Steak with Mole Marinade

from Cook's Illustrated, May/June 2007

Mole Marinade:
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup vegetable oil
2 TBSP dark brown sugar
4 chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced
4 tsp cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp dried oregano
4 medium garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp ground black pepper
2 TBSP lime juice

Combine soy, oil, sugar, chiles, cocoa, oregano, garlic, and pepper in medium bowl. Remove 1/4 cup marinade and combine with lime juice in small bowl; set aside.

Place remaining marinade and steaks in zip-loc bag and seal. Refrigerate at least 1 hour (I did mine overnight), flipping bag to make sure steaks marinate evenly.

Remove steaks from marinade and discard excess marinade. Grill steaks as desired, basting with reserved marinade. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Notes: Good for about 1 pound of steak. The original recipe calls for a short-term marinade and then using the excess in the cooking process in an attempt to shorten the time required to get the steak properly infused with flavor. While I can appreciate the time constraints, I prefer planning ahead and getting enough lead time to give the flavors a chance to really work together. And it pays off. This was just lovely.

Corned Beef in Bourbon-Brown Sugar Sauce

Corned Beef in Bourbon-Brown Sugar Sauce
from the LA Times

2 tablespoons oil
1 large onion
1 pound corned beef
1 large clove garlic
1/2 cup dark brown sugar, packed
Dash ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate
1/4 cup Bourbon

Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Slice the onion in half lengthwise, then thinly slice each half crosswise. Add the onion to the skillet, stirring well to coat the slices with oil. Reduce the heat to medium and cook until the onion is light gold, about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.

Meanwhile, slice the corned beef against the grain on the diagonal into 1/4-inch slices. Set aside. Mince the garlic.

Add the garlic and the brown sugar to the onion, stirring well. Cook until the brown sugar is bubbly and the onion is coated with the mixture, about 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in the cloves, allspice and mustard. Add the beef broth and stir well. Carefully place the corned beef slices in the skillet. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook until the mixture thickens and is almost syrupy, about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and turning the slices over once.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the orange juice concentrate and the Bourbon. Return the pan to the heat just long enough to warm the Bourbon, about 1 minute. Do not boil. Divide the corned beef among serving plates and spoon the onion and sauce over the top.

Notes:Happy belated St. Patrick's Day -- this was the dinner for that evening this year. It was an attempt to do something a little bit different than the usual boiled method. However, it didn't come together as well as I had hoped. It took too long to cook down the beef broth so the sauce wasn't as thick as it needed to be before it risked making the meat tough and inedible. Also, the bourbon was just too strong and overpowered many of the other flavors, though the onions by themselves had more going for them. A worthy experiment but likely not one I'll repeat.

Roasted Tuna with Grapefruit

Roasted Tuna with Grapefruit and Tarragon
from Bon Appetit February 2004

1 white grapefruit

2 tablespoons minced shallots
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
6 6-ounce tuna steaks

Preheat oven to 475F. Grate 1 teaspoon grapefruit peel; reserve. Cut off peel and pith from grapefruit; cut fruit into six 1/4-inch-thick slices and discard seeds.

Mix shallots, tarragon, and grated grapefruit peel in small bowl to blend. Drizzle olive oil over bottom of medium roasting pan; heat pan in oven 3 minutes. Sprinkle shallot mixture over oil. Place tuna steaks in single layer atop shallot mixture; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast 5 minutes. Turn tuna steaks over. Top each with 1 slice grapefruit. Roast tuna to desired doneness, about 5 minutes longer for medium.

Notes: Other than the fact that I used ruby red instead of white, I followed the recipe pretty closely. I thought roasting the tuna was an interesting approach -- most of the recipes I have tried have gone for searing it in a skillet on the stovetop. I did think the grapefruit was a bit too bitter, but then I had also recently had a grapefruit salsa over fish at a restaurant and I think that was the taste I was looking to evoke. I might try combining these flavors in a different way next time to lighten it up and bring out more of the citrus.

Shanghainese Five-Spice Fried Chicken

Shanghainese Five-Spice Fried Chicken
Essentials of Asian Cuisine : Fundamentals and Favorite Recipes
by Corinne Trang

vegetable oil or peanut oil for deep-frying
2 tsp five spice powder
2 tsp kosher salt
2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup tapioca starch or cornstarch
4 to 6 chicken legs, thighs and drumsticks joined

Heat enough vegetable oil for deep-frying in a pot over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, mix together the five-spice powder, salt, pepper and tapioca starch (or cornstarch) in a bag. Add the chicken legs and seal and shake the bag until the pieces are evenly coated.

When the oil reaches 360 to 375 F, carefully add the chicken legs and fry until golden crisp on all sides, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain on paper towels.

Variation: Substitute 4-6 1/2-inch thick pork chops (bone-in) and fry five minutes per side. Or use 4-6 small squabs and cook 15-20 minutes.

Notes:The author talks about a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in New York's Chinatown. I wish she'd said the actual name of the place, so I could go try it out. She calls this Chinese soul food.

Remember Shake-n-Bake(tm) before they added all the salt and ruined it? Well, this is basically shake-n-fry, but with an Asian flare. And, of course, one could use any number of spice variations on it for different styles (cumin for one? or ancho chile powder?). I actually did this with boneless chicken breast, and cooked about 7 or 8 minutes per side. And the crispiness came out pretty well on this attempt -- the key is to let the oil get hot enough before you begin. I got this cookbook as a Christmas gift from my family, and I'm looking forward to trying out more things in it. And I'd really like to try the squab variation above.

Lamb and Fennel Bread Soup

Lamb and Fennel Bread Soup from Sardinia
aka Agnello con finocchi selvatici alla sarda
from Italian Slow and Savory by Joyce Goldstein

olive oil as needed
2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, trimmed into 1 1/2 inch pieces
salt and freshly ground pepper
1 yellow onion, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
4 TBSP chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
2 tsp fennel seeds, toasted in a dry pan and crushed
pinch of chile pepper flakes (optional)
3 cups meat stock or water
3 fennel bulbs
6 or 7 pita breads
2 TBSP butter, cut into small pieces
1 1/2 cups crumbled ricotta salata or feta cheese

Place a large deep saute pan or Dutch oven over high heat and film the bottom with olive oil. Working in batches, add the lamb and brown on all sides, adding oil as needed and seasoning with salt and pepper. Each batch should take 8 to 10 minutes. As each batch is ready, use a slotted spoon to transfer to a plate.

Return the pan to medium heat and add the onion, garlic, parsley, fennel seeds, and chile flakes (if using) to the oil remaining in the pan, adding more oil if needed. Saute until the onion is softened, about 8 minutes. Add 2 cups of the stock or water, return the lamb to the pan, raise the heat to medium-high, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer until the lamb is very tender, about 1 1/2 hours. Taste and adjust seasoning.

While the lamb is cooking, cut off any stalks and fronds from the fennel bulbs if still attached, and reserve the fronds for garnish, if desired. Cut the fennel bulbs in quarters or eighths and cut out the tough core from each piece. Peel off any discoloured outer leaves. Bring a saucepan three-fourths full of water to a boil. Salt lightly, add the fennel, reduce the heat to medium, and cook until tender, about 15 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain well, and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Select a large earthenware baking dish, about 10 by 12 by 3 inches (3-quart capacity).

Line the bottom of the dish with pita bread, tearing or cutting as necessary to fit. Spoon the lamb stew evenly over the bread and scatter half the cheese evenly over the top. Top with the fennel. Drizzle the remaining 1 cup stock or water evenly over the top, adding more as needed to moisten the fennel and bread lightly. Scatter remaining cheese evenly over the surface, and dot with the 2 TBSP butter pieces.

Bake until cheese melts and is tinged with gold, about 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and garnish with chopped fennel fronds if using. Serve immediately.

Notes: This was my experiment for this year's New Year's Eve dinner. And I must say it was worth all the time and effort. The lamb was so tender it was ridiculous, and the flavor of the fennel infused the entire dish.

Blue Hubbard Pie

Blue Hubbard Pie

1 blue hubbard squash, baked and pureed (see below) - 15 ounces of puree will be needed for one pie

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp cloves
2 eggs
1 can (12-ounce) evaporated milk

1 10" pie crust

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the hubbard squash into several large chunks and arrange on jelly roll pan. Spritz with olive oil. Bake for 45 minutes or until fork easily pierces flesh. Scoop flesh from peel, and puree.

Prepare pie crust in 9" pie pan.

Mix sugar, salt, cinnamon, ginger and cloves in a small bowl. Beat eggs in a large bowl. Stir in squash puree and spice mixture. Gradually stir in evaporated milk. Pour pie filling mixture into shell.

Bake in 425 degree oven for 15 minutes. Reduce temperature to 350 degrees; bake 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 2 hours.

Notes: The blue hubbard squash was another product of this summer's farmer's market. By reputation, the blue hubbard squash makes a better pumpkin pie than pumpkin. According to tasters, the pie sure seemed to prove the case. This was my first pumpkin pie.

from wisegeek.com : The hubbard squash is said to have a mysterious origin, possibly named after a Mrs. Elizabeth Hubbard in the 1840s, who gave seeds of it to friends, thus increasing its popularity. It is not known exactly where the hubbard was first grown, but most winter squash varieties are known to be New World foods. This particular variety is often tear-shaped, and like the pumpkin can grow quite large. Some reach 50 pounds (22.68 kg) in weight.

Hazelnut Cake

Heavenly Hazelnut Cake

For my birthday, a very good friend made this: Heavenly Hazelnut Cake with Chocolate Rum Glaze from The Baker's Dozen Cookbook

Cake
1 cup (4 ounces) hazelnuts, toasted, skinned and coarsely chopped
2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 pound (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup plain yogurt, at room temperature

Chocolate Rum Glaze
2 TBSP unsalted butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
3 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
2 TBSP hot water, or as needed
1 tsp dark rum

Position a rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch (12-cup) fluted tube pan and tap out the excess flour.

To make the cake, in a food processor fitted with a metal blade, process 1/4 cup of the chopped hazelnuts with 1/4 cup flour until the hazelnuts are finely ground, almost a powder. Transfer to a medium bowl. Sift the remaining 2 1/2 cups flour with the baking powder, baking soda and salt into the bowl and whisk to mix. Set aside.

In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until it is lighter in color, about 45 seconds. Add the granulated sugar in a steady stream, then stop the machine and scrape down the bowl. Return to medium speed and beat, stopping occasionally to scrape down the sides of the bowl, until the mixture is very light in color and texture, 4 to 5 minutes.

Gradually, about a tablespoon at a time, beat in the eggs. Continue beating until the mixture is ivory-colored. The entire process of adding and beating the eggs should take 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vanilla toward the end of mixing.

Reduce the mixer speed to low. In four additions, add the flour mixture, alternating with three additions of the yogurt. After each addition, scrape down the sides of the bowl and beat until smooth. Stir in 1/2 cup of the remaining hazelnuts. Spread the batter evenly in the prepared pan.

Bake until the top springs back when pressed lightly and a wooden toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes.

Transfer the cake to a wire cooling rack and cool for 10 minutes. Invert onto the rack and remove the pan. Place the cake on the rack over a sheet of wax paper.

Meanwhile, to make the glaze, melt the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa onto a piece of wax paper. Add to the saucepan with the water and rum. Mix until the consistency of heavy cream, adding more water as needed. Using a pastry brush, brush the glaze over the warm cake.

Coarsely chop the remaining 1/4 cup hazelnuts. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the cake. Cool completely to set the glaze.

Twice-Baked Acorn Scquash

Twice-Baked Acorn Squash
a Jennifer original

1 acorn squash
3/4 cup portabello mushrooms, diced
1 green apple, diced
2 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
1/4 cup chopped hazelnuts
2 TBSP butter, melted

Preheat oven to 350. Cut the acorn squash in half length-wise. Bake face-down on a cookie sheet with raised sides for 45 minutes.

Scoop out the meat of the squash and mash with a fork. Mix with the mushrooms, apple, brown sugar, nutmeg and nuts. Spoon back into the shells. Drizzle with butter. Return to oven for 30 minutes and serve.

Notes: This made me feel so autumnal. And it came out with a nice combination of flavors.

Chicken with Creole Mustard Sauce

Chicken Thighs With Creole Mustard Orange Sauce
from Bon Appetit (September 1998)

4 small skinless boneless chicken thighs (about 12 ounces)
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic
3/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
1/4 cup Creole or whole-grain Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1/4 tsp thyme

Sprinkle chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and saute 2 minutes. Add chicken and saute until brown, about 6 minutes per side. Add orange juice and broth to skillet. Simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer chicken to plate. Add mustard, honey, pepper sauce and thyme to skillet. Increase heat and boil until sauce thickens enough to coat spoon, whisking occasionally, about 7 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Simmer until heated through, about 1 minute. Transfer chicken to plates; top with sauce and serve.

Notes: When using bone-in thighs, increase cooking time during simmering to 25 minutes. The added garlic and thyme are also part of my own interpretation of this recipe.

This was very tasty but I think a spicier mustard than the dijon I had on hand would be more true to the cuisine.

Peach Lambic Sorbet

Peach Lambic Sorbet
Recipe adapted from Apple Pie, Patis, and Pate
adapted from Food & Wine Magazine

1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup water
3 cups peeled, sliced peaches (about 8 medium)
1 cup peche lambic

Heat the sugar, honey, and water in a small saucepan just until the sugar is completely dissolved. Set aside and cool completely.

Slice the peaches, being sure to discard the pit and starchy centers. Puree in blender until smooth. Mix in the syrup and the lambic.

Pour slowly into already-churning ice cream maker. After about 25-30 minutes, remove to freezer to firm up. At least 4 hours.

Notes: The version I read online was for a raspberry mix but as peach ice cream had been recently mentioned to me by the same dinner guests for whom this was prepared, I decided to go that route instead. It was just the thing for a hot summer evening, with a creamy, smooth texture and taste that was light on the tongue.

Strawberry Prosecco Jam

Strawberry Prosecco Jam

4 cups strawberries, hulled and quartered
1 package pectin
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 cup prosecco
6 cups sugar

Bring boiling-water canner, half-full with water, to simmer. Wash jars and screw bands in hot water. Pour boiling water over flats lids -- let stand in hot water until ready to use.

In nonreactive pan, combine berries, pectin, lemon juice and prosecco. Over high heat, bring to a roiling boil. Add sugar. Stir constantly until mixture comes to a roiling boil again. Boil, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes. Immediately ladle into clean jars. Screw on pre-boiled lids. Process in boiling water canner for 10 minutes. After jars cool, check seals. Store in a cool, dry, dark place. Refrigerate open jam up to three weeks.

Yield: 4 pints

Notes: Picked the strawberries fresh in a nearby patch. There is nothing like picking them yourself - yum. Also, used prosecco instead of traditional champagne because it's slightly sweeter.

Grilled Spicy Citrus Ribs

Grilled Spicy Citrus Ribs
courtesy of elise.com
adapted from Andrew Schloss' and David Joachim's Mastering the Grill

Ribs
2 racks of ribs (about 4 pounds), St. Louis-cut spareribs or baby back ribs*
2 1/2 cups spicy citrus brine
Oil for the grill grate
1 cup spicy bourbon syrup

* St. Louis Style ribs are spareribs that have been trimmed of skirt meat and excess cartilage. More meaty than baby back ribs. Baby back ribs are smaller and leaner than St. Louis Style ribs and may cook more quickly (and dry out more easily).

Spicy Citrus Brine
1 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 3 oranges)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 2 lemons)
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (1-2 limes)
1/4 cup water
2 Tbsp Kosher salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 Tbsp crushed red pepper flakes

Spicy Bourbon Glaze
1 cup bourbon whiskey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
2 Tbsp butter

Prepare the brine. Combine the juices and water and measure in a measuring cup. You should have exactly 2 1/2 cups liquid. If you have less, add enough water so that you have 2 1/2 cups of liquid, if you have more, discard the excess. The correct ratio of liquid to salt is important for the brine to work properly. Place liquids in a medium sized bowl, add other brine ingredients - salt, thyme, and red pepper flakes. Stir for half a minute until the salt has completely dissolved.

Prepare the ribs. If you want, remove the thin membrane that lines the concave side of each rib rack. This will make it easier for the brine and spices to penetrate as well as easier to cut and eat when the ribs are done. Insert a dull knife edge between the membrane and ribs to loosen. Grip the loosened membrane and pull away to remove. Cut the racks in half. Put in a plastic ziplock freezer bag. Add the brine to the bag. Squeeze the excess air out of the bag and seal the bag. Massage the brine into the ribs. Place the bag of brine and ribs into a bowl (in case there is leakage) and place into the refrigerator. Refrigerate in the brine for 3-6 hours. Note that brining too long can over-saturate the meat with the brine. So stick within the 3-6 hour time frame.

Prepare bourbon glaze. Heat bourbon with sugar, peppers, and salt. Whisk in butter until melted. Set aside or refrigerate for up to 2 weeks. Warm before using. You can also prepare while the meat is cooking in the next step.

Prepare the grill for indirect heat. On a gas grill, heat the grill to medium heat 300-325F with the middle burners turned off (if a 3 or 4 burner grill) or one burner turned off (if a 2 burner grill). For a kettle grill with charcoal, use 3-4 pounds of briquets pushed to one side of the grill. An aluminum disposable drip pan set next to the briquets, underneath where the meat will be, will help keep your grill easier to clean.

Remove the ribs from the brining bag. Pat dry the ribs with paper towels. Brush grill grates with olive oil or canola oil. Place the ribs on the side of the grill away from the source of heat, either gas or briquets. Cover the grill. If you are using a gas grill, lower the burners so that you are maintaining a temperature of about 300F-325F in the grill. If you are charcoal grilling, cover the grill so that the air vent on the kettle top is directly over the ribs. This way smoke from the charcoal will waft its way over the ribs on the way out of the grill. Adjust the vents so that the air flow is much reduced. Reducing the size of the air vents is a way to help control the temperature in the grill and keep it low. Fire lives off of oxygen, so if you reduce the oxygen, you reduce the amount of burning and heat. If you close the vents too much, the charcoals will put out too little heat, so the trick is to maintain a balance - enough air flow to keep the coals alive, but not too much or the grill will run too hot and your ribs will overcook. Try to maintain a temperature of about 300F-325F in the grill. If you are using a charcoal grill that doesn't have a built-in thermometer, you can put a meat thermometer through the grill air vent to take a reading of the temp.

After 20-25 minutes of cooking, use tongs to flip the rib racks over. If you are charcoal grilling, shift the ends of the ribs as well so that the end that was facing the coals now faces the edge of the grill. Check for doneness using a meat thermometer after 15-20 more minutes. They are done and ready to pull off at 155F, but you want to get to them 10 minutes or so before they are done to apply the glaze. So at about 145F start applying the spicy bourbon glaze. Brush the ribs with the glaze syrup, turning and basting the ribs until the syrup has been used up. When an instant read thermometer, inserted into the thickest part of the ribs reads 155F, the ribs are ready to take off the grill.

Note that depending on the amount of heat in the grill and the size of your ribs, the ribs could be done in as little as 45 minutes or as long as 1 1/2 hours. If the grill temperature stays more at about 350F, then the ribs will be done faster. It's hard to maintain a charcoal grill lower than 350F, though ideally for these ribs you do want the temp lower, closer to 300F. Also note again that baby backs are smaller than St. Louis style and will cook faster.

Notes: I actually used country style boneless pork ribs which increased the cooking time by about 10 minutes both before and after the flip. In any case, these came out really incredibly good. Tender, juicy and full of flavor. And the leftovers got used in Mediterranean Tacos.

new London Broil marinade

Grilled Marinated London Broil
courtesy of Gourmet Magazine

For marinade:
5 large garlic cloves
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup dry red wine (or sherry)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon honey

a 1 1/2 pound top-round London broil (about 1 1/4 inches thick)

Make marinade: Mince and mash garlic to a paste with salt and in a blender blend with remaining marinade ingredients.

In a heavy-duty sealable plastic bag combine London broil with marinade. Seal bag, pressing out excess air, and put in a shallow baking dish. Marinate steak, chilled, turning occasionally, at least 4 hours and up to 24.

Prepare grill. [Note: The charcoal grill was used for this.]

Bring steak to room temperature before grilling. Remove steak from marinade, letting excess drip off, and grill on an oiled rack set 5 to 6 inches over glowing coals 7 to 9 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let stand 10 minutes. Holding a knife at 45 degrees angle, cut steak across grain into thin slices.

Notes: The holiday weekend means that it's time to really get the grill going. This was a nice variation from my usual marinade (which uses Raspberry Thunder Sauce). It was tangy and really was a nice compliment to the flavor of the steak.

Seared Tuna Burgers

Seared tuna burgers with ginger-garlic mayonnaise
Bon Appetit (January 1998)

Serves 2, can be doubled.

2 3/4-inch-thick tuna steaks (each about 5 to 6 ounces)
2 teaspoons olive oil

1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
1 garlic clove, minced
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

2 oversize sesame-seed sandwich rolls, toasted
1 bunch arugula, stems trimmed

Sprinkle tuna with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add tuna to skillet and cook until brown outside and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer tuna to plate.

Add ginger and garlic to same skillet; stir 30 seconds. Scrape into small bowl. Mix in mayonnaise and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Spread bottoms of rolls with mayonnaise mixture. Top with tuna, arugula and tops of rolls.

Notes: Looking for a variation from the traditional beef burger? This was quick, lite, and savory. Even though I'm generally not a big fan of anything mayonaisse based, I still thought this was a keeper.

fried shrimp with chili and lime leaf

fried shrimp with chili and lime leaf
from Vatch's Thai Street Food
AKA chu chee gung

2 TBSP vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 TBSP red curry paste
2 TBSP stock
16 extra large shrimp (31-40 count)
2 TBSP fish sauce
1 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP lemon juice
2 kaffir lime leaves, finely chopped
1 long red chili, finely slivered

Heat oil in wok or frying pan, add the garlic, and fry until golden brown. Stir in the curry paste and cook together for a few seconds. Add the stock and mix thoroughly. Toss in the shrimp and stir-fry for a few seconds until opaque.

Add the fish sauce, sugar, lemon juice, lime leaves, and chili, stirring after each addition. Cook together for 2-3 seconds, then turn onto a serving dish. The dish should be quite dry.

Notes: The original recipe calls for 6-8 king tiger shrimp, so I estimated based on number per pound sizes. Other than that, this recipe was served as above, and it was H.O.T. -- Very Spicy. I think if I make it in the future, I might actually take the chili paste back to 3/4 TBSP and only use half the red chili pepper. Served with spinach vermicelli.

Recipe Remix

Middle-Eastern Meatloaf Roll

I was never a fan of meatloaf despite its regular appearance as a staple meal while I was growing up (sorry, mom). The tomato paste or ketchup sauce congealed in an unappealing way and the texture of the loaf itself was often mealy and heavy. I don't think that was mom's fault. I had it at a variety of church potlucks and friends' homes as well and it never became a sought-after meal for me.

So, when I saw the challenge for Recipe Remix for April, in which participants were invited to take an old standby recipe from their list and attempt to apply some creativity, I decided it was time to take advantage of how my own cooking skills have developed over the last few years and also of my food interests that now range into various ethnic cuisines that I never sampled as a child. And, so, I present a new and original recipe: Middle-Eastern Meatloaf, garnered from the review and use of types of kibbeh and other similar dishes.

Photo by: Michael Curry

Middle-Eastern Meatloaf Roll
a Jennifer original

Meat:
1/3 cup bulgur, rinsed in cold water
1 lb. Ground lamb
1 egg, lightly beaten
2 shallots, diced small
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
salt, pepper to taste

Filling:
4 oz wilted baby spinach
1/3 cup pine nuts
3 oz. Feta cheese, crumbled

Mix all ingredients for meat mixture together. If possible, do one hour before baking and allow flavors to meld.

Saute the spinach in a non-stick pan with a splash of olive oil. Spread meat on sheet of foil in large rectangle, about 1/2 inch thick. Cover the surface with the pine nuts, then feta, then spinach, and use the foil to roll like a roulade or jelly roll. Brush the top with melted butter. Bake it on a broiler pan at 350 until thermometer reads 160 degrees F, about 55 minutes. Let set 10 minutes before slicing and serving with yogurt sauce.

Yogurt Sauce:
1/2 cup plain yogurt
2 tsp lemon juice
1/4 tsp allspice
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 TBSP water
Combine all ingredients in bowl. Mix well. Can be done 4 hours ahead.

Notes: There were actually three versions of the yogurt sauce: (1) with 2 TBSP tahini paste, which did not work, and then (2) as above, but without the allspice, which was fine but needed something else, and so (3) the choice above came to be. I liked the seasoning of the meatloaf as well as the filling. Will very likely make this again sometime.

Duck Breast with Mushrooms, Dried Apricots and Almonds

Pan-Grilled Duck Breast with Mushrooms, Dried Apricots and Almonds
from The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen: Recipes for the Passionate Cook

1/2 pound fresh trumpet mushrooms, quartered
1 boneless duck breast
coarse salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 TBSP butter
1 cup chicken stock
1/3 cup diced dried apricots
1 large shallot, chopped
1 TBSP lemon juice
15 whole blanched almonds
1 TBSP minced fresh chives

About 1 hour before serving, rinse duck breast and pat dry. Trim of excess fat. Score the skin in a cross-hatch pattern without piercing the flesh. Sprinkle the fat side generously with salt and half the pepper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap.

Set a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tsp of butter and duck breast, flesh side down, and sear well, about 2 minutes. Add 2 TBSP stock to deglaze the pan and boil until thick. Turn the duck over, reduce the heat to medium-low and slowly cook the duck breast, fat side down, without turning, for 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a large straight-sided skillet set over medium-high heat, sear the mushrooms, stirring until you hear them squeak, about 30 seconds. Add the apricots, shallots and remaining butter and cook, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add half the stock and simmer until mushrooms are just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Turn the duck breast over and finish cooking on the flesh side. To test for doneness, use your thumb and finger to pinch the flesh. If it springs back quickly, it is rare. Remove to side dish, cover with foil, and allow to rest at least 5 minutes. [Note: For rare this took about an additional 7 minutes.]

Pour off all the fat from the pan. Deglaze with the remaining stock. Scrape the mushroom mixture into the pan and bring to a boil. Heighten the flavor with the lemon juice and correct seasoning, if desired. Fold in the almonds and chives. Serve at once with duck.

Notes: The original recipe called for chanterelles but I ended up with royal trumpet mushrooms because they were fresh instead of dried. Other wild mushrooms that were recommended included oyster or porcini. The trumpet mushrooms were much larger, so had to be quartered prior to cooking. The directions for the chanterelles includes: cleaning them early in the day by dropping into boiling salted water for 2 to 3 seconds and then dipping into cold water before draining, wrapping in paper towels and stashing in the 'fridge. I took none of those steps with regard to the trumpet mushrooms.

Also, I felt the salt was over-pronounced in the dish and would likely use it only sparingly in the initial seasoning if I were to make this in the future, which I probably will because it was quite good.

Birthday dinner for Mr. Curry

Kouneli Stifado AKA Molyvos Rabbit Stifado
Rabbit Stew with Pearl Onions in a Two-Wine Sauce
From: The Foods of the Greek Islands by Aglaia Kremezi

Makes 4 to 6 servings

Stifado, which has its origins on Corfu, is an intensely flavored stew, usually of rabbit or hare, cooked slowly in both sweet and dry red wine with tomatoes and pearl onions. Seasoned with bay leaves, cinnamon, cloves and allspice, the fragrant stew can be served over homemade egg noodles, fettuccine or tagliatelle.

This recipe is adapted from Jim Botsacos's version of the classic dish.

1 3 1/2-to-4-pound rabbit, cut into 4 leg/thigh joints and
the loin, with the loin tied (have the butcher do this,
or purchase the rabbit in pieces from a specialty market)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 cups sliced red onions
2 garlic cloves, sliced
1 1/2 cups dry red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
1 cup sweet red wine, such as Mavrodaphne or sweet Marsala,
or more if needed
1 16-ounce can whole tomatoes, drained and chopped
2 cups Chicken Stock (page 267) [which says main difference
is that it uses bay leaves rather than celery]
Bouquet Garni: 1 bay leaf, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves, 1
allspice berry, tied in a piece of cheesecloth with
kitchen twine
2 teaspoons unsalted butter
1 pound pearl onions, blanched and peeled, or 1 1/2 cups frozen
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup water

For optional garnish:
Olive oil
1 small onion, thinly sliced
2-3 tablespoons diced and drained tomatoes

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Season the rabbit pieces on all sides with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a large Dutch oven and cook the rabbit, in batches if necessary, over medium-high heat, turning frequently, until browned on all sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer the rabbit to a platter and discard the oil.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the pot, reduce the heat to medium and saute the red onions until wilted and lightly colored, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for 2 minutes. Pour in both wines and boil over medium-high heat until almost all the liquid has evaporated, about 10 minutes.

Add the chopped tomatoes to the pot and stir to combine, then return the rabbit to the pot with any juices from the platter, pour in the stock and season lightly with salt and pepper. Add the bouguet garni and bring to a boil. Cover, place the pot in the oven and bake for 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 1 teaspoon of butter in a medium skillet, add the pearl onions, sprinkle with sugar and saute, over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until the onions are golden brown on all sides, about 3 minutes. Add the water and cook for 10 minutes, or until the onions are easily pierced with a knife. Remove from the heat.

Add the onions to the Dutch oven, and cook for 30 minutes more, or until the rabbit is tender when pierced with a fork. Transfer the rabbit to a warm serving platter.

Discard the bouquet garni and bring the cooking juices to a boil over medium heat. Reduce the heat to low and whisk in the remaining 1 teaspoon butter. Taste and adjust the seasonings, adding salt, pepper and/or a little more sweet wine if necessary. Ladle the sauce over the rabbit and serve.

For the garnish, if using: In a small skillet, heat about 1 inch of oil until it shimmers. Add the sliced onion and fry until crisp and golden, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Garnish the rabbit with the crispy onion rings and diced tomatoes.

***

And for dessert -- cupcakes with sprinkles!

Pork Carnitas

Pork Carnitas
from Kitchen & Cook, July/August 2006

3 lbs pork shoulder, skin and bone removed
1 1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp ground cumin
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1 medium white onion, medium dice
2 tsp ancho chile powder

Cut the meat, with the fat, into 1-in cubes. Barely cover the meat with water in a heavy, wide pan. Add the salt, cumin, and half the cilantro; bring to a boil, uncovered. Lower to a simmer and cook undisturbed, until all the water has evaporated and meat is tender, but not falling apart, about 1 hour.

Lower heat and cook to render the fat, adding a few drops of oil, if necessary to get it started, keeping the fattiest parts of the meat near the bottom of the pot. Keep turning the meat until it is lightly browned all over, about 10 minutes. Some will stick to the bottom. Stir in the onions garlic, and chile powder, trying not to break up the meat too much.

