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http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sBff/~3/9k-J3dstnK4/getting-overexpose-by-hungry-nation.html

2013-11-30T14:49:00.001-08:00

When my friends at Hungry Nation were over here filming my "Fresh Five" secret ingredients, they also forced me, under threat of severe physical injury, to do an interview called a "Meet & Eat." I spend most of my free time thinking of ways to avoid going on camera, so I'm really never comfortable (or very good) doing these things, but since they did such a great job on the production, and took the time to put this together for me, I feel the least I can do is show it off here. I've also included the full Mahi Mahi Ceviche video below. Enjoy!

Mahi Mahi Ceviche (click here for original post with ingredients)

Sunday

2013-11-28T15:27:00.001-08:00

We started off Sunday with toast and scrambled eggs and strawberries and blackberries.

I made a HUGE pot of pasta sauce with zucchini, onions, garlic, red bell pepper, mushrooms and spinach. There was enough to fill 9 containers for freezing.

I got our menu plan and shopping list done.

Then it was time to read.

Paxton is having his nap and I'm psyching myself up to attack the tower of laundry that's piling up. Later we'll head out for groceries and maybe a walk.

Happy Sunday.

Light and fluffy scrambled eggs

2013-09-03T20:03:00.001-07:00

This is my new favorite way to make scrambled eggs. They come out amazingly light and fluffy and contain only 2 ingredients.

Scrambled eggs with cottage cheese

Crack your eggs (however many you need) into a bowl and whisk. Add 1 tablespoon of cottage cheese for every egg. Whisk again. Cook as you normally would cook your scrambled eggs. (Please don't let them brown. Brown scrambled eggs are just wrong.)

IDLY SAMBHAR - MIL'S VERSION

2013-05-27T20:12:00.001-07:00

I've posted varieties of idly sambhar i learnt from my MOM & MIL.This one is my MIL's special sambhar.My hubby loves this a lot . So i make at least once in a week.It tastes similar to hotel sambhar.

INGREDIENTS

Tamarind - A small gooseberry size

To pressure cook:

Toor dal - 1/4 cup
Potato - 1 no (big)
Turmeric powder - A pinch
Water - As needed.

To Roast & grind :

Oil - 1/2 tsp
Methi seeds - 1/4 tsp
Coriander seeds - 1tbsp
Channa dal - 1.5 tsp
Red chilly - 1 no (big)
Hing - 1/4 tsp

To saute:

Shallots / small onion - 15 nos
Tomato - 1 no (cut into small pieces)
Curry leaves - a few
Sambhar powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt & water - As needed

To temper:

Oil - 1 tbsp
Mustard seeds - 1/2 tsp
Jeera - 1/2 tsp
Urad dal - 1/2 tsp

To garnish:

Coriander leaves - a few
Ghee - 1 tbsp (for flavor)

METHOD:

Soak the tamarind in warm water for 20 mins and take the extract.Set aside.
Pressure cook all the ingredients given under 'to pressure cook' till one whistle.Mash the dal and set aside.
Heat oil in a kadai and roast all the items given above in the same order till nice aroma arises.Powder and keep aside.
In the same kadai , add oil and saute the items given under :to saute: .
Saute till tomato turns mushy.Then add the sambhar powder , tamarind extract , hing & salt.
Allow it to boil till the onion gets cooked.
Now add the mashed dal & powdered spices.
Mix well & boil for sometime.(. Be careful while adding the powder because it may form lumps.So gently stir in & sprinkle the powder simultaneously.)
Finally temper all the ingredients given under 'to temper' and switch off the stove. Garnish with coriander leaves.Transfer to the serving bowl and top it with a tbsp of ghee .( i add only when there is a guest ;) )

Enjoy with soft idlies & crispy dosas by adding sesame oil!!

Variations :

** For the exact restaurant style sambhar , add a few curry leaves while roasting the ingredients given for sambhar powder.
** Also try adding a tsp of grated coconut for additional flavor while roasting.
** Add a small piece of jaggery along with the tamarind extract. (i add very rarely)
** Add veggies like brinjal , Drumstick and carrot to make it more healthy.

In this sambhar we should add very less tamarind extract.So it will taste mild and less spicy. If u want it more spicy & tangy , add pinched red chillies while tempering and squeeze some drops of lime juice before serving.

KITCHEN CLINIC :

TOOR DAL :

Pigeon peas are nutritionally important, as they contain high levels ofprotein and the important amino acids methionine, lysine, and tryptophan. In combination with cereals, pigeon peas make a well-balanced human food.

Other common names

Other common names are तुवरि (tuvari) in Sanskrit, arhar(Hindi/Bangla:অরহর), Rohor (Assamese), Rahar (Nepali), red gram, toovar/toor (Gujarati/Marathi/Punjabi), tuvaram paruppu (Tamil: துவரம்பருப்பு),tuvara (Malayalam :'തുവര' ),togari (Kannada), Kandi(కంది)(Telugu), Yewof ater (Amharic), gandul, guandul, guandu, Congo pea, Gungo pea, Gunga pea, and no-eye pea.

USES:

It is useful in the treatment of internal organ swelling. Some herbal practitioners/researchers are of the opinion that it diminishes the swelling of internal organs like stomach, liver, intestines etc. In case of wound or cancer of these organs it is helpful in reducing them. Its recommended usage is: Green leaves of Pigeon peas around 10 grams along with 7 black peppers should be finely ground and mixed in water and then taken as a drink. Green leaves of Pigeon peas ground in water and added to half boiled water should be applied externally on the affected body part. Pigeon peas should be cooked in water (as dal, an Indian dish) and its water should be given to the patient.

Tacos: the perfect food for kids

2013-05-26T20:11:00.001-07:00

One of the biggest problems about bringing up four children was getting them to eat the same food. Indulgent you might say - they should have eaten what they were given - but it doesn't somehow work like that these days. There were meals that 3 out of 4 liked like sausage and mash but even then my eldest son bewilderingly disliked the mash. MASH! Who dislikes mash?

The most popular meals (apart from roast chicken and spag bol and even they didn't work when the girls periodically went veggie) were dishes they could assemble themselves, top of the list being pizza and homemade doner kebabs. To this I'd have now added tacos which strike me as the perfect kids food. And thrifty too.

True you have to have the tortillas and I'm afraid wheat ones won't do. There's something about corn tortillas that turns this from a sandwich into an exotic, snack that makes you feel as if you're on holiday. You can of course make them yourself and that would be a fun thing to do but just as you don't always have time to make pizza from scratch it's good to have some ready made tortillas on standby.

I'm lucky enough to have a shop up the road in Bristol called Otomi that sells two kinds - one long-life product imported from Mexico and one from the Cool Chile Co which also sells them online. I tried both the other day and preferred the flavour of the Mexican ones but the texture of the Cool Chile ones was much better. (In both cases you need to warm them in a dry frying pan otherwise they'll snap when you attempt to wrap them round the filling.)

The filling is the cheap bit. You can basically use what you have though I consider a fresh tomato salsa (and therefore some fresh coriander and lime) essential and some avocado nice.

As I had some chorizo, onion and potato I decided to use those, borrowing an idea from Thomasina Miers excellent Mexican Food made Simple. I'd also bought a small tin of chipotles en adobo from Otomi (£1.50) which gave them a nice smoky edge.

