Home Fries

I think I can enjoy almost any version of HOME FRIES!  The key I believe is home, which to me, means, done your way.  While most of my life Home Fries were done on the stove top in a frying pan, I find that my favorite and I think my guests agree, there is just something so much more enriching in roasting vegetables in the oven; not to mention, easy, convenient. 

Roasted Home Fries

My Roasted Home Fries are just that - Potatoes, Onions, Garlic, Bell Peppers, a little Sun-Dried Tomatoes, showered with Olive Oil, Seasoned with Herbs & Spices and roasted on about 450 degrees in the oven for 30 minutes. When it's done,  I also like to get it up under the broiler for a quick charring, sprinkle on some Paprika and Caper Berries and, well, the presentation speaks for itself! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Roasted in Olive Oil & Herbal Seasonings, like Rosemary & Thyme

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Home Fries

ROASTED WITH HERBS & SPICES

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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THICK CRUST PIE

This time of year just wakes up the inner-chef in us all!  No matter how much or how little you cook, often we have at least one recipe for a favorite dish, we are often asked to cook/bake and bring with us to the feast.  I have several favorites - Scratch-Made Buttermilk Biscuits, Lemon-Coconut Cake, Cornbread, Banana-Nut Bread, Blueberry Muffins, Belgian Waffles, Yeast Rolls, etc., and of course, and I can't believe I've never posted the recipe for one of my absolute favorites - Mariby Corpening's Apple & Sweet Potato Pies! 

And, of course, I began getting requests for My Double-Crusted Sweet Potato and Apple Pies for the holidays; so, now, I take orders!  Though, during the holidays, a reminder to contact me to order your pie(s) a season ahead! 

Double-Crusted Sweet Potato Pie

Recipe for My Apple & Sweet Potato Pies

OMG!  I am a breadoholic - a total crust person and I like it thick, too!  All that butter, the golden crispiness, the sweet and savory aromas, the flavorful filling; though, it has to be good, is almost secondary to the expected grandeur of the crust itself.  Of course, both the filling and crusts are made from scratch; but, here's my twist, not only do my sweet potato pies have a top and bottom crust, but almost as importantly, I roast the sweet potatoes with butter, sugar, cinnamon and a little bit of salt, rather than the standard of boiling - adds such richness in flavor - and with the double-crust, yup, it's just enough crust in every bite!  Riiiiiiight! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

See recipe for my Apple & Sweet Potato Pies

You should know that it took me awhile to develop this recipe and I am still trying new ideas.  I've not shared this recipe before, so please let me know your thoughts - and especially if, on my blog, I may have missed a step!

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

Mariby Corpening's Thick-Crust Apple Pie

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Thick-Crust Pies

SCRATCH-MADE TOP & BOTTOM

Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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Seafoods

This past weekend, I had the pleasure, truly, of preparing A Birthday Surprise Seafood Dinner ... For Two!  Prepared in the client's own home, though I had hours to set it up, I found myself scrambling feverishly to be out of there, before they returned home!  What a rush!  I was exhausted, but my heart smiled the entire time.  Didn't know I could move that fast!  

Well, here it is, and please, you gotta picture this, at your house, your kitchen, your wares, your dining table, just the two of you! 

A Surprise Intimate Seafood Dinner ... For Two

A beautiful, intimate, unforgettable 5 star restaurant experience ... in your own home!

ON THE MENU:  Lobster Tails, Jumbo Shrimp, Bacon-Wrapped Scallops (in this case, turkey bacon), Saffron-Laced Basmati Rice spiced with Seaweed, Caper Berries, Garlic and Rosemary, Roasted Vegetables of Brussel Sprouts, Broccoli, Carrots, Onions, Garlic, including Butter Roasted Corn-On-The-Cob, Fresh Green Salad with my home-made Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing, scratch-made Cornbread with Red & Green Bell Peppers & Sweet Kernel Corn, Grannies' fresh-made Green Iced Tea made with Honey and Lemon and, because her husband loves chocolate, too, all was complete with Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries, Chocolate Coated Candies filled with Sweet Cherries, Caramel or Peanut Butter, Personal Tasting Cakes from Desserts By Gerards and Grannie's Vanilla Frozen Yogurt, she made fresh with Greek Yogurt, Honey, a little Vanilla and left in the fridge for ... later desserts! 

