cooking

Easy Does it # 8 – Sauteed Spinach With Garlic, Bacon, Onion And Parmesan

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Dear Friend’s,
Although most of my followers are culinary professionals, there is also a large segment of followers who are just starting to enjoy cooking on a slightly higher than basic level. I have therefore decided to publish, under the moniker “Easy Does It“, from time to time some very basic recipe variations of dishes which otherwise might seem complicated to some folks. I will break them down to the easiest, most simple instructions, so that those of you who are intimidated by elaborate recipes will be able to prepare these dishes properly, adjusted to your taste and liking, right from the get-go.
Enjoy :-)
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While I am a big fan of creamed spinach, sauted spinach is one of my other favorite vegetables. Usually when I buy spinach, I buy a big bag which is about enough for a family of four. Since I live alone with Bella, I blanch the spinach and freeze what I don’t use emidiately. So, for this recipe you can either use fresh or blanched spinach, the result is the same. Also, I cut the onions and bacon in a rustic fashion fitting for this dish. If you prefer, dice the onions fine and slice the bacon fine.

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Sauteed Spinach With Garlic, Bacon, Onion And Parmesan

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Preparation :
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blanch spinach in salted boiling water

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shock in ice water, drain, squeeze dry

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saute bacon until fat is rendered and bacon crispy

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remove, reserve bacon

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saute onions and garlic paste in bacon fat

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add spinach, heat trough, season with kosher salt, nutmeg and cayenne pepper

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return bacon, mix

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put spinach into oven proof dish

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sprinkle with freshly grated parmigiano reggiano, gratinate until golden

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Sauteed Spinach With Garlic, Bacon, Onion And Parmesan

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Rib Eye With Himalayan Pink Salt (Bife Ancho)

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This large chunk of rib eye (bife ancho in Argentinian Spanish) cost me $40.00 at my Argentinian butcher.
I bet at Whole Foods or Publix that same piece would ring up for at least $70.00 to $80.00, and the quality of beef would not be as good.
Just goes to show…….
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Rib Eye With Himalayan Pink Salt

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: Rib Eye (Bife Ancho)

: Rib Eye (Bife Ancho)

: Rib Eye (Bife Ancho)

: Rib Eye (Bife Ancho)

: Himalayan Pink Salt

: smash into small pieces

: process in spice mill

: finely ground himalayan pink salt

: season steaks liberally with salt

: saute in cast iron pan until done to your preference

: almost 🙂

: Rib eye, garlic paste, trinidad moruga scorpion hot sauce

: cover with garlic and hot sauce, let rest for 15 minutes in warm place

: Rib Eye With Himalayan Pink Salt

: Rib Eye With Himalayan Pink Salt

: Rib Eye With Himalayan Pink Salt

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Calamare E Bucatini

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I love calamari, but I hate to clean them at home and it is hard to find good quality cleaned ones around here. But, yesterday I got lucky. I drove around a bit with Bella to see what’s out there and low and behold, I found a fishmonger I had not noticed before, even though I drove by there many times over the year’s. To my surprise, they have a great selection of fresh, quality seafood. I had to control myself not to go crazy and buy too much (I did anyway).
So, one of the first things on my list today were the calamari, simply prepared and served over Bucatini.

Bon Apetit ! Life is Good !
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Calamare E Bucatini

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mise en place

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season with kosher salt, cayenne pepper and granulated garlic, dredge in corn starch. Cook bucatini until al dente, drain, reserve some of the cooking liquid

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saute in VERY hot peanut oil for less then a minute

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remove to absorbent paper

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add herb butter, chilies, scallion, garlic paste, small amount of grated parmesan, kosher salt, chili sauce and small amount of cooking liquid, mix well until pasta is coated

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bucatini

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Calamare E Bucatini

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Calamare E Bucatini

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Calamare E Bucatini

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Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter’s Schnitzel With Noodles And Romaine)

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Today was the first time in four year’s that something actually went my way, unconditionally and perfect. A feeling of relief not experienced for such a long time.
To celebrate, I prepped for myself this comforting, traditional Swabian dish of Jägerschnitzel, something I grew up with and although simple and down to earth, still gives me great pleasure and culinary satisfaction 🙂

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter's Schnitzel With oodles And Romaine)

Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter’s Schnitzel With Noodles And Romaine)

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: mise en place

: saute onions and garlic paste in butter

: add mushrooms, saute until starting to brown, deglaze with white wine

: add cream and demi glace, salt and pepper

: simmer sauce for 10 minutes,. Meanwhile, cook pasta

: saute bread crumbs in butter, season with salt and pepper

: Schmelze

: season veal cutlets with salt and pepper, dust with flour, saute until medium well

: when medium well, remove to absorbent paper

: Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter’s Schnitzel With Noodles And Romaine)

: Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter’s Schnitzel With Noodles And Romaine)

: Jägerschnitzel Mit Nudeln Und Romaine (Hunter’s Schnitzel With Noodles And Romaine)

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Dear Friend’s, to help support this blog,
please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page. Thank you 🙂

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Cowboy Steak & Fried Onions

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This evening, only a great steak would do the trick.
Charred on the outside, rare on the inside.
No sides, the steak alone was big enough.
(At least until midnight, when my stomach will surely beckon for a snack) 🙂

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Cowboy Steak & Fried Onions

slice onions into very fine julienne, fry in peanut oil until crispy, remove to absorbent paper, season with salt and cayenne pepper

season steak with salt and cayenne pepper, saute until done to your preference

let steak rest in warm place for ten minutes

top with freshly grated horseradish

top with fried onions and sliced scallions

Cowboy Steak & Fried Onions

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Firebird

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Firebird with chili noodles? Chicken on fire? Spicy chicken stir fry? Hot chicken?
Pick one, but I think firebird is the best name for this dish. Drowsed in chili oil, served over chili/garlic noodles, this dish is neither subtle nor understated. It will require a certain immunity from burning heat. However, after a few mouthfuls, the burning sensation will make space for a enlightening flavor high and you will have to make yourself slow down eating because you can’t wait for the next bite 🙂

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !

Notes:
– Most folks would use skin less chicken breast for this dish. I personally prefer the legs, I feel it gives me a better texture. I remove the skin and cut it to the same size as the meat and cook it together making sure the skin renders and get’s crispy.

– The noodles will make a perfect snack if served by them self. In that case, you want to add a bit more soy sauce.
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Firebird

Chili / Garlic/ Sesame Noodles

: mix pieces of chicken, onion, water and corn starch

: season with salt, garlic paste and chili oil

: cut cabbage, red peppers and scallions

: mix water, oyster sauce and soy sauce for sauce

: soak rice noodles in boiling water

: mix chili oil, soy sauce, salt and garlic paste for noodles

: when noodles are soft, strain and rinse

: toss noodles with chili/soy/garlic mixture

: saute chicken in peanut oil

: add cabbage and peppers, reserve

: add sauce mixture to pan, simmer one minute

: return chicken and vegetables to pan, stir to coat with sauce

: plate noodles, sprinkle with black sesame seeds

: Chili / Garlic / Sesame Noodles

: top with firebird

: Firebird

: Firebird

: Firebird

: Firebird

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Dear Friend’s, to help support this blog,
please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page. Thank you 🙂
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Potato Cream Soup With Apple, Chorizo And Mushroom

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While driving home today I started to feel this craving for potato soup, so I stopped at the grocer to get me some potatoes and cream.
While not the most elegant or pretty of soups, when done right it is a great dish, either as a snack, appetizer or, as in this case, a great main course all by itself.

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !
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Potato Cream Soup With Apple, Chorizo And Mushroom

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saute onions in duck fat

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add a good amount of garlic paste

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add potatoes, chicken stock, kosher salt and cayenne pepper, simmer until potatoes are tender

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meanwhile, saute diced, skin on apples, chorizo and mushrooms in butter

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blend soup until smooth

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add heavy cream, check / adjust seasoning. To serve, top with sauteed garnish and scallions

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Potato Cream Soup With Apple, Chorizo And Mushroom

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Potato Cream Soup With Apple, Chorizo And Mushroom

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Duck “Oscar”

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I figure that since this was my dinner last night during the Oscar’s and it was my own concoction, I might as well name this dish Duck “Oscar”.
(Otherwise known as “Hoisin And Honey Glazed Duck) 🙂
You might wonder why there are no side dishes in the pictures? – because there were none. I ate the whole duck by myself, so nothing else was needed. The duck was absolutely delicious, spicy and sweet at the same time, tender and succulent.

