It was my turn to pick this week and I chose the section in July Living with the chocolate chip cookie desserts. I made the chocolate tart with the chocolate chip cookie crust. I knew going in that this was going to be a lot of work – first you have to make the cookies, then you use them to make the crust, then you make the filling and bake that. You could definitely just buy pre-made cookies to make this crust if you wanted to.

Apparently, I was a little impatient, or it was just so dang hot that the cookies never really cooled, so when I whizzed them up in the Cuisinart with the melted butter, the whole thing turned chocolate since the chips were not set.

The tart filling was not hard to make and baked up nicely.

Here’s the recipe for the tart (I didn’t think there was anything special about the cookies):

16 choc chip cookies, finely ground, 2 cups

2 tbsp melted butter

for filling:

1 cup heavy cream

8 oz semisweet chocolate, chopped

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1 tbsp butter

Mix cookie crumb and butter then press into a 9 1/2 inch tart shell with removable bottom.  Refrigerate 30 min. Then bake at 350 for 10-12 min. Make the filling by bringing cream to boil and pouring over chocolate. Stir in other ingredients after chocolate has melted. Pour into the shell and bake at 300 for 20-24 min until the edges are set.

This looked pretty and cut nicely. It was way too rich for me though, like eating candy. We cut one small slice, everyone had a taste, and off it went to Mr. MarthaAndMe’s office for others to enjoy. It was very good, but not something I could ever actually eat more than a couple little bites of.

It was my turn to pick this week and I chose the section in July Living with the chocolate chip cookie desserts. I made the chocolate tart with the chocolate chip cookie crust. I knew going in that this was going to be a lot of work – first you have to make the cookies, … Read more →

Here is the upcoming schedule for Martha Mondays. Let me know your pick the week before. Thanks!

7/18 Steak and Potato Kinda Gurl

7/25 Megan’s Cookin’

8/1 Sassy Suppers

8/8 Perfecting Pru

8/15 and 8/22 we’re taking a break

8/29 Tiny Skillet

9/5 Sweet Almond Tree

9/12 MarthaAndMe

Here is the upcoming schedule for Martha Mondays. Let me know your pick the week before. Thanks! 7/18 Steak and Potato Kinda Gurl 7/25 Megan’s Cookin’ 8/1 Sassy Suppers 8/8 Perfecting Pru 8/15 and 8/22 we’re taking a break 8/29 Tiny Skillet 9/5 Sweet Almond Tree 9/12 MarthaAndMe  

It’s my turn to pick for Martha Mondays and I’ve chosen the section in July Living on pp 58-62 – the chocolate chip cookie desserts. Feel free to make one of your choosing. If you don’t have the magazine, let me know and I will send them to you (they don’t seem to be up on the Martha site yet).

It’s my turn to pick for Martha Mondays and I’ve chosen the section in July Living on pp 58-62 – the chocolate chip cookie desserts. Feel free to make one of your choosing. If you don’t have the magazine, let me know and I will send them to you (they don’t seem to be up … Read more →

I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July! We spent it at the lake with my parents, where they have what they call the “Ring of Fire.” Everyone builds fires and lights flares and the lake is circled with red light. It’s beautiful. And of course there are lots of fireworks, shot off of people’s docks.

To celebrate, my mom baked lobster tails. She also made a Caesar salad and garlic herb bread. I made a vegetable dish (garlic scapes,

Wearing our Ring of Fire shirts

broccoli, zucchini, and corn) and potato salad. The potato salad is a family tradition – my grandmother made it for every summer family get together.  It’s one of those dishes that has no recipe – you learn to make it by watching. This year I paid attention as I dumped and am able to share the recipe. It’s one of my favorite dishes in the whole world!

5 lbs white potatoes

5 stalks celery, diced

1 sweet white onion, diced

1 jar Miracle Whip Light

1/4 cup yellow mustard

5 hardboiled eggs, plus 1 reserved

1/4 cup chopped parsley, plus a few springs reserved

salt and pepper

paprika

Cut the potatoes into thirds and boil until tender. Let them cool then peel or cut the skins off. Cut into bite sized pieces and put in a big bowl. Add the celery, onion, Miracle Whip, parsley and salt and pepper. Chop the 5 eggs and add. Stir until mixed. Top with one hard boiled egg that has been quartered, the remaining parsley and sprinkle with paprika.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable 4th of July! We spent it at the lake with my parents, where they have what they call the “Ring of Fire.” Everyone builds fires and lights flares and the lake is circled with red light. It’s beautiful. And of course there are lots of fireworks, shot off of … Read more →

Thanks to Ana at Sweet Almond Tree for making this week’s pick, Melon with Honeyed Yogurt. We had this last night. I thought it was pretty good. I’ve never served yogurt with melon, but it was very refreshing. Mr. MarthaAndMe did not enjoy it since he does not like yogurt and cannot be persuaded that it really is good. Definitely a nice way to dress up melon to serve it.

