Florean Fortescue Chocolate Fudge Brownie Sundae

Continuing with the Potterhead weekend we had leftovers on Sunday night and had a different Sundae for dessert.

Chocolate Ice Cream
Fudge Brownie
Chocolate Syrup

Place a piece of warmed brownie in a sundae glass.  Add 2 scoops of chocolate ice cream and top with chocolate syrup.  Eat before the ice cream melts.

Of course these were yummy, you can't go wrong with warm gooey brownies and chocolate ice cream.

Florean Fortescue Lemon Meringue Pie Sundae

As part of our Potterhead weekend dessert, Miss V first chose Pumpkin Pasties.  We didn't have that much time, so I asked her to find something that can be made a little quicker.

She went right to the Ice Cream Sundae page and chose Lemon Meringue Pie Sundaes.  Besides being out of whole chickens, Walmart was also out of Lemon curd and Meringue Cookies.  So we went to Publix across the street and picked up a jar of Lemon Curd and the cookies.

Vanilla Ice Cream
Lemon Curd,
Meringue Cookies

Place 1 scoop of  Vanilla Ice Cream in a sundae glass.  Add 2 tablespoons of store bought lemon curd and sprinkle broken meringue cookies one top.  Repeat the layering once.

We all enjoyed these very much.  It was different and refreshing.  Miss V wasn't sure of the lemon curd at first, but liked it when the ice cream melted a bit.

Herby Roast Chicken with Onion Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Since it was Potterhead weekend on ABC Family, Miss V picked out a yummy recipe from her Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook.

For the Chicken

1 medium onion
6 cloves garlic, peeled
1 3-pound chicken
2 Tbsp softened butter or margarine
1/4 tsp ground thyme
1/4 tsp ground sage
1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
salt and freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup water

For the potatoes
2 1/2 lbs (about 6) Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup vegetable oil (subbed unsalted butter melted)
1 cup chicken broth
salt and freshly ground pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and lay the onion slices and garlic cloves in a baking dish. Rinse the chicken and pat it dry. Mix the butter or margarine with the thyme, sage and parsley and spread it under the skin of the breasts and thighs; you will need to loosen the skin first by lifting up the flap of skin and sliding your fingers under it. Lay the chicken in the pan, breast-side up, on top of the onions and garlic and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour the water into the pan.

Bake for 50 minutes. Rotate the pan, raise the temperature to 450 degrees and bake for another 30 minutes or until an instant read thermometer inserted into the thigh reads 170 degrees.

While the chicken is roasting, prepare the mashed potatoes. Cover the potatoes with water in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and let it simmer until tender, about 25 minutes. Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a skillet and add the onions. Cook the onions over medium heat, stirring frequently, until nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Remove from the heat.

Drain the potatoes. Add the onion-garlic mixture, 1/2 cup oil (subbed unsalted butter), chicken broth, and salt and pepper. Mash with a potato masher.

Now....unfortunately when we went out shopping at Walmart after lunch, they did not have a single whole chicken.  So....we picked up a rotisserie chicken.  Next time I go grocery shopping I will pick up a whole chicken so that Miss V can try the herby chicken.  She was very disappointed.

The potatoes were pretty good!  I think next time we will make them with russets though.  I like a really starchy potato for mashed potatoes.

Order of the Phoenix Dinner and Movie

Miss V has been asking for a long time to have another dinner and movie night.  She got out her Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook and decided on her menu.

She picked out Molly's Meatballs with Onion Sauce, Fluffy Mashed Potatoes and Buttered Peas.  For dessert she picked out Triple Strawberry Burst Sundaes from Florean Fortescue.

Meatballs
1 lb. Extra-lean ground beef
1/2 cup fresh or dry bread crumbs
1 Large egg
1 Onion, finely chopped
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 Tablespoons oil

Onion Sauce
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, chopped
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 14-ounce can chicken broth

For the meatballs, combine the beef, bread crumbs, egg, onion, parsley, salt, pepper, and nutmeg in a large bowl and mix thoroughly.

Heat the oil in a skillet. From the meat mixture into 1 1/2-inch balls, and working in batches, fry the balls on each side until well browned, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the meatballs to a dinner plate.

