Dining for Two

Peanut Butter Monkey Bread

2008-08-30T20:50:00.008-05:00

Monkey Bread is an extremely versatile dish. It is great as a dessert, breakfast item or snack. It is also very easy to make. There are very few ingredients and prep time is minimal. It is a common recipe, but I add peanut butter to make mine a little extra special. This creates a unique taste unlike traditional cinnamon roll tasting Monkey Bread. The other night I had a sweet tooth but I was not in the mood to spend a long time in the kitchen. The remedy--Monkey Bread! It was great the next few mornings for breakfast too!

SERVES 2-4

Ingredients:

4 cans refrigerator biscuits
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
.5 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon creamy peanut butter
1 teaspoon confectioners sugar

Cookware/Utensils:

bundt pan
small saucepan
medium glass bowl
wooden spoon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add cinnamon and sugar to a medium size glass bowl. Tear each biscuit into 4 or 5 pieces. Add biscuit pieces to bowl, several at a time; coat well with cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place pieces in a buttered bundt pan.

Bring brown sugar, confectioners sugar, peanut butter and butter to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from heat and allow to cool 10 minutes, then pour over biscuits. Bake for 45 minutes until the top becomes golden brown. Allow to cool 15 minutes before removing from pan. Cut and serve in slices or pull away and eat bite by bite.

***This will serve breakfast or brunch for 2 people, twice. For this reason I like to call it a weekender. A weekender is a breakfast or brunch item that can be eaten on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Peach Pie

2008-08-16T23:08:00.005-05:00

Home. It is not just a house in which we are raised. It is a feeling. For me this feeling is comfort. I can travel by plane, train or automobile and physically reach this destination. I can also travel there in my mind with the arousal of one or more of my senses--a smell, a taste, a touch or a noise.

Growing up it was a summertime ritual to wake up very early in the morning and go to a flea market/farmers market/auction in a nearby town. As a little girl this meant a lot of walking, a lot of shopping, and most importantly a delicious meal on the way home. Our destination was in the heart of Amish country. The Amish are known for many things--one being their cooking.

A couple of weeks ago I was back in my hometown and wanted to take a stroll down memory lane so I decided to go to back to Amish country. Following tradition, I visited the flea market/farmers market/auction and walked a lot and shopped a lot. But the food that was to come was running through my head all day. Finally I was home. I was at Das Dutchman Essenhaus. The Essenhaus, as I call it, serves some of the best food I have ever experienced. It is standard practice by me and every member of my family to eat a meal...a BIG meal and then eat a piece of pie. For my meal that day I ate beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, cole slaw and rolls with homemade Amish peanut and apple butters. For the first time I had to ask for a box. I knew my limits and I knew that I HAD to save room for pie.

The pie. The Essenhaus offers 29 varieties of pie. Just to make your mouth water I have to list them. They offer: Butterscotch, Apple, Rhubarb Custard, Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb, German Chocolate, Red Raspberry Chocolate Cream, Fresh Peach, Peach, Banana Cream, Old Fashioned Cream, Cherry, Raisin Cream, Custard, Coconut Cream, Fresh Strawberry, Pumpkin, Fresh Blueberry, Blueberry, Praline Pecan, Peanut Butter, Chocolate Peanut Butter, Dutch Apple, Mincemeat, Chocolate Peanut-Butter-Banana, Red Raspberry Cream, Shoofly, Lemon, Black Raspberry, Chocolate Cream, Pecan. I chose fresh peach. It was melt in your mouth, to die-for, delicious. I have never tasted a dessert made of peaches where the peaches tasted so fresh. The texture of the peach tasted like it had just been sliced minutes before I ate it. The whipped topping was also extremely yummy but I have to admit that I took a lot of it off because the pie was so good that I did not want to "ruin" it with any other taste.

Das Dutchman Essenhaus--a taste sensation like no other. Proving Dorothy right once again that, "there's no place like home".

***To visit the Essenhaus online click here

Clafouti avec des Prunes

2008-07-28T22:17:00.005-05:00

Clafouti avec des Prunes. Translation: Clafouti with plums. Clafouti is a traditional French dessert consisting of a layer of fruit topped with batter and baked. Cherries are the customary fruit of choice, but any other may be used. In this case I have used diced plums. I usually do not do anything very exciting with plums. In fact, I like to just eat them as they are; and this is exactly what I intended to do when I purchased them a few days ago at the grocery store. However, plans change and I was in the mood to experiment. Without any milk in the refrigerator, my options for baked goods was limited. (Yes I know it sounds strange but we rarely keep milk in the house--we just do not drink it.) Clafouti almost always calls for milk, cream or even sweetened condensed milk. Was my quest for a quick and easy plum dessert doomed? Of course not...I told you earlier...I was in the mood to experiment. While I do not have milk, I do have a lot of cream cheese on hand. Essentially they both come from a cow right? Luckily the clafouti was a success. Read on to find out how cream cheese went from experimental ingredient to secret ingredient!

