FFwD: Gnocchi a la Parisienne

January 13, 2011 by Monica in Cookbooks, Cooking Club, Dinner, FFwD, Main Courses

I been so absent from my French Fridays with Dorie group, I confess that I totally have skipped a whole month – thank god for their rules which are so forgiven, unlike my other cooking clubs. I love when you can cook without the pressure of being kicked out. Plus, the December recipes choices were all over the place, and you had to choose what to cook and on what week, which I did not like AT ALL, it felt somewhat disconnected. I hate to be given a choice to do a specific task, the reason I like cooking clubs is because I’m being told what to cook and on what date – a bit of structure is good in my chaotic life – and the fact that I can compare my experiences with all the others participating cooks that are cooking the same thing is the highlight of making it in the first place.

So I was so glad to see that in January, the group was back to the old format. And the recipe this week was Gnocchi a la Parisienne.

GCC: Menu 14 - Croque Monsieur and Apple Charlotte

January 03, 2011 by Monica in Appletizers & Snacks, Cooking Club, Gutsy Cooks Club, Sandwiches

This past week’s Gutsy Cook menu choices took me back to my numerous trips to France when I lived in Europe. From France I give you the famous Croque Monsieur. And from further north – England, the Apple Charlotte.

Since I was pressed for time (which lately it has been happening more and more - aggggghhh!!!), I skipped the charlotte and made only the Croque Monsieur.

If you are ever in France this sandwich can be found all over the country, while to some it may be a simple hot ham and cheese grilled sandwich, the French take to another level all together and fancy it up. First by using Gruyère cheese (and you guys know how I love that cheese) and coating it with a Béchamel sauce, which once more has cheese in it, turning it to Mornay sauce, then into the broiler it goes and out comes this hot, cheese, toasty goodness. Once you have one, you are pretty much guarantee to never see a grilled ham and cheese the same way again.

The best part is that the Mornay sauce stores well in the refrigerator, which makes perfect to make some extra, store and then when you craving that ham and cheese, you can whip this up in less than 10 minutes and feel all French-like. We made this recipe four times so far, and as I write this I’m eating my fifth.

But there is more, you can actually top this, how?

GCC: Menu 13 - French Onion Soup and Spinach, Pear and Endive Salad

December 28, 2010 by Monica in Cookbooks, Cooking Club, Gutsy Cooks Club, Soup

This is the last menu of the year for the Gutsy Cook Club. So far we have done 29 dishes making up 13 menus. The Gutsy cooks have been tremendous in their participation. The diversified menu chosen by the last 3 home chefs have given each of us the opportunity of cooking things we love, tasting new ingredients and techniques, and trying new things, some of which have pushed their comfort zone. I could not have been more proud to cook along with such a great group. One, which I know will continue to grow and get gutsier as we work our way thru the Kitchen Bible Cookbook.

When I started this cook-along club, my main goal was to meet other home chefs that were willing to ride along with me and have fun and share our twist and turns of the whisk. I say we have done well for 2010 and I’m looking forward to the New Year, with such great menus in the horizon I know we will continue to have a blast.