SUSHI – (deconstructed and in a bowl!)

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

On a hot night like this it is hard to think of cooking, or even standing over a grill ….. in fact standing and rolling cold items like sushi seemed a bit of a stretch …. this was just perfect – so cold and refreshing and really hit the spot. Give it a try with any of your favorite sushi ingredients. Great for a family too – serve it the way I did – on a large platter and let each person make their own bowl up as they go.

SUSHI SAUCE

zest 1 lemon and 1 orange, and reserve

juice of each: 1 lemon, 1 orange

1 tbsp. brown sugar

On medium heat cook on a gentle boil for 2 minutes, stir in:

3 tbsp. soy sauce

3 tbsp. rice vinegar

Heat again on a gentle boil for about 3 minutes until it thickens slightly.

Taste!!!! I can’t say this enough …. you need to make sure the flavours are balanced, playing with each of the simple ingredients above. If you think it can stand a bit more citrus, add in the zest. If you like your sushi spicy, add in either wasabi paste or a minced chili pepper.

Toast nori sheets lightly, just until crispy. Slice in thin strips, and again dice if you like small pieces or leave it in strips.

Cook some sushi rice according to directions on rice

Finely slice whatever ingredients you like in your sushi

For us today this included:

imitation crab meat

shrimp

cucumber

carrot

avocado

cabbage

green onions

toasted sesame seeds

But really – use whatever you like! Put a little rice in the bottom of your bowl, assemble a few of each of the ingredients and lightly drizzle with the sushi sauce – have fun – you will love it!

Family Style Indian Curry Chicken

Posted on June 20, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

I know the title says chicken curry – but the sauce made an awesome Prawn Masala another day!

I don’t know how I have managed to forget about getting this recipe on here! It is a tried and true favorite, and as delicious as it is the first day – even better the 2nd. I always find my curry recipes make more sauce than needed on the first night and so the sauce will show up with a different protein or vegetable a couple days later – tasting amazing.

1/3 cup canola oil (or ghee)

2 cups finely chopped onions

3 inch piece of cinnamon stick

3 tbsp finely chopped garlic

2 tbsp finely chopped ginger

2 cups chopped tomatoes (or 1 large can)

1 tbsp salt

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 tsp turmeric

1 tbsp ground cumin

1 tbsp ground coriander

1 tbsp garam masala

1 tsp ground cayenne pepper

1 lbs chicken thighs, bone in

1 cup sour cream

1 cup water

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

In large pan, heat oil or ghee on medium heat until shimmering. Add onions and cinnamon – saute for 5-8 minutes until they have reached a rich, golden yellow color. Add garlic and saute for another few minutes. Add ginger, tomatoes, salt, black pepper, turmeric, cumin, coriander, garam masala and cayenne. Cook this over medium heat until the oil separates from the masala.

Wash chicken thighs well and add to the masala. Stir well and cook chicken thighs until they look cooked on the outside (about 10-15 minutes). Add sour cream and water – stir well. Increase heat slightly until it starts to boil,then turn down to gently simmer. Stir occasionally, and continue to cook until chicken is cooked through. (at least 30 minutes depending on the size of the chicken thighs)

Remove and discard cinnamon stick.

Stir in cilantro just at serving time and serve with basmati rice. We also love it served with Roasted Tandoori Cauliflower with Mint Cilantro chutney …. yummmmmmy.

Try this with cooking the masala, and then stirring in a vegetarian option of tofu or vegetables! Also amazing with any number of seafood options – pictured today here with prawns.

Italian Salad Dressing

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

4 tbsp. minced red onion

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

2 tsp oregano

1 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

3 tbsp. red wine vinegar

1 cup good quality olive oil

Soak minced red onion in cold water for 15 minutes, and drain well

Combine all ingredients except olive oil. Using blender or immersion blender, blend all ingredients until smooth. Gradually add the oil until creamy – taste for seasonings.

This keeps well in the fridge to use on anything from salad dressings to grilled vegetables – try brushing it over grilled steaks after removing from the grill.

Grilled Pizza

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

When the sun is shining, and the weather warm I can’t get enough of grilling. One of our favorites is grilled pizza. Once you get the hang of it you won’t be happy with doing it any other way.

