Food for thought: Classic foods and winterizing

WINTERIZE ME!
Well, Jack Frost is definitely nipping on our noses! It's winter, and for me that means not only eating heartier foods but avoiding lifeless fruits and veggies ant the market. Relying more on dried fruits, seeds or nuts, in-season foods and even canned and frozen foods will help avoid a winter rut.

Here's a list of in-season/readily available foods at their peak for the DC metro area:
Apples
Arugula
Bananas
Belgian Endive
Butternut Squash
Brussels Sprouts
Carrots
Chestnuts
Coconut
Collard Greens
Cranberries
Dates
Grapefruit
Kale
Kiwifruit
Kumquats
Leeks
Onions
Oranges
Parsley
Parsnips
Passion Fruit
Pear
Persimmon
Pomegranate
Pomelo
Potatoes
Radicchio
Red Currants
Rosemary
Sweet Potatoes
Tangerines
Thyme
Turnips
Winter Squash like pumpkin, butternut, acorn

Note: Some fruits like citrus, coconut, pineapple, bananas and dates are not local but are consistently available can serve as a trade wind for salads, desserts and main dishes.

Do Mediterranean tapas seem out of place with snow on the ground? Ring in the new year with entrées à la Russe: Try Zasuki, Russian and Georgian starters Zasuki ideas from The Splendid Table.

A LOVELY WINTER BRUNCH OR LUNCH
Fried chick peas seem to be the new "thing", so save some money and do these at home!

* 2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
* 6 tablespoons olive oil
* 4 garlic cloves, minced
* 2 15 1/2-ounce cans garbanzo beans (chickpeas), well drained
* Optional: Cumin, smoked paprika, sea salt, cayenne pepper, sumac (or lemon pepper), toasted sesame seeds

Melt butter with olive oil in another large pot over high heat. Add garlic and stir 30 seconds. Add garbanzo beans and sauté until garbanzo beans begin to color and pop, about 8 minutes. Toss with spices.

Here is a recipe using fried chick peas.


Savory Cheesecake with Onions Confit

It dawned on me recently that I love the taste and texture of a good homemade cheesecake but not the sweetness. This cheesecake is terrific on a brunch menu, and everything can be done ahead. Next time, thinking of adding roasted red pepper & tomatoes coulis for a "trompe-la-langue" effect.

Chèvre Cheesecake

* 1 cup cracker crumbs or crushed pretzels (my favorite)
* 1/4 cup butter, melted
* 3 pkg. (250 g each) cream cheese, softened
* 1 lb. (just under 500 g) soft fresh goat cheese
* 1 cup sour cream
* 4 eggs

Instructions
Preheat oven to 325°F if using a silver 9-inch springform pan (or to 300°F if using a dark nonstick 9-inch springform pan). Mix crumbs and butter; press firmly onto bottom of pan. Bake 10 min.
Beat cream cheese and goat cheese in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add sour cream; mix well. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing on low speed after each addition just until blended. Pour over crust.
Bake 1 hour 10 min. or until center is almost set. Run knife or metal spatula around rim of pan to loosen cake; cool before removing rim of pan. Refrigerate 4 hours or overnight. Store leftover cheesecake in refrigerator.

Onion Confit (also known as caramelized onions) Try this with filet mignon!


* 1 pound sweet or red onions (about 3 medium)
* 1 teaspoon olive oil
* 4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

Halve onions and cut each half lengthwise into 6 wedges or slice using slicer blade attachment in food processor. In a 2-quart heavy saucepan heat oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté onions, stirring, until edges are golden brown, about 2 minutes. Stir in balsamic vinegar and simmer, covered, until onions are tender, about 20 minutes. Remove lid and simmer, stirring occasionally, until liquid is slightly thickened and syrupy, about 10 minutes more.

Here's a variation with cranberries and dried apricot to try with turkey, duck (add some orange zest) or a toasted brie sandwich. Recommend reducing the vinegar to 1/4 cup.

Raw tomatoes' glory days are gone until next summer. In its place, here is great Autumn/Winter salad. Check out the web page for additional menu ideas.

