Just received word that Ina Garten, aka Barefoot Contessa, will be sampling her new Red Velvet Cupcake Mix at Crate & Barrel on the Upper East Side (650 Madison Ave, Manhattan) next Thursday, 12/11/08, from 4-6pm.

I’m assuming she’s going to assemble and bake the cupcakes before sampling.  The dry mix might not taste that great.

If there’s anyone I’d trust with making food taste good, it would be Ina Garten, so I’m confident she has this figured out.

I bought a bunch of fresh tarragon at the market because I don’t think I’d ever bought fresh tarragon before.

Then it sat in my fridge for a while, making me feel guilty.

In the nick of time I used it in a delicious homemade salad dressing.

Now I can buy fresh tarragon again!

Fresh Tarragon Vinaigrette

Adapted from Wasabi Bratwurst’s Everyone’s Favorite Fresh Herb Salad Dressing

What I Changed and Why: Kept the fresh herb to tarragon only to highlight its flavor; Kept the vinegar to just balsamic for simplicity; Adjusted other spices to taste.

1. Shake all of the ingredients together in a jar with a tight fitting lid. (If you do not have such a jar then first whisk together all ingredients, adding the fresh herbs at the very end.)

2. Toss the greens & the dressing in a large bowl and plate it.

Gourmet Thanksgiving in Advance (described here) Recipe #4

Quite possibly the best sweet potato recipe ever.

Tri-Color Garlic Sweet Potato Stacks

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine’s Roasted Sweet-Potato Rounds with Garlic Oil and Fried Sage

What I changed and why: Didn’t puree garlic with oil because I didn’t want the mess; Used pre-chopped jarred garlic because I’m lazy; Used three kinds of sweet potatoes because they all looked so good in the store (the flavors melded beautifully, and the various colors looked pretty); Didn’t peel the sweet potatoes out of laziness and for added nutrition; Made the olive oil extra virgin since its flavor is paramount in the final dish; Increased cooking time since tenderness is important; Changed presentation to stacks just for fun.

Gourmet Thanksgiving in Advance (described here) Recipe #2

Perhaps the most delicious way to eat collard greens, particularly for those who dislike bitter-tasting collards and/or vegetarians who can’t do the collard greens & bacon thing.

When you get to step 3, be generous with the filling in each leaf. I had extra which I put in romaine leaves. As you can see in the photo, they’re not as pretty (though surprisingly still tasty, but not as good as the collards).

Wild Mushroom and Collard Green Bundles

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine’s Wild-Mushroom Bundles

Gourmet Thanksgiving in Advance (described here) Recipe #1.

A refreshing, sweet/tart accompaniment to turkey and mashed potatoes. It’s worth it to find quince, which has a pear-like consistency when cooked and a festive winter holiday flavor.

Cranberry, Quince, and Pearl Onion Compote

Adapted from Gourmet Magazine, November 2008

1. Trim root end of each onion and cut an X in it. Blanch in boiling water 1 minute, then drain in a colander. Cool slighly, then peel. Be liberal in what you peel off, since the fibrous outer layers will compete with the texture of the final dish.

2. Bring juice, sugar, vinegar, and spices to a boil in a 3-qt heavy saucepan, stirring until sugar has dissolved. Add onions and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes. Add quinces and continue simmering, uncovered, stirring occasionally until both onions and quinces are tender but not falling apart.

3. Add cranberries and simmer until tender but not falling apart, 5 to 8 minutes. Discard cloves (easier to find than I had feared!). Trasnfer fruit and onions to a bowl using a slotted spoon, then boil syrup, if necessary, until reduced to 1/3 cup. Pour syrup over compote and cool to room temperature. (May be made 3 days ahead and chilled. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Fall is a great time to be a lazy host(ess) because it’s so easy to throw together a centerpiece of squash and pumpkins.

They’re colorful and seasonal, attractive and long-lasting. They can be arranged and re-arranged.

Then, when you get sick of looking at them (or when you’ve re-arranged to your heart’s maximum content), slice them in half, scoop out the seeds & stringy parts, and pop them in the oven, cut side down on a cookie sheet with an inch of standing water. Bake ’til soft. And eat.

There are two types of people: those who view salad as something to eat because it’s healthy and those who love salad.

