Those of you who are regular readers of Oui, Chef learned of one of my musical heros not long ago when I wrote our first "Meatless Monday" post inspired by one of my all-time favorite musicians, Paul McCartney. Today you get another peek into the dark recesses of my musical mind as I am dedicating today's treat to another one of my favorite bands, Van Halen.
Archives for February 2012
Love Your Heart and Cook These Herb Stuffed Pork Chops with Blueberry Gastrique
My how time flies. It hardly seems a year since Jess @ Sodium Girl invited me to participate in her 2011 "Love Your Heart Recipe Rally", and I contributed this low salt re-work of a Ming Tsai pork dish. Well, it’s that time again. Time to head back into the kitchen and take a dish that I normally make without regard to sodium content, and re-invent it as a dish that I’d be happy to serve to Jess herself if she were ever to grace our table with her presence....you're always welcome, you know.
Middle Eastern Nuts
Off on a little ski vacation with the family this week as the kids enjoy their February break from school, so today's post will be short and sweet.
Yes, it's a powder day!
Chocolate Mint Cookies
When I was growing up there were only two kinds of Girl Scout Cookies I really liked, the Peanut Butter Sandwich cookies and the Thin Mints. I could still eat a box of the peanut butter ones at a single go, but over time I've grown away from the Thin Mints, in fact, if I'm to be totally honest here I'm not a big fan of many combinations of mint and chocolate.
I know….I'm a weirdo.
Halibut with Tomatoes and Oil-Cured Olives, A Mediterranean Escape
It's not often that we find halibut here on the east coast, so when I do come across a beautiful piece it's cause for celebration and a little star treatment. Like cod, which we've got coming out our ears around here, halibut is a mild fish but a bit denser and meatier. The flavor is so delicate that I hesitate to coat it with anything but a little salt and pepper, preferring instead to cook it atop some aromatics that will perfume rather than overwhelm the fish.
Blueberry Streusel Cake
I know this cake is a touch out of season but fact is we've been drowning in blueberries lately, so much so that I felt compelled to create this little beauty as a means to help work through our overstock.
You see, Muppet's been on a bit of a blueberry bender as of late, begging for them at every turn. Shocked by the fact that one of our kids was (no-kidding) ASKING for fresh fruit, and not wanting to blow a food-hero opportunity while actually buying something healthy for them, my wife and I each purchased mondo boxes of the lovelies last week. As fate would have it, the day after we presented our young berry fiend with her fruit-booty she had upper braces slapped on her teeth and promptly lost her taste for just about everything….well, except maybe for chocolate. Poor child.
Meatless Monday: Butternut, Carrots and Fennel…..Oh My!
Here's another great meatless recipe that includes some of our favorite veggies and fruits. We love making soups and stews of all sorts this time of year as they are great to have in the freezer for a quick weeknight meal when you just don't have time for anything else. Heat a pot full of soup, toss together a quick salad, warm a loaf of crusty bread, and all is good with the world.
Breakfast Cookies That Will Make Your Kids Think You've Gone Crazy!
Hey Dad, what's in the container on the counter?
Oh, those are some breakfast cookies I made today.
Say what? Did you just say breakfast cookies?
Yeah, I thought they'd be great for a breakfast on the fly, they're sort of like a portable bowl of oatmeal.
Shut Up!
No really, they're loaded with grains and nuts and dried fruit, just like a bowl of oatmeal.
So you're telling me that tomorrow morning I can eat cookies for breakfast?
Uh…yeah, I guess that's what I'm saying.
SHUT UP!
Hey relax, will you.
How come I never hear you get this excited when I offer you a bowl of oatmeal?
Oh….and stop saying shut up or I'm giving your cookies to Muppet!