Sunday, April 12, 2009

Passover and a winner

The winner of the See's Candies gift certificate is Suzy!

I wanted to share some pictures from Passover with you. I hosted, and decided to go with a relatively simple menu - somehow most of the dishes ended up being adapted from Barefoot Contessa recipes. I didn't get pictures of everything, but here are some of the highlights.

This is a pretty traditional matzo ball soup. I took the idea of the fresh dill and parsley from Barefoot Contessa Parties.

I decided to splurge and go for rack of lamb as the main course. I used the recipe in Barefoot Contessa Parties which involves a crust of dijon mustard, fresh rosemary, balsamic vinegar, garlic and salt.

I boiled these baby yukon gold potatoes until tender, them flattened them under my palm and baked them with some olive oil, salt and pepper until crispy.

More of those delicious green green spring vegetables from Barefoot Contessa at Home.

This dessert was inspired by a meal I had at the restaurant Perbacco. I made meringue shells, which I filled with passion fruit curd. I put the meringues on a pool of raspberry sauce and garnished with fresh raspberries. The meringue and raspberry sauce recipes came from Barefoot in Paris. For the curd, I just substituted passion fruit puree for lemon juice in a lemon curd recipe.

I was really happy with this meal, everything came out about as well as could be expected.


78 comments:

Dewi said...

Wow Sara,
seems like you had a great pesach. Everything look so delicious.
Cheers,
elra

Unknown said...

What a fabulous meal Sara! I've always wanted to try making a rack of lamb but haven't been able to justify the splurge. Yours looks amazing!

Leslie M. said...

YUMMY YUMMY! Your green veggies look so fresh and good and your meringue dessert looks amazing. Is it like Pavlova?? Light and tasty I bet!
Congrats to your See's Winner!
Leslie
LeslieVeg@msn.com
http://leslielovesveggies.blogspot.com/

Christina Kim said...

What a lovely meal, inspired by Ina Garten! Makes me feel like I'm on the Hamptons with her. Beautiful job, Sara, as usual!

Wandering Coyote said...

Everything looks so beautiful! I've never had matzo ball soup before, but I'd really like to try it.

Suzy said...

Sara your Passover meal is beautiful and I want to say a huge THANK YOU for the box of See's!!!!!! OH my goodness I can't believe I won. I've never had my very own box of these famous chocolates. I look forward to exploring each and every one of them. My hips on the other hand are frightened!!! lol I'm emailing you now. Thanks to the See's people too. What nice folks :-)

Stacey Snacks said...

Sara,
Everything looks fab!
I love the soup with all those herbs and the 2 big knadelach!
Hope you had a nice holiday.

Heather said...

ohhh. the lamb and the potatoes look like my favorite. it all sounds so delicious, though. looks like you had a wonderful passover meal :)

priscilla joy said...

What a awesome looking Passover meal! Congrats to Suzy!

Selba said...

Delicious food! Especially the dessert! yummy...

LaDue & Crew said...

Wow, that meal belongs in a food magazine! Absolutely gorgeous!

noble pig said...

It is absolutely exquisite!

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

looks great. Good work.
I would love a bowl of your soup.

Pearl said...

yaaaaay suzy!

and wow - what fabulous dishes!

Monica H said...

What an awesome meal. I love Ina!

Those lamb chops are calling my name!

Happy Easter!

Elyse said...

Looks like you had a fabulous Seder! I love Passover--it's my favorite holiday because I get to have all of my favorite foods in one dinner. Matzo ball soup is my favorite; yours looks fantastic!!

Julia said...

Everything looks fantastic! I think Ina must have gotten the idea of dill and parsley from me. :) I've been doing it that way for years. Did you make floaters or sinkers? And your lamb is perfectly cooked! What a treat!

Donna-FFW said...

Everything looks so perfect Sara!! I am always impressed with your dishes! I bet everyone loved them!

Leslie said...

What a spread! Everthing looks wonderful!

FH said...

Looks like you had a great time, love the feast! :)

Sarah said...

I love barefoot contessa cookbooks, simple and elegant! Her recipes are almost always good!!! It looks beautiful.

Amanda said...

What a fabulous meal! Really gorgeous!

Katherine Roberts Aucoin said...

Everything looks wonderful Sara. Hope your Passover holiday was wonderful!

lisaiscooking said...

Everything looks fantastic! The dill in the soup is a great addition. And, the passion fruit curd sounds so delicious!

Jennifer said...

You are amazing, cooking all that good food on the same day, wow! it looks delish!

Robin said...

You have such a wonderful talent for pulling together beautiful and delicious menus. What elegance!

Anonymous said...

that is SUCH a creative way to eat potatoes! I'm gonna try that sometime very very soon. I love potatoes!
I love barefoot contessa recipes. it's always so fresh and vibrant...all your dishes look amazing! but of course, those potatoes triumphs over all for me.

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

Wow, that looks like a killer meal! That's a hint to invite me next year.

teresa said...

What an incredible spread, it looks amazing!

Netts Nook said...

Oh Sara I have only been to one Passover just like I remember it 25 years ago. Great job.

Pam said...

What a feast! Everything, especially your dessert, looks amazing.

Erica said...

