Monday, June 22, 2009
Kitchen Essentials: Dutch Oven...
The Dutch oven that I use in my kitchen is Le Creuset’s 5.5-quart enameled cast iron. I use it for making soup and gumbo in the fall and winter. I also use it year-round to cook roasts or whole chickens in the oven because they come out tender, juicy, and evenly cooked every time. The cast iron heats quickly and evenly…and it retains the heat very well. The enamel coating is what I love because it acts like a non-stick surface, allowing me to use very little added fat when I use it to cook. This Dutch oven can go from the stove or oven to the table…any leftovers can go straight to the fridge in the pot to be reheated the next day!
Keep in mind that an enameled cast iron Dutch oven will require an initial monetary investment on your part. When not on sale, a Le Creuset Dutch oven can cost upwards of $200. I realize that’s not a small amount of money, but it’s easier to spend that much money if you think of it as a one-time investment. These are heirloom pieces that last a lifetime and are even be handed down through generations in some families. You can find them for much less on sale at Le Creuset outlet stores.
A non-enameled Lodge cast iron Dutch oven can be purchased for between $50 and $100, depending on size. The trade off is that this type of pot will need to be “seasoned” with oil before using to prevent your food from sticking in the new pot. Over time, cast iron continues to season, so sticking becomes much less of an issue.
No matter whether you opt to go with a basic cast iron Dutch oven or splurge on an enameled cast iron version, just do it! This is one essential kitchen tool that you want to make sure you have in your kitchen’s bag of tricks!!
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Recipe of the Week: Chicken and Dumplings
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(1) Place a Dutch oven over medium heat and add olive oil. When heated, add all veggies except the corn and sauté for 10 minutes.
(2) Add chicken meat. Sprinkle chicken/veggie mixture with the flour, and saute a minute or two longer to coat all the ingredients with the flour.
(3) Add chicken broth, corn, thyme, and black pepper to taste. Stir well with a whisk to combine. Cover, reduce heat to med-low, and simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
(4) Meanwhile, combine 1/2 teaspoon parsley, Bisquick, and skim milk in a small bowl. Drop dumplings by tablespoonfuls onto the chicken/veggie mixture. Cover and cook at med-low for another 15 minutes. The key is to SIMMER the dumplings without letting the mixture boil!!
(5) To serve, put two ladles of the chicken/veggie mixture in a bowl and top with two dumplings.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Foodie Hall of Fame: Rotisserie Chicken
Why is a convenience item in my Foodie Hall of Fame? Because they taste good and are so versatile, that’s why! It’s just Michael and I at home…although our cat, Lucy, manages to beg a bite or two from us…so we can easily get two meals from each chicken. We normally eat half of the chicken “as is” the first night with a salad and a simple side dish. Then I remove the meat from the other half of the chicken and put it in the fridge to use the next night. If I plan to use the leftover meat later in the week, then I’ll freeze it in a freezer bag.
The leftover meat can be used in all sorts of ways. I use it to make chicken salad sandwiches, homemade soups, chicken enchilada filling, or yummy chicken and dumplings. Hmmm…now that I think of it, my yummy chicken and dumpling recipe might just be this Sunday’s Recipe of the Week!! Having the chicken already cooked and chopped up makes the next dinner a snap to put together. After a long day in the office, even a foodie who loves to cook appreciates being able to get a tasty dinner on the table as quickly as possible!!
Now it’s your turn…let me know how YOU use rotisserie chickens in your foodie adventures!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Featured Restaurant: Dough Pizzeria Napoletana in San Antonio
Monday, June 15, 2009
Asian Glazed Spare Ribs
Ingredients:
3 pounds pork spare ribs or pork loin back ribs
Season salt or rub of your choice
3 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon instant minced onion
1 teaspoon paprika1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
Directions:
1. Cut spare ribs into serving-size pieces. Place ribs, bone side down, on a rack in a shallow roasting pan.
2. Sprinkle w/season salt. Cover and roast at 350 degrees F for 1 hour. Drain.
3. Combine all the remaining ingredients in a bowl; brush some of glaze on ribs. Roast uncovered 30-45 minutes longer or until meat is tender, brushing occasionally with remaining glaze.
Note: if your rack of ribs is larger than 3 lbs., you’ll have to adjust the glaze ingredients accordingly to make sure you have plenty of yummy glaze for ALL of your ribs!
Now for today’s kitchen spotlight….
A utensil that I use a LOT in my kitchen is my collection of spoonulas. A spoonula is basically a combination spoon and spatula. Spoonulas are great for scooping mayo out of the jar and then mixing up a tuna or chicken salad. I also use them when I make one-dish casseroles or pasta dishes. I can stir my veggies as they sauté and then use the spoonula to serve the finished product as well. I love to give spoonulas as a present to people, because many of my friends and family have never heard of them.
