Home At Last! with Patty Gironda

Casa Bella Bed and Breakfast is finally open and guests are enjoying our spacious, modern rooms. Many of the furnishings were purchased locally but we still had to make semi-frequent trips to Piedmont Street in Atlanta for lamps and other small accessories. We also enjoyed the trip for a nearby Chinese buffet that has really delicious seafood on the menu-including an Asian fried Tilapia that is so crispy and flavorful. Paired with their spicy mussels and sushi I'm a "happy camper". Unfortunately, we've run out of excuses to hit our favorite buffet so I just had to break down and cook the mussels myself. For me, this is an enjoyable process but requires a little extra knowledge to create the deep, rich broth that flavors the meaty mussels. I buy the mussels at my local Asian mart and keep the in the freezer to enjoy when the mood strikes. A box on the half-shell is plenty for two or three people and also yields the pretty green shells which I saved for an upcoming ...

Another stunning star-studded evening unfolded in the back gardens of Something Special Event Center as guests sampled and were invited to offer their opinions of new menu offerings from owner Mike Meyer and Chef Carol, a recent Johnson and Wales graduate. Moroccan Nights was a gathering of old friends coming full circle over the past fourteen years and reconnecting under the stars! Dancing candlelight laced the pretty branches of a large oak that is the remarkable centerpiece of the Mike's pretty courtyard.  A nice sampling of cheeses-complimented by Medjool dates, almonds,olives and moist apricots awaited us as we entered the gardens and reconnected at our jewel-lit tables. A simple course of hummus, yogurt with scallions followed before a dinner course of spicy lamb and Moroccan chicken, beautiful pomegranate-glazed carrots, and couscous studded with golden raisins.  A creamy apricot and toasted almond-laced custard was the pe...

Spectacular weather and great crowds made for a lively Spring Taste Of Newnan. Dale Arrowood (Birds of Prey) fascinated crowds with a beautiful Great Horned Owl with its' spectacular talons. Belly Dancers and crowd-pleasing bands performed along the venues and kept the mood lively! It was easy to enjoy a full meal with vendors offering entrees including Ten East Washington's flavorful Vodka Penne Pasta, Dynasty's Chinese Wings and Skewered Chicken, a local club offfering smoked Brats, and seafood by Red Lobster. The sweet smell of funnel cakes and powdered sugar drifted through the crowds-occasionally interrupted by the buttery smell of kettle corn and chocolates from "Let Them Eat Toffee". Desserts included homemade cakes and pastries, ice-cream from Brusters as well as flavored coffee drinks from Octane Cocktails and Coffee-opening soon on Bullsboro Drive in Newnan.

I don't know where to begin about the ease and delicious-ness of this simple grilled meal. Our lives have become too complicated for me to cook for hours every night . . .so I depend on my knowledge of classic ingredients and a great glass of wine (!) This is a classic "oysters rockefeller" stuffing with the addition of artichoke hearts and a small amount of mixed cheeses-in this case parmesan-reggiano, Colby and American cheese. I started the topping by dicing a smoky bacon, lightly sauteeing the first batch, adding a second batch and cooking it a little more tenderly. Next, I added creamed spinach and quartered artichoke hearts. A little freshly squeezed lemon juice was added to brighten the ingredients before adding freshly minced garlic, homemade sourdough breadcrumbs. Everything was sauteed on low heat-making incorporated all the ingredients well. Finally, I added the cheeses in stages and reduced the heat. The chicken breasts were pounded flat, coated with ...

These really were delicious, easy and quick to the table thanks to our wonderful infrared grill. Rather than bottled applesauce, so often paired with pork, I opted for a firm eating apples that provide fresh flavor add another great texture for the mouth.  The subtle flavors of hot pepper, cinnamon stick and freshly grated nutmeg in the boiling water provide subtle compliment the pork perfectly!

My husband paraded into our kitchen and announced that he intended to make pork chops for dinner. I was shocked and immediately overcome with feelings of disorientation and waves of dizziness. When I finally composed myself he had returned from the grocery store with a large package of good looking chops, 3 apples and some cleaned broccoli florets. "He's serious", I thought to myself. As dinnertime rolled around he mentioned that he hoped I would prep for him. "No problem", I said. "What can do to help? "Could you do your magic on the chops?" . . . "and what do you want done to the apples?" . . . "steamed broccoli . . .is that O.K.?" I worked my magic on the chops, tried a new grilled apple that I first parboiled with red pepper, nutmeg and cinnamon and threw the broccoli in an half inch of water and steamed it, strained it and sauteed the cooked florets with a small amount of Olivio. Then, I waited. I nibbled ...

I just had to post this pretty picture; so pleasing to me.. From a simple digital photograph I am transported across oceans and continents. Popular in both Tuscany and Spain, anchovy-stuffed green olives are enjoyable as a compliment to bruschetta or simple grilled cheese bread or paninni. For me, they are best by themselves with a Chianti or Pinot Noir. For others, these can be an acquired taste! The mention of anchovies can really cause some to shake their heads in disgust or cringe with disapproval. But, I don't let little things stop me from trying to convert "fish haters".   I recently won over my husband . . . "a fish hater" from way back!