I did much better last night with homemade carbonara the way I had it in Italy...no cream. Thick-cut pancetta (from Husky!), olive oil, dried onion, garlic, & chives, an egg, and pecorino. Heaven with steamed broccoli on the side.

...or eat them first..beagle stew anyone?

ps hello matey how ya doin'?

If the snow doesn't clear soon, the beagles will be eating me..........

Jaysus,

I only started this to know what ya were havin' for your dinner the other night and ya all go mad on me talking grub:)

re: printing.. a local option would be best of course but short of that I've gone through lulu.com for a couple of projects and they do absolutely beautiful printing and binding work in hard and soft cover. Though I've put together a cookbook or two that have been spiral bound (easy to leave open at a specific recipe) with coverstock paper and clear plastic for the covers, which is a simpler and more economic option.

I'd love to contribute to a cookbook. I have recipes galore, all originals that I've created. LOTS of soups, and tons of healthy delicious meals. Keep me posted.

garden_nymph

i could say that i think simple recipes are the best... but the truth is that i can't follow a cookbook recipe well any more so i have had to learn to read them for ideas and then find the simple way to accomplish the same thing:)

and i love cooking in the oven and the slow cooker. it heats the house while you are cooking and it's really hard to burn stuff:)

besides, the dogs always let me know when it is done ;)

sounds like we have a plan:))))

my old insurance adjusters group published a small cookbook - I will dig it out and let you know who printed it for us.

FYI I think I recall Liberty Bell is closed for the holidays.

We could ask, as they tend to be big community supporters!

Isn't liberty bell a sponsor of the WSB? Wonder if they would print it for us at a cheap price. Especially if we tell them all the money would go to the Food Banks.

You're good to me JoB-Thank you!!

I would certainly contribute. Why I would even throw in a few recipes from South Carolina; but if the ladies of Beaufort and Jasper County got word of my revealing some old recipes... well there would be no telling what might happen!
Perhaps another war "of the Northern Agression!"

Garden_nymph..

cooking my style is amazingly easy...

my baked Potatoes start with Idaho potatoes...

wash potatoes. prick with fork.. put in 400 degree oven until they fall off the fork when you stick them. (about an hour to an hour and a half depending upon size and number)

if you like your potato skins soft, rub them with olive oil and wrap them in foil with the shiny side inside before putting them in the oven:) use the same test to see if they are done:)

for the chops.. pork, beef or lamb...

put a small amount of olive oil in a baking pan slightly larger than your chops. (i like glass pans) add chops. sprinkle with McCormick Mediterranean spiced sea salt. pour white wine or apple juice in the pan until the chops are almost covered. Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.. or until a cut chop isn't pink inside. (beef and lamb can be pink.. but i cook pork thoroughly...)

if you are in the kitchen.. you can smell when they are done...

if you are uncertain, i will lend you my dogs who will start pestering you 5 minutes before they should come out of the oven:)

they are great cooks:)

Hey Zenguy, I like you already!

I would totally be up for that and would even reveal some secret family recipes.

"only"... your posts make me drool! I envy you good cooks.

i wold be happy to contribute to this...

though tonight we are only having baked potatoes and really good pig chops...

That's it folks! I am betting you are the ones who LOVE suggesting impromptu potlucks at work too aren't you!?! So, the idea of the WSB cookbook... if we can get it printed cheap or FREE, we could sell it with all profits being donated to the WS and White Center Food Banks. Are all you excellent cooks in?! Anyone know a printer who would help us get it going? What do you think?

When I was a kid, some of my favorite dinners were when my parents were broke. They'd call up the neighbor, who had kids our ages, and ask "what do you have in your cupboard? I have broccoli and egg noodles." Invariably the neighbor would have some chicken and a can of mushroom soup or something, and they'd combine kitchens and make a casserole for both families.

Definitely good times, and a fun way to hang out with the neighbors.

Thank you, MargL. I'll try that (when I can get some fresh toppings...maybe sundried tomatoes, maybe some fresh herbs....)

i love making stone soup...

some of the best meals i have ever had have been impromptu collaborations.

last night I made an excellent veggie pasta casserole. It was just gonna be veggie pasta, invited the neighbor for dinner and she came over with cheese that was just dying to be melted. Also had herb salad with balsamic vinegar, and a few Jubel Ales. all in all a good night, and I was happy to be able to both cook from my pantry/freezer and play stone soup with the neighbor's contribution.

