With the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season and with all the cooking I do for clients throughout the year, it’s nice to enjoy a simple, uncomplicated meal. This silky Tuscan-inspired white bean soup with lacy Parmesan crisps makes simplicity special.
Moroccan Beef Stew with Harissa
My mother, Ann Ramczyk, was an award-winning cook. Besides winning numerous local and state cooking competitions, she represented Wisconsin twice at the Pillsbury Bake-Off and twice at national beef and chicken cook-offs. This Moroccan Beef Stew was the first-place winner in the 1988 Wisconsin beef cook-off and is perfect for a chilly winter night.
Cornish Game Hens with Clementine Glaze and Cranberry – Almond Quinoa Pilaf
Here’s a special dish for the holiday season your darling will love. In this dish, Cornish game hens are baked on a bed of fresh rosemary, then brushed with a glaze made from clementines and broiled. Clementines are abundant now and look like tiny oranges but are less acidic and easier to peel.
Crab-Stuffed Flounder
Whenever I return from a trip, I come back inspired to cook something from that area’s cuisine. October was a hectic month for me that included business travel to Baltimore and personal travel to Austin, Texas, and the spectacular wine country of Northern California. Here’s the Baltimore-inspired dish — crab-stuffed flounder.
French Onion Soup (Soupe a l’Oignon)
The onion is a rather humble ingredient that usually serves to provide flavor to other dishes. Soupe a l’Oignon, simply known as French onion soup, elevates this culinary workhorse to star status and makes a luxurious meal for two. Caramelizing onions is definitely a labor of love, however, the result is well worth it.
Pecan-Crusted Pork Tenderloin with Bourbon – Mustard Sauce
Here is an easy and elegant pork tenderloin dish with Southern flair that is perfect for a special autumn dinner for two. The recipe is easily doubled, which also makes it perfect for the fall and winter entertaining season.