Mushroom Sauce

I feel bad that I let real life get in the way of posting so here's one of the recipes from my cookbook ~ enjoy!

Mushroom sauce

Try serving this over pork, salmon, steak, in a chicken omelet...whatever your heart desires.

1 cup button mushrooms sliced thin
2 tbsp butter
1 dash salt
1 dash cumin
1 dash lemon dill weed
1  dash pepper
1 dash cayenne pepper
1/4 cup buttermilk
1 tbsp flour

Saute mushrooms in butter and sprinkle various spices on top.

Mix together flour and buttermilk and stir into sauteed mushrooms.

Chili Fries

1 large potato, peeled and cut into shoestring pieces
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
Kosher salt
Extra light olive oil

Cut up the potato and put in a bowl.  Drizzle a light coating of extra light olive oil and toss.  Mix together garlic powder, cumin and chili powder in a small dish.  Sprinkle spices over the shoestring potatoes and then spread out in a single layer on a parchment lined baking sheet.  Sprinkle with Kosher salt. 

Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 45 minutes.  Keep an eye on them towards the end so they do not get too crispy.

2 servings.

I would have taken a photo to accompany the recipe but a slight kitchen mishap resulted in half of the potato ending up on my kitchen floor.  No 5 second rule here. 

Cinnamon Pear Muffins

These were an excellent start to the morning.  I'll share this recipe and more soon.

A good friend ~

Is one that surprises you with a recipe for apfelpfannkuchen.  Thanks Gina!

Snow day ~

Unfortunately also a vacation day while my car is stuck in my driveway.  I did use it to my advantage somewhat.  The cleaning doesn't count but I did put some au gratin potatoes into the crockpot made with my new favorite cheese ~ cranberry & chipotle pepper. 
I used this cheese to create a new recipe over the weekend for chicken phyllo wraps. 
Another recommendation is lemon bits from King Arthur Flour.  They add the perfect amount of zing to lemon bread and I imagine anything else they are added to.
Well the Barefoot Contessa is on and she's one of my favorites.

Later ~

Man cave? No ~ Woman cave!

Man cave this...man cave that.  Enough!  I've decided I want my own cave.  I'm making my kitchen my sanctuary.  It is here that I create new recipes and brave new techniques. 

The best part is I can justify my kitchen purchases like the new bright yellow colander and having 4 sets of measuring spoons.  If you've stumbled into here, you probably understand and are feeling the need to shop for fun kitchen toys and then somehow find a place to put them into your already over packed cupboards. 

A new cooking magazine subscription?  Yes, go for it.  You can never have too many to find inspiration on a cold winter night to enter your woman cave and create comfort food.  Another cookbook?  You can never have too many.  It's impossible.

I'm off to my cave to seek solace from the ice storm outside.  Enjoy your evening ~