Summer Corn and Avocado Salad

First of all, I hate salads. So it really says something that I've made this three times in the last month. 

Summer in a bowl

I lump this into the "salad" category along with others like chicken salad, potato salad, pasta salad and other delicious but not traditional salads (no mayo in this, I promise!). I think the bed of leafy greens most salads rest on is what I find so unappealing so this summer corn salad is the perfect compromise. Plenty of veggies but just enough junk to make me happy.

Feast

Because this dish is so cheap, easy, and delicious, it's perfect to make for large groups. So far, I've made it for two casual dinner parties and one potluck. Each had a very different theme, demonstrating the versatility of the dish. Summer goes with everything. It works equally well for grilling out as it does for a Mexican meal (above) or a hot dog bar potluck.

And it has all the right buzzwords: avocado, fresh mozz, summer veggies. Done. 

This is a throw everything together and eye ball it type of recipe so work with me if the proportions are a little vague. Feel free to adjust it based on your likes and add/subtract to your heart's desire. Some thoughts: pancetta, feta, zucchini, beans, red onion, jalapeno. Go crazy!

Express Yourself

Summer Corn and Avocado Salad

Serves 10-15 as a side

Ingredients:

8 ears of fresh corn (or one bag of frozen corn)

2 bell peppers (mix up the colors to make it pretty), diced

Half a pack of cherry tomatoes, halved

2 avocados, cubed

One and a half balls of fresh mozz, broken into bite-sized pieces

5 tbsp of Garlic Expressions dressing (Found at Fresh Market and Lowe's and potentially others. If you can't find this, then a roasted garlic vinaigrette would work.)

Directions:

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add husked corn. Remove the corn once the water comes back to a boil (about 4 minutes). Let corn cool for a few minutes then sliced the kernels off the cob into a large mixing bowl. 

Dice the bell peppers and halve the cherry tomatoes while waiting for the water to boil. I usually drain the tomatoes in a colender to get rid of excess liquid. I just add more with the dressing later so I don't want it to get soupy. Add to corn.

Right before serving add the cheese, avocado, dressing and s&p to taste. Mix well and serve chilled.

Scallops with Lemon Orzo and Beurre Blanc

I'm sorry! 

I really dropped the ball here. Between my new job and moving houses (all of one block, but whatever) I've barely had time to breath, let alone cook. By the time I get home at night all I want to do is crush a glass of wine (or three) and spend no more than 15 minutes to get dinner ready. Enter a disgusting amount of freezer meals. I'm ashamed and probably malnourished so now that I've gotten a handle on my life, I'm going to try to eat like a normal human being again.

Or my version of what a normal human eats, which apparently is a questionable amount of seafood. The week of July 4th was much more laid back than others so I took the opportunity to reacquaint myself with the kitchen.

During the day, we went to Annapolis to get into some crabs. Great decision. Cantler's was the perfect spot to spend America's birthday sitting outside, hammering on some Maryland crabs, and keeping cool with summer shandys. It was a much more mature July 4th celebration than in the past for sure.

<3 Old Bay <3

The seafood didn't end there. For dinner I decided to cook some scallops before heading down to the Georgetown waterfront to catch the fireworks. I really need to do scallops more often especially with my new work schedule. They are one of the simplest things to cook (all you need is S&P) and can be done in a few minutes. The key is to make sure to buy dry packed or pat them reallllly dry with paper towels so you can get a good sear. There's nothing less sexy than a squishy scallop.

I've had a beurre blanc obsession since Junior year of college when we went to Blue Heaven in Key West for Spring Break. It was our one nice dinner of the trip, and I still think about that snapper. Well not so much the snapper as the sauce. It was smooth and rich without being heavy and tasted like BUTTER. But better.

SB2K10

Basically the scallops were just an excuse to make beurre blanc again. It goes so great with seafood! Just don't dwell too long over the amount of butter in this dish or you'll cry. Toss in some quick-cooking orzo, and it's ready in under 30 minutes. Fancy enough for a dinner party or date but easy enough for just you. And the best part is it goes perfect with a bottle glass of white wine.

