Winter Holiday Blueberry White Chocolate Pavlova…..a festive blueberry dessert for the holidays!

The US High Bush Blueberry Council challenged me to make a blueberry recipe for Christmas.  Have been intrigued with the idea of making a Pavlova for a very long time because of my love for meringue cookies at Christmas time so I thought–how about adding some lovely blueberries and one of my favorite holiday treats, Meyer lemon to the mix–my wonderful friends from the West and South send me them in the mail–that means the world to me.  This is an impressive yet very very easy dessert that you can make ahead of time and assemble when you are ready to serve.  Although it takes some time, it is not active time so you can get a lot of other holiday “business” taken care of while it cooks and rests.

Ingredients:

5 large eggs, at room temperature
1/8th teaspoon salt
1 cup plus two tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 oz chopped white chocolate
1 cups frozen High Bush blueberries
2 Meyer lemons (or regular lemons) zested & juiced
Sweetened whipped cream
Confectioner’s sugar for garnish

Preheat oven to 225 degrees F.

Draw a 9” circle on a piece of parchment paper with a pencil (I used a small plate), turn the paper over and place on a baking sheet.  Set aside.

Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment (save the yolks for making shortbread cookies for Santa!) and beat the whites and salt on high speed until the mixture is stiff and holds a firm peak.

With the mixer on high, slowly pour in the sugar and beat until whites are thick and glossy.

By hand, fold in vanilla extract, vinegar, cornstarch and white chocolate until mixture is well blended and streak free.

Spoon mixture on to the prepared baking sheet in a circle and form a peak in the center.

Mixture will be very thick, like marshmallow cream.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 1/2 hours.  Turn off oven and allow pavlova to sit in the oven until oven is cool.

Meanwhile, combine blueberries, Meyer lemon zest and juice in a small saucepan.  Over low heat, simmer blueberries until they are bright red and syrupy, about 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Add remaining two tablespoons sugar to mixture and continue to simmer over low heat for 15 minutes.  Taste blueberry syrup and add a bit more sugar if necessary as tartness varies in both blueberries and Meyer lemons.  Set syrup aside to cool

When ready for dessert, gently carve the top few inches off of the top of the pavlova (a serrated steak knife works well).

Fill the center with the blueberry mixture, drizzling some over the edge of the pavlova.  Top blueberries with whipped cream and place cut out top over whipped cream and crown with a bit more berries.

Your friends and family will be so impressed!  This dessert is light and sweet yet satisfying and is a great way to incorporate nutrient rich blueberries in to the dead of Winter!

For more fabulous blueberry recipes, go to littlebluedynamos.com

Happy Holidays!

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Healthy Holiday Whole Grain Molasses Rolls….there’s no way you can eat just one! and a GIVEAWAY!!!

Admit it, resistance to these rolls would be futile!  But that’s ok when these delicious rolls are made from hearty and healthy whole grain flours and products from Hodgson Mill!  I have been challenged by this wonderful company, Hodgson Mill,  to create a holiday recipe for their blogger contest entitled “Have A Grain Holiday” so instead of making cookies or cake, a pie or something sweet, made rolls.

Now don’t get all worked up and say “But I can’t bake bread, never mind rolls!  They are too hard…and I don’t know how to use yeast!”  Well guess what….below are step by step instruction with photos to go with them to make these delicious treats…….so relax and give it a try!

These are much more than dinner rolls.  Slightly sweet with a touch of molasses, these rolls are perfect for a celebratory dinner,  hot out of the oven,  for the holiday buffet (no one will know or care that they are eating healthy whole grains),  for lunch for using up leftover turkey or slices or holiday roast in a sandwich and the next day for a light breakfast–see what I made for myself this morning below!  Also super fabulous for a holiday brunch with a little maple butter (softened butter mixed with a few tablespoons pure maple syrup) served right next to them….the possibilities are endless!   They are sitting on my kitchen counter, all wrapped up, as I baked them yesterday….what do you think…..try making little French toast with them on Wednesday when I have time for a proper breakfast?  How about bread pudding end of the week if they last that long, which is highly unlikely as my Mom says they reminder her of her Mother’s oatmeal rolls growing up!

