Whooo Hoooo – I am back home!  But it is cold…. damn weather and only to get worse.  I might have something that you can whip up and warm up for those cool evenings.  How many of us are busy as a beaver and feel we make up excuses to eat healthy?  Pick me Pick me… but with this simple salmon dish, you are in and out of the kitchen in 15 minutes, eating on the couch or table and happy as a clam.

For those of you who are not fans of salmon this will work with any protein for the most part.  White fish, chicken, pork, tofu – you name it it will taste great.  The dish is all about the relish.  The freshness of lemon, combined with the sweetness of the raisins and the crunch of the almonds.

Ingredients

• 4 Salmon portions
• 1 Clove of garlic
• 1 tbsp. Balsamic
• 3 Tbsp. Raisins
• 1/4 cup Almonds, toasted
• Zest of 1 Lemon
• 1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
• Fresh Tarragon
• Salt and Pepper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Lightly rub olive oil, salt and pepper over salmon.  Roast in the oven about 8 minutes per inch of thickness
3. In a large pan, add remaining olive oil to pan. Saute garlic and shallot until translucent about 4 minutes.
4. Add balsamic vinegar, lemon zest, raisins and let simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Finish the relish with the toasted almonds.
6. Top the salmon with the relish, tarragon and serve over salad.
7. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: Try not to overcook the salmon.  The last thing you want is dry overcooked salmon.  If you want a little more lemon flavor you can cook the salmon in a little bit of the lemon juice to cook the salmon.

Alright, I have a busy day of catch up at the office.  I will talk to you all on Wednesday but until then have a good start to your week and keep smiling.

Take care

zesty

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Happy Friday!  As I type this post early on this snowy Friday we are getting geared up for our first snow storm of the year.  Exciting?  No not really but I guess some people like it.  So far. all schools have been canceled but I am still planning on going into work.  We are supposed to get 20 cm today which is not too bad but the wind is supposed to pick up to 80km/hr.  Since we live in a wide open area it will likely feel that there is a hurricane around us.  I am really trying to look for full grown trees to shelter around the house.

Do you think I am crazy for looking at this option?  I am not very patient when it comes to watching trees grow for 20 years before they will block the wind.

On To the Food

The title catches your eye especially if you love chicken and garlic.  This recipe is a spin on a classic roasted chicken but there a couple of techniques that really enhance the flavor compared to your normal run of the mill chicken.

The marinade in this recipe really kicks up the internal flavor of the meat and the double cooking method also forces the flavor to be enhanced.  It really is a great trick if you have never tried this method in the past.

Ingredients

• 1 bunch parsley
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 Head of garlic
• 3 shallots
• 1 Tbsp herbes de provence
• 1 tsp dried rosemary
• 2 tsp kosher salt
• 2 tsp ground black pepper
• Small pinch all spice
• 3 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 6 Tbsp. Olive Oil

Method

1. Blend all ingredients except the olive oil in food processor then  add 6 tsp olive oil
2. Rub inside and outside chickens and marinate in fridge 2-4 hours.
3. Take the head of garlic and loosen but do not peel, remove papery skins. Coat with oil and season with salt and pepper.
4. Roast chicken at 350 degrees in shallow pan for 90 min or till done and for at least 1 hour
5. Add the garlic head, covered with tin foil in own pan to the oven and roast for 45 minutes at 350 degrees.
6. Set chicken aside for at least 30 minutes.
7. Degrease roasting pan, then de-glaze with juices from resting chicken and 1 ½ cups of chicken broth.
8. Separate chicken to pieces, preserving the skin as best able, and place on boiler with skin side up.
9. Place thin slices of ½ lemon over top.
10. Pour juices into broiler pan, but not over the chicken and broil to hot (8min depending on oven).
11. Use ½ lemon remaining and add juice and reduce sauce, by ½ or till thickened, season with salt and pepper and a small amount, 1 tsp or so butter to enrich and smooth sauce.
12. Serve chicken with sauce.



13. ENJOY!

Zesty Tip: Don’t forget about that roasted garlic.  Serve the roasted garlic with the chicken for the garlic lovers in the house.

Big plans for the weekend?  I am pretty sure I don’t have anything major on the go.  Looks like I may be doing some shoveling for sure.  I better go get a shower and head into the office.  Have a great weekend and let me know if you have any questions about the recipe.

Take care

zesty

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Driving home from work yesterday afternoon, I was starving and realized that I did not take anything out for supper. At that point I decided to pull into the super market and attempt to put a meal plan together on the run. I made it to the meat department and noticed that Pork Loin Chops were on sale so the wheels started turning as I came up with an idea for pork chops. They were so thick and looked incredible yummy.

