Menu Plan Monday: Cooking for One

This should be a fun week in the kitchen......lots of experimentation, trying some new things and old favorites. Cooking for one isn't always easy - but if I like what I make, I'll have plenty of leftovers, right! I am kicking it all off on Monday with my all-time favorite meal!

Check out the 300+ amazing people who come up with some lip-smacking yummy menus every Monday. Check them all out here!

Enjoy!

Stacy

Monday: Fried Willapa Bay Medium Oysters W/Diced Potatoes and Ruth's Chris Creamed Spinach

Tuesday: Taco Del Mar - gosh I love this place. I haven't eaten here in awhile. Easy night!

Wednesday: Pan-Seared Scallops with Spicy Coconut Curry Cream Sauce, Jasmine Rice and Snap Peas

Thursday: Chicken-Fried Steak with Garlic Smashed Potatoes and Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Friday: Tuna Noodle Casserole (probably my second all time favorite dinner)

Saturday: I am going to put on a big pot of my famous Spaghetti Bolognese for the weekend. Chick and Pop return from Ohio in the afternoon with lots of pictures and stories.

Old Photo Friday: My Dad and his Sister

Date: 1949 (Pop said he was 6 years old)
Location: Up on the hill at Comstock, OR - on the way to Curtin, south of Cottage Grove, OR
Who: My Dad and his Sister Judy along with my Great-Grandma, Helen (with dog, Tip) in front of Grandpa Cavey's 1941 Chevy pickup.
What: Swap Day (I guess boys dressed up as girls and vice versa). Yes that is my Pop in a dress. He said he was the only boy to dress up.

Chick and Pop are back in Ohio visiting their Sister (and my Aunt), Judy. A few weeks ago, Dad found a bag of old photos in his garage and I snatched them up.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Savory Bread Pudding

The folks over at "A Good Appetite" have been experimenting with savory bread puddings and I thought it would be fun to experiment a bit myself. It also served as a perfect accompaniment to our rare roast beef dinner last Tuesday night.

Instead of making individual puddings, I wanted to tear the bread up into chunks and make a pudding in a casserole dish. Here is my adaptation...

Bread Pudding with Leeks, Garlic and Mushrooms
SERVES: 10 (I actually cut it in half to serve 5)

Ingredients:
1 cup dried porcini mushrooms (1 ounce)
1 1/2 cups hot water
1/2 pound cremini mushrooms, thinly sliced
One 1 1/2-pound brioche or challah loaf, cut into 3/4-inch dice
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, 4 melted
3 large leeks, white and tender green parts only, sliced 1/2 inch thick
3 large garlic cloves, thinly sliced (I like to mince)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 teaspoon chopped thyme
4 eggs, lightly beaten
2 cups milk
2 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
1 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, soak the dried porcini in the hot water until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain and finely chop the mushrooms (including the cremini), discarding any tough bits.

2. Preheat the oven to 350°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the brioche with the melted butter and bake for 20 minutes, or until golden and crisp. Let cool.

3. Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet. Add the leeks and garlic and season with salt and pepper; cook 2-3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook an additional 8-10 minutes, stirring, often.

4. Add the wine and cook until evaporated, then remove from the heat and stir in the parsley and thyme;let cool.

5. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs with the milk and cream. Add the cooled leek mixture and season generously with salt and pepper. Stir in the brioche and cheese.

6. Transfer the mixture to a 3- to 4-quart buttered baking dish. Cover with plastic and refrigerate overnight. Bring to room temperature before baking.

7. Preheat the oven to 375°. Toss the bread to make sure it's evenly soaked. Cover with a buttered sheet of foil and bake for 1 hour, or until just set. Remove the foil and bake for 30 minutes longer, or until the top is golden and crisp.

Fall Clean-up

Brian spent Saturday out in the new yard starting the clean up process.

I called him the "Mayor of West Seattle" as he introduced himself to all his new neighbors. He even had our new next door neighbor, Doug helping him take ivy out of the tree.

Boy, this place has sure been neglected. It's in need of a lot of TLC and Brian is the guy with the green thumb that can make a difference.

It's going to be a long process, but Brian is really excited about it.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Birthday Brunch!

In honor of Sonja's birthday on September 26th, Brian and I hosted a little brunch on Sunday.

The menu:
Blueberry Muffins
Toasted Poppyseed Bagels with Cream Cheese
Fruit salad
Morningstar "piggies"
Potatoes O'Brien
Scrambled Eggs
Champagne Mimosas

It was fun to see them all again and celebrate in our new home.

