February Cooking Club

Last night was another feast!  The menu included....

Appetizer - Zucchini Tomato Verrine


Salad - Spinach Salad with Fruit & Cheese


Entree - Molasses-Glazed Baby Back Ribs, Settler's Beans & Sweet Jalapeno Cornbread


Dessert - Chocolate Lusk Cake

The Return of Our Cooking Club

Last night is still on my taste bud's memory.  Our monthly cooking club gathered for an amazing dinner and a relaxing time with friends.  Here are some pictures of what we dined on.  I should have also taken pictures of my plate when I was done... if I wasn't among friends I would have literally licked my plates clean!

Appetizer - Apricots with Herbed Goat Cheese, Almonds and Honey

Salad - Spinach Salad with Tomatoes, Red Onion, Feta Cheese and Balsamic Dressing

 

Entree - Braised Short Ribs with Herbed Polenta and Creamy Leeks

Dessert - Cinna-Bun Butter Cakes in a Jar

Leek and Red Onion Pizza

One of the best things about fall... the abundance of leeks! I don't think I have ever really enjoyed this vegetable before, but I have ventured myself and my family into trying them. And we have even planted leeks in the garden recently. Today I caramelized some leeks and red onions in butter, and used it on a pizza, topped with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and parmigiano reggiano cheese. Delicious!

Fancy Fall Dinner

Our last cooking club installment was "Fancy Fall." Here is a peek at the great food we enjoyed....


We dined on Garlic & Gorgonzola Filet Mignon with Red Wine Au Jus, Rasberry-Asparagus Medley Salad, Ratatouille, Mashed Potatoes, and Almond Pear Cakes. Delicious!

Club-Night With the Ladies

Well, it's not what it sounds like. Under the inspiration of my neighbor, Jill, we "ladies" started a cooking club. Our first monthly gathering was last night, hosted by me. The concepts are.... (1) no husbands allowed, (2) kids are allowed, (3) hostess makes an entree dish to serve the ladies, (4) everyone else brings one thing... a bottle of wine, an appetizer, a salad, a dessert, or kid-friendly food. And the last, most important concept is that you have to share the recipe!

Last night was an amazing time of great food, getting to know each other (0ld and new friends), laughs, promises to each other to get together, to exercise together, etc.. The menu was titled Summer Harvest and featured the following treats:

The kids enjoyed bear-shaped sandwiches, fruit, and chocolate banana pops, courtesy of Leslie.

And now I have some new recipes to add to my somewhat unorganized collection. And these new recipes made their debut into my new recipe folders, pictured below.


Thank you, Jill, Brandy, Leslie, Jodie, and Danielle, for joining the new, hottest, club in Yucaipa! Bon appetite!