tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32696118612994823942012-01-29T22:35:08.811-05:00A delicious French word for something small and charming; a little sweet served after dinner with coffee. Say "mean-yar-deez".Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.comBlogger1871100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-43058116929623381222011-12-09T22:02:00.000-05:002011-12-09T22:02:21.789-05:00

À bientôt is a French expression that means "so long" or "see you later." Everything sounds better in French, n'est-ce pas? It's also a fancy way of saying that Mignardise is taking much-needed vacation. I hope to be back at some point, but for now I just want to say an enormous... to all my readers and friends.  If you want to stay in touch, you can become a Mignardise fan on Facebook. I'll

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-45473292070700520862011-11-17T08:38:00.000-05:002011-11-17T08:38:02.867-05:00

My mind (and yours, I'll bet) is now on turkey. I ordered my free-range, Maine-bred, well-educated, organic grain-eating, happy-living bird from Rosemont Market. I have folded down corners and ripped out recipes from every food magazine I could get my hands on. Cider-brine or dry brine? Breast up or down? Butter-soaked cheesecloth or baste? There's a lot to think about. I wish I could remember

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-60571502114511296402011-11-08T08:43:00.000-05:002011-11-08T08:43:49.379-05:00

Halloween has come and gone. The Bonus Baby is still hoarding Reeses cups, Milky Ways and other candy of the grocery store-variety. (Snickers and Starburst are strictly forbidden this year, due to our recent orthodontic investment in her future smile.) There's no denying the allure of a peanut butter cup or a fun-size bar of whatever the neighbors hand out. But as we grow older  mature, we

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-81643863274740899992011-10-21T10:06:00.000-04:002011-10-21T10:06:07.197-04:00

No, not that season. Not yet at least. It's pumpkin season, of course! Aren't they photogenic? And so delicious. But they're not all right for cooking and baking. What's the best kind to use? That's right. The kind in a can. If you want to spend upwards of an hour baking a sugar pumpkin, don't let me stop you. The best thing about doing it yourself is the seeds. The pumpkin flesh is no

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-1268788028949182132011-10-04T15:36:00.000-04:002011-10-04T15:36:03.526-04:00

Congratulations Kira!You're the winner of a Keurig Elite coffeemaker and Dunkin' Donuts K-cups! Thank you all so much for the comments. It's fun to see how different everyone is when it comes to coffee. ClumberKim, you and I are the closest in our taste. I take it with milk, preferably 1%, but simply cannot drink it with cream or half-and-half. I too would rather have it black. So just for that,

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-17475926461240568852011-09-24T13:34:00.000-04:002011-09-24T13:34:50.595-04:00

When did you start drinking coffee? If you're European, you might have started as a small child with a milky cappucino or cafe au lait. Americans take to it a little later, usually when they get to college and realize the benefits of caffeine. If you went to school in New England, chances are pretty good your first experience with coffee was at Dunkin' Donuts. Maybe it was an

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-5005226949209477262011-08-29T14:19:00.000-04:002011-08-29T14:19:40.195-04:00

These lovely tomatoes... plus this plus these and a few of these plus a couple of them equals... this bowl of luscious goodness. All it takes is some high oven heat to turn zucchini, eggplant, peppers, onions and tomatoes into ratatouille (say ra-ta-twee), a Provencal dish that's the epitome of summer. I've been making it for years, in lots of different ways. The "most authentic"

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-10445607636021751932011-08-21T21:54:00.000-04:002011-08-21T21:54:14.425-04:00

Wow...great comments! Thanks to everyone who entered the contest to win The Maine Summers Cookbook. Here's my high tech choosing method - the Bonus Baby picks names from a basket! The winner is Janet! Janet, please send me an email with your home address and I will send the cookbook right out to you. My readers have a lot to get done before summer ends and most of it involves eating. I

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-87971678215223939592011-08-14T21:02:00.000-04:002011-08-14T21:02:03.720-04:00

I haven't posted much this summer. That's partly because I haven't cooked much this summer. The big kids both have jobs that take them through the dinner hour most nights. Bob works until dinner time then wants to go for a bike ride. That leaves me and the Bonus Baby. I hate to say it, but I don't really feel like firing up the grill for the two of us. We might graze leftovers.  (Leftovers from

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-26203056950382262742011-08-03T09:29:00.000-04:002011-08-03T09:29:45.989-04:00

Truth be told, I hate making appetizers. Too many little things. Sometimes a nice dip works fine. And you can always fall back on gaucamole. But the day always comes when someone asks you to bring an appetizer to a last minute get-together that includes several Italian guests who are used to something a bit more sophisticated. Once again, thank you Barefoot Contessa, from the bottom of my

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-58001848088839506042011-07-17T10:06:00.000-04:002011-07-17T10:06:41.849-04:00

10. Chairs set out on the parade route a full week before the parade. And nobody thinks that's strange. 9. A 7' tall friendly clam named Steamer. 8. Lime rickeys! Nothing's better on a hot day. 7. Seeing your own kids in the parade. 6. Dancin' in the street! 5. Friendly servers! 4. Volunteer cleaner-uppers! 3. Bike valet service! 2. Lobster rolls for lunch and dinner. 1. Clams

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-18989871541075325562011-07-08T07:40:00.000-04:002011-07-08T07:40:13.620-04:00

Of all the patriotic, red-white-and-blue novelty foods I could have cooked up last weekend, my favorite thing turned out to be salad dressing. How unglamorous. Not even fun, really. But quite delicious. And I would do it again. Later this summer, with raspberries instead of the strawberries. Or maybe I'll go out on a limb and use blueberries in August, daredevil that I am. I happily served

