Everything Stuffed and Wrapped

The theme for November's dinner club was "Everything Stuffed and Wrapped". Perfect theme for the season!

Appetizers:
Jen – Blue Cheese & Brie Quesadillas w/ Pear & Brown Sugar Compote
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/blue-cheese-and-brie-quesadillas-with-a-pear-and-brown-sugar-compote-recipe2/index.html

Rebecca – Pecan-Stuffed Dates
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/pecan-stuffed-dates-recipe/index.html

Main:
Kim – Beef Wellington (no paté)
http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/beef_wellington/

Sides:
Nan – Prosciutto-Wrapped Asparagus
http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/03/roasted-prosciutto-wrapped-asparagus.html

Molly – Harvest-Stuffed Acorn Squash
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/harvest-stuffed-acorn-squash

Dessert:
Cindy – Banana & Chocolate Crepes
http://www.cookography.com/2008/banana-chocolate-crepes

http://www.cookography.com/2008/crepes-are-easy

Cocktail:
Caroline – Pomegranate Cocktail
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/pomegranate-cocktail-10000000554651/

Apple Season

 This month's theme was Apples! Such a delicious meal and so many recipes I know I will be making again very soon!

APPETIZERS
Kim - Apple Goat Cheese Pizza:  http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/apple-goat-cheese-pizza-50400000117071/

Jen - Apple and Onion Confit Crostini:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/apple-and-onion-confit-crostini-recipe/index.html

SIDES
Rebecca - Chopped Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/bobby-flay/chopped-apple-salad-with-toasted-walnuts-blue-cheese-pomegranate-vinaigrette-recipe/index.html

Cindy - Stir Fried Wild Rice with Apples and Sun Dried Cherries
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/wolfgang-puck/stir-fried-wild-rice-with-apples-and-sun-dried-cherries-recipe/index.html

MAIN - Caroline
Apple Stuffed Pork Tenderloin:  http://southernfood.about.com/od/porktenderloin/r/bl40310g.htm

DESSERT - Nan
Super Stuffed Baked Apples a la Mode:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/super-stuffed-baked-apples-a-la-mode-recipe/index.html

BEVERAGES - Molly
Pumpkin Apple Martini
1 oz. vodka
1 oz. apple schnapps
1 oz. pumpkin juice (place a cheesecloth over a sieve and fill with a can of pumpkin--let sit for 2 hours until the juice has separated from the pumpkin).
1 apple, cut into dice and frozen
Splash of pineapple juice
Sprinkle of cinnamon

Shake vodka, schapps, pineapple juice and pumpkin juice in a martini shaker with ice. Pour into a martini glass, add a few apple ice cubes and sprinkle with cinnamon.

A Taste of the Mediterranean

The theme for our June Cooking Club was The Mediterranean and we were all able to spend the evening with baby Kate--thanks for sharing her with us Kim!

Nan--Appetizer—Bacon Wrapped Dates http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/ricotta-stuffed-bacon-wrapped-dates-recipe/index.html

Caroline—Appetizer—Chorizo and Potato Spanish Tortilla--http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chorizo-and-Potato-Spanish-Tortilla-Bites-236695

Molly—Main Dish—Grilled Shrimp over White Bean Salad

http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/grilled_shrimp_bean_salad.html

Jen--Side Dish--Tabbouleh

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tabbouleh-recipe/index.html

Rebecca--Side Dish—Panzanella

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/panzanella-recipe/index.html

Cindy: Dessert—Baklava

http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/reviews/Walnut-and-Pistachio-Baklava-364612

Mexican Fiesta

Here is the menu from our April Cooking Club. The theme was Mexican and those mango margaritas went down so smoothly!

Rebecca - Mango Margaritas:  http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/foodnation-with-bobby-flay/the-mango-margarita-recipe/index.html

Caroline - Black Bean, Tropical Fruit, and Queso Blanco Salsa (with tortilla chips): http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/sara-moulton/black-bean-tropical-fruit-and-queso-blanco-salsa-recipe/index.html

Molly - Chili Pork Empanadas with Avocado Dipping Sauce: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/aaron-mccargo-jr/chili-pork-empanadas-with-avocado-dipping-sauce-recipe/index.html

Jen - Boston Lettuce Avocado Salad and Lime Dressing: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dave-lieberman/boston-lettuce-avocado-salad-and-lime-dressing-recipe/index.html

Kim - Arroz Mexicano: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/marcela-valladolid/foolproof-mexican-rice-arroz-mexicano-recipe/index.html

Cindy - Chicken Enchiladas: http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chicken-enchiladas/ff9ea89e-4a48-416d-b990-2991616fcf12#?st=6&term=chicken enchiladas&ps=9&pi=9&fv=AND(HasGridViewImage%3ATrue)

Nan - Flan Mexicano: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/flan-mexicano-mexican-flan/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=mexican%20flan&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

Appetizer Dinner!

