Stone Face Blog / Stone Face Vloggers

Tomorrow's Dinner

2012-01-10T16:57:00.002-05:00

For tomorrow night's dinner, we'll have spaghetti and meatballs. I made eight dinners for two (6-7 meatballs each) including homemade spaghetti sauce. I used the recipe that Lydia Bastianich demonstrated in October 2011 on The Today Show. The other seven dinners, I separated out and threw into the freezer.

How to make Brunch Like Bobby Flay

2012-01-07T10:59:00.000-05:00

Belly Lox and Scallion Cream Cheese Sandwich

2012-01-02T13:05:00.000-05:00

Beans 'n' Greens ('n' Rice)

2012-01-01T18:17:00.011-05:00

Happy 2012!

I decided to make black-eyed peas and greens for New Year's Day dinner. I began with the Hilah Cooking recipe, but as usual, I re-jiggered.

Giant Food in Lorton, VA, didn't have salt pork, so instead I diced up some extra-thick cut applewood-smoked bacon. I like oniony stuff, so I added a half-cup of diced onion and a minced garlic clove and sauteed it 'til translucent in the bacon fat. My wife likes her food less spicy than I do, so instead of jalapeno I diced up the same amount of green bell pepper. I dosed my bowl with Texas Pete.

To ensure long green for the year, I'm sauteed two kinds of chard with spinach in olive oil (with minced garlic). I served it all over jasmine rice. Here are some photos--

Getting the beans ready to soak last night.

Following the recipe.

Assembling the ingredients for the black-eyed peas.

The beans start to cook.

The beans are done.

The jasmine rice is done, too.

The chard and spinach were sauteed with garlic.

Ready to eat served over rice.

Dinner Time

New Year's

2011-12-31T16:12:00.002-05:00

Well, Chanukah is over and it's time to move from filling up on potato latkes and start celebrating the New Year. I've got the black-eyed peas soaking overnight, so I can cook them up on New Year's Day.

Tuna Sauce

2011-12-13T18:07:00.003-05:00

We brought some dried spaghetti back from our last trip to Italy -- Pasta Di Semola Di Grano Duro. I made tuna sauce to go over it.

I sautéed sliced yellow onion in olive oil, threw in tomato purée with salt a freshly ground black pepper, then mixed in canned tuna. The tuna was water-packed, but I wish I had olive oil-packed. I also wish I had capers. I splashed in some pasta water, too, then the pasta, and mixed in some grated parmigiano cheese and splashed a few dropped of olive oil on top. Delicious.

Cheese Omelet For Lunch

2011-12-10T13:01:00.000-05:00

The egg has fines herbes mixed in, and there is tomato purée underneath.

Spaghetti à la sauce tomate et sardine écrasée

2011-12-07T18:40:00.002-05:00

Spaghetti à la sauce tomate et sardine écrasée, which is spaghetti in a tomato and crushed sardines sauce.

Half-Time Snack

2011-11-27T17:53:00.001-05:00

Smoked turkey with 3 cheeses and potato salad and honey mustard.

Dinner of Curried Beans & Franks

2011-11-17T18:55:00.000-05:00

Heinz curry beans with bacon and sliced broiled frankfurters, topped with goat's milk Gouda cheese.

Mashed Potato Cakes

2011-11-17T13:46:00.000-05:00

Leftovers from last night, with egg, whole wheat flour, and grated parm cheese; sautéed in olive oil. Topped them with mustard cream sauce.

Shirred Eggs For Breakfast

2011-11-03T09:55:00.000-04:00

Over chipotle salsa and under Swiss cheese

Wrapped

2011-11-02T19:26:00.000-04:00

Wrap of curry beans, fried bologna, and Swiss cheese.

Looking Out the Kitchen Window

2011-10-24T14:44:00.001-04:00

What's For Hearty Breakfast?

2011-10-19T09:24:00.000-04:00

Sauerkraut pierogies with yogurt, grape tomatoes, hard boiled egg, black coffee.

