Our First Land Excursion

We arrived on the wonderful island of Dominica after dark on Friday night.  It was a very loooonnnggg day.  We had gotten up to head to the airport at 3 am.  After 3 flights and an hour long bus ride through the mountains we were greeted with rum punch and a meeting with the hotel management where we were given our room assignments and invited to have a buffet dinner before turning in for the evening.

Saturday we had two morning dives.  The diving photos will be shared after we return home.  Frank is using the Go Pro and the program for it is on our PC at home.  We spent the rest of the day recuperating but did stay up long enough to see this beautiful sunset.

Sunday we enjoyed two more dives in the morning and then spent the afternoon on a whale watching excursion.  We didn't see any whales this time but we did have a whale of a good time.

Monday, again we enjoyed 2 morning dives and then we went on a land excursion to three different waterfalls.  Each one better than the last.

First stop was Spanny's Falls.  A short hike through the rainforest brought us to the lower falls on the bottom left.  To get to the upper falls you had to pull yourself up the mountain with the rope.  We chose to forego the upper falls.

Next stop, Jaco Falls.  I could've sworn our guide called these Hibiscus Falls but the sign says Jaco and I have been known to hear things wrong.  Jaco, Hibiscus....not even close LOL.

Our last stop was Emerald Pool.  A beautiful short hike to the falls and pool with lookout points over the Gulf side of the Island and the Atlantic side of the Island.  Just breathtaking.

Tonight we are going to Carnival and having street food for dinner.  Tomorrow is 2 dives in the morning, lunch on the beach and a third dive in the afternoon.  See you very soon.

Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins #MuffinMonday

Happy Monday all.  As you are reading this, I am in the Caribbean enjoying some sunshine, blue skies and tropical breezes.  I wasn't going to partake in this month's Muffin Monday event but before I left I was trying to clean out my refrigerator and had some buttermilk and a carton of blueberries that weren't going to last until I got home.

I decided that since I needed to use these items, I may as well make muffins....so here I am...well, virtually anyway.  

I found a recipe using these ingredients from Ina Garten, who is one of my favorite chefs, on the Food Network website.  I halved the recipe to make 12 muffins instead of 20.  It is a quick and easy recipe and the muffins were light, moist and delicious.  We had them for breakfast all week prior to leaving for our trip.

I know I say this each and every month but I love having muffins around the house.  They are perfect for a quick breakfast on the go, a wonderful snack and a great dessert.  They take less than an hour to go from mixing ingredients to removing them from the cooling rack to serving dish and the rewards last all week long.  

Make sure you scroll past my recipe to see what the others in the group are sharing with us today. Have a wonderful week!

Buttermilk Blueberry Muffins

adapted from Ina Garten

1 3/4 c. flour

3/4 c. sugar

2 1/4 t. baking powder

1/2 t. baking soda

1/2 t. salt

1 c. buttermilk

4 T. butter, melted

1 t. lemon zest

1 egg, beaten

1 c. fresh blueberries

Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

Whisk together the buttermilk butter, lemon zest and eggs in a small bowl.

Make a well in the dry ingredients.  Pour the buttermilk mixture into the well and mix just until blended.  Fold in the blueberries.  

Divide the batter between 12 muffin tins that have been treated liberally with baking spray.  Bake in a preheated 350* oven for 20-25 minutes, until a skewer inserted removes cleanly.  Print Recipe

Enjoy More Muffins

• Apricot Pistachio Matcha Muffins by Farm Fresh Feasts
• Blueberry Buttermilk Muffins by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Cherry Chocolate Muffins by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Garlic Onion Muffins by Passion Kneaded
• Muffins Florentine by Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Strawberry Yogurt Muffins by Food Lust People Love

#MuffinMonday is a group of muffin loving bakers who get together once a month to bake muffins. You can see all our of lovely muffins by following our Pinterest board.

Updated links for all of our past events and more information about Muffin Monday, can be found on our home page.

