Simple Syrup

They do not call this simple for no reason, it really is simple. 50% water and 50% sugar, brought to a boil and the heat turned off. The usual ratio is 1 cup of each, but depending on the ocassion you may want to double it. If you do not want it that sweet, adjust it to 2/3 water - 1/3 sugar.

The beauty of simple syrup is the diversity. You can add virtually any herb, zest or spice to it to infuse it with flavor. Think of the flavors of your menu or what goes with the particular citrus you are adding the syrup for inspiration. There are no rules, just experiment. Delicate flavors such as saffron, lavender or vanilla should be added after you turn the heat off so you keep as much of the essence as possible.

Use a plain simple syrup mixed with a 50/50 ratio of lemon juice and you have the best sour for any cocktail combination. You can also adjust your lemon juice ratio to 50/50 lemon and lime to add more depth - the choice REALLY is yours!

Strawberry Lemonade

1 pt strawberries
2 ¾ cups sugar
2 ½ cup fresh lemon juice
Seltzer or Club Soda

Puree Strawberries and ¼ cup sugar in a blender. Pour 1 cup strawberry mixture into a pitcher and add the fresh lemon juice and remaining sugar. Stir to combine. Pour strawberry, lemonade mixture into 1/2 up the glass, fill with ice and top off with seltzer or club soda. You can strain the mixture if you care for a debris-free drink.

The Best Flour Sack Towels - Not embroidered

Next time you need to stock up on pricey microfiber rags or disposable electrostatic dust cloths, opt for flour sack towels instead. Flour sack towels outperform microfiber and disposable dust cloths for cleaning and dusting all areas of your home. They're large, absorbent, durable, and (perhaps most importantly) cheap.

What in the World are Flour Sack Towels?
They're called "flour sack towels" because the tightly woven cotton used to hold flour from the mid-1800s through the 1950s was repurposed into towels, bedding, and clothing by the resourceful women of days gone by. You can buy a set of five through me for just $10 + shipping.

OK, So They're Cheap. But Do They Clean?
I've been using a set of flour sack towels for decades. I use several a day as I do general cleaning and trail after my daughter. They still look great after several hundred washings–and I use chlorine bleach, people!

I'm sure you all can think of many more super ideas for using flour sack towels. Here are a few of my favorite uses:
Dusting:
Flour sack towels are lint-free, making them ideal for dry-dusting TV and computer screens.
Use them with furniture polish or lemon oil for dusting wood furniture.
They hold onto dirt better than any microfiber/Swiffer-style cloth I've used, so they're great for dusting ceiling fans and blinds.
Baby:
Bib: tie the short end around your baby's neck to cover her body from chin to knees, or fold the towel in half for cup practice or messy foods for double-layer absorbency.
Burp Cloth: lip one over your shoulder to burp a gassy baby–supersized flour sack towels cover more of you (always a good thing when you're in the line of upchuck fire). I did this so many times when my daughter started screaming just as I started prepping dinner. Saved me 30 seconds from trekking to her room in search of a burp cloth–in screamtime, that's 4 perceived hours.
Kitchen:
Lint-free flour sack towels are fantastic for drying dishes, particularly glassware, without streaking.
Wipe up messy kitchen spills: coffee, marinara, grease–I use them on everything, because the stains come out easily in the wash with a scoop of Biz or cup of Clorox, no problem.
Cover dough to keep it from drying out as it rises (slightly dampened), or cover baked goods to keep insects and dust out while they cool without trapping steam inside as foil or plastic wrap can.
Weird but true point on sanitary cleaning: flour sack towels don't trap hair (like cloth napkins and terry cloth towels do),so you won't have to pore over your towels looking for icky stray hairs before you use them around food.
Dry lettuce and veggies after washing–just wrap the food in a clean flour sack towel and gently squeeze.
Note: Don't use fabric softener if you use flour sack towels for food prep–nobody wants their brownies to smell April Fresh and fabric softener makes them less absorbent!
Shine your faucet with the damp flour sack towel after you finish drying dishes, then use it to spot-mop the kitchen floor–3 cleaning tasks quickly done with 1 towel.
Windows and Mirrors: Have I mentioned that flour sack towels are lint-free?

Make them pretty!
If you just can't hang with plain ol' white, buy a set of them from me that have been embroidered. I have many patterns that I have done, check out the flour sack towel link for more ideas. Embridered towels run $7 per towel + shipping. I still bleach these and have never had the colors fade.  NON-embroidered towels are $2 per towel. 

