autumn quesadilla . . . .

caramelized mushrooms and onions . . .
fresh sauteed asparagus . . . and a bit of parsley . . .

a little "Guinness" beer to deglaze the pan . . .

mix in a handful of our local "Beechers" flagship cheese - which has a robust, nutty flavor . . .

and add a bit of tangy goat cheese . . .

fold it all up in a fresh locally made corn tortilla . . .

and you have a very tasty . . .

Autumn Quesadilla!!

 

YES - life just got a little better!!  :)

. . . . . . .

 The inspiration for this dish came from a recent trip I took to LA 

with my best bud Maresa!  She and I both like good food . . .

with fresh ingredients and amazing flavor!!

One of our favorites spots that we always like to stop by is . . .
"Joan's on Third"!!

One of the things we ordered this time was . . .

a wonderful and mild mushroom, mozzerella and goat cheese quesadilla.

We also ordered some curried chickpeas that were to die for!!

Maresa and I enjoyed every minute of it . . .

sitting around watching celebrities stopping by, talking about how amazing the food was . . . and wishing there was something similar here in Seattle!

A lunch at "Joan's on Third" is always a memorable one . . .

and this time - I just couldn't get this quesadilla out of my mind!

So - I bought some fresh local mushrooms . . . and some tangy goat cheese . . .

as well as some local "Beechers" flagship cheese (as I wanted to give it a more hardy flavor). 

I also looked around the internet and found similar recipes adding spinach, asparagus, fresh herbs, etc.

Well - I looked in the fridge and found an onion, some fresh asparagus and some parsley - a combination that sounded perfect as far as I was concerned.  

I also wanted to pair it up with a plum chutney that my friend Rick gave me recently . . .

and I thought this combination might just be perfect.

One recipe I found said to deglaze the pan with some white wine which does sound wonderful . . .

but in this case I wanted it to be a bit more earthy . . .

My dad happened to be visiting and he always loves a good dark Guiness beer . . .

and since it is still October - I thought this made a much better choice.  :)

Well - we made a bunch of these up . . .

and it will now be on our favorite recipe list - forever!!

These are Perfect for Football Sundays . . . or even Football Mondays!!

 I am sure you all know how to make quesadillas . . . 

but - I am adding these photos to show you how quick and easy it really is!!

caramelize onions and mushrooms in some butter . . .

add some sliced asparagus . . . cook for a bit longer . . .

throw in a bit of chopped up parsley . . .

then deglaze the pan with a bit of "Guinness" beer (or a dark beer of your choice) . . .

cook until the asparagus is cooked - yet still has a snap to it . . .

and the alcohol from the beer has been cooked down!

put a tortilla in a heated pan . . . warm it up and flip it once . . .

add the "Beechers" cheese first and a bit of goat cheese . . .

and then add the mushroom-onion-asparagus mixture . . .

top with a little more goat cheese . . . and the "Beechers" on top . . .

you can now top it with another tortilla . . .

 or . . .

in this case . . . I just fold it over for a easy hand-held treat.

This is definitely my preferred way to make these - as you don't have to cut them up

and the presentation is already perfect!!

And there you have it . . . one of the best little recipes I have made in a very long time!

I guess I should go to LA a little more often!!  Maresa??? :)

And - if you want to add an even more complex flavor to this . . . 

just knock on my friend Rick's door for a bit of his amazing plum chutney . . . 

the perfect finishing touch to this little meal!!

Thank you again Rick!! :)

Well . . . I hope that you are now inspired as well!! 

Fall is here . . . Football season is here . . .

and my Favorite recipes of the season are also here . . .
right here on this little blog of mine.  :)

I hope you will join me from time to time and see what we are up to!!!

now for another one of these yummers . . .

yes I know, I know - I got a little carried away with the cheese on this one . . .
I guess salad is definitely on the menu for tomorrow . . . :)

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

classic vinaigrette . . .

Here it is . . .
my classic vinaigrette . . .

I use a variation of this simple little recipe . . .

for so many dishes in the kitchen!

So simple . . . so easy . . . and sooooo tasty!!

I use it as a simple and classic salad dressing . . .

or a variation of it for marinade/rubs for my Sunday roast and roasted chickens.

I also drizzle it on everything from caprese paninis . . .

to simple heirloom tomatoes from my friend Deb's garden!

Cooking does not have to be difficult . . .

and you don't have to be a master chef . . . 

you just need a few great recipes to bring out the flavor of the food!!

so here are the ingredients for my first recipe for you . . .

my classic vinegarette . . .

olive oil
balsalmic vinegar
a touch of terragon vinegar

herbs de provence

brown sugar
a touch of dijon mustard
cracked pepper

and . . .
a small pinch of salt for good luck . . .

I first make a paste ( which is also wonderful rubbed on meats as a marinade/rub!! ). . . 

and then I add more Olive Oil and Vinegar to fit my own taste . . .
and the food that it is complimenting.

I personally prefer mine with a bit of a "bite" to it . . . and not too oily.

Well there you have it . . .
one very basic vinaigrette that I promise you will be seeing a lot more of
here on this little blog . . .

soooo versatile . . . and soooo easy!!

please note:

I will soon be adding a recipe page to this blog . . .
with printouts for all the recipes with exact quantities - so stay tuned !

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

blackberry treats . . .

