Pho - Vietnamese Soup

Pho - Vietnamese Soup
One of our favorite dishes - Pho

Thursday, October 24, 2024

Remembering Barbara Louise McCormick: A Life Well Lived 💙🩵




On February 7, 1928, Kenneth and Ada Ostling welcomed their precious baby girl, Barbara Louise, into the world in Denver, CO. With one older brother, Dick, Barbara grew up surrounded by the beauty of Colorado. Her life took a thrilling turn when, at just 18 years old, she met a young pilot from Ennis, TX, named James C. McCormick. Their love story blossomed quickly, and on January 12, 1946, they married, leading Barbara to begin a new chapter in Dallas.

Barbara’s life was full of love and family. She and Jim (aka JC and/or Mac), built a beautiful legacy together, raising five children, who in turn blessed them with twelve grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with a new great-grandson on the way. Barbara’s role as a mother and grandmother was one she cherished above all. She embraced her large, loving family, always welcoming them with open arms and a feast she prepared with care, especially during the holidays. Her culinary talents brought everyone together, creating memories around the table that will be treasured for generations.

A devoted member of her church, Barbara was known for her faithfulness and active participation in her community. Beyond the walls of her home and church, she had a thirst for adventure. Barbara traveled extensively, exploring both the United States and Europe, broadening her horizons and bringing back stories and experiences that enriched her life and those of the people around her.

Barbara was more than just a family matriarch; she was a woman who radiated joy, kindness, and love to all she met. She inspired those around her with her grace, warmth, and unwavering dedication to her loved ones. In the last decade of her life, Barbara’s bond with Linda, who joined the family as a caregiver, became one of deep friendship and Linda, in no time at all, became one of the family. Linda referred to Barbara lovingly as her “Queen,” and they shared a unique, beautiful connection that brought even more love into Barbara’s later years.  We will forever cherish our, sister, Linda and the loving care she provided our precious Queen. 

Even as she aged, Barbara maintained her signature elegance, always donning her lipstick and makeup, even until her final day. On the morning of September 23, 2024, she left this world peacefully at the age of 96, leaving behind a profound legacy of love, kindness and strength.

Barbara Louise McCormick was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She touched the lives of everyone she encountered and will forever be remembered as a beacon of joy and grace. Our Queen will be deeply missed, but her spirit will continue to shine in the hearts of all who knew her.


May she rest in peace. 💙🩵

Saturday, May 18, 2024

Thai Red Curry Chicken Noodle Soup












In honor of Dylan’s return from an epic, months long trip traveling to Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, I thought I’d make this lovely, comforting soup that I’ve made a time or two before.  Of course, making sure to give Dylan enough time after returning from his travels before inundating him with all of our Asian favorite foods again. 

So, while we’re talking Thai food, Dylan made us aware of a really special event that happens here in Dallas that features Thai street foods, which of course piqued all of our interest.  This takes place at The Buddhist Center of Dallas and Dylan mentioned it was at a temple, but I had no idea just how spectacular and breathtakingly beautiful in its authenticity this temple is.  When we were walking on the grounds Dylan said, “I feel like I’m right back in Thailand.”  This happens every Sunday in Dallas (off of Forest Lane near I-75), from 9a - 3p for a true cultural experience with an array of all the popular and authentic street foods such as red curry chicken, pot stickers, papaya salad, pad Thai, mango rice, even a red curry chicken noodle soup very similar to this recipe, and the list goes on and on.  I’ve read it’s best to get there before 11a and to bring plenty of cash.  It was a delightful experience and we can’t wait to share this with others and explore the temple, the grounds and of course, the food more.  I highly recommend this cultural event to you all for a lovely and memorable start to your Sunday with some really good and really authentic Thai street food.

Back to our recipe and a few notes for next time I make this soup...I will prepare the noodles separately to make for an easier serving process.  I didn’t have red pepper on hand so I added a couple of jalapeño peppers instead...I think any kind of pepper would work nicely.  I’ve added a couple of chopped baby bok choy before as that is the perfect addition to most any Asian dish.  This soup would work wonderfully made with shrimp instead of chicken and I’ll be trying that next time I make this.  

I love most any recipe that includes rice noodles and I also enjoy a good chicken noodle soup.  Mix the cultures and fresh ingredients to help create a warm, soothing soup...now that's comfort food at its finest to me.


Photo credit for the top pic goes to Dylan.  In Angkor Wat, Hindu temple in Siem Reap, Cambodia.  Amazing! 💕

The other temple photos are taken at The Buddhist Center of Dallas by David.  Also amazing! 💕

1 TBSP olive oil
1 - 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2” chunks
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 onion, diced
3 TBSP (or to taste) red curry paste (I use the entire small bottle)
1 TBSP freshly grated ginger
6 cups low sodium chicken broth
1 (13.5 oz) can coconut milk
4 oz rice noodles (I prefer to make separately and add to the soup when serving)
1 TBSP (or to taste) fish sauce
2 tsp brown sugar
3 - 1 bunch green onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
2 TBSP (or to taste) freshly squeezed lime juice (I prefer a little more)
Zest from 1 lime


Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat.  Season chicken with salt and pepper, to taste.  Add chicken to the stockpot and cook until golden, about 2-3 minutes; set aside.