I truly love salad. Good salad.

Some friends of my future in-laws, Pat and Beth, spent a year traveling the world before they settled down and had kids. Beth, an avid vegetable eater, nearly went crazy. As soon as they arrived in a new country, Beth learned the word for “green” in the native tongue. At each restaurant she pleaded to the server, “Green! Green!” in hopes that a plate of vegetables would arrive.

Here’s a fun twist on Caesar salad dressing. I think it appeals to both salad types.

Balsamic Caesar Salad Dressing

In a glass measuring cup, combine vinegar, mustard, and anchovy paste and mix with a fork. Bring a small saucepan of water to boil. Add egg and boil 45 seconds. (No more!) Take out with slotted spoon. Rinse with cold water and crack egg into the mixture. Mix well. Whisk in olive oil with a slow, steady stream of olive oil. Coat salad greens, tossing well. If desired, add grated Parmesan and toss again.

There are two types of people: those who put healthy ingredients into almost every recipe and those who figure that healthy foods should stay in the vegetable kingdom.

I figure I’ll be prepared when I have kids someday because I have already perfected the art of “sneaking” healthy foods into everything from muffins to, well, bacon Gorgonzola dip. This recipe (secretly) features sauerkraut. Fermented foods like sauerkraut aid digestion and overall health. I figure as long as I’m trying to eat nutritional powerhouses I may as well prepare them in tasty ways.

Bacon Gorgonzola Dip

Adapted from Great Lakes Kraut

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut bacon strips in half and cook over medium high heat until crisp. Remove from pan and crumble. Discard bacon drippings, leaving only enough to sauté garlic. Add garlic and cook until soft.

2. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese until soft and creamy. Add sautéed garlic, cheese, diced tomato, milk, chives, and bacon. (Reserve some chives and bacon for sprinkling on top.) Mix until well blended. Add the sauerkraut and reserved juice.

3. Spread evenly in an 8″ x 8″ ovenproof dish. Sprinkle the remaining chives and bacon on top. Cover with aluminum foil and bake 30 minutes.

Serve warm with crusty bread, bagel chips, or raw vegetables.

There are two types of people: those who follow recipes exactly and those who don’t.

I don’t think I have ever followed a recipe exactly. Ever. Inevitably I change an ingredient or two or five, I swap the spices, I change the cooking method, or I change the final presentation. I view recipes as a jumping off point.

This style of cooking is intimidating to many people. I think it becomes easier the more you cook as you get comfortable.

This pea thyme dip was, typically, an adaptation. It is delicious and pretty, too.

Green Pea Thyme Dip

Adapted from Parsley, Sage, Rosemary & Thyme

2 cups peas: fresh, thawed frozen, or canned

1/2 square vegetable bullion (I love Rapunzel’s vegan version), dissolved in 1 Tbsp hot water

2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1/2 Tbsp dried thyme

2 Tbsp finely grated Pecorino Romano (sheep’s milk cheese)

Salt and pepper to taste

If using fresh peas, steam in a saucepan with a bit of water for 3-5 minutes or until soft. Put peas in medium bowl and add the remaining ingredients. Blend with immersion blender. Alternatively, use a food processor or traditional blender. Serve as a dip with fresh vegetables, crackers and baguette rounds.

There are two types of people: those who like mushrooms and those who don’t.

I have always loved them. As a child I would beg my mom for raw mushrooms to snack on whenever she was cooking them with dinner. Thankfully, mushrooms are one of the few “exotic” foods about which I did not have to proselytize my fiance; he has always realized their amazingness.

Portobella Pizzas

Recipe by Hilary

8 portobella mushroom caps

1/3 cup tomato paste (I like Bionaturae)

1/3 cup ricotta cheese

1/2 Tbsp roasted garlic (I like the prepackaged kind)

1/2 tsp oregano

1/2 large onion or 1 small onion, chopped

1/3 cup salsa

Salt and Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350F. Saute onion with oil or water until translucent, about 5 minutes. Mix with salsa and oregano. Mix roasted garlic, salt and pepper with ricotta cheese. Wash mushroom caps and arrange on cookie sheet or baking dish face up. Spread tomato paste evenly on each cap. Then spread cheese mixture evenly on each cap. Top with onion/salsa mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until mushrooms are soft but not wilted.