Month: January 2012

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The Best Damn Meyer Lemon Cake

This recipe was sent to me by my sister, I think it was when she heard of my wife’s love of Myer lemons.  I usually don’t like baking, that Lyn’s job, it is to precise with measurements for me. Anyway the title fits I mean really fits made it last night and she wanted some for breakfast this AM. It comes from a site called Saveur. We both thought the almonds flour was a nice touch.

SERVES 8 – 10

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tbsp. butter, plus 8 tbsp. melted
  • 2 tbsp. fine dry bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup whole blanched almonds
  • 1 1/2 cups flour
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • 3/4 tsp. fine salt
  • 1 1/3 cups plus 2 tbsp. sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup milk, at room temperature
  • 2 tsp. lemon extract
  • Zest and juice of 2 Meyer lemons

 INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350°. Grease a loaf pan measuring 8 1/2″ x 4 1/2″ x 2 3/4″ with 1 tbsp. of the butter and dust it with the bread crumbs. Invert and tap out excess crumbs; set aside. In a food processor, grind the almonds until very fine, about 1 minute; set aside. In a bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, and salt and set aside.

2. Put the remaining butter into a large bowl and add 1 cup of the sugar. Mix with an electric mixer on low speed until combined, about 1 minute. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating just long enough to incorporate, about 30 seconds. Add the flour mixture and milk mixture in 3 batches, beginning and ending with the flour. Beat until mixed after each addition, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula, about 3 minutes total. Mix in the lemon extract. With the spatula, fold in the lemon zest and ground almonds. (The mixture will be thin.) Turn batter into prepared pan and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean and dry, about 65 minutes.

3. Transfer the pan to a cooling rack. Prepare the glaze: Combine remaining sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan over medium heat and cook, stirring, until sugar is dissolved, about 2 minutes. (Do not boil.) Brush the glaze over the hot cake. (The excess liquid may pool along the sides of the pan; it will absorb completely as it sits.) Once the cake has absorbed all the liquid, turn it out of the pan and allow it to cool upright on a rack. Once it’s cool, wrap the cake with plastic wrap and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours before serving.

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Rose’s Meatballs
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Rose’s Meatballs

What was a Sunday dinner at Rose’s without meatballs? This is a dish that a pinch of and a handful of that really comes to play. A dish that my side of the family would kill for, a plate of pasta topped with some of Rose’s meatballs.  Lyn and I used to sneak these into Dad when he was in the hospital. Well this was my first try and Lyn says I did ok. You really have to make these every week so you get it down. But then I would be 900 lbs. Quick easy but soooooo good.

I must first say we will probably never be able to master what she did but practice is a lot of fun.

Ingredients

  • 2 lbs. of ground sirloin I used 93% lean
  • 4 eggs – 2 per lbs
  • About 3 handfuls of seasons bread crumbs, each handful was about 1/4 cup
  • About a tablespoon or dried parsley (about a table spoon)
  • About 1/3 cup grated parmigiano reggiano cheese
  • About a table spoon of dried basil (about a table spoon)
  • A couple of teaspoon of garlic powder
  • About a tablespoon of onion powder
  • 1 tsp. Salt and fresh ground pepper

How:

Preheat oven to 350◦

Line a backing sheet with high sides with tin foil and drizzle with then and spread olive oil

Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Using a medium ice cream scoop, scoop out and shape into 2” balls. (Approximately) and line the pan with meatballs leaving a little space between each. Bake for about 20-30 minutes, checking after 30 minutes. The will be firm but not too firm. You can place sauce until ready to serve.

Note: for Xmas I put in sauce and let them simmer with the sauce they came out very moist and as Lyn said melted in your mouth.

                        

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup
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Butternut Squash and Apple Soup

Lyn is laid up on the couch with her foot properly raised about 6” above her thigh and I am playing the part of Nurse Steve. We have nicked named her foot “Gronk Envey”.

Anyway, I was having a practically lonely time shopping and said to myself what makes one feel good, soup I answered, getting a strange look from the person next to me.  I had a long-necked butternut squash in my hands and went straight to the granny smith apples. This shopping trip suddenly had a dual purpose make Lyn feel better and a good soup.