Add garlic, bell pepper and onion.  Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 3-4 minutes.

Stir in red curry paste and ginger until fragrant, about 1 minute.

Stir in chicken broth and coconut milk, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pot.

Stir in chicken.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced, about 10 minutes.

Prepare the rice noodles separately, according to package directions.  Set aside.

Stir in fish sauce and brown sugar into soup.  Cook another 5 minutes on a low heat.

Remove the soup from heat; stir in green onions, cilantro, basil and lime juice and zest.  Season with salt and pepper

To serve, place noodles in bowls and top with the hot soup.

Serve immediately.

I like to serve with a garnish plate with additional cilantro, basil, lime wedges, sliced jalapeños and Sriracha sauce so everyone can spice and herb their soup up to their own preference.



**Recipe adapted from damndelicious.com



Thursday, November 24, 2022

How to Safely Fry a Thanksgiving Turkey


Dallas Morning News Article:

How to safely fry a Thanksgiving turkey (without blowing yourself up)

We consulted experts to come up with a guide for safe and successful turkey frying in your back yard.

By Tina Danze|Special Contributor

11:14 AM on Nov 22, 2017 — Updated at 9:45 AM on Nov 23, 2022

 Editor’s note: This article first appeared in The Dallas Morning News on Nov. 15, 2000.

John Bass cooks four turkeys in the time it takes most folks to cook one. His secret? Frying. It's an outdoor job, and that suits the retired rancher just fine. But what prods Mr. Bass to fry isn't mere love of outdoor cooking. It's the results.

"It's unbelievably moist and not at all greasy," says Mr. Bass. "The peanut oil gives the turkey a slightly nutty flavor."

Dallas has been buying Cajun fried turkeys for several years. Now, more people are tackling the job at home; even Dillard's sells the gear for frying a turkey.

We spent an afternoon watching Mr. Bass fry turkeys — a valuable lesson, because this type of cooking can be dangerous. We consulted other experts as well, to come up with a guide for safe and successful turkey frying in your back yard.

A step-by-step guide

Where to fry safely

Frying a turkey isn't hard. The only prerequisite is being a stickler for safety. Since frying involves a high-powered burner and gallons of hot oil, it must be done outdoors, away from children, pets and flammable products. Mr. Bass fries his turkey on the back patio - and he's got the grease stains in the concrete to prove it.

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Thanksgiving Day Menu





We love entertaining and we especially love hosting our friends and family during the holiday season.  For Thanksgiving we typically host 25 - 30 people and these recipes are tried and true and fit the bill when feeding a larger crew.  These are a combination of some McQuaid and McCormick classic dishes and are served most every Thanksgiving with so much love in our home.

A little tip is once I get everything cooked, cooled and covered with foil, I like to write what each dish is on the foil along with any further directions needed for the day of cooking prior to storing them in the refrigerator.  

Hopefully some of these recipes and tips help make planning your turkey day a little easier.  Happy Thanksgiving!!


Appetizers -

Lox served with crackers, capers, lemon slices and minced red onion

Mamaw's Mushroom Croustades

Aunt Bette's Crab Dip served with French Bread

Stelton Blue Cheese and various other cheeses served with Triscuits

Paté served with crackers and/or French bread

Veggies and homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (baby carrots, celery sticks and cherry tomatoes)

Grapes red and green for garnishing and gnashing


Dinner -

2 Turkeys - 1 Roasted and 1 Fried (if it's not raining)

Roast Turkey

Fried Turkey

Southern Style Dressing or Classic Dressing

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Turkey Gravy

Classic Cranberry Sauce * I double recipe when serving 25 people

Canned Cranberry Sauce

Classic Green Bean Casserole *  I double recipe when serving 25 people

Savory Corn Pudding * I double corn amount only when serving 25 people

Mamaw's Spinach Rockefeller * I double recipe when serving 25 people

Sweet Potatoes * I double recipe when serving 25 people

Layered Salad or Sara's Caesar salad

Cheesy Hash Brown Potato Casserole *

Mamaw's Retro Lime Green Jello Salad *

Parker House Rolls *


Desserts-             

Pumpkin Pie *

Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake *

Classic Pecan Pie

Chocolate Pecan *

David's Chocolate Chip Cookies *

Homemade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream * I double recipe when serving 25 people


Serve all of the above with spray whipped Cream or Vanilla Bean Ice Cream


*Can be made 1 - 2 days prior to serving

Turkey Gravy


 

There are just two simple steps in this delicious turkey gravy from drippings.