Celebrating Mardi Gras with #SundaySupper

gril·lade :
/ɡriˈläd,ɡrēˈyäd/ noun
 plural noun: grillades
 a kind of meat stew usually made with beef steak, typical of French regional and Cajun cooking.
source: Google Search

Tender Spicy Morsels of Beef Tenderloin in Gravy

 served over Cheese filled Grits

 and topped with a Bacon and Tomato Relish!!

Can you think of a better way to celebrate Fat Tuesday?  I certainly can't.  Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday) is celebrated on February 28th this month.  March 1st is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of our Lenten Season so we are getting ready for our last hurrah before the fasting and alms giving commences.  

Our host, Marion of Life Tastes Good, wisely asked us all to bring our favorite Mardi Gras recipe to the table this week.  This way all of our readers have a couple of days to plan their menu for their Mardi Gras celebration on Tuesday.

Keeping in mind that many of my readers will be working on Tuesday, I wanted to share a dish that is quick, easy and filled with the Cajun flavors you would find if you were lucky enough to be celebrating Mardi Gras in New Orleans.  When you read this, I will be in Dominica, celebrating Carnival.  I'm so excited.

This entire meal is ready in less than an hour.  Be forewarned that, in true Cajun fashion, this dish is very spicy.  I cut way down on the amount of Cayenne pepper and it still had a great bite.  A little too much bite for Frank who is very spice sensitive so if this is the case with your family you may want to reduce the Cayenne pepper even more.

Once you have seared the tenderloin and are letting the gravy thicken and reduce it is time to make your cheesy grits.  I used quick cooking grits which take only 5 minutes.  Stir in the cheese and butter and set aside while you rewarm the steak in the gravy and throw together the Bacon and Tomato Relish.

You are now ready to serve.  Plate the grits on one side of a shallow plate or bowl.  Ladle the stew onto the other side and top with a healthy dose of the tomato and bacon relish.

This elegant and delicious dinner is on the table within an hour making it perfect for a weeknight dinner but beautiful and tasty enough to serve to guests.  I adapted this recipe from one found in my latest issue of Cuisine at Home.  I made my own cajun seasoning adapting this recipe from Food.com. 

Tenderloin Grillades with Cheesy Grits and Tomato/Bacon Relish

adapted from Cuisine at Home, Issue #122

Stew:

1 lb beef tenderloin, slice into strips

3 T. flour

1 t. white pepper

1 t. garlic powder

1 t. onion powder

1/2 t. cayenne pepper ( more or less to taste)

1 t. paprika

4 thick slices of bacon, diced

1 yellow pepper, cut into chunks

1 med. red onion, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 T. tomato paste

2 c. beef broth

1 t. worcestershire sauce

Grits:

3/4 c. half and half 

1 1/4 c. water

dash of cayenne pepper

1 cup grits

1 c. colby jack cheese, shredded

2 T. butter

Relish:

4 slices diced bacon, cooked 

1 large tomato, seeded and diced

1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley

1 t. red wine vinegar

Combine the flour, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne and paprika in a large plastic bag. Add the beef strips and shake to coat.

Cook bacon in large skillet over med heat until crisp.  Set aside to drain on a paper towel lined plate.

Add olive oil to the bacon grease in the skillet to equal 2 tablespoons.  Heat over med high heat.  Sear the seasoned tenderloin, in two batches, for a minute on each side, reserving any seasoned flour left in the bag.  Set aside on a plate.

To the same skillet, still over med high heat, add 1 more tablespoon of olive oil.  Add the onion and peppers to the skillet and cook for 5 or 6 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.  Add garlic, tomato paste, and remaining seasoned flour.  Cook and stir for a minute or two until fragrant.  Stir in the broth and worcestershire sauce.  Bring to a boil, scraping up any browned bits sticking to the bottom of the skillet.  Let cook until thickened and reduced, 5 minutes or so.

While gravy is thickening, make the grits by bringing the cream, water and cayenne to a soft boil over med high heat in a large saucepan.  Gradually stir in the grits, reduce heat and cook, stirring often until thickened, about 5 minutes.  Stir in the cheese and butter, set aside.

