BBQ Chicken

Today was just one of those days.

It was dark, gray, and gloomy all day long.

I spent hours working on some web stuff for a new site that should have taken minutes.  Nothing was cooperating.

When I finally got things working, it was past time to start dinner.

I had decided on grilled chicken tonight.  It has been a while since I used the grill, and tonight it was calling to me.

I bought a beautiful whole organic chicken.

(For those of you out there who claim there is no difference in taste between an organic chicken and one of those national-brand things, I have to seriously disagree. There's a big difference.)

But I digress...

I made a dry rub of :

  • pico de gallo seasoning
  • chili powder
  • cumin
  • paprika
  • smoked paprika
  • celery seed
  • garlic powder
  • boonie pepper
  • salt
  • pepper

and liberally applied it early in the afternoon.  By 5pm, it was ready to hit the grill.

I preheated the grill, then turned off the middle burners and placed the chicken - leaving the two end burners lit.

Into the kitchen I went to double-bake a big ol' sweet potato.

I baked the potato, scooped out the goodies, mixed it with a pat of butter, a drizzle of maple syrup, and some S&P.  Back into the potato and back into the oven.

After about 15 minutes on the grill, I went out to check.

Blazing fire.

As in a big ol' blazing charred-almost-beyond-recognition-fire.

I was not amused.

Did I mention I was having a day?!?

I put out the flames, did a bit of rearranging on the grill, and finished them. I figured they would still be moderately edible

Not amused.

When I brought then into the light, though, I found they weren't quite as bad as I had envisioned.  The dark, gray, and gloomy outside did make them seem worse than they were.

So onto the plate they went, along with a twice-baked sweet potato and some baby broccoli.

The chicken was actually pretty awesome!  Tender, juicy, spicy,  perfect smoky flavor...  If I hadn't known I had screwed up in the beginning, I would have sworn I planned it this way!

And the web-stuff is working, too!


Oscar de la Dessert

And the Oscar for Best Dessert goes to.....

Banana Golden Raspberry Coconut Clafoutis!

::wild applause and standing ovation::

This is a definite star!

I very seldom will pick up a berry out of season.  February just isn't Raspberry Month.  But I saw some golden raspberries yesterday and decided to make an exception.

I'm glad I did!

I've been making clafoutis for quite a while now... It's one of the most simple of desserts yet has an abundance of flavor.

The classic clafoutis hails from France and is made with cherries.  But it's the type of dessert that just lends itself to absolutely anything.  I've done peaches, pears, strawberries, apricots... You seriously can use anything - as tonight's version proves.

Tonight's dessert combination came about because I wanted to make a clafoutis but had no milk in the house and couldn't be bothered to head a mile down the road to get some.

Enter a can of coconut milk...

Raspberry and coconut sounded good, but I also had one getting-riper-by-the-minute banana that needed using up.  Waste not, want not, right?!?  The three flavors were a natural combination.

Banana Golden Raspberry Coconut Clafoutis

  • 4 eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 can coconut milk
  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1 banana
  • 1 pint raspberries
  • white chocolate

_____

Preheat oven to 375°.

Butter 10" pie plate and sprinkle with 1 tbsp granulated sugar.

Arrange fruit in bottom of pie plate.

Beat eggs and sugar until frothy.  Add flour, salt, and vanilla and mix until smooth.  Add coconut milk and mix until smooth.

Carefully pour batter over fruit and bake about 35 minutes or until knife in center comes out clean.

Top with melted white chocolate.

 

Traditionally served warm, I prefer them cold.  What can I say?!?

This really was a flavor-combination that rocked.


Oscar de la Dinner

It's Oscar Night!

The night to celebrate Hollywood and the movies.

Once upon a time, I would have seen most (if not all) of the nominated films, actors, and directors...  And I may have gone to, hosted, or - back in my restaurant and hotel days - worked an Oscar Party.  I remember one Oscar party in particular where everyone was supposed to dress up as a movie character.  One guy showed up as an Oscar statue.  Lots of gold and not much more.  He was definitely the hit of the party.  Sweet youth, indeed...

But this year I haven't seen a one of them.  Nada.  Zero.  Zip.

