Categories

FFwD: Broth-Braised Potatoes

Broth-Braised Potatoes

Admittedly, I am not a big eater of potatoes. I think of them more as a vehicle for other things: cheese, sauces, crunchy. I don’t think I have ever boiled potatoes and just eaten them that way.

So, I was a little tentative about this French Fridays with Dorie. Surprisingly, I thought the broth gave these potatoes a lot of flavor. Unfortunately, it was mostly of the bay leaf, which I didn’t really like. If I make these again, I think I will omit that and maybe up the garlic? Yes. More garlic (the answer to every question, ever asked). YES IT IS.

Notes:
1. I halved the recipe, worked fine.
2. I used a mix of potatoes (like I did for the roasted chicken a couple of weeks back)!
3. We had the potatoes with some roasted broccoli and sauteed chicken, which was very good.

Here are my photos and a link to everyone’s Broth-Braised Potatoes.

Broth-Braised Potatoes
Braising liquid, heating up.

Broth-Braised Potatoes
Not a lot going on here. Potatoes in, starting to cook.

Broth-Braised Potatoes
I hit the potatoes with a little more salt and pepper after removing them from the braising liquid.

Broth-Braised Potatoes
With broccoli and chicken. This chicken. Very good!

The Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill
Cedar Hills Crossing
3435 SW Cedar Hills Blvd.
Beaverton, OR 97005

I was recently invited to attend a pre-opening lunch at the new vegan Veggie Grill restaurant in Beaverton (right by the Beaverton Powells). I brought jwa with me and we ate a lot of food and I took pictures (which is typically what happens when we eat out).

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when we showed up for our 1PM reservation, but it was a very enjoyable experience. After stepping inside, we got marked off the list, handed a menu and encouraged to order whatever we wanted at the counter. Dude actually said, “order one of everything!” Well, okay then. We didn’t quite do that but we did alright.

The booths were reserved for parties of 3 or more for this event, so we ended up sitting right at the counter. Because of this, we got to . . . → Read More: The Veggie Grill

FFwD: Quartre-Quarts

Quatre-quarts

Oh, hello French Fridays with Dorie! Nice to see you again. This week: it’s a cake. Yay! I Like Cake! Anyway, this is sort of like a French Poundcake, called quartre-quarts. Sounds good to me. Let’s go have some cake.

Notes:

1. My springform pan was a little smaller in diameter (but deeper) than what was suggested in the recipe. Because of this, mine took longer to bake — about 45 minutes. And I got that split open top that sometimes happens on cakes. That’s okay. Did not bother me at all!
2. I kind of mixed it up and used 2 tsp dark rum and 1 tsp vanilla. Maybe it was the rum, but it kind of reminded me of those alcohol-soaked cakes you can find around the holidays.
3. I loved the crackled brown sugar on top.
4. The cake is all gone now (it didn’t take long). Very dense, pretty . . . → Read More: FFwD: Quartre-Quarts

Mediterranean Tuna Melt

Mediterranean Tuna Melt

While growing up, a tuna melt was one of my go-to, out to eat meals. Through the years, I’ve been guilty of mixing up some tuna salad, slathering it on an English muffin and melting copious amounts of cheddar cheese on it and calling it dinner. Bonus: A pretty quick dinner at that! Now, while that version is still pretty tasty, it’s not the healthiest dinner (hence the guilty).

Lately, I’ve tried to stick to my tuna melt roots but I’ve also tried to lighten it up a bit. It started by adding greens and just a touch of mayo. Now, I’ve come across this recipe that actually convinced me to give up the melted cheddar. I know! Crazy talk!

But, this version was really very good. So maybe give it a try next time you have a hankerin’ for a tuna melt. You can . . . → Read More: Mediterranean Tuna Melt

FFwD: M. Jacques Armagnac Chicken

m. jacques armagnac chicken

Hey, it’s the first French Fridays with Dorie of 2012 (for me, anyway)! And this week….M. Jacques Armagnac Chicken. This is a pretty easy and delicious weeknight dinner. I typically prefer roasted-type birds with golden, crackly skin, but to its credit, this was one helluva moist bird. And, with the new year’s resolutions and all, it’s probably best to not be tempted to eat all that tasty, golden, crackly skin.

Notes:

1. My bird was about 2.75 pounds and I roasted it for 55 minutes. It came out perfectly done and super moist.
2. I used a mix of gold, red and purple potatoes and two rosemary sprigs (no thyme).
3. I added garlic to the pot (duh).
4. I only had fairly cheap brandy. I used that, although, I did contemplate using some marsala wine instead. The cheap brandy seemed to work fine.
5. I wish I had salted . . . → Read More: FFwD: M. Jacques Armagnac Chicken