I’m a bit of a nut – preferring to do everything from scratch – but you could easily purchase any part of these recipes ready made. We have an Italian Deli right next to my work, and when I am pinched for time I buy ready made pizza dough from them when I pick up the cold cuts.

If however, you like the process – then go ahead and give the whole thing a whirl.

One thing I find really helpful is to pre-cook all the toppings. For example, carmelized red onions taste way better than raw! Thinly sliced, roasted potatoes make a great topping, as do roasted sweet peppers or sauted mushrooms. Experiment with toppings you already love and try some new ones.

Pizza dough:

3 cups flour

1 packet instant (or Rapid Rise) yeast

1 tsp kosher salt

2 tbsp good quality olive oil

1 cup warm water

Lightly sift together flour, salt and instant yeast. Combine olive oil and warm water – slowly pour into flour blend.

If you have a stand mixer, allow it to do all the work for you – kneading for about 10 minutes. If not, go ahead and dig in there – something therapeutic about kneading dough after spending the day at a desk.

Once the dough has reached a nice soft workable mass (adding either flour if it is too wet or water if it is too dry) allow it to rest for a bit before forming pizza.

SAUCE

I like my sauce simple – toss grape tomatoes (1 packet) with a bit of olive oil, salt and pepper – allow to roast in a 350 oven just until the skin starts to burst. Blend well with some olive oil, basil, oregano, salt and pepper. Adding a bit of tomato paste gives it more body.

To grill pizza, get your grill nice and hot. Either oil one side of the pizza dough, or your grate. Cook pizza without touching for 1-2 minutes, then lift and rotate to get great grill marks. Do not flip. Once you have rotated, close the lid and don’t peek – let it cook for 2-3 minutes. This will take some experimenting with your grill to know the temperatures – you want it crispy but not burnt.

Once the grilled side is nicely done, it is time to put it in a cookie sheet, cutting board, or plate to dress. DRESS THE GRILLED SIDE. Don’t worry, the uncooked side will not stick to the surface. Once you have dressed the grilled side, return it to the grill and allow it to cook for another few minutes until the uncooked side is grilled perfectly and your toppings have warmed through.

A few suggestions for toppings:

Spicy hot capicolla, red peppers, olives, mozzarella and feta cheese

ham, sauted mushrooms, carmelized red onion and applewood smoked cheddar cheese

thinly sliced roasted red potatoes, thinly sliced zucchini, fresh rosemary and mozzarella

(try the potato pizza without the traditional tomato sauce – roast a garlic bulb, add enough olive oil, chili flakes and fresh basil to get a smooth paste – smooth over pizza before adding the toppings

salami, fresh tomato, sun dried tomato and basil

Sesame Chicken Salad

Posted on June 5, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

Today was a beautiful hot sunny day, just the way we like in the Okanagan. The idea of a Thai inspired chicken salad felt like the ideal dinner item – fresh, crunchy, tasty and not too heavy. You could just as easily substitute the chicken with tofu or any seafood item – delicious either way.

4 chicken breasts

12 ounces chinese egg noodles, cooked and drained

3/4 cup green tea (strong is best)

1/3 cup smooth peanut butter

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup rice vinegar

3 tbsp light brown sugar

1/4 cup roasted peanut oil

2 tbsp toasted sesame seeds (plus some for sprinkling over top)

2 tbsp chili garlic sauce

2 tbsp Thai sweet chili sauce

1 heaping TBSP Thai red chili paste

zest and juice of 1 lime

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1 -2 tbsp minced ginger (depending on your ginger love!)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 carrots, finely chopped

1 long english cucumber, diced

1 cup sliced snap peas

1/4 cup each finely chopped red and yellow pepper

1 cup bean sprouts

1 head red lettuce, washed and leaves torn

kosher salt

cilantro

roasted peanuts

toasted sesame seeds

1 jalapeno seeded and diced finely (optional) To make the sauce combine green tea, peanut butter, soy sauce, vinegar, brown sugar, Thai sweet chili sauce, Thai red curry paste and peanut oil in a blender or food processor. Add sesame seeds, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic and 1/2 tsp kosher salt – blend well until creamy and smooth. TASTE and adjust for seasoning – you should have lots of flavour, but also really well balanced – I find depending on the type of soy sauce, chili sauce or even the lime you will have to work with those flavours.

