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Soup's On: Lentil Soup

partysugar — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 11:48:31 -0800

The other day, when I asked my sister what kind of soup she wanted for dinner, she quickly replied lentil. I researched some recipes and started chopping vegetables. Later when we sat down to dinner I realized she was only kidding! Luckily the soup was hearty and delicious and my entire family enjoyed it. The original recipe has you puree the soup, but I left it chunky for texture. The croutons add a nice crunch, but don't directly affect the flavor of the soup. Paired with a green salad and a glass of red wine, this is one excellent Winter meal. To see how I made it, read more.

Lentil Soup
From Food & Wine magazine

1 tbsp. unsalted butter, plus 1 tablespoon melted butter
1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
5 ounces Serrano ham or lean bacon*, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 medium leek, white and tender green parts only, finely chopped
1 large carrot, finely chopped
2 quarts plus 1/2 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth
2 cups brown lentils (3/4 pound), rinsed and picked over
2 cups firm-textured white bread, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1/2 cup heavy cream
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a large saucepan, melt the 1 tbsp. of butter in the olive oil.

Add the Serrano ham, onion, leek, and carrot and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 8 minutes.

Add the stock and lentils and bring to a boil over moderately high heat. Simmer the soup over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the lentils are tender, about 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, on a baking sheet, toss the diced bread with the melted butter and bake for 8 minutes, or until browned.

Puree the soup in a blender in batches**; transfer the puree to a clean saucepan. Add the cream, bring to a simmer and season with salt and pepper.

Serve the soup in bowls, garnished with the croutons.

Serves 8.

Make ahead: The soup can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. The croutons can be kept in an airtight container overnight.

*Sadly I could not find Serrano ham anywhere so I used bacon.
**I opted not to puree the soup.

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'Wich of the Week: Sweet Serrano Panini

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 08:13:33 -0800

Welcome back to 'Wich of the Week, where every Wednesday I'll feature a different sandwich I've eaten or prepared at home, complete with photos and instructions on how to recreate it.

This week, I've made a variation on panini, which in Italian means "little bread." In the US, a panini sandwich can be pretty sizable, and the warm, melted delicacies are usually pressed and cooked on a grill. To make my panini, I actually made one giant sandwich in the oven, then sliced it up to make six smaller sandwiches. Good thing, too, because this sweet and savory recipe is very decadent.

I started by splitting a large loaf of ciabatta (about 10 inches long) horizontally, coating one side with fig preserves and the other side with a blue cheese and walnut spread. The yummy center is filled with salty Serrano ham, arugula, and sliced Fuji apple. To learn how to make it, read more.

Sweet Serrano Panini

Serves 6.

1/4 pound Serrano ham
1/4 cup walnuts
3 ounces creamy blue cheese
1/2 Fuji apple or similar
3 tablespoons fig preserves
2 cups arugula, tightly packed
1 ciabatta loaf or similar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. If you own a cast-iron skillet, place the skillet in the oven to warm it; you'll use it later to press the panini.
On the stove, toast the walnuts in an unoiled skillet for about five minutes, until just slightly browned and firm.
Using a sharp bread knife, split the ciabatta roll in half horizontally. Place the bread slices in the oven for about three to five minutes, until the bread is just lightly toasted. Remove from oven and set on prep surface to cool.
While bread is cooling, combine the walnuts and blue cheese in a small bowl and stir until well blended.

Coat one slice of the ciabatta with the fig preserves, then lay the slices of serrano ham on top.
Next, cut the apple from top to bottom into thin, round slices, avoiding the core. Place apple slices atop the ham.

Pile the arugula evenly over the apples, and spread the blue cheese and walnut mixture onto the bare slice of ciabatta. Assemble the sandwich by placing the cheese-covered slice atop the arugula-topped side.
Place the sandwich on a baking sheet or other oven-safe surface, then cover it with the warmed cast-iron skillet to press the ingredients together.

Leaving the skillet in place, cook the sandwich at 350 degrees for five to seven minutes, until cheese is melted and the bread is lightly browned on top.
With a sharp bread knife, slice the loaf into six small sandwiches and serve immediately.

