Dinner! 2004

[curlywurlyfi]

wokked spring greens with garlic, red chilli flakes, soy sauce, Chinese five spice powder and a little stock, served over buckwheat noodles. instant post-pub food.

[AnnieD]

Pizza frites. That's it.

I had every intention of a nice salad -- buttermilk-marinated chicken over some cold greens with roasted tomatoes and goat cheese, but I was babysitting my nieces and never got around to it. But there was something very satisfying about having just little rectangles of fried dough for dinner.

Then I ate some semi-sweet chocolate around 10:00 PM.

[misstenacity]

Soba with soy, scallions, scallops, sesame oil, sesame seeds. :-)

(this was the good me, before going on a crunchy snacking binge later in the evening... that was the bad me.)

[Basilgirl]

Tomatoes tomatoes tomatoes...The Boyfriend says they are dropping off the vines at the tenants' garden. So, chopped some up and put in a huge bowl with salt, garlic, a little sweet onion, capers, smoked fontina, Pecorino, hot pepper flakes, black pepper, red wine vinegar, olive oil. Let sit for about an hour. Served over perciatelli which kept slapping me in the face.

[eunny jang]

Last night I made a big gooey American lasagne, though with less mozzarella than restaurants do (can't abide slicks of oil on top of melted cheese) with some leftover meatballs crumbled into leftover meat sauce, freshened with more tomatoes and some delicious, fennel-heavy pork sausage.

I used homemade noodles for the first time for this - the texture was so different than that of boughten noodles, silky and brightly flavored - I'll never go back. The noodles were rolled from dough with plenty of spinach in it - a brilliant plan that ensured the noodles were self-moisturizing and didn't dry out even with my dry-ish sauce.

Broccoli quick-cooked in white wine and tossed in the pan with lemon zest, crushed red pepper and flakes of parmesan.

[tanabutler]

The rest of the label on the bottle:

imbogliato da: "Soc. Agricola 15 Giugno r.l. montarioso, Sarteano , (51)

Contenuto ml. 750e Da condumarsi preferibilmente (?) entro il:

When I removed its cork, I tore the label that sealed the top. What remains says on one side says "LE MOLE" (and the paper tore right at the edge of the E); on the other side "MONDO X."

I Googled for "Mondo X olive oil" and found this: "Founded by St. Francis of Assisi in 1212, the huge convent was more recently claimed by the charismatic Padre Eligio, who runs dozens of recovery centers throughout Italy for children with drug problems. These young adults maintain and administer the hotel and restaurant on the premises." There is a restaurant on the premises, and everything served is grown at the community.

Also, this. The MondoX.it website is not functioning.

[hathor]

Tanabutler: that surely qualifies as tomato porn. That shot is beautiful!! Are you photoshopping the image? Just beautiful!

Last night was long and chatty with a dear young friend.

Primi: crispy zucchini blossoms

Secondi: parmesan/sage crusted pork chops. The ones posted up thread have been on my mind all week!

Sauteed lambsquarter greens with garlic. It was first for me, and they were very tasty.

Salad: heirloom tomatoes, little bit of purslane and a beautiful head of bibb lettuce from the Greenmarket

Dolce: some cut up, very sweet peaches with big blueberries and a splash of lemoncello

[suzilightning]

kicking back with the food ads and a glass of codorniu before johnnybird gets home. been to the gym, the laundry is in off the line and the basic prep for dinner is done.

anna n - i could almost smell that chicken

tana - you are the queen of food porn pictures

eunny jang - you can make that lasagna for me any day...i could taste it from your description

tonight will be very, very simeple for us:

some good russian rye i found. lightly toasted, spread with something johnnybird can eat(olivio), thin smoked salmon topped with minced capers.

from The New Great American Writers Cookbook - Jonathan Franzen(personal comment here - not a nice guy but a good writer) recipe for pasta with kale. will add some prosciutto and then for johnnybird some sauteed shrimp and clams.

just got my delivery from Snow Farm Vineyard and have their 2003 riesling chilling to go with this.

the last of the figs i had with some blue cheese and port later for dessert

then it should be dark enough to hit the hot tub....

for tomorrow i scored some freshly ground lamb to make lamb burgers a la suvir while johnnybird is away. greek yoghurt , whole wheat pita, fresh jersey silver queen corn and tomatoes with sherry vinegar....life is good

dessert

[Chef Shogun]

Steak!

A tasty NY Strip from Harris Teeter, cooked in what was at least an approximation of the 'slow sear method' outlined in The Cast Iron Thread (Thanks Fat Guy!). Maybe I didn't let it go long enough, but once the sides started thinking about being done, I got impatient and cranked the heat, got a nice crust, tossed in Chantrelles and shallots, and threw it in the oven. The *spirit* of the slow-sear, however, was maintained. What I ended up with was:

* NY Strip with chantrelles and shallots in red wine reduction sauce.

* Garlic sauteed broccoli (A personal fave).

* Boiled red potatoes in creme fraiche with caramelized onions, parsley, and chives.

