New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June 24-June 30, 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}

♦♦♦  I was recently reminded of a childhood favorite and though I may not have thought of it in years, in the Southern states it’s been a staple for what is apparently forever. And while my experience came out of a jar, that would be a NO if you want to truly as they say, “Put some south in your mouth.” Talking here about pimento cheese, and having now made Kardea Brown’s prep, let me say Wowsie. Thick and rich, it works in so many tasty ways – a great spread  for Happy Hour, but it can also go all melty for an omelet or open quesadilla, also cut-able to snack size – or as she used it, to stuff big burgers on the grill {recipe at link above}. Thanks Kardea!  Food Network

Note – if you’re not planning to use the cheese as burger stuffing, you can skip step 2 under Method. Also, while it doesn’t show in the recipe, I’m pretty sure she said if she weren’t stuffing burgers with the mix, she would also have added some of the pimento juice, which I did.

Kardea’s “Delicious Miss Brown” show

Kardea’s “The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Island Food and Family with over 100 Recipes”

♦♦♦  Another round of popsicles for everyone! How appealing is this? Combines a tasty dessert and an after dinner drink in one juicy bite. Icy-perfect for summer. Flavors galore. Talking Boozy Popsicles. Some examples – cucumber lime with gin, mojito watermelon, strawberries and cream with Grand Marnier, and a couple more. The rest are non-alcoholic, but nothing wrong with improvising.  Food & Wine

Popsicle molds

♦♦♦  What a fun way to add a touch of whimsey, a touch of class, or both, to the table. Napkin designs! On plates or not. Some stand up, some lie down, some make pockets for flatware, some hold place cards – one actually looks like an envelope. And some look like something else entirely – fans, flowers, containers, a tie, tree, heart, placemat, centerpiece. All 27 become easy peasy with this demo, with mine here taking about a minute.  5-Minute Crafts

Their napkin folding video on youtube

Martha Stewart has her own ways with this fabric-y origami. I made this fan design from her Thanksgiving turkey napkin fold, securing the top with a yellow paper clip, the bottom with a key chain, and pulled the bottom folds back a bit to stabilize the fan {guessing Martha didn’t need these props but just in case like me, you do . . .}

Stewart’s “How to Fold a Napkin in 10 Beautiful Ways”

Napkin folding design books, 4 stars & up    Napkin rings, 4 stars & up {some awesome designs}

♦♦♦  Cocktail chat. “I hope this is to your liking,” the chef said as he set the dishes on the floor. Floor? Well that is a distinct possibility, though maybe they have their own little dining table and chairs. “They” would be Queen Elizabeth’s dogs, Corgis and others, who -yes!- have their own chef. Heard on ABC during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The rest of the story – This U.S. Sun article further reveals not just a chef, but a team of chefs, and not just any chefs but Michelin chefs

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This week’s Cocktail Hour Buzz in CooksSalon, Jan 21-Jan 27, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 C’mon in right here for . . . 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

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

  Usually when I see a title with “healthy & snack” my first instinct is “pass.” A snack has to make up for limited quantity with maximum comfort. But curiosity won out when the subtitle promised “Smart-choice snacks that will fill you up with goodness.” Some nice stuff here – baked herbed parsnip {love parsnip!} fries with roasted garlic lemon aioli, everything bagel chick peas, blueberry yogurt bark, and dark chocolate almond granola, 11 in all. Worth a look.  From FoodTalkDaily

Don’t want to make your own? – Healthy Snacks on Amazon

 Have you heard of the Adonis cocktail? Vintage indeed, first poured in the mid 1880s. It’s basically sherry and sweet vermouth, with some preps adding in orange bitters or an orange garnish. And some, somewhat roguishly, adding club soda, turning it into an Adonis Spritz. The link takes you to a full page of possibilities, where among the selections you’ll see a youtube entry calling it “a must-try cocktail.” Linked page above on Google

