Month: July 2014

What a difference an hour make
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What a difference an hour make

I went out on the deck this morning  and thought the the passion fruit vine looked ready so I too a few snap shots1

Then  about an hour later I noticed this, it looked liked it was just starting to do something

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Then about an hour later

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Then again another hour

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we got one a few weeks ago but never saw this happen like today, here is the one from a few weeks ago

 

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we had combine two separate plants last fall so I guess that is why two different colors.

They only last one day

Passion Fruit

PASSION FRUIT

B/W sketch

Passiflora edulis / P. edulis flavicarpa

Passifloraceae

Common Names: Passion Fruit, Granadilla, Purple Granadilla, Yellow Passion Fruit

Related Species: Fragrant Granadilla (Passiflora alata), Red Granadilla (P. coccinea), Maypop (P. incarnata), Yellow Granadilla (P. Laurifolia), Sweet Granadilla (P. ligularis), Sweet Calabash (P. maliformis), Banana Passion Fruit (P. mollissima), Giant Granadilla (P. quadrangularis).

Origin: The purple passion fruit is native from southern Brazil through Paraguay to northern Argentina. It has been stated that the yellow form is of unknown origin, or perhaps native to the Amazon region of Brazil, or is a hybrid between P. edulis and P. ligularis. Cytological studies have not borne out the hybrid theory. In Australia the purple passion fruit was flourishing and partially naturalized in coastal areas of Queensland before 1900. In Hawaii, seeds of the purple passion fruit, brought from Australia, were first planted in 1880 and the vine came to be popular in home gardens.

Adaptation: The purple passion fruit is subtropical and prefers a frost-free climate. However, there are cultivars that can take temperatures into the upper 20’s (°F) without serious damage. The plant is widely grown in California as far north as San Jose, the Monterey Bay Area and the San Franciso Bay Area. The vines may lose some of their leaves in cool winters. The roots often resprout even if the top is killed. The plant does not grow well in intense summer heat. The yellow passion fruit is tropical or near-tropical and is much more intolerant of frost. Both forms need protection from the wind. Generally, annual rainfall should be at least 35 inches. Passion fruit vines make good container specimens but require maintenance. They perform well indoors.

DESCRIPTION

Growth Habit: The passion fruit is a vigorous, climbing vine that clings by tendrils to almost any support. It can grow 15 to 20 ft. per year once established and must have strong support. It is generally short-lived (5 to 7 years).

Foliage: The evergreen leaves of passion fruit are alternate, deeply 3-lobed when mature and finely toothed. They are 3 to 8 inches long, deep green and glossy above, paler and dull beneath and, like the young stems and tendrils, tinged with red or purple, specially in the yellow form.

Flowers: A single, fragrant flower, 2 to 3 inches wide, is born at each node on the new growth. The bloom, clasped by 3 large, green, lifelike bracts, consists of 5 greenish-white sepals, 5 white petals and a fringelike corona of straight, white-tipped rays, rich purple at the base. It also has 5 stamens with large anthers, the ovary and triple-branched style forming a prominent central structure. Purple passion fruit is self-fruitful, but pollination is best under humid conditions. The flowers of the yellow form are perfect but self-sterile. Carpenter bees are the most efficient pollinator, much more so than honey bees. Wind is ineffective because of the heaviness and stickiness of the pollen. The flowers can also be hand pollinated.

Fruit: The nearly round or ovoid fruit, 1-1/2 to 3 inches wide, has a tough rind that is smooth and waxy and ranging in hue from dark purple with faint, fine white specks, to light yellow or pumpkin-color. Within is a cavity more or less filled with an aromatic mass of double walled, membranous sacs containing orange-colored, pulpy juice and as many as 250 small, hard, dark brown or black, pitted seeds. The unique flavor is appealing, musky, guava-like and sweet/tart to tart. The yellow form has generally larger fruit than the purple, but the pulp of the purple is less acid, richer in aroma and flavor, and has a higher proportion of juice (35-38%). Numerous hybrids have been made between purple and the yellow passion fruit, often yielding colors and other characteristic intermediate between the two forms. The vine, especially the yellow form, is fast-growing and will begin to bear in 1 to 3 years. Ripening occurs 70 to 80 days after pollination.