Arugula Salad with Pomegranate and Toasted Pecans
* 1 1/2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
* 1 tablespoon plus 1 1/2 teaspoons aged balsamic vinegar
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/8 freshly ground pepper
* 6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 2 medium bunches arugula, rinsed well and thick stems removed
* 1/3 cup pecans, toasted and roughly chopped
* 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds, from 1 medium pomegranate

In medium nonreactive bowl, whisk together vinegars, salt, and pepper. Gradually drizzle in olive oil, whisking until emulsified. Toss arugula with just enough vinaigrette to coat. Sprinkle with pecans and pomegranate seeds and serve.


This crêpe recipe is perfect. I used a 12-inch cast iron skillet both times I've made these. I left out the cognac and added a little extra milk. Make sure you have no lumps; a key factor is having all ingredients at room temperature so the butter doesn't clump. And do sift the dry ingredients! Raw sugar (with large crystals) will not work in this recipe. Heavenly with Nutella!


Basic Crepes with Cognac House & Garden | December 1959

by James A. Beard
Yield: About 12 small or 8 large sweet crêpes
ingredients
7/8 cup flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind (or a little grated vanilla bean)
2 tablespoons cognac
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups milk
preparation

For this basic crêpe recipe, sift flour, sugar, and salt. Add eggs, one at a time, and mix until no lumps remain (you may use an electric mixer at slow speed). Mix in lemon rind or vanilla, cognac, and melted butter. Slowly add milk and mix until batter is consistency of thin cream. Let it stand an hour or two before making crêpes.

Heat a crêpe pan (either 6-inch or 10-inch, according to desired size of crêpes) and rub it with butter. (It should sizzle on touching pan) For each crêpe, pour a little batter into the pan, tilting about to let it run, covering the bottom in a fairly thin layer. When lightly browned on the bottom, turn carefully with spatula. Pat turned crêpe flat with fingers and brown other side. As each crêpe is cooked, remove it to a hot platter and keep warm. Re-butter pan as needed.


Photo by: Romulo Yanes

Food for thought: Bisque, quick!

When I saw a huge jar of roasted red bell peppers at Costco, I squealed in delight. Here is a flavorsome rich soup built around some great buys from Costco: roasted peppers, whipping cream and a stick (immersion) blender. This tastes wonderful with toasted sandwiches.

Tomato and Roasted Red Pepper Bisque

12 oz. heavy cream
1 packet chicken stock concentrate or 1/2 bouillon cube
2 cloves garlic (will be really strong the next day. 1 will balance flavors)
cracked white pepper to taste or dash cayenne
1/2 teaspoon salt (taste before adding due to variations of stock/bouillon saltiness)
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 grape tomatoes
12 oz. roasted red peppers, drained Note: this is measured by volume in a glass/liquid measuring cup, not measured by weight


Optional: dash sherry (when served warm) or vodka (when served cold)

Stick blender

Place ingredients in tall sturdy bowl or saucepan. Blend until smooth, about 1 minute. Serve cold-will be really thick, so add 2/3 cup water and 1 more packet stock. Or heat the amount you will serve/consume.


Photo by: Romulo Yanes

Food for thought: Impress your friends and yourself, Part 1!

Don't you hate it when you've been hoodwinked, foiled again? Well, you'd better be siting down, because every time you buy ricotta cheese, you've been robbed of dollars and flavor by the factories.

Ricotta cheese has only three ingredients: milk, salt and lemon. There are plenty of ways to mess it up, including failure to stir constantly, the wrong (non-wooden) spoon, a thin pot, a non-nonstick pot. Unfortunately, I can vouch for all these mistakes! Click on the title for the original recipe I tested.

