garlic

BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS # 56 – Steak And Egg

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If you feel you need a breakfast that will prepare you for a special day ahead, be it a tough work-day or a fun play-day, this tasty beauty will probably fit the bill. Even if you are a vegetarian, just omit the steak and you will still have a dish that is full of flavor and texture, pretty and just – yummy 🙂
Good morning and have a great day !
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Note: Although only 2 eggs are needed for this recipe, I usually cook one extra egg, just in case one breaks……(better safe than sorry)
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Breakfast Of Champions # 56 – Steak & Egg

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Preparation :
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: peel one large baking potato

: trim the ends and discard, cut the remaining potato into four 1/2 ” slices

: simmer slices in salted water until soft but not falling apart

: meanwhile, season two 8 oz beef tenderloins with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste, saute or grill until cooked to your preferred internal temperature, reserve

: saute potatoes in duck fat until golden and crisp, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: season 2 thick slices of beefsteak tomatoes with kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste, finely slice 2 ea scallions

: dust tomato slices with a/p flour, saute in duck fat until golden

: poach three eggs to your desired doneness in 1/2 qt of water that has been seasoned with 1 tsp white vinegar and 1 tsp kosher salt

: to assemble the dish, place 1 slice potato on serving plate

: top potato with 1 slice tomato

: top tomato with another slice of potato

: top potato with 1 beef filet

: top beef with one egg

: nape (cover) egg with sauce mornay (cheese sauce)

: sprinkle with finely sliced scallions; recipe serves two

: Breakfast Of Champions # 56 – Steak & Egg

: Breakfast Of Champions # 56 – Steak & Egg

: Breakfast Of Champions # 56 – Steak & Egg

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Chicken And Waffles

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Chicken And Waffles are deeply rooted in the American south and have become a staple Soul Food item. More commonly made with fried chicken and served with gravy or honey and butter, I never really understood the attraction of the dish. However, my own version presented here, with very crisp waffles, sautéed boneless chicken breast and smothered onions in cream sauce has fully won my heart and will be a new standby in my home-kitchen repertoire.
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Chicken And Waffle

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Preparation :
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: butterfly 3 boneless chicken breasts

: season with kosher salt, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper, saute in butter (or vegetable oil if you prefer) until just done but not dry

: while the chicken is sauteeing, prepare the waffle batter

: cook the waffle about 2 minutes longer than usual to get a crisper waffle that can stand-up better to the smothered onions in cream

: 1 done, 2 to go……..

: when cooked, remove chicken and reserve

: in the same pan/fat, saute two medium sized, sliced onions until lightly caramelized

: add 1 cup heavy cream and 1/2 cup lager beer, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper, simmer for 2 minutes, remove from heat

: add 3 tblsp finely chopped cilantro, check/adjust seasoning

: place waffle on serving plate

: top one side of the waffle with a chicken breast, cover the other side of the waffle with smothered onions, sprinkle with more chopped cilantro and a pinch of smoked paprika (paprika optional) ; serves 3

: Chicken And Waffle

: Chicken And Waffle

: Chicken And Waffle

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Portuguese Eggs

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While Maria and I were living in Funchal, Madeira, we became friends with a wonderful local couple, Balduino and Felicidade. They invited us to their home often, where we usually had an early brunch and then set out to explore the island, usually by car and sometimes by scooter. After a while this became a wonderful routine and it was Balduino’s pride (and our enjoyment) to prepare a different variation of “Portuguese Eggs” each time we met at his house. Over time, we were able to enjoy this dish with squid, octopus, lobster, shrimp, espada (the most popular local fish), chorizo, ham and different greens and herbs. He sometimes sprinkled grated local cheese on top of the eggs before baking, but he never included the more common ricotta cheese. Always accompanied by hearty, home-baked bread and local wine, it was the perfect delicious and fortifying meal to keep us going for hours on our expeditions around the island 🙂
(To be truthful, sometimes we replaced the tours with more wine and a bottle of port and just talked about past and future island-explorations).
Let me say here that Madeira is one of the most beautiful places Maria and I had the luck and privilege to live together 🙂
Here now is today’s version of “Portuguese Eggs” in memory of great friendship, great places to live, happier times and the great love of my life, Maria, who passed away exactly 3 years ago.
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Love ……….
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Portuguese Eggs

