It's the first Friday in May, and, almost instantly, everyone and everything in Happy Valley, PA, has come alive. Leaves are on the trees, flowers are blooming and vegetable gardens are sprouting. The women have opened up the doors and windows, finished up the Spring cleaning, and, are enjoying relaxing walks around the neighborhood. Men are mowing lawns, putting out patio furniture and polishing barbecue grills!
I am happy to report that more than a few of you are using the recently added "email me" feature at the top of my homepage. I am now happily answering cooking questions and receiving comments on a daily basis!
Q. Dixie says and asks: I just discovered your website and I love it! If I prepare and bake the au gratin potatoes ahead of time and reheat them in the microwave, what power would I use and for approximately how long? Will the center get heated as well?
A. Kitchen Encounters: Thank you for the lovely comment and question Dixie! I often make and bake the potatoes a day or two ahead and reheat them in the microwave (they are actually better the next day)! Here's how I do it:
Take the casserole of potatoes out of the refrigerator and bring them to room temperature before reheating. Because they are dense, this will take 3-4 hours. Cover the top of the casserole with plastic wrap. My microwave has a "reheat" cycle. I start by putting the casserole in for 20 minutes. Then 10 minutes. Then, in 5 minute increments until they are steaming hot. This usually takes about 40-45 total minutes. The microwave does an excellent job of heating the center, so don't worry about that at all. Individual portions reheat really well too!
The ~ Perfect Potatoes au Gratin (Scalloped Potatoes) ~ recipe can be found in Category 4!
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Q. Michael says and asks: I've had the Breadman for at least 10 years (stored away). I never had much success with it. One lucky day I Googled "bread machine" and found your fab brioche recipe. OUTSTANDING! I made the two-pounder and it was delish. Our family of three ate the whole loaf in three days. The third day gave us French toast, but we didn't have enough for second helpings. Making more today. The house will smell great again. How can I get additional bread machine recipes from you?
A. Kitchen Encounters: Michael! I am so happy to hear your Breadman is out of the box and you are enjoying the brioche as much as my family does. I never buy store-bought bread anymore!
You'll be happy to know that I am currently working on a bread machine cinnamon-raisin bread. I will e-mail you directly the moment I get it posted!
Also, I have previously posted my recipe for ~ Perfect Peach Preserves from the Bread Machine ~, which can be found in Categories 8, 9 or 22. They are devine atop my recipe for ~ Mel's French-Vanilla French Toast (Pain Perdu) ~, which is in Category 9!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend everyone, and once again: To leave a comment or ask a question, simply click on the blue title of any post, scroll to the end of it and type away... or e-mail me directly!
"We are all in this food world together." ~ Melanie Preschutti
(Recipes, Commentary and Photos courtesy of Melanie's Kitchen/Copyright 2012)
Sharna! Thank-you! Hope to hear from you often!
Posted by: Kitchen Encounters | 05/23/2012 at 11:15 AM
Lovely site. Your recipes sound delicious. Will be looking forward to your posts! Another foodie.
Posted by: Sharna Gordon | 05/22/2012 at 10:39 PM