Victoria & Alberts Mushroom Ragout

It's Pescetarian June in the cottage and I couldn't let the opportunity go by without posting a fabulous Disney recipe. First off, pescetarian means eating fish along with a vegetarian diet. I was vegetarian for 7 years before having Doc. (That pregnancy was ALL about red meat!) So this summer we decided for health reasons and being more responsible to the earth, we would spend the month eating pescetarian. I think it's been eye-opening for all of us, each in his or her own way.

Secondly, I have a thing for Victoria and Albert's. We are definitely foodies here in the cottage (especially Doc!) and from the beginning have loved V&A's. Mr. Photos from the Parks and I have been three times, each was outstanding! This is a six course meal with wine pairings if you so desire. It is not to be rushed, everything is elegant, perfectly portioned, and sublime. (The costumed waitstaff is a touch over the top, but hey, it's Disney.) Guests are required to dress up and I love that too. It's one of those special experiences that stays with you. And the coffee "show" at the end of the meal is worth waiting for!

When I saw the abundance of mushrooms in our refrigerator and then ran across this Victoria and Albert's mushroom ragout, I knew it was kismet. I substituted dried thyme for the fresh and used vegetable stock for the beef. Everything else was exactly as written, and it was lovely! We served it over mushroom ravioli. I loved it! Not only was the flavor wonderful, the memories of Victoria and Albert's while I was making it were wonderful to have too.

Give this recipe a try if you are a fan of mushrooms - it's worth the little time it took to put it all together. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Easy Disney Themed Back To School Dinner

Let's face it. The last thing we want to think about during the first weeks of school is getting dinner on the table. Ok, the last thing I want to face is getting dinner on the table! And that's true most nights. I just plain run out of energy by then. So when we tried this recipe and it got rave reviews, I knew it would be in the queue for our back to school meals this week.

This Shrimp and Prosciutto Pasta recipe from the Grand Floridian Cafe can be found over at Magical Recipes; just follow the link above.  I love the site and have found several great recipes there for our family meals. And one of the best things about this meal is that it took me under 30 minutes from start to finish. It was simple and still full of flavor. And at this time of year, you can get most of the ingredients locally (especially if you live in an area where shrimp are prevalent!). Even better, the whole family liked it! Any time we can get a little Disney magic to the table in under 30 minutes, I'm all for it!

I hope your back to school preparations and activities are going smoothly these days. And for those of you who still have time with your kids this summer, remember those of us who have already sent them back! Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

Disney's Onion Tart from Citricos

I have long been a fan of the onion tart, ever since I went to Paris for the first time and tasted it. Americans tend not to use onions as a main ingredient. We are missing the boat, friends.

When I saw this recipe in our Delicious Disney cookbook, I knew I needed to try it. And all the credit goes to Mr. Photos From the Parks for creating this delicious meal. It was incredible! I don't love blue cheese, but this was just enough for me.

I did find that this is an exceptionally rich dish. We agreed that it would be an excellent first course. Mr. Photos served it will a sautéed roasted corn and asparagus that was a superb compliment. This will definitely show up on a dinner party menu in the future!

There is a walnut dressing that we opted out of as we are a nut-free household. I am sure it would be just as delicious as the tart itself. Enjoy making this bit of Disney magic at home. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!

The Recipe:

Serves 4

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 bay leaf
2 eggs
2 tablespoons heavy cream
2 tablespoons milk
1 clove garlic, minced
Coarse salt, white pepper, to taste
1 package refrigerated pie dough
1/2 cup crumbled blue cheese
4 3 1/2- inch tart pans (for individual tarts)

1. Preheat over to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and bay leaf and sauté until soft and lightly browned, about 10 to 15 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool.
3. In a mixing bowl, beat together eggs, cream, milk, and garlic. Season with salt and white pepper and set aside.
4. On a work surface with a rolling pin, roll out the dough to 1/8-inch thick. Cut into circles about 4 inches in diameter. Place in tart pans so that they fit in the bottom and up the sides. Trim off the portion over the top if necessary.
5. Prick the dough with the tines of a fork and bake for 5 minutes.
6. Remove from oven and place a teaspoon of sautéed onions in each tart, spreading evenly.
7. Spoon 1 1/2 tablespoons of egg mixture on top of onions in each tart, then top each with 2 tablespoons blue cheese.
8. Bake at 400 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes.
9. Remove from tart pans and place on serving plates with a drizzle of walnut dressing. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Victoria & Alberts Mushroom Ragout

It's Pescetarian June in the cottage and I couldn't let the opportunity go by without posting a fabulous Disney recipe. First off, pescetarian means eating fish along with a vegetarian diet. I was vegetarian for 7 years before having Doc. (That pregnancy was ALL about red meat!) So this summer we decided for health reasons and being more responsible to the earth, we would spend the month eating pescetarian. I think it's been eye-opening for all of us, each in his or her own way.

Secondly, I have a thing for Victoria and Albert's. We are definitely foodies here in the cottage (especially Doc!) and from the beginning have loved V&A's. Mr. Photos from the Parks and I have been three times, each was outstanding! This is a six course meal with wine pairings if you so desire. It is not to be rushed, everything is elegant, perfectly portioned, and sublime. (The costumed waitstaff is a touch over the top, but hey, it's Disney.) Guests are required to dress up and I love that too. It's one of those special experiences that stays with you. And the coffee "show" at the end of the meal is worth waiting for!

When I saw the abundance of mushrooms in our refrigerator and then ran across this Victoria and Albert's mushroom ragout, I knew it was kismet. I substituted dried thyme for the fresh and used vegetable stock for the beef. Everything else was exactly as written, and it was lovely! We served it over mushroom ravioli. I loved it! Not only was the flavor wonderful, the memories of Victoria and Albert's while I was making it were wonderful to have too.

Give this recipe a try if you are a fan of mushrooms - it's worth the little time it took to put it all together. Until next time, may all your days be filled with fairy dust!