Category: Miss Blondie

Main Dishes, Miss Blondie, Recipe, SFH Food Talk & Recipes, Soups & Salads February 14, 2024February 14, 2024

How to Make Jacques’s Lentil Salad

Now is the perfect time to try out a great lentil salad recipe. Here’s why. – Mardi Gras feasting and the Super Bowl are behind us. Many of us want to eat lighter meals now. Some of us might be observing the meatless days of Lent. Whatever your reason, this meatless dish by Jacques Pépin is a light and satisfying option for lunch or as a side dish.

Hello, my Friends.

Almost two years ago, our Test Kitchen tested Jacques’s Lentil Salad recipe. At the time we presented our results, we told you we would have to test this recipe again. That’s because we didn’t have all the right ingredients.

You deserve our very best effort. So, this time we made sure everything we did with Jacques’s recipe was letter perfect.

Why Revisit Jacques’s Lentil Salad Recipe?

Quality of ingredients does make a difference in this recipe. Jacques recommends French lentils (lentilles du Puy), which have a greenish color. In this dish, they are superior to other lentils. That is because they tend to remain more firm when cooked.

Unfortunately, French lentils were not available to the SFH TK in our first test (See Jacques’ Lentil Salad – SFH TK Test). Instead, we used less-preferred Walmart generic lentils. In this test, we have used the real thing – the French lentils favored by Jacques.

Purpose & Standards

The SFH Test Kitchen has a grand purpose. It is to test recipes under the same conditions that confront any amateur home chef. The end goal is to have a fail-proof, go-to recipe. You can list that recipe on your weekly meal plan with the highest confidence. It works for the SFH TK and it will work for you.

A Serving Suggestion

Be careful when presenting this dish. In our first test, my Hubby selected the worst possible dish for showing off the charm of this delightful salad. The Willow Pattern design tends to detract from the visual appeal. I strongly recommend use of a simple white plate or bowl when serving this dish.

Many of us want to eat lighter meals now. Some of us might be observing the meatless days of Lent. Whatever your reason, this meatless dish by Jacques Pépin is a light and satisfying option for lunch or as a side dish.

Jacques Pepin, Main Dishes, Miss Blondie, Recipe, SFH Food Talk & Recipes, Test Kitchen December 4, 2023January 29, 2024

Jacques’s Macaroni and Cheese – How to Cook with your Grandchildren

Jacques Pépin did this macaroni, spinach, and ham gratin recipe with his granddaughter Shorey. The cookbook A Grandfather’s Lessons – In the Kitchen with Shorey tells the beautiful story. In the book, we find that Jacques’s macaroni and cheese recipe is a dish with flavorful additions that would make any child happy.

So, if you have grandchildren, this is a great recipe to make with them. This SFH Test Kitchen post and the linked YouTube video will show you how to do it.

Hello, my friends.

It’s important as grandparents to spend time with your grandchildren and teach them how to how to cook. You know, it’s just a wonderful sharing experience. Here’s just one memorable example from over 20 years ago.

My Junior Chef Masters Chocolate Chip Cookies

When my first grandson was two, he and I made cookies together. It was such a beautiful experience for both of us.

Here is my junior chef with a chocolate chip cookies recipe in hand. As you can see, he has already put on his apron and is ready to head to the kitchen. – He intends to master that recipe.

When cooking with your grandchildren, keep in mind that the world is a bigger place for them than it is for you. However, what they lack in size, they will make up for with enthusiasm. – Let them feel like the kitchen belongs to them.

Your grandchild will learn how to cook by watching you. They see how you read directions from the recipe. When you pick up a bag of chocolate chips, they will do the same. Sometimes they will even copy your facial expressions. – Judging from my grandson’s expression here, I must have really had some concerns about what to do with these chips.

When you’re cooking with your grandchildren, remember, the kitchen is not a classroom where you have to be. The kitchen is the heart of the home and a place where you want to be.

Preparing for the Great Event

Following Directions from Granny

Inspecting the Work

Just Had a Little Taste

Happy Time in the Kitchen

When all is said and done, the truly magic moment is when your grandchildren taste something they made with their own hands.

That is a moment that both of you will cherish and remember forever.

Jacques’s Macaroni and Cheese Test Results

Unfortunately, no grandchildren were available for this Test Kitchen adventure. That meant I had to work with my dear Hubby. Although he has some childlike characteristics, I wouldn’t say he’s a good substitute for any of my 13 beautiful grandchildren. Nevertheless, he did his best. – That might be because macaroni and cheese is one of his favorite dishes.

Here’s what the able staff of the soon-to-be-world-famous SFH Test Kitchen learned during this test.

1. Level of the Challenge

This is not a difficult recipe. It is well-suited to a youthful palate. A young person can easily grasp the approach Jacques and Shorey used with this dish.

2. Selection of Good-quality Ingredients

Most of the ingredients used are commonly found in the kitchen or easily attainable. The only exception in Jacques’s recipe was Spanish Paprika. In a case like this, you can provide your grandchild with a simple explanation about an unusual ingredient.

