LoveFeast Table

Things are getting a bit ramped up around here!  I’ve been scrubbing floors, washing sheets, cleaning up the patio, cutting the grass, painting walls (I like having a reason to check off my list) and menu planning.  Why?  You might ask…well, the other half of LoveFeast is coming for a B’More visit!!  Tomorrow, Chris Ann, hubby and half of their clan are coming!

You have to understand, for the past five years (since living on opposite sides of the map) we have maintained strong friendships through visits.  These visits are precious, not long enough and not often enough!  So, we tend to try and pack in a years worth of visits in a short time.  It makes for an incredibly fun and exhausting time!  We eat like kings!  We drink like…well, let’s just say we’re always very thirsty!

This visit, my handy man hubby, took the libations into his own hands.  He came home a couple of days ago with this.

I said, “What is that for?”  His chest swelled with pride as he responded, “That’s for the sangria brew!”

This morning, he made a pit stop in between jobs, to begin the marinating process.

The fruit went in.

The alchohol went in.

The wine went in.

The firepit is ready.

Even the little ones made a contribution.

24 hours to go!  Not to worry, we will keep you posted on all our antics!

As you can see, we have pretty awesome husbands, who are pretty awesome dads to a huge brood of kids!  They pretty much rock!  So, for Father’s day yesterday, my kids and I decided to make a pretty killer breakfast for Devon.

When we were first married, Devon worked like three jobs to take care of us!  One of his jobs was to deliver baked goods and pastries to local coffee shops.  Now, my sister, Cana worked at one of these said coffee shops.  One morning, she arrived to work and two of her co workers were swooning over the new “hottie muffin boy”.  My sister said, “You mean the guy who delivers our muffins?  That’s my brother in law!”  So, in honor of hottie muffin boy…who at times has held down multiple jobs to provide for our family…we made blueberry scones!  In addition, we made omelets stuffed with homemade oven roasted tomatoes, mushrooms and onions and cheddar cheese.  We pulled a steamy cup of espresso and enjoyed a morning with one pretty amazing dad!!

This scone recipe I’m sharing is from the Joy of Baking and it is by far the best scone recipe I have found!  So, if you are on the hunt (Kim!!) for a great scone recipe, I promise this one will not disappoint!

Cream Scones (makes 8 scones…I usually double recipe as they disappear quickly!)

2 Cups all purpose flour

1/4 Cup granulated sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

1/8 tsp. salt

1/3 Cup cold unsalted butter

1 large egg lightly beaten

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

Egg Mixture for brushing top of scones:

1 large egg lightly beaten

1 Tbls. heavy cream

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Place rack in the middle of the oven and line baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.  Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture with a pastry blender.  Mixture should be like coarse crumbs.

3.  In a small measuring cup combine the whipping cream, beaten egg and vanilla.  Add this mixture to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.  Do not over mix.

4. Knead dough gently on lightly floured board.  Pat dough into circle about 7 inches round and about 1 1/2 inches thick.  Cut this circle into 8 triangular sections.

5. Make the egg mixture by combining egg and cream and brush the scones with the mixture.  This helps the scones to brown.

6. Bake for about 15 minutes or until lightly browned on top.

(note:  I added 1 Cup of blueberries in at the end of step 3.  The original recipe also says you can dust the tops of the scones with powdered sugar and place briefly under a broiler.  I like my scones on the not so sweet side, so I have never attempted this step.)

I think these are best eaten the day that they are made!

Happy Day After Father’s Day Devon and Todd and all the other hottie muffin boys out there!!

Cheers to you Dads (Todd & Devon)!