Chorizo and potato tacos
Enough to fill 6 tortillas
1 onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 large potato, peeled and cut into small dice
110g semi-soft chorizo (Tesco has a good one in their Finest range)
1 finely chopped chili from a tin of chipotles en adobo + some of the juice (optional) or a teaspoon of mild chilli powder or smoked pimenton
1-2 heaped tbsp fresh coriander
Salt and pepper
1 avocado and the juice of half a lime
6 soft corn tortillas
Heat a small frying pan, add the oil and fry the onion and potato over a moderate heat until soft and beginning to brown (about 8-10 minutes). Add the chorizo and finely chopped chilli and fry until the chorizo starts to char a little. Take the pan off the heat, season with salt and pepper and stir in the coriander. Peel and cut up the avocado and toss in the lime juice. Warm the tacos one by one on both sides in a hot dry frying pan (i.e. without any oil) and top with the chorizo mixture, some salsa (below) and chopped avocado. Eat in both hands. (They're dead messy)

Salsa fresca
1/2 a small mild onion or a shallot
6 small to medium-sized ripe tomatoes, skinned if tough
juice of half a lime
1 fresh chilli, de-seeded and finely chopped
2 tbsp chopped fresh coriander
Salt and pepper
Finely chop the onion, tomatoes and chilli, if using and mix together with the fresh lime juice and coriander. Season with salt and pepper. Eat with tacos or tortilla chips

This is a good veggie version. Home-cooked beans would be even better.

Red bean tacos
2 tbsp oil
1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped
1-2 cloves of garlic, crushed
A pinch of ground cumin
1 finely chopped chili from a tin of chipotles en adobo + some of the juice (optional) or a teaspoon of mild chilli powder or smoked pimenton
1 tbsp tomato paste or 2 tbsp passata or other tomato-based pasta sauce
1 tin red kidney beans, drained and rinsed or an equivalent amount of home-cooked red or black beans
1-2 tbsp fresh coriander, chopped
Salt and pepper
Grated cheddar or a white cheese like Wensleydale or Cheshire or some feta
6 soft corn tortillas
Heat the oil and fry the onion until beginning to soften and change colour. Add the cumin powder, crushed garlic and chili or chilli powder, stir, then add the tomato paste and cook for a minute. Add half a glass of water, tip in the beans and leave on a low heat while you make the salsa and prepare the avocado, as above. (The bean mixture is actually better left to cool down a bit before you use it to fill the tacos. Mash it up a bit first so the beans don't go rolling all over the place.) Heat the tortillas as above and top with the beans, grated cheese, salsa and avocado (for those who want it).

You can also make great tacos with shredded beef or chicken as they do on the taco trucks that are so popular in the US (and increasingly here) Now, kids would absolutely love that.

For more ideas for taco fillings check out Thomasina's chicken tinga tacos which it strikes me would adapt well to turkey leftovers and Baja California fish tacos (which I reckon you could cheat and make with fish fingers and a spiced up homemade slaw). Or, even better, add the book to your Christmas list. It's got lots of other recipes I want to make.

Have you ever made tacos for the family or what dish do you find all members of the family like?

New & Notable Chocolate

2013-05-23T20:56:00.001-07:00

'Eat food. Not too much. Mostly chocolate.'
--Debbie Moose

Each holiday season there are new chocolates and I am first in line to try as many as I can. This year there were so many I packed them all up and took them to Thanksgiving dinner to let my friends and family try them too. Here are the highlights:

I adore Kika's Treats. Kika is one of the most successful graduates of the La Cocina incubator program in San Francisco. Her caramelized graham crackers dipped in chocolate are unique and a wonderful melange of buttery toffee and rich chocolate. But her latest confection is equally compelling.

Luscious caramels dipped in dark chocolate with a pinch of sea salt and a surprising twist. They are lightened up with the addition of puffed brown rice that gives them the perfect crunch. A 9-piece assortment is just $16 (and the box is absolutely adorable)

Another local favorite confectioner, Michael Recchiuti is also known for his terrific caramel truffles which are so dark he calls them 'burnt.' No gooey treat, his version is intense.

Adding to the line up of chocolate confections are bars, made from Valrhona chocolate. While I liked the classic all chocolate bars in bittersweet, semisweet and dark milk for their purity of flavor, I really fell for his bars with crunchy and chewy additions. My favorites were the sesame nougatine bar and the orchard bar. The orchard bar has a bewitching mix of currants, mulberries and toasted almonds. It's like the grown up version of the Nestle chunky bar. The sesame bar also has crispness to it and a lovely nougat flavor. Recchuiti is masterful at toasting and roasting nuts to bring out their best flavor and texture so it's no surprise that all his bars with nuts were good. At only $6 a bar, they are a very affordable indulgence.

Chocolates with liqueur are always a holiday favorite. The most recent addition is a truffle made with the Italian liqueur Frangelico. Frangelico is a beguiling hazelnut liqueur that also includes hints of cocoa, vanilla and berries. It's complex but mellow and pairs wonderfully with chocolate. Marie Belle is making exquisitely beautiful chocolate tiles with a Frangelico truffle ganache. They are not boozy, but rich, creamy and subtle. If you like Frangelico, you will love them. They are available in boxes, starting at $15 for 4.

GREEN CHUTNEY / CORIANDER LEAVES CHUTNEY- RESTAURANT STYLE

2013-05-17T20:23:00.001-07:00

I call this chutney as hotel chutney. I've already posted hotel white and red chutney. This is also the same as white chutney but i add little coriander leaves. U can combine mint & coriander leaves in equal ratio and try the same. It tastes great with idly.Let's go to the recipe..

INGREDIENTS

Grated Coconut – 1/4 cup
Green chilly – 2-3 nos
Dalia/ fried gram dal / pottukadalai – 1 tsp
Coriander leaves – 1/4 bunch
Ginger – 1/2 inch
Garlic cloves – 2 nos
Lime juice – As needed (optional – Add lime juice if chutney is spicy – i dint add)
Salt & water – As reqd.

To temper:

Cooking oil – 1 tsp
Mustard seeds – 1/2 tsp
Urad dal – 1/2 tsp
Red chilly – 1 no (pinched into two)
Curry leaves – A few

METHOD

Take all the ingredients given above and grind it to a smooth paste by adding sufficient water.
In a kadai, temper all the items given under "to temper". Add to chutney.
Serve with idly adding sesame oil.

