February 27th is national Kahlúa day, and I couldn’t be more thrilled. I’m posting this a bit early in case you want to get a head start on your celebration. Kahlúa is a rum and coffee liqueur made of Arabica coffee beans and the world’s finest sugarcane. Not only is it great in coffee, on the rocks or in mixed drinks, but it also brings back wonderful memories of two people who were so near and dear to me – my late grandmother, Mamma, and my friend, the late and great Charlie Murray.
The first time I ever tried curried chicken salad was back in the mid-1980s when I was in graduate school at UNC. I had an assistantship at the U.S. EPA’s library, which at the time was in Research Triangle Park, about 20-25 minutes from campus. At least once a week I gave a ride to Hester (I can’t remember her last name), who also had a graduate assistantship at the EPA. Since I wouldn’t take any gas money from her (I was going there anyway) she made lunch for me sometimes, and her chunky, curried chicken salad was definitely my favorite. It was so different from the chicken salad I usually made (I’ll share that recipe in a separate post) and I loved the sweetness of the raisins and grapes, the crunchiness of the nuts and the spiciness of the curry. I’m not sure of her exact recipe, but after practicing these many years, this comes mighty close.
In hopes of finding the best meatball sub in Raleigh, last month I asked my readers for their recommendations. One lucky responder (congratulations, Lee!) won a $25.00 gift certificate to Harris Teeter just for commenting. I am almost finished with my market research based on the suggestions I received (rough job, this blogging thing is.) In the meantime, I’d like to share my own recipe for spicy homemade meatballs with a great marinara sauce. Serve these over spaghetti noodles and then prepare tasty meatball subs a day or so later with the leftovers. Or make small meatballs and serve as an appetizer at your next party. Continue reading
This month’s Food Network Magazine is all about chocolate (planned around Valentine’s Day, no doubt.) It has a host of wonderful recipes, including a ton of desserts such as chocolate chip cookies, fudge, cakes and pies, and a special pull-out section featuring 50 brownies (yum!) Go get your copy today, while it’s still on the shelf.
For the shortest month of the year, February has many great food holidays. I decided to choose sweet potatoes, not only because I consider them to be a “super food,” but mainly because they remind so much of my late, wise and wonderful grandmother, Ruby Virnelson. Mamma loved sweet potatoes and I think she had at least half of one with her dinner most nights of the week. She liked to take a sweet potato and bake it, cut it lengthwise and spread it with margarine, a little brown sugar and a sprinkling of cinnamon. Super easy and super nutritious. Smart Mamma!
Sweet potatoes are chocked full of beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, fiber, thiamine, niacin, potassium, copper protein and calcium. In addition, they are just plain good. To celebrate national sweet potato month, I’m including a recipe for a wonderful and hearty sweet potato and black bean chili.
You’ll want to make extra and use some of the leftovers for some tasty quesadillas, and that recipe is also included. Or try the sweet potato skins I posted about earlier – they are to die for!
NOFO @ the Pig opened in December 2001 in the former Piggly Wiggly grocery store in Raleigh’s Five Points neighborhood (2014 Fairview Rd. Raleigh, N.C. 27608.) Upstairs is a great little gift store/food market that has unique items such as kitchen wares and specialty groceries, baby things, linens, bed and bath products, jewelry, pet accessories, gardening items – the list goes on and on.
Downstairs is the Nofo Café, which serves lunch, dinner and Saturday/Sunday brunch. Menu items include soups, salads, sandwiches, entrees, and daily specials. The café has a whimsical and cheerful décor, especially the awesome hand blown glass chandelier encircled with pigs, which hangs from the upstairs market. There is also a small bar area in case you need to wait for a table, which is not unusual in this popular place.
Potato skins are one of my go-to bar foods, but I must say that these homemade sweet potato skins are some of the best I have ever had, period. Once you try these, you may never want skins made from regular potatoes again. Wow – these are absolutely fabulous and so easy to prepare! Plus, sweet potatoes are good for you and are a wonderful source of beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, fiber, thiamine, niacin, potassium, copper protein and calcium. If you are serving these at a party, say for the upcoming Super Bowl, you may want to make extra because they are going to go fast.
The first time I had these wonderful stuffed jalapeños was years ago on a beach trip. My dear friend Martha whipped up a batch of them and I’ve been hooked ever since! They are so easy to make and seriously addictive. I plan on taking these to a Super Bowl party this weekend and can’t wait to watch them disappear!
Why National Irish Coffee day is January 25 instead of March 17 is beyond me. At first I thought it might be because Guinness was the official drink on St. Patrick’s Day (it’s not). Maybe it’s because it is usually cold in January and a nice hot cup of coffee with a kick hits the spot. Whatever the reason, I’m happy to celebrate.
Stop! Don’t throw away those brown bananas and waste food and money. Instead, use them to make tasty banana-pineapple muffins with a wonderful streusel topping. These muffins are extremely moist – your kids will love them and you will too!
Kel's Cafe of All Things Food 