* 2001 BV Coastal Cabernet

Dessert:

* Tiaramisu, purhased from Sinplicity Cafe when I had to run out for the aforementioned potatos. There completely used to be a 5 pound bag of small white potatoes under the sink....figures that'd be the last thing I prep.

* Vanilla White Russian.

Results: Good. Upper percentiles of 'Steaks C.S. Has Made'. Creme Fraiche thinned out more than it did the last time I made this, but no matter. Pleased overall!

Things to improve upon, or, Stuff That Would Get You Yelled At In A Kitchen Of Repute And/Or Multiple Stars:

1. Make sure you do, in fact, have potatoes when you think you do.

2. Basically unchopped chives in with the rest.

3. Forgot the tasty Maldon's sea salt finish on the steak (Nothing new...I usually do! Just want to eat by that point!).

-- C.S.

"Hey, anybody seen those potatoes that used to be under the sink?"

[Anna N]

Grilled beef ribs with pepperonata. It is sooooo good to be able to use the BBQ again after 20 years in an apartment.

[suzilightning]

food for the week now well underway...

for tonight macaroni cheese and a salad of thinly sliced red onion, cucumbers and the last of the tomato with fresh basil and tarragon from the back porch and sherry vinegar and lemon juice.

baked some chicken breasts to use in 1) stir fried rice and 2) a small chicken wrap for john's lunch tomorrow.

the foccacia is on the final rise. johnnybird takes hunks of it with him for snacking at his desk.

as soon as the chipotle peppers in adobo thaw i'm putting together a smoky black bean soup since i promised some to my trainer at the gym. this will be good for lunches for me during the week.

all i have to do is pick up some nice lettuces and some more tomatoes for the week for salads and tomato sandwiches(my preferred breakfast right now ).

i'm also thawing out two bricks of cheese to make pimento cheese for sandwiches . this will go with the soup and there will be some for the weekend when we are being invaded by the cookie monster(bil mike) and the goth couple(bil glen and sil barbara). good thing i'm going to pa saturday.

Edited August 8, 2004 by suzilightning (log)

[GG Mora]

Ooh...ooh...ooh! Anna N. just decided for me what I'm doing with a basket of not-quite baby pattypan squash: a gratin! Thank you, Anna, bless you. And those ribs? Girl, that's pornographic!

[hjshorter]

Chicken with BBQ sauce (Stubbs Spicy)

Corn on the cob

Beet greens sauteed in olive oil with garlic

Sliced tomatoes (picked this morning )

Whole Wheat sourdough & butter

I love summer.

[Anna N]

Ooh...ooh...ooh! Anna N. just decided for me what I'm doing with a basket of not-quite baby pattypan squash: a gratin!  Thank you, Anna, bless you. And those ribs? Girl, that's pornographic!

Well thank you! The ribs tasted even better than they looked!

Tonight:

ponzu-glazed salmon topped with shrimp and served with leftover pepperonata and Russian cuke salad

with a plate of fresh tomatoes in a basil/balsamic vinaigrette.

Oh! egullet - what have you wrought? So few years ago that salmon would have been pan-fried, overcooked, gilded with a half a lemon (if I was feeling very, very domestic) and served with frozen fries.

[redfox]

Tonight:

*Tomato salad with Green Zebras, Paul Robesons, and halved Sungolds, fresh mozzarella, lots of basil, real balsamic vinegar, sea salt, olive oil, and pepper

*Frittata with farm-fresh eggs, red pepper, onions, and thyme

*Toasted bread

We have had and will be having many variations on this meal this month. I love summer. Also, by God, the tomatoes are better this year than they've been in ages. Aren't they? (I'm in Maryland.)

Drinking:

1 part lime and lemongrass cordial

1 part citron vodka

5 parts fizzy water

[Dana]

BLT's

Olathe Sweet Corn

Leftover German Choc. Cake from my son's BD

I love summer, too!!!!

[NulloModo]

Anna - any chance on recipes for any of that? What is peppornata?

[curlywurlyfi]

Anna N, those ribs, oh my god.

Saturday morning MobyP and I perpetrated a raid on Borough Market and I came home bow-legged + staggering under the weight of my purchases. Some, though not all, were transformed into elegant kitchen picnic dinner for friends on Saturday night:

A perfect little Northfields Farm fillet of beef, rubbed with mustard powder + black pepper, seared hard, cooled + sliced into little ruby coins. A hunk of Parmesan, elegantly served in its wrappings with a vegetable peeler plonked on top for make-your-own-shavings. Cherry tomatoes roasted with bay leaves, cumin, garlic + olive oil and some roasted baby beets, sliced + served with tzatziki. A big green salad of lamb's lettuce, rocket and watercress, and Pugliese bread, echire butter, olive oil, quartered lemons + balsamic for dipping + making salad dressing + drizzling generally.

this was followed by sort-of trifle - sponge finger biscuits dribbled with Cointreau, layered with creme fraiche mixed with a little grated orange rind + icing sugar, and wonderful dark red sweet strawberries. A bit of Bleu d'Auvergne and some galetti (Maltese water biscuits) to finish. and then lots of lying on the sofas looking slightly glazed and talking rubbish over some Glenfiddich.

