ON THE SAUCY SIDE

As with writing, I love to be inspired to create beautiful food..................beautiful pertaining to more than the look! :)

So I was making dinner the other night & scheming as to what I wanted to make..........

The usual items fleetingly ran through my head until I arrived @ Pizza. Ok, before you think how boring & unoriginal.............my gosh, my pizza is my new favourite.

The secret - well there's many I guess but I think sauce plays a huge roll. That & homemade dough. Well ok, maybe you don't have to actually make it yourself but at least if you can buy the dough & get your hands in there.

So I made this dough, spread it on the pizza stone (another wise investment) & now to the saucy stuff!

I chose Alfredo with Sundried Tomato...............but that's not all - on the outside edges I spread basil pesto. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmMagnifique!

So for now I guess the proof is in the picture - at least for you all...............

Remember - alfredo & basil pesto!

A Taste Of Christmas

My Dad's side of our family is of Scandinavian decent. As long as I can remember, a staple at the Christmas dinner table and in various Christmas gatherings, involving family - inevitabely involve food - & the "humble" lefse is always a part of this.

For those of you who don't know - Lefse is simply a dough made out of potatoes, butter & flour.....you roll it out and cook it a bit on both sides. Then butter it and roll it up & enjoy.

Sounds so exciting - yes I know! ha, ha :)

I understand it's more the memories and tradition that it holds wrapped up in making it (for those of us adventurous enough) & enjoying it rather than the recipe in & of itself.

Nevertheless - be it simple or not - having Lefse to me always signals that Christmas is here!

The following is the lyrics of a little song, praising the multi-tasking abilities of Lefse. No, I did not make this up - it has been sung &/or heard in our families for years....

So to further educate those Lefse virgins out there - read on:


Yust A Little Lefse Vill Go A Long Vay

Chorus:
Yust a little lefse vill go a long vay
gives you indiyestion most all of the day
put it on your menu & you'll be sure to say
Yust a little lefse, vill go a long vay

Lefse's good for many tings, ve can give you proof
for tiling on the kitchen floor or patching up da roof
people sometimes use it as the soles upon dere feet
& some folks tink it's even good to eat

chorus

Lief Erikson once had a boat, it vas a leaky skow
he said to beat Columbus, he has got to leave right now
the boat vas leaking badly as they neared the USA
but he plugged the holes, ya lefse saved the day

chorus

If you know what lefse is, then you can understood
it looks & feels like plastic & it tastes just like plyvood
ve don't know what invented it, ve don't know who's to blame
but if you are Norse, you eat it yust the same

chorus

I know it's always better to hear something rather than just read it, so if you would like to hear the full song - check out http://kitschy-kitschy-coo.com/columns/2004/12/17/ Scroll about 3/4 down the page and you'll see an underlined link! Enjoy :)

GOOD FOOD, GOOD PEEPS - Mmmmmmmm

Most people that know me, know that I have a passion for things in the culinary world. Simply walking past the pots & pans in store displays elicits passion in me :) Passion to create amazing food......in relation to not only the taste - which I know is of utmost importance - but also to esthetically please the palate of the eyes :)

In my circle of acquaintances I've been donned the "Dessert Queen". It's pretty hard to go wrong with serving people some sugary delite - so this is where it's fun to go beyond just the "status quo" of desserts. I love designing something unique, beautiful.....satisfying my own passion in creating it and stirring up a reaction from who's consuming it.

& reactions are the biggest compliments - the more common ones "this is awesome", "you rock" or the more hallowed, "this is better than my Mom's!"

This space is dedicated 1st to all of my friends & family who over the years have been my faithful taste-testers. Having awesome peeps to cook for is a HUGE part of my passion.

Finally to all who love experiencing the art of cuisine - whether you love to cook, bake, or just eat - I hope you enjoy what's brewin'.....