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Preparation :
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: tomatoes, potato, shrimp, onion, peas, basil

: peel, dice and simmer 1 large potato in salted water until soft but not falling apart, drain

: slice one medium onion, saute in 1 tblsp olive oil until translucent

: add 2 lbs halved tomatoes, season with salt and cayenne papper, broil until starting to caramelize

: add 2 cup water and 1 tsp garlic paste, simmer until tomatoes have broken down and a sauce has developed, about 20 minutes (add more water if sauce becomes too thick)

: add potatoes, simmer 5 minutes

: season 10 oz shrimp with fresh-ground black pepper, kosher salt, garlic paste and olive oil (if you prefer, remove the tails before adding them to the stew)

: add the shrimp and 3 oz green peas to the tomatoes, mix, check/adjust seasoning

: add whole eggs to the stew, sprinkle eggs with kosher salt, simmer slowly until eggs are cooked the way you like them; if you like your eggs more cooked than I do, put them under the broiler for a couple of minutes, ; to serve, sprinkle with herbs of your choice; serves 4 or 5

: meanwhile, cut 2 pretzel-rolls into halves

: brush with garlic paste

: grill rolls until golden

: Portuguese Eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

: to serve, place bread on bottom of serving dish, top with portuguese eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

: Portuguese Eggs

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Grilled Beef Tenderloin With Parmesan-Roasted Mushrooms

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Usually, I don’t eat beef tenderloin anymore. It has become prohibitively expensive and most of the time I prefer the texture of bone-in rib eye anyway. However, yesterday was my time of the month (to go to my Argentine butcher). One of the specials he offered was the most beautifully aged, grass-fed beef tenderloin for a great price, so I snapped up a couple of pounds.
Here now is the first steak I prepared (out of four I bought), accompanied by mushrooms only. Nothing else to distract from the marvel of this wonderful, tender, tasty chunk of meat ! (The mushrooms were not too shabby either) 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Grilled Beef Tenderloin With Parmesan-Roasted Mushrooms

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Preparation :
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: season 16 oz tenderloin with kosher salt

: grill steak until done to your preference (med-rare for me )

: let steak rest for 10 minutes before cutting

: meanwhile, clean 6 oz of large botton mushrooms

: season mushrooms with 1 tblsp soy sauce, granulated garlic, kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste, add 1 tblsp olive oil

: roast in 375F oven for 15 minutes

: prepare a mixture of 2 tblsp panko bread crumbs and 2 tblsp grated parmesan cheese, season with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: top the mushrooms with the crumb/cheese mixture

: continue to roast the mushrooms in the oven until golden, sprinkle with chopped parsley

: Grilled Beef Tenderloin With Parmesan-Roasted Mushrooms

: Grilled Beef Tenderloin With Parmesan-Roasted Mushrooms

: Grilled Beef Tenderloin With Parmesan-Roasted Mushrooms

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Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Ahhh, the refreshing, liberating, exciting, sinus-clearing effect of eating a dish as spicy as one can handle.
The key here is –
“as spicy as one can handle” ! (Hot as hell in my case)
To season something beyond a level of spiciness which is comfortable and enjoyable would not make sense – but to stay just below, on a level that hurts but feels good at the same time can be very addictive. While not all the food I eat at home is spicy, once in a while I need the rush which comes from a healthy dose of chili.
If you plan to re-create this dish, simply and sensibly adjust the amount of chili you use to your personal preference.
Like I said on other occasions concerning spicy food –
“It should kick like a lady, not like a mule” 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Preparation :
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: prepare a sauce of 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1/4 cup bean sauce, 1/4 cup hoi sin sauce and 1 tblsp sesame oil

