The Food Club – Page 10 – Food, fun and randomness

Budding Foodie Accoutrement

For the young yet discriminating foodie.

Chicken, Spinach and Whole Wheat Pasta

As the title indicates. With broth sauce and garlic!

Karen and Sam In Heaven

Karen and Sam went to Heaven on Seven on Wabash today.

Bananas Foster French Toast with syrup butter.

Angry Shrimp omelette.

Mom’s Peppermint Hot Chocolate

Brunch at Egg Harbor.

I Love Bacon Party

On Saturday night, Scott and Amy through an “I Love Bacon” party. Party-goers brought dishes to share. Beer and wine were consumed.

One of the items we brought was Candied Bacon, with cayenne. It was quite popular, as we were requested to bring it.

Caramel pecan thing. It was made with toasted and seasoned pecans, and the caramel and the crust was made from scratch. Finished with some salt.

Custom pig noses made by Frankie and Thea.

All guests were greeted in this manner.

Bacon sausage from the farmers market.

Homemade bacon.

Bacon onion tart. Looks like pizza, but much better. Puff pastry crust really sold it.

Shrimp wrapped with bacon. Simple, yet wonderful.

Bacon wrapped dates.

A full complement of desserts were available, but gluttony prevented pictures from being taken. There were oatmeal bacon cookies, chocolate bacon cupcakes, our salted caramel pecan thing, and a few other things. The third item we provided was what I called Bacon Brittle or Brickle. When making the candied bacon, the excess brown sugar and cayenne mixture that melts off along with the bacon fat ends up in the bottom of the pan. While it was hot, it was scooped up into a pan line with parchment paper. When it cooled, it was like peanut brittle. We put it in a plastic bag and whacked it on the counter to break it into pieces. It was good, and quite popular.

Vegetable Dishes

We had grilled hamburgers tonight, with two vegetable sides.

Grilled asparagus (dry asparagus on the grill), with a simple dressing of olive oil, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Garnished with a bit of Parmesan. Think I got this from Lidia.

Shaved Brussels Sprouts, cooked with a bit of bacon and onion. Simply awesome. Brussels Sprouts haters (or those that assure me that “I’ve tried them many different ways and still don’t like them” – have never tried this).

Shaved bs

Shrimp / Salad

I’ve been enamored of Trader Joe’s “Healthy 8” vegetable medley lately. Here it is paired with simple boiled shrimp and a simple dressing of lemon juice, olive oil and Trader Joe’s Everyday Seasoning. A little bread on the side. All were pleased.

Dinner at the brewery in Heidelberg

Group dinner at a local brewery in Heidelberg. There were several choices, here are a few.

Pork schnitzel and fried potatoes.

Pork medallions and cheese spatezle.

Local brew from the brewery.

After all this time in Germany, our first encounter with Apple Strudel (we never encountered Black Forest Cake either, although we weren’t really looking for it).