Faux Krab Salad

Prepared April 3, 2012 for lunch. My firstborn says they are fun. Seafood sliders. They just hop on down.

12 oz imitation crab (surimi), coarsely chopped
1/3 c sweet red pepper, finely diced
1/4 c green onion, thinly sliced
1 rib celery, finely diced
1/3 c mayonnaise
1 T lemon juice
pinch Old Bay seasoning
1/2 t dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste

Combine ingredients in a large bowl by gentle turning. Adjust seasoning. Chill. Serve mounded up on toasted hamburger buns. Serves 6 generously.

Roasted Cauliflower

Prepared April 1, 2012. No fooling.

4 cups cauliflower florets
1/2 c sweet red pepper, cut into strips
1/2 c red onion, cut into strips
3 T olive oil
1 t sesame oil
2 t soy sauce
1/2 t sugar
salt and pepper

Preheat toaster oven to 425 degrees F (220 C). Mix vegetables, oil, and seasonings in an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) heavy metal pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil. Roast 20 minutes, cautiously remove foil, and turn the vegetables. Roast another 10 to 15 minutes uncovered until cauliflower is nicely browned and onions and peppers are soft. Mix in cheese. Serves 3 to 4.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Recorded March 12, 2012. A tasty and easy way to prepare a staple frozen vegetable.

1 12-oz (360 g) package frozen Brussels sprouts
1 T (15 ml) olive oil
salt and pepper
1/8 t (1/2 ml) sugar

Spread the frozen sprouts in a toaster oven pan. Stir in the oil and seasonings. Roast at 350 degrees F (177 C) for 20 to 25 minutes. Stir. Raise temperature to 425 F (218 C), and continue roasting until nicely colored. Serves 2 to 3.

Ingredient: Pan Roasted Garlic

Developed March 7, 2012. Accidentally dropped an unskinned garlic clove into a sauté of meat and vegetables. It roasted nicely. Skinned easily. Mild, sweet, earthy flavor.

2 T olive oil
1 head of garlic, divided into cloves, skin on

Heat an 8-inch skillet over medium high, add the oil, and when hot, add the garlic cloves. Lower the heat to a slow sizzle, and cook until tender and colored, about 10 to 12 minutes. Remove to a plate to cool, and squeeze out the cloves. Use them to flavor sauces, stir fries, stews, or mash with oil into a spread for grilled cheese sandwiches.

All-American Potato Salad

Modified from a recipe downloaded from CooksCountryTV.com in February, 2009. The best cold potato salad evah. Even kids like it. DrDaddy leaves out the eggs. Laura puts them in.

2 lb yellow potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch cubes
1/2 T salt, divided
3 T dill pickle juice, divided
1/4 c dill pickle, chopped fine
1 T yellow mustard
1/4 t ground black pepper
1/2 t celery seed
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/4 c sour cream
1/4 c red onion, chopped fine
1 rib celery, chopped fine
2 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and diced (optional)

Place potatoes in large saucepan with cold water to cover by 1 inch. Bring to boil over high heat, add 1 t salt, reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer until potatoes are knife-tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes thoroughly, then spread out on heavy baking pan.  Mix 2 T pickle juice and mustard together in small bowl. Drizzle pickle juice mixture over potatoes, and toss until evenly coated. Cool at room temperature with fanning and turning. Mix 1 T pickle juice, chopped pickles, 1/2 t salt, pepper, celery seed, mayonnaise, sour cream, red onion, and celery in large bowl. Toss in cooled potatoes, cover, and refrigerate until well chilled, about 30 minutes. (Salad can be refrigerated in airtight container for up to 2 days.) Gently stir in eggs, if desired, just before serving.

Tilapia with Sweet and Hot Peppers

Adapted from a Rachel Ray TV recipe. Tilapia, a mild fish, benefits from the spicy vegetable sauce.

