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Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Just Peachy!

The peaches this summer have been A-M-A-Z-I-N-G, especially the Farmer's Market ones (Evan's Orchard). You cannot go wrong just biting into one, but for those who want a little more, here are two recipes I have made this summer...one hot and one cold for everyone's taste buds!

Vanilla Panna Cotta with Peaches and Blueberries and a Cinnamon Peach pie with a Brown Sugar crumbs.

For the Vanilla Panna Cotta, I recommend making this the night before to allow the panna cotta to set properly, but if you need/want it the same day, allow at least 4-6 hours. I used a recipe I found on RealSimple.com (http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/poached-peaches-vanilla-panna-cotta-10000001072504/index.html). I did not do the poached peaches, but the panna cotta is excellant.

You'll need (this makes 4-6 servings):

1 pint of heavy cream
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 unflavored gelatin pack (2 tsps)
3 tbsp warm water
1 vanilla bean (you can use 2 tsp of vanilla extract, but the vanilla bean is better!!)
pinch of salt
handful of blueberris
2 large peaches
4-6 glasses or ramekins

Stir the milk, cream, and sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat until sugar dissolves. Scrap the vanilla bean seeds into the cream, and put the bean pod into the mixture as well. Stirring for 5 minutes. While the cream is cooking, have your gelatin in a small bowl with the warm water. Gelatin should dissolve completely. Stir 1/2 the cream mixture into the gelatin, then add that back into your cream saucepan. Add a pinch of salt.

Pour into a large bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Press the plastic wrap onto the cream. Allow to refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Remove plastic wrap, discard vanilla bean, and stir to recombine. Divide into your glasses or ramekins. Place on baking tray and refrigerate for at least 4 more hours.

Meanwhile, skin the peaches and cut into pieces. Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of sugar. Add blueberries and refrigerate until ready to put on top of panna cotta. Once ready, I topped mine with crushed Vanilla Wafers!


The Cinnamon Peach pie can of course be modified to fit your taste; you can make it just with peaches, you could add other fruit, such as blueberries or blackberries. I have made it both ways. You can also do a brown sugar crumb topping, or a more traditional pastry topping. I don't think you'll be disappointed however you do it!

You'll need:

2 lbs fresh peaches, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 (or 2) 9-inch pie shell, frozen

 Topping:
1/2 coup all purpose flour
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/3 chopped nuts, optional (I did not use nuts)

Set oven to 400 degrees. Combine your peaches (and any other fruit) with the sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and cinnamon. Combine topping ingredients, or not if you are using the other pie crust. Place mixture into the pie shell, and place which ever topping you have chosen on.


Cook for 25-30 minutes, or until golden and bubbling. Check halfway through, and place a piece of aluminum foil over the pie to prevent the crust from burning.


And once it's finished baking, I always accompany a sliceof pie with my favorite ice cream brand, Graeter's, vanilla bean ice cream! YUM! Oh summer, don't go....

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Come on and get in the boat fish!

This past week at school, we have been working with seafood, predominately fish. Everyone has been talking about the "end of summer" and I can't help, but wish I was "knee deep in the water somewhere".

So to continue the fish theme for this week, while I was at the AFB Woodland Arts Fair, I bought two beautiful prints by Karen Chen, both with fish on them...



On the menu for dinner, I decided on a dish that we made this past week... Teriyaki grilled Salmon with a Pineapple Papaya salsa and asparagus. While the salmon was marinating, I enjoyed a nice glass (Simon Pearce, Stratton goblet) of New Age White wine. It is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Malvasia from Argentina, and traditionally served over ice with a slice of lime. Very refreshing..

I did my best to pretend I was on a beach somewhere...


Teriyaki Marinade

1 cup teriyaki
1/2 cup saki
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1 tbsp ginger, grate ginger root and use the liquid
4 tbsp brown sugar
4 4-5 oz pieces of salmon

Allow salmon to marinade at least 15 minutes. Pat dry and brush with vegetable oil. Grill until done, about 4 minutes on each side.

Pineapple Papaya Salsa

2 large red tomatoes, seeded and diced
1/2 pineapple, diced
1/2 papaya, diced
3 green onions, sliced
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped
2 jalapenos, seeded and minced
1/2 lemon, juice
1 tsp garlic, minced

Combine ingredients and chill until ready to use. Boil asparagus for 5-6 minutes, or until done, but still have a crunch.