               

Takes about 2 hours total time to the table, quicker if you are not a talker.

 Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Unsalted butter (We keep butter in the freezer since we don’t use it all the time)
  • 1 ½ cups roughly chopped sweet onions
  •  1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 6 cups peeled and roughly diced butternut squash (I like to buy the squash with a long neck this part has no seeds and usually can get enough for what I need. The bottom I save for roasted later.)
  • 3 cups peeled and roughly diced granny smith apples (about 3 apples)
  • 2 tsp. Toasted Spice Rub, recipe below. ( I make a lot and store with my spices for future use.)
  • About 30 to 32 ounces low sodium, low-fat chicken broth or you can use vegetable broth.
  • 3 cups of water to add to the broth. I have left this out it makes a thicker richer soup.)
  • Salt and pepper to taste (Don’t add until you taste finished soup a lot of times it really does not need)

How:

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, and cook until it turns nut brown, just about the time it stops foaming. Add the sweet onions and cook until slightly softened, about 2-4 minutes. Add the garlic until you smell it 10-20 seconds

Now add the squash and apples, raise temp to high, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to caramelize, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in the Toasted Spice Rub and cook briefly to toast it, about 1 minute.

Add the broth-water mixture, bring to a simmer, and partially cover (use a wooden spoon across the pot rest the cover on that. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the squash and apples are tender, about 40 minutes.

In about 3 or 4 batches transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Return to a pot, reheat and season with salt and pepper if desired.

Toasted Spice Rub

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup fennel seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. black peppercorns ( I have made with a mixture of pepper corns not bad)
  • 1 1/82 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp. kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. ground Cinnamon

In a small heavy pan over medium heat, combine the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Learned this during my Chinese wok cooking stage, turn on the exhaust fan; add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Having trouble breathing? I said under the exhaust fan silly, I did bold it!” Immediately empty the spice mixture onto a plate to cool. I have a small coffee grinder for grinding spices; grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining chili powder, cinnamon and salt. You can use a blender and blend until the spices are evenly ground.  Either way works for me.

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Almond-Crusted Salmon

In our search for a healthier lifestyle we came across the Sonoma Diet maybe six years ago. I loved the way it was set up and the huge selection of meals was great.  Felt like I was cooking gourmet almost every night and in fact lost a few inches around the waist, my wife hates me I was not trying to lose weight. We have bought 3 or 4 of their cook books since and they are one of the ones I go to more often than not for ideas of what to do with whatever struck our fancy at the meat or fish market. I like to look at two or three of the same type of recipes from different sources for ideas and then make it with my own flair. Anyway this one needs no changes but I have tried cashews, pistachio and walnuts shhh don’t tell Connie.

  From: Sonoma Diet wave 2 and 3 express

Makes 4 servings

Start to finish 20 minutes

Ingredients:

  • 1 lbs. salmon fillet, skinned, cut in 4-ounce portions
  • 2 Tbsp. whole wheat bread crumbs
  • 2 tsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. almonds, lightly toasted, coarsely chopped
  • 2 tsp. parsley, chopped
  • 1 tsp. thyme, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil or canola oil

How:

Season salmon with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Combine the bread crumbs and extra virgin olive oil. Mix just to coat the crumbs. Add chopped almonds and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Spread on a plate.

Gently press each portion of seasoned salmon into almond mixture to coat one side. Place crumb-side up on a plate.

Heat a non stick pan over medium heat. Add oil, then place the fish, crumb-side down, in the pan. Cook about 2 minutes or until the crumbs are golden brown. Carefully turn the fish and cook 2-4 more minutes until the fish is just cooked through. Remove from the pan.

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Pork Gravy and Pork Loin roast

by Steve Saver on Friday, May 6, 2011 at 2:06pm facebook
This is from an old post I put on facebook.  I just love the taste of slow roasted pork or even a sirloin beef roast. I have never been able to make a pork roast like my mother in-law Rose did, it just melted in the mouth. She turned me on to the fact that pork had a lot more going for it then just bacon. Kosher bacon of course.

