Thursday, January 13, 2011
SESAME KALE SALAD
Trust me on this one. This is REALLY good. I mean REALLY good. Ron ate half the bowl last night. He looked like Popeye...remember him? Ron also thought my picture of the salad looked like a Christmas tree, funny Popeye :)
It only has six ingredients, really quick to make, you make it ahead of time, and it is really healthy.
Start with curly Kale. I think you can buy it all cleaned and chopped at Trader Joes but I bought mine at Tri County Produce.
Chop it up.
Toss with the dressing and chill it for 4 hours or overnight. Ron liked the taste after about six hours and I liked it the next day. Go figure.........either way, this is a great dish. Serve it with Teriaki Chicken and a side of rice.
SESAME KALE SALAD
2 cups of chopped kale leaves (remove the tough stems and ribs)
2 large roasted piquillo peppers or roasted red bell peppers, cut into thin bite-sized strips ( I used 1 jar Trader Joes Roasted Red Peppers)
3 TBSP. toasted sesame seeds (buy the jars with them already toasted)
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 TBSP. toasted sesame oil
2 TBSP. soy sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together the sesame oil, soy sauce and vinegar until completely emulsified. Set aside at room temperature.
In a larger mixing bowl, place kale and pepper strips. Drizzle in dressing and mix the greens and dressing thoroughly. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and mix until evenly distributed. Cover bowl with plastic wrap. Chill for 4 hours to overnight.
Yeah...I know Popeye ate spinach, but greens are greens.
Monday, January 10, 2011
SANTA BARBARA RIDGEBACK SHRIMP...RIGHT OFF THE BOAT
I can't resist these luscious sea creatures. I know, they are a little creepy with those eyeballs looking back at you, but just don't think about it.
These shrimp are not really shrimp. They are actually prawns. And these guys are juicier and sweeter than any other shrimp or prawn. Once they are plucked from their briny home in the Santa Barbara Channel they need to be cooked as soon as possible. They deteriorate rather quickly. I bought these right off the boat for about 5.00 a pound.
All I did was pour a bottle of beer in a pan, added a little water, put them in the steamer basket and steamed them until they were opaque. I only steamed them for about 3 or 4 minutes. Don't over cook them. I served them au natural (think peel and eat) and had a small bowl of melted butter on the side. They really don't need the butter. They are buttah! I personally like them plain with a squeeze of lemon.
If the eyeballs turn you off, you can pull the heads off and just cook the tails....but I think they are kinda cute!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!
Let me share some of my FAVORITE foodie gifts I received for Christmas this year.
First, the cutest gift EVER!!!!!!
My nieces, Ashley and Brittany inherited some of Aunt Lexi's genes. The obsession with food and cooking and the obsession with....
SHOES
It is a cake server with heels! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE THIS. It was the perfect gift. It is so cute I'm not sure if I will use it or frame it.
Thought it might enjoy a view.
Thanks A & B.
Another great gift was The Herb Saver. You put the herbs in the top and fill the bottom with water. You can save your fresh herbs for weeks. It must be great, it made Oprahs Best of List.
Thanks RH.
Then there was the cork screw trivet. You add your corks to the screws and you have a cool trivet.
Thanks SW.
My last favorite gift was a Thermopen. I have wanted one of these for years. It is the BEST thermometer you can buy. I have three instant read thermometers and because I don't trust any of them, I stick all three in the roast and take an average.
NO MORE................the thermopen is easy, accurate and just the coolest ever. You can use it for candy, barbecue, temperature of the room you are standing in or meats. I think it is the most accurate on the market. Most Chefs use this tool. If you want to buy your last thermometer ever then order this. It will make you a better cook.
Thanks SC
So, these are my favorite foodie gifts of Christmas 2010. Thanks to the gifters and Happy 2011.
Monday, January 3, 2011
CHRISTMAS SUSHI CLASS
For Christmas I gave some of my family members a Sushi Class. We had the class at my sisters home. Fukiko was our instructor. She is a sushi chef and a Sake Sommelier. We made California Rolls, Spicy Tuna Rolls, and Grilled Vegetable Hand Rolls. It was great fun.
First we made the rice in the rice cooker. Then we added the Sushi vinegar to the rice and put it in a Sushioke (wood bowl). We sliced the rice with a paddle to separate the grains without smashing them. After using a Japanese fan to cool the rice we were ready to ROLL.
First we made California rolls and then Spicy Ahi Rolls.
Fukiko then taught us how to make Grilled Vegetable Hand Rolls.
You can tell by the next photos that we are all experts!