[kon-tent] at All Inc. Summer Event - June 11, 5-7 pm

Have you ever wondered what it is like to come to one of my classes or what the food I prepare tastes like? Come to All, Inc. on June 11th and find out. They are hosting an event centered around Summer entertaining and I am going to be there cooking up some of the food from my Sun-drenched menu class. You will be able to also meet Denise Gee, home design/trend expert who will be talking about 5 innovative kitchen design trends as well as providing samples from her new book 'Southern Cocktails.' Lastly, Eli Wollenzien, the executive chef from Crave in Edina will be there cooking up some fabulous food.
The event is free and you do not need to reserve a spot.

Decadent Brownie Bites

Decadent Brownie Bites

5 tbsp unsalted butter
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate - chopped
1/3 cup flour
3 tbsp cocoa powder
½ tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place butter and half of the bittersweet chocolate into a saucepan and melt over medium-low heat. Let cool for ten minutes

In a bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and remaining chopped chocolate.

In another bowl combine sugar, egg and vanilla. Add the cooled chocolate mixture and combine. Using a spatula, fold in the flour mixture until combined.

Scoop batter into molds and bake for 20-25 minutes. Transfer molds to a wire rack and let them cool completely in mold (VERY IMPORTANT TO LEAVE THEM IN MOLD). Invert brownies out and sprinkle with powdered sugar or cover with ganache.

REGARDING THE MOLDS: You will need 2-3 ounce cylinder-shaped molds to make these. I use a silicone mold that has several pockets so I can make eleven at a time. I can get these for you through one of my suppliers for $20 + shipping. Thanks!

kon-tent music - pLUSH

pLUSH. What does it mean? Think sensual, think stylish, think texture. It's early evening, the work week is just over. You are sipping a cocktail at the city's newest lounge and you're relaxed, comfortable and getting ready for an evening out. What's missing? The music, and pLUSH is the answer for just such a scenario.

Sexy, funky and contemporary grooves all designed to get you thinking about what lies ahead for the evening. From downtempo and subtle to jazzy, sexy house, this compilation explores a variety of tempos and structures.

Homage to Puff Pastry

Light, flaky and buttery. For one to make puff pastry from scratch would take hours. Why do that when the version in the freezer section at the grocery store is just as good. Adding puff pastry to your menu gives it an element of class and the impression you spent hours. Come along as we take a journey through the many uses of puff pastry.

Asparagus, Mushroom & Gruyere Tarts

Rueben Pinwheels

Cheese Straws

Beef Wellingtons

Honey Palmiers

Tarte Tatin

Come join me - class fee is $40 - ross@kon-tent.com

Rhubarb - did you know?

Did you know that rhubarb is considered a vegetable? While the leaves are toxic, the stalks are used in pies and other foods for their tart flavor. Among species found in the wild, those most commonly used in cooking are the garden rhubarb and the so-called false rhubarb, which is actually a true rhubarb.

The plant is indigenous to Asia, and many suggest that it was often used by the Mongolians; particularly, the tribes of the Gobi Desert. The use of rhubarb stems as food is a relatively recent innovation, first recorded in 17th century England, after affordable sugar became available to common people, and reaching a peak between the 20th century's two world wars. Rhubarb first came to America in the 1820s, entering the country in Maine and Massachusetts and moving westwards with the European American settlers.

The colour of the rhubarb stalks can vary from the commonly associated crimson red, through speckled light pink, to simply light green. Rhubarb stalks are poetically described as crimson stalks. The colour is not related to its suitability for cooking. The green-stalked rhubarb is more robust and has a higher yield, but the red-coloured stalks are much more popular with consumers.

Although beautiful, the only other attention required is to cut off flower heads which may appear in early spring as the new rhubarb stalks emerge. Do this as soon as possible - if the flower head is left to grow and set seed, the plant will never fully recover to good strength.

Birding - Bird seed

So I readily admit that when I saw the commercial for this, I though 'hmmm, this is a marketing snafoo, that can't happen.' How could a bird seed actually attract twice as many colorful birds? Then, the thought left my head as I began to think about homemade croissants.

A couple of days later I was at Home Depot and walked by this very product and decided since I am a major media influence, I was going to buy some and show the world this was a sham. I actually think I had a smirk on my face when I loaded up the bird feeders that evening, wondering how long it was going to take for this to work - if it worked.