4 6-oz tilapia fillets
salt and ground pepper
3 T extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 c yellow onion, sliced thinly
1 red bell pepper, sliced into 1/2 inch strips
6 pepperoncini peppers, trimmed and chopped
1 c grape tomatoes
1 c white wine
1/4 c chopped parsley

Season fish with salt and pepper. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 T extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan. Add fish to pan and cook 2 minutes on each side, carefully transfer to a plate with a thin spatula and loosely cover with foil. Add another T oil, then add garlic, onions, red bell peppers and chopped pepperoncini. Season vegetables with salt and pepper. Saute 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add tomatoes and cook 1 minute more. Deglaze the pan with the wine. Slide fish back into pan.Cover the pan and reduce heat to simmer. Cook 5 minutes. Sprinkle parsley over the fish. Serve on a bed of steamed rice. Serves 4.

White Bean Salad

Developed July 2, 2006.

2 15-1/2 to 19 oz cans cannellini beans (white kidney beans), rinsed and drained
1/3 c red bell pepper, finely diced
1/3 c red onion, finely diced
about 1/3 c extra virgin olive oil
about 2 T wine vinegar
about 2 T lemon juice
1/4 t granulated garlic
1 t ground cumin
2 T cilantro, finely chopped
2 T parsley, finely chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Combine beans and vegetables in a bowl, turning gently. Pour on oil and vinegar and add seasonings. Turn again. Taste to correct seasoning. Chill. Serve on a bed of crisp lettuce. Serves 6 to 8 as part of a mezze platter.

Pizza Plus

Recorded February 29, 2012. The idea is to personalize a factory-made frozen pizza by adding toppings. The list that follows are some of the items that DrDaddy uses, but not all at once, of course. In a recent meal, sweet red peppers, artichoke hearts, sliced tomato, prosciutto, Greek olives, marinated mushrooms, grated cheese, Parmesan cheese, fennel seeds, crushed pepper, capers, dry herbs, olive oil, and granulated garlic were used.

sweet red pepper, fresh or jarred
marinated artichoke hearts
sliced fresh tomatoes
sliced red onion
sauteed onions
piquillo peppers
pepperoncini
fresh basil leaves, whole or torn
rosemary ham
prosciutto
pepperoni
Greek olives
Spanish olives
California olives
sliced cheeses (mozzarella, provolone, asiago, fontina, mild cheddar)
crumbled cheeses (e.g., blue, Gorgonzola, feta, Stilton, Camembert)
marinated mushrooms
fresh mushrooms
Chinese sausage
Italian sweet sausage
country sausage, cooked
chorizo
grated cheese blends
grated or shredded Parmesan cheese
capers
fennel seeds
crushed red pepper
mixed dry Italian herbs
olive oil
garlic powder

Combine all the topping ingredients, except sliced and Parmesan cheeses, appropriately chopped, sliced, or diced, in a bowl. Aim for about a pint of combined toppings. Moisten the mixture with olive oil. Place a frozen 12-inch pizza on a pizza mesh screen (ask your favorite pizza restaurant if you might buy one of theirs). Pile the toppings in the middle, and spread them evenly. Arrange cheese slices on top, and dust with Parmesan cheese, if desired. Bake in a 425 degree F. oven for about 20 minutes, until the crust is browned and the toppings are piping hot.

Cabbage Rolls (Golumpki)

A large cabbage yields about 2 dozen golumpki

Recorded October 15, 2008. A Family Favorite.

Filling

1-1/4 lb lean ground beef
2-1/2 c cooked rice
1 egg, beaten
1 medium onion, finely chopped
1 T minced garlic
2 T vegetable oil
salt and pepper

1 large head of green cabbage

Sauce

1 15-oz can tomato sauce
3 T brown sugar
1-1/2 T lemon juice
1 medium onion chopped
1/2 c green pepper chopped
salt and pepper to taste