[CheGuevara]

Anna - any chance on recipes for any of that? What is peppornata?

nullomodo - peperonata is an italian dish made primarily of peppers. there are a number of variations, however the classis is:

peeled and chopped tomatoes, sliced onions and peppers deseeded, cut lengthwise into strips are cooked covered in olive oil and salt for about an hour or more. finish with a little bit of vinegar. eat hot or cold.

-che

[phaelon56]

Oddly, the local tomatoes here in central NY state have been subpar thus far, as has the local sweet corn. The southern (most likely FL) sweet corn we were getting earlier in the season was actually quite good. Both the red and yellow tomatoes I got from a farm stand in NC a few weeks ago when I visited my GF were spectacularly good (and 75 cents per pound to boot!).

No photos to share this time but Saturday dinner was sweet corn, fried green tomatoes and some incredible smoked ribs. I had tried brining for the first time earlier in the week (a whole chicken that was then split and cooked on the grill). I had ribs already prepped, dry rubbed and frozen - left over from July 4th weekend. 25 minutes of brining after they were thawed and then four hours in the smoker. The results were truly astounding. Next time: photos. I promise.

[Anna N]

Anna - any chance on recipes for any of that? What is peppornata?

CheGuevara has the pepperonata right - mine was "winged" but basically what he said. I added some fresh oregano and fresh thyme but it's basically a veggie stew that is usually served at room temp - nice and easy!

The basil/balsamic vinaigrette was an egg yolk (if you are queasy use a couple of tablespoons of bottled mayo) oil, chopped basil, a touch of dijon, salt and pepper, minced garlic and a smidge of sugar. If this sounds vague - blame Jinmyo!

I cheated on the ponzu and used the bottled kind but wouldn't do it again - it lacks the zing I wanted.

The Russian cuke salad - one cuke, partially peeled, cut in half lengthwise then in 1/2 inch slices, seeded and then sprinkled with salt and left for an hour to get rid of some of the moisture. It's drained and dried and tossed with the white of a hard-boiled egg and some chopped scallions. The dressing is the hard-boiled yolk pushed through a fine mesh sieve, mixed with dijon mustard, sour cream, a touch of white wine vinegar, a tiny pinch of sugar and a tinier pinch of white pepper.

[FoodMan]

Saturday:

A belated birthday for my one year old Nathan. It was mty first time cooking for 30+ people and I was more than a little intimidated…even contemplated getting pizza delivered!! In the end I decided it will be better both on the palate and the wallet to make something at home. I was right and everything came out wonderful.

For dips I made huge batches of Hummus and Salsa (I should’ve made more)

Main dishes were:

several trays of baked chicken legs and thighs ($0.99/lb). These were brined, then baked with lemon juice, white wine, garlic cloves, and thyme. These were my biggest challenge. I was afraid they might not come out right. I was very wrong, they came out wonderful with a nice golden skin, great flavor and melt-in-your mouth meat. I got so many complements for these.

Smoked sausage cooked with onions, tomatoes and cumin.

Side dishes:

Rice with vermicelli cooked in Samen.

Mashed Yukon gold potatoes with butter and cream.

Dessert was of course homemade chocolate cake with chocolate butter-cream (and Elmo faces for decoration). I made a total of two 2-layer cakes. The recipe was from Tyler Florence and it is my current favorite.

All in all the party was a huge success, everyone had fun, and the food was all gone. I was very glad I did not go with the delivery pizza.

Sunday dinner:

Pasta tossed with oil-packed tuna, fresh basil, fresh oregano preserved lemons, garlic and onions.

More chocolate cake for dessert

Elie

[Dana]

Sauteed talapia fillets with caper butter herb sauce

broccoli with lemon butter

more Olathe sweet corn

more german choc cake

[project]

Did three quarts of salad of Romaine lettuce, tossed with Caesar dressing as in

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showtopic=41922&st=32

with chunks of tomato, dipped in the dressing, scallion rings, pepperoni slices, imitation bacon bits, grocery store croutons, and grated fresh Pecorino Romano cheese.

For dessert, took 2 pounds of fresh strawberries, washed, trimmed, sliced, added 1/2 C sugar, let sit to make juice, and ate with heavy whipping cream.

REALLY liked it!

Repeated the next night except fresh peeled, sliced peaches instead of the strawberries. Good but liked the strawberries better!

[hathor]

Food Man: that sounds like a great party!! You did good!

Saturday night: grilled striped bass with a very spicy tapenade. The chilis in my garden are waaaay hot! Grilled corn with lime chili butter, grilled red onions, multi-color lettuce salad

Sunday night: grilled double lamb chops that were marinated in the left over tapenade and some extra spices and herbs, more corn, heirloom tomato salad.

Experimented with a roasted peach w/cognac and frozen blueberry desert. Needs a little tinkering.

Monday: arugula salad with crispy pancetta, parmesan and heirloom tomatoes. Lots of ends of cheeses that needed to be finished, olives, pickled okra and bread and wine and a good movie (Requiem for a Heavyweight).