01-10-10
Peach Ginger Bellini
Makes 4 Drinks
Ingredients:
For the ginger simple syrup:
1/4 cup sliced fresh ginger, with skin
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups cold water
For the peach puree:
10 ounces semi-frozen peaches
1/2 cup ginger simple syrup
For serving:
Ice cubes
1 bottle Champagne
Directions:
Begin by making the ginger simple syrup. Peel and grate the ginger. Add it together with the sugar and cold water to a saucepan. Bring it to the boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain, discard ginger pieces and set simple syrup aside.
In a blender add frozen peaches and ginger simple syrup. Blend until completely pureed then place into the refrigerator to cool.
For serving:
Add ice cubes to a cocktail shaker and fill half way with peach puree. Top off with Champagne and shake vigorously to combine. Pour into Champagne glasses and repeat process as needed.
07-10-09
Ginger Blueberry Mojito
Makes 2 Drinks
Ingredients:
For the Ginger simple syrup:
1/4 cup grated fresh ginger
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup cold water
For the Mojito:
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 lime, cut into wedges
20 to 24 fresh mint leaves
4 ounces ginger simple syrup
4 ounces vodka (can substitute white rum)
5 ounces club soda
Ice cubes
Blueberries, for garnish
Mint leaves, for garnish
Directions:
For the Ginger simple syrup:
Peel and grate the ginger and add it, together with the sugar and cold water, to a saucepan. Bring it to the boil and stir until the sugar dissolves. Cover and let steep for 15 minutes. Strain and cool in the refrigerator when done.
For the Mojito:
Add the blueberries, lime wedges and fresh mint leaves to the glass (or pitcher). Muddle with a wooden spoon so the blueberries are broken and the mint and lime release their juices and flavor. If assembling pitchers you can cover them at this stage and leave in the refrigerator until ready to serve.
When ready to serve, add the simple syrup, vodka and top off with club soda. Give it a quick stir and then pour into glasses with ice cubes. Garnish with a handful of fresh blueberries and a sprig of mint.
The recipe outlined above is for 2 tall glasses, but you can use the ratio to make pitchers (depending on how big your pitcher is double or quadruple the recipe).
Combine the blueberries, mint leaves and lime wedges in the pitcher and muddle it in there with the back of a wooden spoon. When you are ready to serve add the vodka, ginger simple syrup and club soda. Stir and pour into glasses with a couple of ice cubes. Garnish each glass with some fresh blueberries and a sprig of fresh mint.
07-10-09
Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Spicy Chile-Coconut Tomato Salad
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
Pork Tenderloin:
2 pork tenderloins, 1 1/2 to 2-pounds total
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lime, juiced
Chile-Coconut Sauce:
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 (1-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 lemongrass stalk, white part only, chopped into small pieces
1 fresh red jalapeno, cut into rounds
1 (14-ounce) can unsweetened coconut milk
1 teaspoon sugar
1 lime, juiced
1 tablespoon fish sauce (recommended: Nam pla)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Stems from 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
Chile-Coconut Tomato Salad:
1 1/2 cups shredded, unsweetened coconut
2 pounds fresh heirloom tomatoes, cut into big chunks (variety of colors purple, yellow, bright red)
1/2 small red onion, slivered
1 fresh red jalapeno, thinly sliced
Leaves from 1/4 bunch fresh cilantro
Handful fresh mint leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Extra-virgin olive oil
2 scallions, trimmed and chopped
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Spread the coconut out in a thin layer on a baking sheet and bake, shaking every now and then for even cooking, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
In a big bowl, toss together the tomatoes, red onion, chile, cilantro, mint, and salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil or with some remaining Chile-Coconut Sauce and fold in the toasted coconut and scallions.
Put the pork on a platter and sprinkle all over with salt and pepper. Add the olive oil and lime juice and turn to coat the pork with the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside in the refrigerator.
Heat the olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the ginger, garlic, lemongrass and chile and cook to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the coconut milk, and sugar and simmer until thickened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the lime juice and season with fish sauce, and salt and pepper. Cool to room temperature. Add cilantro stems and puree using an immersion blender or blender.
Preheat an outdoor gas or charcoal grill. Blot some oil onto a thick square of paper towel and then carefully and quickly wipe the hot grates of the grill to make a non-stick surface. Put the pork on the grill and cook, turning to brown all sides, until crusty on the outside and almost cooked through but still slightly pink in the center, 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove from the grill and let rest for a few minutes.
To serve, slice the pork and add it to the bowl with the tomato salad. Pour over the chile-coconut sauce and toss it all together.
05-03-09
Chicken Enchiladas
Makes 8 enchiladas (4 servings)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
3/4 pound skinless boneless chicken breast
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon cumin powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon Mexican Spice Blend
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
2 1/2 canned whole green chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced
1 (14-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
1/4 teaspoon all-purpose flour
8 corn tortillas
3/4 cup enchilada sauce, canned
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses
Garnish: chopped cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes
Directions:
Coat large saute pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken over medium heat, allow 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. Sprinkle chicken with cumin, garlic powder and Mexican spices before turning. Remove chicken to a platter, allow to cool.
Saute onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender. Add corn and chiles. Stir well to combine. Add canned tomatoes, saute 1 minute.
Pull chicken breasts apart by hand into shredded strips. Add shredded chicken to saute pan, combine with vegetables. Dust the mixture with flour to help set.
Microwave tortillas on high for 30 seconds. This softens them and makes them more pliable. Coat the bottom of 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans with a ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling, place 8 enchiladas in each pan with seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven until cheese melts. Garnish with cilantro, scallion, sour cream and chopped tomatoes before serving. Serve with Spanish rice and beans.
12-28-08
Chocolate Covered Snow Peaks
Makes 24 Cookies
Ingredients:
4 large egg whites at room temperature
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons superfine granulated sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups dark chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 225 degrees F and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat egg whites on low-medium speed with the whisk attachment until the whites become foamy. Add the cream of tartar and turn speed up to medium, beating until just fluffy. Add the sugar gradually, so it incorporates into the whites slowly without collapsing them. Once all the sugar has been added, add the vanilla and increase the speed to high, whisking until the meringue is firm and glossy, about 5 to 7 minutes.
Place meringue mixture into a piping bag with a medium-sized nozzle attached. Pipe 24 bite sized “kiss”-shaped meringues onto the trays and place in the oven. Bake for 1 hour undisturbed then turn off heat and leave in the oven overnight to really dry out.
Melt chocolate over a double-boiler or in the microwave on medium power for 30 seconds. Holding each meringue by the peak dip the bases in chocolate so the bottom half of the meringue is coated. Let any excess chocolate drop off before placing on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper. Allow to set at room temperature – do not put in the fridge. Once set, store in an airtight container.