Game Day Grub

As anyone who knows me or who has read this blog for awhile understands, I absolutely hate sports! But my roommate has become a passionate NFL fan, and we have come to an amicable truce which involves her getting to watch her game(s) on Sunday while I amuse myself with tasty experiments in the kitchen. Today, while she rooted for/fretted over the Patriots and then the Giants (aren't you impressed that I know that much? tee hee), I got it in my head to make Cincinnati-style, five-way chili. To make it easier on myself while I juggled three ongoing games of "Words with Friends," I started the chili on the stovetop, but then let it simmer away all day in the crock pot. Man, was it delicious! And even though the weather was in the 20's today, and I could finally turn off the kitchen tap that had been trickling for two days, the chili was very warm and comforting on a winter's day.  This one's a keeper, folks.

Cincinnati-Style Five-Way Chili
(Source: adapted from 
http://americanfood.about.com/od/classicchowdersandstews/r/cinnchili.htm)

1 lb. ground beef
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups water
2 cups crushed tomatoes (I used one can of diced, spicy red pepper flavor)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 whole bay leaf
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground celery
1 teaspoon salt

2 cans drained beans (I used chili beans and dark red kidneys), optional

cooked spaghetti, optional
shredded cheese, optional
chopped onions, optional

In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with the diced onions. Once the meat is nearly brown and the onions are tender, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute or two.

Add the meat mixture and everything else (excepts the optional toppings, of course) to the crock pot, and cook on low for eight hours or high for four. About 30 minutes before you serve, fish out the bay leaf and add the two cans of beans, if using.

To serve, pile some spaghetti on the plate, top with the chili, then shredded cheese and onions.

The Cincinnati "Skyline" Chili Ordering Code

1-way: just the chili
2-way: chili served over spaghetti
3-way: chili, spaghetti, and grated cheddar cheese
4-way: chili, spaghetti, cheese, and onions
5-way: chili, spaghetti, cheese, onions, and beans
All "ways" is served with oyster crackers.

Umami Cafe Revisited

On my never-ending quest to find and prepare the ultimate macaroni and cheese recipe, I thought I might backtrack a bit and make the official Umami Cafe truffled mac and cheese from Chef John Pratt, instead of my knock-off version. Now, for those who want a very thick and gooey pasta, this might not be the one for you. But I LOVE it! It's so very flavorful, and the texture is lighter--not on calories, mind you--but because it doesn't have any binders or thickeners like flour or eggs. It's simply reduced cream, shallots and garlic sauteed with white wine, and cheese. As you might infer, there are a lot of separate steps to this recipe, so it's a little involved. Not that any of it is hard to do, but it might be best saved for a weekend project.

Umami Cafe's Truffled Macaroni and Cheese
(Source: adapted from John Pratt, Umami Cafe)

1 lb. elbow macaroni
2 cups heavy cream
2 shallots, minced
2 garlic cloves, minced (I used 4!)
1 cup dry white wine (Pinot Grigio--I used Chardonnay)
2 oz. black truffle butter (I only used a generous teaspoon)
1 tablespoon black truffle oil (I omitted this)
1 1/2 cups Fontina cheese, shredded (or 1 cup Fontina, 1/2 cup smoked Gouda)
salt and pepper, to taste

panko crumbs or in a pinch, bread crumbs (I used one cup crumbs plus 4 tablespoons melted butter which I browned in a saute pan until the crumbs just started to color)

Cook pasta in salted (don’t be shy with the salt) boiling water until tender but not mushy. Drain and empty out on sheet pan and drizzle with olive oil. Reserve.

Reduce cream in non-reactive sauce pan. Bring heavy cream to just boiling, reduce heat to low setting and simmer for 30 minutes or reduced to half. Reserve.

In non-reactive sauce pan, sauté shallots and garlic in a tablespoon or two of butter until soft but not browned. Add white wine and simmer until wine is almost gone. Add reduced cream and bring just to simmer, then add grated cheese and whisk to incorporate. Add truffle butter and oil (if using), then salt and pepper to taste.

Combine pasta and sauce. Transfer to a casserole dish and top with the buttered panko crumbs. Place casserole in a 350 degree oven to bake until crumbs are golden brown, 25-30 minutes. Garnish with a few drops truffle oil and minced chives.

Bean Salad for the Budget-Conscious

I oftentimes find myself ogling little overpriced containers of interesting deli salads at the grocery store, but before I pay five dollars for a cup of marinated edamame, I usually convince myself to put it down, walk away, and make something cheaper and better myself. Here is the salad I made at home, though I used lima beans instead of edamame because the store I was shopping at didn't carry them. Oh well. This was just as good--so colorful and flavorful!

