Come To My Table

For Food, Drink, & Conversation

Churros and Abuelita Mexican Hot Chocolate

Leave a Comment

Churros and Abuelita Mexican Chocolate, the comfort food for anyone on a nippy day. This Pate Choux based fried pastry is a favorite of the young, middle aged, and elderly alike.

Now, this is a bit of news, many think it is a treat that originated in Mexico, but the strongest history is that is came to us from Spain. There is some information that says they were brought from China by the Portuguese. In reality though, does it really matter. They are delicious and easy to prepare so let’s go on into the kitchen and make up a batch. Accompany these with hot chocolate and you’re in for a real treat.

…

For Recipe >>>

Arroz Con Leche (Rice Pudding)

Leave a Comment

Arroz con Leche, is a traditional Mexican comfort food. The nostalgia of having this wonderful dish as a child bring back memories of a time when all our loved ones still gathered together on Sundays and Holidays.

It was well known that a grandmother, mother, or auntie would be preparing this delicious treat for all to enjoy. Grandma’s house was filled with parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings in their appropriate spots doing what they needed to do. The music was blaring in one room, the tv in another as the women were talking and getting the meal ready for the feast.

As the years pass, loved ones go on to their heavenly journeys and children grow up to have families and traditions of their own and we, as adults, go back in time to remember the ‘good ole days’of when we were children.

…

For Recipe >>>

Thai Lettuce Wraps

Leave a Comment

Long before I ever tried PF Changs lettuce wraps, I was able to enjoy these made by a very dear friend/sister of mine. Since then, all lettuce wraps I try are compared to this recipe. I took her recipe and tweaked it just a little bit. This has become a favorite for many that have come to my table to eat. Thank you Caroll!

These can be served as an appetizer or an entree.

…

For Recipe >>>

Triple Goodness Cookies

Leave a Comment

Oh Goodness! My head is spinning, three of my favorite ingredients in one cookie. Its like getting a different taste in each bite.

The only things needed to accompany these is a cold glass of milk and a companion. The companion is an option, not a requirement, to indulge in these beauties.

…

For Recipe >>>

Shredded Pepper Steak

Leave a Comment

This is a meal to prepare on your day off. Start it off in a crockpot for 4 – 5 hours and then when you are ready to start dinner, a few minutes of chopping bell peppers and 20 more minutes of cooking will give you a wonderful meal.

…

For Recipe >>>

Cottage Pie

Leave a Comment

On a chilly day, what could be more comforting than a piping hot bowl of meat and vegetables bathed in a savory gravy and topped with golden mashed potatoes? Not Much. Life is good when a tummy is filled with this kind of yumminess.

Cottage Pie is a cousin to the Shepherds’ Pie. If you replace the beef with ground or chopped lamb, Tada!, you have Shepherds’ Pie.

Cottage Pie has been around for centuries. As early as the late 1700’s Cottage Pie was prepared as a means of using leftover roasted meat of any kind. The pie dish was lined on the sides and bottom with mashed potato, as well as having a mashed potato crust on top.

…

For Recipe >>>

Not Mrs. Potato Heads Favorite Soup!

Leave a Comment

When the weather starts to get a bit nippy, it is time to start thinking about all the wonderful kinds of soups available to warm ones’ happy tummy. A favorite among most people is the tried and true Potato Soup.

Top it off with some garnishes, compliment it with a cheesy grilled cheese, and lunch or dinner is served.

…

For Recipe >>>

Queso & Chips

Leave a Comment

Aaaahhhhh, Queso.

Who can go into a Mexican Restaurant and resist Queso and Chips?  Not my son, as soon as the server walks over to take our drink order he orders his drink and asks for an order of Queso to go with the chips that are brought to the table. This is the simplest recipe ever.  So for you Queso lovers, Here ya go…

The recipe only asks for 3 ingredients, but you can compliment it in many ways, go through your spices and add a bit of pizzaz to your Queso. For example, add one of the following or all of the following. It is all up to you and what you are in the mood for.

  • 1/4 lb cooked chorizo
  • 1/4 tsp each of cumin, onion powder and garlic powder
  • crushed red pepper flakes
  • diced pickled jalapenos
  • cilantro, diced tomato, and fresh diced jalapeños.

…

For Recipe >>>

Crab Rangoon

Leave a Comment

 

Rangoon, the delightful little treats one sees at most Chinese Buffet Restaurants are incredibly easy to make at home. It just takes a few minutes to whip up the filling, place it on a wonton wrapper, fold them up,  and fry them. Toss them onto a plate and serve them with a sauce. It’s an easy snack or appetizer to serve as guests wait for the last minute details of dinner to come together.  Usually, at the Chinese buffet, you only get cream cheese as the filling. Add a little crab and it takes the Rangoon to a completely different level. Let’s head into the kitchen and get this one going.

…

For Recipe >>>

PB & J Cookies

Leave a Comment

It’s Peanut Butter, Jelly Time!