Turn the heat off under the gravy but leave on burner.  Add the reserved tenderloin and allow to gently rewarm. 

Toss together the reserved bacon, tomatoes, parsley and red wine vinegar.

Place a quarter of the grits on one side of a shallow plate or bowl.  Ladle a fourth of the stew along side the grits and top with 1/4 of the Tomato/Bacon relish.  Print Recipe

More Recipes Celebrating Mardi Gras

Appetizers

• Andouille and Crawfish Pimento Cheese Fries by Soulfully Made
• Hot Louisiana Shrimp Dip by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Mardi Gras Muffaletta Dip by For the Love of Food
• Piquant Shrimp Balls by Food Lust People Love
• Trinidadian doubles by Caroline’s Cooking

Main Dishes

• Andouille and Chicken Gumbo by Delaware Girl Eats
• Bananas Foster French Toast by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Bananas Foster Baked Oatmeal by Cooking With Carlee
• Blackened Shrimp Pasta by Seduction in the Kitchen
• Cajun Courtbouillon by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Cajun Pasta Carnivale by Palatable Pastime
• Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo by The Freshman Cook
• Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta by Wholistic Woman
• Creole Beef and Rice Bowls by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
• Easy Shrimp and Grits Recipe by Life Tastes Good
• Gluten Free Gumbo by Cricket’s Confections
• Gumbo Z’herbes by Monica’s Table
• Hawaiian Jambalaya by Shockingly Delicious
• Overnight Muffuletta Sandwich by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Slow Cooker Jambalaya by The Crumby Cupcake
• Spicy Jambalaya Flatbread by My Life Cookbook
• Tenderloin Grillades with Cheesy Grits by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Vegetarian Muffaletta Sandwich by Hardly A Goddess

Sides

• Creole Potato Salad by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
• Easy Buttermilk Cornbread by The Wimpy Vegetarian
• Muffaletta Wedge Salad by Shaken Together
• New Orleans Brandy Milk Punch by Tara’s Multicultural Table
• Not So Dirty Rice by Simple and Savory
• Red Beans and Rice by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Desserts

• Bananas Foster by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Basic Bread Pudding by What Smells So Good?
• Bourbon Vanilla Cherries Jubilee by Pies and Plots
• Mardi Gras Cheese Ball by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Easy Mini King Cake Bites by Family Around The Table
• New Orleans Mardi Gras Beignets by Big Bear’s Wife
• Pecan Praline Cookies by Sunday Supper Movement
• Traditional Mardi Gras King Cake by Curious Cuisiniere
• White Chocolate-Raspberry Bread Pudding by Gourmet Everyday

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday!

We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board.

Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement?

It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

Wonderful Wednesday.....

We had a full schedule today.  We are getting ready for our trip to Dominica so Frank got all the scuba gear packed this morning.  While he was doing that I threw together a slow cooker dinner because I knew we would be out running errands all day.

I started out by making a BBQ Sauce

I placed 3 short ribs in the slow cooker and poured the sauce on top.

Set it to low and we were out the door.

We met my friend, Mary Agnes, at the grocer where we buy our stock for the food pantry.  We loaded up 2 truck loads of food and then headed to the pantry.  Thankfully, the 8th grade class was available and helped us to unload, carry down, mark and stock all the groceries.  What was going to be a 3 hour job was done in 55 minutes!

Since we had some extra time now.  Frank and I walked around town.  It was a gorgeous day, nearly 70*and the sun was sparkling off of the water.  We stopped in a store that features products made by local artists and artisans and picked up a housewarming gift for a friend.  She is having a home party tonight and it is the first time I will have been to her new home.

Then, we got an ice cream and just strolled along, window shopping and enjoying the weather, while we ate it.  This was followed by a run to the bank, to the hangar to drop off the rent check and to the farm store for dog and chicken feed.  The baby chicks are in already.  I don't need any new chicks this year but probably will be ready for some next year.  We bought our little Miss a tire swing shaped like a horse.  I can't wait to see her face when Frank hangs it in the tree for her.