To my amazement, the next morning I had more finches at my window than I had ever seen before. The cardinals were next followed by an indigo bunting, which I had never seen before. And I also realized a couple of days later - no blackbirds or starlings hanging around. Not only did I not spend an arm and a leg on this seed mix, but I am not feeding four and twenty blackbirds.

I highly recommend this, and I have seen it readily available since my intial deviant purchase. Scotts - I stand corrected, you do have a fantastic bird seed mix.

Outdoor Furniture - Meadowcraft

It has been over a decade since I invested in an outdoor furniture collection and I am still 100% satisfied with my decision as the day I did it. What is even more amazing, is that it still looks today, like it did back in June of 1998 when it rolled off the truck and into my lawn.

I knew that I wanted cast steel and iron for its' weight, but also the endurance. The hard part was finding a line that was comfortable, easy to navigate around and flexible color-wise so no matter where I was it would fit.

Meadowcraft filled that in every way. I have to Coronado deep-seating collection and it is just like being in your very own living room, only outdoors. The Coronado dining set features swivel, rocking chairs and a generously-sized, rectangular table that seats six comfortably. The glass-top table is still in tact and no chips. The finish, which is a wonderful, deep green is flawless. The cushions as well have endured many storms, and they still are stain free. They no longer manufacture the Coronado collection, but they do have many great collections to choose from.

Yes, this type of furniture is an investment - but I know I will have this for life and even my daughter will get a lifetime of use out of it. If you are ever in the market for outdoor seating, consider Meadowcraft.

Bake Sale - July 4th in Afton, MN

I have decided to hold a bake sale on the 4th of July in Afton, I am very excited. My mind is spinning with all the possibilities. There will be cookies and tarts, I will even have some heavenly, homemade marshmallows and maybe homemade smores too!

Appliances - KitchenAid Pro-Line Coffee Maker

I instantly fell in love with this coffee maker by KitchenAid the moment I saw it, little did I know that it would become the best one I have ever owned. I purchased this machine six years ago and have used it every day since. This thing is like a mack truck, virtually indistructable. I love the large carafe and how it looks (and can function as) commercial.

What is also great is that you can get this model with a satellite warming plate and additional carafe - another great selling point for me. When it comes to holidays or weekends where I have a few guests around I can always have enough coffee around. I have also used this warmer in instances where I want my coffee in a separate room, but readily available. And.. in years past I have used the warmer/carafe to make mulled cider and mulled wine kept hot at the ready.

Yes, this machine is not cheap - but I can speak from personal experience that it IS a fantastic investment and will bring you years of pleasurable coffee experiences.

Appliances - Dacor Epicure Dual-Fuel Range

I have long been a fan of Dacor and its' ranges. I know that people now prefer cooktops, but I would say I am a traditionalist at heart and like to have a range. The abilty to sear something and throw it directly into the oven to finish or pull something out of the oven and place it on the range top to make a quick sauce is invaluable.

Dual-fuel is a must have for the serious cook. Gas top delivers instant reaction to your pots and pans and the electric oven providing consistent baking results as well as even broiling. Most high-end appliance manufacturers have similar features, but where I think Dacor stands out is particular to my style of cooking.

First, I enjoy the fact that the knobs turn flame blue as soon as they are activated. As someone who has walked away from the stove when I have finished cooking only to realize later that the flame is still on due to the fact it was on a low flame - this is a nice feature.

I also like the fact that Dacor does not force you to commit two burners exclusively to a griddle or grill. I have lived in homes where this was the case and I found this limiting. The griddle was more a pain to clean than anything and the grill cleanup was ten times worse. With Dacor, you can get a griddle or grill to place directly on top of your grate that is made of cast aluminum. After using them, you can bring them to the sink to wash them up and then store them away. Convenient and functional - how innovative!

Yes, these ranges are an investment - I am not blind to that, but I do see them as a lifetime investment as to the value Dacor builds into every piece they manufacture. In my ultimate kitchen, two 30" dual-fuel ranges, side-by-side with enough room to crank out the biggest brunch ever, or even a fajita party!

Dacor deserves a standing round of applause for coming up with such an amazing range.

Appliances - Miele 36" All-Refrigerator/All-Freezer

Not all refrigerators are created equal, Miele can attest to that. When I was shown this refrigeration I was in complete awe and amazement. First off, I was blown away with the sheer size of these pieces. One would think you could fit the entire grocery store into these, but alas this is not possible. When you open the door you are immediately hit with the fantastic lighting and scale of the interior. When I moved from having a refrigerator/freezer combo to all-refrigerator/all-freezer I was surprised with how organized I was able to keep things. I did not realize how much more room it provided. Although I love glass-front refrigerators, I am always in fear of not having the inside of mine looking organized enough - but one can always fantasize.

Miele has also mastered the art of compartment-specific cooling with their Mastercool settings. This touch-glass technology allows you to determine how cold you want certain areas/drawers at the touch of your finger. Select the section of the refrigerator and then another set of icons light up giving you the option of meat, dairy, etc and the Miele technology goes into action cooling that area to the best temperature suited to that produce/meat. But what if you have two or three different tyeps? Well, Miele's innovative team came up with the idea of selecting a median temperature between them and sets it automatically for you.

Miele supervision 24/7. If a family member accidentally left the door ajar to your refrigerator, freezer or wine cooler before leaving for a weekend getaway or if a critical cooling component was to malfunction without detection, the loss and inconvenience could be extensive, especially if you were storing a valued wine collection or a volume of high-quality meats and seafood. With Miele’s innovative RemoteVision™, you will enjoy complete peace of mind, eliminating this anxiety. Using proprietary wireless local area network technology and application software developed by Miele for its enabled products, you will be connected to Miele’s monitoring center. A ‘virtual link’ is established, which allows a secured transmission of vital temperature and performance data. If a significant fault occurs, Miele’s client service center will be notified and contact you or another trusted individual you've identified on your call roster in order to gain access to your home and fix the problem.

Miele, worth every penny!

Appliances - Dacor Epicure Discovery Dual Wall Ovens

The wall oven. I think whoever invented this in its' dual format should be sainted. How can you do a large dinner or holiday gathering without one and keep your sanity in tact. To me, it does not matter how many photo's appliance manufacturers take of an oven with three or four racks, loaded with food and all looking gloriously browned and done - this has never happened in my life. Overcrowding does not make for even baking, even with convection.

This is why I think the Dacor Epicure Discovery Dual Wall Ovens are a must have if you are a serious cook or baker. When I need to do a batch of my famous giant cut-out cookies, it would take me eight hours to do in one oven what can be done in two here.

These ovens also have a probe so you can insert into both ovens your main course, i.e. turkey, ham, beef tenderloin - set the oven for the desired temperature and walk away. Now this is worth celebrating. You can actually cook AND enjoy time with your guests. Full-extension glide racks allow you to pull out your food and not have to reach your head inside to get leverage. It even has a Sabbath setting to conserve energy. A true investment in your kitchen's future!

Appliances - Miele LaPerla Dishwasher

I enjoy handwashing my dishes. Mainly because it gives me time with my daughter to talk, without any distractions and I also like the experience or process since it causes me to slow down. Most of my cookware needs to be handwashed due to the finish and I believe it is necessary to use Bar Keepers Friend to keep the pots and pans looking brand new after a decade.

But, if I need to use the dishwasher I would not want to use anything BUT the Miele LaPerla. Ask anyone that has one and watch their face as their eyes light up and they talk about how this dishwasher is a sense of relief in their already hectic life. You will also hear them talk about the ease of use with the push-button controls and how sometimes they have walked up to the dishwasher to make sure it was actually working because it is so quiet.

I enjoy the fact that I can put my 12" buffet plates in without having to tip them sideways. There seems to be so much storage in here, I want to throw everything in. Variable temperature controls help you determine how hot the water is so you can tailor it to what you are washing. You don't want to ruin the antique dishes or glassware you hunted for for the last 12 years.

Miele is an extraordinary company and they should have the best dishwasher out there, they have been making them for 75 years. Thank you Miele for making our lives easier. Don't forget to check out their website and see the commercial where the son is taking money from the neighborhood kids to wash their tricycles. He is actually putting them in the dishwasher to clean them - almost like a drive-thru carwash.

Appliances - Electrolux Icon Ice Machine

When it comes to ice, my household can never have enough. We always seem to be running out. Never again, now that Electrolux has come out with the most fanstasic ice machine out there. They have designed an ice cube that not only is crystal clear due to a continuous water flow in the freezing mechanism, but also mastered the shape of the cube itself so that it melts slower thus keeping your beverage cooler - longer.

