I’ll be posting a full review of What Can I Bring? Cookbook in the next week or so. In the meantime, I’ll share one of the recipes that we tested. We were invited to a friend’s house for dinner, and offered to bring a tasty snack to share while dinner was grilling. This FTC-compliant post shows the results … I doubled the recipe for:
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Marie’s White Bean and Basil Spread
- Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups canned white (great northern) beans (from one 15 oz. can), drained
- 3 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped (about 1 1/2 cups)
- 1/3 cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped (about 18 olives)
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil, plus 2 tbl chopped fresh basil, for garnish
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1/4 cup (1 to 2 ounces) crumbled goat cheese (optional), for garnish
- 3 to 4 dozen toasted slices of French bread (recipe provided; I bought a bag of pre-made toasts)
(disclosure: granite counter and wall ovens were purchased with current mortgage; book was a gift; recipe ingredients were purchased at our local Crosby’s market; Pfaltzgraff bread plate was a wedding gift)
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Directions:
1. Place the beans, 1 1/4 cups of the tomatoes, and the olives, olive oil, 1/4 cup of basil, and the garlic in the bowl of a food processor fitted with a steel blade. Process in on and off pulses until the mixture is creamy but not completely smooth.
(disclosure: stainless steel mixing bowl is part of a set we received as a bridal shower gift from my sister)
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(disclosure: the hand blender (instead of food processor suggested in the directions) is a Cuisinart hand blender. I absolutely love this versatile kitchen tool! It’s about $50, but I’m a smart shopper and used a 20% off coupon when I purchased mine. As for that cute little redhead helping with the blending … I’m not going to tell you how she came to be! The red is genetic from both sides of the family)
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2. Spoon the spread into a serving bowl and, when ready to serve, garnish with the remaining 1/4 cup of tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of basil and goat cheese, if desired. Surround the serving bowl with slices of French bread.
(disclosure: that huge bag of Panetini came from BJs Wholesale; the Longerberger basket, liner and protector were purchased by me (back when I went to all those home parties), the mustard-colored serving bowl is part of a set that my friend Sue gave us as a housewarming gift when we moved to our new home)
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The spread was a huge hit! Easy to make, and you can see I took a short-cut by using the hand blender and store-bought toasts. I bought a block of goat cheese instead of the crumbles, but no one complained about the texture! I think this would make a nice pasta topping, too, if you blend half the ingredients, then mix with the remaining coarsely chopped.
I got this book at BEA and haven’t made anything from it yet! This recipe does sound good!
Sounds yummy! I think I’ll make this the next time we visit with my mom and step-dad. They always feel us, it will be nice to contribute to the day.
All of those disclosures made me giggle. I spent a half hour ranting about this to my mom last night and she agrees with me that they are complete dunder-heads. =)
You have given me my first belly-laugh of the day! You are a wonderful wise-acre and I love your humor! Disclosure my rear end. (Speaking of which, when I recently posted about the 100 mile fitness challenge, do I need to disclose that I received my unfirm butt from my obsession with wine and cheese????)
I have to second your love affair with the disclosed Cuisenart immersion blender. It is the most-used kitchen tool in my house. Mine has an attachment for a whisk and a mini food chopper. I recently lost the little thingy that you snap on to the end to use the whisk, and I freaked out and immediately ordered another one. I couldn’t function without it. Also, the recipe looks yummy!
This spread sounsd great and I’m glad it was a hit for you! I love using my food processor – it’s my favorite tool in the kitchen besides my toaster oven. I’ll be looking out for this cookbook!
I love Anne Byrn, even from the days she was a food editor for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. And, you are TOO funny with the CRAZY FTC disclosures. We live in a wacky world.
LOL!!!!!! I don’t think you complied with all regulations. Where did the air you’re breathing come from?
Sounds like a yummy recipe.
