Dear Rosie

We've just heard the sad news that you've left us, lovely Rosie.

How we will miss you and your greying muzzle in our cooking events!

I know it is hard for Jessica and Joyce to bid you farewell, and we all hold you and them both very close during this difficult time.

Here's wishing you painless days and nights of running after squirrels until you collapse into a dish full of T-bone scraps.  

 

Qué descanses, amiga...we'll miss you! 

 

 

 

Feb KTC with Joyce and Jessica: Tom Douglas

Holy cow, Kissers - It's the end of April already! I just don't get how this happens! We even skipped this month's cooking group, and we've STILL been so busy that I haven't had a chance to update much! Luckily for you, but unluckily for me, I'm sitting around with a tweaked back, so figured that obligatory rest time on a heating pad would combine nicely with some bloggy multi-tasking. So, here goes!

Many moons ago, in February, we met at Joyce and Jessica's home to enjoy a plethora of recipes which were suitable for a group, courtesy of Tom Douglas and his book Tom's Big Dinners.

Jessica and Joyce had earmarked a handful of recipes to combine for the evening's dinner, and we got started right away with our prep - everything sounded yummy!

• Caramelized Fennel Tart
• Creamy Seafood Chowder
• Smoked Paprika Rouille
• Fancy pants Scones
• Chocolate Souffle

 

Anne settled in to do some baby-wrangling, to Sebastian's (and our!) grand delight...

We grated some butter for our pastry dough (I believe this was Frank's doing...)...

I love this photo - we're all doing something, and all in orbit around each other and around the kitchen. What a great space this is!

And of course, here is the busiest one of all of us...

The fennel tart was so interesting and so beautiful to create. I report that now, a couple of months later, we have recreated it in our own kitchen with gorgeous and delicious results. It was a simple-to-make but fancy-enough-for-company dish at our KTC event, and beyond!

Here's how it begins - thick-sliced fennel bulbs caramelize in a hot skillet...

Delicious pastry dough is made...

Roll out the dough, drape it over the caramelized fennel, and bake the whole shebang in the oven a while until everything is brown and buttery and mouthwatering...

Then, it gets even more fun. You FLIP it. Meg was a circus-freak-strong rock star on this one. I can't flip an iron skillet to save my life if it is cold - and she flipped the whole thing like a pro, hot from the oven! Mad propz, Meg!!

And, voila. Isn't that pretty?

Meanwhile, in another corner of the kitchen, someone was practicing a beautiful brunoise - look at that fine dice!

Shrimp and other delights from the sea were prepped to go into the chowder...

And potatoes!! Mustn't forget the potatoes...

This bowl of floury goodness would end up being some fancy scones which would accompany our chowder...

And they'd be served with a lovely jewel-toned paprika rouille!

Fernando practices saying "Rouuuuuu-illeeee!!"

I don't remember what on earth this would be (Please forgive! It's been MONTHS!), but it sure looks pretty and colorful, doesn't it?

Scones in T-minus 15....14.....

Refreshing green salad...

Rick and Rosie read and relax.

I forgot who ended up playing with the Ouija, but Fernando reports that nothing very special occurred. Maybe next time?

Damian also reads and relaxes...Wait, should I be on the lookout for a repeating theme here?

The chowdery goodness begins...

And Fernando really lets it go to his head...

Meg and Sebastian share some laughs...

Look at that face!

Rick gets into the act as well...

The aforementioned scones emerge, golden and delicious!

Closer? Sure!

The chowder was gorgeous, too...Isn't it a pretty color?

And the fennel tart didn't disappoint, either...

What a festive table!

Dessert would be up next. Chocolate souffle, here we come!

I repeat, chocolate souffle!!! You know, as scary as it sounded, it really wasn't very difficult, and it was definitely tasty. Doesn't it look fancy?

Shawn calculates the angle from which to attack and serve...

A tea-licious (get it? ha!) sauce is ladled over the souffle...

Yum!

Happy belly faces...

Damian finds a third use for Joyce's shower curtain rings-turned-napkin holders... Great shot, guys!

Sebastian had a nightcap...

So the rest of us did, too.

Some of us (ahem) enjoyed seconds on the dessert...

And some of us just enjoyed Rosie!

So, there you have it, everyone...A brief and not-very-detailed account of February's event! March will be coming soon...Big hugs to everyone, and apologies as usual for the delay. Happy April! oxox