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

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“I almost cried at the beautiful presentation and my surprised husband was shocked, absolutely speechless! He just kept saying how incredible. Thanks so much for making this a birthday he will never forget!”

— Client Comment

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All that and yup, I'll come to you!  A beautiful, intimate, unforgettable 5 star restaurant experience ... in your home! 

So, what occasion comes to mind for you?  What's on your ideal menu?  Perhaps a surprise for your parents' anniversary, your mother's birthday, your father's game day, a lover's getaway, your mate's love day, son/daughter's time for just me & you or a best friend's Thank You! 

Yup! It's What I Do!  No ... Thank YOU!

 

A personal dining experience they "will never forget!"

#ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

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Mariby Corpening's

Intimate Seafood Dinner For Two

Yup, I come to you!

                                   Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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A Paella's Paradise

OMG!  Okay, I went a little crazy!  I know!  I know!  I know!  That's just too much!  I mean, like where is the rice?  I had to keep telling my guests, It's under there! 

My first time, I enjoyed so very much preparing this meal - essentially a Spanish dish of rice, saffron, chicken, seafood, etc., cooked and served in a large shallow pan.  This I did for Grannie's b-day - 73!  It's a dish that pleases all - to see and to feast - and can be something different and still special each time you prepare it.  The key, for me, is to put into it the meats and the veggies that you like.  Do you see all that feasting fun & flavor!  Truly, it's gotta be a meal in paradise!

Paella - The Meal of Paradise!

I should forewarn you that I do not prepare my Paella in the traditional manner of pan-searing the meats, sauteing the veggies, folding in the rice, adding stock and simmering all together.  I prefer to cook all of my elements separately, including the rice - for example, I love roasted vegetables, so I cook and partially char my vegetables in the oven and I boil my rice in chicken stock, though separately (to ensure that the texture of my rice is perfect )

Here's what I did and what I like in my Paella:

• Pre-heat the oven at 450 for roasting

• Cup up in large chunks all your veggies (sweet onions, fresh garlic cloves (smashed), red & green bell peppers, carrots, fresh string beans, cherry tomatoes, hot peppers, etc.); though, the hot peppers I dice in small pieces

• Season veggies with my house mix (rosemary, roasted garlic powder, hot pepper flakes, salt & lemon pepper) sprinkle with olive oil, mix and place in the oven for 30 minutes

• Preheat a fry pan on medium heat

• Cut up in preferable chunks and cook your meats (sausage, boneless chicken, etc.) - sausage first, lightly season the chicken, then (and all in the same fry pan), the shrimp or whatever meats you prefer

• Boil the rice in chicken stock, add seasonings (cumin, lemon pepper, cilantro, saffron, etc.) of choice. I prefer to use the dry chicken stock and just add water; it has a lot of flavor and you can control the intensity of flavor.

  • Cook perfect rice every time by:

    • measuring out 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water (which, I doubled for this dish)

    • simply, bring water (or chicken stock) to boil

    • add/stir in seasonings (if preferred)

    • add /stir in rice

    • turn down stove top to lowest temperature

    • cover pot and let simmer for exactly 20 minutes (turn on the timer)

    • DO NOT touch or uncover until after the 20 minutes

  • Renders perfectly cooked rice every time!

  • Once my rice is cooked, then I add a few more flavors, like Grannie's garlic paste, capers and diced sun-dried tomatoes

• After cooking all of my elements (seasoned rice, roasted vegetables, pan-seared meats, arrange on a large platter, squeeze over it lots of lemon juice, also garnish with lemon wedges and parsley (spinach or some leafy-green), set in the middle of the table and feast - family style.

Fresh, delightful, flavorful - a big hit!  Your guests will pull out the cameras first and then feast - and between the conversation and the Sangria, Paradise just keeps going - for hours on!

Ooooooom! #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

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Mariby Corpening's

Paella

The Meal of Paradise

                                   Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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“Pleasure can be bought, but comfort must be given!”

