You say Frittata I say Omelet They say Quiche...........

A frittata is an Italian baked omelet, like quiche, and like an omelet in that there is filling, an egg mixture and usually some cheese. It's a great way to get rid of leftovers, and it's a quick weeknight meal, when you have no energy or creativity left.  Tonight Dr. C and I are having one that I put together while our Italian family was visiting; we actually served it to pair with Italian wines, as an appetizer, but I've put mine into a pie plate, and now it's a lovely entree.  You can fool around with the vegetables, meat and cheeses, the egg proportions will need to remain the same for this size pan.  If you are serving an army, or the frat boys, doubling this for a 13-by-9-inch and baking it for 15 minutes longer will work, too. 

 Artichoke and Prosciutto Frittata

Serves 6

6 large eggs

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 cup finely grated  Pecorino Romano cheese

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

1 medium shallot, finely chopped

6 thin slices Prosciutto di Parma, finely chopped

One 10-ounce package frozen artichoke hearts, defrosted and squeezed dry

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, and coat the inside of a 9-inch pie plate or 9-inch square baking dish with non-stick cooking spray such as Bakers' Joy.  
2. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, pepper and cheese.  
3. In a medium skillet, melt the butter over medium high heat and cook the shallot and prosciutto for 3 minutes, until softened.  Add the artichoke hearts and oregano and cook until there is no liquid left in the pan, and the artichokes begin to turn golden brown.  
4. Cool, and add to the egg mixture.  
5. Transfer to the prepared pan, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until set in the middle and golden brown on the top.  Allow to rest for 15 minutes before cutting into wedges and serving.  

 Dr. C. and I are entering week 4 of the Money Pit and today the cabinets were installed in the two upstairs bathrooms.  

 Master bath cabinets

 

 Kids Bath Cabinets--love the light hanging out of the wall--it's a nice touch!

Without mirrors, or granite/quartzite it's hard to tell how this will turn out, I've got my fingers crossed! 

As I said on Friday, the tragedy in Japan has overwhelmed me, it's hard not to sit and watch the television and rerun everything all over again.  I decided that donating to the Salvation Army relief effort was what I would do--the Salvation Army has been in Japan since the 1800's; they are on the ground, they know the people and they know what's needed right now.  To donate to the Salvation Army, text “Japan’’ or “Quake’’ to 80888. If you are looking for an organization to donate to, try going to this website, it evaluates charities and how they use their money  http://www.charitynavigator.org/ 

I'll be back tomorrow, until then have a great night. 

Tsunamis, Cake Wrecks, March Madness and Money Pits

This was the scene from our back patio about 8:30 this morning; about the time they were predicting the tsunami would hit here in San Diego.  It is hard to think that what happened in Japan could repeat itself here on this tranquil morning.  Text messages and e-mails pouring in from concerned friends filled my Blackberry, and I had no idea what was happening until I turned on the television and saw the devastation in Japan.  I am mourning this evening for all those who were lost, or who lost loved ones.

Not that I want to compartmentalize, and forget what happened today...it's just that I'm one of those people who takes it all in and I can get swallowed up in the sadness and destruction...I got a wake up call though...feeling rather smug, and I'm thinking I'm the best cook on the planet, I went about making my famous orange cake, and took it out of the pan at the requisite 10 minutes that I timed precisely and here's the CAKE WRECK

EEEEWWWW!!!   Half of it stuck to the pan---and then I thought, hmmm,  maybe I'll cover it up with some glaze---a worse idea---now, it tastes amazing, it's just not much to look at!  Even professionals can have a bad day and this one made me laugh.  My mom always said, don't make fun of others, it's gonna come home to roost----guess what??  I'd made a few snarky comments about Sandra Lee, and I'm sure this was one of her gremlins playing with me!  I actually make cakes from scratch, Sandra finds disgusting processed ingredients to put into her foods.

BUT, I redeemed myself, this time I actually coated the pan with several layers of Bakers' Joy (which I'd been too lazy to get off the top shelf with the orange cake) and baked up a Banana Cake

Doesn't get much better than this!!  So a little redemption along with the humbling orange cake.

Which brings me to March Madness.  I am an avowed college basketball fanatic and this is my time of the year!  I love the kids, the coaches, and the games.  I grew up in Boston with a dad who had tickets to most of the sporting events there, and so I can talk trash with the best of you....My son is a sports writer, and game days/nights around here are filled with lots of loud cheering, and moaning (yes, IU, I'm talking to you!)  Selection Sunday is coming up and I'll be right there, filling out my brackets. 

Week three is closing at the Money Pit, although Pedro and the boys will be back tomorrow to grout.

The shower is ready for grouting, and as you can see the glass tile is in and it looks awesome!  On the left side of the shower is a niche where we can put shampoo, but Dr. C. was sure we would put a small flat screen in there!