Boston Baked Scrod

2011-10-10T18:26:00.001-04:00

It's what's for dinner

Goodbye, Steve Jobs!

2011-10-05T23:11:00.002-04:00

Thank you, Steve, for thinking different.

Fishy Lunch

2011-10-02T12:17:00.000-04:00

Sardines, onion, and cream cheese on a toasted sesame seed bagel

Leftover Gedempte Brisket

2011-09-29T21:55:00.001-04:00

We had gedempte brisket of beef for Erev Rosh Hashanah dinner. Here's what's left over for my lunch on Friday.

Kim Chi, Carrot, & Chevre Pancakes

2011-09-22T20:28:00.008-04:00

For dinner tonight, I finished up the kim chi and the chevre from the refrigerator. I made savory pancakes from them and carrots, using the zucchini pancake recipe from Hilah Cooking.

Here is the batter made from a half-cup of minced kimchi, a cup of grated carrot, a half-cup of crumbled chevre (goat cheese), two tablepoons of whole wheat flour, and large egg.

I fried quarter-cupfuls at 300 degrees F for four minutes on the first side.

Then, I fried them for another four minutes on the second side.

Finishing up the batches.

Plated pancakes--

Pad Thai Eggs

2011-09-21T10:07:00.002-04:00

Why save for dinner the leftovers from last night's dinner? Eat the oatmeal tomorrow and have last night's dinner for breakfast!

I had a little bit of pad thai left. I freshened it with shaved carrot and scrambled it in a pan with a couple of eggs. Sprinkled a little sriracha rooster sauce on top. Warmed pita on the side. Black coffee to drink. Mmm!

What's For Breakfast

2011-09-20T10:55:00.001-04:00

Black coffee. Gaeran tost-u (Korean egg toast) with kimchi, carrots, and shallots; topped with ketchup and brown sugar. I had leftover carrot, so I had it as a side vegetable.

Baked Sardines for Dinner

2011-09-15T18:49:00.001-04:00

I breaded and baked some canned sardines with panko crumbs, minced cilantro, and grated lemon zest. It went great with a little sriracha.

Ten years ago today, I posted this to an Internet chat group...

2011-09-11T12:03:00.003-04:00

Labor Dept. was evacuated. I was on the roof looking at the black smoke

coming from the Pentagon when we got the word. My car pool had to abandon the car in the building's garage, since security wouldn't open the doors -- said they were checking out a suspicious car.

We took the Red Line to Metro Center and caught a Yellow Line (yes, a yellow line at Metro center; what a day). At Foggy Bottom, the door wouldn't close on the back car and they took the train out of service. We Yellow Lined it in another train to King St. and caught a Blue Line to Springfield. Over all, though, we consider ourselves very lucky.

Before we left work, we saw the video images on CNN.com of the 2nd crash into the World Trade Ctr. My God!

Texas BBQ With a Korean Twist

2011-09-09T14:27:00.002-04:00

We had leftover chicken I'd heated in Rudy's BBQ Sause from Texas, so I made a sandwich of it for lunch. I like my chopped/shredded/pulled BBQ served Carolina-style (coleslaw on top), but we had no coleslaw. So, I went the fusion route and topped it with kimchi. Waste not, want not!

BBQ Chicken with Corn & Basil Salad

2011-09-08T18:04:00.003-04:00

I bought us a rotisserie chicken from Giant Food today. My wife had the white meat. I shredded the dark meat and reheated it in Saus from Rudy's BBQ in Austin. For our side, I made this corn and basil salad from a Hilah Cooking recipe.

Eggplant and Sausage

2011-09-05T14:07:00.001-04:00

I made for lunch panko-crusted oven-fried baby eggplant. Chicken sausage with red pepper and spinach.

Breakfast: parsleyed scrambled eggs, chicken sausage, toast

2011-09-04T09:39:00.001-04:00

Not pictured: Sriracha, black coffee.

Making Hot Dog Stir-Fry

2011-09-03T17:04:00.008-04:00

Hot dog stir-fry: red pepper & spinach chicken sausage, yellow bell pepper, grape tomatoes, fresh green beans, onion and garlic. Olive oil and soy sauce, too.

