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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Sauteed Asparagus
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tortelloni in Brown Butter & Sage
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
I wish I were a quick thinker and had come back with these snappy answers--- I would have said because it tastes so fresh!! and the texture is so much better than store bought!! And it fills the house with wonderful smells!! and it is easy!! I am always looking for easy hors d'oeuvres, especially ones for Summer.
But then afterwards, his wife wrote to me requesting the recipe! So, he must be wondering too.
Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
adapted from Mediterranean, pg. 38
Fyi - I decided to make this variation of the classic, because I had an opened jar of roasted red peppers in the fridge.
3/4 cup dried chickpeas ( I used 2.5 cups already cooked; canned work too)
juice of 2 lemons ( I used 3)
2 garlic cloves, sliced ( I used 6 minced)
2 T. Olive oil ( I used the good stuff: Prato Longo from Long Meadow Ranch)
2/3 cup tahini paste (It's sesame paste --it comes in a jar -- Greek)
Jar of roasted red peppers, drained, dried, and chopped roughly (about 5)
salt and pepper to taste
extra olive oil and cayenne pepper
parsley for garnish
Soak chickpeas overnight in lots of cold water. Drain and cover with fresh water in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil rapidly for 10 minutes, then reduce heat and simmer gently for about 1 hour, until soft, but not mushy. Drain. I salted them and coated lightly in oil, because I made them in advance and stored them in the refrigerator in a plastic container.
I put everything in my food processor, except the roasted red peppers because I still wasn't sure that the red peppers were going to work, and whizzed it together. You can stop here if you want the classic hummus.
But, I was kind of excited about seeing what the roasted red peppers would add in flavor, and what color it would become. Would it become a pretty red or ugly mush?
Curiosity won. I put them in and pulsed it a few times and scraped down the sides. Wow! the red peppers took over beautifully.
But, I had to re-balance it with a third lemon and more salt and olive oil. The key to good hummus seems to be lots of fresh lemon and enough salt. Don't be shy with the salt. Chickpeas, and most beans, require more salt than you think. Tom wanted more garlic, so I put more in for him.
We served it with store bought baked pita chips, but regular pita bread sliced into triangles work well, especially if toasted, to give them some structure for dipping in the hummus.
Here's the cookbook I used -- I pick up regional cookbooks like this in used bookstores for a few bucks -- they tend to explain the ingredients and some of the history behind the dish -- and this one has lots of great photos with step by step instructions. Inexpensive, yet very helpful, and inspiring.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Three Great Flank Steak Marinades
But, most likely, if you've been to our cottage and had flank steak, it's usually the Asian Flank Steak recipe. It's one of our most popular recipes.
Plus Tom makes this version, using Whiskey.
Flank steak, although somewhat expensive, works well on the grill and is a crowd-pleaser.
If you have any flank steak marinades that work well for you, please share!!!
Teriyaki Flank Steak
from Laddie -- not sure where she got it
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced or pressed
1 t. ground ginger
2 T. firmly packed brown sugar
2 T. lemon juice
2 T. salad oil
1 T. instant minced onion
1/4 t. pepper
1 flank steak (about 1.5 pounds)
Combine all the ingredients and pour over steak, cover, and refrigerate for 6 hours or until the next day. Lift steak from marinade and drain briefly (reserve liquid). Place on lightly greased grill 4 to 6 inches above a solid bed of glowing coals. Cook, turning once and basting with reserve marinade, for about 6 minutes on each side or until done to liking.
To serve, cut meat across the grain into thin, slanting slices.
Serves 4.
Asian Flank Steak
from San Francisco Flavors Cookbook, pg. 149
2 T. fresh lemon juice
1 T. hoisin sauce
3 T. soy sauce
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. freshly ground pepper
2 T. chopped fresh cilantro
1 T. minced fresh ginger
1 2 pound flank steak
2 T. snipped fresh chives for garnish
Combine ingredients, except chives. Mix well until blended. Cover steak and marinade for 2 hours at room temperature, turning once or twice. Grill or broil for 5 to 6 minutes, on each side for medium rare. Transfer to a carving board, cover loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Slice the meat crosswise on the diagonal. Garnish with chives and serve.
Tom's Flank Steak
2 1.5 pound flank steaks
1 cup soy sauce
1 medium red onion, chopped
2 T. garlic powder
1 cup Whiskey
Marinate flank steak overnight in the ingredients. Grill until medium rare and let rest before cutting on the diagonal and serving.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Reversing Crystallized Honey
Just when I needed honey for a recipe, it is once again stuck in a clump, coarse and grainy, not moving, not even with a spoon.
As you can see, I end up with a bunch of half full containers. So, I began to wonder why this happens. And what to do when this happens.
After doing some research, granulation or crystallization happens for a variety of reasons, but in my case, it's probably due to being exposed to moisture, after being opened. It can easily be reversed by heating the honey gently.
I also learned that microwaving is a no-no. I am guilty, but I won't do it again, now that I know how bad it is. Most of the honey containers are now plastic, and they can easily melt in the microwave. But also, high temperatures can darken the honey and ruin the flavor.
It is better to give them a bath in hot water as recommended by honey experts. But, not too hot. Heat the water up in a separate pan, then pour it over them, deep enough to cover the honey. But be sure your lids are sealed. They can fall over, take on water, and ruin the honey. Trust me, I know.
Heat the honey gently, until the crystals dissolve again. I consolidated the honey into one container - -- and bought a new bear for good measure. I also needed it for a painting I was doing for my brother's birthday. You can see it on my art blog, if you wish.
Honey is best stored sealed tightly, and at room temperature (not in the fridge), away from light, according to most of the websites I found on-line. There is a honey hot line, if you want to know more, sponsored by the National Honey Board.