May Potluck!

It is Potluck time at I Heart Cooking Clubs!

What will you be making this month? Dainty high tea sandwiches? Robust curry and naan? Soft and gooey chocolatey chip cookies? The perfect steak on the grill? Healthy smoothies? Soup or sammies? Could be anything, the choice is all yours!

Whip up a great dish, whatever strikes your fancy, for May's Potluck - using one of Mark Bittman's recipes from his books or online. Hook your post up to Mr. Linky, below.

And have you had a chance to check out all the great Movie Night dishes yet?

Photo from Crazy Orange Turtle's Gluten-Free Kitchen.

Post your Bittman Potluck themed recipe by Sunday, May 23th and don't forget to link your post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous potluck 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.

I Heart Cooking Clubs *May 2010 Potluck!* Participants

1. Yvette - Everyday Pancakes 2. girlichef~ Curried Rice with Chickpeas 3. Tiff- Drizzle Sauce 4. Beth Anne - Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Curry 5. Chaya - Bittman Makes Life Easy Pasta 6. Chaya - Savory Sausage Muffins 7. Joanne - Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

8. Natashya - Herbed Spaetzle 9. Kim-Vietnamese Caramelized Grilled Pork & Chive Salad 10. Maggie - Tomato Jam 11. DebinHawaii--Cod Cakes with Ginger, Cilantro & Scallions 12. Tina Marie with Grilled Pork Chops 13. Joanna@GoAhead&Snicker- Shrimp and Mango Salad 14. HoneyB

15. Denny - Focaccia Bread 16. Domestic Kate - Strawberry Muffins 17. Mike and Carla - Pork Schnitzel 18. Claudia 19. Judi - Rhubarb Crisp 20. Mary-Classic Lasagne, Bolognese Style

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

It's Movie Night!

Are you ready for the next mission here at I Heart Cooking Clubs?

Your mission, if you chose to accept it, is to make some tasty creations for Movie Night!


Maybe you'd like to enjoy some good old fashioned popcorn with your movie, or perhaps a dip or even some roasted nuts are in order. Any snack or appetizer is definitely fair game on movie night!


You might even enjoy a theme night, such as Italian night, Kids Night, Southern Night, or even Vampire Night.

In the mood for a little Godfather marathon or perhaps a night with some Goodfellas? In that case, bring on the garlic and don't forget to slice your garlic thin, Goodfellas thin to be exact. You might want to try your hand with a homemade pizza, spaghetti, lasagna, garlic bread, maybe even a panini is in order.


Maybe Movie Night is a family affair, in which case you might chose to celebrate by watching the newly released Tooth Fairy movie. Cookies, Cakes, Brownies...all sound like a perfect way to rebel against the Tooth Fairy!



Perhaps some good old fashioned Southern food is in order, along with Sandra Bullock's new release The Blind Side. Melt in your mouth ribs, barbecue, corn on the cob......all washed down with some sweet tea. Sounds like bliss!


Vampire movies have been really popular lately. Bloody Mary's anyone? Steak served medium-rare? Red Velvet cupcakes? Sounds fang-tastic!!


Don't have time to sit down and watch a movie this week? Create a snack or menu with your favorite movie in mind. Whatever you chose will be fabulous and we can't wait to see it!

Post your Movie Night creations by Sunday, May 16th and don't forget to link your post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous Movie Night 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.
I Heart Cooking Clubs *Movie Night* Participants

1. Joanne - White Bean Dip 2. Natashya - Pretty in Pink Strawberry Fool 3. Beth Anne - Spiced Nuts 4. Denny - Caribbean Channa 5. HoneyB

6. Joanna@GoAhead&Snicker - Mojitos 7. Jenny @ All Things Edible - Souffle and Cream Sauce 8. girlichef~ Tortilla Soup 9. Kim - A Romantic Mark Bittman Trio 10. Mary ~ Strawberries and Swedish Creme

11. Maggie-Pan Fried Pizza 12. Domestic Kate - Brownies 13. Deb in Hawaii--Tortilla Soup

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

It's Time For...Breakfast in Bed!

Is there a more indulgent and luxurious way to spend a lazy morning than having Breakfast in Bed?!? We don't think so and that's why we are all about breakfast at IHCC this week!

Whether it's a cup of coffee and a croissant, bacon, eggs and juice, a fluffy omelette and a mimosa, a bowl of cereal and the Sunday paper, or a piece of cold pizza and a glass of the hair of the dog that bit you the night before, Breakfast in Bed is the ultimate in pampering.

Your Breakfast in Bed creation might be for yourself, (a little self-pampering is good for the soul!), your special someone, or even for Mom, as Mother's Day is being celebrated in the U.S. this Sunday.

