February 2009
10 posts
2 tags
Pickled Green Beans
one and one third part white vinegar
one third part soy sauce
one third part rice vinegar
dry wasabi*
green beans
For two pounds of green beans I used two and two sixths cups of white vinegar, two sixths cups of soy sauce and rice vinegar. I added around three tablespoons of wasabi, but you should flavor to taste.
Mix liquid ingredients and wasabi in a wide flat pot and slowly bring to a...
2 tags
Duck prep, 24 hours in advance
I’m using the Joy of Cooking’s recipe for ‘Chinese Roast Duck’ (page 621-622), paraphrased:
one duck, four to five pounds
five cups of water
one half cup of soy sauce
one quarter cup of honey
Mix liquids in a large pot, bring to a boil. Place duck in mixture for one minute, continually coating with liquid.
“Remove the duck from the pot, drain, and pat...
1 tag
Sunday's dinner
There is a lot that Rachael and I must do to get ready for Sunday night’s dinner. Here is the planned menu:
pickled green beans
sticky pork buns
pho w/ roasted duck
As of now the duck is defrosting in the fridge (I bought it at a farmer’s market in November). We also have to go to at least three grocers and a market to get everything we need, from spices to vegetables and noodles.
...
2 tags
DC's Special Vegitarean Pho
This recipe is special, cause there aren’t any really great Pho restaurants that you can get to without a car in DC. It’s DC’s because I made the recipe in DC wanting for some Pho.
Broth
two chopped onions
four star anise*
one cinnamon stick*
two whole cloves*
2 tsps black peppercorn*
fresh ginger
one tbs sugar
one tbs salt
two tbs fish sauce (optional)
ninety-six...
2 tags
Potato Meet Leek Soup
four leeks
three large russet potatos, peeled and diced
one medium to large onion, diced
two tbs butter
two tbs olive oil
sea or kosher salt
vegetable broth, thirty-two ounces
Put oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onions, pinch of salt and sweat. When translucent add three sliced leeks and sweat some more. Add potatos until you can smell the potato cooking. Add broth to...
2 tags
Pepper Adams
While listening to Donald Byrd’s album ‘Royal Flush’ on my way to work this morning, I was particularly moved by Pepper Adam’s solo on the song Shangri-la. It was hot and smoky like his name suggests.
Thinking of heat and smoke made me think of how making paprika would be a worthy culinary challenge. I don’t have all the ingredients and tools necessary, right...
Note to self
Next time you buy food and your first reaction to the first bite is, “never again,” it is probably good advice.
1 tag
2 tags
Lemon Orange Drink.
two lemons
one orange (clementine)
white sugar
Using a micro-plane, or another grating device, zest the two lemons and one orange; then juice. Measure out a portion of sugar equal to the juice and put both into a pot. Add zest. Boil the mixture and reduce. Place syrup in freezer (15 minutes) or refrigerator (45 minutes) to cool. Mix with seltzer — to taste — and serve.
for...