So without further delay, here’s the recipe and step by step how to guide:

First, assemble your ingredients:

2 cups cold water
1 cup old fashioned oats, plus one tablespoon for sprinkling
1/3 cup warm (100-110 degrees F)
1 package Hodgson Mill Yeast (great for whole grains!)
1/3 cup molasses
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
3 cups Hodgson Mill Whole Wheat Flour
2-3 cups Hodgson Mill All Purpose flour
1 tablespoon milk for brushing (optional if keeping recipe veg/vegan)

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups water to a boil and add oats.

Cook and stir for 2 minute until oats are softened.

Remove from the heat; cool to lukewarm (I put mine outside for a quick cool down as it was 34 degrees!)

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a drop of the molasses.

Allow to become foamy and active in a warm place, about 10 minutes.

To the bowl of a stand mixer with the dough hook attached, in a food processor with the plastic kneading blade attached or in a large bowl, add the oat mixture, olive oil, molasses, salt and Hodgeson Mill Whole Wheat Flour and 1 1/2 cups of the Hodgeson Mill white flour; beat until smooth.

Add enough remaining flour to form a soft dough. Continue to beat/process slowly until surface of dough is soft and elastic adding more flour little by little until dough is no longer sticky.

Knead about 3-4 minutes on low speed or turn dough on to a floured surface and knead by hand until ball of dough is smooth and elastic, about 7-9 minutes.

Place dough in a large bowl that has been lightly coated with cooking spray or additional olive oil (or just wash out the one you were using before) cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1.5 hours.  This picture is of the dough before it has doubled in size….it literally does double in size–just be sure it is in a warm spot, out of drafts or the yeast will not be happy.

When doubled in size, punch dough down and allow to rest, covered for 10 minutes.

Spray or butter two 9” x 13” casserole dishes (preferably clear glass so you can see what is going on when they are baking) and set aside.

Shape dough into 30-two inch balls.

Tops of rolls will be smooth if you flatten the ball, and then pull the edges together like a purse, placing the gathered sided down in the prepared pan, 15 to a pan.

This is what the bottom of the roll will look like:

And this is the top of the roll:

Cover pans with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place (you can preheat the oven and put them on top, that would work) until doubled, about 45 minutes.   Brush tops of risen rolls lightly with milk and sprinkle with oats–this part is optional if you are making them vegetarian/vegan.

This is what they look like before the rise in the pan:

And this is what they look like after the rise:

See how they are touching and have again nearly doubled in size?

Bake at 350° in a preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown. If you have an instant read thermometer and are nervous that they are not cooked through, the internal temperature of the roll in the middle of the pan needs to be about 195 degrees F and they will be perfect.

Yield: 30 rolls
This is what I had for breakfast…..toasted oatmeal rolls with goat cheese and holiday spiced pear and cranberry jam….so delicious!  These rolls also make excellent egg sandwiches with cheese and bacon.

And what about using them for the leftover roast or turkey sandwiches I mentioned earlier?  How about a beef and horseradish sauce sandwich with lettuce and cheddar?  Oh yes….that’s the ticket!

So, just when you thought this blog post couldn’t get more delicious or interesting, there’s more!  Hodgson Mill is sponsoring a sweepstakes on their blog–the winner gets a great prize package filled with a ton of their wholesome baking ingredients and they are giving away 50–yes 50 of them so your chances are really good.  And they are drawing the winners on the 10th of December, just in time for holiday baking!  Here’s the link:

http://www.hodgsonmill.com/win-a-grain-holiday/

But wait, there’s more!  Last but not least, I am offering $25.00 worth of Hodgson Mill products to give away too!  Simply comment below before Friday, November 30th at 9:00 what you would make with delicious whole grain Hodgson Mill products, share my giveaway on Facebook and/or Tweet it for more entries and you might just win!  I will have the fabulous Lily draw the name out of a hat as usual!  And because the people at Hodgson Mill are in the holiday spirit, here’s the link to a printable $1.00 off coupon too!

http://www.hodgsonmill.com/grain-holiday-coupon/

Good luck to all and please, let me know if you make these yummy rolls!

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Not your Mom’s potato salad for sure…..check this out!