When we got home the house smelled heavenly.  I put some rice on to boil and opened a can of sweet corn.  In half an hour, we were sitting at the table enjoying these short ribs.  Perfect recipe folks. Easy, Peasy and Delicious.

I had a few minutes before I leave to get Kirsten and head to the party so I thought I would share the recipe.  You're welcome.

Slow Cooker BBQ Short Ribs

3-4 Meaty Pork Short Ribs

salt and pepper to taste

1 c. catsup

1/2 c. Worcestershire sauce

1 T. minced garlic

1 T. honey (I used tangerine honey)

2-3 shakes hot sauce

juice of 1/4 lemon

Place short ribs in bottom of slow cooker and season with salt and pepper.  Combine the catsup, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, honey, hot sauce and lemon juice in a small bowl.  Pour over ribs and cook on low for 6-8 hrs.  Print Recipe

How the White House celebrated Washington's Birthday #PresidentsDayRecipe

Happy President's Day.  I remember when we celebrated this day as Washington's Birthday and also celebrated Lincoln's Birthday.  Now we set aside this day to honor all of our Presidents.

I received this cookbook as a gift and was very excited when Sue of A Palatable Pastime and a fellow member of our Holiday Fun with our Food Bloggers group decided to host a President's Day event. Sue asked us to share  a recipe that was President's Day related by theme, a POTUS family recipe or perhaps a recipe served to the POTUS by White House Staff.

This book was perfect for this event.  It not only includes tons of recipes, it also includes menus for special occasions such as Washington's Birthday!  This book contains an index of "Varieties of Seasonable Food to be obtained in our markets during the year" along with instructions on how to butcher, process, prepare and obtain said foods.  Much of the meat is game as is indicative of the times.

They also have a section for "Menus: Breakfast, Luncheon and Dinner for the Holidays and for a week in each month in the year".  I, of course, turned to February and discovered this menu for Washington's Birthday.  As you can see I had a huge selection of items I could make and they all came with recipes, even for coffee and tea.

I had some pork stew that I had taken out of the freezer for a dinner that didn't get cooked so when I saw the recipe for Country Sausage, I knew I was golden.  I adapted this recipe to use the two pounds of stew meat which eliminated the need to add any chine fat.  

If I lived in 1887 when this edition of this cookbook is dated, I would have minced the meat as instructed.  Fortunately, I live in 2017 and have a handy dandy Kitchen-Aid.  I ground my meat twice, first using the large grinding plate and then again using the smaller grinding plate.  I mixed in the seasonings with my hands as instructed but instead of encasing it in intestines or muslin, I simply made them into patties and fried them up.

To be honest with you, this pork sausage could have used a little bit of the chine fat.  I would definitely use country ribs or pork shoulder with a little more fat content next time I make this sausage.

But we enjoyed it none-the-less.  I served it up with a Tortilla Espanola that I had made for this month's FoodnFlix.  They are spicy and wonderful.  I ended up with 12 patties from 2 lbs of meat. Served two each with this dinner and put the rest in the freezer.  We have been enjoying them on breakfast sandwiches and mixed in with scrambled eggs.

I am linking this post to Foodies Read.  You can see what other foodie books people are reading by clicking on the link.  I am also excited to see the other recipes that my blogger friends made for this event.  You will find links to those recipes right below mine.

Country Pork Sausage

adapted from The Original White House Cook Book, 1887 Edition.

2 lbs pork stew meat

1 T. salt

1/2 T. black pepper

1 T. rubbed sage

1 t. ground savory

Run the pork stew meat through your meat grinder twice, using the large plate the first time and the small plate the second grinding.  Add the salt, pepper, sage and savory to the ground pork and mix in thoroughly using clean hands and 1/4 water to the mixture and continue to knead with your hands until water is absorbed and the seasonings are evenly distributed.  Form into patties of desired size. Place patties in a dry skillet over medium heat and cook for 3-4 minutes per side, depending on the thickness of the patty, until golden brown and an internal temperature of 150-160* is met.  Print Recipe

Happy #President's Day We are sharing recipes that honor our past presidents and their birthdays.

