This week’s Cocktail Hour Buzz in CooksSalon, Feb 11-Feb 17, 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

♦♦♦  Will you be clinking glasses this Valentine’s Day? How about something extra special in those glasses. Say, like one of these Champagne Cocktails. Fresh fruit, citrus, bitters, spices, syrups, liquors & liqueurs bring their own special enchantments to this bubbly party.  Food & Wine

All About Champagne from Whole Foods

And then along came this one . . .

Ina Garten’s strawberry/raspberry champagne cocktail

♦♦♦   For the chocolate component of that special day, we’re bringing back into the spotlight a CS favorite – Chocolate-Filled Chocolate Chip Sandwich Bars. Depending on how much is on the Happy Hour table, you can leave them normal size as shown here, or cut them into candy-size pieces. These are really, really, good.  Food & Wine

More information in the original o4.26.19 Salon

♦♦♦  Prepping a game day table? Here’s an idea  – how about letting the crockpot take over some of the work. If you have more than one, even better. Because may we present for your tasting pleasure, 40 Big Game Crockpot Appetizers. Get ready to scoop out, e.g., Peach & whiskey wings, Cheesy pizza fondue, Peppered meatballs, Hot crab or ham & cheese dip, Party mix or party nuts, Buffalo chicken dip, sliders or egg rolls.  Taste of Home

Are slow cookers safe? Yes if . . . says Univ of Minn Ext

Top rated slow cooker cookbooks on Amazon

♦♦♦  Planning to start the party early? How about Bloody Marys. Or better, a Bloody Mary Bar. Whichever, the beverage can turn into a conversation piece with this Bloody Mary Backstory about its origins in Paris, theories about the name with one involving Hemingway and also why he wanted tomato juice, and the essential ingredients.  Food & Wine

Google page of “best bloody mary” recipes    Top rated bloody mary mixes on Amazon    Bloody Mary Bar in our 08.06.19 Salon

♦♦♦  Woohoo for Iowa State University for giving us all this – “a first-of-its-kind large scale analysis that connects specific foods to later-in-life cognitive acuity.” But the thank you is in the results. Cheese best by a long shot – and alcohol {specifically red wine} was related to actual improvements. You can find all the details here in this story on the U site, that also btw mentions a couple of other findings. We also have to thank a top tier food read for pointing us to the study.  Food Network Magazine

Top rated Wine & Cheese pairing books

{The Swatchbook one is particularly clever}

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STUFF FOR COOKS

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

♦  ♦  ♦

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

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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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Recipes Galore & More, Oct 15-Oct 21, 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 – use our links as we Wine & Dine with Alexa

      Let’s Chat    

Kitchen Talk – Dennis Weaver at Prepared Pantry, where all your baking shortcut dreams come true, notes in his recent newsletter that he uses cream cheese as a stabilizer for whipped cream, making it “taste like cheesecake.” He starts with softened cream cheese, whips in the sugar till smooth, then the heavy cream.      Did you know this? If a recipe for the air fryer calls for treating the food with oil spray, it really means oil spray, not cooking spray. Apparently the aerosol agents in the latter can damage the coating on the basket. I found it at my market, but of course Amazon has it too, and in a number of different varieties.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds –  The tale that unfolds is foreshadowed in “The Coincidence of Coconut Cake” by Amy Reichert. The title confection indeed is the catalyst in two sets of crossed paths – chef & boyfriend, chef & food critic – potentially closing one door and opening another. As with most romantic journeys, fictional and otherwise, there is a bump in the terrain but this one is more like a volcano, and that makes us gobble up the pages, anticipating that pivotal moment when it will inevitably erupt. It’s 4 1/2 stars on Amazon, multiple formats.       So in an episode of DDD on Food Network, an ingredient called tare was used. Eh? Turns out it’s a flavor-packed Asian sauce with multiple applications. Did not find it in local stores. Make your own? Google. Shortcut? Amazon.

This week’s featured CS-designed, Zazzle-crafted item – Here’s another of our “o’clock” designs – tee shirts & mugs for chocolate lovers. As everyone in this elite group knows, any point from 12 to 12 and round the clock again is just the right time for chocolate. Click either image {the square for the tee} to go right to its Zazzle page, or view all of the designs on our tee page & mug page right here on CS.

