Paying attention to Detail...Is it Stainless or What?

Hot or Cold not at the same time. =)

As any good cook or chef knows that it is paying attention to detail that enhances the food experience. I am not only looking at the presentation but food safety too. I am a proud card carrying member of the National Registry of Food Safety Professionals. The last kitchen I worked in I had interactions with the Health Department since it was my name on the wall, simply stated she said "Give this woman a raise!". Okay, I'll get off my milk crate now.

Back to the topic of discussion. With my wine tasting picnic cuisine it is not only important that the food be at the right temperature when eaten for flavor but also safety too.

I use the cyma hot/cold insulated zipper tote that will keep food at the desired temperature for up to three hours. No ice involved! What an invention I'd say.

Of course too when it comes to detail, we want this to look sophisticated too. That is why I'll be using the flatware pictured above. Is it stainless or not? You decide....

The end is the beginning...Dessert..

This is the end to a new beginning. In the foreground is my multi berry treat with a sauce of Olallieberry and curacao reduction topped off with fresh whip cream. In the background of the pictue is my mesquite smoked turkey crossiant sandwich ready to go on the road.

This is just the beginning of my wine tasting picnic cuisine. More to come...

Rosemary Skewers Forever….

The day before yesterday at Sustenance Cooking Studio, one of their first time guests settled in at the counter to watch and have conversation. For the life of me (I can be bad that way) I have forgotten the woman’s name but shall never forget the conversation or her face. She is also a very strong supporter of Loaves and Fishes, my charity of choice.We started talking about spices and got into a conversation about rosemary.

The best rosemary to use for culinary purposes is Tuscan Blue, an upright varity of rosemary that makes not only for a wonderful spice because it it filled with plump leaves of flavor but the nature and form of the stems create the ideal skewer for meats and vegetables. The stems infuse rosemary throughout. and it is wonderful to use because when burned they give off a distinct mustard smell too.
This kind wonderful woman went home and wack-attacked her rosemary plant and came back to the studio with an armful of gorgeous rosemary for me. Tonight is the night for Kabobs al la Deborah.

As I was making my chicken marinade the thought came to utilize other spices to enhance one another. Ginger came to mind and an experiment was born.

The pungent taste of ginger has a spicy-sweet aroma and rosemary which has a slightly bitter, astringent taste which is also highly aromatic should dance together on the palette.

I mixed my marinade with a bit of soy sauce (Kikkoman’s of course), worchestershire sauce (salty because of the anchovies), rice wine vinegar (bit of sweet and sour), splash of balsamic vinger (strong and bold), garlic (always), powdered ginger, freshly minced rosemary leaves(high in iron, calcium, and Vitamin B6) and a touch of sugar (balance it out).

Yum!

Tapenade with a Twist

Yesterday it was sheeting down rain but I made my way to Sustenance Studio to check out the venue in San Luis Obispo. The clouds lifted upon my arrival and so did my spirits when I entered through the door. What a welcoming place.

Maya and Seamus felt Ike old friends I hadn't seem in awhile. As I helped myself to a cup of coffee and admired the art adorned walls I knew I was entering a place that was home. A place where my creativity could soar.

As many of you already know, on May 4th I have my cooking audition/interview at Sustenance and my menu of choice is doing a roasted beet with caramelized goat cheese salad. I decided then and there to throw a twist into the mix.



Tapenade (pronounced tap-en-AAD) twists would accompany each salad. I stopped off at the local market and picked up a few supplies needed and got to work last night. Puff pastry, Spanish green and Kalmata (named after the famous city in Greece) olives. I already had the capers olive oil, and of course garlic on hand.

The market was out of fresh basil so I stopped by Rite-Aid and picked up two plants. I pinched what I needed and will plant them out to have the continuing supply. It was much cheaper to purchased live plants and pick verses buying the pre-packaged. My kitchen smells great too.


Once the twists are twisted they need to set-up in a freezer until firm. Right before putting them in the oven (350 degrees) an egg wash coating needs to be applied. Bake until lightly brown.

Puff pastry is so fun to work with. Buying the Pillsbury frozen sheets makes life so easy. Anyone can look like a pro. Make sure they thaw before rolling out on a floured surface. What you are doing with the tapenade is like making a sandwich in between two layers of pastry. Slice into small strips and gently pick up both ends and move to the sheet pan. I was out of pastry paper so foil works too.

Gently lift one side of the strip higher than the other and manipulate around and around. The piece will twist from the top to the bottom. Don't fight it though. Since I am right handed, I have that hand lower securing the strip and my left hand higher to twirl.

Right out of the freezer the pastry wants to stay in it's fold. Room temp it takes about ten minutes to be ready to roll. I gently try to prompt the pastry to unfold. If it doesn't open. Let it sit a bit more. It really depends too on the temp of the room you are in. Warmer equals quicker colder takes longer.

I always seem to make a big batch of tapenade. What doesn't go into the pastry is sure to find it's way to my mouth.

The recipe is:

1/3 green olives to kalmata olives

2 tbsp. capers

splash of lemon juice

lots of olive oil

plenty of garlic to make it garlicky

salt and pepper to taste

Enjoy! They are habit forming though....

Summer Time Salads

In the heat of the summer it is the best time to get creative with salads.

Recently we have been hitting levels of 110 to 114 degrees and the thought of turning on the stove has escaped my mind.

Pictured are a few of the creations that were simple to make and refreshing at the same time.

Above left is a pasta, crook necked squash salad, highlighted with roasted red peppers and capers. Above right is a chicken salad coupled with flavors of cucumbers, onions tomatoes. The crunch of the vegi's highlighted the smooth chicken that had a kick of horseradish thrown in.

Below is one of my all time favorites. A spicy beef salad accented with fresh mint leaves.

.....Happy Birthday to You.....

Happy Birthday Honey Bunny!

Crusted Cajun Mustard Lamb Chops

This dish was almost as fun to make as it was to eat.

I did a rosemary, garlic salt, and fresh ground pepper rub on the chops and then seared them on a grill quickly. I brushed on a coat of dijon mustard that was flavored with a cajun seasoning. I dipped the chops in bread crumbs and baked until finished.

You can't really see too much spinach but it was served on a lightly sauted bed on spinach and tomatoes.