Thought for Food

Valentine's Day Breakfast

2007-02-17T19:40:11Z

Valentine's Day Breakfast
Originally uploaded by Ian McKenzie.

I had seen something at Slashfood about frying heart-shaped eggs for Valentine's Day" using a cookie cutter. I liked the idea, but varied it a little to make eggs in a hole. I used the cookie cutter to remove a heart-shaped piece from the bread, broke the egg into the hole and fried. It worked like a charm. ;)

10 Minute Recipes

2006-08-26T19:47:08Z

For recipes ready in 10 minutes or less, you need to use convenience foods, or use as few ingredients as possible. These recipes are a little of both! Whether you're combining a few outstandingly fresh ingredients for a simple pasta or cooking fish with a tangy glaze, these recipes will come to the rescue when you literally do not have much time in the kitchen.

10 Minute Recipes - Recipes Ready in Ten Minutes - Super Quick and Easy 10 Minute Recipes

How to create edible food photos with food styling

2006-08-22T16:50:26Z

Not only is Benjamin Christie a world-class chef, but he does a pretty good job of illustrating his recipe blog with photographs. In this post he gives an overview of the equipment and steps he uses to create perfect food shots. You’ll find a number of helpful tips to improve your food photography.

Food Photography and creating edible Food Photos with food styling

[tags]food, photography, food styling, how to, tips and tricks[/tags]

Grow your Own Coffee

2006-08-16T17:33:49Z

I saw three coffee trees growing in a coffee shop window this week. I think it would neat to serve coffee that you had grown yourself. I imagine you would need a good warm indoor spot for them through our winters.

Did you know that you can grow your own coffee beans? Well, you can! Be advised that it takes four ‘4’ years before you’ll be able to harvest your first, very own, beans or cherries if you will. On the plus side of things, during that four years and there on, you will enjoy a very pretty evergreen type shrub that sports a very pretty white flowers that have a pleasant fragrance.

Read @ Coffee Sage

Orange Chicken Stir Fry

2006-08-06T22:33:51Z

INGREDIENTS:

2 Tbsp. oil
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips
1/2 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 cup orange juice
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 cups frozen baby peas, thawed
1/2 cup cashew pieces

PREPARATION:

Heat oil in heavy skillet or wok. Add chicken, salt and pepper. Stir fry until chicken is cooked, 3-4 minutes. Combine orange juice, honey, and cornstarch in small bowl. Add to chicken in skillet or wok along with frozen peas.

Stir fry 2-4 minutes until sauce thickens. Stir in cashew pieces and serve over hot cooked rice or noodles. 4 servings

links for 2006-07-17

2006-07-17T06:17:59Z

Grilled Lime Chicken with Black Bean Sauce Recipe

(tags: Chicken Grilling BBQ Tex-Mex)

Chocolate Covered Ants

2006-07-13T19:07:30Z

Our yard is overrun with ants this year. If you're in the same position, don't call the exterminator. Get busy in the kitchen. Here's a recipe for Chocolate Covered Ants from ChefDepot.net. The recipe offers the helpful caution, "avoid red ants, they're too spicy."

Technorati Tags: Recipes, Chocolate, Dessert, Ants

Turkey Onion Burgers

2006-07-12T15:53:14Z

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 egg
1 pouch onion soup mix
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
2 green onions, chopped
1/2 teaspoon pepper

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients.
Form into six patties.
Barbeque, broil or fry until completely cooked through and juices are no longer pink.
Serve on toasted hamburger buns and garnish with your favourite toppings.

Technorati Tags: Recipes, Ground Turkey, Burgers, BBQ, Grilling

links for 2006-07-09

2006-07-09T06:18:26Z

Slashfood Ate (8): Chilled soups for summer - Slashfood

So for summer, here are eight great chilled soups

(tags: Recipes Soup Summer Gazpacho)

Five-Spice Powder

2006-07-08T21:49:25Z

Ingredients:

4 tablespoons Szechuan peppercorns (or you can substitute other peppercorns)
4 tablespoons whole cloves
4 tablespoons broken cinnamon sticks
4 tablespoons fennel seed
12 whole star anise

Directions:

Place all the ingredients in a dry non-stick fry pan and toast lightly over medium heat.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Place in spice grinder and pulse until finely ground. You may need to grind in batches.
Store in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place.

Orange Ginger Marinade

2006-07-08T21:41:07Z

The following marinade is great on beef, but would work well with chicken breasts. This is a good marinade for barbecuing, but would also work for meat grilled in the oven or on an electric grill.

Cooking times will vary depending on the style of cooking, cut of meat, required doneness, etc.

Ingredients:

2 green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup beef stock
1/4 cup orange marmalade
1/2 cup of orange juice
1 tablespoon of five-spice powder
1/4 cup of fresh cilantro, leaves and stems

Directions:

Place the ingredients in food processor and whiz until blended.
Pour over meat and marinade for at least 2 hours.
Remove meat from marinade a grill until cooked.

Technorati Tags: Marinade, BBQ, Grilling, Recipe, Beef, Chicken, Ginger, Orange

Make your own vinegar

2006-07-05T21:30:54Z

Making your own vinegar from wine —leftover or otherwise— is not a difficult process, once you have a “mother”. You can find some straightforward instructions here >>Gang of Pour - So, You Wanna Make Vinegar, Eh?.

Carrot and Apple Slaw

2006-07-03T18:18:20Z

Dressing:

2 tablespoons Sesame Oil
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1/4 C Honey
1/2 C Lemon Juice

Ingredients:

3 C packed, shredded carrots
1 C Golden Raisins (or black raisins, they are pretty, too)
1 very tart apple, diced (I use Granny Smith)
3/4 C Toasted almond slivers
Cilantro (optional, to taste)

Make it:

Whisk the dressing ingredients together. It should make a thick, dressing, but still easy to pour. The honey is the thickening agent, so it will not be as thick as the honey itself. By the way, this is not the time to use artisan honey, just use the stuff from the bear.
Add the peeled, diced apple to the dressing. The acid in the lemon juice will prevent it from turning brown.
Add all the rest of the ingredients — except the cilantro — and mix well.
Just before serving, garnish with the cilantro. Be sure to ask your guests if they like it or not. Strangely enough, some people do not.

Starbucks Copycat Recipes

2006-06-29T21:34:15Z

The Gourmet Sleuth has done a little detecting and dug up clues to solving the mysteries of Starbucks recipes. (I’m sure there’s a couple of jokes embedded in that phrase.) Among the links are recipes for these standard beverages plus some that I’ve not seen in Starbucks around here.

There are also some pastry recipes. Again, Starbucks in this area have pastry supplied by a local bakery, so I’m not sure what constitutes a “Starbucks” pastry.

GourmetSleuth.com - Starbucks Copycat Recipes.

Pecan Crusted Baked Salmon

2006-06-28T21:42:39Z

Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup apple juice
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
3 1/2 lb salmon fillet
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1 tbsp butter, melted
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Combine brown sugar, apple juice, soy sauce and 1 tsp pepper in a bowl, mix well and pour into an extra-large freezer bag.
Add salmon and squeeze bag to coat salmon with marinade. Seal bag and place on a tray. Refrigerate, turning bag occasionally, for 2 - 3 hours. NB. If you don't have a freezer bag, marinade the salmon in a 9 X 13 pan.
Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Remove salmon from marinade; discard marinade. Place salmon, skin side down, on the parchment paper.
Combine pecans, melted butter, salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Gently press pecan mixture evenly on top of salmon. Bake at 425ºF for 40 - 45 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

Serves 8 - 10.

Technorati Tags: Recipes, Seafood, Salmon, Main Dish