Saute the onion and garlic in oil until soft and clear. In a large bowl combine with the other filling ingredients and set aside. Combine the sauce ingredients in a bowl, mix thoroughly and set aside Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cut deeply through the leaves at the base of the cabbage and place the head in boiling water. Cover and cook until a few outer leaves can be peeled back. Use a large fork in the base to steady the cabbage and tongs to peel back the leaves. As the leaves become softened, remove them to cool and drain and then peel away another group of outer leaves, continuing until all the usable leaves are softened and cooled. Chop the interior leaves and add to the sauce. Trim away the tough bottom of a leaf and place about 3 tablespoons of filling and roll and fold the cabbage leaf to form a tight package. Place in a baking pan, seam side down. Continue until all the filling has been used. Any spare leaves can be rolled and included in the pan. Pour sauce over rolls and cover the pan tightly with aluminum foil. Bake 60 min at 350 degrees F (177 C). Serve with steamed rice.  Hint: A second batch of sauce can be prepared in a saucepan by combining the ingredients and simmering for 30 minutes while the rolls bake.

Clam Chowder Too

Developed February 15, 2006 from Internet recipes.

2 or 3 thick slices bacon, diced
1 c chopped onion
2 ribs celery, diced
3 to 4 c diced potatoes
1 c (1 bottle) clam juice, or seafood or chicken stock
1 t sea salt
1/4 t ground black pepper
2 6-1/2 oz cans minced or chopped clams
3 T all-purpose flour
3 c half-and-half + milk
2 T chopped parsley
2 T lemon juice

Cook bacon until crisp in a Dutch oven or large, heavy saucepan. Remove bacon to paper towels. Discard all but 1 T bacon fat and add the onions.  Fry slowly until softened (about 10 minutes). Add potatoes, clam juice or stock, bacon, salt, and pepper.  Cover and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until potatoes are tender. Remove from heat. Add minced clams with their liquid. Whisk flour into milk; add to chowder with half-and-half. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until clam chowder thickens and bubbles (about 3 minutes). Stir in parsley and lemon juice. Adjust seasoning. Serves 4.

Roast Pork Sirloin

Roast Pork Sirloin

Prepared February 22, 2012. A local market offered this cut at a very good price, and so Laura and DrDaddy developed this cooking method.

1 2-1/2 to 3 lb boneless pork sirloin roast (in a net bag)

Brine
1 qt cold water
1/4 c kosher salt
1/4 c brown sugar
10 peppercorns
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, crushed
2 bay leaves
3/4 t granulated garlic, divided
3 t fresh or dry thyme, divided

2 t chili powder
vegetable oil

In a large bowl dissolve the sugar and salt in the water. Stir in the seasonings, using 2 t of thyme and 1/2 t garlic. Rinse the roast, and place it in the brine. Refrigerate 3 hours, turning occasionally. Remove, discard marinade, drain roast, and dry it well with paper towels. Coat all sides with oil, and sprinkle on 1 t of thyme, 1/4 t of garlic, and the chili powder. Rub it all over the roast. Place in a V-rack in a shallow, dark roasting pan. Roast at 325 degrees F (163 C) uncovered for about 80 minutes, until the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees F. Remove from oven, tent with aluminum foil, let it rest 15 minutes. Cut away the net bag, and slice thinly across the grain. Leftovers make excellent sandwiches.

Chocolate Pudding

Assembled July 31, 2011 from multiple Internet sources.

3 oz (3 squares) unsweetened chocolate
3 c milk + half-and-half (mixed)
1/4 c corn starch
1/2 c sugar
1/4 t salt
1 t vanilla extract

In a 2-quart saucepan, heat 2-1/2 c of the milk/cream mixture with the chocolate, stirring until chocolate is melted completely and milk is scalded. Mix cornstarch, sugar and salt in a medium bowl, and stir in remaining 1/2 c milk. Add to scalded dairy-chocolate mixture and cook over low heat, whisking constantly, until thickened and smooth. Continue cooking, stirring, for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat, cool slightly, stir in vanilla and pour into serving dishes.  Cover with plastic film and chill. Serves 6.