For example: Paprika is a spice made from dried and ground chiles. In Spain, the name for paprika is pimentón, which is Spanish for pepper. If you use Spanish paprika instead of regular paprika, it will add a smoky flavor to the dish.

3. Use of Cooking Techniques

For sure, this recipe employs several cooking techniques not used in a simple chocolate chip cookies recipe. You are the best judge of your grandchild’s abilities. You can decide if this recipe is too advanced or just right for your junior chef.

4. Development of Macaroni and Cheese Taste and Flavor

The introduction of spinach and ham bring a new dimension in flavor to the classic comfort food we call mac and cheese. Because the spinach is chopped and blended in with the other ingredients, children won’t really think of this as a vegetable dish.

How to Cook Macaroni and Cheese Jacques’s Way

So, without further ado, here is Jacques’s recipe as adapted and tested by the SFH Test Kitchen.

The original recipe appears on page 114 of the cookbook A Grandfather’s Lessons – In the Kitchen with Shorey. The cookbook was written by Jacques Pépin in collaboration with his granddaughter, Shorey. It contains recipes that are simple, elegant, and fun to prepare.

Jacques Pépin did this recipe with his granddaughter. It's a mac and cheese dish with flavorful additions that would make any child happy.

Main Dishes, Miss Blondie, Recipe, SFH Food Talk & Recipes, Test Kitchen September 25, 2023January 30, 2024

The Way to Cook Chicken in White Wine

You probably know many ways to cook chicken, but do you know Julia Child’s way to cook chicken in white wine? In this post, the Serendipity Farmhouse Test Kitchen explores Julia’s master recipe Chicken Simmered in White Wine.

Hi! Now that Autumn has arrived, let’s see what Julia Child has to offer that suits the season.

For us at the SFH Test Kitchen, chicken immediately came to mind. When poached or simmered with vegetables, the aroma fills the kitchen with the promise of a warm meal. Better yet, when prepared in white wine or vermouth one can only feel a sense of Autumn cheer.

A grouping by techniques

My amazing kitchen staff and I are well versed in four primary cooking techniques. They are dry-heat cooking with fat, dry-heat cooking without fat, moist-heat cooking, and combination cooking.

Julia’s recipe is an excellent example of moist-heat cooking. That’s because, depending on which variation of her master recipe you use, you will be poaching or simmering.

Throughout her book The Way to Cook and DVD set, Julia emphasizes the logic of grouping items by cooking techniques or methods. In her words:

“The technique is what’s important here, and when you realize that a stew is a stew is a stew, and a roast is a roast whether it be beef, lamb, pork, or chicken, cooking begins to make sense.”

Combination of Techniques

Julia demonstrates how various techniques are combined within a recipe. She starts with a master or template recipe and then adds to it. In the case of chicken cooked in white wine, she adds aromatic vegetables. The vegetables are julienned. Item #115 in the Way to Cook DVD shows you how to do it.

Choice of White Wine

Although you can use almost any type of dry, white wine with this dish, you may want to take a tip from Julia. She recommends that you use a fine, dry French vermouth. This adds a noticeable accent to the overall flavor.

Vermouth is a fortified white wine. But don’t worry, the alcohol is cooked away during the 25 minutes when the chicken is simmering. – We found out years ago that Julia’s favorite vermouth was Noilly Prat. We always keep a bottle in reserve for Julia’s recipes.

So, let’s gather our mise en place and get to work. You can do it the way we do it, or you can try out any of the variations offered by Julia. Whichever you do, have fun and –

Bon appétit!

Did you like this post? If so and you want to see other Julia Child recipes tested by the SFH Test Kitchen, please subscribe to our website. Of course, your questions and comments are greatly appreciated.

Recipe Resources

If you would like to learn more about Julia’s way to cook chicken in wine, here are some resources that will help.

Chicken Poached in White Wine – In this video from “The French Chef” TV series, Julia demonstrates a technique for poaching chicken in white wine. This is a very basic version of the recipe. In the same video, Julia demonstrates how to modify the recipe for serving in a casserole.

In 1989, Knopf released the cookbook The Way to Cook. Internet Archive has posted the complete cookbook here. A version of the recipe we used, Chicken Simmered in White Wine, is on page 144.

In 2009, Knopf released The Way to Cook DVD. The accompanying booklet lists the recipe our Test Kitchen used in item#114. the booklet uses a slightly different name for the recipe – Chicken Poached in Wine with Aromatic Vegetables.

More resources are listed in the Wikipedia article – The Way to Cook.

You probably know many ways to cook chicken, but do you know Julia Child's way to cook chicken in white wine? In this post, the Serendipity Farmhouse Test Kitchen explores Julia's master recipe Chicken Simmered in White Wine.

See Chef Blondie’s video demonstrating this recipe: Here!

Farmhouse Living, Jacques Pepin, Miss Blondie, Traditions September 2, 2023September 2, 2023

A Birthday to Crow About

Let me tell you all about my birthday. It was a birthday to crow about.

