garlic

EASY DOES IT # 15 – Gravlax

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There  are a few compelling reasons to make your own gravelax instead of buying it at a store or online:

– Price – Fresh salmon $ 15.00 per pound versus store bought gravlax at $ 40.00
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 – Ease of preparation – actual preptime about 10 minutes, curing between 3 and 5 day’s
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 – Total control of texture and taste of finished product
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 – The joy of adding another stunner to your cooking repertoire
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My  standard  dry-marinade recipe is as follows :
3/5th  of kosher salt, 2/5th of sugar, fresh chopped dill including stems, white pepper, lemon peel, crushed mustard seeds and dark rum.

In the variation  below, I have changed the dry-marinade recipe a bit as follows:
3/5th  of kosher salt, 2/5th of sugar, freeze dried dill leaves, raw garlic paste,  cayenne pepper, dijon mustard, vodka.
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Mix the marinade ingredients, place half of it in a chemical reaction-free container. Top with salmon filet. Add remaining dry marinade to top of salmon. Cover airtight, place in refrigerator. Flip salmon every twelve hours. After twenty four hours, dry-marinade will have transformed into a thick brine. The salmon will be cured after two to three day’s, depending on the thickness and salt to sugar ratio in your marinade. I usually keep my salmon in the brine another one to two days, again depending on the marinade and thickness of the filet. The extra time will give me a slightly dryer and more opaque product which I prefer. This one took four day’s to be exactly the way I like it.
To serve, remove salmon and wash under running water to clean off excess brine. Slice into thin slices, accompany with dill/mustard sauce and rustic bread of your choice.
(To think, first time I prepared  Gravlax  was in the summer of 1973 at the  Hotel Kattegat,  Torekov,  Sweden.  Good times 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !
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Note:
Start out the first time by following my standard recipe, the next few times experiment with the marinade and curing time until you find your own sweet spot.
Variations can be, but are not limited to, different salt/sugar ratios, different herbs, different seasonings, different liquors, different curing length’s.
Enjoy your gravlax journey !
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mise en place

mise en place

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Preparation :
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mise en place

mise en place

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sprinkle top of salmon with plenty of dill leaves, mix dry-marinade ingredients

sprinkle top of salmon with plenty of dill leaves, drizzle with vodka,, mix dry-marinade ingredients

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add half of the marinade to chemical-reaction-free vessel

add half of the marinade to chemical-reaction-free vessel

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add salmon filet, top with remaining dry-marinade, cover airtight, store in fridge for 3 - 5 days

add salmon filet, top with remaining dry-marinade, cover airtight, store in fridge for 3 – 5 days

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flip salmon every twelve hours

flip salmon every twelve hours, cover again, back into fridge

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4 day's later - done, rinse under cold running water, carefull not to rinse of the dill

4 day’s later – done, rinse under cold running water, carefull not to rinse of the dill

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

the beauty and the beast

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Gravlax

Gravlax

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Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit



The  day before yesterday I started to make a tomato bisque for dinner but had to abandon the plan when unanounced visitors arrived. So I put the tomato stock  overnight in the fridge to finish the bisque yesterday after work. However, it was a rough day at work and whenI came home I wanted to spend some time outside on the terrace. Yesterday was a fairly hot day, so a hot tomato soup did not sound like the best of dinner ideas. Instead, I prepared for myself this delicious, refreshing cold soup which hit the culinary nail right on the head 🙂

Bon Appetit !  Life is Good !



