Good Afternoon dear Chefs..
It was Thanksgiving 1996 and a horrible snowstorm reared it's ugly head just the day before. I was expecting 23 dinner guests. The menu was Thanksgiving customary. Turkey and all the trimmings; potatoes, vegetables and dessert. Everything was prepped the night before. Stuffing made and refrigerated, potatoes peeled, vegetables cleaned and ready to go; I had baked two pumpkin pies that night, since I knew my oven would be occupied to at least 2:00 p.m. the next day. The turkey was washed, dried and salted, wrapped in towels and refrigerated. The refrigerator was packed with barely enough room to close the door. Everything was ready to go.
The night was ueventful, weather-wise; the snow eased, but you can hear the wind howling in the darkness throughout the night. My day started at 5 a.m. I preheated my oven, stuffed the bird, washed dishes and put the turkey in the oven.
Now my Thanksgivings are quite traditional, but over the years I added my own traditions, separate of the meal itself. At 9 a.m., the family tunes into the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and I head out to Walgreens for their pre-Black Friday sale.
When I return home, I find everyone just sitting around with the TV off. A little over an hour had passed, since I left and I was wondering why the parade wasn't on. I learn that the power had gone out and has been out since I left. OMG!! My oven. My turkey. The power outage effected several hundred homes in the area and there was no repair in site. I have 23 people to feed in less than 4 hours and my beautiful bird had another two hours to go. The refrigerator remained cold, but still all that food had to be removed and made. I had no idea how I would salvage this meal or how to accomodate all these people without lights, heat or a flushing toilet.
Then it hit me...I'll use the grill. I got the grill going. I proceeded to carve the turkey in its semi-cooked state, removing all the meat from the bones and creating a platter to take outside with me. I started boiling water on the side burner for the stringbeans and the potatoes were quartered, the mushrooms remained whole and I cut up some onion to make kabobs, alternating the two types of potatoes, with mushrooms and onions in between. I was outside for the better part of two hours, freezing, trying to cope with the bulkiness of a winter coat. I put the stuffing into an aluminum pan and set that on the grate next to the turkey. The stuffing was already cooked and just needed a good warming. I mixed some of the juices from the turkey pan with a can of turkey gravy, thickened it a little and got that warming to serve as gravy. The turkey was cooking nicely and as it was coming off the grill, it went onto a divided platter to separate the dark from white meat. As each dish was done, everything was wrapped in heavy aluminum foil to retain its heat and placed inside the still warm oven.
Guests began to arrive and were told about the power outage. We accomodated everyone, with very little discomfort. I was asked about the food and told them what I did to salvage the meal. They were appreciative and joked how they never had barbecue for Thanksgiving. Yeah, me either....
Knowing what I know now and how much stress went into pulling this off, if there is ever a next time, my guests will be joking about having Chinese for Thanksgiving.
Until next time.....love and good eats to all of you!!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
DIVA DISASTER - LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY
Good Afternoon dear Chefs...
Today, is the DIVA Disaster post and most fittingly, I want to address the whole Julie & Julia thing. Here's my take on it. Yes, Julie Powell transformed herself into a marketable entity. Through her story, we revisited the life of a very talented woman, Julia Child; that perhaps without such creativity on Julie's part, we would only know Julia Child as one of the notable cooks of all-time. Unless of course, you were schooled through her Alma Mater, studied French cooking or had other personal interest in this woman's life. It was through perserverance, that both women gained public and personal successes; but certainly not without having to face challenges that I, timidly confess, would have defeated me.
I, did, however, after seeing the movie, felt inspired to forge ahead in my kitchen; I gained respect for butter and stopped holding myself hostage to lack of skill or knowledge, in some areas. I walked away realizing that our cooking disasters are an integral part of our learning process. That it is only through failure that we find success. This was, for me, the lesson learned especially since I am super hard on myself. So for that, I am grateful.
This past Christmas, I was gifted the lastest edition of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", by Julia Child, et. al. At first, I wondered who had it in for me. Then it became apparent that it was time for me to leave the confines of comfort and try something new. I wasn't at all familiar with any of the recipes in this book and to make matters worse, you guys already know how I view a cookbook. Thus, "COOKBOOK COMBAT". But I was going to give it a shot, following the rules as so elegantly set, by one of the world's most noted beloved.
Not knowing where to begin, I remembered that Boeuf Bourguignon gained notoriety in the film and it was there I would start. I figured it was simple enough and I've made beef stew before. "What was I thinking?" A recipe two and a half pages long was a bit intimidating, but I followed it to the letter and forged ahead making this amazing dish, that created mouth-watering aromas. But when the moment of truth arrived and we all stood around the stove anticipating, with spoons in hand, I was devastated!!
It was too salty. Way too salty. The saltiness over-powered the maginficent flavors that only I could detect were there hidden in salt. There was no fix for this. This was a disaster of major proportions. No amount of potato was going to soak up the salt content and if it did, it was no longer Boeuf Bourguignon. I didn't even bother trying. There was no way to justify it to my palate.
I don't know how the others ate it...out of pity, if anything. This is where I went wrong and I apply what I've learned to almost everything that calls for broth, bouillon, stock, bacon and even butter.
I have a refrigerated bouillon paste both chicken and beef flavored. After this horrific event, I tasted the beef paste and truly, it's a block of beef flavored salt. The proportions to achieve 3 cups of beef stock, were more than enough to kill my dish. Add bacon and salted butter to this and you've got an unedible meal.
I haven't tried to repeat this recipe, as of yet. When I do, I will be using homemade beef stock and unsalted butter. I'll post the recipe in the RECIPEVAULT; it's truly worth the effort, when done right.
No matter how much time, expense or even desire that goes into something we find important enough to put forth all this effort, there are no guarantees it will turn out as we expect. I would rather fail and say I've tried, then to live with the not-ever-knowing. But knowing me, I will fail and fail again and do it until I get it right or better yet, "master it"...in this case.
Today, is the DIVA Disaster post and most fittingly, I want to address the whole Julie & Julia thing. Here's my take on it. Yes, Julie Powell transformed herself into a marketable entity. Through her story, we revisited the life of a very talented woman, Julia Child; that perhaps without such creativity on Julie's part, we would only know Julia Child as one of the notable cooks of all-time. Unless of course, you were schooled through her Alma Mater, studied French cooking or had other personal interest in this woman's life. It was through perserverance, that both women gained public and personal successes; but certainly not without having to face challenges that I, timidly confess, would have defeated me.
I, did, however, after seeing the movie, felt inspired to forge ahead in my kitchen; I gained respect for butter and stopped holding myself hostage to lack of skill or knowledge, in some areas. I walked away realizing that our cooking disasters are an integral part of our learning process. That it is only through failure that we find success. This was, for me, the lesson learned especially since I am super hard on myself. So for that, I am grateful.
This past Christmas, I was gifted the lastest edition of "Mastering the Art of French Cooking", by Julia Child, et. al. At first, I wondered who had it in for me. Then it became apparent that it was time for me to leave the confines of comfort and try something new. I wasn't at all familiar with any of the recipes in this book and to make matters worse, you guys already know how I view a cookbook. Thus, "COOKBOOK COMBAT". But I was going to give it a shot, following the rules as so elegantly set, by one of the world's most noted beloved.
Not knowing where to begin, I remembered that Boeuf Bourguignon gained notoriety in the film and it was there I would start. I figured it was simple enough and I've made beef stew before. "What was I thinking?" A recipe two and a half pages long was a bit intimidating, but I followed it to the letter and forged ahead making this amazing dish, that created mouth-watering aromas. But when the moment of truth arrived and we all stood around the stove anticipating, with spoons in hand, I was devastated!!
It was too salty. Way too salty. The saltiness over-powered the maginficent flavors that only I could detect were there hidden in salt. There was no fix for this. This was a disaster of major proportions. No amount of potato was going to soak up the salt content and if it did, it was no longer Boeuf Bourguignon. I didn't even bother trying. There was no way to justify it to my palate.
I don't know how the others ate it...out of pity, if anything. This is where I went wrong and I apply what I've learned to almost everything that calls for broth, bouillon, stock, bacon and even butter.
I have a refrigerated bouillon paste both chicken and beef flavored. After this horrific event, I tasted the beef paste and truly, it's a block of beef flavored salt. The proportions to achieve 3 cups of beef stock, were more than enough to kill my dish. Add bacon and salted butter to this and you've got an unedible meal.
I haven't tried to repeat this recipe, as of yet. When I do, I will be using homemade beef stock and unsalted butter. I'll post the recipe in the RECIPEVAULT; it's truly worth the effort, when done right.
No matter how much time, expense or even desire that goes into something we find important enough to put forth all this effort, there are no guarantees it will turn out as we expect. I would rather fail and say I've tried, then to live with the not-ever-knowing. But knowing me, I will fail and fail again and do it until I get it right or better yet, "master it"...in this case.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
IT'S ALL GREEK TO ME...
I've been so busy lately and I cannot believe I haven't posted in six days. Shame on me! Hope you are all doing well, eating well and just overall feeling great!
I don't know what it is about Barbecue Ribs, but that has been my most popular post and thanks to all of you that have commented and left me messages. Since I don't write your usual "cooking/recipe" blog, although so many I have come across are absolutely delightful, I don't have that kind of structured style. I do plan however, to fill my recipe vault with some of my original recipes and they will come as we go, but in all honesty, a good cook, is just that; And although we do experiment with flavors, our creations turn out quite similar in many instances, mainly because we belong to a peer group that are trained to think within the creative cooking realm. So before I go and bore you with recipe after recipe, the writer in me had to step in and captivate you through stories, tricks and tidbits of useful information, that ultimately makes cooking enjoyable. So, with that said,.....
Today I decided to tackle an obstacle of mine in cooking that has been my achilles heel since I first tried to duplicate the amazing flavors and textures of Greek cuisine.
There's this little Greek diner near my home and I really don't get to frequent it that often. When I lived in New York, Greek restaurants were everywhere and where I would succumb to my favorite dish Spinach and Feta Pie, a.k.a. Spanakopita. (Sorry, I don't have one of those little dingies for over my "o"...)
Now being familiar with Mediterranean cuisine I was sure of one thing. The Greeks would travel and some would settle on the shores of the Mediterranean. By the use of cargo ships and by being a seafaring nation, they would have access to foods from foreign parts, that were not native to Greece. Pasta, lemons and oranges, spinach from Persia, tomatoes, almonds, etc. Greece being particularly noted for their amazing produce, their olives and figs in abundance and grapes, that were not so much eaten as a fruit, but dried to produce wine are just a few of what Greece has to offer.
Given that the Greeks had access to so much variety, it gives us a better understanding, why their food, as unique and tasty, incorporates a multiude of ingredients from other countries, with a distinct influence in Italian cooking, thanks to the Romans for employing Greeks in their households.
My weakness for Greek food was their use of a flaky pastry called Phyllo. Phyllo, a paper thin pastry, buttered and layered in Greek dishes, creates texture and flavor that is amazingly light, yet so substantial. And when you incorporate spinach and warm feta cheese, this explosion of flavor occurs on your palate and you're really hooked from that moment on.
I have never been able to quite master the handling of phyllo, adding to my ongoing frustration to produce a dish that is relatively quite simple, but for me, personally, I cringe at a recipe calling for it. My heavy-handedness, is truly my demise, as I rip and tear this delicate dough, trying so hard to keep it in one piece.
I battle with the experimentation of the dough's temperature to get it just right...Chefs, I need help here. What is it about this delicate pastry that befuddles my ongoing attempts at success....Please if you would be so kind?....... Visit the RECIPEVAULT for my take on this mouthwatering goodness....
Until next time...OPA!
Friday, June 11, 2010
DIVA DISASTER - YOU CALL THAT A MEATBALL?
Good Morning Chefs...
Let's recap...As you probably already know, Friday's posts are dedicated to a series, known as D.I.V.A Disasters. They are short stories that talk about things that have gone wrong in my kitchen, whether it pertains to a specific dish or an food incident that occurred after the fact.
What is it with people? I've eaten over friends' houses countless times; same goes for family, extended family and so forth...Never once did I ever, no matter what was served, criticize or judge the food. I have to admit, there were a few times when I may have been a bit hesitant to dive right in, but regardless, I ate, with a very open mind. I guess I am one of those people who take into consideration the time and effort that goes into making a home cooked meal. The person who cooked it, was proud enough to serve it and if not for anything else, out of respect, I will eat it.
I wish I could say the same for many I know. I invited a couple who I was friends with and her parents over for dinner one night. Now, this is nothing new for me. I love to entertain, I usually go all out, but this time was a little different since I was forewarned that her parents had simple taste (when it came to food). I had asked what their favorite dish was and she said meatballs, with pasta or rice, whatever. Okay so simple enough, this was a no-brainer.
I spent the day making a home-made pasta sauce, beef based, using beef rib tips I had in the freezer. I went light on the garlic, just in case. I had 3 lbs of ground sirloin for my meatballs, made a huge salad and put out a tray of cheese and crackers, olives and the norm. I went shopping that morning and purchased some fresh pasta from this little Italian grocery store, a loaf of artisan semolina bread and a small wrapped block of Pecorino Romano cheese. Pecorino Romano cheese is my favorite. It's firm, a little salty, is perfect for grating and it doesn't melt into a stringy mess. It freezes nicely if cut up into smaller pieces...However, its pricey!
I spent the rest of the day preparing this meal, setting the table and seeing to every last detail. Everything was ready and my company arrived. All was going well, until I brought this beautiful platter to the table when the woman's mother blurted, "You call that a meatball?"...in an instant I could feel myself go pale. I didn't respond to her remark. I acted as though I didn't hear it.
As if that weren't enough, she plopped down, nearly clearing the entire table, as the tablecloth caught hold of her chair, bringing the meatball platter almost directly to her. Still mortified, though I remained without expression, I watched her take hold of the serving spoon, dig into my meatball platter, hold up a meatball and say to her husband, "look at this baseball!". "I've never seen meatballs this big in my entire life!" Ugh! I very politely, moved the platter back into the center of the table and said, "the meatballs aren't over sized, perhaps you're used to the frozen kind that come in a bag." She just looked at me and proceeded in conversation with the others.
My other guests couldn't stop raving, including her husband, who was "subtly" getting nudged by his wife, each time he complimented the food. She allowed herself the freedom to throw out little digs here and there, mostly directed at the others' enjoyment. Needless to say, she was never invited back.
Love and meatballs to you all.....
Visit the RecipeVault to view the Meatball and Spaghetti Recipe.
Let's recap...As you probably already know, Friday's posts are dedicated to a series, known as D.I.V.A Disasters. They are short stories that talk about things that have gone wrong in my kitchen, whether it pertains to a specific dish or an food incident that occurred after the fact.
What is it with people? I've eaten over friends' houses countless times; same goes for family, extended family and so forth...Never once did I ever, no matter what was served, criticize or judge the food. I have to admit, there were a few times when I may have been a bit hesitant to dive right in, but regardless, I ate, with a very open mind. I guess I am one of those people who take into consideration the time and effort that goes into making a home cooked meal. The person who cooked it, was proud enough to serve it and if not for anything else, out of respect, I will eat it.
I wish I could say the same for many I know. I invited a couple who I was friends with and her parents over for dinner one night. Now, this is nothing new for me. I love to entertain, I usually go all out, but this time was a little different since I was forewarned that her parents had simple taste (when it came to food). I had asked what their favorite dish was and she said meatballs, with pasta or rice, whatever. Okay so simple enough, this was a no-brainer.
I spent the day making a home-made pasta sauce, beef based, using beef rib tips I had in the freezer. I went light on the garlic, just in case. I had 3 lbs of ground sirloin for my meatballs, made a huge salad and put out a tray of cheese and crackers, olives and the norm. I went shopping that morning and purchased some fresh pasta from this little Italian grocery store, a loaf of artisan semolina bread and a small wrapped block of Pecorino Romano cheese. Pecorino Romano cheese is my favorite. It's firm, a little salty, is perfect for grating and it doesn't melt into a stringy mess. It freezes nicely if cut up into smaller pieces...However, its pricey!
I spent the rest of the day preparing this meal, setting the table and seeing to every last detail. Everything was ready and my company arrived. All was going well, until I brought this beautiful platter to the table when the woman's mother blurted, "You call that a meatball?"...in an instant I could feel myself go pale. I didn't respond to her remark. I acted as though I didn't hear it.
As if that weren't enough, she plopped down, nearly clearing the entire table, as the tablecloth caught hold of her chair, bringing the meatball platter almost directly to her. Still mortified, though I remained without expression, I watched her take hold of the serving spoon, dig into my meatball platter, hold up a meatball and say to her husband, "look at this baseball!". "I've never seen meatballs this big in my entire life!" Ugh! I very politely, moved the platter back into the center of the table and said, "the meatballs aren't over sized, perhaps you're used to the frozen kind that come in a bag." She just looked at me and proceeded in conversation with the others.
My other guests couldn't stop raving, including her husband, who was "subtly" getting nudged by his wife, each time he complimented the food. She allowed herself the freedom to throw out little digs here and there, mostly directed at the others' enjoyment. Needless to say, she was never invited back.
Love and meatballs to you all.....
Visit the RecipeVault to view the Meatball and Spaghetti Recipe.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
THE SPICE RACK
Happy Thursday Chefs....
Spices, which are different from herbs, when handled and added properly to food create aromatic and taste enhancing properties. Most of us are oblivious as to which ones to use for what dishes, how to get the most flavor out of spices and how to determine when spices are stale.
Let's begin with the difference between herbs and spices.
Herbs are the leaves of plants grown in either indoors or out, preferably in a controlled climate. Spices are the seeds, fruit, root or bark of the plant.
WHICH ONE DO I USE..and for WHAT?
There is no short cut in familiarizing yourself with each spices' flavor or aroma, or how it will effect the food, unless you experiment with spices and taste for yourself. For the most part, we are basically familiar with the common spices, which can be found in your cabinets. Parsley, Basil, Oregano, Cumin, Cayenne, Rosemary, Thyme, Cinnamon, Sage, Paprika, etc. Yes, you can scour the internet and find pages among pages of lists of spices and their common uses, but that knowledge doesn't guarantee you're going to like the flavor.
QUALITY/FRESHNESSIt's best to choose fresh quality spices, when available, the cost difference is slight and well worth it in the long run. Now that doesn't mean you have to spend $20 for a jar of cloves. It's possible you know!? I refer to quality, in this case, as fresh. I purchase most of my spices at The Fresh Market. A type of gourmet supermarket that specializes in the best produce, breads, meats, herbs and spices available. They more or less live up to their name and their spices are packaged by weight in little plastic ziplock bags, dated to ensure freshness. Again, this doesn't mean you cannot purchase jarred spices and achieve the same result.
Also, keep this in mind. When purchasing or receiving a spice rack with pre-filled jars of spices, be sure to check for freshness. You have no idea how long those things were sitting in a warehouse, then at the store. It could be years. Open each jar and smell them. If they have no fragrance, even after grinding a bit of it, ditch it! I don't even bother with checking if they're stale. I just purchase the spices I want and refill the jars with product I know is fresh. No different with jars of spices that have been sitting in your cabinets, from time to time, test them too. And always keep your spices in a cool, dry, dark place.
WHY ARE THERE so MANY TYPES of the SAME SPICE?
Many spices are available in a variety of types of the same spice. Whole, Crushed, Rubbed, Ground. Now, since it hasn't been confusing enough, which one do you choose? The easiest way to tackle this would be to only look at them in two categories..Whole and Ground. Anything other than whole can almost be considered a ground. And since spices are most often dried, this is pretty straightfoward.
Whole spices are great when creating little cheescloth spice sachets for flavoring liquids. They also take longer to release flavor during the cooking process. Ground spices cover the rest of our flavoring needs and usually pack a much bigger punch of the two types.
ENHANCING THE SPICE
OK, I'VE CHOSEN THE SPICES I WANT TO USE....WHEN do I ADD THEM?
There is no set period of time when you should add spices to your cooking, but, be sure to add them before the end of cooking time. I would suggest, no less than 40 minutes before the dish is done. I, personally add them when I begin the cooking process. Don't overdo it, you can always add more to taste, but you can't remove it once it's in the pot!
SUMMARY
This is definitely one of those topics that one could rant on and on about. I created this post hoping to show the lighter side of what could be a very complicated subject that doesn't really need that much over-thinking.
It's very true that the right spices can take something ordinary and make it extraordinary; And you already have what you need right in your cupboards to get started. If there is something you're not familiar with, test it out. I use this little trick that works for me everytime...toast a slice of white bread and lightly butter. Cut the bread into small cubes. Then take the spices you want to sample and sprinkle a bit of each on a bread cube and eat. The warmth of the bread will enhance the spice and the butter gives it something to stick to. The blandness of toasted bread is the perfect backdrop for distinguishing a new flavor. When you find ones you like, add them to your food when you deem appropriate. If you like cinnamon on fish, then go for it! Guidelines are so overrated! Enjoy!
COMING UP.
- DIVA DISASTER - YOU CALL THAT A MEATBALL?
Monday, June 7, 2010
WE'RE HAVING MUSTGO!
Good Morning Chefs....
Today I would like to share with you an eating tradition that's incorporated into my household and I am not making any remote reference to muskrat. However, since they are omnivorous, they would actually make a suitable dinner guest at my table. But enough about them....
Mustgo dinners take place all over the world, you could have had it tonight. It's just that we refer to it as "mustgo", simply enough "Must Go, means just that; All leftovers from the week are reheated and placed on our table making a second round appearance. The catch to the whole thing is, whatever isn't eaten, must go! This is a wonderful way to offer a variety of flavors at the table and it reduces waste. I really hate to throw food in the garbage.
Also, it gives me the opportunity to clean out my fridge and make room for the upcoming week. I know exactly when it's time for mustgo...I have no food containers left to use. So, obviously those get washed on mustgo night and refill my cabinets.
I know many people who refuse to eat leftovers. I can understand to a point, especially if the leftovers are served day after day. But perhaps, they may feel differently about it if there were a few days in between. Besides, some meals taste better the next day, after reheating.
Before "mustgo", I've made the mistake of serving leftovers days in a row. I think we may all be a bit guilty of doing so...think about Thanksgiving. I know I can disguise turkey in almost every form imaginable...my family knows me all too well. I can't fool them anymore. Even my five year old calls me out! Oh and I'll never forget the day the term was first used. "We're having what?" "I'm not eating that!" It was hilarious seated at the table, seeing all the food and asking, "Where is the "mustgo"?" You're looking at it!
I hope you enjoyed this little "quirk" of ours..Have any of your own to share? Please comment!
Until next time....love and good eats to all of you!
COMING UP.
© 2010. ~C~ is for COOKING!
Today I would like to share with you an eating tradition that's incorporated into my household and I am not making any remote reference to muskrat. However, since they are omnivorous, they would actually make a suitable dinner guest at my table. But enough about them....
Mustgo dinners take place all over the world, you could have had it tonight. It's just that we refer to it as "mustgo", simply enough "Must Go, means just that; All leftovers from the week are reheated and placed on our table making a second round appearance. The catch to the whole thing is, whatever isn't eaten, must go! This is a wonderful way to offer a variety of flavors at the table and it reduces waste. I really hate to throw food in the garbage.
Also, it gives me the opportunity to clean out my fridge and make room for the upcoming week. I know exactly when it's time for mustgo...I have no food containers left to use. So, obviously those get washed on mustgo night and refill my cabinets.
I know many people who refuse to eat leftovers. I can understand to a point, especially if the leftovers are served day after day. But perhaps, they may feel differently about it if there were a few days in between. Besides, some meals taste better the next day, after reheating.
Before "mustgo", I've made the mistake of serving leftovers days in a row. I think we may all be a bit guilty of doing so...think about Thanksgiving. I know I can disguise turkey in almost every form imaginable...my family knows me all too well. I can't fool them anymore. Even my five year old calls me out! Oh and I'll never forget the day the term was first used. "We're having what?" "I'm not eating that!" It was hilarious seated at the table, seeing all the food and asking, "Where is the "mustgo"?" You're looking at it!
I hope you enjoyed this little "quirk" of ours..Have any of your own to share? Please comment!
Until next time....love and good eats to all of you!
COMING UP.
- THE SPICE RACK
© 2010. ~C~ is for COOKING!
Friday, June 4, 2010
DIVA DISASTERS - BARBECUE RIBS
Good evening Chefs; Hope you had a wonderful dinner tonight!
Today was my scheduled day to post on this blog but I was hoping to have done so a lot earlier than this. I was definitely dragging my feet as my creativity level dropped as the hours swooshed by. So here I am, finally, with the same mental block I had earlier, but I am determined to post successfully....
As I wrote my introduction, I introduced the acronym D.I.V.A to all of you. These four letters stand for the key elements you need for cooking success. Of course, this is as I see it and mentally have set this approach from the start of my cooking life. So today, I write the first post of a series to follow on the disasters that do occur in the kitchen, regardless of how much skill, technique or cooking knowledge you have. A new DIVA DISASTER will be posted every Friday, through July 31st.
Nothing can ruin a day faster than having to toss your main entree into the trash after spending and wasting all that time in your kitchen anticipating a great meal or at least an adequate turn-out.
I'm sure there won't be a last time that I've had to opt for take-out or settle a for sandwich, because I "effed up" and I mean BIG TIME! But in every failure is an experience and a lesson learned; And perhaps a way to SAVE. SLIGHT. SUBSTITUTE just to be able to put something on the table. I want to share with you my disasters over the years. There are many to name but the most important ones will make their own headline each week.
DISASTER #1. Barbecue Baby Back Ribs
There wasn't a barbecued rib I wouldn't eat until the day I glazed my ribs with honey and chili sauce. The prep time alone was excruciating, as I made a sweet dry rub and marinated these ribs for the better of 24 hours. They smelled amazing, uncooked. I started grilling them wrapped in aluminum foil. They were set on medium heat. This is the norm for me when I grill anything. The slower they cook the better they turn out. Halfway through, I opened the foil and began mopping this amazing sauce ontop of them. It was a little bit more than just chili sauce and honey (recipe to follow), but what in the world was I thinking, when I closed the lid and walked away? When I realized my mistake (11 minutes later), my beautiful ribs were charred. Now, we're not talking having bark on them, this was the whole damn tree! The honey went from the carmelization stage to this is history in minutes. How in the world can I salvage this? I immediately removed the rib racks from the grill and ran into the kitchen. I cut away as much of the burned areas I could without losing the meat. The inside was overcooked, falling off the bone. Nowhere near a perfect rib. I made a huge mess, as little charred crumbs wound up everywhere. I couldn't even remove the ash from my fingers. Who the hell would eat this? So, although I didn't attempt to serve it as is, I removed all the meat from the ribs and cut them up into bite-sized pieces. I warmed up some honey barbecue sauce I had in the fridge and tossed my pieces around in it. I served it over a bib lettuce leaf, with corn on the cob, baked beans and home-made coleslaw on the side. Everyone loved it. Regardless, I was disappointed. Lesson learned: Don't walk away from your grill...don't close the lid, unless necessary. Remember anything sugary burns in a flash and mistakes, thankfully can be disguised.
Visit the RecipeVault for CHICAGO STICKY RIB SAUCE.
COMING UP.
Today was my scheduled day to post on this blog but I was hoping to have done so a lot earlier than this. I was definitely dragging my feet as my creativity level dropped as the hours swooshed by. So here I am, finally, with the same mental block I had earlier, but I am determined to post successfully....
As I wrote my introduction, I introduced the acronym D.I.V.A to all of you. These four letters stand for the key elements you need for cooking success. Of course, this is as I see it and mentally have set this approach from the start of my cooking life. So today, I write the first post of a series to follow on the disasters that do occur in the kitchen, regardless of how much skill, technique or cooking knowledge you have. A new DIVA DISASTER will be posted every Friday, through July 31st.
Nothing can ruin a day faster than having to toss your main entree into the trash after spending and wasting all that time in your kitchen anticipating a great meal or at least an adequate turn-out.
I'm sure there won't be a last time that I've had to opt for take-out or settle a for sandwich, because I "effed up" and I mean BIG TIME! But in every failure is an experience and a lesson learned; And perhaps a way to SAVE. SLIGHT. SUBSTITUTE just to be able to put something on the table. I want to share with you my disasters over the years. There are many to name but the most important ones will make their own headline each week.
DISASTER #1. Barbecue Baby Back Ribs
There wasn't a barbecued rib I wouldn't eat until the day I glazed my ribs with honey and chili sauce. The prep time alone was excruciating, as I made a sweet dry rub and marinated these ribs for the better of 24 hours. They smelled amazing, uncooked. I started grilling them wrapped in aluminum foil. They were set on medium heat. This is the norm for me when I grill anything. The slower they cook the better they turn out. Halfway through, I opened the foil and began mopping this amazing sauce ontop of them. It was a little bit more than just chili sauce and honey (recipe to follow), but what in the world was I thinking, when I closed the lid and walked away? When I realized my mistake (11 minutes later), my beautiful ribs were charred. Now, we're not talking having bark on them, this was the whole damn tree! The honey went from the carmelization stage to this is history in minutes. How in the world can I salvage this? I immediately removed the rib racks from the grill and ran into the kitchen. I cut away as much of the burned areas I could without losing the meat. The inside was overcooked, falling off the bone. Nowhere near a perfect rib. I made a huge mess, as little charred crumbs wound up everywhere. I couldn't even remove the ash from my fingers. Who the hell would eat this? So, although I didn't attempt to serve it as is, I removed all the meat from the ribs and cut them up into bite-sized pieces. I warmed up some honey barbecue sauce I had in the fridge and tossed my pieces around in it. I served it over a bib lettuce leaf, with corn on the cob, baked beans and home-made coleslaw on the side. Everyone loved it. Regardless, I was disappointed. Lesson learned: Don't walk away from your grill...don't close the lid, unless necessary. Remember anything sugary burns in a flash and mistakes, thankfully can be disguised.
Visit the RecipeVault for CHICAGO STICKY RIB SAUCE.
COMING UP.
- WE'RE HAVING MUSTGO!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
COOKBOOK COMBAT
Good Afternoon Chefs...
I am not one to pass up a good cookbook; and my definition of a good cookbook is one that uses everyday ingredients, the recipe prep times are reasonable and the recipe itself can be modified to different tastes. They are mostly recognizable concoctions, food you have definitely heard of and handled and should be easy to follow.
Now I do not consider a cookbook for baking one that should be modified. Baking requires accurate measuring, technique when combining ingredients and the outcome should be exact as in print. But your standard cookbook should allow for modifications, although they do not outright state that.
Hypocritically speaking, I have never used a cookbook, for other than baking where I followed the ingredients to the letter; yet I own over 50 cookbooks. Why do I own so many, when I don't actually follow them?
Well, first, I own and I suggest those who collect cookbooks own, at least one copy of The Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. These have been around for over 75 years. They contain important information such as weights and measures, storing and freezing, ingredient substitutions and additional kitchen knowledge that should really be the basis for which you cook, in the first place. Even after years of preparing meals, I still refer back to my most reliable sources.
Other types of cookbooks that are great to invest in, are those geared towards different ethnicities. Every countries' cuisine has a different flavor profile or technique. Let's use Germany and Ireland for example. These two countries cuisine is different, however, the flavor profiles are similar. There are subtle differences that distinguish the two cuisines, beside the obvious dishes. But although similar, there is something different, whether in the preparation or flavor that makes them indicative to that country. Now, I purposefully chose these two countries to talk about because they are similar. No different than Poland and Germany. But when we're deciding on making a Chinese dish, we're not going to use recipes from the Irish and vice versa.
So having a collection of books that are specific to a region offers us great advantages when creating ethnic food.
COOKBOOK INTIMIDATION
Although cookbooks are designed to help us along in the kitchen, many of us are intimidated by the format of the recipe, iteself. Some of us are step-by-step defiant; and there is nothing wrong with that. In this case, you use your written versus visual skills differently, that don't easily adapt to a written plan of attack. I, personally, would rather see a picture of a dish, then scan the list of ingredients for that recipe. At this point, I know what goes with what and unless I am dealing with a food product I am not familar with, only then would I read on. The rest is your personal creativity. The cookbook gave you the flavor profiles that go hand in hand, how you put them together is your choice.
For those of you who have to follow a recipe word for word to achieve success, I applaud you. Your patience level far exceeds mine. But ask yourself this...how many recipes have you turned the page on that you considered making because the list of ingredients was too long or the prep time was unreasonable, etc.? It happens to the best of us and when I have no choice to follow a recipe to the letter, trust me, I find some loophole in it to cut corners. I achieve the same outcome, just opted for the path of least resistance.
Learning how to scan your cookbooks no matter how many you own, sparks imagination and creativity. You will learn to develop your own recipes, you will master flavor profiles and how to effectively combine them, never compromising the taste of each and you will find that you put your cookbooks to use a lot more frequently than you ever have.
Cookbooks are expensive. I look for them in discount stores or on clearance tables. Once in awhile, I just have to have it regardless of cost. When you're shopping for a specific cookbook or see one that grabs your attention, ask yourself the following:
1. Do the recipes incorporate a main food product that you are familiar with?
2. Are the recipes easy to understand and follow?
3. Does the cookbook offer illustrations of the final dish?
4. Will I repeat the recipes from time to time, or is this a novelty cookbook?
How you answer these questions, should help you decide if that cookbook will get use in your kitchen?
The above questions, especially when shopping for an Ethnic Cookbook, may not apply, only because they are region specific and you may not always be familiar with the main food product or repeat recipes weekly. It may even be a little more complicated to understand. This doesn't mean not to buy it. It means that finding the simplest recipes for your cooking ability regardless of what kind of cookbook you purchase will make your time in the kitchen less frustrating.
I love that every cuisine has a cookbook in an easy format. You'll know it when you see it. Usually, its ease of use is incorporated in the title. Ex. "Chinese Food in Minutes", "Meals in Less than 30 Minutes", "One Pot Recipes", etc. These titles are clues in finding the simplest recipes that work, that usually incorporate easy to find ingredients and more.
TRICK OF THE TRADE
Have on hand 5 ruled index cards. Label the cards: American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Seafood (you can substitute any of these titles to your own personal food type choices)
When you indulge in any of the five labeled cuisines or peruse your cookbooks for ideas, on that card list the flavor profiles that each dish are known for. For example:
American: Beef and Onions, Chicken and Lemon
Italian: Garlic and Oil, Basil and Tomato
Chinese: Ginger and Soy Sauce, Ginger and Teriyaki Sauce
Mexican: Cheese and Beans, Tomato and Corn
Seafood: Butter and Lemon, White Wine and Butter
These cards will now become a cheat sheet when cooking different types of food. You can refer to your cards to create different meals using Chicken, Beef, Fish, Pork. Want a Chinese take on chicken, then refer to your Chinese card and you'll know what distinct flavor profiles make Chinese food, just that. I just listed a few, but you can write down as many as you like and create your own flavorful combinations.
For some, cooking is a chore. For others, it's a hobby. For most, it's a necessity. Why not simplify something that not only shortens how much time is spent in the kitchen, but makes for variety without the frustration.
I wish you a beautiful meal...
COMING UP.
I am not one to pass up a good cookbook; and my definition of a good cookbook is one that uses everyday ingredients, the recipe prep times are reasonable and the recipe itself can be modified to different tastes. They are mostly recognizable concoctions, food you have definitely heard of and handled and should be easy to follow.
Now I do not consider a cookbook for baking one that should be modified. Baking requires accurate measuring, technique when combining ingredients and the outcome should be exact as in print. But your standard cookbook should allow for modifications, although they do not outright state that.
Hypocritically speaking, I have never used a cookbook, for other than baking where I followed the ingredients to the letter; yet I own over 50 cookbooks. Why do I own so many, when I don't actually follow them?
Well, first, I own and I suggest those who collect cookbooks own, at least one copy of The Good Housekeeping or Better Homes and Garden Cookbook. These have been around for over 75 years. They contain important information such as weights and measures, storing and freezing, ingredient substitutions and additional kitchen knowledge that should really be the basis for which you cook, in the first place. Even after years of preparing meals, I still refer back to my most reliable sources.
Other types of cookbooks that are great to invest in, are those geared towards different ethnicities. Every countries' cuisine has a different flavor profile or technique. Let's use Germany and Ireland for example. These two countries cuisine is different, however, the flavor profiles are similar. There are subtle differences that distinguish the two cuisines, beside the obvious dishes. But although similar, there is something different, whether in the preparation or flavor that makes them indicative to that country. Now, I purposefully chose these two countries to talk about because they are similar. No different than Poland and Germany. But when we're deciding on making a Chinese dish, we're not going to use recipes from the Irish and vice versa.
So having a collection of books that are specific to a region offers us great advantages when creating ethnic food.
Although cookbooks are designed to help us along in the kitchen, many of us are intimidated by the format of the recipe, iteself. Some of us are step-by-step defiant; and there is nothing wrong with that. In this case, you use your written versus visual skills differently, that don't easily adapt to a written plan of attack. I, personally, would rather see a picture of a dish, then scan the list of ingredients for that recipe. At this point, I know what goes with what and unless I am dealing with a food product I am not familar with, only then would I read on. The rest is your personal creativity. The cookbook gave you the flavor profiles that go hand in hand, how you put them together is your choice.
For those of you who have to follow a recipe word for word to achieve success, I applaud you. Your patience level far exceeds mine. But ask yourself this...how many recipes have you turned the page on that you considered making because the list of ingredients was too long or the prep time was unreasonable, etc.? It happens to the best of us and when I have no choice to follow a recipe to the letter, trust me, I find some loophole in it to cut corners. I achieve the same outcome, just opted for the path of least resistance.
Cookbooks are expensive. I look for them in discount stores or on clearance tables. Once in awhile, I just have to have it regardless of cost. When you're shopping for a specific cookbook or see one that grabs your attention, ask yourself the following:
1. Do the recipes incorporate a main food product that you are familiar with?
2. Are the recipes easy to understand and follow?
3. Does the cookbook offer illustrations of the final dish?
4. Will I repeat the recipes from time to time, or is this a novelty cookbook?
The above questions, especially when shopping for an Ethnic Cookbook, may not apply, only because they are region specific and you may not always be familiar with the main food product or repeat recipes weekly. It may even be a little more complicated to understand. This doesn't mean not to buy it. It means that finding the simplest recipes for your cooking ability regardless of what kind of cookbook you purchase will make your time in the kitchen less frustrating.
I love that every cuisine has a cookbook in an easy format. You'll know it when you see it. Usually, its ease of use is incorporated in the title. Ex. "Chinese Food in Minutes", "Meals in Less than 30 Minutes", "One Pot Recipes", etc. These titles are clues in finding the simplest recipes that work, that usually incorporate easy to find ingredients and more.
TRICK OF THE TRADE
Have on hand 5 ruled index cards. Label the cards: American, Italian, Chinese, Mexican, Seafood (you can substitute any of these titles to your own personal food type choices)
When you indulge in any of the five labeled cuisines or peruse your cookbooks for ideas, on that card list the flavor profiles that each dish are known for. For example:
American: Beef and Onions, Chicken and Lemon
Italian: Garlic and Oil, Basil and Tomato
Chinese: Ginger and Soy Sauce, Ginger and Teriyaki Sauce
Mexican: Cheese and Beans, Tomato and Corn
Seafood: Butter and Lemon, White Wine and Butter
These cards will now become a cheat sheet when cooking different types of food. You can refer to your cards to create different meals using Chicken, Beef, Fish, Pork. Want a Chinese take on chicken, then refer to your Chinese card and you'll know what distinct flavor profiles make Chinese food, just that. I just listed a few, but you can write down as many as you like and create your own flavorful combinations.
For some, cooking is a chore. For others, it's a hobby. For most, it's a necessity. Why not simplify something that not only shortens how much time is spent in the kitchen, but makes for variety without the frustration.
I wish you a beautiful meal...
COMING UP.
- DIVA DISASTERS
- WE'RE HAVING MUSTGO!
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