• Bush Family Cowboy Cookies from Palatable Pastime
• Country Sausage from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Extra Creamy Stovetop Mac and Cheese from Amy's Cooking Adventures
• President Nixon's Secret Meatloaf Recipe from Frugal Pantry
• Presidential Blueberry Bundt Cake from Cooking with Carlee
• President's Day Cherry Almond Squares from Family Around the Table
• Washington's Cherry Breakfast Cobbler from The Tip Garden

Banana and Pineapple Salad #CrazyIngredientChallenge

The ingredients for this month's Crazy Ingredient Challenge are bananas and onions.  I was really kind of stumped with these ingredients.  I did a google search which did not help me too much.  I did find out though, that evidently banana and onion juice are supposed to cleanse your chakras.  I don't know what that means and I really have no desire to investigate it any further but I did link to the site in case you are interested.

I also found a recipe for banana and onion soup that I thought sounded interesting but it was a little too suggestive of baby food for my liking.  I found that some curry recipes also include bananas and considered doing that as well.

Then I remembered a salad that I used to make for my kids when they were young.  It was simply iceberg lettuce, canned pineapple chunks, sliced bananas and a dressing made from the pineapple juice and miracle whip.  I haven't made it since they were toddlers and I never included onions but I thought I would rewrite this recipe to please my palate which is much pickier today than when I was a brand new wife and mother trying to survive on a shoestring budget.

I switched to Romaine lettuce and decided to add some red onion slices to the party.  I still wanted to use the pineapple juice in the dressing but wanted to include other flavors as well. 

When I went into the refrigerator for the Miracle Whip, I spied some Gourmet Garden Cilantro in a tube.  Perfect!  What is better with tropical flavors than cilantro? 

I lined a platter with the Romaine and then scattered the bananas, that I had tossed in a little lemon juice, over the top.  I followed this with some pineapple chunks and some thinly sliced red onion.  I only had a 15 oz can of pineapple chunks but you could certainly use fresh or just buy one of those little cans.  My husband made short business of the leftover pineapple and pineapple juice.

Drizzle the dressing over the top and you are ready to serve.  I think this salad was perfect because I have the tropics on my brain constantly.  Only 4 more days until my dive trip!!!  wooohoooooo......

Try serving this salad as a side with my Island Pork Tenderloin and Black Beans with Rice.  Add a Rum Punch  and a Pina Colada Trifle for dessert and you too, will feel as if you are visiting the Tropics.

Please take a look at what the others are sharing using Bananas and Onions.  You will find their links right underneath my recipe.

Tropical Salad

1 head Romaine Lettuce

1 banana, sliced and sprinkled with lemon juice

1/2 of a 15 oz. can Pineapple Chunks in it's juices

1/4 of a small red onion, thinly sliced

1 c. Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise

1/4 c. juice from pineapple chunks

1 T. cilantro paste or fresh cilantro, minced

salt and pepper to taste

Rinse and dry lettuce leaves.  Tear into bite size pieces and place on a platter.  Distribute the banana, pineapple and onion over the lettuce.  

In a small bowl, combine the Miracle Whip or Mayonnaise with the pineapple juice and cilantro. Whisk together until smooth.  Taste and season with salt and pepper.  Drizzle some over the salad and serve the rest on the table for people to add to their salad as desired.  Print Recipe

Banana and Onion Creations

An InLinkz Link-up

Mom's Cornflake Pork Chops for #SundaySupper

Shelby of Grumpy's Honeybunch is hosting Sunday Supper this week with a theme of Pork Chops.  Is it just me or does everyone hear Peter Brady saying Pork Chops and Applesauce in his attempt at a Bogart accent whenever this topic comes up?  I'm probably dating myself with that little aside.

My regular readers know that we eat a lot of pork in this household as we raised our own hogs up until we moved recently.

These handsome guys were from our last batch.  Since that time we have been purchasing our meat from a friend who we know raises their hogs humanely, hormone free and with no unnecessary antibiotics.  That same friend also provides us with our beef but today we are talking pork....specifically pork chops.