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Preparation :

simmer water, red wine, garlic paste, kosher salt, sugar, cayenne pepper for two hours, cool overnight

simmer  very ripe tomatoes, water, red wine, garlic paste, kosher salt, sugar, cayenne pepper for two hours, cool overnight

mix in blender until texture is very smooth

mix in blender until texture is very smooth

add wodka, check / adjust seasoning

add vodka, check / adjust seasoning

add fresh pineapple, honey dew melon and passion fruit seeds to serving bowl

add fresh pineapple, honey dew melon and passion fruit seeds to serving bowl

ladle iced tomato soup on top of fruit, sprinkle more fruit, garnish with opal basil

ladle iced tomato soup on top of fruit, sprinkle more fruit, garnish with opal basil

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit

 

Iced Tomato Soup With Tropical Fruit

Iced Tomato Soup With Vodka And Tropical Fruit



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Szechuan Chicken & Fan


Since  breakfast was substantial and relatively late, lunch was late as well and will have to do for both lunch and dinner. Well, maybe there is a midnight snack on the horizon, we’ll see 🙂
The red jalapeno peppers I used here were exceptionally fruity and only mildly hot, so they were perfect for my taste and heat tolerance. Please adjust the amount and heat level to your own taste or eliminate the chilies altogether and replace with mushrooms, water chestnuts, bell peppers, green peas, carrots or whatever else strikes your fancy.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Click here for  FAN  (chinese steamed rice ) recipe

 

Szechuan Style Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan



Preparation :

season sliced chicken with salt, five spice powder and soy sauce, dust with cornstarch and stir fry in peanut oil

season sliced chicken with salt, five spice powder and soy sauce, dust with cornstarch and stir fry in peanut oil

remove chicken from wok, reserve

remove chicken from wok, reserve

saute chilies and scallions, remove from wok, reserve

saute chilies and scallions, remove from wok, reserve

saute onions and garlic paste in garlic oil

saute onions and garlic paste in garlic oil

add soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, sesame oil and sugar, simmer until slightly thickened

add soy sauce, oyster sauce, chicken stock, sesame oil and sugar, simmer until slightly thickened

return chicken, chilies and scallions to sauce, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

return chicken, chilies and scallions to sauce, remove from heat, check/adjust seasoning

Szechuan Style Chicken & Fan

to serve, sprinkle chicken with white sesame seeds, rice with black sesame seeds

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Szechuan Chicken & Fan

Fan (Chinese Steamed Rice)

Fan (Chinese Steamed Rice)



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Breakfast Of Champions # 36 – Naanwich

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A great  way to start a relaxing saturday at home with a couple of good movies, some good reading and lots of great food is to have a hearty breakfast of bubbly and a wonderful sandwich.
Here is what I fancied for a late breakfast by the lake this morning (besides a glass of veuveclicquot):

Naan with eggs, spicy chorizo, shrimp, chilies and arugula. Life is Good !

Bon Appetit & Cheers !   Have A Great Weekend !

 

Naanwitch

Naanwich

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cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

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Preparation :
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bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

bake naan until golden, brush with butter and sprinkle with sea salt

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saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter

saute diced chorizo in plenty of butter


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whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

whisk whole eggs with chili sauce, sea salt and garlic paste

 

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

add to chorizo, add finely sliced chilies and butterflied cooked shrimp

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking

cook until eggs have set to the texture of your liking


Naan

Naan


 

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

top naan with eggs, top eggs with arugula in lime vinaigrette

Naanwitch

Naanwich

Naanwitch

Naanwich



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Watch Barbara Lynch & Other Female Industry Leaders Talk About Women in the Food World


Image Source: Boston Globe Sunday Magazine

Image Source: Boston Globe Sunday Magazine



Click here to watch interview

 



ChefsOpinion :

