Grilled Pork Chops in a White Bean Clam Broth

When life gets busy there aren’t many things quite as easy to prepare as grilling a piece of meat or chicken, but with just a smidge more effort you could make it a lot more than ordinary.  Before grilling my salt and smoked paprika dusted pork chops I sautéed some chorizo in a small pot, you could also use bacon or sausage…nearly any pork will do, but the tastier the pork the tastier the broth.  Once fully cooked I added a chopped shallot and kale, and after five minutes a bottle of clam juice and a can of white northern beans.  While that simmered I grilled my pork chops as usual and served them with a ladle full of the bean mixture right over the top.  I recommend instead of a bottle of clam juice you keep a jar of Better than Bouillon clam stock on the door of the fridge for times like this, it lasts for months. 

Tenderloin with Pancetta Kale Pesto

New Year’s is a great excuse to dig out the barbeque and get a little decadent with some fried cured pork spooned over a thick slice of tenderloin.  Begin by frying up a few chopped up ¼” inch slices of pancetta or bacon until lightly crisped, cool down and mince them in the Cuisinart along with a few cloves of garlic and a half teaspoon of kosher salt. Devein and blanch a quarter bunch of kale and thoroughly squeeze the water out before adding to the Cuisinart with the pancetta mixture.  While running drizzle in some extra virgin olive oil until it starts to form a slightly runny paste, then salt and pepper to taste.  For the tenderloin get your barbeque as hot as possible, lightly coat your meat with kosher salt and black pepper and throw it on the grill for a few minutes until seared.  Flip, give it a couple of minutes, then turn off all of the burners except for the one furthest from the meat so it roasts at approximately 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes.  Set a timer, use a meat thermometer or cut it open, whatever it takes, you don’t want to end the year by overcooking your tenderloin.  Slice and serve with the room temperature pancetta kale mixture over the top.  See you in 2014…have a happy one!

What's in Your Pantry?

After writing this blog for more than two years I thought it was high time to go through my pantry, cupboards, and fridge and create a list of my go to ingredients, those nearly non-perishable things I always have on hand that make spending less time at the stove and more time at the table a whole lot easier. I’m a condiment junky so it’s not nearly a complete list, but in order of frequency of use here it is:  Everyday extra virgin olive oil as well as a nicer one for drizzling, kosher salt, fresh ground pepper, garlic, shallots, onions, Better Than Bouillon chicken stock, regular and white balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, Sriracha, chili flakes, parmesan, marinara sauce, sugar, fine salt, eggs, pasta, potatoes, rice, grains, canned beans, Kalamata olives, cheddar cheese, scallions, cabbage, lemons, corn tortillas, anchovy paste, panko, rice wine vinegar, flour, meat marinade, bbq sauce, curry paste, vegetable oil, ketchup, Dijon, honey, smoked paprika, maple syrup, cumin, chili powder, kimchi, feta, pecorino, couscous, capers, carrots, fresh ginger, a jalapeno, butter, salsa, nuts, bacon, clam stock, and Far East Rice Pilaf…we love that stuff.  Treat yourself or make your favorite cook’s holiday special with a nice bottle of olive oil or a tube of anchovy paste.  Have a happy one!!!!

Poached Cod and Vegetables in a Five Spice Broth

This is the kind of light meal you could eat all the time, and one of the easiest ways to prepare cod or any other firm white fish.  In a bowl mix together 2 cups of fish or chicken stock, a generous splash of soy sauce, a squirt of sesame oil, a tablespoon of sugar, and a teaspoon of five spice powder.  In a large pot with a little vegetable oil sauté some Chinese vegetables such as carrots, scallions, bok choy, cabbage, or spinach as well as some fresh garlic or ginger until soft, about two minutes.  Add the stock mixture, season a pound of cod with salt and pepper, and once the liquid starts to simmer lay the filets on top of the veggies and cover.  Immediately turn down the heat and cook for 4 to 5 minutes.  It’s a great dish served in a bowl on its own or over rice or noodles. 

Gravlax with Mustard Dill Sauce

It’s officially the holiday party season and whether you’re hosting or pot lucking Gravlax is one of my favorite appetizers and rates very high on the way easy to prepare scale.  It’s important to start with two pounds of the freshest salmon available and the wide center cuts work best.  Cut your filet into two equal pieces then find a straight sided dish that is just slightly larger than one of your filets.  You’ll also need a piece of wood or hardcover book that is smaller than the circumference of the dish, and something heavy that will balance on top such as a brick or large can.  Place one of your pieces of salmon in the bottom of the dish skin side down, trickle with a cap full of gin then cover completely with a quarter cup each of salt and sugar and a bunch of fresh dill.  Spread equal amounts of salt and sugar on the second filet and lay it on top creating a sort of salmon sandwich with the thinner belly ends of each on opposite sides so it’s a snug fit.  Cover with saran wrap, weight it down with your plank and heavy object, then put it in the fridge for three days flipping every 12 hours.  Slice thin and serve with a sweet mustard sauce made up of creme fraiche, honey mustard, chopped fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon or champagne vinegar. 
 