Here is a method that prevents scalding of milk for ricotta cheese. 2%, whole or any combination in between will work great. I have not tested this recipe for a low-fat version. I love to use organic milk for this for obvious reasons and especially since organic ricotta would cost a small fortune.
Yield: 1/4 of the amount of milk used (8 cups milk yields 2 cups ricotta)

Use a wide saucepan filled 1/3 with water and put a stockpot or tall pot you would cook spaghetti inside it (8 quarts and at least 12" high.) In the tall stockpot, pour 1/2 to 3/4 gallon milk. More runs the risk of spilling over. The effect will be like a double boiler, boiling water in a wider pot surrounding ingredients in a pot that fits inside.

Let the water reach a rolling boil, but keep checking and replenishing the water. Stir the milk often using a wooden spoon. Add 1 teaspoon sea salt, if desired, at any time. This process will take 20-25 minutes. The milk may look foamy or boil depending on the setup you have. That's fine. The milk should steam and look very hot. Keeping the stove one, squeeze the juice of 1 to 2 lemons--I only recommend using fresh lemons; the taste is superb and the acidity, just right. You will see the milk react by separating into blobs and the milk will have lumps and get closer to transparent, lighter than skim milk. In a colander or sieve, strain with cheesecloth, a couple layers of sturdy paper towels like Viva or a white woven kitchen towel, the kind that is like an apron, not fluffy terry cloth.
Enjoy! This is especially good with fresh fruit like blueberries and peaches with honey or used in a recipe like tiramisu and lasagne.

Photo by Romulo Yanes

Food for thought: Brunch at Work

It happens: sometimes you need to make food with only a microwave and things you can lug on the Metro.



For some reason, brunch is a great meal to put on at work. With only a microwave,fridge, maybe a toaster, some simple implements and a lot of imagination, you can hook it up at work!

Smoked salmon plate
Smoked salmon (Scottish or Irish is best) is available in most markets. For an elegant first course, arrange two or three slices (depending on size) of good smoked salmon on individual plates. Sprinkle some chopped red onion or scallions, a few capers, and, if you like, some diced cucumber on top. Finish with a few dashes of extra-virgin olive oil, and serve with a lemon wedge, a few sprigs of dill of fennel, and buttered black bread. From Jacques Pépin's "Fast Food My Way" show

Soft Scrambled Eggs with Fresh Ricotta and Chives--in the microwave! Just cook for 8-10 minutes, depending on how many eggs (I'd recommend 10-1 dozen for 20+ people). Scrape and gently mix every 2 minutes. I love making fresh ricotta--using fresh lemon juice is a must! But cream cheese is also delicious. I added some Pecorino at the end of cooking to give some depth to the flavor. Would also be good with asparagus tips.

Semifreddo fruit salad and Smoothies
I rarely bring fresh fruit to events anymore. One can buy huge bags of frozen fruit at many stores and can make sorbet, smoothies ad baked desserts with leftovers. Simply combine fruit in a large bowl and let thaw for a few hours. Add melted jam, fruit juice concentrate, liqueur or flavored sugar if desired. For fruit smoothies, use an immersion blender in a pitcher with some fruit juice, yogurt or soy milk. Make enough for three or four people at a time. Also great for mango lassi.


Chocolate Fondue
With the addition of pound cake, madeleines and fruit, one can make a welcoming self-serve station. This makes a lot (24 ounces if you are using a bag of chocolate chips), but it keeps for a long time. In a glass bowl, add chocolate chips or evenly chopped solid chocolate. Microwave at 50% power for 3 -4 minutes for a 12-oz bag of chocolate chips. When chocolate is uniformly glossy, it's done. Stir it for five seconds, then slowly add an equal amount of heavy cream and/or half-and-half. Add any of the following for enhanced flavor: 2 tsp. Grand Marnier or Amaretto; 1 tsp. vanilla extract; 2 shakes cinnamon or nutmeg; a dash of sea salt; 2 tablespoons honey. Be prepared to make this again!

Photo by Lisa Hubbard

Food for thought: A few of my new favorite things

Hope that some of these can can serve as inspiration for a safe & happy 4th!

