Sherry, I wish I could have been there, but I couldn't skip out on the boss and the cheese making class....

So you had duck again? Heck, I wish I'd have known, I got a freezer full of them, I'd have sent you one!

That cake looks delicious and Peppi looks very contented indeed. Maybe something to do with the glass of wine she's holding? LOL

Everything looks yummy, but what about that new gazebo? I wanna see THAT too...

Annie

I see a little bit of the new gazebo. I can't wait to see it in person--that's a promise!

The food looks fabulous; but that is to be expected. Do I see Dexter peeking adoringly at Roger from under the table?

Looking good Peppi!

Wow, you guys didn't mess around with the food, it sounds unbelievably good!! Recipe for black bean cakes pleeeze!
It is so nice to see my good friends looking so well fed and happy! Thanks for sharing these great pics Sherry!

Lori,
I thought of you when we made the black bean cakes. I was bettin' that you would be interested in that recipe.

Black Bean Cakes

2 Tbs. olove oil divided
4 green onions thinly sliced
6 clove garlics, chopped
2 fresh jalapenos, finely chopped
1 Tbs. ground cumin
2 cans (a4.5 oz) black beans, drain and rinsed
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups grated raw sweet potato
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs

Heat 1 Tbs oil in small skillet over medium heat. Cook green onions until softened, about 1 minute. Stir in garlic, 2 diced jalapenos, and cumin. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Trasnfer contents of skillet to large bowl. Stir in black beans and mash with a fork. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix in grated sweet potato, egg, and bread crumbs. Divide into 8 balls, and flatten into patties.

You can broil this for 8-10 minutes on a greased baking sheet, but I fried in olive oil, after coating them with a light dusting of Panko.

Serve with the following sauce.

Sauce

1/2 cup light sour cream
2 tsp fresh lime juice
1 small frsh jalapenos, chopped finely
salt to taste
Note* We added cilantro to the sour cream sauce. I also recommend you add cilantro to the bean cakes.
Another note* The jalapenos are very mild this year. You might want to "heat it up some with more or stronger jalapenos, or add a little cayenne pepper.

I liked these a lot.

Great food and great company! And Peppi is perfectly color-coordinated with your dining room!

Who wouldn't be content and well fed after those meals! The food looks great and sounds like you all had alot of fun!

Sherry, would you mind sharing the cauliflower and pepper casserole? I think we would love it!

What fun!!!
Good food, good wine and good company, what could be better!
Linda c

It all looks and sounds delicious, and having been a guest in each of your homes, I KNOW that you are great cooks! So glad that you and Peppi could play together. Awww Saugatuck, I have great memories! Peppi and Roger look great, so where are you?

Sherry, could you please post the recipe for the fig and prosciutto salad?

wow everything looks so good! Thanks for sharing the pics and also for that bean cake recipe.

Ditto what Ellen said!

Peppi dear you look great! Hi Roger! What a great visit you guys must have had.

Sherry your sure are a sweetie! Thanks for sharing.

It looks like such fun, and great food! Thanks for sharing the black bean cake recipe. LPink beat me to it, as I was going to ask for the recipe, too.

What a fine bunch of people on this forum!

Sally

Sounds like a perfect weekend and all of those meals have me drooling!

Linda

Looks great! ... and a good time was had by all! What fun!

How could Peppi not be content with all that chocolate and wine being passed around?

Sol

Sherry, I miss you too!

Wow, what a fun weekend I had. I told Sherry I needed to run away from home for a few days and she said "Come", and so I did. When we talked last Thursday, she was fighting a cold, so rather than have her over do it, I brought dinner. Friends always help when a good friend is under the weather, right? I was hoping she would bake me something, and she really came through. I told her that if I am on my deathbed and call her, she is to bring me the chocolate cake, it is that good.

When I arrived on Friday, she and Roger had lunch waiting for me, a perfect meal for a cold and rainy day: RogersÂs famous and delicious chili and grilled cheese sandwiches.