This fits neatly below your counter and take up a small footprint, leaving you continuous ice for any need you may have. This heavy duty machine can pump out 60 pounds of ice in a day, which makes the 30 pound storage container seem small. State-of-the-art, push-button controls and a fingerproof stainless-steel exterior are part of the innovative design.

Appliances - Dacor Epicure Ventillation

Kitchen ventillation, when properly installed should help circulate the air in your kitchen - not make you wonder if you are standing next to a 747 jet engine. Expelling heat and odors is the core job of your wall hood, this Dacor did wonderfully but they also added some extra advantages that make this our top pick. First off, the blowers are powerful yet quiet so you do not need to halt any conversation, hang up the phone or turn up the television while making a meal. Not only does this pull out the hot air, but it also bring in fresh air from the outside to help eliminate odors and keep your kitchen fresh and not stale. It even knows when to turn itself on, if your hands are tied up.
It comes with a handy touch screen that helps you instantly at the touch of a button and cleaning it is a snap. The lighting system on this brings you the full view of your culinary inspiration without wondering how you are going to clean it.

Even the vent grates themselves are innovative. Easy to remove and clean - could they make your cooking experience any easier? I don't think so. Thank you Dacor for thinking of every detail so we are not left having to look elsewhere. This is a solid investment in your home.

Garden Greens & Citrus Salad

½ cup toasted, chopped pecans or walnuts
1 orange
1 pink grapefruit
8-10 ounces small garden lettuces
1 tbsp citrus vinegar
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tsp honey
½ cup crumbled feta cheese
2-3 thin slices red onion, separated into rings

Pour chopped nuts into fry pan over medium, medium-high heat and stirring constantly, cook them until you begin to smell the aroma of toasted nuts. Remove from heat instantly and set aside to cool.

Premium the orange and grapefruit then set aside. In a small bowl, combine together the vinegar, salt, olive oil and honey. Whisk until you have combined them. Taste and adjust seasonings.

In a large bowl, add the lettuce, citrus, feta cheese and onion slices. Pour dressing over mixture and stir to combine. Plate each salad and sprinkle with toasted nuts, and then serve.

Oreo Cheesecake

So this is another one of those fantastic combinations. Oreo cookies combined with a rich, vanilla-bean cheesecake set on top of a oreo cookie crust. Once you have tried this, you will never go back.

For the crust:
4 tablespoons butter (not margarine), melted
2 cups Oreo cookies, crushed fine (about 18 cookies)

For the filling:
3 pounds cream cheese
2 3/4 cups granulated sugar
5 eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups Oreo cookies, in chunks (about 15 cookies)
For the garnish (optional):
12 ounces whipped cream
12 Oreo cookies

To make the crust: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Wrap the outside of a 10-by-3-inch springform pan tightly with foil (to prevent water from leaking in). Line the bottom with a parchment circle. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, stir together melted butter and Oreo crumbs. Place in pan and press down firmly and evenly. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven; set aside to cool.

To make the filling: Place cream cheese in a mixing bowl and mix on medium speed until soft (6 to 8 minutes). Use a rubber spatula to scrape bowl often to ensure even distribution.

Add sugar and blend well, scraping bowl just until mixture is smooth (no lumps). Reduce mixing speed to low, then slowly add eggs and vanilla. Mix until combined.

Remove bowl from mixer. With a wooden spoon, stir Oreo chunks into batter. Pour batter into pan prepared with crumb crust; place cheesecake pan into large roasting pan. Fill roasting pan with water, leaving 1 inch of space from the top of the cheesecake pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours, until top of cheesecake is slightly golden. Refrigerate at least 24 hours before serving.

To make the garnish: If desired, top each slice of cheesecake with 1 ounce of real whipped cream and an Oreo cookie.

Tortilla Pizza

Life needs to be easy since everything wants to suck up our time. Why not make a simple dinner like pizza, even easier while allowing each person to have what they want. The trick...? A whole wheat tortilla. You can use regular flour tortilla's as well, but I tell myself the whole wheat alternative is giving my family a little something extra. If you want to make this lo-cal, you can even use a drained can of petite-diced tomatoes to cut down on the sugar. Set your oven to 425 - I use a pizza stone to ensure a crisp crust. Here I just topped it with mascarpone and parmesan, then roasted cherry tomatoes and pine nuts. Ten minutes in the oven and you are done. Another great alternative is buffalo wing sauce, grilled chicken, scattered blue cheese and then topped with mozzarella. YUM!