To play along, simply find an appropriate Mark Bittman recipe to make for your Breakfast in Bed. If you like to seep in late and have brunch or lunch items for breakfast, that's OK too.

Post your Bittman Breakfast in Bed themed recipe by Sunday, May 9th and don't forget to link your post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all enjoy your fabulous breakfast 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.

We will see you all for breakfast! (pajamas and slippers are appreciated!)

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Breakfast In Bed* Participants

1. Tiff-Swedish Pancakes 2. Judi - Frittata 3. Kim-Peanut Butter Granola 4. Passionate Perseverance 5. Michael and Carla @ RecipeAddict 6. Joanna@goaheadandsnicker-The incredible edible egg

7. DebinHawaii--Breakfast Bulgur with Mango, Cherry & Almonds 8. Joanne - Lemon-Glazed Blueberry Muffins 9. Domestic Kate - Light & Fluffy Pancakes 10. Maggie - Basic Cinnamon Rolls 11. HoneyB 12. My Sweet and Savory

13. Savory Sausage Muffins 14. Jenny @ All Things Edible - Cream Scones 15. Natashya - Crepes with Smoked Salmon, Roasted Asparagus, and Bearnaise Sauce 16. girlichef~ medium-boiled eggs

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Are You Ready? Join the Caravan of Spice!

Hand in hand we'll take the caravan.. join the caravan of spice.. stand up!
(With apologies to the Isley Brothers)

What is food without spice? Okay, who said British? I have heard that British food has come a long way in the last several years.. but never mind that - we are talking about gloriously fragrant spices that delight both the palate and the soul.

Earthy, floral, sweet or grassy.. they are all waiting patiently in your cupboard. Bring them out and celebrate the spice! Even better, try a new spice or a new spice combination. Explore new regions of cuisine or revisit an old favourite. The choice is yours.

Find a Mark Bittman recipe, from one of his books or online, that represents Spice Caravan to you. Cook up something for the theme and link it to Mr. Linky by May 2nd.

And did you get a chance to check out the fabulous creations at the April Potluck yet?

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous Spice Caravan creation! Please 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.



I Heart Cooking Clubs *Spice Caravan* Participants

1. Kim- Potato Cumin Curry 2. Tina Marie (Nachos and Margaritas) 3. Joanna@goaheadandsnicker-Chai Spiced Ginger Crunch Ice Cream 4. Joanne - Spiced Red Lentil Pancakes 5. Maggie-Spicy Supercrunchy Fried Chicken

6. Melissa - Fried Chicken Made Easy 7. Michael and Carla @ RecipeAddict 8. Andreas - Curried Stir-Fried Potatoes 9. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Bean Griddlecakes with Spiced Rice and Coconut Curry 10. Natashya - Houria - Spicy Carrot Salad

11. girlichef~ Spicy Pork Salad 12. DebinHawaii--Curry Soup Noodles 13. Jayasri 14. Passionate Perseverance ~ White Bean Soup

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

April * * * * * * * !

Do you know what time it is? Let's see if you can guess....

Hmmmm.....

How 'bout now...

Any clue?

You must have an inkling...

...tee hee....

...is it on the tip of your tongue?

Go ahead, roll the dice...

It's that time of the month where you can choose anything you like.

You choose a recipe...any recipe...any theme...

Blog it, link it, leave a comment...

Yup, you guessed it...I knew you would...

Okay, one rule...make sure you're using a recipe from our current beau, Mark Bittman! Simple, huh?

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous April Potluck creation! Please 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.
I Heart Cooking Clubs *April Potluck* Participants

1. Joanne - Brownies 2. Comfy Cook - Caramelize Apple Pecan Cake 3. DebinHawaii--Pasta with Bacon and Breadcrumbs 4. Natashya - Chocolate Mousse 5. Soy Broth 6. Kim-Chile Bisque 7. Zibi

8. Maggie - pot stickers 9. Yvette - Strawberries with balsamic vinegar 10. Michael and Carla 11. Tiff-The Simplest Bean Burgers 12. Couscous & Consciousness - Curried Coconut Aubergine with Potatoes 13. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Baked Penne with Feta and Olives 14. Joanna at Go Ahead and Snicker-BAked Mac and Cheese w/ Prosciutto and Peas

15. Andreas - Quinoa and Carrot Rösti 16. girlichef- Pasta with Fried Eggs & Pasta with Balsamic Onions 17. Melissa 18. Jenny @ All Things Edible - Chocolate chip cookies 19. Judi

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

It's Time to Raid Your Pantry!

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in our first week with Mark Bittman! Together we cooked up a storm, making all kinds of tasty and appealing little Bites of Bittman. Thanks again for a fabulous introduction and warm welcome to Mark Bittman's recipes.