CULTURE

Location: Plant passion fruit vines in full sun except in very hot areas where partial shade is preferable. The vine can be rather rampant, so it is important to plant it next to a chain link fence or install a strong trellis before planting. The plants can also be trained into an attractive arbor.

Soil: Passion fruit vines grow on many soil types but light to heavy sandy loams with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5 are the most suitable. Excellent drainage is absolutely necessary. Also, the soil should be rich in organic matter and low in salts. If the soil is too acid, lime must be applied. Because the vines are shallow-rooted, they will benefit from a thick layer of organic mulch.

Irrigation: Regular watering will keep a vine flowering and fruiting almost continuously. Water requirement is high when fruits are approaching maturity. If the soil is dry, fruits may shrivel and fall prematurely.

Fertilization: Passion fruit vines are vigorous growers and require regular fertilizing. A good choice is 10-5-20 NPK applied at the rate of 3 pounds per plant 4 times a year. Too much nitrogen results in vigorous foliage growth at the expense of flowering. Passion fruit vines should always be watched for deficiencies, particularly in potassium and calcium, and of less importance, magnesium. Plants that have been damaged by frost should receive a generous fertilizing after the weather has warmed

Pruning: Pruning is necessary to keep the vines within bounds, to make harvest easier and to keep the plants productive by maintaining vigorous growth. In warm winter climates prune immediately after harvest. In areas with cool winters prune in early spring. As a a general rule remove all weak growth and cut back vigorous growth by at least one third. In very hot climates allow a thick canopy of foliage to grow around the fruit to prevent sunburn.

Frost Protection: Because of their mass, passion fruit vines are difficult to cover when freezes threaten, but the layers of leaves help protect the inner branches from frost damage. The plant will also usually come back even when frozen to the ground. The best strategy is to grow the vines against a wall or deck or in a patio. Any kind of overhead protection provides additional benefits.

Propagation: Passion fruit vines are usually grown from seeds. With the yellow form seedling variation provides cross-pollination and helps overcome the problem of self-sterility. Seed planted soon after removal from the fruit will germinate in 10 to 20 days. Cleaned and stored seeds have a lower and slower rate of germination. Seeds should be planted 1/2 to 1 inch deep in beds, and seedlings may be transplanted when 10 inches high. If taller (up to 3 feet), the tops should be cut back and the plants heavily watered.

Plants can also be propagated by layers or cuttings of matured wood with 3 to 4 nodes. Rooting may be hastened by hormone treatment. Cuttings should be well rooted and ready for setting out in 90 days. Grafting is an important means of perpetuating hybrids and reducing nematode damage and diseases by utilizing the resistant yellow passion fruit rootstock. Scions of healthy young plants are grafted to seedlings, making sure the diameter of the scion matches that of the rootstock. Either a cleft graft, whip graft or side-wedge graft may be made.

Pests and Diseases: In tropical areas passion fruit vines are attacked by a host of pests and diseases. In these areas the purple passion fruit is particularly susceptible to nematodes, while the yellow passion fruit is more nematode resistant. In California the problems are much less severe, although the plants can be afflicted with nematodes and viruses as well as Fusarium and other diseases that thrive in cool soils. Nematodes are partially responsible for the short life of many passion fruit vines. Snails can also be a serious problem in California, often completely stripping a vine of leaves and bark, killing young plants or predisposing them to disease.

Harvest: The fruit will quickly turn from green to deep purple (or yellow) when ripe and then fall to the ground within a few days. They can either be picked when they change color or gathered from the ground each day. To store passion fruit, wash and dry them gently and place them in bags. They should last 2 to 3 weeks at 50° F. The fruit is sweetest when slightly shriveled. Both the fruit and the juice freeze well. The flavor of passion fruit blends well with citrus and many other fruit flavors, and is quickly appreciated by many people as they become familiar with it.