Little Maile was such a sweet baby and she slept most of the morning!

Enjoy!

Stacy

Menu Plan Monday:

The Rebecca Lane household is going to be a busy place this week. Lots of comings and goings. My Pop arrives on Monday and him and Chick leave for Chicago/Ohio mid-week, Brian arrives Tuesday night to teach a few days in PDX and our friends the Seymour's are driving down from Seattle for the weekend. We may have a changing menu, but here is a good start.

Here is this weeks menu. Check out Laura for more menu ideas.

Monday: Quick and Easy Tamale Pie with a Garden Salad (Thanks to Day Recipe for the link)

Tuesday: Rare Roast Beef, a variation of Kat's savory bread pudding, Roasted Brussel Sprouts and Buttery Green Peas (for Brian).

Wednesday: Spaghetti Bolognese with Brian's famous garlic bread (I can eat the whole loaf)

Thursday: Taco Thursday (homemade soft shell tacos with all the fixins')

Friday: Friends are visiting from Seattle. Sonja loves this place so perhaps a nice veggie curry.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Sonja and Stacy

Date: 1999-2000
Location: Oba! Restaurant
Who: Sonja and Stacy
What: First Thursday (monthly art walk/pub crawl). I think Sonja flew up from California for an evening out on the town. Two single girls....looking for fun. Those were the good ol' days.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO SONJA WHO TURNS 36 today!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Recipe of the Week: Portobello Frittata (Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month)

In April of 2007, I lost someone very special to me to Ovarian Cancer. That's why I was so touched to hear about a tremendous event to raise funds for Ovarian Cancer Research, the OFoods for Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month Contest.

In honor of Gina DePalma, author of Dolce Italiano: Desserts from the Babbo Kitchen and Executive Pastry Chef of Babbo Ristorante in NYC, who was recently diagnosed with ovarian cancer, Sara of Ms Adventures in Italy, Jenn of The Leftover Queen, and Michelle of Bleeding Espresso, have asked the blogging world to donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and post a recipe on our blogs using a food that starts or ends with the letter O (e.g., oatmeal, orange, okra, octopus, olive, onion, potato, tomato). Here is my entry!


PORTOBELLO FRITTATA
SERVES 4

Ingredients:
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons butter
8 ounces Portobello mushroom caps, thinly sliced
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, stemmed and chopped
5 eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons Parmesan or Romano cheese, grated

Directions:
1. In a large heavy frying pan, heat oil and butter over medium-high heat until bubbly.
2. Add mushrooms, sprinkle with salt, pepper and parsley and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes.
3. Cover pan and cook 3 minutes. Remove cover and cook 5 minutes.
4. In a bowl, whisk eggs with 1 tablespoon cheese and 2 tablespoons water. Pour over mushrooms, reduce heat to low, cover pan and cook until barely set (4-5 minutes).
5. Slide frittata onto a plate, flip back into pan cooked-side-up, sprinkle with remaining cheese, cover pan and cook until set (2-3 minutes). Serve in wedges.

From the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund:

Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of death from gynecologic cancers in the United States and is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among U.S. women; a woman’s lifetime risk of ovarian cancer is 1 in 67.

The American Cancer Society estimates that 21,650 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in the U.S. in 2008 and about 15,520 women will die from the disease.

The symptoms of ovarian cancer are often vague and subtle, making it difficult to diagnose.

There is no effective screening test for ovarian cancer but there are tests which can detect ovarian cancer when patients are at high risk or have early symptoms.

In spite of this patients are usually diagnosed in advanced stages and only 45% survive longer than five years. Only 19% of cases are caught before the cancer has spread beyond the ovary to the pelvic region.

When ovarian cancer is detected and treated early on, the five-year survival rate is greater than 92%.

Please donate to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund and help spread the word!

Prize winners for the contest will be announced on October 3.

Prizes:
1 Recipe Prize for best “O food” concoction: $50 gift certificate to Amazon;
1 Awareness Prize for only publicizing event: Copy of Dolce Italiano cookbook.

Give me an "H"

Kamalie posted a meme/tag on her blog last week so I jumped at the challenge to name 10 things that begin with a certain letter. She gave me the letter "H" so here goes:

1. Homes: I am so lucky to have two places that I love so much, Rebecca Lane and our new home in West Seattle. Most people do not understand our routine, but to be honest, it's something that has always worked right from the start. I'd rather be in my homes.....cooking, cleaning or just hanging out than any other place on this planet.