I still love movies, but I have finally come to realize that I hate multiplexes.  I used to love seeing movies in a grand old theater.  There was a romance about seeing a movie back in the day.  And we went all of the time.

I simply loathe seeing movies in those sterile boxes the movie palaces of old have succumbed to.  And the prices.  It is just not worth it to me, anymore.  If I really want to see a movie - and there's just not a lot out there that's grabbing me - I'll wait for it to hit On Demand.  I can watch them in my PJ's and hit "pause" to get a snack or go to the bathroom.

It's so much more civilized.

But I still love the Oscars - not that I really know any of the actors out there, anymore, either.  I guess ya kinda hafta see a movie now and again to know who is starring in them.

My mother was The Movie Trivia Queen of the Universe.   She knew movies, the stars, the directors, the scenes.  Many a night I would call her up to ask about an actor or something and she would rattle off who it was, when the movie was made, character actors, stars, bit players...  And if we were playing Trivial Pursuit, she would roll for those Pink squares.  She knew her Hollywood.

But fast-forward to tonight and I haven't seen any of them.  I barely know what's been nominated.  Barely.  And what's with having TEN films nominated for "Best Picture?!?  C'mon...  Ya think this might be a bit of a merchandising gimmick?!?  "Nominated for Best Picture!"  Yeah...  just like every other movie made in 2010.  I think it cheapens the category a bit.

But I'm not the demographic, anymore.  My opinion really doesn't matter.

What does matter is having a great dinner as a prelude to the festivities!

Tonight we had a filet roast.  Simply roasted in the oven for 25 minutes. Rare and sliced thick.  A simple pan-sauce of red wine and beef broth, thickened with a bit of cornstarch added that simple je ne sais quoi.
The potatoes were fun.  I took teeny tiny potatoes and sliced them with the food processor.  I then threw them in a skillet with a bit of olive oil and a huge sliced onion.  I slowly sauteed them together until the onions and potatoes were soft and lightly browned.  A bit of a faux Lyonnaise Potato.

Roasted brussels sprouts finished the plate.

Rich and extravagant.  Just as a Hollywood party should be.

And we have a fun dessert planned for later...


Cheesy Pork Tenderloin Sandwiches

This should be titled "How to really screw up a frying pan" but I don't want to scare anyone off from making it.  It is really good!

It's yet another variation of Ruth's fabulous mushroom and caramelized onion and cheddar sandwich.

In this variation, I sliced up a pork tenderloin and sauteed it in a pat of butter with garlic, salt and pepper.

I then added about 4 ounces of sliced mushrooms and cooked everything until it was nicely browned.

Into the skillet went my clean-out-the-refrigerator-cheeses - a bit of blue, jack, and cheddar.  I continued stirring until the cheese was all melted and nicely-glued to the bottom of the pan.

And then into sliced baguettes.

The pan.  Victor soaked it and it did come clean, but oy, it does make a mess.

On the other hand... The sandwich was so good the mess didn't matter.

 

 


Meyer Lemon Chicken Piccata

I was glancing at the latest issue of Cooking Light this morning before going out grocery shopping, and saw a recipe for Meyer Lemon Piccata.  It sounded interesting and I kinda filed it away, as I am wont to do with recipes.  Usually, that means I'll never think of it, again, because something else will take center stage and bury it deeper into the dark recesses of my overly-forgetful mind.

But 30 minutes later, walking into the grocery store, the first thing I saw was a huge display of Meyer Lemons!

It was meant to be.  I grabbed a bag.

Meyer lemons are native to China and thought to be a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange.  They're sweeter and less acidic than their grocery store cousins.   They've been grown in California for a hundred years, although they were pretty much wiped out in the 1940's because of a citrus virus.

But they're back in full production, today.

This was an extremely easy dish to make.  The most novice of cooks could make this and serve it to company.

Really.

Meyer Lemon Chicken Piccata

Ingredients

  • 2 (8-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
  • 1/2  teaspoon  kosher salt
  • 1/4  teaspoon  freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4  cup  all-purpose flour
  • 2  tablespoons  unsalted butter, divided
  • 1/3  cup  sauvignon blanc or other crisp, tart white wine
  • 1/2  cup  fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/3  cup  fresh Meyer lemon juice (about 3 lemons)
  • 2  tablespoons  capers, rinsed and drained
  • 1/4  cup  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Preparation

1. Split chicken breast halves in half horizontally to form 4 cutlets. Place each cutlet between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap; pound each cutlet to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or small heavy skillet. Sprinkle cutlets evenly with salt and pepper. Place flour in a shallow dish; dredge cutlets in flour.

2. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 cutlets to pan, and sauté 2 minutes. Turn cutlets over; sauté for 1 minute. Remove the cutlets from pan. Repeat the procedure with remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 2 cutlets.

3. Add wine to pan, and bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cook for 1 minute or until liquid almost evaporates. Stir in chicken broth; bring to a boil. Cook until broth mixture is reduced to 2 tablespoons (about 4 minutes). Stir in juice and capers. Serve over chicken. Sprinkle with parsley.


Sunday Breakfast

Last night before going to bed, I put bananas and baking mix on the kitchen counter.  Banana pancakes were calling to me.

This morning, I answered their call.

Pancakes may be one of the easiest things in the world to make from scratch, but even I - the eschewer of pre-packaged foods - have a box of good-quality baking mix in the cupboard.

Of course, I can't just follow the box instructions for making pancakes.  What fun would that be?  I like to lighten and sweeten them just a bit.  And that's lighten as in leavening - not calories.

Banana Pancakes

  • 2 cups baking mix
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 tbsp vanilla
  • 1 - 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1 large banana, sliced
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Mix baking mix, sugar, eggs, vanilla, and 1 cup water in bowl.  Mix well and add additional water, if necessary, to achieve desired consistency.

Stir in walnuts and banana slices.  Cook on hot griddle.

The additional egg helps to make them rise just a bit more and make them more airy.

When cooking pancakes, never-ever-ever press down on them after you have flipped them over!  The whole concept is to have the air in there to make them light!  If you press down, you press out the air and make them heavy!

I'm a purist when it comes to pancakes.  I generally only put maple syrup on top.  I don't even butter them.  Once in a while - especially if I make a multi-grain-and-flour pancake - I'll top them with a jam or preserve.

Sunday breakfast.

Yum.


Ravioli del Formaggio Cinque

This is a platter of homemade 5-cheese ravioli in a sauce of speck, sun-dried tomatoes, and langostino.  I can't even begin to describe how happy my tummy is right now.  My taste-buds have been doing cartwheels for 45 minutes.

I am one happy dude.  I can't believe it isn't soup.

A couple of weeks ago Victor said he wanted to make ravioli.  I, of course, immediately stated it was a fantastic idea and I was ready to eat them the moment he made them.

And then I caught a cold, he had to go to Chicago on business...

But today, while I was toiling away at work, he did his magic.

And magic, it was.

Clouds of cheese-filled heaven in a sea of tomatoes.  It amazes me how he can make something so rich and so filling - and so light at the same time.  It really is magic.

Ravioli del Formaggio Cinque

Dough

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 3 eggs
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp olive oil

Make a mound of the flour on a counter.  Make a well and add the eggs, oil, and salt.  With your fingers, slowly incorporate the flour into the liquid.

Knead the dough until it is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.  It should feel silken and smooth.

Cover and let rest about 30 minutes.

Cut dough into three pieces and roll through pasta rollerfolding and refolding the first few times as it gets thinner.  Continue rolling to the 7th setting.

Filling

  • 1 lb ricotta
  • 1 cup shredded cheeses (Victor used fontina, assiago, parmesan, and provelone)
  • 1 egg
  • 2 tbsp minced parsley
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients.

To assemble

Lay out one strip of dough on counter and place heaping tablespoons of filling about every three inches just to the left of center.

Fold dough over.  Use biscuit or other cutter to cut ravioli.  Crimp edges with times of fork.

Lay out on lightly-floured sheet pans and cover with kitchen towels until ready to cook.

To cook

Bring salted water to a just-barely boil in large, shallow braiser or skillet.  Add ravioli a few at a time and cook about 3-4 minutes, or until done.  Do not hard boil as they will fall apart.

Drain and serve with your favorite sauce.

The favorite sauce tonight was, as mentioned earlier, a simple tomato sauce with speck - a type of prosciutto - sun-dried tomatoes, and langostino.

