Olive Parmesan Shells

Everytime I open my refrigerator I am met with a half full clear container of mixed black and green olives. TLLBLND loves olives but instead wanted to create a new flavor packed dish.  The original recipe brewing in my head included adding canned smoked sardines and white wine served over wide noodle pasta, but no, this method has been done to death.  Making ravioli was the second option but can be time too consuming.

Here is the final tested version that is tasty, easy and guest-worthy.

Garlic Cheese Frosting

 

I'm the girl who takes cupcake indulgence to a whole new level, savoring each bite with a meticulous equal balance of cake and frosting that's just perfection. But that's not where my culinary adventures end—I've got an unabashed passion for garlic bread that knows no bounds. If only I could dive into the buttery garlic spread with the same enthusiasm I reserve for my beloved cupcakes, life would be a true gastronomic delight. This is a low and slow baking process for very good reason.

This is TALLBlonde's exclusive recipe that offers that same balance of a 2 cheese frosting and bread delivery system.  You may not initially understand this theory, but every time I serve it to my guests they go wild and beg for more. Serves 8.

Brie en Croute

 

A little frozen puff pastry, a little sweet, a little imagination helped to make my NYE appetizer table very tasty.  Many recipes make one large wheel for parties to share with all your guests.  Mine are individual servings and you don't have a messy unappetizing platter on your party table that looks like zoo animals trampled through it. These cheesy puffs are crispy, creamy and sweet. Serves 12.

Party Eggplant Parmesan

 

I named this dish 'Party' Eggplant Parmesan for its elegant personal portion rather than cutting a messy square from a large flat casserole.  This is also a perfect make-ahead dish to pop in the oven for busy home life or dinner party.

The recipe is simple, admittedly we all know the components of a basic eggplant parmesan but this also removes the pre-salting method that so many recipes use to remove water from the eggplant.  Instead these are fried in olive oil after being dipped in an egg wash bath.  Olive oil is a healthy fat and eggs add protein to the dish. Serves 4.

Pizza Crust & A Dash More

 

Celebrity Chef Bobby Flay has posted his simple and perfect pizza crust recipe. Admittedly I can never resist a tweak so I always add A Dash More.

Using bread flour instead of all-purpose flour will give you a crispy crust and wonderfully filled with air bubbles and has a light chew without being gummy.  I added a link to my NoMato Red Sauce for those who are nightshade-intolerant (potato, tomato, eggplant, peppers, chilies) and craving a pizza but cannot abide the inflammation and indigestion.  NoMato Sauce is perfect for pizza or casseroles such as lasagne, although not recommended for a plate of standalone pasta as it does not adhere well. Happily, you cannot detect the lack of tomatoes.

Makes 2 10-inch pizza crusts.

Breakfast Yummy

 

Simple to throw together. I like to eat this for breakfast warm.

Cornbread, ready-made

Grated Parmesan cheese

Honey

Sour cream

Toasted sliced almonds

Champagne Parmesan Leek Pasta

This pasta dish is easy to prepare, cheap on the budget and packed with rich flavor of parmesan and luxurious butter sautéed leeks.  TALL Blonde uses leftover Champagne from New Year's Eve. An economical and excellent morning after dish.

Quiche, TALLBlonde Way

The classic Quiche Lorraine uses ham.

In TALLBlonde's homestead bacon is used because, well, it's bacon!  We also choose here to purchase a ready made pie crust. If you wish to be a purist and make your own from scratch, knock yourself out but I will caution it is the filling that makes the dish. If however one makes a fruit or sweet pie then I will gladly make my own crust.  Not a total Neanderthal. Ever make one using only pulverized nuts, sugar and butter?  It's the best and gluten free.

Cheese Treat

We used to call these "Cheese Treats" from a Mexican restaurant located in downtown San Jose next to Woolworth's on 2nd Street. Two flour tortillas with tomato salsa and a gooey melty cheese fried on a hot cooktop. Pictured with buffalo chicken added.

Crispy, Toasty, Chewy, Hot, Spicy, Melty, MM-mm Goodness.

Asparagus Cheese Prosciutto

This is a very special asparagus dish served chilled with home-made mayonnaise on a hot summer night. It is light, tangy, refreshing and super easy to make.

Never made mayonnaise from scratch?  My quick YouTube video below will show you how in only 4 minutes.

Roasted Tomato & Cheese Toast

Perfect for a quick morning breakfast on the run or mid day snack. The bread is crispy and if you include a light sprinkling of rosemary your tomato and cheese toast will taste like pizza. Make them ahead and enjoy for a couple days, can be reheated in the over to eat warm and re-crisp bread.

Cowboy Candy

Candied jalapenos may be served over cream cheese and crackers. Even better, how about a dollop over vanilla ice cream...absolutely!

Spinach Cheese Pie

Spinach Cheese Two Crust Pie

More than 20 years ago Macy's in downtown San Francisco's Union Square had a wonderful food court. Every time I would visit Macy's to do a little afternoon weekend browse I would treat myself to a warm two crust spinach-cheese-red pepper pie for lunch. This brilliant food court eventually was remodeled into the faceless uninspired thing we have today. I felt it was my duty to reverse engineer from scratch this slice of wonderfulness so I can continue to add it to my cooking repertoire for life.  You can adjust the layers with ingredients to your liking, just watch the water content of what you add avoiding a sloppy soggy bottom.

Smoked Salmon Cheesecake

For and elegant soiree, don't forget to chill the Champagne.