KITCHEN CLINIC

CORIANDER LEAVES

The Health Benefits of Cilantro

List of Cilantro Benefits:

Powerful anti-inflammatory capacities that may help symptoms of arthritis
Protective agents against bacterial infection from Salmonella in food products
Acts to increase HDL cholesterol (the good kind), and reduces LDL cholesterol (the bad kind)
Relief for stomach gas, prevention of flatulence and an overall digestive aid
Wards off urinary tract infections
Helps reduce feelings of nausea
Eases hormonal mood swings associated with menstruation
Has been shown to reduce menstrual cramping.
Adds fiber to the digestive tract
A source of iron, magnesium, and is helpful in fighting anemia
Gives relief for diarrhea, especially if caused by microbial or fungal infections
Helps promote healthy liver function.
Reduces minor swelling
Strong general antioxidant properties
Disinfects and helps detoxify the body
Stimulates the endocrine glands
Helps with insulin secretion and lowers blood sugar
Acts as a natural anti-septic and anti-fungal agent for skin disorders like fungal infections and eczema
Contains immune-boosting properties
Acts as an expectorant
Helps ease conjunctivitis, as well as eye-aging, macular degeneration, and other stressors on the eyes.
- Blood Sugar: Due the stimulating effect of cumin on the endocrine glands, the secretion of insulin is increased from pancreas which increases the insulin level in the blood, thereby helping proper assimilation and absorption of sugar and resultant fall in the sugar level in the blood. This property is very beneficial for thediabetes patients and others too.
- Other benefits: Still want more from it? You get it! Coriander helps cure ulcer, inflammation, spasm and acts as an expectorant, protects and soothes liver. It is anti-carcinogenic, anti-convulsant, anti-histaminic and hypnotic. Coriander is believed to be a natural aphrodisiac and previously it was extensively used in certain preparations, combined with other herbs, to enhance libido.

Side Effects or Contraindications of Organic Cilantro

While many sources state that cilantro has little to no adverse side effects, there are some sources that warn that cilantro leaf should not be used during pregnancy, as it may lead to an increase chance of miscarriage in mothers, or may reduce chances of conception in women trying to become pregnant. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, please consult with your health care provider before consuming cilantro in any form

Technorati Tags: hotel style green chutney,coriander leaves chutney,chutney for idly,dosa.how to make restaurant style chutney,hotel chutney,mint & coriander leaves chutney.

RAW MANGO - DRUMSTICK GRAVY| PORICHA KUZHAMBU

2013-04-15T22:07:00.001-07:00

I learnt this from my MIL. Usually we make this gravy only with drumstick. But during mango season , we make this combination. It tastes great with the excellent flavor of mango. If u don't get sour raw mango ,no problem , u can try this with drumstick alone by adding little tamarind extract to get the tangy taste. We mix this gravy in plain rice with little ghee.Here i've used Vengaaya vadagam for seasoning.I think most of u may not have/aware of this. So i've given the ingredients below to replace vadagam.

Try this simple & delicious poricha kuzhambu. Iam sure u'll love it and start to make it often.

INGREDIENTS

Raw mango - 1 no ( Medium sized) (cut into cubes as shown in the above picture)
Drumstick - 2 nos
Moong dal - 2 tbsp
Sambhar powder - 1.5 - 2 tsp
Salt & water- As needed

To grind:

Grated coconut - 2 tbsp
Water - As needed.

To temper:( to replace vadagam)

Mustard seeds - 1/4 tsp
Urad dal - 1/4 tsp
Jeera - 1/4 tsp
Small onion - 10 nos ( cut into small pieces)
Curry leaves - a few (finely chopped)
Cooking oil - 1 tbsp

METHOD:

Pressure cook moong dal by adding a pinch of turmeric powder and a drop of oil. Mash it and set aside.
Now in a bowl , take the drumstick pieces.Add the required water & cover cook. When it is half cooked, add the cubed mango pieces and add more water if necessary. Once it starts to boil , add the sambhar powder, salt & cooked moong dal. Cover cook till mangoes & drumstick pieces get cooked.{Make sure the mango pieces should not be mushy and dissolved in the gravy}.
Now grind the grated coconut adding little water to make a smooth paste.
Mix this paste to the gravy and allow it to boil for sometime. If u feel the gravy is too thick, add water to bring the consistency. (In this step , check the salt & spice, add if needed)
Suppose if the gravy is too watery after adding the coconut paste , u can add a little amount of rice flour to make the gravy thick.But this step is purely optional.
At last , season the gravy with vengaaya vadagam or the above mentioned items. If u use the above said items for tempering, saute till everything turns brown. This gives a spl flavor to the gravy.

ENJOY MIXNG WITH HOT PLAIN RICE & A DROP OF GHEE OR SERVE AS A SIDE DISH FOR VATRAL KUZHAMBU / SAMBHAR RICE.

KITCHEN CLINIC:

DRUMSTICK

All parts of drumstick tree are useful and have long been used for nutritional, medicinal, and industrial purposes. The drumstick pods or fruits are used as a vegetable in curries and soups and very popular in Indian food. Crushed drumstick leaves are used as a domestic cleaning agent; powdered seeds are used for clarifying honey and sugarcane juice, and for purifying water. Moringa seeds produce oil, also known as Ben oil, which is a sweet non-sticky oil that doesn't become rancid. This oil is used in salads, for lubricating machines, and in perfumes and hair-care products.
The seeds are also eaten green, roasted, powdered and steeped for tea or used in curries. This tree has in recent times been advocated by organizations such as Trees for Life as an outstanding indigenous source of highly digestible protein, calcium, iron, Vitamin C, and carotenoids suitable for use in regions of the world where malnourishment is a major concern.

Drumstick and Health

Quick Facts
Almost all parts of the drumstick tree have medicinal value. The small, round leaves are especially beneficial in treating many ailments because of their high iron content and many medicinal properties.
Drumstick leaves can be eaten fresh, cooked, or stored as dried powder for many months without refrigeration, and reportedly without loss of nutritional value. Where starvation is imminent, consuming the drumstick-leaf powder can be life-saving.
According to the Trees for Life organization, "ounce-for-ounce, Moringa leaves contain more Vitamin A than carrots, more calcium than milk, more iron than spinach, more Vitamin C than oranges, and more potassium than bananas," and that the protein quality of Moringa leaves rivals that of milk and eggs.
Because of the high calcium, iron, and vitamins, drumstick leaves can be used as a wonderful tonic for infant and growing kids and teens to promote strong and healthy bones and for purifying the bloodstream. To prepare the tonic, drumstick leaves should be ground with water, filtered, and mixed with milk.
Drumstick-leaf juice is also very beneficial for pregnant women as it can help them overcome sluggishness of the uterus, ease delivery, and reduce post-delivery complications. In India, drumstick leaves are boiled in water and salt, the water is drained, and the leaves are served with ghee (clarified butter) to lactating mothers to increase breast milk.
Drumstick leaves are very useful in treating wheezing, asthma, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. A soup prepared by boiling a handful of leaves in 3/4 cup water for 5 minutes and cooled is served to those with respiratory problems. A little salt, pepper, and lime juice can be added to this soup.
Drumstick has antibacterial properties and as such is very useful in preventing infections such as those of the throat, chest, and skin. Drumstick soup can be prepared from the leaves, flowers, and pods and used for this purpose as an antibiotic. Dried and powdered bark of the drumstick root can also be used for fungal skin infections.
Drumstick leaves, flowers, and seeds are useful in treating sexual debility and weakness.
A teaspoonful of fresh drumstick-leaf juice mixed with honey and a glass of tender coconut water taken 2-3 times a day is a wonderful remedy for digestive disorders like diarrhea, dysentery, colitis, jaundice, and cholera. Drumstick-leaf juice is also effective in treating urinary disorders such as excessive urination.
Drumstick-seed oil is useful in treating conjunctivitis.
Fresh drumstick-leaf juice mixed with lime juice can also be applied to treat pimples, acne, and blackheads.