What a great meal! I have only made matzo balls once but truly enjoyed them! They're a nice change from the usual bread with soup :) That dessert looks really fun and tasty. I like the idea of the passion fruit curd!I bet your guests were thrilled.

La Bella Cooks said...

Wow! What a gorgeous meal. Very impressive. The rack of lamb looks like it turned out amazing and your dessert looks very professional!

Jenna said...

what an incredible spread! :) I hope you had a lovely holiday!

Diana said...

Those potatoes look divine. My mom would go nuts for them -- her nickname in college was "spud" because she ate so many potatoes! Looks like you had a great Passover feast! :)

Sam Hoffer / My Carolina Kitchen said...

Absolutely gorgeous meal you prepared. We too had lamb but it wasn't as pretty as yours. I'm dying to try the meringues.
Sam

The Blonde Duck said...

Wow! I've never seen potatoes like that. Looks like you had a great time!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

What a beautiful meal. Congratulations to the winner.

Sara said...

Everything looks beautiful.

The Barefoot Contessa recipes are great to use when you want things to be special.

LK- Healthy Delicious said...

this looks like the perfect meal. I've been craving a good matzoball soup ever since I had one in NYC back in November (I haven't dared try to attempt it myself) and those potatoes look awesome. I'll have to try them, for sure!

stephchows said...

Your soup looks especially delicious! Love this stuff!

Irene said...

I love the seder and mostly, I love the lamb! I hope you and your family are having a wonderful and joyful pesach!

square kitchen said...

Hi Sara,
I decided for rack of lamb as well, your post sounds and looks wonderful. feel free to visit my blog...
greets
anja

Jamie said...

Oh my, oh my! First of all, those are the most amazing matzoh balls I have ever seen in my life! Then, I love lamb and both those and the side dishes look fab! And the dessert, well, if I had known, I would've made the trip and crashed the Seder! Happy Passover!

Deborah said...

What a feast!!

Judy said...

Your meal looks wonderful, Sara. Congrats to the winners!

Chef E said...

Man, game night is at your house next! I do not care how far I have to drive...Im there with that spread. Love me some lamb chops!

Melissa said...

This is another great photographic example of "simple is best." Just perfect. Your matzo balls are calling my name!

Maris said...

What a feast! All of this looks delicious especially the dessert!

Reeni said...

Everything looks gorgeous and delicious!! The dessert looks heavenly!

leslie said...

i wish i had eaten dinner with you!

Claudia said...

I want it all and am now missing have no seders to go to. That lamb - looks like it was worth the cost! And it's for a very special meal...

Unknown said...

gorgeous dinner!! i have been meaning to try smashed potatoes :) and that dessert, pure bliss!

Anita said...

What a beautiful meal! The crust on the rack on lamb sounds gorgeously tasty as does the dessert!

Passionate Eater said...

Looks like you had an amazing Passover with your family and friends. I have so much to learn from you and from Ina!

Kerstin said...

What an amazing meal! Everything looks SO good and I especially love the dessert - how creative!

NKP said...

What a completely wonderful meal. May I please come for dinner?

Lorraine @NotQuiteNigella said...

This looks like a magnificent meal Sara. Well done and I bet everyone was delighted!

Miette said...

Wow Sara,
You're so talented! Everything sounds so delicious! I love all your dishes!

Cheers,

Miette

Ingrid_3Bs said...

Everything looks fantastic! I'm going to your house next year. :-)
~ingrid

Lo said...

Lovely, lovely Sara!
Those lamb chops are calling my name... but everything looks spectacular!

Cathy - wheresmydamnanswer said...

Just incredible !! I want to come to your house for passover!! What an impressive collection of culinary creations!!

Thistlemoon said...

Everything looks so good - rack of lamb, those yummy potato things and the meringue dessert! This is some feast!

unconfidential cook said...

I love Ina, and have made that lamb--delish! Your idea for the potatoes is great, just my style.

The Food Hunter said...

It all looks delicious. I especially like the idea of flattening the potaoes.

The Duo Dishes said...

You always create a beautiful spread. No matter what! We've got to give these smashed potatoes a try one day...

Carolyn Jung said...

What a feast! And I so love Perbacco. I make its famed 5-hour pork sugo regularly.

Angie's Recipes said...

It's an amazing feast...
Congrats to Suzy!

Lyndas recipe box said...

Everything looks so beautiful! I have made the potatoes before and it's a favorite. I haven't ever tried matzo ball soup, but it looks delish, as does everything else!

Creative Classroom Core said...

Such a beautiful meal! I am very impressed :)
All the dishes look amazing, especially the dessert!

Soma said...

Everything looks really good! but I loe the potatoes & the dessert the best:-)

Anonymous said...

mm everything looks delicious :)
LOVE your photography!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous Passover feast! Everything looks superb and the dessert is to die for!

Talita said...

Everything looks great! But I don't know why I always pay more attention for the dessert!

Anonymous said...

Oh Sara...Full Course ....Everything looks fantastic.

Jan said...

Everything looks amazing, Sara. That rack of lamb sounds to die for. Fabulous meal.

Angela Mears said...

What an awesome spread. That dessert looks incredible. Passionfruit and meringue. Mmmmm =)

Justine said...

wow! that sounds like a fabulous passover dinner!