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Charles Todd: Corks and Conversation #3

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Cathi and I had so much fun talking with bestselling author Charles Todd for our Game of Books Podcast Corks and Conversation series.

He co-writes with Caroline Todd, his mom, and they have a new book out, The Black Ascott. Listen to the podcast for their inspiration for this book and many other interesting and insightful stories. We shared some laughs as well!

Cathi and I also enjoyed some wine, 14 Hands Cabernet Sauvignon. Hear what we think.

You can listen on Apple Podcasts (Itunes), Spotify, and Google Music, as well as here on our website.

 

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Monday Question: Chopped Salad

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Hey GOB writers, continuing with our salad topic for March…Do you have a favorite chopped salad recipe?

Cathi:  The chopped salad from Gianni’s Steakhouse in Wayzata, MN is my all-time favorite, so I try to recreate it.  I chop everything (greens, tomato, bacon, hard-boiled egg, shrimp, olives, pepperoncini, onion, blue cheese, and feta cheese) and  place each ingredient in individual bowls.  Then, everyone can take what they want and mix it with Caesar dressing. So good!

Christie: I like the Lauderdale Marina Salad at 15th Street Fisheries Dockside in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The atmosphere is a must go to for visiting friends and family.  We go for fried alligator, all kinds of seafood and my favorite, the Lauderdale Marina Salad -Romaine lettuce/ shrimp/ snow crab meat/ artichokes/ hearts of palm/ grape tomatoes/ hardboiled egg/ papaya chutney dressing ~ a Fisheries staple for more than 36 years!

Can’t wait to hear about your other foodie tips on your Game of Books podcast!

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Monday Question: Packaged Salads??

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For the month of March, we’re talking salads!!

What are your thoughts about pre-packaged salads?

Cathi:  I’m a fan.  They’re great in a pinch, or even not.  What I really like to do is buy a pre-packaged salad and a rotisserie chicken— dinner served!

Christie:   I’m of mixed opinion. I like to get them when they are on sale or if they contain unique items, like the ones with unusual greens and cabbages. But I prefer the taste of organic romaine that I have rinsed and spun myself. And nothing beats the fresh organic lettuce from my mom’s garden in North Carolina, I just don’t get there often enough to stock my fridge.

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Monday Question – Favorite Dessert Bars

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Hey GOB writers! Keeping with the sweet theme of the month of February … What is your favorite dessert bar?

Christie:  I need to repeat that I don’t have a sweet tooth here before I launch into what I think is the most amazing mouth-watering list on the internet.  Delish.com’s 95 Insanely Awesome Dessert Bars by CANDACE BRAUN DAVISON and SIENNA FANTOZZI has so many great looking recipes that I wouldn’t know where to start. Well maybe I would … for next month’s St. Patrick’s day there are the #28 Guinness Brownies.  I without a doubt I must mention the #39 Oreogasm Cheesecake Bars, because, well, the title speaks for itself! Pictured above … I actually made them … for the kids, of course.

Cathi:  

Christie, that looks SO good!

Here’s the truth.  I love desserts and make a lot of them.  But —-I stink at making bars and cookies!  And really, when you can open a box (for such a slight price) and make something so GOOD, why try to improve upon it??

 

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Monday Question: Cake??

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The answer is obviously…YES!

Cathi:  Here’s what I’m trying today:  Ina Garten’s Chocolate Ganache Cake.  I’ve mentioned before how much I adore Ina, her cookbooks, and every single one of her recipes I’ve tried.  And, it smells like love.

Christie:  Only if it involves chocolate! My favorite is Molten Mocha Lava Cakes. I don’t know where I got this recipe that I used at my cooking club and can’t seem to find it on the web so here’s a picture of the recipe.

 

 

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Monday Question: Favorite Candy

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Hey GOB writers, Valentine’s Day is later this week. Cards are nice but who doesn’t like a little candy to go with it? What’s your favorite candy?

Cathi:  My family would say I’m not being truthful if I didn’t start the list (a list of favorites is ok, right?) with Snickers.  I love the seasonal Reese’s Peanut Butter cups – hearts for Valentine’s, pumpkins for Halloween, and the best—-the Easter eggs.  Oh, and Turtles!  I’m not going to turn down Rollo’s or a Heath bar.  I’m going to stop before this gets embarrassing.

 

Christie:   Chocolate, chocolate and more chocolate! I don’t have a sweet tooth so I can take a pass on just about anything except chocolate. I love dark chocolate and if there are almonds, cashews, pecans or peanuts in it then all the better. In fact, I bought myself some chocolate today as a Valentine’s Day present to myself … at least that is my excuse this week!

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Monday Question – Love Quotes

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Hey GOB writers, it’s February and Valentine’s Day is just around the corner … Do you have a quote that comes to mind when you think of love?

Christie:  This quote is especially on my mind right now …

‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. – Alfred Lord Tennyson

Cathi:  

This made me smile…

“Love is like a virus. It can happen to anybody at anytime.” – Maya Angelou

 

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Monday Question – Healthy Desserts in 2019

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Hey GOB writers, at the end of the day, something sweet can be a perfect nightcap. We were wondering … What is your favorite healthy dessert?

Cathi:  Hmmm. Healthy. Dessert.  My vote is any dessert, but in a small portion?  Does that count?  After last week’s podcast, I was thinking layer cake….

Christie:  Is there such thing as a healthy dessert? I guess the safest is a bowl of fruit like mango or strawberries. Of course, I do consider dark chocolate as healthy since it is full of antioxidants. And I like to have a small piece at the end of the day or I can get more healthy and add some dark chocolate chips to my bowl of strawberries. 

 

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Monday Question – Healthy Dinner Ideas for 2019

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Hey GOB writers, after a long day of writing, we are sure you like a nice dinner with maybe some wine (Game of Books podcast gives you some great wine ideas). What is a healthy but tasty go to dinner for you?

Christie:  I like to have fresh fish and vegetables whenever I can, but sometimes I don’t have time to get to the fish market or don’t want to spend too much time in the kitchen. That’s when the sushi grade ahi tuna that I get frozen from my nearby Fresh Market comes in handy. I keep some tuna steaks in the freezer that can be thawed quickly. Then I only have to season with salt and pepper or press into some sesame seeds on a plate for a coating before cooking in my cast iron pan. I heat it to medium high then put in a little olive oil and sesame oil. it only takes about 1.5 minutes per side for a rare filet that looks elegant on a bed of lettuce. Just add a soy sauce wasabi sauce for dipping and it is so delicious! We talked about this on Episode 11  which excited Cathi’s cat … Cathi will have to give it another try when she is down! Yum!

 

Cathi:  Can’t wait to try the tuna, Christie!  My family all have different preferences, so I love to make one dish bowls with all kinds of ingredients.  One I’m excited to try is the Mediterranean Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce from Pinch of Yum. I’ve got all the ingredients on hand, including some roasted chicken that I’ll put out as an option, too.  Will make great left over lunches for the week, too!

 

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