First we made the rice in the rice cooker. Then we added the Sushi vinegar to the rice and put it in a Sushioke (wood bowl). We sliced the rice with a paddle to separate the grains without smashing them. After using a Japanese fan to cool the rice we were ready to ROLL.
First we made California rolls and then Spicy Ahi Rolls.
Fukiko then taught us how to make Grilled Vegetable Hand Rolls.
You can tell by the next photos that we are all experts!
KAMPAI
YORKSHIRE PUDDING
We had Yorkshire Pudding to go with the Prime Rib on Christmas Day. I used the recipe that Cooks Illustrated published and then adapted by http://www.steamykitchen.com/.
Ashley and Brittany made them for the first time and WOW, they did a great job.
YORKSHIRE PUDDING
Do this recipe by hand, you want a light touch as you're mixing the flour.
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups milk, at room temperature
3/4 tsp. table salt (or 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt)
1 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED flour (7 1/2 oz), sifted
3 TBSP. beef fat (from your Prime Rib Roast)
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and salt. Sift in the flour in three stages, each time whisking until flour disappears before adding in more flour. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
When the Prime Rib is finished, spoon out 3 TBSP. of beef fat. Turn oven to 450~.
Stir 1 TBSP. of the beef fat into the batter.
In a muffin pan, fill each cup with 1/2 tsp. of the remaining beef fat. When oven has reached temperature, place muffin pan with fat into oven for 3 minutes until smoking hot.
Carefully take out the pan and pour batter into each cup, filling to 2/3 full. Immediately return to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Do NOT open oven door during baking, or the Yorkshire Puddings will collapse. Reduce heat to 350~ and bake and additional 10 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from oven, pierce each Yorkshire Pudding with toothpick to allow steam to escape and prevent them from collapsing.
Ashley and Brittany made them for the first time and WOW, they did a great job.
YORKSHIRE PUDDING
Do this recipe by hand, you want a light touch as you're mixing the flour.
3 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups milk, at room temperature
3/4 tsp. table salt (or 1 1/2 tsp. Kosher salt)
1 1/2 cups UNBLEACHED flour (7 1/2 oz), sifted
3 TBSP. beef fat (from your Prime Rib Roast)
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and salt. Sift in the flour in three stages, each time whisking until flour disappears before adding in more flour. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes and up to 3 hours.
When the Prime Rib is finished, spoon out 3 TBSP. of beef fat. Turn oven to 450~.
Stir 1 TBSP. of the beef fat into the batter.
In a muffin pan, fill each cup with 1/2 tsp. of the remaining beef fat. When oven has reached temperature, place muffin pan with fat into oven for 3 minutes until smoking hot.
Carefully take out the pan and pour batter into each cup, filling to 2/3 full. Immediately return to oven and bake for 20 minutes. Do NOT open oven door during baking, or the Yorkshire Puddings will collapse. Reduce heat to 350~ and bake and additional 10 minutes until golden brown.
Remove from oven, pierce each Yorkshire Pudding with toothpick to allow steam to escape and prevent them from collapsing.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
PRIME RIB WITH RED WINE JUS
I cooked a 10 pound Prime Rib for our Christmas dinner. It came out perfect. Not quite sure how that happened. We had planned to eat at 4:00 but things got a little delayed and we sat down to dinner at 5:00. I took the meat out at 3:30 and tented it with foil and it was still perfect at 5:00. Medium on the outside and rare in the middle. I cooked it low and slow and 250~ and 17 minutes per pound. I took it out of the oven when the thermometer read 110~.
If you make this, take the time to make the Red Wine Sauce to go with it. It is really good.
Making the Red Wine Jus
Ron's plate.
The recipe came from Cooks Illustrated and was adapted by Steamykitchen.com.
Prime Rib Roast with Red Wine Jus
Servings: 10-12 Prep Time: 2 hours to let roast come to room temperature, but only 30 minutes of hands-on. Cook Time: 2-3 hours, depending on size of roast
Recipe adapted from Cooks Illustrated.
Important points:
1) Get bone-in rib roast, preferable first-cut, ribs 9-12 for most flavor. Choice grade of beef (i.e. not the pricey Prime grade) is what you'll ask for.
2) Take note of how many pounds the roast is prior to cooking (bones and roast) to determine cooking time
3) Use a meat thermometer
Important points:
1) Get bone-in rib roast, preferable first-cut, ribs 9-12 for most flavor. Choice grade of beef (i.e. not the pricey Prime grade) is what you'll ask for.
