A thousand thanks

Ladies,
Thanks for another wonderful gathering, ladies. I also want to say welcome to Erin and Garnie (am I spelling that right?). I really like it when the generations mix.
At the right is a link to the photo gallery.
And, I've added a page for the recipes. They are not all there, but I can always add them if you send them.

Next up is preservation night. Likely in January or February at the home of Betsy!

Me so hungry

Hi everyone,

Next binge update (Saturday, Oct. 19):

Here's the Chinese feast menu thus far:
From super cute Sue, the hostess:

Crab Rangoon (appetizer)
Chinese Tea Leaf Eggs (appetizer)
Hot and Sour Soup OR Cucumber Egg Petal Soup
Plenty of rice, over which main courses may be served
Chinese tea

And a funny update from Sue regarding preservation:

"Had our first corn of the season the other night and it was darn tasty, so I had a brainstorm: buy several dozen ears while it is still "in season" and blanch and freeze it for a "fresh" corn dish for our January Proper Binge. Having not done this before, I did a little research and thought that it sounded like a no-brainer. Our school let out early today because of the heat, so I thought, "Perfect timing." Went out to Norton Farm and purchased the corn, came home and turned on our small air-conditioning unit, gathered all the equipment, rolled up my sleeves feeling like a farmer's wife and dug in. Several hours later, cut finger, burn on the cut finger, sweating buckets, kitchen a disaster area, we're still at it. (My Cabana Boy was a great help.) I will end up with about ten small packets of kernels. Eat your hearts out, girls, because I am ready for January's Proper Binge--except for a corn salad recipe--but I have an idea (other than not doing this again).
Love, Sue
P.S. Thanks for the idea, Betsy. I'm having a blast!"  

Ciao for now.

Our next binge and a mousse recipe

Hey Gals,

We are set for our next binge.We'll be celebrating Chinese New Year early at Sue's house Saturday, Oct. 19th.
For this binge, we are going to select any Chinese dish, and as Sue says, "start practicing with your chopsticks."

Them's your marching orders ladies.
Let me know what you'll be making and I'll post it here.

And now...for the best, healthy dessert on the planet:
Ann's Avocado Mousse:

Here's the mousse recipe to add to the blog in addition to the photos I sent tonight:
Avocado Mocha Mousse
3 avocados
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/4 tsp sea salt I tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1 heaping tbsp ground decaf espresso powder

Put flesh of avocados in high power blender (such as a Vitamix). Add all other ingredients. Blend until smooth. Chill until served.

Preserving the Summer

I have a proposal for our Winter Binge. My thought is that we preserve the harvest now (from our gardens or the farmers market) through pickling, canning, fermenting, freezing or drying. These ingredients will then be used in our Winter Meal together.

I suspect that amongst us there is a range of experience with food preservation. With this in mind, I would like to suggest a few resources.


Ball Canning Recipes. Ball has a website with a number of recipes for canning, freezing and dehydrating: Fresh Preserving. I also have one of their books that I would be happy to share. It give the basic information about preservation in addition to the recipes.
PickYourOwn.orgPickYourOwn.org. I love this website. The directions include step by step pictures. You can get easy instructions on you to can and freeze about any fruit or vegetable.
The Preservation Kitchen by Paul Virant. This local chef, interviewed by both Laura and Lori, has an award winning restaurant in Western Springs. His book's first half includes interesting and unusual preserving recipes. The second half has dinner recipes that incorporate the preserved foods. It's excellent. I have tried a number of the recipes and I give it a two thumbs up. The book is available at the library. Laura has suggested a road trip out to the restaurant together and I would love it!

I hope everyone is up for this. Please don't buy any equipment. Freezing takes nothing more than plastic bags. I have a dehydrator to lend. If someone would like to give canning a try, I also have a boiling water canner with wire rack, etc.

I plan to host the Winter Binge in January but we all will need to think about preserving the harvest now :)

Are we up for this?

Betsy

Our salad days plus more

Ladies,
Thank you all for coming Friday and bringing all that delicious food. You are all dishes. :)
As usual, there were NO disappointments. Everything was tasty, probably because it was made with tender love and care (except for my pie which I added a dash of sadness to).

The pictures I took are linked to the right. I'll add Annie's when she sends hers.
Speaking of.... I do hope your finger is on the mend, Ann!

Also, I really enjoyed meeting Christina and Karen and Kris has reported she really enjoyed meeting all of you.