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-92181311142960577422011-06-23T22:20:00.000-04:002011-06-23T22:20:09.096-04:00

There's a reason we tolerate Maine winters. Maine summers. The solstice on Tuesday was absolute perfection. At 6 pm we thought, "How we can best take advantage of this?" We hopped in the car and headed to... It's in Georgetown. You go through Bath, where they build the wicked big ships, and take a right. Go all the way to end. You can enjoy the view. And you can eat. The lobster roll

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-74379907599277296192011-06-15T18:28:00.000-04:002011-06-15T18:28:01.546-04:00

My poor neglected blog. Just lying there, so eager to please, so hungry for some attention. Its mother  author has been so, so busy. We had a graduation. That's the Bonus Baby over his shoulder How that sweet little boy grew to become this big lovable going-to-college guy overnight, I'll never understand. We had graduation parties. And company. We had senior awards and convocation.

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-42690412704157029072011-05-25T15:52:00.000-04:002011-05-25T15:52:18.718-04:00

Parmesan salsa. Kind of sounds like an oxymoron. Like Asian bistro (yes, I'm looking at you Kon) or Mexican sushi. But guess what? The word for sauce in Italian is salsa. So you'd think then that this makes perfect sense. But Parmesan salsa is not really a sauce; it's more of a dip or a scoopable snack. But frankly, once you taste this, you won't care what it's called or whether it even

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-84474261040750899222011-05-16T14:29:00.000-04:002011-05-16T14:29:10.224-04:00

I've written before about perfection and the subjectivity of it. For example, if you like gray skies and rainy days, today is perfect for you. If you don't, you (and I) are out of luck, today and the rest of the week. How about chocolate chip cookies?Which is the perfect one?For some people, that might be Chips Ahoy.For others, Mrs. Fields is the ultimate.When you do much of your own baking,

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-87387889127997044202011-05-07T21:45:00.000-04:002011-05-07T21:45:36.322-04:00

I don't really care which horse wins the Kentucky Derby. They're all beautiful, graceful and strong. Photo by Sam English I like the colors of the silks that the jockeys wear. And of course the ladies' hats are.. so... interesting. As with many sporting events (except state championship football), I am mostly interested in the food. I heard they eat pimento cheese in the south. (

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-85754106104683144452011-04-29T21:20:00.000-04:002011-04-29T21:20:05.579-04:00

I wish  tea time was a tradition that endured from the days of British rule here in the colonies. Wouldn't it be lovely to stop whatever tragically dull thing you're working on at 4 pm to enjoy a cuppa along with a biscuit, a tiny cucumber sandwich or scone? A moment to reconnect with yourself and whoever else happens to be around? And since we're fantasizing, how about if the tea was served

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-33483296758572211702011-04-22T13:27:00.000-04:002011-04-22T13:27:02.155-04:00

If circumstances ever find you in the Reading, Pennsylvania area (where we recently spent spring break because of some of our own circumstances), take yourself to Judy's on Cherry  for dinner. It took us four nights to get there, which was a tragic mistake. In order to save you from wasting time at many of the other mediocre restaurants in the area, I will tell you this: go the first night you're

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-4733311248410214122011-04-10T19:57:00.000-04:002011-04-10T19:57:59.746-04:00

The calendar might say spring, but the cool weather will not let go here in Maine. There still piles of snow at the end of my driveway and a cold breeze coming of the water. Go ahead. Feel sorry for me. I feel sorry for little Maine girls at Easter time. Every where else girls are dressed in sweet little outfits with shiny white shoes and a pastel cardigan. More often than not, little girls

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-58594894302855929572011-04-05T18:13:00.000-04:002011-04-05T18:13:36.370-04:00

My Mom asked me to do this for her, because she's been quite busy lately.  So, last week I asked her to bring  the drinks to my math team practice. Well, she forgot. We ended up going to the water fountain. She said she would make us a delicious snack to make up for forgetting.  Last time she made pumpkin bread and everybody loved it. Because of that, I asked her to make pumpkin cupcakes with

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-16284849306150108972011-03-20T17:20:00.000-04:002011-03-20T17:20:09.759-04:00

Last Monday was Pi Day. Pi as in 3.14 etc. etc. etc. I am afraid of pi because I'm not mathy. Unlike my husband and one of my children (you know who you are), who think it's fun to do math problems as a way to pass time. I'd rather read every book in the library (twice) than face an algebraic equation. The worst grade I ever got in high school was a D in algebra. It was devastating and

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-40030394310665529692011-03-14T21:35:00.000-04:002011-03-14T21:35:35.462-04:00

I know you think of me as a chocolate person (if you think of me at all). But I am hereby on the record as saying: I cannot resist a french fry. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone with this weakness. You might be like me and hardly ever order them for yourself. But let's see a show of hands from those of you have never stolen a few fries off your kids' plates. See. I knew it. Not one of you. Because

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-28471349438307618612011-03-06T21:35:00.001-05:002011-03-07T06:49:31.223-05:00

When my kids were little we had a Buckwheat Zydeco cd that we played over and over and in the car. How a family in New England became enamored of a Lousiana zydeco band, I don't know. I have no recollection of how that cd came to be in our possession. All I know is, I never minded listening to it umpteen times in a row because the music is so infectiously happy. Wikipedia says zydeco, a form

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-39566074896993207652011-03-01T19:51:00.000-05:002011-03-01T19:51:25.014-05:00

What can you do for a friend when she's having what is most assuredly the worst day of her life? Anything she wants. And after that, you can make her a big pile of something chocolate. She may not feel like eating it today, but I bet she will soon. When a friend is hurting, it's sometimes hard to know what to do. A lot of us turn to food. We're not always sure if that's the right thing but

