Merry Christmas!

"J" and "A" have been entertaining a lot the past few weeks, so I thought I'd give them a well-deserved break and host this past Monday.  Another motive, for myself, was wanting to do something nice for them.  They host me each and every Monday, and having them over for one Monday out of the year is the least I could do. 

This night was also our Christmas celebration, together.  So, although I originally told them I would just have a few appetizers for us to snack on, I wanted to make it extra special. 

The evening started out with two appetizers.  The first was a bacon wrapped stuffed date.  You take dried pitted dates, almonds, cheese and bacon. 

Cut a slice in the date, and stuff the cheese and almond inside.

Then wrap with the bacon, and bake for 20 minutes.  Easiest, yummy, appetizer you'll ever make.

Next appetizer starts with fresh asparagus.  My favorite.

Prosciutto.

Slice the prosciutto in half.

Add some cream cheese.  I just used regular cream cheese, but a flavored one would be yummy with this as well.

Lay the spear down on the prosciutto.

And wrap-up!

These go in the oven, with a little oil and salt, to bake for 20 minutes or until crispy.

Dates out of the oven and ready to enjoy.

Asparagus out and ready to enjoy.  When they come out, I squeezed a fresh lemon over them.  Gives it a nice punch!

The special surprise I did for "J" and "A" was cooking them a real dinner.  Let's face it folks, I had to make up for my last attempt (remember, the beans?).  :)  The meal starts with ground turkey.

Sour cream and cream cheese.

Green onions and garlic go in.

This is the cheese mixture.

Butter ready for the ground turkey.

Ground turkey cooked down with tomato sauce.

Yep, lasagna.  You layer the noodles with the meat sauce and cheese mixture, then top it off with some cheddar cheese.  Bake in the oven for 30 minutes. 

The lasagna done.

Meal ready.  Next time I would double the meat sauce, as the cheese mixture was too rich.  It definitely overpowered the dish. 

"J" and "A" brought dessert.  Homemade marshmallows!

Which went perfectly in hot chocolate.  We loaded the car, "J", "A", myself and our two dogs and drove around looking at Christmas lights and signing caroles.  It was a great night! 

Merry Christmas to all, and Happy New Year!  May 2012 bring you all the happiness one can handle! 

Until next time.....A la cuisine!

A Year......

.......Goes By Fast When You're Having Fun!  Can you believe it's been a year since we started our cooking adventures and blog?  We have met every Monday night for 44 weeks.  Only missing 8 weeks out of the year!  Now that is dedication! 

This year has been full of great meals, moments and memories that will last a life-time.

JAK wanted to do it up right, celebrating this past year, by going out and treating ourselves. 

So, we headed to a hidden jewel in our neighborhood.  Kyles 1025. 

We indulged in two appetizers.  A spinach artichoke dip, and a crab cake.  The dip was delicious.  Creamy and rich, and perfect on the toasted baguette.  The crab cake was perfect as well.  As advertised ('no fillers') that it didn't have.  On top layed fried onions, which were the perfect touch.  A great start.

I ordered the fillet.  It was cooked perfectly.  Nice and crunchy on the outside, but juicy on the inside.  The potato and asparagus were good side additions as well.

Both "J" and "A" ordered the Kyles Famous Chicken Fried Steak.  They take a fillet, pound it out, and fry it.  Yummo.  Their sides were spinach, baby carrots and mashed potatoes.  The potatoes were lacking, and therefore did not make the picture.  :)

Plate, complete.

Cheers to us.  This has been an incredible year, and I'm honored and blessed to have spent 44 of my Monday's with you "J" and "A".  Here's to many more!

YEAR IN REVIEW

JAK thought it would be fun to take a look back at our blog, and pick out our 5 personal favorites.  Below are those who made the "cut".  Although we realize and acknowledge we don't have many followers, we adore the one's we have.  Thank you.  We hope you enjoy our Monday's, each Tuesday, with us.  Or, Wednesday or Thursday.  (we know it sometimes takes me a while to get the blog posted).  :)  Enjoy remembering back with us as well!

"J's" Top 5

1. 01/11/11-Bolognese

2. 02/07/11-Chicken Pot Pie

3. 07/26/11-Fruit Stuffed Pork

4. 10/04/11-Short Ribs

5. 12/05/11-Pork Verde

"A's" Top 5

1. 01/11/11-Bolognese

2. 02/07/11-Chicken Pot Pie

3. 05/04/11-Waffles

4. 07/26/11-Fruit Stuffed Pork

5. 10/04/11-Short Ribs (to include the Basil Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Fried Shrimp)

"K's" Top 5

1. 01/11/11-Bolognese

2. 02/14/11-Valentine's Dinner (fillet, potato, asparagus, chocolate cake)

3. 05/10/11-Fondue

4. 07/10/11-Lobster

5. 10/04/11-Short Ribs

You'll notice, we have such similar ones (especially the married couple....:).  Good tastes, I suppose.  

Who knows what's in store for JAK this next year.  We do know this: We aren't taking a break!  We also know this: We are hoping for plenty of dinner guests this year!  Stay tuned. 

Until next time....A la cuisine!

Test Kitchen

Approaching the holiday season means lots of parties, which means lots of cooking.  JAK thought it would be fun to try out some new appetizers this past Monday!  Simple (well, if making your own sausage is simple), yet elegant. 

If there was a "star" of the night it would be the phylo dough!

These are the seasonings "J" used in his sausage.

Sausage.

Rolled up and ready for the winter!

The phylo dough rolled out.

Guyre cheese.  One of my personal favorites.

A layer of dijon mustard and salami go on top of the rolled out phylo dough.

The guyre cheese is next.  Then another layer of the phylo dough. 

It bakes until golden brown.  How spectacular!

Next, phylo dough cut into squares.

Each corner is given a slice.

The delicately twisted.

The cooked (homemade) sausage is mixed with cream cheese.

Placed in the center of the fancy phylo shapes and baked.

Two fabulous appetizers.  Both definitely made the "cut" in JAK's test kitchen.  I couldnt' pick a favorite out of the two.  The salami one had such a rich flavor.  The dijon mustard with the cheese was perfect.  The cream cheese and homemade sausage was pretty perfect as well.

JAK hopes you all have a very merry holiday season, full of great parties, appetizers, spirits and bigger pant sizes.  :) 

Next Monday we celebrate our Year Anniversary (can you believe it?)!  Join us as we celebrate the past year, by picking our Top 5 meals of the year.  You won't want to miss it!

Until next time.....A la cuisine!

Arriba!

Last Monday JAK embarked on Mexican cuisine.

Sure can't start a Mexican night without shots of Tequila!

"J" started the night with bell peppers and jalapenos from his garden.

Such beautiful and vibrant colors!

They get blended together.

Cooked on the stove.

Put into mason jars.

And turned into a beautiful, and yummy, bell pepper and jalapeno jelly!

Such cute gifts!  We ate it this evening over cream cheese and on crackers.  Delish!

The main dish starts with tomitillos. 

They get roasted in the oven.

A great cut of pork joins the action.

Cubed up.

Dredged in flour.

And seared on the stove top.

A spicy mixture gets added to the roasted tomitillos.

Which all simmers down with the pork.

Can you say Pork Verde!!!

Large flour tortillas.

A Mexican Sour Cream (only way to go folks, with any type of cuisine).

The start of my burrito.

Rolled up, with more sour cream and sauce on top.  It was so yummy!  Best Pork Verde I've ever had!  Was so glad "J" tried his hand at Mexican!

Until next time......A la cuisine!