Friday, December 03, 2021

Wine, Donna Hay & pretzels

 Only 22 days and Christmas is upon us. Whaaaat

As the end of 2021 creeps toward us I started thinking about the various reading challenges I'd like to sign up for.  Definitely going to attempt the nonfiction and the historical fiction one this year.   

Does anyone know if there is one featuring cookbooks???  If so, and if it's not on Facebook or whatever that's called now, please let me know.  In the meantime, let's get to the December In My Kitchen event.

Wine / This Malbec has become one I seek out when shopping.  I only have two bottles sitting here currently so I'll be picky about when they are cracked.



Food stuffs / These flat pretzels were bought to toast up as a topping in a broccoli and cheese soup.  Not a fan of the flat ones but they were a new experience.


This cookbook is a new purchase. Another Donna Hay cookbook called Simple Dinners.


The Indian market always has interesting fare on their shelves.  They also have the best fresh green beans and lots of other fresh produce.  Pity it's located so far from our home so we don't go often.  I'm loving this prepackaged Dal Makhani for lunches.
 (This is my non-homemade submission for Souper Sunday)


Cute little French cheeses in just the perfect size for the two of us. The triple cream is amazing. Can't say about the Camenbert as we haven't tried it.  Maybe tonight :-)


Cooking / Beef Stroganoff which was adapted from a Tyler Florence recipe.  He used chuck roast and I used sirloin. Also I didn't use cognac nor did I have any carrots in the house, for some strange reason.  I mean, there are always carrots!

His original recipe may be found HERE.


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30 comments:

  1. When we lived in the Bay Area, we used to LOVE the camembert cheese called Rouge et Noir from the Marin French Cheese company. We haven't seen it in a long time so it's good to know it's still sold in some areas. I don't think it reaches our markets these days. Thanks for reminding me about it! They've changed the wrapper but the company is very old -- it was already old when we used to ride through Marin County and stop there. (They would sell the underweight cheeses for less money, that couldn't be packaged and shipped)

    best...mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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    1. Mae, I didn’t realize this company & brand had been around so long. Loving these cheeses.

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    2. Also — you asked about the brand of my griddle. It’s so old that I doubt if it’s still in production, so it wouldn’t help much to say the brand. Does Consumer Reports rate them? That would be a much more up to date source.

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    3. Mae, probably so, I ought to check consumer reports. The older appliances do seem to last longer! Built better a long time ago I suppose.

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  2. There is a I Heart Cooking club but I am not sure if that is the kind of challenge you are looking for.

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    1. Marg, thank you. I link up with IHCC, in this post as well :-) Not sure about others though.

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  3. There is Cook the Books, not sure how it works. Was just thinking of having cheeses for dinner.
    I once made, many many years ago, beef stroganoff for John before he went to pitch a ball game, he was so sick, I've never made it again. Funny though, a couple of weeks ago he asked if I would make it again.

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    1. Jackie, I’ll check out CtB. I used to participate there and haven’t in ages. I made a chicken stroganoff weeks ago and it was quite good. Nice change from beef.

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  4. I actually like those flat pretzels for a change -- some flavors are better than others. The cheese looks wonderful. There used to be a foodie books reading challenge, and cookbooks definitely count for that. Not sure if that challenge still exists.

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    1. BFR, oh I’m still eating those pretzels! I think I prefer the rods or sticks better but these did work for the roasted soup topping. I will definitely look for the foodie books challenge, thanks!

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  5. The Foodies Read Challenge is still going strong, here's the Dec. link: https://www.spiritblog.net/december-2021-foodies-read/

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  6. I love those pretzels, found them at Sam's Club many years ago.

    I used to host Foodies Read where you link your reviews of cookbooks or books with food in them. Heather from Based On A True Story took it over for me and is still doing it.

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    1. Vicki, I’d forgotten all about Foodies Reads! Thanks.

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  7. thanks so much for joining in this month tina. flat pretzels? interesting. glad to see you like donna hay - such a well-known aussie cook! i know what you mean about carrots - very rare not to have one in my fridge.

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    1. Sherry, yesterday Doug picked up a bag of carrots for me so there is harmony in the vegetable bin now, ha! I was planning a vegetable soup. Love joining in with your In My Kitchen event & hope you continue to host in 2022.

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  8. Oh those flat pretzels get me in trouble every time! I will have to look for the Marin cheeses, funny thing, I was born there but have not tried the cheese...

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    1. Melynda, if you get a chance you ought to try those cheeses, addictively delicious.

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  9. We buy those flat pretzels sometimes... a nice change of pace. You might want to check out Cook the Books cookbook club. It looks like fun!
    http://cookthebooksclub.blogspot.com/

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    1. JoAnn, i hadn't thought about CtB in a while :-)

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  10. Sounds like you've been busy! That wine looks like it's calling my name.

    I love beef stoganoff! It's one of those dishes that reminds me of way back. Total old school comfort food!

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    1. Kim, that Malbec is so good. I’d recommend it. 🍷

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  11. Looks like a tasty week. Thanks for sharing your dal with Souper Sundays. Costco and Target have the flat pretzels with white chocolate and peppermint this time of year and I find them somewhat addicting. ;-)

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    1. Deb, I may have a load of grilled cheese to share later. Trying different methods.

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  12. I used to take those little packets of dal camping and it always made a nice hearty meal at the end of the day, with some rice! Love little cheeses too, and I just came back from France where you can buy the tiniest little cheeses or small slices from the fromagerie, wonderful idea to try different ones!

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    1. DoS, the Fal packs are great. Just enough kick and quite nutritious. I was happy for you when I read your post about going to Paris!

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  13. I'm just not a fan of the thin pretzels. There's something I can't get past about the texture. Now Trader Joe's has a peppermint version that is AMAZING! The soup looks good as does the cheese. I've been really enjoying tryind different cheeses lately so I will be looking out for those.

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    1. Katherine, I won't buy them again but they worked for the recipe. What, pepperminnt?! I'd like that.

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  14. Nice you have Donna Hay cookbook 😀! Happy cooking 😁!

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