Technorati Tags: RAW MANGO GRAVY,PORICHA KUZHAMBU,MAANGAI KUZHAMBU,MURUNGAI KAI PORICHA KUZHAMBU,RAW MANGO KOOTU

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpanishRecipesinpictures/~3/Mg6xVZk4vI8/wheat-flour-and-organic-noodles-with.html

2013-04-12T17:22:00.000-07:00

I love cooking 'fideus a la cassola' or paella on weekends for lunch, when there's plenty of time...

Get the rest in my blog! See you there!

Peach Blackberry Cobbler Recipe

2013-03-10T20:58:00.003-07:00

Is there a more old-fashioned word than cobbler or cobbled? It brings to mind a shoemaker in a Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale or those stone streets in Europe (the ones that are so treacherous if you're wearing high heels). Just the word alone is quaint, charming and feels handmade. Which of course brings me to the culinary version of cobbler. A cobbler is basically sweet biscuit dough formed into tiles and 'cobbled' together on top of baked fruit. It's the kind of thing you can make year round, just varying the fruit with the season. Because it's so chilly in San Francisco in August, it's really the perfect dessert at the moment. We'll have to a while longer before making ice cream I'm afraid.

My most recent cobbler combines organically grown peaches I got from my friend Gayle who annually adopts a tree from the writer and farmer Mas Masumoto, dark as night blackberries from Driscoll's and a spice I am crazy about, cardamom. I recommend combining a couple types of fruit, it makes the cobbler prettier thanks to the contrasting colors, but also adds more texture, complex flavor and sweetness. I also recommend adding a bit of spice. If black pepper and mint had a love child, it would be cardamom. It's an exotic and aromatic spice, common in both Indian cuisine and in Nordic baking. I added a touch of it to both the fruit and the biscuit topping but it's still very subtle.

This cobbler is based on a Sara Moulton recipe. She makes a scaled down version that bakes in a one quart pan in the toaster oven (I use an 8x8 inch pan instead). It's really smart for small households because cobbler is best fresh from the oven. In fact, if you preheat the toaster oven and then get cooking I find it reaches temperature just at the point the cobbler is ready to bake.

Note: You can blanch and peel the peaches if you like, but I prefer leaving the skins on.

Peach Blackberry Cobbler
Makes 4 servings

4 peaches, cut into 1/4 inch slices
1 1/2 cup blackberries
3 Tablespoons sugar
1 Tablespoon cornstarch
1/8 teaspoon cardamom

Topping
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1/4 cup buttermilk plus more for the tops of the biscuits
1 teaspoon turbinado sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine the peaches, blackberries, cornstarch, cardamom and sugar and toss gently to combine. Transfer to an 8 inch square baking pan.

In a bowl combine the flour sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cardamom. Cut in the butter using a pastry blender until the mixture resembles the texture of small peas. Stir in the buttermilk to form a soft sticky dough. Knead into a ball then turn out onto a well-floured work surface and roll to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Use a biscuit cutter or wine glass to cut out 4 biscuits gathering the trimmings and rolling again as necessary. Arrange the biscuits over the fruit. Brush biscuits lightly with additional buttermilk using a pastry brush, sprinkle with turbinado sugar, and bake for 25 minutes or until golden brown. Serve warm with or without vanilla ice cream.

Enjoy!

IDLY FRY - VERSION 2

2013-03-10T20:58:00.001-07:00

Recently my MIL was telling about the idly fry she had in her brother's place. I was attracted by the simple recipe and we tried with the left over idlies.It was very nice & tasty. Usually i add G&G , garam masala to make the fry. But this version is completely different from mine.No need to deep fry the idlies too. So its an easy & low calorie food.Do try this let me know friends.

INGREDIENTS :

Left over idlies - 15 nos
Sesame oil - 2 tbsp
Salt - As needed.

To roast & grind :

Coriander seeds - 1 tbsp
Red chilly - 4 nos ( long variety )
Grated Coconut - 1 tbsp
Small onion - 10 nos or Big onion - 1 no
Jeera / cumin seeds- 1/2 tsp
Cooking Oil - 1tsp

To temper :

Mustard seeds - 1 tsp
Urad dal - 1 tbsp
Channa dal - 1 tsbp
Curry leaves - few
Cooking oil - 1tbsp

To garnish :

Coriander leaves - few

Lemon juice - few drops to taste.

METHOD :

Heat oil in a kadai and roast the items given under 'To roast & grind ' except coconut.
Grind all the roasted items along with grated coconut.Add little water & grind to a smooth paste.Set aside.
Cut the idlies into small cubes.Mix the ground paste and toss well. Take care the idly pieces should not break.
In a wide mouthed kadai , add oil and temper the items given above .
Now add the masala coated idly pieces and saute well for few minutes by simmering the flame.Saute till the raw smell of masala disappears.
Switch off the flame and add the lemon juice.
Garnish with coriander leaves.

Serve hot !!

Spiced Squash and Pear Soup

2013-02-27T18:18:00.001-08:00

Here's my ultimate fall and winter comfort food. And it's low-fat, high fiber and very easy to make - you can't say that about too many comfort foods! For the soup pictured here, I actually used squash and about 1 cup of leftover canned pumpkin. That's the great thing about it - you can vary the vegetables, the spices and the stock. So whatever, your preferences are, jump in and make it the way you like it!

1 tablespoon olive oil
5-6 cups (about 2-3 pounds) peeled and seeded butternut squash chunks (or carrots or pumpkin)
1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into 1/2 inch chunks
1/4 sweet onion, peeled and chopped (optional and to taste)
1 teaspoon fresh ginger, finely chopped
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon curry powder
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1 teaspoon of Kabsa spice, optional ( if no Kabsa spice is availabe, add a pinch of cardamom, cinnamon, cumin and fennel - to equal 1 teaspoon)
5 cups low-salt chicken stock
fresh thyme stalks, for garnish

Place the oil in a large stockpot. Add all o f the chopped vegetables, fruit and spices - except the ginger, to the pot. Turn the veggies in the oil so that everything is coated. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes to lightly glaze the vegetables.

Add the ginger, and cook for another 2 minutes. In case you've never used fresh ginger before, it's an ugly brown tuber that you find in the produce isle. It doesn't keep very long, so I buy a knob, use what I need and then peel and chop the remainder and throw it into a jar full of dry Sherry. It will keep for months like that.

Add the stock. It should just about cover the vegetables. If there isn't enough, you can add water or more stock. Bring the stock to a simmer, cover the pot and cook for about 1 hour until the vegtables are

soft enough to mash completely.

To puree the soup, use an immersible blender. Blend completely smooth, or leave some chunks, however you prefer.

Alternatively, the vegetables can be transferred to a food process and processed until smooth. Process first to a rough chop, and then add a little stock, if necessary, to blend the vegetables to your desired preference.

Stir the blended vegetables back into the pot. At this point the soup will be a little thin.

Simmer it, uncovered, for about 10 minutes to thicken it up. If you plan to eat it immediately, you can continue to simmer it to the desired thickness. If making the soup ahead, don't over-thicken it, because it will dramatically thicken as it cools, and will stay thicker even after it gets reheated.

To serve, ladle the soup into bowls and garnish with the fresh thyme.