Here’s a disclaimer–my Mom makes the most delicious traditional potato salad…just the right mount of  mayo, potatoes boiled to perfection, the right spices, large pieces of onion for those that don’t care for them(she says they can just pick them out), hard boiled eggs on the top, and lots of love.  When I think of potato salad, that’s what comes to my mind.
However, when I saw a contest listed on my favorite cooking contest websites (www.cookingcontestcentral.com and www.contestcook.com) asking for creative “out of the box” potato salad recipes, sponsored by Reser’s Fine Foods, I remembered something I had made a few years ago, scribbled down on a piece of paper and filed away both in my brain and in the GIANT pile of recipes I have stacked near my desk.  And I use the word “stacked” loosely…

When I have an idea, I often do a rough version first and always write it down.  Often, I don’t give the recipe away (even if someone asks for it), or publish it anywhere, just in case there is a contest out there that it might fit and that’s what happened here.  My hand written version was rough, I didn’t write down how much of anything, just the idea and basic ingredients and this is what it came out to after much tweaking:

You should have seen me, laying on my side lawn like some kind of doofus, taking close up pictures of potato salad but for those of you who know me, that should not come as much of a surprise.

All-American Caprese Grilled Potato Salad

2 pounds red, white and blue (purple) baby or fingerling potatoes, washed and dried
10 cups cold water
4 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
2/3 cup sun dried tomatoes, julienned (not oil packed)
2 cups seeded and diced fresh Roma tomatoes
1 cup – 1/2” diced fresh mozzarella cheese
3/4 cup julienned fresh basil leaves
Salt and pepper to taste

Slice clean potatoes in to 1/3” slices on the diagonal, ensuring that potatoes are large enough not to slip through grill grates.

In a large pot or Dutch oven add water and 2 teaspoons of salt.  Add sliced potatoes and bring to a boil over high heat.  Boil potatoes until partially cooked through and nearly fork tender.  Drain and immediately rinse potatoes in cold water to stop the cooking process.  Allow to drain thoroughly, patting potatoes dry with a towel if necessary.

Pour potatoes in to a large bowl and gently toss with 2 tablespoons olive oil, 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning and one teaspoon kosher salt.

Preheat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to high.  Reduce heat to medium and grill seasoned potatoes until cooked all the way through, tender and marked by the grill, turning once.  Remove from grill and allow to cool to room temperature.  Potatoes will cool quickly if spread out on a sheet pan after grilling.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine sun dried tomatoes, Roma tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, remaining 2 tablespoon olive oil and remaining 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning.  Gently add grilled potatoes to the bowl and toss to combine.  Add basil and re-season with salt and black pepper to taste.  Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Well,  my potato salad was chosen as a finalist in the contest, Reser’s America’s Best Potato Salad Challenge and I am thrilled.  The judging process was rigorous!  There were 606 entries, they were narrowed down to 30, each dish prepared by chefs and then a judging panel rated them on taste, creativity and appearance.

Here’s what you can do for me.  In exchange for my nifty recipe above.  Would you go to this link: http://www.resers.com/special-offers/campaigns and vote for my recipe please?  The top five finalists, based on the qualifications above, coupled with the amount of votes, get to go to a cook off in Las Vegas and compete.  Having never been to Vegas, I would LOVE to go and cook this salad for the judges.  It is a facebook only contest so if you are not on FB, you have to sit this one out.  Voting is daily through the end of  August and then we wait until September 17th for the cook off contestants to be announced!  Thank you to all of you for your support–I really appreciate it!

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New England Buttermilk Pumpkin Cake Recipe From Rockport Harvest Festival

Thank you all for coming out to see my baking demonstration at yesterday’s Rockport Harvest Festival.  What a gorgeous day I was so thrilled with all of the people who came and watched my demo!  Here, as promised, is the recipe I make yesterday.

I am so glad I was able to give out samples and that they were so well received, but here is the presentation that was giving to the judges-this photo was taken when I was a guest on TV Diner a few weeks after I won the contest.  Like I told you yesterday, second only to the birth of my daughter Lily, that day was the most exciting day of my life.

Good Luck to this years competitors.  Hood will be announcing the names of the finalists tomorrow and if any of my friends have made the cut, I wish them all the best–enjoy every second of it and I want to see one of you holding the BIG CHECK (mine still currently resides on the wall of my kitchen for inspiration)!

New England Buttermilk Pumpkin Cakes with Sour Cream Apple Caramel and Dried Cranberries

1 1/4 cup all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup Hood Cultured Fat Free Buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 teaspoons demerara sugar, divided
6 tablespoons sweetened dried cranberries, divided
Hood Original Whipped Light Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Place 6 one cup ramekins on a baking sheet.  Spray liberally with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a medium bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg and set aside.

In a large bowl or in the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Add egg and beat again until combined.  Beat in pumpkin and Hood Cultured Fat Free Buttermilk and vanilla extract until thoroughly incorporated.   Slowly incorporate dry ingredients and beat until well combined.

Divide batter between prepared ramekins, sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon demerara sugar and bake in preheated oven for 25 to 28 minutes until a skewer inserted in to the center of the cake comes out clean.

While the cakes are in the oven, prepare the sour cream apple caramel sauce.

1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup water
3 tablespoons salted butter, cut in to small pieces
1/4 cup Hood Heavy Cream
3/4 cup Hood sour Cream
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 Cortland apples, peeled and cut in to 1/2” to 3/4” matchsticks

In a heavy bottomed saucepan, mix the sugar and water and bring to a simmer over medium high heat.  Stir gently until the sugar is dissolved.  Do not allow any sugar to get on the side of the pan.

Allow mixture to boil, gently stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to change color.   When the liquid is a medium caramel color turn off the heat and whisk in the butter until melted.  Quickly whisk in the Hood Heavy Cream until combined and then whisk in the Hood Sour Cream, salt, vanilla extract and apples.  If caramel cools too quickly, reheat gently over low heat, stirring frequently.

To serve:  Place pumpkin cake in the center of a dessert dish  Spoon sour cream caramel apple caramel sauce over cake and sprinkle on one tablespoon sweetened dried cranberries.  Top with desired amount of Hood Original Light Whipped Cream and enjoy!

 

 

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Bursting with Blueberries Mini Cream Beauties for Make It-Blog It-Win It! Blueberry Recipe Contest for Bloggers

Here is my second entry for this fantastic contest……..I really do love blueberries and I am very very proud of how these tasty treats came out!  Had one more but I am going to have to save it for next year I guess!

Bursting with Blueberries Mini Cream Beauties
For the blueberry filling:

1 cup fresh blueberries
1/2 cup dried blueberries
One lemon, zested and juice, zest finely chopped and reserved

Over medium low heat, combine blueberries and lemon juice.   Bring to a simmer and cook until thickened, about 10 minutes.  Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Line 24 standard muffin cups with paper liners (preferably grease proof) and set aside.

For the crust:

2 cups plus two tablespoons flour, divided
2 sticks salted butter, frozen and cut in to small cubes
1/4 cup confectioner’s sugar
Pinch salt
1/4 cup dried blueberries

In the bowl of a food processor (or in a bowl using a pastry blender) combine  2 cups flour, butter, confectioners sugar and salt.  Plus until the mixture resembles a fine meal.  Spoon a heaping teaspoonful of the mixture in to each prepared cup and press to form a crust on the bottom of the cup, reserving remaining mixture for the crumb topping.

Bake 10 minutes.  Add remaining two tablespoons flour and dried blueberries to remaining crust mixture and pulse until combined.  Pour mixture in to a small bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.

Meanwhile, prepare the cream filling and topping:

2 8 oz pkg. cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup confectioner’s sugar
Reserved lemon zest
2 large egg yolks at room temperature
3 tablespoons corn starch
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon extract
1/4 cup Lemoncello Liqueur (or defrosted lemonade concentrate if unavailable)
Pinch salt

3/4 cup fresh blueberries

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of the food processor and process until smooth..

When crust is partially baked (after 10 minutes) remove from oven and spoon in 1 teaspoon blueberry lemon filling into the center.

Top with cream cheese mixture evenly, about 3/4 of the way up the cup, sprinkle 3 to 4 fresh blueberries on each

Top with reserved crust/dried blueberry mixture.

Bake for 28 to 30 minutes until center is set.  Allow to cool and remove from pan when completely cool.

Makes 24–Enjoy!

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Summer Splendor Balsamic Blueberry & Pork Salad… a colorful taste of Summer!