Peanut Butter is My Friend.  When I am not in the mood to cook, I reach into my pantry for my mega large jar of Peanut Butter, find some jelly, usually grape, and I make myself a Peanut Butter & Jelly Sandwich. I grab an ice cold glass of milk and lunch or dinner is served.  Tonight in order satisfy my hankering for a PB & J Sandwich, I made PB & J cookies instead! They were just what I needed.

 

  • By law, peanut butter must be at least 90% ‘real’ peanuts.
  • The first recorded history of a peanut paste comes from the Peruvian, Aztec, and Inca Indians and African tribes hundreds of years ago.
  • January 24th is National Peanut Butter Day in the United States.
  • Banana and Peanut Butter Sandwiches were Elvis’ favorite.  (Thank You, Thank You Very Much, in my best Elvis voice.)
  • The United States is a leading exporter of peanut butter and itself consumes $800 million of peanut butter annually.

 

Jam Or Jelly?

  • Jelly is considered a fruit condiment. Fruit is prepped, cooked, strained so that only the juice finds its way to  Jelly land.
  • Jam, on the other hand, is a chunkier relative of jelly with nice chunks and pieces of fruit throughout.

…

For Recipe >>>

Herb Crackers and Chicken Cheese Ball

2 Comments

Who would have ever guessed that making your own crackers would be so easy and much more delicious than any store bought box?!

I gave it a go and they turned out to be fabulous. The most difficult part was deciding on which herbs to put into the dough. The possibilities are endless.

The Chicken Cheese Ball is a recipe borrowed from my friend Rebecca. We always look forward to the gatherings she will be attending because we know she will bring her signature dish, Chicken Cheese Ball.

…

For Recipe >>>

French Onion Soup

Leave a Comment

I’d never heard of French Onion Soup until the Queen of the Kitchen, Julia Child, prepared it in one of her cooking shows.  Of course, wanting to be like Julia, I had to try it and decided, I was in love. While I was making the soup, I had her video playing in the background and I was talking to myself in my very own Julia Child voice.  Yep, It was classic and a dilly of a fun time was had in my kitchen. Here is my version of French Onion Soup.

One of my favorite Julia quotes;

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.”
― Julia Child

…

For Recipe >>>

Chicken Parmesan with Spaghetti

Leave a Comment

Chicken Parmesan is a versatile dish that can be served on different types of pasta, you can eliminate pasta altogether and put it on some wonderful Italian bread, crusty bread, or hoagie rolls to make a wonderful sandwich.

…

For Recipe >>>

Jiggy Dance Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Leave a Comment

What is it about a cupcake that makes one feel like a child?

I see a cupcake, my eyes glaze over and I automatically feel this immediate excitement over the idea of tasting one. Sometimes I even perform a little jiggy dance as I walk over to get my hands on one.  After everyone has had the opportunity to get one, I will actually do “the invisible man” act, sneak in and take another one! Maybe in invisible mode, the calories will also be invisible?!

There is no one single way to eat a cupcake either!

  1. Take a big bite, making sure you get both frosting and cake.
  2. Taste the frosting first.
  3. Taste the cake first.
  4. Break it in half, turn the top half over so the frosting is now in the middle.

My most favorite thing about cupcakes is the fact that there are so many flavors. The gourmet cupcake craze is as strong as ever and I see no end for it in the future.

…

For Recipe >>>

Welcome!

Leave a Comment

The desire to scream with excitement like a teenage girl while dancing to Rock Lobster by the B52’s is pretty rock solid right about now.

Hello and Welcome to Come to My Table!

My hectic life has kept me away from many of the things I truly love to do.

 I am so very blessed and happy to get back to the things that bring joy to my heart:

Cooking

Baking

Growing my own Herbs

Testing new gadgets and appliances

Reading cookbooks and recipes

Entertaining

Watching friends and family enjoy my creations

Cross Stitching, Knitting, Crochet, Bible Journaling, Hiking,

Learning Classical Guitar, Evening Walks on the Beach

          On this Blog, I will be trying recipes from my collection of about 300+ cookbooks and a nice collection of cooking magazines.  I will also include some family recipes and recipes that I have created, all enhanced with my photographs, history, quotes, and tidbits that have my attention at that moment.

There is nothing that warms my heart more than sitting at my table with family, ‘framily’*, and friends.

         If there is one thing I have learned during these past few years, it is that life is too short to be racing through it without noticing the beautiful people and meaningful things that surround our lives.  It’s only when something drastic happens that we tend to slow down and appreciate a person or a thing.  When my time comes, I know I will be remembered for my quick wit and my ‘smart ass’ mouth, my ‘geri-isms’, and my loud boisterous laugh.  Most importantly, I want to be remembered for the food and companionship that I shared with all that came into my world even if it was only for a few moments or a lifetime. With that in mind,

I thank you for following me on my journey in documenting my time in the kitchen and at my table.

 

* friends that are family

SaveSave

Posts