(Recipe courtesy of Hilah Cooking)

Sardines on Gremolata on Toast

2011-08-31T16:17:00.004-04:00

I made the Hilah Cooking recipe for gremolata to have with my canned sardines and sourdough bread.

Today' Breakfast: Za'atar, Feta, and Carrot Fritatta

2011-08-31T09:22:00.001-04:00

Sherried Sardines

2011-08-29T18:12:00.003-04:00

I used Alton Brown's recipe, but the Hass avocado from Giant Food that was supposed to be mashed under them was rotten -- two of them. Next time, I go to Safeway.

Dinner Tonight

2011-08-25T18:13:00.001-04:00

Tomato omelet. Za'atar salad with beets, feta, pomegranate molasses, and toasted pistachios.

Mazza Platter for Two

2011-08-04T13:43:00.000-04:00

Nora - Taste of Lebanon
Gainesville, VA

Beans on Toast

2011-07-28T10:24:00.001-04:00

Mid-week brunch of British style beans on challah toast with farmers market tomato slices and Parmagiano-Reggiano shavings. Sriracha sauce and a cup of black coffee.

Kimchi Omelette

2011-07-12T11:06:00.001-04:00

Today's Breakfast: Kimchi omelette, and rye toast with orange marmalade. I had coffee with chicory to drink.

Kimchi Omelette

2011-06-22T10:53:00.000-04:00

This morning, I made and ate this omelette with kimchi, goat cheese, and carrots. I had it with whole wheat toast & cherry preserves, and coffee with chicory.

Skillet Cornbread

2011-06-12T13:07:00.002-04:00

We've been invited to a cookout today and I volunteered to bake some cornbread. I made two batches of cornbread in my Lodge cast iron skillet using the recipe from Hilah Cooking. I used whole-wheat flour, buttermilk, and dark amber maple syrup (from New Hampshire). I sprinkled granulated maple sugar on the top of the batter before baking.

Cold Borscht On a Hot Day

2011-06-09T17:07:00.000-04:00

The temps here approached 100 today. I cooled off with cold borscht topped with a poached egg. Buttered rye toast on the side.

Tuna Salad on Rye and Relish Tray

2011-06-05T18:04:00.002-04:00

Tuna with low-fat mayonnaisse and pickle relish on toasted rye bread. Relish assortment of celery and carrot sticks, grape tomatoes, scallions, green olives, and goat milk Gouda cheese.

Eggs

2011-06-03T19:03:00.000-04:00

Dinner tonight was eggs scrambled with cremini mushrooms and goat milk Gouda cheese. Buttered whole wheat pita. Grape tomatoes.

Chicken Salad

2011-06-02T13:38:00.006-04:00

Tuesday morning, I poached some boneless chicken breasts. We've been chowing down on them since. I sauteed a mirepoix, then heated chicken broth over it, and threw in a inch of fresh ginger. The breasts were poached in the brew.

That night, we had them sliced -- cold -- with some of the broth over. The veg was brussel sprouts roasted with whole garlic.

The next night, I sliced some more of the chicken and we had it cold again, moistened with broth. The side dish was roasted cauliflower with ras el hanout.

Today, we're finishing off the chicken for lunch. My wife took some slices for a sandwich. I made for myself a chicken salad largely of my own recipe, i.e., what was around the house--

CHICKEN SALAD

1 cup diced poached boneless chicken breast
1/2 cup minced shallots
1/2 cup minced celery
1/2 cup chopped green olives
1/2 cup low fat mayonnaise
1/2 cup shredded goat milk Gouda cheese
Salt and pepper to taste

Mix and serve. I had it in a whole wheat pita. For a side, I had leftover roasted cauliflower with ras el hanout.

To drink, I had iced coffee with chicory.

Chicken and Rice

2011-05-25T17:06:00.000-04:00

My Go-To Recipe

2011-05-25T15:12:00.003-04:00

I have a couple of especially good entree recipes from my mother. For festive dinners, like Passover or Rosh Hashonah, I make a brisket with carrots and potatoes. It has lots of paprika and a ketchup sauce.