Happy Sunday! ENJOY! :)


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Fried What?!

All day I have been craving fried oreos, thinking to myself, they can't be that hard to make. So, I began googling, searching for the perfect set of instructions.

After gathering some helpful tips, I decided to use Aunt Jemina's (Ain't Yo Mama's) buttermilk pancake mix from the pantry, some regular oreos, canola oil and a cast iron skillet.

I put the oreos into the freezer until I was ready to use them, and went ahead with the mix (mix + water = super simple). While I was waiting for dinner to be prepared, cooked, then eaten, I was thinking what else could I fry?

I found some strawberries in the refrigerator, and thought "why the hell not?"...

DELICIOUS...


Once we consumed those tasty, sweet little appetizers, I began opening the pantry and refrigerator looking for the next fried victim... pickles...yum; even thought about frying some cheddar goldfish just to see what it would taste like, but I (and my parents) were quite possibly saved by the "timer"...

Finally we were done with dinner (grilled pork chops - dad; corn on the cob and peas - mom; simple yummy summer meal for three)! I plopped the oreos in the batter and into the hot oil (350 degrees F) they went. Flipped once, placed on a paper towel, and into a bowl with some Graeter's vanilla ice cream...

OH MY GOODNESS...I had to get more oreos out of the pantry...we all wanted more. Super simple, and super yummy!


As I was beginning to clean, Katana (my 6-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback), was looking for her handout. I thought "fried milk bone"...really? Hell yes, I fried a milk bone...


She loved it - BIG surprise...everyone's taste buds were pleased with the fried victims this evening...


HAPPY THURSDAY!

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

I give it THREE 10's!

The first quarter of Culinary school is almost over, and sadly the blog has taken a long seat on the back burner..

We have nearly completed our "basics" lab; learning knife cuts, product IDs, cooking methods, etc. Loving the kitchen, although I don't think it would've taken much to excite me after working in a cubicle for the last 2 and half years. No major burns or cuts... yet (knock on wood).

Last Wednesday I decided NOT to cook dinner - I wanted to go out and enjoy food (and wine) someone ELSE had prepared. So, with the company of my mom and sister, we visited Table Three Ten located at 310 Short St. downtown Lexington. I just love the building - its older and has a NY warehouse-type feel to it, the menu is written on a big chalk board and the front doors open, transporting you to another place (maybe Europe), very refreshing...


After opening last November with their cheese, small plates (salads/vegetable sides) and desserts, they have brought in phase II, a rotating seasonal menu which began this summer. And this being the third time I have eaten there, I was again very impressed with the menu, and more importantly the food! They use local products and the menu is seasonal, so you are enjoying the best of the best that nature has to offer...

We started off with a meat and cheese plate (speck, gouda, and pecorino), although a little pricey ($18.95 for three choices), I highly recommend trying several of the meats and cheeses at least once - they are worth every penny. It comes with an assortment of dried fruit, pickled vegetables, a sauce or two. The servers are very helpful in pairing cheeses with wines if you are interested in a little education while you dine, and they do have a happy hour from open (5) to 6:30!

For my entree, I went with the marinated grilled skewer of baby octopus and chorizo served with wasabi. I have to admit, I was a bit ballsy with my choice, but were my taste buds ever satisfied! DELICIOUS!


My sister had the Manilla clams with new potatoes in a bacon dashi with chives and house lardon ($15) and mom had the grilled ambrosia corn with butter, parmesan, cayenne, and lime ($6) along with a garden salad. All very tasty!

And no dinner would be complete without desserts...homemade delicious sweets! We couldn't decide on just one, so we ordered two:

Almond panna cotta topped with a peach sauce served with fresh peaches and candied almonds


AND peanut butter and chocolate banana pudding with a flambed banana and homemade peanut butter cup!


So amazing, we scraped the glasses clean!

If you have not made a trip to this new spot, I suggest you do! You can see the ever-changing menu posted on their facebook page. I would recommend making a reservation, which you can do very conveniently using the OpenTable app, as it does fill up quickly. Check it out!

Table Three TEN (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Table-Three-TEN/215253541832536).