Scallops with Lemon Orzo and Beurre Blanc

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

For the beurre blanc:
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 large shallot, finely chopped
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 1/2 sticks (6 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cubed
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

For the orzo salad:
1/2 pound dried orzo pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 lemon, zest and juice
2 tablespoons chopped chives

For the scallops:
Sea scallops, preferably dry-packed, 4-5 per person
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions:

For the beurre blanc, bring the wine, wine vinegar, and shallots to a boil in a medium stainless steel saucepan. Cook the mixture until reduced to a very thick glaze (about 2 tbsp), about 8 - 12 minutes depending on the size of the pan. Strain the sauce through a fine mesh sieve, discarding the solids, and return the liquid to the saucepan.

Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream. Vigorously whisk in the butter, cube by cube, not adding another piece until the last is almost fully melted. If the butter stops incorporating, return the pan to low heat and continue adding the remaining cubes. The sauce should be thick, creamy, and glossy. (If not, whisk in a few more cubes of butter if desired.) Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Hold on lowest heat, stirring occasionally, until ready to serve.

While the beurre blanc is reducing, cook the orzo according to package directions. Drain well. Toss with the olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, and the chives. Season with salt and pepper, and adjust other oil and lemon to taste.

For the scallops, heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. While the pan is heating, pat the scallops dry and dust the tops with kosher salt and pepper. (Be generous, as you will loose 40% of the seasoning to the pan.)

Add a glug of canola or vegetable oil to the pan. Once it is shimmery and hot, add the scallops, salted side down, around the outside of pan in a clockwise direction starting at 12:00. (This allows you to know which scallop to flip first and continue turning in the same clockwise direction.) Once they are in the pan, dust tops now facing up with more salt and pepper.

Allow the scallops to sear, undisturbed, for a minute or so. When you start to see a golden brown crust beginning to rise up the side of one, it is ready to flip. (If you cannot visibly see a crust, or if you have to lift the scallop to peek at the bottom, it is not ready to flip.) Once the scallops are flipped, continue cooking for about another minute or so, until they are firm but still a tad uncooked in the center. (They will finish cooking with the residual heat.) Transfer the scallops to a plate lined with a paper towel to soak up any cooking juices.

Serve the scallops atop the lemony orzo with a generous drizzle of beurre blanc (lots of extra on the side!)

 [Recipe from the Kitchn]

Wilmington Weekend: Paula Deen's Carrot Cake

Happy Birthday to me!

Yesterday actually, but I was too busy celebrating myself to do a post. To top off the food bonanza that was my most recent trip to Wilmington, my mom baked a carrot carrot for Quin's and my birthdays.

She used Paula Deen's recipe (as one should when baking) so you know this cake was extra delicious. And healthy.

Sadly, I only have a few pictures since some ants got to the cake before the candles. They only raided the bottom layer so we just removed that and munched onward. Don't judge.

Paula Deen's Carrot Cake

Ingredients:

Butter, for pans

2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for pans

2 cups sugar

2 teaspoons baking soda

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon salt

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

3 cups grated carrots

1 1/2 cups chopped pecans, optional

Frosting:

2 (8-ounce) packages cream cheese, room temperature

1 stick salted butter, room temperature

1 (16-ounce) box powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour 3 (9-inch) round pans; Line bottom of the pans with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Add eggs and vegetable oil. Using a hand mixer, blend until combined. Add carrots and pecans, if using.

Pour into pans. Bake for approximately 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Remove from pans, place on waxed paper and allow to cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

Add all ingredients, except nuts, into a medium bowl and beat until fluffy using a hand mixer. Stir in the nuts. Spread frosting on top of each cake layer. Stack the cakes on a serving plate and serve.

[Recipe from The Food Network]

Wilmington Weekend: Huevos Rancheros with Salsa Ranchera

I'm not done with treats from my Wilmington visit yet. As you can tell most of my time was spent eating. Before leaving on Sunday my dad whipped up some brunch. Huevos rancheros to be exact.