2) Take note of how many pounds the roast is prior to cooking (bones and roast) to determine cooking time
3) Use a meat thermometer
Ingredients:
1 bone-on beef rib roast (about 7-8 pounds)
1 1/2 pounds oxtail bones
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 onions, quartered
3 carrots, cut into thirds
3 stalks celery, cut into thirds
1 whole head garlic, halved
2 tablespoons cooking oil, divided
salt and pepper
1 cup red wine
1 3/4 cups beef broth
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 1/2 pounds oxtail bones
1 tablespoon tomato paste
2 onions, quartered
3 carrots, cut into thirds
3 stalks celery, cut into thirds
1 whole head garlic, halved
2 tablespoons cooking oil, divided
salt and pepper
1 cup red wine
1 3/4 cups beef broth
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
3 sprigs fresh thyme
Directions:
1. Take roast from refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 2 hours. Preheat oven to 400F, place rack on lowest position. Rub oxtails with tomato paste, place in roasting pan. Add onions, celery, carrots and garlic, toss with just 1 tablespoon of the cooking oil. Roast for 20 minutes.
2. In the meantime, cut the bone from the rib roast (try to carve as close to the bone as possible). Rub roast with remaining 1 tablespoon oil and generously season with salt and pepper. Heat large frying pan on high heat. When smoking hot, place rib roast, fat side down in pan and sear each side 5 minutes. Remove from pan and let cool for a few minutes. Place the roast right back onto the bones. Use kitchen twine or strips of cheesecloth to tie roast back onto the bones.
3. When the oxtails and vegetables are done, remove pan from oven.
4. Reduce the oven temperature to 250F.
5. Push the oxtail bones and vegetables to the sides, place roast, bone side down in roasting pan. Return pan to oven. Roast for 17-20 minutes PER POUND or until temperature of the middle of the roast is 130F (medium-rare to medium). Transfer roast to cutting board, carefully untie the bones from roast. Cover loosely with tin foil. Rest for 20 minutes.
6. While roast is resting, make the red wine jus. Keep the oxtails and vegetables in the roasting pan but pour out all but 1 teaspoon of the fat (reserve for Yorkshire Pudding if desired). Place the bones that you've untied from roast in roasting pan 2 burners set on high heat.
7. Pour in the red wine and cook until wine is reduced by half. Use a wooden spoon to scrape up the bits. Add the beef broth, chicken broth, thyme. Turn heat to medium-low and simmer for 15 minutes. Add any juices accumulated from the rib roast on the cutting board. Turn off heat.
8. Remove the oxtails and the bones. Strain the jus with mesh strainer, pressing down with wooden spoon to extract out all the juice from the vegetables. Carve the roast, serve with the jus.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
THE CHRISTMAS SALMON
Oh...this was good. My friend Christine gave me the recipe (which really is a little of this and a little of that type of recipe) and it was so easy and so good.
I used Scottish Salmon. My new favorite salmon. There is so much goodness in this fish (aka fat) that it just melts in your mouth.
It is really great for a large gathering too. You can cook it early in the day or even the day before and then serve it at room temperature. I cooked it early Christmas morning, put it in the refrigerator and took it out about 1 hour before dinner. This is what I did.
Started with a 4.75 lb. Scottish Salmon. Then I took some foil, coated it with olive oil and put the salmon on top of it. I sprinkled the salmon with Lea & Perrins white wine Worcestershire sauce, white wine, soy sauce, lemon juice, lemon pepper, and fresh thyme. Wrapped the salmon in the foil and poked holes in the top of the foil. I put a rack on a tray and cooked it at 350~ for 40 minutes.
Served it with a sauce of mayonnaise, lemon juice, and chopped dill. It was really good.
I used Scottish Salmon. My new favorite salmon. There is so much goodness in this fish (aka fat) that it just melts in your mouth.
It is really great for a large gathering too. You can cook it early in the day or even the day before and then serve it at room temperature. I cooked it early Christmas morning, put it in the refrigerator and took it out about 1 hour before dinner. This is what I did.
Started with a 4.75 lb. Scottish Salmon. Then I took some foil, coated it with olive oil and put the salmon on top of it. I sprinkled the salmon with Lea & Perrins white wine Worcestershire sauce, white wine, soy sauce, lemon juice, lemon pepper, and fresh thyme. Wrapped the salmon in the foil and poked holes in the top of the foil. I put a rack on a tray and cooked it at 350~ for 40 minutes.
Served it with a sauce of mayonnaise, lemon juice, and chopped dill. It was really good.
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