Well, we got our first frost, that means the inevitable, blowing out my sprinkler system, putting all of the hoses away, covering up my air conditioner, carting all of the patio furniture back into storage and getting ready for those windy days and cold, (brrrrr), nights. It seems that we are creatures of habit. I would like to point “me” out, as long as I’ve been on this earth. But you have to expect that don’t you. We do what makes us most comfortable. I write this for, mostly, entertainment, but sometimes I like to educate. And example---- I imagine my wife and I sitting around the fireplace, watching the flicker of flames bouncing on the fake logs, (We have a gas fireplace), and sipping our hot chocolate that was prepared out of a can. Sitting on our fabulous fake, chairs that we have been sitting on since we moved here. It seems that we can’t make up or mind how we want to decorate yet! We won’t go there…. But isn’t it romantic? Well, it could be a lot more. We could have lit candles and put on the soft music and pulled our fake chairs closer to our fake fireplace and look wan tingly into our eyes, after we put on our glasses, otherwise we couldn’t see each other. Oh well, I tried. But there is a way to get to a women’s heart. Cook dinner! But, you ask how, no born/bred American man can do that, right? Well, that is baloney. I have been giving us men some ideas that we can. I am going to go one step further. I am going to tell you what to do! “QEFG” Make it Quick, make it Easy, make it Fast, and make it look Good, and, by all means clean up your mess! Now is that too hard? This reminds me of a dinner that would make your wives, fall in love with you all over again. You need to have a plan. What can you make that fits a picture perfect, QEFG, dinner??? First, send your wife shopping. Then, you go shopping for all of the goodies for this menu. Then, next and not least wash your hands, (not just water and a towel, but also, soap and scrub brush), you know like the doctors do on one of those hospital shows like “Emergency”, minus the fancy clothes and equipment. And then set the table for “two”, (place yourselves at the end of a large table), and put the flowers that you happened to buy earlier (yah right) on the table, (not in the middle so you can’t see each other lovingly in the eyes dummy), nearby so your wife can cherish every little moment and sight. Get the candles positioned, (you won’t light them until your wife is ready to enter your “room of romance”(. Then last but not least some soft music, (no, humming will not work!), probably a portable stereo or other means. Now it is off to the kitchen. Now that shouldn’t be too hard. Remember, what ever you make your wives will love, especially when it gets them out of the kitchen for a night. Let’s go step by step. #1 appetizer, #2 soup or salad, #3 main course, and last but not least, (which could make or break the evening). #4 dessert.
Step #1 Appetizer (QEFG)
Brie with Apple Curry Chutney
Add the taste of country apples to a traditional appetizer for a special treat for your special someone.
Estimated Times:
Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Ingredients:
8 ounces Brie cheese room temperature
8 ounces CROSSE & BLACKWELL Apple Curry Chutney
1 package assorted crackers
3 apples sliced
Directions:
REMOVE skin off top of cheese, if desired. Place cheese on serving dish; pour chutney over top. Serve with apple slices or assorted crackers.
Step #2 Soup or Salad, your choice, (QEFG)
Quick Cream Soup
A simple can of condensed cream soup becomes restaurant-quality with the addition of Carnation Evaporated Milk
Estimated Times:
Preparation Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins
Ingredients:
1 can of CARNATION Evaporated Milk amount per can directions
1 can of your favorite condensed cream soup
Directions:
SUBSTITUTE Carnation Evaporated Milk for regular milk or water called for on the label. It makes soups, such as mushroom, potato and seafood chowders – full, rich and delicious.NOTE: For Quick Cream Soup with less fat, use Carnation Evaporated Low fat Milk or Carnation Evaporated Fat Free Milk.
Preparation Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 2 mins
Ingredients:
1 can of CARNATION Evaporated Milk amount per can directions
1 can of your favorite condensed cream soup
Directions:
SUBSTITUTE Carnation Evaporated Milk for regular milk or water called for on the label. It makes soups, such as mushroom, potato and seafood chowders – full, rich and delicious.NOTE: For Quick Cream Soup with less fat, use Carnation Evaporated Low fat Milk or Carnation Evaporated Fat Free Milk.
OR Simple Green Salad with Pesto Vinaigrette
Estimated Times:
Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup BUITONI Refrigerated Pesto with Basil
3 tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 bag (10 to 11 oz.) torn lettuce leaves (or 8 cups)
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup Italian-style croutons (for topping)
Directions
COMBINE pesto, mustard and vinegar in small bowl; whisk until smooth.COMBINE lettuce, tomato and dressing in large bowl; toss well. Top with croutons.
Step #3 Main Course, (QEFG), this gives you a little time to straighten up or clean up. (Your choice)
Preparation Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup BUITONI Refrigerated Pesto with Basil
3 tablespoons balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 bag (10 to 11 oz.) torn lettuce leaves (or 8 cups)
1 large tomato, chopped
1 cup Italian-style croutons (for topping)
Directions
COMBINE pesto, mustard and vinegar in small bowl; whisk until smooth.COMBINE lettuce, tomato and dressing in large bowl; toss well. Top with croutons.
