What To Eat Wednesday

We have so many talented chefs in The Willows family that I decided it was just selfish of me not to share some of these delicious recipes. While the girls are going through their recipe boxes, I will share one of my favorite blogs for foodie inspiration. Seven Spoons is a delightful blog written by Tara O'Brady. She combines delicious food with witty writing that I always look forward to. She has also written a cookbook that is fantastic! Before you run out to buy it, here is a sample to get you started.

*photo courtesy of Seven Spoons
 

LINGUINE WITH CRAB & ARTICHOKES

Ingredients

500 g linguine
1 large clove peeled garlic, or two if you are so inclined
2 teaspoons kosher salt
A good pinch, about a scant 1/4 teaspoon, dried chili flakes
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3-4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
275 ml jar of artichokes, drained and rinsed well, halved if large
250 g crab meat, preferably lump
Zest and juice of 1/2 lemon
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
A couple of handfuls of baby arugula (rocket), or other greens
Pepper, to taste

 

Put a large pot of well-salted water to boil. Cook the pasta, according to package directions or to taste. As the pasta will continue to cook when you toss it with the warm sauce, I would advise cooking until just under al dente. Meanwhile, in a small food processor or pestle and mortar, crush the garlic, salt and chili flakes into a smooth purée. Set aside.

 

In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and olive oil. When just melted, add about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta cooking liquid, along with the garlic purée. Continue to cook, stirring, until reduced by about 1/3. When thickened, add the artichokes and gently toss to coat.

 

With the heat on low, add the crab meat, lemon zest and juice and stir to combine. Tip in the cooked, drained pasta, turning so that the noodles are well-slicked with the buttery juices. Add the parsley and arugula, continuing to turn until the greens are slightly wilted. Check for seasoning, garnish with additional chili and fresh greens if desired, serve. Serves 4 as a main course, 6-8 as a light lunch or entrée.

 

Click Here for the Full Recipe Post

 Do you have any signature recipes that we can share?

cheese board

It's the weekend!  I am off to France with my hubby to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary!

  Thought I would leave you a little cheese board inspiration I threw together for one of our family parties.  I always love a delicious (and pretty) cheese board.  Throw one together and have a patio date night this weekend or invite some friends over to enjoy the warm evenings (before they become hot evenings...).  Summer should be all about cheese boards for dinner, I say :)

making chili for the crowds

When our Chicago cousins come to town, everyone is so excited to see them!  I always know we will have a full house of visitors and those anxious to hang out with them.  No one wants to cook, plus I'm never sure exactly how many people will show up, not to mention what all the different little picky-eaters will and won't eat, so I always make a big pot of the world's easiest chili.  This is the best go-to meal when you want it done fast, you need to feed a lot of people, and you want to make everyone happy.  

world's easiest chili

- ground meat of your choice (sirloin, turkey, etc.)

- pork chops, cut into cubes

- ranch style beans (the secret ingredient)

- chili powder, salt and pepper to taste 

pour everything in a pot and cook.  see how easy that is.

then, make a buffet of toppings for everyone to choose from.

examples: cheese, corn, sour cream, radishes, zucchini, avocado, cilantro...

the list could go on and on.

the kids can have it plain with cheese, the dads can spice it up with tabasco, 

and everyone else can make it just the way they like :) 

happy crowd, happy hostess.

the secret ingredient :)

something here doesn't belong...

a sure sign of lots of kids running around :)

a happy package, a happy customer and a delicious recipe

The weekend is almost here!  This week I got the happiest package in the mail from my daughter Emily, who, I have mentioned, is spending the semester in Belgium.  She has been a little homesick lately, so head over to her blog, look at all the fun she is having and the beautiful pictures she is taking and give her some words of encouragement!  She will be home before she knows it and it will have been such an amazing experience!  We sure do miss her though!  She sent us a fun package full of all sorts of yummy Belgium treats... (and a sweet little note, too!)

And then, there are little notes like this that make you love your job 

and appreciate all the wonderful people you get to meet along the way...

And, finally, back to those cookies we teased you with at the beginning of the post...

