food
Kielbasa over Pasta w/ Fake Vodka Sauce
A spicy twist on plain-jane pasta. Vodka sauce is typically a creamy tomato sauce with about a cup of vodka added. The vodka gives depth to the acidity of the tomato sauce. This recipe is based on a cream sauce without vodka, but uses red pepper flakes to add the missing flavor depth.
1 pound kielbasa
8 [...]
Flourless Chocolate Cake
This is a wonderful (and very fudgy) cake. I use Green & Blacks chocolate bars, but you can use any bar that’s at least 70% cocao. Serve warm with whipped cream and berries.
Ingredients
3 bars Green & Blacks 70% Cocao chocolate bars
12 tablespoons butter
1 cup superfine sugar (put granulated sugar in the food processor; superfine sugar [...]
Steak with Mushrooms & Onions in Wine Sauce
A really easy but classy way to serve steaks.
While your steaks are cooking (however you happen to like them), saute equal amounts of mushrooms and sliced onions in 2 tablespoons of olive oil. When the onions have softened, add 2 tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce and 1/2 cup of Marsala or Port wine. Keep cooking until [...]
In-Law Chicken
This recipe is based on the original “Enagement Chicken” from Glamour magazine. After finding nothing particularly remarkable about it, I modified it slightly into a simple but elegant recipe that will make even the most timid cook look like a pro! The lemony flavored pan juices make an out-of-this-world gravy.
1 whole Chicken, approximately 4 pounds
1 [...]
Conquering Sushi
This evening I tackled item #26 on my list of 101 Things (to do before I buy the farm)…. I successfully made good sushi. John didn’t have a great week, and as much of a sushi lover as I know he is, I thought I would surprise him by trying to make some.
While very intimidating, [...]
Our Disney Vacation (Again!)
We had so much fun at Disney World last year that we decided to go again for our anniversary this year. For those who didn’t know, we got married on my birthday (02/02), so it’s a two-for-one.
Sunday
The alarm went off at 5am. A very groggy me got up and got ready, then woke John up [...]
Review: Schmankerl Stube
We met some friends in Hagerstown for dinner last night. The restaurant was Schmankerl Stube, which exists at the corner of Potomac and Antietam. For those who may be wondering, in German “Schmankerl” means “delicacy” and “Stube” means “lounge.” The restaurant itself is very cozy; almost house-like. The staff were dressed [...]