Next up? Who would like to host in the fall?

AND: Stay tuned. Betsy is going to host in the winter but you'll need to think about it now: It's going to be cooking preserves and pickling. There won't be one specific book, but several options to choose from depending on your comfort level. Details to come soon.

Ciao for now,

Lori

The Roundup begins

Hi y'all!
I hope you have been enjoying a bountiful summer.
Our next binge is less than a month away! I can't wait to see everyone and enjoy dishes from Pioneer Woman.
Here's a refresher on the details: Lori and Ann are co-hosting the binge at Ann's home, 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2.
The author/blogger is Pioneer Woman Rhee Drummond.
Please comment here or shoot me an email when you make your menu selection.

AND.... I'm exercising the co-hostesses prerogative and inviting a new member. Her name is Kris Binder and she is one of my college roommates. An excellent cook and gardener, Kris lives in a historic home in Elgin (it's going to by on the city's house walk). And, as a former roommate of mine, she has lots of juicy stories about me that she may or may not share. ;)

This is her and us on the left.


See y'all next month!

Deliciously crafty

Thanks to the multi-talented Sabrina we now have the most adorable label holders for our next gathering. She designed these mini magnet boards that we can use to hold labels of our dishes. She then instructed us giggling gals on how to make our own. We made extras for those of you who couldn't be there. (More photos of the evening are linked on the right.)

And an update on our next gathering. We are still on for Aug. 2 at Annie B.'s house. Annie and I are co-hosting. I've selected the cookbook author and blogger Pioneer Woman. You can find her recipes here: Pioneer Woman.

Start thinking of what you might like to make and email me or post here in comments.

Stay tuned.... Betsy has an exciting idea for a future club meeting that will center around preserving food!

LB

Pioneer Woman

Cheers to another successful binge night!
(Most) recipes are on the "In Season Recipe" tab above.
Photos to come.
(Tapas night photo gallery fixed.)
SAVE THE DATE: Friday, Aug. 2. Lori will host Pioneer Woman night, but utilizing the kitchen of Anne. Details to come, but here an earlier post explaining.

Menu updates

Ladies, here's what we have so far.
Comment here or send me your selections.
Lori

Strawberry Gazpacho — Sabrina
Snow Pea Salad — Sue
Asparagus and-Pastina Soup — Teresa
Rhubarb ice cream — Betsy
Strawberry Reisling Slushies (wine slushies) — Lori
Alex Raij's Asparagu en Bolsa (in paper bags with shrimp)
and Deborah Snyder's Coconut Macaroons — Laura
Guacamole — Ann
Smoked Trout — Sandy
Ian Knauer's Creamed Green Shallots with Wine and Bacon — Jan

What will YOU bring? Comment here or send me an email.
LB

In Season updates

There are a few options for those who don't want to purchase "In Season".
1. Laura has a copy and will gladly share.
2. The library has copies. I have one on hold and there are two others available through inter-library loan. I'm willing to pass mine around.
3. Amazon.com actually allows you to see a few interior pages of this book, including about five recipes.
4. Kate has found some recipes online. Start here: In Season, New York Magazine

So far we have a rhubarb dish (Betsy).

Ciao for now,
Lori

Proper Binge is In Season!

In Season

Our next selection has been made!
We will gather at Laura Vasilion's home where she and daughter Kate will co-host our next meeting.
The book selection is :"In Season: More than 150 Fresh and Simple Recipes from New York Magazine Inspired by Farmers Market Ingredients"

Sorry for the short notice, but the date has been set for 6:30 p.m., Friday, May 24. Please either post your recipe selection in the comments here, or send them to Lori in an email.

A recipe at hand... ha ha

I am not actually proposing we use this for our next meeting, but I thought it might make your jaw drop. :)

Natural Harvest: A Semen-Based Cookbook

O' Pioneer

Ladies,

It occurs to me that I may never get a chance to host Our Proper Binge. I will likely have to live with my "refugee kitchen" until I move next May. Refugee kitchen means only one burner works on the electric stove top and nearly all counter space covered with other appliances for cooking and the overflow of food that doesn't fit in our shrimpy cupboards.

But, if I COULD host, I'd select recipes from a blog/website. This is the one I'd like to try: The Pioneer Woman (Ree Drumond). Perhaps you've heard of Ree, she has a show on the Food Network and she has published a few books. Her recipes look delectable and simple. Her method descriptions are a hoot.

