Showing posts with label Food and Wine. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food and Wine. Show all posts

November 16, 2008

Eat Your Heart Out Letterman!


I've said it before and I'll say it again. I love lists. They keep me organised, on track and help me feel as if I've actually accomplished something. Top ten lists are even better. They are simple and to the point. Here are some foodie top ten lists.



I like that they considered more than just Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, well sort of.



Love her! And she's Canadian.



I may use this as inspiration

June 8, 2008

It's all about the food.


Food is the name of the game lately, though it probably always has been. In the past month my husband and I have indulged in quite a few culinary experiences, besides the cooking class and cooking club meeting I mentioned in previous posts.


They have included:


* going on a wine tour of Essex County (article to be posted soon on Food Network Canada)


* eating out at Lighthouse Cove Inn (not bad for fresh perch, better for the view), Caldwell's Grant (great alligator!) and Cafe Muse (grilled cheese really is one of the best)


* making some of the best Muttar Paneer I have ever tasted (see below)


* planting a large vegetable garden


* having a Victoria Day Party that included Sweet Potato and Yam Chips with Honey Blue Cheese Dip



The Best Muttar Paneer


1/4 c butter

8 ounces paneer, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

large piece ginger, minced

1 t salt

1 t each of turmeric, garam masala, coriander seed, cumin, chili powder

2 c frozen peas

1 large tomato, chopped

1 cup vegetable stock

1/2 c low fat sour cream

Heat the butter in a large skillet and add the paneer cubes, in 2 batches, and fry until they are golden. Remove the golden cubes to a double thickness of kitchen towel.


Leave 1-2 T of butter in the pan. Fry the onion, garlic cloves, and ginger gently for about 5 minutes with a sprinkling of salt. Stir in the spices and cook for another 2 minutes before adding the still frozen peas.
Add the tomatoes and the vegetable stock over the contents of the pan. Stir again and turn the heat down to low, cover and cook for 15 minutes, tasting to check that the peas are tender. Add the paneer and the sour cream and cook for another 5-7 minutes on medium heat. Serve with fresh pita.


March 23, 2008

...Those That Understand Teach


My profession is teaching. I teach Special Education to elementary school children. But last week I decided to broaden my spectrum and deliver a lesson to my colleagues about cooking. As part of our "Wellness Committee" initiative I presented a class about Quick and Easy Meals. It was great fun and the participants were great. Everyone worked together to create the meals and, in general, seemed to enjoy the food. I am hoping to get another class in before the end of the school year.


The menu included:

Mango Lassi


Baked Sausages with Fennel, Potatoes and Asiago


Mediterranean Turkey Burgers Stuffed with Feta Cheese


Ziti with Honey Roasted Salmon and Creamy Mustard Sauce



Mango Lassi (http://www.epicurious.com/)


3 cups yogurt
1 cup mango purée, fresh or canned (Mr. Goudas is a good brand)
1/3 cup honey or granulated sugar1 tray ice cubes


Put all the ingredients in an electric blender or food processor and blend until the ice is crushed and the liquid is frothy. Serve immediately in tall glasses. (The drink will keep, covered, for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Whip again before serving.)

Makes 4 servings.



Baked Sausages with Fennel, Potatoes and Asiago (Food & Wine Magazine)


2 T olive oil


1 lb sausages


1 onion, sliced thin


1 bulb of fennel, sliced thin


4 cloves garlic, minced


1 t fennel seeds


2 large potatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes


S&P to taste


1/3 dry white wine (vermouth, beer or apple juice can be used)


1 – 28 oz. can of whole tomatoes, drained and chopped


1 ½ c grated Asiago


Heat the oven to 450 F. In a large, deep pan, heat 1 T of the oil over medium heat. Add the sausages and cook until browned and cooked through (about 10 min.). Remove from pan and slice when cooled.
Add the remaining oil in the pan and heat pan on medium. Add onion, fennel bulb, garlic and fennel seeds and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in potatoes and S&P and cook until vegetables begin to soften (7-8 minutes).
Stir in the wine and simmer until evaporated. Stir in tomatoes. Raise the heat and simmer until most of the liquid evaporates (5 minutes). Stir in the sausages and transfer to a baking dish.
Bake the sausage mixture for 10 minutes. Top with the cheese. Bake for about 10 minutes longer.



Mediterranean Turkey Burgers Stuffed with Feta Cheese


1 1/2 pounds lean ground turkey


6 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs


2 teaspoons grated lemon peel


2 teaspoons dried dill1


1/8 teaspoon salt


1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper


½ c feta cheese, in large chunks


6 whole wheat, hamburger buns


2 c baby spinach


6 slices tomato


6 slices red onion


1 c tzatziki sauce (recipe below)


Combine turkey, breadcrumbs, lemon peel, dill, salt and pepper in large bowl. Mix well. Divide turkey mixture into 6 equal portions. Form 1 portion into two 4-inch diameter patties. Place 1 tablespoon feta atop 1 turkey patty; place second patty atop cheese. Seal patties at edges to enclose cheese. Repeat with remaining 5 portions. (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead. Cover and refrigerate.)
Prepare barbecue or indoor grill (medium-high heat). Grill burgers until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Toast buns. Place turkey burgers on bottom half of buns. Top burgers with tomatoes, spinach, onions and tzatziki.


Tzatziki Sauce (http://www.foodtv.ca/)



You can buy drained Greek yogurt at some grocery stores. Substitute fresh dill or parsley for the mint if you like

2 cups whole milk yogurt, drained (500 ml)
1 medium English cucumber, peeled and grated
2 to 3 cloves of garlic, minced
Handful chopped fresh mint, optional
Coarse salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste

Add the yogurt to a colander lined with cheesecloth and place over a bowl. Drain for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. If you don’t drain the yogurt, the tzatziki sauce will be looser.

Drain the grated cucumber and squeeze out the excess liquid. Mix yogurt with remaining ingredients. Season the mixture with salt and pepper and stir in the chopped mint. Makes about 1 ½ cups.



Ziti with Honey Roasted Salmon and Creamy Mustard Sauce



1 lb salmon fillet

1 T honey + 2 t honey

1/2 t fresh-ground black pepper

1 T olive oil

1 onion, chopped

1/3 c dry white wine

1 t grainy Dijon mustard

3/4 c heavy cream

S&P, to taste

2 Ts chopped fresh parsley

3/4 lb ziti



Heat the oven to 400 F. Put the salmon in the pan, skin side down. Spread 1 T of honey over the salmon and then sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon of the pepper. Roast the salmon until just barely done, about 15 minutes, depending upon the thickness of the fillet. Remove from the oven.

In a large pot of boiling, salted water, cook the ziti until just done, about 13 minutes – drain.

In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 7 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until about 1 tablespoon remains, about 2 minutes. Whisk in the mustard, cream, remaining honey and S&P. Turn off the heat. Flake the salmon and stir with the parsley into the sauce. Toss pasta with the sauce.