It’s my birthday week. In my family we grew up with lots of little traditions, many of which add a little enchantment to the ordinary. My mother prides herself on making birthdays really special and one of my favorites ways in which she did this was with a special birthday dinner. She would tell us, we could  have anything we wanted to eat for our birthday and then Mom would make it for the family celebration. For years I requested the same dish – beef stroganoff! I have no idea how I even came up with this as my birthday request year after year, but my memories are filled with wonderful birthday celebrations eating spoons of beef stroganoff. My taste have evolved quite a bit since then , but I still love the flavors from that dish and all the memories along with it. Today, I make the dish much lighter than the one mom made years ago – using mushrooms and creme fraiche. I’ve bumped up the flavors with Madeira, paprika and red chili flakes. The result if delicious. So this week, in celebration of my birthday, I’ll be enjoying some of my mushroom stroganoff…….hmm I can’t wait!

From by the bay, wishing you loving food memories!

Maryann

1 pound assorted mushrooms cleaned and sliced ( such as cremini, button and shiitake)

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, chopped

1 small white onion, chopped

2 tablespoons butter

1 teaspoon sweet paprika

1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

3 tablespoons Madeira or dry sherry

8 ounces creme fraiche

1/4 cup chopped parsley

Heat olive oil in a large saute pan. Add the onions and garlic and saute for a minute or two until the onions starts to soften.  Add the butter to the onion mixture and melt. Add the mushrooms to the pan and cover with a lid. Cook the mushrooms for about 15 minutes, stirring occassionally. Take the lid off and add the paprika, salt, red chili flakes, Madeira and cream fraiche. Stir the mixture and heat for about 5 minutes. Add the parsley and stir. Serve immediately over egg noodles or rice.