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I have been away from my blog working on a house in Los Angeles. I am now back and ready to do some cooking and restaurant reviews.

Oatmeal Cookies

Oatmeal Cookies

I've been going through our family's stash of recipes and came across my grandmother's oatmeal cookie recipe. It's funny how just seeing her handwriting conjures up old memories.

INGREDIENTS

1 cup shortening

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup white sugar

2 eggs well beaten

1 Tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 Tablespoon cinnamon

3 cups oats (we use Quaker Quick or Old Fashioned. Do NOT use instant.)

3/4 cup chopped walnuts (use 1/2 cup if using raisins)1 cup raisins (optional)

1 Cream shortening and sugars, add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

2 Sift flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon. Add to first mixture and mix well. Add raisins (if using) and nuts. Add oats last.

3 Spoon out by rounded tablespoonfuls on to greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350°F. Bake for 10 minutes. Remove to wire rack. Cool completely.

Spicy Pumpkin Bundt Cake

        Spicy Pumpkin Bundt Cake   

Happy Halloween.......

• Nonstick cooking spray, for pan
• 4 cups cake flour (not self-rising), plus more for dusting
• 4 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 tablespoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature, plus more for pan
• 2 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
• Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 14-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray. Dust with flour, and tap out excess.
2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Set aside.
3. Beat butter and brown sugar together in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, on medium speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping down sides of bowl. Reduce speed to low. Beat in flour mixture in 3 additions, alternating with the buttermilk. Beat until just combined. Add pumpkin puree, and beat until combined. Pour batter into prepared pan.
4. Bake cake until golden and a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Carefully turn cake onto rack too cool completely. Before serving, dust with confectioners' sugar.

Chili

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• Chili

Today in La was the perfect Chili day......

This is a great no bean chili, the chocolate and the peppers are a wonderful combination. If you can't find all the different chili powders don't worry just work with what you can find, this recipe adapts very easily......

Cooking School

Epicurean school of culinary arts
Dinner party with Julia


Last night there was a cooking class at the world famous Epicurean school of culinary arts here in Los Angeles, Dinner party with Julia....
It sounded interesting since they were featuring French cooking from Julia Child and we were able to dine on all the dishes that were prepared .....
The class consisted of eight students paired into four groups all making one of the dishes for the dinner party. Our dish was Boeuf Bourgignonne (beef in red burgundy), and Pear Tarte Tatin. The other dishes on the menu were Quiche Lorraine, Chicken Fricassee,Haricot Vert Saute A La Paysanne,Leek and Mushroom Duxelles Gratin,and Lavender Ice Cream.......
It was a wonderful evening, all the dishes were perfection, people interesting, and learning is always fun...
I am posting the two receipts along with the Lavender Ice Cream (my favorite) try them there great, the tart is easy and interesting.......
So if you can afford the time I encourage you to try and take a class from one of your local sources, check out the school at  www.epicureanschool.com

Buttermilk Biscuits

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  Buttermilk Biscuits

This recipe is from my Grandmother she would make these for our family dinner every Sunday, what great memories of these hot out of the oven with her home made cinnamon butter........

    

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Herb-Marinated Pork Tenderloins

This is one of my favorite Pork Tenderloin recipes, the marinate of lemon and rosemary is a great combination and the technique of cooking is fool proof.

I served these with  large Buttermilk Biscuits, roasted carrots and potatoes. The flavors are great together and don't forget they make great sandwiches the next day.......  

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Lunch- Bottega Louie

BOTTEGA LOUIE


I have been shopping downtown LA for a loft to buy  and a friend had told me about this restaurant Bottega Louie at 700 Grand Ave, so my Realtor and I decided  we would have lunch there today, what a wonderful experience. First I must say who ever did the interior was right on, It's stunning, very simple with classic detail, all white (my favorite at the moment,) with white marble floors. There is a restaurant and bar with a patisserie and gourmet market all under one roof. The food was delicious, Lee had the Linguine and Mussels in a wine sauce and I had Gazpacho and the Louie salad. Portions were generous and the bread freshly baked......


We looked around at all the other wonderful delicacy's  they had but were to full to try any and had a long day ahead so didn't indulge in any purchases, but you can bet next time I will. I loved it, so If your in the downtown LA area please make this a stop, check out there web site for details   www.bottegalouie.com .....Enjoy