Deglaze with 1/4 cup cold water. Cook for a few minutes more, stirring occasionally and scraping up any browned bits.

Can be made 5 days in advance.

Notes: I took the advice of this much-lamented newsletter of the Culinary Institute of America (I curse the day they discontinued my subscription) and used this as a filling with grilled tortillas (right on the stove burner) with tomatoes and cheese and fresh cilantro. OMG - good.

Pan-Cooked Vietnamese Quail

Pan-Cooked Quail, Vietnamese Style (Before)
from the New York Times, October 18, 2006

8 quail
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tablespoon minced ginger
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon or more freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup lime juice or rice vinegar
1/2 cup nam pla or soy sauce
4 tablespoons neutral oil, like grapeseed or corn
Chopped fresh cilantro, mint or Thai basil leaves (or a combination), optional
Lime wedges, optional.

1. Cut along each side of breastbone of each bird, then straight down through where thigh meets body to get 2 semi-boneless halves from each bird. (Don't worry if skin holding thigh and drumstick together separates.) Combine other ingredients except oil, herb and lime wedges and marinate for at least an hour, or overnight in a refrigerator, if you have time.

2. Drain quail of marinade and strain and reserve marinade. Pat birds dry. If you have a skillet large enough to hold quail in one layer, put oil in it; if not, put 2 tablespoons of oil in each of two skillets. Turn heat to high and, when oil is hot, saute quail, skin-side down, until nicely browned, about 4 minutes. Turn and brown other side for 2 or 3 minutes, or until quail are cooked through. Remove to a platter and keep warm.

3. Lower heat and remove any excess fat from skillet (there may not be any). Add strained marinade, along with 1/4 cup water, and raise heat to high. Cook, stirring and scraping any browned bits from bottom of pan, until liquid is reduced to about 1/4 cup. Spoon over quail and serve immediately, garnished, if you like, with herbs and lime.

Yield: 4 servings.

Pan-Cooked Quail, Vietnamese Style (After)

Notes: As you can see from the "after" picture, these were rended and devoured. Leftovers are good too. And since I didn't have fresh herbs on hand this time of year, I added about 1 tsp of dried cilantro leaves to the marinade. This had a very savory flavor which I most enjoyed.

Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum Goong
adapted from a recipe courtesy of A Suitable Spice

1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup water
2 TBSP dried lemongrass
5 kaffir lime leaves
1/2 TBSP fresh ginger, sliced
2 Thai red or green chilies, sliced
1 TBSP fish sauce, such as nam pla
3/4 tsp sugar (optional)
4-ounces canned straw mushrooms, rinsed
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled with tails on
1 lime, juiced
1/2 handful fresh cilantro, chopped

Bring the stock and water to the boil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add the lemongrass, kaffir lime leaves, galangal, and chiles. Lower the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes to let the spices infuse the broth. For convenience, I remove the lemongrass and lime leaves from the liquid before adding the shrimp. Authentic versions of the soup leave them in, you are expected to avoid eating them in your soup bowl.

Uncover and add the fish sauce and sugar. Simmer for 5 minutes. Toss in the shrimp and cook on very low heat (so the shrimp stay tender and juicy) for about 8 minutes until they turn pink. Remove from the heat and add the lime juice, green onions, mushrooms and cilantro. Taste for salt and spices; you should have an equal balance of spicy, salty, and sour. Keep tasting and adjusting with salt, fresh lime juice and if its not hot enough, one or two finely minced green chillies. Serve hot.

Notes: I also consulted Thai Foodby David Thompson (a 2003 IACP and James Beard award-winner) and Vatch's Thai Street Foodby Vatcharin Bhumichitr. I think next time I would like to use two stalks fresh lemongrass (sliced on a bias in 2 inch pieces). My taste probably runs to more lime than some, too. Overall, this came out rather well, I thought.

Angry Chicken

I have long admired Morimoto. He is always one of my favorites to watch on Iron Chef and comes up with so many amazing variations. So, with coupon in hand for a significant discount, I could not resist this cookbook while I was holiday shopping last month. I was then determined to make something from it sooner rather than later, so my New Year's Even dinner was as follows:

Angry Chicken
from Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking

2 whole bone-in chicken legs
spicy yogurt marinade*
1 cups chicken stock
assorted fresh hot green and red chile peppers
1 TBSP oil
lime wedges for serving

*Spicy Yogurt Marinade
1/4 tsp black peppercorns
1/4 tsp cumin seeds
1/8 tsp coriander seeds
1/8 tsp cardamom seeds
1/2 tsp chile powder
1/4 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cups hot sauce, preferably Frank's
2/3 cups plain yogurt
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 1/2 TBSP soy sauce

Trim any excess fat from the chicken. Rinse and pat dry. Place the chicken in a large bowl. Measure out 1/2 cup of marinade and reserve for sauce; refrigerate in a small container.

Pour the rest of the marinade over the chicken. Turn the pieces to make sure they are well-coated. Cover and refrigerate for at least 8 and up to 24 hours.

About 1 hour before you plan to serve the chicken, preheat oven to 450 F. Remove the chicken from the marinade and arrange the pieces on a baking sheet. Discard the marinade.

Roast for 40 minutes, until the chicken is tender and lightly browned and the juices run clear when pricked with a knife. Transfer the pieces to a platter and keep warm.

While the chicken is roasting, make the sauce. Boil the chicken stock in a medium saucepan over high heat until reduced to half. Whisk in the reserved marinade and cook until just heated through. Do not boil or the yogurt will separate. Keep the sauce warm.

As soon as the chicken is done, preheat the broiler. Toss the chiles with oil to coat lightly and spread them out on a broiler rack or small baking sheet. Broil the chiles about 4 inches from the heat, turning them a couple of times until they are blistered and lightly browned, about 5 minutes.

To serve, layer the chicken and chiles in a large platter. Pour the sauce around the chicken. Serve with lime wedges to squeeze over chicken.

Notes: This is supposed to be Morimoto's version of tandoori. Apparently he was influenced by frequent visits to his restaurant in Mumbai. The hot sauce gives it an enduring heat but his recommended brand isn't as sharp as some others. Very yummy. And, then, because I wanted to, I made Molten Chocolate Cake for dessert.

Tuna with Lemongrass Sauce

Tuna with Orange, Ginger, and Lemongrass Sauce
from Bon Appetit (April 2000)

2 tablespoons plus 3/4 cup fresh orange juice
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 tablespoons minced fresh lemongrass*
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/4 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 tablespoon soy sauce

4 6- to 7-ounce tuna steaks
Additional olive oil
8 teaspoons sesame seeds

Whisk 2 tablespoons orange juice and cornstarch in small bowl to blend. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, ginger, lemongrass, garlic and crushed red pepper; sauté until onion is light golden, about 3 minutes. Add 3/4 cup orange juice, stock and soy sauce and boil until reduced to 3/4 cup, about 4 minutes. Whisk in cornstarch mixture; boil 1 minute. Remove from heat. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Brush tuna steaks with olive oil. Coat each side of each tuna steak with 1 teaspoon sesame seeds, pressing gently to adhere. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat. Add tuna and cook until opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Bring sauce to simmer. Transfer tuna to plates. Serve with sauce.

*Available at Asian markets and in the produce section of some supermarkets.

Notes: This was good, but I wanted it to have a more pronounced citrus flavor. I'm thinking of adding some lemon zest next time around.

Sweet Potato Streusel Squares

Sweet Potato Streusel Squares
from Bon Appetit (July 1995)

Filling
3 pounds sweet potatoes (about 3 large), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup half and half
2 eggs
1/3 cup chopped crystallized ginger (about 1 1/2 ounces)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Topping
1 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, room temperature
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
preparation

For Filling:
Butter 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Cook sweet potatoes in large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 8 minutes. Drain; return to same pot. Stir potatoes over medium-high heat until excess liquid evaporates. Remove from heat. Add butter and sugar and mash potatoes until almost smooth. Mix in half and half, eggs, ginger and vanilla. Season with salt. Spread in prepared dish (filling will be about 1 inch thick).

For toppings:
Rub together sugar, flour and butter in medium bowl until moist crumbs form. Mix in pecans and coconut. (Filling and topping can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover separately and refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle topping over filling. Bake until filling is set and topping is brown, about 40 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Cut into squares and serve.

Notes: Made to contribute to Christmas Dinner this year. Very different from some of the other sweet potato dishes I've tried -- sweet, almost more like a dessert than a side dish.

New York City: Markt

A classic Belgian brasserie, located in the heart of the Chelsea district, Markt has very comfortable food with an air of European home-cooking. I started with the lobster bisque - it tasted rich but the texture was overly smooth and lacked the chunks of lobster that give the soup substance. The shrimp croquettes were perfect -- breaded and fried lightly with evocative taste. I split the creme brulee with a co-worker and it was quite enjoyable.

Scallop Risotto

Scallop Risotto
based on a recipe from Off the Hook

1/2 pound bay scallops
1 TBSP oil
2 TBSP minced shallot
1/4 cup minced leek, white part only
3/4 cup arborio rice
1/4 cup white wine
2 1/2 cups vegetable stock
2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP lemon juice
salt and pepper to taste
parsley

Saute the scallops in a little bit of oil until just opaque.

Heat the remaining oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Gently cook the shallot and leek until they are completely tender, but not brown, about 8 minutes. Stir in the rice and coat well with oil and vegetables. Deglaze the pan with the wine and bring to a gentle boil. Add the stock 1/2 cup at a time, stirring until just absorbed. Repeat until stock is almost gone and rice is al dente, about 20 minutes.

Stir in reserved scallops, lemon juice, salt and pepper. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Notes: An interesting variation. Sweeter than the usual versions I've tried. Might need some kind of herb addition.

Shiitake Potato Soup

Shiitake Mushroom and Yukon Gold Potato Soup with Bacon
from CIA Book of Soups

1 1/4 inch thick piece pancetta, chopped finely
1 carrot, diced
1 celery stalk, diced
1/2 onion, diced
1/2 yellow turnip, diced
2 cups sliced shiitake mushrooms
1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
6 cups vegetable broth
1 tsp dried marjoram
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the pancetta in a soup pot over low heat, until all the fat is melted and the meat begins to crisp, about 6-8 minutes.

Add the carrot, celery, onion, and turnip. Cover and cook until softened, about 3 minutes.

Add the mushroom, potatoes, and broth. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are tender, 10-12 minutes.

Add the herbs and season with salt and pepper. Serve in heated bowls.

Notes: Last winter I very much intended to get into making soups and freezing leftovers for quick meals. For various reasons, it didn't happen, so I was more determined this winter. This was my first attempt and I think it came out pretty well.

Whopper Drops

Chocolate Malted Whopper Drops
from Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

1 3/4 cups flour
1 cup malted milk powder
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 stick plus 3 TBSP (11 TBSP total) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup whole milk
2 cups chocolate-covered malted milk drops, coarsely chopped
6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 375 F.

Sift together flour, malted milk powder, cocoa, baking powder and salt.

Beat butter and sugar together until very smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating after each addition. Add vanilla. Add half the dry ingredients, mixing just until they disappear in the batter. Mix in the milk, then the remaining dry ingredients, mixing only until they are incorporated. The batter will look more like fudge frosting than cookie dough. Mix in the malted milk balls and chopped chocolate.

Drop the dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets, leaving about 2 inches of space between spoonfuls. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, rotating the sheets from top to bottom and front to back after 6 minutes. When done, the cookies will be puffed and set but slightly soft to the touch. Let the cookies rest for 2 minutes before using a wide spatula to transfer them to racks to cool.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Notes: I'm not sure whether I cooked these sufficiently since the cookbook recipe does not include a temperature for the baking. But they came out chewy and didn't fall apart, so it was probably close enough. These are my dad's favorite candy. And so when I found this recipe I knew I had to make them for him. The cookies are good. However.... they don't have much whopper taste to them and are more like chocolate chocolate-chip cookies. Maybe they need less cocoa and more malted milk powder.

Butternut Squash Gratin

Butternut Squash Gratin with Goat Cheese and Hazelnuts
Bon Appetit (November 2007)

3 1/2 pounds butternut squash (about 2 medium), peeled, seeded, cut into 3/4- to 1-inch cubes (8 cups)

2 tablespoons olive oil
kosher salt
ground pepper
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, divided
3 cups sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage
1 5.5-ounce log soft fresh goat cheese
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup hazelnuts, toasted, husked, coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 400 F. Place butternut squash cubes and olive oil in large bowl; sprinkle with coarse kosher salt and ground pepper and toss to coat. Spread out squash cubes on large rimmed baking sheet. Roast until just tender and beginning to brown, stirring occasionally, about 35 minutes.

Meanwhile, melt 3 tablespoons butter in heavy medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add sliced leeks and chopped sage; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Saute until tender but not brown, about 15 minutes. Coat 11x7-inch baking dish with remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Spread half of leek mixture over bottom of prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half of squash and half of cheese. Repeat layering with leeks, squash, and cheese. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

Preheat oven to 375 F. Pour cream evenly over gratin. Sprinkle with toasted chopped hazelnuts. Bake uncovered until gratin is heated through and cream is bubbling, about 30 minutes (40 minutes if previously chilled).

TO GO: This gratin is a good choice for transporting because it travels well.

Notes: I am, I must admit, something of a fanatic about goat cheese. I will eat it straight out of the packaging. That was one of the reasons this caught my attention. Also, that it claimed to travel well. Plus, the last two years for Thanksgiving I've made a sweet potato dish and wanted to stray slightly further into the realm of vegetables not generally liked by my family. Well, this one seemed to go over well. I had one sister who commented that she'd prefer it without the hazelnuts, but someone else at the table argued they added interesting texture. So, that's a draw. As for me, I liked the mix of flavors and found it really dressed up the squash. Of course, it had nothing on grandma's stuffing recipe. Happy Thanksgiving!

Coconut Lemon Tea Cake

Coconut Lemon Tea Cake
from Baking From My Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
pinch of salt
1 cup canned unsweetened coconut milk (stir well before measuring)
1/2 stick (4 TBSP) unsalted butter, cut into 4 pieces
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tsp dark rum
3/4 cup shredded coconut, toasted or not
grated zest of one lemon
juice from 1/2 a lemon

Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9 to 10-inch (or 10 to 12 cup) bundt pan.

Pour the coconut milk in a small saucepan, add the butter and lemon juice. Heat until the milk is hot and the butter melted. Remove from the heat, but keep warm.

Rub the grated zest of lemon into the sugar. With a hand mixer at medium-high beat eggs and sugar together in a large bowl until pale, thick and almost doubled in volume, almost 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla and the rum. Reduce the mixer speed to low and add the dry ingredients, scraping down the side of the bowl as needed and stopping just when the flour disappears.

Keeping the mixer on low, add the coconut, mixing only until it is blended, then steadily add the hot milk and butter mixture. When it's smooth, stop mixing and give the batter a couple turns with a rubber spatula, just to make certain that any ingredients that may have fallen to the bottom of the bowl are incorporated. Pour the batter into the pan and gie the pan a few back-and-forth shakes to even the batter.

Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until the cake is a golden brown and a think knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean. Transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding.

Notes: My BFF made me this cake for my birthday. First one he ever made from scratch. It's amazing. Light with just a touch of lemon and the coconut gives it texture. Perfect. And that's two for two in this cookbook. Definitely a keeper.

Steak with Shallot Sauce

Steak with Shallot Sauce
from The Steak Lover's Cookbook

3/4 pound boneless sirloin steak
freshly ground black pepper
2 TBSP butter
3 TBSP minced shallots
1 TBSP red wine vinegar
1 TBSP chopped parsley
1/2 TBSP steak sauce
1/2 tsp rosemary

Season the steak generously, patting the pepper into the meat.

Heat a heavy skillet over medium heat. Add 1 TBSP butter. When melted, add the steak and sear until well-crusted on one side, approximately 6 minutes. Turn and cook 6 minutes more for medium rare. Remove and cover loosely with foil.

Pour the fat from the pan and wipe clean with a paper towel. Return the pan to medium heat and melt the remaining TBSP butter. Add shallots and cook until softened, about 2 1/2 minutes. Add vinegar and simmer for 3 minutes more. Add parsley, steak sauce and rosemary and simmer 1 minute longer. Pour any juices from the steak into the sauce and then serve over meat.

Notes: Last night I intended to make Siam Country Steak but missed the fact that I needed to marinade at least all day. So, this was the improv recipe, and I must admit that I was not at all disappointed. It turned out quite well - perfectly crusted. Accompanied by Sweet and Spicy Noodles from this recipe, which served as a nice counterpoint.

Armenian Chicken in Yogurt Tumeric Sauce

Baked Chicken in Tumeric Sauce
adapted from The Armenian Table

Sauce:
3/4 cup yogurt
1/2 tsp ground tumeric
1 tsp dried tarragon
1/2 tsp kosher salt

2 whole chicken legs
1/3 cup peas, steamed

Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a baking dish or oven casserole large enough to hold the chicken pieces without overlapping. Add the chicken and turn to coat. Set aside to marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or refrigerate overnight (but remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before cooking).

Preheat oven to 375

Cover the baking dish, place in the oven and bake for 25 minutes. Turn the pieces over and bake 15 to 20 minutes more, depending on the size of the pieces, until the juices are golden.

Stir the peas into the sauce and pour over chicken.

Bulgur and Walnut Pilaf

1 TBSP butter
3 TBSP walnuts, coarsely chopped
3 TBSP white onion, finely chopped
1/2 cup coarse bulgur
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 tsp kosher salt

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat. Add walnuts and onions and saute, stirring for 3 minutes, until walnuts are slightly golden. Stir in the bulgur, decrease the heat to medium, and continue sauteing for 2 minutes, until bulgur is lightly toasted. Add the broth and salt, stir to mix, and bring to a boil. Decrease heat to low and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, until liquid is mostly evaporated. Remove and let rest for 10 minutes, until fluffy and no longer moist.

Notes: Tasted very good even though the yogurt separated. Served with Bulgur and Walnut Pilaf from the same cookbook. The pilaf was excellent and would make a good side dish in many cases.

Apple Risotto

Green Apple Risotto

2 TBSP butter, divided
1 tbsp virgin olive oil
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and diced
3/4 cup arborio rice
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup apple cider
2 cups chicken stock
1/8 cup grated parmesan

In a saute pan, heat 1 TBSP butter and virgin olive oil until melted together. Add onion and cook over medium heat until soft and not yet browned. Add apples and rice and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until rice has acquired a pearly opaque quality. Add the wine and cider and simmer until evaporated. Add 1/2 cup chicken stock and cook until absorbed. Continue 1/4 cup of stock at a time, stirring constantly, until rice is al dente. Remove from heat and stir in remaining butter and the parmesan cheese. Serve with additional grated cheese on the side.

Notes: This was really interesting because most of the risotto recipes I've tried previously have been more towards the savory side, and this one was slightly sweet. And very good. I might be tempted to try adding some shiitake mushrooms to give the dish a bit more volume.

Tuna, Trapani Style

Sweet and Sour Tuna Steaks, Trapani Style
from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

2 1/2 pounds tuna, cut into 1/2 inch thick steaks
3 cups onions, sliced very thin
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt
1 cup flour, spread on a plate
fresh ground black pepper
2 tsp granulated sugar
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 TBSP chopped parsley

Remove the skin circling the tuna steaks, wash them in cold water, and pat dry with paper towels.

Choose a saute pan broad enough to accommodate later all the steaks in a single layer without overlapping. Put in the sliced onion, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 or 2 pinches of salt, and turn on the heat to medium low. Cook until the onion has wilted completely, then turn up the heat to medium and continue cooking, stirring from time to time, until the onion becomes colored a deep golden brown.

Using a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer the onion to a small bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil to the pan, turn the heat up to medium high, dredge the tuna in flour on both sides and slip them into the pan. Cook them for 2 or 3 minutes, depending on their thickness, then sprinkle with salt and pepper, add the sugar, vinegar, wine, and onions, turn the heat up to high, and cover the pan. Cook at high heat for about 2 minutes, uncover the heat, add the parsley, turn the fish steaks over once or twice, then transfer them to a warm serving platter.

If there are thin juices left in the pan, boil them down and at the same time scrape loose with a wooden spoon any cooking residue sticking to the bottom. If, on the other hand, there is no liquid in the pan, add 2 tablespoons of water and boil it away while loosening the cooking residue. Pour the contents of the pan over the tuna, and serve at once.

Notes: I made this for two tuna steaks that weighed in around 10 oz. and did the rest of the ingredients in half. It turned out really well. And it was a nice variation from some of the other recipes I've tried.

Cider Braised Chicken

Cider Braised Chicken with Apple Compote and Balsamic Reduction
a Jennifer original

4 chicken thighs
salt and pepper
1 1/2 cups apple cider
1 apple, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes (I used a Greening)
1 shallot, diced
1 tsp sage
1 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

Warm cider over medium heat in skillet. Season the chicken thighs with salt and pepper. Braise chicken in covered skillet for 25 minutes, turning halfway through. Remove chicken and cover to keep warm.

Add apple, shallot and sage to same skillet. Simmer uncovered 10 minutes until nearly all liquid is reduced. Add balsamic vinegar and simmer one minute more. Serve over chicken sprinkled with toasted pecans.

Notes: It was a bit more balsamic tasting than I had planned, so I'd pull that back next time or add it earlier. Overall, though, I really liked how this came out. And I got use up another apple from the orchard trip. Only 20 or so to go!

Apples and more Apples

Pastry Cups with Blue Cheese and Apples

1 package Athens pastry cups
2 oz. cream cheese
2 oz. blue cheese
1 green apple, diced
walnuts, roughly chopped and toasted

Blend cream cheese and blue cheese with electric mixer until whipped and smooth. Place one dallop in bottom of pastry cup and cover with apple and sprinkle with walnuts.

Cinnamon Apple Chips (adapted from a recipe in Gourmet, August 2001)

3 TBSP confectioners sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 medium Green apple

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line baking sheet with baking pad or parchment. Sift together sugar and cinnamon twice to evenly incorporate. Sift half of cinnamon/sugar onto baking sheet. Cut apple crosswise into very thin round slices, about 1/16th of an inch. Arrange slices nearly touching each other and evenly sift remaining cinnamon/sugar over slices. Bake in middle of oven until golden and beginning to crisp, about 1 1/2 hours. Cool on rack.

Notes: This was an experiment for Bear's birthday party. They were supposed to go with the sauteed apples (see below). But the didn't turn out as crisp as they were supposed to and so it all got eaten separately. The chips were just good by themselves (there were none left) and the sauteed apples made a good topping for icecream. I'm not sure why these weren't as "chippy" as I wanted -- it's been suggested that when I try them again, I use a higher temperature. At least I got to play with the mandoline.

Sauteed Apples
from Bon Appetit, September 2005

3 TBSP butter
4 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
2 TBSP golden brown sugar
1 TBSP honey
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp grated orange peel

Cook butter in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beginning to brown. Add apples and saute until tender, about 9 minutes. Add all remaining ingredients, stir to blend. Cool. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Cover and chill.)

Herb-Glazed Cornish Hens

Herb-Glazed Cornish Hens
from Bones by Jennifer McLagan

2 small Cornish hens, about 1 pound each
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon
2 garlic cloves
1 TBSP tarragon
3 TBSP olive oil
1/2 TBSP rosemary leaves
1/4 cup white wine (or vermouth)
1 1/2 TBSP maple syrup
1/2 tsp dijon mustard
1/2 TBSP chopped sage leaves
1/2 TBSP thyme leaves

1. Pat the birds dry and season them inside and out with salt and pepper. Cut the lemon into quarters and squeeze the juice from 1/2. Place 1 lemon quarter inside each bird along with 1 garlic clove and 1/2 TBSP tarragon. Truss the birds and place in a dish or on a platter.

2. Mix 2 TBSP oil with the lemon juice and the rosemary and pour over the hens, turning so they are well-coated. Season them with salt and pepper and leave to marinate at room temperature for 20 minutes.

3. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Pour the remaining TBSP of oil into a roasting pan and add the birds, breast side up, along with the marinade. Roast, basting them every 10 minutes with the pan juices, for 35 to 45 minutes, or until golden and the thigh pieces run clear when pierced; the temperature of the thigh should register 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.

4. Transfer the birds to a warmed platter, breast side down and keep warm, loosely covered with aluminum foil. Discard the fat from the roasting pan, set pan over medium-high heat, add the white wine/vermouth and bring to a boil, deglazing the pan by scraping up the browned bits from the bottom. Boil to reduce the wine by half, add the maple syrup, mustard and any juices from the birds and continue to boil until syrupy. Taste the glaze, adding a little more lemon juice and/or maple syrup if necessary. Remove from the heat and add the herbs.

5. Place the birds, either whole or cut in half, on dinner plates, and brush with the glaze.

Notes: OMG good. That is all.

Armenian Lamb Chops

from The Armenian Table
by Victoria Jenanyn Wise

2 shoulder lamb chops
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp ground cumin
pinch cinnamon
1/8 tsp cardamom seeds, smashed
2 tsp orange zest
1 TBSP olive oil

Sauce:
2 TBSP butter
4 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped, juices reserved
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp Aleppo pepper
1/4 cup cilantro leaves

Combine the garlic, pepper, cumin, cinnamon, cardamom and orange zest. Rub into lamb chops and let sit 15 minutes at room temperature or at least one hour in the refrigerator.

Add oil to a heavy saute pan and heat over medium heat. Saute lamb chops, approximately 4 minutes per side. Set aside and tent to keep warm.

Melt butter over medium heat in same pan. Add the tomatoes, salt, Aleppo pepper, stir to mix and saute until tomatoes soften. Stir in the cilantro and then add the lamb chops back to the pan. Reheat and serve hot.

Notes: If you look this up in the actual cookbook, you'll need to find "Spicy Lamb Meatballs in Tomato Cilantro Sauce." Since I didn't have ground lamb, I opted to adapt this to shoulder lamb chops and it worked out pretty darn well.

Albondigas de Camaron

Albondigas de Camaron (Shrimp Meatballs)
from Dishes from the Wild Horse Desert

Sauce
1 pound ripe tomatoes
2 or 3 serrano chiles
1 garlic clove
salt and pepper to taste

Albondigas
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 egg
1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
oil for frying

Heat a cast-iron or other heavy skillet over high heat with oil. Add the tomatoes and chiles and roast until they have blackened in a few places (about 10 minutes). Remove from heat, peel and core the tomatoes, cut in half, and remove the seeds. Remove the stems from the chiles. Place the tomatoes and chiles in a food processor and add the garlic. Process until the sauce is smooth. Pour the sauce into a small skillet, season with salt and pepper, bring to a simmer, and reduce the liquid to thicken the sauce - about 10 minutes. Set aside.

Place the shrimp in a food processor and pulse just until they become a chunky paste. Transfer to a medium bowl. Add the egg, bread crumbs, cilantro, salt and pepper. Stir to combine well. The mixture will thicken slightly once the bread crumbs have absorbed some moisture, so let the mixture stand 2 or 3 minutes.

Add approximately 1 inch of oil to a 10-inch skillet and heat over medium heat until hot. Form walnut-size balls with the shrimp mixture and carefully place in the hot oil, cooking a few at a time, in batches. Fry one side until the shrimp turns pink, about 3 minutes, and then flip to the other side and fry for another 3 minutes. Remove the cooked albondigas to drain on paper towels. Serve hot with the sauce.

Notes: The spicy flavor of this one makes it a lovely way to use shrimp and get a little variation into the menu.

Malaysian Fried Chicken

Nyonya-Style Spiced Fried Chicken
from Cradle of Flavor

3 pounds chicken wings, thighs, drumsticks

for the marinade:
1 6-inch cinnamon stick, broken into 1/2-inch pieces
2 to 5 small red chilies, such as arbol, stemmed
1 TBSP coriander seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp fennel seeds
1 tsp black peppercorns
2 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp kosher salt
5 shallots, coarsely chopped
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk

Rinse the chicken under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.

Now make the marinade. Place the cinnamon, chiles, coriander, cumin, fennel, pepper, and turmeric in a small food processor. Pulse until ground to a dusty powder, about 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sugar, salt and shallots to the ground spices and pulse until you have a smooth paste the consistency of creamy mashed potatoes. If the paste won't puree properly and repeatedly creeps up the side of the processor instead of grinding, add 2 TBSP of water, 1 TBSP at a time, periodically turning the processor off and scraping the unground portions toward the blade.

In a large nonreactive bowl roomy enough to hold all the chicken, combine the ground paste with the coconut milk. Stir the mixture well to combine, making sure that there are no lumps of paste. Add the chicken pieces and stir well to cover every piece of chicken with the marinade.

Cover the bowl and marinate the chicken in the refrigerator at least 3 hours, stirring once or twice to make sure that the marinade coats every piece. (If you can spare the time, marinate the chicken overnight.) About 30 minutes before you're ready to deep-fry the chicken, remove it from the refrigerator so it can come to room temperature.

Remove the chicken pieces from the marinade and thoroughly pat them dry with paper towels, gently squeezing each piece to remove excess liquid. Set aside.

Pour oil to a depth of 1 inch into a 12-inch skillet and place over medium to medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. When the oil is ready, stand back from the stove and gently slide as many of the chicken pieces into the hot oil as will fit without touching (you can do this in batches). Fry on the first side until golden brown and crispy, about 10 minutes; the timing will depend on how hot the oil is. Turn the chicken pieces over with 2 forks or a pair of tongs and continue to fry them. You may need to raise and lower the heat a few times to maintain the proper frying temperature. The oil should always be bubbling vigorously. It should take 20 to 25 minutes total to fry the chicken. If you're not sure if the chicken is cooked through, test it by poking a fork into the thickest portion and then pressing down on it. The juices that are released should run clear, not pink. Be careful not to overcook the chicken to the point that the bits of marinade clinging to the surface start to blacken or the dish may taste bitter.

Remove the chicken pieces to wire rack or paper towels and let drain for a few minutes before transferring them to a serving platter. Serve promptly along with dipping sauce.

Serve with dipping sauce made with Worcestershire and lime juice: 2 TBSP Worcestershire, 1 1/2 tsp lime juice, 1 tsp soy sauce, 2 tsp sugar, 1 chile diced; all mixed together.

Notes: Spices. Yum. That is all.

Green-Grape Rosemary Pan Sauce

Sauteed Pork Chops with Green-Grape Rosemary Pan Sauce
from How To Cook Without a Book

1 TBSP butter
1/2 TBSP oil
2 boneless center cut pork chops
salt and freshly ground black pepper
flour

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Heat the butter and oil in a skillet over low heat. While the pan is heating sprinkle the chops on both sides with salt and pepper, then dredge them in flour. Just before sauteing, increase the heat to medium-high. When the butter stops foaming, arrange the chops in the skillet. Cook until a rich golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Remove from skillet to warm oven.