4 whole-wheat tortillas (8-inch)
Olive oil for brushing
2 cans (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
3/4 cup coarsely grated, part-skim mozzarella (3 ounces)
1 ounce Pecorino Romano, shaved
1/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved lengthwise
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place tortillas on two baking sheets; brush with 1 teaspoon oil. Dividing evenly, top with tomatoes, cheeses, olives and red pepper. Bake until crust is crisp and browned, 10 to 12 minutes, rotating sheets halfway through. Cut pizza into wedges.

White Chocolate Martini

(Recipe yields roughly 2 martinis)

1/2 cup half and half cream
4 ounces white chocolate, rough chopped
2 ounces vodka
2 ounces Simple Syrup (see recipe in Additional Info below)
Heat half and half cream in a small sauce pan; slowly add white chocolate, whisk continually, until chocolate is melted. Cool to room temperature.
Add vodka and simple syrup* to white chocolate mixture; stir to blend. (*See Simple Syrup recipe in Additional Information below)
Pour into 2 martini glasses; serve.
Additional Info
Simple syrup, or “sugar syrup” is used in many cocktails and other drinks such as to sweeten iced tea; it can be made ahead and held refrigerated for use as needed.
To make Simple Syrup: Combine 1 cup sugar and 2 cups water in saucepan.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly, until sugar is completely dissolved.
Remove from heat; cool.

kon-tent wine 101 - bartenura moscato

I first tasted this over at my friend Tina's house and immediately fell in love with this wine. So much so, I ordered two cases of it. Whenever I served it, people always commented on the taste. It complimented so many dinners and gatherings, I found it to be extremely versatile. I also loved the blue bottle - it made a great vase for flowers a couple of times or sticking candles in the neck for an evening outside festivites.

The Bartenura Moscato is finished as a light, sweet, slightly effervescent wine, designed to be served chilled as aperitif or with cheeses. In the glass, it is quite clear, with just a hint of honey color. Tiny bubbles emerge as you swirl the glass to pull up an aroma. The aroma you get is blazingly sweet cut grass. Yellow, green and ripe - compelling!

On the palate, the sweetness of the wine comes to the forefront, with the bubbles tickling the center of your palate and the green grass now muted in the mix. Hardly any finish, but very pleasant memories. Five stars, because I'd drink it again for pleasure, with a plus because it was one of the most evocative aromas I've had from a wine. At its "practically free" price ($11), that makes it a screaming value, and at a mere 5% alcohol level, you can compliment your discretion as well as your taste!

kon-tent art - Roy Fairchild-Woodard

I have heard people say you should only buy art as an investment or it should match the kon-tents of your room. I say forget about all of that and throw it out the window. Art should be purchased because it imbues a sense or feeling when you look at it. I do not care if it matches the furnishings or drapes - I care that when I am sitting in that room and ponder the particular piece, that I am drawn back to the time I first saw it and how it made me feel.

Such is the case with the work Roy Fairchild-Woodard. His is the kind of painting thast is particularly influenced by the painters of the Renaissance. He visited Italy in particular to study frescos, tapestries and paintings, to see for him the techniques with which they were executed. His vision is colored by his immersion in the past. His surfaces are rich and sumptuous. He uses varied interwoven elements such as fabrics and flowers in his work. The crumbling plaster works of ancient frescos are, also alluded to in his use of plaster, as a base for acrylic and oil over-painting.

I get wrapped up into his work which is why I was so thrilled to recieve Sound of Moon as a gift five years ago. Mine is an embellished serigraph, which gives me pause to think that Fairchild touched it with his actual hands. Most of his work involves an open birdcage with a dove flying outside of it to encourage the viewer to think of freedom and the struggle to reach there.

Brazilian Corn Salad

28 oz. yellow corn
½ cup olive oil
1 cup red onion, minced
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. ground cumin
1 red bell pepper – seeded and minced
1 green pepper – seeded and minced
1 ½ cups tomatoes – seeded and diced
3 tbsp. sherry vinegar

Place corn on towel to soak up any excess moisture.

In a small pan over medium heat, warm ¼ cup olive oil. Add the onion and sauté for a few minutes. Add the chili powder and cumin and sauté for one minute longer.