Backstory from Liqour.com    Youtube demo

   For many of us, a snack table just isn’t complete without cheese. But what a bummer when it goes bad in the fridge. Here’s an idea – move it to the freezer. Whaaaaat? This story on freezing cheese tells us which kinds do best and in what form. It also radically suggests still-frozen cheese is a boon for salads. Btw, when it talks about how to do this, note that the guidelines actually apply to all freeze-able cheeses.   From MyRecipes

Cheesekeepers on Amazon

  Is this a slam dunk {sorry, and it’s just gets worse below}. You may well know that basketball great Scottie Pippin already has a prize-winning bourbon on the market But here’s the news. He’s now debuting a limited-release Bourbon Barrel Aged Tea. And yes along with a blend of three black teas, there is a whisper of bourbon, low enough though for the sip to still qualify as non-alcoholic. Both bear the name DIGITS. The full story, linked here, about production, flavors and uses is quite interesting.   From Food & Wine

The difference between bourbon & whiskey, also from F&W

Bourbon flavored items on Amazon

  When do bakers share their secrets? “On a knead the dough basis” {blame Alexa!!!}

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C’mon in to our Alexa Room, Dec 3-Dec 9, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Happiest Holidays! From Thanksgiving Eve to New Year’s Day

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

     Love a big breakfast? Hate big preps when your eyelids are still at half mast? Solved! And in a mighty tasty way. These Reheat-able Breakfast Calzones are hearty too, plump with chorizo, potatoes, onions, peppers & seasonings. The prep list may look scary long, but it’s basically cook the chorizo, then the veggies, stir in seasonings. Roll out store bought dough {or make from recipe provided}, fill and freeze. They reheat right from the freezer. Thinking, to make it even more of an eye opener, swap out the bells for jalapenos or habaneros.  From Food Network

    Have you heard of Banoffee Pie? It’s sort of like banana cream gone wild. In the original English version there’s usually a biscuit base, but this prep calls for a graham cracker crust. Then it goes all caramel-y with a layer of dulce de leche that you make from sweetened condensed milk {or, guess you could just buy a comparable amount of dulce de leche}. Along with some cooling steps, then bananas, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Btw, here’s another place where you would thank an offset spatula {mine from Amazon}.  From Tasty

     Move over potatoes, there’s a new chick in town. More specifically, Hasselback Chicken. The classic technique delivers a mouthful of flavor, as the slots are filled with spinach & ricotta, topped with cheddar and paprika. One thing, you may want to add the cheese later in the process. A tip I learned for anything hasselback is to lay wooden spoons or chopsticks on each side to insure you don’t cut all the way through.  From Tasty

     Promise you won’t run when I mention . . . Chocolate Salami. This confection by Giada is a clever sendup on the deli fave, with buttery chocolate supplying the background and then nuts and crushed biscotti playing the “fat” roles. As a final touch, the whole shebang is rolled in powdered sugar. Yet one more dessert that also serves as a conversation piece.  From Food Network Kitchen

    When Ixipixie, who posted this prep, calls it Hot Corn, you can believe that’s just what it is. And well beyond the warmth of being baked golden in the oven. That other kind of heat is contributed by a full 12 oz jar of jalapenos. Coming to the rescue, somewhat at least, is a lot of cream cheese and cheddar. The descrip says for this family it’s become “a must have for all holidays and special occasions.”  From AllRecipes

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Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

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Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

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C’mon in to our Alexa Room, Oct 8-14, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

♦  Easy General Tso’s Chicken  Well the ingredient list is a bit long {that can be a good thing when it’s good stuff}, but it’s just 5 steps and a projected prep time of 22 min. Some of the reviewers disputed that time but in total gave this dish 4 stars {4 1/2 on the Alexa page}. Many noted better than take-out and it may well be the charred green beans that can take a bow for that.  From Epicurious