The Best Apple Pie

2013-02-13T19:15:00.001-08:00

I know I have unfinished business with my filled cupcakes, but it's been so long since I posted that it will take me quite awhile to figure out everything I did with the cupcakes. In the meantime, it's apple picking time, and I wanted to re-post my recipe for apple pie, which I worked on last Fall.

This is a re-post from last Fall when we went to Boston to visit our daughter.
One of the trips she had planned was to a nearby apple orchard for an afternoon of apple picking. The farm had many different varieties of apples, and we came away with more than a bushel of Cortlands, Macintosh, Empire and Macoun apples. With so many apples, the logical thing to make was apple pie, so that's what we did the next day. Expecting great things, we were disappointed when we tasted the pie, that evening. Why wasn't this the best apple pie?

Let's start with the apples. For an 8-inch pie, I usually use 10 cups of apples consisting of about 5 Granny Smith apples, 1 golden delicious and 2 Macintosh apples. It's a blend that I've come up with over the years that satisfies my requirement for texture, moisture and taste. Using the apples from the orchard instead of my usual mix, produced a pie that wasn't sweet enough or juicy enough. I decided to go back to the kitchen and write down what happens to each apple when it is cooked. For my experiment I used 2 ounces of each apple (about 1/2 apple, but I did it by weight for accuracy), 1 tablespoon of brown sugar and 1/6th tablespoon of butter. Each was covered with foil and baked in a 400 degree F. oven.

When I uncovered the apples there was a striking difference between the amount of liquid in each cup. The Macouns were gushers, giving off 6 teaspoons of juice, the Macintosh gave off 4 teaspoons (but the Macs I bought in the supermarket only gave off 1), the Empires 3 teaspoons (same for the store-bought Empires) and the Cortland only 1 teaspoon of juice. Since the pie we made in Boston was mostly Cortlands, I now knew why our pie was not as juicy as we would have liked. I also tested the apples that I normally use: Granny Smiths and Golden Delicious. The Granny Smiths gave off 3 teaspoons while the Goldens gave off 5. This would account for my pies almost always flooding into the plate when the first piece is removed.

Here's a chart showing my results:

Apple Texture Juiciness Sweetness

Macintosh------- Very soft-----Least------------Sweet/tart

Rome ----------- Very soft-----Least------------Sweet/tart

Cortland--------- Medium------Least------------Sweet/tart

Empire-----------Medium------Moderate--------Sweet/tart

Golden Delicious-Medium------Most------------Sweet

Macoun----------Medium------Most-------------Sweet/tart

Granny Smith----Med-firm----Moderate--------Tart

Fuji--------------Extra Firm---Moderate--------Sweet/tart

Gala-------------Extra Firm--- Moderate--------Sweet/tart

So to start making YOUR perfect pie, you would decide whether you like your pie very moist, medium-moist or on the dryer side, and then you could choose the appropriate apples. If you wanted a very sweet pie, it wouldn't be a good idea to use only Golden Delicious, though, because you'd have so much liquid, you'd never get it thick enough. Instead, you could add a little more sugar to the tarter apples and mix in only one or two of the very juicy, sweet apples. Because we wanted to use only the apples we picked (tarter , drier varieties) we should have added a little extra sugar, and could have added some fresh apple cider to make up for the lack of moisture. There's also a question of tenderness with the filling and you'd want to combine apples that get pretty soft when cooked with those that are firmer. Some apples take forever to cook, and might not be a good choice for a pie in which the crust will be done in about 50-60 minutes. Romes and Macs tend to get very mushy – which I think gives a nice taste and texture when used in combination with firmer apples. Empires, Cortlands, Macouns, Goldens, etc. are medium-firm and Fujis and Galas tend to take longer than 60 minutes to get soft, unless sliced very thinly. Lastly, the amount and kind of thickener needs to be chosen. My mother always used tapioca to thicken her pies. But tapioca (cracked or pearls) leaves little gelatinous globules in the pie that I'm not fond of. Flour is really not a favorite of mine either because if it doesn't get mixed well, it can be very unpleasant, and if the apples don't heat up enough or for a long enough time, the flour will taste gritty or pasty. I usually use cornstarch, even though it doesn't do that well with acidy foods like apple pie – another reason that my usual pie is on the runny side (maybe I should mix in some Cortlands next time). For a pie made with mostly Cortlands, I would cut way down on the amount of cornstarch used – maybe half as much. Yesterday, I tried tapioca starch, which actually gave me the absolute perfect thickness! I bought it in Earthfare, my local organic market. It looks exactly like cornstarch, and the box directions said to use the same quantity as cornstarch. I used the recipe you'll find below, and have never been as happy with the results.

But back to Boston… Could more have gone wrong with my pie in Boston? You bet. The crust was really just mediocre. I knew from the get-go that I probably hadn't used enough water in the dough. I was worried about the crust being tough – a problem I had had the last time I made flaky crust- and water is usually the culprit when crust gets tough. I thought it might be a little dry (it was), but was surprised that the crust was so tender that it barely had any texture in the mouth. As a bottom crust it was fine, but the top crust really didn't work. So, of course, my challenge when I got home was to figure out exactly how to tell when you've added enough water. Here's the answer: The dough should feel supple, but not sticky, and it should hold together. You should be able to pick up the dough ball and hold it above the counter without it falling apart.

When you roll it, you should be able to fold it without it cracking.

If any of these problems arise, add a little more ice water to the dough. If the dough is too sticky, it could be because it's not cold enough, or it might need more flour. If it needs to be toughened a little, you can also fold it and then re-roll it. This works especially well for the top, because it makes it flakier. And so, here is MY Perfect Apple Pie

Serves 6 - 8
MAKE DOUGH 1 DAY AHEAD
Flaky Pie Crust
2-1/2 cups (325 grams) unbleached all- purpose flour, fluffed, scooped and leveled into measuring cups
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon sugar
10 tablespoons (5 ounces) shortening, frozen and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
5 tablespoons (2.5 ounces) unsalted butter, cold and cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/4 cup (or more) ice water, divided
Filling3-5 medium Granny Smith apples
1 medium golden Delicious apple
2 medium McIntosh apples
1 lemon or 1 tablespoon of Fruitfresh mixed 2 quarts with water
3/4- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 cup tapioca starch (or cornstarch)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
Glaze1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon sugar

Place the flour, salt and sugar in a food processor bowl. Pulse-process to mix everything together. Place the shortening and butter on top of the dry ingredients. Pulse-process until the fats are cut into pea-size bits, about 5, three-second bursts. Transfer the mixture to a bowl. Sprinkle on 3 tablespoons ice water. Mix with a fork and then, using your hands, press the mixture into a solid mass. If necessary, add more water to bring the dough together. The dough should feel supple, but not sticky, and it should hold together. You should be able to pick up the dough ball and hold it above the counter without it falling apart. Divide the dough in half. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and refrigerate several hours or overnight.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. with a rack in the middle of the oven. Grease and flour an 8-inch glass pie plate . (Flouring the plate is controversial, as there is a risk that the dough could shrink off of the pie plate rim. However, it's so much easier to get the slices out of the pan when the plate is floured, that I do it anyway. )

For the filling, peel, core and cut the apples into 1/4-inch slices, using as many as necessary to have 10 cups of apples. Squeeze the lemon into a large bowl of water, or use the Fruitfresh. Place the apples into the bowl of water, drain, and then return the apples to the bowl along with the brown sugar, cinnamon and tapioca starch.