Cathy, good eyes! That is the fierce Kleenex killing Dexter, hoping for a bite of the duck. And your salad, which is to die for. I finally found the fig balsamic for it, so now it is on the menu this week at home. I am at work, so I canÂt post the recipe but will do so tonight.

Annie, I brought the duck because I had 3 in the freezer, and a real craving for it.

Sol, you are so right. Wine, chocolate and good friends make a perfect combination.

CC: I planned it like thatÂÂ

Sherry and I went to a local farm market and I bought a bushel of apples to share with a neighbor and we also came home with a ½ bushel of green beans that we split. Shopping in Saugatuck on Saturday and a PJ morning on Sunday all made for a perfect weekend. And Sherry didnÂt let me leave empty handed either. I tried for Dexter, but settled for her canned peaches, pickled beets and a jar of pasta sauce. Plus she gave me the cake! I almost stopped at a rest area to eat it. Serious damage was done to it last night.

Now I need the recipe for the fritters please. And thank you again for a fantastic weekend.

Peppi

omg...I would kill for all of that food right now...

Awesome.

Looks like you had a great time-- friends, good food & shopping-- what could be better !

Sounds like a wonderful time and the food looks wonderful, as well. Peppi, you can run away to SA anytime...lol!

Brenda

Arugula Salad with Figs, Prosciutto, Walnuts, and Parmesan
4 tbls olive oil
2 oz thinly sliced prosciutto cut into strips
1 tbls raspberry jam
3 tbls fig balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup dried figs, chopped into ¼ inch pieces
1 tbls finely chopped shallot
5 cups baby arugula
½ cup chopped walnuts, toasted
2 oz Parmesan, shaved into thin strips

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 10 inch nonstick skillet over medium heat; add prosciutto and fry until crisp, stirring frequently for about 7 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer to paper towel to drain and cool.
2. Whisk jam and vinegar in medium microwave-safe bowl; stir in figs. Cover with plastic wrap, cut several steam vents in plastic and microwave on high until figs are plump, about 45 seconds. Whisk in 3 tablespoons oil, shallots, ¼ tsp salt; toss to combine. Let cool to room temperature.
3. Toss arugula and vinaigrette in large bowl; adjust seasonings with salt. Divide salad among individual plats; top with portion of prosciutto, walnuts, and Parmesan.

Cauliflower and Pepper Casserole

1 med. head cauliflower,broken into florets
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/4 cup chopped red pepper
1 cup sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/2 cup crushed cornflakes
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
Place cauliflower and a small amount of water in a saucepan, cover, and cook for 5 minutes or until crisp tender. Drain. Mix with sour cream, cheddar cheese, cornflakes, peppers, and salt and pepper. Transfer to a greased 2 quart casserole dish. Sprinkle with parmesan and paprika.
Bake uncovered at 325 for 30-35 minutes. ( I baked at 350)
Recipe from Linda McGinty
Taste of Home

Zucchini and Potato Fritters

1 zucchini
1 medium potato
1 small onion
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 egg
1/4 cup flour
oil

Grate zucchini and potato and onion. Mix grated veggies with thyme, egg, and flour until combined. Het some oil in a large frying pan and cook fritters until golden brown and cooked on both sides. Drain. Serve warm with sour cream.
This is like latkes. It made 6.
This came from Nancy, but originally was posted by Linda in Tn.

Yummo! Thanks gals for posting those recipes! Now I can live vicariously through your visit by trying some of the recipes.

Copied, pasted, printed and on to cooking!

Thank you!

Dang, I wasn't even thinking. You two could have met me in Grand Rapids and done the Saturday morning cheesemaking class, now THAT would have been fun.....at 9 am on Saturday morning, LOL.

Annie

So good to see the three of you again! Looks like you had a ball and some very good eats!

Oh the food looks and sounds wonderful! Lover purple cabbage and rouladen, and duck, and the salad looks amazing. Don't even get me started on that chocolate mousse cake!

Looks like a great time shared with wonderful people!

Shelley S.