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By mlb, on March 10th, 2013%
Over the next couple of days I’m going to be posting two ideas for St. Patrick’s Day meals and this first one uses two very Irish ingredients — Guinness stout and lamb. It does take awhile to cook but the reward is worth it.
Of course, there’s also the challenge of finding a pot big enough to fit the lamb shanks in (usually my downfall), which is definitely tricky, but again, very much worth it in the end. If you have leftover braising sauce (and you probably will), it’s great used in lentil soup. Just thin with a little more chicken broth and cook your lentils in it. Mmmmm….lamb-y.
On the side — Polenta & Cabbage: This is sort of a colcannon-type dish but with polenta instead of potatoes. Just cook up a batch of polenta like usual (one part polenta whisked into four parts boiling liquid), and when it’s almost done, saute some sliced cabbage in separate pan, using about a tablespoon of butter. Add salt and pepper and let it get a little golden in places. Add the cooked cabbage and butter to the polenta and stir in . . . → Read More: Guinness Braised Lamb Shanks for St. Patrick’s Day
By mlb, on December 4th, 2012%
I just learned that December 5th (today) is Repeal Day! That’s when Prohibition was repealed way back on December 5, 1933 after 13 long, sad years of no booze. Let’s all rejoice and not only drink alcohol, but cook with it too. Hooray!
Are you in the mood for a steak? How about whiskey? Hey, here’s an idea — how about we combine them into an awesome, red meaty meal? Really, you should do this because it was pretty satisfying. I am always looking for an excuse to try a steak recipe since, honestly, we don’t eat red meat very often (2-3 times a month, if that). It’s a steak adventure, if you will.
I am also happy to find a recipe that incorporates alcohol into food…because that is pretty fun. A little for the food, a little for the chef. But I digress. This is as good as it sounds (and looks) — a slightly sweet, complex glaze and tender, juicy, medium-rare meat. Roasted brussels sprouts on the side complete the plate.
Whiskey Glazed Flat Iron Steaks with Grilled Sweet Potatoes
Recipe adapted from Food Network
1/4 cup whiskey, I used Ransom’s . . . → Read More: Whiskey Glazed Flat Iron Steaks with Grilled Sweet Potatoes
By mlb, on December 2nd, 2012%
It’s funny, I’ve had this blog since 2005 but it seems just in the last year or so, I am getting so many offers to review/cook with/bake with/asked to enter cooking contests for a whole bunch of products and ingredients. This has been interesting and a lot of fun. On that topic, this post features a short review of Gevalia Coffee that I was recently sent.
First up: the coffee: Now, I don’t really talk about beverages very often on this blog, but this opportunity intrigued me. Mainly because I am familiar with Gevalia and although hadn’t had any for a number of years, I remember it specifically, when I tried some at my Grandfather’s house many years ago.
I liked the Cinnamon blend so much one year when we were visiting for Thanksgiving, I think he either gave me some to take back to school or maybe I bought some. I’m not sure now (because I am old), but I was very interested in trying some again.
Gevalia generously sent me 1853 Heritage Blend, Café Sperl in whole . . . → Read More: Applesauce Oat Spice Muffins Plus Adventures with Gevalia Coffee
By mlb, on April 29th, 2012%
The Irish Table
1235 S Hemlock
Cannon Beach, OR 97110
This place is quickly becoming one of our favorite restaurants on the Oregon Coast. We’ve been twice in the last six months and honestly, I would be okay sneaking another two dinners in before the end of the year. Definitely okay with that. They’re located in the back of Sleepy Monk Coffee Roasters and it’s actually pretty perfect — there for coffee drinks in the AM and back for dinner in the PM.
On this trip we were there right after they opened at 5:30 and pretty much all of the small tables were already taken. We were offered spaces at the communal table in back or one of the smaller tables up front. We chose to sit up front which was very nice with a breeze coming in through the front door and some space in which to spread out a bit.
Here are some photos from our meal. I usually make a habit of taking a picture of the menu when we eat out, so that if I post about it, I remember exactly what we ate. I forgot to do this at the . . . → Read More: The Irish Table in Cannon Beach, OR
By mlb, on April 10th, 2011%
This recipe is from my newest cookbook acquisition, Culinary Tea by Cynthia Gold and Lise Stern. It’s basically a whole cookbook full of recipes that use tea. Delightful! I really love the idea of using tea as a seasoning or ingredient in recipes and this book does not disappoint at all. This is the first recipe I’ve made out of the book and I loved it. I found some beautiful wild Pacific Albacore Tuna at the Zupans on Belmont that worked just perfectly here.
I have to say, I’m always surprised at how well tuna and cinnamon seem to got together. It’s a combination that seems so very, very wrong on paper but in reality it just really works. In fact, all of the tea spice crust just blends together so well with the tuna here. I also loved how the sliced tuna looked almost like sushi, with the dark, spicy crust that seemed to resemble nori. Very, very pretty.
Anyway, it may seem like there’s a lot of ingredients here (and there are) but it’s really worth it. For a lighter dinner just the . . . → Read More: Culinary Tea: Seared Tuna with Tea Spice Crust
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