Some Like it Hot - And Spicy!

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Who feels like turning up the heat in the kitchen this week?  Be it literally (chiles) or figuratively (warming spices), we're heading into spice territory with Tessa this week.  

You choose your comfort level.  Fresh chile peppers turned into an oil, a sauce, or sauteed into your favorite dish.  Chile powder, cinnamon, anise, cardamom, nutmeg, ginger, or turmeric heating up your main course, a loaf of bread, or folded seductively into a sweet dessert.  The possibilities are infinite.

What do you choose?  A dish that'll bring out the beads of sweet on your forehead...or a dish that will melt someone's heart?  Can't wait to see how you spice up the kitchen this week!

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Make and post your Some Like it Hot - And Spicy! post by Sunday, February 5th. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed the January Potluck theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious dishes everyone brought!  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Tessa Kiros right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Some Like it Hot-And Spicy!* Participants

1. Natashya - Spicy Chickpea Salad 2. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Fresh Pasta with Piri Piri Pepper Cream Sauce 3. JamieK - Salmon Ceviche with Cilantro, Chili, and Lime

4. Deb in Hawaii--Spicy Tomato Sauce 5. Michelle ~ Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino 6. Couscous & Consciousness - Chicken, Coconut & Cashew Nut Curry

7. Heather- Aromatic Salt 8. Kim -Very Thin Fries with Sriracha-Garlic Mayo

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January Potluck with Tessa Kiros!

It's that time again, time for a potluck party with Tessa Kiros!

Get out your favourite TK books and start bookmarking those dishes you have been salivating over, or that you actually have the ingredients for - your choice. ;-)

Whip up your awesome dish from one of Tessa's recipes and post on or by January 29th and link up with Mr. Linky, below. Need help? Check out our welcome page!

And have you had a chance to check out all the white foods we played with last week?

Looking forward to seeing what delicious dishes you bring to the potluck!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *January Potluck with Tessa Kiros* Participants

1. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Mushroom Manchego Risotto Balls 2. Heather- Butternut Squash baked w/ Bay Leaves, Butter & Brown Sugar 3. Deb in Hawaii--Garides Saganaki: Shrimp w/Feta & Tomato

4. Natashya - Cinnamon and Cardamom Rolls 5. Jamie - Beef Casserole with Carrots, Onions & Heavy Cream 6. Michelle~Kebabs

7. Kim -La Pizza Rossa 8. Andreas - Fresh Egg Pasta with Simple Tomato Sauce

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White As Snow

The view outside your kitchen window is white as snow.  You smile to yourself because this is a cook's dream.  Your favorite room, your kitchen, has the best view in the house.  A view of beauty and wonder, stillness and peace, magic and nostalgia.    

You remember the days when you couldn't wait to get out there and roll around in the snow with your friends.  But now you are older and you are content to stay inside where you are snug and warm.  The snow still calls to you, but the kitchen calls louder. 

You start off your adventure with a cup of coffee, or maybe even a hot chocolate.  Of course you need that dollop, or two, of freshly whipped white cream.

 As you putter about you imagine all the ways you will enjoy your day in the kitchen. The scent of fresh bread baking is the first thing to cross your mind. You can picture yourself slicing into loaf of white bread and slathering it with butter, peanut butter, or jelly.

Later on for dinner you'll enjoy a comforting dish blanketed in a lovely white cream sauce.  Or, maybe today is the day for a glorious side of buttery white mashed potatoes?  Pizzas and pastas laden with cheese. Or perhaps the stillness of the day challenges you to try that fancy fish recipe.  You know the one.  The one where the flaky white fish is bathed in a flavorful sauce.  

 But then your sweet tooth gets the best of you and you realize that you must have dessert.  You start daydreaming about vanilla cakes, meringues as fluffy as the clouds, and warm and spicy rice puddings and before you know it your decision is made.  Or is it? 

Please make or post your White As Snow recipes by January 22nd.  Don't forget to link your post of the week with Mr. Linky below and leave a comment afterwards so we don't miss you gorgeous recipe. If you're new to IHCC, just click on our Welcome post to get all of the details.

