Category: Recipes

This is dads recipe

• crock pot
• 2 lbs of beans
• Jack cheese
• Lard
• boiling water
• Large pan

For whole bean phase:

• Add boiling water and beans to pot and make sure the beans are covered with water over and above beans to the tune of 1 inch water per lb
• Set for 3 hours on high pot setting.
• Once they start to boil add salt ( 1 heaping soup spoon per lb of old school salt)
• Boil til done.

To fry:

• Melt about 3/4 ladle size spoon of lard in large skillet
• Take out any water that is over the level of the beans.
• Pour the beans in the melted lard
• Simmer and stir for 3-4 minutes
• Puree the beans.
• Once you puree you melt in 1/4 to 1/2 lb of Monterey Jack per lb of beans

To refry

They will kinda solid, (like your arteries) so when you refry them you can add a little whole milk and maybe cheese. Above all, if you can, refry them in bacon grease.

Do’s and don’ts:

• Do throw caution to the wind
• dont under salt/lard, you can be vegan another day

Serves 2-3

Scallops:
1 lb. large sea scallops thawed, rinsed and dried
1 Tbs. unsalted butter
2 Cloves Garlic (coarsely minced)
Chopped Basil (or other herb you fancy) or not

Sauce (not required)
3 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut into six pieces
2 Tbs. finely diced shallot (1 medium shallot)
1/4 cup dry white vermouth or dry white wine
1/4 cup finely chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley and chives
1/4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Tip: Be sure to have all your ingredients prepped for the sauce (shallots diced, herbs chopped) before you begin searing the scallops.

Bring water to rolling boil in a medium stock pot and place scallops, butter, garlic and herbs in a “boil a bag” (note: there are bags made for this purpose, food storage bags are not the same thing) and place in the boiling water.
Steam in the bag for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size for the scallops, until scallops are nearly, but not quite done.

Remove scallops from the bag and again blot dry … surface moisture impedes browning.
Heat a 10- or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add just a touch of olive and heat until quite hot. Add the scallops in the pan in a single, uncrowded layer. Season with salt and pepper (to taste) and let sear undisturbed until one side is browned , 1 t0 2 minutes. Using tongs, turn the scallops and sear until the second side is browned and the scallops are almost firm to the touch, 1 to 2 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, transfer the scallops to a plate(s), and set them in a warm spot.

Let the pan cool for a minute before you make the sauce.

Return the pan to medium heat. Add butter (1/2 Tbs.) and the shallots and sauté until the shallots begin to soften, about 1 minute. Add the vermouth or wine and simmer until reduced by about half, another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the herbs and lemon zest. Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining butter, and whisk constantly until the butter melts into the sauce. Spoon sauce over distributed scallops and serve immediately.

3 tbsp of
Honey
Balsamic
Soy Sauce

1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp grated ginger
3 small pressed garlic cloves

Combine all of above as marinade

4 mahi steaks (skin on?)

Salt and pepper the fish and marinade for 20 mins

Pan fry in 1 tbsp canola about 6 min per side

Keep the marinade and create a glaze by returning to hot pan and reducing.

Easiest indoor salmon dish from the mother in law.

1lb King Salmon

Salt

Pepper

1/4 stick o Butter

3 tbsp chopped Rosemary

1 tbsp chopped Dill

• Preheat oven to 375
• Saute the herbs in the butter for 5-10 mins on low
• Remove the crispy herbs
• Salt and pepper the fish
• Brush the fish with the butter
• Cook 15-20 mins?

voila…..

Shout out to Barefoot Contessa. Best freaking risotto you will ever have

• 1 butternut squash (2 pounds)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 6 cups chicken stock, preferably homemade
• 6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) butter
• 3 ounces pancetta diced
• 1/2 cup minced shallots (2 large)
• 1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (10 ounces)
• 1/2 cup dry white wine
• 1 teaspoon saffron threads
• 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Peel the butternut squash, remove the seeds, and cut it into 3/4-inch cubes. You should have about 6 cups. Place the squash on a sheet pan and toss it with the olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, tossing once, until very tender. Set aside.

Meanwhile, heat the chicken stock in a small covered saucepan. Leave it on low heat to simmer.

