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In Season: Long Beans

YumSugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 09:00:12 -0700

Yard-long beans, or asparagus beans, are at the peak of their season right now, which runs from late Summer to early Fall, with the exception of places such as California and Mexico where they grow year-round. They've been springing up in local farmers markets, but you can also find them at most Asian grocery stores. Do you know much about these leggy legumes, which are a relative of the black-eyed pea? To find out what to look for, read more.

Choose long, slender, smooth, firm pods that can easily be snapped in half. This indicates that the long beans are young.
Avoid beans that are noticeably bulging, or have too many blemishes. These beans may be overly developed and old.
The pale green bean is meatier and sweeter than darker yard-long bean varieties.
Store refrigerated in a plastic bag for two to five days.

Some preparation ideas:

Stew with tomato sauce.
Boil and drain, then season with lemon juice, oil, and salt and pepper.
Simmer in oil with garlic.
Cut into small cubes and add to stir-fries or omelette scrambles.
Deep-fry the beans and toss with Vietnamese fish sauce, chili sauce, or Chinese fermented black beans.

Have you tried long beans? What is your favorite preparation?

Fast & Easy Dinner: Roasted Asparagus and Eggs

partysugar — Thu, 14 May 2009 07:50:45 -0700

A couple of weeks ago, my sister came over with her CSA box. Among the romaine and rhubarb was a bunch of perfectly tender asparagus. When she asked how we should cook the thin spears, I replied, "like Martha Stewart prepares hers: roasted and topped with a poached egg." Since that day, we've both enjoyed this simple yet sophisticated vegetarian meal many times. It's quite versatile - if you have other veggies like mushrooms or green beans on hand, roast them with the asparagus. For a heartier variation, plate the asparagus on top of toasted country bread. To appease meat eaters, sprinkle with salty pancetta. Whichever way you serve it, you'll need the basic recipe, so read more.

Roasted Asparagus and Eggs
From Whole Living

Ingredients

1 medium thick asparagus bunch, tough ends removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
Coarse salt
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon light-brown sugar
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
4 large eggs
2 ounces shaved parmesan

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet with a rim, toss asparagus with oil. Season with salt. Bake until asparagus is lightly browned and tender, 15 to 18 minutes (timing will vary depending upon thickness of asparagus).
In a small saucepan, cook balsamic vinegar and sugar over medium-high heat until syrupy and reduced to 3 tablespoons, about 6 minutes.
Meanwhile, bring a large skillet with 2 inches of water to a simmer over medium heat. Add cider vinegar and season with salt. Break one egg at a time into a cup, then tip cup into pan. Simmer until whites are set and yolks are soft but slightly set, about 3 minutes.
With a slotted spatula, scoop out eggs one at a time and drain on paper towels. With a paring knife, trim edges.
Divide asparagus among four plates and drizzle with reduced balsamic. Top with shaved Parmesan and an egg.

Serves 4.

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Jamie Oliver Serves World Leaders at UK's G20 Summit

YumSugar — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 09:00:25 -0700

UK's Buckingham Palace has been abuzz as Prime Minister Gordon Brown hosts world leaders from countries such as China, Japan, and the US to discuss key issues surrounding the global economy. Last night, finance ministers took a break from heated dialogue to enjoy a multi-course dinner prepared by UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver in Prime Minister Brown's house at 10 Downing Street.

TV's famed Naked Chef cooked the dinner with the help of apprentices from Fifteen London, his restaurant that trains unemployed and at-risk youth. The dinner menu, which Oliver described as "the best of Britain," features organic, sustainable foods from around the British Isles. To see what President Obama and other leaders ate, read more.

First Course

Baked Scottish salmon with seashore vegetables, broad beans, herb garden salad, mayonnaise, and wild garlic-scented Irish soda bread
Vegetarian option: Childwickbury goat cheese with roast shallots, seashore vegetables, herb green salad, and wild garlic-scented Irish soda bread

Second Course

Slow-roasted shoulder of Welsh lamb, first of the season Jersey Royal potatoes, first of the season asparagus, and wild St. George mushrooms with mint sauce and gravy
Vegetarian option: lovage and potato dumplings with first of the season asparagus and wild St. George mushrooms

Third course

Hot bakewell tart with homemade custard

So far, the media has been somewhat critical of the menu, and the Guardian called it "not terribly exciting." Still, I think the menu sounds appetizing, although - unlike President Obama - I am a fan of British food. Does the menu impress you?

