Bright Season Bright Drinks

 Spring is the season for gatherings and parties. The food is bright and festive. The drinks should be too. Spring cocktails have the flavors of the season in them, including floral notes. For non drinkers = not to worry there are sunny mocktails t have with quiche slices and finger sandwiches.

The most famous Spring cocktail is the mint julep. This will in full swing next month for the Kentucky Derby.Yes it's the most popular sip at any party in and out of Louisville. Yet it;s the perfect drink at engagement  parties and bridal showers.What makes a tasty and memorable julep? It starts with  a simple syrup which you should make ahead of time for other cocktails. This is cooking one cup granulated sugar and one cup cup water to form a clear syrup. (It can also be used as a glaze for pound and Bundt cakes.) Use a good Kentucky bourbon such as Old Masters. Muddle the mint leaves (about a handful ) with the simple syrup using a wooden muddle spoon. Add crushed ice to the glass and then put in the bourbon. THis should cover all the crush ice. You can add more mint for a really refreshing tastes. Another classic is a gin Rickey freshened up with lemon and lavender. This is a zesty mix of gin,. lemon juice honey an seltzer. Sprigs of lavender not only give the glass color but also a floral flavor.

Two drinks that are always at Spring brunches are mimosas and Bellinis. The first is a delightful mix of a good champagne and orange juice. You can use a dry sparkling wine too. The ratio is be half orange juice and the either half a good Prosecco. A Bellini is a cousin of the mimosa except it's peach nectar mixed with a dry sparkling wine.For the more ambitious home mixologist you can make peach nectar. This is cooked peaches, skinned and then pureed. Sugar is added for taste while a drop of lemon juice is added to preserve them.Keep in mind that mimosas and Bellinis can also be turned into mocktails but subbing in the champagne or sparkling dry wine with seltzer. It still has the sweet dizziness but without the kick.lemonade is big in the warmer weather, Think of mixing lemonade with bourbon and cherries for a naughty but fun adult drink.It's a mix of the classic summertime drink with a headier one. Maraschino cherries are added for color and more flavor. Keep in mind that the bourbon can be omitted and a splash of cherry flavored seltzer can be added for a refreshing non alcoholic sip.

Spring is here and with a delightful array of drinks. They can be cocktails or mocktails. either will make a delicious companion to a fun Springtime brunch or party.

Light Spring Sauces

Spring means lighter eating and that applies to sauces for all sorts of dishes, Think more veggies and lighter oils used as opposed to heavy creams and flour. These can be used on everything from pasta to meats to even veggies.

Any kind of pasta benefits from a light sauce.  Thin stranded spaghetti like angel hair and spaghettini seem to be good match probably because they're not as bulky as other pastas.Think one with equal parts white wine and butter, Garlic gives it more flavor. This type of sauce also benefits from a light meat such as chicken or shrimp. Adding these will make the dish heartier. You can also a spring veggies such as peas . Even carrots and broccoli can be mixed in for color and more flavor. Another light airy sauce is one that has lemon juice and zest in the recipe. A pinch of red pepper can also be added for some zing and color. Pesto is a great Springy sauce however it's not basil season.Broccoli can be a great substitute. Some recipes call for the addition of basil but it can be omitted.Parsley can be subbed in. There is also a handful of pine nuts and olive oil, just like traditional pesto along with Parmesan cheese.

One sauce that you can make in preparation for summer is salsa cruda. This is a light tomato sauce that also as chopped green peppers. black olives, oil and a bit of butter.This is put in a bowl and left out for an hour. Cook any kind of pasta for this and serve the hot drained pasta with the sauce. It'll warm up the sauce. What about chicken and other meats? Chicken breasts with lemon and cream is always a special dish.This is also a one skillet meal. Cook the chicken first and then make the sauce. Combine chicken broth, lemon juice, red pepper flakes and garlic.This is cooked in a skillet .The chicken is added as is butter for luxuriousness and cream. The lemon juice and cream shouldn't;t curdle  if they're whisked properly together.Lemon and cream also go well with salmon. Again the sauce is made more or less the same way  also using chicken broth as opposed to fish stock. The result is a sort of meuniere sauce that will compliment the salmon's flavor. You could also use this on veggies too as a great side.