CULTIVARS

Purple form

Black Knight
Developed in Massacusetts for pot culture by Patrick Worley. Fragrant, dark purple-black fruit, the size and shape of large egg. Flavor excellent. Vigorous, compact vine, self-fertile, very fruitful. Handsome glossy foliage. Excellent for containers.
Edgehill
Originated in Vista, Calif. Similar to Black Knight, but more vigorous, larger growing and with larger purple fruit. One of the best outdoor cultivars for Southern California.
Frederick
Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Large, nearly oval fruit, greenish-purple with reddish cast. Slightly tart flavor. Good for eating out of hand, excellent for juicing. Extremely vigorous, self-fruitful vine. Very productive, more compact than P. edulis flavicarpa.
Kahuna
Very large, medium purple fruit. Sweet, subacid flavor. Good for juicing. Vigorous, productive self-fertile vine. Produces over a long season. Large, attractive foliage.
Paul Ecke
Originated in Encinitas, Calif. Medium-sized purple fruit of very good quality. Suitable for juicing and eating out of hand. Compact, very productive vine.
Purple Giant
Very large fruit, dark purple when mature.
Red Rover
Originated in Lincoln Acres, Calif. by Patrick Worley. Kahuna X Brazilian Golden. Medium to large, roundish fruit. Rind an attractive clear red color. Sweet, notably rich flavor with tart overtones,. Good for eating out of hand or juicing. Vine very vigorous, compact and self-fertile.

Yellow form

Brazilian Golden
Large, golden-yellow fruits, larger than standard forms. Flavor somewhat tart. Extremely vigorous vine, requiring cross-pollination. Extra large, fragrant flowers, white with a dark center, blooming during mid-summer. Produces one large crop beginning in late August or early September.
Golden Giant
A large yellow-fruited cultivar that originated in Australia.

 

 

 

 

 

100 cherries pitted and ready
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100 cherries pitted and ready

We grabbed a couple of bags, now they are pitted and ready what to do, what to make. I have to step away or there won’t be any left, though it would make the decision easier.

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5 Health benefits of cherries

Cherries help ease arthritis pain

For those who suffer from arthritis and gout, you will be relieved to find out that adding cherries to your diet can greatly decrease the intense pain associated with those ailments. Excess uric acid in the blood is the culprit behind the excruciating pain that causes swelling, tenderness and inflammation.  A study done by the USDA found that uric acid can be reduced by as much as 15 percent by eating 2 cups of Bing cherries. Cherries can also help reduce painful inflammation by decreasing the amount of C-reactive protein produced. So add a little zing to your diet by choosing Bing (cherries).

Cherries help fight cancer

The distinctive deep red pigment cherries are known for comes from flavonoids; powerful antioxidants that help fight free radicals in the body. Cyanidin is a flavonoid from the anthocyanin group found in cherries that helps keep cancerous cells from growing out of control. And, for cherries with the most anthocyanins go for sweet cherries with the deepest pigment; crimson-purple rather than bright red.

Cherries help you sleep

If sipping a cup of chamomile isn’t enough to induce restful sleep try having tart cherry juice before bed. Tart cherries contain melatonin, a hormone that helps make you feel sleepy. Two tablespoons of tart cherry juice has been shown in studies to be just as effective as a melatonin supplement. So, pour yourself a little cherry juice nightcap for a tasty bedtime sleep aid.

Cherries and blood pressure

Cherries are an excellent source of potassium, which helps to lower blood pressure by getting rid of the excess sodium in our body. Eating cherries helps keep potassium and sodium in balance, and can prevent hypertension from occurring. One cup of cherries has the same amount of potassium as a banana

 

Cherries

Stuffed Grape leaves and stuffed peppers- an act of love
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Stuffed Grape leaves and stuffed peppers- an act of love

This was an act of love, I mean really an act of love but well worth it.

Prepared two things  separate times, stuffed grape leaves and stuffed peppers booth same recipe just different holders so to speak. I made these months ago not sure why I have delayed posting perhaps it was a traumatic experience for me. The first batch I had some left over stuffing and a red peeper so tried that out. Hence the second batch was just the peppers. Thanks to Richard for loaning me his Armenian Cooking Today book. Now I know what to do with all the grape leaves that grow in the woods beside, around the house and neighborhood. Through him, his aunt suggest only using the younger leaves. I tried this with store bought and learned that one should definitely soak the leaves in water to get rid of the salt which seemed to grow stronger as the days went on.

