St Patricks Day Dinner

I know for many this may be considered sacrilige but this year there was no Corned Beef, Cabbage, Irish Cheddar or even Soda Bread at my house... This year I Grilled up some Steaks, Had Garlic Mash Potatoes, sauted Mushrooms & Onions and a fresh Jicama & Herb Salad with Cumin Lime dressing. Yum!

Falafel

Tabbouleh


Fixins


Put it all together Butter Lettuce, Red Onion, Cucumbers, Fresh Dill and Falafel topped with a yogurt sauce (yogurt, Lemon Juice, minced Garlic, diced cucumbers, chopped fresh Dill) with the Tabbouleh on the side. Yumm Yumm.

Garlic Lime Marinated Steak with Steamed Chard, Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Grilled Onions

O.K. use a Mortar and Pestle to grind some Garlic, Salt, Pepper and Cumin to a smooth paste. Slowly add 1/2 cup fresh Lime juice and 2 tbsp E.V.O.O. and work until you achieve a smooth texture. reserve some to baste with and pour the balance over the steak of your choice and marinated for 30 min. Meanwhile back at the ranch, spin up a little R.L. Burnside and chop some Chard to steam. Slice some Onions 1 inch or so(brush with E.V.O.O. + S&P)to grill. Mash some Potatoes. Grill Onions til carmelized. Grill Steak Brushing occasionaly with reserved marinade. Eat.

**CHRIS' NOTE**

Matt aint kiddin' around! That was some good steak!

and steamed Chard...

and grilled Onions...

Kalbi again with Caesar Salad and Salsa Mashed Potatoes

Well we have done the Kalbi a couple of times so I will hit you with the mashed potatoe recipe this time... Salt and Pepper then cook 2 lbs halved red potatoes (grill em, steam em, boil em whatever. I prefer grilled) Grill 2, 1" slices of red onion ( 1/2 large red onion) then dice. Dice the other half and leave raw. Mash potatoes with 1 cup light sour cream and 1/2 tsp ground cumin and 1/2 tsp ground Coriander then fold in onions along with chopped cilantro and halved grape tomatoes. Taste. Adjust Salt and Pepper. Serve.

Holy Guacamole

This is my base guacamole recipe...

5 ripe avocados
2 clove garlic, pressed
2 tsp ground cumin
2 ripe medium Roma tomato, chopped
½ Cup minced onion
¼ Cup chopped cilantro
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste

And here's how I do it...

Split the avocado, cutting and twisting them apart.

Did I just cut through that seed?

The easiest way to remove the seed is to just give it a good thump sinking your blade deep into it. Then twist and the seed will pop out. Keep in mind you don't want to miss on this step and take off a finger...

Next, scoop out the avocado skins and mash the flesh in a bowl.

After pressing in the garlic and adding the cumin, juice a lime. I usually only do one lime, it'll typically give you + - 2 Tbsp of juice.

Also add your onion. Today I grated my onion instead of chopping or dicing it.

And don't forget the tomato. They're always nice.

Taste it!

Then season. Usually a 3-4 second pour with the salt shaker, and about 80 cranks on the pepper mill for me.

And if you notice... I have no Cilantro! Crap.

Brb, I'm off to the store...

Lookie Lookie what they had at the store.

Riding the crest of a wave breaking just west of Hollywood.

Simple Ful Medames

Ful is the Egyptian word for fava beans, and medames is a Coptic word meaning "buried". I guess they would bury a pot of beans and top it with coals or some such thing.

So, this is how it goes, drown your beans overnight or 4-8 hours, drain, rinse, etc. Drop in minature hot tub bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until they are tender. Add Garlic and Cumin to taste. Place desired amount on a plate or in a bowl. Drizzle with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, fresh squeezed Lemon juice and some Kosher Salt(better texture). Top with Fried Eggs and serve with a warm Whole Wheat Pita.

Tandoori Chicken with Jeera rice, Mint Raita and Naan

Well, I went on an kick this weekend and thought I would put on a little SARGAM by Pandit Tarun Bhattacharya and cook up a little tasty Indian dinner.

Lets start with the Tandoori to get it marinating. This is a little complex so I will just go over it quickly. you can find many recipes online.

combine garlic gloves, fresh ginger, hot green or red chilies, peppercorns, coriander seeds, cumin seeds, cardamom pods, cloves, bayleaf, cinnamon add plain unsweetened notfat organic greek style yogurt and marinate 2-24 hours. Remember eating is about your eyes and most people like Tandoori red so hit a little red food coloring in there... Tandoori tastes way better when you actually grill it. Try to replicate the high heat of the Tandoor without killing your chicken.

For the Mint Raita mix yogurt with a little water, add 1 small onion chopped finely, some salt and 1/tsp mint sauce. garnish with chopped fresh mint leaves.

Don't forget the Naan! brush with melted butter or preferably Ghee if you have it.

Now whip up some Jeera rice. I got this recipe out of Ismael Merchants wonderful Passionate meals.

1 1/2 cups Basmati rice, 3 tbsp Vegetable oil, 1 tsp cumin seeds, 2-2" Cinnamon sticks, 4 Cloves, 1/4 tsp salt. First you bloom the spices slowly in the oil making sure they don't scorch and then you boil the rice. Real simple, Real tasty.

I served this all with onion and tomato slices and a nice Pale Ale

Curry Dijon King Salmon on a Bed of Sautéed Onion Ginger Cabbage, Garlic Mashed Potatoes & Brown Gravy, with Steamed Green Asparagus on the Side

IMPORTANT NOTE:

THE FOLLOWING POST IS BEING POSTED ON DAD'S BEHALF
THIS IS HIS POST!

Preheat your oven to 400° and then focus on this, your ingredients.
Slice your onions and cabbage, grate your ginger, etc.
Begin by heating your oil and sautée onions until tender and golden.

With your other hand, remove skin from Salmon and place in a prepared roasting dish with the fish's rounded side up.
Mix curry powder, and dijon together with two tsp water. Brush this mixture evenly over Salmon.

Hit it with Dill!
Roast appx. 15 min until opaque through.

While Salmon is roasting, your onions will be done. Add ginger and cumin to skillet. Cook, and stir, 1 minute. Then add cabbage and salt. Cover and cook 10 to 12 minutes until cabbage is just tender and begins to brown.

Spoon Cabbage and onion mixture onto plate and top with Salmon.
Dad's Special Plate

Chris Cracked Pepper and He Don't Care.

Done!