Monday, March 10, 2014

Communal Breakfast: Recipe for Taking Eggs and Any Relationship to the Next Level

Egg Breakfast with The Temple's Men's Club,
a photo by 
atl10trader on Flickr.
Sunday morning I met with my Temple's Men's Club to share one of the best ways to make eggs for anyone they'd like to impress. Everyone brought their own saucepan and a spatula. The Men's Club President-elect brought the ingredients - who I thank for having traveled far and wide in search of the best. I think his effort showed!

This was the event headline:
Learn How to Make the Pen-Ultimate Egg Breakfast
Real Men Know, the Path to Forgiveness, Awesome Dad-ness or Extra Marital Credits Is Through the Stomach.







Here's the recipe.
Ingredients: per person
Ellis Vener Photography
  • The best artisan loaf of bread you can find
  • 1 Tbsp of the best french butter you can find, preferably unsalted
  • Eggs. Organic. Fresh. Qty: 2 eggs per person
  • 2 Tbsp Greek yogurt (low fat Ok but not fat free)
  • 4 Small to medium tomatoes on their vine. In a pinch cherry tomatoes will also do. 
  • 2 Medium, large mushrooms
  • Chives
  • Sea salt and pepper
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil    
  1. In a skillet or pan heat some olive oil over medium heat place the tomatoes and mushrooms in with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook until tomatoes spit and the eggs are done and you're ready to plate.
  2. Toast the bread that's been sliced into 1/4 - 1/2" slices.
  3. Over medium heat, place in a saucepan the eggs along with the butter (you can add a bit of olive oil before this step to prep the saucepan)(add salt at the end, not now)
  4. Do not let the eggs overcook in the saucepan.  Depending on the heat on the pan, spend about 30 seconds on the heat constantly stirring the eggs with the spatula. Take the pan off the heat and continue stirring the eggs. Repeat until eggs begin to thicken and fluff.
  5. Time's up when the steam comes off the eggs when off the heat and stirring. To stop the cooking process, add the Greek yogurt and incorporate into the eggs.
  6. Add pinches of salt and pepper.
  7. Add chives. Stir.
  8. Plate like the picture above.
  9. Don't forget a mimosa and strong coffee!

    Ellis Vener Photography
A variation on this recipe would be to add some smoked salmon at the end as well.  You could also sauté some kale to go along with the tomatoes and mushrooms.

Here's another example:
Breakfast with Eggs,
a photo by 
atl10trader on Flickr.





Monday, February 03, 2014

Dinner Tonight: Super Bowl on the Plate

Dinner tonight.  The Denver Broncos are enduring a blow out on the largest sporting stage at the hands of the Seattle Seahawks.  It's a bit embarrassing. So we turn our attention to the table and what's being staged there.

Here's a brief recap of the preparations:


Salt and pepper chicken pieces and lamb chops. Pat dry before this step.  Sear meats in a pressure cooker with a bit of oil and high heat - no more than 4 minutes. Remove meat and add chopped onions, celery, and shallots or leeks. Stir around for 5 minutes then add back the meat, zucchini, and herbs (tarragon and sage in this case). Put on low heat for about 45 minutes.

Make quinoa. Add spinach leaves after quinoa is done and resting covered.

Brandade is made by taking 3 Tlbs of tahini sauce, juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, 3 tilapia or similar white flaky fish fillet, dash of ginger, lemongrass, garlic, and salt. Put into a VitaMix or high powered blender and adjust for thickness with water.  Note that there is no diary in this but the result will be quite smooth and creamy in texture!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Trout with Caramelized Onions, Avocado Tahini sauce, and French Green Beans with Pea Shoots

Dinner tonight.

Here's a brief recap of the preparations:


Salt and pepper trout filet with dried oregano.

Avocado, tahini sauce includes Greek yogurt, juice of 1 lemon, olive oil, and salt.

French green beans are dressed in a homemade aioli sauce with pea shoots added at the end for some fresh crunch and flavor layer.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Dinner Tonight: Panko-crusted Tuna with Lemon Basil Chermoula Sauce

August is here and with it comes an avalanche of vegetables in their prime - if not a little water logged from the amount of rain.  With summer vacations behind us, it's time to get back into the kitchen. There's plenty of things to be eating.

Dinner's catch tonight is tuna served with local roasted vegetables: baby eggplant, tomatoes, chinese wax beans, and okra!  Here's how it was done.

Preheat oven to 400F.

Vegetables:
Slice the eggplants length-wise. Put in bowl.
Slice the tomatoes 3cm thick. Put in separate bowl.
Cut okra into uniform pieces. Add to eggplant bowl.
Add beans to the eggplant bowl.

