Author:Bob

The Perfect Martini At A Perfect Hour

Posted on 14 April 2018

“One martini is alright. Two are too many, and three are not enough.” – James Thurber How 1950s Is This? One of the more civilized things a person can do is to enjoy a cocktail (or two) before dinner. Five o’clock heralds the beginning of our cocktail hour. We seldom miss our appointment, and if we do miss it due to other obligations, yours truly can get a little pissy. A designated cocktail hour gives us permission to start drinking, as if we actually need an excuse. It’s something to…

Around An Italian Dinner Table

Posted on 9 April 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

The Right Idea When it comes to dining, I think the Italians have the right idea. If you’ve ever had the privilege of being seated around an Italian dinner table, you know exactly what I’m talking about. It’s laid back, relaxed, unhurried, and the ambiance exudes warmth and conviviality. And the dinner IS the evening – it’s not the prelude to something else. It’s seldom served before 8 p.m., and if you’re dining out, once you’re seated, the table is yours for the night. There will be no pressure for you to…

A Bone-in Country Ham With That Old-fashioned Goodness

Posted on 26 March 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

A Real Hankerin’ For A Bone-in Ham Every once in a while, I get a hankerin’ (it’s the way my people used to talk) for a taste of a good ol’ bone-in country ham – the kind that my grandmother used to make on Easter. If you’ve ever tasted one, the taste was absolutely unforgettable. The KISS Principle Applies Here If you’re planning to purchase a ham, my advice is to keep it simple. Something happens to many of the commercial types that are for sale. These hams are most likely…

Good Gravy!!!

Posted on 22 March 2018

in Additional Recipes, Pure Comfort Food

by Bob

This easy creamy gravy, spiked with Marsala wine, can be whisked together while the main event of your meal is cooking. Start by browning mushrooms in butter to give it plenty of savory flavor. Add beurre manie (flour/butter) to thicken, simmer in Marsala wine and beef broth, and finish with heavy cream. Serve this with everything from meatloaf to beef Wellington. For recipe click on Mushroom Gravy. Note to cooks/chefs You can never make too much gravy. I like to plate all of the servings in the kitchen and then present them…

Stress Free Hosting

Posted on 12 March 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

If we were Downton Abbey rich, entertaining would be a breeze. We would have our butler greet the guests at the door. They would be ushered into our posh library where one of our staff would offer each of our arrivals a highball and nibbles. After all of the guests were attended to, Dorothy and I would make our entrance. We would hobnob with the attendees until chimes were struck indicating dinner was ready to be served. All would then drift into the dining room to a large table impeccably set…

The Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Posted on 7 March 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears, Nibbles and Appetizers (The Starters)

by Bob

“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, sauté it. There’s, um, shrimp ka-bobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan-fried, deep-fried, stir-fried. There’s pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. . . That’s, that’s about it.” – Mykelti Williamson The Appetizer Of All Appetizers. When They’re Good They’re Very Very Good … Mykelti, you failed to mention the Classic Shrimp Cocktail. Of all of the ways to…

Sicilian Meatballs – A Recipe You Can’t Refuse

Posted on 4 March 2018

in Pure Comfort Food

by Bob

“The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking you’ve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.” – Julia Child First of all, I’m not advocating eating pasta three meals a day. I think of pasta as the ultimate in comfort food, and about once a week I like to treat myself. And, if I’m going to treat myself to some extra calories, I want it to be over the top. While I absolutely love spaghetti and meatballs, the Sicilian Meatball recipe featured in Men’s Journal (March 2018, page…

Cranberry Brie Bites – The Perfect Party Snack

Posted on 25 February 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

Bring A Snack To Share You’ve been invited to a party, and you’ve been asked to bring a snack to share with the others in attendance. What’s a good snack to bring as your offering? Considerations We usually stick with the following criteria for a good party snack: We think individual bites are best – something a guest can pick up and put on their plate. Our current go-to snack is Cranberry Brie Bites. Click on Cranberry Brie Bites and then scroll down past the narrative to see the recipe. We avoid taking…

A Delicious And Interesting Seafood Bolognese

Posted on 14 February 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

A Seafood Bolognese? By definition, a seafood Bolognese makes no sense. According to culinary tradition, a Bolognese sauce is meat-based, and it’s referred to as ragu’ in Italy. It reflects the cuisine of Northern Italy. This part of Italy is more fitted to support livestock and wildlife with its green pastures and woodlands. Also, the North borders Austria and France influence what they prepare. As I said, there’s no meat in this recipe. Instead, a fresh seafood selection has been used which is a staple of the cooking of Southern Italy….

The Friday Afternoon Club Party

Posted on 11 February 2018

in Lend Me Your Ears

by Bob

Perhaps the easiest way to have people over is to invite them to a Friday Afternoon Club. While these informal gatherings are called Friday Afternoon Clubs, any afternoon will work. When we host an FAC, the gathering usually starts at about 5:00 p.m. and breaks about 7:00 p.m. It can be a small or a large 40+ guest list. It’s a BYOB format (usually a bottle of wine) and everyone is encouraged to bring a snack that can be shared by all in attendance. The Bar Preparation …

Dirty Martini (and make if filthy)

The British Serve Cucumber Sandwiches To Avoid A Sticky Wicket

Dinner Parties

Author:Bob

The Perfect Martini At A Perfect Hour

Around An Italian Dinner Table

A Bone-in Country Ham With That Old-fashioned Goodness

Good Gravy!!!

Stress Free Hosting

The Classic Shrimp Cocktail

Sicilian Meatballs – A Recipe You Can’t Refuse

Cranberry Brie Bites – The Perfect Party Snack

A Delicious And Interesting Seafood Bolognese

The Friday Afternoon Club Party

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Dinner Parties

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