1/2 cup chicken broth
1 cup green grapes, halved
1/2 tsp minced rosemary
2 TBSP heavy cream

Deglaze skillet with chicken broth. Add grapes and rosemary to pan. Reduce liquid to about 1/4 cup. Whisk in the cream, and spoon a portion over the top of each chop before serving.

Notes: I have wanted to try this out for a while and never seem to have the ingredients on hand. Finally, I did. It was somewhat of a departure from the other reduction sauces I've made. The sweetness of the grapes was an interesting counterpoint to the rosemary. I don't know if I'll make it again. It liked it, but it didn't blow me away.

Baklava

Baklava
from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food

For the syrup

2 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups water
2 TBSP lemon juice
2 TBSP honey

1 pound filo
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
3 cups pistachio nuts or walnuts, ground medium-fine

Prepare the syrup first. Dissolve the sugar in the water with the lemon juice and smimer a few minutss, until it thickens enough to coat a spoon. Add the honey and simmer for 1/2 minute. Allow to cool, then chill in the refrigerator.

In a greased baking pan, a little smaller than the sheets of filo, lay half the sheets, one a time, brushing each with melted butter and letting the edges come up the sides of the tray or overhang.

Spread the nuts of your choice evenly over the sheets. then cover with the remaining sheets, brushing each, including the top one, with melted butter. With a sharp knife, cut diagonal parallel lines 1 1/2 to 2 inches apart into diamond shapes right through to the bottom.

Bake the baklava in a preheated 350 F oven for 30-35 minutes, or until it is puffed up and golden. Remove from the oven, and pour the cold syrup over the hot baklava along the slashed lines.

When cool and ready to serve, cut the pieces of pastry out again, and lift them out one by one onto a serving dish.

Notes: Baklava is one of my most favorite desserts. It and creme brulee are constantly duking it out for supremacy. Now I've made the former and hope to someday attempt the latter. Actually, I did make baklava once as part of a group effort in a class in 7th grade. But I have only vague memories of the layering being quite detailed and time-consuming. Those memories are now less vague. This was certainly worth trying and I'm happy to have been enjoying this treat for several days.

Roast Duckling with Raspberry Sauce

Roast Duckling with Raspberry Sauce
from Better Homes and Gardens

1 4- to 6-pound domestic duckling
Salt and black pepper
1/3 cup orange juice
1/4 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons blackberry brandy or orange juice
1 cup fresh or frozen lightly sweetened raspberries
1/3 cup seedless raspberry preserves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/4 cup coarsely chopped toasted walnuts
1 teaspoon snipped fresh sage

1. Rinse inside of duckling; pat dry with paper towels. Skewer neck skin to back; tie legs to tail. Twist wing tips under back. Place duckling, breast side up, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. Using a fork, prick skin generously. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

2. Roast, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven for 90 minutes to 2 hours or until the drumsticks move easily in their sockets (180 degrees F). Cover and let stand for 15 minutes before carving.

3. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan combine orange juice, broth, and brandy. Bring to boiling. Cook, uncovered, over medium-high heat about 8 minutes or until sauce is reduced to 1/4 cup. Stir in 1/4 cup of the raspberries, the raspberry preserves, ginger, allspice, and dash salt. Simmer, uncovered, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove saucepan from heat; stir in butter until melted. Stir in remaining raspberries, the walnuts, and sage. (If using frozen raspberries, heat until raspberries are thawed and sauce is heated through.)

4. To carve ducking, if desired, remove the skin. Using a sharp knife, cut duckling along the backbone. Cut downward, removing meat from ribs. Cut the wings and legs from the duckling. Slice breast meat. Serve with raspberry sauce. Makes 4 servings.

Notes: Never made a whole roast duckling before and started off being a tad intimidated. But this really came out so well. In honor of my father on Easter Sunday. My family completely devoured this.

Spinach and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast

Spinach and Blue Cheese Stuffed Chicken Breast
from Flora's Recipe Hideout

1 teaspoon vegetable oil, divided
1 1/4 cups onion, chopped, divided
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
2 Tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
4 boneless chicken breasts
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup chicken broth
2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard

1. Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/4 cup onion; saute 6 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; saute 1 minute. Add spinach and saute 3 minutes.

2. Combine spinach mixture, cheese and 1 teaspoon mustard in a small bowl. Stir well; set aside. Wipe pan dry with a paper towel. Cut horizontal slit through thickest portion of each chicken breast half to form a pocket. Stuff about 2 tablespoons spinach mixture into each pocket. Sprinkle chicken with pepper. Heat 1/2 teaspoon oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; saute 6 minutes on each side or until chicken is done. Remove chicken from skillet. Set aside, keep warm.

3. Add 1 cup onion to pan, and saute 5 minutes. Add wine and thyme; cook 3 minutes or until reduced by half. Add broth and 2 tablespoons mustard; cook 4 minutes or until slightly thick, stirring occasionally.

4. Return chicken to skillet; cover and simmer 2 minutes or until thoroughly heated. Serve sauce with chicken.

Notes: Made on Easter weekend for the family and it came out quite well. I'm not used to cooking for so many people so that took a bit more coordination than anticipated. I had to do multiple batches so it took a lot longer.

Irish Stout Ginger Cake

Guinness Stout Ginger Cake
from The Last Course: The Desserts of Gramercy Tavern
by Claudia Fleming

1 cup Guinness stout
1 cup molasses
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
3 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
3/4 cup grapeseed or vegetable oil
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons ground ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
1 tablespoon grated, peeled fresh gingerroot

Preheat oven to 350F. Butter a 9- X 5-inch loaf pan, line the bottom and sides with parchment, and grease the parchment. Alternatively, butter and flour a 6-cup Bundt pan.

In a large saucepan over high heat, combine the stout and molasses and bring to a boil. Turn off the heat and add the baking soda. Allow to sit until the foam dissipates.

Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk together the eggs and both sugars. Whisk in the oil.

In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, ground ginger, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and cardamom.

Combine the stout mixture with the egg mixture, then whisk this liquid into the flour mixture, half at a time. Add the fresh ginger and stir to combine.

Pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake for 1 hour, or until the top springs back when gently pressed. Do not open the oven until the gingerbread is almost done, or the center may fall slightly. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.

Notes: Made this weekend in honor of St. Patrick. I didn't have Guinness. I had Murphy's. The beer and molasses mixture looks truly frightening when the baking soda is added to it. It looks like there are quite a few steps in this recipe, but it's really fairly straightforward. And in the end, this comes out spicy and moist and very, very, very worth it. Gramercy Tavern has been on my list of places to someday eat in NYC for quite a while. This dessert has only convinced me that I don't want to pass it up.

Asado de Puerco

Asado de Puerco
Pork Roasted in Chiles
from Dishes from the Wild Horse Desert
by Melissa Guerra

1/2 pound dried ancho chiles
4 pounds bone-in country style pork ribs
1 medium onion, chopped
1/2 tsp pepper
pinch ground cloves
2 TBSP salt
1 head garlic, unpeeled
2 sprigs fresh oregano or 1 tsp dried
2 sprigs fresh thyme or 1 tsp dried
1 stick cinnamon
2 TBSP cider vinegar

Prepare the Chiles For Pureeing

Always use a large cooking vessel for rendering chiles, as the dried peppers have a tendency to float and jump out of the pot if the water level is too high. In an 8-quart stockpot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil. Add the chiles. When the water returns to a boil, partially cover and boil for 30 minutes.The chiles are ready when they are soft and have changed from a raisin color to dark red. Drain, reserving the cooking water. Using rubber gloves, remove the stems, seeds, and veins. Put the chiles in a blender. Add about 1 cup of water to facilitate blending and puree. Don't worry about being precise with the amount of water. Pour the puree into a mesh strainer to remove any seeds or skin particles and discard the seed pulp.

Preheat the oven to 350 F, and position a rack in the lower third of the oven to accommodate a large casserole. Heat a 6-quart lidded Dutch oven or other oven-proof casserole over medium heat. Add the pork in 2 batches and brown each batch on both sides, about 10 minutes per batch. As the pork begins to render its fat, add the onion to brown as well.

Add the chile puree, pepper, cloves, salt, whole head of garlic, oregano, thyme, cinnamon, vinegar, and 1/2 cup water. Stir to distribute the seasonings. Cover, place in the oven, and roast for 2 to 2 1/2 hours. The asado is ready when the meat is tender, pulling away from the bone, and permeated with the flavor and color of the thickened ancho chile sauce.

Notes: This is by far one of the most time-consuming recipes I have ever tried. I would really love to know if there was some trick to getting the seeds out of the boiled peppers because that took simply an age. However, it was more than worth it. Many thanks to those who procured the peppers for me so I could make this attempt.

Turkey Meatballs

Turkey Meatballs

1 shallot, grated
1 clove garlic, minced
1 egg
2 TBSP dried parsley flakes
2 TBSP romano cheese, freshly grated
2 TBSP bread crumbs
1/8 tsp fresh ground black pepper
8 oz. ground turkey

Add the shallot, garlic, egg, parsley, cheese, bread crumbs and pepper tp a bowl and blend. Mix in the turkey. Shape into meatballs. Heat oil in a large heavy frying pan over medium heat. Transfer meatballs to pan and brown on all sides. Pour off excess oil and add tomato-based sauce to pan. Return meatballs to pan. Turn heat to medium-low and simmer until sauce thickens, about 20 minutes. Serve over pasta.

Notes: Having been only able to obtain ground turkey in too large an amount for just the burger recipe, and being in the mood for pasta, I decided to attempt something along these lines to be both healthier and tasty. And it worked.

Fried Chicken

Fried Chicken, now with Cast Iron
recipe courtesy of Alton Brown

1 broiler/fryer chicken, cut into 8 pieces
2 cups low fat buttermilk
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons Hungarian paprika
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Flour, for dredging
Vegetable shortening, for frying

Place chicken pieces into a plastic container and cover with buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours.

Melt enough shortening (over low heat) to come just 1/8-inch up the side of a 12-inch cast iron skillet or heavy fry pan. Once shortening liquefies raise heat to 325 degrees F. Do not allow oil to go over 325 degrees F.

Drain chicken in a colander. Combine salt, paprika, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. Liberally season chicken with this mixture. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

Place chicken skin side down into the pan. Put thighs in the center, and breast and legs around the edge of the pan. The oil should come half way up the pan. Cook chicken until golden brown on each side, approximately 10 to 12 minutes per side. More importantly, the internal temperature should be right around 180 degrees. (Be careful to monitor shortening temperature every few minutes.)

Drain chicken on a rack over a sheet pan. Don't drain by setting chicken directly on paper towels or brown paper bags. If you need to hold the chicken before serving, cover loosely with foil but avoid holding in a warm oven, especially if it's a gas oven.

Notes: I got a cast iron chicken fryer for my birthday. It's really heavy. And it makes really great fried chicken, though I need to try one of those fattening piles of chicken parts that still has all the skin and bones since I actually made this with boneless chicken breast and cooked it 20 minutes. It was great, but I think the other way might be better. I've never fried in shortening before. Yum. And it was really keen to use the cast iron. I must find more recipes for it.

Honey-Coated Fried Tuna

Honey-Coated Fried Tuna
from La Cocina de Mama by Penelope Casas

3 small tuna steaks (about 12 oz. total)
kosher salt
1 egg
1/4 tsp dried parsley flakes
olive oil
honey
flour

Sprinkle the tuna on both sides with salt and let sit for 10 minutes. In a dish, beat together the eggs and parsley.

Pour oil into a skillet to a depth of 1/8th inch and heat. Spread a light coating of honey on each side of the tuna steaks, dust with flour, then coat with the egg mixture and transfer directly to skillet. Cook over medium-high heat, turning once, until the coating is golden and the tuna cooked to taste, 5 to 8 minutes.

Notes: I've made two other recipes from this same cookbook and was very pleased with them. This one was no exception. I was after something a bit different to try with tuna steaks because I've been a bit stuck on them lately, as one can see by many of the recent new recipes I've tried. On first reading this recipe, I admit I was skeptical. It just seemed an unlikely match. But it was really lovely. I cooked the tuna a bit less as I like mine on the rare side, about 2 1/2 minutes per side.

The recipe recommends trying the same method with tuna cut into 1-inch cubes instead of steaks for tapas. I have my eye on a tapas cookbook, and think if I get it that I might try to also adapt this one.

Lamb Chops with Pine Nuts and Tomato Sauce

Lamb Chops with Pine Nuts and Tomato Sauce
(a much-adapted variation on Daoud Basha from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food)

2 lamb shoulder chops
salt and pepper
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp allspice
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 TBSP oil
1 onion, grated or finely chopped
3/4 tsp garlic, minced
12 oz.tomatoes peeled and chopped
1 tsp sugar

Mix the salt, pepper, cinnamon and allspice and rub on the lamb. Set aside for at least 10 minutes at room temperature. Heat the oil over medium heat in a skillet and sear the lamb chops on each side. Remove and set aside. Saute the garlic and onions until soft. Add tomatoes and sugar and simmer 10 minutes. Return lamb chops to pan and simmer for 20 minutes more. If necessary, remove lamb and reduce sauce. Serve sauce over chops and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.

Notes: The original recipe for this calls for ground lamb that is made into meatballs which are baked in the sauce. Not having access to that, I had to improvise. This came out very well and I was quite pleased with it.

Turkey Burgers

1 lb ground turkey
1 1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp basil
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp Italian seasoning (used marjoram)
1/2 tsp cumin seed (used ground)
1/2 tsp chili powder
3/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp ground black pepper
1 TBSP parsley flakes
1 onion, chopped
1 raw potato, shredded
1 egg

Mix all ingredients. Form burgers. Grill until done. Yield: 8 burgers

Notes: I always say I'm going to switch from beef to turkey, but the beef is so tempting. These were pretty darn good though. Watch out for the possibility of it being too dry and add milk if needed or desired.

Apple Nut Muffin Cake

Apple Nut Muffin Cake
from Baking: From My Home To Yours by Dorie Greenspan

1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup apple cider
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
1 stick (8 TBSP) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 3/4 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 TBSP baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp slat
1/4 cup (packed) light brown sugar
3/4 cup old-fahsioned oats
1 medium apple, peeled, cored and cut into small dice
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup moist, plump raisins

Center a rack in the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F. Use an 8-inch square pan, buttered and floured.

Whisk together milk, cider, egg, vanilla and almond extracts and butter in small bowl.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and soda, cinnamon, and salt to combine thoroughtly. Toss in the brown sugar, making sure there aren't any lumps by running it through your fingers, then add the oats and whisk the dry ingredients a few more times to mix. Switch to a large rubber spatula and stir in the liquid ingredients, stirring just until everything is moistened--as with muffins, less mixing is better than more. Gently stir in the apple, nuts and raisins, and scrape the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the cake is golden brown and a thin knife inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Transfer the pan to a rack and cool for a couple of minutes before running a knife around the sides of the pan and unmolding the cake; invert and cool until warm or to room temperature.

Notes: Leaving out the raisins since I am not fond of those, didn't hurt this recipe at all. Yum.

Seared Tuna with Sweet & Spicy Noodles

Seared Tuna with Sweet & Spicy Noodles
from Penzeys Spice catalog Early Summer 2001

1 lb. tuna steaks in 4 pieces
1 tsp peanut oil

marinade:
3 TBSP soy sauce
2 TBSP rice vinegar
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1/4 tsp powdered ginger
1/4 tsp minced garlic

pasta dressing:
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 shallot, minced
1 tsp dried cilantro leaves
2 TBSP brown sugar
2 tsp lime juice
crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
12 oz. thin spaghetti or your favorite pasta

Rinse tuna, pat dry. Combine marinade ingredients and whisk to blend. Place tuna in a shallow bowl in one layer and pour marinade over the fish. Turn to coat, cover, and refrigerate at least one hour, turning at least once during refrigeration time.

Combine pasta dressing ingredients, whisk to blend, set aside. Make pasta according to package directions. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and add oil to pan. Sear tuna (3 minutes per side for medium rare). When the pasta is done, toss with dressing to combine and serve as bed underneath tuna.

Notes: I knew there was a reason I was tearing out the interesting sounding recipes from these catalogs and hanging on to them. This came out quite well, though I must admit that some of the other tuna marinades I've tried are more savory and I'm sure that's not just because I chose to use fresh minced garlic as opposed to the granulated garlic originally listed. I also cooked the tuna only 2 minutes a side because I prefer it more rare. As for the pasta, I could easily see serving it as a side with a number of other combinations - it was very good.

Spiced Braised Leg of Lamb

Spiced Braised Leg of Lamb
from Eric Lecerf

What goes better with lamb than vibrant spices, such as coriander, cumin and curry? Here Lecerf presents one of his most popular dishes, a leg of lamb that is braised ever so slowly with a little stock in the oven until it is very tender.

4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
1 tablespoon cumin seeds
2 teaspoons finely chopped rosemary
2 teaspoons curry powder
2 teaspoons fine sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon coarsely ground white pepper
One 5-pound half leg of lamb, preferably from the hip section
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups chicken stock or canned low-sodium broth

Preheat the oven to 250°. In a small bowl, combine the garlic with the thyme, cumin seeds, rosemary, curry, salt, ground cumin and coriander, coriander seeds and white pepper. Cut 16 slits, each about 1 inch long by 1 inch deep and spaced 1 inch apart, in the meat. Rub the spice mixture all over the lamb, working it into the slits. Set aside any spice mixture that does not adhere.

In a medium flameproof casserole, heat the oil. Add the lamb and lightly brown it on all sides over moderate heat, about 2 minutes per side. Add the stock and any remaining spice mixture. Cover with a sheet of buttered wax paper and a lid. Braise the lamb in the oven for 3 hours, or until very tender. Check the meat from time to time and baste as necessary to prevent it from drying out.

Transfer the lamb to a carving board. Strain the cooking juices through a fine sieve; skim the fat. Transfer the juices to a gravy boat. Thickly slice the lamb and serve with the juices.

Notes: This was for New Year's Eve and I intended to attempt something ambitious with a leg of lamb that I had in the freezer. Which is why, when I saw this recipe on the Food & Wine site and then discovered that Eric Lecerf was a chef of some reknown (Michelin star, worked at Robuchon's kitchen at Jamin in Paris and then at Restaurant de l'Astor in the Paris Hotel Astor), I knew this was the one to try. And all the work was quite rewarding. I've become a big fan of braising lately, even if the prep takes some investment and the waiting takes some patience.

One of the other lovely things about braising meat is the leftovers. Even though I used a partial leg that was about half the size (and reduced the other ingredients accordingly), this provided me with enough that I made a followup risotto dish using the leftover juices as part of the stock and the leftover meat shredded into the dish as well. Very nice.

Roast Cornish Hens with Sage Butter

Roast Cornish Hens with Sage Butter
from Gourmet Magazine

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2 teaspoons crumbled dried sage
1 teaspoon freshly grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt

two 1 1/2-pound Cornish hens, rinsed and patted dry

In a small bowl blend together well 2 tablespoons of the butter with the sage,the zest, and the salt. Loosen the skin covering the breast meat on each hen by slipping your fingers under the skin and sliding them between the skin and the meat. Divide the butter mixture between the hens, inserting it under the skin of each hen and smoothing it evenly by rubbing the outside of the skin, and season the hens with salt and pepper. Tie each hen's legs together with kitchen string.

In a large ovenproof heavy skillet or small flameproof roasting pan heat the remaining 1 tablespoon butter over moderately high heat until the foam subsides, in it sauté the hens, breast sides up, for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the underside is golden brown, and roast them in the middle of a preheated 450°F. oven, basting them with the pan juices every 10 minutes, for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a meat thermometer inserted in the fleshy part of the thigh registers 180°F. Let the hens stand for 5 minutes and discard the string.

Notes: I was inspired to try this after watching an episode of Jacques and Julia at Home where they roast a whole chicken and rub herbs under the skin. I've never attempted this before and I think I would have liked a more even distribution. But it was very savory and extremely tasty. I need to remember, though, that the packages lie about how long it takes to thaw such things and give myself an extra day or two ahead to leave it sitting in the 'fridge.

Vermont Maple Syrup Pork Chops

Vermont Maple Syrup Pork Chops
from the Boston Globe via http://www.elise.com/recipes/

6 pork chops
Oil as needed for browning
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Tbsp vinegar
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup water
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
Salt to taste
Flour as needed to thicken the gravy

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Lightly brown the pork chops in a small amount of oil, then place them in a flat baking dish with sides.

Combine the other ingredients in a small saucepan and heat until warm; pour over chops. Cover and bake for 45 minutes, basting occassionally.

Place the pork chops on a warming platter and pour the sauce into a saucepan. Thicken it slightly with flour to make a gravy, salt to taste, and serve it over the chops.

Serves 4 to 6, depending on the size of the pork chops.

Notes: This is a fairly easy recipe but the sweet and sour taste combination is quite tasty.

Portabello Lasagna

Portabello Lasagna (recipe provided by the sister-in-law and served alongside Christmas Turkey)

Ricotta Filling:
1 lb ricotta cheese
6 oz chopped spinach (1 box) squeezed
1 egg
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil (or 1 TBSP dried)
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley (or 2 tsp dried)
1 tsp Italian spice
1 tsp kosher salt (or 1/2 tsp regular salt)
1/2 tsp ground white pepper
1 tsp dried tarragon

Combine all ingredients and whisk together. Set aside and keep chilled.

Portabello Filling:
2 TBSP butter
1/2 cup diced onion
2 TBSP minced garlic
1/4 cup white wine
1 TBSP lemon juice
parsley, basil, tarragon, Italian spice, salt, pepper (all to taste)
4 or 5 portabello mushrooms, sliced

Melt butter in large skillet. Add onions and garlic and sautee for 5 minutes, until onions are soft. Add white wine and lemon juice. Reduce over high heat for about 2 minutes. Add all spices and herbs and mix well. Add half the mushrooms and mix gently with spatula and allow to cook down several minutes. Add rest of mushrooms and mix until done. Chill if not using immediately.

Lasagna Assembly:

Prepare marinara sauce. Cook 1 lb of lasagna noodles according to package directions. Layer as follows in 14x9x2 dish:

4 oz. marinara
4 lasagna strips
4 oz. marinara
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella w/ 2 TBSP parmesan
4 strips lasagna
4 oz. marinara
mushroom mixture
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella w/ 2 TBSP parmesan
4 strips lasagna
ricotta mixture (spread evenly)
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella w/ 2 TBSP parmesan
4 strips lasagna
6 oz. marinara
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella w/ 2 TBSP parmesan

Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Turn pan 180 degrees and bake for additional 25 minutes. Let rest 10 minutes before serving.

Spiced Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar

Spiced Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar
from Bon Appetit (November 2002)

Scented with grated orange peel and spices, this dish is a combination of classic holiday flavors. You can make it a day ahead and reheat it on the stove top or in the microwave.

6 8-ounce red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams)

1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated orange peel
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground allspice
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Cinnamon sticks (optional)
Orange peel strips (optional)

Position rack in center of oven; preheat to 400°F. Pierce sweet potatoes in several places with fork; place on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until tender when pierced with fork, about 55 minutes. Cool slightly.

Cut potatoes in half. Scoop out pulp into large bowl; discard peel. Add brown sugar, butter, lemon juice, grated orange peel, ground cinnamon, allspice, and nutmeg to sweet potato pulp. Using electric mixer, beat until mixture is smooth; season with salt and pepper. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Rewarm over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, or cover with plastic wrap and rewarm in microwave oven on high until heated through.)

Mound sweet potatoes in serving bowl. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and orange peel strips, if desired.

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

This was actually the Thanksgiving dish this year. For Christmas, I revisited Sweet Potatoes and Pears which was fairly well-received. However, Sweet Potato and Orange Puree with Almond Streusel was still voted the current favorite of the experimental sweet potato dishes.

Pecan Pie

Pecan Pie (based on Nany Neiss' prize-winning recipe for the National Pie Championships)

1 9" pie crust
3 large eggs
3/4 cup light brown sugar
3/4 cup light corn syrup
2 TBSP butter, melted
3 TBSP bourbon
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. in a medium-sized bowl, beat eggs, slightly. Add sugar, corn syrup, melted butter, and bourbon. Stir until well-blended. Stir in pecans. Put chocolate chips into pie shell and cover with pecan mixture. Cover edge of pie to prevent over-browning. bake for 25 minutes. Remove shield and continue baking another 25 minutes or until knife inserted halfway between center and edge comes out clean.

9" Pie Crust (from Better Homes and Gardens cookbook)

1 1/4 cups flour
1/4 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
cold water (TBSP by TBSP)

In large bowl, combine flour and salt. Cut in shortening until mixture is crumbly and shortening is the size of small peas. Add water 1 TBSP at a time until it forms a ball in the bottom of the bowl. Roll out and place in 9 inch pie plate.

Notes: For the future, I will melt the chocolate ahead of time and mix it into the rest of the mixture to get a better consistency. Otherwise, I really liked how this came out.

Risotto with pancetta and saffron

Risotto wth panetta and saffron

2/3 cup beef broth w/ 2/3 cup water
1 1/4 tsp diced pancetta
1 tsp shallot, chopped fine
1/2 TBSP butter
1/2 TBSP olive oil
1/4 cup Arborio rice
dash saffron
fresh ground black pepper
2 TBSP parmigiano-reggiano

Bring the broth mixture to a simmer in a small saucepan. Put the diced meat, 1/2 the butter, the oil, and the shallot into another saucepan and cook over medium heat until shallot is soft. Add rice and stir to coat. Add 1/2 the broth and then remaining mixture in small doses, letting it absorb into the rice a bit at a time, until rice is al dente. Just before it's finished add the saffron. Remove from heat and season with pepper, remaining butter and cheese.

Notes: I was looking for something a little self-indulgent tonight and this was just the ticket. It came out with a nice balance between the saltiness of the meat and the sweetness of the shallots with the richness of the saffron.

Spiced Panko Pork Chops

Spiced Panko Pork Chops
a Jennifer original
-work in progress-

2 bone-in pork chops

Brine:
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup apple juice
4 tsp kosher salt
1 TBSP brown sugar
2 tsp molasses

4 TBSP flour
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp lemon grass
1 tso mustard powder
1 egg
1/2 cup panko
2 TBSP vegetable oil

Heat the brine ingredients until the salt and sugar dissolve and then add a few ice cubes to cool it back down. Pour into a ziploc bag with the pork chops and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Rinse the pork chops and pat dry.

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees. Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. Mix the flour and spices in one dish, the egg in a second dish and the panko in a third. Dredge the pork chops first in the flour mixture, then the egg, and then the panko.

Fry the pork chops in the skillet approximately 3 minutes per side. Then move to oven for 27-30 minutes.

Notes:The tenderness of the pork and the crispness of the panko was exactly what I was look for here. But the seasoning didn't have quite the kick I was after. I'm thinking about rubbing the spices straight onto the chops before dredging it in the flour the next time.

Roasted Lamb Chops with Spiced Yogurt Glaze

Roasted Lamb Chops with Spiced Yogurt Glaze
adapted from Bones: Recipes, History and Lore

1 TBSP grated fresh ginger
2 garlic cloves, finely diced
1 TBSP sweet paprika
1 TBSP cumin seeds, toasted and ground
2 tsp garam masala
1/4 tsp chili powder
2 tsp lime juice
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 cup yogurt

2 shoulder lamb chops

Mix all the ingredients except the yogurt in a small bowl, then whisk in the yogurt. Refrigerate until ready to use. Can be made up to 3 days in advance.

Roast lamb chops at 300 degrees for 50 minutes, basting as you go. Serve at once with leftover glaze on the side for dipping.

Notes:This one turned out quite well. The level of spice was just right. I definitely recommend using the leftover glaze as dipping sauce since the tang of the lime comes through more clearly that way. The original recipe calls for 4 racks of lamb ribs which are slow-roasted and then baked further with the glaze. I substituted just a couple of lamb shoulder chops and they came out tender and tasty. This made quite a bit of the sauce though and I could probably make half that amount in the future for the same serving of meat. I'm also debating trying this out on a leg of lamb at some point.

This recipe comes from one of 4 cookbooks that I've bought this year (the others being Sweet Life, Cradle of Flavor, and Dishes from the Wild Horse Desert). Overall, the selection looks very promising and I can hardly wait to try out more recipes from these books.

Grilled Tuna with Tomato and Caper Dressing

Grilled Tuna with Tomato and Caper Dressing
from The New Book of Middle Eastern Food

8 TBSP olive oil
4 tuna steaks
salt and pepper
juice of 1 lemon
2 tomatoes, diced
2 TBSP capers, drained and rinsed

Film a grill pan or heavy nonstick skillet with oil. Put in the tuna steaks and cook over high heat for 1-2 minutes on either side. The flesh should still look dark inside as it pales on the outside.

For the dressing, mix the rest of the ingredients with the remaining olive oil. Heat through to not-quite-boiling point and pour over the fish as you serve.

Notes: Ever so easy and ever so tasty.

Chicken with Prosciutto, Rosemary and White Wine

Chicken with Prosciutto, Rosemary and White Wine
from Bon Appetit (October 2002)

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 large chicken breast halves with ribs and skin, cut crosswise in half
3 chicken drumsticks with skin
3 chicken thighs with skin
1 cup 1/4-inch cubes prosciutto (about 5 ounces)
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary
1 1/4 cups dry white wine
1 cup low-salt chicken broth
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes with added puree

Fresh rosemary sprigs

Preheat oven to 325°F. Heat extra-virgin olive oil in heavy large ovenproof pot over medium-high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Working in 2 batches, sauté chicken until golden, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to platter. Add prosciutto, sliced garlic, and chopped rosemary to same pot. Stir 1 minute. Add dry white wine, chicken broth, and crushed tomatoes with puree. Bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Boil 5 minutes. Return chicken to pot, arranging in single layer. Return to boil. Cover pot and place in oven. Bake until chicken breasts are cooked through, about 20 minutes. Remove chicken breasts. Continue baking until drumsticks and thighs are cooked through, about 10 minutes longer. Remove pot from oven. Return chicken breasts to pot. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cool slightly. Refrigerate uncovered until cold, then cover and keep refrigerated.)

Bring chicken mixture to simmer. Transfer chicken to platter; tent with foil. Boil until sauce is reduced to 2 cups and coats back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Season sauce to taste with salt and pepper. Pour sauce over chicken. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and serve.

Notes:I made this with four chicken thighs and halved the rest of the ingredients. Very good.

Roasted Shrimp with Thyme

3/4 pound shrimp
1 1/2 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 TBSP coarsely chopped fresh marjoram
dash of finely chopped lemon zest
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/8 tsp salt
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Put the shrimp in a mixing bowl, add the remaining ingredients, and toss to coat them evenly. Lay the shrimp split side up in a single layer on a baking sheet. (At this point, the shrimp can be covered and refrigerated for up to 4 hours.) Roast until the flesh is no longer translucent, 3 to 5 minutes.

