Chinese Egg Rolls Sunday, Sep 28 2008 

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
About 4 cups peanut or vegetable oil
2 teaspoons finely chopped peeled fresh ginger
2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic
1 1/2 bunches scallions (about 10), white and pale green parts cut into 2-inch lengths, then cut lengthwise into very thin matchsticks (2 1/2 cups)
2 celery ribs, cut into very thin matchsticks (2 cups)
2 medium carrots, cut into very thin matchsticks (1 cup)
8 large fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded and caps sliced 1/4 inch thick (3 cups)
1 lb medium shrimp in shell (31 to 35 per lb), peeled, deveined, and coarsely chopped
1/4 lb Chinese roast pork (char siu) or leftover roast pork, cut into 2-inch lengths, then cut lengthwise into very thin matchsticks
1 (1-lb) package Asian egg roll or spring roll wrappers
1 large egg, lightly beaten

DIRECTIONS:

Make filling:
Stir together oyster sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and salt in a small bowl until sugar and salt are dissolved.

Heat a dry 12-inch heavy skillet (not nonstick) over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then add 2 tablespoons peanut oil, swirling skillet to coat. Stir-fry ginger, garlic, and scallions until scallions are wilted, about 1 minute. Add celery, carrots, and mushrooms and stir-fry until vegetables are softened, 4 to 6 minutes. Push vegetables toward edge of skillet, then add shrimp to center and stir-fry until shrimp are just cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes. Add pork and oyster sauce mixture and stir together all ingredients in skillet until combined. Season with salt and transfer to a large shallow bowl. Cool, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Make egg rolls:
Gently peel apart wrappers to separate if necessary (wrappers may not be perfectly square).

Put 1 wrapper on a work surface, arranging wrapper with a corner nearest you and keeping remaining wrappers covered with plastic wrap. Stir filling, then spread a scant 1/4 cup filling horizontally across center of wrapper to form a 4-inch log. Fold bottom corner over filling, then fold in side corners. Brush top corner with egg and roll up wrapper tightly to enclose filling, sealing roll closed with top corner. Transfer roll, seam side down, to a paper-towel-lined baking sheet and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Make more egg rolls in same manner, transferring to baking sheet as formed (you may have some filling left over).

Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 250°F. Line a large colander with paper towels. Heat 1 inch peanut oil in a 5- to 6-quart wide heavy pot until it registers 350°F on thermometer, then fry 4 or 5 egg rolls (don’t crowd pot), turning with a slotted spoon, until golden brown, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer with slotted spoon to colander and drain rolls upright 2 to 3 minutes, then keep warm on a rack set on a large baking sheet in oven. Fry remaining egg rolls in batches, transferring to colander and then to rack in oven.

Guacamole Sunday, Sep 28 2008 

ABOUT:

This recipe came to me from my friend from Guatemala, but being a guy he was using garlic salt and chili powder, so I use his ingredients except I used fresh chopped garlic and chili.

Servings:

2 cup

INGREDIENTS:

2 ripe avocados
½ red onion, minced (about 1/2 cup)
1-2 serrano chiles, stems and seeds removed, minced
2 tablespoons cilantro leaves, finely chopped
1 tablespoon of fresh lime or lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
A dash of freshly grated black pepper
1/2 ripe tomato, seeds and pulp removed, chopped
dulp of sour cream to preserve color
chopped garlic

DIRECTIONS:

Cut avocados in half. Remove seed. Scoop out avacado from the peel, put in a mixing bowl.
Using a fork, mash the avocado. Add the chopped onion, cilantro, lime or lemon, salt and pepper and mash some more. Chili peppers vary individually in their hotness. So, start with a half of one chili pepper and add to the guacamole to your desired degree of hotness. Be careful handling the peppers; wash your hands thoroughly after handling and do not touch your eyes or the area near your eyes with your hands for several hours.
Keep the tomatoes separate until ready to serve.
Remember that much of this is done to taste because of the variability in the fresh ingredients. Start with this recipe and adjust to your taste.
Cover with plastic wrap directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent oxidation from the air reaching it. Refrigerate until ready.
Just before serving, add the chopped tomato to the guacamole and mix.

Fried Eggplants Sunday, Sep 28 2008 

ABOUT:

Recipe came from my mother

Servings:

INGREDIENTS:

Eggplans
Salt
mayo
garlic
pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Cut eggplant with rings, put salt over the slices

Smash them to get bitterness out

Fry on max

Add topping – mayo+garlic+pepper

Fried Calamari Sunday, Sep 28 2008 

INGREDIENTS:

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
1 pound clean squid with tentacles, bodies cut into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick rings
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, cut into wedges
1 cup simple tomato sauce, recipe follows or jarred marinara sauce, warmed

DIRECTIONS:

Pour enough oil into a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches.

Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F.

Mix the flour, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl.

Working in small batches, toss the squid into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully add the squid to the oil and fry until crisp and very pale golden, about 1 minute per batch.

Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to a paper-towel lined plate to drain.

Place the fried calamari and lemon wedges on a clean plate.

Sprinkle with salt. Serve with the marinara sauce.

Venetian Peperonata Monday, Jul 7 2008 

ABOUT:

From Bon Appetit

INGREDIENTS:

1 eggplant, chopped
1/4 c. olive oil
1 garlic cloves, minced
1 onion, chopped
1 green pepper, seeded and diced
1 red bell pepper, seeded and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
2/3 c. white wine
1 can diced tomatoes, drained

crusty French or Italian bread
feta or gorgonzola cheese, crumbled

DIRECTIONS:

Slice eggplant into 3/4 inch thick rounds. Sprinkle with salt and let stand for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, seed and chop all peppers and onion. When time is up, cut eggplant into bite-sized cubes.