Posted to facebook: “Ok I decided that I never use this (facebook) so I should start and what better way than to share something I like to do, cook. I made loin pork roast the other day that melted in our mouths. BTW this is a kosher piece of pork.”

Pork gravy

(Gravy not my recipe, well not just yet this first run at it)

Ingredients

  • ½ cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 4 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • ½ cup apple cider or low or no sodium broth
  • 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons agave nectar – eyeball it or here is a hint if you are using measuring devices for honey or the likes. Spray them lightly with oil and they will slide right out of the spoon or cup.
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon
  • Pinch of nutmeg or 2 grates

After you have browned the pork on all sides and removed from pan add the apple sauce and use to deglaze scrapping up the brown bits with a wooden spoon over medium low heat, add the rest of the ingredients and stir constantly until it thickens up season with salt and pepper to taste.

Good stuff

Pork Roast

How

I rinsed with water and then patted very dry

Salted with about 2 teaspoons of salt, wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for half the day but it should work if done for at least an hour.

Preheat oven to 250 you know your oven.

Optional preheat the oven to 400-450 and turned down to 300-325. I usually do this with meat but where I browned the meat first I did not think it is necessary. I was right. Maybe use if you do not like to brown or making gravy.

After that I patted dry again and sprinkled with pepper, dried oregano, crumbled dried rosemary

Then I browned over medium high heat (you know your stove) with a little oil, on all sides took about 10 minutes and put on a rack, fat side up, in my roasting pan. Stuck the baby with a thermometer and set it to 150

Ok here’s the thing I got to talking with Lyn and did not notice how long it took to cook. Estimate about 15-20 minutes per pound but then you know your stove.

Let it sit on counter loosely covered for at least 15 minutes, slice and season to taste. My wife’s a pepper head.

Now eat baby!

You can do the same for sirloin beef roast just use liberal salt and pepper, different gravy though,  I don’t do gravy for the beef. Slow and low cooking makes a tender flavorful roast with these cuts. Season to taste after slicing.

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Oven Roasted Steak Fries

I love French fires but all that oil gets to my stomach so I was always looking for an alternative. Rachel Ray gave me the idea I just change it up depending on what else I am cooking. Might as well make them complement my main meal right?

Ingredients

  • 3 medium russet potatoes washed, scrubbed and dried.
    • I have used sweet potatoes are good but they do not keep their firmness.
    • You can use any potato you want, some will work some won’t.
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt
  • Here is where you can change it up, choose
    • A few twist of fresh ground pepper to taste or
    • Herbs de Provence or
    • Crushed Rosemary, Basil and Thyme or
    • Vinegar salt or
    • Cayenne or
    • I think you get the idea, endless

How

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Leaving peel on, cut the potatoes lengthwise, about 3/4-inch to 1-inch wide. Combine the potatoes, oil, salt and your choice of herbs on the baking sheet and toss to combine. Arrange the potatoes on a baking sheet in a single layer, but evenly spaced so the potatoes aren’t touching. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, about 30 minutes turning over about ¾ through. I have read some recipes that say that if the skin side is on bottom last they come out better but I just spread, bake and turn.

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Spicy Blue Potatoes & Corn Salad.

I wondered why I open the lower frig draw and saw blue or purple potatoes, I’m color blind can’t tell the difference, was Lyn hinting she wanted something different, was she challenging my adventurousness? Then she came to me and said those words I have heard so many times before, “Do you think you could make this?”(from  Isa Chandra Moskowitz). Sure no problem but what will we have with it, soon there was a trip to the meat market and a steak, pork chop and a couple of pounds of ground sirloin later we were headed back to our kitchen. Who would have thought a few potatoes could lead to a trip to the Meat House. New butcher shop we found via LivingSocials so we decided to try it we will compare to Wholefoods quality. Forget about what we have in the freezer this called for fresh meat.