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-57390434697058773132011-02-15T21:23:00.000-05:002011-02-15T21:23:53.675-05:00

In five days I will be on my way to the land of  the blazing sun, trail rides among the cacti, prickly pear margaritas and a lunchtime dessert buffet guaranteed to make me gain a couple of vacation pounds. This paradise is also known as Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson. To say that I am looking forward to this would be an enormous understatement. This winter's cold winds, relentless snow and some

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-59911125005015764062011-02-12T11:26:00.000-05:002011-02-12T11:26:52.383-05:00

After all those Nutella treats last week, I was left craving a salad. A really good salad. The kind that makes you not care if there's anything else for dinner. When I was growing up (and probably you too), salad consisted of a cellophane wrapped head of iceberg lettuce, a pinkish tomato or two from that plastic cello-pack and a cucumber. Dusty croutons from a box were a special treat. In

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-41187220323263542942011-02-05T10:00:00.000-05:002011-02-05T10:00:53.866-05:00

Did you know the Nutella jar says... An example of a tasty yet balanced breakfast - a glass of skim milk, orange juice and Nutella on whole wheat bread. Hahahahahahahhahaha. That is so funny. I mean, where's the coffee? We all know a truly balanced breakfast would be Nutella pancakes, coffee and a Nutella scone. Maybe with a Nutella biscotti chaser. And, if you insist, a glass of skim

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-85174671260320204272011-02-03T20:48:00.002-05:002011-02-05T10:01:48.729-05:00

Happy World Nutella Day! And welcome to the fifth day of Nutella week here at Mignardise.For all things Nutella, be sure to check out our hosts, Bleeding Espresso and Ms. Adventure in Italy. They will be posting hundreds of Nutella-filled treats and ideas. There are a few things I've learned about Nutella this week.1. It's a natural complement to coffee. Especially coffee ice cream. See 

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-40922309941857513842011-02-02T21:46:00.000-05:002011-02-02T21:46:54.830-05:00

Welcome to my 200th post! Hard to believe I've written that many. And you're still here. Thanks. I really mean it. Without you I would be nothing. Rien, as they say in France. It's for you I sacrifice and experiment. Mix and chop. Simmer and stir. For you, I ignore my children then force them to consume meals they are entirely unsure of. It's for you I do things like make Nutella treats six days

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-29157288952849432662011-02-01T20:33:00.000-05:002011-02-01T20:33:58.365-05:00

In Nutella Land, lots of people are enamored with Nutella hot chocolate. Make hot chocolate, stir in Nutella. Yum. But I got to thinking about Nutella in a cold drink. The idea occurred to me this morning as I was at the gym, working off yesterday's Nutella pancakes. I often think about food while I exercise. Don't tell me you're any different. I considered a Nutella smoothie. Maybe

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-74247710140871633862011-01-31T21:43:00.000-05:002011-01-31T21:43:36.538-05:00

There are two BIG things coming up fast this week. Another major snowstorm, predicted for Wednesday. (Please, spare me.) And World Nutella Day on Saturday. The combination of these two events has made me decide that this week should be all-Nutella here at Mignardise. Because I believe that enough Nutella can cure cabin fever. It can give me my son the energy needed for marathon shoveling. And

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-82375458739222400802011-01-23T08:38:00.000-05:002011-01-23T08:38:04.645-05:00

There are few things more soothing than soup. When your tummy is sick, or your nose is stuffy it's time for soup.If your teeth hurt, you can still eat soup.And when your heart is broken, soup might be just the thing to help it mend. Of course you could argue that ice cream could do all the same things.But this January and this is Maine and we prefer soup at this moment. In fact, January is

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-24034533519928070992011-01-13T15:53:00.000-05:002011-01-13T15:53:41.328-05:00

Another snow storm, another chance to flex my baking muscles. Before a storm such as this, most people like to stock up on the essentials - milk, batteries, candles, canned goods, wine. My pre-storm necessities include brown sugar, eggs, cocoa powder, chocolate chips and lots of butter. Having the essentials on hand means I can have some flexibility. If I'm feeling like brownies, no problem.

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-68767728168785083352011-01-11T08:09:00.000-05:002011-01-11T08:09:45.577-05:00

When a classic French dessert marries a beloved Italian confection, you get gianduia mousse. Don't be afraid of pronouncing it.  Just say "ghan-do-ya", with a soft "g". Then say: Gianduia is an ethereal combination of ground hazelnuts and chocolate. You probably know it as Nutella.(ALERT: World Nutella Day is coming up fast - February 5. Stay tuned!)Rather than using Nutella straight from the

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-509650986627509592011-01-03T20:37:00.001-05:002011-01-07T13:04:59.708-05:00

It's January 3. Are you tired of all those eat-right-and-get-in-shape resolution articles and blog posts yet?You know the ones... LOSE 10 LBS IN ONE WEEK! GET RID OF HOLIDAY WEIGHT! EAT RIGHT - SLIM DOWN! I'm all for clean eating, especially after the December food fest and merrymaking. And don't forget that little incident back in June, that made us take a serious look at our diet. But

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-70037171408137954132010-12-27T12:32:00.001-05:002011-01-08T10:32:34.678-05:00

It's blowing something fierce out there. The snow is piling up in drifts. We are, as we say in Maine, hunkering down. And I love it. Because I had absolutely nothing planned. Isn't that fabulous? The day after Christmas is a perfect day for a storm. New books, new toys, and a new Le Creuset dutch oven. In kiwi. Yay! The Patriots are smacking around the Buffalo Bills and there's chili

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-2008093555190792142010-12-19T20:32:00.000-05:002010-12-19T20:32:20.940-05:00

A kitchen that cleans itself. Including a dishwasher that miraculously empties during the night. An oven that heats evenly. Oh wait, I mean an oven that actually works. Summer tomatoes, year 'round. Blueberries too. A Le Creuset dutch oven. A nice wine that won't give me a headache in the morning. Cookies without guilt. A lemon tree in my backyard. A chocolate tour with David Lebovitz.