1. In a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, melt the butter and saute the pancetta and shallots on medium-low heat for 10 minutes, until the shallots are translucent but not browned. Yeah, holy crap thats a lot of butter!
2. Add the rice and stir to coat the grains with butter, about 2 mins
3. Add the wine and cook for 5 minutes. Make sure wine isnt too winey
4. Add 2 full ladles of stock to the rice plus the saffron, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir, and simmer until the stock is absorbed, 5 to 10 minutes. Continue to add the stock, 2 ladles at a time, stirring every few minutes. Each time, cook until the mixture seems a little dry, then add more stock.
5. Continue until the rice is cooked through, but still al dente, about 30 minutes total.
6. Off the heat, add the roasted squash cubes and Parmesan cheese. Mix well and serve.

do’s:

• extra pig

dont’s:

• unsalted stock, even if using homemade, use a little fake stuff
• skimp on saffron

Freaking sublime Salmon.

Combine all ingredients to create the marinade. Let sit an hr before adding to fish (if you have time) stirring a couple times.

• 1 tbsp salt
• 4 or 5 cloves: (press the garlic into a paste w knife edge and the salt)
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 1/2 tbsp soy sauce
• 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp Worcestershire
• 2 tbsp fresh chopped thyme
• 3 tbsp fresh chopped basil
• 2 tbsp fresh chopped oregano (or 1/2 tsp dried oregano)
• 2 lb King Salmon farmed is ideal …..

taste for need of salt.. flavor profile should be ideal for dipping bread, that should be your baseline

Put salmon in a shallow dish and pour basting sauce over to coat the salmon, reserving 1/3 or more of the marinade to serve over the fish on the plate. Marinate the salmon fillets from 2-3 hours, turning a couple times

Grill to medium-high heat. Take fish out of the fridge at least 30+ mins prior to grilling so it isnt cold when u put on grill. Place the fish on the grill flesh down. Go a couple minutes and get some good grill/char love. Flip and do most of (the rest of) the cooking skin side down, the skin can take it. Use your judgement on the grilling to medium rare.

plate and spoon some of the sauce on the fish.

 

Dont: overcook the fish

Do: use the marinade as a dipping sauce w sourdough bread.

Do: serve with Pinot, too strong of a flavor profile to have with white

Another favorite growing up. Its a soup.

Ingredients:

1. 2 lbs lean range fed organic ground beef
2. 2 eggs
3. 1/2 Medium White Onion
4. Cilantro
5. Whole Large Tomato (firm)
6. 1/3 cup rice
7. Fresh garlic or Garlic Powder (small amount)
8. Beef bouillon 6 squares..yikes
9. Tomato sauce can 8 oz.

• Fill silver pot 2/3 to 3/4 and boil water (no idea how big my silver pot is but will find out)
• Take rice and place in small skillet and boil until a bit soft otherwise you may end up with hard rice in the meatballs. After water boils leave  2 to 3 minutes. Drain, it should be at least to slightly crunchy exterior with outside soft.
• Dice tomato into large chunks.
• Dice half onion into  large chunks, can do smaller if you want. Only large so kids can pull out the chunks.
• Chop 2/3 cup of very large/loose cilantro
• Salt, pepper and garlic powder to meat to taste. Add 2 eggs. Mix into meat. Seems the garlic powder is easily the heaviest of the three. Add rice. The rice should be room temperature.
• Mix the rice into other mixture. The ideal ground beef is very lean range fed organic since it will have a more pronounced beef taste. Put additional GP and perhaps salt into mixture.
• Taste the raw beef, the flavor in mixture must be pronounced. Set aside
• Add 4 B cubes into boiling water. It is key that water is boiling when you add anything.
• Separately heat 2 tbsp olive oil in large skillet and add veggies. Add salt and GP. Large amounts of GP (yes again).
• After 3 minutes add 1/2 of 8 oz can of tom sauce. Saute one more minute and add all of it to boiling water. If not boiling bring to boil.
• Make meatballs a bit larger than golf ball size, a bit larger and add one meatball at a time (so as not to cool off water).
• Once they are all in, bring to full boil.
• Boil on high covered for a while then
• Reduce to low medium heat for pprox 30 minutes til done..not overdone so you can re-heat.
• bam?

Great Jambalaya recipe, takes a little over an hr. Shout out to Mara for basic recipe.

