Home made Banh Mi

I know, I know, the seedy baguette isn't right but it was what I could find. I made home-made Spicy Lime Mayo, Do Chua and Black Pepper Marinade Pork Loin. Incredibly delicious. In the future I am hoping I can get the "right" bread at the best asian market.

Limeade: Part Deux

I'm channeling David.

I used:

1 cup fresh lime juice

~1/2 Tbsp lime zest

3/4 cup sugar

3 cups water

Combine the sugar, zest, and 1 cup water, and bring to a boil... stir and remove from heat, your sugar should be dissolved.

Combine lime juice and the other 2 cups of water in a pitcher, and strain syrup into it.

Chill and/or serve over ice.

Keep in mind that this is just kind of a guideline.  I figure I'm sweet enough, so I only put in 3/4 Cup of sugar... others I know put in a full cup.  Course, a lot depends on how tart the limes you have are.  So make sure you taste as you go along.  Just as if you were cooking... season and taste, season and taste.

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!

Spicy crab cake, Ginger Almond Buckwheat Soba and Sesame Chard with mushroom

Yum Yum!

The "Earned" Moscow Mule

"Danger Danger High Voltage"

Remember what Chris says, if it is before noon it is "Medicinal" and if it is in the evening, well "You earned it". It is evening and I definitly earned it. So here it is. The "Moscow Mule"

Pour yourself a "little" vodka

Top it off with some home made Ginger Beer (see three posts below)and a sqeeze of fresh lime.

Stir, drink, feel refreshed, repeat.

for those interested here is the actual unmodified recipe

2 oz. Vodka

1 tbsp. Lime Juice

Ginger Beer

Add Vodka and lime juice to a chilled beer mug with ice. Fill with Ginger Beer. Garnish with a lime wedge.

Mustard Lime Steaks - Part Deux

Perfectly Done.

Real Homemade Ginger Beer

Grate up some Ginger(2 cups grated), add some Lime Juice (2 tbsp fresh squeezed) and a whole bunch of Brown Suger (4 cups). Stir in 2 quarts boiling water and stir till sugar is dissolved.

Bloom some yeast in warm water.

Add the yeast, cover and leave on the counter covered to percolate. After a day or two strain, bottle, refrigerate immediatly and drink ice cold on a hot day. This will be both Spicy and Sweet.

More pictures later. I think Chris got a video...

**CHRIS' NOTE**

Bottled Up.
(Someone should ask Matt what happened the first time he vented these...)

Anyway, yeah, I got a video. If you watch it, that's Matt out mowing the lawn making all the noise.

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...

Limeade

To make limeade, you first find a recipe. Then you juice your limes. Make sure to measure accurately. Then mix it all up and enjoy!

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.

Melissa's Salsa Fresca Verde

Even though I lost the salsa competition, I'll willingly accept defeat for this recipe.
(It was the fudge contest I was screwed on!)

Anyway, this salsa has become a staple with fish tacos...

3 c. tomatillo, chopped
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
3 green onions, chopped
1 c. chopped onion
1-1 ½ c. cucumber, chopped (about ½ English)
2 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp. cumin
½ tsp. oregano
2 Tbsp. seasoned rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. lime juice
1 chopped jalapeno, seeded & veined (about 2 Tbsp.)
½ tsp. salt
¼ tsp. pepper
¼ c. chopped cilantro