The red sauce worked fabulously with the ravioli, but I think just about any sauce would work, from a butter and walnut or sage to a light vodka sauce.

The ravioli will stand up to anything!

We're doing Easter this year for the family and I'm thinking these would be a perfect accompaniment to whatever we're serving.


Vegetable Beef Soup

Tonight's Soup du Jour was Vegetable Beef.

Soup.  Again.  I swear it's all I've been eating.  I still have this #@%$& cold and it's driving me crazy.

I am so not amused.

Granted, I'm feeling much better and only hacking now and again, but my appetite is just not where it should be.

Actually...  let me rephrase that...  My appetite is exactly where it should be.  It's just not where it normally is.  And I don't seem to be losing any weight, either.

Life is so unfair sometimes...

The soup came out really good, though.  This was a bit of a take on my mom's way of making soup years ago.  She would use water and bouillon cubes.  I use packaged broth.

Vegetable Beef Soup

  • 1 lb beef in small cubes
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 carrots, diced
  • 3 stalks celery, diced
  • 2 cups coffee
  • 2 qts beef broth
  • 1 can tomato sauce
  • 2 potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 cups assorted frozen vegetables
  • 1 tsp herbs d'Provence
  • salt and pepper, to taste.

Brown beef in a small amount of olive oil.  Add onion and garlic, then carrots and celery.  Cook a bit, then add the coffee, then the broth.

Let everything simmer a bit then add the remaining vegetables.

Add herbs, salt and pepper, to taste.

Continue simmering until potatoes are done.

Really simple, really basic, and really good.

We just got our latest edition of La Cucina Italiana.  I think Victor is heading back to the kitchen soon!

And not too soon.  I am getting tired of soup!


Turkey Soup

Soup.  All I have been eating is soup.  Hot, spicy soup.

This has truly been the cold from hell.  I actually don't know the last time I missed three days of work, but there was just no way I could be in a place that handles food.  Hell, I haven't been fit to be seen in public, period.  It has not been pretty.

But about an hour ago I felt the tide turn.  It was probably when it hit 60° outside and I threw open the windows to blow the damned germs out of here.  But for the first time in a week, I am actually - almost - feeling human.

I credit the soup.

Homemade turkey soup with andouille sausage, boonie pepper, tons of vegetables, and rice discs.  Lots of germ-killing heat.

The rice discs are a bit strange.  I picked them up at Assi a while back and they've been in the freezer ever since.  I finally pulled them out.

They are just large, glutinous things.  No flavor to speak of and a bit of a slick texture.  Not bad.  Just different.  As the pot was heated, reheated, and reheated, again, they got softer and more palatable, but I won't be going out of my way to buy them, again, anytime soon.

In the meantime, I hear birds chirping outside and even though it's mid-February and I know we still have March to deal with, things are looking up.

If I could just stop coughing.....


Hot Turkey Sandwiches

The cold from hell has re-reared its ugly head.  That fleeting moment of almost feeling human has deserted me.  I'm back to feeling like I just went ten rounds with Muhammad Ali.  Oh joy.  Oh rapture.

The taste buds and the sense of smell deserted me, as well.  How can I be comforted by comfort food if I can't taste it?!?  Heck, I can handle being sick, add another ladle of whatever to the bowl, please.  But unable to taste?!?  That's downright unfair.

It was with this inability to taste that I approached dinner tonight.

I had to go out and shop for Victor's mom this morning.  I pulled myself together fairly well... at least well enough that children wouldn't run screaming when they saw me.  That's one of those things I can generally turn on or off at will.  It's hell when it's stuck in the on position.  Kinda like when the verbal filters fail when speaking with your boss.

But I digress...

I picked up mom's groceries and dropped them off along with a small heart-shaped box of Hershey Miniatures that she's not supposed to have.  She's 85.  I told her not to eat them all today and not to tell.

On the way home I decided to pick up a couple of things for us.  Shopping is great when you have no appetite, can't taste, or smell.  The cart was pretty empty.  But I did notice a fresh turkey breast on sale.  a 9lb turkey breast for 9 bucks?!?  From a local family owned farm?  SOLD!

