Come on gang, let's don't let this idea die... It's my favorite part of the week! My Saturday Six

For the artichokes, I once saw a guy stuff them (inside and out) with

garlic breadcrumbs, just as a appetizer for a small group to "pick at" while waiting for dinner, but it looked good. Want me to try and find it? I've never cooked an artichoke in my life. I don't even think I've ever even touched one! They look prickly!

 
Weekend Six

Off to a pottery show in Gruene, TX. Lunch wait too long at the Gristmill so we went to Rudy's for brisket -- always fine!

Went to a showing of "Murder By Poe" at the Bastrop Opera House with our book club. A fun play with local actors in an historic building. Fun to see it in a building of the same period!

Central Market and Costco in search of the last blueberries. Bought a beautiful Hawaiian concoction of guava curd with sweet olive blossoms. I'll save it for Christmas and scones!

Lunch at Madam Mam's -- an Austin Thai place. Haven't had hotter curry since Kuala Lumpur at a Pakistani place we used to love.

Yesterday I bought an apple peeler at WmSonoma. Don't like it -- am going to take it back. I didn't realize that the thing slices the apples while it peels them. I like chunks for my applesauce, so it just won't do.

What am I going to take to Book Club Tuesday night? Halloween theme (DUH!). I have those pumpkin shaped muffin tins that I've never used. I am thinking of making whole little pumpkins (icing between) and arranging them on a bed of leafy kale. Haven't picked a recipe yet -- any suggestions? There are 10 of us.

 
My Weekend Six...

* Friday walked around the Lagoon counting big turtles...13 today
* Had Butternut Squash Risotto (see above post for link) So very good!
* Made Stuffed Shells in Arrabbiata Sauce (again)using Giada's marinarara sauce (really good and I love the idea of using a cookie disher to fill the shells, SO easy!)
* Went on docent-led (my husband)birdwalk at Lynch Canyon and saw lots of cool birds & golden eagles
* Picked LOTS of rose geranium leaves for drying again. They make the best flavoring for Rose Geranium/Lemon Scones. I have many hooked on them and I am their only source.
* Thinking about doing a test run for TD side dish...Acorn Squash w/ Cranberry Apple Stuffing

 
My Weekend Six...

1) It's been soooooo hot and humid lately, I just hate turning on the oven!

2) Although it's so hot and humid, I have to get off of my butt, and start making two apple pies. One for us, and one for sister, who had a bad day at work smileys/frown.gif

3) Got a huge deal at Costco yesterday! All of the apples, which are in a pack of 12 (5.5 lbs, it says) were $5.00 each! Galas, Honey Crisps, Golden Delicious - can't remember the rest of the varieties they had. The stocker said they had to get rid of the old shipment before they could put out the new one. Just happened to be there at the right time smileys/smile.gif

I bought 1 pack of Galas, and 2 packs of Honey Crisps. Now I just gotta figure out what to do with so many apples, even after I make the two pies today smileys/smile.gif Anyone have experience cutting them up for pies, and freezing them?

4) Went to a new Japanese restaurant last night. It's an izakaya (they just serve "small plates", like a tapas bar, I suppose). Most things are skewered and grilled over a charcoal fire, and you order by the stick. My favorite was a small bunch of enoki mushrooms, cut into a 3" length, and wrapped with a half slice of bacon and grilled. OMG. Also had a hard boiled quail egg, also wrapped with bacon.

5) I have a boneless leg of lamb in the fridge - gotta go marinate it so we can grill it for dinner. Souvlaki, anyone?

6) Thinking about making a batch of Peanut Butter stuffed cookies. Made some and took it to work last week, and everyone just loved it. Friend was pouting cause she only got 1, so I just might have to make it again smileys/smile.gif

 
My Weekend Six

Well the weekend starts on Friday doesn't it?

1) Made not one but two pots of chili for cookoff at work - Pat's Amazing chili made with venison and my 'Greek' chili made with lamb. Didn't even place. Tried the winning chili - YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME? it was like canned chili or baked beans with some meat. No heat, no chili flavor, sweetish, an very creamy beanish! Oh well - won about $300 in stuff from the auction so dinner at Applebee's (first time for dinner there in about 15 years)

2) DD sick - made her a pot of potato soup - worst ever. Too much carrot, caramelized onions and roasted chicken stock made it a funky color and I tried adding some herbs - too much. Then I put in crockpot on low to simmer while going out to dinner - scortched.

3) Saturday night dinner with friends at a cozy neighborhood bistro that I haven't been to in years. Hasn't changed and neither has the menu. And that's a good thing! Must remember to go back soon.

4) Tried new chili pepper spread from Costco they were sampling - YUM. Supper for me is crostini with brie and that spread.

5) Coworker of DH that bow hunts our property dropped off about 1/2 a deer for the freezer this afternoon - about half of it ground and the other cuts not labeled but yummy eating coming soon.

6) Trying to decide what to take for lunches this week (besides chili - the Greek was only half a crockpot and basically they cleaned the pot, the venison was overflowing and I brought home less than half a pot but there were around 20 pots of chili)

 
I find myself buying way more than we need and not using what we have

and while trying to pinch a few pennies, I've made the promise to myself to start using pantry items and the stuff at the bottom of the deep freeze. So far I'm doing pretty good at slashing the grocery bill and using up stuff. Today it was a jar of roasted tomatoes (I still have 5), a box of bow tie pasta (only 2 more in there) and a value pack of thighs (last one). I'm notorious for getting home and discovering I already have several of what I just bought but either 1) didn't see it when I checked or 2) forgot to check.

 
Hi Missy - I love the idea of Greek chili - what did you have in there?

Also, the winning chili last Winterfest was something with pineapple and lime in there... I didn't get it either, but I guess ours went for "different". I didn't enter it, but mine would've been basic chili with maybe cocoa in it if I had, with no hope of a win ;o)

 
I'm way behind in my prep! I usually start trying new ones during the summer months...

...but this year I didn't get to do that. The summer was nasty hot and let my schedule get away from me.

I'll post something here in a few days with my "to try" list.

Michael

 
Artichoke stuffed with brie, from Chicago's Bistro 110 - Fabulous!

Chicago's Bistro 110 - Artichoke Stuffed with Brie

Ingredients

1 Artichoke, 2 oz brie, 1 Tablespoon chopped shallots, 4 ounces white wine, 8 ounces butter cut in 1/4 inch slices, 2 ounces whole grain mustard, 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar, squeeze of lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste.

Method

Cut off the top and bottom of the artichoke. Cut the spiny tips off the leaves with scissors. (I like to put the artichoke upside down in a couple of inches of water. I always add a half a lemon to the water and some celery leaves). Cover the pan and let the artichoke cook for 10 - 15 minutes until the bottom is easy to pierce with a fork. Run the artichoke under cold water to stop the cooking process. When cool enough to handle, cut the inner choke away from the heart. Cut the brie into 1/2 inch chunks. Place the brie into the artichoke and throughout the leaves. Place on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees until the brie is melted (about 10 minutes).

To make the mustard sauce, combine shallots and white wine in a saucepan over high heat. Slowly, add the butter and remove from heat. Then add mustard, white wine vinegar, salt, pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice to the mixture. Drizzle mixture over artichoke and serve.

Delicious!!!

 
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