Notes: The original recipe featured marjoram, but one of the variations listed was thyme, which I had on hand and therefore used. Also, the cookbook calls for fresh shrimp in the shell but I used precooked for the convenience factor. I served it over linguine tosed with a little olive oil and butter and it was excellent. The best part was how simple it was to make.

Tuna Grilled with Chinese Oyster-Ginger Sauce

Tuna Grilled with Chinese Oyster-Ginger Sauce
from Great Fish, Quick by Leslie Revsin

2 1/2 tablespoons bottled Chinese oyster sauce (supermarket Oriental shelf)
1 1/2 tablespoons finely minced onion
2 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
2 1/2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 1/2 tablespoons sesame oil
Four 7-ounce tuna steaks, each 3/4"-1" thick
Salt and freshly ground black or white pepper to taste

Start a medium-hot fire in the grill (see Note below). Fifteen minutes before you're going to grill the tuna steaks, put the grill grate 4" or 5" above the glowing coals if it isn't already there. (I also like to brush the top of the grate with vegetable oil just before grilling to help prevent sticking.)

Place the oyster sauce in a small mixing bowl along with the minced onion and chopped ginger. Whisk in the rice wine vinegar, then gradually whisk in the sesame oil and set the sauce aside briefly, or cover and refrigerate it for up to 2 weeks.

Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Place them in a shallow dish and pour 1/4 cup of the oyster-ginger marinade over them. Coat them all over with the marinade, and, if you have time, let them marinate at room temperature for at least 30 minutes, covered with plastic wrap. (Refrigerate them if the kitchen is hot.) Otherwise, grill them right away.

Remove the steaks and reserve the remaining marinade. Place the steaks over the hot coals and grill the first side for 2 or 3 minutes, until browned. Turn the steaks and grill the other side for another 2 to 3 minutes. The steaks will be pink inside. Cook them for a few minutes longer on each side if you want them well done. To check, make a small slit with a paring knife in the middle of one steak to check for redness.

To serve: Place the tuna steaks on warm dinner plates, spoon the rest of the oyster-ginger sauce over them, and serve right away.

Notes: I made this with 3 tuna steaks (about 10 ounces) and kept the rest of the ingredients at the same amount. It came out quite tasty. And I used my trusty grill pan.

Pear Tortetta

Pear Toretta
from the good people at Peppereridge Farm

1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
4 to 5 medium ripe pears, peeled, cored and cut in half
2 tbsp. fresh lemon juice
3 tbsp. butter, softened
1/2 of a 17.3 oz. package Pepperidge Farm® Frozen Puff Pastry Sheets (1 sheet)

Thaw the pastry sheet at room temperature for 40 minutes or until it's easy to handle. Heat the oven to 425F.

Mix the granulated sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside.

Brush the pears with the lemon juice.

Spread the butter in the bottom of a 10-inch oven-safe skillet. Sprinkle the sugar mixture into the pan. Arrange the pear halves, cut-side up, with the tapered end of the pear towards the center of the pan. Cook over medium heat for about 8 minutes or until the mixture thickens and the sugar melts. Remove from the heat.

Unfold the pastry sheet on a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 13-inch circle. Place the pastry over the pears to cover and tuck in the sides around the pears slightly.

Bake for 25 minutes or until puffed and golden. Place on a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Place a serving platter over the skillet and carefully flip the skillet upside down to invert the tart onto the plate.

Notes:The challenge was to come up with a dessert that would transport well and contained no eggs. Also, no peaches and no bananas. And no nuts. Thus avoiding all the allergies of those it was intended to please. Though I found it a daunting task to flip it out of the pan. Also, the glaze didn't thicken quite as I expected it to so the crust underneath wasn't as crisp as I wanted it to be. Evenso, the dish was quite well-received.

Maple-Glazed Roasted Salmon

Maple-Glazed Roasted Salmon
from Cooking Light (January 1999)

1/4 cup grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 cup rice vinegar or white wine vinegar
1/4 cup maple syrup
1 (2 1/2-pound) salmon fillet
6 shallots, halved lengthwise
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons maple syrup, divided
Chopped parsley (optional)

Combine first 3 ingredients in bottom of a large platter. Add fish, skin side up, to ginger mixture. Cover and marinate in refrigerator 20 minutes. Remove fish from marinade; pat dry with paper towel to remove excess marinade.

Preheat oven to 450°.

Place a baking sheet in oven 5 minutes. Place shallots and fish, skin side down, on baking sheet; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Brush fish with 1 tablespoon syrup. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes. Brush with 1 tablespoon syrup; bake an additional 7 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with parsley, if desired.

Notes: I made this on a pre-heated and olive-oiled cedar plank. It was cooked at 375 degrees for 10 minutes and then brushed with syrup before being cooked 10 minutes more.

Veal Scallops with Wild Mushroom, Mustard and Tarragon Sauce

Veal Scallops with Wild Mushroom, Mustard and Tarragon Sauce
adapted from Bon Appetit, November 2003

1 pound veal scallops, about 1/8 inch thick
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter
1/4 cup chopped shallots
6 ounces assorted wild mushrooms (such as oyster and stemmed shiitake), sliced or quartered
2 tablespoons tarragon
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

Sprinkle veal on both sides with salt and pepper. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook veal until golden, about 20 seconds per side. Transfer to plate. Melt 3 tablespoons butter in same skillet. Add shallots; saute 30 seconds. Add mushrooms; sauté until brown, about 3 minutes. Stir in tarragon. Add wine; cook over high heat until almost all liquid evaporates, stirring to scrape up browned bits, about 2 minutes. Add cream; boil until reduced by 1/4, about 1 minute. Stir in mustard. Using tongs, return veal to pan; simmer until heated through.

Notes: This was really quite tasty. As I was cooking it reminded me strongly of my mother's stroganoff recipe, which I haven't made in a while and now realize I must soon have again. Meanwhile, I thought there was far too much sauce for the amount of veal and would probably cut that and the mushrooms back by half the next time. I still haven't figured out what to do with the leftover sauce. I sure hate to let something that delicious go to waste, though.

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Apple Oatmeal Muffins

Apples make a nice addition to these oatmeal muffins - they are moist and tasty. You can also add some raisins and/or walnuts to these.

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups flour
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 cup plain yogurt
1/2 cup butter, melted
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups apple, peeled and coarsely chopped

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a large bowl combine flour, rolled oats, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Combine remaining ingredientsnd mix well. Add to dry mixture and mix only enough to combine. Spoon into muffin tins that have been greased or lined with paper muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.

Notes: Every year I try to get up to the orchard for the fun of picking my own apples. Last year I made Spiced Apple Marmalade. This year, it was baking. And now I have a dozen of these in my freezer for easy and yummy snacks.

Toasted Garlic Shrimp Tacos

Toasted Garlic Shrimp Tacos
from FoodieNYC (link)

1 lb large shrimp, peeled and de-veined
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 large cloves garlic
1 bunch mint
1 lime
1 lemon
1 bunch chives (white or red onion instead is great)
2 handfuls or 1 bag washed arugula
3-4 large heirloom or vine ripened tomatoes
1 jalapeno pepper
1 package small corn tortillas (flour OK)

Make the Salsa

Chop the tomatoes into small bite sized pieces. If you want to be fancy, remove the seeds and inner core. Toss into a bowl. Add any leftover juices from the cutting board. Chop chives or onions into a very small dice (about two tablespoons)into a bowl. Finely chop about 1 teaspoon of jalapeno pepper (1/4 of a pepper)and add to bowl. Leave in seeds and inner white membrane if you like it spicy, otherwise remove them. Squeeze 1/2 of a lime and 1/2 of a lemon into bowl and add a 1 sec glug of olive oil to bowl. Add about 1 tablespoon of finely chopped mint. Season everything with salt and pepper. Mix well and taste. Need more onion? Mint? Salt? Adjust to taste. This simple salsa is best covered and refrigerated for at least a half hour or up to 24 hours to let flavors marinate.

Make the Shrimp

Peel and finely chop 3 garlic cloves. Finely chop about 1 tablespoon mint. Take out your peeled and de-veined shrimp (also remove tails at this point or you'll need to do it later, either way OK) and place them on paper towels. Pat both sides until as dry as possible. This is important in order to obtain slightly browned shrimp that adds lots of flavor to the dish. Season both side of shrimp with salt and pepper. Place one glug of olive oil in a sturdy pan on medium high heat. Wait until the olive oil is very hot, to the point that it just barely begins to smoke. Add all of the garlic and immediately after add the shrimp carefully to the pan to avoid splatter. Add the mint right on top of the shrimp. The key here is not to flip the shrimp for about 3 minutes. Flip the shrimp and squeeze lemon on them and turn off the heat. The shrimp is almost done - the heat in pan will continue to cook them. Set aside onto a cutting board after 1 minute or so, along with all of the garlic and mint and some of the olive oil. After cooling for a minute, chop your shrimp into bite size pieces and reserve.

Notes: Somehow I left the jalapeno off my shopping list, so I tossed in a few red pepper flakes for some kick, but I doubt this was as spicy as it was intended. And, I also served it as a wrap, instead of in toasted tortillas (yes, flour ones - sigh) for expediency. Plus I added a dollop of sour cream in each assembly (shrimp, salsa, arugula). A nicely balanced taste between the different flavors. I think these came out really well, and I applaud the crafter of the original recipe.

Lamb Chops and Sliced Potatoes with Garlic and Vinegar Sauce

Lamb Chops and Sliced Potatoes with Garlic and Vinegar Sauce
adapted from One Potato, Two Potato by Roy Finamore

3 TBSP garlic, minced
3 TBSP sherry vinegar
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 1/2 pounds potoates, cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
3 TBSP olive oil
coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 shoulder lamb chops

Combine the garlic, vinegar and stock and let sit for at least 2 hours.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Oil a shallow casserole dish and arrange half the potatoes in a layer in the dish. Drizle about 1/2 TBSP oil and season with salt and pepper. Repeat the process with a second layer (potatoes, oil, salt and pepper). Cover the dish with foil and bake 30 minutes. Season lamb chops with salt and pepper. After 30 minutes, remove the foil from the potatoes and spoon in half the garlic sauce. Bake for 10 minutes and then start the chops. Heat the remaining 2 TBSP oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the chops and brown them, about 2 minutes per side. Pour in the rest of the garlic sauce and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 5 minutes, turning the chops once. Add the chops to the casserole and spoon in any sauce from the skillet. Bake for 5 minutes more. Serve immediately.

Notes: The potatoes tasted amazing. I had the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. The dish overall reminded me a lot of Grilled Lamb Chops with Garlic and since the author of the cookbook mentions this was adapted from a regional Spanish dish, that's not surprising. Quite yummy. Plus I got to finally use the mandoline my god-daughter gave me.

Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Wet Paste

Steak with Garlic-Ginger-Sesame Paste
from Cook's Illustrated, May/June 2005

Paste Ingredients:
4 TBSP toasted sesame oil
2 TBSP vegetable oil
3 TBSP fresh ginger, peeled and minced
3 TBSP green onions, minced
1 TBSP garlic, minced

Puree all ingredients in blender until smooth. Makes enough for about 2 pounds of steak.

Place steak in a baking dish and prick on each side. Rub both sides of steak evenly with a little salt (about 2 tsp total) and then rub evenly with paste. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 24 hours. Prepare grill. Wipe paste off steak and season both sides with fresh ground pepper. Grill about 5 minutes per side for medium rare and then let rest under foil another 5 minutes before serving.

Notes: I was looking to do something a little different than my old standby marinades and this really hit the spot. Wet rubs such as this work similar to marinades and thus the meat is well seasoned and tender.

Lamb Chops with Mid Eastern Influence

Lamb Chops with Mid Eastern Influence
a Jennifer original

2 shoulder lamb chops
4 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp cinnamon
3/4 tsp cumin
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup yogurt
1/4 tsp cumin
1/8 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp olive oil
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

Marinade lamb chops in 4 tsp olive oil, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, 3/4 tsp cumin, and garlic for 15 minutes at room temperature. Combine yogurt, 1/4 tsp cumin, 1/8 tsp cinnamon to let flavors mingle.

Heat 1 tsp olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Brown lamb chops, approximately 4-5 minutes per side, or until desired doneness achieved. Pour off excess fat. Add yogurt sauce and heat through. Serve sprinkled with pine nuts.

Notes: I drew on three different recipes to craft this, Yogurtlu Basti (seen elsewhere on this blog), Lamb with Cumin and Cardamom (also on this blog) and a recipe for a roast leg of lamb with a yogurt sauce (which I have not yet attempted). And I would say this came out pretty well. For future attempts, I think I need to bump up the spice a little bit or marinade the meat longer -- it was a little too mild. I'd also recommend never skipping the pine nuts. They add a really nice touch to the dish.

Chicken with Goat Cheese and Basil

Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Goat Cheese and Basil
from Bon Appetit, November 1990

Chicken
4 boneless chicken breast halves, skinned

1/2 cup fresh goat cheese (such as Montrachet) (about 4 ounces)
2 green onions, thinly sliced
3 basil leaves, shredded or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 egg, beaten to blend
1/2 cup dry breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter melted

Mushroom-Wine Sauce
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 pound mushrooms, sliced (I used portabello)
1/4 cup dry white wine
2/3 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
4 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into 4 pieces
Salt and pepper

For chicken: Preheat oven to 350 F. Pound chicken between sheets of waxed paper to thickness of 1/4 inch using meat mallet. Pat chicken dry.

Combine cheese, green onions and basil in small bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread cheese mixture lengthwise over half of each chicken piece. Tuck short ends in. Roll chicken up, starting at one long side, into tight cylinders. Tie ends with string to secure. Dip chicken in egg, allowing excess to drip into bowl. Roll in breadcrumbs, shaking off excess. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Refrigerate.)

Place chicken in 8-inch square baking dish. Pour 2 tablespoons melted butter over. Bake until cooked through, about 20 minutes.

For sauce: Meanwhile, melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and saute until tender, about 8 minutes. Add wine and boil 3 minutes. Add stock and boil until liquid is reduced by half, about 6 minutes. Remove from heat and swirl in 4 tablespoons cold butter 1 piece at a time. Season sauce with salt and freshly ground pepper.

Remove string from chicken. Cut rolls crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick rounds. Fan on plates. Serve immediately, passing sauce separately.

Lamb with Tomatoes and Marjoram

Lamb Shoulder Chops with Tomatoes and Marjoram
from Bon Appetit, May 1990

2 1 1/2-inch-thick round-bone shoulder lamb chops (about 14 ounces total)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 28-ounce can Italian plum tomatoes, drained, coarsely chopped
Pinch of dried red pepper flakes
1 1/2 tablespoons minced fresh marjoram or 1 teaspoon dried, crumbled

Season lamb chops with salt and pepper. Heat oil in heavy skillet over high heat. Add lamb and cook until brown, about 2 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add garlic and cook until beginning to color, about 30 seconds. Add wine and bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Add tomatoes and red pepper flakes. Return lamb to skillet. Cover and simmer until tender, turning occasionally, 30 minutes.

Transfer lamb to plates and keep warm. Boil sauce until thickened, stirring occasionally and adding any juices accumulated on lamb plates, about 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Spoon sauce over lamb chops. Sprinkle with marjoram and serve.

Parmigiano-Crusted Chicken

Parmigiano-Reggiano interesting facts:
* one of the earliest literary sources to remark on this extraordinary cheese is Boccaccio's Decameron (in the 1300s) - "...and there was a whole mountain of Parmigiano cheese, all finely grated, on top of which stood people who were doing nothing but making macaroni and ravioli"
* Cristoforo di Messisbugo, a chef at the court of Estense di Ferrara and Martino de' Rossi at the house of Francesco Sforza in Milano described a private dinner held on January 17th, 1543 in which the dessert course included as an accompaniment to pears and grapes, apple, peaches, kiwi and figs, "six platesful of Parmigiano cheese," a combination rediscovered by contemporary gourmets as a perfect finale to a grand dinner.
* it takes 600 kg of milk to make one round of cheese and it has been made essentially the same way for over 800 years
* here is what the Accidental Hedonist wrote about parmigiano-reggiano

Parmigiano-Crusted Chicken

from The Cheese Lover's Cookbook and Guide

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup flour
2 eggs
1 cup bread crumbs
4 ounces parmigiano-reggiano, grated
2 tsp minced fresh thyme
1/2 tsp grated lemon zest
2 to 4 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
8 sprigs fresh thyme, for garnish
1 lemon, thinly sliced, for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly oil a baking pan large enough to hold the chicken.

Wash chicken and pat dry. Season with salt and pepper. Place flour on plate or waxed paper. Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, parmigiano, thyme, and lemon zest on another plate or waxed paper. Dredge each chicken breast in the flour, shaking off any excess, then dip in the egg, and finally into the bread crumb mixture. Be sure to evenly coat the chicken at each step. Place in the baking pan. Divide the remaining crumbs equally among the breasts, patting them onto the chicken.

Place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes. Brush the olive oil onto the bread-crumb crust. Return the chicken to the oven and cook for 15 to 25 minutes or until the breasts are golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for a few minutes. Garnish with thyme sprigs and lemon slices and serve.

Notes: I halved the recipe. Also, I didn't have fresh thyme on hand so I used some dried thyme and skipped the garnish. And it came out pretty well and definitely featured the cheese as the primary flavor so the finer the cheese is, the better the dish will be. I recommend a quality import.

Grilled Pork with Pineapple Salsa

Grilled Pork Chops with Pineapple Salsa
adapted from Gourmet, May 2006

1/2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp black pepper
3/4 tsp salt
2 boneless center-cut pork chops
5 oz. fresh pineapple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch dice
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 fresh jalapeno, minced
1/2 TBSP fresh lime juice

Stir together oil, cumin, pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt in a small bowl, then rub all over pork chops, transferring chops as coated to a tray. Stir together pineapple, onion, jalapeno, lime juice, and 1/4 tsp salt to taste in another bowl.

Lightly oil grill rack and grill pork chops (covered only if using a gas grill), turning over once, until just cooked through, 6 to 9 minutes total. Transfer to a clean platter and let stand 5 minutes. Serve with pineapple salsa.

Notes: This is a refreshing dish for a hot summer day. The pineapple gives it a fresh bright taste which contrasts nicely with the kick from the pepper. A keeper.

Spicy Crockpot Hens

Spicy Crockpot Hens

2 Cornish hens
2 cups water
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup of butter, melted
3/4 tsp pepper
3/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp ginger
3/4 tsp ground thyme
3/4 tsp cinnamon

Thaw hens overnight. Wash hens in warm water. Mix remaining ingredients together in butter. Baste hens with 1/2 of mixture. Fill crockpot with water and stock. Place hens inside crockpot. Spread remaining mixture over hens. Turn on low. Cook for 8 hours or until done. When removing from crockpot, be careful. Hens will be very tender and tend to fall off the bones.

Notes: This is indeed very tender. And nicely spiced. Leftovers make a good sandwich, or so I've been told. I just ate them straight off the carcass myself. Yum.

Shrimp Cakes with Chili-Lime Cream Sauce

Shrimp Cakes with Chili-Lime Cream Sauce
adapted from Bon Appetit (September 2005)

8 ounces uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
1 large egg
1 TBSP shallot, minced
1 TBSP fresh lemon juice
1/2 TBSP Dijon mustard
1 tsp dried cilantro
1/4 tsp hot pepper sauce
1/8 tsp salt
Pinch of ground black pepper
1 cups panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
2 TBSP vegetable oil

Coarsely chop shrimp in processor. Add egg, shallot, lemon juice, mustard, cilantro, hot pepper sauce, salt, and pepper. Blend in using on/off turns. Add 1/2 cup panko and blend in using on/off turns. Form mixture into four cakes. Roll cakes in remaining 1/2 cup panko; transfer to waxed-paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate 10 minutes. (Can be made up to 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, fry cakes until cooked through and golden brown on both sides, adding more oil to skillet as needed, about 6 minutes.

Spoon 3 tablespoons Chili-Lime Cream Sauce onto each of 6 plates. Place 2 shrimp cakes on each and serve immediately.

Chili Lime Cream Sauce:

1/4 cup vermouth
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1 TBSP chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 TBSP minced shallot
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 TBSP chili-garlic sauce
4 TBSP (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature, cut into 1/2-inch pieces

Combine first 4 ingredients in heavy small saucepan. Boil over high heat until reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add cream and boil until reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Reduce heat to low. Mix in chili-garlic sauce. Add butter, 1 piece at a time, whisking just until melted before adding next piece.

Fried Vermicelli with XO

Fried Vermicelli with XO Sauce

150g vermicelli
1/3 medium-sized onion
7 pieces Chinese mushroom
150g fresh pork

Sauce:
4 TBSP XO sauce
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 TBSP water

Blanch vermicelli in boiling water. Rinse with cold water and set aside. Cut pork, mushroom, and onion into strips. Saute pork in 1 TBSP oil until fragrant. Add onion and mushroom and stir fry until soft. Add vermicelli and sauce mix and continue stir fry until the sauce dries up.

Notes: This was only my second time using XO sauce and this was a recipe with a much more pronounced flavor. I quite enjoyed the spicy kick. Next time I make this, I think I will odd the onions earlier, probably the same time as the pork. They were just a bit too crunchy for me.

Siam Country Steak

Siam Country Steak
adapted from Steak Lovers Cookbook

8 oz. sirloin
1 tsp spice mix*
1 TBSP oyster sauce
1 TBSP fish sauce
1 TBSP lime juice
1 tsp garlic, minced

*equal parts: coriander, black pepper, paprika, cayenne, onion powder, garlic powder

Pat steak dry and place in a shallow dish. Sprinkle the seasoning on the steaks and rub into both sides. Drizzle the oyster sauce over the meat and rub it into the surface of both sides. Cover and refrigerate (the book recommends 24 hours, but I only had about 8).

Allow steaks to come to room temperature while preparing grill. Combine the fish sauce and lime juice in a small bowl and set aside. Grill the steaks until seared and nicely browned. About 4 minutes per side. Transfer steak to cutting board, tent, and let rest for 5 minutes, then carve into slices. Drizzle fish-lime mixture over the meat, garnish with the garlic, and serve.

Notes: When I read this I was pretty dubious -- raw fish sauce? uncooked garlic? It seemed as if it would be far too overpowering. But the flavors meld really well and it was quite tasty. And easy to make too.

Portobella Mushrooms with Sausage and Gorgonzola Dressing

Portobella Mushrooms with Sausage and Gorgonzola Dressing
a Jennifer original

1 TBSP olive oil
4 portabella mushrooms
1/2 pound sweet Italian sausage, loose
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 shallot, diced
1/4 cup gorgonzola
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 tsp marjoram
1 egg
gorgonzola cream sauce (see below)
1/8 cup pine nuts, toasted

Saute sausage in olive oil, until brown. Add shallot, cook 3 minutes. Add garlic, cook 1 minute. Remove and pulse processs with cheese, bread crumbs, and marjoram. Remove and add egg to bind. Divide mixture evenly on mushrooms. Cook in 350 degree oven for 20 minutes. Top with gorgonzola cream sauce and toasted pine nuts.

For sauce:
4 TBSP gorgonzola
2 1/2 TBSP milk
1 1/2 TBSP butter
1/4 cup whipping cream

Heat gorgonzola, milk, and butter over low heat until cheese dissolves. Just before serving, add cream over medium-low heat until reduced.

Notes: This came out exactly as I wanted; a nice balance of flavors. I had the leftovers for lunch today, and they don't reheat quite as well. I suspect keeping the sauce separate and adding it after reheating the mushroom with the dressing will work better.

Served with Angelini 2003 Pinot Grigio. A soft, well balanced and dry white wine with flavors of citrus and a clear, fresh finish. It made out better in the glass prior to the meal; the wine was a little over-powered by the strong flavor of the cheese. In the future, this dish might be better paired with a Zin.

Beef and Snow Peas with XO Sauce

Beef and Snow Peas with XO Sauce
from Gourmet (March 2004)

1 lb sirloin steak, sliced 1/4 inch thick against the grain, visible fat trimmed and discarded
2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine or medium-dry Sherry
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 lb snow peas, trimmed and strings discarded
2 TBSP XO sauce

Toss beef with rice wine, soy sauce, cornstarch, sugar, and pepper in a bowl until well coated, then marinate 15 minutes.

Heat wok over high heat until smoking, then add 1/2 tablespoon oil, swirling to coat, and heat until smoking. Add half of beef and cook, turning over once, until browned, about 1 minute total, then transfer to a clean bowl. Add another 1/2 tablespoon oil and repeat with remaining beef.

Pat snow peas dry if necessary. Wipe wok clean and heat until hot but not smoking, then add remaining tablespoon oil, swirling to coat. Add snow peas carefully (oil may splatter) and stir-fry until bright green, about 1 minute. Add XO sauce and stir-fry until snow peas are coated. If mixture seems dry, add 1 to 2 tablespoons water. Cover wok and cook snow peas until crisp-tender, about 1 minute.

Add beef with any juices accumulated in bowl and stir-fry until beef is heated through and sauce is thickened, about 1 minute.

Makes 6 main-course servings.

Notes: I actually cheated on this one.... the original recipe has the measurements for making XO sauce from scratch but I had received a jar as a gift, so I simply had to guess how much the recipe would reduce to. I might have been a little on the shy side, but this still came out pretty well.

Spicy Salmon with Tomatoes and Star Anise

Spicy Salmon with Tomatoes and Star Anise
from Bon Appetit (January 2006)

Get the freshest ground star anise by making your own. It's as easy as grinding a few star anise pods in a spice mill or a coffee grinder.

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil (such as Asian)
4 6-ounce wild salmon fillets with skin

1 cup chopped red onion
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground star anise
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
4 plum tomatoes, seeded, chopped
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add salmon, skin side down; cook 2 minutes. Cover pan; cook salmon 2 minutes longer. Transfer salmon, skin side down, to baking sheet. Place in oven; cook until just opaque in center, about 8 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat same skillet over medium heat. Add onion and next 3 ingredients; saute until onion is golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, soy sauce, and sugar. Increase heat to medium-high and cook mixture until slightly thickened, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes.

Divide salmon among 4 plates and top with tomato sauce.

Makes 4 servings.

Notes: This is the first time I used my spice grinder instead of the mortar and pestle. My only regret is how long it takes. Fresh ground sure gave this a lovely taste. Also, I used my cedar plank to roast the salmon rather than a cookie sheet and the smokiness it adds was a nice contrast with the spices. And, I only used 1/4 tsp of the crushed red pepper and think more would throw the flavors off-balance.

Served with Torresella Pinot Grigio 2003. The Torresella Winery is located in Italy’s eastern Veneto region, an area of gentle hills and broad plains along the Adriatic Sea, about midway between Venice and Trieste. Torresella was founded in 1935 by Count Gaetano Marzotto, who created a 4,000 acre cooperative surrounding the winery, ceding the land to tenant farmers from whom he bought the best grapes for his wines. Shows a light straw color, crisp on the palate, mellow citrus aromas, a lemony finish.

Pork with Two Vinegars

Pork with Two Vinegars
original recipe

2 boneless pork chops
1 TBSP butter
3 TBSP olive oil
2 shallots, sliced
1/4 cup sherry vinegar
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 green apple, peeled, cored and diced

Sprinkle the pork chops with fresh ground pepper and dredge in flour. Melt 1 TBSP butter and 1 TBSP olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute pork chops, about 3 minutes per side. Remove pork chops to a 250 degree oven.

Add 2 TBSP olive oil and shallots. Saute for 7-8 minutes. Add vinegars and deglaze. Add chicken stock. Cook until liquid is almost evaporated. Add apple, cook 10 minutes. Serve over pork chops.

Notes: Sauteed the shallots too long up front. Probably would reduce that to 3-4 minutes. Evenso, I rather liked how this one came out.

Warm Scallop Salad with Prosciutto Chips

Warm Scallop Salad with Prosciutto Chips
from Bon Appetit (May 2004)

Slices of prosciutto are fried until crisp for a delicious garnish.

4 paper-thin slices prosciutto
6 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 5-ounce package mixed babygreens
1/2 cup (packed) fresh basil leaves, thinly sliced
12 sea scallops
All purpose flour
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel

Brush each prosciutto slice on 1 side lightly with some of oil. Heat heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 slices prosciutto, oiled side down. Cook until bottom is lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Turn prosciutto over and cook until bottom is browned, flattening with spatula, about 1 minute longer. Using tongs, transfer prosciutto to paper towels to crisp. Repeat with remaining 2 slices prosciutto. Reserve skillet.

Place greens and basil in large bowl. Sprinkle scallops with salt and pepper; dust lightly with flour. Heat remaining oil in reserved skillet over medium-high heat. Add scallops and cook until brown and just opaque in center, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plate. Add lemon juice and lemon peel to drippings in skillet. Bring to boil, scraping up any browned bits. Pour pan juices over greens and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Divide salad among 4 plates and top with scallops. Garnish with prosciutto chips and serve.

Makes 4 first-course servings.

Notes: For the purposes of making this for one person and as a main dish, my ingredient list was actually as follows:

2 paper thin slices prosciutto
2 TBSP olive oil
mixed baby greens
12 bay scallops
2 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 tsp grated lemon peel

I left out the basil. In any case, this came out very well and I really enjoyed the combination of flavors. I particularly liked the proscuitto chips. They made a lovely contrast with the scallops, both in flavor and texture.

Garlic and Lemon Marinated Chicken Kebabs

Garlic and Lemon Marinated Chicken Kebabs
from The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen

1 1/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast
4 large garlic cloves
1/4 tsp coarse salt
2 pinches Middle Eastern spices
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
2 TBSP mayonnaise
3 TBSP lemon juice
1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil

Cut the chicken breasts into 1-inch cubes.

Pound the garlic with the salt until pureed. Add the spices, pepper, mayo, lemon juice, and oil and whisk until smooth. Roll the chicken in the mixture to coat. Cover and refrigerate, and let marinate 3 to 4 hours.

Preheat the broiler or light a hot fire in the barbecue grill. String the chicken on long metal skewers. Broil or grill, brushing with the marinade, turning and basting, until well browned and cooked. 8 to 10 minutes. For safety, stop basting 3 to 4 minutes before the chicken is finally cooked.

Notes: I made a substitution of yogurt for the mayonnaise. And for the spices, I used a mixture of allspice, cinnamon, coriander, cloves, and ginger. Oh and I used bamboo skewers that had been soaked for half an hour first and did this in the broiler. It came out absolutely amazing - very tender and extremely tasty. I would really like to try it out on a charcoal grill.

Tomato Sauce with Onion, Butter, Marjoram

After reading through several recipes for various tomato sauces, I ended up with the following:

2 cups canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, cut up w/ juice
4 TBSP butter
1/4 onion, peeled
1 tsp marjoram
salt
2 oz. spaghetti

Put the tomatoes, butter, onion (all in once piece), marjoram and salt in a saucepan and cook uncovered at a slow but steady simmer for 45 minutes. Stir from time to time, mashing the larger pieces of tomato. Taste and correct for salt. Discard the onion before tossing with cooked pasta. Serve with parmesan cheese on the side.