I have shared all kinds of pork chops with you in the past.  We have them Carribean Spiced in the summer.  Cider Glazed in the fall. Oven baked with BBQ Sauce in the winter and Grilled with this heavenly Blueberry BBQ Sauce.

Today's recipe, like the Peter Brady memory, is a throwback from my childhood.  My mom made these pork chops when I was a kid and, in turn, I made these pork chops for my kids.  It is a winning recipe for so many reasons.  They are easy, can be ready in less than an hour, is made from common household pantry items and they are always a huge hit with the family.  I am not sure where my mom got the original recipe.  Probably on the back of a package of corn flakes.

I don't know about you, but I am very excited to see all the great recipes brought to the table for Sunday Supper today.  You can find them right below this recipe.

Easy Cornflake Pork Chops

4-6 Pork Chops 

2 eggs

2 T. milk

salt and pepper to taste

1/2 t. onion powder

1/2 t. thyme leaves

1 1/2 c. cornflake crumbs

2 T. butter, melted

Scrape and pat dry the pork chops.  Whisk the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, onion powder and thyme together in a shallow dish.  Place the cornflake crumbs and butter in a sealable plastic bag, close and shake to evenly distribute the butter in the crumbs.  Dredge both sides of the pork chops in the egg mixture and place, one at a time, into the cornflake crumbs.  Shake the bag to coat and remove to a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.  Repeat for all the chops.  Bake in a preheated 350* oven for 30-40 minutes, depending on the thickness of the chops.  Print Recipe

More Wonderful Pork Chop Recipes

Pork Chops

• Braised Orange Tomato Pork Chops by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Braised Pork Chops with Country Gravy by Grumpy's Honeybunch
• Breakfast Chops by Palatable Pastime
• Brown Sugar and Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops by My Sweet Savings
• Chili Rubbed Pork Chops with Apricot Ginger Glaze by Life Tastes Good
• Cider Braised Pork Chops with Apple and Rutabaga by Caroline’s Cooking
• Creamy Apple Pork Chops by Savory Experiments
• Easy Cilantro Lime Pork Chops by Cooking Chat

Pork Chops

• Easy One Pan Oven Roasted Pork Chops by Pies and Plots
• Easy Oven Baked & Breaded Pork Chops by Hardly A Goddess
• Fontina Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce by Soulfully Made
• Fried Pork Chops by Bottom Left of the Mitten
• Grilled Boneless Pork Chops with Broccoli Rabe by Simple and Savory
• Grilled Pork Chops with a Strawberry Balsamic Glaze by Recipes Food and Cooking
• Indian-Spiced Pork Chop Potato Skillet by Sunday Supper Movement
• Japanese-Style Pork Chops Tonkatsu by Asian In America
• Mom’s Cornflake Pork Chops by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Mushroom Smothered Pork Chops over Noodles by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks

And More Pork Chops

• One Pan Pesto Pork Chops by Cricket’s Confections
• Pork & Peppers Stir Fry by Wholistic Woman
• Pork Chops Dijonnaise by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Pork Chops with Dirty Rice by Turnips 2 Tangerines
• Pork Chops, Peperoncini and Potatoes by Tramplingrose
• Prosciutto Wrapped Brie and Onion Stuffed Pork Chops by The Freshman Cook
• Quick Brine Pork Chops with Brown Sugar Glaze by Sew You Think You Can Cook
• Quick Easy Maple Glazed Pork Chops by Sprinkles and Sprouts
• Skillet Tuscan Pork Chops by A Mind “Full” Mom
• Slow Cooker BBQ Pork Chops by Big Bear’s Wife
• Slow Cooker Pork Chops with Mushroom Sauce by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Spicy Maple-Glazed Pork Chops with Jalapeno Cheese Grits by The Weekend Gourmet
• Vietnamese Grilled Pork Chop by Brunch-n-Bites

Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. To get more great Sunday Supper Recipes, visit our website or check out our Pinterest board. Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here: Sunday Supper Movement.