You can buy these handy utensils nearly everywhere these days, but the silicone ones found at Williams-Sonoma are my personal favorite. They have nice maple wood handles, and the silicone is heat-resistant to 800 degrees. They’re sturdy and made to last…I’ve had mine for five years, and they still look brand new despite nearly daily use!!
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Cookbook Corner: Everyday Italian by Giada De Laurentiis
What I like best about Giada’s recipes is that they are simple, mostly quick to make, and consistently turn out great! These recipes won’t keep you in the kitchen for hours, but they have a ton of great flavor. This cookbook features “classic” Italian dishes, but it also contains a lot of fresh, modern takes on Italian cuisine.
My two favorite recipes from the book are the yummy Salsa all'Amatriciana and the Simple Bolognese Sauce. Both take less than an hour to make from start to finish, but they are full of flavor. To make them even easier, I make both of these sauces with canned San Marzano tomatoes. Every time I serve the Amatriciana sauce to my dinner guests, they always ask for seconds. Then they rave and rave…and then they ask for the recipe!!
I highly recommend Everyday Italian to anyone looking to expand their repertoire of Italian recipes.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Restaurant Adventures: Casino el Camino in Austin, Texas
One try and we were hooked…Casino el Camino hits the foodie trifecta: fun atmosphere, fantastic food, and it's inexpensive to boot! If it's a pretty day, you can sit outside in the quiet(ish) courtyard. If there are no seats outside, you can head inside to dine among the “eclectic” décor…something that I can best describe as “Goth meets gargoyles”!! We love the burgers here so much that we braved the Saturday night crowds on 6th Street last weekend to get a much-needed burger fix! We had to pay $7 to park in a garage two blocks away, but at least we burned a few calories before gorging ourselves on burgers and fries ;)
We had the Chicago Burger again this time: ¾ lb. of flame-grilled angus beef, roma tomato, romaine lettuce, cheddar, bacon, and their amazing shallot mayo. So good!! Michael and I shared an order of hand-cut fries on the side. This burger is so huge that I can only eat half of it in one sitting, but that's ok. It just means I get to eat the other half the next day for lunch!! Casino el Camino has a full menu of tasty burgers, hot dogs, and sandwiches, including veggie options: http://www.casinoelcamino.net/menu.php
The next time you're in Austin, put "eat burger at Casino el Camino" at the top of your "to do" list. I promise that you won't be disappointed!!!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Kitchen Spotlight: Emile Henry Bakeware
According to the company’s website, “Ceramic is by far the best material for successful cooking and baking! Only ceramic is able to diffuse the heat slowly and evenly, to create perfectly browned gratins, tasty lasagna, and succulent cakes.” Emile Henry’s signature glazed ceramic is indeed very versatile. Dishes can go from the freezer, to the oven, and then to the dishwasher…and the cookware is also microwave safe. Best of all, the shiny glaze doesn’t scratch, is chip resistant, and also acts as a natural non-stick surface. That means clean-up is a BREEZE!
My personal Emile Henry collection includes a loaf pan, an 8x8 square baker, a pie plate, and an oval gratin dish. The loaf pan makes quick breads that don’t stick and come out perfectly browned and evenly cooked every single time. The square baker is great for evenly cooked cakes, moist brownies with chewy edges, and small casseroles. The gratin dish is designed to make homemade au gratin potatoes, but I use it for a casserole dish with excellent results as well.
I can’t say enough good things about Emile Henry products…I LOVE mine!! If you’d like to add a piece or two of this heirloom cookware to your kitchen, you can find it at Williams-Sonoma, Sur la Table, and Crate & Barrel. Prices average from about $35 for the loaf pan to $70 for the 13x9 baker. In my experience, you can also find Emile Henry products deeply discounted throughout the year at Williams-Sonoma outlet stores. We like to give the following set as a wedding gift to friends and family: an Emile Henry loaf pan, a package of some yummy quick bread mix, a set of spoonulas, and a set of pretty dish towels.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Recipe of the Week: Not-Your-Average Meatloaf
Sometimes comfort food is just what you want and need...food that reminds you of your childhood, simpler times when all you had to do was show up and dinner was right there waiting for you ;)! For many people, meatloaf is high on their list of comfort foods. Yet some people turn up their noses at meatloaf. I think I know why.
Meatloaf gets a bad rap because it can be...how do I say this nicely?...a bit BORING! It doesn't have to be dry and boring , though. I make a killer meatloaf that makes converts out of even the staunchest of meatloaf haters. This recipe is an adaptation of a recipe that I originally found in a cookbook by famous Cajun chef Paul Prudhomme.
