GIVEAWAY: Autographed Copy of Tasia's Table!

It's been an exciting week for my little food blog.  It officially reached 1,000 Facebook fans, and I'm excited to celebrate with a great giveaway for a lucky blog reader!

I love you guys so much, that I'm giving away an autographed copy of "Tasia's Table: Cooking With the Artisan Cheesemaker at Belle Chevre."

If you've never heard of this wonderful little fromagerie in Elkmont, Alabama, you'll definitely want to keep reading .  Their artisan chevre cheeses are award-winning and absolutely delicious.  Belle Chevre has been featured on NBC's The Today Show, and the following magazines:  Southern Living, O! Oprah, Southern Lady, Health, Traditional Home, Real Simple, Better Homes & Gardens, Cooking with Paula Deen, and Cooking Light to name a few.

Belle Chevre is owned by Tasia Malakasis, an uber-talented, former marketing executive whose passion for food carried her all the way from NYC to Belle Chevre.  Her brand-new cookbook is one that you'll certainly want in your arsenal....especially if you love chevre.  With recipes like Bacon and Goat Cheese-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin with Apple Chutney, Creamy Belle Chevre Grits with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Chocolate-Smothered Raspberry and Goat Cheese Buttercream Cakes, you'll be in love!  The book is filled with personal stories from Tasia, and the recipes are influenced by her Greek-Southern roots.

So, how can you win this fabulous cookbook?  It's easy!...

How to  Enter:
Simply leave a comment on this post, which answers the following question:

What's your favorite thing about autumn?

Also, for extra chances to win, simply do the following and leave SEPARATE additional comments letting me know that you did:

• Like Sugar & Spice on Facebook
• Follow Sugar & Spice by Celeste on Twitter
• Tweet the following "NEW GIVEAWAY: Win an autographed copy of Tasia's Table @SugarSpicebyC! #giveaway #cookbook #cheese @BelleChevre http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2012/09/autographed-cookbook-giveaway-tasias.html"
• Follow the Sugar & Spice by Celeste board on Pinterest 

The Rules:

• Entries must be submitted by midnight (CST time) on Tuesday, October 9th. 
• A winner will be picked at random (using random.org) and will be announced on Wednesday, October 10th.
• Please make sure you include your name and email address so that I will have a way to contact you if you win...especially if you leave a comment using the "Anonymous" option.
• At this time, the contest is open to US residents only.

Good Luck, and THANK YOU for following me along on this little foodie adventure of mine!  :)

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Orecchiette with Spinach Pesto, Chicken & Tomatoes

Let's face it...While leftovers make for a fast and easy dinner, they can be very boring.  So, I love dishes that allow you to take the leftovers and create a delicious yet different dinner on the 2nd night.  This recipe is a fantastic example.

I took the remaining orecchiette pasta and spinach pesto from this Chicken with Spinach Pesto and whipped up this easy weeknight dinner for two.  It makes for an easy-peasy dinner that's filled with flavor (not to mention - Popeye would be so proud of all that spinach!).

You simply cook some orecchiette pasta and stir in spinach pesto, baked chicken, and diced tomatoes.  It pairs perfectly with a loaf of crusty French bread and a glass of pinot noir.

Easy meals like this are the theme around our house lately.  We are in the process of doing some minor renovations to our home, which has turned out to be a lot of fun, yet a time-consuming process.  So far, we've installed a beautiful cream-colored subway tile backsplash in the kitchen (which I'm in love with).  We've also given the laundry room a MAJOR makeover with a fresh can of pretty light blue paint,  a lovely new shelf and fun paintings that my sisters did a while back.  That room makes me happy now. :)  It's a far cry from the while walls and plain wire shelving that graced the room before.  Our next project?  Painting the living room grey.  Woo hoo! 

Bon Appetit, my friends!

Orecchiette Pasta with Spinach Pesto, Chicken & Tomatoes
(spinach pesto recipe adapted from Food Network magazine)


Ingredients:
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. of your favorite Italian 0r Greek seasoning
1 lb. orecchiette pasta
3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup firmly packed fresh parsley
2 tablespoons almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tomatoes, diced

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the chicken breasts in an ovenproof casserole dish and drizzle with 2 tbsp of the olive oil.  Season with your favorite Greek or Italian seasonings.

