Gooey Melted fondue

There nothing tastier than melted cheese covering chunks of crusty bread. Unless it's cubes of pound cake, bananas or strawberries dipped in melted chocolate. Last night at our Culinary Club meeting, we sampled both. One demonstration centered around the Classic Swiss Fondue made by melting lots of shredded Emmenthaler and Gruyere cheese into white wine, such as a Sauvingnon Blanc. This recipe is yummy beyond compare!  
  
Here is the complete recipe for you to try: 

Classic Swiss Fondue-Courtesy of Cheryl Vassiliadis
1/2 lb Emmenthaler Cheese-shredded
1/2 lb Gruyere Cheese- shredded
1 clove fresh garlic
 2 cups dry white wine
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
2 Tablespoons cornstarch
----------------
3 Tablespoons Kirsch
1/4 top white pepper
Pinch of grated nutmeg

Rub inside of pan with the garlic clove. Heat up the white wine and lemon juice, but do not boil. Slowly add cheese and melt while stirring. Slowly add remaining ingredients while stirring to combine. Serve with cubes of crusty bread. 

And for the chocoholics among you, this is also very, very decadent.

Chocolate Fondue-Courtesy of Cheryl Vassiliadis

1 12-ounce bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

¾ cup heavy cream

1 Tablespoon Cognac liqueur or brandy

Over low heat or in the microwave warm the cream for about one minute. Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Add Cognac and blend. Transfer to small fondue pot to keep warm. Serve with pound cake, bananas, strawberries, large marshmallows and pretzel sticks.

     

Fresh fruits and veggies

This photo taken at a fresh market in Europe brings back wonderful memories of those large, open-air markets chocked full of just-picked berries, veggies and flowers. One of my resolutions for 2011 is to indulge in an abundance of fruits and veggies in my meals.

That makes for a healthier lifestyle and adds lots of flavor and variety to my diet. One of the healthiest eating regimens is the Mediterranean Diet, which includes fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes or beans and delicious whole grain breads and baked goods. Thick Greek yogurt is a super way to get a good dose of calcium. But this uber-thick yogurt is also terrific as a breakfast or dessert. Just layer the yogurt with fresh fruits and swirls of honey and top with nuts or granola.

New for 2011

Bright beginnings all around for 2011. Blinding, white snow and slippery ice covers everything around and we are waiting for a warm-up so the ice and snow will melt and life can return to normal. Georgia is unaccustomed to long term accumulations of snow and ice so we are at a standstill. But warmer temps are forecast soon.

Fat Matt's Rules for ribs

Went to Fat Matt's Rib Shack last night for some tasty ribs and we weren't disappointed. After listening to the praises for this longtime Atlanta institution off of Piedmont Avenue for several years we finally got down to the business of ordering several slabs of ribs, "rum"
baked beans, coleslaw and mac 'n cheese.

In the words of Rachel Ray--YUMM-O! These ribs were smokey-good and fall-off-the-bone tender and flavored with just the right touch of Fat Matt's famous Bar-B-Que sauce.
Washed them down with a cold pitcher of beer while listening to some funky blues tunes played by a live band.

Don't expect a fancy place or lots of seating. Just expect to satisfy your craving for some great ribs.

Brunch at Windows Restaurant on Lake Lanier

Recently we had a delightful brunch at Windows Restaurant in the Legacy Lodge & Conference Center at Lake Lanier Islands. The lodge-inspired setting overlooks Lake Lanier and if weather permits outside dining is the place to be. The brunch includes made to order three-egg omelets and thick, Belgian waffles along with a good selection of breakfast meats, fresh fruits, Southern grits and fried potatoes.

The service was outstanding for our group of eight. Our server never let our cups of coffee run low or failed to remove finished plates.

Those red zinnias are at it again

The large, velvety zinnias
in my back yard are providing a spectacle again this summer. Attracted by the bright red hue, all sorts of birds and butterflies alight on the seasonal patch of color.

With daily high temperatures in the 90s, several species of butterflies flit back and forth drinking in the nectar of the flowers. Just in the past few days I've noticed Gulf Fritillaries, East Coast Swallowtails in both the stunning yellow and black forms along with yellow sulphur butterflies, a few Admirals and several different skippers. But so far this summer, I haven't spotted any Monarchs.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are common visitors, as are the bright yellow male and dullish-hued female American Goldfinches.

Spring Dressing

Spring is in the air so it's time to free yourself from all those excess clothes and step out in a tempting frock. Dresses are oh so colorful and stylish this season. Have some fun and try out these delicious finds.

Flowers explode across this strapless dress in a stretch sateen by Suzi Chin available at Dillards. ($124) Sport your tiers in style with a colorblocked jersey dress by INC International Concepts from Macy's. ($79)  Or wrap yourself in a delicate, rose-hued silk dress with asymmetrical neckline from Banana Republic. ($130)

Cardinals in the snow

A three-inch snowfall in north Georgia blankets the hills and presents a frosty backdrop contrasting with the bright, red cardinal stopping by for a sunflower seed or two.
Less than 24 hours later the snow is melted except for shaded areas.
Bright sunlight erased most traces of snow and icey patches.

Recipe for Homemade Pesto

Try this simple recipe for making homemade pesto using the freshest basil available from your own garden or the farmers market.


