Tag Archives: Cooking

A Spur of the Moment Crab Seafood Party = Summer Fun with Family & Friends!!!!!!!

5 Aug

20130805-132353.jpg

“Summer fun is connecting with family and friends, good food and having FUN!!…Letia

A few months ago I was sweetly reminded of the seafood parties I used to give years ago and how it would be so wonderful if we could partake in one again; this time a little smaller!

I thought about it and said; “You know what…why not!” A superb idea, got planned and then held just this past weekend! The most important part of the party of 14, everyone had such pure enjoyment in eating the good food and spending time with each other! Which definitely made a great mix of food and conversations and a lot of laughter!! On Saturday we started with:

20130805-132314.jpg

  • 6 dozen Maryland crabs, cooked in beer, crab seasonings, chili peppers with parboil bags of chorizo sausage and red potatoes!
  • Fried flounder fried in a lite cornmeal batter
  • Fried tilapia in a lite egg Cajun batter
  • Fried shrimp in a lite cornmeal batter
  • Cold penne and prawn shrimp salad; with spanish olives, red and yellow bell pepper with cherry tomatoes
  • Cold chucked corn salad with fresh lime; with specs of cilantro and avocado slices
  • Crab rangoon
  • Cheese platter with crab cheese dip, smoked gouda, brie, goat cheese, salami, mozzarella, honey, strawberries, grapes and flavored crackers.
  • Strawberry shortcake <delicious>
  • Peach Ice Tea, Beer and White Zinfandel

There was more food, more eating and then some more food! Then the next day, yes Sunday it was hot dogs, pork & beans, chips, swimming in the pool and watching SPIKE TV episodes of Bar Rescue with Jon Taffer; leaving us to wonder whether we all could be becoming bar owners! LOL!

Well, I hope this post made you hungry and thinking about the rest of your summer. Is it going well or you just haven’t had the time to even think about having a summer get together? Well maybe, just maybe I might have changed your mind! There’s a few more weeks left! If yes, I would love to hear about it! 🙂

Thanks Oni for suggesting the party! Everyone had such a good time!!!!!!! ❤

Related articles

Letia Mitchell LifeStyle & Design Letia 🙂

All Pictures by Letia Mitchell LifeStyle & Design LLC. Recipes, send an e-mail to lee@lmlifestyleanddesign.com

Sub-Zero|Wolf, A & D Building, AJ Madison and Cooking!

26 Jul

If your like me, you marvel the look of the latest high-end appliances.  When you see them in a kitchen, you know that the owner must be a chef, really understands the fundamentals of cooking or just loves the beauty of it all! Remember, Yolanda H. Foster’s, see through refrigerator (RHOBH)!  What am I talking about?  This refrigerator, the work of art!

real-housewives-of-beverly-hills-season-3-yolanda-fridge

When remodeling a kitchen the look, the feel and sleek lines of the appliances, must be there – for the kitchen is the one place that everyone congregates!  Most people are looking for the  professional look, however really do not understand that these appliances are simply amazing and powerful!

Back in March, I attended the annual Architectural Digest Home Show in NYC and had the pleasure of winning a cooking class being offered by AJ Madison.    The cooking class would detail the fundamentals of cooking and how high-end appliances have evolved – making your cooking better or let’s say giving you the tools to do so!   The appliances were Sub-Zero|Wolf.

Let’s say, that I am a very average cook!  Know how to boil water, broil fish, make a soup and bake a chicken!   All other types of cooking beyond this – makes me wonder in amazement the art of cooking.  I’m talking about souffles, baking bread or managing to keep a duck breast moist…that kind of cooking!!  I am so lucky to have the opportunity to be near NYC to experience all types of foods, where I truly appreciate all that it takes to getting the satisfaction of having a wonderful dish and more!

This cooking class was held at the Architects and Designer Building here in NYC on 58th Street; Suite 503 (5th floor). The A & D building is a wonderful destination for high design and luxury goods –  the showrooms are open for those who are interested in exploring for ideas and seeing the latest products (including educational seminars, culinary celebrations, showroom openings).  www.adbuilding.com

The Sub-Zero|Wolf  showroom is absolutely beautiful; detailing all of their latest appliances and a state of the art cooking area for demonstrations!   The showroom is a relaxed atmosphere where designers can bring their clients to look at the appliances without any hassle and ask questions.

Even if you are not a designer, just interested, consumers are welcomed as well!   If you currently own any Sub-Zero|Wolf appliance, you can also be able to attend one of their product demonstrations, you just would need the Model # and Serial # of your product to sign up with AJ Madison.

 ” AJ Madison has a wonderful wide variety of major brand name appliances and stand by their   “service after the sale” – standing by our customers from the day of purchase throughout the life cycle of the product.” 

Now, I am not going to tell you about every appliance, but I would like to give a breakdown of what the terminologies are:

Bake Mode – The oven heats 10% from the top,  90% bottom  (cookies, cakes, pastries)

Convection Bake Mode – 100% heated controlled air (pies, cookies – abundance)

Broil Mode – 100% heats from the top (normal broiling)

Convection Broil Mode – 100% heats from the top with controlled air (fish, poultry, thick meats).

Roast Mode – 25% heats from the top, 75% from the bottom (beef, poultry, pork) .

Convection Roast Mode – 25% heats from the top, 75% heated controlled air (turkeys, large meats).

Dehydration Mode – 100% heated controlled air (fruit, herbs, meats for jerky types).

Bake Stone Mode – Heated top and bottom with stone (pizza)

Proof Mode – combination of heat with controlled air (rising breads).

The appliances shown during the class were the top of the line, get this!  How about punching in the pound amount of your item (chicken, poultry, beef) and with the internal thermometer, press ENTER on the display menu….the oven will suggest the correct temperature and seamlessly determines the time it will be done!   Steaming fish the correct way, the actual amount of steam will be created to set your fish to perfection.  Even vegetables!!!  There are also heat induction features for their range, using vibration moves on the cook top causes heat, reducing the amount of electricity to cook specific items.  All undeniably impressive!   To show how to have a whole dinner ready, in less than 4 hours; here is what was prepared:

  • Four amazing pizzas
  • Salmon burgers
  • Fried Macaroni & Cheese balls <still thinking about them>
  • Broiled Salmon
  • Steamed Cod
  • Steamed Vegetables
  • Pork Loin Roast
  • Prime Rib Roast
  • Russet Potatoes
  • Corn
  • Wedding Cookies
  • Chocolate Covered Cherries (demonstrated melted chocolate)
  • Brownies
  • Choice of White or Red Wine, Water

TIP:  When getting recipes on the Internet, always specific if you have a convection oven.  This will give you the correct information for cooking!

Thanks AJ Madison, I had a wonderful time and to Architectural Digest for the invite back this past March!

Letia Mitchell LifeStyle & DesignLetia 🙂

http://www.ajmadison.com for more information.  Photo of Yolanda H. Foster’s refrigerator by BravoTV (Real Housewives of Beverly Hills).  Photos by Letia Mitchell LIfeStyle & Design LLC.

Happy Easter!!!!

7 Apr

In observance of Passover and Easter, sending everyone well wishes to enjoy your holiday with your family and friends!

Just rushing to deliver the Easter eggs that I’ve filled with candy for the Easter Egg Hunt tomorrow!

So you know, M&Ms has Easter chocolates in peanuts and peanut butter!  I’d sample quite a few!  🙂  Out the door!!!

Letia  🙂

%d bloggers like this: