Published by mel on January 6, 2010 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
Happy New Year! It’s been a while, hasn’t it? My fingers feel stiff and rusty from lack of blogging. Or maybe it’s the frigid weather. Yes, it’s frigid in Miami! While you Michiganders and Minnesotans are probably scoffing at our Floridian fragility, 40-degree weather is unheard of down here and I’m freezing. It doesn’t help that we don’t even know how to turn the heat on. So, what to do when it’s cold out? Make soup, of course.
In Italy, it’s good luck to eat lentils on New Year’s Day. I think everyone’s looking for a little luck this year because my local grocery store was completely sold out of lentils all week. I had to pilfer some from my mom’s pantry (thanks Mom!). So I’m kicking off 2010 on Bitchin’ Camero with lucky lentils and a resolution to blog more often and redesign the site. Here’s hoping.
This recipe is actually an adaptation from my favorite Christmas present – Thomas Keller’s Ad Hoc at Home cookbook (thanks Tom!). If you’re going to buy one cookbook this year, this should be it. Not only is it spectacularly beautiful, it’s full of all kinds of tips for mastering home cooking, from essential cookware to building the perfect salad dressing. Did I mention the hundreds of amazing recipes? I am in love with this book. It’s all about showcasing good ingredients in interesting ways. Like the Roasted Beet and Potato Salad with Smoked Salmon and Soft-cooked Eggs we had last night. Sounds weird, but tastes like heaven.
This soup caught my attention immediately. Sweet potatoes, lentils, bacon and cilantro are definitely a few of my favorite things. Of course I decided to make this before work, and the recipe ended up being too much for me to handle in the morning, so I simplified it a bit. When I have more time, I’ll be making it Thomas Keller’s way and I’m sure it will blow my mind. As it turns out, the simplified version is pretty darn good, too. A little smoky from the bacon and curry powder, a little sweet from the potatoes, carrots and onions, and brightened up with cilantro and sherry vinegar. For me, it’s the perfect bowl of soup and the perfect way to ring in this rather nippy new year.
Continue reading ‘Lentil & Sweet Potato Soup with Bacon & Cilantro’
Published by mel on October 20, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
It’s that time of year again. Time for pumpkin-everything. Tom gave me the idea for these when we were watching football, drinking pumpkin ale and munching on nachos. Pumpkin nachos? Why not? Nachos are really just a vehicle for cheese and toppings.
So, I roasted some pumpkin. That went over tortilla chips with some hot Spanish chorizo (smoked paprika + winter squash = awesome), green onions and shredded Colby and Jack cheeses. Into the oven until the cheese was seductively melty, then a squeeze of lime and sprinkling of fresh cilantro.
Behold my terrible knife skills!
Salty chips, sweet pumpkin, spicy chorizo all under a blanket of cheese. It’s delicious. The perfect Fall football food. Actually, the perfect Fall food, no matter what you’re doing.
Continue reading ‘Pumpkin Nachos’
Published by mel on August 26, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
What happens when you take everything that’s fresh and colorful about summer and stuff it in a tomato? This amazingly light and flavorful dish – baked tomatoes stuffed with fresh corn, black beans, zucchini and cilantro. I also added a little coriander and cumin for flavor and some lemon juice to brighten it all up. Finally, no baked dish is complete without breadcrumbs and a dusting of cheese, Cotija cheese in this case.
They’re as comforting as a casserole, but still fresh and healthy. They’re also really pretty, all red and green and yellow with a crusty top.
Continue reading ‘Summery Baked Tomatoes’
Published by mel on August 17, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
After much Googling, I’ve finally found a CSA that I think I’ll like and that I don’t have to drive 30 miles to get to. Because it’s too hot and a little backward down here, our season is actually November – April, but you can order tropical fruits, eggs, avocados and fresh herbs during the summer. So, Saturday morning I picked up my delicious, multi-colored eggs, fresh lemongrass, curry leaves, mint leaves, raw honey and just about the biggest avocados I’ve ever seen. I kid you not – these guys are at least 18 inches long and twice the width of a softball. I can’t wait for them to ripen!
So, what does any of this have to do with rice? Not much, really. But I thought it was a nice story and I did use the fresh mint in this unusual side dish. Rice is usually boring – a base for the more interesting things it’s served with – Green Curry, Ropa Vieja or Sushi. But rice can be dressed up and made into a side dish that’s as good as the main.
I grilled some local lobsters with lemongrass and curry leaf butter and wanted a rice dish that stood up to the lobster and paid its respects. I toasted some unsweetened coconut and slivered almonds then tossed them into the rice cooker with chicken stock and brown Jasmine rice. Stir in mint and cilantro and you have an exotic rice that pairs perfectly with grilled anything (and especially lobster). This is no sad side of rice – it’s jubilant and addictive and i can’t wait to make it again.
Continue reading ‘Toasted Coconut & Almond Rice with Mint’
Published by mel on August 12, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
I rarely make the same thing twice in a month. Even rarer for me to make something four times in a month. And it’s quite possibly unheard of for me to serve the same dish to guests twice in a week. Well, I think I’ve made this salad five or six times in the last month. And since it’s become Tom’s favorite, he’s been asking for it constantly, and I’m finding myself more than happy to oblige.
