Escarole is a lovely green from the endive family, slightly bitter with hearty leaves that can stand up to cooking. Although it’s available year round, it can be hard to find in regular grocery stores. Peak season is the spring and summer months. It’s especially popular with Italians, who love their bitter vegetables (think rapinni, or radicchio) because they so deliciously offset rich and fatty meats.
Don’t be intimidated. These three recipes are dead-simple and REALLY delicious. If you have a hankering for Mexican flavors, and a few people coming over for supper, this is the ticket. Serve with some good (preferably hand-made) tortillas, a tossed green, and a pitcher of cold Margaritas (or some Tecate, or Modelo, or Dos Equis).
Follow the link to find some Molé paste (if you can’t find it at the local Whole Foods). Continue reading
Breakfast does NOT have to be boring. Once you get familiar with how to prepare and assemble these breakfast bowls, with their interchangeable ingredients, you can get creative and switch out ingredients to your little tongue’s desire.
Go to Africa with eggplant and peanuts. Go to Mexico with guacamole and chilies. Go to Eastern Europe with Bulgarian feta or grated Kashkaval cheese, and some sautéed cabbage and caraway. Go to Asia with seasoned rice vinegar in the scrambled eggs, roasted bok choy, and a drizzle of sesame oil and Hoisin. Continue reading
This is one of those recipes that could be switched up very easily. It will work with whatever fish is freshest and available. If you don’t have trout fillets, you could use cod or tilapia or even salmon. Pretty much any firm fish will do, skin on or off, depending on what you like. The sauce would even work with a piece of chicken, or a pork tenderloin.
You can pan-fry for a crispy skin, or broil, or even roast. If you have a sous vide at home, cook your fish and finish with the sauce. You could lean more towards Thailand and VietNam by splitting the difference between soy sauce and fish sauce. Add a couple of shakes of good curry powder. Change the toppings to sliced green onions, cilantro leaves, thin slices of colored bell pepper, or throw on some toasted almonds or peanuts. Tons of possibility.
And any of these methods would work fine with the Cilantro-Lime Rice. Continue reading
Here is a very-easy-to-put-together weeknight dish that’s filling, protein-rich, and surprisingly yummy –a satisfying end to a cold day.
The marinade does take an hour to work its magic, but it’s way worth it. Serve the chicken and the roasted potatoes with a simple green salad and you’re set.
Still cold out. Still need something to warm the tummy. Not only will this make your home smell like a trip to the South of France, with some crusty French bread and a lovely Bordeaux, or a chewy glass of Vacqueyras, this meal is outstanding.
Switch out the sausages to your liking. Get creative with brats, andouille, boudin, etc. Calls for duck fat, which is lovely and indulgent, but you can use the bacon fat from rendering the bacon, just as easily. Continue reading
As whatever we have melting together in our giant global melting pot, some of the culture clashes really don’t work, and others end up creating something greater than the sum, etc.
Last week we sent Ms. American Meatloaf on an immersion adventure to the Middle East. She came home looking sultry and sensual. You could hear the 3/3/2 rhythms of Arab khaligi beat.
Bullseye Records of Canada