The Weekly Menu and A Book Review

This debut novel by Emma Healey was one I picked up from Barnes and Noble for my nook when they offered it for a nominal cost.  It has been sitting on my virtual bookshelf for a while now but I had caught up on all my mandatory reading and all the books I had ordered that I wanted to read so I opened it up on Sunday when I was not feeling well and spending the day in bed.

I was transported to the other side of the pond where I met Maud, an elderly woman suffering from dementia and her daughter, Helen, who is her caregiver.  Those who know me will realize how deeply this story would impact me, having been a caregiver for my Mom who also suffered from this terrible disease.  It was a terribly hard story for me to read which is a testament to how well Ms. Healey captured the disease and manifested how it affects not only the person with the disease but all of the family and friends who deal with it as well.

Maud's disease keeps her travelling from the past to the present confusing people and event from here and now with those from her childhood.  This is a very real part of the disease.  For the last few years of my mother's life I was her sister.  When I would introduce her as my Mom, she would whisper to people that she was really my sister....like I was the one who was confused LOL.

Of course, my mom (as far as I know) did not have any terrible tragedies to mix up with everyday events as Maud does.  I think my mom had a pretty happy childhood and adulthood because even with this terrible disease she was always happy, laughing and loved to socialize.

I pretty much had this book figured out but it still held my attention and was worth reading in my opinion.  I think that it is a splendid first novel for this author and would read another of her novels if/when it is written.

On Monday I went to the docs and got some antibiotics but still spent most of the day in bed finishing this novel. Our dinner plans with Kim and Kurt were cancelled so we are going out this Monday instead.

Tonight we are meeting Amy and Doug for dinner after Mass.  The rest of the week is typical, Aunt Irene, Food Pantry, choir, a home party to attend.....oh yeah and packing!!!!  We leave in the wee early morning hours for our Dive Trip to Dominica.  A lot of people have been asking about Dominica so I have a video to share with you of our trip from 2008.

I cannot wait to go back.  There will be no Weekly Menu next week but I am sharing this week's with you below.  Stay tuned for recipes and photos.

Saturday

Dinner out with Amy and Doug

Sunday

Baked Pasta

Salad

Monday

Out with Kurt and Kim

Tuesday

Tenderloin Grillades

Cheesy Grits

Wednesday

Oven Baked BBQ Country Ribs

Roasted Potatoes and Carrots

Thursday

Kielbasa and Broccoli Casserole

Stracciattella for #SoupSwappers

Welcome to our 2nd edition of Soup Saturday Swappers.  I started this group last month and we are already up to 31 members.  The nice thing about this group is that it is so friendly and relaxed.  We post a soup recipe on the third Saturday of each month based on a theme chosen by one of the members.   Busy and can't post one month?  No problem, we will see you when your life permits. Don't like the theme?  Next month there will be a theme you may love.  Thought you were going to post but didn't get a chance to make the recipe?  Didn't think you could post but found a recipe and decided you could?  Great, either way.  We don't have to sign up ahead of time.  The linkzy code can be found on the event page and you can join in the fun as long as you post sometime during that third Saturday.  Are you a blogger interested in joining?  Let me know in the comments or on our Facebook Page.

This month, our party is being hosted by Kathy of A Spoonful of Thyme.  Kathy invited us to Go International.  Kathy says, "tell us about a favorite soup that you enjoy that has roots in another country".   The fun part of this event is that we have members from the USA, Canada, Europe, Asia...from all over the world.  So what you share may be home cooking to you and what they share may be a dish with which you are very familiar.

I decided to take a trip to Italy for my recipe.  I made this wonderful Stracciatella Soup.  Some folks call this Italian egg drop soup but the literal translation is "little shred". I just call it delicious!

I served this soup as the first course at a dinner party that I hosted for some of the people with whom Frank worked before he retired.  It was perfect because it is easily adaptable to the amount that you need, it is quick and easy to make and can be set aside and rewarmed right before serving.  I adapted this recipe from one found on Allrecipes.com by Chef John.  

