Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 19th, 2009

I H.A.V.E a fresh perspective…

I had always wondered when I drove past Oppenheimer Park what the big Culinary Institute sign on the front of one of the building was.  It seemed so out of place to me that I thought maybe it had formerly been a cooking school but had uprooted to a new location.   A location that better suited the sophistication that culinary artistry truly is.  I say this because I think people often connect Culinary Arts with...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 17th, 2009

4 Easy Steps to Scallopini

Above is a version of veal scallopini, this could easily have been made with any meat or any other sauce ingredients. Cooking Techniques After you have been cooking for a while, the best thing you can learn is a few techniques that don’t require a recipe necessarily and allows you to experiment with flavors and ingredients.  As long as you know the basics of how to cook something then you can deviate from the...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 12th, 2009

Festive Sugar Cookies and Icing

This recipe is so simple but don’t be fooled into thinking that this somehow diminishes the flavor.  With the subtle lemon or orange zest flavor it tastes heavenly and it is very easy to work with Sugar Cookies Ingredients: 2/3  cup of butter ¾ cup of white sugar ¼ tsp orange or lemon zest ½ tsp vanilla 4 tsp milk 2 cups of flour 1 ½ tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt Directions: Cream together the butter,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 11th, 2009

Escargot Vol-au Vent

Ingredients: For the herb butter- 4 to 5 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced 2 teaspoons kosher salt 8 ounces unsalted butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup finely minced Italian parsley 1/2 cup finely minced chives 2 tablespoons minced shallots Pinch of freshly grated black pepper 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon Pernod 24 “very large” top-quality canned snails, drained 1 sheet puff pastry,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 10th, 2009

Chocolate Peanut Butter Sandwich Cookies

Ingredients (Print) 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar 1 stick butter 1 egg 1 teaspoon vanilla 1 1/2 cups flour 1/2 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder 3/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder For filling: 1 cup creamy peanut butter 6 tablespoons butter 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar Directions: Beat 1 1/4 cups granulated sugar and 1 stick butter until fluffy, then beat in 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Whisk 1 1/2...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 10th, 2009

Sausage and Shrimp Pot

This is a great meal.  It is tasty.  It is kid friendly.  It is easy.  If you want to make a hearty meal but don’t have alot of time, try this…you wont be disappointed.  Make sure you have the best bread for dunking into the bowl and slurping up the broth.  It is sooo good. Shrimp and Sausage Pot (print recipe) Ingredients: 2 tablespoons  olive oil 1 pound hot or sweet bulk Italian sausage or 1...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 7th, 2009

The Perfect Chicken Salad Sandwich

Ingredients 3 cooked chicken breasts, chopped 1 or stalks celery, chopped- about 3/4 cup 2 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup seedless grapes, halved 3/4 cup dried cranberries 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 celery seeds 1 teaspoon each- paprika and season with  salt Coarsely ground black...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 6th, 2009

Best Belgian Waffle Recipe

The best way to make a Belgium waffle is to use yeast. Yeast will make Belgian waffles fluffy, soft and yummy.  Yeast is where many North American attempts at the Brussels/Belgian waffle fall down: the yeast raising changes the chemistry of the batter, producing a more tender crumb in the finished waffle than baking-powder raising can. The yeast and the beaten egg whites which are folded into the batter work...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 5th, 2009

California Shrimp Pizza-Earl’s style

I decided I wanted to try and re-create the Earl’s California Shrimp Pizza.  I am not kidding you, this was amazing and tasted almost identical.  It was also extremely easy.  Try it out-Here is the recipe: California Shrimp Pizza (print recipe) Ingredients 10 inch pizza-dough 2 Tbs pesto(store-bought or make your own) 1-1/2 Cup uncooked shrimp, thawed and peeled 1/4 Cup sundried tomatoes,...

Posted by Billie-Jean | Dec 3rd, 2009

Smoked Salmon Pasta

Ingredients 2 Tbs butter 1 small onion (or 4 shallots) 1/2 cup of finely chopped red pepper 2 garlic cloves (minced) 3/4 cup of chopped smoked salmon (I often use the smoked salmon tips in the fish section.  You can also substitute the salmon for any type of fish) 1/2 cup of whipping cream 1/2 cup milk 1 Tbs fresh tyme or 1/2 tsp dried Salt and pepper to taste 1/4 cup parmesean cheese 2 cups of penne pasta (but...