I did a bad thing: I bought a gift for someone so I could use it. Was there a Seinfeld episode about that? Or just about regifting? Anyway, who doesn't love a JUICER? My husband gets a toy; I get juice. Everybody wins! The Breville juicer isn't cheap. It's from Williams-Sonoma, and you know they charge. However, if you keep your receipt, they will replace it way, way beyond the 3-year full warranty offered by the manufacturer. A salesperson told me a customer took back a coffeemaker from 1995. So, that's a plus. Next, I checked the RPMs, and it's three times as powerful as a Jack Lalanne juicer. Then we put it to the test. Wow.

I was just amusing myself until I thought about making ginger punch with it. That juicer spit out the equivalent of dust, squeezing every last drop of ginger essence from the root. No longer will making ginger drinks be this mysterious pulsing and straining alchemy. And if I want to get cheftacular, I can make French-Laundry-type soup essences. Naw. A note to jammers--I made jam from leftover strawberry-blueberry pulp, and it was amazing. Just added sugar and a little water.


EATONVILLE appears to be the new place to see and be seen (ou voir et s'etre vu). It's across the street from and owned by Busboys and Poets. The food looks and tastes good. Its name comes from Zora Heale Hurston folklore, but I would say it caters more to its mid-Atlantic clientele with measured spicing. Seafood abounds on the menu, but my histamines lay low as I ate appetizers and sides in contentment. The cheddar onion tart had an amazing crust (think Julia Child makes cheese shortbread) and fried green tomatoes that were nice and crunchy. One pleasant surprise was the SWEET POTATOES WITH ANDOUILLE SAUSAGE HASH. So good and satisfying! Here's my imagined rendering of this sweet, hot and savory side.

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
12 ounces fully cooked smoked Andouille sausage or chorizo sausage, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (Trader Joe's has chicken Andouille sausage if low-fat sausage is preferred)
2 medium onions, chopped
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
dash cayenne or Sriracha hot pepper sauce
3 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (sometimes called yams; about 3 large), peeled, quartered lengthwise, cut crosswise into 1/2-inch cubes
2 cups low-salt chicken broth
Dash red wine or sherry vinegar

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook until brown, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Transfer sausage to paper towels to drain. Add onions and garlic to pot and cook until translucent, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add potatoes and cook until beginning to soften, stirring often, about 12 minutes. Add broth; bring to boil, scraping up browned bits. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until potatoes are soft, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes. Using potato masher, mash some of potatoes in pot. Add browned sausage to sweet potato mixture. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon oil if you drained sausage oil. Season with salt and pepper.


Uncooked CHAPATIS at Costco. Butter a griddle or pan, heat & eat. What?? I did a double-take. Recipes were dancing before my eyes. I wanted to roast curried potatoes and cauliflower on the spot! But I had to focus. I was too busy to make them just yet. I caressed them, whispering, "I'm coming back for you, boo."

I would combine cauliflower, carrots, chickpeas or lentils, curry powder or paste and optional ground or shredded meat with sea salt for a tasty filling.


Penguin brand CORNBREAD MIX-6-pouch box, also from Costco. Now Southerners, you will want to know that this is the sweet, cakey "Yankee" cornbread. It won't make good savory hush puppies, but it will make good hoe cakes. Make the batter according to directions then make little cakes on a griddle or skillet instead of baking it in a skillet or pan. So good with savory foods--chili, sloppy joes or sloppy "janes" (my vegan version) or try it with a cold crab, red pepper & avocado salad. I'm also thinking you could whip up a quick dessert with just a few ingredients:

Cornbread mix made according to directions
1 lb. or so thawed frozen or fresh fruit
1/4 cup melted jam or preserves (thickens and amplifies flavor more than sugar)
1 tsp. butter for 9x13 glass pan

Grease 9x13 pan. Spread fruit evenly in pan. Pour jam over fruit. Pour cornbread over fruit. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes on bottom rack until cornbread is set.


So I've always been a fan of FROZEN FRUIT SALAD. But it's so convenient and ideal for summer, the tip bears repeating. Use frozen fruit, and, if you want, add honey, organic sugar, frozen fruit concentrate or even liqueur--amaretto would be lovely. Let thaw inside (when it's hot) or outside (when less so) to the refreshment of your guests! Healthier than popsicles, but just as cool! Oh, and when it's semi-frozen you have an instant fruity drink party. Just be sure to invite me!!