Seasoning:
Season all the vegetables except the tomatoes with:
3 Tbsp EV olive oil
1 Tbsp high quality mirin (sweet rice wine, like Takara)
pinch of celery salt
pinch of zatar

Coat tomatoes with a bit of olive oil and sherry.  Season with a mixture of salt and pinch of sugar.

Line a pan or two with aluminum foil brushed with oil and the vegetables with ample spacing. Put in the oven and cook the vegetables for 35 - 40 minutes until slightly browned.

Tuna Prep:
Add to a bowl: 1/4 cup Matzah meal, 1/4 Panko breadcrumbs, 2 tsp cumin, 2 tsp curry powder
Heat a non-stick pan to Med High with 2 Tbsp of canola or sunflower oil.
Make sure the tuna pieces are patted dry with a paper towel.
Rub a bit of oil on both sides of the tuna.
Take tuna pieces and cover them with the panko, matzah meal and put them in the pan with generous spacing for 2 - 3 minutes depending on thickness. Flip the pieces and cook for 30 seconds before removing from the pan. You want the presentation side to be the golden brown side (the first side). Pieces should have a pink middle.

Chermoula sauce:
Put in a blender (VitaMix or Ninja):
1/2 preserved lemon (remove seeds)
1/8 cup water
2 tsp grated fresh ginger
1/2 cup fresh herbs: I used baby basil, a bit of purple Thai basil, and oregano
1/4 cup olive oil
Salt

Blend. Add:

1 Tbsp capers - chopped (optional)
Handful of small pitted olives like nicoise - chopped (optional)


Paired with a Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Blanc.

The Porthole Arrives

The Porthole by atl10trader
The Porthole, a photo by atl10trader on Flickr.
The Porthole has arrived and is part of the kitchen arsenal.

What's it do?

Slice of fruit, add herbs and/or spices, drop in a liquid and let the combination sit for a while and . . . well, infuse.

I've heard to do so for a short amount of time if alcohol's involved and longer if its oils or vinegars.

Personally I am planning to make my liquid a simple syrup and then use the infused result as an ingredient in my cocktails. My first will be a modification of the original Blueberry drink served at Aviary, where it was first commissioned.

The ingredients for the Blueberry drink are:
Ingredients: Dried hibiscus, freeze-dried pomegranate, thyme flowers, grapefruit zest, lemon zest, fresh strawberries, fresh blueberries, Bulleit Rye whiskey, Carpano Antica vermouth, Angostura orange bitters and white verjus

Here are the product details:
Tempered Low Iron Glass, FDA Grade ABS, Stainless Steel, FDA Grade Silicone
exterior dimensions: 7" x 7" x 2" (17cm x 17cm x 5cm)
interior dimensions: 6" diameter x 1" (150cm dia x 2.5cm)
volume: 13 fl oz (390ml)

design by Martin Kastner.

I'll have some good photos to share when its done.

If you have any suggestions or tips to share, please leave them in the comments. Thank you!

Via Flickr:
Let the infusions begin!

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Mother's Day Breakfast

Married to a great woman who deserves the modest effort of a nice breakfast, strong coffee, and handmade treats from the kids.

Mother's Day Breakfast by atl10trader
Mother's Day Breakfast, a photo by atl10trader on Flickr.
Above is challah and ricotta french toast with freshly grated cinnamon, nutmeg, and powered sugar. I add a little Mirin rice wine to the batter for a little savory sweetness.

Happy Mother's Day Gifts
Happy Mother's Day Gifts, a photo by atl10trader on Flickr.
Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Spring Dinner: Mediterranean Fish Dish & Radish Relished

Relish the Radish by atl10trader
Relish the Radish, a photo by atl10trader on Flickr.
Spring brings the cooking itch to a fever pitch. So many good ingredients make their appearance as the farmers' markets remerge from their hibernation. It can be overwhelming on what to choose for a spring evening meal.  Food writers like Kitty Greenwald thankfully know this and make it their mission to help.

Inspired by her recent article from the WSJ (Weekend Edition, April 6 - 7, 2013, "Relish the Radish"), I assembled this salad and added my own garlic onion pesto as a finishing touch. Matched with the salad was a Mediterranean cod dish with olives, roasted peppers, spring onions, and oregano. It made for a beautiful meal on a blissful spring evening.


Recipe for the radish and fennel salad is below along with the wine pairing.