Source

Fast & Easy Dinner: Asparagus-Goat Cheese Pasta

partysugar — Wed, 06 May 2009 06:50:05 -0700

If you filled up on too many nachos and margaritas last night, opt for a dinner, like this simple pasta dish, that is light and flavorful. Spring's most beloved vegetable is the star ingredient in this uncomplicated meal.

The pasta and spears are tossed with a quick sauce made of broth, goat cheese, and lemon zest. The final dish is rich, but not heavy. Dislike asparagus? Substitute broccoli or green beans. To look at the scrumptious recipe, read more.

Asparagus-Goat Cheese Pasta
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 pound asparagus
1/2 pound thin spaghetti
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 14 1/2-ounce can chicken or vegetable broth
4 ounces goat cheese
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Heat a large pan of lightly salted water to boiling over high heat.
Peel the asparagus stalks and trim the ends. Cut the stalks into 2-inch pieces. Blanch in the boiling water 3 minutes or until bright green and crisp-tender when tested with a small knife. With a slotted spoon, remove the asparagus and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking.
Add the spaghetti to the boiling water and cook according to the label directions until al dente. Drain.
Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Blend in the flour with a whisk. Add the broth and cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sauce thickens. Blend in the goat cheese and lemon peel.
Toss the spaghetti with the asparagus, sauce, and half the Parmesan. Serve with the remaining Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper.

Serves 4.

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You've Seen the Pics, Now See the Menu

YumSugar — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 15:16:31 -0800

The Oscars are just around the corner - fill in your ballot for a chance to win fab prizes! - and last week I tempted you guys with photos from the Governors Ball preview However, I didn't give a full rundown on what was going to be served. If you were wondering what was pictured in the sea of tastiness, get prepared. I've got the full list - it's huge, over 350 people are on the culinary staff! - and let me tell you, it reads as tasty as the photos. To check out the complete menu, read more.

Antipasti Platter
Smoked Salmon Oscars With Caviar and Crème Fraîche
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad With Citrus Chili Dressing
Thai Spiced Shrimp With Holy Basil and Candied Garlic
Bruschetta of Figs, Goat Cheese, and Organic Prosciutto
Smoked Eggplant With Toasted Flatbread
Asparagus and Chickpea Salad With Mustard Vinaigrette

Butlered Course
Gold Foil Wrapped Baked Yukon Gold With Tsar Nicoulai Caviar and Crème Fraîche

Entrée
Snake River Farms Wagyu Beef With Chinese Broccoli Shiitake Stir-Fry With Red Wine Sauce
Black Truffle Macaroni and Cheese

Vegetable Entrée
Roasted Winter Vegetables Wrapped in Leeks
Black Olive Couscous and Tomato and Radish Compote

Dessert
Sherry Yard’s Oscar Tribute - We'll have more on the dessert station next week!

Sushi Station
Maki Rolls - Spicy Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Crab, Vegetable
Nigiri - Tuna, Sweet Shrimp, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Sashimi - Tuna, Yellowtail, Salmon, Snapper
Cucumber Salad, Edamame, Wasabi, Soy, and Pickled Ginger

Noodle Station
Pad Thai Noodles With Tofu, Egg, Bean Sprouts, Thai Basil, Mint, and Peanuts
Short Lo Mein Noodles With Pork, Scallions, Sweet Peppers, and Plum Ginger Sauce

Ceviche Station
Shrimp With Mango, Basil, Golden Tomatoes, and Habanero
Sea Bass With Avocado, Tomatillo, Cilantro and Jalapeño
Scallop With Tomato, Orange, and Chili

Shellfish Station
Shrimp, Oysters, and Crab
Cocktail Sauce, Mustard Sauce, and Mignonette

Tray Passed
Spicy Tuna in Sesame Miso Cone; Mini Kobe Cheeseburgers With Remoulade; Tomato Goat Cheese Tart; Miso-Glazed Black Cod on Rice Cracker; Cucumbers and Smoked Salmon, Steak Tartare Crostini, Spicy Chicken Mango Rice Paper Rolls, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Assorted Pizzas

If the menu has you captivated, check out the pics!

Exercise in Excess: The French Laundry Part 2

YumSugar — Thu, 21 Jun 2007 08:01:18 -0700

Yesterday I walked you through the first part of my extravagant time at the French Laundry, and while everything I posted was definitely tasty, you guys haven't even seen the meat of the story (bad pun intended). Today I'll take you from fish course to beef and all the lovely bits in-between.