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

2 cups plums, diced
2 medium eggs
.33 cup sugar
3 oz cream cheese, room temperature
.33 c flour
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
.24 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
non-stick cooking spray or butter (used to grease pie pan)

Cookware/Utensils:

small bowl
medium bowl
large spoon
measuring cups
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife
electric mixer
glass pie pan

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease the pie pan with non-stick cooking spray or butter. (I prefer butter). Dice plums and place them in a small bowl; set aside. Add eggs and sugar to medium bowl and mix on low for about one minute. Add the cream cheese and mix again until smooth. Finally, add the flour, vanilla and salt to the bowl and mix again until lumps are no longer visible. Place fruit in pie pan. Slowly pour the batter over the plums. Be sure to evenly spread mixture in the prepared pie pan. Drizzle with the butter. Place in the oven =for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned. Sprinkle with powdered sugar just before serving.

Serve clafouti warm or room temperature. It is pictured below with vanilla bean ice cream. I have to confess...this was so yummy that I had two pieces!

***While I have referred to this as a dessert it also makes a great breakfast. This will serve breakfast or brunch for 2 people, twice. For this reason I like to call it a weekender. A weekender is a breakfast or brunch item that can be eaten on Saturday and Sunday morning.

White Wine Chicken Salad

2008-07-27T09:26:00.004-05:00

We purchased a rotisserie chicken for dinner one Friday night and ended up not eating as much of it as we expected. Come lunch time Saturday it was not something that we wanted to re-heat (I'm not a fan of leftovers at all) but we also did not want to waste it. My idea was to make chicken salad. While I have made my fair share of tuna salad, I had never at this time attempted chicken salad. So, I used some staples common in a good tuna salad recipe like mayonnaise and hard boiled eggs. Then I looked at what was in our refrigerator and found a bell pepper and an onion and I decided to create a chicken salad recipe of my own. My all-time favorite chicken salad is from a locally owned restaurant called Norma's. She makes a uniquely delicious champagne chicken salad. Inspired by this incredible dish I decided to add a little Riesling to my recipe. Voila, chicken salad!

SERVES 2-4

Ingredients:

2 cups chicken, shredded
.5 cup sour cream
3 eggs, boiled and diced
.25 red bell pepper, chopped
.25 cup onion, chopped
handful dried cranberries
.5 cup mayonnaise or miracle whip
.25 cup white wine (a sweet Riesling is preferred)
.25 teaspoon salt
.25 teaspoon black pepper
.25 teaspoon garlic powder
.25 teaspoon dill
.5 teaspoon brown sugar
.25 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cookware/Utensils:

small glass bowl
medium glass bowl
large spoon
measuring cups
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife

Place salt, pepper, garlic powder, dill, brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Set aside. In large bowl add chicken, sour cream, eggs, bell pepper, onion and cranberries. Stir until mixed. Add mayonnaise and stir again until all ingredients are mixed together. Pour wine over the mixture. Add all dry ingredients from the small bowl. Stir thoroughly. Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour before serving.

***Remove from refrigerator and serve in a pita, on your favorite bread as a sandwich or place on a bed of spinach as seen above.

Peanut Butter Pie

2008-07-26T11:23:00.005-05:00

I have only ever made this recipe twice. The first time I made it was three years ago and while it received rave reviews I have not made it recently because my partner in everything food is not a peanut butter fan (except on celery). I recently needed to make a dish for a carry-in luncheon at work and I did not feel like spending a lot of time in the kitchen. After a lot of stress and contemplation about what to make it came to me...peanut butter pie! This dessert was a hit. Do not let the fact that I have only made this pie twice deter you from making it yourself. I can promise that it is delicious. I am also not afraid to say that this is a perfect summer dessert. Yes, I know, when you think of a summer dessert your thoughts probably go right to a dish containing some sort of berry. Peanut butter seems thick, heavy and unappealing during the summer months right? This pie will prove you wrong. In fact, I would describe it as a light, refreshing dessert. That's right. I said it. Refreshing. C'mon, you know you want to give it a try!

YIELDS 8-10 slices

Ingredients:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
.5 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
16 oz cool whip
1 graham cracker pie crust (store bought or homemade)
1 REESE'S peanut butter cup

Cookware/Utensils:

9 inch pie pan
medium bowl
electric mixer
spatula
grater or zester

In medium bowl add cream cheese, sugar, peanut butter and cool whip. Mix on medium speed until creamy. Using a spatula place the creamy mixture into pie crust. Refrigerate for at least one hour. Grate peanut butter cup over top of pie before serving.

***While this is a blog dedicated to cooking for two, I feel that it is sometimes important to share recipes that can accommodate a larger crowd. We all find ourselves in situations where we need to entertain or feed a larger group of people. I will confess, this pie is so yummy that it would be easy for two people to grab a couple of forks and enjoy it all by themselves!

Orange Blossom Cream Ale

2008-07-24T15:14:00.005-05:00

This is the third component of the previously discussed, Floridian Citrus Seafood Trio. Orange Blossom Cream Ale is a seasonal brew from Buffalo Bill's Brewery in Hayward, California. "Created and crafted in the San Francisco Bay area, Orange Blossom Cream Ale is an extremely drinkable craft beer that is especially appealing to better beer drinkers who want something delicious and flavorful yet out of the ordinary," said Scott Barnum, CEO, Pyramid Breweries Inc. Buffalo Bills Orange Blossom Cream Ale is brewed and distributed under license by Pyramid Breweries.

This cream ale pours a light amber color, as you can see from the photo above. Orange blossom is the dominant aroma (shocking). Every time I placed the glass to my face my mind thought that I was about to take a sip of Blue Moon Belgian White Ale, but I think this is because I drink my Blue Moon with a thick orange slice. In short, it smelled like a freshly sliced orange. The taste is distinctly and uniquely orange--not to be confused with orange peel which is commonly used as an ingredient in Belgian beer. If you do not like my review of this beer and you choose to do some research about what other beer enthusiasts are saying you will discover that it is being compared to: orange push-up pops, Sunkist orange soda, orangeade, and orange cream soda. You will also find that beer advocates are giving this an average grade of C+ but I would have to disagree. In fact, if I were to rate this beer I would rate it an A- and I think that my partner in everything food would agree. We both enjoy fruit beer and the taste of this one did not disappoint. "Buffalo Bills was one of the first brew pubs in the United States and is known for its stand-out seasonal beers," said Geoff Harries, owner and head brewer, Buffalo Bills Brewery. "Orange Blossom fans love the beer so much they could not get the cap off fast enough! We think they will love the new twist top and great food pairing ideas." Mr. Harries is correct. We absolutely adored this beer with our citrus dinner. As we expected, it paired perfectly with seafood. Using a citrus flavor throughout the meal was an added bonus that raised this beer from simple to standout.

***We purchased this beer from World Market where we built our own six pack. To find the nearest World Market near you click here

***The other components of the Floridian Citrus Seafood Trio include Pan Broiled Amberjack with an Orange Apricot Butter Sauce and Summer Shrimp n' Spinach Salad (blog posts listed separately). The salad, fish and beer all centered around the idea of the orange. The salad and fish shared almond as a common ingredient. This trio is Floridan for its use of the orange, as the official state flower is the orange blossom and the official state beverage is orange juice. The seafood used are also both Floridian in nature. Amberjack is found in great numbers swimming in the water surrounding Florida enjoying the reefs, rock outcrops and wrecks. Gulf shrimp is caught off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Since we live on the Gulf Coast and know that our shrimp came from the local fishermen who docked their boats in our community this morning, we know that our shrimp shared our home state.

Pan Broiled Amberjack with Orange Apricot Butter Sauce

2008-07-15T17:42:00.006-05:00

This is the entree for the previously discussed, Floridian Citrus Seafood Trio. This recipe was born from our love of the flavor combination heat and sweet. Fish is a delicate canvas on which to paint an experimental sauce, glaze, rub or breading. When we create a fish recipe we take in consideration the type of fish and its natural flavor and we try to cook it in a way in which the flavors will be enhanced. Our approach can be compared to a woman applying makeup. She will apply a combination of products to her face in specific shades and amounts with the goal of enhancing her natural beauty. If she applies so much makeup to her face that she no longer looks like herself, then she has failed. In the same fashion, if we create a sauce, glaze, rub or breading to a fish in a way that the natural taste of the fish is lost, then we have failed. This is a sauce that was amazing on amberjack but I would also suggest using it on mahi mahi.

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

1 lb amberjack, 2 fillets
1 stick butter, cut in half
1.5 teaspoons Marie Sharp's orange pulp habanero sauce (here)
.5 cup orange juice
1.5 teaspoons ginger, ground
.25 cup white wine (we prefer Riesling)
6 dried apricots, chopped
handful sliced almonds

Cookware/Utensils:

paper plate
paper towel
large skillet or saute pan
small skillet or sauce pan
wooden spoon
fish turner

Place amberjack on paper plate and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Apply ginger to both sides of fish. Over medium heat place half the butter in each pan. Add orange juice, hot sauce, wine and apricots to small pan stir continuously. Once the butter melts in the large pan, add fish. Cook for 6 or 7 minutes on each side. Remove fish from pan and plate. Pour sauce over the grilled amberjack and sprinkle almonds over fish. Serve with confidence--this is delicious!

***The other components of the Floridian Citrus Seafood Trio include Pan Broiled Amberjack with an Orange Apricot Butter Sauce and Buffalo Bill's Orange Blossom Cream Ale (blog posts listed separately). The salad, fish and beer all centered around the idea of the orange. The salad and fish shared almond as a common ingredient. This trio is Floridan for its use of the orange, as the official state flower is the orange blossom and the official state beverage is orange juice. The seafood used are also both Floridian in nature. Amberjack is found in great numbers swimming in the water surrounding Florida enjoying the reefs, rock outcrops and wrecks. Gulf shrimp is caught off the coasts of Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. Since we live on the Gulf Coast and know that our shrimp came from the local fishermen who docked their boats in our community this morning, we know that our shrimp shared our home state.

Summer Shrimp n' Spinach Salad

2008-07-09T19:46:00.008-05:00

Tonight we created a meal that will go down in food history as the Floridian Citrus Seafood Trio. While we ate this impeccable meal we conversed not only about the flavors of each component, but also about how it should be represented in blog form. The conclusion--to feature each integrant in its own post.
The Summer Shrimp n' Spinach Salad was my contribution to the meal. It was a hot, humid day in Florida (shocking, I know) so I wasn't in the mood to come home from work and "cook". I wanted to create something that would accent the main course with maximum flavor and minimum heat. My answer...salad.
What I created was a side salad, but because I opted for something full of flavor it could easily be converted into a meal. I love a spinach salad with fruit and a sweet vinaigrette. The affinity for that type of salad is the heart of this recipe.

SERVES 2:

Ingredients:

2-3 ounces baby spinach
10 gulf shrimp, steamed and peeled
.25 cucumber, sliced very thin
handful almonds, slivered
11 ounces mandarin oranges, drained
.5 cup bleu cheese, crumbled
dash salt
dash ground black pepper
.5 cup raspberry walnut vinaigrette

Cookware/Utensils:

can opener
measuring cups
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife

Once the prep work of peeling the shrimp, slicing the cucumber and draining the oranges is complete then the salad is ready for assembly. I prepare individual bowls of salad. I find it easier and less dishes to clean if I do it this way as opposed to fixing a salad in a salad bowl and then transferring the salad to individual bowls. This means that you will need to take each ingredient and divide it in half between each bowl. First, place spinach in each bowl. Next add cucumbers, cheese, shrimp, oranges, salt, pepper and almonds. Finally, top each bowl with vinaigrette. This is the order in which I layer my salad. I suggest assembling the salad moments before consumption. This will prevent the spinach from becoming soggy as a result of the wet ingredients--oranges and vinaigrette. Voila!

Chicken Pad Thai

2008-07-08T19:21:00.004-05:00

Going out to dinner on a Tuesday is a treat for me, but going to the local Thai restaurant is an added bonus. Thai is a type of cuisine that was introduced to my diet a little over a year ago and it shot straight to the top of my favorites list after my first experience. I have tried a variety of entrees, but nothing compares to Pad Thai. Now when I hear the words, "Thai food" my mind immediately thinks of Pad Thai and my mouth begins to water.
Although I have only tried this dish from one restaurant, I am convinced that I am eating the crème de la crème of Thai cuisine. Naive, I know. From my understanding, Pad Thai is the ultimate street food. My fondness of this entree provokes my desire to travel to Thailand and wander the streets Anthony Bourdain style on the pursuit to find the best Pad Thai in the world.

***Since I did not cook this meal I do not have a recipe to share. However, I can tell you that traditionally Pad Thai is composed of the following ingredients: stir-fried rice noodles, eggs, fish sauce, tamarind, bean sprouts, crushed peanuts, scallions, red chili pepper, coriander and lime.

Cobia with a Sweet Chili Rub

2008-07-07T20:15:00.012-05:00

This past weekend we were in the mood for fish! Saturday night we went to one of our favorite sushi restaurants and enjoyed a couple of large plates of Saba (Mackerel), Unagi (fresh water eel), Shake (fresh Salmon) and Idtakko (baby octopus) just to name a few. My partner in all things food mentioned that I should have brought our camera to capture the beautiful work of our sushi chef, but unfortunately I left it at home. This is a mistake I will not make twice.
Sunday rolled around and we were still in the mood for fish so we visited our local fish market. It was less than a half hour before closing time so we were a little nervous about what we would find. To our surprise there was a beautiful piece of Cobia that was calling our names.
Cobia is a fish that we were introduced to just a few short months ago when we saw it on a menu at a Cajun restaurant. I found a lot of useful information about Cobia such as: Globally, there is no significant Cobia fishery, this is because adults are often solitary or travel with just a few other individuals, frequently in the company of sharks. This makes them a difficult species to target and capture is therefore often incidental. Despite this, however, cobia is a highly sought after food fish throughout its range. In Mexico, for example, it is known as "esmedregal" and is the fish of choice for weddings and celebrations. In Belize, where it is known as "cabio", a captured cobia likely won't make it to market because the fisherman will keep it as a family treat. Cobia is also highly prized as a game fish. Here is where you can find that information and more.

As I have mentioned in previous posts about fish, my partner in everything food is the chef at our house when it comes to les poissons. For the first time while preparing and cooking fish he decided to use a rub. Continue reading to discover how he did it.

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

1lb of Cobia (we cut it into 2 filets after cooking--whether you have filets prepared before or after cooking is your choice)
.25 tablespoon salt
.25 tablespoon pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
.25 tablespoon cinnamin
.25 tablespoon nutmeg
.25 tablespoon garlic powder
.25 tablespoon ground ginger
2 tablespoons butter
.5 cup sweet white wine (we prefer Riesling)

Cookware/Utensils:

paper plate
paper towel
medium skillet or saute pan
fish turner
small glass bowl

Combine all dry ingredients in small glass bowl. This will be your rub. Place Cobia on paper plate and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Apply rub generously to fish covering both sides and all edges. The goal is that the entire fish will be covered with the rub. Over medium high heat place butter in the saute pan. Once the butter melts, add fish to pan. After about one minute, add half of the wine. Cook for 5 more minutes. Flip the fish and cook for one minute. Add the remaining wine. Cook for another 5 minutes. Plate and serve!

***The cobia is shown here served over a mix of fresh vegetables cooked in a sweet balsamic glaze. I will be posting this side dish later. Check in soon!

Granola...Take One

2008-07-02T19:40:00.005-05:00

Granola is something that I really never had any ambition to make. Sure, I will eat a granola bar every now and again, but I eat the kind from a box, secured by a wrapper and usually dipped in chocolate fudge. I have never understood the appeal of granola. Actually I think I have used the word "granola" as an adjective saying things like, "she is so granola" or "that is a granola thing to do" more times that I have eaten this food. When using the word as an adjective I don't think that anyone would ever refer to me as "granola".
However, there is a first for everything. I have been eating a lot of yogurt lately. I like vanilla yogurt. No fruit, no cookies, no fancy add-ins of any kind. Just simple, tart yogurt. Yogurt is nice for all dining occasions--breakfast, lunch, dessert and snack time. I also find myself using the word "vanilla" as an adjective saying things like, "that haircut is very vanilla" or "this article is just vanilla". When using this word as an adjective I think that others might easily refer to me as "vanilla".
As much as I enjoy it, a girl can only eat plain, vanilla yogurt for so long. It becomes, well, vanilla. Here's how I went from vanilla to granola in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients:

.25 cup apple butter (homemade preferred)
.25 cup honey
2 tablespoons brandy
.5 cup butter
.5 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla
.5 tablespoon almond extract
1 tablespoon cinnamon
dash salt
.25 cup coconut
.25 cup dried cranberries
.25 cup raisins
3 cups rolled oats, uncooked

Cookware/Utensils:

baking sheet
aluminum foil
spatula
1 quart saucepan or small pot
medium glass bowl
measuring cups

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheet with aluminum foil. Add oats to bowl and set aside. Place saucepan over medium heat and add apple butter, honey, brandy, butter and brown sugar. Stir constantly until butter melts and a cohesive sauce forms. Remove from heat and add vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon and salt. Pour sauce over oats and stir until all oats are wet. Spread oats onto baking sheet forming a thin layer. Place baking sheet in the oven. After 10 minutes remove baking sheet from oven. Stir oats. Again, spread the oats on the sheet to form a thin layer. Sprinkle coconut over the oats and return the baking sheet to the oven. Allow 10 more minutes to pass and remove the baking sheet from the oven. Stir the oats again. While stirring add the cranberries and raisins. Allow the oats to cool and then store them in an airtight container.

Triggerfish with Spicy Lemon Caper Butter Sauce

2008-07-01T21:16:00.013-05:00

My partner in everything food is the one who does all of the fish cooking in our home...and boy oh boy does he do a great job at it! I have yet to be disappointed with one of his creations. On his way home from work he stopped by the local fish market and picked up something new and exciting--Triggerfish. To be honest, I did not believe him when he told me the name of the fish and I went straight to my old friend Google to confirm his name for our dinner. He was advised by the fishmonger to try Triggerfish because it was a light, flaky, sweet fish. When I heard those adjectives I immediately thought that we needed a white wine butter sauce or a lemon caper butter sauce. My partner in food decided to combine the two ideas and add a little spice of his own.
Above you will see our Triggerfish and sauce placed over a bed of sauteed spinach arranged with three steamed shrimp.

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

2 ounces butter, room temperature
1 lb Triggerfish, 2 fillets
1 tablespoon salt
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
2 ounces white wine
orange habanero or other citrus hot sauce, to taste
.5 small onion, chopped fine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon capers

Cookware/Utensils:

medium skillet or saute pan
fish turner

Add butter to saute pan or skillet and place over medium heat. Season fish with salt and pepper. Place each fillet in skillet and saute until light golden brown add drops of hot sauce to top of fillet. Flip fish, add hot sauce and saute again until each fillet is cooked thoroughly. Remove fish from pan. Reduce heat and add wine to skillet. Add onion and stir slowly but continuously for about 2 minutes. Add lemon juice and capers. Continue to stir until a sauce with a suitable texture develops. Drizzle sauce over the fish to taste.

***When you remove the fish from the pan and let it sit while you make the sauce, there is a chance that the fish will lose its temperature. In order to prevent this from happening I suggest placing a stockpot or crock-pot lid over the fish to retain the heat and moisture of the fish.

Nutty Irishman

2008-06-29T16:27:00.006-05:00

One of my all time favorite cocktails is a White Russian. The iced drink is perfect to break the heat of a warm summer day. It also has a creamy, comforting quality that warms up a cold winter night. Whether you are sitting beach-side or fireside, in the heat of the day or the cold of the night, a white Russian is a classic drink for all occasions.
I completely agree with the phrase, "if it's not broke don't fix it". In fact, I love traditions. I love the classics. New, contemporary ideas and creations are successful, in my mind, because they use the classic as an inspiration to develop something fresh and modern.
The classic cocktail, White Russian (made with Kahlúa, vodka and cream or milk)was my inspiration for the Nutty Irishman.

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

2 jiggers vodka
2 jiggers Nocello® walnut liqueur
1 jigger dark crème de cacao
2 jiggers Baileys Irish cream
1 cup cold milk or cream
ice, cubed

Cookware/Utensils:

cocktail shaker
2 old fashioned glasses
jigger

Place a handful of ice into a cocktail shaker. Fill each old fashioned glass with ice. Add all liquor ingredients to the shaker, secure lid and shake for 30 seconds. Pour half of the shaken liquor mixture into each old fashioned glass. Top off each glass with cold milk or cream. Enjoy!

Peaches, Apricots or Nectarines? O My!

2008-06-26T20:54:00.013-05:00

I recently found myself in a grocery store standing in the produce aisle completely confused. Before my eyes was a huge mound of fruit. The fruit was labeled with a price, but no indication of its name. It looked like a miniature peach. I picked up the fruit, smelled it, and even asked my grocery shopping partner, "Is this an apricot or a nectarine?" With both of us second guessing our answers regarding the identity of this mystery fruit, we picked out two of them, put them in a bag and brought them home.

I think that all of us know what a peach looks like, but when it comes to the difference between apricots and nectarines it becomes, well, hairy.

To reveal the answer without being too technical, peaches and apricots have a skin that is "fuzzy" while nectarines have a skin that is smooth. My mystery fruit turned out to be an apricot. When an apricot is sliced in half a pit, or seed is revealed that is also very similar to a peach.

Once you've halved this nectarine a delicious snack or dessert is waiting for you! I encourage you to eat the fruit by itself or combine it with something light and sweet that will compliment its tart flavor. I suggest vanilla flavored yogurt or ice cream.
***Pictured above is a peach and two apricots. Pictured below is a bowl of vanilla yogurt and diced apricots.

Blueberry Soy Tuna Steak

2008-06-23T22:33:00.011-05:00

One perk of living by the ocean is the availability and abundance of fresh seafood. Going to the fish market can be a very exciting and enjoyable experience. It can also be a bit overwhelming. Yellowfin, or ahi tuna is one of our favorite choices because it tastes amazing seared (our favorite way to eat fish). However, it is also good for us. Yellowfin is low in saturated fat and sodium and is a very good source of protein, thiamin, selenium, and vitamin B6. If you have never picked a tuna steak from the market or grocery, here are some great tips. Tuna is a quick and easy meal for two that can and should become a staple in your diet. With this dish however, as in many meals, the secret is in the sauce!

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

.25 cup soy sauce
2 tablespoons blueberry syrup
1 teaspoon cinnamon
dash salt
dash freshly ground pepper
dash garlic salt
1lb fresh ahi tuna, cut into 2 8oz steaks
2 tablespoons sesame oil

Cookware/Utensils:

medium skillet or fry pan
tongs
extra small bowl
extra small whisk

Preheat skillet over medium heat. While the skillet heats, place soy sauce, syrup, cinnamon, salt, pepper and garlic salt into an extra small bowl. Whisk until all ingredients are thoroughly combined. Set this bowl of sauce aside.

Place the oil in heated skillet and coat the entire bottom of the pan. Add both tuna steaks to the skillet and drizzle with half of the sauce. Allow the steaks to cook for 4 minutes, flip, and drizzle the remaining sauce over the tuna. After 4 more minutes, remove tuna steaks from skillet and serve.

***We prefer our tuna steaks rare to medium rare. To obtain this temperature, cook steaks for 4 minutes on each side. To obtain the perfect temperature for your taste-buds, keep a close eye on the steaks as they cook. This is why we suggest making the sauce before you place the tuna into the skillet.

Chocolate Chip Banana Cookies

2008-06-22T22:22:00.009-05:00

Bananas are a favorite fruit in our house, and we are not alone! Over 96% of American households purchase bananas at least once each month. I actually prefer to eat a green banana because I like the firm texture and tart taste. Unfortunately because we live in a region with very high humidity, our bananas ripen very quickly. As a banana ripens the starch in the fruit turns to sugar. Therefore, the riper the banana the sweeter it will taste. My favorite solution to utilizing these sweet, mushy bananas is to make bread. However, tonight I thought I would try something new--to make cookies. I hope that you enjoy them as much as we did!

YIELDS 2.5 dozen

Ingredients:

.5 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1 medium egg
1 ripe banana
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 cups flour
.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
.5 teaspoon ground nutmeg
.5 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips

Cookware/Utensils:

small bowl
medium bowl
measuring cups
electric mixer
medium spoon
2 baking sheets
spatula
wax paper

Preheat oven to 350 F. In a small bowl mash the banana with a spoon. Add the baking soda to the bowl and stir to combine the two ingredients. Set aside. In a medium size bowl mix the butter, sugar and egg on a low speed until creamed. Add the banana mixture into the butter mixture and stir rapidly for one minute. Add flour, cinnamon and nutmeg to the bowl and mix on a medium speed until the dry ingredients and wet ingredients create a batter. Fold in chocolate chips. Using the spoon, drop small mounds of batter onto onto a lightly greased baking sheet. Place baking sheet into the oven for 8-10 minutes until the edges turn a golden brown. Let cookies cool on wax paper.