Hi Friends!  Get ready for a barrage of blueberry recipes coming at you.  I am participating a blueberry recipe contest for bloggers and have been creating some really fun dishes using this delicious and really nutritious fruit.

This recipe is great because not only does it use lots of blueberries, but when the salad is all put together, you have an explosion of color on your plate.   You might think that making your own marinade and salad dressing is challenging, but believe me, read through the recipe, gather your ingredients and try it.  I would love to know what you think.  So without further delay, here’s my recipe:

Summer Splendor Balsamic Blueberry & Pork Salad with Double Duty Blueberry Vinaigrette

For the Vinaigrette:

1 tablespoon minced shallot
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
3-4 teaspoons honey, to taste
3/4 cup fresh blueberries
Zest of one lemon
4 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons white wine
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

In a food processor, combine shallot, mustard, honey, blueberries, lemon zest and juice, white wine and basil.  Pulse until combined and basil is finely chopped.  Drizzle in olive and canola oil until emulsified and dressing is bright in color.

Season with salt and pepper to taste–the mixture will be bright blueish pink and look delicious!   Pour one half of the dressing in to a zip top bag and set aside.  Reserve remaining dressing and refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Salad:

1 1/4-1 1/2 pound pork tenderloin, cleaned
2 cups fresh bluberries, divided
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons granulated sugar
1-10 oz bag mixed baby greens
1 cup crumbled goat cheese
1 1/2 cup halved grape tomatoes

Place pork tenderloin in zip top bag that contains half of the blueberry vinaigrette and shake to coat.  Refrigerate pork for at least 2 but up to 6 hours.

In the meantime, about a half hour before serving, take pork out of the refrigerator, keeping it in the marinade, and allow to come to room temperature before grilling.

In a medium saucepan, combine 1 1/2 cups blueberries, balsamic vinegar and sugar and bring to a simmer.  Cook until most of the blueberries have burst, about 10 minutes.  Set aside.

Preheat outdoor grill or indoor grill pan to medium high.  Remove pork from blueberry marinade, pat dry and discard marinade–yes, the pork will be a bit pink.

Brush the grill with vegetable oil. Place tenderloin on the center of the grill, cover and cook 12-15 minutes, turning every 2-3 minutes until internal temperature reaches 140 degrees F.

Remove pork from the grill to a cutting board and allow to rest for 5 minutes before slicing in to 1/2” slices.

Toss salad greens with goat cheese, tomatoes and desired amount of blueberry vinaigrette and serve on one large platter or individual serving plates.  Top greens with sliced pork tenderloin, spoon balsamic blueberries over pork and sprinkle remaining fresh blueberries over salad.  Enjoy!  Serves 3

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Fresh Supersweet Caribbean Corn Upside Down Cake—-something totally out of the ordinary!

I spent a long time thinking about this one……it’s for the Fresh Supersweet Corn Blogger recipe contest and I was trying to think outside the box…..salsa….no, its been done……salad, I could, but not sure what I would do……soup, I do love corn chowder but they already have one on their website www.freshsupersweetcorn.com.  So I moved on to baked goods in my mind.

Corn muffins?  Yum, but done.  Cornbread?  Also delicious, but nothing out of the ordinary.  And then it hit me.  Fresh Supersweet Corn is sweet, right?  Just like it says in the name!  Well, this is what I came up with–and trust me, it is delicious!

Sweet Caribbean Corn Upside Down Cake by Laurie Lufkin

1 1/4 cup coconut milk

1 cup fine yellow cornmeal

1 stick salted butter

1 cup brown sugar, divided

2 1/2 cups Fresh Supersweet Corn

1/4 cup (one nip) coconut rum

1 fresh mango, peeled and cut in to wedges

1 orange slice from the center of the orange

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

4 large eggs at room temperature

3/4 cup canola oil

2 teaspoons coconut extract

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 cup toasted sweetened flaked coconut

sweetened whipped cream

On the stove top or in the microwaved bring the coconut milk to a low boil.  Quickly whisk in the cornmeal until smooth and set aside.  Cornmeal will absorb the coconut milk while you are preparing the rest of the cake.