Step #3 Main Course, (QEFG), this gives you a little time to straighten up or clean up. (Your choice)
The Easiest Poached Salmon
Estimated Times:
Preparation Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
1 pound salmon fillet
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place salmon in a shallow baking dish and pour in milk so that the fish is half immersed. Sprinkle with chives and salt. Bake for about 30 minutes, occasionally spooning some of the milk over the salmon. To check for doneness, cut into center. When flesh is mostly pale pink but still a little bit darker pink in the center, it is done.
And now the hard one, if you make it this far. But the one she will always remember.
#4 Dessert (QEFG)
Preparation Time: 2 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Ingredients:
1 pound salmon fillet
3/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh chives
1/8 teaspoon salt
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Place salmon in a shallow baking dish and pour in milk so that the fish is half immersed. Sprinkle with chives and salt. Bake for about 30 minutes, occasionally spooning some of the milk over the salmon. To check for doneness, cut into center. When flesh is mostly pale pink but still a little bit darker pink in the center, it is done.
And now the hard one, if you make it this far. But the one she will always remember.
#4 Dessert (QEFG)
Cream Cheese Stuffed Pears
Elegant and simple to make, this dessert combines the delicate flavors of cream cheese-filled pears with chocolate and raspberry sauces.
Estimated Times:
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 7 mins
Ingredients:
1 recipe Pears (as follows)
2 (29 oz. each) cans pear halves in juice drained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) cream cheese softened
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 recipe Chocolate Sauce
1 (12 fl. oz.) can CARNATION Evaporated Milk
2 (12 oz. pkg.) cups NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 bottle raspberry juice or syrup (optional)
Directions:
FOR PEARS:PLACE pear halves, cut side down, on paper towels. Combine cream cheese and sugar in small bowl until smooth. Match pear halves by size. Spread about 1 rounded tablespoon cream cheese mixture on cut side of one pear half; press cut side of second pear half into cream cheese. Repeat with remaining pears. Cover; refrigerate for 15 minutes.FOR CHOCOLATE SAUCE:HEAT evaporated milk to boiling in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Stir in morsels. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in sugar, vanilla extract and salt.TO SERVE:PLACE pears in pool of raspberry sauce; drizzle with Chocolate Sauce.
Now you have to remember that this will take planning. You have to choreograph it, sort of, like dancing. If you don’t dance, (you should learn), it’s like cleaning your tool bench, you start with everything off and clean and put everything back. For example, bake the Salmon last, this way you can do the finishing touches, like getting dressed up, then, bring your wife in with your hand over her eyes to surprise her. Have the appetizer on the table, and then come in with the pre-prepared soup/salad. By then you would check your main course and bring it out and then when all is said and done, then on to dessert. As you can see that most of these recipes are made for more than two people, but it is easier to follow when you work with larger, rounder numbers, unless, you are a fraction wizard. You can also make it in a way that is convenient for you, (but, remember leftovers are great). Now if you followed my instruction and not made it up as you went, you will wake up tomorrow in each others arms and not the in hospital room, green and moaning, because you just poisoned each other. Good luck, as very famous person used to say, “Bon Appetite”, (that’s French).
Preparation Time: 15 mins
Cook Time: 7 mins
Ingredients:
1 recipe Pears (as follows)
2 (29 oz. each) cans pear halves in juice drained
1 pkg. (6 oz.) cream cheese softened
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
1 recipe Chocolate Sauce
1 (12 fl. oz.) can CARNATION Evaporated Milk
2 (12 oz. pkg.) cups NESTLÉ TOLL HOUSE Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 bottle raspberry juice or syrup (optional)
Directions:
FOR PEARS:PLACE pear halves, cut side down, on paper towels. Combine cream cheese and sugar in small bowl until smooth. Match pear halves by size. Spread about 1 rounded tablespoon cream cheese mixture on cut side of one pear half; press cut side of second pear half into cream cheese. Repeat with remaining pears. Cover; refrigerate for 15 minutes.FOR CHOCOLATE SAUCE:HEAT evaporated milk to boiling in medium, heavy-duty saucepan. Stir in morsels. Cook, stirring constantly, until mixture is slightly thickened and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in sugar, vanilla extract and salt.TO SERVE:PLACE pears in pool of raspberry sauce; drizzle with Chocolate Sauce.
Now you have to remember that this will take planning. You have to choreograph it, sort of, like dancing. If you don’t dance, (you should learn), it’s like cleaning your tool bench, you start with everything off and clean and put everything back. For example, bake the Salmon last, this way you can do the finishing touches, like getting dressed up, then, bring your wife in with your hand over her eyes to surprise her. Have the appetizer on the table, and then come in with the pre-prepared soup/salad. By then you would check your main course and bring it out and then when all is said and done, then on to dessert. As you can see that most of these recipes are made for more than two people, but it is easier to follow when you work with larger, rounder numbers, unless, you are a fraction wizard. You can also make it in a way that is convenient for you, (but, remember leftovers are great). Now if you followed my instruction and not made it up as you went, you will wake up tomorrow in each others arms and not the in hospital room, green and moaning, because you just poisoned each other. Good luck, as very famous person used to say, “Bon Appetite”, (that’s French).
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