Charcuterie

445.  What is a Charcuterie or Charcuterie Board?  Seems everyone has jumped on the trend and anything seems to go. The word "charcuterie" is a French term for a line of cooking devoted to prepared meat products, primarily from pork.  The Italians have a different meaning for "charcuterie" as they interpret the word to mean "salted meats", which includes preserved whole cuts of meat and force-meats.  Now, what is a "forcemeat" you ask?  They are spreadable mixtures of meat and organ meats like pâtés and such.  Now, Americans have turned the charcuterie board on end and have changed the whole purpose.  I've seen candy charcuteries, fruit charcuteries and yes, even egg charcuteries.  

So, what is right and what is wrong?  I guess in our day and age, if you want to be original, ask a real butcher or simply follow the simple "3 3 3 3 Rule".  That is, three meats, three cheeses, three starches and three accompaniments such as fruit, nuts, brined or pickled items and veggies.

You can arrange on a wooden board, plates, marble slab or as I've seen, right on the surface of a table, covered with butcher paper.  It was quite clever and so unexpected.

So, when you attempt to be a charcutier and serve a charcuterie at your next football watch party, soiree, holiday party or event, remember the "3 3 3 3" Rule.  That is, three meats, three cheeses, three starches and three accompaniments such as fruit, nuts, brined or pickled items and veggies to make sure it is a true charcuterie and not an American bright idea.  If you want to do a candy, fruit or egg display, call it a buffet, arrangement, array, presentation, exhibition, panorama, ostentatiousness, etc.  Of course I'm being facetious, but, now you understand.

"Adulthood:  Where lunchables are now called a charcuterie."

~Anonymous Humor

"I've learned from past mistakes that you should never own something as fun as a charcuterie board and keep it for 'special occasions,' because it's highly likely that the people you saved it for will somehow end up not having been worth it in the long run.  Then, you'll just end up lamenting all the missed opportunities you had to enjoy the thing all by yourself."

~K.J. Micciche, The Book Proposal

Eggs Benedict Casserole

 444.  Do you love breakfast foods.  A favorite is Eggs Benedict with smooth Hollandaise Sauce dripping over the top.  This recipe for Eggs Benedict has all the flavors and elements in a casserole you can prepare the night before.  The hollandaise sauce is made right before serving but having your ingredients ready and prepped is smart.

We found this recipe online at Carl's Bad Cravings blog and had to try it.  Recipe HERE.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice is a must as well as egg yolks separated that day.

Using a small processor or blender creates the perfect consistency.

"Eggs Benedict is genius.  It's eggs covered in eggs.  I mean, come on, that person should be the president."

~Wylie Dufresne

Lemon Tiramisu

443.  I think we have found a family favorite!  It is happy tummy_702's Lemon Tiramisu on Instagram. And, watching her demonstration is a sensation for the senses.

 Tiramisu is delicious. I'm not a huge chocolate fan but have grown to appreciate the flavor.  But, I am a huge fan of lemon desserts!!

You can find this decadent recipe HERE .

We all agreed it is a family favorite and one which will quickly become a #1 for all you lemon-lovers out there.

"We are living in a world today where lemonade is made from artificial flavors and furniture polish is made from real lemons."

~Alfred Newman

The Wedding

442.  The Wedding.  What a splendid day, surroundings, weather, friends and family and mostly, the bride and groom.  I wanted to share some special memories in pictures.

Mount Shasta was the natural backdrop to the whole evening.  It was wonderful!!!

And, the cookie table was an added treat.

Congratulations to the bride and groom!

“The greatest marriages are built on teamwork. A mutual respect, a healthy dose of admiration, and a never-ending portion of love and grace.” ~Anonymous 

Pittsburgh Cookie Table Part 2

441.  Finally, the day of the wedding arrived.  All the hours of baking and preparing led to this very special moment.

The gold trays and chargers worked great with displaying the cookies around the table.

I baked approximately 30 dozens of cookies or so.  One of the cookies was chocolate chip which I shaped into hearts.

"Cookies are made of butter and love."

~Anonymous

The Pittsburgh Cookie Table part 1

440. My next project in preparing for my daughter's wedding was to make a to-go box for guests.  The little boxes would be to take home cookies from the cookie table.

I found a perfect little bakery box that would would hold about 5 cookies.  Then, created a label to attach to the side of the box.  The label explained the cookie table for guests.

I also framed The Pittsburgh Cookie Table explanation to place with the cookies.

"In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips."

~Salman Rushdie

Project Cookie Platters

439.  Today I am working on a project for my daughter's wedding.  Being from the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Ohio area, "The Cookie Table" is a staple at all special occasions. From weddings to graduation parties, engagement celebrations and baby showers.  The cookie table has shown up and has always been an expected offering to celebrating guests.  Even though the wedding is in California, I could not do without the cookie table!

My first step was to decide what type of platters to place the cookies on.  The wedding theme was romantic rustic.  To be held outside around a barn with splashes of gold, rich warm flower colors and ivory table covering.  Cowboy boots and vintage as well.

While searching for golden platters I was stunned with the prices for golden platters, pedestaled plates and trays.  The trays would cost more that the supplies for cookies.  I saw a hack from The Dollar Tree to purchase $1.59 gold trays and gold chargers.  Then glue margarita and martini glasses to the bottoms which were also $1.59 each.  Then spray paint the glasses to match the trays.  The spray paint was $5.99 from Michaels and glue was clear Gorilla glue which I already had. 

The Margarita glasses were perfect on the bottom of the round chargers and they were very heavy.

With the long trays I created a tiered effect by using martini glasses for the tallest try, stemless wine glasses for the middle hight and of course the last tray directly on the table.

It worked perfectly!  I glued the glasses on the night before then spray painted the next day.  

My thinking was...once the cookies are displayed on the tray, you wouldn't notice the glasses or variation of glasses under the trays and chargers.  Now to the cookie baking :)

"Cookies are the sweetest little bit of comfort food.  They are very bite sized and personal."

~ Sandra Lee