 As I have said before, I can be a cooking challenged food blogger, known for being desperate for dinner and “Avoiding Supper”. I have been even know to chuck meat. It seems if I get one part done, the shopping, or the menu planning, I can’t get the other part done, the cooking. Time, you see, is not on my side. I have four kids, and a full time van chauffeuring job that keeps me driving from 9am-4pm with an hour and a half window to plan, shop, cook, and eat.  It’s not that I don’t try. To ease my load a CSA from Jackson Hollow Farms is getting delivered and occasionally I make time to take the trek into the city for organic shopping at Whole Foods. Kristin is use to my manically cheerful phone call on the ride back, “Guess where I was?” Kristin, “oh, noooo!” (I always think it would be really great to answer; I got a tattoo or won the lottery.)  But usually you could insert, Pier One/spent to much, my fav boutique Covered/spent too much, or new hair cut/new look.  Sometimes, it is something very close to winning the lottery– I had time to go to Whole Foods/spent too much/but feel good about it/sort of. That is typical me, good intentions, good groceries, now no time to cook them in! Well, eventually twittering and surfing around the blogging community I found another, I think, like minded food blogger. Chaos in the Kitchen is a great food blog with just what I need, a weekly planning menu with a master grocery list. And, with a name like Chaos in the Kitchen, I count her as a friend, although we’ve never met.  So, after I read her Blogging the Recession, one of the recipes I made, was the Creamy Shrimp and Mushroom Pasta. It was really good; everybody in my family liked it.  Next time, I might add a little bit more spice for me and my husband, perhaps some Old Bay-just a touch. So, Chaos, thanks for the recipe help and planning and thanks for veering me off the path of unhappy all yellow food!

Also, thank you to the reader (someone who works with my husband) who sent him home with some of their stash of good ole’ fashion, Oh Henry Bar candy bars!  That made my night last night, with a glass of wine!  They’re almost as good as the real thing!  Ha!

Readers:  How do you tame your kitchen chaos conundrum?  Share your help with us!

I’m going to let you in on a family secret.  The recipe for Oh Henry Bars.  Just ignore the fact that when I Google-d  these babies a bunch of recipes for Oh Henry Bars came up.  These, my friends, are the real deal.  They were my husband’s grandmother’s recipe, cut from an old almanac or newsletter, found in an old accordion filing envelope.   We think the recipe can be dated to sometime around the late 40′s or 50′s, possibly from a publication like the Rural Electric Association Newsletter of Anoka County, around what use to be called Soderville, MN and now called Ham Lake.  This was Lake Wobegon country.  In fact, my husband’s mother attended school with Garrison Keillor.  These bars were probably brought to picnics, potlucks, and church basements.  My Mother-n-law has been making these for years.  And, ultimately, even though you may try.  You won’t make them as good as she does.  She has a magic pan.  And, Oh Henry Bar skill from years of practice.   They are the perfect blend of crispy and chewy, sweet and salty.  These are the type of bar that will have you cutting off bits until a row is gone.  They are bars that will lure you into hoarding.  I know.  I’ve been there.  I was reminiscing about these with my friend Heidi, and she recalled cleaning out my fridge one day, many, many years ago and finding a package wrapped in tinfoil in the back, pulling them out, and asking, “what’s this?”  My confession.  My  Oh Henry Bar stash!  Yes, over the years, I’ve hid these babies– from my kids, my husband, my guests, and even the closest of friends!  Friends who could tell me to throw out my kitchen sponge now, or that my paring knife was more of a hazard then a help.  Friends, who knew where the unloaded dishes went…. they may have never nibbled one crispy chewy bite.  Friends, who went to my house to take the pot roast out of the oven when I had to run to the Emergency Vet Hospital with the dog.  Friends, who wrapped my Christmas presents.  Friends, who changed my children’s diapers.  These people, my people, may have never even heard the name Oh Henry.   I know it’s shocking.  So, for those with whom I never shared my treasure, here it is, the recipe.  Make them for yourself.  And, if someone asks you if you are hiding them in the back of your fridge– take the side of Garrison Keillor who once said, “sometimes you have to look reality in the eye, and deny it”.