This week's theme promises to be just as fun as last week because we are RAIDING OUR PANTRIES! That's right! In the spirit of spring cleaning, we are going to be whipping up some delicious recipes while cleaning out our pantries at the same time. (Now that's my kind of cleaning!!) Pick a recipe that uses one or more items from your pantry and cook it up. The choice is yours and we want you to have fun with it!


Turn those bags of flour into some freshly baked bread or maybe even some pizza. Break out that box of pasta, whip up a fabulous sauce, and take a culinary trip to Italy or maybe even China. Use up those canned beans to make a veggie burger, a bean puree, or maybe even a bean salad. Perhaps you're lucky enough to find some chocolate in your pantry? Hmmm....maybe a sinful dessert is in order. Been holding on to some specialty ingredients? Find that perfect recipe and use them up! This week is all about the pantry and anything in it is fair game! The choice is yours!


Whatever you choose, have fun raiding the pantry!! We can't wait to see all your tasty creations!

Post your recipe on your blog and link your completed post to Mr. Linky below, on or before April 18th so we can all see your fabulous cooking club creation! Please leave a comment after, each week that you use Mr. Linky to link your post, just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

Don't know what a permalink is? Please refer to the Welcome page.

Didn't get a chance to see last week's Bites of Bittman? Click HERE to check out all the tasty recipes.

Don't own a Mark Bittman cookbook or haven't had a chance to grab one yet? Head over to our sidebar for some online recipe sources.

I Heart Cooking Clubs Pantry Raid Participants

1. Kim-Lentils and Potatoes with Curry 2. Katie - Hummus 3. DebinHawaii--Anything Goes Granola 4. Joanna@goaheadandsnicker-Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce 5. Tina Marie (Paprika Chicken) 6. Beth Anne - Compound Butters! 7. Joanne - Coconut Rice Salad and Baked Tofu with Soy and Sesame

8. Passionate Perseverance ~ White Bean Soup 9. Michael and Carla - Lentil Salad 10. Natashya - Brittled Popcorn with Peanuts 11. Chaya - Tomato Cobbler 12. Vegetable Pancakes 13. Andreas - Yakisoba 14. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Cherry Tomato Cobbler

15. Jenny @ All Things Edible - Banana bread 16. Maggie-Overnight Waffles 17. Couscous & Consciousness - Sauteed Chicken with Green Olives & White Wine 18. Tiff-Chili non Carne 19. girlichef- Nutty Oatmeal Cookies 20. Natalia- Savoy Cabbage Pasta 21. Judi - Rice with Fresh Herbs

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.

Bites of Bittman--Now We're Cooking with Mark!

It was a fun six months of cooking with Domestic Goddess Nigella Lawson but this week there is a new cook in the kitchen and it's Mark Bittman. Known as "The Minimalist" for his easy cooking style and simple delicious recipes, Bittman is a food journalist, prolific cookbook author, avid home cook, television personality and of course, a lover of great food.

Whether you have cooked with Bittman before or are just getting introduced, we thought we would kick off the next six months with a little get acquainted party and some Bites of Bittman; appetizers or small plates of his delicious food to pass around and share.

So pick a Mark Bittman recipe that sounds delicious to you, from one of his many books, his website, his blog "Bitten" and weekly column "The Minimalist" at the New York Times, or on the web. (There are some links on the side bar if you get stuck). Make and post your Bittman creation by Sunday, April 11th.

We will see you at the welcome party with your "Bites of Bittman!"

(BTW--Don't forget to see what ended up in last week's Easter Basket with Nigella)

Link your I Heart Cooking Clubs post of the week's permalink with Mr. Linky, below, so we can all see your fabulous Bites of Bittman dish. Please 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.
I Heart Cooking Clubs *Bites of Bittman* Participants

1. Kim- Deviled Egg Throwdown 2. Natashya - BLT Salad 3. DebinHawaii--Lentil Veggie Burger Sliders 4. Tina Marie (Crab Stiffed Mushrooms and Roasted Asparagus) 5. Beth Anne 6. Beth Anne - Warm Salad of Scallops and Tender Greens

7. Andreas - Sweet Potato and Quinoa Salad 8. Katie - Vegetable Pancakes 9. Couscous & Consciousness 10. Michael and Carla 11. girlichef- Chickpea Sliders 12. Joanne - Plum Tomato Pizza with Pesto

13. Jenny @ All Things Edible 14. Maggie 15. Comfy Cook - Carmelized Nuts 16. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Baked Goat Cheese 17. Natalia- Vegetable pancakes

Powered by... Mister Linky's Magical Widgets.