My other daughter, Christine, likes to spoil the Willows and our customers with her delicious baked goods.  She just brought us some amazing Oatmeal Whoopie Pies and people have been drooling over them and asking for the recipe.  Thought we would pass it along and give you something yummy to bake over the weekend!  Let us know if you try them!

For the cookies (makes about 3 dozen):

INGREDIENTS:

- 1 1/4 cups butter, softened

- 3/4 cup brown sugar

- 1/2 cup granulated sugar

- 1 egg

- 1 teaspoon vanilla

-1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

- 1 teaspoon baking soda

- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

- 1/2 teaspoon salt

- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

3 cups Quaker Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)

PREPARATION:

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; mix well. Add oats; mix well. Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

For the filling:

INGREDIENTS:

- 4 egg whites

- 1 1/2 cups sugar

- 3 sticks of salted butter, softened

- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

PREPARATION:  

Bring about 2 inches of water to a boil in a small saucepan, the right size to hold your mixing bowl on top.  Bring back down to a simmer.  Combine egg whites and sugar in stainless mixing bowl.  Whisking continuously, and at a good pace, place bowl on top of simmering pan of water.  Bowl should not be touching water.  Continue whisking until egg whites reach 170 in temp or appear very white and are hot to the touch.  Remove bowl and place on mixer.  With whisk attachment, slowly bring up to high speed and let go for several minutes until the mixture appears stiff and shiny.  Let cool in bowl.  Slowly add bits of butter with mixer on medium, about one tablespoon at a time.  Finally add vanilla extract.  Should look like pretty whip cream with a thick consistency.  It if is too liquidy, you may place it in the fridge or freezer to cool off a few minutes and then back on the mixer to re-whip! Use to ice a cake, fill  your whoopie pie cookies, or your macarons.  Enjoy!

We hope you have a happy weekend!  

white trash

In honor of feeling the wedding love and because we get sweet treats hand delivered every monday to the store by Christine, I thought I would share one of my very favorite little treats, White Trash.  It is delicious and so fun to serve at a wedding shower or baby shower, or just to guests coming over in general.  Heck, make up a batch for your own family this weekend.  It is so very tasty, you'll be so glad you did.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 cups chex
3 1/2 cups golden grahams
3 cups pretzels
1 cup pecans
1 bag white chocolate

mix ingredients.
melt chocolate in a double boiler (or the microwave).
pour over ingredients.  mix.
spread on parchment paper to cool.
easy, peasy.
eat it up and enjoy.

Enjoy and have a great weekend!

whoopie pies

For those of you who frequent the Willows, you may notice that we usually have some rather tasty treats out for your nibbling pleasure.  My daughter Christine (who used to own Palatte) bakes us a little something every Monday, so that you, our lovely customers, can have a sweet treat to munch as you visit the store.  A couple weeks ago she made us these amazing oatmeal whoopie pies!  Amazing.

So, for those of you who don't live near, you can make some whoopie pies to enjoy at home...

Oatmeal Whoopie Pies

Ingredients

For the cookies:
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
2 teaspoons baking soda
3 tablespoons boiling water

For the filling:
1 large egg white
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk
2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cups shortening, softened

Directions
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Lightly grease a baking sheet and set aside.

To make the cookies: Cream the butter, sugar, and eggs in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, sift together the salt, flour, and baking powder. Add to the creamed mixture. Add the cinnamon and oats. Mix well. In a small dish, add the baking soda to the boiling water, and then stir the mixture into the rest of the batter. Mix well. Drop by the tablespoon onto the baking sheets about 2 inches apart and bake until the cookies are firm and just starting to turn golden around the edges, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool the cookies on a wire rack or a plate.

To make the filling: Combine the egg white, vanilla, milk, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Cream well. Add the remaining 1 cup of sugar and the shortening and beat until smooth. Spread 1 tablespoon of filling (more if desired) on one cookie, and then top with a second cookie.

Enjoy!  Happy Monday!

And a very Happy Birthday to Christine today!

apple cake

We had a lovely time today with all of you that made it out for our Flea Market!  Thanks to all the fabulous vendors!  You were all wonderful!  

