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August 2011
Savor Summer's End with a Perfect Picnic!
Greetings!
August...it's the most sultry of summer months. Long ago, the ancient Romans thought the bright star Sirius, also known as the 'dog star,' was responsible for the hot weather as the star rose and set with the sun. And, so, we have the 'dog days of summer.' To enjoy the hottest weeks of the season, consider taking dinner outside with an old-fashioned picnic. This issue of What's Cooking focuses on delicious, easy ways to pack a summer dinner. I offer both the recipes and tips for a complete experience.
And, speaking of experiences, it's been a whirlwind of a summer at A Well-Seasoned Kitchen. We've taken the cookbook, tips and recipes on the road! Earlier this month, we began our cross country trip to New Jersey to pick up our new Airstream trailer that's ideal for cooking, visiting bookstores across the country and taking our cooking classes to cooks across the country. To learn more and see photos of our adventure, check out my blog and stay tuned for more information on the journey!
Love from the kitchen,
Lee
Lee Clayton Roper |
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Pack the perfect picnic
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Our portable picnic table was perfect for taking meals outdoors.
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Whether you seek a simple backyard affair or plan to daytrip into the back country, A Well-Seasoned Kitchen has you covered. This month we offer a tasty, completely portable picnic that's ideal for a hearty lunch or light dinner. This menu features all make-ahead dishes that are quick to prepare and easy to pack.
My Mom Sally loved treating our family to an occasional picnic. In fact, she had a foldable picnic table that was the envy of every picnic! You could always count on Sally to create a memorable affair. You can find a similar table on Amazon. Download our perfect picnic menu here or from our website along with the recipes.
Begin with a smoky starter
Smoked Trout Pate
This smoky, creamy spread is a great way to stir the taste buds. Serve with crackers.
A light main course perfect for summer appetites
Smoked Turkey, Mushroom and Hearts of Palm Salad
This salad is a perfect way to blend savory summer spices with tangy hearts of palm and artichoke hearts. Add the smoked turkey and you have a delectable dish to pile onto lettuce.
Store-bought artisanal breads
An array of breads is always interesting and a crowd pleaser.
Pack a simple, satisfying dessert
Blonde Brownies
These brownies come together in a snap, and the butterscotch flavor is divine.
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A well-seasoned tip
 This issue, I offer you two tips for making picnicking simple. First, you want to make your foods easy to store and carry. The trick is to minimize space and maximize storage. We've been using Tiffin Boxes for years just for that purpose. These tins first belonged to Mom, and now I use them to transport meals to the Denver Botanic Garden Summer Concert Series and to carry ingredients to cooking demonstrations. You can see these tins in action in a cooking segment that I did in Vail last year on Vail's TV8.
 During the summer months, it's critical to keep foods up to temperature. Next time you want to keep cold foods chilled, consider filling several Ziploc bags full of ice cubes. The Ziploc performs double duty! The package keeps your foods from becoming waterlogged and the bagged ice is perfect for icing your favorite beverages!
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A cookbook that celebrates family and food
 "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" is a recipe treasury for all cooks who cherish creating delicious meals to nourish relationships with family and friends. The cookbook was written by Lee Clayton Roper and her mother Sally. The Claytons have long been known for effortless style and smart sensibility when it comes to home cooking and entertaining. So, when Sally began to suffer from the effects of osteoporosis and memory loss, it was natural for Lee to to engage her mother through memories of their shared times in the kitchen. The result of their effort is "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen," a cookbook of classic recipes for today's contemporary cook.
The hardcover cookbook includes 186 recipes, planning menus and helpful tips on 272 pages that feature delicious photos of some of Sally and Lee's favorite dishes. Renowned food photographer Laurie Smith, whose pictures have appeared in Saveur, Food & Wine and many other esteemed publications, shot the photos for "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen." |
| Missed an Issue of What's Cooking? |
Our issues are archived! You can find menus for any event, cooking tips and more on our website! Visit the archives. |
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Tasty Recipes and Tips on Channel 2 |
Lee's a regular Featured Chef on Denver's Channel 2! From grilled Shrimp with Tomatillo-Avocado Salsa to Dijon Pork Chops with Arugula, Lee offers easy-to-make recipes for the station's Meals in Minutes segment. Get the dish on Lee's next segment by friending us on Facebook!
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On the Road with "A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" |  |
A Well-Seasoned Kitchen has gone national! We're on the road in our new Airstream trailer to introduce our cookbook to local bookshops, visit restaurants across the country and even hold cooking classes. We even visited Mom's hometown - where our cooking adventures began. Learn more about our adventures on the Well-Seasoned Kitchen blog!
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Find a delicious and easy recipe for your next gathering in
"A Well-Seasoned Kitchen" |  |
$34.95 + S&H
Now with reduced shipping!
Only $3.99 for UPS Ground
Find A Well-Seasoned Kitchen cookbook on our website at
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Colorado Retailer A portion of proceeds are donated to the Alzheimers' Association Colorado Chapter |
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Join the conversation with your fellow foodies! | |
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