Perfect Tuna Salad

2008-06-18T19:19:00.011-05:00

Tuna salad is a snack that my mom used to frequently make for me while I was growing up. Her version included eggs, pickles and mayonnaise. Mine is a little more complex in ingredients but just as quick and easy to make. The great thing about tuna salad is that it is the perfect meal or snack for two!

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

1 6oz. can tuna, drained
3 eggs, boiled and peeled
1 cup mayonnaise or miracle whip
.5 celery stalk, chopped very fine
3 dried apricots, chopped
1 tablespoon dried cranberries, chopped
1 tablespoon honey mustard
.5 tablespoon salt
.5 tablespoon dill
.5 tablespoon garlic powder
dash ground black pepper
dash celery seed
dash paprika

Cookware/Utensils:

large spoon
large bowl
measuring cups
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife
plastic wrap

Add tuna, mayonnaise, eggs and mustard to bowl. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Then add chopped celery, apricots and cranberries. Again, stir until mixed. Add dry ingredients and stir one final time. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before serving.

Remove from refrigerator and serve on a pita, wrapped in a tortilla or placed on crackers. I like mine served on a piece of toasted bread. The juxtaposed temperatures and textures of the warm, crisp bread and the cold, creamy salad are perfect!

Nutty Chicken Alfredo with Farfalle

2008-06-10T20:43:00.009-05:00

Farfalle pronounced far-FALL-lay is one of those words that just rolls off your tongue. It is fun to say, fun to eat, and as you will learn, it is very fun to cook. Farfalle is commonly known as “bow tie pasta” because of its shape, but literally it translates to "butterfly" in Italian. It is often used in pasta dishes that use a cream sauce, in pasta salads or in dishes such as casseroles, since the pasta bakes and holds its shape well.

SERVES 2
Ingredients:

3 cups farfalle
8 cups water
.5 small red onion, coarsely chopped
.25 red bell pepper, coarsely chopped
1 nectarine, coarsely chopped
1.5 cups alfredo sauce
2 jiggers Nocello® walnut liqueur (or other nutty liqueur of choice)
2 tablespoons peanut butter
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 cups chicken stock
extra virgin olive oil (for the skillet)
dash of salt
dash of freshly ground pepper

Cookware/Utensils:

saute or chef pan
medium skillet or fry pan
stockpot
colander
cooking spoon (wood, nylon or other heat resistant material
tongs
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife

Place water in stockpot and over high heat bring to a boil. Once there is a rolling boil place farfalle into the water and cook until al dente.*** Strain and return to pot.

Add chicken stock and chicken breasts to the saute pan and cook over medium heat. Turn chicken every 2 or 3 minutes to cook thoroughly. Preheat skillet over medium heat and add olive oil. Add onion, pepper and nectarine. Cook for 3 minutes and reduce to a low heat. Add alfredo sauce, liqueur and peanut butter stirring constantly until all of the ingredients mix together to form a sauce.

Remove chicken from pan and place on cutting board. Cut into half inch pieces. Place sauce and chicken into pot with pasta. Stir all three components together over a medium heat. Continue to stir together for 3-5 minutes. Serve warm.

***Pasta is referred to as al dente when there is a slight resistance against your teeth. If it's brittle it needs more time. If it's mushy, you've cooked it too long.

Scrambled Egg and Sausage Loaf

2008-06-09T19:07:00.019-05:00

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

.5 pound sausage
.25 red onion, finely chopped
.5 red bell pepper, finely chopped
2 medium eggs
2 tablespoons whipping cream
1 cup shredded cheese--your choice
2 cans buttermilk biscuits (10/can)
1 tablespoon butter
non-stick cooking spray

Cookware/Utensils:

medium skillet or fry pan
small skillet or fry pan
bundt pan
cooking spoon (wood, nylon or other heat resistant material)

Preheat oven to 450 F. Lightly brown the sausage in medium sized skillet. Add chopped onions and bell pepper to the sausage and simmer together until onion and bell pepper are tender, stirring occasionally. In a separate small skillet combine eggs and cream and continuously stir until eggs scramble.
Spray bundt pan with a non-stick cooking spray (I prefer one with a butter flavor). Line the pan with a layer of biscuits. Biscuits will need to be pulled and stretched and then seams will need to be pressed together to make one continuous "blanket" of dough. Then add a layer of the sausage mixture. Next add a thin layer of eggs. Finally, layer with cheese and then another layer of biscuits. Repeat this process one more time so that the top layer is biscuits. Spread the butter over the top layer. Place pan in the oven and cook until the biscuits are dark golden brown. Allow to cool. Remove from pan; slice and serve.

***This will serve breakfast or brunch for 2 people, twice. For this reason I like to call it a weekender. A weekender is a breakfast or brunch item that can be eaten on Saturday and Sunday morning.