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-23556518239207848242010-12-13T17:39:00.000-05:002010-12-13T17:39:00.605-05:00

How's that holiday cookie baking thing going for you? How many pounds of butter have you blended into little nuggets of joy? Is there powdered sugar in every possible crevice of your kitchen? Is your head spinning with all the cookie possibilities? Are we having fun yet? If you detect a note of sarcasm in this post, you're not mistaken. It goes without saying that I love to bake (yet...I

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47212903223870270962010-12-07T14:00:00.000-05:002010-12-07T14:00:48.477-05:00

I'm not sure how peppermint became the predominant flavor of the holiday season. Does anyone know? Not that I'm complaining. Peppermint and chocolate are a favorite flavor combo. Like peppermint stick ice cream with hot fudge. Or chocolate peppermint bark. And York peppermint patties. These layered peppermint brownies were a hit when I made them last weekend. One batch got wrapped up and sold

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-45552006936196315012010-12-02T07:46:00.000-05:002010-12-02T07:46:04.132-05:00

I don't know about you, but right about now my stomach can't handle much more. The past week or so has been a food fest the likes of which I haven't enjoyed since the birthday blowout last July. Thanksgiving was all deliciousness and butter, with a side of bacon and cheese. Then there was 3 days in New York city that included visits to Economy Candy, Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill, Dylan's Candy Bar

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-43936057553066692262010-11-24T08:56:00.000-05:002010-11-24T08:56:08.765-05:00

It may not seem as exciting to you as it is to me, but the thing we are most thankful this year is: That's my boy, front and center, holding the trophy, #51. So please indulge me while I brag for a moment, then we'll get to the food. These guys have only been a varsity team for 4 years. In that time, they've gone from a completely winless first season to state champions. We're all grateful for

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-55449044857867702942010-11-16T13:39:00.000-05:002010-11-16T13:39:36.692-05:00

For those of you unaware, I work part time at a small, independent bookstore, here in my small Maine town. It's always been a dream of mine to work in a bookstore. so when this opportunity came up, I was thrilled. It's the perfect job for me. Talk about books. Recommend books. Look at new books. Visit with customers, about half of whom I know. Many others become friends. Read books, when there

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-46750472095468211402010-11-10T13:13:00.001-05:002010-11-10T13:13:45.035-05:00

Perfection is ineffable.Click here if you don't know what that means. We food bloggers are always either looking for the perfect recipe or claiming to have it. There are so many variations of the same thing - what makes one perfect and another slightly less perfect? What about taking personal taste into account? I might like a chewy, gooey chocolate chip cookie. You may prefer yours crispy. Or

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-77148195428332729152010-11-06T10:43:00.000-04:002010-11-06T10:43:58.532-04:00

The farmers' market is still going strong. All kinds of squash, hardy greens, Brussels sprouts, potatoes and other root vegetables have taken over. These vegetables may not hold the same glamour as a juicy, ripe tomato or jewel-like berries. But they're what we have this time of year, so let's make the best of it. Recipes using squash and apples are all over the blogosphere, but I've seen

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-42748006096677987052010-11-01T16:07:00.001-04:002010-11-01T21:27:49.431-04:00

I have a Halloween hangover.What do they put in candy corn anyways? Crack?Once you get started with it, it's nearly impossible to stop. But the good news is, I have something for you that's also addictive, but MUCH better for you.In fact, it's downright healthful. Cranberries have anti-cancer properties, are high in antioxidants and loaded with vitamin C.That's all just fine, but the bottom

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-90852202719664066132010-10-27T12:54:00.000-04:002010-10-27T12:54:00.250-04:00

What's your favorite Halloween candy? I'm a Butterfingers lover (see this post for proof), Junior Mints fan and Raisinets snarfer. For many it's not Halloween unless there's a big bowl of candy corn. Did you know candy corn comes in all kinds of flavors now? I sent my daughter-in-college a bag of s'mores flavored candy corn. (Haven't gotten a report back yet.) I like the caramel flavored kind.

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47503417746554222172010-10-22T22:30:00.000-04:002010-10-22T22:30:23.891-04:00

As I sit in my little office (aka sunroom) I was just about to write up the souffle and the giveaway winner. But I am interrupted by the beauty out the window.It is one spectacular morning in Maine!The colors across the river are brilliant and vivid in the sunlight. Russet and gold balanced with evergreen, crimson and pumpkin against a blue-gray sky. Every now and then I catch a quick glimpse

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-22718393179079060202010-10-18T22:03:00.001-04:002010-10-19T07:10:53.172-04:00

Recently, I challenged myself make to three new recipes (new to me). Bread - done, done, and done. Made three loaves. I am the new superhero of the family. Marshmallows were next. Not quite what we had hoped for. They're a bit....odd. Bland, springy, flat. Maybe too much gelatin? So I did what any sensible person would do.  Covered them in chocolate. I'll try making marshmallows again

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-44748232618833896232010-10-13T13:26:00.001-04:002010-10-18T08:26:04.922-04:00