So, what is it about this salad that makes it so irresistible? I think it’s the bright and slightly sweet dressing, the freshness of the mint and cilantro and the fact that you can eat a whole heap of it and still feel really good about yourself. It’s one of those rare meals that is immensely delicious and really healthy. Best of all, it keeps in the fridge for a few days, even after it’s been dressed, making for some tasty leftover lunches.
I like top mine with some sliced steak, but it’s equally good with grilled chicken, pork or shrimp – just use whatever you happen to have on hand. It’s the ideal salad for the end of summer heat.
Continue reading ‘Tom’s Favorite Vietnamese Noodle Salad’
Published by mel on July 1, 2009 in entree, random, recipe and sides & bites.
Yes, another grilled salsa recipe. You have a problem with that? I didn’t think so…
Last week, my dad and I planned out dinner for some guests. We wanted something nice, but not too complicated – tt was a weeknight, after all. In the end we settled on grilled salmon because it’s kind of fancy, healthy and easy to make. My favorite salmon marinade is really simple – 2 parts olive oil, 1 part soy sauce and 1 part Dijon mustard. Just mix it up, pour it over your salmon and let it sit for as long as you’d like. Toss everything onto the grill (on some foil) or under the broiler for 15 minutes. It’s always delicious.
This time, we wanted to top it off with something a little more festive and I decided on grilled pineapple salsa. I charred some pineapple pieces on the grill, then tossed them with red onion, jalapeno peppers, cilantro and lime juice. The grilled pineapple was caramelized and sweet with a little of that BBQ char flavor, the onions and lime juice countered the sugar with some bite and the jalapenos added just the right amount of heat.
I loved the salsa on salmon, but also can’t wait to try it on grilled pork tenderloins, chicken and pretty much anything else. My dad tells me it’s one of the best things I’ve ever made for him. We ate the leftovers with some whole grain tortillas and it was pretty darn good that way too. I’d also recommend you pair it with your favorite Summer Ale :)
Continue reading ‘Grilled Pineapple Salsa’
Published by mel on June 18, 2009 in recipe and sides & bites.
Ah, summer! Let me tell you, it’s hot down here. Really hot. Humidly, stiflingly, ridiculously hot. Still, despite the absurd heat, I love the summer because it means all-day stints at the beach. We get there early and set up tents, chairs and umbrellas. We haul out coolers full of beer and soda. Everyone brings tons of food, which we load up on plates and float in the ocean. In the afternoon, I usually nap under the shade of the umbrella. Beach days are perfect days.
And this grilled red pepper salsa is perfect beach food. It’s bright and sunny, a little spicy and very refreshing. I also love that subtle char flavor that the grilled peppers give it. Though it’s great with the standard corn tortillas chips, it’s also makes a delicious condiment for grilled chicken or pork chops. This time, my salsa made brightened up some melty bean quesadillas with sliced avocado.
Summer officially begins on Sunday. Welcome it with open arms, chips and salsa and a chilly bottle of beer.
Continue reading ‘Grilled Red Pepper Salsa’
Published by mel on April 22, 2009 in recipe.
Another recipe from this month’s glossies, I found this Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew in the May issue of Bon Appetit. Curry? Coconut milk? Cilantro? Yes please! I made this one morning before work and it came together in under 30 minutes. It’s a little spicy, a little earthy and really flavorful. I love the combination of coconut milk and curry powder with the chickpeas and cauliflower. It just tastes like homey comfort food, which is just perfect for a long day at work.
This is one of those dishes you can make once and eat all week for lunch or dinner. Served over Jasmine rice, you’ve got yourself a really healthy and delicious meal.
Continue reading ‘Curried Cauliflower and Chickpea Stew’
Published by mel on April 16, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
For some reason, this month’s food magazines had me drooling. I may have been starving when I was flipping through, but I bookmarked almost every recipe. One in particular caught my eye – a lighter, healthier version of Ajiaco, the traditional Colombian Chicken Soup.
I know what you’re thinking. Chicken soup? Booooring! But this isn’t your mama’s chicken soup (though I would never, ever turn that down). This one is flavored with cilantro and cumin, is chock full of chicken, potatoes and corn, and in this case, asparagus and hominy. Everything is topped off with diced avocado, more cilantro and capers. It’s simultaneously light and hearty, and it’s really, really good.
I just wish I’d had a bowl of this when I was sick last week. Good thing I froze a huge batch for next time I’m feeling under the weather, though let’s face it – it’ll be gone by next week.
Continue reading ‘Ajiaco: Colombian Chicken, Corn & Potato Soup’
Published by mel on April 9, 2009 in entree, recipe and sides & bites.
I was poking around my computer and found a forgotten recipe. I’m not sure why, but I never got around to posting this Bacon, Black Bean and Poblano Pepper Chowder. It would have been a shame to never post this, so here it is.
This soup was smoky, a little spicy and very flavorful. Top it off with some sliced avocado, radishes and cilantro and you’ve got yourself a meal. I’d also serve some nice, hot tortilla chips alongside for a little bit of crunch.
Continue reading ‘Bacon, Black Bean & Poblano Pepper Chowder’
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