Happy Birthday Karen

Top 'o the day to you on this St. Patrick's Day 2009.
No corned beef, cabbage or potatoes on the menu here tonight. In fact, there was no menu, the guys practiced tonight so I just fixed snacks for them.

Chips and Queso and Bacon Wrapped Breadsticks

Now on to the real news of the day. Today is my sweet sister in law, Karen's birthday. That is her pretty picture I posted up top.
I remember my mother in law, Barbara, saying they brought Karen to her after she was born with a little green bow in her hair.

We gave her one of my favorite new gadgets, a quesadilla maker. We loved having Karen, Tommy and Ryan for supper on Sunday to celebrate. The menu looked like this:

Mixed Green Salad w/ Cranberries, Pecans and Goat Cheese
Caramelized French Onion Soup Au Gratin*
Stuffed Cheesy Chicken
Mushroom and Rice Casserole
Butter Beans
Parker House Rolls (we really didn't have these, I forgot them in the oven)
Nobilo Sauvignon Blanc

Caramelized French Onion Soup Au Gratin

3 large sweet onions - sliced thin
1 stick butter
3 Tbsp. olive oil
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 Tbsp. sugar

Melt butter in olive oil and add onions, salt, pepper and sugar. Cook over medium low heat until onions are browned and caramelized, stirring occassionally. This will take about 30 minutes.
Add:
4 cans beef consomme
1/4 cup good red wine
1/8 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. dried thyme leaves
dash of cayenne pepper

Simmer an additional 30 minutes. Ladle into oven proof bowls and top each bowl with:
sliced French bread
Swiss cheese
1 tsp. Parmesan cheese

Place bowls on a baking sheet and broil until golden on top. Watch closely.


We Love You, Karen, Enjoy Your Day!!!!!!

So, Until Tomorrow.........
S~~~