Has there been any point made during this “discussion” ? 
I love a good chef / cook in the kitchen and respect any gender if you are good at what you are doing. Our industry is not “male dominated” besides the fact that the majority of cooks and chefs ARE male. The vast majority of cooks / chefs are male because until fairly recently, our job required 14/16 hour workdays, 6 or seven days a week, you sweat like an animal, no time to eat, the pay sucked, after work you stink like a pig because of all the sweat, smoke, steam and stuff splattered  all over you. Those are just a few of the negatives we had to deal with on a daily basis. Being a chef was never a dream profession, almost everybody became a cook apprentice because of practical reasons (maybe the family owned a restaurant, maybe there was nothing else in the region so the kid had to go somewhere with room and board provided, etc. Most woman were lucky enough to be able to avoid these circumstances. It seems everybody has forgotten the “good old times. These day’s, all workers, male or female, are protected by labor laws and (most of the time) by the good manners of their male colleagues. Don’t forget, MOST young cooks gave up their profession at an early stage back in the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s because they could not handle it for a life time. It’s all in the numbers ladies and gentlemen – have the majority of professional chefs and cooks be female and THEY will dominate the business 🙂 Some of the greatest chefs were and are women but there are just not enough numbers ( yet? ) for you all to project anything else but a minority status, YOU need to change that !


Life is Good !   Don’t waste it with crap !




Pork Blade Steak



If  you are on a budget but still like to have more than a tiny steak for dinner, you might want to try this cut. While not overly popular, probably because folks don’ know how to prepare it, it is a great piece of meat, tender, juicy and very economic (meaning bloody cheap 🙂 ) The three steaks in the picture were just $ 4.20, so the whole meal was under six buck’s. Even if you are not on a budget, these steaks make for a great, tasty meal. I guess that most people would have had enough with just one steak (which would then be about $ 2.50 per portion, including the salad), but since I did not prepare any starch, the three of them with a small salad were just the right sized portion for me. And of course, Bella had a few bites too.

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette

arugula with radish and onions in white balsamic vinaigrette



Preparation :

season sliced onions and sliced radishes with kosher salt, set aside

season sliced onions and sliced radishes with kosher salt, set aside

season blade steaks with kosher salt, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper, dredge in flour, saute in peanut oil

season blade steaks with kosher salt, granulated garlic and cayenne pepper, dredge in flour, saute in peanut oil

almost.......

first one done, two to go…..

 

two done, last one on the way

two done, last one on the way



saute grapetomatoesin garlic/olive oil, season with salt and pepper, just before serving add fresh chives

saute grape tomatoes in garlic/olive oil, season with salt and pepper, just before serving add fresh chives

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meanwhile, squeeze and discard excess juice from radish and onions, add arugula, white balsamic vinegar, freshly ground white pepper, garlic/olive oil and a splash of maggi seasoning

meanwhile, squeeze and discard excess juice from radish and onions, add arugula, white balsamic vinegar, freshly ground white pepper, garlic/olive oil and a splash of maggi seasoning

 

 

arrange steaks on serving platter, top with sauteed tomatoes and chives

arrange steaks on serving platter, top with sauteed tomatoes and chives

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula In White Balsamic Vinaigrette

Pork Blade Steak & Arugula

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

Pork Blade Steak

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette

arugula with radish and onions in balsamic vinaigrette



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The Well Travelled Hot Dog



Tonight’s  hot dog took a long, imaginary jouney from being a simple German veal bratwurst (kalbsbratwurst to “The Well Travelled Hot Dog”.
Born in Germany, it went to  France where it was joined by garlic aioli. On to Mexico for some ensalada de repollo con chipotle and from there to India to pick up freshly baked naan. From there to it’s final stop in the USA, where it became “The Well Travelled Hot Dog” 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

For  Garlic Aioli  recipe click here

For  Chipotle Coleslaw recipe click here

For  Naan  recipe click here

For more about  German Bratwurst  click here

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog



PREPARATION :

saute bratwurst

saute bratwurst

prepare chipotle cole slaw

prepare chipotle cole slaw

chipotle cole slaw

chipotle cole slaw

top naan with bratwurst

top naan with bratwurst

add cole slaw, sprinkle with pickled jalapenos, drizzle with garlic aioli

add cole slaw, drizzle with garlic aioli, sprinkle with pickled jalapenos

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled Hot Dog & Chipotle Cole Slaw

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog

The Well Travelled  Hot Dog

The Well Travelled Hot Dog



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Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