2. Heat: Something the new house didn't have over the weekend (must be the pilot light). It was 57 degrees with a steady drizzle all day on Saturday. Just couldn't get the chill out of the house. Perhaps a precursor to the winter months ahead.

3. Haiku: I wrote one earlier this month and posted it on Rocks In My Dryer website. She was having a back-to-school haiku contest. I didn't win, but it was a fun challenge.

4. Halloween: For the first time in 11 years, Rebecca Lane will be closing it's doors on the 31st. No candy, no lighted pumpkins. Instead, Chick and I will travel up to West Seattle together on Amtrak for her first look at the new house.

5. Hamburger: This recipe sounds wonderful. Perhaps a few more opportunities this year to grill, if our Indian Summer holds. I just didn't get enough burgers on the grill this year.

6. Hawaii: My favorite vacation spot, Maui to be exact. I've been there three times, twice with Brian and now that his brother lives on Oahu, I am hoping to show Brian Pearl Harbor on our next visit.

7. Hemoglobin: My Doctor informed me that my hemoglobin is low. What does this mean? I started taking a daily multi-vitamin so hopefully my hemoglobin count will be in-check.

8. Hotcakes: I am going to get the griddle out this Saturday and cook up some hotcakes (pancakes) for Brian.

9. Housewarming Party: Trying to decide if we will have one or not?

10. Hummingbird: I don't think I saw one hummingbird in our backyard at Rebecca Lane this year.

The Pink Chair

Brian and I went to St. Vincent DePaul's last Saturday in search of a cheap chest of drawers for one of the spare rooms.

As we were leaving, out of the corner of my eye I saw this pink chair. Brian said he hated the color, but I knew in a heartbeat that it would blend in nicely in the new TV room.
For $35 I bought my pink chair and I love it. It's my new favorite thing.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Our New Neighborhood!

Brian and I spent our first full weekend in and around West Seattle. We are really enjoying getting to know our new neighborhood.

Community Garden just 3 blocks from our front door


This is a view looking east from the west end of 44th ave (our house is behind the cedar tree to the left)

We spent Saturday continuing to organize the house. We still have rooms to organize and pictures to hang, but all-in-all....the place is really coming together.

We even had time to stop into our favorite pub, the Beveridge Place
on Saturday for a libation.

Sunday after the rains had cleared, we explored the neighborhood and walked around Lincoln Park.

Enjoy!
Stacy

Menu Plan Monday: Family Favorites Edition

Is it Monday again!? That's really hard to believe.....and the fact that the first day of fall is today! Where has this year gone? Let's celebrate with some really good, quick and easy recipes.

Don't forget to check out the other Menu Plan ideas at the Organizing Junkie website!

This week, Laura is hosting a special MPM - the Family Favorites edition (so another great reason to check out her site).

Monday: Filet Mignon with Peppercorn Cream Sauce and a Gourmet Salad with Feta and Walnuts

Tuesday: Pepperoni Pizza Pouches with leftover salad

Wednesday: Curry Pasta Primavera

Thursday: Asia Sea Bass with Green Beans

This is Rebecca Lane's "new" family favorite. We eat a lot of shrimp and this recipe is quick to get on the table.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Old Photo Friday: Brian in Black and White

Date: 1998
Location: Oak Harbor, Whidbey Island
Who: Brian
What: Asking for directions?

Brian being funny......he always makes me laugh and this is a really cute picture.

Enjoy!
Stace

Recipe of the Week: Filet Mignon with Peppercorn Cream

I love my Cooks Country magazine. There are always quite a few recipes that look easy to prepare, especially during the week when things get hectic. This sauce sounds really yummy.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Filet Mignon with Peppercorn Cream

Serves 4

Ingredients:
4 center-cut tenderloin steaks, about 1 inch thick
salt
4 teaspoons coarsley group pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 shallot, minced
3/4 cup white wine
1/2 low-sodium chicken broth
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 teaspoon fresh tarragon, chopped

Directions:
1. Pat steaks dry with paper towels and season with salt. Rub top and bottom of steaks eavenly with 3 teaspoons pepper.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook steaks until well browned.

Serve with haricot verts and baby red potatoes

Google image

Snow Capped Peaks

Three Sisters

On our flight home from Thousand Oaks earlier in the month, Brian and I had three seats to ourselves.