HOMEMADE LEMONADE is becoming a national treasure and quite the scarcity. Restaurants are quick to put a lemon wedge in a drink, but at least around D.C. no one wants to make real lemonade with pulp and lemon slices. I've been to a few places that say they are making fresh-squeezed lemonade. Stop lying! I know after my fist sip that no one squeezed this. Why? Because there is no lemon oil giving it that depth, only the sour juice. With two lemons and some bottled lemon juice, you can make a simple syrup that will extend your efforts.

2 sliced lemons (prefer organic, scrub well if not)
1 1/2 cups sugar (prefer organic)
3 cups lemon juice from a bottle
Spoon for pounding and mixing
1 cup warm water in a small pitcher with lid

Heat whole lemons in microwave for 30 seconds until warm to the touch. Slice in a large bowl where the juice can be added into pitcher. Add lemons, sugar and lemon juice into pitcher. Pound lemon slices to release oils, then stir mixture while adding warm water. In a glass, add 1/4 to 1/3 syrup, 1/3 to 1/2 water, then top with ice cubes. Conserve the rest in the refrigerator.
(Photo: Sara Gray)

Food for thought: Let's Jam! And chutntey!

As they say, I have champagne tastes on a beer wallet. I do, on occasion crack and buy those $4 or $5 gourmet jams to slather on a toasted croissant or even to blend with butter for chicken, turkey, pork, fish, shrimp and lamb.

But if I want chutney, that's where I draw the line. My cheap gene kicks in and I turn my head away from store-bought chutney. I make it myself, always. I also make jams, preserves with leftover fruit or sweet vegetables that I need to use or if I want a special experience for a meal.


I use a food processor, but when some things are really ripe, you can mash with a fork or chop. For me, the chunkier the better. I make something with a consistency between jam and preserves-some pureed and mashed fruit combined with chunks (see definitions below.)I never make jelly, so I don't have tips to make crystalline concoctions. I tend to make my spreads in a small saucepan and store them in the refrigerator in jars run through the dishwasher for short-term use. I make these because I'm capricious and cheap, not to use large batches to put on a shelf.

As for jelling--making sure they are wiggly, not syrupy--lemon juice and applesauce are my jelling agents. They contain pectin, the jelling agent. I have pectin but have never needed to use it thus far.


RECIPES--Note: I have not tested these. They are more like suggestions!

Sweet Mango chutney

1 1/2 cups mangoes, either 2 fresh mangoes--ripe but still firm, peeled and cubed
or you can use Trader Joe's mangoes 1/2 package. They are the ripest. I like to crush a few pieces for more spreadable consistency.

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom or 4 whole pods, intact. Remember not to eat!

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/4 cup water

Juice from 1 lime plus 1/3 cup water or 1/3 cup vinegar

1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger or 1/2 tsp. ground ginger (adjust to taste)

Ground black or dash red pepper flakes to taste

Heat all ingredients over high heat until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Then simmer all ingredients on low/low-medium heat for 30-40 minutes in a medium saucepan, the heavier the better.

Suggestions: Marries well with spicy Indian dish


Red Pepper Jelly (but technically conserves)

2 cups red, yellow and/or orange sweet peppers, seeded and roughly chopped. Mince if not using a food processor.

2 tsp. dried onion powder or flakes

1 1/2 cups sugar (have some more handy, to taste)

1/3 cup vinegar

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon black pepper and/or dash cayenne pepper

pinch salt

Heat all ingredients over high heat until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Then simmer all ingredients on low/low-medium heat for 30-40 minutes in a medium (3-quart) saucepan, the heavier the better.


Onion Confit
4 onions, quartered lengthwinse and cut into thin slices
1 1/2 cups sugar (have some more handy, to taste)

1/3 cup vinegar

1/4 cup water

1/2 teaspoon black pepper and/or dash cayenne pepper

Heat onions over medium-high heat, stirring regularly until onions become soft. This may take 5-10 minutes. Then add remaining ingredients and simmer on low/low-medium heat for 1 hour, 10 minutes in a medium (3-quart) saucepan, the heavier the better.