Oh Henry Bars

Ingredients:

2/3 Cup Margarine

4 Cups Quick Oatmeal

1 Cup Brown Sugar

2 tsp. Vanilla

½ Cup Light Corn Syrup

Topping:

1 Cup Chocolate Chips (semi-sweet)

2/3 Cup Peanut Butter

1. Melt Margarine.
2. Add Oatmeal, Sugar, Vanilla, and Corn Syrup and stir.
3. Press down oatmeal mixture firmly in a 10X15 jelly roll pan (original recipe says 9X13).
4. Bake for 350degrees for 10 minutes (14 if insulated pan).  It will be bubbly when you take it out.
5. Cool.
6. Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in microwave and spread over top.
7. Refrigerate to set.
8. Hide in a secret stash in the back of refrigerator and snack when no one’s looking.
9. Or, share them with friends, LoveFeast style!

As promised, we gave Clementine another chance.  It was a celebration night!  My husband and I were celebrating our 15th anniversary.  I wanted to go to Clementine.  It’s a local joint, in my hood and I have continued to hear good things.  I noticed a little bit of expansion happening…and wanted to get a closer look.  As we walked by, I noticed the vintage stove in the window.  Oh my!  It’s screaming for vintage or handmade wallpaper behind it…with a big bold pattern!  (You see, I’m an artist and can’t help but take in the whole picture, the entire environment and of course critique and form a creative opinion!)

We walked in and were warmly, much more warmly than the first time I might add, greeted.  We were escorted to our table.  When Devon and I settled in, we took a few minutes to look around, check out the tables, the guests, the servers…again the whole picture.  It was a good evening.  The tables were full, there was a nice hum and rhythm happening.  There were two servers working the dining room.  This is good!  Clementine is generous to their servers!  We were greeted with a cheerful smile by our waitress.  I asked her what her favorite item was on the menu.  She pointed out the smoked duck breast and the pork chop.

Devon and I agreed on the smoked duck breast with sweet corn and tomato salad as a starter.  When it arrived, something transformed at our table.  We went into Roger Ebert mode.  Maybe it was the wine…maybe our years of restaurant work…or maybe our 15 years together…whatever it was, it took over!  “This duck is smoked to perfection!” Devon exclaimed.  “It melts in my mouth,” I chime in.  Then Devon dove into the rest of the salad and wasn’t too sure about the combination.  (I personally think it’s because he’s not a huge fan of blue cheese.)  “I think the blue cheese is too heavy for this dish,” said Devon.  “I disagree!  The smoked duck needs a bit to stand up to,” I countered.  We both agreed, the tomatoes were not ripe and a bit mealy.  (I know, I know, we were getting into the details.  I think we thought we had some kind of audience.)

I ordered the homemade sausage with shrimp and cheesy grits.  To me, it was amazing!  Every bite, every nibble was incredible.  How can grits be incredible you ask?  I’m not sure.  You’re going to have to go in and try them for yourself.  The sausage was flavorful and spicy…Devon agreed!  The shrimp were cooked perfectly…not overdone, just right.  I sprinkled the grits with the house hot sauce (Is it homemade? I wonder.)  If it is, it needs to be bottled!  (If it’s not, I need to know what kind it is!) It was so good!

Devon had grilled lamb steak with tomato, caper and oregano salad… topped with tzatziki and served with jasmine rice.  “It’s not bad, but it could’ve been better,” he told me.  “The meat was cut too thin, which means it will be overcooked (can’t help but make it well done) and a bit tough.  The tomato salad was by far the best part of the dish, and the element that saved it!”

I talked Devon into the chocolate peanut butter cake.  This cake was highly recommended by Leslie F. Miller, author of Let Me Eat Cake.  So, I had it on good authority that it was worthy of digesting the extra calories.  It reminded me of a Tastykake peanut butter Kandy Kake.  I don’t know if that is a good thing or not, but I will say, it tasted homemade.  It didn’t have that processed bakery taste.