New England is the first place I’ve lived that people INSIST on asking this question when invited to a party. In the midwest, people would ask, “Can I bring something?” and when answered NO, would come anyway. HERE?!?! they bring food and more food and IT’s TOO MUCH! if I want you to bring something I’ll TELL YOU. (sorry – a bit of a rant, oops)
The spread looks great, and your daughter looks adorable, as usual! Love your disclosure about the countertops and oven!
To start with I love the title. I lived lots of places and it’s always the standard question but then it’s hard to figure out exactly what to bring that will fit (the rest of the menu, health/alergy concerns, etc.).
Secondly, I love all the pictures you used to document your process and that one of your little people got involved.
But, overall, I love the sense of fun in this post. I look forward to your full review.
This post made me hungry! Thanks for the pictures…I think that added alot to the review. This seems like a neat idea for a cookbook theme.
YUM!!! I need to eat lunch and this made my stomach grumble…. I have one of those Cusinart blender things too! It’s great for making soups.
Julie – the bean spread was a crowd-pleaser!
Kylee – I was only disappointed that I had to buy basil. My neighbor shares her herb harvest, but she had company that weekend … I didn’t want them to see me tip-toeing thru the garden! Yes, the format of the post was my tongue-in-cheek reaction to the FTC ruling.
Sandy – I’m not a big one for kitchen gadgets, but that immersion blender is brilliant! To be able to puree soups right in the stock pot, instead of plopping it into the food processor (more mess, more clean up) … I’m willing to try more new recipes now.
Lisa – the toaster oven gets a lot of play here, too. As well as the microwave for my little guy’s “porridge” every morning.
Teresa – I’m just practicing my disclosure notices for 12/1/09!
Beth F – oh, gosh! I forgot about breathing! And the electricity! And the gas to get me to and from the store ….
Care – I didn’t realize it was a regional thing. Funny, because I think New Englanders have a reputation for being a bit “keep-to-themselves-ish”, yet we foist our food upon everyone. Maybe it goes back to that first Thanksgiving ?!
rhapsody – they love to help in the kitchen, and one of my recent resolutions is to more actively invite them to do so (instead of shoo-ing them away because it’s easier/quicker/cleaner to do it myself)
Margot – we did have fun, and she was so proud when we brought the dish to our friends’ house.
Monstrosity – lots of take-along salad, casserole, and dessert ideas. Full review within the week (I hope, must get it scheduled!)
Nicole – I love the hand blender for soups! And to “smoothe” the pasta sauce (I have a few finicky kids who don’t like lumps)
The recipe looks like something I could do easily. And you asides made me laugh.
That looks and sounds amazing. I just love bean dips and spreads. You’re making me hungry Dawn! I need a food processor asap.
The recipe looks delicious! I’m so impressed that you can remember where everything came from!
I love, love, love your disclosures!!!
The spread sounds great, but I LOVE your disclosures!
You are just too funny, Ms. FTC-Compliant Blogger!! I ususally skip recipe posts because, well, I hate cooking but your snarky comments drew me in!
Definitely going to check out this cookbook, thanks!
carol – it WAS easy, just measure, blend, plop it in a bowl, and top with garnishes.
Nicole – I used Progresso’s canellini beans, which are as close to Great Northern as I could find … it was tasty.
Alyce and Melissa – I’m just glad I didn’t have to go into too much detail about the source for our daughter!
Kathy – I was surprised by how many household items from our wedding (16 years ago) we still use on a near-daily basis. It’s hard to wear out a stainless steel mixing bowl!
Jenners – oh, I’m definitely taking “snarky” as a compliment! It had to hold back a bit
etirv – I’ll post a full review of the cookbook; it’s a keeper!
I almost never give cook books a second glance, but this one looks very useful! I really need a copy.
Great post! The recipe looks yummy, too!
Laughed and laughed at your disclosures, especially the one with your daughter! This book sounds wonderful as does the recipe.
Dear Dawn:
I did not print off your Butternut Squash recipe. How do I find it on your blog, or do I need to request it?
Respectfully,
Deb