Chicken, Sausage  and Shrimp Jambalaya                                               

Serves a pool party

• 1 large onion
• 5  celery ribs
• 1 large red bell pepper
• 1.5 teaspoon of neutral oil
• 4 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• Andouille sausage (typical pack of 2, 12-14 oz)
• 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
• 1 teaspoon+ kosher salt
• 1  tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon’ish Cayenne
• 1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes mostly drained.
• 1 cup bottled clam juice (typical bottle)
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth
• 2 large bay leaves
• 1/2 to 3/4 lb medium peeled shrimp with tails off

1. Dice the onion, celery, red pepper…set aside. Slice the andouille like thick pepperoni slices..set aside. Clean shrimp including tails…set aside
2. Heat the oil in a large heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
3. Add the chicken, skin-side down, and cook skin until golden brown.
4. Using tongs, turn the chicken and cook until golden brown on the second side. About 10 min total, dont go too far you want moist chicken at end
5. Transfer the chicken to a plate. This is where you get the fat in your pan that you will keep for later.
6. Reduce the heat and add the asausage; cook, stirring frequently, until slightly browned, 5-8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the sausage to a plate lined with paper towels and set aside.
7. Empty the fat into a cup. Put 2 tablespoons back in
8. Heat to medium-low, add the vegetables, and cook, stirring occasionally and scraping the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon, until the vegetables have softened, about 10 minutes.
9. Add the rice, salt, thyme, and cayenne; cook, stirring frequently, about 3-5 minutes uncovered. Cayenne is based on heat/flavor profile… Don’t overdo it, you can always add later.
10. Add tomatoes, clam juice, chicken broth, bay leaves, and browned sausage to the pot. Turn heat up, cover and cook for several minutes to get back to a light boil/heavy simmer
11. Remove and discard the skin from the chicken; place the chicken, meat side down nestled in. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 minutes.
12. Remove chicken, stir, scrape the bottom and put chicken back in on the other side. Replace the cover and continue to simmer until the chicken is no longer pink when cut into with a paring knife, about 10 minutes more.
13. Set aside chicken.
14. Scatter the shrimp over the rice, cover, and continue to cook until the shrimp are barely opaque, about 3-4 minutes turing once. Don’t overcook the shrimp.
15. While the shrimp are cooking, using forks, de-bone the chicken into small, pieces.
16. Put back in with the now barely done shrimp. Stir and discard the bay leaves.
17. BAM

Ways to screw it up:

• too much vegetable oil w chicken at outset
• too much seasoning, don’t kill it, you can always add hot sauce at the table
• cooking any part too long… mushy rice
• cooking chicken too long…
• overcooking the shrimp…needs to be juicy and wonderful remember it will keep cooking a touch once you mix into the hot jambalaya.

This is a variation on a recipe from Jay Harlow in his cookbook “west coast seafood” the single best cookbook on earth. His is a simplified version of an Aqua dish from back in the day. Sauce and mushrooms can be done in advance. Make sure to do the mashed potatoes in advance as well.

Ingredients (for 4)

• 1.5 lb of fresh halibut
• .75 lb of mushrooms to saute
• Small packet of dried porcini’s
• Olive oil
• 4 tbsp salted butter
• White pepper
• Salt
• 3 tbsp Dry Sherry
• Soy Sauce
• 1 cup Chicken (or beef) broth. I like beef.

First marinate the fish:

1. Cut into 4
2. Season with kosher salt and white pepper (mortar and pestle)
3. Drizzle w soy sauce and a tbsp of the sherry
4. Set aside at room temp for 30 min

Then make the sauce: (if you didn’t earlier)

1. In a coffee grinder, grind up half the mushrooms into small enough chunks to use as the crust (set aside)
2. Grind the other half up a touch, but leave as chunks
3. Heat the broth and add 2 tbsp of the sherry
4. Add the larger shroom chunks
5. Simmer for a while and cook way down (1/2 to 2/3)
6. Strain the chunks
7. Set aside

Now do the mushrooms

1. Get rid of stems
2. Slice up
3. Saute in butter to your liking (more than you normally would)
4. Set aside

Finally, the fish

1. Take the halibut, which is getting close to room temp and dry the heck out of it with a paper towel
2. Coat one side with the mushrooms
3. Olive oil a hot pan (can add a touch of butter)
4. Sear, crust side first
5. After a minute or a bit more flip it (dont burn)
6. Finish, either in oven or in pan…..however you normally perfect Halibut

Finally:

1. Reheat the mushrooms and the sauce.
2. Plate the fish along side mashed potatoes and an in-season vegetable.
3. Swirl the butter into the sauce slowly, once its perfect, add a touch of thickener
4. Spoon over fish
5. Spoon mushrooms over fish
6. BAM

Pairs with earthy Pinot in spectacular fashion.

Ways to ruin:

• Marinate the fish for too long
• Burn the mushroom crust
• Skimp on butter
• You MUST have mashed potatoes, the crust and sauce swirled into a bite of mashers is sublime
• By not tipping your fishmonger and getting crappy fish