Using a meat mallet pound chicken breasts to an even thickness. Pour just enough of the dressing over to coat well and marinate for at least an hour and preferably overnight. Discard marinade used for the chicken. Grill just until cooked through and thinly slice.

Prepare salad with lettuce, cilantro and vegetables – as well as the diced jalapeno if using.

Cook noodles just until tender, rinse well to cool and dress with a bit of the same dressing the chicken is marinating in.

Toast peanuts and sesame seeds to use as garnish.

To assemble pile noodles on a plate, salad on top – scatter chicken over and drizzle with dressing. Garnish with more cilantro, peanuts and sesame seeds.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

1 tsp mustard powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp pepper

2 tbsp red wine vinegar

7 tbsp good quality olive oil

Whisk together dry ingredients and slowly drizzle olive oil until incorporated.

This dressing is my basic house dressing – used for everything. Salads, marinades, dressing up a bit of grilled baguette …. use your imagination…

(I also love this for tossing vegetables in it before and after grilling)

THAI STYLE SWEET AND SPICY CHICKEN SALAD

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

DRESSING

1 tbsp miso paste

1 tbsp grated ginger

Juice of 2 limes (and zest if you like it really filled with lime!)

½ garlic clove, minced

1 chopped scallion

1 tbsp sriracha sauce

1 tsp raw sugar

1 tbsp fish sauce

½ tsp kosher salt

Blend well, and gradually stir in: ½ – ¾ cup of vegetable oil – to taste

MARINADE

1/3 cup Thai sweet chili sauce

2 tbsp chili paste

2 tbsp soy sauce

1 tsp grated ginger

1 minced garlic clove

2 good size chicken breasts (boneless, skinless)

Thin cut Chinese egg noodles (fresh is best)

Green Salad

Sesame seeds

Peanuts

Bean sprouts

Cut chicken into bite size pieces and allow to marinate for anywhere from 30 minutes to overnight.

A few minutes before frying stir in 1 tbsp corn starch.

Make a green salad using whatever ingredients are jumping out at you – make it nice and crunchy!

Cook the egg noodles according to package directions and allow to cool – rinse with warm water if they end up in a clump – the water always brings them back.

Toast the sesame seeds and peanuts

The chicken needs to be cooked fairly quickly so it gets nice and crispy – you can do this in a wok using a bit of peanut oil, in a fry pan, a deep fryer, or on the grill with a wok basket.

While the chicken is cooking, bring the rest of the marinade to a boil – allow to boil for a few minutes until it is thick and has reduced slightly. Stir warm into the salad dressing and allow to sit while you assemble the salad:

Noodles on the bottom – drizzle with a bit of the dressing

Salad

Chicken

Top with bean sprouts, peanuts and sesame seeds

Drizzle more salad dressing over top

Roasted Vegetables

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

This works really well all year long in a hot oven, and even better on a grilling basket on your barbecue.

Preheat oven to 400. Use any assortment you like of vegetables, I usually try to go for color and cut the items so they cook at about the same rate – i.e., onions, broccoli and cauliflower take a little longer to cook so either cut them smaller or put them in the oven first, adding the peppers, zucchini and tomato after the first 15 min of cooking time.

Once you have all your vegetables prepped, toss in a generous amount of really good quality extra virgin olive oil, a couple cloves of crushed garlic and a good handful of fresh herbs. Season with salt and pepper.

Turn vegetables out of oil seasoning onto roasting surface. Reserve bowl that the oil and seasonings are in.

Roast until just tender and little brown carmelized bits appear. Anywhere from 30-45 minutes.Toss again into the olive oil, seasoning mix just to brighten up the flavours a bit – taste for seasonings and dust with freshly ground pepper and salt to taste.