Notes: I've done one other similar style approach in the past. That one came out rather well, but this was not quite as good; the sauce was a little on the oily side. I would've liked this one to be a bit thicker and creamier (so more experimentation is called for). But it tasted very good.

Gorgonzola Prosciutto Sauce

There's a recipe in Marcella's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking that I've tried a few times for Gorgonzola Cream Sauce. On a few occasions, I haven't had cream on hand and have made do without and made a very sparse Alfredo style dressing for the pasta. Last night I added prosciutto to the mix and it came out fairly well.

1 TBSP butter
1 oz prosciutto, diced
2 TBSP milk
4 TBSP gorgonzola

4 oz penne
parmesan (to be served on the side)

While pasta cooks, melt the butter in a saucepan that will be big enough to accomodate both the cooked pasta and the sauce. Saute the proscuitto for about 2 minutes. Add the milk and gorgonzola and cook until the texture of the sauce becomes creamy and smooth. Just before serving add the pasta to the sauce and toss. Serve with parmesan cheese on the side. Serves 2.

Quick Fried Shrimp with Spices

Quick Fried Shrimp with Spices
adapted from The Complete Wok & Stir-fry Cookbook

1/2 pound large cooked shrimp
1 tsp grated ginger root
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/2 tsp hot chili powder
1/2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp mustard seeds
seeds from 4 green cardamom pods, crushed
2 TBSP butter
4 TBSP coconut milk
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Pu the ginger, garlic, chili powder, turmeric, mustard seeds and cardamom seeds in a bowl. Add shrimp and toss to coat completely. Heat a wok until hot. Add the butter (or ghee) and swirl it around until foaming. Add the marinated shrimp and stir-fry from 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Stir in the coconut milk and simmer for 3-4 minutes or until the shrimp are heated through. Season with salt and pepper. Serve at once.

Notes: This came out fairly tasty, though I think I might kick up the chili powder a little in the future. I served it with coconut jasmine rice to which I added some veggies (baby corn cobs, pea pods, and carrots).

Lamb Risotto with Pine Nuts

Last Thursday I treated myself to Leg of Lamb a la Julia Child -- yum. And then on Saturday I used some of the leftovers for what I've been calling Mediterranean Tacos. Again, very tasty. Tonight I finished off the leftover meat with....

Lamb Risotto with Pine Nuts

1 TBSP olive oil
1/2 shallot, diced
2 1/2 cups chicken stock
2 oz. left over marinated lamb, cubed
parmigiano reggiano
1 TBSP toasted pine nuts

Bring the chicken stock to a simmer in a small sauce pan. In another larger saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add shallot. Cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add rice, stirring constantly. Cook for about 3 minutes. Add chicken stock 1/2 cup at a time and continue to stir as it evaporates. When rice begins to look creamy, add lamb to heat through. Continue cooking until rice is al dente. Remove from heat and add parmesan to taste and pine nuts.

Notes: I'm getting bold. This is the first risotto dish of my own design. And it came out pretty darn well. The pine nuts really worked in this. I might, if I made it again, be tempted to replace the parmesan with some other cheese, my instinct would be something stronger, perhaps gorgonzola or even feta. I'm also proud of myself for getting three meals out of that leg of lamb.

Scallop Sauce

Scallop Sauce with Olive Oil, Garlic and Hot Pepper
from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan
adjusted for 2 servings

1/2 pound bay scallops
4 TBSP olive oil
1/2 TBSP garlic, minced
1 TBSP chopped parsley
red pepper flakes, to taste
4 ounces spaghetti
1/4 cup unflavored bread crumbs, toasted

Wash the scallops in cold water, pat dry and cut into pieces 3/8 inch thick.

Put the olive oil and garlic in a saucepan, turn on the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until garlic becomes colored a light gold. Add the parsley and hot pepper. Stir once or twice, then add the scallops and one or two pinches of salt. Turn the heat up to high, and cook for about 1 1/2 minutes, stirring frequently until the scallops lose their shine and turn a flat white. Do not overcook the scallops or they will become tough. Taste and correct for salt and hot pepper. If the scallops shed a lot of liquid, remove them from the pan with a slotted spoon and boil down the watery juices. Return the scallops to the pan, turn them over quickly, then turn off the heat.

Toss thoroughtly with cooked drained pasta, add the bread crumbs, toss again, and serve at once.

Notes: Well.... I didn't fall in love with this one. It was okay, but nothing special. The texture from the bread crumbs certainly made it interesting, but I'm not sure it was entirely in a good way. So, I don't think I'll be making this one again.

Corsican Brined Pork Chops

Corsican Brined Pork Chops
from The Slow Mediterranean Kitchen by Paula Wolfert

1/8 cup kosher salt
1 1/2 TBSP sugar
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp crushed juniper berries
1/4 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp cracked black peppercorns
1/8 tsp dried sage
1 bay leaf, crumbled
2 center cut pork chops
3/4 TBSP olive oil
freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup chicken stock
1 TBSP vermouth
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/8 cup orange juice
1/2 tsp garlic, minced
2 tsp finely slivered fresh basil

In a large bowl or container, combine salt with sugar and 1/2 cup hot water; stir until dissolved. Add 2 cups cold water, the thyme, juniper berries, coriander, peppercorns, sage, and bay leaf. Put the chops in the brine, cover and refrigerate for 24 to 48 hours.

Drain the pork chops. Pick any whole spices off the meat and discard. Pat the chops dry with paper towels.

Heat the olive oil in a large, deep nonstick or black cast-iron skillet until it shimmers. Add the pork chops and cook over high heat, turning once, until browned, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer the chops to a plate and season with pepper.

Pour off any fat from the skillet. Add the chicken stock and vermouth and bring to a boil, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. Boil until the liquid is reduced by half, about 3 minutes. Add the tomato sauce, orange juice, and garlic and simmer 5 minutes.

Return the pork chops to the skillet, turn to coat with the sauce, and bring to a boil. Cover tightly, reduce the heat to low, and simmer until the pork is tender and fully cooked through, about 10 minutes. Transfer the chops to a platter, cover, and keep warm.

Boil remaining sauce over high heat until the liquid is reduced to about a cup. Stir in the basil and pour the sauce over the chops.

Notes: My version is just a teensy bit altered from the one in the cookbook. I completely left out the olives, and used ground coriander instead of seeds as well as vermouth in place of white wine. But I did get to try out juniper berries for the first time. My only note would be to check the proportion of salt and sugar in other brine solutions as this was just a tad saliter than I wanted it to be. Otherwise, it tasted great and I want to be sure to use this cookbook more in the future.

Tomato Sauce with Garlic and Basil

The night I got back from a long trip, my good friend Michael surprised me by cooking something out of one of my own cookbooks.....

Tomato Sauce with Garlic and Basil
from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

1 large bunch fresh basil
2 cups canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, drained and cut up
5 garlic cloves, minced
5 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
salt
freshly ground pepper
1 pound pasta

Pull all the basil leaves from the stalks, rinse them briefly in cold water and shake off the moisture using a colander. Tear all but the tiniest leaves by hand into small pieces.

Put the tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, salt and several grindings of pepper into a saucepan and turn on the heat to medium high. Cook for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the oil floats free from the tomato. Taste and correct for salt. Turn off the heat and mix in the torn-up basil, keeping aside a few pieces to add when tossing the pasta.

Notes: Marcella warns the cook not to be alarmed by the amount of garlic in the recipe. Because it simmers in the sauce, it is poached rather than browned, and its flavor is subdued. Well, it tasted quite lovely to me, and I very much appreciated the treat. I'll certainly make it again myself sometime.

Pork Chop with Tomato Compote

Pork Chop with Tomato Compote

1 TBSP oilve oil
5 oz. fresh baby spinach
2 boneless pork chops, trimmed

1 TBSP olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
2 tsp garlic, minced
3 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 400F. Heat oil for pork in a skillet and saute the spinach in same skillet for about 1 minute, or until just wilted. Cut a pocket in each pork chop and stuff with wilted spinach. On medium heat, brown pork chops in skillet, about two minutes per side. Transfer pork to oven for an additional 8 minutes.

While pork is cooking, add additional olive oil to skillet. Saute shallot and garlic for about two minutes. Add the tomato and saute for two more minutes. Add the balsamic vinegar and reduce to a glaze. Serve tomato compote over pork.

Notes: I'm going to say that this was inspired by and somewhat resembles a recipe by Antony Worrall Thompson. There is a similarily named recipe posted on the BBC Food site. However, it is lacking some ingredients and instructions, so I had to make a few things up as I went along. I served it alongisde Tangy Mashed Potatoes (a house favorite) from One Potato, Two Potato. We declared it good (though I may want to season the spinach with something while wilting next time).

Winter-Spiced Molten Chocolate Cake

Winter-Spiced Molten Chocolate Cake
from Bon Appetit (January 2004)

2 1/2 ounces bittersweet (not unsweetened) or semisweet chocolate, chopped
6 2/3 TBSP unsalted butter
1/3 teaspoon ground coriander
1/3 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/6 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/12 teaspoon ground cloves
1/12 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1/3 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup powdered sugar
3 TBSP all purpose flour

Generously butter 3/4-cup ramekins or souffle dishes. Stir chocolate, butter, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and white pepper in heavy medium saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth. Cool slightly. Whisk egg, egg yolk, and vanilla in large bowl to blend. Whisk in powdered sugar, then chocolate mixture, then flour. Transfer batter to prepared dishes, filling to top and dividing equally. (Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)

Preheat oven to 425F. Bake cakes until batter has risen above dish, top edges are dark brown, and centers are still soft and runny, about 15 minutes, or about 18 minutes for refrigerated batter. Run small knife around cakes to loosen. Allow cakes to rest in dishes 5 minutes. Using hot pad and holding dish very firmly, place plate gently atop 1 cake and invert onto plate. Repeat with remaining cakes. Dust with powdered sugar. Served with fresh raspberries.

Notes: Of course, we needed a dessert that would compete with the main course of Rabbit Stifado. I had to adjust this recipe quite a bit as it was originally intended to make 8 cakes, and I only have two of the jade ramekins (my mother gave them to me for Christmas, and yes, I would like more of them). The quality of the chocolate is key here, especially to balance out the kick from the spices. I used Scharffen Berger. I was surprised that these came out so well on my first attempt at something like this. Surprised, and pleased. Not your ordinary molten chocolate cake. I'd definitely make them again.

Rabbit Stifado

Rabbit Stifado

1/2 cup red-wine vinegar
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed
4-6 grains allspice (or ¼ tsp ground)
1 stick cinnamon
4 bayleaves
1 orange, zested
1 large rabbit (or 2 small), jointed
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2/3 cup red wine
1 pound pearl onions, peeled
2 tbsp tomato paste
1 tsp honey
Salt and pepper

In a bowl, mix the vinegar, garlic, allspice, cinnamon, bay and orange zest. Add the rabbit, stir to make sure the meat is well covered, then leave to marinade overnight or for 24 hours.

Preheat the oven to 325F. Take out the rabbit bits and dry on kitchen towel. Heat the oil in a casserole, and fry the rabbit, a few pieces at a time, until golden all over. Once browned, put all the rabbit bits in the casserole, add the marinade, wine, onions, tomato puree and honey, then add water to cover and bring to a simmer on the stove-top. Transfer to the oven for an hour and a half or so, until the meat is falling off the bones. Check the juices for seasoning, and if necessary reduce to an intensity you like.

Notes: The recipe I adapted this from came from the U.K.'s Guardian newspaper. In the article, Matthew Fort claimed to develop this version of the dish after having something like it on Corfu in a taverna. As for me, I first tasted this dish at Molyvos in New York, and have heard that their recipe appears in their cookbook. Otherwise, it appears to be a closely guarded secret as I couldn't turn up any other versions online. Someday I will have to try Molyvos' version and compare the two, but in the meantime this came out very well, and provided that something out of the ordinary which I was looking for in creating a memorable birthday dinner. I also got to christen my Le Creuset casserole dish -- and it came out marvelous. Plus, I ate the leftovers for lunch a few days later, and they were still tasty and tender and quite good.

Anise Poached Chicken

I've been subscribed to the CIA's Kitchen & Cook newsletter for some time, and mostly I've just read it for the technique articles, though they have a number of excellent recipes in each issue. Finally, though, the time to cook has come.

Anise Poached Chicken

2 star anise
1 qt chicken broth
2 carrots, peeled and quartered
2 chicken breasts, trimmed of fat
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp chopped chives

Simmer the star anise and the carrots in the chicken broth in a small saucepan until their flavor has infused into the liquid, about 20 minutes. Lower flame to just under a simmer.

Lay the chicken breasts into the pot. They should not touch, and should be covered by at least 2 inches of liquid. Cover the pot tightly. Leave pot over the lowest flame possible for 10 minutes. Turn off flame and leave the pot undisturbed for 20 minutes more.

In a small pan, heat a few tablespoons of the poaching liquid; whisk in the butter and chives. Transfer the poached chicken to serving plates; serve with the carrots and drizzle with the butter-chive sauce, garnished with star anise.

Shrimp & Orzo, take two

Jennifer Garner's Shrimp and Orzo

This week I took another pass at Jennifer Garner's Shrimp and Orzo. This time I substituted a large shallot for the onion and vermouth for the white wine. With extra feta sprinkled on top. Very good. I'm reminded of how simple and relatively quick this recipe is. And it tastes good too.

Chicken Makhani

Casting around for a recipe to use with chicken thighs, which I don't normally buy, but they were at a great sale price last week.... I came across several mentions of Chicken Makhani, by turns claimed as an Indian and Pakistani dish. I read several different variations (some with alternate spices), including the one in the Indian cookbook on my shelf, and finally decided to be a little less than absolutely authentic since I didn't have a tandoor oven. Or fenugreek leaves. Hence, the version below. While reading (particularly through an eGullet thread), I saw claims that supposedly, Butter Chicken was invented at Moti Mahal in Delhi during the 1950s to use up leftover Tandoori Chicken. However, there are also some who say that it originated in the Punjab region (which is now part of Pakistan) sans fenugreek and with the added spice of green chilies in the finish.

Chicken Makhani AKA Butter Chicken

14 oz. of chicken thighs (skinless & boneless)
1/2 cup of almonds, ground
1 onion
2 tsp of garlic, crushed
2 tsp of ginger, crushed
1/4 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp of turmeric powder
1 tsp of red chili powder
1 TBSP of coriander powder
8 oz. pureed tomatoes (canned is okay)
1 TBSP of tomato paste
1/2 cup of plain yogurt, drained
3 TBSP of butter

Trim and cut the chicken into small cubes, cover and set aside. With a clean knife and board thinly slice the onions.

Heat a large saucepan or frying pan and melt the butter until it is frothy. Add the onions and the cinnamon to the pan and fry lightly. When the onions are soft stir in the crushed garlic and ginger. Then add the turmeric, chili powder and coriander powder, and saute over medium heat (2-3 minute or until the air begins to smell fragrant). The spices are fried first to release their maximum flavour and this really enhances the dish.

Add the cubed chicken and saute stirring constantly until the chicken has turned white. Pour in the ground almonds, pureed tomatoes and tomato paste. Mix thoroughly. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the yogurt and heat through. Serve over rice.

Notes: I did like how this came out, authentic or not. It had a nice blend of flavors. And the chicken was super tender. I didn't find out about the adding the chilies until it was too late to run back out and get them, so if/when I make it again, I will add those because I think it could use a bit more spice. The other possibility is kicking up the chili powder. I might also try the version from the Desi Cookbook. And I would love to learn how to make roti to serve alongside.

Sausage Frittata

Sausage Frittata
a Jennifer original

2 tsp olive oil
1/4 pound sweet Italian sausage
1/4 pound hot Italian sausage
1/4 cup feta cheese
6 eggs
1 TBSP oregano

In a medium frying pan, heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until done, about 4 or 5 minutes. Remove sausage and drain off any fat.

Whisk together eggs and oregano in separate bowl.

In a medium ovenproof skillet, distribute the sausage and feta evenly. Pour the egg mixture gently over all. Cover and cook until eggs are just beginning to set. Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Place the skillet under the broiler, 4 inches from heat, until eggs begin to brown, about 5 minutes.

Cut into wedges and serve.

Notes: I've only made one other frittata: Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese. I think that one had a better melding of flavors. If I were to experiment with this current variation again, I think I would use only sweet sausage, bump up the feta to 1/3 cup, and use about 1/2 the oregano. Still, the texture was good, and this initial attempt was tasty enough that the single leftover serving made a nice breakfast the next morning.

Scallop and Shrimp a la Nage

James Peterson's Glorious French Food cookbook has a lot of technique information. However, overall it's not the easiest book for practical cooking. So, when I read about the scallops and shrimps a la nage, but needed a simpler approach, I did some hunting about and studied several other recipes

Cooking a la nage means poaching food, usually seafood, in a court bouillon. There are several different approaches to this style of dish. Jacques Pepin has a version done with red snapper. There are also a number of variations that use salmon. And many with shellfish, including shrimp, scallops, crawfish, and lobster.

Scallop and Shrimp a la Nage

6 ounces large cooked shrimp
6 ounces scallops
1 oz olive oil
1 oz butter
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1/4 tsp dried thyme
salt and pepper, to taste
1 oz cognac (or Armagnac)
1/2 cup vermouth
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

Heat the oil and butter. Saute the shallot, garlic and thyme until shallot begins to soften. Add the shrimp and saute until half cooked. Add the scallops and salt and pepper and saute for 30 seconds. Flambe with the Armagnac and saute for another 20 seconds. Add the vermouth and vegetable broth and let simmer until reduced to half. Lower the heat and add the heavy whipping cream. Season as desired. Serve immediately.

Notes: This came out amazing. Even if I do say so myself. I'm usually one of the harshest critics of my cooking but I was just delighted with this. The texture of the soup, the taste. I'd like to try making it again, but perhaps one of the other versions next time.

Braised Pork Chops

Braised Pork Chops
with Sage and Tomatoes
Modena Style

from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Italian Cooking

2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP olive oil
2 center cut pork chops, 1 inch thick
6 to 8 fresh sage leaves
black pepper
3/4 cup canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, cut up with their juices

Choose a saute pan that can contain all the chops without overlapping (the recipe calls for 4 chops originally). Put in the butter and oil and turn on the heat to medium high. When the butter foam begins to subside, turn the chops on both sides in flour, shake off the excess, and slip them into the pan together with the sage leaves. Cook the chops to a rich brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side.

Add salt, pepper and tomatoes with their juice. Adjust heat to cook at a slow simmer, and cover the pan. Cook for about 1 hour, until the meat feels tender. Turn the chops from time to time while they are cooking.

By the time the pork is done, the sauce in the pan should have become rather dense. If it is too runny, transfer the chops to a warm serving platter and reduce the pan juices over high heat for a few minutes. Tip the pan and spoon off the fat. Pour the contents of the pan over the chops and serve at once.

Notes: I love braising. It's one of my favorite ways to cook meat. It always ends up so tender and full of flavor. This dish was on the subtle side; none of the flavors were strongly pronounced. But it was quite tasty.

Served with Chimney Creek Sauvignon Blanc 2004.

Shrimp & White Wine

Shrimp, with lemon, garlic, herbs and white wine

1 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
1 TBSP lemon juice
1 TBSP white wine
1 garlic clove, minced
1/3 pound shrimp
dash marjoram
1 TBSP parsley

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, white wine and garlic. Toss shrimp in mixture. Cover and let stand in refrigerator 20-30 minutes.

in a large non-stick skillet, heat 1 additional TBSP olive oil over medium heat. Remove the shrimp from the marinade, reserving marinade, and add to skillet. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until bright pink. Remove the shrimp from the skillet. Add the marinade and marjoram. Reduce heat to medium and simmer for about 5 minutes.

Add the shrimp back to the skillet, heat through and toss with parsley. Serve immediately.

Notes: This came out light and lovely and was very easy to make. It could be served over rice or with pasta, but I had it straight up with some tasty garlic bread on the side.

Lemon Ginger Cookies

These cookies are much like sugar cookies, but a bit cakier due to the chemical leavening. Lemon and ginger are a refreshing combination.

Lemon Ginger Cookies
from The Secrets of Baking by Sherry Yard

Yield: about 3 dozen cookies

1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 pound cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3/4 cup sugar, plus 1/4 cup for rolling
1 TBSP grated lemon zest
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 large egg, at room temperature
1/4 cup finely diced crystallized ginger

Sift together flour and baking soda into a medium bowl and set aside.

Using a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer, cream the butter on medium speed until pale yellow, about 2 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle. Add the 3/4 cup sugar, lemon zest, ginger and salt. Cream on medium speed until smooth, about 1 minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down the sides of the bowl and the paddle.

Add the egg and beat on low speed for 30 seconds, or until fully incorporated. Do not overbeat. Scrape down the sides of the bowl.

On low speed, add the flour mixture. Beat until all the dry ingredients are incorporated, about 30 seconds. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Add the crystallized ginger and mix until just incorporated.

Remove small handfuls of the dough from the mixer and plop down the middle of a sheet of parchment paper, creating a log about 2 inches wide and 12 inches long. Fold the parchment over creating a sausage. Chill for at least 1 hour. At this point, the dough will keep nicely, tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 1 week or in the freezer up to 1 month. (Thaw frozen dough at room temperature for 30 minutes.)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Adjust the rack to the lower third of the oven. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.

When the dough has chilled, remove it from the parchment, pour the remaining 1/4 cup sugar onto the work surface, and roll the log in the sugar. Using a chef's knife, slice 1/3 inch thick rounds off the log. Place the cookies 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake one sheet at a time for 12 to 15 minutes or until brown around the edges, turing the cookie sheet once halfway through the baking. Remove from the oven and carefully slide the parchment directly onto a work surface. Wait at least 5 minutes before serving or 30 minutes before storing in an airtight container for up to 3 days at room temperature.

Notes: For the amount of steps involved, though none of them are individually difficult, I was hoping to get a cookie that was more of an eye-opener. However, the flavors here didn't quite stand out the way I'd hoped. And, even though this cookbook is an award-winning cookbook, I didn't find the recipe particularly readable. I also had some trouble cutting the dough once it was cold and lost several cookies that way before even baking them. In fact, at the moment, I think I'm far fonder of drop cookies...

Breaded Pork

This recipe is taken from the author's mother, Clara, who made this during the World War II era while Spain was recovering from their Civil War of the 1930s.

Lomo Empanado de Clara Orozco
from La Cocina de Mama by Penelope Casas

White Sauce
2 TBSP unsalted butter
3 TBSP olive oil
6 TBSP flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup milk
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg

2 TBSP olive oil
1 pound pork tenderloin, cut in 3/8 inch slices
kosher salt
2 large eggs
1 TBSP grated cheese, such as Manchego or Parmesan
1 cup bread crumbs
olive oil for frying

To make the white sauce, melt the butter with the oil in a saucepan, add the flour and cook over low heat for a minute or two. Gradually stir in the chicken broth, milk, salt and pepper to taste, and nutmeg. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce is thickened and smooth. Cool, stirring occasionally.

In a large skillet, heat the oil and add as many pork slices as will reasonably fit. Quickly saute, until lightly browned and cooked through, sprinkling with salt and turning once. Remove to a warm platter and repeat with remaining pork.

Dip the meat slices in the white sauce, coating them completely on both sides. Place on a plate or tray and refrigerate until the sauce solidfies, at least 1 hour.

In a dish, beat the eggs, cheese and parsley with a fork. Dip the pork in the egg, then coat with the crumbs. Pour oil to a depth of 1/8 inch in a large skillet and heat to the smoking point. Reduce the heat to medium-high, add as many pork slices as will comfortably fit, and fry until lightly golden, turning once. Drain on paper towels and serve right away, or keep warm in a 200 degree F. oven

Notes: I made a half-batch, and used two thick boneless pork chopes, which I sliced in half, lengthwise. This turned out far more savory than I expected from the simple ingredients. Of course, the same could be said of the other recipe from this cookbook that I've tried: Grilled Lamb with Garlic. I'm beginning to think that I could grow quite fond of Spanish home cooking.

Mango Mustard Seed Sauce

This delicious fresh sauce is great with grilled white meats and fish. Thinned with additional juice or stock, it can also be a dressing for a savory salad. (from the description in the cookbook)

Mango Mustard Seed Sauce
from Cooking One on One by John Ash

2 TBSP yellow or black mustard seeds
1 cup fresh mango puree
2 tsp minced fresh ginger
1 tsp finely minced garlic
1/2 tsp fragrant curry powder
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
2 tsp sherry vinegar
1 1/2 tsp hot pepper sesame oil
1 tsp honey
salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

Notes: I served this over grilled chicken that was seasoned with a little garlic and fresh ground pepper. The sauce had an unusual taste, and I'm not really sure the flavors melded smoothly together. I'm not convinced this was simply because I ended up using 1/2 tsp hot chile oil and 1 tsp sesame oil separately. This is the second recipe I've tried from this cookbook (the other was Chicken with Vinegar), and, so far, I'm not enthusiastic about it overall. It has a lot of good tips and techniques, but the tastes just don't quite work for me.

Boursin and Fennel Seed Risotto

A number of recipes were considered for trying a new variation of risotto, among them "Champagne Risotto with Scallops", "Walnut Risotto with Roasted Asparagus" (that last ingredient unfortunately not being in season at the moment) and "Butternut Squash, Rosemary and Blue Cheese Risotto". I plan on trying all three at various points in the future.

I've been a big fan of boursin cheese for years. I love its creamy texture and rich taste, so I decided on the "Boursin and Fennel Seed Risotto," especially curious as it included no other cheeses (and I'm quite used to adding Parmigiano-Reggiano in every previous case of cooking risotto). Boursin, a cousin of some of the traditional norman triple creme and unripened cheeses, was created in 1957 by Francois Boursin, a cheesemaker in Normandy, France. His first variety, Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs (which is what I used), was inspired by a long-standing traditional dish: fromage frais (fresh cheese) served with a bowl of fine herbs, which allowed each person to create his or her own personally seasoned cheese. It was also the first cheese to advertise on the french TV in 1968. Its advertising slogan "Du pain, du vin et du boursin" (Bread, wine and Boursin) became one of the most famous of the french advertisement history.

Boursin and Fennel Seed Risotto
from Gourmet (February 1994)

1 shallot sliced
1 3/4 cups low-salt chicken broth
3/4 cup water
1 TBSP unsalted butter
3/4 cup arborio rice
1/4 tsp fennel seeds
3 TBSP dry vermouth or dry white wine
2 TBSP boursin cheese
2 TBSP minced fresh chives

In a small saucepan bring broth and water to a simmer and keep at a bare simmer.

In a heavy skillet, melt butter over moderately high heat and saute shallot about two minutes. Add rice and fennel seeds and stir until coated with butter. Add vermouth and cook, stirring, until absorbed. Continue cooking and add broth 1/2 cup at a time, stirring constantly and letting each portion of broth be absorbed before adding the next. When rice is creamy and al dente, remove pan from heat and stir in Boursin, chives, and salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 2.

Notes: The shallots were my addition. The fennel seed did give it an intriguing taste and texture. However, the sense of the boursin wasn't quite as strong as I had hoped and I would probably bump it up to 3 TBSP the next time I give this a try. Served with Cavit Collection Pinot Grigio 2004 (also used in the cooking).

This was very interesting, and I quite enjoyed it, though not as much as some of the others I've attempted. If I had to pick a favorite from among those so far, it would probably be Gorgonzola and Pear Risotto with Jasmine Tea Risotto with Sweet Peas and Shrimp running a very close second.

Guest Cooks!

Over the holiday weekend, my sister-in-law and one of my sisters had occasion to make this scrumptious dessert. I still need to ask her which cookbook she was using. Mom also made her famous apple pie and a pumpkin pie. At my father's request, I made another batch of Sweet-Potato and Orange Puree with Almond Streusel to go with the turkey dinner we had earlier that day.

Bittersweet Chocolate Cheesecake

Notes: I'm told the cooks used 8 oz of semi-sweet and 4 oz of bittersweet in the cake, and wholly substituted semi-sweet in the glaze. Also, there were no hazelnuts in the glaze. Were I to make it, I might give it a try with some really high quality bittersweet chocolate, but this sure did come out rich and creamy enough to satisfy any cheesecake lover.

Sauteed Worcestershire Chicken

The not-quite-Christmas dinner.... due to circumstances beyond our control, we've officially moved our family holiday to tomorrow. Actually, some historians suggest that the birth of Jesus did not actually fall in December, so Christmas has been previously adjusted. The early churches celebrated the birth at different times until around A.D. 400, with April being an oft-cited date.

Sauteed Worcestershire Chicken
from Gourmet (April 1995)

2 whole boneless chicken breasts with skin (about 3/4 pound total), halved
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/2 cup low-salt chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano, or 1/2 teaspoon dried, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

Pat chicken dry and place between 2 sheets of plastic wrap. With a meat pounder flatten chicken lightly to about 1/2-inch thickness and season with salt and pepper.

In a large non-stick skillet heat oil over moderate heat and cook chicken, skin sides down, 6 minutes on each side. Add garlic, Worcestershire sauce, vinegar, broth, and oregano and simmer until chicken is cooked through, about 4 minutes. Transfer chicken with tongs to a platter and simmer sauce until reduced to about 1/4 cup. Add lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste.

Pour sauce over chicken. Serves 4.

Notes: Appeared to be well-received by the family. If I make it again in the future, I might substitute something else for the oregano to see if I can get a more vibrant taste. Also, I reduced the amount of Worcestershire and bumped up the garlic slightly.

Molasses-Brined Pork Chops

I've never hired a personal chef (I have too much fun cooking!), but now I've tried a recipe from one. Chef Nancy Ricks came up while I was searching online for a different sort of brine for pork chops. And if you are interested in reading more about what a personal chef does, there's an association of them: USPCA.

Molasses Brined Pork Chops

Brine:
1 cup water
4 tsp kosher salt
1 TBSP brown sugar
2 tsp molasses
1/8 tsp vanilla extract
2 boneless pork chops

Rub mixture:
1/2 tsp dry sage
1/2 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp cardamom
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 garlic cloves, minced

2 TBSP flour
2 tsp olive oil

Prepare brine by mixing the ingredients in a large zip-lock and let marinate 8 hours or overnight. Remove chops from brine and discard brine. Prepare the rub mixture (I used a mortar and pestle) and rub over both sides of chops and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Dredge chops in flour. Heat oil in large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and cook chops 8 minutes per side until done.

Served with Campus Oaks Pinot Noir. (The Campus Oaks Zin is a favorite of the house, but the pinot isn't nearly as impressive.)