Transfer the dough to the pie plate using one of these techniques: Flip the dough over the rolling pin. Pick the whole dough piece off of the plastic and lay it into the pan.

OR
Flour the dough, fold it in half or quarters, and then transfer it to the pan and unfold it .

There should be several inches of overhang. Trim the dough to 1/2-inch beyond the rim ( I use my thumbnail as a guide).

Transfer the filling to the crust-lined pie plate, mounding it high in the pan. Dot with the butter.

Brush the rim of the crust with water so that the top crust will adhere well.

Roll out the remaining dough, making it larger than the bottom crust, so that it will fit over the mounded apples.

Trim the top crust so it is the same size as the bottom crust. Squeeze the two edges together and then roll the edge up to make a nice border on the pan rim.

Here you can see that I've rolled the right edge of the pie crust, but not the left side, yet. I also experimented with cutting out a diamond shape in the middle of the crust as a steam vent. It also gives me a good place to stick a knife into the apples to see if they are cooked. But I think I liked the round vent hole better (see opening photo). It was easier to get it in the center and it didn't tend to rip the way the diamond did.
Flute the edge using one of the techniques from this post on Pies and Tarts: http://amazingdessertrecipes.blogspot.com/2009/03/pie-and-tart-crust-shaping.html

Make 4 or 5 slits in the pie with a sharp knife. Mix the sugar with the milk and brush this over the crust ( or brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar – your choice).

Place the pie on a baking sheet. Bake the pie for 25 minutes. Reduce the temperature to 375 degrees F. and bake for another 30 - 40 minutes more until both the top and bottom crusts are golden. Shield the pie rim with aluminum foil if it is getting too brown. To make a simple shield, take 3 pieces of aluminum foil slightly large than the pie. Crimp the edges up to make it less square and to hold the pieces together. Cut a cross in the middle of the foil and bend back the foil, from the center outward, to reveal the pie below. Set the shield on top of the pie – it should leave the center open to brown but will shield the rim crust, which always cooks faster.

Cool at least 30 minutes before eating.

For best results, the pie should not be made more than 8 hours in advance (leave uncovered at room temperature). Rewarm it at 350 degrees F. for 15 minutes. Leftover pie should be covered with plastic wrap and refrigerated. Heat at 350 degrees F. to re-crisp the top crust.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpanishRecipesinpictures/~3/2CMD6obB8vA/

2013-02-12T17:47:00.001-08:00

Spanish Recipes posted a photo:

A Visit to Straus Creamery & Cowgirl Creamery

2013-02-05T12:49:00.001-08:00

In the San Francisco Bay Area we are very lucky to have such incredible dairy products produced in our own backyard. Though many enjoy the milk from Straus Family Creamery and cheeses from Cowgirl Creamery very few have seen exactly where those products come from. Last week I got a chance to visit both, thanks to Cathy Strange , the Global Cheese Buyer for Whole Foods Market. While visiting California she took a small group of writers to visit both the dairy and the cheesemaking facility, at Tomales Bay and Petaluma. I learned what makes Albert Straus, Peggy Smith and Sue Conely such pioneers.

Albert Straus is a second generation dairyman. He took over his parents farm which was established in 1941. He transformed what was a struggling conventional dairy and converted it to the first organic organic dairy West of the Mississippi River in 1994. Despite all the challenges of running a dairy farm today it is thriving. In moving forward, he embraced many of the practices from the past, including using glass bottles, selling milk that is not homogenized and bringing back Jersey cows and Jersey crossbreeds. Jersey cows are smaller and produce less volume of milk so they were bypassed in favor of Holsteins but yield a richer, higher fat milk.

To be organic, all the feed must be organic and free of growth hormones rBGH and rBST, but Straus goes one step further, verifying that the feed is GMO free as well. The cows are milked twice a day, and the young calves live in clean and idyllic quarters with plenty of access to pasteurized milk which helps them grow to be particularly healthy and robust.

All power at the dairy is offset by a methane gas digester that takes waste from the cows and turns it into electricity.

Straus has led by example, encouraging many local dairies to 'go organic.' Now 50% of the dairies in Marin and Sonoma counties are organic.

Peggy Smith and Sue Conley co-founders of Cowgirl Creamery got into the cheese business, inspired by the Straus matriarch, and Albert's mother, Ellen Straus. Both women came from the restaurant world and began by creating fresh organic cheeses from Straus milk. They still make clabbered cottage cheese, creme fraiche, and fromage blanc, but what they are most known for are some of their unique aged cheeses, especially the soft ripened bloomy rind Mt. Tam, Inverness and my favorite, the luxurious triple cream washed rind Red Hawk, so pungent and buttery, which won best of show at the American Cheese Society in 2003.

Peggy and Sue work with local organizations like Marin Organic and the Marin Agricultural Land Trust (where Sue is currently board chair) to ensure that farmland is protected.

At their main cheesemaking facility in Petaluma, not far from Straus dairy they use the freshest milk, and are particularly gentle with the cheese curds, creating very high quality cheeses.

Thanks Cathy! Come back and let's visit some more cheesemakers soon.

While Straus Family Creamery is not regularly open to tours, you can book ahead if you wish to visit Cowgirl Creamery or take a class.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/SpanishRecipesinpictures/~3/7bJPnAAyePs/magdalenas-american-style-peanut-butter.html

2013-02-05T12:48:00.001-08:00

Magdalenas are our Spanish Muffins, although I see some differences between Magdalenas and Muffins....

Get the rest in my blog! See you there!

Cleaning up vegetable scraps

2013-01-29T19:24:00.001-08:00

It is a bad idea to leave vegetable, fruit, and meat trimmings sitting in the garbage pail for too long, as they will begin to break down and smell. To solve this problem, wrap the handles of a plastic grocery bag around the corners of a drawer beneath her work surface and closes the drawer. The bag stays open so that scraps can be swept right in. when she is finished, she simply ties the handles together and disposes of the whole package.

Chef Osama

Similar Posts:

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10 Random Cooking Tips and Tricks
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Bread Baking Babes - Hamburger Buns

2013-01-26T16:23:00.001-08:00

Good grief! Can you believe it's already July 16th? Not only does that mean that July is already more than half over (sob) but that also means it's time for the Bread o' the Month from the Bread Baking Babes. And guess who got to choose the bread this time around? Moi!

I chose Hamburger Buns from a recipe card I picked up in Williams Sonoma.

The recipe gives instructions for regular sized buns as well as sliders (aka the most adorable things ever).