Mediterranean Bread Salad

Prepared February 11, 2012. This recipe is the 200th contribution to DrDaddyCooks.

2 c seasoned flat bread, or leftover veggie pizza, cubed
1/4 c feta, crumbled
2 T extra virgin olive oil
1/4 c ripe Greek olives, sliced
1 T capers, chopped
pinch of crushed red pepper
1 T lemon juice
1/2 t anchovy paste

Mix the oil, capers, lemon juice, and anchovy paste in a bowl. Toss the bread cubes in the dressing. Gently mix in the feta cheese and olives. Serve as part of a mezze platter, or as a topping on bean or lentil soup. Store cold.

Pears Poached in Wine Syrup

Poached Pears in Wine Syrup

Developed and recorded February 15, 2012.

1 firm red pear, cored, peeled, cut into 12 wedges
2 T sugar
1/4 c water
2 T dry sherry
1/4 c red table wine
1/4 t ground cinnamon
a few grinds of black pepper and a pinch of salt

Bring the syrup ingredients in a small skillet to a slow boil, and add the pears. Simmer the pears for 15 minutes, turning occasionally. Let cool on stove top 10 minutes to let the syrup thicken. Serves two.

A Sound Knife Set for a Serious Cook

Which knives and cutlery accessories should a good cook of Western foods have at hand? 
• First, the material. Stainless steel. Not ceramic or high carbon steel. Those have their value, but this is the basics.
• Second, how many? If only one knife, an 8-inch chef's knife. Next, a paring knife. Third, a bread knife. Fourth, a boning knife, and finally a carving knife for roasts and other large objects. Other favorites: grapefruit knife, Japanese sushi knife (special gift to DrDaddy from his sons), hefty cleaver, microplane, serrated peeler.
• Third, what else? A good knife sharpener is essential. Preferred is the PriorityChef Knife Sharpener, about $15. An alternative is the excellent hand-held Accusharp 001, about $10. Cutting boards (maple or teak, and a polyethylene board for dishwasher cleanup, and a steel or ceramic hone round out the system. To prevent injuries, store knifes  on a wall-mounted magnetic carrier for ready access and edge protection.
• Which knives? Victorinox (the Swiss Army knife people) offer great quality at a modest price. Buy from Amazon or other value-oriented, reputable, online vendor. Here's what to get:

• Victorinox 40520 8-Inch Chef's Knife
• Victorinox 47508 3-1/4-Inch Paring Knife
• Victorinox 47547 10-1/4-Inch Wavy Bread Knife
  
• Victorinox 47513 6-inch Flex Boning Knife
• PriorityChef or AccuSharp 001 Knife Sharpener
• Victorinox 12-Inch Granton Edge Slicing Knife

Meatballs, Peppers, Mushrooms, and Onions in Marinara Sauce (for Pasta)

Recorded May 1, 2011. Prepared and modified more than a hundred times over the decades. A Family Favorite. The recipe is versatile. Instead of meatballs, the meat might be roast or pan-fried chicken, or Italian sweet sausage, in or out of the skin, or left-over spare ribs. Pasta can be spaghetti, fettuccini, rotini, rigatoni, or what you prefer, but larger forms work better with this robust, flavor-packed sauce.

about 2 oz olive oil
24 to 28 oz package frozen meatballs
2 c sweet red pepper, coarsely chopped
6 oz white mushrooms, wiped clean, and quartered
1 c yellow onion, coarsely chopped
2 T minced garlic
1-1/2 T tomato paste
2 t Italian dry herb mixture
1 t fennel seed
1/4 t crushed red pepper
3/4 c dry red wine
1 28-oz can whole Italian tomatoes, crushed by hand
1 28-oz can prepared marinara sauce
1/2 c water
salt, pepper, and sugar

In a 6-quart heavy saucepan or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, heat the oil until almost smoking. Saute the peppers until they begin to char on the edges. Stir in the mushrooms. When they have darkened, add the onions and garlic, saute for a minute more. Add the meatballs, and saute until colored, adding oil as needed.  Push back to clear a space, add a tablespoon of oil and the tomato paste and seasonings. Heat until fragrant and mix with the vegetables. Add the wine, scrape the bottom of the pan, and reduce by half. Stir in the tomato products, and rinse the cans with the water, and add. Bring the mixture to a fast simmer, cover, and cook for an hour or more, stirring occasionally. Add salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Dresses two pounds (900 g) of dry pasta, cooked al dente.