Notes: This was certainly interesting to try, and the guarantee that the pork chops would stay moist from the brine was, of course, true. I didn't quite buy into the spice rub. It didn't quite have the right balance and blend of flavors. I think I would stick with the one from Julia's Special blend if I were to try this again. But I also came across a balsamic-based brine and a cider-based brine that will probably get a turn first.

Sweet-Potato and Orange

Sweet-Potato and Orange Puree with Almond Streusel
from Bon Appetit (November 2001)

Streusel
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/3 cup whole unblanched almonds
3 TBSP golden brown sugar
2 tsp Hungarian sweet paprika
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into pieces

Sweet-Potato Puree
4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
2 TBSP golden brown sugar
2 TBSP butter (1/4 stick), at room temperature
1 1/2 tsp grated orange peel

For streusel:
Place all ingredients in processor in order listed. Using on/off turns, blend until small moist clumps form. Transfer to bowl. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. (Can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated.)

For sweet-potato puree:
Preheat oven to 375 F. Pierce potatoes in several places with fork. Place directly on oven rack and bake until very tender, about 1 hour. Transfer to rack and cool. Peel potatoes; place flesh in large bowl and mash. Mix in orange juice, sugar, butter, and orange peel. Season with salt and pepper. Butter 13x9-inch oval gratin dish. Spread puree in dish; smooth top. (Puree can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

Preheat oven to 400 F. Scatter streusel over potatoes. Bake until puree is hot and streusel is crisp, about 40 minutes. Cool 5 minutes, then serve.

Makes 8 servings.

Notes: This year's Thanksgiving experiment dish went out to three households (possibly another later this weekend) and I hope to get a variety of feedback on it. It was a lot brighter tasting than some sweet potato dishes, the citrus providing a nice contrast, I think. Last year I made Sweet Potatoes and Pears and I think I may like that one somewhat more, but this one was a winner even with some of the non-sweet-potato-eaters in my family.

Chocolate Raspberry Chips

Chocolate Raspberry Chip Cookies

1 cup butter-flavored Crisco, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 10-oz package raspberry chips (Hershey)

Heat oven to 375 F.

Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in large bowl until creamy. Add eggs; beat well. Stir together flour, cocoa and baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until well blended. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. About 5 dozen cookies.

Notes: Cooked with the god-daughter this afternoon after we couldn't turn up mom's recipe and had to hunt around online. Very chocolatey and chewy and yummy.

Dinner tonight (cooked by mom) was chicken with a balsamic gorgonzola sauce that looked a lot like chocolate. It was incredibly delicious. I hope she manages to post an approximation of the recipe.

Lamb Steak

Lamb Steak with Cider and Honey Sauce

Ingredients:
2 lamb leg steaks, each piece weighing 150g to 200g
Pinch of Anglesey salt
Pinch of black pepper
3 sprigs of fresh rosemary, roughly chopped
1 lemon, zest only
1 tablespoon of olive oil

The sauce:

1/2 an onion, finely chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
200ml of cider
1/2 tablespoon of Welsh honey

Method:
In a pestle and mortar, grind together the salt, pepper, rosemary and lemon zest and then rub the mixture over the meat.

Heat the oil in a frying pan. Cook the meat for around 4 minutes on each side and then place on a clean plate.

The sauce:
Using the same frying pan, fry the onions and garlic until soft.

Add the cider and boil for 2 minutes.

Add the honey to the mixture at the end.

To serve, place the steak in the middle of the plate with the sauce around the steak.

Notes: This came from a website in Wales with a television cooking show that features someone named Dudley. I haven't really turned up any information on his background, but I got to play with the metric side of my measuring cups. As for the recipe itself, I substituted a couple shallots for the onion but otherwise followed it fairly closely.

Aji de Camarones

Peruvians excel in the preparation of ajies, dishes using their mirasol AKA hot yellow peppers. Of course, I couldn't get those at my local supermarket and substituted red pepper flakes as advised by the cookbook from which the recipe came: The South American Table. I took a few other liberties to make my life easier, such as using pre-cooked shrimp and substituting vegetable broth for making the shrimp broth. Some day I'll have to try this with the genuine ingredients and see how different it might be.

Aji de Camarones
Shrimp in Hot Pepper Sauce

1/2 pound cooked large shrimp
juice of one lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Place the shrimp in a large glass bowl. Add the lemon juice and salt and pepper to taste and toss to coat. Cover with plastic wrap and let marinade in the refrigerator.

1 tsp red pepper flakes
1 TBSP olive oil
1/8 tsp sweet paprika
3 shallots, minceed
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp dried oregano
1/8 tsp ground cumin
2 TBSP milk
1/8 cup ground walnuts
1/2 cup vegetable broth
freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a heavy skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the paprika, add the shrimp and cook about one minute. Transfer shrimp to a clean bowl. Add the chopped shallot and cook until softened. Add the minced garlic, red pepper flakes, oregano, cumin and cook for one minute. Add the milk, walnuts and 1/2 cup of vegetable broth. Cook, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens (a little thicker thean whipping cream). Stir in Parmesan and shrimp until heated through. Season with salt and black pepper to taste and serve.

Notes: This turned out to be pretty interesting and tasty. A little scant for two servings. If I had added the garnishes recommended: potatoes, hard-boiled eggs, and olives, that would no doubt have rounded it out. The other dish that I made from this cookbook - Pechugas de Pollo al Cilantro - turned out to be a favorite, though if one doesn't like cilantro, one shouldn't try it.

Paired with Aresti Reserve Merlot 1999 - a medium bodied wine with a (perhaps too) strong fruity finish and a peppery hint. From Chile (Rio Claro).

Braised Duck Legs

Braised Duck Legs with Apple Cider, Squash and Rosemary

2 duck legs
1 TBSP vegetable oil
2 sprigs rosemary, 1/2 TBSP thyme, 1 bay leaf, tied in a boquet garni
3 green onions, chopped
1 small carrot, chopped
6 garlic cloves
2 cups mixed dice of carrots, fennel (or other hard squash)
1/2 cup apple jack
1 cup apple cider
1 TBSP red wine vinegar

In a large saute pan over high heat, brown the duck legs in the oil. Skim away any fat, and add the herbs, garlic, green onions, and carrot, tossing. Add the apple jack and cider, bring to a low boil.

Cover pan and cook legs, simmering for 75-90 minutes until tender. Remove lid, and skim fat. Reserve legs to a side plate and strain broth, discarding solids. Return the clean broth to the pot, add the diced vegetables and reduce liquid to a sauce consistency, returning the legs to the pot to heat through. Season with the vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste) and serve.

Notes: This turned out quite well, the fennel and carrots being particularly flavorful. Definitely a keeper.

Pizza Bianca

Americans consume 350 slices of pizza every second, an amount equal to 100 acres a day – that’s 33 billion dollars worth of pizza annually from the more than 60,000 pizzerias in America.

Neapolitans claim pizza was created in Naples during the 18th century, though there are many versions of flatbreads with toppings around the Mediterranean area. In support of their claim, they can point to the earliest official pizzeria, which opened in 1830 at Via Port'Alba 18 in Naples and is still in business today. By the beginning of the 1900's pizza made its way to the United States, thanks to Italian immigrants, most notably in New York and Chicago, due to those cities having large Italian populations. In 1897, Gennaro Lombardi opened a small grocery store in New York’s Little Italy. Their pizza became so popular, Lombardi opened the first US pizzeria in 1905, naming it simply Lombardi's. It’s celebrating its centennial this year and a short review can be had from Vinography who refers us from there to Slice, an entire blog dedicated to eating pizza. Slice also has a review of the famous Pepe's in New Haven (opened in 1925) where customers waiting to be seated form lines down the block (I ate there with some local friends and the trick was apparently to go to the smaller dining room further back in the lot). One of my personal favorite treats are the pizza rolls at Sergi's in Canton, NY.

Sources: wikipedia.org, pizzamaking.com, vinography.com, sliceny.com

This week I attempted my first home-made pizza, and I felt compelled to do something just a little different, which would come as no surprise to those who know me well. Ergo, pizza bianca instead of the old standby with red sauce and pepperoni. And it would have gone fine, too, except for the mutant crust of doom -- I obviously need some more practice with that.

Pizza Bianca with Prosciutto, Arugula, and Parmesan
adapted from Bon Appetit, March 2003

1 batch pizza dough
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
16 thin slices prosciutto (about 6 ounces)
2 cups (packed) arugula leaves
2 cups fresh Parmesan shavings (about 4 ounces)

Made a single pie on a pizza stone. Prepare pizza dough and press out on stone. Drizzle dough with 2 tablespoons olive oil. Top each with prosciutto, arugula, and Parmesan. Bake until crust is brown, about 8 minutes. Using pizza peel, remove pizza from oven (leaving the stone to cool) and slice as desired. Transfer pizza crusts to plates. Drizzle each with 1/2 tablespoon olive oil and serve immediately.

Notes: Well, it came out pretty tasty, despite the aforementioned difficulty with the dough. Getting it to cooperate is not as easy as it looks, and if you've ever actually watched someone make a pizza, it doesn't look that easy. Getting the right elasticity to the dough is the trick apparently, and one I've yet to learn properly. More experimentation required.

Chicken with Spicy Sauce

Chicken with Spicy Tomato Sauce
based on a recipe from Bon Appetit

1/4 cup orange juice
1/4 cup canned low-salt chicken broth
1 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP fresh lime juice
2 TBSP garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 TBSP dark brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves

Puree first 8 ingredients in blender.

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Sprinkle chicken with salt and pepper. Add chicken to skillet; saute until brown, about 2 minutes per side. Add sauce from blender. Reduce heat to medium. Simmer covered until chicken is cooked through, turning chicken over once, about 10 minutes. Uncover, and continue to simmer sauce until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes longer. Season sauce with salt and pepper.

Notes: The sauce was a bit thinner than I anticipated and in typing this up I realized why -- the original recipe called for a can of stewed tomatoes and I suddenly realized that I was going to use pureed but never ended up adding it at all. I guess that means I'll have to make it again and see how that changes things. In retrospect, I don't mind. This was very tasty, and I'd be perfectly happy also making it exactly this way again. Ah, happy accidents. Served with Campus Oaks Old Vine Zinfandel 2001.

9/10/2006: I made this again recently and this time added the tomatoes which gave the sauce a thicker consistency. I also have a new picture:

Pecan Southern Chicken

Pecan Crusted Southern Fried Chicken

1/4 pound pecans, ground
1 cup flour
1 TBSP + 1 tsp paprika
1 TBSP garlic powder
1/2 TBSP black pepper
1/2 TBSP cayenne pepper
1/2 TBSP dried leaf oregano
1/2 TBSP dried thyme

2 halves boneless chicken breasts
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs, beaten
2 TBSP milk

Heat vegetable oil, over medium heat, in a large skillet. Combine the pecans with the flour and spices. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Whisk the eggs and milk together. Dredge the chicken pieces in the pecan-flour mixture, coating each piece completely. Dip the chicken in the egg wash, coating completely and letting the excess drip off. Dredge the chicken in the pecan flour, for a second time, coating the chicken completely. Lay the chicken in the oil. Fry the chicken for 7 minutes, covered. Turn the chicken over and continue to cook for 7 more minutes. Remove the chicken from the oil and drain on a paper-lined plate.

Notes: The tenderness of this was perfect. The crust meant the chicken was juicy and tasty. I thought the seasoning just a touch too mild though and will probably increase the garlic powder and cayenne next time.

Apple Cardamom Bread

Sour Cream Apple Cardamom Quick Bread

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup sour cream
1 1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup chopped walnuts
2 cups grated apples (I used Cortland)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour loaf pans and reserve.

In a mixer, cream together the butter, oil and sugars. Add the eggs, vanilla and sour cream. Sift together the cardamom, salt, baking powder, baking soda and flour. Mix into the creamed ingredients, a little at a time, until incorporated, taking care not to overmix. Stir in the walnuts and apple. Divide batter between the prepared pans.

Bake for approximately 60 to 65 minutes, or until a toothpick poked in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes, then remove to a rack and turn right-side-up to cool completely.

Makes two 9 by 5 inch loaves. (Or four smaller loaves if you own the same Nordicware pan that I have.)

Notes: This comes out very moist (the sour cream) and tastes rather more of cardamom than apples. I find it goes very well with a piece of quality cheddar on the side. A yummy way to continue to use up my supplies from the orchard.

Lamb Pitas

There's this great lunch stop in Toronto called Pita Break, and because there was no ACN this year, I won't be making my annual pilgrimage. Nevertheless, it's that time of year and apparently that mental yearning showed up this week. It's really too bad that I have no idea how to make crispy spicy baby octopus, though, because that's the other dish I'm really missing about now.

Photo Credit: Michael Curry

Lamb Burgers in Pita with Yogurt Sauce
adapted from a recipe in Bon Appetit (April 1995)

2 cups plain nonfat yogurt
1/4 medium red onion, grated
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1 pound ground lamb
2/3 cup fresh white breadcrumbs
1/4 medium red onion, grated
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
4 teaspoons minced garlic
1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cumin

1 TBSP olive oil
4 pita bread rounds, top 1/4 trimmed from each (tops reserved)
diced tomatoes
assorted greens

Mix first 4 ingredients together in medium bowl. Season yogurt sauce to taste with salt and pepper.

Mix lamb and next 7 ingredients in large bowl until well blended. Season generously with salt and pepper. Shape mixture into 8 evenly-sized patties. Heat 1 TBSP olive oil in skillet and pan-fry patties, about 4 minutes per side.

Open pita bread rounds; line bottoms with trimmed tops, if desired. Place greens, tomatoes, burger, then large spoonful of yogurt sauce in each round. Serve, passing sauce separately.

Notes: The lamb burgers could still use a bit more spice, I think, so I plan on bumping the cinnamon and cumin up to a full teaspoon the next time I make this. Also, I'd intended to add some feta cheese as one of the fillings and completely forgot to do so. Evenso, very yummy, if not quite as versatile as the choices at Pita Break.

Spinach Lasagne Rolls

Those who know me well and have heard tales of my personal foodie history will no doubt be shocked to learn that I made lasagne this week. Naturally, I couldn't use the traditional method. That would've just been going too far.

Spinach Lasagne Rolls
adapted from Bon Appetit (March 1990)

1 tablespoon olive oil
10-ounces fresh spinach
1 15-ounce container ricotta cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan
1 1/4 cups grated mozzarella
1 egg, beaten to blend
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
Salt and pepper
3 cups prepared spaghetti sauce
8 lasagne noodles, freshly cooked

Preheat oven to 350 F. Heat oil in heavy medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add spinach and saute until tender. Cool. Combine spinach, ricotta, Parmesan, mozzarella, egg, parsley, and garlic in large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Spread 1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce over bottom of 8-inch square baking dish. Pat 1 lasagne noodle dry with paper towel. Set on waxed paper sheet. Spread about 1/3 cup ricotta mixture over noodle. Carefully roll up noodle, starting at 1 short end, to enclose filling. Arrange seam side down in prepared dish. Repeat with remaining noodles. Top with remaining 1 1/2 cups sauce. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover tightly and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature before continuing.) Bake 35 minutes, sprinkle with additional fresh grated Parmesan cheese, and bake 10 minutes more. Serve immediately.

Notes: Despite a few mishaps due to my lasagne-phobia, this came out pretty darn tasty. For example, I used fresh mozzarella and ended up just chopping it up into the mixture. I might even keep this recipe that way. And the leftovers that I had a couple days later worked out well too. I did use spaghetti sauce from a jar - Prego roasted garlic and herb - I really must develop my own sauce some day in the not-too-distant future....

Quick Chicken Cacciatore

Quick Chicken Cacciatore

1 boneless chicken breast, halved
2 TBSP olive oil
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup vermouth (or white wine)
14 oz. can diced tomatoes
handful chopped parsley

Brown chicken in 1 TBSP oil. Remove from pan and season with salt and pepper.

Add remaining oil to pan. Put in pepper flakes and garlic. Saute 2 minutes. Add wine and scrape up chicken bits. Stir in tomato and parsley. Cut the chicken into chunks and add to sauce. Simmer 10 minutes or until thickened.

Serve over noodles (used farfalle) with freshly grated parmesan cheese.

Notes: This had a bit more kick than I expected, but it worked out fine, though the sauce was a bit on the thin side.

Spiced Apple Marmalade

Autumnal signs were everywhere: the air turned cool and crisp, roadside stands have begun to sport pumpkins and squash, and it was time to have the furnace cleaned. As always, I am tempted by childhood memories to go to the apple orchard nearby and wander through the trees, occasionally picking fruit until I've had my fill of the sun and scent.

Photo Credit: Michael Curry

Last year my experiment thereafter was to try a couple of new quickbreads, including Fresh Apple Bread. I must have been feeling more brave, or more crazy, or perhaps even more bitten by nostalgia because I wanted to try and make a jam or jelly of some sort. I've never attempted it without parental guidance. But I thought I'd give it a whirl. It sure smelled wonderful while it was cooking, but I'm still awaiting the verdict from my chief taster on flavor and consistency.

Spiced Apple Marmalade
recipe from thatsmyhome.com

One 2-inch cinnamon stick
1/2 tsp cloves
6 cardamom pods, cracked
1 fresh lemon, unpeeled, quartered, seeds removed, thinly sliced
6 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely chopped (6 cups)
2 cups water
1/4 cup orange juice
5 cups sugar

Combine spices in a cheesecloth bag. In an 8- to 10-quart kettle, combine spices, lemon slices, apples, water and orange juice. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until apples are tender, about 10 minutes.

Remove spice bag. Add sugar. Boil for 15 minutes, until the mixture is thick and clear, or until it sheets when poured from a metal spoon.

Remove from heat and skim off foam. Pour at once into hot, sterile jars. Wipe jar rims clean and seal.

Makes 3 pints.

Notes: I used Jona Gold apples for this one. Had a very hard time following the directions in my canning and preserves book to figure out what they meant by sheeting. I think I might be game to take another shot at trying something else along these lines, though. So many of the recipes sound appealing.

Guest of the Cook

Every once in a while I get to go to a fellow-foodie home and receive the fine gift of being cooked for and indulged in high-class fashion. On this occasion I was treated to Lamb Ragu with Lamb Risotto, and it was very fine indeed. I grumbled a teensy bit about the stock from cube (gentle ribbing, really) but the home-made oil used in the recipe more than made up for it. Unfortunately, I didn't take notes on either the white wine that went into the recipe (which was also taste-tested) or the red we drank with the meal. In any case, bravo -- all hail the cook.

Lemon Pound Cake

Lemon Pound Cake (from Better Homes and Garden New Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups butter (3 sticks)
6 eggs
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp lemon peel
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat oven to 325 degrees.

Beat butter 30 seconds with electric mixer. Gradually add sugar. Add vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time. Add dry ingredients gradually.

Flour pan and spread batter evenly. Cook for 65 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Lemon Glaze (from the Pillsbury Cookbook)

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice

Remove cake from oven. Blend glaze ingredients. Spoon 1/2 glaze over hot cake in pan. Cool 10 minutes and invert onto server. Cover with remaining glaze.

Notes: I've done this particular combination in a number of shapes but never recorded the recipe before. This time around I used a brand new cake pan and was quite amazed at how well the cake released considering all the nooks in the pan itself. But even with brave (and pretty) Valentin defending, the cake was thoroughly devoured by the ravenous ATD group.

Pecan Cornbread Dressing

In chorus: "Stuffing is Evil!" But luckily this ends up being a very tasty dressing and there is no making of pockets in pork chops or stuffing involved.

Pork Chops with Pecan Cornbread Dressing and Cider Gravy
adapted from Gourmet (November, 2002)

2 1/4 cups coarsely crumbled (1/2-inch pieces) corn bread
1/2 celery rib, coarsely chopped
2 shallots, coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 oz. fresh shiitakes, stems discarded and caps coarsely chopped
1 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped and toasted
3/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1 1/2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 center cut boneless pork chops
1/3 cup unfiltered apple cider
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water

Preheat oven to 325 F.

Lightly toast corn bread in a shallow baking pan in middle of oven until dry and pale golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

Increase oven temperature to 375 F.

Saute celery and shallots in butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, about 5 minutes. Stir in shiitakes and saute, stirring, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Add 1/2 cup broth and deglaze skillet by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits. Add corn bread, pecans, sage, parsley, and pepper and toss well, then transfer to a buttered 3-quart gratin dish or large baking pan.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in cleaned skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Pat dry pork chops and season with salt and pepper. Brown chops, turning once, about 6 minutes total, then arrange on corn bread. Reserve skillet.

Roast chops on corn bread in middle of oven until pork is just cooked through, 18 to 22 minutes. After pork has roasted 10 minutes, pour off fat from skillet and heat skillet over moderately high heat until hot. Add cider and deglaze skillet by boiling, stirring and scraping up brown bits, then add remaining broth. Stir cornstarch mixture and add to hot cider mixture. Bring sauce to a boil, whisking constantly, then boil, whisking, 1 minute and season with salt and pepper.

Serve chops and dressing with sauce on the side.

If you don't have day-old corn-bread, you can use the following recipe for a drier version that can be baked just ahead and used as soon as it cools enough to handle.

1/2 cup yellow cornmeal (not coarse)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 large egg
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Whisk together cornmeal, flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt in a bowl. Whisk together egg, milk, and oil in another bowl, then add to cornmeal mixture and stir until just combined.

Pour batter into a greased 8- or 9-inch square baking pan and bake in middle of oven until a tester comes out clean, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool 5 minutes in pan on a rack, then turn bread out onto rack to cool completely.

This makes enough for 4 1/2 cups of crumbled cornbread (ergo, I used only half for my version of the recipe above).

Notes: In my version, there's double the cornbread dressing per pork chop, and I was pretty happy with that since I really enjoyed the mix. I think I might make a separate batch to add to the Thanksgiving table this year. For reference the next time I make this one: may replace the gravy with a reduction sauce that tastes more strongly of the cider. Found that gravy a touch too mild. Also, this is a recipe that definitely needs time to prepare. Though the steps are individually simple, there are many and the mise en place is time-consuming. Very, very good though. Will make again sometime.

Served with Rock Rabbit 2003 Sauvignon Blanc, which we found surprisingly a bit too sweet.

Homefries with Duck Fat

Attempting ingenuity. I had about a tablespoon or so of duck fat left over from making Duck Breast with Orange, Ginger and Balsamic Sauce and a half a potato from the night before.

1 TBSP duck fat
1/2 russet potato, scrubbed and diced
freshly ground pepper, to taste

Copping instructions from One Potato, Two Potato's recipe for Potatoes Fried in Goose Fat: Melt the fat in a skillet over medium heat. When it starts to shimmer, add potatoes. Cook for a couple minutes and add pepper. Reduce to medium-low, cover, and cook for about 10 minutes (shaking pan a couple times during cooking). Remove cover, increase heat to high and cook another minute or two until crisp and brown.

Notes: Homefries are not my forte. My sister does pretty well with them, but mine never quite come out right. These, though, were lovely. Tender and warm on this inside, crisp on the outside and very tasty.

Duck Breast with Orange, Ginger, Balsamic Sauce

Duck Breasts with Orange, Ginger and Balsamic Sauce
adapted from recipe on http://www.globalgourmet.com/

2 boneless duck breast halves, about 1 pound
For the sauce:
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup chicken or veal stock
1 1/2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
2 TBSP unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 TBSP orange peel

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Heat an oven-safe skillet over high heat. Crosshatch skin of duck breasts. Add duck breasts, skin side down, to skillet. Cook until skin is well browned, about 4 minutes. Turn duck breasts over; cook 2 minutes. Move pan with duck into oven; cover and roast for 8 minutes (medium-rare). Remove duck from pan and cover to keep warm. Pour off fat from the pan and reserve for other use.

Return pan to stove-top over medium-high heat, and deglaze with orange juice and chicken stock. Reduce by one-half, about 15-20 minutes, uncovered. Add balsamic vinegar and ginger, cook 2-3 minutes then add butter, 1 tablespoon at a time while whisking constantly. After butter is completely integrated add pepper and orange peel. Turn off heat, cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

Notes: I was surprised to realize as I was typing this up that I completely forgot to cross-hatch the skin on the duck breasts before searing. Evenso, this came out quite delicious and the flavors were well-balanced (though the Duck with Orange Tea Sauce still reigns supreme). This was adapted from an existing recipe in which the duck was grilled rather than seared and roasted.

I also took this opportunity to thaw and reheat the Carrot, Honey, and Ginger Soup that was one of my entries for Is My Blog Burning #14. Spiced up with an extra dash of freshly ground black pepper as it was served, it turned out rather well. I think I can foretell more experiments with making and freezing soups this winter.

IMBB #17 - tasteTea

This month's host for Is My Blog Burning is A La Cuisine who has cited "tea as ingredient" for the theme. As those who know me can easily confirm, this was not something I was even remotely interested in resisting, regardless of my busy schedule. My morning cup of tea is a long-established ritual, which has only become more and more embellished over the years.

I'm not sure entirely who to blame for the beginnings of this habit, but there are certainly those who have encouraged it and continue to do so. I've had High Tea in London, New York, Boston, and (most recently) Toronto. That last was at the Windsor Arms Hotel Tea Room, and I rarely feel more self-indulged than when I dress to the nines and partake in such events. I'd like to do more of these in different cities. And also sometime a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Unfortunately, a recently planned outing to Harney's Tasting Room, had to be postponed, but I'll get it back on the calendar sometime this autumn, and in the meantime, a lovely gift of three tins arrived as compensation, including my current favorite, Golden Monkey.

An oft-requested recipe from this blog is actually a recipe using tea as an ingredient: Duck with Orange Tea Sauce. However, I wanted to do something different for this month's challenge. I looked at a few different recipes, including some desserts (truffles.... icecream.... I'll probably have to try those out later), but eventually settled on:

Jasmine Tea Risotto w/ Sweet Peas and Shrimp

1 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup freshly brewed jasmine green tea
1/2 cup white wine
1 shallot, chopped
1/2 tsp garlic, minced
2 TBSP butter
1/2 cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup sweet peas
1/4 pound shrimp (about 20 in size 71/90)
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano

Bring broth, tea, and wine to a low simmer.

In a separate pot slowly simmer the shallot and the garlic in the butter, until shallot is soft and translucent. Remove from the heat. Add shrimp and saute until firm. Remove the shrimp. Add the rice, and mix very well with the shallots coating the rice with the butter and juices.

After a minute or so start adding the broth a ladle full at a time, in order to allow the rice to absorb it. To make risotto creamy, continue to stir as it cooks.

When risotto is almost done (not crunchy) Add peas and mix in until peas are cooked NOT MUSHY. Add a handful of Parmigiano and mix well. Risotto should be soft enough to spread and cover the entire plate when served. Garnish with shrimp.

Notes: This came out very tasty. The tea, stock and wine mixture seemed odd when I began but really combined to give this a different and refreshing taste that contrasted well with the shrimp. I ended up steaming the peas ahead of time and adding them at the last minute to be sure that I maintained the right consistency for both the rice and the vegetables and that seemed to work out well, so I'd recommend that to those who are not certain of the timing of this one. Served with Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc.

Edited to add:
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part I
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part II
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part III
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part IV
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part V*
IMBB 17: TasteTea Roundup Part VI

*This is the one in which my entry appears.

Grilled Lamb with Garlic

Chuletas de Cordero Con Ajo y Perijil de Candida Acebo
AKA Candida's Grilled Lamb with Garlic and Parsley
from La Cocina de Mama

4 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
kosher or sea salt
2 TBSP extra virgin olive oil
2 TBSP dry red wine
8 loin lamb chops, about 2 pounds

In a mortar mash to a paste the garlic, parsley, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Stir in the oil and wine.

Brush the chops on both sides with oil and sprinkle with salt. Grill, preferably on a covered barbecue, and when almost done to taste, spoon the mortar mixture over the chops, give a brief turn, sprinkle with salt and serve.

Notes: As part of my determination to cook at least one dish from each of the myriad of cookbooks I've accumulated over the last couple of years, I tried this out. I made it in my trusty cast-iron grill pan, with two shoulder lamb chops as that's what I had standing by. It seemed to me that brushing on the wine mixture so close to the end would diffuse the effect, so I had it on both sides somewhat earlier in the game (and probably will need to be very careful in the future to monitor it so as to keep the parsley from burning). I was amazed at the keen taste of the meal, despite its simplicity. Definitely a keeper.

Tandoori-Spiced Chicken

Tandoori-Spiced Chicken
Gourmet (April 1999)

Tandoori chicken gets its name from the clay oven (heated by wood or coal) it is traditionally cooked in a tandoor which bakes meat, fish, poultry, and bread at temperatures upward of 500 F. In our version, the chicken is broiled and the signature yogurt and spice marinade contains only ingredients that are readily available on supermarket shelves.

For spice paste
1 large garlic clove
1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt
1 small fresh red or green chile such as serrano or cayenne
1/3 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated peeled fresh gingerroot
1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander seeds
3/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

4 skinless boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/4 pounds total)
1 small red onion
2 teaspoons vegetable oil

For yogurt sauce
1/2 cup low-fat plain yogurt
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
a pinch cayenne

Make spice paste:
Mince garlic with salt and mash to a paste. Wearing protective gloves, mince chile (including seeds for a spicier paste) and in a bowl stir together with garlic paste and remaining spice paste ingredients.

Make 3 diagonal cuts about 1/4 inch deep in each chicken breast and rub spice paste into cuts and all over chicken. Marinate chicken, covered, 30 minutes at cool room temperature.

Preheat broiler and line broiler pan with foil. Halve onion through root end and reserve 1 half for sauce. Thinly slice remaining onion half, separating layers, and in a small bowl soak onion slices in ice water to cover while broiling chicken.

Arrange chicken without crowding on rack of broiler pan. Brush chicken with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and broil about 3 inches from heat 8 minutes. Turn chicken over and brush with remaining teaspoon vegetable oil. Broil chicken until lightly browned and just cooked through, about 6 minutes more.

Make sauce while chicken is broiling:
Mince enough reserved onion to measure 1 tablespoon and in a small bowl stir together with all sauce ingredients.

Drain soaked onion and pat dry between paper towels. Top chicken with onion slices and serve with yogurt sauce. Each serving, including yogurt sauce, about 222 calories and 5 grams fat.

Notes: Tasty, but too many steps. Overly complicated. Would rather go back to Poached Chicken with Curried Yogurt Sauce. It still was worth trying, and the chicken was juicy. However, I'm not really convinced the iced onions added anything special either.

Served with Reynoso Vineyards 2001 Sauvignon Blanc

Leg of Lamb a la Julia Child

Leg of Lamb a la Julia Child

2 1/4 pound leg of lamb, butterflied

Marinade (from Julia Child, The Way to Cook):
2 large cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp salt
2 TBS dijon mustard
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp thyme
2 TBSP lemon juice
1/4 cup olive oil

Puree garlic into a small bowl and mash to a paste with the salt. Whisk in the mustard, soy, herbs (one may also use rosemary or oregano, or a mixture of all three), lemon juice. Add the oil slowly, still whisking, to make a mayonnaise-like cream.