Turkey-Parm Baked Asparagus

2008-06-06T20:33:00.010-05:00

Asparagus is one of those vegetables that children are conditioned to detest along with spinach, lima beans, radishes and beets (just to name a few). However, I am convinced that a palate of any age can--and should enjoy the taste of asparagus.

The origin of asparagus cannot be definitively tracked to any one specific area, but it is known to be native to the eastern Mediterranean and Asia Minor areas. It was enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. In fact, "As quick as cooking asparagus" was an old Roman saying meaning something accomplished rapidly.

SERVES 2

Ingredients:

15-20 asparagus spears (small bundle)
extra virgin olive oil
balsamic vinegar
thin-sliced deli smoked turkey
parmigiano reggiano or grated parmesan cheese
coarse ground sea salt
fresh cracked pepper

Cookware/Utensils:

paper towel or napkin
casserole dish

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Wash asparagus spears with warm water and pat dry with a paper towel. Snap off the ends of the asparagus at the bottom of each spear where it breaks off naturally. Wrap every other spear with a piece of the sliced deli turkey. Place in a single or double layer in a casserole dish. Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season with salt, pepper and cheese. Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes (until the cheese and the tips of the asparagus begin to darken in color.

The great thing about this side dish is that there are no set measurement guidelines on the garnishes (olive oil, balsamic, turkey, salt, pepper, and cheese). All of these ingredients should be added in an amount that works with your taste preference. Want even more fantastic news?: Asparagus is a nutrient-dense food which in high in folic acid and is a good source of potassium, fiber, vitamin B6, vitamins A and C. Asparagus has no fat, contains no cholesterol and is low in sodium!

Pere con Ricotta

2008-06-05T18:08:00.006-05:00

Pere con ricotta--simple translation from Italian is pears with ricotta. Ricotta cheese is widely used in Italian cooking in everything from appetizers to desserts. It is a very soft, low-fat cheese that is actually a by-product of cheese making because it is made from the whey that has been separated from the curd in the process of actually making cheese. It is in fact technically a dairy product rather than an actual cheese because of this fact. Ricotta translates as recooked and was originally made in Rome when it was discovered that the whey could be reheated, then strained, thereby getting it’s name. To learn more about ricotta click here.
SERVES 2

Ingredients:

1 cup water
1 tablespoon ginger spice or 1 inch piece of fresh ginger root, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons sugar
.5 tablespoon lemon juice or zest of 1 lemon
2 firm pears peeled, cored and coarsely chopped
.75 cup ricotta
dash of cinnamon
handful of fresh berries--your choice

Cookware/Utensils:

medium saucepan or skillet
slotted cooking spoon (wood, nylon or other heat resistant material)

In a medium saucepan or skillet bring the water, ginger, sugar and lemon to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the pears and when the mixture returns to a boil, reduce the heat to maintain the simmer. Stirring occasionally with a slotted spoon. Continue to cook the pears until they are very soft to the touch of a utensil. (This may take up to 15 minutes, but your patience will be rewarded.) Remove the pan from the heat and using a slotted spoon divide the pears between two dessert cups or ice cream dishes.

Return the pan to the stove and add the ricotta and cinnamon to the warm syrup mixture. Stir until very smooth. Top the pears with the warm cheese mixture, then place a few berries over each serving. ***I suggest using cold berries. The sensation caused by the difference in temperature between the berries and the other component of the dessert adds an element of surprise to this dish.

Double Pork Chop

2008-06-04T21:31:00.007-05:00

I'm usually not a fan of pork, but I went out on a limb with this double pork dish and fell in love with its savory flavors.

SERVES 2
Ingredients:

2 thin-cut, boneless pork loin chops
salt and freshly ground black pepper (for seasoning)
extra-virgin olive oil (for the skillet)
1 cup chicken stock or broth
.5 pound Italian bulk sausage
1 celery rib, chopped
1 small red onion, chopped
.25 red bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
6 dried apricots, chopped
1 tablespoon parsley
1 tablespoon sage

Cookware/Utensils:

large skillet or fry pan
casserole dish
aluminum foil
cooking spoon (wood, nylon or other heat resistant material)
cutting board
santoku or chef's knife

Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. While you wait for both to heat up, season the chops with salt and pepper. Add enough olive oil to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet, then add the chops to sear and caramelize the meat on each side (2min/side). Transfer the chops to a casserole dish and add .5 cup of chicken stock to the dish to help the meat remain moist while it continues to cook in the oven. Loosely cover the dish with foil and place in the oven.

Return the skillet to your stove and add a small amount of olive oil again. Add the sausage and crumble it with your wooden spoon as it browns. Add the celery and onion and cook for 2 minutes, then add the bell pepper and apricots and cook for another 2 minutes. (At this point the aroma should be fabulous.) Add the parsley, sage and .5 cup of remaining chicken stock. Reduce the heat and cook for 5 or 6 minutes longer until the apricots are tender and plump, stirring occasionally.

To serve, remove the chops from the oven. Place them on individual plates. Scoop a nice helping of the sausage and vegetable mixture from the skillet onto the top of each chop. Bonn Appetite!