Come Join the Endless Journey
We were at Week’s Fish Market earlier this week to pick up some fresh grouper & some of their salmon dip, smoked and made on premises. Week’s is a hidden gem tucked into a strip mall in Old Bonita Springs.
As Rob previously mentioned we were at Week’s Fish Market in Bonita Springs & purchased a whole Lane Snapper. We have a friend, Chef Hector who had previously prepared snapper grilled in banana leaves in our outdoor kitchen.
As you know, Rob & I live in Southwest Florida year-round. We have lots of friends down here who are seasonal & don’t do much cooking while on their 6 month “vacation. I love to cook, enjoy entertaining friends. Eating dinner out isn’t really my thing especially during season. To crowed, to pricey and reservations only available at 5:00 or 9:00.
I must admit that I really love carbs: I really love good bread (Thank You – DeRomo’s Gourmet Italian Market), all kinds of pasta but I’m much fussier about potatoes. I have what I call my “To Tight Pants Rule”. You all know what I’m talking about – when pants get to tight, cut back on the carbs.
I got this recipe many years ago from a Junior League Cookbook. I’ve made it so many times that the page is so spattered the it’s almost unreadable.
We had a crazy weekend & to be honest I didn’t feel like a trip to the grocery store yesterday. I made up this recipe with the ingredients I had on-hand. I don’t usually like packages ravioli but was pleasantly surprised at how good the RANA spinach ricotta ravioli was – light and flavorful!
I have to tell you about my 13-year-old granddaughter, Georgia. She plays Lacrosse, is a talented singer & actor who loves theater. But Georgia’s great love is BAKING – and that girl can bake!
Our daughter asked if I would be willing to spend 2 weeks in August watching her to girls Sophie (17) & Georgia (13). while she went to a writer’s conference in Vermont. I love these girls and of course said yes! Let me tell you about “babysitting” for a 17 year with a driver’s license, an evening job at a restaurant and her own car & a 13-year-old with a million friend within walking distance. I never saw them unless it was to go to the mall or out for lunch!
I love Italian food and have to tell you I have ordered Osso Bucco at almost every Italian restaurant in a 20-mile drive from our home – some good & some not so good. Some restaurant s use pork and some veal – I vote for veal.
My Mom was a great Mom but when it came to cooking not so much. Her main goal was to make sure dinner was on the table at 5:00 when my Dad came home from work. She was really good at stretching a meal to feed the 6 of us and casseroles were her specialty.
I remember that big yellow Pyrex bowl serves steaming from the oven with tuna noodle casserole (always served with crushed potato chips on top), scalloped potatoes and ham,
goulash, etc. I guess in the 50’s there was no Food Network!
There was one dessert we all loved and she usually made it for special occasions like birthdays.
Remember Icebox Cake? It was whipped cream layered with Nabisco Chocolate Wafer made in a loaf pan.
This recipe is many steps up from the original.
It’s a great dish to prepare for a crowd. The orzo salad can be made ahead of time and be served at room temperature. At the last-minute grill salmon, toss orzo salad with spinach, top with grilled salmon and sprinkle with feta cheese and chives. I’ve served this for dinner to 12 guests – Delicious & Easy
Syndicated TV Show Host, Rob Kircher, wanted to create a new way for Foodies around the world to connect and share their favorite meals and recipes online. Join him and his cooking friends on their food discovery journeys.