: season 1 lb ground pork with chili paste, kosher salt and granulated garlic to taste, add 2 tblsp peanut oil

: mix well

: stir fry in 2 tblsp peanut oil until pork starts to brown, add 1 medium sliced red onion

: stir fry until onion is translucent

: add 1 lb diced white cabbage

: add the sauce and 1 cup water

: simmer until cabbage starts to wilt, check/adjust seasoning

: meanwhile, cook and drain 1 lb Chinese egg noodles, add 2 tblsp sesame oil and 3 tblsp peanut oil, mix

: plate noodles on serving dish

: top with the pork / cabbage stew, sprinkle with scallions and pickled chilies

: Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

: Pork, Cabbage & Chili Noodles

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Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

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There are chicken sandwiches – and then there is THIS chicken sandwich ! 🙂
When I made the sandwich, I almost stopped after adding the tonkatsu sauce and the sliced tomatoes to the baguette, because that by itself already looked good enough to eat. (Next time I crave a tomato sandwich, this will be the way I’ll prepare it). But then I went on to add the chicken and some scallions and the result was without a doubt the best chicken sandwich I ever laid my eyes on.
The combination of the crusty baguette, generously seasoned/very ripe tomatoes, the mouthwatering tonkatsu sauce and the crispy, juicy chicken comes together for a sandwich which is easy to prepare and hard to beat in looks, texture and taste 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

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Preparation :
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: score the skin of 5 chicken thighs, season with1/3 cup soy sauce, 1/2 tsp granulated garlic, 1 tblsp sriracha, 1 tsp honey and 1 tsp kosher salt

: place thighs on a wire rack, bake in a 375F oven for 45 minutes or until cooked through

: baste the chicken with the remaining marinade twice during cooking

: after chicken is done, let rest for 15 minutes before slicing in half

: meanwhile, slice 1/2 of a baguette length-wise in half

: brush generously with tonkatsu sauce , top with sliced tomatoes, season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

: top each baguette-half with 5 half-thights, sprinkle with sliced scallion

: Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

: Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

: Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

: Open-Faced Chicken Sandwich

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Braised Pork Belly In Ginger, Garlic & Soy

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Braised pork belly – one of the finest culinary blessings God has bestowed upon us 🙂
I like to prepare pork belly in many different versions, both Western style and Asian style (one of them being the famous Hong Shao Rou), but one of my most-loved variation is the one featured here. It resembles Hong Shao Rou a bit, but I keep the sauce more liquid and spicy, without adding rock sugar, red coloring, shaoxing wine or tofu puffs. The outcome is a much lighter, less complex version which I sometimes enjoy better than the more complicated and heavy Hong Shao Rou, especially when pairing with rice. On the other hand, if I forgo starch and pair the pork belly with vegetables such as bok choy, cabbage or broccoli only, I prefer to accompany it with Hong Shao Rou, since it’s thicker sauce is more suitable. Aren’t we fortunate that we can choose? 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Braised Pork Belly In Ginger, Garlic & Soy

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Preparation :
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: 2 lbs pork belly cut into cubes, 1 stick cinnamon, star anis to taste, 1/2 cup soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1/3 tsp grated ginger, 2 cup water, 3 ea sliced scallion (plus more for garnish), kosher salt and chili sauce to taste

: bring all ingredients to a slow simmer

: simmer until pork is tender but not falling apart and there is about 1/2 cup cooking liquid left (you might have to add more water during cooking); check / adjust seasoning

: to serve, sprinkle with finely sliced scallions and accompany with steamed rice (Fan) ( P.S. – if you serve to guests and/or children, you might want to remove the star anis and cinnamon stick before serving)

: Braised Pork Belly In Ginger, Garlic & Soy

: Braised Pork Belly In Ginger, Garlic & Soy

: Steamed Rice (Fan)

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Cheese-Coated Pork Chop With Garlic-Broccolini And Charred Peppers