Baby Lima Bean, Corn, and Black Bean Salad 

1 (14 oz?) bag frozen baby lima beans, cooked (acc. to package instructions), rinsed/cooled, drained
1 can seasoned black beans, drained
1 cup corn relish (preferably, homemade!)
1/2 large sweet onion, finely chopped
1/2 orange bell pepper, finely chopped
2 small tomatoes, diced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground celery
1/4 (up to 1/3) cup Italian dressing of your choice
1 teaspoon habanero hot sauce, or to taste
squeeze of lime juice
pinch salt (to taste)
1/2 bunch cilantro leaves, chopped

Combine all ingredients and chill for a couple/few hours (better yet, overnight) before serving.

South of the Border Pork and Beans for the Icy North

I had been considering making a Cuban black bean soup in the crock pot with some of my dwindling supply of precious Rancho Gordo beans. But then I was shopping at Sam's Club on Sunday, and I found this interesting product (under the brand name High Plains Farms), a hickory-seasoned, marinated pork shoulder that you can roast in its own plastic bag in the oven. So I surmised that maybe these two things could be deliciously combined.

Now, I did not cook the roast in its bag, because I wanted the meat to flavor the beans. And since beans take SO much longer to cook than the roast, I started the beans on low overnight, added the pork the next day, and cooked it slowly until dinner time. Then I shredded the pork (which was tender, juicy, and very flavorful, by the way--shout out to High Plains Farms!), and fashioned some FABULOUS Cuban black bean and pork tostadas. MUY BUENO!

Crock Pot Cuban-Style Black Beans and Pork

1 lb. dry black beans
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
a few hot chilies (to taste), de-veined, seeded, and chopped
(I used one long hot and one Fresno, and the heat level was about "medium")
6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 bay leaves
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground celery
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon chicken soup base
1 tablespoon beef soup base
1 quart water
1 14.5 oz. can diced tomatoes (I used a roasted garlic & onion variety)
3-4 lb. seasoned pork roast* (or marinate in a homemade mojo)

Soak the dried black beans covered with cold water for 7-8 hours, then drain. In a large skillet, heat olive oil and saute the onion and peppers until tender. Add the minced garlic and cook another minute or two.

Add the soaked beans, sauteed veggies, vinegar, spices, soup bases, and water to the crock pot. Cook on low for 6-8 hours. (If there is too much liquid at this point, scoop some out before proceeding.)

Add the (drained) can of diced tomatoes to the beans, and then tuck in the pork roast. Cook for another 6-8 hours on low until the pork is tender enough to be shredded.

Serve tostada-style with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, guacamole and/or sour cream, and salsa or hot sauce. A squeeze of fresh lime and some chopped cilantro would not be unwelcome either.

*As I stated above, I used a pre-marinated pork roast that I found at Sam's Club the other day. But of course, you can marinate a plain pork shoulder overnight in the mojo of your choice if you prefer.

Annnnnnnnd...back to the DEEP FREEZE!

This picture of the foot of my bed leads me to believe that the Mayan calendar may be right after all. Usually, one of the dogs pictured is trying to, um, molest this poor kitty, and the other dog loves to chase and attempt to kill the good-natured feline. But I suppose these cold winters make for strange bedfellows!  As for their human (cue the sarcasm), oh, how I love having to stay up all night, stoking the fire and keeping the kitchen tap a-tricklin'...winter fun in the North Country!

When the weather is this brutal, and you don't have a pile of furry friends to snuggle with, your only hope for survival is SOUP.  Last night, when it was zero degrees with a wind chill of 13 below, my roomie and I found ourselves in desperate need of a midnight snack. Cyd wanted grilled cheese, so I obliged her, and I also whipped up a quick semi-homemade cream of tomato soup for dunking. It was SO good and super-easy!

Semi-Homemade Cream of Tomato Soup

1 can Campbell's Tomato Bisque
1 can diced tomatoes (with spicy red pepper*)
1/2 cup half-n-half
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/4 teaspoon drief thyme
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon white balsamic vinegar
1 garlic clove, peeled and minced
*If you use regular or Italian tomatoes, you might want a few shakes of hot sauce or a squirt of sriracha.

Heat, mix with stick blender if you like it smoother (as I do), and devour.

This afternoon, while the thermometer was registering a balmy two degrees ABOVE, I ventured out to the grocery store for supplies, figuring that the cold might keep the crowds at bay (wrong--we're a tough lot in these parts). When I got home, I spent some time in the kitchen, working on one of my culinary experiments while my roomie watched her NFL playoffs (blech). Here's what I came up with: a rich, flavorful, creamy and meaty-tasting VEGAN mushroom soup! If you made some health-related resolutions for New Year's, this one's for you. And even if you didn't, this one might fool even the most passionate carnivore among you. What I can promise is that it will definitely warm your cockles (whatever those are...do girls even have them?) when it's -9 with a wind chill of sixteen below, as it is right now as I'm writing this blog post. BRRRRR!!!