As we waited for our doggy bags, we began to go into Roger Ebert mode once again.  Somehow, (definitely the wine talking at this point) we (or should I say I) began to break down the philosophy behind Clementine.  Forgive me Clementine owners if I got it all wrong!  But, the restaurant evokes a feeling of being in grandma’s country kitchen.  I could almost smell the fresh lilac outside the kitchen window and the smell of a baking cherry pie in the oven.  The food is made with love.  The ingredients are chosen (or in my mind, picked that morning in the backyard garden) with care.  Devon was not as convinced.  He felt that the items the chef cared about the most, the sausages, the smoked meats, the charcuterie…should have stood out more on the plates, or at least be blended with more balanced ingredients.  Technical I say!

I gave it a thumbs up.  A four out of five stars.

He gave it a thumb.  A three out of five stars.

Not that our opinion matters…but for now, we are Devon and Kristin, at the Restaurants!

Our dear friends, Albert and Irene, will be heading back to Holland in two weeks. We will miss them! Devon will miss fire pit, cigar and scotch time with Al…and I will miss long heart to hearts with Irene. Our kids will miss their new “auntie and uncle”. They have quickly become members of our family and fixtures in our day to day life. It really will be hard to say good bye.
Last night, Albert’s dad joined us for a taste of Baltimore. He is here on holiday, making the most of his son’s time in the USA. Typically we would get a few dozen crabs, but it was a late dinner so we decided to steam shrimp, Baltimore style!
For those of you who have never had the privilege of smelling a plate of hot steaming shrimp that has been slathered in Old Bay…or if you have never taken the time to sit with friends, pop open a cold one and peel your hearts away….or if you have never tried one of these babies dipped in a spicy cocktail sauce…this recipe is for you! It’s easy and a crowd pleaser. You don’t need much to go along with it. We usually steam some fresh Maryland corn, but last night Devon decided to grill these sweet juicy ears.

Shrimp With Old Bay:
2 lbs. unpeeled shrimp, heads off
1 lemon cut in quarters
Can of Old Bay (really, use Old Bay…other substitutes really don’t cut it!)

1. Place 4 C. of water and lemon into a Dutch oven. Bring water to a boil.
2. Place colander in pot and put shrimp inside.
3. Sprinkle one side generously with Old Bay…put a lid on top and steam approx. 2-3 min.
4. Toss shrimp (so underside is up) and sprinkle generously with Old Bay…put lid on top and steam another 2-3 min. (Shrimp should be corally pink, not gray!)

It really is that easy! Devon mixed up cocktail sauce, with an extra spoon of horseradish! Irene tossed together a salad of cucumbers, toasted pine nuts and tomatoes and placed on a bed of baby greens.
Albert’s dad was in awe! He said in Holland they don’t have such large and juicy shrimp. He loved the spice! He was surprised the corn was sweet because in Holland it is not!
It was a great evening that we will cherish. We don’t have much time left with our friends, so we are making the most of what time we have. I guess we could always make plans to go to their side of the pond and have a Holland Love Feast! What do you think, Chris Ann?! You up for a trip?

Our new puppy, Roxy, celebrated her first official spa-ing, I mean grooming at Lulu & Luigi’s. (St. Louis Park, Minnesota location).  Roxy thinks I’m a genius because I brought her there for a doggy day trip.  If you need to spend some money on your dog, instead of yourself.  And, if you need to get your dog some cake  that you don’t get to eat.  Lulu & Luigi’s mini dog bakery is a great place to give your foodie dog some love!

“You can say any fool thing to your dog, and the dog will give you this look that says, “My God, you’re right!  I would have never thought of that.” -Dave Barry

We wrapped up our fun week with a final dinner at Marakkesh, in Washington D.C.  If you’ve never been to Marakkesh, I highly recommend a visit!

We arrived and got out of the suburban (which has officially died…so really this was it’s last restaurant adventure…so long old friend) and walked up to a big wooden door.  We had to knock to be allowed in.  We stepped over the threshold and were warmly greeted by numerous hosts and hostesses.  We were escorted to the back dining room.  We crossed a dance floor and joined our party.