 

Stuffed Grape leaves and stuffed peppers

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Ingredients

  • 3 pounds onions, chopped about 10 cups
  • 1 cup olive oil
  • 1 cup long grain rice
  • 2 Tbsp. minced parsley
  • ¼ cup minced dill
  • 1 Tbsp. sugar
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ¼ tsp. cayenne pepper
  • ½ tsp. ground allspice
  • ½ cup pine nuts
  • ¼ cup currants or golden raisins
  • 1 tomato, peeled and finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. tomato paste
  • 2 ¼ cups water
  • Juice of half a lemon 1 jar grape leaves (12 oz)

 

stuffed peppers

stuffed peppers

stuffed grape leaves

stuffed grape leaves

How

In a large skillet sauté onions in oil over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, stirring occasionally until onions are begin to wilt. Add the ingredients up to and including the currants /raisins.

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Combine the tomato and tomato paste with half a cup of water and add to the skillet, blending in carefully. Lower the flame, cover and cook additional fifteen minutes, Shut flame, Let cool ten minutes the add lemon juice and stir.

Spread grape leaf shinny side down with stem end at bottom. Place a spoonful of stuffing in center, fold over both sides and roll from the bottom too the tip of the leaf, It will resemble a small sausage when rolled up. Continue with remain leaves.

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Line the bottom of a wide 6 quart saucepan with the extra grape leaves and dill and parsley stems. Arrange the wrapped leaves, seam side down, in alternating rows. Place a few grape leaves on top and a small inverted dish. Pour in remaining water.

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Bring to a boil, then simmer, covered, for about one hour. Let cool in the sauce pan before removing pale or leaves, a t least one hour. Then refrigerate. Serve the stuffed leaves cold or at room temperature. Garnish platter with sprigs of parsley and lemon wedges.

 

Yield about 75 stuffed leaves.  I should have read this line first.

Garnish: parsley sprigs and lemon edges

Gluten-Free Baked Maryland Crab Cakes – First for Women’s magazine
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Gluten-Free Baked Maryland Crab Cakes – First for Women’s magazine

Gluten-Free Baked Maryland Crab Cakes – First for Women’s magazine

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Ingredients

½ cup canned white beans, drained

2 large eggs

2 Tbs. seafood seasoning, like Old Bay

1 Tbs. Dijon Mustard

1 lb. lumped crabmeat- drained

1 lemon, zested and juiced

1 Cup Gluten-free panko bread crumbs, divided.

 

Using the panko breadcrumbs instead of regular ones gives these patties and extra crisp coating and there is no need to fry them in oil.

 

How

In processor, puree the first 4 ingredients: transfer to bowl. Stir in the crab, w 2 Tbs. lemon juice, 2 tsp. lemon zest and ½ cup panko crumbs, Shape into 8 patties.

 

Heat oven to 400, Coat the cakes with remaining panko; place on a greased baking sheet, Coat with cooking spray. Bake 12 minutes or until done, turning once and coating again with cooking spray.

 

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Mirepoix

Mirepoix2 parts onion

1 part carrot

1 part celery

 

Mirepoix (pronounced “meer-pwah”) is a combination of chopped carrots, celery and onions used to add flavor and aroma to stocks, sauces, soups and other foods. The proportions (by weight) for making mirepoix are 50% onions, 25% carrots and 25% celery.

When you’re making stock, the mirepoix is ultimately strained out, so it’s not important to use great precision when chopping the vegetables. The sizes should be more or less uniform, however, to allow for uniform cooking times.

The more finely mirepoix is chopped, the more quickly its flavor and aroma is released into a stock. Since brown stock is simmered longer than white stock, it’s perfectly acceptable to cut the mirepoix into pieces an inch or two in size. For white stock, a ½-inch dice is probably best.

Making Stock with Mirepoix

For brown stocks such as beef stock, use a pound of mirepoix per 6 quarts of cold water. It’s customary to roast the mirepoix before adding it to the stock liquid, which contributes flavor and color to the finished stock.

For white stocks such as chicken stock or veal stock, use about a pound of mirepoix for 5 quarts of cold water. For fish stock, use half a pound of mirepoix per gallon of cold water. You can cook the mirepoix and fish bones in butter for a few minutes before adding the water.