Mushroom Ginger Miso Soup

In a five-quart stock pot, saute until tender in a couple of tablespoons of olive oil:
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 large red pepper, seeds and veins removed, coarsely chopped (or use 1/2 large sweet pepper plus a couple/few hot peppers if you like it spicy as I do)
1 lb. white or brown mushrooms, sliced

Add 2 quarts vegetable stock and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, cover and simmer 20 minutes. Blend with stick blender until smooth. (You could strain it at this point if you want it very smooth, but I like the texture and the fiber, so I didn't.)

In another pan, saute slowly until tender in a generous tablespoon of olive oil:
8 oz. "exotic" mushrooms (oyster, chanterelle, shiitake, what have you--up to a pound, if you can afford them)
2 tablespoons minced garlic
2 tablespoons freshly-grated ginger

Deglaze the saute pan with the juice of one lemon (lime juice might be even better!). Add this mixture to the blended soup along with two teaspoons Thai fish sauce (optional, if you don't care if it's vegan or not), two tablespoons of miso*, and--if you didn't use any hot peppers in the initial saute--perhaps a squirt of sriracha hot sauce, to taste. Check the seasoning, and garnish with cilantro leaves and sliced scallions before serving.

*If you prefer to keep the priobiotic goodness of the miso intact (heat kills the good bacteria), you could just add a teaspoon or two to each bowl before serving. I pulled the finished soup off the heat, let it cool off a bit, then added the miso to the whole batch. But then I killed the good yeasty-beasties upon reheating, so maybe leaving the miso out until right before serving would have been a better plan. But I can tell you this: the soup is even better on day two or three, whether the miso is still alive or not!

Easter Preview...in January!

I'm either loathe to leave the holidays behind, or I'm already thinking ahead to Easter...or perhaps it's just because they had a good sale on leftover hams after Christmas. Whatever the reason, I made a delicious small, half ham in the crock pot today, and in another stunning double crock pot maneuver, a yummy hash brown casserole on the side.

There's not much of a recipe for the ham. I just put a shallow layer of brown sugar on the bottom of the crock pot, then the ham (cut side down), then a can of crushed pineapple, and another good sprinkling of brown sugar on the top of the ham. Then you cook on low for 7-8 hours (though I did mine on high for four hours today because I got a late start). Easy peasy!

Crock Pot Hash Brown Casserole

32 oz. bag frozen hash browns, thawed
1/2 onion, minced (or go crazy and use the whole onion if you like)
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cups shredded cheese (I used smoked Gouda and extra-sharp cheddar)
1 can cream of mushroom with roasted garlic soup
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
few shakes of hot sauce

Mix everything together. Add to a sprayed crock pot. Cook on high for two hours, then turn it down to low for another two.

Thanksgiving/Christmas Turkey Re-Gifted

I ran across this awesome-sounding recipe before Thanksgiving on Huffington Post for re-gifting your leftover holiday turkey, but we ended up eating all of our leftovers for sandwiches and to make my very favorite turkey and wild rice soup, so I never got around to trying it. But at the grocery store the other day, I noticed that they were selling deli-roasted turkey breasts (like they do whole chickens), and two of them had been discounted for quick sale at $3.50 apiece. So I snapped two of them up, froze one, and used the other to make THIS fabulous dish: Turkey Puffs with Cranberry-Pinot Sauce. I believe the ingredient that takes it over the top is the chive and onion cream cheese. SO YUMMY! Don't wait for a major turkey holiday to try this one.

Turkey Puffs with Cranberry-Pinot Sauce
(Source: Taste of Home)

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, finely diced
8 oz. mushrooms (I used a gourmet mix of oyster, shiitake, and baby bella), chopped
1/2 cup chicken broth
4 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 package (17.3 ounces) frozen puff pastry, thawed
8 ounces thinly sliced cooked turkey (I used about 1/2 cup for each of 4 puffs=2 cups)
1/2 cup spreadable chive and onion cream cheese
1 egg, beaten

SAUCE:
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup dry red wine or additional chicken broth (I used Pinot Noir--the original recipe called for Cabernet)
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup jellied cranberry sauce (I used my homemade "Cranberry Strumpet" with whole cranberries)

1. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and saute the onions and the mushrooms until tender, about 10 minutes.

2. Add the chicken broth, garlic, thyme, salt, pepper. Bring to a boil and cook until liquid is evaporated. Cool completely.
3. On a lightly floured surface, unfold puff pastry. Roll each sheet into a 12-in. x 10-in. rectangle; cut each into 2 pieces. Transfer to a lined baking sheet. Spoon mushroom mixture onto each pastry; top with turkey and cream cheese.
4. Lightly brush pastry edges with water. Bring long sides over filling, pinching seams and ends to seal. Turn pastries seam side down. Cut small slits into pastry. Brush tops with egg. Bake at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
5. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the broth, wine and vinegar. Bring to a boil; cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in cranberry sauce until melted. Serve with pastries.