Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 12th, 2010

Tortilla Soup

Today I made Tortilla soup.  I have been searching the internet and cookbooks for the most “authentic” tortilla soup.  What I have learned is that there is no such thing as authentic or original tortilla soup in the sense that it all started at one point by one person and there is only one true way to make it.   The “original” tortilla soup was varied and it varied from one person’s...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 7th, 2010

Potato Pizza

Ingredients (print recipe) 3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut into thinish slices 1   frozen pizza dough, thawed  or your own homemade dough!!!! or just buy the shells pre-made or…….. 3 tablespoons  butter 4 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper seasoning salt on the potatoes if you dont use salt and pepper.  Seasoning salt is so good. 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded ...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 4th, 2010

Baked Macaroni and Cheese

Thank you Martha Stewart for this sublime recipe. You can easily divide this recipe in half; use a 1 1/2-quart casserole dish if you do. Serves 12 6 slices good-quality white bread, crusts removed, torn into 1/4- to 1/2-inch pieces 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, plus more for dish 5 1/2 cups milk 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon freshly...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 3rd, 2010

An Ode to the Turnip

I am doing my best to cook in season.  Apparently from what I have read, eating in season is more important than we realize.  I recently wrote a blog post about all the benefits of eating locally here. I have been looking through the various charts for what is in season in B.C. right now and what I am finding is a bunch of vegetables that you rarely hear about anymore.  Here is a list: Veggies:  Beans (dried),...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Feb 1st, 2010

Red Cabbage with Apples and Bacon

Ingredients: 2 tbs olive oil or butter 1 large red onion, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 shredded red cabbage or green cabbage or both! 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar 2 teaspoons sugar 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped 3 to 4 slices cooked bacon, diced 1/2 cup chicken broth salt, to taste Preparation: In a large saucepan or Dutch...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 31st, 2010

Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped-I buy an already cooked chicken from the grocery store!! 1 or stalks celery, chopped- about 3/4 cup 2 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup of toasted almonds 3/4 cup salad dressing, such as Miracle Whip- or here is a trick, just add 1 tsp of icing sugar to regular mayonnaise.  That is exactly what Miracle Whip is. 1 Tbs...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 29th, 2010

Almost Flourless Chocolate Cake

OMG. OMG.OMG.  This is probably the best and only home made chocolate cake that I really and truly love.  It was passed on to me by a friend who makes it for just about any special occasion that happens at her house.  What I love about this cake is that it is simple but tastes like you could be eating it at any fine restaurant.  Last night I went to bed craving chocolate cake, and I really am not normally a...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 23rd, 2010

Lemon Tarts

Lemon Tarts Tart Crust (print recipe)-yields 24 mini tarts, 12 regular sized tarts (muffin tin), or one pie. 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar Kosher salt 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) cold unsalted butter, diced 2 tablespoons cold vegetable shortening (recommended: Crisco) 1/4 cup ice water Combine the flour, 3 tablespoons of the sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl and place in the freezer for 30...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 21st, 2010

Classic Beef Stew

Beef Stew (print) 1 (3-pound) boneless beef chuck roast, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch cubes salt and pepper 3 TBS vegetable oil 2 onions, minced 1 TBS tomato paste 2 garlic cloves, minced 3 TBS all-purpose flour 1 cup dry red wine 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth 1 TBS minced fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried 2 bay leaves 1 1/2 lbs red potatoes (5 medium), scrubbed and cut into 1 1/2-inch chunks 4 carrots,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Jan 15th, 2010

Acme Cafe opening soon…

Driving up to Peggy and Alan’s house is like going back in time.  A long narrow street lined with perfectly symmetrical trees.  Cute square houses that date back to wartime years.  Their house is simple but rich with nostalgia, maybe it’s the beautiful vegetable garden that replaces much of their lawn in the back, or the vintage looking kitchen with black check floors and lemon colored cupboards.  I have...