 

Potato Latkes

It’s potato latkes for Thanksgiving this year, and not only because it’s Hanukah…but because they’re really good.  While they’re is nothing like a crispy latke right out of the hot oil, because of the logistics of putting out a huge holiday meal it is possible to fry them beforehand and reheat uncovered in the oven before serving.  Start by heating up a quarter inch of vegetable oil in a heavy skillet before peeling six baking potatoes, enough for 20 latkes.  Using a hand grater or Cuisinart coarsely grate the potatoes along with an onion and carrot before stirring together with a third of a cup of flour, three lightly scrambled eggs, a tablespoon of salt, and teaspoon of black pepper.  When your oil is hot take a quarter cup of the mixture with a slotted spoon and squeeze out as much water as you can using the palm of your hand before sliding the flattened mixture into the oil.  Cook two to three minutes per side until golden brown then transfer to a paper bag to drain.  Serve with sour cream.  And one more thing, don’t forget to turn your exhaust fan on high.

Brussel Sprouts with Slivered Almonds

This one is all about the crunch, and perfect for a casual dinner or your Thanksgiving meal.  Start by finely chopping a shallot and a couple of cloves of garlic while you heat up some butter or extra virgin olive oil in a sauté pan.  Shred your brussel sprouts by holding the base of each sprout and carefully cut into 1/8 inch slices.  When you’re well on your way sauté the shallot, garlic, and slivered almonds until they just begin to brown then add the sprouts.  They don’t take long, five minutes tops, and be sure to flip a couple of times while cooking.  Before serving add salt and pepper to taste along with a squeeze of lemon.  You could also serve it as a cold salad but don’t cook the brussel sprouts, skip the shallot and garlic, toast the slivered almonds, and add a bit of shaved parmesan.

Salmon Burger

Salmon is a great go to fish and serving it up as a burger on a perfectly toasted bun is an easy way to change things up.  You can chop everything by hand but it’s much easier to use a Cuisinart.  Start with the green ends of some scallions, fresh ginger, and lemon juice, then run until finely chopped.  Add a pound of cut up skinless salmon and pulse until coarsely ground.  In a bowl combine the salmon mixture with a lightly scrambled egg, a cup of breadcrumbs or panko, and salt and pepper.  Form into patties and cook in a medium hot frying pan with just enough oil to keep them from sticking.  This time around I served them with some grilled onions and cilantro pesto but nearly anything goes, a caper mayonnaise, aioli, some hoisin or Sriracha sauce, or simply lettuce and tomato. 

Puttanesca

What I love about a puttanesca sauce, besides being an extraordinary combination of flavors, is that the ingredients are all in the pantry or the fridge…or at least should be.  While you bring your salted pasta pot to a boil sauté four chopped garlic cloves and a healthy pinch of dried chili flakes in some extra virgin olive oil.  When the garlic starts to brown add three to four anchovy filets or a generous squeeze of anchovy paste, and stir until “melted.”  Next, add three tablespoons of capers, some chopped kalamata or cured olives, and after a few minutes, your favorite marinara sauce.  Let simmer, then toss with your drained pasta and top with some grated parmesan and serve.  I highly recommend including the anchovies, but if you’re not willing to give them a chance it’s still pretty good without them.

Roast Beets with Pine Nuts and Feta

For me I find the easiest ways to cook beets is to peel them with a knife and roast them, no need to scorch your fingertips peeling boiled beets.  Preheat your oven to 375 while you cut off the ends, peel, and cube your beets and toss them with a little bit of oil and place them in your roasting pan.  While they’re cooking toast a handful of pine nuts in a medium hot sauté pan until golden, no need to oil the pan.  You could also toast them on a sheet of tin foil, either way be careful not to burn them.  Give your beets a toss after twenty minutes and test with a knife after forty, they should be soft.  Mix in some chopped scallions, maybe a squeeze of lemon, and leave in the oven for another ten minutes.  Remove and top with crumbled feta before serving.

Leek and Barley Soup

It’s soup season and there’s still a lot of fresh local veggies around.  This one is all about the leeks, quarter and slice at least six and sauté on medium low heat until they’re very soft and mushy being careful not to let them brown.  Add some chopped garlic, ground black pepper, and a sliced carrot and sauté another five minutes before adding a pound of ground turkey or pork and a few pinches of dried chili flakes.  It’s best to break up the ground meat while it’s cooking, about five minutes.  Add a cup of dried barley, stir around, and then fill up half the pot with water before mixing in several tablespoons of condensed chicken stock, I prefer, Better Than Bouillon.  Bring to a boil and let simmer for forty five minutes or until the barley is tender.  Add some fresh shucked corn, or frozen if you can’t find it, and when it starts to simmer add some more stock and salt to taste.  And there aren’t many soups that won’t benefit from some grated parmesan over the top before serving.

Glazed Turnips with Garlic Breadcrumbs

The turnips don’t get any sweeter than they are right now and together with the garlic breadcrumbs make a great Fall side dish. Put a cup and a half of water into a sauté pan with a dash of salt and sugar and while its heating peel and wedge your turnips.  Add the turnips to the simmering water and let cook covered for five minutes, then uncovered until the water has evaporated and they’re tender, another fifteen minutes or so.  Follow with a quarter stick of butter and sauté over medium heat for another five minutes.  In a separate pan heat some extra virgin olive oil and add a chopped garlic clove, after a minute add a half a cup of breadcrumbs and with a spatula stir well so the oil is evenly absorbed.  Before serving add the breadcrumbs to your turnips and mix well.  This preparation would also be great for parsnips, leeks, or fennel.