Bean There, Done That

Beans. They seem so pedestrian. And yet - they are the workhorses of your pantry.

I know, you stocked up on dried beans for economical nutrition and the upcoming zombie-apocalypse and haven't been using them as often as you thought you would. That's okay. The beans forgive you. Beans are cool like that.

They wait patiently for you to remember to soak some overnight to make a dish, some even hang out in cans in case you forget.

I like refried beans. That's why I wanna try fried beans, because maybe they're just as good and we're just wasting time. You don't have to fry them again after all.
Mitch Hedberg

Beans offer good nutrition and body to a dish, and work magically with rice, corn and other grains. And herbs love 'em. Just ask them.

So get out your Tessa Kiros books and find a recipe featuring beans! Cook it up, post it, and link to Mr. Linky (below) to show it off!

In the meantime - have you had a chance to check out all the posts from last week? We had an outstanding Attitude of Gratitude going on!

Get your bean on and link a permalink up to Mr. Linky on or by December 4th.

~

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

All photos from google images

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Bean There, Done That* Participants

1. Yvette - sausages and beans 2. Kim- Cannellini Bean Puree 3. Michelle ~ Baked Giant Butter Beans

4. Deb in Hawaii--Cannellini Beans w/ Olive Oil 5. Natashya - Cannellini Beans in Tomato Sauce 6. Heather - Farro & Cranberry Bean Soup

7. Torwen - Cannellini Bean Puree 8. Donna-Green bean souffle loaf

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Attitude of Gratitude

Which foods are you most grateful for?

Do certain recipes come to mind when you think of a bountiful table? 

Please make and post your Attitude of Gratitude dish by Sunday, November 27th. 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 Orange Skies 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!

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Attitude of Gratitude* Participants

1. Mika-Ludi's Chicken 2. Deb in Hawaii--Sage & Rosemary Mashed Potatoes 3. Heather - Chocolate Orange Pull-Apart Bread

4. Michelle ~ Olive Bread 5. Natashya - Pão Buns 6. Kim- Baked Butternut Squash with Butter and Sugar

7. Yvette - Chocolate & Cranberry Biscuits 8. Donna-Bussola 9. Andreas - Mixed Pulses Soup

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Orange Skies...

Orange is the new black this week with our Orange Skies...theme.

We will be making any Tessa Kiros recipes where orange-hued ingredients are featured in either a starring role or as part of a strong supporting cast.

Whether you choose recipes with oranges and citrus, salmon or shrimp, pumpkin and other squash, sweet potatoes or even red lentils (Hey, they look orange!), post your orange celebration by Sunday, November 20th.

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 our Potluck 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!

Oh yeah, apparently Orange Skies... is a song. If you are feeling trippy and want to get your psychedelic-folk-rock, carnival-and-cotton candy-loving, funky-self on, you can check out this link to the video courtesy of Natashya. ;-)

We can't wait to see your Orange Skies... creation!

***Photos courtesy of stock.xchng and Kahakai Kitchen

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Orange Skies-Tessa Kiros* Participants

1. Deb In Hawaii--Carrot Soup 2. Mika-Eggs with Bread and Butter 3. Heather - Mandarin Orange Jam

4. Yvette - Chicken drumsticks&wings with Orange tomato glaze 5. Kim-Little Spinach and Carrot Ramekins 6. Kitchen Flavours - Carrot Salad with Cardamom, Ginger and Lemon

7. Natashya - Carrot Soup 8. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Winter Squash Pizza 9. Andreas - Pumpkin Pizza

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November Potluck with Tessa

A quick update for those of you on Twitter, we've changed our hashtag to #I♥CC since our old one was so ruthlessly hijacked.  Please add it (just copy & paste) to any posts you tweet for I Heart Cooking Clubs!  Click on the #I♥CC on Twitter tab at the top of the page for more details and to see participants Twitter handles.  Plus, if yours isn't on there, be sure to leave it in the comments so we can start tweeting your posts, as well. Thanks!
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It's POTLUCK time again.  Time to make that Tessa recipe that you've had your eye, but just hasn't fit in with a theme yet.  Or maybe it does down the line, but you just can't wait any longer!  It's time for you to decide what you're in the mood for: a loaf of warm bread, a pot of steaming soup, a meaty casserole to satisfy you on a cold day, a plate heaped with colorful veggies bound to bring a smile to your face, or perhaps it's something sweet and sinful for dessert (or breakfast...it's your prerogative, afterall)!?

No matter your choice, we can't wait to see what you bring to the table this week.  It's time for a virtual feast as varied as the people who have cooked it!  So break out your Tessa books and head into the kitchen- it's time for a POTLUCK!

image credit

Make and post your From the Orchard post by Sunday, November 13th. 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 In My Pasta Bowl... 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 *November Potluck w/ Tessa* Participants

1. Mika-Pork Schnitzel 2. Michelle ~ Pita & Baked Feta 3. Kayte - Baked Lamb with Rice-Shaped Pasta 4. Kitchen Flavours - Sauteed Potatoes with Egg and Tomato Pasta

5. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Banana Hazelnut Bread 6. Donna - veal involtini 7. Natashya - Simple Pork Souvlaki with Fresh Pita 8. Kim - Chocolate and Cranberry Cookies

9. Deb in Hawaii--Cranberry Sorbet 10. Heather - Chicken Cutlets w/ Parsley & Capers 11. Yvette-Ricciarelli (almond cakes)

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In My Pasta Bowl....