If you missed out on our rice is nice recipes then visit here.

Outside it is white as snow.  What are you making in your kitchen?

I Heart Cooking Clubs *White As Snow* Participants

1. Heather - Italian Sausage & Potato Frittata 2. Kayte - Baked Fish Parcels 3. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Winnie the Pooh Waffles with Honey

4. Natashya - Skordalia 5. Deb In Hawaii--Skordalia 6. Michelle ~ Fusilli con Cavolfiore (sort of!)

7. Kim -Baked Feta 8. Andreas - Braised Endive 9. Donna-Gelato al limone

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Rice is Nice!

It's a simple, humble grain, but rice is the the most important staple food for a large part of the world's population.

Rice is Nice!

Rice is versatile. There are many different kinds of rice to choose from. Different colors, textures, sizes, and tastes. A rice for everyone

This week show how Rice is Nice! by picking a Tessa Kiros recipe that features rice.

Make all that Nice Rice a main course, a side dish, or even a dessert. Just make it a Tessa Kiros recipe, and post it by Sunday, January 15th.

Make sure you link up your Rice is Nice! creation using Mr. Linky below. Don't forget to leave a comment after you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss your fabulous rice dish. If you are new to IHCC, just click on our Welcome post to get all of the details.

If you missed spending last week, Under the Tuscan Sun, be sure to head on over and see all of the delectable dishes everyone brought!

Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Tessa Kiros right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!


I Heart Cooking Clubs *Rice is Nice* Participants

1. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Mushroom Risotto 2. Kayte - Spinach Rice 3. Michelle ~ Shrimp & Spinach Brown Rice Risotto 4. Deb in Hawaii--Tomato Rice

5. Natashya -Tomato Risotto 6. Heather~ Smoky Tomato Risotto 7. Donna-fried risotto balls 8. Kim -Fried Risotto Balls

9. Couscous & Consciousness - Artichoke & Italian Sausage Risotto 10. JamieK

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Under the Tuscan Sun

photo credit: 100 Layer Cake

Even though my toes are frozen inside of my socks as I sit here, just saying the word...Tuscany...makes me feel all warm and toasty inside.  The landscape, the sun, attitude, the food.  Sigh.  It's been my "main destination" for as many years as I can remember.  I want to stroll through the vineyards, plucking fat, sweet grapes from the vine.  I want to press the nectar from fresh olives.  I want to tear off a hunk of a Tuscan boule and eat it with some locally made cheese and salami.  And I definitely want to find myself a pig with the snout of a truffle detective!

photo credit: Purple Chocolat Home

Tuscany...to me...is all of this and so much more.  Giant sunflowers, bowing their heavy heads.  Rice and gelato and beets and mushrooms and chickens and lemons and fragrant herbs and a colorful veggies galore!  So what do you say?  Wanna cook up a Tuscan inspired meal and set a gorgeous Tuscan-scaped table amidst the vineyards?  I'll be the one with a bottle of vino in one hand and a bottle of olive oil in the other...drunk on sunshine and happiness.

What will you bringing to our Tuscan table this week?  Check out Twelve: A Tuscan Cook Book by Tessa for lots of food and inspiration!

photo credit: Tuscan Traveler

Make and post your Under the Tuscan Sun post by Sunday, January 8th. Don't forget to link your post of the week's with Mr. Linky below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous creation! Remember to leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.

If you missed the Winter Wonderland theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the delicious dishes everyone brought!  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Tessa Kiros right now...so if you've linked up, be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Under the Tuscan Sun* Participants

1. Chicken alla Pizzaiola 2. JamieK 3. Natashya - Fusilli con Cavolfiore

4. Heather~ Pane co' Santi 5. Andreas - Osso Bucco with Gremolata 6. Kim - Risotto with Artichokes and Sausage

7. Couscous & Consciousness - Cappuccino Fredo/Coffee Granita 8. Deb in Hawaii--Zuppa di Ceci

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