Spring is here and its' the season for light flavors. Try any of these sauces on pasta or meat. It's a fresh take to welcome in the season

An Affordable Easter

 With Easter only two weeks away many home chefs are panicking over high costs and what this tariff war will bring. The bestign thing to do is calm down and plan. A holiday meal that's both delicious and budget friendly can be made.It just takes shopping smarts.

Ham is always the star f  any Easter dinner. Look or Aldi and Lidl for it instead of the more expensive grocery stores. Lidl has Dulano bone in ham for only seventy-nine cents a pound while Aldi is offering Appleton Farms smoked ham but for $15.75. As for the sides you can offer baked beans and a homemade potato salad. According to the National Potato Board a pound can go from fifty cents to a $1.50 a pound. Another low cost idea is paring down on sides. Instead of three or four just stick to two.Asparagus  is always an Easter dinner go to.THis on it;s own is a great side.it has a powerful flavors and is just elegant as on only side. You may want to either make baked beans to go with the ham or potato salad which is perfect with the leftover meat.Another idea is having a pot luck Eater dinner where you provide the main course and guests can bring a side. It could be baked mac or a Brussels sprouts salad. This could even be a pot luck brunch. You still can have ham but someone can make a quiche while another brings a French toast casserole or strata.

What about Easter desserts? Stick to Aldi,Lidl and wal-Mart for cake mixes. The last has both Betty Crocker and Pilsbury mixes for a dollar. If you;re hosting a crowd then make a sheet cake . The one splurge here are the eggs that give the cake body.  As for the frosting Shop=Rite has the best price on confectioner's sugar for only three dollars a pound.Lidl is having a sale on FUnfetti cake and matching icing.  You could just make a simple Bundt cake and just give ti a dusting of confectioner's sugar on top.Again for a lovely holiday dessert table have guests make a cake or sweet of their choosing and bring it. what about Easter candy? Do you skip t or cut back? Well, you can not forgo chocolate bunnies and eggs. Look to Lidl for a lot of fun candies to put in a basket or use as favors at the dinner table. They have cute chocolate bunnies and lady bugs along with fun Easter Pez dispensers and a wide array of Pez candy flavors. Try their marshmallow bunnies too for a fun after dinner treat. 

You can have a feast for very little. Plan and shop carefully. A godo meal with a delicious dessert can be had for a reasonable price,

Rainy Day Eats

 April bring showers as the saying goes. Yet a rainy day is a perfect time to bake or cook(However not to make candy)> What's your favorite treat to make during a rainy April day? It could be baking cake or cookies for later snacking? Or making a crockpot full of homemade chili or sauce,

WHat is your favorite rainy eats to make? For me it could be a soup if the weather is chill enough or a croque Monsiuee loaded with Gruyere , ham and butter. et us know here.

The Best Brown Bag

 This has always been a conundrum for those brown baggers?What to bring for lunch and what makes for a good lunch.It;s nit a sandwich or leftovers. Its a one of a kind taste sensation.

Regular contributor and recipe developer Ali Slagle wrote about this for yesterday;'s New York Times Food section.Brown bagging it has always been a hit or miss for over a hundred years. Anyone can bring in cold cuts on their favorite bread slathered with either ketchup, mustard or mayo. This  idea is good until Wednesday when you crave something else. There are last night's meal but leftovers that you just ate sixteen hours before can be boring. What's to do> Ms Slahle recommends a variety of ideas. One idea is cooking up a big batch of something , preferably on a Saturday or Sunday when there;s time to cook.,Just make sure it doesn't;t get dull or soggy during a few days in the fridge.Pack lunches into servings right before you leave for work.Try to put food in Pyrex glass containers which work the best for this kind of lunch. The Times Wirecutter section recommends these or Glasslock's eighteen piece set. Each has a lock that prevents any kind of leakage Vary the meal by trying different veggie or spice combos

Keep in mind that lunch is the midday treat. Get excited about it.Think about what gets you going about takeout orders. Bring that same drive to a homemade lunch. It could be a slab of creamy salty feta cheese or a pickle.It could be a cup of guacamole or a chewy udon noodle. Add some salame slices or cut fruit for color and flavor.(also a good idea is to bring extra of these for that or three PM hunger attack).If you don;t want to use the company microwave then bring foods that don;t need to be heated up. Cooked chicken tender are good at room temperature. as is thinly sliced steak.Keep these in the office fridge if the ambient temperature is too warm. You can use leftovers in creating your lunch but do it in a way that they don't resemble last night's dinner. Try rice bowls with the previous night's roast chicken or fish. Think quinoa with whatever roasted veggies are around. Top with sauces and seeds.Also think homemade protein rich dips like hummus and cottage cheese. An avocado dip is both filling and delicious.

Brown bag lunch to a whole new level. Get creative. Go for grain based bowls or fun flavor combos. Make lunch the best part of the work day!

Meghan's Kitchen

 It takes guts to marry into any royal family.It takes a lot of them to begin your own brand and show the world your recipes, yet Meghan, Duchess of Sussex has done both. She has done it with aplomb, Her recipes are being copied , cooked and baked the world over.

Regular contributor Julia Moskin interviewed the duchess as well as sitting in on creating a tempting dessert in today';s New York Times Wednesday Food section.Meghan has always been known for creating delicious dishes , first for her college friends at Northwestern then for her blog  The Tig and later for her future husband Prince Harry. Now she has her own lifestyle show AS Ever on Netflix (who is also one of the backers of the new products line) and a brand that features such yummy products as a shortbread mix with flower sprinkles, crepe mix and a raspberry spread. It all comes out her Southern California home in Montecito. even though she has faced criticism, - mostly from the British - she can cook and cook she does. Meghan seems to have inherited her grandmother Jeanette's love of it.Her grandmother grew tomatoes and collard greens in her backyard,, not unlike her granddaughter with her garden, She loved to cook making Meghan's grilled cheese sandwiches with Kraft slices , white bread and a ton of butter.

The Duchess of Sussex is a bit more  sophisticated and even playful with her recipes. She has guests in each issue ,from famous chefs like Alice Waters and Roy Choi but also friends such as Abigail Breslan and Mindy Kaling. Her drinks are cooled with ice cubes speckled with flowers. There is always a plate for crudites around for  nibbling along with an herbal tea to drink. Ms. Moskin includes two of her recipes.One is a Spring garden salad, rich with cherry tomatoes, snap peas and zucchini along with kale stems and Swisschard. The greens are cooked in olive oil and garlic. . It's mixed with already cooked rigatoni.It's finished with freshly squeezed Meyer lemon and  a good dusting of Parmesan or Manchuga cheese.The next dish is a tribute to her grandmother with a topping dedicated to  her daughter. It is a banana pudding , made with homemade vanilla pudding topped with "Chantilly Lili,' a chantilly cream named in honor of her daughter Princess Lilibet.

Meghan < Duchess of Sussex has proved that she can transcend all the criticism thrown her way. She is not only a influencer. She is a creative chef who knows how to produce a good meal.

Delicious Treats In Bulk

 If you own a store or a restaurant and want healthy snacks look no further than WHolesale Nuts and Dried Fruit. Owner Matthew Baron has a whole forest of nuts seeds and dried fruits. This is the perfect site for creating baskets of goodies and interesting desserts and snacks.

Being a dried fruit and nut lover this site sang to me. I tried their apples , mangoes and my all time favorite nut -pecans

The dried fruit is delicious without that sweetness and funny dried fruit taste that others have. The apples tand mangoes I selected were very natural tasting. Keep in mind that these can be bought in bulk to create tasty granola if  you have a B and B or sell them at  your local farmer's markets. Some of Mr Barons; dried fruit have no sulphates which account for the more natural flavor.  Chefs and pastry chefs  should consider buying his coconut flakes and nuts in bulk for delicious dishes and desserts.

There are also dried figs , dates and cherries to consider as well as raisins. The seeds range from quinoa to roasted and salted sunflower ones There are also bulk flax and chia seeds ,perfect for baking. The prices are also affordable, good for anyone just starting out in the restaurant and bakery businesses.

Try Wholesale Nuts and Dried Fruits for any of your recipes' needs. They're well priced along with being downright delicious. They';re perfect on their own or as an ingredient.