Pineapple-Banana Conserves/Chutney
1 cup diced fresh or frozen pineapple. Use juice.
1 very ripe banana, sliced or chopped
1 teaspoon lime juice
1 cup sugar
Dash nutmeg
Dash vanilla extract
1 tablespoon butter, optional
chopped walnuts, optional

If making chutney:
replace nutmeg with garam masala
add some cayenne or hot pepper sauce to taste
Use 2 teaspoons lime juice
add handful of raisins (around 2 dozen), optional
Omit vanilla
Add a little salt

Heat all ingredients over high heat until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Then simmer all ingredients on low/low-medium heat for 30-40 minutes in a medium (3-quart) saucepan, the heavier the better.

Suggestions: Eat with curried pork chops, toasted buttered bread, chicken biryani and yogurt

Blueberry Goodness
1 1/2 cups frozen wild blueberries (Never used fresh. Probably because I would eat 1 1/2 cups of fresh blueberries)

1 lemon, seeded and diced, juice included

1 1/2 cups sugar

Heat all ingredients over high heat until mixture reaches a rolling boil. Then simmer all ingredients on low/low-medium heat for 30-40 minutes in a medium (3-quart) saucepan, the heavier the better.

Suggestions: Serve with scones, ice cream, pancakes, waffles & crepes, pound or angel food cake, as shortcake topping with fresh fruit and whipped cream.

Now what's the difference?
Confit, which is the past participle form of the French verb "confire" or "to preserve", is most often applied to preservation of meats, especially poultry and pork, by cooking them in their own fat or oils and allowing the fats to set.[1] However the term can also refer to fruit or vegetables which have been seasoned and cooked with honey or sugar until it has reached a jam-like consistency.[2] Savory confits, such as ones made with garlic or tomatoes, may call for a savory oil such as virgin olive oil as the preserving agent. Source: wikipedia.org

Jelly: Jelly is simply sweetened and jelled fruit juice, a clear, bright product. It is generally made by cooking fruit juice and sugar with pectin as a jelling agent and lemon juice as an acid, to maintain a consistent texture. Jelly is firm and will hold its shape (it “shakes”). Generally, jelly contains no pieces of fruit, although specialty jellies, like pepper jelly, may include pieces of jalapeño or other pepper.

Jam: Jam is made from crushed or chopped fruit cooked with sugar, and often pectin and lemon juice. Jam can be a purée of fruit or have a soft pulp, but it does not contain chunks of fruit.

Preserve or Preserves: A preserve differs from jam in that large or whole pieces of fruit are cooked (with sugar) to the point where the fruit is suspended in a syrup base. The texture of preserves is not smooth like jelly or jam.

Marmalade: Marmalade is a soft jelly, often citrus-based, that includes the flesh and often the peel of the fruit suspended throughout the jelly base. The sweetness of the jelly is offset by the bitterness of the peel offsets. Some products that are called marmalade—onion and tomato marmalades, for example—are actually misnamed jams and preserves.

Conserve: Conserve is a generally mixture of more than one fruit, often with added nuts and raisins, that is cooked until it becomes thick. It is used as a spread for breads, pastries and meats, and in the latter use is closest to chutney. Other producers refer to a thickly-stewed preserve as a conserve.

Chutney: Chutney is a spiced condiment of Indian origin (chatni is the Hindi word for strongly spiced) made of fruit or vegetables. It is typically served as an accompaniment to food, not as a spread. The spice level can range from mild to hot, and the consistency from a fine relish to a preserve or conserve. Fruit chutney consists of chopped fruit, vinegar, spices and sugar cooked into a chunky sweet-tart-spicy mix: according to one explanation, it “blurs the Western distinction between preserves and pickles.”

Fruit Butter: Fruit Butter, such as apple butter or prune butter, is fruit purée or pulp combined with sugar, lemon juice and spices, slowly cooked down to a smooth consistency. The “butter” refers to its smooth consistency: there is no actual butter in the product.