For the Onion Sauce, add 2 tablespoons oil to the skillet and heat. Add the chopped onion and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until golden brown. Add the flour, and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken broth and cook, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbling. Return the meatballs to the skillet and simmer for 15 minutes. Serve over rice, mashed potatoes, or wide egg noodles. (Serves 6)

Fluffy Mashed Potatoes

6 Idaho or russet potatoes (about 2 1/2 lbs.), peeled and quartered
1 stick of butter (8 tablespoons)
1 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste

1. Place the potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer about 25 minutes or until the potatoes break apart when pierced with a fork.
2. Drain the potatoes. Add the butter, milk, salt, and black pepper. Mash with a potato masher until the potatoes are light and fluffy. (serves 4)

Buttered Peas

1 pound frozen peas
1 cup water
1/2 tsp sale
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbs butter
1 Tbs granulated sugar

Thaw the peas in the microwave and place into a small sauce pan.  (The cookbook wants you to boil and drain and I think that loses a lot of the nutrition.)

Add salt, pepper, butter, and sugar. Stir until the butter melts and is well combined. Serve hot.

Triple Strawberry Burst Sundae

Place 1 scoop of strawberry ice cream in a dish/sundae glass. Cover with chopped fresh strawberries and strawberry syrup. Repeat layering once if desired.  We even bought three little sundae dishes at Walmart.

The meal and dessert were very yummy!

Light Seasoned Broiled Chicken Drumsticks

So last night we had another Dinner & Movie night.  We watched Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone.  This recipe also came from the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. 

1 Pound Drumsticks, I used 2 pounds so we could have some leftovers
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 tsp dried oregano
2 cloves garlic minced

Wash Drumsticks and pat them dry.

Whisk together the oil and seasonings.

Coat the drumsticks with the oil mixture and place onto a broiler pan.

Broil for 10 minutes on each side until crisp and golden.  (I just roasted them at 425 and turned them a couple times and basted them with the extra oil mixture).

I served them with Butter Peas which also comes from the same cookbook.

1 pound frozen peas
1 cup water
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tbs butter
1 tbs granulated sugar

Combine the peas and water in a small pot and bring them to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5 minutes.  Drain the peas and return them to the small pot.

Add the salt, pepper, butter and sugar.  Toss until the butter melts and is well combined.

Miss V cracked up when Ron was gobbling down the drumsticks on TV.

Butterbeer Version 2

This time we did a little something different with the Butterbeer last night.

1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 12 oz of your favorite cream soda
2 tsp vanilla butter and nut flavoring or butter extract

Start by measuring the heavy whipping cream and the extract into a cocktail shaker. Next, add the powdered sugar. Shake briskly until mixture begins to thicken.

Pour the cream soda from the can or bottle directly into two individual mugs.

Now gently pout the whipping cream mixture so that it floats on top in a layer about a half inch thick. Enjoy!

The whipped cream tasted much better with the extract added to it.

Sausage Rolls

Here was our main course for Saturday's Dinner and Movie - Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.  The recipe comes from the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook

We did make a double batch and used different kinds of sausage.

1 box of store bought puff pastry
Spicy brown mustard
1 pound sausages or hot dogs
1 egg beaten with 1 tbs of water

Preheat oven to 425.  Grease and flour a cookie sheet or line with parchment.

Unroll thawed puff pastry sheets and cut out 8 to 10 4 1/2 inch squares.  Spread mustard on each square.  Place a sausage on the edge of the puff pastry and roll up.  Lay the rolls on the cookie sheet and brush with the egg wash.  Cut three slits on top of each sausage roll.

Bake for 10 minutes then reduce heat to 375 and bake for another 10 minutes until puffed and golden.

For the sausages I did precook them.  I used regular Sweet Italian Pepper and Onion and Chicken sausage with Sundried Tomato.  I can tell you the Chicken sausage was a major fail.  They tasted bland.  The hot dog and Sweet Italian sausage ones were a big hit.

Butterbeer

So Saturday night we decided to have a Dinner and Movie Night.  Miss V checked out the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook from the library.  We were dissapointed that Butterbeer was not listed in there so I did a little Googling and found a simple recipe.

The original recipe is for 4 drinks, but only two of us were going to be drinking them so I halved the recipe.

1 cup heavy whipping cream
4 tbsp powdered sugar
2 12 oz of your favorite cream soda
2 tsp vanilla butter and nut flavoring or butter extract

Start by measuring the heavy whipping cream into a cocktail shaker. Next, add the powdered sugar. Shake briskly until mixture begins to thicken.

Pour the cream soda from the can or bottle directly into two individual mugs and then add 1 tsp of the flavoring or extract to each.

Now gently pout the whipping cream mixture so that it floats on top in a layer about a half inch thick. Enjoy!

We got a little crazy with the whipped cream it was so good!  As you can tell Miss V really enjoyed her Butterbeer.

Candy and Rice Krispy Sushi

Last night was our Monsters Inc Dinner and Movie night.  We took it easy and had chinese take out and sushi.  Ok, so Marcel ate sushi and Miss V and I had dessert sushi.

