koko's corner

From a Basic BLT to Sourdough Starter

My basic BLT consists of bacon, heirloom tomatoes and crispy lettuce on lightly toasted sourdough bread that's been slathered with mayonnaise.

 

Come see how I went from a BLT to a sourdough bread starter. I'm so easily influenced.

Agua de Jamaica

Agua de Jamaica is a drink made from dried hibiscus flowers. I love this drink, it can be served hot or cold. I've even heard it's been know to be mixed with libations, I read a lot ;-)

 

Come see how easy it is to make.

The Silver Palate Cooks a Bishop's Cake

Half pound of butter, plus 5 eggs, equals a moist delicious poundcake.

 Hey, I've got the recipe so let's get baking.

Homemade Pizza Marguerite

Fresh homemade pizza dough, fresh homemade tomato sauce, freshly picked basil, organic tomato and mozzarella cheese. Joy on a plate.

I suggest you start early in the day.

Birthday Shenanigans

Last week was my birthday. My sister is good about making sure we have a birthday celebration for the birthday people. We do one party for all of the birthday people for that month. We have very few months we don't have a birthday party. 

 

St. Robert bakes a cake for each birthday person. Some months he bakes four, but this month he only had to bake two.

One for me and one for...

Biscuits and Gravy, yep, Sausage Gravy

Amanda at What we're eating has this recipe for Fluffy Buttermilk Biscuits on their blog. I also had a little pork sausage leftover from Saturday's breakfast, sounds like a match made in heaven to me.

 

Butternut Squash and Cheddar Bread Pudding

This is autumn on a plate. A delicious savory bread pudding with cheese and cream, what's not to like.

 

Let's get busy.

Homemade Tomato Sauce

Onion, carrot, thyme, garlic, olive oil and canned whole tomatoes. Katie bar the door and call me Sophia, this is the best tomato sauce I've ever made. O.K. it's the only tomato sauce I've ever made (that I can remember) but dang it, it's outfreakingstanding. 

Let's get together with Mario Batali and make some sauce. 

Trattoria Tiramisu

We had a great late lunch here yesterday before going to the La Mesa Farmer's market. I last wrote about this restaurant a couple of years ago when we went to the La Mesa Oktoberfest.  

Our meal was started with hot crusty bread and a dish of olive oil with some balsamic vinegar drizzled in for dipping.

 

This was accompanied by,

a glass of Sicilian wine, Fiano, Carraia. I wish I had the proper wine language to describe this, that's why the link. All I can tell you is it was the perfect wine for my meal.

C'mon, lets eat.

Steak with a Mushroom, Blue Cheese Sauce

I didn't really have a plan in mind other than I wanted to make a sauce for some steaks I was going to grill. Still not sure where I was going with this, I started caramelizing some onion. If nothing else steaks with caramelized onion on top are great.

 

Come see how I got from here,

to here.