I scooted over to the window and surveyed the landscape the whole way home.

An awesome shot of Mount Jefferson....

Mount Jefferson is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc and is the second-highest mountain in Oregon. Situated in the far northeastern corner of Linn County about 60 miles east of Corvallis, Jefferson is in a rugged wilderness and is thus one of the hardest volcanos to reach in the Cascades.

Good thing we can see it from the air!

Enjoy!
Stacy

Moving on up!

Brian finally got his house! Oh and it is so cute.

It's a place where he can play in the garden and plant some flowers.

Backyard (view of back door)

We found this cute place in West Seattle last month and this weekend was "move in" day!

Thanks to all who helped out....physically and spiritually. Rob and Kelly, you both ROCK! Had it not been for you, we would not have had such a productive day. Thank you again!

A big thanks to my Mom for preparing a wonderful lunch on Sunday and assisting us with unpacking boxes, decorating ideas and gardening tips. Thank you!

Brian and I are so excited to finally have a home....a place a peace and tranquility (oh and tons of room for visitors).

Enjoy!
Stacy

Menu Plan Monday

Our leaves are really starting to turn and a fall nip is indeed in the air. Perhaps it's time to begin introducing some "comfort food favorites" into the weekly plan. Mac and cheese is one of my favorites!

Check out Laura's website for some more recipes and great menu planning ideas.

Enjoy!

Stacy

Monday: Dijon Pork Cutlets with Acorn Squash (another fall favorite)

Tuesday: BBQ'd Asian glazed salmon with a big garden salad

Wednesday: Four cheese Macaroni and Cheese with leftover salad

Thursday: General Tsao's Chicken with Jasmine Rice

Old Photo Friday: Autzen Stadium Memories

Date: September 2001
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
Who: Simon Parry (visiting from Australia), Stacy, Jimmy Willis and Sandra at the Isler & Company annual tail-gator.
What: Big game! Ducks vs. highly ranked USC (and we kicked their butts). Our nation was in mourning after the attacks of 9/11 and the football game gave us something to cheer about again.

The ducks are playing some good football, but I know it is early in the season.

Enjoy!
Stace

Recipe of the Week: Yellow Squash Fritters

Squash Fritters

I am sure many of you have quite a few of these from your summer garden. I saw this recipe on one of my favorite cooking blogs a few weeks back and thought that they sounded like a great ROTW.

Enjoy!
Stacy

(makes 6 large fritters)

INGREDIENTS:
4 yellow squashes, grated
1/2 Vidalia onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1/2 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1 egg
1/2 cup whole wheat pancake mix (or use ww flour)
1/4 cup whole wheat bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded cheese (half Parmesan and half sharp cheddar)
salt and pepper to taste

METHOD:
1. Grate squash in a food processor or using a box grater.
2. Salt squash and let it sit in a strainer over a bowl for about 1/2 hour.
3. In the meantime, saute the onions and peppers in a large skillet. When onions are transparent and soft, add spices.
4. After 1/2 hour, squeeze the squash hard until most of the water comes out. Combine squash, onions peppers, egg, pancake mix, bread crumbs and cheese in a large bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.
5. Form into patties and dredge in a little more pancake mix. Pan fry in olive oil until golden.

Serve as a burger in buns, or in a pita with tomato and avocado slices.

Image courtesy of Google

Saying goodbye to Tacoma

Brian and I spent our last weekend together in University Place, packing up our Tacoma life and looking forward to starting fresh in West Seattle. Brian begins the move on Wednesday with the official "big move" on Saturday.

Brian's not the least bit nostalgic about saying goodbye to Tacoma, but I am. There are quite a few places that I am really going to miss.

Here are a few memories.....

Foss Waterway, Chihuly Museum of Glass and the autumn afternoon I spent exploring downtown Tacoma while Brian worked.The Ale House.....pub trivia and great hamburgers.

Gig Harbor only 10 minutes away! Off-the-cuff trips to see the wine lady and grab lunch at the Tides, walk along the harbor and window shop.Chambers Bay.......

I know we will be closer to Alki and Greelake, but Chambers Bay is one great walk I will really miss.

Titlow Beach and the Beach Tavern......within walking distance to Westridge. A great place to grab an afternoon ale and hang out with some colorful locals.

Westridge sunsets......in the winter time from the back deck we could see the Puget Sound.

Goodbye to Tacoma and all its memories!

Enjoy!

Stacy