I just couldn't make the recipe as it was originally written, though...it contained a STICK of butter and was made with fattier ground beef. But the recipe sounded so tasty that I figured out how to keep the essence of the recipe and still be kind to my heart...and my butt!
Not-Your-Average Meatloaf
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients:
- 1 tbs Cajun seasoning of choice. (I normally use Chef Paul's Meat Magic)
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbs. Land o Lakes light butter w/canola
- Small yellow onion, chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely diced
- 1/2 of a green pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbs. Tabasco (I especially like the garlic variety)
- 1 small can evaporated milk
- 1/3 cup ketchup
- 1 lb. ground turkey (93% lean)
- 1/2 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1. Melt the butter in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add the veggies, Tabasco, bay leaves, and seasoning. Saute about five minutes, until onion is translucent.
2. Add the evaporated milk and ketchup to the veggies; stir. Cook this mixture for about 2 minutes. Remove the bay leaves and let the mixture sit and cool.
3. Preheat the oven to 350°.
4. Put the ground turkey and beef in a large bowl. Add the eggs, the cooked veggie/milk/ketchup mixture, and the bread crumbs. Mix by hand until everything is just combined. Don't overmix or your meatloaf or it will come out tough!!
5. Put the meatloaf in an ungreased non-stick loaf pan. Bake for 30 minutes. Turn the oven up to 400° and cook for 30 more minutes.
This meatloaf is full of spicy flavor and has a great texture! I usually serve it with mashed potatoes and corn on the cob. Another good thing about this recipe is that the leftovers taste even better the next day!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Foodie Hall of Fame: Rao's Tomato Basil Sauce
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Cookbook Spotlight: How to Cook Everything...and a bonus recipe!!
- Organic field greens
- 4-5 sliced strawberries (we sub in dried cranberries in fall/winter)
- 1/3 cup chopped glazed pecans (or any glazed nut you have)
- 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
- Newman's Own Lighten Up Raspberry-Walnut vinaigrette
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Restaurant Spotlight: ad hoc in Yountville, California
Ad hoc works like this: for only $49/person, you get a lovely four-course meal. The first course is a salad, the second course is your main dish, the third course is a cheese plate, and the fourth course is dessert. One set menu is served nightly…what they serve is what you eat, basically. We looked at it as an opportunity to sit back and let the staff feed us what was fresh and local that day. What a fun foodie adventure it was!!
Here is what we ate on the night when we dined at ad hoc.
First course: The first thing the waitress brought to our table was a yummy haricot vert and corn salad. It was served with shaved radish, caramelized leeks, and an avocado green goddess dressing. The combination of super-fresh veggies and a creamy dressing were just out-of-this world! It was a great start to our meal.
Main course: The entree that evening was a “study” in BBQ. We were served a plate of pulled pork, the most tender deboned beef short ribs, and a a few very spicy baby back ribs. The sides were baked borlotti beans and cole slaw. This is what I termed “upscale comfort food”. So good…we ate every bite of food on that plate!!
Cheese course: The cheese board that evening was a California blue cheese, homemade rosemary flatbread, and granny smith-caraway seed chutney. The cheese and flatbread were both stellar. However, I’m not a big fan of caraway seeds, so one bite of the chutney was enough for me.
Dessert: By the time dessert was served, we were getting pretty full. But not so full that we passed up the chance to dig into banana-nut cakes with coconut cream cheese icing. They were served with a deep chocolate drizzle sauce sprinkled with fleur de sel. The combination of the cake and bitter dark chocolate sauce was simply divine…not TOO sweet, and just the right portion.
I think that this was one of the best all-around meals I’ve ever eaten. The food was fresh, flavorful, and nicely presented. The restaurant was laidback, but not too casual…but not at all stuffy either! I subscribed to their e-mail list, so I receive their nightly menu every day. I’m not sure what’s worse: the drool that gets on the keyboard or knowing that I can’t jump in the car and eat there whenever I want!!
Monday, June 1, 2009
These bags are so easy to use:
1. Place your food and any seasonings in bag and seal firmly. Do not add water. Moisture in food provides sufficient steam. Spread items into an even layer. Do not overlap meats.
2. Lay steamer bag in microwave with indicated side up and cook using guidelines on bag. The bag inflates during cooking.
3. When the food is cooked, make sure to open the bag carefully, holding the top of bag where indicated.
So far, I’ve used these bags to steam corn on the cob and broccoli. Both came out perfectly cooked and yummy! I plan to branch out and try some of the recipes that are available at the Ziploc website this summer. You can find more info and recipes by going to http://www.ziploc.com/?p=b9 and navigating to the Zip ‘n Steam area.
I hope all of you will give these steamer bags a try…and let me know how you like them!