Mary Anne here. Mariel’s BFF is getting married in May, and naturally we’ll be hosting her bridal shower. Mariel’s gal pal is like the second daughter I never had, and so of course I want the party to reflect how much we love her. One of the best ways to express our devotion is through[…]
Montrachet and Walnut Quesadillas with Apple, Fig, and Date Salsa
Mary Anne here. At Feast on the Cheap, we’ve written our fair share about enjoying breakfast for dinner. And Mariel realized recently that when I broke out the pancake batter for our night-time repast when she was just a little girl, it was more an act of…ummm…laziness, rather than altruistic, motherly benevolence. Busted by my brood,[…]
Strawberry Mousse
Mary Anne here. While Mariel is busy trimming her caloric intake with naturally sweet, healthful condiments like this Cucumber and Watermelon Salad with Pickled Onions, I seem to be channeling my Southern ancestors, conjuring up sweet strawberry confections like this delicious mousse. Did I mention that not one, but TWO kinds of sugar candy-coat this[…]
A Boatload of New England Clam Chowder
Mary Anne here. Writing this recipe tonight reminds me of the old expression “Mad dogs and Englishmen” as it’s probably a bit insane whipping up my lazy man’s chowder amidst an early June heat wave. But I do love chowder and since summer just seems to scream for clams, I’ve dutifully transcribed my favorite rendition in[…]
Puff Pastry Bites with Stilton, Fig Jam, and Candy-Glazed Walnuts
Mary Anne here. Living in the Northeast, this wickedly wild winter left me wanting to hibernate. And while our spring has certainly had its fair share of dark and dreary days, we’ve also enjoyed intermittent bouts of sunshine and warmth. I am SO ready for real spring weather that I’m determined to dust off the[…]
French Onion Soup
Mary Anne here. This recipe was created for my youngest son Christopher. Despite his youth, he’s become somewhat of a connoisseur when it comes to French Onion Soup…and I mean connoisseur in the sense that he’s tried every variety out there. He’s eaten the weakest, saltiest, rubber-cheesiest charlatans, but so strong is his love for[…]
Easter Menu Options
Mary Anne here. No matter what your favorite childhood memory holds – Fluffy white bunnies! Hyper-competitive egg hunts! Jelly beans! – Easter, like any holiday, also brings with it high expectations when it comes to the main event — chow time! We thought we would follow what is becoming our Feast on the Cheap holiday[…]
Risotto with Shrimp and Zucchini
Mariel here. It’s taken me a little longer than I’d like to cobble together my first Feast-worthy recipe, but I found one that’s up to snuff. I present (healthy!) Risotto with Shrimp and Zucchini. I found the original recipe while cruising SELF ‘s website. I have to say, they do a fantastic job creating healthy[…]
Afternoon Tea: Organizing Your Time
Up to two weeks before is the best time to begin the baking and freezing process. Sit down with your menu and write two separate shopping lists: one for the baked goods you will produce in the weeks before, and one for the fillings that will be made in the days before. The Cheese Biscuits,[…]
Cheddar Cheese Biscuits with Smoked Ham
Mary Anne here. Most men tend to turn their noses up at the very suggestion of a “tea”, envisioning delicate concoctions that leave them largely unsatisfied. When I invited some friends, along with their spouses, to be critics for this menu, the men found themselves converts to the idea of tiny, unmanly sandwiches, as they[…]
Orange Bread with Turkey and Ginger-Apple Butter
Mary Anne here. This bread can be made up to three days before. With the bread remaining un-sliced, seal in a layer of plastic wrap followed by aluminum foil and store at room temp. This also freezes very nicely for up to two weeks. You’ll need a blender or food processor for this one as[…]
Curried Shrimp Puffs
Mary Anne here. These delicate sandwiches look like you spent hours slaving over them, but in reality, the pastry is one of the simplest to execute. Stash this one as a master recipe for desserts as well. Use the “puffs” portion of the recipe along with a pastry bag to create Cream Puffs or Éclairs[…]
Smoked Salmon with Wasabi Aioli
Mary Anne here. Wasabi Mustard is a relatively new product on the market, though I found Stonewall Kitchen makes a great one that can be ordered online. If you can’t find one in your local grocery store, simply combine Wasabi powder with white vinegar (rather than water), according to package specifications, to produce 2 Tablespoons. […]
Fresh-Baked Scones
Mary Anne here. What’s a tea without fresh baked scones? These tasty little treats are very versatile served either with butter and blackberry jam, or used as the base for strawberry shortcakes. The dough is incredibly simple to prepare. As always, when preparing pastry, the lighter your touch in the rolling, the fluffier and moister[…]
Lemon Pound Cake with Fresh Strawberries
Mary Anne here. I may be a bit biased, but in my opinion, this is simply The Best. Lemon Cake. Ever. Not only because of its moist, dense texture and lemon tang, but its flavor actually improves with one or two days in the fridge. I serve it with sliced strawberries, but any fresh berries[…]
Spring Cleaning
Spring Cleaning As the daylight hours begin to lengthen – FINALLY! – I start to feel the rumblings of my old self return. With this comes a strong desire to throw open the windows and look for the first blooms of spring outside my kitchen window. The first few days of spring are a time[…]
Jalapeño Mayonnaise
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups mayonnaise – from stock 2 Tablespoons honey – from stock 3 red or green Jalapeño chilies, minced fine – $0.87 2 cloves garlic, minced – from stock 1 ½ teaspoons horseradish – $1.79 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar – from stock ¼ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste – from stock GRAND[…]
Spring Cleaning: Jalapeño Mayonnaise
Jalapeño Mayonnaise Ingredients: 1 ½ cups mayonnaise – from stock 2 Tablespoons honey – from stock 3 red or green Jalapeño chilies, minced fine – $0.87 2 cloves garlic, minced – from stock 1 ½ teaspoons horseradish – $1.79 2 teaspoons red wine vinegar – from stock ¼ teaspoon cayenne, or to taste – from[…]
Mango Salsa
Mary Anne here. We eat A LOT of mangoes at my house. Whenever my daughter is coming home to visit, I always stock up on mangoes -Mexican, Thai, Indian, whatever. While they’re not the hardest fruit to cut, sometimes navigating around that long, flat pit means a good deal of flesh is lost or rendered[…]
Green Salad with Montrachet Croutons
Serves 8 The croutons can be made one day in advance and re-crisped on a cookie sheet at 400 degrees for 5 minutes just before serving. Ingredients for the Dressing: 4 tablespoons shallots, finely minced – $0.98 1 clove of garlic, minced – from stock 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard – from stock ¼ cup red[…]