Radish and Fennel Salad
Total Time: 15 minutes Serves: 4

In a large bowl, toss together 8-10 small to medium radishes, thinly shaved, 1 fennel bulb, thinly shaved, ½ tablespoon picked fennel fronds, 4 tablespoons toasted pine nuts, 2 ounces crumbled sheep's milk feta and 1½ tablespoons thinly sliced shallot. Season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon lemon zest and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Toss salad with enough dressing to coat. Garnish with extra fennel fronds, feta and pine nuts, if desired.

—Adapted from Jenn Louis of Lincoln and Sunshine Tavern, Portland, Ore.

Garlic Onion Pesto Dressing
Total Time: 5 minutes

Roughly chop half a garlic onion (which looks very similar to a leek) by taking 1/4 from the green top end and 1/4 from the white bottom end (cut and discard the very bottom with the root ends).  Put into a high speed blender with 1 cup of olive oil.  Blend until frothy and thoroughly infused.  Drizzle a line on the plate and serve the salad on top.

Wine Pairing:
Can't go wrong with a Carneros, CA Chardonnay.  In this case a bottle of 2008 Vine Hill Winery Chardonnay, Clements Ridge Vineyard.  Lots of lemon notes and enough body to compliment the freshness of the fennel and radish as well as the zesty tomato base of the fish.


Tuesday, January 01, 2013

Adieu 2012, Salut 2013! New Year's Eve Dinner Menu


Below is the New Year's Eve menu I pulled together from a variety of inspirations with links to recipes below.  


Adieu 2012, Salut 2013!
Chez Aferiat
December 31, 2012
Menu: Happy New year !
~ Cocktails ~
Gin, Caster Sugar, Lemon juice, Champagne
Cranberry, Cointreau, Champagne
~ Amuse Bouche ~
Pickled veggies with celery root purée
~ Entrée ~
2010 Patricia Green Cellars Sauvignon Blanc, OR
~ Plat Principal ~
Crisp Red Snapper w/Zucchini & Tomato Jus w/
Ginger, saffron, cilantro, coriander, cumin, paprika drizzle
2007 Robin K./William Knuttel Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast, CA
~ Les Fromages ~
Boucheron, Délice de Bourgogne, Roquefort, Sweet Grass(GA)
~ Salade ~
Arugula, balsamic infused melon, candied pecans, goat cheese
~ Desserts ~
Pièce Montée: Profiteroles
Chocolate Cake
2007 Quinta do Noval Porto Late Bottled Vintage Port Wine

January 1, 2013 12:00:01
Champagne Toast!

Picking favorites I'd say the butternut squash crème brûlée surprised the guests the most - the way you'd like to be: pleasantly.





Saturday, December 08, 2012

Chicken White Chili: Terrific 3 Ways

Chicken White Chili by atl10trader
Chicken White Chili, a photo by atl10trader on Flickr.
Lunch today was last night's dinner. Like any homemade soup, it tastes even better when the flavors rest overnight.  Muss & Turner's here in Atlanta actually lists their offerings on the menu under the header, "Yesterday's Soup".

Serve this as a game-day feast or a winter warming weeknight meal.  The key ingredient is actually a leftover item: a rotisserie chicken from your local grocery store or your own.  Eat what you like one night and save about 1 and 1/2 cups of meat for the soup.  It is the best use of what's left from a roasted chicken other than using the bones to make chicken stock.  Adding great chicken sausage from a local butcher like Atlanta's Spotted Trotter is a bonus.  It adds even more layers of flavor.

The first time I came across this recipe it had a Texas twist to it and called for a chopped jalapeno pepper to add some kick.  I modified the recipe by substituting butter and milk items for light coconut milk (though almond milk could also work).  Additionally I finish the soup with slices of avocado and widges of lime and lime zest to give the dish a Thai flavor profile (a dash of Sriracha at the finish would be great).  There's alot of ways to make this goodness all your own.

So the 3 ways are: as rotisserie chicken, as Chicken White Chili for dinner, and then as leftovers for lunch.  Each time it gets better.  I'd love to hear how you vary things.


Chicken White Chili

1 medium onion, chopped
1 large shallot, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup chopped kale or cilantro
1 tbsp margarine or canola oil
1 tsp ground cumin
2 (15.5-ounce) cans Goya small white beans or cannellini beans (or consider 1 cup quinoa)
2 (4.5-ounce) cans chopped green chiles (use Hatch chiles if you can find them)
1 1/2 cups pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, chopped
3 links of chicken sausage, sliced or left whole
3 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup light coconut milk (Whole Foods or Trader Joes have it) or almond milk
2 tbsp cornstarch

Sliced avocado (slightly salted) and cilantro or spring onions for garnish before serving.