I hope you enjoy your weekend, I'm planning to figure out what I can do to help out with relief efforts in Japan, I'll be back on Monday and let you know what I found.  Until then, hug the one you're with. 

One Classy Chick

If you have read this blog, you know chicken isn't my favorite, but tonight I decided that it was time to try it again.  What you see is Chicken Marsala with roasted asparagus and golden beets in Balsamic vinaigrette.  Not a bad dinner to put together in 30 minutes. 
Chicken Marsala
Serves 2


2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
2 chicken breast halves, skin and bones removed
salt and pepper
4 sage leaves, finely sliced
2 shallots, finely chopped
1/4 pound sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup Marsala
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons finely chopped Italian parsley

In a medium skillet, melt the butter with the oil over medium high heat.

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper, and brown the chicken on both sides.

Remove the chicken to a plate, add the shallots and mushrooms to the pan, and saute for 5 minutes until the mushrooms begin to color and the shallots are softened. 

Add the Marsala and bring to a boil. 

Return the chicken to the pan, pour in the cream, cover and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through.  Stir the parsley into the sauce, and serve the chicken.

 This is great party dish---multiply it as many times as you'd like, and make it ahead of time.  Transfer to a baking dish, cover and rewarm in a 350 degree oven for 10 minutes. 


As we close out week three day 2 at the Money Pit, the shower is looking close to being done---and the glass tile in the WC is all finished. 

They have said we'll be done with the tiling tomorrow and grouting on Thursday---I had a mini-melt down today--my first---nothing major I just needed to get out of Dodge for most of the day---A cup of tea and a few cookies and I'm a lot better! 

I hope you had a great Tuesday---I'll be back tomorrow, till then thank the women in your life, it's the International Day for Women!

It's a Woman's World .... Today

Today is the International Day for Women, and this photo says it all:  We've come a long way baby!  (although 10 minutes ago I was ironing!) 
Some of us forget what it must have been like for our mothers and grandmothers, without the right to vote, control their bodies, and equal rights under the law.  As we watch the news in the Middle East, we get a glimpse of what that emerging roar must have been like for the men in their lives. 

June Cleaver, or this woman never lived at my house; she's been replaced by a newer more modern model, with a different set of rights. 

These women were just protesting long skirts!!  Thank you!!!

Who can forget these women in Iraq protesting and dying for their rights?

Around the world, women have made a difference in society since Cro-Magnon man. Nurturing, feeding, and loving their families.

Egyptian women were as strong as the men in their protests for a democratic way of life.  It wasn't about religion, it was a fight for basic human rights and dignity. 

When asked what precipitated the fall of communism, Mikhail Gorbachev replied, "the mothers in Russia who prayed." 

As you go about your day, think about the women who make/made a difference in your life and celebrate them. From your family, to the teachers who encouraged you to the soccer mom who brought the treats, differences are made in the small acts of kindness we perform everyday.   

Sacrifices made in the search for freedom, dignity,and human rights are being made all over the globe, and remembering those who are making a difference and celebrating them gives me hope that one day there will be peace on earth. 

Keeping Up to Date

As week three begins in the Money Pit, we are seeing lots of progress, although the tile design in the Master bathroom is intricate, so there is a lot of sawing and cutting going on.  Pictured above is some date nut bread I made this morning from dates that I picked up at Specialty Produce last week.  Date nut bread is one of those old recipes that we never seem to make anymore, and yet, it's a lovely quick bread to serve with coffee or tea.  This one is flavored with orange juice, and it's terrific---especially if you could see that the remains are a few crumbs on the counter! 

Santee Date Nut Bread
Makes One 9 by 5-inch loaf (I used a mini bundt pan with 4 little bundts which worked perfectly)


1 cup orange juice heated 
2 cups dates, pitted and coarsely chopped (see note)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup buttermilk
3/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

1. Coat the inside of a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  
2. In a large mixing bowl, pour the orange juice over the dates and stir in the baking soda.  Set aside to soften the dates.
3. In the large bowl of an electric mixer, beat together the buttermilk, sugar, butter and egg.  
4. Pour in the flour, baking powder, salt, nuts, and the reserved orange juice/date mixture.  
5. Beat until the mixture is well combined.  Transfer the batter into prepared pan, smooth the top and bake for 55 to 60 minutes until a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.  
6. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove and transfer to a wire rack and cool one hour before serving.  The loaf can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 2 months.  
7. To make cutting the dates easier, spray the blade of your knife with non-stick cooking spray.

Date Nut bread is terrific served with whipped cream cheese, and honey or honey butter.  

 This is the shower after Saturday.  

 I can't wait for this to be done!

 There is tile on the floor!!! The seat also has tile!

 Molding is in the WC room!  We are going to have to figure out what color to paint the walls soon---should be fun.  

I hope you had a great weekend, I'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts on food and community---until then enjoy your evening.