Is a birthday just a party? Must there be balloons, cake, and ice cream? Is there some magic and mystery in the passing of a year? If you live here at Serendipity Farmhouse you really never have to ask, “What is it that makes a birthday special?”

That’s because you already know – Here at SFH, Birthdays are a great blessing from God.

Family Traditions

Our three children are grown and have their own wonderful children now. Over the years, they’ve created their own family birthday traditions. But when I have a birthday, each of my children makes a special effort to let me know how fondly they remember the time when we were all together. – This year, their special expressions of love for me have filled my heart with great joy. Thank you, sweet children. – I am blessed!

My Dear Friend

For 38 years, Nancy and I have shared in an enduring friendship. We’ve helped each other during hard times, and we’ve enjoyed the good times together. There are few things greater than having a good friend. – I am blessed!

This year, Nancy spent the day with me. I made a special meal using a recipe for Silver Palate Pasta. She gave me the recipe years ago. It’s a superb blending of garden-fresh cherry tomatoes and basil with linguine and melted brie – it was all so good.

After opening of presents and sharing in good food, Nancy, Hubby, and I made our way to my favorite Quievremont Vineyard & Winery for just a “splash” of wine.

38 Years as Friends

Oh!

Yum!

Pierre & Birdie

Silver Palate Pasta

A Birthday to Crow About

My loving Hubby set the theme for this birthday. It was the combination of two of my great passions – simple French-style cooking and decorating my kitchen with every conceivable type of chicken.

Knowing that our favorite chef, Jacques Pépin, is also a painter and lover of chickens, Hubby decided on the perfect gift for me. And there it is hanging on my kitchen wall, an autographed print of Jacques’s painting Black and Yellow Rooster. Could there ever be a birthday present better than that?

But the Jacques Pépin-Chicken theme went on beyond the rooster print. Dear Hubby also presented me with Jacques Pépin Art of the Chicken: A Master Chef’s Paintings, Stories, and Recipes of the Humble Bird. And if that wasn’t enough, Son #1 also added to my Jacques Pepin collection with the book Jacques Pépin Heart & Soul in the Kitchen.

It’s been a wonderful birthday with family and friends. You might even say it was a birthday to crow about. Yes, it’s what a every birthday should be – a great blessing from God.

A new specialty page for the SFH Blog

So, as my birthday week draws to a close, Hubby and I are making plans to have the Serendipity Farmhouse Test Kitchen staff try out many new recipes by one great, inspiring cook – Jacques Pépin. His Black and Yellow Rooster print will get to watch all the action. And if you’d like to see what we’re cooking from Jacques’s cookbooks, just check out our new blog page – Recipes by Jacques Pépin – Serendipity Farmhouse. (To see it, click here.)

Until next time – Happy Cooking!

Farmhouse Living, Miss Blondie, Summer July 8, 2023July 8, 2023

The Delight of Bread, Berries & Shallots

The delight of bread, berries and shallots are just part of a summer day at Serendipity Farmhouse. In the course of a day, any number of surprises can fill our home with unexpected joy. And this day, joy came in the form of a fresh loaf of bread, a container full of wild berries, and a basket of our own garden-grown shallots. Each serves to remind me of why Hubby and I love our life together in this little old farmhouse.

Shallots Bring Flavor to the Table

Whether it’s Julia Child, Jacques Pépin, or just good old-fashioned American cuisine, shallots bring a unique flavor to the table. Last year, we planted shallots, and this year we harvested. – This was success on a first try.

Last night, some of our shallots joined us for dinner and today some joined us for lunch. – They were welcomed guests!

Sourdough Bread – Almost Ready for the Great Reveal

Hubby was up at 4 AM today. With Mr. Monte’s help, he continued his series of sourdough bread recipe tests.

Once, Hubby is satisfied that this recipe is foolproof, he’ll provide a post with all the details.

Hubby Beat the Bear to the Berries

The last few days, there have been several sightings of a black bear in our neighborhood. Perhaps the bear is looking for the patch of raspberries that Hubby spotted while mowing today. – Well, today, Hubby beat the bear to the berries.

As soon as he saw the berries, he ran to the house and yelled to me. “Give me my camera and a plastic bowl! – I’ve got to get those berries before the bear does!”

Within a minute, my brave (sometimes foolish) Hubby was out picking those berries. He had his signature gnat net covering his head to protect him from ticks. He put on his rubber boots to protect himself from snakes. And all the while he picked berries, he kept checking to make sure his multitool knife was close by. Who knew when the bear might come?

Hubby’s bravery was rewarded. He came back to the farmhouse with a container of the most beautiful raspberries. There wasn’t a single one of them that had a flaw.

My knight in shining armor, having been most successful in his quest, presented the berries to me. – In his own way, he showed me that to him Serendipity Farmhouse is his castle, and I am his queen.

Serendipity Farmhouse

Category: Miss Blondie

How to Make Jacques’s Lentil Salad