Combine onion, shallot, garlic, a pinch of salt, and canola oil in a large pot. Saute for several minutes until the onion starts to soften. Sprinkle cumin on top to release the flavor. Add beans, green chiles, chopped chicken, chicken sausage, and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Once chili is heated through, bring back down to just above simmer, and stir in coconut milk and kale (if using cilantro - hold until serving as a garnish). Put cornstarch into a small bowl. Carefully ladle some liquid from the chili onto the cornstarch, and mix to form a thin paste. Pour the paste into the chili and allow several minutes to thicken slightly.  Salt and pepper to taste.


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Monday, October 29, 2012

Strawberry Ghosts for Halloween

Here's a fun recipe for a Halloween treat that makes for a great activity with the kids and a lasting memory.  This may very well become a fast tradition.


Juicy strawberries cloak themselves in white chocolate with a hint of almond flavor to make these treats frightfully delicious. Looking at some of these gave me a, "Oh, no! Mr. Bill" moment.



This recipe comes from Nancy Mueller of Highlands Ranch, Colorado.

Serves 30, Total time with prep: 30 minutes



Ingredients:
  • 30 fresh strawberries
  • 8 ounces white baking chocolate, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon shortening
  • 1/8 teaspoon almond extract (lemon would also work)
  • 1/4 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Directions:
  1. Wash strawberries and dry completely
  2. Microwave at 50% power until melting the white chocolate and shortening in a safe bowl; stir until smooth, then stir in extract
  3. Dip each strawberry in white chocolate mixture and place in a plastic container or baking sheet. Immediately press chocolate chips into coating for eyes. Freeze for 5 minutes
  4. Melt remaining chocolate chips in microwave; stir until smooth. Dip toothpick into melted chocolate and draw a mouth on each face after the 5 minute freeze


Saturday, September 15, 2012

New Year Dinner Menu



Tonight's Menu featured a main dish inspired from the excellent foodie site, Food Republic: http://www.foodrepublic.com/2012/09/11/pomegranate-brisket-recipe.  I can't say enough good things about how well the dish turned out.  Very flavorful. 

Very unfortunate however that I did not get a good enough shot of the final dish to show you.  In the new year I will resolve to plate one dish of all the courses ahead of time and perform the shoot before the company arrives.

Instead I have a picture of the magnum of champagne we enjoyed.  And wow was it an experience:  a 1998 Piper Heidsieck 'Rare' cuvée Champagne.  Notes of buttered toast, caramel, citrus - a rare treat indeed.  Wish I had more.  Because it was a magnum shared among 8 of us, I did use some of this juice in the cocktail at the beginning.  Some would consider this wasteful to mix such a standalone gem with anything, but if you believe in using the best ingredients, this one took the cocktail to a whole new level.  Only one-half glass each was used before switching to the Champagne in its pure form!

Wishing everyone a healthy Shana Tova worthy of many bubbly celebrations.
  



Monday, July 23, 2012

Atlanta's Most Creative Foodie Festival: Attack of the Killer Tomato

One of the best ways to enjoy Atlanta in the summer heat happens when the Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival roars into town.  The festival sticks to a formula that works:
  • a simple, creative theme:  food or drink or both - incorporate tomatoes
  • a great location (JCT Kitchen and its culinary atrium of neighboring restaurants in the White Provisions development, Westside, Atlanta)
  • a great band (the Spazmatics from Austin, TX: seeking asylum, covering everything and appropriately killing it) 
and each year some lyprocene-deficient soul is sacrificed to the Man-Eating Tomato to assure cloudless, sunny skies.

Here's the story as I saw it "cherry-picking" some of my favorites.  Enjoy.

Lara gets things going smoothly.
A cocktail as delicious to drink as amazing to watch Kellie craft.
Kellie & Co. on the assembly line.

Kellie's pour of Alegria Vital ('Joie de Vivre')!

Straight-forward can be as delicious as imaginative.

Ford Fry's entry delivered on taste.


The Host, Ford Fry, JCT Kitchen.









Slapping herbs with flair to release oils. 


Asylum seekers: The Spazmatics.




Tyler Williams, Abattoir, making 'salad-of-the-future'.




Drops of each ingredient goes in, pearl sized dots of goodness come out.
The only item for which I returned for seconds.  Delicious and imaginative.

Unforgettable popsicles.








Mixologist Stuart White with one of the best in show cocktails.


Loosely translated as, 'Bad Ass'.

La Tavola


Best makeup.

Best costume.




Still Hungry?

More photos of the festival (and from years past) appear in this set: Killer Tomato Festival Photos


Related Articles

Read the review of the 2010 Killer Tomato Festival.
Read the review of the 2009 Killer Tomato Festival.