As I believe I've said before, I've always been intimidated by yeast.See a recipe with yeast. Turn the page.Not sure why. Maybe it's the fact that it's a living thing and could therefore be temperamental.I don't need any attitude from my food. Having completed my first foray into bread baking just this morning, I can now say  What was I waiting for?  Some of you with more experience may think

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-6085622464207545332010-10-12T08:29:00.000-04:002010-10-12T08:29:42.965-04:00

Two years ago this week I started this little blog. And it's still little. And I'm kind of ok with that. I truly appreciate every single one of my readers. Sure there are days when I wish I was Pioneer Woman or Bakerella. But then the pressure to keep it up might be too much.  I wouldn't be able to get the morning newspaper in my bathrobe because I'd worry about the paparazzi. And I might be

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-29084273319218626042010-10-04T21:36:00.000-04:002010-10-04T21:36:14.064-04:00

I cannot be trusted around muffins. Don't leave me alone in your kitchen if you've been baking some. All willpower disappears, like steam rising from a cup of coffee left on the counter too long. And speaking of coffee, is there anything better on a Sunday morning than a freshly baked muffin and a big mug of French roast? Some might argue that a muffin is just a cupcake masquerading as

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-4612820638934228932010-09-27T11:30:00.001-04:002010-09-28T08:39:02.081-04:00

One of the best things about my cooking group is the fact that it forces gives me the chance to push my culinary boundaries. Not only do I get to taste foods I wouldn't otherwise, but I cook them as well. This month's theme was Rick Bayless recipes. Unless you watch cooking shows as religiously as I do (or live in Chicago), you may not be familiar with  Rick. He's the authority on authentic

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-55879840188169403942010-09-21T16:21:00.002-04:002010-09-21T16:30:47.497-04:00

September is truly the golden month in Maine. Still warm enough for boating or biking during the day. Cool enough for a campfire or a cup of hot tea in the evening. The farmers' markets are still in full swing. Berries have given way to apples and Brussels sprouts (yay!) are the new zucchini. And how about these sweet little peppers? Soooo cute. This week I branched out a bit and bought

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-37286359593954717462010-09-17T10:26:00.000-04:002010-09-17T10:26:59.772-04:00

Trying to adjust to the new back to school schedule has been...trying. I am not a morning person. Perhaps I became this way in an effort to avoid all the name-calling, door-slamming and other dramatics that went on in my childhood home before 7 am each day. Whatever. I'll take that up in therapy next week. But now that mini-Mignardise (aka the Bonus Baby, or child #3 who is quite a bit younger

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-39093840193148678002010-09-13T07:52:00.000-04:002010-09-13T07:52:54.732-04:00

Dear Readers,Please excuse Mignardise's absence for the past ten days. She has been extremely busy getting her daughter back to college, feeding the football player and enjoying the waning days of an excellent Maine summer. She promises to turn her attention to blogging now. Since I've been AWOL for the past ten days, today I bring you a two-fer. You know, two recipes in one post. Both are

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-32408549713437774542010-09-02T17:47:00.001-04:002010-09-05T09:35:28.097-04:00

 Throughout the summer, I approach the farmers' markets each week with enthusiasm, excitement and anticipation.  So much color and texture. So much choice. So many possibilities. Until there's not. Suddenly it's September and now I visit the market with a bit of trepidation. What if there aren't any more Sungolds? Is this the last week for blackberries? Will those baby zucchini still be here

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-11034180240844523892010-08-27T14:55:00.000-04:002010-08-27T14:55:10.824-04:00

As Ferris Bueller says, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it." One minute you're enjoying fresh strawberry country cake and setting off fireworks in the backyard and the next minute you're in an over air-conditioned Staples stocking up on 6 different colors of "sturdy homework folders". And the first  high school football game of

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-64563506926881366882010-08-24T16:17:00.000-04:002010-08-24T16:17:11.396-04:00

Here I am five days into the promised post-a-day-for-a-week and what did I do yesterday? I FORGOT to post! No, I wasn't too busy. Just working at the book store where there was definitely some down time. I used it to check Facebook. And read other blogs. You'd think that would remind me to write my own. Nor did I run out of ideas. Got plenty of those. I just forgot. Whoops. I guess it's to be

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-59537322669011570532010-08-22T20:19:00.000-04:002010-08-22T20:19:24.184-04:00

Ever wonder how this can become this? Turning a green vegetable into a truly moist and delicious chocolate cake is a pretty good party trick. And I swear, you (or your children) would never guess there's zucchini in there. No little green specks, no weird textures. I made this and brought it into the book store with me one day last week. It made the UPS guy, the postal worker and a couple

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-75024768442016596642010-08-21T21:21:00.000-04:002010-08-21T21:21:30.812-04:00

A visit to the BIG Portland farmers' market today had my mind swirling like a midwest tornado. So much beautiful produce. So many ways to use it. What could I subject my family to tonight? Ok, peppers it is! I had seen this recipe a week or two ago and it sounded like something we'd really like. Oh man was I right. I love when that happens. You could do this with any kind of chile

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-73988122799060687242010-08-20T19:20:00.000-04:002010-08-20T19:20:37.889-04:00

Lucky me. I am part of a wonderful cooking group that meets once a month. Whoever hosts gets to choose the theme and the menu. In August, choosing to work with local produce is a no-brainer. Jennifer put together an excellent menu highlighting Maine's blueberries. We started with Blueberry Mojitos. They were served with a delicious crab salad in endive.  It was a beautiful evening, so we

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-52625127337443854972010-08-19T21:58:00.000-04:002010-08-19T21:58:20.561-04:00

It's the perfect evening for an on-the-deck summer supper. We have friends from the Ranch coming and the menu is full of the season's best fruits and vegetables. There's a little meat too 'cause some protein is never a bad thing. Since I've committed to bringing you a week's worth of summer produce recipes, I'm going to stretch this  out over several days, one dish at a time. Today it's...