Remove husks from 3 ears Fresh Supersweet Corn and remove kernels from cob with a sharp knife.  It is easiest to use this type of setup:

Invert a small bowl in to a larger bowl and it is easy to cut off the kernels and then the bowl will catch them.  Break up any kernels that are stuck together with your fingers and set corn aside.  If you plan to make corn chowder in the near future, save the cobs as they make a great base for the soup.

In a seasoned 12″ cast iron skillet, combine butter and 1/2 cup brown sugar and bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar.

Add Fresh Supersweet Corn and cook for two minutes, stirring gently.  Remove from heat and stir in coconut rum and set aside.

Peel and pit mango and cut in to slices.

Arrange mango slices in a  flower pattern in the Fresh Supersweet Corn mixture.

Cut a 1/4″ horizontal slice from the middle of  large navel orange and cut off the peel

Place peeled orange slice in the center of the mango slices to form a flower and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

In another bowl, lightly beat together eggs, canola oil, vanilla extract and coconut extract.  Whisk in cornmeal and coconut milk mixture and mix until smooth.

Whisk mixture until smooth.

Gently whisk in dry ingredients until just combined.

Pour mixture over mangoes and corn and smooth with a knife if necessary.

Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes until a tester inserted in to the center of the cake comes out clean and edges are lightly browned.

Allow cake to cool in the pan for 30 minutes and invert on serving plate.

Because both the mangoes and the corn floated around a bit, I took a small knife and moved the corn to reveal the “petals” of the flower too, the mangoes.

Cake can be served warm or at room temperature, topped with a sprinkle of toasted coconut and a bit of sweetened whipped cream.

Serves 12.  This is a dense, rich cake with the sweetness of the corn, coconut and mango and the little bit of crunch of the toasted coconut.  If you make it, please let me know what you think—enjoy!

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The Wild Card Round of the Gourmoo Cook Off and giveaway winners!

Hi Friends!

This is the final episode of the Gourmoo Cook Off that I participated in last December in California, the Wild Card round.  As one of the remaining two contestants I was able to choose one final recipe, made with lactose free Lactaid Milk of course, to wow the judges and hopefully win a culinary dream vacation sponsored by Lactaid Milk.

Congratulations to Morena–she is a wonderful girl and a great cook and I am so proud of her.  She is taking a culinary vacation to Thailand to see her Father and I couldn’t be happier for her.  She is a talented cook who does a great job showcasing the food of her culture and I am honored to have cooked with her.

And now for the giveaway.  Remember, I randomly chose the winner from comments left here on my blog and on www.goodmorninggloucester.com.  And the winners are:

Donna Marie of Topsfield who wins the $25.00 Amazon Gift Card

and

Kathy G of Gloucester wins the free Lactaid Milk coupons.

I will contact both of you (or you can contact me at laurielufkin@yahoo.com) so that I can get your prizes to you.  Thanks everyone for your great comments and support!

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Let me catch you up on the Gourmoo Cook Off…….episodes #2 & #3

Hi friends.

Time as gotten a bit away from me and I need to catch you up on the Gourmoo Cook Off.  Episode two, the side dish round was so much fun.  Everyone had frazzled nerves the first round, with the cameras, the lights and the unfamiliar kitchen.  But things settle down in the second round and everyone felt more comfortable.

In the third round the Entree round, we had additional time to prepare our meals for the judges and the pressure was on.  Again, Steve Connolly Seafoods sent me out some gorgeous cod loins and although it not on the video you will see, one of the judges actually asked me if I had just caught the fish that morning because it was so fresh.

Watch and see what happens!

I will post episode #4, the dessert round, tomorrow or Friday and a lovely little giveaway, sponsored by Lactaid milk to go along with it…..stay tuned!

 

 

 

 

 

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The first round of the Gourmoo Cook Off…….this is what I was doing the first week in December

Hi Friends!

No, I didn’t get stuck head first in a snow bank or lost in a blizzard…..these last few months have been chaotic and wonderful at the same time and it is time to finally come up for air……….and write a quick new post.

I know that some of you new that I went to the Gourmoo Cook off sponsored by Lactaid Milk the first week in December but if you didn’t know that, you do now .  I have to say, wearing flip flops in December was a real treat.

So, without further delay, here is the first installment in the series, the Appetizer Round:

 

Moovision.com – Gourmoo Cookoff.

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