The Calistoga Boys and Girls Club has a new clubhouse. It's a wonderful facility that supports hundreds of children in the Napa Valley community. Last week I taught a kids cooking class, I taught them to make ricotta cheese and lasagna. Under my watchful eye the kids did everything from food prep, cooking and baking to washing the pots and pans. I talked to the class about using knives and heat safely, kitchen hygiene, grocery shopping, and food nutrition. Each child took a loaf pan of lasagna home for the family dinner.
Italian Cooking at Mustards Grill
We feature the Italian cookbook section of my library this month at Mustards Pour Off Pair Off Friday's. Both John and I have been in Italy on Easter and the Italian chefs, chocolatiers and pastry chefs really know how to celebrate the religious holiday and the vernal equinox deliciously.
For the pasta Michael and I use recipes from Giuliano Bugialli's book "
Bugialli on Pasta" published in 1988.
On March 2 we begin with treats from the brilliant San Francisco food writer Carol Field and her 1997 book "
In Nonna's Kitchen: Recipes and Traditions from Italy's Grandmothers." The following Friday features recipes from the bon vivant Pellegrino Artusi and his 1891 book "
The Art of Eating Well." Believe me you will love these classic dishes that have stood the test of time.
On Saturday, March 17 Mustards will feature a
St. Patrick's Day menu that once again includes Foster's Soon to Be Famous "10 Day" Corned Beef and Danny Boy's Shepherd's Pie. Come on in.
National Egg Salad Month Eggs signify birth and spring and March is National Egg Salad Month-I am sure you knew that. So I am recommending two of my favorite egg recipes from my cookbooks. Hard-boiled eggs with best ever tapenade is from the "
Appetizers" cookbook. Smoked salmon with curried egg salad and rye toasts is great for a Sunday brunch, a light supper or a starter for a dinner party, and is from my "
Big Small Plates" cookbook. Both books can be purchased from
Mustards and
Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen websites, or of course the next time you visit us. I hope you try them.
New menu items at CBK...
Jim and Freddy have done it again. It's hard for me to choose a favorite but the tuna crudo, and the mushroom flatbread are both great ways to start a meal. The grilled asparagus and smoked salmon salad is giving the curried chicken salad competition as the top seller in the category. Try the wood oven duck leg with the port wine and rhubarb compote-it pairs well with a pinot noir wine.
Oreo Cookie Day? Yes, it's true. March 6 is national Oreo cookie day. I expect everyone to come into Cindy's Backstreet Kitchen to have a slice of your favorite campfire pie. It's made with those tasty Oreo cookies, and our house-made marshmallow fluff!
Guinness Stout Braised Oxtails Recipe
The recipe this month is
Oxtails Braised in Guinness Beer. It's a satisfying dish that can be made ahead and reheated when ready to serve. It makes a perfect St. Patrick's Day dinner.
