Sometimes dinner is kind of a Mezze

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A Mezze or Meze is a word for a taste or a snack in several Mediterranean cuisines- it is similar to the Spanish Tapas. And- sometimes it’s the easiest thing to pull together for a weeknight dinner or a Saturday lunch around our house.

We put together a selection of cheeses, bread and other small bites. That and a glass of wine or sparkling water and we’re set.  Here we have Red Pepper Hummus along with Petit Basque, Feta, Boursin and Amadeus cheeses, Picholine olives, black grapes, cornichons, a nice crisp Pinata apple, some homemade French bread and a lovely glass of Cabernet. You can use what you have on hand and vary everything to your taste. Dolmas(stuffed grape leaves) and charcuterie are a nice addition if you have them.

The next time you’re in a rush for a meal or just want to linger over a little taste of something try it.

Enjoy!

xoxo

Back up the foodblog chain or Make your own reversible mutated memes!

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What have I done?!? So oaky-dokey…um I tagged Tempered Woman for the 5 facts meme and like an adorable fluff ball of a kitten that is purring in your lap one moment and then suddenly extends all of its claws right into your tender thigh the next- she tagged me right back. I love her, I really do… she is irascible and irreverent but this is now about me-me-me… so being a girl with a heart for any fate (I hope) I guess I’ll play.

Here’s how Tempered Woman mutated the meme:

“Here are the new rules (are you still following this garbage?):
1. Link to your tagger and post these rules.
2. Share 5 facts about yourself that:1. explain how you got your first or middle name,2. where you were born, 3. your favorite fruit, 4. something embarrassing about you and 5. answers the question “Your dream wedding would have to include…” You must also supply at least one funny photo that goes with one of your facts.
3. Tag as many people at the end of your post as you so desire and list their names (linking to them). You may tag the original sender if you change the rules.
4. Let them know they’ve been tagged by leaving a comment at their blogs. Or, don’t. Just link to them and wait to see who actually reads your blog. Now cry yourself to sleep tonight”

Here are my answers: Continue reading →

Coq au Vin with Piesporter and my first cookbook love the Larousse Gastronomique.

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When the new issue of Gourmet arrived this last week I spied a recipe for a quick Coq Au Vin made with Riesling. Recipe here. It reminded me of being 14 years old and making dinner out of the Larousse Gastronomique (the French illustrated encyclopedia of cooking complete with illustrations of technique and recipes.)

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I was a latchkey kid most of my childhood life and learned to help with dinners since whichever parent I was living with at the time worked outside of the home. I guess I was born a foodie before there was even such a word because I would spend hours on end going through my mom’s cookbooks and clipping recipes that appealed to me from magazines. My mom had a 1961 edition of the Larousse and I eagerly went through each page learning as much as I could about classic French cuisine. I taught myself to make passable croissants and casseroles from these pages. I didn’t have good equipment but as a teenager I had the ignorant confidence that allowed me to go ahead and try new recipes without worrying about those things. Continue reading →

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