In a dish large enough to accomodate the leg of lamb, coat with the marinade. Let sit at least 8 hours, overnight if possible.

Preheat oven to 325. Roast lamb in a roasting pan until the internal temperature reaches 140 degrees (approximately 45 minutes -- as determined from Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home, it should be about 24 minutes per pound). Let rest under foil tent for 15-20 minutes and serve.

Served with Campus Oaks Pinot Noir 2001 and herbed french loaf from my brand new bread machine!

Notes: I've never cooked leg of lamb before. Now that I've tried it, I can see there will be no turning back. Resist the urge to cook this more quickly and at a higher temperature as that will make the meat tougher. This was a lovely medium rare, pink and tender. Very tasty (I ended up having it in the marinade for a day and a half), and I kept eating until I was thinking I could eat no more. Luckily, there are leftovers that I will probably use in a version of Mediterranean tacos, so the deliciousness will continue.

IMBB #16 - Eggs

This month's Is My Blog Burning? is being hosted by Seattle Bon Vivant, who chose the theme.... eggs! Having long thought of them as a sort of comfort food (my mom always used to make the most perfect poached eggs over toast when I was ill), it seemed an appealing and familiar theme ingredient. But I wanted to do something a bit different. First, I looked at several different variations on deviled eggs, including one that used whipped goat cheese. Despite being a fan of eggs, I've never really appreciated this particular dish and so thought it might be an interesting experiment. However, I also realized that I had, somehow, never attempted a frittata. Ergo...

Smoked-Salmon and Cream Cheese Frittata

8 large eggs
1/2 cup whole milk
1/4 cup chopped fresh chives
2 TBSP basil
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons olive oil or vegetable oil
2 oz cold cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 oz thinly sliced smoked salmon, chopped

Whisk together eggs, milk, chives, basil, pepper, and salt in a bowl.

Preheat broiler.

Heat oil in a 12-inch ovenproof nonstick skillet (if handle is plastic, wrap it in a double layer of foil) over moderate heat until hot but not smoking. Pour egg mixture into skillet and scatter cream cheese pieces on top, then cook, lifting up cooked egg around edges using a spatula to let raw egg flow underneath, until frittata is set on bottom and egg is almost set but still moist on top, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Sprinkle salmon all over frittata, then press on salmon lightly and shake skillet to allow salmon to settle into top.

Broil frittata about 6 inches from heat until set, slightly puffed, and golden in patches, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes.

Cool 5 minutes, then loosen edge with spatula and slide onto a large plate. Cut into wedges and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes: Though this is approximately four servings (or more with additional dishes, such as muffins or mini-bagels on the side), I polished it off with only the help of one taster.

Edited to add: Seattle Bon Vivant's Round-Up of the Event (Part I, Part II)

Gorgonzola and Pear Risotto

Gorgonzola and Red Pear Risotto
based on a recipe from Bon Appetit (December 1997)

1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP butter
1 shallot, diced
1 cup arborio rice
4 cups (about) canned chicken broth
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage or 2 teaspoons dried rubbed sage
1/2 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
1 ripe unpeeled red-skinned pear, halved, cored, diced
2 ounces, shiitake mushrooms, sliced

Bring broth and white wine to simmer in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Reduce heat to low; keep mixture warm.

Heat oil and butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add shallot and rice and saute until translucent, about 2 minutes. Add 1 cup of broth/wine mixture to rice. Simmer, stirring often. Mix in sage. Cook until rice is tender but still firm to bite and risotto is creamy, adding remaining broth mixture 1/4 cupful at a time if risotto is dry. Mix in mushrooms, Gorgonzola and pear. Cook until cheese melts and pear is heated through, about 1 minute.

Notes: I didn't quite get the correct consistency on this one but it was very tasty and will be well worth trying again. With respect to the original recipe, I substituted chicken broth for the vegetable broth and bumped the amount of cheese up for more enriched taste. Also, the mushrooms added a nice texture contrast.

Moroccan Rub

Moroccan Rub

2 TBSP paprika
1 tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp coarsely ground black pepper
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground fenugreek
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp cayenne

For 1 1/2 pounds steak. Mix spice ingredients, except olive oil, in bowl. Using 3 TBSP of mixture, coat steak(s) well. Whisk olive oil with the rest of the rub and set aside. Cover steak(s) and refrigerate for one day. Heat the grill to medium-high and brush steaks with oil rub. Cook (five minutes per side for medium rare) and continue to baste with oil. Let rest 10 minutes under foil and serve.

Notes: This spice rub is from Marinades: the Secret of Great Grilling by Melanie Barnard. I used the same method here as in Spicy Steak Rub. A mild and complex taste, but it was agreed that the earlier recipe was the better of the two. Still, this was nice and easy cooking on a hot summer day. I might try the same mix with lamb burgers at some date in the future.

Turkey Chili

Turkey Chili
based on a recipe from foodnetwork.com

1 1/2 TBSP olive oil
1 pound ground turkey
1 1/2 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP grill seasoning (used McCormick's Mesquite)
1/2 TBSP cumin
1 TBSP Worcestershire sauce
1 TBSP hot sauce (used Dumb Ass)
1 large onion, diced
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/2 cup beer (used River Horse Summer Blonde Ale)
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1/4 cup barbecue sauce
2 cups frozen corn kernels (optional)

Heat a pot over medium to medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, and the turkey meat. Season the meat with: chili powder, grill seasoning, cumin, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Break up the meat with the back of a wooden spoon into small crumbles.

Brown meat 5 minutes, then add onions and chopped peppers and cook 10 minutes more. Add beer and deglaze the pan, scraping up the drippings and cooking off the alcohol. Add tomato sauce and barbecue sauce and bring to a bubble. If using corn kernels add them now. Let chili simmer 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings and heat level to your taste. Remove from heat and serve with tortilla chips.

Notes: This was pretty darn spicy. It ended up setting up a steady burn that lasted many minutes after my serving had been consumed. So far I've had one other taster; they claimed it was too hot. I'm waiting on another opinion as I saved a couple servings worth in the freezer for a later date.

Ginger Lime Shrimp Stirfry

Ginger Lime Shrimp

Asian Ginger Lime Marinade
(adapted from Marinades: the Secret of Great Grilling by Melanie Barnard)

3 TBSP lime juice
1 1/2 TBSP fish sauce
1 1/2 TBSP hoisin sauce
1 1/2 TBSP samba oelek
1 1/2 TBSP grated fresh ginger

In a small bowl combine the above ingredients. Place 1 pound medium shrimp in a single layer in a shallow glass dish. Add marinade, turning or stirring to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Stirfy in a little vegetable oil with carrot strips and snow peas. Serve over rice.

3 servings.

Notes: This was simple and quick. Fairly tasty though not fancy.

Spicy Steak Rub

Spicy Steak Rub

1 1/2 pounds steak

2 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp coarse salt
1 TBSP chili powder
1 TBSP black pepper
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 tsp ground cloves
3 cloves garlic, minced
3 TBSP olive oil

Mix spice ingredients, except olive oil, in bowl. Using 3 TBSP of mixture, coat steak(s) well. Whisk olive oil with the rest of the rub and set aside. Cover steak(s) and refrigerate for one day. Heat the grill to medium-high and brush steaks with oil rub. Cook (five minutes per side for medium rare) and continue to baste with oil. Let rest 10 minutes under foil and serve.

Notes: This was actually my Memorial Day recipe but things have been very busy of late and I haven't had time to update the blog. In any case, I had in mind that I wanted to do some sort of Mexican-influenced spice rub for steak, but wasn't turning up what I was after exactly. I turned to Nick at The Original Hot Sauce Blog and Joe and Linda of The Hot Zone Online for advice, hoping their interest in all things spicy would be of assistance. I got some good suggestions, and eventually settled on the recipe above. And it turned out marvelous, if I do say so myself.

Spiced Pork Chops & Peaches

Spiced Pork Chops & Peaches
from Eating Well (Summer 2003)

An exquisite spice blend of cardamom and curry dresses up pork chops and spotlights fresh peaches in this easy family supper.

2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup orange juice
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/2 teaspoon mild curry powder
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
Four 4- to 5-ounce boneless loin pork chops (1/2 inch thick), trimmed of fat
2 teaspoons olive oil
3 cups thickly sliced peeled peaches (3 medium peaches)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro for garnish (optional)

In a small bowl, stir brown sugar, 2 tablespoons orange juice, soy sauce, cardamom, curry powder and pepper until the sugar dissolves. Lay pork chops in a 7-by-11-inch (or similar) shallow glass dish. Pour the spice mixture over the chops and turn to coat both sides. Let marinate for 10 to 15 minutes or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Shake excess marinade off the chops and place them in the skillet (reserve marinade). Cook until the chops are browned, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes per side. Meanwhile, add peaches to the reserved marinade and stir to coat.

Add the remaining 1/3 cup orange juice to the skillet and bring to a simmer, stirring. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, turning chops occasionally, until the chops are just cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the pork chops to a plate and set aside, covered loosely with foil.

Add the marinade and peaches to the skillet; increase heat to medium-high and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the liquid is reduced to a light sauce, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in any juices that have accumulated from the pork chops. To serve, spoon sauce and peach slices over the chops. Sprinkle with cilantro, if desired.

Notes: The cardamom was decidedly more pronounced in this than I anticipated, but in a good way. Also - my pork chops from the local butcher were thicker, so I used just three and also let them simmer a few minutes longer. Plus, I didn't have mild curry powder on hand, having ordered the hotter version from Penzey's - so I used a generous 1/4 tsp. Personally, I liked the extra kick it gave and think it contrasted nicely with the citrus from the orange juice and the peaches (which got nice and soft and sort of roasty). A definite keeper and great for pre-summery weather.

Cardamom-Crusted Pork

Cardamom Recipe #3

Cardamom Crusted Pork with Mushroom Sauce
adapted from Bon Appetit (November 2001)

3/4 cup chopped shallots
2 1/2 TBSP olive oil
1 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
1/2 tsp minced garlic
2 boneless pork chops (about 1 pound)
1/2 lb. baby bella mushrooms, quartered
1 cup chicken broth
1/4 cup whipping cream
1/2 TBSP flour
1/2 TBSP butter
parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Puree 1/4 cup shallots, 1 TBSP oil, 1 tsp cardamom and garlic in processor. Spread 1/4 cup of shallots in center of roasting pan; top with pork. Sprinkle pork generously with freshly ground black pepper; coat with puree mixture. Toss mushrooms, remaining shallots and 1 1/2 TBSP oil in bowl; sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper; arrange around pork.

Roast pork 15 minutes. Spoon mushrooms into large saucepan. Add 2/3 cup broth to roasting pan. Roast pork until cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to platter and tent to keep warm.

Scrape juices from roasting pan into saucepan. Add cream, remaining 1/3 cup broth, and 1/8 tsp cardamom to pan; bring to a boil. Blend flour and butter in a small cup; mix into mushroom sauce. Cook sauce, stirring often, until reduced enough to coat spoon, about 5 minutes. Serve with pork, sprinkling whole dish with parsley.

Serves 2.

Notes: The original recipe calls for onions and is made with a pork rib roast. Since I was going for a smaller version and suspected that onions wouldn't have enough time to cook through and might give the dish a more bitter taste, I switched to the shallots. Overall, an interesting dish with a lot of texture, but some conflicting flavors. To be honest, I ended up liking the mushrooms and sauce more than the pork with its topping.

Served with Solaris 2003 Pinot Noir.

Thai Shrimp Curry

Notes: Having been warned that focusing on one spice per month was a bit over-zealous on the tastebuds, this was attempted between stops on the cardamom trail. I think, perhaps, I was somewhat generous with the shrimp, a 1/2 pound would likely have been better. Served over rice. Tasty and spicy -- if you don't like heat, I'd take the thai green curry paste back to 1/2 TBSP.

Thai Shrimp Curry
adapted from Bon Appetite (February 2004)

1/2 TBSP vegetable oil
1 TBSP garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 TBSP thai green curry paste
7 oz. coconut milk
1/2 cup chicken broth
1 TBSP fish sauce
1 tsp sugar
1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes
3 oz snow peas
3/4 pound cooked shrimp
1 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliceed

Heat oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic; stir-fry until soft and beginning to brown, about 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium. Add green onions and curry paste; stir until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add coconut milk, chicken broth, fish sauce, and sugar; bring to boil. Add tomatoes and snow peas, and boil 2 minutes. Add shrimp and mushrooms, and cook just until shrimp is opaque in center, stirring often, about 3 minutes.

2 servings

Cardamom and Black Pepper Chicken

Cardamom Recipe #2

There are many versions of this recipe floating around London's Indian restaurants, and it was probably created by a British-Indian chef. It is a quick and really delicious dish, perfectly geared to restaurant cooking since boneless chicken breasts are convenient to buy and prepare. The marination can be done ahead of time and individual orders take just minutes to cook.

Cardamom and Black Pepper Chicken
from from curries to kebabs

For marinating the chicken:
6 TBSP finely chopped onion
2-inch piece of fresh ginger
2 large cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 pound boned and skinned chicken breasts, cut crosswise into 1/8-inch thick slices

For cooking the chicken:
3 TBSP corn, peanut, or olive oil
1 medium stick of cinnamon
8 whole cardamom pods
1 cup onion, sliced into fine half rings
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
4 TBSP plain yogurt
5 TBSP grated tomato
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garam masala
2 to 3 tsp lemon juice

To make the marinade: Put the onion, ginger, garlic, salt, cayenne pepper, black pepper and 3 TBSP water into a blender. Blend to a smooth paste, pushing down with rubber spatula when needed.

To marinate the chicken: Put the sliced chicken in a bowl. Add the marinade and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes or up to 3 hours.

To make the dish: Pour the oil into a wide, nonstick pan set over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the cinnamon and cardamom. Stir for 10 seconds. Put in the onion and fry, stirring at the same time, for 6 to 7 minutes, or until the onion turns a reddish-brown color. Add the cumin and coriander. Stir once. Add the yogurt, 1 TBSP at a time, and stir until it is absorbed. Add the tomato and stir for 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium, add the chicken, together with its marinade, and cook, stirring, for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the chicken pieces turn white. Add 3/4 cup water, the salt, and garam masala. Stir and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and cook, uncovered for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring now and then.

Serves 4.

Notes: I keep ginger in a jar in the fridge for ease of use, and used about 1 1/2 TBSP in this recipe, and might kick it up to 2 TBSP next time around. I ordered both black and green cardamom pods from Penzey's for this month's expeirments. I've never cooked with whole pods before. For this recipe, I used the green ones, even though the book didn't specify, as they are more common. I had the chicken in the marinade for the full three hours.

Mise en place is very important for this recipe as the ingredients are at first added in such quick succession. I also learned (after a quick online search) that grated tomato means exactly what it says - using the coarsest side of a box grater, which leaves just the pulp in your hand, but watch out for your fingertips. I served it over cous-cous, and the juices soaked down through. Very tasty. Though the book claims this serves 4, two of us shared this and had very little in the way of leftovers.

Grilled Cardamom-Cumin Lamb Chops

On the weekend of April 30th-May 1st, was visiting tryslora's place for my first game of Dogs in the Vineyard (details over on Flaming Monkey). Saturday night, for dinner, we had a version of Cardamom-Cumin Lamb Chops that we grilled rather than sauteed. Naturally, it had a smokier taste, but the spices still came through. Served with a mix of carrots and french-cut green beans and sliced french bread. And thus, unofficially, cardamom month was begun.


Cardamom Recipe #1

Carrot, Honey, and Ginger Soup

Carrot, Honey and Ginger Soup
from Hors D'Oeuvres by Erick Treuille & Victoria Blashford-Snell

(ingredients for 1/2 batch)
1 TBSP butter
3 cups carrots, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
1 1/2 celery sticks, chopped
1/2 garlic clove, chopped
2 in piece fresh ginger, chopped
2 cups chicken stock
1/2 TBSP honey
2 TBSP heavy cream
chopped chives for garnish

Melt butter in pan over low heat. Add carrots, onions, celery, garlic, and ginger with a pinch of salt. Continue cooking covered, until very soft, about 20 minutes. Add stock and increase heat to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until carrots cooked through, 15 minutes. Cool slightly, then place in blender; pulse to a smooth puree. Place a fine-mesh strainer over the rinsed-out pan and press the puree through. Discard remainder left behind. Add 2 TBSP water to the puree at a time to adjust the soup's thickness to the consistency of light cream. Heat soup through over medium heat. Add honey, cream, salt and pepper to taste. Serve hot. Sprinkle with chives to garnish.

Notes: The book this comes from calls for it to be served in demi-tasse cups (the ingredients above would make about 10 servings in that amount) and have a light cream consistency. I opted for something a little more substantive as I was serving it as a first course. Also, since ginger can come in various sizes, I had estimated a generous tablespoon to be an appropriate amount, but in retrospect should have increased it by at least half as much again. Still, it had a lovely texture and a refreshing taste (which was oddly not very carrot-y in the end).

Sauteed Pheasant with Orange Gravy

Sauteed Pheasant with Orange Gravy
a Jennifer original

2 leg/thigh pieces pheasant (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1/8 tsp pepper
1 TBSP cooking oil
1 TBSP butter
1/2 shallot, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup orange juice
2 TBSP brown sugar, firmly packed
2 TBSP granulated sugar
2 TBSP orange peel
1 1/2 TBSP vermouth
1/4 cup water mixed with 1 tsp corn starch

Season pheasant with pepper. In a skillet over medium heat, melt oil and butter. Saute shallot until soft - about 2 minutes. Add pheasant for browning, about 3 minutes per side. Add chicken broth, cover, and simmer about 20 minutes, turning pheasant at the halfway point. Remove pheasant and keep warm. Add orange juice, brown sugar, sugar, orange peel, vermouth. Increase heat and reduce mixture in pan by about 1/2 the volume. Add water/corn starch mixture and stir to thicken.

Notes: Yum. Fresh Penzey's orange peel made this a very bright sauce. I was very pleased with how this came out and will certainly make it again at some point.

Cantaloupe Sorbet

A fresh, sweet melon is the only kind of melon that transforms into a fine sorbet...

Cantaloupe Sorbet
from The Ultimate Ice Cream Book

1 small ripe cantaloupe
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup superfine sugar
1/2 tsp salt

Remove the rind and seeds from the melon. Cut the flesh into 1/2-inch cubes. You should have about 2 heaping cups of fruit. Place the cut-up melon in a blender with the orange-juice, sugar, and salt. Blend until the melon is pureed and the sugar has dissolved, about 30 seconds. Cover and refrigerate until cold.

Stir the chilled mixture and then freeze in your ice cream machine according to the manufacturer's instructions. When finished, the sorbet will be soft but ready to eat. For firmer sorbet, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze at least 2 hours.

Notes: At the recommendation of several other recipes, I also added a 1/2 tsp of lime to the mix. I have another recipe with the method which involves making and cooling syrup instead of just blending ingredients and I'd like to give that a try sometime in the future. This had a crisp taste which was quite a lovely way to clear the palate at the end of a food-filled evening.

Chicken w/ Mango, Ginger, Cilantro

Broiled Chicken with Mango, Ginger and Cilantro
from Bon Appetit (February 1996)

Recipes with Cilantro #4

2 boneless chicken breast halves with skin
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 tablespoon minced peeled fresh ginger
2 large garlic cloves, minced
3/4 cup chopped peeled mango
1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
1 tsp white wine vinegar
1 tsp lime juice

Preheat broiler. Lightly oil broiler pan. Using mallet or rolling pin, pound chicken lightly between sheets of waxed paper to even 1/2-inch thickness. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place chicken, skin side up, on prepared pan. Broil until skin is golden brown, about 4 minutes. Turn chicken over and broil until cooked through but still juicy, about 3 minutes longer.

Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons oil in heavy small skillet over medium heat. Add ginger and garlic; saute 2 minutes. Add mango; saute until heated through and beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Mix in cilantro and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper.

Place chicken on plates. Top with warm mango mixture and serve.

Notes: Paired with Tohu Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2003. If compared to the original recipe in the magazine, one will find that I decreased the white wine vinegar above and added the lime juice. I don't think I got my chicken pounded quite thin enough as it took an extra 4 minutes to cook through. But, in the end, it came out juicy and I found the sauce had a nice mix of flavors.

Grilled Steak with Spicy Cilantro Sauce

Grilled Steak with Spicy Cilantro Sauce
based on a recipe from Gourmet (June, 2001)

Recipes with Cilantro #3

Marinade:
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 TBSP medium-dry Sherry
1 1/2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP minced garlic
1/2 TBSP Asian sesame oil
1/2 tsp dried hot red pepper flakes

Sauce:
6 TBSP chopped fresh cilantro
2 1/2 TBSP vegetable oil
1/2 TBSP lime juice
1 1/2 TBSP soy sauce
1 tsp minced garlic
1/4 tsp sesame oil
1/2 tsp chili oil

3 blade steaks, about 1/2 pound each

Stir together ingredients for marinade in a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking dish until sugar is dissolved, then add steaks, turning to coat. Marinate steaks, turning once, at least 1 hour (preferably longer).

Prepare grill for cooking. When fire is medium-hot, grill steaks on a lightly oiled rack 3 to 4 minutes on each side for medium-rare. Let steaks stand on a cutting board 5 minutes.

While steak is resting, process ingredients for sauce in blender or small food processor. Top steaks with sauce. Serve remaining sauce on the side.

Notes: This came out really well. I only ended up marinating the steaks about 3 hours, and would have been happier if I'd had longer. Regardless, well-seasoned. The sauce was such a hit that the rice served alongside became a conveyance device for eating more of it. Based on the taste, I think the sauce would also do well with chicken, and perhaps tuna.

Cornmeal and Cilantro Crusted Pork Chops

Cornmeal and Cilantro Crusted Pork Chops
work-in-progress

Recipes with Cilantro #2

2 boneless pork chops
1 cup buttermilk (or 1 cup milk w/ 1 TBSP lemon juice)
3 TBSP fresh cilantro
1/2 cup cornmeal
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan

Soak pork chops in buttermilk for 30 minutes. Wash and dry cilantro. Place on clean paper towel and microwave on high for 30 seconds (a trick I saw in a recent issue of Cook's Illustrated and decided to try out). Crumble into shallow bowl. Add cornmeal and parmesan; mix thoroughly. Remove chops from buttermilk and roll in cornmeal mixture.

Heat approximately 1 inch of oil in skillet over medium heat. Fry pork chops (covered) - about 7 minutes per side. Rest for 5 minutes on paper towel prior to plating and serving.

Notes: I set with a country-fried pork chop recipe in mind, and found several. However, since I am tentatively attempting to use cilantro as this month's cooking theme, I started hunting around for a more spicy alternative. Since I didn't find anything, I concocted this. I was pleased with the texture of the dish - crunchy coating and moist, tender meat. However, the taste wasn't quite what I'd been going for. I think the cilantro might need something else to contrast and balance it -- I had thought the cheese might serve in that capacity but it barely came through at all. Overall, I wouldn't be ashamed to serve it to guests but personally I think it needs further development. Oh, and I didn't love the microwave method for the herbs this time around, though I may give it another shot at some point in the future.

Shrimp with Ginger-Herb Butter

Recipes with Cilantro #1

Shrimp with Ginger-Herb Butter
Bon Appetit (October 2003)

6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter, room temperature
1/4 cup (packed) chopped fresh cilantro
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons minced peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons oriental sesame oil
24 uncooked large shrimp, peeled, deveined
Lime wedges

Preheat broiler. Mix first 6 ingredients in small bowl until well blended; season to taste with salt and pepper. Brush 13x9x2-inch metal pan with some of seasoned butter. Arrange shrimp in single layer in prepared pan; sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper. Spread all of butter mixture over shrimp, dividing equally. Broil shrimp just until opaque in center, about 2 minutes. Transfer shrimp to plates. Spoon butter from pan over shrimp. Serve with lime wedges.

Makes 8 appetizer or 4 main-course servings.

Notes: I decreased the amount of butter to 4 TBSP. Also, the shrimp I had on hand were size 71/90 (for ease of repeating the recipe it ended up being a generous 1/2 pound). In retrospect, this is much more suitable to an appetizer or first course, possibly a meze menu. It needed something more substantitive than just crusty bread to accompany it. Perhaps a salad or soup prior to serving it as a main dish. Regardless, a very tasty dish with a hint of cilantro coming out in the mix of flavors and a bright taste that went well with the Villa del Borgo Forchir, Pinot Grigio, Friuli, 2002.

Spinach and Orzo Salad

Spinach and Orzo Salad

1 (16 ounce) package uncooked orzo pasta
1 (10 ounce) package baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
1/2 pound crumbled feta cheese
1/2 red onion, finely chopped
3/4 cup pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain and rinse with cold water. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in spinach, feta, onion, pine nuts, basil and white pepper. Toss with olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Refrigerate and serve cold.

Notes: This year I experimented with packing a dinner to eat en route to ACUS. I had a cooler that plugs into the car (with an extension for use with regular outlets). Our menu consisted of the recipe above, along with homemade bruschetta on garlic toast crackers, and smoked salmon. The salad worked out pretty well, though I discovered I had made far too much (even at just a half batch; a full is probably 8 healthy servings I'd guess) and more had to be eaten (and shared) upon arriving at the convention. A nice dish, though, and simple to make. Very pleasantly blended flavors and not at all your average pasta salad. It lasts about 3-4 days before the vinegar starts to turn it south. I expect it would be great for picnics.

For a lighter version, I've seen it recommended that one use low-fat feta and reduce the amount of pine nuts to to 6 TBSP (and toast them for more flavor).

Salmon w/ Pecan Herb Crust

Made a version of Salmon with Almond Herb Crust. Replaced the almonds with pecans. And the basil with tarragon. Ended up needing to cook it 20 minutes at 325 degrees, and 10 more minutes at 375 degrees. An interesting alternate, but not as good as the almond version. Served with Monterey County 2003 Pinot Noir by Castle Rock.

Cornmeal and Cumin Coated Pork Loin

Cornmeal and Cumin Coated Pork Loan
from Gourmet (March, 2000)

1 1/4 lb boneless pork loin, trimmed
1 tsp kosher salt
2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon cumin seeds, toasted and coarsely ground
3/4 tsp ground cayenne
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Pat pork dry and season with salt. Stir together cornmeal and cumin and transfer to a plate. Turn pork in cornmeal mixture to coat well and discard any remaining mixture.

Heat oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet until hot but not smoking and brown pork, turning, about 3 minutes. Transfer pork to a shallow baking pan and roast in middle of oven until a thermometer inserted diagonally at least 2 inches into pork registers 155 F, 30 to 45 minutes. Let stand, loosely covered, 10 minutes. Cut pork into 12 slices (about 1/4 inch thick).

Notes: I rubbed the pork loin with just a bit of coarse salt (the original recipe calls for seasoning with salt and pepper). The cayenne above is my own addition to the recipe, and gave it a nice little zing. Simple to prepare (and I got to use my mortar and pestle on the cumin seeds - fun!). Tender and just a teensy bit pink in the middle; very tasty.

Ginger Beef

Ginger Beef
via Rogi's Giant Iron Wok

1 lb. lean beef, cut in thin strips across the grain
2 1/2 TBSP cornstarch
1 1/2 TBSP sugar
1 TBSP sherry
1/4 cup soy sauce
6 mushrooms thinly sliced
1 8 oz. can sliced bamboo shoots, drained
1 chunk ginger, size of a walnut, minced
2 garlic cloves minced
2 stalks green onion, cut in 1 inch pieces
3 TBSP oil
3/4 cup beef stock

Marinate the beef in 1 TBSP cornstarch, 1 TBSP sugar, soy sauce, 1/3 of the ginger, and the sherry (or water) for 15 minutes. Place in small bowl 1/2 tsp cornstarch and 1/2 cup beef broth, set aside. Heat wok over high heat. Add 1 TBSP oil to wok after it is very hot. Stir fry mushrooms and green onions until barely tender, about 1 minute. Add bamboo shoots, stir fry 1 minute. Add 1/2 tsp sugar, and 1/4 cup beef broth. Stir fry 1 minute. Remove from wok. Add 2 TBSP oil to wok and heat. Stir fry the ginger, garlic and beef 1 minute, or until barely browned. Add sauce mixture and stir until thickened. Add mushrooms, bamboo shoots and green onions. Serve with rice.

Notes: I've been meaning to try something out from Rogi's site for a while. The dishes always look so interesting. But often they have an ingredient or two that isn't easy for me to come by. The directions on his site didn't list an amount for the soy sauce so I made my best guess and have edited that in above, and left out the salt elsewhere in the recipe to compensate. Also, for my mushrooms I used shiitake. I might've tried oyster as well, but they weren't available. I think it came out pretty well, though it was a very beige dish and I might at some point in the future want to find a way to give it more color. Still, very tasty and I'm glad I gave it a shot.

Orange-Soy Braised Pork Ribs

Orange-Soy Braised Pork Ribs
from Gourmet (January 2005)

A long, slow braise is the secret to tender meat that falls off the bone.

4 lb country-style pork ribs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

Special equipment: an 11- by 17-inch flameproof roasting pan

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 325 F.

Sprinkle ribs evenly with salt.

Bring orange juice, soy sauce, sugar, ginger, garlic, and pepper to a boil in roasting pan over moderately high heat, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Add ribs in 1 layer using tongs, turning to coat, and cover pan tightly with foil.

Braise ribs in oven until very tender, about 2 hours. (If making ahead, see cooks' note, below.)

Before serving:
Reduce oven temperature to 200 F.

Transfer ribs to a baking dish, arranging them in 1 layer, and keep warm in oven.

Skim fat from cooking liquid if desired, then make glaze by boiling liquid, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until syrupy and reduced to about 3/4 cup, about 15 minutes. Brush glaze generously on ribs.

Cooks' note:
Ribs can be braised 5 days ahead and cooled completely in cooking liquid, uncovered, then chilled, covering them once they are completely cold. To reheat, set roasting pan with ribs and cooking liquid over moderate heat, covered with foil. Simmer, covered, turning once, until they are heated through, about 15 minutes, then transfer ribs to a baking dish and keep warm. Make glaze as directed.

Notes: Easy to prepare, but very hard to clean up after (I was still scrubbing the stove-top off this morning). But quite well-received and tangy in a mild way not at all like traditional BBQ and very interesting. I'm debating adding just a touch of red pepper flakes to the recipe the next time for a bit of contrast. I recommend using a low-sodium soy sauce as otherwise I suspect the dish will come out too salty.

Spiced Biscotti

Spiced Biscotti
from Baking Illustrated

2 1/4 cups (11 1/4 ounces) unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp ground white (or black) pepper
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup (7 ounces) sugar
2 large eggs plus 2 large egg yolks
1/2 tsp vaniila extract

Adjust oven rack to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, spice and salt together in a medium bowl; set aside.