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !

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remove the duck, let rest for 20 minutes, strain liquid from pan, cut duck, serve with pan sauce

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baste duck every ten minutes for another half hour

baste the duck every ten minutes for another half hour

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: marinade duck with soy sauce, sriracha, kosher salt and granulated garlic

: roast on a rack above a pan with water at 375F for about two hours, depending on size of duck

: meanwhile, prepare a basting sauce of honey, hoisin sauce, garlic paste and sriracha

: baste duck every ten minutes for another half hour

: remove duck, let rest for 20 minutes, strain liquid from pan, cut duck, serve with pan sauce

: Duck “Oscar”

: Duck “Oscar”

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Dear Friend’s, to help support this blog, please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page.
(You don’t have to watch it, just click once) Thank you 🙂
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Easy Does It # 6 – Express Ramen

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Dear Friend’s
Although most of my followers are culinary professionals, there is also a large segment of followers who are just starting to enjoy cooking on a slightly higher than basic level. I have therefore decided to publish, under the moniker “Easy Does It“, from time to time some very basic recipe variations of dishes which otherwise might seem complicated to some folks. I will break them down to the easiest, most simple instructions, so that those of you who are intimidated by elaborate recipes will be able to prepare these dishes properly, adjusted to your taste and liking, right from the get-go.
Enjoy :-)
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In the foodie world everybody act’s as if ramen has been invented yesterday morning. In reality, it has been around forever, being a very special and revered dish in it’s original form. However, since the instant variety has been invented, it has been the stable of millions of students and other young folks around the world. It is simple to prepare, costs only pennies and is filling and tasty.
I have made many different types of ramen soups over the past few decades, starting out with the instant form as a young kid. Gradually I started adding “stuff” to my soups, roast pork, chicken, beef, any kind of seafood, herbs, vegetables, cooked eggs, whisked eggs, poached eggs, you name it, it has found its way into my ramen. But even when I make it from scratch, I still use store bought ramen noodles. Some Asian specialty shops have good quality ramen, so if you can, splurge a little on quality. In a pinch, angel hair pasta cooked al dente, with a bit of baking soda added to the water, is a reasonable fine substitute.
However, today I want to show you how to make a simple ramen from the instant variety. Discard the seasoning packages that comes in the packs. Use a good home made pork stock (substitute with chicken stock if you prefer), season with miso, grated ginger, garlic paste, sea salt, soy sauce, sesame oil and sake.

Bon Appetit ! どうぞめしあがれ (Douzo Meshiagare)
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to serve, add egg yolk to the soup (substitute with cooked egg if you prefer)

Express Ramen

: cook instant ramen noodles in boiling salt water for one minute, strain, coat with sesame oil

: heat chicken broth to a simmer, add noodles, garlic paste, miso, soy sauce, sake, sea salt and grated ginger

: add bok choy and cooked shrimp let everything heat through without simmering, check/adjust seasoning

: to serve, add egg yolk to the soup (substitute with cooked egg if you prefer)

: Express Ramen

: Express Ramen

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Breakfast Of Champions # 33 – Frittata

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Oscar Night !

Let’s start the day with a breakfast that will help us get trough the day and the better part of the evening strong and fortified 🙂
I am a big fan of frittata, I prepare it quite often, seldom using the same ingredients, except of course the eggs. I use whatever is available from my fridge and / or cupboard. Any vegetables and protein and herbs.
Today it was eggs, herb butter, potatoes, peppers, faziola beans, bok choy and asiago cheese, seasoned with garlic paste, sea salt maggi and sriracha.

Bon Appetit ! Life is Good !

Frittata

: whisk whole eggs with sea salt and sriracha, add freshly grated asiago cheese

: melt garlic butter, add more garlic paste

: saute potatoes, bok choy, peppers, fazolia beans, season with salt and pepper

: add eggs to sauteed vegetables, cook until bottom has set, transfer to a 375F oven, cook until eggs have set

: Frittata

: Frittata

: Frittata

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Dear Friend’s, to help support this blog, please be so kind and click on the video on the bottom of this page.
(You don’t have to watch it, just click once) Thank you 🙂
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