Serves 6

Prep 20 minutes

Total time includes cooling about 45 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 ears of corn  ( about 2 ¼ cups of frozen kernels)
  • 3 Pounds Blue potatoes, peeled and cut into ½” pieces
  • 3 table spoons red wine vinegar
  • 2 canned chipotles, seeded and mashed into a paste
  • 2 Tbsp. Adobe sauce from the chipotles can
  • 2 tsp. of grape seed oil (I did not have grape seed oil, so olive oil for me)
  • 1 tsp. light agave nectar
  • 2 Tbsp. water
  • ¼ tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. garlic grated or minced very fine
  • 1 (16 ounce) can pinto beans. Drained and rinsed
  • 2 Tbsp. finely chopped red onion (I did not have red onions but had shallots so I used them)1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro mixed greens for serving. Smoked paprika (optional)
  • ¼ red bell pepper finely chopped (Steve tweak)

How

Prepare your steamer while you prep the veggies.

First steam the corn about 5 minutes if on cob, about 2 minutes if frozen kernels. Remove the corn from the steamer put aside to cool.

Place the potatoes in the steamer and steam for about 7-8 minutes until tender enough to pierce with a fork, but not falling apart.  Remove and set aside to cool.

In the meantime, preparing the dressing.  Note: I usually just put the ingredients together in a bowl eyeing the measurements but decided to take a picture hence the little bowls that Lyn got me a while back for prepping. In a small mixing bowl stir together the vinegar, chipotles, adobo, oil, agave, water, and salt. Grate in the garlic or add the minced garlic.

When the corn is cool enough to handle, place in a larger mixing bowl pointy side up. Steve Hint: I like to place a small cup or bowl bottom side up inside the bowl and place the flat side on the cob on the bowl bottom making a stand. This makes it easier to run you knife along the corn cob removing the kernels from the cob. Break apart separating kernels. If using frozen corn then all that is done already isn’t it.

Fold in the cooled potatoes, pinto beans, red pepper and red onion (shallot).

Add the dressing and toss to coat. Mix in the cilantro and taste for salt.  You can add the paprika now to taste if you want. Chill until ready to serve on top of some mixed greens

Steve tweak: Instead of steaming the corn on the cob I would grill on the BBQ that would add a smoky flavor and sweeten up the corn little.

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The Ultimate Yummy

My brother was a recipient of that chain email I talked even though he did not join he did send me a recipe. He was an inspiration to me working at Danny Kay’s that small Italian restaurant in Falmouth long since gone, making sauces and other delights. I remember walking in when I moved back to the cape from Chicago (at least 3 years had passed) and Paula Rose asked me if I wanted my usual Veal parmesan.  It was the kind of place that you could share stories and sometimes food with people sitting next to you at least my Dad did. I think that is why I can make new friends in a line.

Anyway Mike sent this

Sorry, but I am not into the mass recipe things. But I would like to share this wonderful treat. The problem is that it is really not very good for those on a diet. But it is unbelievably yummy. Once made, it can be frozen and saved for a special day. Nancy’s daughter-in-law made it. It lasted just a few days in our freezer!

Call it what you want. We just call it “The Ultimate Yummy!”

Enjoy!

Nancy and Mike

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup butter
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla
  • Semi-sweet chocolate chips (doesn’t say how much) I prob use about 1/2 a bag
  • Saltine crackers

How:

Preheat oven to 350

Line cookie sheet with aluminum foil

Grease foil and line with saltines

Melt butter and brown sugar in small saucepan. Bring to boil stirring constantly. Boil for exactly 3 minutes. Remove from heat and add vanilla.

Pour mixture over saltines and spread evenly. Bake for 5 minutes

Remove from oven and put chocolate chips on top. Allow chips to melt and spread evenly

Refrigerate to set. Break up crackers and remove aluminum foil from bottom of the cookies

Keep refrigerated until ready to serve

Here are some tweaks I might try.

Use light brown sugar and no salt butter, use dark chocolate and maybe melts some white chocolate and drizzle on top.  Chopped golden raisins and or nuts pecan or walnuts mmm?  But like I say, try it the cooks way first you should taste what they created.

PS I did a quick Google search on the ingredients and found that this is similar to Saltine Butter/Cracker/nut Toffee so I admit it I grabbed a picture, this is something that I have to stay away from but it sounds soooooo good.

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Oven-fried Chicken Cutlets

This is a healthier version of my pan-fried chicken cutlets. I also like to use the tenders the same way to make chicken fingers.

