FFWD Makeup Week

I'm practicing saying "my life is full" instead of "I'm completely overwhelmed and despite my constant efforts I can never, ever get it all done."  I've been reading a lot about the power of our thinking, and I'm much happier when I focus on the first thought (although the second still comes much easier to me!).  So, all this to say that thanks to a blur of Charlotte, work, Paul, friends and family, Charlotte, travel, trying to exercise, cooking, baking, Charlotte, etc., etc., I didn't get around to as much actual blogging as I wanted to this fall.  As always, and especially with the new year starting, I hope to do better next month.  For now, here is a run-down of all of the recipes I made this fall, but never got around to posting about.  I think this will catch me up with the group (with the exception of a couple of meat and/or mushroom-based recipes that I skipped).  I also wanted to say how much I loved getting all of your cards, and reading all of your cookie and drink recipes.  I hope to make some of them soon!

Celery-Celery Soup

I'm not 100% sure that this picture is actually of celery-celery soup, but I think it is.  If it's right, I served it with smoked salmon (Paul made this, it was delicious!) and roasted cauliflower and brussel sprouts.  I am sure that we both really enjoyed this soup.  Even Charlotte liked it.  When I read through the recipe it didn't sound like much, but the whole really was better than the sum of the parts.

Monkfish and Double Carrots

Paul made monkfish for me one Valentine's Day and we both absolutely loved it, but I couldn't find any this week so I used shrimp instead.  Paul thought it was a very odd combination--and he's probably right--but I thought it worked well.  I especially loved the carrot sauce.  This is definitely a recipe that I would make again.

Roasted Jerusalem Artichokes with Garlic

Toward the end of October I ordered something like 6 pounds of Jerusalem Artichokes on Ebay, so I could make this recipe.  (Thanks to you all for the tip!)  Luckily, they store very well in the refrigerator.  I'm happy to report that we finally finished them all just before we left for our vacation in Oregon.  I liked these a lot, but they weren't great for Paul's stomach.  He was much happier with the sunchoke soup recipe.

Dorie's Birthday Sweets from BCM

I made the Palets de Dames.  I thought they were only okay.  I have loved everything else I've made out of BCM so far, though.

Jerusalem Artichoke Soup with Parsley Coulis

We both really enjoyed this soup.  I served it with a beet tarte tatin that I made for CCC.  I thought the garnishes made it a prettier picture, and added to the interest of the soup, but I made it a couple of weeks later without the garnishes (needed to use up the sunchokes!) and we all still enjoyed the soup.

Pan-seared Duck Breasts with Kumquats

I have no clue why this was the only picture I took.  That's the duck down in the left hand corner.  I couldn't find kumquats, so I used mandarin oranges canned in juice as a topping and some orange marmalade in the sauce.  This was another winner.  I'm so glad that Dorie's taught me how to cook duck.

Orange and Olive Salad

I know people thought this was unusual, but I actual make a lot of citrus salads in the winter.  My favorite is this Canal House one with hearts of palm, but I also make one with citrus and avocado, and have made one very similar to this before.  We enjoyed it, and will continue to enjoy salads like this one until we start to see fresh spring produce again.