Mac N Cheese

Posted on January 6, 2013 by Chatty Kathy

I have been making lasagne without pre boiling my pasta noodles for years now, so why did it take so long to try it with elbow macaroni? Not sure, but I will always do it that way now! Give this a try and let me know what you think.

1/2 cup unsalted butter, divided

1/4 cup flour

3 cups milk

1 tbsp kosher salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tbsp dijon mustard

1 lb (450 gms) elbow macaroni

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, divided

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1 cup panko or home made bread crumbs

2 tbsp chopped flat leaf parsley

Preheat oven to 400. Melt 1/4 cup butter in large saucepan over medium high heat. Add flour, and mustard, cook, whisking constantly for 1 minute to allow the flour and butter to brown slightly. Slowly whisk in milk until you have a smooth consistency. Add 3 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook, whisking often until you have a thin but glossy sauce. (around 10 min) Stir in 1 tbsp kosher salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper.

Toss dry, uncooked pasta with 1 1/2 cups grated cheese and put in 13 x 9 x 2″ baking dish. Pour sauce over – do not stir – and cover with foil. Bake for at least 20 minutes – check to see if the pasta is almost cooked through.

Melt 1/4 cup butter in fry pan, stir in garlic – saute lightly and toss with bread crumbs and panko until lightly browned.

Sprinkle remaining 1/2 cup of cheese over pasta, then top with bread crumb/garlic mixture. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes or so until top is bubbling and golden brown.

This is the basic recipe – I’m pretty sure you won’t be pre-cooking your pasta before baking your own mac and cheese again!

Tonight’s version of this included:

aged white cheddar cheese and smoked gouda cheese

cubed cooked chicken

diced roasted red pepper

capers

whole grape tomatoes

The whole family loved it, and you can adapt this very easily to any leftovers or cravings in your household.

Hand made Gnocchi

Posted on October 30, 2012 by Chatty Kathy

These delightful little mini pillows of deliciousness are so fluffy and simple to make – easily ready to become your new favorite recipe!!

Bake 3 russet potatoes until tender all the way through and allow to rest until cool enough to handle.

When cool enough either put them through a potato ricer, or grate them into a large bowl. Add 1/2 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper and toss lightly with 1 3/4 cups flour and a grating of fresh nutmeg. (don’t worry if you don’t have fresh nutmeg – use 1/8 tsp of ground)

Lightly beat 2 eggs with 2 tbsp olive oil, and then stir into flour/potato mixture. Mix gently until all is blended, and knead in another 1/2 cup flour. Your dough should be soft and supple, easy to work with and not too sticky.

If you have trouble either way – just add either a bit more flour if it is too sticky, or a bit of oil if it is too dry.

Divide this mixture into 4 balls. Roll each ball into a long skinny rope (snake if kids are helping!). Cut along length into pieces about 3/4 in each. Dust lightly with flour.

Keep a bit of flour handy – continue dusting your hand with it so the gnocchi doesn’t stick. Take a fork, and dust it with flour. Turn it upside down in your hand and roll the gnocchi down the tines of the fork. Set aside until ready to cook.

When you have all the gnocchi rolled out – and remember that they don’t need to look perfect – you are ready to cook them.

Hand made gnocchi – they don’t have to be perfect – just delicious any shape you get – neither Joe Bastianich or Mario Batali are going to criticize your form!!

Boil a HUGE pot of water – when it comes to a boil toss in a generous amount of salt.

At this point drop the gnocchi in the boiling water – it will return to the top when it is ready – let it bounce around for a moment and you are ready.

Really the gnocchi is great to eat just as is – toss it with melted butter, sprinkle with salt and pepper – delish.

HOWEVER …. if you really want to kick it up a level:

In a heavy bottom pan (like cast iron) heat 1 tbsp each butter and olive oil – stir the white parts of 2 leeks, and 2 garlic cloves until just tender. When the pot is really hot, push the leek mixture to one side, and drop the just boiled gnocchi onto the hot pan in small batches. As they crisp up push them over into the leek mixture and toss in the pan – using your hot spot to continue crisping up small batches of the gnocchi. Sprinkle with fresh herbs, salt and pepper and I guarantee you will love it!

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Category Archives: Vegetables