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-9148083610117789122010-08-18T12:46:00.001-04:002010-08-19T08:24:12.633-04:00

Hi. Guess what I decided to do. Post everyday for the next week. Big commitment, I know. But it's nearing the end of summer and there are so many delicious things still to do. And make. Awhile back, I wrote about how I cannot grow anything. But I am the farmers' market best customer. I'm happy to pay whatever it takes to get this kind of produce. Let's call it the Summer Produce-palooza

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-1835261246435933872010-08-13T21:43:00.002-04:002010-08-14T08:48:08.352-04:00

Hey guys - I know you're wondering, "where is the rest of this post?" Friends, you gotta click on the title where through the magic of the internet you will be taken to my ACTUAL BLOG! Go for it. Ok, now that you are where you should be, welcome to my post created for Food for Thought, where books are cooked and reviewed. If you live in New England, you are surely aware of the existence of

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47068789116178418182010-08-10T14:31:00.000-04:002010-08-10T14:31:44.371-04:00

Rested up? Ready to get back into the game? Here we go... 4 pm  Having been subjected to punishingly cold air conditioning all day,  I decide it's time to get some real air. Like outside. I have an agenda. Find Momofuku Milk Bar, home of the justifiably famous Compost Cookie and Crack Pie. 4:10 pm  Hit in the face with August-in-New-York heat as I leave the Hilton. Google Maps tells me that

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-27769503189751037752010-08-08T23:33:00.002-04:002010-08-09T21:20:11.702-04:00

Come along! Join me at my first day at BlogHer 2010 in lovely New York City... 7:00 am Wake up slightly hung over from last night's dinner and wine at Jean-Georges' Nougatine, with college roommate, her husband and Sean of Spectacularly Delicious. 7:45 am Make my way down to the Newbie Breakfast, where presumably, everyone there knows no one there. Like me. A charming and friendly Texan named

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-57837997303859295832010-08-03T11:40:00.000-04:002010-08-03T11:40:27.719-04:00

Right about now, you may be thinking of expanding your grilling repertoire. One more night of hamburgers or teriyaki salmon could put you right over the edge, no matter how delicious they are. Well here's what's for dinner tonight. Grilled shrimp and sausages with a smoky paprika glaze. Between the spicy sausages, the tang of the glaze and the meatiness of the jumbo shrimp, there's a whole lot

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-79654740158162867402010-07-27T11:44:00.003-04:002010-07-28T15:53:55.402-04:00

Blueberries, raspberries and all manner of stone fruits hog all the glory this time of year.Who can resist? But don't forget our friend, the banana.Who's there for you in the dead of winter, when berries are pale and overpriced?Who makes a homey muffin or comforting bread, companion to morning coffee in March? And whose sunny yellow color cheers up a dark kitchen any time of year?The banana!

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-27179240718720142742010-07-21T22:33:00.000-04:002010-07-21T22:33:41.572-04:00

After a weekend full of clams, crafts and carnival rides, we were all ready for something healthy and fresh to eat. Steamer the Clam at Yarmouth Clam Festival All I wanted was something green. Aside from the limes in the lime rickeys, I had had nothing green in days.Ouch. This salad is as green and clean as you can get.  The yogurt vinaigrette is tangy and herby with a hint of sweetness. 

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-52384119157650535202010-07-12T22:18:00.002-04:002010-07-12T22:18:52.811-04:00

If you were planning the perfect birthday party for yourself, what would it be like? A swanky soiree with chamber music, Champagne and 200 of your closest friends? A backyard barbecue featuring coolers full of icy beer and steaks on the grill? Dinner at the hottest restaurant in town followed by dancing on a rooftop terrace? There are so many options and when you're turning 50, you want it to

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-2837354843244191532010-07-06T18:06:00.000-04:002010-07-06T18:06:18.386-04:00

How was your holiday weekend?Hot? Busy? Delicious? Mine was all of the above.A house full of company, kids and dogs. Lots of boating, trying to catch a cool breeze. Plenty of eating, drinking and preparation for eating and drinking. With all that going on, the best time of day is certainly cocktail hour (or half hour). A glass of rose wine or an expertly mixed Madras (thanks Greg!) hits the

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-31594243504371951902010-06-30T15:38:00.002-04:002010-07-01T16:53:22.398-04:00

You never know when you'll have something to celebrate. Like the fact that your husband didn't have a massive heart attack before they could get two stents placed in his artery. Or that your kid kids finished up the year with truly excellent grades and managed to stay out of trouble. You can celebrate anything - finishing a good book, taking a long (or any) bike ride, a beautiful day, a phone

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47490604788742381862010-06-24T18:04:00.001-04:002010-06-25T09:19:19.558-04:00

It started with a little discomfort in the chest, mistaken for indigestion. A stress test was recommended. He failed. And now, four days later, my husband is a man who has to watch his diet, limiting fats, salt and anything else that might raise his cholesterol and contribute to his heart disease. I doubt I'll be baking Nutella Rugelach any time soon. The Katharine Hepburn brownies will be

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-44467834067155310722010-06-18T17:56:00.000-04:002010-06-18T17:56:09.696-04:00

You may have heard all my whining and complaining about it being mid-June and I was still without a local strawberry. Unable to get into the Wednesday farmers market, I took a short drive to Pineland Farm.  This gem in the rolling hills of New Gloucester is a 5000 (that's right - five thousand) acre working farm, a business campus, an equestrian center and outdoor recreational facility (

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-66685295350611036372010-06-13T13:51:00.000-04:002010-06-13T13:51:58.629-04:00

It doesn't quite feel like summer here yet. Close, but not quite. As I look out over the river, there's some boat traffic, but the cloudy skies have kept the usual parade of Sunday pleasure craft at the dock. The kids have another couple of days of school. I've yet to see a local strawberry. I have not consumed even one lobster roll. And thankfully, I have not had to put on a bathing suit - yet.