— Sarah Ban Breathnach

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Three Kings Grilled & Cheesed Burgers

So, let me ask you:  What's your ideal burger look and especially taste like?  For my family, it's made out of a combination of what I call the Three Kings - Beef, Pork & Lamb, juicy, well-seasoned, grilled on a bed of chopped onions & garlic, some crispy bacon, fresh/spicy/sweet/pickled toppings, melted American Cheese and/or Pepper Jack Cheese and served on a steam-grilled Potato Bun!  That's it!  End of story! 

I kid you not, when my family (especially my brothers), friends and guests eat my burgers, you will hear smacking, licking, just greasing, along with my signature, Ooooooom and always requests for a second round!  When and only planning to visit, they warn me, We want those burgers!  One time, after eating my burger for the first time, my brother-in-law went out to the store, bought some more burgers and asked me to make him some to go!  No joke!  People thank me, after they've had my burgers.  Doesn't matter whether it's All beef, the Three Kings (Beef, Pork, Lamb), Turkey, Salmon, Veggie or a Portobello Mushroom, when it's laid to rest over a hefty bed of fried onions & garlic, Om, om, om!  #ThingsThatMakeYouGoOom

OMG! This one's with onions, garlic, bacon, pickled mushrooms American & Jack Cheeses; oh, and there's a turkey burger under there, somewhere!

Truly, no recipe required!  Simply put, as a kid, I used to love me some White Castle Hamburgers (not the meat patty, but the onions and the hot, soft, steaminess of it!  So I sought out to get as close as possible to the process for the steamy-hot manner in which their burgers are served.  I found that it's the cooking process with those chopped onions and steam!

How I Make My Burgers Savory & Juicy!

Note that, in my opinion, the best burgers are cooked on a flat-top grill, but at home, just use a fry pan.

Instructions:

• To garnish - Prepare the fix'ns (Fresh Tomatoes, Lettuce, Raw Onions, Pickles, Mayo, Mustard, Ketchup, any especially-prepared Aioli, Sweet/Peppered Relish, Pickled Slaw, etc.)

• To saute - Chop up a lot (and I mean, a lot) of onions, some garlic, and if you prefer, hot peppers, or mushrooms, bell peppers, etc.

• If making the patties, combine My Three Kings (Ground Chuck (Beef), Pork & Lamb), shape patties into preferred size (I prefer thinner diner-size 4 oz., as opposed to hefty steakhouse 6-8 oz.) and refrigerate/freeze until ready to cook

• Pre-heat a fry pan at medium heat

• Fry the bacon to crispy and set aside (keep the bacon grease)

• Saute the onion & garlic mixture in that same pan with bacon grease

• Remove meat patties from freezer/refrigerator and season the one side of your meat patties (I use Rosemary, Roasted Garlic, Hot Pepper Flakes, Grannie's Lemon Pepper and very little Salt)

• Once onions are partially cooked, place your patties right on top of the heavy bed of onion & garlic

• Punch 3-4 holes in each patty (with a straw or end of a like-size spoon), put a lid on the pan and cook for 3-4 minutes

• Turn over the patties, season the other side and cook another 2-4 minutes - just depending on type of meat (beef, 3 Kings, turkey, salmon), patty size and your preference for doneness

• Add cheese (I prefer American & Jack Cheeses, but Cheddar, Feta or your preference works)

• Remove burgers and onions from pan and set aside on a plate

• Steam the buns in the same frying pan, cover with a lid for a minute or so

• Build your burger - add the (cooked) bacon and with all the fix'ns, each person puts whatever else they want on their burger

• From there, need only pause and wait for all the Ooooooom!

The key to this process is the abundance of onions, a little seasoning, the steam and serving hot from the fry pan! 

OMG!  My family will fight over and wait in line for them!  Try it!  Your guests will not forget this burger! 

COMMENTS WELCOMED!

No matter the burger type (all beef, 3 Kings, turkey, veggie, salmon, etc.), it's always a hit and with nothing else on it!

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Mariby Corpening's

My Three Kings

The Juiciest, Tastiest Burgers Right At Home!

                                   Descriptions, Recipes & Images by Mariby CorpeningTM

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