It is October here in Seattle . . .

yet - it feels more like a hot summer day!!

So . . . I put all my Autumn food thoughts and recipes aside . . .
to enjoy one last kiss of summer sunshine!!

Remember those blackberries that I mixed with fresh yogurt here!

Well - I made way too much . . .
so I threw the remainder into some popcicle molds . . .

and now we are all enjoying some very tasty

Blackberry Yogurt Pops . . .

making one little girl of mine . . .

very . . . very . . . HAPPY!!

And for me . . . this is what life is truly all about . . .
the small moments . . . the ones that really matter!!

Yes . . . sometimes distractions - like sunshine . . .
are good for the soul!!

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

blackberry salad . . .

a little lunch at work . . .

soooo simple - yet so delicious!!

fresh greens with sweet blackberries, tangy goat cheese . . .

and some marinated beef . . .

soooo simple - yet so tasty!!

just slice up that leftover Sunday Roast . . .

and marinate in a bowl with a wonderful balsamic dressing . . .

then drissle a bit more throughout the salad!!

Yes - lunch at work . . .

can be a simple and delicious as that!!

mmmm . . . mmmm . . . good!!!

no more excuses for a boring work lunch . . .

just enjoy some great food . . . in a very simple way!!!

( up soon . . . my standard balsamic dressing that I use for everything!!! )

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

blackberry breakfast . . .

Blackberries are in abundance this year here in the Pacific Northwest . . .

and I just can't seem to get enough of these babies . . .

Lately - I have been picking them daily . . .

and also asking my family to pick some more . . .

they all know that it is totally worth it . . .

especially when they see their favorite blackberry pie coming out of the oven . . .
add a bit of ice cream . . . and they are ready to pick some more!!

Around here we keep it pretty simple . . .

as all we really want to do is enjoy the freshness of the season!!

My husband is the one who makes pancakes around here . . .

and they are always delicious . . .
but when we add some wonderful blackberry syrup on top . . .

everyone is that much happier in our house!!

Hattie for one can't get enough of their sweet goodness . . .

it seems that seconds, and thirds, are always on the way . . .

for me . . . I also love a few berries with some really good yogurt . . .

so simple . . . yet so wonderful!!

Or sometimes . . .

I take an extra 5 minutes to mix it all together . . .

some good quality yogurt . . . a handful of blackberries . . . and a touch of sugar . . .

for some of the best blackberry yogurt around!!

Hattie absolutely loves the color . . .

and I personally like knowing that it is all fresh . . . and natural . . . and simple!!

But - my very favorite blackberry breakfast of all . . .

is homemade blackberry jam on toast!!

Because - it just doesn't get much better than that - seriously!!

Blackberry jam on toast is the very, very best!!!

(mine just happens to be gluten free)

you see . . .

great food does not need to be fussy . . .

just fresh . . . and simple . . . and good!!

 

All these blackberries just made our mornings a little sweeter . . .

Just wait until you see what we had for lunch at the office on Tuesday . . .

mmmmm . . . mmmmm

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

island plums and blackberries . . .

u m m m m . . . u m m m m . . .

everything tastes a little better when it comes from the garden . . .

and this year - my little garden is happier than ever!!!

My daughter and I have been picking the fruit as fast as we can . . .

both plums . . . and blackberries . . .

they seem to be overflowing in our yard . . . and on our little island!!

 

I see it all over Facebook - my friends and neighbors all canning away . . .

making all sorts of things to bring out fresh when winter sets in!

Well - I have been a little short on time lately . . .

sooooo - I just keep popping these sweet things in my mouth . . .

and sometimes . . .
I throw a bag or two of them in the freezer for later . . .

The other day I was wishing I had more time to just play in the kitchen . . .

to make some yummy jams and such . . . like all those friends of mine . . .
thinking how much greener it is over there - on the other side of the fence . . .

and then - to my surprise . . .

a very old-fashioned thing happened . . .

a new friend down the street just dropped by with the most delicious

plum jam . . . and the most amazing chutney ever!! :)

It was such a sweet thing to do . . . and it truly made my day!!!

Needless to say . . .
we have been enjoying a little dollop here and there of this sweet summer sunshine . . .

on toast and such . . .

one sweet spoonful at a time!!!

And now . . . I just have one other thing on my mind . . .

I need to figure out what kind of dish I am going to make
to compliment that amazing chutney!!  H m m m m . . .

Thank you again Rick - you are a sweet and kind neighbor . . .
and it was such a thoughtful gift!!!

you are the BEST!!! :)

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz

ironstone kitchen . . .

I love good food . . . absolutely L. O. V. E. love it!!

I am not a food expert when it comes to cooking and baking and such . . .

in fact . . .

I am quite sure that some of my friends wonder what I am even doing writing a food blog! :)

On top of that . . .

I honestly don't have enough time in the day to watch all the food shows . . .

and read all the great cook books that are out there currently . . .

but what I do know . . .

is that I love fresh ingredients . . . simple recipes . . .

and time spent around the table with my family!!

I hope to share a little inspiration with all of you . . .
and from time to time a recipe here and there!

So . . .
here is to keeping it simple . . . fresh . . . and fun . . .

learning as we go . . .

until next time . . .

. . . . . . .

food dreams and a kiss . . .
from my kitchen . . . to yours!!

xoxo - liz