For a go-to meal -- the one I bring over for folks who need comfort -- I make chicken & rice. It's really a semi-homemade recipe; it includes a can of cream of mushroom soup, and converted rice, and dry onion soup mix. If I ever get around to it, maybe I could deconstruct it. Here's the recipe--

CHICKEN WITH RICE

Water
1 cup uncooked converted rice
1 can cream of mushroom soup (undiluted)
1 package onion soup mix
4 chicken breast quarters
Paprika
Lasagna (14") pan
Foil

Preheat oven at 350 degrees. Put dry rice into pan. Pour undiluted soup over rice and spread. Fill soup can with water and pour over rice. Put onion soup mix into soup can, fill with 3/4 cup water, and mix. Pour over rice. Mix rice mixture well. Place chicken, skin side down, on rice. Sprinkle lightly with paprika. Cover pan tightly with foil. Place in oven for 1 hour. Remove from oven. Remove foil. Place chicken on plate. Mix up rice and spread evenly. Replace chicken on rice. Place in oven uncovered for 1 hour. Enjoy!

Hilah Cooking

2011-05-20T16:16:00.003-04:00

If you are looking for a website with good, basic information on how to cook, try Hilah Cooking. Hilah Johnson teaches recipes from her kitchen in a very informal way, so turn down the volume in NSFW situations. I have learned some great recipes from Hilah and expect her show to explode in popularity now that it's carried on blip.tv.

Here is Hilah's recent interview on SteveGarfield.TV--

Pasta With Sardines

2011-05-17T17:47:00.008-04:00

We brought some spaghettini back from Italy. I cooked it in salted water, the drained it, saving some pasta water for the sauce.

I put the same pot over the heat and added a little olive oil. I threw in chopped anchovies, browned them a little, then threw in some minced garlic. The garlic cooked 30 seconds, then I poured in pasta water to deglaze, followed by sardine chunks, some pepper flakes, and the cooked pasta.

I tossed it to mix and reheat and put it in a pasta dish. I topped it with toasted bread crumbs. Mmm!

The Adventures of Tintin (1st Teaser)

2011-05-17T12:14:00.000-04:00

Bologna & Cheese Fritatta

2011-05-12T19:04:00.000-04:00

Salmon and Asparagus

2011-05-02T17:27:00.000-04:00

Early in the day, I poached and chilled some organic farmed salmon fillets from Ireland (by way of Wegman's). The yogurt/cucumber/dill topping is a South Beach Diet recipe. The roasted asparagus had some balsamic vinegar sprinkled on top. Pretty good dinner.

Migas Matzah Brei

2011-04-25T18:41:00.006-04:00

Last night of Passover for Jews in Israel and for Reform Jews. Great night for making Matzah Brei. We just were in Texas, so I thought I'd make an homage: Migas Matzah Brei.

So, first I sauteed in butter some chopped tomato, chopped bell pepper, chopped onion, and chopped jalapeno. When they had browned/softened a little I mixed them up together.

I beat a couple of eggs in a bowl, and salted & peppered them. Into that, I mixed a couple broken-up matzahs, softened in hot water, which was mostly squeezed out. I poured the mixture over the sauteed vegetables in the pan. I spread the egg mix over the veggies, and ran the pan under the r for a couple of minutes to dry out the top.

After the pan was taken out from the broiler, I flipped the mix over like a pancake, shredded cheese over the top, and ran it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to melt and brown the cheese. I sprinkled over the top the browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

It made a pretty tasty Hebraio-TexMex meal for my last night of Passover.

Crockpot Beef Stew Over Israeli Couscous

2011-04-07T18:10:00.004-04:00

I made beef stew in the slow cooker and served it up over Israeli couscous. I dressed it with grated Parmagiano-Reggiano and extra-virgin olive oil.