    Easy Apple Fritter Rings  Somebody else is tempting us with that adjective. This time it’s for a nice side dish or snack, which lives up to “easy” with a batter of just ginger ale & flour. There’s no amount given for the flour but this somewhat similar recipe for shrimp & fish, which also looks darn good from Rosemarie’s Kitchen, might suggest about a cup for the apple prep. Good starting point, anyway, and according to one of the comments you want a thin batter. From Tasty

Alexa tip – apples will keep at room temp for a short time, but for longer storage place in a perforated plastic bag, sprinkle with water and then into the coldest area of the fridge

♦  Bistro-Style Short Ribs  Just the briefest glance at what goes into the braising liquid will tell you everything you need to know about how deeply flavored those ribs are going to be. If you don’t have either of the two suggested appliances for browning the meat, I’m thinking you could use the same Dutch Oven they will eventually cook in. This recipe is credited to Tyler Florence, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and can verify he is every bit as personable and charming as he seems.  From Food Network

♦  Carrot Cake Oatmeal  In our 08.06.21 Salon we mentioned German chocolate cake flavors to spruce up oatmeal. Now Alexa has popped up this cakey idea too. And yep, all that confection’s signature stuff is in there. Btw, if you google this recipe you’ll see not only some variations, but as well a do-si-do, which is to say carrot cake made with oatmeal. I’m going to stay with this recipe though because it just looks so good.  From Tasty

  Chocolate Semifreddo  As the name telegraphs and CS-ers probably know, a semifreddo is “half frozen,” and emerges from the freezer somewhat soft. This one is helped along that path by a warm chocolate glaze. It’s quite the festive dessert.  From Tastemade

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless finds –  music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, jokes, weather, time, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection, Skills . . .  and food, food, food, including step by step demos for most recipes, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

Some are sweet & simple OR others have voice control, 3D audio, BlueTooth, HiFi speakers, Color bulbs, Smart home hub, alarms, clocks, also separate smart clocks & accessories too

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

Be the first to know about new SalonsEmail here with “Invite Me” in the Subject line

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

♦  ♦  ♦

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

          Click    for Amazon home page          

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

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

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And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

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 ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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Make our own German Chocolate Brownies, June 4-June 10, 2021

New Salon every Friday – c’mon in

CS friends, and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

  Let’s chat   

Kitchen Talk – Kudos to restaurants that tell us how to make their signature dishes. In this case it’s  IKEA’s Swedish meatball recipe or, as they call it in this Southern Living piece, an “at home alternative.” And yep, the cream sauce prep is there too.      If you made extra of the Mexican Bean Dip {05.21.21 Salon} and have leftovers, yowza you’re on your way to a super flavorful bean soup. I added beef bouillon and taco sauce, then on with the toppings – sour cream, avocado, bacon, cheddar, then cilantro over all. Yum.      Who doesn’t want to get ahead of the game? Look how we can do just that. 40+ Freezer Recipes To Make Ahead and Reheat Easily. Good stuff too, think Smoked pork stuffed shells, Green chile chicken stew, Tamale pie mix-up, Tex-Mex meatballs in red chile sauce, Buffalo chicken casserole, more.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds – After coming across that Oreo birthday gift that we had featured {04.23.21 Salon}, wondered if Amazon may have other nice gift packs for birthday celebrations. Yep, at the link.        So, I recently saw a passing reference to the nutritional benefits of dried fruits – in addition to being quite tasty – so googled and found interesting nutritional information. Then thinking, maybe Amazon has dried fruit gifts too. And again, yep.

This week’s featured CS-designed, Zazzle-crafted item – With June weddings here, definitely time to think about bride gifts. One with a whimsical touch is our pretty, flowery “Just Married” tee. For the honeymoon trip, to relax into the day after the ceremony, or just to say, “We did it!” On our Eclectic Mall page.

