Osso Buco with Creamy Polenta and Gremolata

Yes, yes, I know it has been forever since I posted anything (actually over a year).  I have been trying to follow the idea of less talking more doing. For the most part, this has been a very productive approach.  Now I am kind of swinging the other direction. More talking, more relaxing...

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.

Lettuce Wraps ( Like Changs but way better)

Wash/dry lettuce. I like Butter.

Mix up a nice drizzle sauce. Soy, rice vinegar, fresh grated ginger etc.

Chop some Fungus and green onion.

Sear and chop chicken into small pieces.

Return to pan and saute with veg and fungus. Don't forget to add some Waterchestnuts for crunch and to throw in a nice stir fry sauce.

Serve with some sauces and some bean sprouts.

Very, very Tasty.

Sesame 5 Spice Tuna with Garlic Ginger Bok Choy

Toast some Sesame Seeds in a dry skillet to deepen flavor
(2 handfuls)

Mix Toasted Sesame with Chinese 5 spice (1 Tbsp)
a pinch of Kosher Salt and some fresh cracked Pepper


Coat Yellowfin Tuna Steaks lightly with oil then Sesame Seed Mixture


Two Cloves Garlic Minced

3 inch piece of fresh ginger cut into matchsticks

Baby Bok Choy quartered

Saute Crushed Red Peppr, Garlic and Ginger in oil briefly then add Bok Choy and 2 Tbsp low sodium Soy sauce. Saute until Bok Choy is bright green

Grill Tuna. 1-2 minutes a side. Tuna should be very rare.

Serve with a side of Jasmine Rice.

Emptiness can be beautiful...

Mo's Bacon Bar

Everybody Loves Bacon!

It's Meat Candy!

Smoked Steelhead

First you catch a little fish


Then you fillet and brine a fish

Hang out and enjoy the smoke rolling. Normaly I would smoke fish with Alder but this time I used Hickory and it was delightful.

If you are lucky there is some left over for a photo...

Homegrown Tomatoes

There really is nothing like Fresh Homegrown Tomatoes with fresh cracked Pepper and a little Kosher Salt!

Grilled Mustard Lime Steaks with Green Salad and Mashed Potatoes

O.K., go and buy the steak of your choice. dredge in dry mustard on both sides. Drizzle with a little Worchestershire and some fresh squeezed Lime juice. Throw on some Salt & Pepper and maybe a little more mustard powder and let sit and percolate for 15-20 minutes while you have a beer and preheat the grill. Toss this bad boy on and grill to desired doneness turning only once and skipping those cool grill marks. You don't want to dislodge the crust you have so lovingly built...I love mine rather rare. Eat. Try not to eat too much because this is way too tasty!

Cucumber Onion Salad with Country Style Ribs

Cucumbers & Onions with Dill marinated in White Vinegar and water with Salt and Pepper.


Some Country Style Ribs


Rubbed with goodness!


A beautiful thing...

Chicken Korma, Tadka Daal, Onion & Garlic Kale with Jasmine Rice

Chicken Korma (sort of authentic but not really)

3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter
2 large onions, chopped
6 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons mango chutney
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons turmeric powder
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 teaspoons garam masala
2 teaspoons salt
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, chopped
1/3 cup sliced almonds

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 2 quart baking dish.
Heat oil and butter in a skillet over medium heat. Cook onions in oil until soft.
Place onion, yogurt, mango chutney, garlic, turmeric, chili powder and garam masala into the bowl of a food processor. Process into a smooth sauce; it should be about the consistency of thick cream. Add a bit of water or yogurt to thin it if needed. Spread chicken into prepared baking dish, and pour the onion sauce over the chicken.
Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the chicken is cooked through. Sprinkle sliced almonds over the top, and serve.
OR

Sear chicken in cast iron skillet to seal in flavor. Cook onions and garlic in a pot with a little olive oil. Toast spices if needed. Add yogurt, mango chutney, turmeric, chili powder, garam masala. Place chicken in pot on top of onions and garlic. Top with spiced sauce mixture and thin with water as needed. bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer til chicken is cooked thru and sauce thickens.

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.

Indian Dinner

Marinate some Shrimp This had Lemon juice, Brown Sugar, Salt, Cilantro, Garlic, Olive Oil and Chili powder If I remember correctly...

Fry some cumin seeds and cloves in oil til seeds start to sputter. Add 1 large sliced onion and 1 large cubed potato, fry some more. Add some turmeric and salt with rinsed basmati rice and rinsed red lentils, fry some more. Add water, bring to boil and simmer. (Oh yeah, soak rice first, 15 minutes or so, or it will be crunchy since it doesn't cook as fast as the dhal)

Grill Shrimp on a bed of sliced Onions, sliced Tomatoes and sliced Peppers. (all I could find were Seranos, not quite the same but nice heat...) Basting every so often with marinade


Serve it up with a nice herb and mixed green salad and the beverage of your choice.

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!

Squid with Jalapenos, Chipotles and Greens

Rinse and drain Squid.

Clean Squid, remove Quill, seperate head from Mantle, skin and remove Wings, cut Tentacles from eyes and gunk (retaining ink sac if you want to make black crutons later), turn Mantle inside out and rinse any remaining gunk off, cut Tentacles in half making sure to remove beak. you should be left with a clean Mantle, clean Wings, and tasty Tentacle halves. Cut Mantle into rings and wing, maybe in half depending on size.

Ok, here goes! Cook diced Jalapeno , crushed Chipotle and minced Garlic in oil maybe 15 seconds. Do not burn your Garlic! Add clean stemmed and chopped Mustard Greens. Cook until wilted. Add Squid and Salt to taste and cook until Squid is opaque. Serve with your favorite Rice and a drizzle of Tamari sauce.

Enjoy!