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-55336525434185436252010-06-03T17:41:00.001-04:002010-06-03T17:44:19.623-04:00

Because you were so busy oohing and aahing over my Italy pictures in the last post, you may have skipped over the mention of a delicious triangular-shaped pasta that we ate on our first night in Florence. Maybe because it was our first dish of pasta upon arriving,  or maybe we were just so freaking tired - either way this dish tasted miraculous. We were eating at Beccaio, with some friends who

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-2743084342528513922010-05-30T12:54:00.002-04:002010-05-30T13:04:01.385-04:00

Is it, in short, ever well to be elsewhere when one might be in Italy?                                                                                                                                                                                   Edith Wharton What is it about Italy that makes us swoon?  Just saying the name of that romantic place is enough to set off daydreams, from which

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47398854630273310822010-05-13T17:45:00.000-04:002010-05-13T17:45:57.603-04:00

Have I told you that I'm going to Italy? I am! I mean we are - Bob and me. Next week, if the Icelandic volcano gods are willing.Per favore...let me get to Italy... The itinerary goes something like this: Florence, Cinque Terre, Lucca then back to Florence.I am open to any and all suggestions from my dear readers who have been to any of these bella places lately.Grazie! So in order to get my

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-54667198400193026802010-05-07T22:39:00.001-04:002010-05-08T09:17:35.795-04:00

One man's humble quest to follow the Bible as literally as possible... A.J.  Jacobs is an editor at Esquire magazine and an author. In search of a follow-up project to his bestseller, The Know-It-All,  Jacobs decides to attempt living the Bible, with all its rules and commandments, as literally as possible. In the introduction he tells us, I am officially Jewish, but I'm Jewish in the same

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-59205743533274197832010-05-03T20:06:00.000-04:002010-05-03T20:06:36.988-04:00

Yesterday I finally got my ass bike in gear and went for a ride. Four miles in, my rear tire blew. Luckily I had the one tool I really needed to fix it. My cell phone. "Hello Bob. I'm on Sligo Road and I have a flat tire." My husband to the rescue. No matter how many times he tries to teach me to change a tire, my eyes just glaze over. I know I should be proficient at it, but frankly, I'm just

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-8110433169028721392010-04-26T18:03:00.000-04:002010-04-26T18:03:36.018-04:00

I'm embarrassed to say that I've hardly cooked a thing since that lemon tart. First there was some minor dental surgery that necessitated the eating of only soft foods, like ice cream (no New York Super Fudge Chunk) and cottage cheese pancakes. Then there was the college search road trip with my son. We flew into Virginia last Thursday for a whirlwind tour of three schools. Info session

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-10001880281636519352010-04-19T11:13:00.000-04:002010-04-19T11:13:04.844-04:00

Some people I know have lemons growing right in their own backyards. A lotta lemons. So many lemons they don't even know what to do with them. That just doesn't happen here in Maine. Ever. We have lobsters everywhere you look, but no lemons. We have to go to the local grocery and buy lemons. So I did. And look at the deliciousness I made with those lemons. It's The Most Extraordinary

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-46315957633817416532010-04-10T16:47:00.001-04:002010-04-12T15:00:06.378-04:00

What kind of brownies did you make? Baked. Yes, of course they're baked. What recipe? Baked. Aren't all brownies baked? No, some are Dorie Greenspan and some are Alice Medrich. Well which are yours? Neither, they're Baked. A lot like "whose on first?" isn't it? Only if you're not familiar with the cookbook by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito called Baked  New Frontiers in Baking. These

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-5006121271989266062010-04-04T18:40:00.000-04:002010-04-04T18:40:22.644-04:00

Ok, enough with the sugar. Let's move on to some adult-oriented, healthful and truly delicious food. Did I mention easy? This cioppino (say "cha-pea-no" - a fancy word for fish stew) is quick enough for a weeknight dinner, but elegant enough to serve to company. Lucky for me, I still had some shellfish in the freezer, left over from our Christmas seafood extravaganza. So when I invited

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-47370165679688054992010-04-01T21:16:00.000-04:002010-04-01T21:16:08.217-04:00

If you think Halloween or Valentine's Day is the sweetest holiday, think again. I'm declaring this Easter a certified sugar overload. Here's why... On Halloween, the candy is "fun-sized". On Valentine's Day, it's all about chocolate. But Easter is the official jelly bean holiday, and what are jelly beans? Pure sugar. Not that there's anything wrong with that. And Peeps? Again, nothing but

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-16788695869379853232010-03-26T22:19:00.003-04:002010-03-27T11:25:18.567-04:00

I was never one to disguise vegetables for my children. Really, what's the point? Kids should know what their food looks like. And aren't vegetables and fruit so much prettier than meat or a piece of chicken, anyhow? I respectfully disagree with those books like "Despicably Deceptive" and "The Sleazy Chef Mom". I have nothing against making veggies fun. Photo by Saxton Freymann And maybe I

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-67467853609871420442010-03-22T20:25:00.000-04:002010-03-22T20:25:26.406-04:00