There’s no Martha Mondays next week since it is July 4th! I hope everyone has a great holiday!

Thanks to Ana at Sweet Almond Tree for making this week’s pick, Melon with Honeyed Yogurt. We had this last night. I thought it was pretty good. I’ve never served yogurt with melon, but it was very refreshing. Mr. MarthaAndMe did not enjoy it since he does not like yogurt and cannot be persuaded that … Read more →

This recipe title sounds like I am describing a disaster, but actually this is a real recipe. This is one of the recipe cards in July Living (not online yet). I tinkered with the recipe a tiny bit. The basic idea is you make a salad by grilling romaine lettuce, so I followed that part of the recipe. It says to brush the leaves with oil then grill 4 minutes a side until slightly charred.

I had a grilled romaine salad at a restaurant last year and LOVED it, so I was anxious to try this. We followed the instructions exactly. One piece turned out pretty well. The others just wilted and turned brown. I made a quick vinaigrette and shaved some Parmesan cheese to put on this. I think you need really thick robust leaves and I also think you might be better to grill the hell out of it for a minute on each side so it chars but doesn’t wilt. I’m not sure. I need to try this a few more times. It has potential. I really like the flavor but I do not like mushy wilted lettuce. Have you ever tried this?

This recipe title sounds like I am describing a disaster, but actually this is a real recipe. This is one of the recipe cards in July Living (not online yet). I tinkered with the recipe a tiny bit. The basic idea is you make a salad by grilling romaine lettuce, so I followed that part … Read more →

Sweet Almond Tree has chosen Melon with Honeyed Yogurt for Monday’s project.

Sweet Almond Tree has chosen Melon with Honeyed Yogurt for Monday’s project.

I whipped up this quick, simple, summer veggie dish and it was delicious.

1/4 cup chopped sweet onion

2 ears of corn, kernels cut off

2 cups arugula

pinch dry mustard

salt and pepper

1/2 garlic clove, chopped

2 tbsp chicken stock

1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese

Cook the onion in a little olive oil until translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients and cook until the arugula is wilted and the cheese melted. I wasn’t kidding! It is simple!

I whipped up this quick, simple, summer veggie dish and it was delicious. 1/4 cup chopped sweet onion 2 ears of corn, kernels cut off 2 cups arugula pinch dry mustard salt and pepper 1/2 garlic clove, chopped 2 tbsp chicken stock 1/4 cup shredded Swiss cheese Cook the onion in a little olive oil … Read more →

Tiny Skillet was our selection person this week and she chose granitas.  I made the strawberry one. I did not add vodka and I did not make the syrup with the balsamic to pour over it because that sounded just awful to me! I thought this was going to be easy to make, but I have to admit that the time scraping with a fork was truly a pain in the butt! The granita was tasty though- kind of like shave ice or a popsicle or sorbet. Something I have never had before. Definitely refreshing a light. This was fun to try.

Tiny Skillet was our selection person this week and she chose granitas.  I made the strawberry one. I did not add vodka and I did not make the syrup with the balsamic to pour over it because that sounded just awful to me! I thought this was going to be easy to make, but I … Read more →

I was unmotivated to cook an actual dinner involving pots and pans, so I made everything on the grill. I marinated 6 ounces of Canadian bacon in 6 oz pineapple juice and 1 tbsp soy sauce for an hour. I put those on the grill and also grilled one zucchini (cut lengthwise into 4 pieces and rubbed with oil) and a bunch of asparagus that I rubbed with oil. The bacon cooked within 2 minutes – just a minute a side on a hot grill and it was ready. The zucchini and asparagus took about 10 minutes over a medium heat.

So easy and I didn’t have to wash a thing except our plates. I served this with the fingerling potatoes from my previous post.

I was unmotivated to cook an actual dinner involving pots and pans, so I made everything on the grill. I marinated 6 ounces of Canadian bacon in 6 oz pineapple juice and 1 tbsp soy sauce for an hour. I put those on the grill and also grilled one zucchini (cut lengthwise into 4 pieces … Read more →