Okay.  Scratch the last part.  Shady Brook Farm - local place with great reputation and a lot of fun is NOT the same as Shady Brook FARMS which is part of  Cargill Meat Solutions.

Meat Solutions.  That's their name.  Cargill Meat Solutions.  I didn't know meat needed a solution.  Of course, if everything wasn't factory-farmed there wouldn't be problems that needed solutions.

I'm going to blame this one on illness.

But back when I was all excited about a fresh turkey breast for dinner, I bought a loaf of country white bread to make dressing.  I mean, I'll be on my death bed and not use store-bought croutons.  But as the day wore on, my desire to make the dressing went away.  Since I wasn't that hungry anyway, turkey, mashed potatoes, and peas would work just fine.

Victor is being good.  He's trying not to hover and only asks about a dozen times if I need any help with anything.

Just as I'm getting ready to get everything on the plates, I see the bread.  Hot Turkey Sandwiches flash in my mind.

Done.

We even had a can of whole-berry cranberry sauce in the cupboard.

So dinner was a success.  I couldn't taste anything but the textures were comforting.

And I think it's getting to be time to crawl back into bed.


Chocolate Cake

 

The chicken soup made me feel better, so I made a chocolate cake.

A really yummy, strawberry-and-cream-filled chocolate cake.

The cake comes from Ina - the Barefoot Contessa.  Really simple.  It's definitely my go-to cake.  It's rich, moist, chocolaty, and the perfect recipe for making something dramatic and tall.  It calls for 8" round pans and I do think it's important to use them.   I have 3"-deep 8" round pans that weren't that expensive and really do make a difference when baking a cake.  Having some good quality cake pans really is the secret and if you're going to spend the extra five minutes to make a cake from scratch, it deserves a good pan!

Ina's Chocolate Cake

  • 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 2 teaspoons baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 cup freshly brewed hot coffee

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter two 8-inch round cake pans and line them with parchment paper; butter the paper. Dust the pans with flour, tapping out any excess.
  2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle, mix the flour with the sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt at low speed. In a medium bowl, whisk the buttermilk with the oil, eggs and vanilla. Slowly beat the buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients until just incorporated, then slowly beat in the hot coffee until fully incorporated.
  3. Pour the batter into the prepared pans. Bake for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center of each cake comes out clean. Let the cakes cool in the pans for 30 minutes, then invert the cakes onto a rack to cool completely. Peel off the parchment paper.

I went a little overboard with the strawberries and cream.  I used a full two pounds of berries and 2 pints of whipped cream to put this thing together.  We're gonna have cake for a week.

After splitting the layers I spread the bottom layer with whipped cram, arranged halved strawberries, covered with more cream, added another layer, and repeated.

Totally decadent and totally fun.

And if you're looking for cake pans, try Fantes in South Philly.  They deliver.


Chicken Soup and the Cold From Hell

Fighting, denying, and ignoring did no good.  I officially have the cold from hell.

I've been trying to fight it, pretending it wasn't happening  and living in a state of denial, but besides just feeling lousy, I've been crankier than usual the past couple of days.  A sure sign right there.

It's here with a vengeance.

I'm not a good patient.  I want to just be left alone to wallow in my misery.  That, of course, is nigh-on impossible when you're married to an Italian.  Victor wants to fluff my pillows, get me things, make me comfortable any way he can.  I want to pull the blankets over my head and make the world go away.  Victor wants to make me tea with honey.

Everyone should have my problems!

After a hacking night last night, he decided to make chicken soup today.  Jewish penicillin.

Chicken soup really is a cold-fighter.  It's an anti-inflammatory and as generations of people who once actually paid attention to what they were eating knew, it also helps to relieve congestion.  Wouldn't it be nice if more people reached for some homemade soup instead of the latest poison from our pharmaceutical companies?!?   Did I mention I've been crankier than usual lately?!?

Victor used a combination of homemade chicken stock and store-bought.  I could actually smell it cooking and I could taste it!

He made it with carrots, celery, onion, garlic, potato, tortellini, broccoli, and chicken.

It was good!  It was so good, in fact, that we're going to have it for dinner, as well.

I just made a loaf of beer bread for tonight.

I'll wallow in my misery later.  Right now, I'm feeling pretty good.