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For more step-by-step details, click on the photos below.

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'Wich of the Week: Spanish Monte Cristo

partysugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:00:08 -0700

I'm not much of a Monte Cristo fan. The classic sandwich straddles breakfast and lunch by placing ham, turkey, and cheese between two slices of French toast. The entire thing is topped with powdered sugar and jam resulting in a dish that to me, is messy and too sweet.

However, when I came across this Serrano ham and manchego cheese variation, my love for all things Spanish overcame me, and I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did, this sandwich is wonderful!

The quince paste isn't as cloying as strawberry preserves and the addition of mustard provides a delightfully savory tang. Although the bread is dipped in egg before being placed in the saute pan, it tastes more like a really crispy grilled ham and cheese than French toast. To check out the recipe, read more.

Spanish Ham and Cheese Monte Cristo Sandwiches
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

8 1/2-inch-thick slices sourdough or country-style French bread (each about 5 x 3 inches)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
6 ounces Manchego cheese, thinly sliced
2 ounces thinly sliced Serrano ham or prosciutto
4 tablespoons membrillo (quince paste) or quince preserves
4 large eggs
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter

Directions

Arrange 4 bread slices on work surface. Spread each with 1/2 tablespoon mustard. Top each with 1/4 of cheese, then 1/4 of ham, folding to fit.
Spread 1 tablespoon quince paste on each of remaining 4 bread slices; place bread, paste side down, atop ham.
Beat eggs in pie dish until well blended.
Melt 2 tablespoons butter in each of 2 large skillets over medium-low heat.
Working with 1 sandwich at a time, hold sandwiches tightly closed and dip into beaten eggs to coat on all sides. Place 2 sandwiches in each skillet.
Cover and cook until bottoms are golden, about 4 minutes. Turn sandwiches over. Cover and cook until bottoms are golden, cheese is melted, and egg coating is cooked through, about 4 minutes longer.

Serves 4.

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Let's Dish: What Recipe Have You Totally Screwed Up?

partysugar — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 06:45:37 -0800

Readers, I have a confession: sometimes I'm a failure in the kitchen. Take, for example, the picture below. My father recently watched Tyler Florence make the most delectable Spanish tapa where a raw egg is wrapped in jamon serrano, placed atop béchamel and toast, and baked in the oven. TyFlo made it look exceptionally easy.
However, when my dad and I went to recreate the dish, the ham wasn't strong enough to hold the eggs. The eggs rolled off the slippery white sauce and onto the baking sheet. After wasting eight eggs, we managed to get three nestled inside the ham. Then, when we removed the final product from the oven, the toast and eggs were stuck to the pan! Our breakfast was a complete disaster.

While we laughed it off, and managed to take a couple tasty bites of the mess, I got to thinking about failed recipes. Have you ever gone through a similar experience, where the recipe doesn't work? What recipe was it and how did you handle the situation?

Produce and Meat's COOL Move

YumSugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 13:00:29 -0700

America is moving one more step closer to awareness of where its food comes from.

The US Department of Agriculture has mandated that all produce as well as meat, fish, and poultry sold in US retail stores will be required to have country of origin labels (COOL) beginning next Tuesday, Sept. 30.

Aside from knowing more about your food's origins, the COOL new system (pun intended) could be helpful in situations such as this year's widespread salmonella outbreak. Since the outbreak was traced to Mexico, if you purchased jalapeno or serrano peppers from, say, California, you could be assured that your produce wasn't from the contaminated source.

For years, COOL has been applied to canned or boxed foods packaged overseas, but this will be the first time the rule is required for fresh foods. There are exceptions, however: meat and fish sold in small butcheries or fish markets; salad bars or packaged mixed fruit and vegetable salads; bacon, ham, and smoked salmon; frozen vegetables; domestically canned vegetables; cooked shrimp; and roasted peanuts. What do you think of this move? Are you glad to learn more about where your food comes from?