Heat oil with garlic in large skillet over medium heat until garlic begins to brown. Add onion, sauté until golden. Add eggplant, peppers and wine. Cover and simmer until peppers are tender, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes.

Add tomatoes. increase heat to medium-high heat and sauté uncovered until almost all liquid evaporates. Season with salt and pepper. Cool slightly. Serve with toasted crusty bread and sprinkle with cheese before serving.

Greek Salad Sunday, Jul 6 2008 

ABOUT:

INGREDIENTS:

For Salad:
Tomatoes
Green Onions/Purple Sweet Onions
Green, Red, Yellow Peppers
English Cucumber
Kalamata Olives, pitted
Greek Feta
Salt and Pepper
Oregano

For Dressing:
1/3 cup Red Wine Vinegar
1 small shallot, minced
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all the vegetables together in a bowl.

Whisk together all the dressing ingredients except the oil. Whisk in the oil until dressing is emulsified.

Add dressing to the salad to coat vegetables.

Let mixture marinate in the refrigerator until ready to serve.

Add Olives and Feta Cheese at the end (if you do it in the beginning it will turn salad saggy and dark).

Cream of Asparagus Soup Sunday, Jul 6 2008 

ABOUT:

This French recipe can be used with not just Asparagus but many other vegetables.

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
2 14 1/2-ounce cans chicken broth
1 pound asparagus, tough ends discarded, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon dried summer savory
Sour cream or plain yogurt (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy medium saucepan over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until tender, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add flour and stir 2 minutes. Gradually mix in canned chicken broth. Bring mixture to boil. Add asparagus pieces and summer savory and simmer until asparagus is very tender, about 25 minutes. Cool slightly.

Drain asparagus, reserving cooking liquid. Puree asparagus in food processor. With machine running, Gradually add 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Return mixture to saucepan. Season with salt and pepper. (Soup can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate.) Bring soup to simmer. Ladle into bowls. Top with dollops of sour cream or yogurt, if desired.

Sweet Potato Chips Thursday, Jun 12 2008 

ABOUT:

Takes about 20 min

SERVINGS:

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

2 lage sweet potatoes (about 1.5 lbs) or yams
Vegetable oil or Organice Canola Oil
1 tsp kosher salt

Optional:
1 tsp lime zest (mixed with salt)

DIRECTIONS:

Peel sweet potatoes and use mandolin to slice them into very thin rounds

In deep heavy skillet, heat about 1 inch of oil over high heat until 325 – 275 F

Fry potato chips in batches, stirring occasionallu, until lightly browned and the bubbling stops, about 1 min.

Transfer fried chips with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. Season with salt

Cheese Souffle Saturday, Apr 26 2008 

INGREDIENTS:

Butter, room temperature, for greasing the souffle
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 1/2 ounces (3 tablespoons) butter
3 tablespoons flour
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/3 cups milk, hot
4 large egg yolks (2 1/2 ounces by weight)
6 ounces sharp Cheddar
5 egg whites plus 1 tablespoon water (5 1/2 ounces by weight plus 1/2 ounce water)
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

DIRECTIONS:

Use room temperature butter to grease an 8-inch souffle mold. Add the grated Parmesan and roll around the mold to cover the sides. Cover with plastic wrap and place into the freezer for 5 minutes.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

In a small saucepan, heat the butter. Allow all of the water to cook out.

In a separate bowl combine the flour, dry mustard, garlic powder, and kosher salt. Whisk this mixture into the melted butter. Cook for 2 minutes.

Whisk in the hot milk and turn the heat to high. Once the mixture reaches a boil, remove from the heat.

In a separate bowl, beat the egg yolks to a creamy consistency. Temper the yolks into the milk mixture, constantly whisking. Remove from the heat and add the cheese. Whisk until incorporated.

In a separate bowl, using a hand mixer, whip the egg whites and cream of tartar until glossy and firm. Add 1/4 of the mixture to the base. Continue to add the whites by thirds, folding very gently.

Pour the mixture into the souffle. Fill the souffle to 1/2-inch from the top. Place on an aluminum pie pan. Bake in the oven for 35 minutes.

Caviar Tart Saturday, Apr 26 2008 

ABOUT:

From Gourmet Magazine

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup sour cream
8 hard-boiled large eggs, finely chopped
1/2 cup finely chopped onion (1 medium)
3/4 stick (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh dill
2 teaspoons finely grated fresh lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh chives
7 oz black lumpfish caviar

DIRECTIONS:

Put 1/2 cup sour cream in a paper-towel-lined sieve set over a bowl, then let drain, covered with plastic wrap and chilled, 3 hours.

Stir together remaining 1/4 cup sour cream, eggs, onion, butter, dill, zest, salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon chives until combined well.

Invert bottom of springform pan (so that turned-up edge is underneath for easy removal of tart) and close side of pan around bottom. Spread egg mixture evenly in pan with offset spatula, smoothing top. Cover surface with plastic wrap, pressing gently, and chill until firm, at least 3 hours.

Spread drained sour cream evenly over egg mixture with offset spatula.

Gently spread half of caviar on several sheets of paper towels to absorb excess cuttlefish ink. Carefully lift caviar from paper towels and spread on top of egg mixture (be careful not to smash caviar). Repeat method with remaining caviar. Serve cut into wedges and sprinkled with remaining chives, if desired.

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