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Today’s lunch proved once again that the old adage “simple is better” still holds the truth. (If done right) .
The clean, fresh taste of the broccolini, supported by the sweetness of the caramelized garlic and the light acidity of the pickled, charred peppers makes this a side dish well worth it’s praise. Combine with some grilled lemon and a sumptuous, parmesan-crusted pork chop and a simple, easy and quick to prepare lunch is elevated to wonderful, happy culinary bliss 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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Cheese-Coated Pork Chop With Garlic-Broccolini And Charred Peppers

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Preparation :
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: season pork chop with kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste

: bread the pork chop with flour, egg and a 50/50 mixture of bread crumbs and grated parmesan cheese, saute in clarified butter until cooked through and golden and crisp

: meanwhile, saute lemon wedges in 2 tblsp of olive oil until caramelized, remove, reserve; add 4 gloves of finely slivered garlic to the same pan, saute until lightly caramelized

: add 8 oz of blanched broccolini, 3 oz of charred, pickled peppers, season with kosher salt and fresh-ground black pepper to taste, saute until vegetables are heated; serves one

: Cheese-Coated Pork Chop With Garlic-Broccolini And Charred Peppers

: Cheese-Coated Pork Chop With Garlic-Broccolini And Charred Peppers

: Cheese-Coated Pork Chop With Garlic-Broccolini And Charred Peppers

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German-Italian Friendship (Deutsch-Italienische Freundschaft)

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I have prepared this dish in different versions for 45 years. Like so many other unsung culinary heroes, the dish is so simple and logical when you either have leftover pasta and sausages, or cooking it from scratch just because it’s tasty, quick and ~~cheap~~ – ooops, sorry, we don’t say cheap here – I meant economical 🙂
Use any type of pasta, cheese and sausages you have at hand, just stick to the basics (or not) 🙂
However, if you want to use the name I gave the dish, use a mix of German/Italian ingredients; other than that, let your imagination take a walk on the wild side………….
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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German-Italian Friendship (Deutsch-Italienische Freundschaft)

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Preparation :
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: 2 tblsp finely sliced scallion, 1 whole red finely sliced onion, 2 medium size diced tomatoes

: saute bratwurst in olive oil until browned, remove from pan, reserve

: saute onions in 2 oz whole butter until caramelized

: add the tomatoes and scallions, saute until tomatoes are heated through

: add 1 lb fresh-cooked spaghetti and one cup of the cooking liquid from the spaghetti, add 2 tblsp grated parmesan cheese, 1tblsp garlic paste and kosher salt and cayenne pepper to taste; to serve, sprinkle with more grated parmesan

: German-Italian Friendship (Deutsch-Italienische Freundschaft)

: German-Italian Friendship (Deutsch-Italienische Freundschaft)

: German-Italian Friendship (Deutsch-Italienische Freundschaft)

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Swiss Melt On Sourdough Bread With Cucumber And Tomato

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While not every cheese melt deserves its own post, this one certainly does.
It is a bit more labor intensive than the usual culprit of a couple of slices of cheese slapped between two slices of wonderbread, but the extra few minutes it takes to prepare are absolutely worth it 🙂
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Bon Appétit ! Life is Good !
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P.S.
Please scroll to the bottom of this page for detailed recipe and instructions
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Swiss Melt On Sourdough Bread With Cucumber And Tomato

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: grate 10 oz swiss cheese

: Toast two slices of the bread on one side only

: Toast one slice bread on both sides

: spread mayo on the un-toasted sides of the 2 slices bread which were toasted on one side only; spread mustard on both sides of the bread with was toasted on both sides

: brush garlic oil on the two toasted sides of the bread which were toasted on one side only

: slice 1/2 medium-size cucumber and 2 small vine-ripened tomato thinly, season to taste with kosher salt and cayenne pepper

: To assemble, place one slice of the bread with the mayo and garlic with the mayo-side down on the work surface, add a generous amount of grated cheese