Roasted Red-Pepper Coulis

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Modified from a recipe on the internet. Recorded February 8, 2012.

2 large red bell peppers

2 T extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium shallot, thinly sliced

1 T red wine vinegar

Salt and freshly ground pepper

Broil the red peppers in a dark metal pan in a toaster oven, turning occasionally, until the peppers are blackened all over. Wrap in paper to trap steam and let cool completely. Peel the peppers and discard the skins, seeds and membranes. Coarsely chop the peppers. Transfer all ingredients to a small bowl, and puree with an immersion blender until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate covered with plastic wrap. Let come to room temperature before serving. Use as a spread on bruscetta, as a sauce with fish or light meats, as an ingredient in finger foods.

Clam Chowder

Clam Chowder with French bread and Chardonay

Recorded February 5, 2012. Created and prepared by Laura.

4 slices lean bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1 large onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 small leek - use white and light green parts – quartered lengthwise and sliced into 1/4 inch pieces
2 ribs celery, diced
4 medium or 3 large potatoes, quartered and sliced in 1/2 inch pieces
1 51 oz can chopped clams with broth
1 c heavy cream
2 c milk
2 T chopped fresh oregano
1 T chopped fresh thyme
2 T chopped fresh dill
chili powder to taste (optional)
salt and pepper to taste
chives for garnish

Separate clam meat and clam broth using a strainer and hold. In a 6-quart cook pot over medium heat, slowly render bacon. Add garlic, onions, and celery and sauté lightly until soft.  Add leeks and sauté for about 1 minute. Add clam broth and potatoes; simmer until potatoes are tender. Turn down heat; add milk, heavy cream and clams.  When soup is warmed through (do not boil), stir in the herbs. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Serve in soup bowls garnished with chives. Pair with crusty bread and a light fruity wine.

Easy Leek and Potato Soup

Developed January 30, 2012.

1/4 c low-fat soft margarine
1 lb frozen chopped leeks, thawed (Trader Joes™)
1 c white onion, coarsely chopped
30-oz bag frozen hash browns (raw shredded potato only), thawed
salt and pepper
hot water
1 c cream and/or milk
2 to 3 T lemon juice

Cook leek and onion in margarine until soft and lightly colored. Stir in the shredded potato, salt, and pepper. Add hot water to cover by an inch (2.5 cm). Stir thoroughly and bring to a fast simmer. Cover and cook until the potatoes have softened and broken up, about 15 minutes. Homogenize with an immersion blender. Stir in dairy, the lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6 to 8.

Leek and Potato Soup

Recorded January 23, 2009.

4 c sliced leeks, (about 3 medium)
6 c cubed potatoes (3 to 4, russet type)
about 6 c hot water
2 T butter plus 2 T olive oil
1/2 t freshly-ground pepper
1 T salt, divided
1 c half-and-half
2 T lemon juice (or more)
chopped chives (optional garnish)

Trim coarse green from leeks, quarter length-wise, rinse carefully to remove soil and drain. Slice across into small pieces. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/2 inch pieces. Heat butter and oil in a heavy 6-quart pot over medium-high heat and add leeks. Saute until tender. Stir in potatoes, salt, pepper and cook until warmed through, add enough water to cover by an inch. Bring to a slow boil, reduce heat, cover and  simmer until potatoes are well cooked, about 20 minutes. Process until smooth with an immersion blender. Stir in cream and lemon juice, taste for seasoning, and adjust thickness with cream and/or water. Soup may be served hot or chilled, garnishing each bowl with a few chives.