Oven-fried Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken breast split and tenders removed. (depends on how many you are feeding or cooking to freeze)
  • 1 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2 eggs to start
  • 1-2 Tbsp. Tabasco or hot sauce per 2 eggs (optional). Note: I add, it does not give the heat but adds to the flavor.
  • 2 cups whole wheat Italian bread crumbs to start. Note: You can actually use whatever type of breadcrumbs season yourself does not have to be Italian.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Olive oil 3 Tbsp. to start

To start you may have to add more of these items depending on the batch size.

How

Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to about ¼ inch and cut in half

Set up the assembly line in three shallow dishes (pie plates), flour in one, lightly beaten eggs with optional tabasco sauce in another, bread crumbs in the last.

Preheat oven to 350°

Dredge a chicken cutlet in flour shake off excess place in egg covering wiggle around to cover flip over and wiggle, move to bread crumbs cover completely all side and place on a plate. Repeat.

  • Note: I use one hand to do this it does cake up on the fingers.
  • Depending on the batch size. I believe if you have a bowl of water next to you can rinse then dry your hand after each piece but heck I just go for it washing my hands every once in a while.

Place in a single layer on baking sheet, lightly spray  the tops of cutlets and back until golden brown about 20-25 minutes (with or without parchment paper). The cutlet will feel firm when done and you can always cut one open to get an idea of time/doneness got to feed the chef right? No wonder I am not hungry when it hits the table.

There are so many ways to serve these, plain, with sauce, use to make quick chicken parmesan, in a sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes and roasted peppers…….

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Pan-fried Chicken Cutlets

I remember going to my in-laws and Sunday dinner where mounds of homemade lasagna, meatballs, pasta, brasciol, mineste soup little meatballs, greens OMG all those Italian delights covering every open inch of the table. Mom would be up at 4 AM pans clanging, blender whirling and soon that sauce was simmering it was not long before you woke to the smells and you snuck in dipped a piece of bread into the sauce for a quick breakfast appetizer.   I must have gained 5 lbs. every time we ventured to Maine for the weekend.

Although a small part of the meal it is something that stuck with me and became a staple of our diet only to be modified when we had to get healthier see Oven-baked Chicken fried cutlets.

Pan-fried Chicken Cutlets

Ingredients

  • Boneless skinless chicken breast split and tenders removed. (depends on how many you are feeding or cooking to freeze)
  • 1 cup flour
  • 2 eggs to start
  • 1-2 Tbsp. Tabasco or hot sauce per 2 eggs (optional). Note: I add, it does not give the heat but adds to the flavor.
  • 2 cups Italian bread crumbs to start. Note: You can actually use whatever type of breadcrumbs season yourself does not have to be Italian.
  • Salt and pepper to taste.
  • Olive oil 3 Tbsp. to start

How

Pound the chicken breasts between two pieces of plastic wrap to about ¼ inch and cut in half

Set up the assembly line in three shallow dishes (pie plates), flour in one, lightly beaten eggs with optional tabasco sauce in another, bread crumbs in the last.

Heat 3 Tbsp. olive oil in fry pan over medium heat then lower slightly we you add the chicken.

Dredge a chicken cutlet in flour shake off excess place in egg covering wiggle around to cover flip over and wiggle, move to bread crumbs cover completely all side and place on a plate. Repeat.

  • Note: I use one hand to do this it does cake up on the fingers.
  • Depending on the batch size. I believe if you have a bowl of water next to you can rinse then dry your hand after each piece but heck I just go for it washing my hands every once in a while.

Anyway when you get 4 ready add to the heated oil and fry about 2-3 minutes per side depending on the thickness until golden brown. The cutlet will feel firm when done and you can always cut one open to get an idea of time/doneness got to feed the chef right? You will mostly likely want to turn the heat lower after the 1st or 2nd batch. Depending on batch side you can clean the pan out from time to time with a wad of paper towels.

Place cook cutlets on a paper towel to absorb excess oil.

There are so many ways to serve these, plain, with sauce, use to make quick chicken parmesan, in a sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes and roasted peppers…….