Our Front Yard

2011-04-04T16:47:00.000-04:00

National Cathedral Bell Tower

2011-04-03T21:35:00.004-04:00

On April 3, 2011, the Washington Post Style Invitational Losers met for brunch at Cafe Deluxe on Wisconsin Ave. in DC. Ann Martin, Loser from the UK, arranged for us also to tour the National Cathedral Bell Tower and see the change ringers at work. Here's a link to my photo album.

Scallop Salad

2011-04-03T17:46:00.001-04:00

Sunday supper was fried bay scallops with grape tomatoes, pea sprouts, and shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in a balsamic mustard vinaigrette. Two slices of bruschetta.

Coddled Egg & Salad

2011-04-02T19:09:00.001-04:00

Coddled Egg Over Kalamata Tapenade with Pea Sprout & Tomato Salad and a Cup of English Breakfast Tea

Opening Day!

2011-03-31T08:59:00.003-04:00

The 2011 baseball season starts today. Go Nats! Go Red Sox! Play ball!

Yogurt, Berries, Wheat Germ & Honey

2011-03-31T08:28:00.002-04:00

Curry Beans & Brown Rice

2011-03-30T19:44:00.001-04:00

My wife is at a class tonight. So, I made a light beans & rice supper-for-one. I mixed Heinz curry beans with brown basmati rice topped with sliced grape tomatoes and grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. I had pita on the side and a nice glass of skim milk. Aren't you jealous?

Making Do With What You've Got Pancakes

2011-03-29T12:39:00.004-04:00

Hilah Cooking posted a recipe today for zucchini pancakes. However, the recipe is really for whatever you've got hanging around your vegetable bins. I know what I made sounds odd, but it is better than throwing stuff out, right? So, I had a partial jar of kimchi in the fridge and some beets in vinegar and a hunk of ghostly-white sharp-tasting goat's milk Gouda.

I sliced up the kimchi and beets into matchsticks and grated the cheese into the bowl. Beaten egg and flour was added.

Then I fried it up as pancakes in canola oil in a medium-high heated pan for 4 minutes on a side.

The tangy, sour tastes blended very well together, and that is what I made. Like it or leave it. Besides, the color is outstanding.

Sandwich & Salad

2011-03-24T13:58:00.001-04:00

Grilled goat Gouda on marble rye with mesclun & beet salad. I threw together a dijon mustard balsamic vinaigrette for the salad. The sandwich was grilled in a cast iron pan (yay, Lodge!).

It's What's For Breakfast

2011-03-23T10:18:00.001-04:00

* Buttered pita
* Yogurt with strawberries, blueberries, banana, wheat germ, & honey
* Coffee

Ghostly Cat

2011-03-21T18:49:00.000-04:00

Wife's Book Club

2011-03-20T17:38:00.001-04:00

Once every year, my wife's book club invites their husbands to come to a meeting. Tonight is the 2011 meeting. We discuss a "guy book" and tonight's is "1776."

One of the guys is making venison stew from a deer he shot. Another is making beef bourguignon. I roasted asparagus and sprinkled it with pomegranate molasses and chopped parsley. Impressed?

Kosher for Passover Franks in Blankets?

2011-03-20T11:17:00.002-04:00

On what planet is this Kosher for Passover?

Bakery fellow at the Giant Foods in West Springfield also told me "they didn't order hamantaschen" for Purim this year. Plenty of Easter Bunny cookies on the shelves, though.

:-)

2011-03-19T10:43:00.000-04:00

2011-03-17T09:24:00.001-04:00

Light Supper

2011-03-16T18:44:00.000-04:00

Fresh-baked whole wheat pita, Bulgarian feta topped with za'atar & olive oil, and a shot of ouzo.

Ramen, etc.

2011-03-15T14:12:00.001-04:00

We had leftover tenderloin. I cut it into strips and added it with sliced carrots, green onions, and jarred kimchi to a package of kimchi ramen.

It's Cream of Wheat Weather...

2011-03-10T10:11:00.000-05:00

...with a splash of half 'n' half, a sprinkle of wheat germ, a little honey, and a pat of butter hiding inside.