  Featured Recipes 

   Slow Cooker Pot Roast

This just seems like a dish slow cookers were made for. Potatoes, carrots and onions cook right along with the roast while a splash of wooster adds its own layer of flavor, all joined in the last hour of cooking by some fresh herbs. The directions call for shredding rather than slicing, but guessing the roast ends up so fall-apart that would probably be the only option.  From Tasty

   Bridge Mix Bars

Whether you’re playing bridge or other card or board games, watching tv, working on your laptop, whatever, this makes the candy more handy. All the usual suspects are there with two kinds of melty chocolate taking care of biz by binding them together and then topping them off.  From Food Network

Preps for Cheddar Lovers

They had me at the first one, cheddar scallion biscuits, with a bonus in the form of baking the biscuits on top of a whole bunch more cheddar, creating a frico effect. But it does go on, to other breads, burger, soups, Mex dishes, 10 in all. From Food & Wine

  Apple Buttermilk Loaves

The richness of buttermilk paired with the natural sweetness of Golden Delicious apples, further boosted by brown sugar, yields this delectable looking loaf. Nuts and vanilla make their tasty contributions too, along with the unexpected tang of grated orange peel. This has holiday written all over it, but no need to wait to make the first one.  From Washington Apple Commission  {also source of the beautiful photo, url will say bestapples}

   “Casseroles are comfort food at its best”

And here’s a whole bunch of them just waiting to be invited eyour kitchen. Among the choices, Enchilada deep dishes & other Mex, Lasagnas & other Italian faves, Cajun & Creole specialties, chicken & biscuit cobbler, Tamale pie mix-up, Sloppy Joes skipping the bun and going deep dish with some mac, side dishes too. From Southern Living.

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

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

  This zingy snack can lead more than one life. In a med size bowl, beat 4 eggs, then add 2 slices crisp crumbled bacon, 1/3 cup pepperoncini coarsely chopped, 3/4 c shredded cheddar, 1/4 c shredded parm. Bake 375 until set, about 15 min. Sprinkle with parsley and cut into squares. Revisit sautéed in butter for breakfast, or joined by veggies for lunch or brunch.

  Thanks to Food and Wine for gathering these “22 Fall Cocktails to Try This Season.” And they sure do look and sound good. Such possible household staples as hard cider, apple brandy, honey, pears, figs, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves pour autumn right into your glass.

♦  You could actually set this up like a caffeinated version of a bloody mary bar. All you need is a full urn, some cream, and the spirits that are front and center in these “7 Delicious Ways to Spike Your Coffee.” Also from Food & Wine.

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

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

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

      

Click above for Amazon home page, below for Amazon Echo {Alexa}

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover 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

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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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Recipes Galore & More, Oct 1-Oct 7, 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 – use our links as we Wine & Dine with Alexa

      Let’s Chat   

Kitchen Talk –   Now that we’re back in baking season, thought this could be of interest. A tip I found in the hinter regions of my files – to make soft cookies from any cake mix, add 2 eggs and a stick of melted {said margarine} butter to the dry mix, drop by teaspoonfuls on an ungreased baking sheet, then 350 for 12-15 min.      Made ’em! I used Pillsbury’s 15.25 Funfetti cake mix. Batter is kind of dense so I shaped and slightly flattened them with the scoop spatula on parchment lined cookie sheets. Since I plopped on probably more like 1/4 cup, it yielded 15 of the velvety cookies. Good!       Two recent add-ons I tried, cumin on nachos {future: always}, and dill pickles slices on BLTs {future: sometimes, when I’m craving a bit of zing}.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds – Food & Wine recently released their list of best bread cookbooks. The one I use most often isn’t among them but I love it still, and that’s the New York Times Bread & Soup Cookbook. Dates back to 1972, but still available on Amazon including newer editions. Overall, though, do have to say my very fave bread recipe is my gram’s and to this day convinced her secret was beating the daylights out of the dough, still showing it who was boss well into her 90s.      No matter how much you might like Tahini, if you don’t use it up in a timely manner it can get a little concrete-y. But this one that I now buy is likely to stay cooperative to the bottom of the bottle as long as you give it an enthusiastic shake before each use. Should be able to find it at your regular market.