We have had a few requests for this apple cake recipe we had in the store a while back, so I thought I would share it with you for the weekend.  Make it for your family and eat it for breakfast with your coffee!  It's delicious!

preheat oven to 350 and grease and flour a bunt pan.

ingredients:

- 1 3/4 cups sugar

- 1 cup vegetable oil

- 3 eggs

- 1 tblsp. vanilla

blend in bowl of electric mixer.

- 2 cups flour

- 2 tsp. cinnamon

- 1 tsp. baking soda

- 1 tsp. salt

mix dry ingredients in separate bowl and then slowly blend into electric mixer.

remove from mixer and fold in:

- 3-4 apples, peeled and chopped

- 1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional) (i have even made it with those praline pecans from trader joe's which is delicious and extra decadent...)

bake 60 minutes (i feel like mine is usually done closer to 45 or 50, so keep an eye on it the first time you make it). let cool. remove from bundt pan and (1) sprinkle with powdered sugar, (2) sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, (3) drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze OR (4) simply eat as is.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

in the meantime...

Lots to share about where I've been and what I've been up to...

I will try to find the time in the next few days.

In the meantime, have you been following Simple Pleasures?

Some of these recipes look too fabulous to pass up.

I mean, come on, who is not drooling over these sweet potato pancakes (a palatte favorite!)?

And those waffles? Mmmmm, good.

So, Christine, what morning should I come over for breakfast?

Thank you so much to all of our wonderful guest bloggers! I thoroughly enjoyed reading all about your No. 1's in Phoenix.

And thank you to the lovely Willows' girls for the sweet birthday wishes! What would I do without you ladies?

We have also received a few emails lately asking for blog posts about specific topics (we are working on some of your ideas), so I thought I would ask everyone, is there something you would like to see here? Let us know!

It's good to be back. But darn, its hot.

good friends.

Do you have one of those friends who you casually invite to come over for pizza with the family and she offers to bring some sort of appetizer and then shows up with this...

My mouth literally fell open when Laurie walked in with this beautiful display. I mean, seriously? You just whipped that up? You hardly want to touch it, it looks so perfect.

Do beware, however, once we get over the beauty, the Burch family can destroy a cheese board...

And what about one of those friends who can just tell when you are having a bad day and suddenly shows up with a little homemade gift just for you...

Lucky me, I have just such friends. Their kindness and generosity, creativity and talent never cease to amaze me. I am on the road with these two amazing ladies right now on a little summer adventure through Georgia. One car, a GPS, three friends and the open road... should make for some good stories. I hope...

I have a few little posts set for next week and the following week we have some very exciting guest bloggers! I can't wait!

After that, I am sure I will have quite a bit to share from our road trip. Have a great weekend and I will be back in a couple of weeks!

what's for dinner?

There is a store in Balboa called Olive Oil and Beyond that sells the most amazing organic olive oils and vinegars. They are so delicious you could almost put a straw in the bottle and drink it. They also sell the most beautiful pasta I have ever seen. And the kids thought it was the absolute coolest. So, one night at the beach for any easy dinner we cooked up some of this "cool" pasta. We chopped up a rotisserie chicken from the store and some corn, tossed it all in some olive oil and, in under 10 minutes, dinner was made. Easy, delicious and lovely to look at.

For the grown-up version we rummaged through the fridge to see what else we could add and came up with pepitas, strawberries and goat cheese. It was so good. So very good. I could eat another bowl of it right now. And that glass of wine is looking rather inviting, as well...

So, if you were in need of a little inspiration for a quick, delicious summer dinner, that's what I have to share for now.

What about you? What tasty (and easy) summer meals are your go-to? Have you tried something new lately that turned out fabulous? Please do share!

Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe

Maddy showed up at The Willows this morning with a lovely surprise of a blueberry coffee cake she had "just whipped up" before work for our customers. Isn't she a wonderful 17 year old?! She used a recipe from our cookbook "The Ramos House Cafe". We picked these cookbooks up in San Juan, California from the actual Ramos House Cafe which was built in 1881. It has an amazing history, and even more amazing food. The nicest luxury is you can take these wonderful recipes home with you!

Stop in today to try Maddy's wonderful coffee cake, and bake some for family and friends this weekend! Enjoy!