Bake for about 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. 

While the chicken is baking, make the pesto:
Puree the spinach, parsley, almonds, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons water, the grated parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to taste in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl and set to the side.

Next, cook the pasta according to package directions.

Pour the cooked pasta into a large bowl.  Cut the baked chicken into bite-sized pieces.  Add the pesto, chicken and tomatoes to the pasta and mix together well.

Top with a little additional parmesan cheese, if desired.

Enjoy!

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Chicken with Spinach Pesto

Why haven't I ever thought of making pesto with something other than basil before?  Sure, basil pesto is nothing short of vibrantly green deliciousness, but lots of fresh basil can be somewhat elusive if not in season (at least around here).

I found this recipe for Chicken with Arugula Pesto in the September 2012 issue of Food Network Magazine in the weeknight cooking section.  It caught my eye with its fresh ingredients, so I added it to my next shopping list.  

Once at my local grocery store, arugula was nowhere to be found, and I didn't really feel like searching all over town for it.  So, I got to thinking...Why not use baby spinach instead?  Baby spinach is readily available all year long, easy to find and cheaper than basil.  It sounded like a winner to me.

And a winner it was, indeed.  The pesto tasted great, especially with the addition of the toasted almonds.  They added a great depth of flavor...Don't skip the toasting part.  It's worth the extra effort.

The orecchiette pasta and green bean salad makes for a flavorful side dish, thanks to grated lemon zest and a sprinkling of parmesan cheese, and the broiled tomato halves topped with pesto and bread crumbs rounds out this meal.

The next night, I cooked more of the orecchiette and then added the leftover pesto to the pasta, along with diced tomatoes and baked chicken.  It was the perfect way to use up the leftovers, yet make an entirely different meal (I'll post that recipe on the blog next).

You'll love this healthy, easy dish...Make it soon!

Bon Appetit, my friends!  :)

Chicken with Spinach Pesto

Adapted from Food Network Magazine, September 2012

Ingredients:

Kosher salt

6 ounces orecchiette (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed and cut into pieces
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest
3 cups baby spinach
1/2 cup firmly packed fresh parsley
2 tablespoons almonds, toasted
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
4 small skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 pounds)
2 medium tomatoes, halved
2 teaspoons whole-wheat breadcrumbs

Directions:

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs; about 3 minutes before the pasta is done, add the green beans. Drain the pasta and beans and rinse under cold water. Toss with half of the cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, the lemon zest and salt.

Preheat the broiler. Puree the spinach, parsley, almonds, lemon juice, 3 tablespoons water, the remaining cheese and 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to taste in a food processor. Transfer to a bowl.

Place the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to about 1/2 inch thick. Transfer to a foil-lined baking sheet and season with salt. Rub all over with 1/4 cup of the arugula pesto and broil, turning once, until cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Arrange the tomatoes cut-side up on another baking sheet and broil 2 minutes. Spread each with some pesto and sprinkle with the breadcrumbs. Broil until golden, 1 more minute. Serve the chicken, tomatoes and pasta salad with the remaining pesto.

 

Per serving: Calories 491; Fat 16 g (Saturated 4 g); Cholesterol 96 mg; Sodium 737 mg; Carbohydrate 42 g; Fiber 5 g; Protein 44 g

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Dorie's Fresh Fig Cake with a Ruby Port Wine Sauce

Fig season is short but glorious, so I try to take advantage of it every chance I can get my hands on some.  I've got 2 pints sitting in my fridge right now, and I'm trying to decide the perfect use for them...maybe this fresh Fig & Walnut Bread, or perhaps these Fig & Walnut Cookies?  So far this summer, I've made another batch of this Addictive Cinnamon-Fig Jam, and also this deliciously scrumptious Fig Cake from Dorie Greenspan.  

The great things about this cake are the additions of a small amount of yellow cornmeal to the cake batter, the ruby port wine sauce and the process of infusing the fresh figs with said ruby port sauce prior to scattering them across the top of the cake.  All of these elements produce a satisfying cake with a unique taste that's not super sweet and perfect for any fig lover in your life!