Ingredients

• 2 Pork Loin Chops Center Cut Bone-In
• 10 Scallops
• 2 cups of Baby Spinach
• 1 cup of Shitake Mushrooms ( coarsely chopped )
• 1 cup of Apple Juice
• 1 Tbsp. Garlic chopped
• 1 Tbsp. Soy Sauce
• 1 Tbsp. Sweet Chili Sauce
• Cracked Black Pepper

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 Degrees
2. Season both sides of Pork Chops with cracked black pepper
3. Pan sear the pork until golden brown crust forms
4. Place pork in roasting pan and place in oven for about 10-12 minutes until cooked through
5. With the pan drippings still in the frying pan, add apple juice, garlic, soy sauce, sweet chili sauce and bring to a boil and then let reduce.
6. Once reduced by half, add mushrooms and spinach to the sauce.
7. Start another Sautee pan and heat up some olive oil and sprinkle some red pepper flakes in the oil.  Once hot place the scallops in and sear on both sides until golden brown.  Once complete remove from heat and set aside.
8. After the mushroom and spinach cook through add the scallops to the sauce as well and stir to coat the scallops.
9. Ready to plate. I like to place a big scoop of brown rice on the bottom of the plate and then set the pork chop on top followed by the delicious reduction of sauce, mushroom, spinach and most of all tender juicy scallops.

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This past weekend was a special weekend as we attended a 65th birthday for my aunt. There was a lot of food preparation of course as the party was for about 50 people. I was asked to bring a pork roast, which in my mind I was more than happy to do that.

The weather is cooling down here so I decided to go with the oven method for this roast. When cooking large pieces of meat I usually always opt for the low and slow method. I added a dry rub the and let it sit for about 20 hours prior to roasting. This allows the rub to penetrate the meat and add even more flavor.

The recipe for the rub is:

INGREDIENTS

• 2 1/2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 teaspoons mustard powder
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon rosemary
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground coriander seed
• 3/4 teaspoon ground savory
• 3/4 teaspoon dried thyme
• 3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
• salt to taste

So as for the cooking technique…. it doesn’t get much simplier.  I add the meat to a roasting pan and preheat the oven to 250 degrees.  I like to let the meat rest for a few minutes on the counter and it does not tense up coming directly form the fridge and then into the oven.  I cover it and let it roast for about 20 mins per pound ( depending on the size of your cut)  I also like to remove the cover 3/4 through the cooking time to allow the rub to form a crust.  When cooking for a crowd or anyone for that matter I like to check the internal tempreature of the meat using a meat thermometer just to be safe.  As you all know, pork can be cooked with a hint of pink and also remember, the meat will continue cooking once you take it from the oven.  Once you do remove the meat from the oven, be sure you cover the pork with tin foil to allow the juices to stay inside.

Once covered for 15-20 minutes you are ready to slice and enjoy.

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If you’re like me, you are probably intimidated by a big chunk of beef. Did you purchase the right cut? How should you cook it? What happens inside the piece of meat while it cooks? And how can you best bring out the flavor and juiciness?

Most people serve large cuts of beef only on special occasions. A standing rib roast, a beef tenderloin, or pot roast is expensive and merits a formal occasion like a holiday or birthday.

Your beef entree will be a huge success once you understand a bit about meat structure and how it cooks.

Two Methods of Cooking

There are two methods for cooking meat: dry heat and wet heat. Dry heat methods including grilling, broiling, sauteing, roasting, stir frying, and deep frying. Wet heat includes braising, pot roasting, stewing, steaming, poaching, and slow cooking. Most of us cook beef by the dry heat methods, along with pot roasting, stewing, and slow cooking.  To save money on meat try the inexpensive cuts and use the wet heat method.  This approach is a sure shot to tenderness and allows you to play with the flavors each time you cook.  Don’t be shy to add flavor – vinegars and acidic fruit will help break down the meat the most effective and you can even leave it in the fridge marinating for 24-48 hours.  Stay tuned for some low and slow recipes.

The Best Cuts

For grilling, broiling, and pan frying, the best cuts of meat are rib eye steaks, strip or shell steaks, and T bone, which contains both the strip and tenderloin steaks. Sirloin and round steaks are generally going to be tough and dry. Flank steaks are good when quickly cooked and sliced across the grain.

For roasting, top sirloin, tenderloin, standing rib roasts, and top rump roast are good candidates.

For stir frying, flank, top round, and sirloin steak are good. These cuts are best cooked quickly, and since elastin is broken because the meat is cubed, they are more tender.

For kebabs, tenderloin is the best bet. This mild cut absorbs flavors easily and it is very tender.

For pot roasting and braising, chuck and rump are the best cuts. These cuts have more collagen and need long, slow cooking in a wet environment to reach their optimum tenderness. Chuck has the most flavor and is the most tender.

For ground beef, chuck is the way to go. It has optimal amounts of fat and is tenderized mechanically by the grinding action. Most lean ground beef is chuck, but if you’re not sure, just ask!

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