Homemade Hamburger Buns

Williams-Sonoma

1 1/2 cups (375 ml) milk

8 Tbs (1stick/125 g) unsalted butter, cut into 8 pieces

4 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

4 cups (625 g) all purpose flour, plus more for dusting

5 Tbs sugar

1 Tbs kosher salt

1 egg beaten with 1 tsp water

sesame seeds for sprinkling (optional)

In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the milk and butter and heat until the butter is melted, about 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool to 105-155'F (40 to 46'C). Add the yeast and stir until the yeast is dissolved. Let stand for 10 minutes.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the 4 cups of flour, the sugar and salt and beat on low speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Add the milk mixture and knead until the dough forms a ball, about 1 minute. Increase the speed to medium low and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove the dough from the bowl, oil the inside of the bowl and return the dough to the bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough into a 10 by 7 1/2 inch (25 by 19 cm) rectangle. Using a ruler as a guide, cut the dough into 2 1/2 inch (6cm) squares. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet, spacing the buns evenly apart, and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400'F (200'C)

Remove the plastic wrap from the baking sheet. Brush the tops of the buns with the egg mixture (I brushed the tops with milk) and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Bake until the buns and golder and an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of a bun registers 190'F (88'C), 14 to 16 minutes. Transfer the buns to a wire rack and let cool completely. Cut in half and use as hamburger buns. Makes 12 hamburger buns.

For slider buns: Follow the instructions above but roll out the dough into a 9 inch (23 cm) square. Cut into 1 1/2 inch (4cm) squares and place on 2 parchment lined baking sheets. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Position one rack in the upper third of an over and one rack in the lower third and preheat to 400'F (200'C). Brush the tops with the egg mixture and sprinkle with sesame seeds if using. Bake for about 14 minutes, rotating the baking sheets from top to bottom and 180 degrees halfway through baking. Makes 36 slider buns.

Time got away from me once again and I didn't have time to try to make slider buns before it was time to post. But I hope to soon and will show off my results.

Please visit the participating Babes listed over on the left. I've seen some preview pictures from some of them and they've got some amazing buns (hee!)

If you'd like to be a Buddy, please make the bread and post about it by July 29th. Send mt a link at iliketocook AT shaw DOT ca.

Sorry I've been so absent and things are kind of not interesting around here. I'm working hard on getting myself out of this funk. Keep your fingers crossed for me please.

Peace!

At the top of my wish list

2013-01-26T16:16:00.001-08:00

My God, I would LOVE to try one of these. Do you think it really works?

It would be SO MUCh fun to buy some of these TV products and really test them out in the kitchen.....anyone want to be the sponsor?

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/blogspot/sBff/~3/0px300_BS3M/miso-maple-glazed-salmon-canadian.html

2013-01-24T19:05:00.000-08:00

While Canadian Japanese fusion cuisine may not actually be the most popular dining trend right now, this tasty combination of cultures suggests maybe we should explore this further. The salty and very savory miso paste is a perfect match for the sweet Canadian sap. The rice vinegar marries the two, and a few drops of hot sauce are all you need to complete this incredibly easy, yet sophisticated preparation.

Cooking fish this way is virtually foolproof, and will take less than 15 minutes start to finish. As you'll see, by searing the fish briefly in the pan before going under the broiler, the filets will cook much faster and more evenly. This is the perfect recipe for beginners to get over their fear of cooking fish, and will work with a wide array of seafood.

Below you'll note that I'm encouraging you to taste and adjust the ingredient ratios. Keep in mind that the glaze should taste fairly intense, since you are counting on such a thin layer on the surface to flavor the whole filet. This is one of those things that doesn't necessarily taste great by itself, but once caramelized on the salmon, really is amazing.

By the way, just because my maple syrup was from Canada doesn't mean you can't substitute something from New England. Japanese-New English fusion cuisine is very similar. Enjoy!

For the glaze (make enough for 1 large rounded tablespoon per piece of fish):

1 part yellow miso paste

1 part seasoned rice vinegar

1 part real maple syrup

hot sauce to taste

*you should taste and adjust these proportions to your liking

SuperFoods for Babies and Children

2013-01-08T18:39:00.000-08:00

If you have a kid, you gotta feed them. It can be stressful when you begin introducing solid food into your babies diet, worrying that you're choosing the right foods at the right time.

A great resource for starting out, or adding more variety to your child's diet is SuperFoods for Babies and Children, by Annabel Karmel.

SuperFoods covers nutrition from 6 months to 3+ years. And what is great about this book, among other things, is it holds the belief (as I do) that children shouldn't be fed separate meals from their parents, that everyone can and should eat the same things. Things like more fruits and vegetables and less foods that come out of cans. Annabel discusses Superfoods, foods by color categories (Red, Green, White, etc), and the ingredients of a proper diet. But this book isn't boring or preachy. The information is well laid out and informative.

So far we've made 4 dishes from the book, out of the 1-2 Years chapter:

Easy Salmon Croquettes (pg 106)

This one was for Scott and Paxton as I don't like salmon. It uses a can of salmon and was incredibly easy to make (4 ingredients) and they both loved it. Scott said it would really only be as good as your salmon is, so use as good a quality as you can afford.

Oven Fried Root Vegetables (pg 107)

My favorite of the 4. Roasted potatos, yams and carrots with a dip of cream cheese and ketchup and green onions. I must admit I didn't think the dip would be very good but it was. A good way to sneak in some extra calcium.

Meatballs with Sweet and Sour Sauce (pg 102)

Meatballs made with ground beef, onion and apple in a sauce with tomatos, bell peppers and a bit of sugar. A little finicky to make, but delicious.

Cheese and Zucchini Sausages (pg 100)

Meatless sausages made with cheese and zucchini and bread. You definitely want to make these ahead and chill them in the fridge so they hold together during cooking. Paxton really liked these alot, all 3 of us did.

My one quibble with this book has to do with the last 2 recipes above; both used bread or bread crumbs, and both recipes called for white bread or bread crumbs. I found this a little surprising in a book about eating well and teaching children good nutritional habits. I used whole wheat bread and crumbs in both recipes. I don't know. Why wouldn't you?

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone with a small child. We all gotta eat and it might as well be good, fun healthy food, right?

Thanks, Simon and Schuster!

Go West! Wai‘anae, Oahu

2013-01-07T18:46:00.001-08:00

No matter how many times you have been to Oahu, it's quite likely you have never been very far West of Honolulu, to Wai'anae. It's not the easiest part of the island to farm because it's hot and dry, but it is where you will find some very inspiring people working hard to achieve sustainability for the land, for the food system, and for the benefit of everyone.

Eighty five percent of food in Hawaii is imported and Monsanto is now using some of the old plantations to produce genetically modified seeds. If anyone can turn the tide and bring back a more sustainable way of life, a way of life the people of Hawaii once enjoyed, it's the farmers and ranchers of Ma'o Farms, Kahumana Farms and Naked Cow Dairy. Seeing their work will give you hope for the future. They are all cultivating a deep love and respect for the land that nourishes, called 'aina in the Hawaiian language.

Ma'o Farms is a certified organic farm and education center. Ma'o produces salad greens, row crops, cooking greens, fruits and herbs. It also produces farmers! In a region plagued by homelessness, crime, obesity, drug use and unemployment they are training local young men and women to work on a farm. They are also helping to pay for their college tuition. They are farmers but see themselves as co-producers.

I walked through the fields and nibbled on the greens plucked from the ground, citrus and herbs. Everything tasted tender, sweet and vibrant. Their produce is available at farmers markets and virtually all of the best restaurants in Honolulu.

Like Ma'o Farms, Kahumana Farms also serves multiple purposes. In addition to a biodynamic farm there is a cafe, a retreat and transitional housing for families in need. They are growing all kinds of things including taro and are experimenting with herbs and plants with healing powers.

