Father's Day eggs in bread


i got his one from watching giada de laurentis on foodnetwork. i adapted to what i already had. this is how it turned out.


1 loaf left over french bread
3 large farmer's market brown eggs
1 c. heavy cream
1/2 c. olive oil w/ 4 tsp. lemon juice whisked in
2 TBS. chopped tarragon
1 c. grated parmesan cheese
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
salt and pepper

oven 350

cut the top of the loaf of bread, save. hollow out the middle to make it like a bowl. brush the inside and edges with olive oil/ lemon juice mixture. put on cookie sheet and toast in oven for the amount of time it takes you to do the rest of the recipe. chop the top of the bread into small squares, place a mixing bowl. whisk eggs, cream, and nutmeg until smooth. add tarragon and cheese, salt and pepper. put over bread cubes. incorporate bread with a spoon to make sure it soaks up all the egg mixture. take the bread out of the oven. pour the eggs into the middle. put it back into the oven. bake until set and bread is crispy, about 30 minutes. once baked, let it cool and set for about 15 minutes. then, slice it into 1 in slices.

other things i will try in the future with this recipe.

pancetta with rosemary and mild goat cheese
sweet sausage with spinach and swiss cheese
canadian bacon with chives and cheddar cheese
spinach, garlic, olives, basil, feta
mushrooms, rosemary, roasted garlic, brie

man, the options are endless. try this your way and let me know what works and what doesn't.

win her vegetarian heart spaghetti marco polo


so, the story goes: after a summer of sitting at the corner table of the bar, laughing at ourselves, laughing at other people, harry finally asked me out. our first date was on labor day to the fort worth zoo. we saw Galapagos tortoises gettin it on. we may have even held hands, so sweet. a couple of months roll by and i get a call from someone far away. well, i had to go get some answers to some questions, so i booked a flight. the night before i take this trip, our harry asks me over for a harry cooked vegetarian meal. i have never had someone go all out before. he really was so thoughtful and romantic. so, the back yard at his house in denton on B St. was decked out in fairy lights of all colors and candles and good wine and great music. it was oct 2, 1999. i'll bet he doesn't even remember the day. ok, anyway, to the recipe. i was not eating meat at the time and he kicked the veggies straight for me that night. many know this, and have eaten it time and time again. it changes every time, but i will give you the one and only true win my heart recipe.

1lb angel hair pasta
1jar diced pimentos
1 small can sliced black olives (if you really like her, get the whole ones and slice them yourself)
1 bunch green onions diced green and white parts
8 oz grated swiss cheese
1/4 c olive oil
salt and pepper to season

boil your pasta, chop your veggies, grate your cheese. drain the pasta, drizzle with olive oil, toss in veggies, sprinkle cheese, salt and pepper to season. put in nice bowl, server her favorite wine. play some new groovy music, light the candles, and win her heart.

we have had this with gouda, red onions, bacon, sautéed shrimp, chicken, and portabello mushrooms, rosemary, basil, parsley, and cilantro. the possibilities are endless, but you have got to always have the basics going on no matter what.

it brings us back every time we make it.

Camille's bachelorett party scones


these scones are so good and don't take long to make. we had them made with milk and apple juice saturday morning the weekend of camille's bachelorett party.

3 c. flour
1/2 c. plus 2 TBS sugar (equal parts honey and sugar works well, mix honey in milk and add that way)
1 stick plus 2 TBS butter (don't skimp this!)
2 TBS plus 2 tsp baking powder
1 1/3 c. milk (cream or half/half) or for lighter scones 1 c. milk and 1/3 c. apple juice
1/4 c. apple juice
6 oz. dried cherries
2 tsp. vanilla

heat oven to 375. in a small sauce pan over med heat reconstitute cherries in 1/4 c. apple juice. bring to a boil then simmer for about 10 min (or until you get to the part where you add the cherries to the dough). amaretto liqueur works well in place of apple juice.

mix flour, sugar, baking powder together. one tablespoon at a time, cut in butter. using your hands thoroughly break butter into small pieces, mixing with four mixture until it has the consistency of corn meal and holds together when squeezed in the palm of you hand. add vanilla. add the milk or milk and 1/3 c. apple juice in small batches until all liquid is absorbed by the four mixture and the dough begins to hold together ( i do this with my hands) and is slightly firm. mix in the reconstituted cherries and any liquid left in pan until cherries appear to be evenly distributed. turn the dough out onto a floured surface. the key at this point is to not over work your dough. shape the dough into a circle about 1/3-1/2 inch thick. using a nice sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut into slices like a pizza. i usually cut 8 slices. transfer slices to a baking sheet and bake about 8-12 min, checking at eight to make sure bottoms aren't burning. serve warm with butter and coffee or tea.

you can get really creative and add nuts, chocolate chips, candied ginger, fresh berries, other dried fruit, or other spices, in place of the cherries. i like candied ginger and cinnamon or fresh blueberries. harry's favorite is chocolate chips and pecans. for those with super sweet teeth; make a glaze out of 1/4 c. powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract and 3TBS milk, drizzle over scones while they are sill warm.

so easy fruit dip or banana pudding filling

four ingredients.
makes a ton.
not for weight watchers.
may cause addiction.

fruit dip:

1 jar marshmallow cream (i have never had this before this dip, OMG!)
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
8 oz sour cream
1 can sweetened condensed milk

mix all ingredients with electric mixer. serve with lots and lots of fruit or use as a filling for banana pudding.

banana pudding:

3 ripe bananas sliced thin and tossed in about 1 TBS lemon juice to keep from turning brown
1 box nilla wafers (not, i repeat, not generic)
fruit dip prepared above adding 1 teaspoon banana flavoring

line casserole pan with nilla wafers, save about a cup to crush and scatter on top of dessert. then layer banana slices, pour 1/2 dip filling, then layer nilla wafers, then banana slices, then other 1/2 dip filling. sprinkle with crushed wafers. refrigerate 1 hour to overnight. yummy in your tummy!