the mullies: Set the Table 2017

It's time to SPICE UP your Thanksgiving family table planning!

Spiced Mango and Orange Chutney
Inspired by Emeril Lagassi's Mango Orange Chutney

1 diced red pepper
1 diced onion
1/2 jalapeno minced
1/2 knob fresh ginger minced
1-2 garlic cloves minced
1 small mild red chili pepper
1/4 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp Ras el Hanout seasoning
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper (more or less to taste)
1/2 tsp sea salt (salt more to taste)
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
2 large oranges (zest first then slice off pith and segment/dice)
3 cups frozen mango
1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup coconut sugar

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Combine diced red pepper & onions, minced jalapeno & chili, ginger, garlic, curry, ras el hanout, cayenne, sea salt and olive oil in a large bowl. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spread the pepper and onion soffritto evenly. Roast for 10 minutes. In the meantime, add diced oranges, mangno, vinegar, sugar to a large sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer. Remove soffritto from oven, toss, spread evenly again and roast for another 5 minutes.

Once soffritto is finished roasting in the oven, add it all into the simmering mango pot. Simmer gently uncovered for 30-40 minutes and reduce until it becomes nice and thick like jam. Remove from heat, mash down the bigger chunks of mango if needed, let cool and serve. Or store in refrigerator until your big lovely dinner.

Cooking from scratch = Throwing a change up.

I don't do it every night... But ohhhhh when I do, gurrrrrrrrrl is it GOOD.

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Each #SettheTable2017 post begins with a featured recipe(s) + upcoming week's game plan followed by a picture diary of last week's chaos. I sign off every post with a handy reference list of my favorite foodie articles.
#CatchmyGrit on my Instagram throughout the week to capture the fun, the food and the family table reactions (good and bad). C'est la vie, I selfy-ishly light it UP in pics and videos to keep truckin!
New to this series? Here's the STORY behind my #SettheTable2017 food adventures with Pure Barre Kildeer.
My go to's for meal planning inspiration: 1. Jamie's Ultimate Recipes App + 5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food 2. Sarah Britton's My New Roots Blog + Recipe App) 3. Rachael Ray's Week in a Day Cookbook 4. Kimberly Snyder 5. The Pollan Family Table 6. Toss your Own Salad

Week 45's Game Plan:

Linguine with Spinach and Golden Parmesan Breadcrumbs (Pollan Family Table) TONIGHT!
Taco Tuesday
Cherry Chard Wild Rice (Quick & Easy Food) or this Rainbow Chard with Wild Rice and Blood Orange Vinaigrette recipe
Harissa Squash Salad (Quick and Easy Food)

Wrap it UP with last week's family table action:

This dinner was off the cuff. I had some dried mushrooms and felt like stretching my table with a meatless pasta dish. I think I was the only one who ate the mushrooms:) Made a little stroganoff sauce with this and it turned out pretty good.

This One Pan Fabulous Fish is simply Fab. I still can't believe how easy, fast and delicious it was. It's been my most requested recipe off my instagram stories (just direct message me for it and I'll send it to ya). Jamie's meal and method is officially part of my monthly meal repertoire (that's a hard word to spell).

I couldn't resist - Our Taco Tuesday matching, cozy slipper shot.

Sideways - I turned the leftover mushroom stroganoff into a pot pie:)

This is my dear friend and epic sous chef Jenn. She joined me in preparing last night's surprise 28th dinner party last night! I'll be her sous any day.

Check out this rad charcuterie! Thanks for heading that one up Jenn!

Surprise Corey!

Now let's set your birthday TABLE!!!!

My friend Allie (aka wife of the year) hired me over 6 months ago to cook a surprise birthday dinner and boy did we have a great time! Go Big Ten! Northwestern all the way...