You need a pan of rice krispy treats
gummy worms
swedish fish
fruit roll ups
chocolate syrup

Our left overs on on the left and Marcel's left overs are on the right.

Chocolate Chocolate Pie

For our Cars dinner & movie night I made this yummy pie.  No real recipe.

Oreo Pie Crust
1 (5oz box) Chocolate Jell-o cook & serve pudding prepared as directed on box
Fresh whipped cream

This does need plenty of time to chill and thicken.  So I made it early in the morning and made the whipped cream right before serving.

Shortbread tarts filled with cream cheese

I have made these a few times and they are really yummy!  The original recipe comes from one of my favorite sites called The Joy of Baking.

1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon salt

Cream Cheese Filling:

1-8-oz. package cream cheese - softened
1-14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
1/3 cup  lemon juice (used Nellie & Joes)
Zest of one lemon
1 teaspoon  pure vanilla extract

Garnish:

Any combination of berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries) or other fruit such as slices of kiwi.

Shortbread Tarts: Lightly butter, or spray with a nonstick vegetable spray, 36 miniature muffin tins (approximately 2 inch (5 cm) in diameter). Set aside. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (170 degrees C) and place rack in the center of the oven.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, or with a hand mixer, beat the butter and sugar together (approximately two minutes). Beat in the vanilla extract. Add the flour, cornstarch and salt and mix just until incorporated. Divide the dough into 36 even pieces and place one ball of dough in the center of each muffin tin. With your fingertips, press the dough up the sides of the individual muffin tin so there is an indentation in the center. Once filled, place the tart pan, with the unbaked shells, in the freezer for about 10 minutes so the shortbread can become firm. (This will help to prevent the shortbread from puffing up during baking.)

Bake for approximately 18 - 20 minutes or until lightly browned. About halfway through the baking time, lightly prick the bottom of each shortbread, with the tines of a fork, if they have puffed up. Check again after another five minutes and prick again if needed. Once they are fully baked, remove from oven and place on a wire rack to cool. I like to use the end of a wooden spoon and press around the inside of the tart to make a nice well for the filling. When completely cooled, remove the tarts from the pan.
Cream Cheese Filling: In your food processor or electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until fluffy. Add the condensed milk, lemon juice, zest, and vanilla and process just until smooth. (Do not over process or the filling will be too runny.) Transfer the filling to a bowl, cover, and refrigerate until serving time. (It is best to make the filling at least a day in advance to give it time to become firm and for all the flavors to mingle).

To serve: Use a piping bag or ziploc bag filled with the cream cheese mixture, fill the tart shells with the cream cheese filling. The filled tart shells can be made several hours in advance and refrigerated. Just before serving top with fresh berries or cut up fruit.

Makes about 36 - 2 inch (5 cm) miniature tarts.

To make the cute little kiwi hearts, I sliced the kiwi and Miss V used a mini heart cookie cutter and cut them out.

These are a bit time consuming, but oh soooooo worth it!

BLT Club Tea Sandwich

Woops!!!  I totally forgot to take a picture of this one!

Mix 1/3 cup each mayonnaise and finely chopped cooked bacon; season with pepper.  Spread on toasted white bread.  Sandwich with sliced cherry tomatoes, baby greens and deli turkey.  Trim the crusts and cut into pieces.

This by far was the favorite of the night. 

Roast Beef & Horseradish Tea Sandwiches

This was the third sandwich that we made for our Alice in Wonderland Dinner & Movie night.  Again the recipe came from the pullout in Food Network Magazine.

Spread horseradish cream on rye cocktail bread.  Sandwich with sliced cucumber, roast beef and watercress; season with salt and pepper.

I used Boars Head Horseradish Sauce and I couldn't find watercress, I subbed arugula.

Miss V is a huge fan of roast beef, but not a fan of Horseradish, so she made a second sandwich without it.

Prosciutto & Fig Tea Sandwich

This was the second tea sandwich that we made for our Alice in Wonderland Dinner & Movie night.  This also came from the pullout from Food Network Magazine.

When I first picked this, I was a bet nervous about finding the fig jam in our area.  Luckily my local Publix had it.  I was hoping for a smaller jar though.

Spread softened butter and fig jam on the inside of a split baguette.  Fill with prosciutto, sliced pears and Bibb lettuce.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cut into pieces

So I couldn't find Bibb lettuce so I bought a very small head of Boston lettuce.  When I snapped the picture I didn't realize that I forgot the pear.  I used a Bosc pear.

My thoughts on this one.  It was good, but I think it should have been made on plain white bread not a baguette.  I really enjoyed the fig jam with the saltiness of the prosciutto and sweetness of the pear.