Dorie named this cake "A Fig Cake for Fall", and autumn is right around the corner...My favorite time of the year!  So, if it will be a few weeks before fresh figs are available in your area, be sure to bookmark this recipe.  You'll be so glad that you did! 

Bon Appetit, my friends!  :)

A Fig Cake for Fall

Adapted from:  "Baking: From My Home to Yours", by Dorie Greenspan

Makes 8-10 servings

Ingredients:
3/4 cup ruby port
1 cup honey, divided
2 thin slices lemon
16-20 fresh figs, stemmed and halved
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal, preferably medium grind
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup sugar
grated zest 1/2 lemon
1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, cut into 6 pieces, at room temperature
3 large eggs, preferably at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Stir the port and 1/2 cup honey together in small saucepan. Add lemon slices and bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower the heat. Add figs, cover, and cook 4-6 minutes, or until figs are soft but not falling apart. Using a slotted spoon, transfer figs to a bowl. Raise the heat to medium and cook the liquid for 15 minutes, or until slightly thickened; the syrup should coat a metal spoon. Remove from heat and let cool.

2. Place a rack in the middle of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9-inch springform pan. Line the bottom with parchment paper and butter the paper. Dust the inside of the pan with flour, tapping out the excess. Put the pan on a baking sheet lined with parchment.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder, and salt.

4. In a separate bowl, add sugar and lemon zest; rub together with your fingertips until the sugar is moist. Add butter. Using a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar at medium speed until creamy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs one at a time, beating for 1 minute after each addition. Pour in remaining 1/2 cup honey, and the vanilla extract; beat for 2 minutes. Reduce mixer speed to low, add dry ingredients, and mix until just incorporated. The batter will be fairly thick. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and jiggle the pan from side to side to even out the batter. Scatter poached figs over the top.

5. Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until the cake is puffed and golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before running a blunt knife around the edges and releasing the sides of the pan. Cool the cake slightly before serving. Serve warm or at room temperature. Drizzle slices with wine sauce. 

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Heirloom Tomato, Basil & Prosciutto Tartine with Gouda Cheese

 

I learned to really appreciate the wonderfulness of simple cooking, made with the freshest, in-season ingredients during our trip to Europe back in 2009.  There, we dined on the most exquisite food, but you know what?  It wasn't particularly fancy or pretentious food that comes to mind...It was simple, down-to-earth dishes packed with flavor from what was in season at the time.  To me, that's the best way to cook.  Period.

This was most noticeable to us in Italy, where amazing toppings were carefully layered onto the pizzas, with thinner crusts than us Americans are used to, which really allowed the toppings to shine.  My mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Earlier today, I came across an article written by the great Jacques Pepin, in which he recalled some of his favorite memories of Julia Child, one of which involved this simple, flavorful cooking technique.  Here's an excerpt from that article, where Jacques recalls a dinner party at Julia's home one evening:

Excerpt from:  Memories of a Friend, Sidekick and Foil by Jacques Pepin (nytimes.com)

"Gloria helped Paul with the oysters he was opening and arranging on a plate as Julia announced: “I have a rack of pork. What do you want to do with it?” I cut the rack into chops, which we sautéed and served with skillet potatoes and string beans with butter and rosemary.  A green salad and a perfectly ripened Brie followed, and we finished with Julia’s compote of fruit served with ice cream. I do remember a delightful Chambertin from the late 1950s that Paul brought up from his cellar, which contained wonderful Burgundies. It was a simple, perfect meal to share with friends, my type and her type of cooking, which Julia always referred to as cuisine soignée, meaning a simple meal made with great care and the best possible ingredient." 

The phrase and description of "cuisine soignée" really got me thinking and could be used to describe this recipe for Heirloom Tomato & Prosciutto Tartine perfectly.  This recipe was completely inspired by my local farmers' market.  Fresh, juicy, and colorful heirloom tomatoes bursting at the seams with flavor are absolutely the stars of this dish.  They are layered on sourdough bread so fresh that it was practically still warm out of the oven, along with creamy local Gouda cheese, prosciutto, basil from my windowsill and a light drizzle of extra virgin olive oil.  Now that's my kind of food!