Living  in Florida does not necessarily lend itself to be inspired to cooking with mushrooms, but thankfully the markets around here carry small offerings of fresh mushrooms which I like to enrich by adding some good quality dried mushrooms. Today I got some fresh baby bellas, oyster mushrooms and botton mushrooms, to which I added dry shiitakes and porcini’s. To intensify the mushroom flavor even more, I added some porcini powder to the sauce as well.
And voilà  –  Mushrooms Galore 🙂

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



Preparation :

boil fusilli al buco until al dente, strain, reserve some of the cooking liquid

boil fusilli al buco until al dente, strain, reserve some of the cooking liquid

saute diced onions and fresh mushrooms in butteruntil onions are opaque

saute diced onions and fresh mushrooms in butteruntil onions are opaque

add garlic paste and re-hydrated mushrooms, saute until dry

add garlic paste and re-hydrated mushrooms, saute until dry

almost....

almost….

add heavy cream, demi glace, merlot, sliced chives, porcini powder, kosher salt and cayenne pepper

add heavy cream, demi glace, merlot, sliced chives, porcini powder, kosher salt and cayenne pepper

simmer until nape texture is reached, check / ajust seasoning

simmer until nape texture is reached, check / ajust seasoning

add pasta and a small amount of fresh grated asiago cheese, blend well, if too thick, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid

add pasta and a small amount of fresh grated asiago cheese, blend well, if too thick, add a bit of the reserved cooking liquid

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream

Fusilli Col Buco With Mushrooms In Merlot Cream



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Steak Tartar



Ok,  folk’s, before you send me tons of anger and disapproval, I admit that this is not your typical, modern Steak Tartar. However,  Larousse Gastronomique describes  steak tartare  as  ground beef  mixed with raw egg yolk. Wanna argue with Larousse?
Here now is my traditional version of this classic. I can assure you that both texture and taste are exceptional. Why screw with a classic , just to be “modern and innovative”, especially if it obviously does not appeal to most people who actually grew up eating this dish often? I, for example 🙂
If you are lucky enough to have a good butcher  in your neighborhood who you can trust with the quality of the meat and the cleanliness and food safety of his shop environment, do as I do: Order a pound of freshly ground, most fat and all sinew’s removed striploin (in front of your eyes if possible, it will make you feel safer). Then proceed within the hour in your kitchen as follows.
In a  ice cold bowl, mix the following items, fresh out of the fridge:
Chopped capers, finely diced onions, finely sliced scallions, chopped anchovies, chopped jalapeno, good quality mustard, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, hot sauce of your choice, raw egg yolk, garlic paste, a few drops of good quality oil of your choice. Mix everything well. Remove ground meat from fridge and lightly fold with the seasoning. Serve with bread of your choice and a couple of brewskies (Negra Modelo fits best for me).

Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !

mise en place

mise en place

seasoning

seasoning

Steak Tartar & Sour Dough Bread

Steak Tartar & Sour Dough Bread

Steak Tartar

Steak Tartar



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Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

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Friday  afternoon, crappy week, don’t feel like doing anything after work, just hanging on the sofa with a drink, flipping through the channels but still want to eat good  ?
How about just throwing a bird in the oven and waiting for its georgeous beauty to emerge 90 minutes later?
Actual prep time: Three minutes. Cooking time: About one and a half hour, depending on the size of the chicken. Effort : Zero. Satisfaction: Great.
Voilà, there you have it 🙂


Bon Appetit !   Life is Good !


Blend sweet chili sauce, soy sauce, grated ginger, garlic paste and kosher salt. Season chicken with this blend inside and out. Roast on a rack at 420 degrees for 15 minutes, turn down heat to 380 F and cook until chicken has reached 161 F at its thickest part. Let rest for 15 minutes before cutting it or tearing it apart. The carry over heat will take the meat to a safe 165 F without drying it out. Serve with sweet chili sauce for dipping and lime to drizzle.

 

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken

Soy, Ginger & Garlic Glazed Chicken



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