This week’s featured CS-designed, Zazzle-crafted item – Hope you might have as much fun wearing or sipping from one of these as we did designing them. We now have 12 of the o’clocks, including this one for pizza lovers.  Yay! It’s Pizza O’Clock. Clicking the images will take you to their Zazzle pages. Or see them all on the CS t-shirt pageCS foodie mug page.

 Featured Recipes

Ham & Brie Pull Apart Sandwiches

These sammies are always such fun. Butter and Dijon join the title stars in the slots cut into a crusty baguette, which is all then baked to melty goodness and topped with chives and sliced cornichons. Thinking if you drizzled on some warm bechamel it would create a bit of a Croque Monsieur vibe. From Food Network Kitchen

Slow Cooker Monkey Bread

This sweetside pull-apart would make a fabulous way to start the day. After minimum prep, you can relax while the slow cooker does its magic, transforming refrigerated biscuits, butter, sugar x 2 and cinnamon into what the maker calls  decadent and “oooey, gooey and sticky-sweet all over.” From McCormick

Or maybe chicken? It’s parm!

Oh yeah, a chicken parm pull-apart with all the good stuff you’d expect, and want. Olive oil, lots of garlic, top tomatoes, oregano, two kinds of cheese all tucked into well buttered spaces in the baguette. From Food Network

Or beef? French Onion!

This pull-apart starts  with a multi, multi, flavored dressing that waits in the fridge until the loaf is ready to emerge hot and melty from the oven. Onions that have been caramelized in butter, broth and more team up with deli roast beef and swiss cheese to tuck into rye bread, with butter checking in along the way. Bake, dress, enjoy. From Food Network Kitchen

Mexican Chocolate Cookies

While this prep is on the Food Network site, credit goes to a professional chef who’s maybe even better known as an actor. It’s thanks to his former role that we have this interesting sweet with a kick. And what makes it Mexican? Ancho chile powder, pepitas, and extra chocolate. This one’s going on the to-make list. It’s from his cookbook, “Life is a Party.” From David Burtka.

Bobby Flay’s Shrimp & Grits

Buttery, cheesy grits partnered with shrimp showcase the chef’s instincts for adding just the right stuff, here including scallions, garlic and bacon. What I especially like about Flay’s prep is that unlike most s&g dishes where the shrimp are parked atop the grits, the direction here is to mix them together, causing a magical interplay of flavors {see note}.  From Food Network

Most shrimp & grits dishes are served with the shrimp atop the grits. I’ve always liked to blend them so the grits benefit from whatever flavorings are on the shrimp. The photo and demo on the FN site show them layered, but as noted Flay’s actual recipe calls for mixing them. My dish for the photo here matches the recipe’s visuals, but when the camera went off I was with Flay, ready, set, mix!

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

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

   Food chat at Happy Hour, and a zippy tip it is. “Was so happy to see the creamy cucumber salad recipe {07.23.21}, and immediately printed it out. Reminds me so much of the one my mom made with sour cream when I was young, and in fact sour cream was a staple in our house growing up. Love it on Mexican food, our Lithuanian potato and dumpling dishes, potato pancakes, even salads. Soothes strong flavors and ‘riches up’ bland ones!!” – Norene

  In the Football, Friends and Comfort Food episode on her “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen” show on Food Network, Yearwood made a melty cheese medley that made you want to run to the screen with a chip or cracker. Called Charleston Cheese Dip, it’s perfect for the snack table, or just keep it for yourself. Her suggested dippers are corn chips, crackers, or bagel chips, but for sure veggies, sliced deli sausage and crusty bread cubes would also be great. The only change I made was using the green onions as a topper after the dip was baked, rather than mixing them in, though you could certainly do both.

   How about some SakTails {pronounced Sok-Tails – like, with Sake}. There really are adult beverages made with that good stuff. A site that shows secure, liquor.com, offers up these “3 Delicious Sake Cocktails You Ought to be Drinking.” The first one starts with Thai basil infused sake, adding in lime juice, yuzu bitters and a bit of coconut milk, in total providing enough cover to call it “Thai Me Up Thai Me Down.”

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

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 above for Amazon home page, below for Amazon Echo {Alexa}

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

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

♦  ♦  ♦

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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