Is there anything more comforting than pasta? Okay, maybe good bread. And ice cream. And if you are serving pasta, good bread, and ice cream - I will be your best friend forever. ♥

This week at I♥CC, we are celebrating all things pasta! Short, long, fat or thin. Whole wheat, kamut, white, or corn. Dried, grocery fresh or homemade - the choice is yours!

Get out your Tessa Kiros cookbooks and pick out a great pasta dish to savour this week. Post on or by Sunday, November 6th and hook up with Mr. Linky, below.

We can't wait to see your noodles!

Link up below, and while you are deciding what to cook - check out last week's delicious Harvest Moon posts!

Link your Tessa Kiros I♥CC post of the week below. Not sure what a permalink is? Check out our Welcome post.
photos from google images
I Heart Cooking Clubs *In My Pasta Bowl* Participants

1. Mika-Spaghetti con Zucchini 2. Deb in Hawaii--Pistachio & Rucola Pesto 3. Kim - Pasta in Chicken Broth & some other goodies too 4. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Sautéed Tomatoes over Mafaldine Pasta

5. Michelle ~ Penne alla Senese (Penne w/ Sausage, Walnuts, and Cream) 6. Kayte - Pasta with Olives 7. Natashya - Spaghetti with Peppercorns, Anchovies, Tomato, and Lemon 8. Heather -Vermicelli Soup w/ Butter, Lemon, & Mint

9. Yvette - Spaghettini al pomodoro 10. Andreas - Pasta with eggs and fried breadcrumbs

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Harvest Moon

The flame-red moon, the harvest moon,

Rolls along the hills, gently bouncing,

A vast balloon,

Till it takes off, and sinks upward

To lie on the bottom of the sky, like a gold doubloon.

The harvest moon has come,

Booming softly through heaven, like a bassoon.

And the earth replies all night, like a deep drum.

So people can't sleep,

So they go out where elms and oak trees keep

A kneeling vigil, in a religious hush.

The harvest moon has come!

And all the moonlit cows and all the sheep

Stare up at her petrified, while she swells

Filling heaven, as if red hot, and sailing

Closer and closer like the end of the world.

Till the gold fields of stiff wheat

Cry `We are ripe, reap us!' and the rivers

Sweat from the melting hills.

The Harvest Moon is a beautiful and magical time to celebrate autumn's beauty, color, and splendor.  How will you enjoy the bountiful gifts of autumn? Will it be with spicy baked goods,  something hearty and comforting, or maybe even a spooky treat?  Whatever you chose is sure to be magical!   

Make and post your Harvest Moon post by Sunday, October 30th.  Don't forget to link your post of the week with Mr. Linky  below so that we can all enjoy your harvest creation!  Remember to leave a comment after just to be sure we don't miss anyone.

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

If you missed the Peasant Food theme last week, be sure to cruise over and see all the hearty and rustic dishes that everyone prepared.  Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Tessa Kiros right now.  Please be sure that you've used or adapted one of her recipes for your post!
*Harvest Moon Poem by Ted Hughes





I Heart Cooking Clubs *Harvest Moon* Participants

1. Mika-Apple Bread with Cinnamon Sugar Topping 2. Deb in Hawaii--Penne w/ Pumpkin/Kabocha 3. Michelle ~ Baked Butternut Squash w/ Butter & Brown Sugar 4. Kim - Midnight Milky Way Bar Sauce

5. Heather- Seeded Mixed Brown Bread 6. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Mini Vanilla Cake Doughnuts 7. Kayte - Red Pepper Soup with Olives, Lemon Zest, and Yogurt 8. Natashya - Risotto di Zucca

9. Donna - winter squash fritters 10. Meredith-Sue's Biscotti

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Peasant Food

We are getting back to simple this week with our theme of Peasant Food.


Peasant Foods are rustic, traditional dishes that are specific to a particular culture and made from inexpensive and easily accessible ingredients and are usually homey and humble fare.


Peasant Foods were so called as they were the diet of peasants, tenant or poorer farmers and their farm workers, and other cash-poor people, making them perfect for today's economy.


Characteristic recipes often include hearty one-dish meals like soups, stews and casseroles, vegetables, beans, breads and pastas, so it should be easy to find a Tessa Kiros recipe to make and enjoy!


Make and post your Peasant Food post by Sunday, October 23rd. 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 From the Orchard theme last week, be sure to head on over and see all of the fruit-filled fare that everyone made! Don't forget, we're cooking through the recipes of Tessa Kiros right now...so if you've linked up, please be sure that you've used/adapted one of her recipes for your post!


We can't wait to see what kind of delicious Peasant Food you discover!

(Paintings from top: 1. Peasants Breaking Bread, 14th Century Paris / 2. Peasant Woman Cooking by a Fireplace, Vincent van Gogh / 3. The Afternoon Meal by Evert Pieters / 4. Woman Grinding Maize, Diego Rivera / 5. The Meal by Paul Gauguin)

I Heart Cooking Clubs *Peasant Food-Tessa Kiros* Participants

1. Mika-Black-Eyed Peas with Spinach and Cornbread 2. Pierce - Rustic Roast Chicken with Delicious Potatoes 3. Heather ~Soutzoukakia 4. Michelle~Baked Chickpeas

5. Andrea at Nummy Kitchen -- Rigatoni with Tomato, Eggplant, and Ricotta 6. Deb in Hawaii--Baked Feta w/ Lettuce Salad 7. Kayte - Sausages and Beans 8. Natashya - Rice Pudding

9. Kim - Risotto with Fried Egg 10. Andreas - Pasta with Pumpkin

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