Mirepoix Variations:

  • Leeks can be used in place of some or all of the onions.
  • If you want a colorless stock, you can make a “white mirepoix” by substituting parsnips, mushroom trimmings, or both, for the carrots, or just omitting the carrots altogether.

 

 

 

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Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup – Stonewall Kitchen

Lyn loves gluten free me I can take it or leave it although I now notice how the gluten effects me.

I still think most gluten free bread is dry and crumbly, like saw dust was how the man sitting beside me at the class described it. We both got the disapproving look from his wife and probably mine beside me.

We mentioned Abigail’s bakery  in New Hampshire– they do have good bread but it is hard to find so we get it shipped to us. Then there is Twist in Millis, MA tried once was impressed.

Anyway at the class they made this which turned Lyn on, I finished half and gave the rest to her it was good but I’m not much of a desert person.

Fantastic, flavorful dishes that just happen to be gluten free.

  • Thai Beef Salad with Grilled Sirloin Steak, Chinese Cabbage, Red Peppers and Cilantro
  • Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice
  • Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies
  • Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup

Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup – Stonewall Kitchen

 

This was taken off the web looks close to what we had.

This was taken off the web looks close to what we had.

Ingredients

  • 2 large navel oranges, washed
  • 5 eggs
  • 1-1/4 cups superfine sugar
  • 2-1/2 cups ground almonds
  • 1 tsp. baking powder
  • Confectioners sugar to serve- Did you know that in bakeries the baker will call out for 10X when they need this type of sugar.

Variations: 1 Tbsp. poppy seed, substitute 3 medium mandarins for the oranges

 

How:

Preheat oven to 325

Grease and line (with parchment paper) the base of eights small heart shaped pans or one 9 inch springform. – good place to pick up spring forms pans are at yard sales everyone buys these with high hopes uses a few time then sells at their yard sales.

 

Place two whole oranges in a sauce pan and cover with water. Bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 1 hour, ensuring that the oranges remain covered with water. Drain and cool. Chop the oranges into quarters discarding any seeds, than place the chunks into a blender and puree until smooth.

Beat eggs with sugar until thick, than add the orange puree, ground almonds and baking powder and mix well.

Pour into the prepared pans and bake for 25 minutes for the small pans and 1 hour for the large pan. Leave the cake to firm up in the pan for 20 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack, remove baking paper and flip over to finish cooling, top side up. This cake definitely mellows with a little time and can be prepared up to 48 hours in advance.

To serve, sift confectioners’ sugar on top. You can also decorate with orange zest and flaked almonds if desired.

 

Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup

Ingredients

4 oranges

1 cup superfine sugar

½ cup water

½ cup water, extra

1 Tbsp. Cointreau

 

How

Peel oranges thickly, leaving no white pith. Slice segment and place into large bowl

Place sugar and water into a sauce pan and stir over medium heat to dissolve.

Once the sugar is dissolved, increase the heat to boil, without stirring, until the syrup is a light golden color. Remove the pan from the heat and add the extra water, taking care as the syrup will spit a little. Return the pan to the heat and stir to devolve toffee, and then remove from the heat and leave to cool. Stir in the Cointreau.

Half hour before serving , put the toffee syrup over the oranges.

Server with sweetened mascarpone or as an accompaniment to the Orange and Almond Cake

 

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Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies – Stonewall Kitchen

I love roasted veggies and have a lot of post about them her is just another twist grilled on the BBQ

Fantastic, flavorful dishes that just happen to be gluten free.

  • Thai Beef Salad with Grilled Sirloin Steak, Chinese Cabbage, Red Peppers and Cilantro
  • Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice
  • Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies
  • Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup

Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies – Stonewall Kitchen

marinated grilled veggies

Ingredients

1 eggplant, sliced into 2” rounds

2 summer squash, cut into 2” thick slices lengthwise

2 zucchini, cut into 2” thick slices lengthwise

2 portabella mushrooms – de-finned

2 yellow bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2” wide slices lengthwise

2 red bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2” wide slices lengthwise

1 medium red onion, peeled and sliced into ½” rounds

 

Marinade

1 Tbsp. kosher salt

1/3 cup red wine

1/3 cup olive oil

2 cloves minced garlic

1 Tbsp. grated orange rind

½ cup minced sage leaves

½ cup coarsely chopped basil

¼ cup minced fresh rosemary

1 Tbsp. Fresh black pepper

 

How

Combine cut veggies and mixed marinade for 1-4 hours, drain and paced on medium high grill turning frequently. About 6-8 minutes

 

 

Did you know that when buying portabella mushrooms you want it to be tighter to the stem that is why they always sell packaged steam side down so you can’t see this. Wide open mushrooms are father along.