My family loves Mexican food but none of this over-cheesed, over-sauced mess. We go a little more authentic. My dad got this recipe from The Essential Cuisines of Mexico by Diana Kennedy who is basically the Julia Child of Mexican cuisine. 

By using fresh veggies to make the salsa and moderating the amount of cheese, this can be a very satisfying but non-nap inducing brunch choice. Since there aren't too many elements to this dish, the salsa is the star.

WAY better than jarred salsa

Fry the tortillas like you would for enchiladas - making sure not to make them crispy. Drain them and then fry the eggs right in that oil. Everyone's different but I prefer my whites completely set with a runny yoke. This would be a good time to whip up some homemade refried beans too. I won't judge you for using a can, but homemade ones are much tastier and look way more appetizing. 

Multitask

Now it's time for assembly. Almost done! Place a fried egg on a tortilla and surround with salsa. Grate a little cheddar cheese on top and stick under the broiler for about 30 seconds - just enough time to melt the cheese. Top with some cilantro and dig in! I definitely think it's a respectable decision to eat two. 

Huevos Rancheros with Salsa Ranchera
Serves 1

Ingredients:
1/2 cups of salsa ranchera, warmed (recipe below)
2 tbsp oil
2 small tortillas
2 eggs

Directions:
Heat oil and fry the tortillas lightly on both sides, as you would for enchiladas - they must not become crisp. Drain them on some toweling and place them on the warmed dish.


In the same oil, fry the eggs, then place them on the tortillas.

Cover the eggs with the warmed sauce and shredded cheddar cheese. Put the dish briefly under the broiler until the cheese melts.

Salsa Ranchera


Ingredients:
1 tomato (about 1/2 lb), broiled
1 or 2 chiles serranos, toasted
1/2 clove of garlic, peeled

Directions:
To toast chilies, place the chili on a warm cast iron pan and turn it from time to time until the skin is charred and the flesh is soft.

To broil tomatoes, out onto a hot cast iron pan and cook until the skin is wrinkled and brown and the flesh is soft right through - this takes about 20 to 25 minutes for an 8 ounce tomato. However, since this method is very messy, it is best to line a shallow metal pan with foil and put the tomatoes in it. Place them under a hot broiler - do not have the flame too high or the tomato will burn without cooking through - and turn them from time to time so that they cook through evenly - the skin will be blistered and charred. A medium tomato will take about 20 minutes.

Blend tomatoes, chilies, and garlic together to a fairly smooth sauce. Do not overblend.

[Recipe from The Essential Cuisines of Mexico by Diana Kennedy]

Wilmington Restaurant Rave: Manna

Saturday night my mom suggested we go to a relatively new restaurant in downtown Wilmington and see a play at City Stage. Manna is one of the best restaurants I can remember going to in Wilmington especially in the upscale category. I love my standbys like Sweet N Savory and Terrazzo, but for a nice meal, this is one of the best and definitely most inventive spots in town.

We went early before the play and got several apps and cocktails. Their cocktails are what really set them apart. Their mixologist created drinks where I didn't know most of the ingredients on the menu. That's when you know it's going to be good. The addition of flower garnishes really sealed the deal.

I got the Lavender Citrus Blossom, which consisted of vodka, lemon, orange, lavender syrup and west indian orange bitters. I thought it was the best cocktail order but my mom and sister might disagree. Quin got the Elderflower Fizz made with gin, st. germain, grapefruit, lemon, soda and grapefruit bitters - also delish. My mom went really sassy with her order an opted for the Cat Smash - cat daddy moonshine, lemon, mint and soda water. 

I thought we'd peaked out too early in the meal, and there was no way the food could live up to the amazing cocktails. Wrong. We ordered 4 small plates to share and each one was awesome. For thinking I did not like beef tartar, this is the second tapas tasting where this dish was my fave. Maybe I need to reevaluate some things? This preparation had a tapenade of caper & chive, a sherry poached egg, and roasted garlic and horseradish emulsion all served with grilled bread.

The braised pork belly with a cauliflower puree was also on point, but then again, when have I not loved a dish with pork belly? This was the most hearty and comforting dish of the night.

