cooking

Steak Tartare

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“Steak Tartare” – unfortunately, nowadays it seems that this classic dish is shunned by most people, even if they never tried it.
The obvious reasons are health concerns and the thought of eating a pile of raw meat, even when most folks don’t think twice of eating a rare cooked steak or burger. (What about raw seafood ?!!!)
The truth is, it can be very dangerous to eat any food raw if it is not properly sourced and handled.
Therefore, I suggest to eat Steak Tartare only at a place which you can fully trust of impeccable food-safety procedures and an absolutely trustworthy food-source. I personally also eat only Steak Tartare from grass-fed, all organic beef, using only organic, cage free chicken eggs.
But then, when you can be absolutely sure of the proper, safe ingredients, Steak Tartare is a true marvel of classic cuisine.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Steak Tartare

there you go……..

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Preparation :
To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: ground rib eye, most fat trimmed of

: seasoning for steak tartare

: egg yolk, anchovy paste, garlic paste, black pepper, onion, gherkins, capers, maggi, mustard, kosher salt, wasabi

: add seasonings to meat

: mix seasonings with meat

: cheddar/jalapeno bread

: grill bread, let cool to warm, spread generously with unsalted butter

: Steak Tartare

: Steak Tartare

: there you go……..

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Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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New Post on ” Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort food ” :
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Week Two – Monday Dinner:

Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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To see all pictures and instructions, click HERE
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: Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

: Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

: Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

: Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

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Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce

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Since I am on a set meal plan for the time being, I am cooking a lot of goodies like this one for my very appreciative neighbor who, together with his wife and kid, loves good food but is (not yet) very successful in the kitchen, although this starts to change a bit since I am guiding him/them whenever I have the time 🙂
(I taste all of what I cook for them, but I can not eat any of it) 😦
This one was a great hit, especially the pasta . I had spaghetti in my larder and used those, but if you want the dish to be a bit more Asian in appearance, you might want to use cellophane/ or rice-noodles instead.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce, served with ponzu dipping sauce and thai chili dipping sauce

Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce

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Preparation:
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: Japanese Plate And Serving Platter

: season bone-in rib eye generously with kosher salt, cayenne pepper and granulated garlic, after steak is done to your preferred temperature, let rest in a warm place for at least 5 minutes before slicing

: deglaze pan with mirin, add a bit of water, lime juice, sugar, garlick paste, soy sauce, sriracha and peanut butter, simmer for one minute

: add raw spinach and VERY finely sliced red peppers, remove from heat, check/adjust taste

: add freshly cooked pasta, return to heat, simmer for one minute

: plate pasta on a warm serving dish

: top pasta with sliced steak, sprinkle with sesame seeds

: Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce

: Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce, served with ponzu dipping sauce and thai chili dipping sauce

: Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce

: Bone-In Rib Eye & Pasta In Peanut Sauce

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MEAL PLAN – WEEK TWO

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Week Two –
“Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food”
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Daily Breakfast – Fruit/Tea (fibrous fruit + unsweetened tea of your choice)
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Daily Lunch – Energy bar/Fruits (fruits of your choice + energy bar of your choice)
(many different brands / types of Energy Bars are available – consult your doctor/nutritionist)
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Daily Dinner –

Monday – “Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth”
Tuesday – “Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast”
Wednesday – “ Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne”
Thursday – “Red Beet Delight”
Friday – “Sauteed Pork medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta”
Saturday – “ Karachi Butter Chicken”
Sunday – “Salad Florentine”
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Monday – “Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth”
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Shrimp, Broccolini And Ramen Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

Tuesday – “Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast”
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Grilled ~~Roman~~ Romaine Feast

Wednesday – “ Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne”
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Pepperonata & Chicken Parisienne

Thursday – “Red Beet Delight”
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Red Beet Delight

Friday – “Sauteed Pork Medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta”
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auteed Pork Medaiilons With Mushrooms And Pasta

Sauteed Pork Medallions With Mushrooms And Pasta

Saturday – “ Karachi Butter Chicken”
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Karachi Butter Chicken

Sunday – “Salad Florentine”
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Salad Florentine

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P.S.
Update after my own completion of Week Three :
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So far I have lost 19.5 lbs of weight in three weeks of “Hans’ Lighter, Healthier Comfort Food” meal plan.
I feel much better, sleep much better and on top of all the benefits of living a bit more on the sensible side of life, I eat as much as I want. (Except on the two days of the week which allow me a dinner of anything I crave, although in much smaller portions).
I have to admit that I fell off the wagon twice:
– Once in Week One: I had a pizza for lunch 😦
– Once in Week Two: I had a couple of strawberry-filled doughnuts after dinner 😦