Why do I bring this up? Well.... I know Laura and Kate have agreed to co-host our next event. If you don't have a specific book/cook/author in mind, I wanted to make a case for a blogger/website. The recipes tend to be more realistic (read, not going to send me on a wild goose chase to find ethnic ingredients or scratching my head to figure out how to pit an olive) and kitchen tested. Pictures often accompany each step in the cooking process and the bloggers/authors add their own tips.

No obligation, of course, if you already had something in mind. This is just food for thought.

Lori

Thank you Jamie/What's next?

Jamie,
Thank you again for hosting a delightful taste of Spain. I regretting not figuring out a way to take home some flan.

Annie B: Have you got any pictures to share?

Laura and Kate: Thank you for agreeing to host our next gathering. Following our "once a quarter" schedule, let's shoot for a date in early May perhaps? Let me know what cookbook you choose.

Cheers,
Lori

FINAL UPDATE: Menu thus far

Hi again: We will gather at Jamie's at 6:30.

Below is list of what we have so far. Please let me and/or Jamie know what you plan to bring no later than Thursday.

Sabrina: Tortilla al estilo Route 11 & Lentil salad with blue Valdeón cheese.

Lori: Green olives filled with piquillo peppers and anchovy and an after dinner cocktail: The Evening Eye Opener (coffee-flavored Tequila drink).

Kate: Seafood paella and the manchego with rosemary, tomato and walnuts and some crusty Italian bread. And,  couple bottles of cava.

Laura: Meatballs with cinnamon and apples

Sue: Patatas Alioli

Annie B.: Version: Cauliflower with olives and dates (will need to use the kitchen for this)

Teresa: Spanish tomato bread with jamon serrano

REVISED! Jenny:  Basque tapa of Bonito with soft onion and tomato

NEW! Hollie: Asparagus with Spanish Cured Ham

TENTATIVE! Sandy (she's coming, but not certain on dish) Dessert -- maybe chocolate and cheese pairing

Ladies go Tapas!

Jamie has picked the cookbook "Tapas, a Taste of Spain in America," by Chef Jose Andres. He also has another cookbook "Made in Spain." If people don't want to purchase his book, there are two websites with many of his tapas recipes: 
Jose Made In Spain
Jose Andres

Jamie will make at least one cocktail and one warm/heartier dish since everyone else will be traveling, those are TBD and Jamie will probably make more than that.

If one or two more people want to make cocktails, that would be fun.  Otherwise, we can stick to wine.

As far as sleeping arrangements, Jamie has a large couch and queen size air mattress so some people are welcome to stay there. Kate Hill has also offered room at her Chicago home.  Otherwise, there are a bunch of hotels within a mile or two of  Jamie's place. The holiday inn express is the closest and cheapest, but the others are a lot nicer with better locations.  That weekend is also the same weekend as a large dental convention, so people may want to book soon.  I'm not sure how busy the hotels will be.
 
Jamie's address is: 420 S. Clinton St., Apt 614, Chicago, IL 60607.  There is free street parking on the west side of clinton street next to our building.  We are 2 blocks from union station and about 6 blocks from Ogilvie so training in would be super easy!

1) Holiday Inn Express- 506 West Harrison Street- 0.1miles-
2) The W City Center- 172 West Adams Street- 0.5 miles
3) JW Marriot- 151 West Adams Street- 0.5miles
4) Hotel Allegro- 171 West Randolph Street- 0.7miles
5) Palmer House Hilton- 17 East Monroe Street- 0.8miles
7) Hotel Burnham- 1 West Washington Street- 0.8miles
8) Hotel Monaco-  225 North Wabash Avenue- 1 mile
9) The Silversmith Hotel- 10 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago, IL- 0.8 miles

Save the Date

Jamie Hofmeister has selected Saturday, Feb. 23 as the date she is available to host our next Proper Binge. Please mark your calendars and check back here for more details.
Jamie will make a final theme/book selection and also provide us with the names of a few hotels by her in case anyone wants to make an overnight of it.

Cheers!
Lori B.

Banish the post holiday blues

Ladies,

What a whirlwind this holiday season has been. But now that it's over, I'm longing for new culinary adventures. Jamie, are you still interested in a tapas night in the city? Do say yes! And select a date and book/theme and we'll commence to finalizing the plan.
Post here or email me.

Lori