Wild Duck

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Willitts Wild Duck

Wild DuckThis was one of the Willitts’ Pump Company Christmas Party favorites. Here is what my brother remembers: I’d remove the foil and lid in the last minutes of cooking so the aroma filled the shop. I’d plate it (usually 6 ducks) with sliced oranges and parsley … And put forks on the tray for a taste. It was gone in minutes!

Along with wild duck, cheeses, breads, pit meat, homemade olives for this party was my dad’s Portuguese Beans. Enjoy recipe 1, here, and recipe 2, here.

 

Photo by David Willitts. Thanks David!

 

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Albondigas Soup

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Simple Albondigas Soup

Meatball Soup

Albondigas SoupThis is one of my brother’s family favorites and I can see why. Use your favorite meatball recipe or mine, meatballs … And with the simple addition of tomatoes and onions to a beef broth you’ve Albondigas Soup.

The secret is to keep it simple.

 

Thank you Ruth, my sister-in-law, for the suggestion and recipe … I can see this as our family favorite too.

 

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Wheat Loaf

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Home Ground Wheat Loaf

Wheat LoafDan, my brother, visited from Oregon this last week and brought me this absolutely perfectly baked delicious wheat bread. Yep, he grinds the wheat himself. Gluten free? Definitely not! He adds gluten! I’m still waiting for the recipe, Danny. I guess I’m going to have to give out your email address here for those who want to try it out. Ha-ha. Hurry!

FINALLY, the recipe!! Thank you to Kay Patterson, Dan’s neighbor, for sharing this lovely recipe with our family!

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Beef Ragu with Kale

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Beef Ragù with Kale or Spinach

Sunday Pasta

Beef Ragu with Kale

Nothing more comforting than Sunday Pasta and a glass of red wine … for so many reasons. This recipe can provide a one dish meal. Or add a little side salad to complete. Hope you enjoy this easy Sunday Ragù as much as I.

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Jumping the Gun

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Miss and Me

Me and Miss

Here we are! My lovely daughter and me. I’ve had so much fun with my blog … And so excited my daughter has decided to begin her own. Missy is a great everything … mother, daughter, cook, organizer, decorator…. Hers is a personal style blog!

Her debut is April 13th! Put this on your calendar … And don’t let her know I mentioned you can preview. sapphirediaries.com

 

Banana Nut Cake with Caramel Glaze

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Banana Nut Cake

Caramel Glaze

Banana Nut Cake with Caramel Glaze

This is an old fashioned recipe or two … made for my mother. She has been very ill and you may have noticed this has impacted my posting. She is recuperating well and I’m making my way back to full swing.

This quick dessert is a simple 8 inch square banana cake … One of those last minute one bowl mixes providing a use for those over-ripe bananas. Delicious with coffee, tea or milk.

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Tortellini Mac N Cheese

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Belly Button Mac N Cheese

Tortellini, A Different Style

Tortellini Mac N Cheese

And then there’s Ina Garten … Cheesy dishes are one of her specialities. When I say cheesy there is no other way to put it. If you aren’t into cheese just forget it! Some years ago my oldest son requested her 5 Cheese Penne Pasta for his birthday dinner. Little did I know one of the guests didn’t like cheese. Can you imagine! She didn’t tell me directly but she stirred her food to appear eaten. With four kids I knew what that meant.

This beats any cheesy recipe Ina has but in reality it’s a make over of her Mac N Cheese. Be prepared … this is so rich just a little will do you.

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Country Green Beans

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Country String Beans

Country Green Beans

Simple food is used to describe this green bean dish. This recipe is from my childhood days … And it actually involved string beans, now modified into the green beans we find today. String beans when snapped had a string along the side of the bean … giving the name. And if I remember correctly these beans were a little tougher too.

This recipe requires an hour of cooking time. The texture and the color are far different from the al dente bright green beans we see today.

Several have requested I post this recipe. The simple truth is I love these beans, too!

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Baked Beans

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Grandma Rose’s Baked Beans

Baked Beans

The taste of Baked Beans … rich, sweet, tangy and just a hint of smoky bacon. This is so delicious and put together again for someone special. She’s been ill and requested this recipe!

Thank you Grandma Rose for another family favorite.

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Texas Sheet Cake

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Texas Sheet Cake Roll

Good Idea Or Not!

Texas Sheet Cake

This might have worked if I’d gone about it at a slower pace … Letting things cool a bit … rolling the cake in a towel sprinkled with powered sugar. But iffy at best. This is a heavy cake not spongy like most cake rolls. Why did I even attempt this? It seemed like a good idea at the time … It wasn’t just an exercise … It was about presentation.

Have you tried a slice of Texas Sheet Cake? It’s amazing! And can feed a crowd. But let’s say you’re not having a barbecue and you want to have this moist delicious chocolaty cake for a more formal event. The sheet cake presentation, well, is lacking.

So, here is my Texas Sheet Cake recipe but unrolled.

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