If you want to read more about my new, very much improved lifestyle, click HERE.
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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini
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This was the first “leftovers” dish I prepared from the “ROAST FRESH HAM WITH CARAWAY JUS” a few weeks back.
Remember, to make this dish “lighter and healthier comfort food”, you must cut back on the portion size big time – the pictured portion should serve three people 🙂

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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Link to Lattkes (Potato Pancakes) (Kartoffelpuffer)
Link to Apple Sauce (Apfelmus)
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Link to original dish Roast Fresh Ham With Caraway Jus
Link to the second leftover dish The German Dip
Link to the third leftover dish Gebratene Schweinehaxe

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Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: soak porcini in hot water for 20 minutes

: saute chopped onions and garlic paste in olive oil

: add porcini and heavy cream, add kosher salt and cayenne papper, simmer

: Meanwhile, slice leftover cold pork, add to a pan with a bit of salted water and brush with butter, cover and VERY SLOWLY reheat, without simmering (too hot – it will dry out and toughen the meat

: reduced cream and mushrooms

: add demi glace

: simmer for another minute, check / adjust texture and taste

: cook the latkes in peanut oil

: almost……

: serve with greens and apple sauce, sprinkle with fresh herbs

: Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

: Rôti De Porc Avec Sauce Au Cèpe Porcini

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Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Here you have one of these dishes were you can have a meal fit for a king with a minimum effort of labor and a very reasonable cost of ingredients.
Just plan ahead and either cook the beef the day before you want to eat the soup, or, if you want to have it for dinner after work, start the beef and it’s broth as soon as you get up in the morning. Bring it to a simmer, let it cook for as long as you can before you leave the house, then just let the beef cool in the broth until you get home. Also at that point, soak the shiitake in some of the hot broth during the day. From there it will only take another 10 minutes to finish this sexy beauty (the time to cook the noodles) and voilà ! – ready for a soup as good (or better) as you can get in your favorite noodle-house. 🙂

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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Beef , Shiitake And and Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger.Garlic Broth

Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures

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: simmer beef with chilies garlic paste, grated ginger, kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper and a dash of five spice powder

: remove beef, set aside, strain broth through a fine mesh strainer, check / adjust seasoning

: cut beef into bite size pieces

: remove shiitakes from soaking liquid

: remove stems, discard stems

: cook mung bean noodles (cellophane noodles), drain, coat with sesame oil, add lots of chopped cilantro

: plate noodles, top with mushrooms

: add beef, some lime wedges and a few chilies

: add broth, sprinkle with more chopped cilantro

: Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

: Beef , Shiitake And Mung Bean Noodles In Ginger/Garlic Broth

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Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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If this dish looks too spicy for you – relax 🙂
– The amount of chilies you can see in the pictures are good for my personal palette, but you should add the type (heat level) and quantity you prefer. I suggest you add chilies which are slightly milder than you can tolerate, so that you can add more of them and get that rich, fruity capsicum taste which you can only get by biting into a whole, fried or sauteed chili.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: season ground pork with five spice powder, salt and black pepper, saute in peanut oil

: add lots of sliced onions, stir fry until onions are translucent

: add chilies of your choice, garlic paste

: add ponzu seasoning, soy sauce

: add hoi sin sauce, oyster sauce

: add water, a dash of sugar, chopped cilantro, simmer for three minutes, check / adjust seasoning

: meanwhile, soak rice sticks in water for ten minutes, cook in boiling water for three minutes, drain, mix with sesame oil

: serving dish

: plate noodles

: top with chili-pork, sprinkle with cilantro

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

: Chili-Pork Rice Sticks

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Pierogi With Onions, Salami And Peas

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You might wonder how pepper jack cheese has found its way into this otherwise more tame, traditional Polish dish.
Usually, “Quark ” (Farmers Cheese) is the cheese of choice for pierogies, but I like the added heat the pepper jack gives to my version. But of course, you can either use any cheese of your choice (try brie!) or even omit the cheese and double the amount of onions in the filling. – Decisions, decisions ……. 🙂
As for the garnish, again you can use your favorite ingredients and let your fantasy be your guide. You might want to try mushrooms, shrimp, any kind of vegetables, dried fruits, etc.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Link to more info on Pierogies