Source

'Wich of the Week: Open-Face Balsamic Egg

YumSugar — Wed, 21 May 2008 14:00:08 -0700

One of my favorite SF brunch spots, Foreign Cinema, has a balsamic egg dish I've always wanted to recreate at home. Deglazing the fried egg in vinegar gives it a gentle saltiness that tastes gourmet and - I must admit - is highly suitable for hangovers. But instead of serving it with potatoes and greens like the restaurant does, I put a twist on the egg dish by making it into a sandwich.

As I suspected, the flavors were easy to reproduce on my own plate with some balsamic-reduction sauce, hearty multigrain bread, and mixed greens. I made two versions of the sandwich: one open-face with greens, and one closed-face with serrano ham. I preferred the open-face, without meat, which allowed the rich flavor of the balsamic egg to take center stage. To get the recipe (with both options) and more photos, read more.

Balsamic Egg Sandwich
Original Recipe

Ingredients

2 slices swiss cheese
2 to 4 slices multigrain bread
3 very thin slices of Serrano ham, cut into strips (optional)
1 tablespoon butter
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar reduction sauce
2 cups mixed baby greens, loosely packed

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250°F.
Place two slices of swiss cheese on each of two pieces of bread.
Place the two cheese-covered slices of bread in the oven, plus two more pieces of bread if you want a closed-face sandwich. Cook for about 5 minutes or until cheese is just melted.

In a skillet over medium-low heat, cook Serrano ham until crispy, turning once, about 5 minutes.
Turn burner to low, add the two eggs, and cook sunnyside up. Alternately, if not using the ham, melt 1 tablespoon butter over low heat, then add the eggs.
When the yolks have just started to firm up but are still runny, drizzle the balsamic reduction sauce atop the eggs. Place a lid over the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove from heat.

On each piece of cheese-topped bread, add 1 cup mixed greens and top with the fried egg. If using the ham, top each egg with the Serrano ham and a second slice of bread.

Makes 2 open-face or closed-face sandwiches.

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YumSugar Gift Guide: Formidable Food Snobs

YumSugar — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 07:18:31 -0800

If you're worried about what to get those food know-it-alls on your shopping list, then fear no more. if the foodie in your life is constantly spouting off information, then test their knowledge by getting them the Food Lover's Trivia Game. If they don't yet know everything, then get them a copy of the Food Snob's Dictionary. This way they'll be able to wow and impress everyone with food facts and terminology. If you'd rather get them something edible, try these conserves from June Taylor. Or, go crazy and splurge completely by treating them to entire Serrano Ham, complete with stand! For more choices, scroll through below.

The Food Snob's Dictionary ($10.36)	Knife Skills Illustrated: A User's Manual ($19.77)
Food Lover's Trivia Game ($29.98)	1 lb Grade B Madagascar Vanilla Beans ($32.95)
June Taylor Conserves Gift Box ($33)	Serrano Whole Bone-In Ham with Ham Holder ($279)

All the News That's Fit to Eat!

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Jan 2007 12:47:12 -0800

Every Wednesday, most major US newspapers include a food section in their daily lineup. To ensure that you're not missing out on anything, I'll keep up with it all and bring you links to some of my favorite stories.

Imported Spanish ingredients, such as chorizo, serrano ham and piquillo peppers, are the new must have items for Bay Area chefs and home cooks. - San Francisco Chronicle
Beware of the breakfast wars! Starbucks takes on McDonald's with hot egg-and-cheese sandwiches, while McDonald's promotes new higher quality coffee. - New York Times
Banana's appeal extends to the Fair Trade movement. Includes a recipe for chocolate stuffed bananas. - Boston Globe
To help you stick to your New Year's resolutions, Chef Wolfgang Puck offers up a lighter version of Bolognese. - Chicago Tribune
Trade in your box of chicken stock for an easy homemade version. - Seattle Times

Farid Zadi shares his passion for North African cooking. I'll definitely be trying a few of these recipes. - Los Angeles Times
Looks like the little ones are jumping on the culinary bandwagon too. Cooking classes, culinary summer camps and private cooking birthday parties are becoming more popular with the wee ones. - Houston Chronicle