Welcome to the 75th Carnival of the Recipes! Oy, what a day I had today! I woke up late, and had to scramble to get the coffee going. The theme for this week's carnival is coffee & tea (drinks or foods made with ...) and I had a lot of visits to make today!
BREKKY
I hit the road with sleep still in my eyes, but I knew I'd get some good coffee at my first stop, where David of Third World County didn't disappoint. And to go with that coffee, some Power Oatmeal to help me get my engine revved. A simple, timeless breakfast food, with a little added punch.
Sadly, I had to leave D and Wonderwoman behind, but I was really looking forward to my next stop.
I arrived at Booklore mid-morning, just in time for a cuppa and brunch. Bernadette was serving the highly addictive Aebleskivers - Scandahoovian sweet pancake balls. (that's "Ay-ble-skee-ver") Thanks Bernadette, I've always wanted to know how to make these! Recipe safely in pocket, still wiping powdered sugar off my face, I got ready to hit my next stop.
The late-morning coffee klatch at Everything and Nothing was delightful, with Shawn serving up a delicious recipe for Blueberry Buckle Coffee Cake. I had a hard time leaving, but managed to sneak a piece of coffee cake into my pocket to nibble on later.
SALADS
The noon bell found me lunching with Mensa Barbie who served up Salade d'orange. This delightful salad uses citrus tea in the dressing and was, as she said "A lovely salad designed to keep you healthy this winter!" And to drink with the salad? A nice hot cup of healthy Citrus Tea w/ honey and ginger, of course! Thanks MB!
BREADS
Back on the road again, I began to need a little afternoon pick-me-up. Thankfully Joan at Oasis of Sanity was ready for me at tea time, with a pot of hot tea and her low-carb recipe for Apple Orange Tea bread, that uses Tazo Wild Sweet Orange tea. What an absolutely delicious tea-time treat! (She says it would be lovely with coffee, too, and I concur!)
DIPS
As the afternoon grew dim-ish, I realized I was dragging. I was glad to reach my next stop, which happily put some serious gas in my engine. Martin of EGO harvested his Tepin pepper (say that fast 10 times) to make his HOT DIP served with spicey rooibos chile "tea". That'll grow hair on yer chest! Whoohoo! Nicely warmed and revved, I waved a cheery thanks to Martin and blasted off for my next stop.
SOUPS AND STEWS
Early evening found me in a sea of soup. At my first stop Michael Guenther of Descent Into Obscurity presented me with Chicken or Vegetable Soup, and was kind enough to pour me cup of good coffee while waiting for the soup to cook. He offered me a shot of Bailey's for my second cup, but I still many stops to make so I declined.
Next, Cathy at CFO: Chief Family Officer served some delightful Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Corn and Pine Nuts. She said to pair this winter soup with a grilled cheese sandwich for a complete meal. That sounded quite delish, but I knew there was stew waiting for me just up the road at Cooking Capers. Cookie served up some Chile Verde (Green Chili Stew) that was savory and filling and really spiced things up.
I was so nice and toasty warm in Cookie's kitchen, I was reluctant to go out into the cold night, but fortunately David at The Glittering Eye had the perfect recipe for beating back the cold weather with his recipe for Leek and Potato Soup.
My pockets were full of recipes by this time, but I still had many stops to make. I thanked David, who glittered his eye at me, and off into the night I went.
SIDE DISHES
The dinner hour began with Marsha Hudnall at A Weight Lifted and her recipe for Orange-Glazed Carrots and Asparagus. She wanted to be sure I was getting enough folic acid in my diet, which of course I'm not, so I was grateful. And the veggies were delish!
From there I traveled to Blog d'Elisson where Elisson-his-own-bad-self educated me on An All-Too-Often Overlooked Taste Sensation (Kishka), but this veggie version of the side dish was both healthier and easier than the standard Jewish recipe, and quite tasty!
MAIN COURSE
At my next stop, Chad, the Pirate King at Pirates! Man your Women! was serving an Mmmmm Tasty meal for his hunny and her boss and boss-wife. Such jocularity and joviality, I didn't want to leave, but at least I came away with not just one recipe, but four, to make a complete and completely pleasing meal.