Today I would like to make some Christmas cut-out cookies. I have the cookie cutters from my childhood; and these carry so many happy memories.

WSMom and others. Here's a link to the bread dumplings I had last night. Bavarian recipe, its quite simple to make. These are called Semmelknoedel.
I place cooked ones in with kraut and sausage or other stew like dishes so it can soak up some of the yummy flavor. These can also be served on the side.
http://www.whats4eats.com/pastas/semmelknoedel-recipe

Kayleigh2 - Here's the no-knead bread dough recipe http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/food/386357_bread05.html

The husband said it was a tad salty with all the pizza toppings so maybe adding a little sugar if you're using it as pizza dough would cut the salt. I also tried the cinnamon pecan rolls on the bottom of the page but we thought the dough was a little too chewy for that application.

then you have something to look forward to;)

I had a handful of parmesan crisps and an orange last night. Forgot all about leftover endive salad from Bohemian in the fridge. That'll be lunch today.

we had crab last night..

but i am putting a pot of cabbage, corned beef and potato soup on to simmer soon... aren't leftovers grand:))

i think i'll make biscuits...

MargL, would you mind linking or cut/pasting that pizza crust recipe? I'm still looking for a good one.

We walked to Kokora's for gyros---was tired of eating my own cooking after being cooped up since THURSDAY!

Mellaw you and your partner will need a break from house/pet sitting. You need a vacation! LOL

Zenguy,lol!
Our dinner was pretty lame today, more like a snack, and I'm too embarrassed to say with all of what's been listed so far. Mostly just appreciating the warmth and coziness indoors, as much as I love being out in the snow. (I love how desolate seeming it is out there right now.)

Ellenator, you got your Bailey's, etc.? Holy sh**, we walked through the liquor store this afternoon and it was mobbed! We decided we could wait til Mon. for the minor purchase we wanted to make.

Thanks Zenguy! ;)

LOL Celeste - I won't make that mistake EVER again!!

Thanks for the offer - I just returned from making my last pet stop in Burien and I think I am done!!!! I've been out in this weather since 8 am - and that includes a trip to Granite Falls to deliver some med's to a terminally ill friend.

Whew! I need hazard pay for the pet sitting this week!

We had a wonderful beef stew our neighbor made.

Mel if you need a pit stop for cocoa you know where I live. Will be up at least until 11 pm. Don't lock yourself out again. Take you shoes and your keys! :)

We will keep you satisified Garden_Nymph.

Made pizza from scratch using the 5-minute artisan bread dough recipe printed in the PI. Made a decent pizza dough. Wish I had a pizza stone, tho'.

I had spaghetti sauce over gnocci and mom had left over crab that I got from the blog. Then since everyone was talking about cobbler I made some of that. It had raspberries, blackberries and strawberries. With home made ice cream on top.

Drooling...

Mmmm dinner was GREAT! Sounds like everyone else's was good too! :) I'm happy everyone is home, fed and ready.

just be thankful the rest of us aren't out on the road right now.

I'm driving around in my car - eating Subway and freezing. But the pets are being fed!! Anybody got a spare hot chocolate and a nip to spare? LOL

pinto beans and hamhocks, trader joe corn bread, hot-spiced wine. errp. pardon me!

change of plans. Ground turkey didn't thaw, so instead I made meatballs and peas in a mushroom sauce over pasta. And blueberry cobbler. We're currently waiting for the cobbler to cool to eating temperature (no ice cream -- drat!) and drinking hot cocoa with a slug o Kahlua. YUM.

A WSB cookbook is an awesome idea!

hmmm...maybe bacon (yes, THAT bacon,) split pea soup - if I can get up the energy to get my ass into the kitchen...and biscuits...

have had the coffee/kahlua...moving onto rum if the daughter comes over ( no driving - she lives in the apt. next to mine) The rum would be dessert :)

That's it folks! I don't cook, but all you forum regulars seems to be AMAZING cooks so I propose creating a West Seattle Blog Cookbook!!! (Just so I can start to enjoy all this yummy food you guys keep talking about!!!)

the hunny is making his world famous fried rice. comfort food at it's best. That otta last a few days! mmmm, lots of ginger...

bread dumplings?? I've made chicken & dumplings in soup but how do you do this w/sour kraut??