Yes, I know I've been AWOL.My apologies. I have been riding the roller coaster from the high of a vacation at a lovely spa to the low of a hellish and urgent search for a new home/owner for my daughter's beloved horse. Something had to give and last week it was blogging.  I was supposed to be de-toxing and de-stressing at Canyon Ranch - a mother-daughter getaway with my college girl, home on

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-80222107318429357292010-03-13T10:19:00.000-05:002010-03-13T10:19:54.106-05:00

Remember the excitement of a school field trip? Free from the confining classroom! Be outside! Who are you going to sit with on the bus? Sit with me! Same seats coming back! I relived it all yesterday with my daughter's class. On a day that passes as early spring in Maine, we went to Jillson's Farm in Sabbatus, to learn about maple sugaring. You may think of maple as sort of a fall flavoring (

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-36100092131016716572010-03-05T13:11:00.000-05:002010-03-05T13:11:15.479-05:00

They (whoever they are) say that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. It's also the best. I said that. "They" didn't. So when I heard about The Incredible Breakfast Cook-Off being held in conjunction with Maine Restaurant Week, I knew I had to go. Called up my friend Becky, who's always up for a good foodie event and we hustled down to SoPo (that's South Portland to you) first

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-69918368031448352932010-03-02T15:32:00.000-05:002010-03-02T15:32:19.774-05:00

I have had  a life long relationship with Chinese food. Or Chinese-American food, I really should say. For as long as I can remember, it was my family's practice to go out for Chinese every Sunday night. Sometimes it was just the four of us; sometimes my cousins or grandparents came along. The restaurants are still clear in my mind. China Sails in Chestnut Hill was the best and most regular

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-39260539423782185292010-02-26T13:45:00.000-05:002010-02-26T13:45:54.945-05:00

Check out more Food for Thought here. There are other things, beside food, that make my mouth water. The anticipation of a good book can actually do it. From the moment I brought home Last Night in Twisted River by John Irving, it's been calling softly to me, day and night. Read me. Read me. Read me. Read me. Read me! I put it off for a few weeks, for a couple of reasons. One, I had a pile

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-15874728883305793002010-02-22T16:06:00.000-05:002010-02-22T16:06:06.145-05:00

A few weeks ago I hosted my cooking group for dinner. The host plans the menu, gives assignments and makes the main course. I decided on a light Mediterranean dinner, with Wild Salmon with Pearl Couscous, Slow-Roasted Tomatoes and Lemon Oregano Oil as the star. It was good, but not star quality. The two dishes to take the prize that night were the Mixed Berries with Grapefruit Zabaglione (see

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-70978732214167439792010-02-14T16:17:00.000-05:002010-02-14T16:17:27.253-05:00

Brownies, muffins, chocolate cake These are things I like to make Pancakes, pound cake, gelato too All these things I make for you You like them all, just as well, At least that's what your comments tell Each of your comments Makes my day I love to hear what you have to say. I adore you all, Each fan and friend Hugs and kisses, To you I send You're the cream in my coffee My raison d'etre

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-17853180151513633882010-02-09T14:18:00.000-05:002010-02-09T14:18:11.129-05:00

My past few posts have been sweet indulgences. Nothing wrong with that. Nothing at all. But splurges need to be balanced out with real food. Or so I'm told by my trainer, Joe. On Tuesdays we confess to Joe every glass of wine, every cookie, french fry and spoonful of gelato that passed our lips over the weekend. Doing so keeps us (mostly) honest. Problem is, Joe loves food as much as we do and

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-80484013327497427032010-02-04T20:56:00.000-05:002010-02-04T20:56:55.112-05:00

Woo-hoo!  World Nutella Day is finally here. An excuse to eat Nutella out in the open. I can take that jar that's been hidden behind the chicken broth in the pantry, just to the left of the arborio rice, and dip my knife proudly into it. No hiding shamefully with it in the garage today (just checking my tire pressure - be right in!). I'm thinking Nutella for breakfast (on a banana), lunch (

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-82107821302667343962010-02-01T12:14:00.002-05:002010-02-06T10:38:04.331-05:00

You may have heard this before: I am a big fan of having dessert after breakfast. Not everyday, mind you. This would be foolish and self-defeating. But on Sundays it's a nice treat and an excuse to bake something. Breakfast dessert isn't like dinner dessert. It shouldn't be gooey or too chocolate-y (a little is good) or too rich. Something sweet and light is just right after your bacon and

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-72045639693873146562010-01-29T16:16:00.000-05:002010-01-29T16:16:26.326-05:00

If you've been paying attention - and I'm SURE you have - you'll notice that since the very day I started this blog, I've kept a list of books that I want to read on my sidebar. Go ahead and look. I'll wait. For those of you reading in email, you'll have to click through to the actual blog page. Click on the title. Books have come and gone, read on my own or for book group. But there's one book

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-17706687496343029932010-01-21T21:30:00.001-05:002010-01-23T08:54:16.383-05:00

Like the nice brisket, a roast chicken is something that my mother could always make well. Nothing fancy. No particular recipe. What it lacks in finesse it certainly makes up for in the moistness department. My kids call her version "juicy chicken" because, well...that's what it is I think her secret ingredient is "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter". Need I say more? Yes, I must. I must say

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3269611861299482394.post-41244704417017822462010-01-18T16:17:00.000-05:002010-01-18T16:17:09.099-05:00

Sometimes Blogger and I just don't get along. I try to be nice and polite all most of the time, really I do. I try to patient, which is not at all easy for me. And I think I'm a good listener. But Blogger, why oh why do you continually throw roadblocks in my way, frustrating me to no end? Please. You think I don't have enough frustration already in my life? Just let me upload one video to show

Karen @ Mignardisehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07357424031410272810noreply@blogger.com7