Link to ” Pepper Lack Suffed Pierogies, Corn, Radish & Peas “

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Pierogi With Onions, Salami And Peas

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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Below find my own pierogi recipe :
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Ingredients :

Potato / Cheese Filling
2 oz soft butter
medium small diced onion, sauteed
2 oz greek yoghurt
2 cups cold mashed potatoes
2 oz grated pepper jack cheese
salt & pepper to taste
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Pierogi Dough
3 large eggs
6 oz sour cream or greek yoghurt
3 cups all-purpose flour, sifted
1 tablespoon baking powder
salt to taste

Method :

Saute onion in butter until translucent.
Stir into the mashed potatoes, add grated cheese and yoghurt,
season with salt and cayenne pepper, mix well.To make the dough, beat together the eggs and sour cream until smooth.
Sift together the flour, salt, and baking powder; stir into the sour cream mixture,
mix well and knead the dough on a lightly floured surface until firm and smooth.
Divide the dough in half, then roll out one half to 1/8 inch thickness.
Cut into 3 inch rounds using a cutter or drinking glass.Place a small spoonful of the mashed potato filling into the center of each round.
Moisten the edges with water, fold over, and press together with a fork to seal.
Repeat procedure with the remaining dough and filling.Cook in boiling saltwater until dough is done, about 4 to 5 minutes,
depending on the thickest part of the dough. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain.

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: Cook pierogies, drain

: saute onions in butter

: add diced salami

: add green peas

: add pierogies, saute until lighthly browned, add sliced scallions

: tomato sauce with sauteed peppers and onion

: Pierogi With Onions, Salami And Peas

: Pierogi With Onions, Salami And Peas

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The Slammer

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It is great to have the liberty to name the dishes one creates, even using somewhat goofy but fitting names, such as “The Slammer” 🙂
This is one of the dishes which owe their creation to the fact that sometimes I think I have nothing in the fridge to prep a great meal and going to the shop is not an option. Out of this familiar dilemma, sometimes a wonderful dish finds the light of day, as happened with this mouthwatering, sexy sandwich.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Link to Hans’ Homemade Buffalo Sauce
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The Slammer

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Preparation :
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: grill a thick and a thin slice of whole wheat bread which you generously brushed with garlic paste

: spread both slices of bread on one side with Hans’Homemade Buffalo Sauce

: season chicken breast with kosher salt, cayenne pepper, soy sauce and granulated garlic, saute in canola oil

: slice tomamto and radish, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper

: add sliced avocado tothe thicker slice of bread, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkle with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper

: add the sliced tomatoes

: top with cucumber shavings

: top with parmigiano reggiano shavings

: top with sliced chicken

: top with radish

: top whith second, thin slice of grilled bread

: The Slammer

: The Slammer

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Gebratene Schweinehaxe, Saure Linsen & Schnittlauchkartoffeln (Roast Pork Hock & Sour Lentils)

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This was the third and final Dish I made from the leftovers of the Roast Pork Ham I prepared on 25th December.
(I’ll post # 1 next week) 🙂
It brought back memories of spit-roasted pork and veal hocks on food , beer and song filled evenings with friends, spend in “gemuetliche” (cozy) rustic restaurants in Swabia and Bavaria 40 years ago when food like this could be had in most of the simple restaurants (Gaststätte, Gasthaus, Gasthof, Wirtshaus) in the South of Germany and in Austria, any day of the week, usually accompanied by potato dumplings or bread dumplings and sauerkraut.
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Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Link to original dish – ROAST FRESH HAM WITH CARAWAY JUS
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Link to the first leftover dish – RÔTI DE PORC AVEC SAUCE AU CÈPE PORCINI
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Link to the second leftover dish – THE GERMAN DIP
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Gebratene Schweinehaxe, Saure Linsen & Schnittlauchkartoffeln (Roast Pork Hock)

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Preparation:
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To read instructions, hover over pictures
To enlarge pictures and read instructions, click on pictures
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: saute chopped smoked hamehocks and diced onions in porkfat, add washed lentils and chickenstock, simmer slowly until tender but not falling apart

: season with rice vinegar, kosher salt and cayenne pepper, simmer another 2 minutes, check/adjust the taste

: add fully cooked pork hock to the lentils, brush generously with melted butter, cover and bake in oven until pork is heated on it’s thickest part to 165F

: saute cooked small potatoes in olive oil , add sliced chives, season with kosher salt. To serve, add potatoes to lentils, brush pork with olive oil