Leftover Collard Greens (With Kimchi) Omelette

2011-03-09T10:50:00.002-05:00

We had leftover cooked collard greens in the fridge, as well as an open jar of kimchi. Why not just chop them up.? I added some chopped scallions and srirachca, because I just could. Brunch on a Wednesday. I put pita on the plate, too.

Collard Greens

2011-03-08T19:58:00.002-05:00

Marsha & I had baked salmon fillet for dinner tonight, with a side of collard greens "Hilah Cooking" style.

Not Quite Yet, But Getting There

2011-03-08T16:49:00.002-05:00

Bacon, Kimchi, & Eggs in Pita

2011-03-08T09:07:00.002-05:00

A few drops of sriracha on top. Fusion breakfast, yum! Also had healthy fat-free yogurt topped with raspberries and honey. Plus a cuppa coffee, of course.

The Finished Punch

2011-03-05T18:49:00.003-05:00

This is the finished product of the Fish House Punch from Hilah Cooking.

Making Punch

2011-03-05T18:47:00.006-05:00

This is the Fish House Punch I made Friday from recipe I watched on Hilah Cooking. We served it Saturday night to 16 folks who came over to our house to play euchre. The euchre night and the punch both were big successes.

Gathering the ingredients: I made a few adjustments. The bottle of Jamaican rum was a few ounces short of the 32 ounces I needed for the recipe, so I added a few ounces of black Bermudian rum I had on the shelf. I used peach brandy instead of applejack. The cognac is French brandy, but not from the Cognac region (horrors!). Finally, not seen is the pear liqueur called for in the recipe. Virginia ABC stores don't sell that, so I went nonalcoholic and put in organic 100-percent pear juice. Those are only half the lemons I used -- I zested 28 lemons for this project. Builds strong arms.

Making the oleo-saccharum from 28 lemons and 3 cups of white sugar--

The oleo-saccharum--

Mike Huckabee & Natalie Portman

2011-03-04T10:28:00.003-05:00

Mike Huckabee has criticized Natalie Portman for having a child out -of-wedlock. That's an unwise stone to throw, Governor. Let's explain it in terms that Mike Huckabee might appreciate.

Genesis states that Judah, the 4th son of Jacob. had extra-marital sex with Tamar. From that union came the twins Peretz and Zerah. (Genesis 38:1-30) The Book of Ruth states that Peretz was an ancestor of King David. The Gospels, Acts of the Apostles and Pauline epistles refer to Jesus of Nazareth as a descendant of David.

So, If Huckabee is casting aspersions on (the Israelite) Natalie Portman and her unborn child, isn't he by analogy also casting aspersions on the Davidic line? Shame on you, Mike Huckabee! That sounds like blasphemy!

Korean Egg Toast (Gaeran Tost-u)

2011-02-28T14:53:00.002-05:00

My lunch today was Korean egg toast.

This Korean breakfast sandwich, sold by street vendors in cities, is commonly called tost-u (toast) or gaeran tost-u (egg toast). It's not that different from an American egg sandwich, but the addition of cabbage and a sweet dusting of brown sugar are tasty Korean additions. It is Korean fusion cooking at the street level. Here is my process for making it.

Challah

2011-02-27T17:16:00.000-05:00

We made challah in our Kosher baking class today.

Baking Class

2011-02-27T17:15:00.000-05:00

We took a Kosher baking class today.

Veggie Lunch

2011-02-26T14:18:00.002-05:00

I thawed out one of the veggie bean burgers I'd made a few days ago and had it on toasted rye bread with dijon mustard. As a side, I made a brown rice onigiri with a watermelon rind pickle inside. The salad is shaved carrot with zante currants and honey.

How I Know I'm Not Addicted to Internet Recipes

2011-02-26T13:10:00.006-05:00

I've been cooking since I was a kid. I started making Mexican TV dinners, which was a big deal growing up in New Hampshire. My friend Dana taught me how to make fried rice -- with salami chunks. He used the rendered fat from the salami to cook his onions. I also was the house barbecue guy, making burgers, steaks, and chops for my parents and me.