Fruit Curd: Fruit Curd is a creamy spread made with sugar, eggs and butter, generally flavored with citrus juice and zest. Lemon curd is the classic variety, but lime curd and blood orange curd can be found, as can other fruit curds such as the strawberry. A citrus curd is refreshingly tart, as opposed to more sugary jams and preserves. Unlike lemon custard, for example, lemon curd contains more lemon juice and zest, which gives it a more piquant flavor. The butter creates a smoother and creamier texture than jam. Curd also can be used to fill tart shells, and as a garnish.

Fruit Spread: Fruit Spread is generally a reduced-calorie product made with fruit juice concentrate and low-calorie sweeteners replacing all or part of the sugar.
Source: lifted verbatim from thenibble.com

picture from Simon Law

Food for thought: Work smart, not hard

I'm in a bit of a dilemma because I still love to eat but have less time to cook or seek out recipes. Guess I have to go back to my college adage: work smart, not hard.

Guacamole with crumbled bacon
I love a good avocado. I love bacon. I love them together! So why on Earth had I not done this before?

For 4-6 people as a light snack or 3 as filling sandwiches
1 extra large or 2 small avocados
1/2 cup fresh salsa (or more, to taste)
2 large strips bacon, microwaved until crisp (2 min.) and blotted dry
thin bread for spreading or sandwiches
butter or romaine lettuce

Scoop flesh from avocado skin and pit into a small bowl. Cut some in chunks and mash some. Stir in salsa, incorporating until the mixture turns green from avocados. Crumble bacon over avocado mixture.
Spread on bread or create a wrap with large pieces of bread and lettuce.

Pickled onions
These are great on hot dogs, with fried whole fish, falafel, black-eyed peas and grilled meat or veggies, like fajitas or jerk. Can replace pickles and reheat well.
1 medium sweet or red onion (red is prettier!)
1/2 cup or less vinegar that isn't too sharp, like rice or white balsamic
dash of salt and pepper, if desired

Thinly slice onion or use slicer blade in food processor. Place in a shallow glass bowl--Pyrex pie plate or Corningware ceramic work well.

Pour vinegar over onion so they are halfway immersed. Microwave for two to 2.5 minutes. Flavor is enhanced if you wait five minutes. Or you can season to taste right away and use as a pungent garnish.


Shrimp with parsley and garlic
This will be garlicky, so do this among good friends and family! Feeds 6 with a lot of other foods; 4 if they are greedy

1 pound peeled, deveined raw medium shrimp (1 used 31-40 size)
salt-free seasoning
1 tsp. liquid smoke, if desired
1/3 cup light olive oil
5 cloves garlic, skin removed
1/2 bunch parsley, stems removed
salt, black pepper and hot pepper to taste

If frozen, make sure you allow at least 30 minutes for shrimp to partially thaw. Add seasoning and liquid smoke to shrimp in a large bowl with resealable lid. Process garlic and parsley in food processor, use a mortar and pestle or roll up parsley and cut with a sharp knife and mince garlic. Add to shrimp and mix to cover shrimp surface. Cover and set aside 15-30 minutes.

Use a wok, cast iron pan or other pan that gets really hot. Heat just over half the oil in the pan on high heat. Add 1/3 to half of shrimp. Make sure it sizzles and gets a little browned, then work quickly to turn over. Sprinkle a little salt; cook the other side until it just turns from grey to pink. Remove with tongs or spoon that won't scratch. Add oil when necessary and work in batches to saute. Pour any remaining garlic from marinating in pan and cook, then pour over shrimp. Season again to taste.


Hard root beer
Caiprinha season is just making its way in. Until then, here's a great way to use Cachaça--sugar cane liquor.

tall glass
ice cubes or ice cream
1 can high-quality root beer with sugar, not corn syrup
1-2 ounces Cachaça
dash vanilla extract, if desired

In glass, add ice or ice cream. Slowly add root beer, then cachaça then vanilla. Swirl or mix with spoon and enjoy!