Spooky time.....

Halloween is just a few days away and I have stumbled on some fabulous pictures that I just have to share....

Jeweled skull

Wicked witch (I totally know who this is.....)

Spooky-looking candy apples

Candles

Skull and roses: opposites attract?

Wishing for snow.....

It's a few days before Halloween and it is going to be over 80 degrees tomorrow here in Richmond.  I am not a fan of this kind of heat.....we will probably go straight to Winter and not even have a crisp, Fall day :(  But if that is the case, wouldn't it be nice to have a day that looks like this.....

Fall into a new season....

Fall is my favorite time of year....

Pack Football

Pumpkin patches

Warm scarves

Hot soup

Pretty day in Luray

Inspiration for October 20th

"Imagine that the whole world belongs to you. The birch trees in New Hampshire's White Mountains are yours, and so are the cirrus clouds in the western sky at dusk and the black sand on the beaches of Hawaii's big island.


You own everything, my dear sovereign - the paintings in all the museums of the world, as well as the internet and the wild horses and the roads. Please take good care of it all, OK? Be an enlightened monarch who treats your domain with reverent responsibility. And make sure you also enjoy the full measure of fun that comes with such mastery. Glide through life as if all of creation is yearning to honor and entertain you."

-Rob Brezsny
American Author, Storyteller and Rock Musician

Maine Cooking School

I LOVE to cook, I can't say that I'm great at it yet but it is something to relaxes me and maybe one day will factor into my life more :)

Maine Cooking School
Hartstone Inn
Camden, Maine

Sweet Potato and Green Apple Soup

Slicing the sweet potatoes into “planks” allows more surface for caramelization when roasting. Try this technique when serving sweet potatoes as a side dish.

• 1 large sweet potato, peeled, sliced lengthwise into 1/2-inch-thick “planks”

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• Kosher salt and ground white pepper

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter

• 1 cup chopped onion

• 1 cup peeled, diced rutabaga

• 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, diced

• 1 quart chicken stock or reduced sodium chicken broth

• 1 cup whipping cream

• 1-1/2 tablespoons pure maple syrup

• 1 recipe Maple Cream (below)

• 1/4 cup croutons

• 1 tablespoon thinly sliced green onion

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper; place sweet potatoes on prepared sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; sprinkle lightly with kosher salt and pepper. Roast 30 minutes or until tender.

In large saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add onion, cook and stir 3 minutes. Add rutabaga and apple; cook 3 minutes more, stirring occasionally. Add chicken stock and sweet potatoes. Bring to boil; reduce heat and simmer, covered, 20 minutes.

Remove from heat; cool slightly. Process until smooth with an immersion blender (or blend or process mixture 1/2 at a time in blender container or food processor). Return mixture to saucepan. Add whipping cream and maple syrup. Season to taste with kosher salt and ground white pepper. Cook and stir until heated through.

Top each serving with Maple Cream, croutons, and green onions. Makes 6 servings.

Maple Cream:

In chilled mixing bowl beat 1/3 cup whipping cream on high speed of electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and dash each of kosher salt and ground white pepper. Beat just until stiff peaks form.



Stilton-Shrimp Tarts

Proper chilling makes the pastry dough flaky. Use it for quiches, hors d’oeuvre shells, and custards as well as this rich tart. The dough can be made up to 24 hours ahead.

• 1 recipe Pastry Dough (below)

• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

• 12 large fresh shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed

• Salt and ground white pepper

• 2 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 3 ounces Stilton cheese, crumbled

• 1/3 cup whipping cream

• 1 egg yolk

• 1-1/2 teaspoons snipped fresh Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

• 1 recipe Chive Beurre Blanc (below)

• 1 medium ripe Bosc pear, cored, sliced in thin wedges

• 2 tablespoons pine nuts, toasted

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat six 4-inch tart pans with removable bottoms with nonstick cooking spray; set aside. Cut six 6-inch rounds of parchment paper*; set aside. Roll out Pastry Dough on lightly floured surface to 1/8 inch thick. Cut into six 5-1/2 inch circles, rerolling scraps as needed. Press each circle into sides and bottom of prepared tart pans. Place parchment round on top of each tartlet; fill with dry beans or pie weights.

Bake 25 minutes or until pastry is set and lightly browned. Remove beans or pie weights and parchment paper.

In large skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Add shrimp; cook 1 minute on each side, searing shrimp, but not cooking through. Remove from skillet to plate; season to taste with salt and white pepper.

In medium bowl combine cream cheese and Stilton cheese. Beat with electric mixer on medium to high speed until smooth. Add whipping cream, egg yolk, and 1/2 teaspoon parsley. Beat until combined. Season with salt and white pepper.

Divide cheese mixture between tart pans. Place two shrimp on each tartlet. Place tartlets on baking sheet; bake 35 minutes or until golden and set.

To serve, remove sides of tart pans. Place each tartlet in center of plate; surround with a few tablespoons of Chive Buerre Blanc, pear wedges, and pine nuts. Sprinkle remaining parsley. Makes 6 servings.

Pastry Dough:

In stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine 1-1/3 cups all-purpose flour and 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt. Cut 4 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter into fine cubes; mix into flour until mixture resembles fine meal. Add 1/3 cup shortening; mix 30 seconds. Add 1/4 cup cold water; mix just until combined (do not overwork). (Or in medium bowl combine flour and salt. Using pastry blender cut in butter and shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon water over part of flour mixture; gently toss with fork. Push moistened pastry to sides of bowl. Repeat moistening flour mixture, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all the flour mixture is moistened. Form into ball.)

Remove from mixer; form into ball and wrap in plastic wrap. Chill at least 2 hours or up to 24 hours.

Chive Beurre Blanc:

Bring 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut up, to room temperature (about 30 minutes). In small saucepan heat 1-1/2 teaspoons canola oil over medium heat. Cook and stir 1/4 cup finely chopped onion 2 minutes (do not let brown). Add 1/4 cup white wine and 1 tablespoon dry white wine vinegar. Simmer until most liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally (do not let brown). Add 1/4 cup whipping cream; simmer until liquid has reduced by half, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat; whisk in butter until well incorporated. Strain through fine mesh strainer into small bowl, discarding solids. Season to taste with salt and ground white pepper. Stir in 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh chives. Keep warm until ready to serve.

*Alternatively, tartlet pans can be lined with double thickness of aluminum foil.







Have you missed me?

I'm terribly sorry about how MIA I have been as of late but life has been so extremely busy and my creativity has not been where it needed to be.....after a week of car trouble, getting towed twice in the same week, I finally decided to break down and buy a new car (well, slightly used).  I am so happy to not worry anymore about my car and know that I can head anywhere, anytime.  Good times!!!