesecake goes even richer with one layer that blends in melted chocolate chips & a second one of sweetened peanut butter, each separately whirled in the food processor till silky smooth. I did add a drizzle of melted chips, also cut the prep in half and used a deep dish pie plate. FYI, Amazon offers a ready-made chocolate peanut butter cheesecake, quite showy but also quite pricey. What you might find surprising though are all the other choc/pb items on the page including even coffee.   Recipe   Chocolate peanut butter goodies on Amazon

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