Fruit Salad Medley

I made this simple fruit salad for a football watching party.  I used more oranges to make a little juice "dressing" for this medley.

Thanksgiving Contribution

Broccoli Casserole 

Apple Snack

apple slices topped with fine cheese

an example of cheese we think is good

Apple Galette

How do you like them apples?  

Bought them at Hickory Nut Gap Farm in in Fairview, NC, not far outside of Asheville.

Click here for the recipe I followed.  I added a bit of cinnamon and some apricot jam as a glaze.

Lil Prince Cake

Nectarine Galette

Click here for the recipe I used.  I got the idea to make a galette from my brother-in-law, who makes them all the time.  After it was done, I actually added a light brushing of  apricot jam.  I could have just as easily used a nectarine jam, or another type.

Birthday Custard & Bear

For my brother-in-law's birthday dinner I took over a surprise for him:  chilled boiled egg custard.  I followed his grandmother's recipe.  You can find it here.  Since there were a lot of guests and we also were eating cake, we poured small amounts into some crystal glasses.  The rest I bet was gone in a few days!  Before dinner, we actually had another big surprise.  Be surely to follow the whole video until the bear climbs the fence.

Making Merit

 

I made these cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies to make merit for my sister at a local temple (really, meditation center).  She died two years ago.

A Thai Comfort Food

Steamed Egg w/ Pork

I actually spooned out a bit before taking this image.

The Perfect Pairing

This is a great afternoon snack, appetizer or even dessert: Sweet, ripe pears that have a bit of firmness still, sliced fairly thin and placed all over a plate.  On top, ample slices of Robusto cheese.  Buy the cheese in small $5 blocks at your local Whole Foods, and enjoy.  Another cheese that's perfect with pears is Cabot Clothbound Cheddar, which tastes a bit like butterscotch.  It's very delicious, but perhaps not one you'd desire to eat over and over.  Robusto, on the other hand, scores high every time.  Whenever I serve up this treat, it's always on my mother-in-law's Blue Ridge China.

Cosmopolitans + Thai Meal

A friend who joined us for dinner (and made the cosmopolitans) brought over these beautiful orchids.

Sliced Mangoes

I usually peel about three of the smaller mangoes at a time.  They are sweeter.  The larger ones are a bit more tart, but go perfectly with the sugar/chili dipping mix I make.  In Thailand, we like to dip fruit into sweet & spicy mixes.

Check out all the mango varieties you can sample in Thailand.