 

 

 

 

A portobello mushroom is nothing more than a fully mature cultivated white mushroom. Most people think it’s an exotic mushroom, but it’s just the regular white supermarket variety that’s been allowed to grow to maturity.

Back in the 80s, a clever marketing campaign coined the name “Portobello” to bestow a little more cache to the oft-overlooked grown-up creminis, and boost their popularity. Portobellos are actually creminis, which are the cultivated brown mushrooms you see in the supermarket.

The difference between the three mushrooms is the maturity. The white button is the youngest and most mild tasting. If not harvested, it grows into a cremini, which is pretty similar to the white button in terms of size and taste, although it has a brown cap and is slightly deeper in flavor. Further growing of the cremini will yield the fully mature portobello, which has the most complex flavor.

With this in mind, you simply choose portobellos the same way you’d choose any cultivated mushroom. Here’s a few tips:

* Choose firm mushrooms. Avoid any that have withered. It’s okay if they’ve slightly dried — that only intensifies their flavor, but look to make sure they’re not entirely soft/wrinkly and in the process of collapsing.

* Avoid any that are slimy or bruised, or have other surface blemishes — like pits or gouges.

*Smell it: it should smell earthy. If there’s any hint of ammonia, or other off odors, then you know the mushroom has spoiled.

How you store your mushrooms is very important. If you’ve bagged them in plastic at the store, it’s imperative that you remove them from the bag when you get home. Plastic traps moisture, which will cause the mushrooms to rot. You want to strike a happy medium: not too dry, not too moist. I prefer to spread them out in a single layer on a parchment covered baking sheet, and then cover them with a linen or cotton dishtowel loosely draped on top, and then place the tray on a refrigerator shelf. They stay nice and fresh like this for a few days.

To clean them, you can use a soft brush, like a pastry brush, or a damp paper towel. Most people caution against soaking mushrooms to clean them because they absorb so much water that they can become waterlogged and mushy; however, I have had no trouble immersing them for a quick dunk and swirling them around to dislodge any dirt. I drain them in a colander and give them a good shake, and then turn them out onto paper towels to dry. I think it’s best to store them unwashed, and then clean them shortly before use.

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Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice – Stonewall Kitchen

This was another dish from the cooking class I had a small port tenderloin leftover that I was going to grind for pork burgers but decided this would make a great meal for two Fantastic, flavorful dishes that just happen to be gluten free. I also have some chicken thighs and I’m a sucker for 5 spice and chicken so those were thrown in the marinade also. Beware I pan seared the chicken first but all the ingredients took to shall we say really caramelized – which was good in a way, I ripped off the skin after and did not eat – but I love the crispy crunchy chicken skin  I mourned for a tiny time.

  • Thai Beef Salad with Grilled Sirloin Steak, Chinese Cabbage, Red Peppers and Cilantro
  • Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice
  • Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies
  • Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup

Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice – Stonewall Kitchen

porktenderloin

Ingredients – this is the complete recipe – I grilled the pork and roasted veggies

  • 2 pork tenderloins, about 2 pounds
  • 1 Tbsp. olive oil
  • ½ cup white wine
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 tsp corn starch, optional for thicken

Marinade

  • 3 Tbsp. orange juice (concentrated if you have)
  • 2 Tbsp. pure maple sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. soy sauce ( gluten free)
  • 1 Tbsp. Olive oil
  • 1 tsp crushed ginger
  • 1 tsp. crushed garlic
  • ½ tsp. Chines five-spice powder

How

Mix together all the marinade ingredients in a glass bowl or my favorite plastic bag. Add the pork and turn to cover evenly. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

 

Preheat the oven to 350

 

Drain the tenderloins, discard the marinade. Heat oil in fry pan and sear on all sides. Transfer pork to an oven proof dish and roast until cook to your liking about 15 minutes. Note: I skipped this part and finished on the BBQ.