After the foie gras, the next course was either Filet of American Red Snapper with Summer Squash, San Marzano Tomato "Fondue," Cuttlefish and Arugula-Castelvetrano Olive Pudding (shown right) or Spanish Mackerel "En Escabeche" with Hawaiian Hearts of Peach Palm, English Cucumbers, Cilantro Shoots, Haas Avocado "Coulis" and Rangpur Lime "Gastrique" (shown above). I ordered the snapper, while Jimmy ordered the mackerel. When our dishes arrived I was envious of his dish - the presentation was so gorgeous - however after tasting both of them, his fell a little flat and I was certain I picked the winning dish.

To see what's up next (and believe me, the best parts are next),read more

Once the fish was devoured, they presented us with a selection of fresh baked breads. There were some delicious choices, but my favorite was definitely the pretzel bread. [Note to self: get recipe for pretzel bread.]

With the bread out of the way, we moved on to the lobster course, or as the menu said: Lobster Tail "Pochée Au Beurre Doux" with Caramelized Cipollini Onions, Oregon Hazelnuts, Sunchoke Purée and Valrhona Chocolate-Coffee Emulsion. I believe this was my favorite part of the meal, as it was perfectly cooked and paired well with the sauce. Also, whenever anyone asks how my experience was, I immediately tell them about the lobster, so this must've been my favorite part.

After the lobster it was time for either All-Day Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly with Brentwood Corn, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Piquillo Peppers, Fava Beans and "Pimenton Jus" (shown right) or Devil's Gulch Ranch Rabbit Shoulder "Farci Au Ris De Veau" with Jacobsen's Farm La Ratte Potatoes, Lovage, Celery Branch and Apricot Mustard (aka fancy pants rabbit lollipop that my fellow diners wished they ordered instead).

Finally, rounding out the main course, and pushing out my waistline, was the "Chateaubriand" of Nature-Fed Veal with Morel Mushrooms, Green Asparagus, Veal Cheek "Pierogi" and Madeira Sauce. This might actually have been the highlight of the feast. However, at this point I had way too many glasses of wine and far too much brioche to fully enjoy it. In fact, I'm ashamed to say, I actually had to GIVE 1/3 of it to my fellow diners. I also couldn't down all the pierogi, which was a crying shame because they were delicious.

Now wipe up your drool, because after a little breather (seriously, I had to get up for a minute and catch my breath and appetite), we'll hit the cheese & dessert courses tomorrow - so be sure to come back!

Shock Vegetables Green In The Freezer

partysugar — Wed, 23 May 2007 01:08:19 -0700

When cooking vegetables, such as asparagus, broccoli and green beans, a recipe will often have you quickly cook the veggies in boiling water, remove them, and shock them in a bowl filled with ice water. This can be a tedious process if you don't have unlimited access to ice. So how do you shock green vegetables without having to use a big bowl of ice water? After blanching them in the boiling salted water use a mesh skimmer to remove the vegetables. Transfer to a small tray or baking dish, and pop them in the freezer to rapidly cool and retain their vibrant green color. This works wonderfully well and cuts down on bowls of ice water sloshing all over the kitchen.

Menu Planning 101, Part 4

partysugar — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 14:57:11 -0800

This week I'm all about planning the perfect menu. Surprisingly it's not hard to do if you keep in mind a few helpful tips. Presentation is essential; as we eat with our eyes first, so pay attention to the color of the ingredients in your dishes. Don't over use an ingredient or stick to one cooking technique; variety of tastes and textures will only enhance the taste experience. If you are interested in learning more valuable pointers, read more

Where a recipe calls for a specialty gourmet food ingredient, which isn't available in your area, try shopping online. There are many excellent online gourmet food stores who will deliver right to your door. For the very best, try Dean & Deluca in New York, or Fortnum & Mason in London. Buying just one or two small luxury items from stores like this will add a real touch of elegance to your dinner party menu. If you cannot locate a specific ingredient, make a different dish.

Stay away from main course recipes that call for last minute complex, or time consuming preparations (example: risotto). The trick is to have as much of the menu prepared as possible, with only the finishing to do at the last minute. This puts less pressure on your time when you want to be with your guests. Wash, peel and chop up ingredients ahead of time; if the sauce allows, prepare it in advance. Blanche slower-cooking veggies such as broccoli, asparagus, green beans, etc. – you’ll just need to sauté them for a minute or two in the final sauce to reheat.
Always check with your guests before the party to find out if any of them have specific dietary requirements that must be included in the dinner party menu. For example, Finding out that someone is vegetarian, is not allowed to eat pork, or can't abide fish on the night of your dinner will only cause you unnecessary stress!