When I arrived at Geek Can Cook, Aeryk served up two versions of Cubed Steaks with Mushroom Gravy, his mom's recipe and his own version. Of course, he wanted to know which I liked better, but I politely declined to give an opinion. One dasn't diss anybody's mother, and anyway, they were both good.
About this time I remembered my own dish!
I brought out my Lazy Broad's Smoky Chicken, made with Lapsang Souchong tea which gives this healthy dish a distinct smoky flavor.
And then it was time to move on for dessert.
SWEETS
Ahhh, my favorite foods, the sweets. And there was plenty good stuff to be found.
All this running around had burned off some calories, but Riannon at In the Headlights made sure I would regain my round figure with Espresso and Chocolate Swirl Cheesecake. In a word: YUM. Served with coffee, I was in heaven.
At my next stop El Capitan, presumably the captain of the Baboon Pirates served up something called Guinness Ice Cream!!!. Not wanting to be thought cowardly (and made to walk the plank), I told him I'd try it. I took some for the road, to try later, when I actually AM feeling braver.
Taleena of Sun Comprehending Glass contributed some wonderful Green Tea Ice Cream to the dessert pool.
I've always wanted to try making ice cream, and these two recipes give me a good excuse to buy an ice cream maker.
I tucked the recipes into a pocket and headed off to Keewee-land, where Keewee of keeweescorner was serving a killer chocoholic recipe for Adults Only Brownies. These scrumptious brownies had coffee-chocolate icing, and coffee liqueur inside.
Since she was serving them with great coffee, I had to pry myself out of my chair when it was time to leave. She sent me on my way with my coffee and choco-cravings satisfied.
At my next stop, Jami Leigh at Jami Leigh served Orange Balls, a really tasty and easy recipe I'm going to have to serve at my next tea party - but "shhhh, don't give anyone the recipe!" she said, as she tucked the recipe into my coat pocket.
In honor of it being Hot Tea Month, DeputyHeadmistress at The Common Room offered Recipes for tea, poundcake, and Chicago Puffs from a vintage (1870 or so) book on homemaking, all served up with hospitality her Aunt Sophronia would have been proud of.
DRINKS
As the evening drew to a close, I headed back toward home. I had only one more stop to make. I was looking forward to the Healthy Recipe Doctor Elaine Magee's recipe for HOT FLASH MOCHACCINO - YES, now that's what I need.
I finally arrived home, tired, but happy. I made myself a cup of Jack Sparrow's Coffee with some good spiced rum and prepared to snuggle in for the night and review my pockets-full of recipes. What a great cache!
WHAT IS THIS??? Heidi Mapp from Frugal Wisdom from Wenchypoo's Warehouse somehow snuck a note into my pocket: Frittering with Cookbooks - The description said: "This is not a recipe-- rather , it explains how recipes stifle individual creativity. An anti-recipe, if you will." Huh. Well, the Carnival isn't a cookbook, although it does flagrantly encourage the sharing and distribution of recipes. I always sort of assumed that folx only use recipes as starting points. You gotta learn somehow. But hey, I'm all for creativity.
And on that note, I am trundling happily off to bed, with visions of recipes dancing in my head.
UPDATE! I don't know what happened last night, but somehow I completely bypassed Punctilious' abode! Ninnyhammers! Noodlehead!! Well, I'm on my way over there this morning for some Russian Tea, planning to do a lot of bowing and scraping and apologizing. It's been years since I've had anything with Tang in it, I'm looking forward to this! If I can drink it from my awkward position on the floor, that is ...
Next week's carnival will be a potluck held at Triticale the wheat/rye guy, so bring yer favorite potluck dish to share! Post recipes by Saturday noon, either by email to recipe-dot-carnival-at-neversendspam-gmail-dot-c0m, or you can use the Conservative Cat's Carnival Submission Form.
Much bowing and scraping to Beth, our Founder in Chief and She Who Will Be Obeyed, for making all this possible. :)
Nighty-nite, and happy cooking!
Great road trip!
Posted by: Michele | January 23, 2006 at 11:14 AM
Yum! Thank you so much for hosting -- this looks to be a VERY interesting collection!
Posted by: cookie | January 22, 2006 at 01:49 PM
Christine, you have made a 'scrumptious' journey, collecting and organising all these wonderful recipes into a feast for our eyes.
Thank you, from one chocoholic to another.
Posted by: keewee | January 22, 2006 at 11:27 AM