Our menu was already chosen by the mother of the bride so we were in for round after round of surprises.  Our server first brought out big hand towels for us to drape across our laps.  Then he put a large bowl on the table and went around to each of us with warm water for us to wash our hands.  We pour a large glass of Moroccan red wine and settled in to enjoy our evening.

The first course was a little bit of salad, hummus and for me the highlight, roasted eggplant jam (I’m not sure what the official name of that sweet dish was, but it was really the best part of the entire meal!)  The food is served on one large, communal plate that you share with your table.  Oh, and did I tell you, there are no utensils!  You eat everything with your hands!  I promise, the food tastes better that way!

The next course was a roasted chicken in olives and lemon.  This was tender and delicious!  After we were down to just the bones, the server replaced our plate with a  plate of lamb kabobs.  These were ok.  My husband and I felt they were not quite as flavorful as other Moroccan food we’ve had…a bit Americanized in our opinion.  A large bowl of cous cous followed, then bowls of fresh fruit and nuts.  We wrapped up the evening with baklava…at that point, I had just a bite…I was so full!

Toward the end of our meal the lights went out, lasers came on, and a belly dancer made her way to the dance floor.  It really is an amazing art!  We enjoyed the dance and laughed as she came and escorted Brielle, the new bride, to the floor to dance with her!  I think Brielle has a hidden talent!

Overall the night was wonderful and the restaurant was a great place for celebrating!  I don’t know that we Americans quite understand celebratory dining.  It seems we are usually in a hurry and don’t take the time to linger, get our hands messy and dance!  I wish there were more places like Marakkesh!

Credits again to the beautiful pictures taken by Thayna Alves.

The wedding was beautiful!  We all arrived at Sherwood Gardens.  The azalas were in full bloom.  Brielle was gorgeous and her bridesmaids looked fresh and dressed perfectly for a garden wedding.  Marc couldn’t stop smiling and Pastor Mike (father of the bride) tried to hold back tears.  Ryan played a little Iron and Wine in the background and set the stage for a simple yet beautiful wedding.

The ceremony was over and we wandered over to the cake.  My gift to Brielle was a homemade wedding cake.  It was the one thing she wanted at her wedding, but didn’t have time for.  I didn’t offer, because I wasn’t sure I could pull it off.  But, the morning of the wedding, Terrill, Brielle’s mom stepped in to watch my kids and straighten my house, while I was freed up to make a cake.  A gentle breeze was blowing and the sun shining while my kitchen aid hummed (I don’t know how Chris Ann came up with this!  If only she could have seen the franticness I had to push through!  She would know our cooking mojo’s are more similar than she thinks!) I chose something decadent…knowing it would have a moment in the spotlight.  I made a true cream cheese pound cake and slathered it with cream cheese frosting and layered with with strawberries.  It was a bit warm and humid, so I knew a whipped cream frosting would never hold up.  I adorned it with a few clippings of flowers and fresh strawberries.  I polished my silver forks and folded antique linen napkins.  The cake really was good and rich and gone in a couple of minutes!

Congratulations Marc and Brielle!  May your lives together be full of many LoveFeast moments!

Pound Cake (from Martha Stewart)

3 sticks of butter, softened

8 oz. of cream cheese, softened

(whip these together)

Add:

3 cups of granulated sugar

6 eggs added in one at a time

1 tsp. salt

2 tsps. vanilla

3 cups of flour

Pour into a buttered (I used a 9 inch) heavy pan.

Bake at 325 until golden.  Approx. 1 hour.

Let rest 20 min. before turning out of pan.

Cream Cheese Icing (More From Magnolia by Allysa Torey)

1 lb. (2-8oz. packages) softened cream cheese, cut into small pieces

6 Tbls. unsalted butter, softened and cut into small pieces

1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

5 cups of sifted confectioners’ sugar

Beat the cream cheese and butter on medium speed in an electric mixer until smooth.  Add vanilla and beat well.  Add in sugar 1 cup at a time, beating continuously until smooth and creamy.  Cover and refrigerate icing for 2-3 hours, but no longer to thicken before using.