Whisk the sugar, eggs, and yolks in a large bowl to a light lemon color; stir in the vanilla extract. Sprinkle the dry ingredients over the egg mixture, then fold in until dough is just combined.

Halve the dough and turn each portion onto the prepared baking sheet. Using floured hands, quickly stretch each portion of dough into a rough 13 by 2-inch loaf. Place the loaves about 3 inches apart on the baking sheet; pat each one smooth. Bake untli the loaves are golden and just beginning to crack on top, about 35 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking time. Remove the baking sheet from oven and place it on a wire rack.

Cool the loaves for 10 minutes; lower the oven temperature to 325 degrees. Use a wide metal spatula to transfer the loaves to a cutting board. With a serrated knife, cut each loaf diagonally into 3/8-inch-thick-slices. Lay the slices about 1/2 inch apart on the baking sheet, cut-side up, and return them to the oven. Bake, turning over each cookie halfway through baking, until crisp and golden brown on both sides, about 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack and cool completely. Store in airtight container up to one month.

Makes about 50.

If you like, macerate 3/4 cup currants, chopped rasins, or dates in 1/4 cup brandy or Marsala for about 1 hour. Drain and fold into dough in step 2, adding a teaspoon or so of the macerating liquid.

Notes: Only my second attempt at baking biscotti. The first was Chocolate Chip Biscotti made about a year ago. This was quite different and a non-butter recipe, which according to the very informative article included in the cookbook, will also give it a longer shelf-life and a more enduring taste. But the additional yolks provide it with a rich taste that can compete with the butter-based style recipes. I took half a batch to ATD yesterday and they didn't last long, which I'll take as confirmation that the group agreed with my opinion that these were quite tasty.

Chicken in Tarragon Cream

Chicken in Tarragon Cream
from The Herbfarm Cookbook by Jerry Traunfeld

If you're an herb lover, this dish, which takes 10 minutes to prepare from start to finish, will become a standard in your repertoire.

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (about 1 1/2 pounds)
salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small shallot, finely chopped (about 3 TBSP)
1/4 cup dry vermouth or dry white wine
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 to 3 TBSP coarsely chopped fresh French tarragon
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook chicken about 1 minute each side until they begin to brown slightly. Transfer to plate.

Reduce the heat in the skillet to low. Add the shallot and cook, stirring continuously, until softened but not browned, less than 1 minute. Add the vermouth and cook 30 seconds, then add the cream and half the tarragon. Return chicken to pan and adjust heat so cream gently simmers. Cook until chicken is just cooked through (the cookbook says 4-6 minutes, mine took about 8).

Transfer the chicken to a warmed serving platter or individual dinner plates. The sauce should be thick enough to lightly coat a spoon. If it's too thin, continue to simmer for about 1 minute. Stir in remaining tarragon and lemon juice, season with salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over chicken and serve right away.

Serves 4.

Notes: It's actually been two to three weeks since I made this. I have quite a backlog of posting to do at this point. However, I know this cookbook has never let me down yet, and that still holds true. Though my memories of this dish are not as clear and vital as I'd like, I know it was good. Just perhaps not as remarkable as some others. Faint praise, perhaps. Mise en place is particularly germane in this case as the ingredients are added to the skillet in quick succession. Otherwise, the ease of making this recipe has much to recommend it as well.

Pear Stuffed Pork Chops

Pear Stuffed Pork Chops
a Jennifer original

2 boneless pork chops, about 1 inch thick

Stuffing:
1 TBSP olive oil
1 shallot
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup Anjou pear, diced
1 tsp rubbed sage
1/3 cup blue cheese
1/3 cup pecans

Heat olive oil in medium skillet over medium heat. Saute shallots and garlic for about 2 minutes (until soft). Add pears, sage, salt and pepper (to taste). Saute until pears are soft -- about 5 minutes. Remove to a separate dish to cool. Reserve skillet. Add blue cheese and pecans to stuffing and stir to combine.

Make pockets in pork chops and fill with stuffing, using toothpicks to secure the openings. Grill 2 boneless pork chops 6 minutes per side (these were done in a cast iron covered grill pan at medium heat). Tent with foil and let rest for 10 minutes. While waiting, make sauce.

Sauce:
2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
6 TBSP white wine
1 TBSP butter

Deglaze skillet with balsamic vinegar and white wine. Reduce liquid by half and thicken with TBSP of butter. Plate pork chops and spoon sauce over top. Serve immediately.

Serves 2.

Notes: This was inspired by the winning entry created by Paige Mahaney in the "Garden Meets Grill" cookoff, which was judged by, among others, Alton Brown. I hadn't quite the same access to ingredients and accoutrements, so my dish is decidedly different. However, it was agreed that it was the best adaption to a "Jennifer Original" yet witnessed by this kitchen. A definite keeper and one I don't know how to improve! Served with Monkey Bay 2004 Sauvignon Blanc.

BLT Smashed Potatoes

BLT Smashed Potatoes
by Rachel Ray, as cooked by Peter Wheeler

2 1/2 pounds small red skin new potatoes
1 leek, trimmed of tough tops
4 slices thick cut smoky bacon, chopped, such as applewood smoked bacon
1 cup chicken broth or stock
1 vine ripe tomato, seeded and chopped
Salt and pepper
1 cup sour cream, to pass at table

Cut larger potatoes in half, leave very small potatoes whole. Place potatoes in a pot and cover with water. Bring to a boil and cook potatoes 12 to 15 minutes until tender. Cut leek in half lengthwise. Chop into 1/2-inch pieces. Place leeks in big bowl of water and release all the dirt from them with a good swish, separating all the layers. Drain leeks in a colander. Put a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil into a hot nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Cook bacon 3 to 5 minutes until it begins to crisp and has rendered most of its fat. Add leeks to the skillet and cook 3 to 5 minutes more until the leeks are tender. Drain the potatoes and return them to the hot pot. Smash the potatoes with the chicken stock. Add the BLT: bacon, leeks and tomatoes to the potatoes and continue to smash. Season the potatoes with salt and pepper to your taste. Top potatoes with a dollop of sour cream.

Notes: These were made for me by a good friend and great cook. I had three helpings and would have kept going except that I thought my tummy might not appreciate such over-indulgence later. Excellent and I hope to make them myself soon.

Shrimp & Orzo

Jennifer Garner's Shrimp and Orzo

1 cup dry orzo
2 tsp olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/4 cup white wine
1 can (28 oz) whole, peeled tomatoes
2 TBSP chopped fresh parsley
1 TBSP capers
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp dried basil
1/4 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp dried red pepper flakes
1 lb medium shelled and deveined shrimp
1/2 cup feta

Cook orzo in boiling water according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until onion is translucent. Add wine and cook 1 minute. Toss in drained tomatoes (reserve 1/2 cup juice). Break tomatoes into chunks. Add reserved juice, parsley, capers, oregano, basil, black pepper, and red pepper. Simmer 5 minutes. Add shrimp and cook 2 minutes or until shrimp become opaque. Add cooked orzo to skillet. Mix well. When pasta is thoroughly heated, stir in feta. Serve immediately.

Makes 4 servings.

Notes: It wasn't the fact that I've been watching ALIAS on and off that attracted me to this one. I was looking for something simple with pasta but a little out of the ordinary. This fit the bill. And proved to be quite tasty.

Crab Stuffed Salmon

Crab Stuffed Salmon
(cobbed together from various sources)

8 oz. salmon filet

4 oz. crabmeat
3 TBSP Butter
1/4 cup green onion, chopped
1 egg
1 tsp Dijon mustard
dash Worcestershire
pinch Pepper
pinch Salt
1/2 cup Bread crumbs

Saute green onions over medium high heat in the butter until tender. Beat egg then add mustard, Worcestershire, salt, pepper, bread crumbs. Add to pan. Mix in crab until well combined and refrigerate until ready to stuff the salmon. (Stuffing should be allowed to cool before inserting in uncooked salmon.)

Place stuffing in salmon filet, fold over, and secure. Cook in pre-heated 400 degree oven, 10 minutes for every inch thickness of folded fish.

Notes: I think I've decided the stuffing is a bit on the bland side and I'm not entirely sure how to dress it up. Most of the recipes I found are for stuffed flounder, but most whitefish or flat-fish types aren't popular in this household (well, except with me), so I decided to try it out on salmon. Tonight's filet took 25 minutes to cook through. Oh - and note to self, remove plastic top of glass Pyrex dish prior to putting in the oven. Sigh. Just not my night, apparently.

Gorgonzola Penne

Gorgonzola Sauce
from Marcella Hazan's Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

1/4 pound gorgonzola at room temperature
1/3 cup milk
3 TBSP butter
pinch of salt
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1 1/4 pounds pasta
1/3 cup freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano

Choose flameproof serving ware that can subsequently accomodate all the pasta. Combine gorgonzola, milk, butter and salt over low heat. Stir with a wooden spoon, mashing the cheese and incorporating it with the milk and butter. Cook until sauce has a dense, creamy consistency. Take off the heat until you are nearly ready to drain the pasta.

Just before draining the pasta, add the heavy cream to the sauce and stir over medium-low heat until thickened. Add the cooked drained pasta and toss. Add the grated cheese and toss until melted. Serve immediately from the pan with additional grated cheese on the side.

Serves 6.

Notes: This really did turn out rather yummy, but if you compare what I've written above with what is actually written in the cookbook, you'll see I took some liberties in approach. I was once again reminded that I'm not pleased with how this cookbook is written. The language isn't always clear (for instance, she says you reduce the sauce, not that you thicken it, but over medium-low heat it's not really going to do much in the way of reduction). Her instructions were also very particular about the gorgonzola, especially in the type (which I didn't really have much choice about) and in not using it cold (which was helpful). Since I was cooking for two, I only made about 1/3 pound of pasta (I used penne) and didn't end up with much extra sauce (perhaps I'm too generous, but I would have felt I was stretching the sauce with almost 4 times the pasta).

Served with rosemary olive oil bread and my roasted tomatoes (with cheese and oregano). Parker Station Pinot Noir 2003 was the accompanying wine, medium-bodied with a smooth texture; a bit fruity on the palate with a hint of something sharp and spicy in the finish. By my estimation, a pleasant but not challenging beverage.

Veal & Gorgonzola

Veal Scaloppine with Gorgonzola Sauce
Bon Appetite (April, 1999)

1 cup beef stock or canned beef broth
1 cup chicken stock or canned low-salt chicken broth
1 pound veal scaloppine
All purpose flour
3 tablespoons (about) olive oil

1 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup chopped seeded plum tomatoes
6 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2/3 cup crumbled Gorgonzola cheese

Boil both stocks in medium saucepan until reduced to 1 cup, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat.

Sprinkle veal with salt and pepper. Dredge veal in flour to coat; shake off excess. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Working in batches, add veal and saute until cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer veal to platter; tent with foil to keep warm. Repeat with remaining veal, adding more oil to skillet as necessary.

Add reduced stock mixture, cream, 1/2 cup chopped tomatoes, 4 tablespoons basil and tomato paste to skillet. Simmer until reduced to sauce consistency, whisking frequently, about 5 minutes. Add 1/3 cup Gorgonzola; stir until melted.

Pour sauce over veal. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup chopped tomatoes, 2 tablespoons basil and 1/3 cup Gorgonzola.

Serves 4.

Notes: A relatively easy recipe. The preparation time was minimal -- more of it taken up by waiting for the broth to reduce than by chopping up ingredients. The sauce came out somewhat thinner than I anticipated. Perhaps I'll let the second stage reduce a bit longer next time before adding the cheese. Still, it was tasty -- though I feared the gorgonzola might overpower the dish, that wasn't the case, and the tomatoes provided a nice contrasting brightness, both in flavor and color. Definitely worth revisiting.

Marinated Rabbit Stew

Marinated Rabbit Stew

3-4 lb. rabbit, cut up
1/3 c. olive oil
3 TBSP fresh lemon juice
2 1/2 tbsp. soy sauce
2 tsp. grated lemon rind
4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
1 tsp. dried rosemary - or - 1 TBSP fresh rosemary
1/2 tsp. fennel seeds
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2-3 TBSP. butter
1/4 c. Madeira or dry sherry
3 c. chicken broth
1 bay leaf
2 TBSP all-purpose flour
Parsley for garnish

Rinse rabbit and pat dry. Place into deep bowl or plastic bag. Set aside. Combine olive oil, lemon juice, soy sauce, lemon rind, garlic, rosemary and fennel. Pour over rabbit. Cover and refrigerate for 24 hours.

Drain and place rabbit pieces on waxed paper. Sprinkle on both sides with salt, black pepper and flour.

Heat butter in heavy skillet and brown rabbit until golden. Transfer to deep casserole. Add Madeira or sherry to pan. Heat to boiling. Add broth. Boil and scrape pan clean. Pour over rabbit. Add bay leaf. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 to 2 hours or until rabbit is very tender. Remove rabbit to serving dish and keep warm.

Add flour to skillet. Stir in 2 to 3 tablespoons juices to make a paste. Gradually add remaining juices. Cook, stirring, until thickened. Pour sauce over rabbit and garnish with parsley.

Notes: I made this about two weeks ago, and I still remember how marvelous it tasted. I don't come by rabbit very often, but I'll be sure to use this recipe again when I do.

Green Bean and Portobello Casserole

Green Bean and Portobello Casserole

4 slices bacon
1/4 cup olive oil
1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/2 medium red onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup with roasted garlic
1/3 teaspoon paprika
1/3 teaspoon white pepper
2 (15.5 ounce) cans French cut green beans, drained
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Place bacon in a large skillet over medium-high heat, and fry until crisp. Remove from the skillet to drain on paper towels. Pour olive oil into the skillet, and reduce heat to medium. When oil is hot, add mushrooms and onion; cook, stirring frequently until the onions start to become translucent. Add garlic, and fry for a couple of minutes, just until fragrant. Stir in the mushroom soup and almonds, and bring to a boil. Season with white pepper and paprika, and crumble in the bacon. Gently stir in the green beans, then transfer the mixture to a casserole dish.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle Cheddar cheese over the top. Return to the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Notes: For those who read this and know me personally, yes, this was really a casserole and it was actually all mixed together. Despite this, I found it -- not bad. And except for my youngest sister and my uncle (who has very particular tastes), it was well-received. Not a bad score in my huge clan. It was made in substitution of the dish usually provided by my sister-in-law at the holiday dinner as she could not attend this year.

Also -- I made it ahead up to the point where the cheese is added. It transported easily in the casserole dish, and when we were ready to eat, we reheated it and then finished the last step.

Veal Scaloppine with Tomato, Oregano and Capers

Veal Scaloppine with Tomato, Oregano, and Capers
from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking

2 1/2 TBSP vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves peeled
1 pound veal scaloppine
flour, spread on a plate
salt
fresh ground black pepper
1/3 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup canned imported Italian plum tomatoes, chopped with juice
1 TBSP butter
1 tsp fresh oregano or 1/2 tsp dried
2 TBSP capers, rinsed and drained

Put the oil and garlic in a skillet, turn on the heat to medium, and cook the garlic until it becomes colored a light brown. Remove it from the pan and discard it.

Turn up the heat to medium high, dredge the veal in flour, and brown quickly on both sides, about 1/2 minute per side. Transfer to a warm plate and sprinkle with salt and pepper.

Over medium high heat, add the wine and deglaze. Add the chopped tomatoes with their juice and stir to coat well. Add the butter and any drippings that have accumulated on the veal plate. Adjust heat to cook at a steady, but gentle simmer.

After 15-20 minutes, when fat floats free of the tomatoes, add the oregano and capers, stir thoroughly, then return the veal to the pan and turn in the tomato sauce to reheat. Serve at once.

Notes: I must admit - I'm just not in love with the organization of this cookbook. I've written out all the instructions here. However, in the book itself, one is often required to flip back and forth between several recipes for earlier methods that have already been applied. Still, despite this, I've yet to make a recipe from this collection that I didn't like. Indeed, this was very tasty, though the sauce didn't quite have the consistency that I expected from the description of the dish - if it were a different type of cuisine I'd call it more of a warm salsa. In any case, the capers were certainly a nice contrast to the tomatoes and I think I'll likely make this one again sometime.

Braised Lamb in Yogurt Sauce

Braised Lamb in Yogurt Sauce
-a work in progress-

2 shoulder lamb chops
1/2 tsp coriander
1/4 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp cayenne
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP water (or maybe, white wine)
1 cup plain whole-milk yogurt
1 small shallot, diced
3/4 cup canned diced tomatoes with liquid

Rub coriander, cumin, cinnamon, cayenne, and garlic powder into chops. Let sit at room temperature at least 15 minutes. Heat oil in skillet over medium heat. Brown lamb chops, about 3 minutes per side. Remove chops and pour off fat. Add 1 TBSP water and deglaze. Saute shallot. Return lamb to skillet and cover with tomatoes and yogurt. Braise 20 minutes, turning once about 1/2 way through.

Notes: My idea for this came from reading several recipes for braised lamb shanks and the memories of one of my favorite dishes at the Istanbul Cafe, finest Turkish restaurant in Connecticut. It didn't come out quite the way I envisioned. Though the chops were certainly tender and the seasoning was delicious, the tomato/yogurt concept didn't work out as anticipated. Because, of course, the yogurt separated - so I didn't end up with the sauce I wanted. Rather tasty anyway, and I have a couple ideas for "fixing" it the way I'd like it to be: (1) braising it in just the tomato, perhaps with some wine or water for extra liquid and adding just a 1/2 cup of yogurt towards the end to thicken things up and make them creamy, and (2) cooking the lamb chops a bit more on the first phase so that I can get rid of more of the fat so that it doesn't have so much of an effect on the consistency of the sauce.

Pheasant in Mustard Sauce

Pheasant in Mustard Sauce

2 leg/thigh pieces pheasant (about 1 1/4 pounds)
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 tablespoons Dijon Mustard
3/4 teaspoon dried marjoram

Sprinkle pheasant with pepper. In a skillet over medium heat, brown pheasant in oil and butter on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Combine onion, garlic, broth, lemon juice, mustard and marjoram; add to skillet. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 20 minutes or until pheasant juices run clear.

Notes: This was adapted from a recipe from backwoodsbound.com -- and though the portions were small it turned out fairly well. I think it could be used on boneless chicken breast to good effect, and in fact, I measured the doneness of the meat by inserting my digital thermometer set to it's "chick" parameter of about 180 degrees.

Sweet Potatoes and Pears

Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Pears
Bon Appetit (November, 1994)

5 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams)

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
4 large firm but ripe Bartlett pears, peeled, cored, cut into 1/3 inch-thick slices
3/4 cup (or more) pear nectar

1/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon (generous) ground cardamom

Preheat oven to 400 F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2 - inch glass baking dish. Pierce potatoes in several places with fork. Place on baking sheet; bake until very tender when pierced with knife, about 1 hour. Remove from oven. Reduce temperature to 350 F.

Meanwhile, melt 2 tablespoons butter in heavy large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add pears; saute until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes. Add 3/4 cup nectar; bring to simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer until pears are very tender, adding more nectar if mixture sticks to skillet and stirring often, about 4 minutes. Transfer to processor and puree.

Peel sweet potatoes; place in large bowl of electric mixer. Add 4 tablespoons butter; beat until smooth. Mix in pear puree, sugar, cinnamon and cardamom. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to prepared dish. (Can be prepared 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.)

Bake potatoes uncovered until just heated through, about 20 minutes.

Notes: I'm not a big fan of sweet potatoes but they are a staple, of course, at Thanksgiving. So, I set out to find a recipe that might be a bit different than the popular marshmallow-topped one. Though I was nervous about finding pear nectar (but it turned up in the local Stop'n'Shop), this was my pick. And it proved quite popular - the pears contrasted nicely with the sweet potatoes and made the texture of the dish more appealing to me. Plus, the cardamom and cinnamon gave it a more complex taste.

Cranberry Apple Chutney

Cranberry Apple Chutney
Gourmet (November, 2004)

2 lb Gala apples (about 4)
1 medium onion, cut into 1-inch pieces
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 lb fresh or frozen cranberries (2 cups), thawed if frozen

Put oven rack in upper third of oven and preheat oven to 400 F. Peel, halve, and core apples, then cut into 3/4-inch cubes. Stir together with remaining ingredients except cranberries in a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish and spread in an even layer.

Roast apple mixture, stirring occasionally, 1 hour. Remove dish from oven and stir in cranberries, then continue roasting until cranberries are softened and most of liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Serve chutney warm or at room temperature.

Chutney can be made 3 days ahead and cooled, uncovered, then chilled, covered.

Notes: Made this one up on Tuesday for the Thursday Thanksgiving feast. We actually ended up with three different cranberry dishes being donated by various attendees. This one proved most popular, and I was complimented on the combination of the tastes of the cranberries and apples and people seemed pleasantly surprised by the little bursts of flavor from the mustard seeds. I'd judge this one a success.

Salmon w/ Mustard Maple Sauce

Salmon with Mustard Maple Sauce
from Gourmet (January 2003)

4 (6- to 7-oz) pieces center-cut salmon fillet (1 1/4 inches thick), skinned
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons pure maple syrup
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
1/4 cup chopped scallion greens

Pat salmon dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute salmon in 2 batches, starting with skinned sides up and turning over once, until just cooked through, 6 to 9 minutes per batch. Transfer to a platter and keep warm, covered.

Remove skillet from heat and cool 1 minute. Whisk in remaining ingredients and salt and pepper to taste. Pour sauce over salmon.

Notes: Came out fine. Though it was a dish lacking in complexity and had a sameness of taste throughout that made it less challenging than some others I've attempted. And the scallions quite overwhelmed the other flavors, so I might put in less of them. The best part was the scraped up salmon bits from the pan that ended up in the sauce and gave it a more interesting texture. Someone recommended adding a dash of lime juice to the sauce and, should I ever make it again, I might try that in an attempt to give it a little more depth.

Porcini Risotto

Risotto with Porcini Mushrooms
derived from Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking by Marcella Hazan

1/2 cup canned beef broth diluted with 2 cups water
1 TBSP butter
1 TBSP vegetable oil
1 TBSP chopped shallot
1 cup Arborio rice
1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms, reconstituted
the filtered water from mushroom soak
black pepper (to taste)
3 TBSP freshly grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese

Soak 1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms in 1 cup barely warm water for 30 minutes. Lift out the mushrooms and squeeze as much water as possible back into the pan. Reserve water for later use. Rinse the mushrooms several times in fresh changes of water and then let dry on paper towels.

Bring the broth to a very slow, steady simmer.

Put 1/2 TBSP butter and 1/2 TBSP oil and chopped shallot into a broad, sturdy pot and turn on heat to medium high. Cook and stir until shallot becomes translucent, then add the rice. Stir quickly and thoroughly until grains are well-coated.

Add 1/2 cup of simmering broth and cook, stirring constantly until there is no more liquid in the pot. Add the reconstituted mushrooms and 1/2 the filtered water. Continue to stir until there is no more liquid and then add remaining filtered water. When that is used up, add broth 1/4 cup at a time until rice is finished cooking. It should be tender, but firm to the bite.

Off heat, add a few grindings of fresh pepper and the grated Parmesan. Stir until cheese is melted and clings to rice. Serve with additional grated cheese on the side.

Notes: The stirring, the stirring... But always so worthwhile. One must remember to start the mushrooms soaking well before one wishes to eat so dinner is before 8:30pm. Also, the recipe in the book called for onion, but I substituted shallots as I prefer them. This is not a well-organized cookbook either -- better for reading than for following a recipe as this required references to two other sections of the book that I have here combined into one convenient location. This makes two very generous portions; perhaps three reasonable portions.

Pollo Almendrado

Chicken in Almond Sauce
Gourmet (March, 2004)

Ground almonds create texture and thicken the sauce of pollo almendrado in homage to New York's large Mexican and Central American population.

1/4 cup + 1/8 cup sliced almonds
2 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 (3-inch) cinnamon stick
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (preferably Mexican), crumbled
1 Turkish bay leaf
1 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 bacon slices, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 tablespoon chopped garlic
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth or water
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Toast 1/8 cup almonds in non-stick frying pan until golden, 8 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, finely grind remaining 1/4 cup almonds in a food processor about 1 minute (don't grind to a paste).

Pat chicken dry and season with salt (if desired).

Heat a dry 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat, then toast ground almonds, cinnamon stick, oregano, and bay leaf, stirring constantly, until almonds are pale golden, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and wipe skillet clean.

Heat oil in skillet over high heat until hot but not smoking, then saute chicken, turning over once, until golden, about 5 minutes total. Transfer chicken to a plate.

Add bacon to skillet and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until bacon begins to render fat and turn golden, about 1 minute. Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in ground- almond mixture and chicken broth and boil, scraping up brown bits, 1 minute. Stir in pepper and salt (to taste). Add chicken, turning to coat, then reduce heat to moderate and simmer, covered, until chicken is just cooked through, about 5 minutes. Stir in parsley and sliced almonds. Discard cinnamon stick and bay leaf. Serve chicken with sauce spooned on top.

Notes: This recipe adjusted for two servings (rather than the 6 in the original) -- the amount of "sauce" generated in my version would probably also work for 4 chicken breast halves, but more than that would require doubling. I toast my almonds on stove-top instead of in the oven as the magazine preferred. Personally, I wouldn't add any salt when seasoning as the bacon already provides plenty. The sauce ends up being a fairly thickly textured mix with not much liquid. This wasn't like any of the other dishes I've prepared of late (or even in recent history), and I enjoyed trying something a bit offbeat. Tasty and surprising. While it looks like it has a lot of steps, it's actually quite simple to make.

Pork Chops and Dill

Pork Chops with Sour Cream-Dill Sauce
Bon Appetit (April, 1995)

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 large sirloin pork chops (each about 1/2 inch thick)
1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 teaspoons paprika
1 small garlic clove, crushed
3/4 cup (or more) canned low-salt chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon caraway seeds

1 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Heat vegetable oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Season pork chops with salt and pepper. Place 1/3 cup flour in shallow bowl. Coat pork chops with flour, shaking off excess. Add to skillet and cook until brown, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer to platter. Drain all but 1 tablespoon fat from skillet. Add onion to skillet and saute until light golden, about 5 minutes. Add paprika and crushed garlic clove and stir 30 seconds. Mix in 3/4 cup chicken broth, marjoram and caraway seeds. Simmer 3 minutes. Return pork chops to skillet. Cover and simmer until pork chops are almost cooked through, adding more chicken broth by tablespoonfuls if liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes per side. Reduce heat to low.

Whisk 1 cup sour cream, chopped fresh dill and remaining 1 tablespoon flour in small bowl to blend. Add to skillet and stir until pork chops are tender and sauce thickens, about 5 minutes (do not boil).

Transfer pork chops to platter. Spoon sauce over and serve.

Notes: Don't try this one if you're not a big fan of dill. I don't mind dill, but I found it rather drowned out a lot of the other flavors. Next time I'll probably take the dill down a notch - maybe even half the amount. And Michael suggested that a bit of acidity would off-set the sauce and give it a more complex taste -- so, perhaps a dash of lemon juice next time, too.

Not-Stroganoff

When I went to visit Deb over the weekend, she and her better half decided to experiment upon me and made not-stroganoff (as she has so aptly named it). Her recipe is here (and I put it behind the cut for my own reference later). It was exceedingly tasty, but I found the basil at the end perhaps a bit mild and had suggested the possibility of trying tarragon, but wonder if it's too strong. Glancing through the Penzey's catalog has not yielded a better suggestion, however.

Not-Stroganoff

Step 1
1 lb ground beef or buffalo

Spice Mixture:
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp thyme
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp rosemary

Sprinkle the beef with spice mixture and brown. Drain off fat, remove from skillet, and keep warm.

Step 2
1 onion chopped small
2 T garlic
3 T horseradish mustard
1/2 c red wine
2 cans beef broth (chicken stock'll do in a pinch)
4 small cans mushrooms (or equivalent sliced fresh)
more rosemary and basil to taste

Add 2tsp olive oil to pan. Sweat onions and garlic together until translucent. Add mustard. Deglaze with wine, then add broth and mushrooms and herbs. Simmer while cooking a pound of spaghetti.

Step 3
6 oz goat cheese
1/2 c feta cheese
fresh basil (or tarragon?)

Stir in cheeses until melted. Drain away any more fat that has collected in beef, and add the beef back to the pan. Stir to heat through.

Add fresh herbs. Toss with pasta and serve.

Chicken with Vinegar

Saute of Chicken Breasts with Vinegar
from Cooking One on One by John Ash

4 skin-on boneless chicken breasts
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 TBSP olive oil
5 TBSP butter
3 TBSP chopped shallots or green onions
1 TBSP finely chopped garlic
1/3 cup cider vinegar (or red or white wine vinegar)
1 1/4 cups chicken stock
1 TBSP tomato paste
2 tsp freshly chopped tarragon leaves
2 TBSP finely chopped fresh parsley leaves

Lightly season the chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In a saute pan large enough to hold the breasts in one layer, heat the olive oil and 2 TBSP of the butter over medium heat. Place the chicken in the pan skin side down and cook until golden brown. Turn over and cook until just done - about 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to platter and keep warm.

Add shallots and garlic to pan and saute until soft and just beginning to brown. Add the vinegar and stock, stirring to scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan, and reduce the liquid over high heat until lightly thickened, about 3 minutes. Whisk in the tomato paste and and chicken juices from the platter, then take the pan off the heat and whisk in the remaining 3 TBSP of butter. Stir in the herbs and add salt and pepper to taste. Pour the pan sauce around the chicken and serve immediately.

Notes: This came out fine, but I found it rather too mild for my palate. I wanted the herbs to have a bolder impact. I'm not sure I'll end up making it again since I have so many great pan sauces to choose from.

Fresh Apple Bread

It must be autumn. Baking has begun. I already have a double batch of peanut butter cookies into the freezer. Last week I went and picked up some apples from the local orchard, but wanted to try something other than pie. I made this for the folks at ATD, though there's another in my freezer for later.

Fresh Apple Bread

1 c Sugar
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 c Shortening
1 c Broken pecan pieces
2 Eggs; beaten
1 1/2 tb Buttermilk
1 c Tart apples; ground or grate
1/2 ts Vanilla
2 c All purpose flour; sifted
3 tb Sugar
1/2 ts Salt
1 ts Cinnamon

Cream sugar and shortening; add eggs and apples. Sift dry ingredients together. Mix with sugar mixture; add pecans. Stir in buttermilk and vanilla. Pour into greased 10x6x3 inch loaf pan. Mix sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over top. Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Notes: Nice taste but perhaps a bit on the dry side for me. I have a few alternate recipes to try, though, and plenty of apples left, so I'm sure I'll hit on the one I want eventually. Oh, and we used walnuts instead of pecans.