1/4 cup turkey drippings (juices from roasted turkey)

1/4 cup all-purpose flour

cups liquid (juices from roasted turkey, broth, water)

1/2 teaspoon salt, or less, if using turkey drippings

1/2 teaspoon pepper


Pour drippings from roasting pan into bowl, leaving brown particles in pan. Return 1/4 cup drippings to roasting pan. (Measure accurately because too little fat makes gravy lumpy.) Stir in flour. (Measure accurately so gravy is not greasy.)

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture is smooth and bubbly. Stir in liquid. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Boil and stir 1 minute. Stir in salt and pepper.

Tip -If you’d like a thicker gravy, mix 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour with 2 tablespoons water or broth then whisk it into the hot gravy, bring to a boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute.


**Recipe adapted from Betty Crocker

Classic Dressing or Stuffing



This is a classic recipe.  Perfect as one of your Thanksgiving turkey's side dish.


1 lb bread cut into 1-inch cubes (about 12 cups) (see note)

3/4 cup unsalted butter

2 cups chopped yellow onion

1 1/2 cups chopped celery

1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley

1 tablespoon minced fresh sage

1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary

1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme sticks discarded

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt

ground pepper to taste

2 large eggs

2 cups chicken broth

You can dry your bread cubes two ways:

Place your bread cubes in a large bowl and them them sit on the counter covered for 1-2 days to dry out. Stir the bread cubes every once in a while.

If you don't have time to air-dry your bread, you can toast them. Lay bread cubes on large baking sheets in a single layer and toast at 250 degrees for 45-60 minutes stirring every once in a while. Transfer bread cubes to a large bowl.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x13 casserole dish with cooking spray. 

In a skillet, melt butter and add the onion and celery. Sautee until vegetables are soft. Pour mixture into the bowl with the bread. Add the parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Stir together. 

In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs. Add the chicken broth and whisk together. Pour mixture over dry bread cubes and mix well. Pour into prepared baking dish. Cover with foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 10-15 minutes until top is golden brown and middle is set.

NOTES

CAN I PREPARE STUFFING AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes. You can make and bake ahead of time and then reheat the day of covered at 350 degrees until warm then uncovered for 5-10 minutes so the top gets crispy.

TYPES OF BREAD

This is up to personal preference but there are many different types of bread you can use in stuffing.  I personally like to use bakery sliced bread, French bread, or sourdough bread.

Here are some types of bread you can use:

sandwich bread

French bread

baguettes

sourdough bread

bakery loaf of bread


**Recipe adapted from The Girl Who Ate Everything


David's Chocolate Chip Cookies















Who doesn't love these classic guilty pleasures?!  Just when I'm feeling great about not eating any sugar, David taunts me with his incredibly delicious chocolate chip, little bits of heaven.  Not only are they my weakness, they make the house smell tremendous.  A little scoop of vanilla ice cream works quite beautifully between two of the right sized cookies and there you have an ice cream sandwich.  Diet?  What diet! 8-}


½ pound butter, softened (2 sticks)

¾ cup + 1 tablespoon granulated sugar

¾ cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 ¼ cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 2/3 cups Nestle Tollhouse semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 3/4 cups chopped walnuts, (optional)


Cream butter, sugar and brown sugar in the bowl of a stand mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes.

Add eggs and vanilla, blending with mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, then medium speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy, scraping down bowl.

With mixer on low speed, add flour, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon, blending for about 45 seconds. Don’t overmix.

Remove bowl from mixer and stir in chocolate chips and walnuts.

Portion dough with a scoop (about 3 tablespoons) onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper about 2 inches apart.

Preheat oven to 300°F. Bake for 20 to 23 minutes, or until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.

Remove from oven and cool on baking sheet for about 1 hour.


Classic Pecan Pie


This pie is a must for Thanksgiving.  We add a splash of bourbon to take the flavor a little deeper, as it's the perfect compliment to all the sweetness.  As a side note, you do NOT pre-bake the crust before baking the pie.  Also, do NOT use a mixer, just mix by hand with a wooden spoon or whisk.  Use as many pecans as you can to make a pretty, circular decoration on the pie.  Serve warm and top with homemade vanilla bean ice cream.

1 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup (1 stick butter), melted
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 - 3 tablespoons good quality bourbon (optional)
One 9-inch deep dish pie shell, unbaked, or homemade pastry
1 cup pecan halves
Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream, for serving

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, mix the brown sugar, granulated sugar and eggs until creamy. Add the chopped pecans, melted butter, milk, flour, vanilla extract and bourbon and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the pie shell. Arrange the pecan halves on top of the pie in a circular pattern. 

Bake the pie for 55 minutes. Check for doneness by shaking the pan slightly. The pie should be firm with only a slight jiggle in the center. It will set more as it cools. Serve topped with vanilla ice cream or with a dollop of whipped cream.

**This recipe is adapted from Trisha Yearwood