Then, I started watching TV cooking shows, Graham Kerr and Julia Child, and copying what they did. I've accumulated a rather large number of cookbooks of every variety, too.

Now, I watch Internet cooking shows."VideoJug" has good lessons and sometimes the Food Network recipes are fun to make. Lately, I've been following a great cooking show on the Web called "Hilah Cooking" because the recipes are (generally) healthy and fun, and the show's host -- Hilah Johnson -- is very natural, knowledgeable, and entertaining.

That's not the case with all Internet chefs, however. Check out this one. She makes a stir-fry recipe with Minute Rice (yuck) and spends practically the first three minutes of her show explaining how it takes only five minutes to prepare it. Geez!

Veggie Bean Burgers

2011-02-24T16:20:00.007-05:00

I made these vegetarian bean burgers in my cast iron frypan, using this recipe from "Hilah Cooking." If you are interested, here are photos of my cooking process.

Hilah said to use sunflower seeds. I didn't have any, so I used pine nuts we had in the fridge. For seasoning, I used ras el-hanout.

Finished Product

I ate one burger tonight. The burger was delicious and had the crunch of a pan-fried hamburger. The BBQ sause is from Rudy's in Texas. The watermelon rind pickles are by Southern Gardens, Yemasee, SC, from a store we stopped at on a drive home from visiting my folks. The potato bun is from Giant Food. The leftover burgers are in our freezer for another day.

On the bun with Rudy's Sause &
watermelon rind pickles on the side

Kimchi Ramen

2011-02-22T19:09:00.001-05:00

With Poached Egg & Tomatoes

Beef & Lentil Stew

2011-02-17T19:00:00.002-05:00

Tonight's dinner

from the Weight Watchers website

Sweet Potato Fries (Finished Product)

2011-02-17T12:53:00.003-05:00

They turned out great! I got this recipe from the Hilah Cooking website. Thanks for lunch, Hilah!

Sweet Potato Fries (Getting Started)

2011-02-17T11:31:00.002-05:00

This morning, I was on Facebook, checking out my friends and my news feed posted a link to Hilah Cooking's latest -- this recipe for Sweet Potato Frie s. Wow, I already had the stuff hanging around the house. Let's see how it turns out!

Supper

2011-02-16T23:01:00.001-05:00

I picked up za'atar bread at the Lebanese carryout. The fat-free plain yogurt had a little salt & a minced garlic clove mixed in, and smoked paprika sprinkled on top. I also sprinkled a little olive oil on everything.

Ras el Hanout Couscous

2011-02-15T19:45:00.003-05:00

What to do when I'm alone for the evening and don't want to go out? Check the cupboard. I mixed some canned beef broth with a little ras el hanout and olive oil, threw in a few frozen mixed veggies and brought it to a boil. Stirred in some couscous and set it aside, covered. Then I fried an egg over easy in a few drops of olive oil. When the couscous was ready, I dropped the egg on top -- and voila! Not shown in the photo was bottle of pumpkin ale I had with it and the few drops of sriracha I sprinkled on top of the egg for a little heat.

Happy Valentine's Day to my Wonderful Wife!

2011-02-14T09:28:00.002-05:00

Lunch From the Cupboard

2011-02-12T13:26:00.003-05:00

Sort of a unique relish tray kind of lunch today. Rye toast with margarine. Quail's eggs pickled with jalapeno & carrots & onion -- from Texas. Watermelon rind pickles -- from South Carolina. The pickled stuff is from our travels. The drink is Trader Joe's pear cinnamon cider.

Gell Well Wishes to Elizabeth Taylor

2011-02-11T21:22:00.001-05:00

Oven-Roasted Salmon Fillet

2011-02-10T19:51:00.001-05:00

Cooked in a cast iron pan, smoked paprika on it. Tri-color couscous with peas on the side.

Here Comes the Sun

2011-02-09T10:50:00.002-05:00

For everyone still suffering through this blasted winter of 2010-2011, this one's for you.

How Healthy Is This?