   On the Table  

Feature – German Chocolate Brownies, several ways to get there

So, in last week’s Salon we featured German Chocolate Brownies available from goldbelly. And yikes they look good, but we do have ways to make our own, even if they aren’t quite the same showpieces.

Let’s start with the 5-star recipe from Taste of Home linked below. A classic brownie recipe, though using German sweet chocolate. And the classic pecan and coconut topping that we associate with German Chocolate cake. Likely worth every one of its stars.

But, I had some of the wonderfully dense, chewy brownies left over from our chocolate malt version {04.30.21 Salon}. And as a big fan of time saved if quality’s preserved, I made the ToH frosting and right onto the ready and waiting brownies {shown, right}. This frosting, btw, could easily become your sweet tooth’s bff.

No naked brownies in your freezer? If there’s a mix you like, that can certainly be a worthy shortcut. Or, for an even “shorter cut,” if your market’s bakery has brownies with just powdered sugar, snap ’em up, and lay down the frosting.

The cookbook shown here is just one from the many featured at the link below, but just look at that cover. You almost want to put it on a plate and get a fork. Have to wonder if that brownie on top was meant to be that way or if someone at the photo session lost control.

Recipe Notes – Instead of broiling the topped brownies I nuked the frosting for about 45 seconds. I also made an alternate version of the frosting for folks who need to avoid nuts, substituting chocolate chips instea}, and given the extra sweetness cut the sugar to 1/3 cup. Great with ice cream!

Next week – Bloody Mary Bean Chili

Taste of Home Recipe    Brownie Cookbooks, 4 stars & up

♦  ♦  ♦

Have a cuppa in Alexa’s room – recipes & more

You don’t have to have an Amazon Echo Show to tap into the particular tidbits we’ve linked below, drawn from its vast culinary bounty.

Just pour a cup and let’s talk food with Alexa. We also show the actual requests for those who are Echo owners, who should also note that in many cases she guides you step by step through the recipes.

Alexa says request: How do I make pineapple vanilla skillet cake? Yay, two great flavors come together here and then they welcome in fresh orange and honey to create a treat that juicy underneath, crackly on top. All in an easy, easy prep. And even better, it’s oven-free. Btw if your market doesn’t carry self rising cake flour, you can find it on Amazon.

Alexa says request: How do I make ham & cheese pull apart garlic bread? Every part of this title says, gimme the recipe! And here it is. From Tasty. Easy start with ready to use pizza dough. Perfect for brunch.

My request: Do you have recipes for cookie pops? I requested this general category in search of cheesecake cookie pops I’d seen somewhere. They didn’t appear but what did could not be more appropriate for the three upcoming national holidays, and with the bonus of one of America’s favorite cookies. Red, White & Blue Oreo Cookie Pops! From Food Network.

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless information, music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, weather, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection . . .  and food, food, food, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

You can browse all the Echo styles here on this Amazon page

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

Sundowner snacks, drinks, talk – whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

   What kind of snack table doesn’t “go nuts”??? Make sure yours isn’t one of them with this amped up version. The Spiced Pecans prep from Tastemade wrangles sweet from sugar, heat from cayenne, and a touch of exotic with cinnamon and ginger. Our own celeb chef Les Kincaid says these contrasting flavors are enhanced by a nice glass of rosé.

  Tastemade strikes again with a classic combo that in this incarnation can be breakfast, brunch, or . . . awesome addition to the snack table. Chicken & Waffle Bites! Prep some waffle mix, skewer the chicken, fire up the oil and before you know it you’re sprinkling powdered sugar and dunking in maple syrup.

   Food & Wine schools us on a whole new gin and its maybe unexpected provenance. The name is Sông Cái and the origin is Vietnam. So much makes it unique starting with the 14 local tribe-sourced botanicals in the mix, but maybe even moreso, the “culinary philosophy, which emphasizes a balance of ingredients deemed to have hot or cold energy.” There’s so much more to this story, including the fact that major cities in the country have become cocktail destinations.

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

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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