I followed his suggestion of serving it with a drizzle of good olive oil but omitted the sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes because my hubby is spice sensitive.

You will find all the other International offerings linked below my recipe.  I can't wait to see what the others have brought to share.

Stracciatella Soup

adapted from Allrecipes.com; submitted by Chef John

8 c. chicken broth

salt and pepper to taste

3 T. semolina flour

4 eggs

3 T. Parsley leaves, chopped

1/2 c. grated 3 cheese blend, Parmesan, Romano and Asiago

pinch of cayenne pepper

pinch of nutmeg

Place chicken broth in a large pot over med high heat.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, parsley, cheese, cayenne and nutmeg.

Whisk the egg mixture into the broth, stirring constantly.  Return to a simmer and cook until the cloudiness dispels and the soup clears. 

Ladle into bowls and serve with a drizzle of good olive oil.  Print Recipe

More International Soups

An InLinkz Link-up

Indian Cod Curry for #FishFridayFoodies

Did you ever notice that the best recipes are made by layering flavors?  You take simple ingredients and layer flavor upon flavor until the end result is a perfect blend that soothes the soul with each bite.

That is certainly the case with this wonderful Cod Curry made after Sneha of Sneha's Recipe volunteered to host Fish Friday Foodies and chose Indian Curry as her theme this month.  I found a recipe on Allrecipes.com that started off with all of the lovely flavors that we love in an Indian Curry.  I imagine you could use a prepared curry powder but then you would miss all the wonderful delights to your senses.  The feel of the spices in your hand, the smell of each individually and then melded with the others.  The beauty of the warm and comforting colors of these spices.

How could it get better?  Well, how about caramelizing some onions.  Caramelized onions, in and of themselves, are a gift from heaven.  Then stir in those delightful spices and smell it transform into something that makes the saliva glands release and the stomach start to grumble.

The third layer adds the heat of jalapeno peppers with the brightness of lemon and the distinct flavor of cilantro.  Just when you thought it couldn't get better, you add in some tomatoes with their juices and scrape up all the tasty brown bits that are stuck to the bottom of the pan.

Bury your fish filets in this savory sauce, cover and let the flavors permeate as it cooks through.  Yes, I know that your stomach is screaming that it wants this now but be patient, fish cooks quickly.

Serve this delectable fish and sauce over some steamed rice and your night is perfect.  The final and most important sense is satisfied as you take a bite.  The fish is delicate and flaky.  The sauce is mildly spicy and transports you to an exotic locale without ever leaving your house.

Interested in joining Fish Friday Foodies?  If you are a food blogger, we would love to have you.  We post a fish/seafood recipe on the third Friday of each month based on a theme chosen by one of our members.  Please leave your email in the comments below or request to join on our Facebook page and I will be happy to add you.  Next month we will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day with Irish Fish and Seafood dishes.  Make sure you scroll past my recipe below to see all the other wonderful Indian Curry recipes being shared.  If they are all as good as this meal, you are going to want to make them all!

Cod Curry

adapted from Allrecipes.com submitted by JenniferB3

1 T. olive oil

1 medium sweet onion, chopped

1 t. garlic paste

1 t. ginger paste

2 t. cumin

2 t. coriander

1 t. cardamom

1/2 t. turmeric

pinch of salt

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced (or more to taste)

1/4 c. chopped cilantro leaves

juice of 1/4 lemon

2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes with juices

1 lb. cod fillets, cut into serving size pieces

Steamed Rice

Heat oil in skillet over medium heat.  Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally until soft and caramelized.  15-20 minutes.  Add the garlic and ginger, cook and stir for a minute and then stir in the cumin, coriander, turmeric, cardamom and salt until fragrant.  Add the jalapeno, cilantro and lemon juice along with the tomatoes and their juices.  Bring to a boil. Cook and stir, scraping up any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pan.  Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Return the sauce to a boil and then nestle the fish in the sauce.  Reduce heat again, cover and simmer for another 15 minutes, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.  Serve over steamed rice.  Print Recipe

More Indian Curry Recipes

An InLinkz Link-up