Madison House Chef

Minion Cupcakes

  

These are Madeleine’s requested Minion Cupcakes that I made for her third grade class birthday celebration.

Grilled Shrimp with Cilantro, Lime, and Peanuts

 

These Grilled Shrimp with cilantro, Lime and Peanuts are fresh with a great balance of flavors.

They’d be great as tapas, for lunch with a salad or simple light sandwich, or with cocktails.

We enjoyed these as part of a grilled tapas/small plates dinner (also made Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Chicken Bites and Mini Burgers on Chips)

 

Mini Burgers on Waffle Fries

 
bacon cheese burger

Bite size (or two).
Creative.
Personalized.

These would be great for a party, either served in a bzillion different condiment combinations OR served as a mini ‘burger bar’ set up.

 

 

Party Planning Hints – Party/Event Debriefing Cards

 
main table, right view

My husband and I enjoy entertaining: dinner, desserts and coffee, Sunday dinner or birthday celebrations, and at least one annual holiday party during Advent.  While I have a few recipes that I’ve come to be known for (cheesecake) and could serve at every party and no one would complain, I do like to mix things up a little. 

Question: How can I remember what was served and who attended?

New Year’s Eve Hors d'oeuvre

It’s that time of year again when I’m looking through my recipes to decide what hors d’oeuvres to serve as my family celebrates the New Year together. 

But what exactly is an hors d’oeuvre?

 

 

 

 

Candy Bar Tarts

 

 

Quick. Easy. Delicious. These Candy Bar Tarts have been on the To Bake list for quite sometime and they are as good as I expected.

Here's the back story ... 

 

 

 

Mini Pecan Tarts (with tips for preparation)

On Friday of this week we are having a small party – desserts and coffee (though actually we’ve more red wine drinkers than coffee drinkers).  I finalized the menu and shopped on Monday and then began the baking. Yesterday was peanut butter chocolate kiss cookies and simple sugar cookies (Alton Brown) that will be filled with raspberry jam and dusted with powdered sugar (a multi step cookie creation based on what I have in mind). Today… mini pecan tarts and peanut butter fudge (also Alton Brown).

Sweet Potato Fries, baked (with photos)

 

These potatoes are delicious!  A great snack, a fabulous side, these are good anytime.

Gingerbread House Part 1: Recipe and Baking

 

What a festive way to celebrate – by making a Gingerbread House!

Homemade Tortilla Strips

 

These are the most delicious tortilla strips and they are not nearly as greasy nor as salty as the store bought ones. And best yet… they are quick and easy.

Ice Cream Sundae for Ten (with photos)

Flipping again through my favorite UK food magazines, I spied an advertisement which I cannot tell you what the product was, but what I can tell you is that it had a slice of marbled ice cream that appeared to have been prepared in a loaf pan.  There was no accompanying recipe, no source of information, yet suddenly an idea was born. I pondered.

Now I’m certain that this is not a new fangled dessert, it’s too easy to be such, but it was the first time that it had occurred to me to put ice cream into a shape other than a) cone 2) dish or 3) Baked Alaska.  How ‘cool’ is that?

Poblano Salsa

 

Ken made this amazing salsa today to accompany our simple tilapia.  It was delicioso!

The recipe is quick and very easy.  It is both delightfully fresh and at the same time full of flavor.

 

 

 

 

Hummus

 

Delicious. Nutritious.
Easy to make.

Hummus!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Puff Pastry Pizza Stars

 

 

A fun and tasty finger food that's perfect for young helpers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mini Crab Cakes

 

Crab cakes have such versitility as a meal or appetizer. Likewise, the seasoning and 'sauces' can be tweaked to taste. 

 

 

 

 

 

Stuffed Mushrooms with Bacon and Olives with photos

 
mushrooms prior to plating

This particular appetizer/tapas recipe is from the Bon Appetit Cookbook with variations of my own according to our own tastes.  It’s savory combination of olives and rosemary are a delight. 

 

 

 

Mushroom and Leeks in Phyllo (appetizer or tapas)

 
One mushroom and leek in Phyllo and one Muenster cheese in phyllo

The alternate title to this particular favorite is “a little pocket of heaven.”

 

 

 

 

Holiday Party Nutrition Quiz: Which Should You Choose?

Party food strategy ...

from The ND Blog: Notes from the Nutritionista by Monica Reinagel, MS, LD/N by Monica Reinagel, M.S., LD/N

Mixed Nuts or Olives?The ND Choice: Olives

Olives are high in monounsaturated fats, which help lower cholesterol, and low in calories.  While nuts also contain healthy fats, they are much higher in calories and it can be hard to stop at just one small serving.

