Wednesday, June 27, 2007

4 Course Meal

From this past Saturday:
Pan Fried Crab Cake with Red Pepper and Dill Aoili served on bed of cabbage
Organic mixed greens and herb salad with Rasberry Vinagarette
Fillet of Dover, sauteed spinach and mixed mushrooms served on a puff pastry crust with a citrus burre blanc sauce and side of julienned carrots and squash
Lemon curd, cake and berries parfait
The one mistake from this dish was the fish, embrassing to say, I made a horrible choice and trusted that this fish was fresh. It did not have a pleasant taste, pretty much awful. I would go back and change it to maybe halibut, some other type of flat fish or even scallops. Crab cake was a hit and the dessert, believe it or not was sugar free- except from the natural sugar in the berries. I used a sugar free pound cake and curd recipe. My little cousin help me prepared this and enjoyed every moment of it.
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From Monday:
Oven Roasted Chicken Breast stuffed with herbs and Fontiago Cheese
served with julienned carrots and squash, mashed potatoes and natural gravy
I have a garden in my backyard with tons of herbs growing, so it was a perfect dish to experiment with my selections of herbs. I think I included parsley, lemon basil, tarrgon, dill, chives, oregano, sage, arugula and thyme, and added garlic/ onion. I bought chix breast with the bone intact and debone it myself, using the bone to make my gravy. The cheese use was fontiago- orginally i was looking for Fontana cheese, but discovered this: its a mix of fontana and asiago cheese, so it was perfect blend and was a soft cheese as well. Oh how I love cheese! When the breast are all stuffed with cheese and herbs, i put it in the freezer for about 2 hour, so it at least hold it shape when i sear it before putting it into the oven. I had leftover veggies from Sat so i used that as well. My lil cousin help as well. She falling in love with cooking.
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My plan for this weekend:
Tandoori Marinated Cornish Game Hens served on a bed of lettuce, served with julienned carrots, Cucumber- Dill yogurt, Apricot Jelli and Nan Bread
I saw this on a cooking show and it looking interesting to make. I think I should try grilling it instead. Now I have to think about a starter and dessert. I am thinking about some onion fritters? Dessert will be something simple- im not big on it, so i will leave it up for my little cousin to do.
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For 4th of July:
BBQ Ribs and Chicken
Vegetable Croute, Baked Beans, Corn Bread and Pasta Salad
I have a wonderful smoker and long overdue to make use of it. My brother will be thrilled. This is my second time using it and from that first experience I learn I have to start early. Last time I started at 4pm? We did not eat till 10Pm. Lesson learned. Dessert will go to the lil one again.
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hmm thats what on the plate for now, I will come back and edit later!

I have several (well many) attempt to start my first post. I would start something then get side tracked, or somehow lose my interest in what i have to post. So instead of boring myself and any reader there is with my daily updates on my life or just whinning in general (afterall, isnt that what xanga is for?), I will post on something I truly have a deep passion for- FOOD. I got this idea from a pal who post alot of the restaurant she visits, seems like she a food crtic.. ahah.
So pretty much it is going to be on menus I created, tried and taste and maybe some pictures. I always been meaning to formally jot down every food creation, but it usually end up on a scrap of paper and stuffed somewhere in my room. So this would help me document everything down.