Homemade Pesto

2 cups fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup parsley leaves
3 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (may substitute pine nuts) or omit if allergic to nuts
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

In a food processor, combine the basil and parsley leaves, chopped garlic and walnuts. Process for a few seconds. Then drizzle in the olive oil through the feed tube with the processor running until combined. Add in the Parmesan cheese and process for another second or two.

Serve over hot or cold cooked pasta, as a spread on crackers or bread, or as a topping for baked potatoes.

To freeze Pesto Sauce, fill ice cube tray or small muffin tin with the pesto and after frozen, remove and store in plastic bags in the freezer. When making pesto to freeze, omit the cheese and add in when thawed and ready to serve.

Just formed a Culinary Club

A like-minded group of foodie friends and neighbors recently formed a Culinary Club to share our experiences and knowledge about the wonderful world of food. The group held its first cooking demonstration on "Cooking With Herbs". To test how well the foodies knew their herbs, everyone tried to guess the contents of small individual cups of snipped parsley, basil, rosemary, mint and thyme. That was tricky!

Then the demonstrations began which included a Dill Batter Bread, Tuna Salad with Dill, Marinated Shrimp on Rosemary Skewers, along with Caprese Mozzarella Salad and Homemade Pesto using fresh basil. Sampling the tasty dishes topped off the meeting and left everyone wanting more.

Free Wi-fi in Paris Parks

When in Paris, travelers looking for a quick way to send an email or photo to friends back home should hurry to the nearest public park. Open your laptop or use your iPhone's settings to search for a Wi-Fi connection and
start sending pix of all your Parisian adventures to all your pals.

The free Wi-Fi is also a great way to take advantage of a VOIP program like Skype to call back home without incurring huge cell phone bills on your return to the states.

Fall festivals in Georgia

Fall has arrived and that means festivals galore. North Georgia hosts a multitude of special festivals ranging from art and apples to beer and wine. Check out the 2009 Georgia Apple Festival in Ellijay, which runs the second and third weekends in October, for all things apple or discover the history of Georgia's gold mining days during Dahlonega Gold Rush Days running October 17 and 18.

The festivals provide food and fun while the changing of the leaves on the trees offer colorful vistas with every turn of the road. 

Visit Paris in the fall

Paris is an ideal location to visit in the fall. Airlines such as Delta, Air France, American, Continental and others offer lower fares.  And many hotels have better rates in the shoulder-season.

Best of all, you won't have to endure the long lines when visiting the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, Notre Dame or Montmartre that you would find when you visit in the summer.

Rain is gone for now

The flooding rains are gone for now and there was no local damage in my area of northern Georgia. But the rains did a number on my fresh basil, tomatoes and cucumbers.

So it's time to try new plantings of herbs for the fall season especially sage, chives, dill, mint and thyme. Since the basil is done, I'll refill my large terra-cotta herb planter with all the new herb plantings.

Every time I walk past the rosemary bush, I love to draw my fingers through the plant and inhale the fragrance.

Crusty bread and brie

Just finished a delightful snack of sour dough French bread, spread with a delectable, double-cream brie, and served with a beautiful Cabernet as a tribute to the movie Julie and Julia. The movie was inspirational in so many ways. And it felt like a calling to see it again and perhaps again.

As a writer, who loves to eat and write about food, and who also loves Paris, the movie touched me on many levels. The street scenes with Julia Child engaging the vendors of huiles (oysters) and poivres (pears) while sampling their wares reminds me of times spent strolling the markets of Paris in search of the perfect bunch of grapes for an afternoon picnic. Julia is enthralled by the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish and meats.

While watching the scene where the Sole Meuniere is served, I could almost taste the soft, flaky fish served in the browned butter sauce when Julia gives a forkfull to her husband Paul. And when she offers a taste of brie to her sister, my mouth watered for the succulent creamy flavor of the soft cheese. I could echo Julia's sentiments, "Is this not the most delicious cheese you have ever tasted?" as she gobbles up the dab of brie from her fingertip.

Julie the blogger discovers a similar joy in following the recipes and techniques of the woman who taught American women how to cook in the French style. Just the way she and her husband devour the poached eggs and chocolate cake says love.

Pure enjoyment of food. That's what comes through in this movie. Preparing--cooking--and savoring the flavor is always a joy to share.

German Food

German food is so tasty and I profess a weakness
for Weiner Schnitzel.

On a recent trip to Dusseldorf, Germany this delicious platter of Weiner Schnitzel, smothered
in a creamy mushroom sauce, tempted my tastebuds.

Served alongside a cold,
dark, Alt beer from this region of Germany, the meal was a hit. The Apfel (Apple) Struedle and striped
pancake desserts more than satisfied my sweet tooth.

Birds, birds, birds

These little house finches have found the sunflower seeds! It didn't take long for the sparrows and goldfinches to get in on the action too. Even a small, black and white downy woodpecker swoops in to grab a seed and then swoosh back out to the pine trees in the ravine behind our house. The bluebirds are too big to perch on the feeder, but they still come for a look-see anyway.

Tiger Swallowtail

Those red zinnias are a siren call for even more butterflies this morning. This elegant tiger swallowtail returned again and again, probing his proboscis for nectar. Even the hummingbird knows where to come for a snack throughout the day.

The large, red zinnias outside my library window have become quite the attraction. In just the past half-hour, three different kinds of butterflies stopped for a drink of nectar. This dark swallowtail sat and posed for quite a while.

During the morning hours, handsome, American Goldfinch males peck at the petals. Their vivid yellow coats and black markings are considerably brighter in coloration than the duller hued females.