The food at the cafe is fresh from the farm, reasonably priced and delicious, served with aloha. I had some pasta with wonderful macadamia nut and basil pesto served with a piece of simply prepared fish and a green salad.

Naked Cow Dairy is run by two sisters, Sabrina and Monique, who never intended to be 'cow girls' let alone cheese makers. There used to thirty dairies on the West side of the island, but when the last dairy on the island closed, they saw a need and chose to fill it. Traditionally 95% of all feed was imported, but they are working with local farmers to create silage for the cows. They have twenty Jersey, Holstein and half breeds and have been producing butter for two years, three batches per day. Whole Foods sells their butter, their cheese and yogurt goes to chefs and farmers markets.

The butter is 45-52% butterfat and very similar to European butter. It is some of the sweetest butter I ever tasted, amazingly fresh and clean tasting. Sabrina has a culinary background and has made some uniquely flavored butters including an outstanding toasted coconut version. The sisters are hoping to make feta, cream cheese, havarti maybe cheddar. But mainly, like their farmer neighbors, they are hoping to make a difference.

My thanks to the Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau for hosting me on this visit

Wine of the Week: La Metropole Rouge

2013-01-05T07:16:00.001-08:00

It's always good to have a standby wine that will go with virtually everything and La Metropole rouge fits the bill. Sure, the 'ooo-la-la' label isn't going to impress wine snobs but the content - a blend of Syrah, Grenache, Carignan and Cabernet Franc from the Roussillon region of southern France - is more than generous for the £4.99 price tag. They suggest drinking it with rich stews such as Lancashire hotpot or boeuf en daube or with simple grilled meats - I'd add stalwarts like sausage and mash, shepherds pie and lasagne. Just the sort of lipsmacking red you need for everyday drinking.

Although I wasn't overly impressed by the accompanying La Metropole Blanc when I tasted it back in the spring, it may well have settled by now and at the same price it's worth a punt too. It's a typically southern blend of Marsanne, Grenache Blanc, Roussanne and Viognier with a touch of Chardonnay and should work well with robust seafood dishes like grilled prawns with garlic or Spanish-style fish stews.

And while you're in the Co-op you might try a bottle of the Crouzes Old Vine Carignan, which is currently on offer at £4.39. I haven't tried the 2010 vintage but it's a reliable stalwart - a big chunky southern French red that would again work well with dark beefy stews or pies. Or as a base for mulled wine.

What's happened to Beyond Baked Beans?

2013-01-03T15:18:00.001-08:00

Some of you may have arrived at this blog looking for my student website beyondbakedbeans.com. I'm sad to say it no longer exists. (See update on my more recent post. There is a happy(ish) ending. It now has a new domain name www.beyondbakedbeans.org.)

Due to my inattention and a mix-up on who should renew the domain name it's expired. Someone else has snapped up the name and is running ads on it. It was never a moneymaker so I can't afford to buy it back. The domain registration site GoDaddy even wants to charge me commission for finding the buyer (surely they know?) and negotiating a sale. On top of a fee. I can't afford to pursue that.

It's a sad day. The site, which was founded at the same time as my first cookbook came out in 2003, has been going for over 8 years, encouraging students to cook and eat healthily. But it's not all bad news.

* There is a Beyond Baked Beans Cooking Page on Facebook which I'll be updating more frequently while I sort out what's to be done

* The books - Beyond Baked Beans, Beyond Baked Beans Green and Beyond Baked Beans Budget are still around and available for next to nothing on Amazon. Plus there's a full-colour illustrated compendium of all the best recipes called The Ultimate Student Cookbook which also contains recipes from three of our ex-students James, Sig and Guy.

* Plans were already in hand to pass the website over to the students of Bath Spa university to give it a comprehensive makeover. I'm sure a better, more interactive site will result.

* And there are plenty of simple, low-cost recipes here on this blog for students or anyone else on a budget.

But it's a useful warning if you have a site of your own - don't ignore reminders about domain name expiries and make sure the credit card you pay with is up to date.

And if you're the person who bought the site, just think about it. The site helped many young people to learn how to cook. It would be nice if you gave it back.

My Picks for SF Cocktail Week

2013-01-01T18:25:00.000-08:00

I'm super busy this week trying to get stuff done before heading off on another trip. But if I had more time on my hands, I'd be going to lots of SF Cocktail Week classes, seminars and events. The fifth annual SF Cocktail Week has an extremely impressive line up of events, everything from a how to throw a brunch cocktail party with H. Joseph Ehrmann (who is rightfully famous for his bloody mary) to hand's on classes on gin and rum, a chocolate and scotch pairing seminar, and a molecular gastronomy meets mixology event that sounds like the Exploratorium for adults.

The iconic Anchor Brewing, the site of the opening party, is part of Anchor Distilling, which also includes a portfolio of small batch traditionally distilled spirits. At the party I got a chance to try quite a number of them. Some of my favorites were the Luxardo line of maraschino, limoncello and amaro, Hirsch bourbon and Junipero gin. Keep your eyes open for them!

At the event I made a point to talk to my most cocktail savvy friends about the upcoming events (which range from free to over $100 each) and they helped me put together this list of top picks for SF Cocktail Week:

Intoxicating Ladies
Wednesday, September 21, 8 pm-12 am, at Rye (688 Geary St.)
Top women bartenders will be working only with liquors produced by female distillers, including Distillery No. 209 gin, Square One vodka, Four Roses bourbon, and Calle 23 tequila. Best of all, admission is free; you will only pay for drinks.

The Science of Taste
Thursday, September 22 3-5 p.m. at The Boothby Center for the Beverage Arts (1161 Mission St., Suite 120) Tickets: $25 in advance; $35 at the door
Hosted by the Cognac Spirit Board, this seminar will explore the scientific aspects of taste and flavor through cocktails curated by LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails) that represent the five facets of taste (sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami.) Don Katz, a Professor of Neuroscience and Chemosensation at Brandeis University, will speak about the science of taste and flavor. Graham Wright, a chemist currently affiliated with the Museum of Science and bon vivant, will explain how these concepts are applied in the glass.

Barbary Coast Bazaar
Friday, September 23 8-11p.m. at The Old Mint (88 Fifth St., at Mint Plaza)  $85 regular; $95 at the door
Think 1920's big top atmosphere with music, magic and fresh takes on carnival food from Straw and punchbowl cocktails from Rye, Bourbon & Branch, DOSA and Elixir.

The Legends Awards
Saturday, September 24 from 6:30 p.m to 2 am at Sir Francis Drake ( 450 Powell St at Sutter) $175 regular; $200 at the door
Posh gala 'black tie optional' awards event that includes a reception, dinner and awards hosted by Duggan McDonnell, Borys Saciuk and Reza Esmaili with burleque entertainment provided by the Hot Pink Feathers and Nick Rossi Trio and to top it all off, an after party. Local favorite bartenders presenting cocktails include Jackie Patterson and Brooke Arthur (Wo Hing General Store) Jonny Raglin (Comstock Saloon) H. Joseph Ehrmann (Elixir) Marco Dionysos (Smuggler's Cove) and Ryan Fitzgerald (Beretta).