 

Remove the pork tent loosely and let stand for at least 10 minutes before serving.

 

If you did in oven, deglaze pan with white wine add stock and simmer gently until reduces, If you prefer, thicken the sauce with the cornstarch, Adjust seasoning with a little orange juice, soy sauce or maple syrup.

Unwrap the pork tenderloins add juices to sauce than carve into slices, Server with sweet potatoes and pumpkin mash and stir fried Asian veggie.

I can’t wait until fall so I can do this in the oven or better yet roast in pan right on the BBQ now that’s a good idea……

 

Did you realize that sweet potatoes and Yams are never in season at the same time?

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Thai Beef Salad – Stonewall Kitchen

Another vacation past and enjoyed the escape. On one segment of the trip we went to the Strawberry Banke, during our 2 day visit to the Portsmouth area we found that all roads lead to this place I had never heard about it but was on Lyn’s bucket list. One of the things we both enjoy is going to a cooking class at the Stonewall Kitchens in York Maine this time they had a “This is gluten free? class.  Enjoyed the personable touch of Chef Patty Roche and shared that neither of us enjoy the art of baking…too measured I said and we both nodded in full agreement. There were a few things for this class will mention stonewall kitchen in each title. This is more for me than anyone.

 

Fantastic, flavorful dishes that just happen to be gluten free.

  • Thai Beef Salad with Grilled Sirloin Steak, Chinese Cabbage, Red Peppers and Cilantro
  • Marinated Pork Tenderloin in Maple Tamari Sauce Served with Steamed Rice
  • Marinated Grilled Summer Veggies
  • Orange Almond Cake with Fresh Oranges in Toffee Syrup
This picture was taken from net not the actual dish we were served. But looks close

This picture was taken from net not the actual dish we were served. But looks close

Ingredients

  • 2 Oz Rice vermicelli
  • 1 Lb Sirloin Steak
  • Sesame oil
  • 1 whole kaffir lime leaf, middle discarded and finely chopped
  • ¼ cup finely chopped Vietnamese mint
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
  • 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1 short cucumber, peeled and cut into matchsticks
  • A carrot, cut into match sticks
  • 2 oz. snow peas, cut into match sticks
  • ¼ small red pepper ( Thai bird chili), finely diced
  • 1/4 small Chinese cabbage (Napa)
  • 1 small handful of bean sprouts
  • 2 scallions, finely chopped
  • ¼ cup unsalted, roasted peanuts, chopped

 

Dressing

  • 1/3 cup peanut oil
  • 2 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 tsp crushed chili
  • Juice of one lime
  • 2 tsp superfine sugar.

 

How

Soak vermicelli – use package directions, drain and chop into shorter lengths

 

Brush steak with sesame oil and charbroil or pan fry over high heat until cooked to your liking. Rest steak for 10 minutes and slice thinly

Combine all the dressing ingredients, stirring to dissolve sugar, Pur the dessing over the saled , tos to coat and serve at room temperature.

 

 

Strawbery Banke Museum, in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, New Hampshire, is an authentic 10-acre outdoor history museum, listed on the National Register of Historic Places and dedicated to bringing 300+ years of American history to life.

Strawbery Banke is a place to learn about architecture, heritage plants and foodways, traditional crafts and the tools, clothing and collections people used for everyday life in the 1600s, 1700s, 1800s and up through 1954 when the site was saved from urban renewal.

The Museum is a place for children, adults, multigenerational families and groups to gather to explore heritage gardens, historic buildings and crafts, preservation programs, hands-on activities, the stories told by costumed role-players,traditional crafts  and the changing exhibits that offer hours of fun and discovery. The Museum’s restored buildings and open space invite visitors to immerse themselves in the past.

Strawbery Banke is a sustainable place that preserves and enlivens three centuries of war and peace in the same New England waterfront neighborhood. Each year the Museum welcomes 75,000 visitors, members, schoolchildren and volunteers who love New Hampshire history for daily programs, exhibits and signature special events from May through December.