In a bowl, combine corn, red and green pepper, tomatoes and cooled onions. Toss to mix. Pour remaining olive oil and vinegar over the top and toss again. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Peach Bread Pudding

½ lb. loaf of French/Italian/Brioche/Challah bread – cubed and dried out for two days.
4 cups heavy cream
4 whole large eggs
6 tbsp. unsalted butter – melted
½ cup amaretto liqueur
¾ cup sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
½ tsp. almond extract
6 ripe peaches – peeled, pitted and cubed

Do ahead: Generously butter a 9x13 inch baking dish or similar sized oven proof pan. Place the bread cubes and peaches into the dish. Alternatively, in a blender or in a large mixing bowl, combine the cream, eggs, melted butter, amaretto, sugar, vanilla and almost extract. Pour this mixture into the prepared baking dish. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit overnight (minimum of six hours). Remove from fridge one hour before baking.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake until custard is set – 45-50 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to stand for 30 minutes before serving. Drizzle with honey and serve.

Sun-Drenched Menu Class Revisited

This past weekend was the premier of a new venture with Warners-Stellian to offer cooking classes in their stores. This is a great way to not only learn new, inventive cooking techniques; but also gives you the opportunity to see these appliances in motion.

Sun-Drenched food was on the menu, and I will be featuring the recipes in the next coming days with photos as well. I wanted to give you a snapshot so you can share in on the fun that was had.

The tables were set with Provence linens
and stemless wine glassware was used to serve the ginger beer. The class began with Tandoori Shrimp kabobs, followed by a tomato salad with a balsamic-honey vinaigrette. The main course was a pork loin that had been marinated in a pomegranate-orange sauce and then finished off with a pomegranate-honey glaze. That was accompanied by a summer, colored corn salad filled with green and red peppers and a red onion, cumin infused olive oil dressing. The meal was completed with amaretto scented, peach bread pudding.

In attendance were the following: (top picture clockwise from bottom left) Dee, Maureen, Carolyn, Mary, Nicole and Shirley. (bottom picture in left hand corner, left to right) Janet and Connie. Thank you so much for attending and making this a fantastic class.

Lastly, I cannot end this without mentioning the true workings behind this class. My sister Ann drove up to assist me and she did an amazing job serving, doing dishes and helping me with any needs. I could not have done this without you Ann! (she looks so natural standing behind that mountain of dishes...)

Kitchen Appliances - Miele Oven

When you do the amount of cooking I do, you have the opportunity to try out a lot of appliances. Which is nice because I think you should have the opportunity to test drive something before you make the purchase of this size.

Yesterday I tried the Miele MasterChef Dual Wall Oven at Warners-Stellian, and I am happy to say that this oven is amazing. When Andrea from Miele trained me in on this oven, I was impressed and excited to use it - but I was not prepared for how well it performed.

I pulled my marinated pork loin roast out an hour before needed to come to room temperature and using the MasterChef settings, I selected a pork loin roast, inserted the probe and walked away. Now Andrea told me that it will prepare the food the way it should be done without you even bothering with it, even telling you how much time is left. My roast should have taken 1 1/2 hours, it took 45 minutes in the MasterChef oven. After it came to the desired temperature, the oven switched to warm so it did not over cook the roast.

The setting on this oven make it fool proof and although it has a $5499 price tag, I would recommend this oven to anyone. There is extreme value in these ovens. You even have a Sabbath mode for those of you wanting to conserve energy on that day.

Other features are touch control pad, multi-lingual LCD display, metric-English conversion, automatic temperature settings, halogen interior lights and dual timers with delay start function. The self cleaning oven also has following options: 6 wire racks, 2 roasting pans, double rotisserie, roast probe, convection fan filter and enamel runners.

Lastly, as with all Miele products - the service is outstanding. Any appliance you purchase is hooked up to a line that constantly monitors the health of your product. If they notice something going wrong, they will notify you and send someone out to fix whatever it is so you never have to worry about your appliance going out again. That is kon-tent anyone can live with.

The Best Flour Sack Towels - August

Here you will find my kitchen staple, the flour sack towel - embroidered with the month of August in the corner. How nostalgic to think of an ice cream cone during summer's hottest month, the bees and ladybugs or a slice of cold watermelon to cool you off. A great addition to your kitchen, check out my flour sack towels link for other designs - or to order this towel for $7,