Just remember...

Simplicity + Fresh Ingredients = Pure Bliss

Taking a bite of this tartine is like biting into those last few weeks of summer...So wonderful yet fleeting, and you don't want it to end!

Bon Appetit, my friends!

Heirloom Tomato, Basil & Prosciutto Tartine with Gouda Cheese

Ingredients:

6 large slices of fresh sourdough bread

5 - 6 oz. Gouda cheese, sliced

3 ripe heirloom tomatoes, assorted colors, sliced

4 slices prosciutto

Extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp. fresh basil, sliced

Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Pre-heat the broiler in your oven.

Place the slices of sourdough bread on a cookie sheet and place under the broiler.  Lightly toast according to your preference.

Remove from oven and immediately place the sliced gouda cheese in a single layer on the bread.  Top with the sliced heirloom tomatoes.  

Tear the prosciutto into bite-sized pieces and nestle the pieces in between the tomato slices.

Lightly drizzle extra virgin olive oil over the top, followed by a sprinkling of fresh basil, salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste.

 Enjoy!

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Happy 100th Birthday, Julia!

Julia Child has been such a huge inspiration to so many people, myself included.  Tomorrow (8/15) is a big day for Julia fans around the world...It marks what would have been her 100th birthday!  In celebration of such a talented, fantastic and all-around amazing chef and person, I'd like to post a collection of some of my favorite Julia recipes for you to peruse.  Maybe one of them will even inspire you to get into the kitchen in honor of the great Julia.  ;)

The Julia quote in my blog header above has become sort of my mantra...It rings so true and can apply to just about anything that you love.  What are you passionate about?

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."

Happy 100th Birthday, Julia!

I'm thinking a big slice of her delicious Reine de Saba cake (linked below) and one of my favorite movies - Julie & Julia - would be the perfect way to celebrate.  :)

Chicken Breasts with Mushrooms and Cream

Coq au Vin

Peach Clafoutis

Boeuf Bourguignon

Chocolate and Almond Cake (Reine de Saba)

Classic French Bread (Pain Francaise)

Ratatouille

Fresh Strawberry Tart

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL OF MY JULIA POSTS

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Blackberry Peach Cobbler

There's something so humble and unassuming about a fruity, simple cobbler.  They're not fussy, pretentious or complicated.   By contrast, cobblers seem to always be comforting, delicious and crave-worthy.

In this recipe, fresh fruit of the season is baked just until bubbly, and then biscuit dough is dropped by spoon-fulls over the top.  With a second trip into the oven, the dough bakes up into deliciously tender biscuits that are pretty much guaranteed to produce "Oohs!" and "Ahhs!" as you take it out of the oven.

Yum.

The biscuits cut through the sweet tartness of the fruit and really make this dish something special.  It is the perfect way to take advantage of some of late summer's yummy fruits that are stocking the farmers' markets.

So, go grab some fruit and get into the kitchen.  This cobbler has your name written all over it.

Bon Appetit, my friends!  :)

Blackberry Peach Cobbler

Adapted from:  Gourmet, September 2005

Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 1/2 cups plus 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 1/4 lb blackberries (5 cups)
• 2 lb peaches (6 medium), peeled, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 sticks (1 cup) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons buttermilk

Directions:

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 13- by 9- by 2-inch glass or ceramic baking dish (3-quart capacity). 

Whisk together cornstarch and 1 1/2 cups sugar in a large bowl, then add blackberries and peaches and toss to combine well. Transfer to baking dish and bake until just bubbling, 10 to 15 minutes. 

While fruit bakes, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt in another large bowl, then blend in butter with your fingertips or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal. Add buttermilk and stir just until a dough forms. 

Drop dough onto hot fruit mixture in 12 mounds (about 1/3 cup each), then sprinkle dough with remaining teaspoon sugar. Bake cobbler until top is golden, 25 to 35 minutes. Serve warm. 

Cooks' note: Cobbler can be baked 6 hours ahead and cooled completely, uncovered, then chilled, covered. Before serving, let stand at room temperature 1 hour, then reheat in a preheated 350°F oven until warm, about 20 minutes. 

Just before going into the oven

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