Soft or Hard Cheese?
The ND Choice: Soft Cheese    
Although not diet fare, soft cheeses tend to be a bit lower in calories and fat than hard cheeses. So opt for Brie or goat cheese over cheddar and gruyere--but still watch your portion sizes
Roast Beef or Ham?
The ND Choice: Roast Beef
Although roast beef can be slightly higher in calories, it has far less sodium than ham. Ham and other cured meats also contain nitrites, which you are better off without.

Champagne or a Cocktail?
The ND Choice: Champagne

Champagne clocks in at only 75 calories a glass, while cocktails can easily add up to hundreds of calories for just one drink. If you must have a cocktail, keep it simple with a vodka or gin martini to keep the calories down.

Cocoa or Eggnog?
The ND Choice: Cocoa
Almost anything is better than artery-clogging eggnog. Even if you make the cocoa with whole milk, it’s still the better option—but to minimize fat and calories, choose low-fat milk. Cocoa also contains flavonoids which may help prevent cancer and heart disease.

Pecan Pie or Pumpkin Pie?
The ND Choice: Pumpkin pie
Reach for a slice of pumpkin pie over pecan and you’ll save yourself over 200 calories per slice. Plus, pumpkin is packed with nutrients like beta-carotene, vitamins A, C, K, E, potassium, iron, and the list goes on.

via blog.nutritiondata.com

bon appetit’s Peppermint Meringue Cake with Chocolate Buttercream

How beautiful this looked on the cover … impressive .. fit for company.. a splendid dessert sure to please.  In planning the menu (desserts and wine) for an annual leadership thank you party I saw the cover photo and then the recipe (not difficult to follow) and thought it would be a nice change from my usual “mocha cream roll” (a yule log of sorts that has been a party staple for years).  I even showed a friend the magazine and she remarked how wonderful it would be to try it.  Sadly, I was disappointed; and though my guests were very complimentary, it did not live up to the standards that I set for the party. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New York Style Cheese Cake

This evening we’re hosting our annual Advent – Christmas Party to thank the leadership that work with me throughout the year.  This year’s menu of desserts and red wine includes a new Peppermint Yule Log and of course, the annually requested New York Style Cheesecake with cherries.

This cheesecake is a long time staple in our family; it’s been in my recipe box for nearly 20 years and in my mother’s long before that.

 

Homemade Tortilla Chips

We're very fortunate to live in a place where the aroma of hot corn tortillas welcomes shoppers at every supermarket, corner grocery, and gas station.  This warm, paper-wrapped, ubiquitous food sells from dawn to dark and graces many, many tables valley wide.  Early did I learn that any food becomes a 'taco' when wrapped in a tortilla.

But... what do you do with the leftover tortillas?

 

 

Gourmet Pizza at Home

Herb crust, three cheese white pizza

Some time ago we began what has now become a tradition -- Sunday Pizza.  After a busy morning, which often times begins at dawn and quickly becomes afternoon, I've not enough energy to cook.  Oh sure, by the time I've had an afternoon nap I can manage a creative dish or two; well, if it was a good nap.  Even so, no one would make it to after-naptime without food.  Ken is a fabulous cook, but it's his day off that usually culminates with grading papers and answering emails -- at least when he's not writing or researching. After a relaxing morning I want a little sabbath rest for him, too.  We needed a solution: order pizza. Dominos is on my speed dial.

The BEST Chicken Wings in the Valley, Perhaps the Nation

Happy Saturday ---

Today is the very first day and definitely the first Saturday that we have had as a family in ages upon ages.  With Lent, Holy Week, First HC classes, History competitions, piano festival... I could go on...it's been a long time since we've had family time on a Saturday morning.

This a.m. we got up leisurely.  I first woke up at 6:15am feeling as if I had slept in, but after a quick trip to check the kids and to check the news I was back in bed and slept until everyone began waking up at 8:00am.  It was glorious.   We took the kids out to breakfast at our favorite breakfast place (Tico's) and amazed GDG with the fact that we had barely settled in when our coffee and decaf arrived without speaking a word to anyone.  (I guess we have breakfast there, and an occasional lunch, fairly often.  Does this make us 'regulars?')  After breakfast and a brief stop home we went to the park (the big one in McAllen) and played for a hour+.  It was delightful.  Once home, MELG laid down to rest (which now I'm beginning to think she's getting Strep...which is going around her school...she's running a fever), GDG worked on his computer a bit and Ken and I proceeded to sweep and straighten the garage a little AND... took all of the recyclables to the Recycling Center.  Impressive, wouldn't you say!  And to think that some people get two days in a row of this kind of thing each and every single week.  What luxury.  Later, as MELG continued to rest Ken went to HEB to pick up a few groceries for the weekend including...   WINGS.  Yes, it's going to be a Hot Wings night!!