2011-02-09T10:15:00.001-05:00

Fat-free organic yogurt over honeybell tangelo, blueberries, and strawberries. A drizzle of New Hampshire maple syrup on top.

Eastern Kentucky Chili Buns

2011-02-08T14:48:00.003-05:00

I just watched Hilah Johnson demonstrate her Dad's Texas chili recipe on "Hilah Cooking" and it's inspired me to share my chili recipe here.

Back around 1988 or 1989, Esquire Magazine published a short article about Kentucky Chili Buns. They're essentially chili dogs without the dog. The chili is packed into the hotdog bun. It was served out of big pots in pool halls in Eastern Kentucky. The "rumor" that Esquirementioned in the recipe is that, on occasion, some pool chalk would make it into the chili pot.

I copied the recipe as best I could and it's been bumping around my computers ever since. We've served this at office parties and tailgates; as is or used as topping on burgers and hot dogs. See if you like it.

ESQUIRE CHILI

Ingredients:

1 quart cheap beer
7 pounds ground beef
1 pound ground pork
3 teaspoons salt
2 cloves minced garlic
3 good-size onions, chopped fine
1 medium-size white onion, chopped fine
Hot dog buns
Bright-yellow mustard (optional)
10 tablespoons chili powder (or chili powder recipe below)
Tabasco sauce (optional)

A few hours before you cook, open the beer and let it go flat. Put meat in large, unheated kettle. Mix beef and pork together, breaking the meat apart lightly as you do. Don't compress meat with your fingers. Sprinkle meat with 3 teaspoons salt, 2 cloves minced garlic, and 3 good-size onions chopped fine. Pour flat beer over mixture. Put in your hands and mix lightly, but thoroughly, not compacting meat. Stir mixture over high heat until it boils. Turn heat to medium-low and let the contents cook slowly for 1-1/2 hours, uncovered. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

Sprinkle chili powder over the top. Turn heat down very low and let the powder seep in. Heat buns. Chop medium white onion in fine pieces. Turn heat up fairly high on chili and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly, keeping mix from sticking and mixing powder in thoroughly. Chili should be juicy, but not soupy.

Sprinkle some chopped onion down the center of each bun, enough so there will be a piece in every bite. Bright-yellow mustard is optional, to be painted sparingly on interiors of buns. Pack chili in tightly, not like a sloppy joe: pack and smooth it with the back of a spoon. Build up and out to the ends of the bun from there, packing until the bun is tightly and compactly filled and can be held easily.

Eat in heartburn-producing quantities with mellow, straight-forward, sturdy brand of beer (not dark or lite).

Chili powder:

Pop in a blender 5 tablespoons hot, crushed Mexican or New Mexican (not Italian) chili peppers, 3 tablespoons cumin, 1 tablespoon dried leaf coriander, and 3 cloves garlic. Whir briefly until garlic is pulverized and everything is mixed.

Chicken in Japanese Sauce

2011-02-07T19:28:00.001-05:00

Chicken in Williams-Sonoma Japanese Simmering Sauce over white basmati rice. Grilled romaine lettuce basted with lime vinaigrette.

Salad For Super Bowl Party

2011-02-06T16:58:00.001-05:00

Here's the salad we're taking to our friends' Super Bowl party. Red & green leaf lettuces, romaine, Italian parsley, cucumber, grape tomatoes, chopped red onion, tossed with a homemade lime vinaigrette. I grated some parm on the top to make it look a little more interesting.

Lime Vinaigrette

2011-02-06T14:28:00.002-05:00

I'm making a mixed lettuces salad for the Super Bowl party we're going to today. Here's the lime vinaigrette I made for it.

Making Sloppy Joes

2011-02-06T14:16:00.004-05:00

Back on January 11th, I made Sloppy Joes. Here's a video.

Mr. Bento - 4 Feb 2011

2011-02-03T19:04:00.000-05:00

Running late for a job tonight, so I dusted off Mr. Bento for my dinner. Brown rice & carrots cooked in chicken broth, topped with a baked za'atar egg. Side dish of tomatoes; dessert of honeybell segments.