A dinner of appetizers--aren't they the best part of the meal?

Molly- Morrocan Style Meatballs
http://www.williams-sonoma.com/recipe/moroccan-style-meatballs.html

Caroline- Tandoori Style Chicken Burgers
http://www.marthastewart.com/314660/tandoori-style-chicken-burgers

Rebecca: Crab Cakes with Remoulade Sauce
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/crab-cakes-recipe/index.html

Rebecca: Upside-Down Mushroom Tartlets
http://www.marthastewart.com/319487/upside-down-mushroom-tartlets?czone=entertaining/holiday-entertaining/holidaycenter-foods&center=276958&gallery=275428&slide=284794

Kim: Carmelized Onion Dip with Bacon and Gruyere
http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/hot-caramelized-onion-dip-50400000116080/

Cindy: Tomato and Goat Cheese Tarts
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/tomato-and-goat-cheese-tarts-recipe/index.html

 Nan: Gorgonzola Flatbread with Prosciutto & Dates

1 TBSP Olive oil, plus more for baking sheet

1 LB store-bought pizza dough

all-purpose flour, for work surface

4 oz. gorgonzola cheese, crumbled (1 cup)

2 oz. fontina cheese, shredded (1/2 cup)

1/3 cup pitted dates, coarsely chopped

ground pepper

4 oz. thinly sliced prosciutto

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Lightly brush a large rimless baking sheet with oil.

2. Divide dough in half. On a lightly floured surface, roll and stretch dough into two 16-by-4 inch ovals. Transfer to a prepared baking sheet. Dividing evenly, brush top of dough with 1 TBSP olive oil.

3. Sprinkle dough with gorgonzola, fontina and dates; season with pepper. Bake until crust of flatbread is golden, 15-17 minutes.

4. Transfer to cutting board. Drape prosciutto on top of flatbread and cut crosswise into small triangles. Serve immediately.

Farmer's Daughter Cocktail

Simplified Ginger Shrub Syrup

Ingredients

4 cups water
4 cups demerara sugar ( if not demerara then 3 cups white and 1 cup brown)
2 cups chopped peeled ginger root (use a food processor )
2 cups apple cider vinegar (non-distilled)

Technique

Put sugar in water and boil until sugar is dissolved

Add chopped ginger and simmer covered for 30 minutes
Add vinegar and bring to a boil
Boil for 15 minutes or until reduced by 1/2
Cool and strain syrup (pressing out the ginger)

Mix with your favorite spirit, water or club soda.
The base will freeze
Keep refrigerated

Soups and Salad

Mmmm.... dinner last night was so delicious from the baked brie to the lobster bisque to the crowning glory of the evening--the six layered caramel and salted chocolate cake!

Here is the menu from the evening:

Lobster and Corn Bisque: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/corn-and-lobster-bisque-recipe/index.html

Brie en croute: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/brie-en-croute-recipe/index.html

Fall Salad with Pears and Caramelized Pecans: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/fall-salad-recipe/index.html

Butternut Squash Soup: http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/1975

Beer Bread: http://www.alexandracooks.com/2010/01/07/vermont-cheddar-cheese-soup-beer-bread-yum-yum/

Salted-Caramel Six-Layer Chocolate Cake http://www.marthastewart.com/857647/salted-caramel-six-layer-chocolate-cake

Easy Living: A Lakeside Grilled Supper

Mmmmm... this coconut themed meal was delicious!

*Crab salad with wonton crisps and lime
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Crab-Salad-with-Wonton-Crisps-and-Lime-232143

*Grilled Cornish hens with coconut curry sauce
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Cornish-Hens-with-Coconut-Curry-Sauce-232153

*Pickled napa cabbage, carrots and snow peas
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pickled-Napa-Cabbage-Carrots-and-Snow-Peas-232190

*Jasmine rice with peanuts and scallions
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Jasmine-Rice-with-Peanuts-and-Scallions-232172

*Grilled coconut pound cake sundaes with tropical fruit
http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Grilled-Coconut-Pound-Cake-Sundaes-with-Tropical-Fruit-232180