We also tried a selection of six cheeses and meats from the charcuterie. I have no idea what they were, but all of them were tasty. We had housemade salami and prosciutto with cheeses that reminded me of blue and brie varieties. These were served with some fresh baked bread, stone ground spicy mustard, fruit jams, and pickled veggies.

Finally, there was the beet salad. My mom decided we needed some greens so we went for this. Being my first time with beets, I can now say I'm a fan. The salad had roasted yellow beets, arugula, almond oil, grapefruit, and a rhubarb and beet mousse. The mousse was awesome, but this dish was my least favorite if only because it was a salad. 

This is a solid spot for dinner and drinks in downtown Wilmington. If you're ever in the area, check it out.

http://mannaavenue.com/

Wilmington Weekend: Scallops with Papaya Salsa and Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes

I love going home to Wilmington for many reasons. I get to see my parents, go to the beach when the weather cooperates, and eat incredible food (mostly seafood) to name a few. While the weather was disappointing, the food was not.

Just a snapshot

My dad should go on Top Chef. Everything he makes is delicious, and aside from a few staples (cheeseburgers and enchiladas), he rarely repeats dishes. Every time I go home I get to try a new and inventive dish. Knowing Quin's and my love for fresh Wilmington seafood, he had a scallop dish and plenty of wine ready for us when we got off the flight.

I don't think he's ever cooked scallops for us before so he shared some knowledge. For scallops, it's especially important that you buy them dry packed. If you can't find that, then let your scallops drain for longer in a collender and pat dry with paper towels. 

Otherwise they'll steam rather than get a nice brown crust like this:

He also made a tropical papaya salsa to go on top, which made me forget it was 50 degrees and raining outside. Make ahead of time to let the flavors meld. 

Finally the meal was topped off with some roasted spiced sweet potatoes. An interesting blend of spices makes these sweet potatoes stand out. My dad is a stickler for presentation so he finished the dish off with some baby spinach, cilantro, avocado slices, diced red pepper and a drizzle of olive oil.

Scallops with Papaya Salsa

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup grated lemon zest

1 tsp honey

1/2 tsp fresh lime juice

Half a ripe papaya, peeled and diced

1 1/2 tbsp minced red bell pepper

2 tsp chopped cilantro

1 tsp chopped green onion

1 tsp minced red onion

Pinch of salt

1 lb sea scallops (about 12), drained and patted dry with paper towels

Avocado and red pepper for garnish

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine 3 tbsp oil and zest. Let sit 1 hour at room temperature. Strain mixture, using a fine sieve. In another small bowl, combine honey and lime juice. Add remaining ingredients for papaya relish and mix well. Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large saute pan. Sauté scallops over medium heat until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. For each serving, place 3 scallops on a plate and drizzle 1 tbsp lemon oil over scallops. Top with 2 tbsp papaya relish. Serve with slices of avocado and diced red pepper.

[Recipe adapted from Epicurious]

Roasted Spiced Sweet Potatoes

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon coriander seeds

1/2 teaspoon fennel seeds

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/2 teaspoon dried hot red pepper flakes

1 teaspoon kosher salt

2 lb medium sweet potatoes

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Coarsely grind coriander, fennel, oregano, and red pepper flakes in an electric coffee/spice grinder or with a mortar and pestle. Stir together spices and salt.

Cut potatoes lengthwise into 1-inch wedges.

Toss wedges with oil and spices in a large roasting pan and roast in middle of oven 20 minutes. Turn wedges over with a spatula and roast until tender and slightly golden, 15 to 20 minutes more.

[Recipe adapted from Epicurious]

Turkish Mini Meatballs with White Bean Hummus and Toasted Pine Nuts

I figured a month was long enough to go between meatball posts. Somehow I have not burned myself out on the meatball yet. They're just so versatile. Italian, Mediterranean, Buffalo, turkey, lamb, pork... However, you want to slice it, they're just delicious. I should be a spokesperson for meatballs. And tacos.

You're drooling, aren't you?

The original recipe calls for lamb, which I'm definitely taking for a spin next time. It's a big deal that I'm saying there will be a next time, meaning this dish was insane. I used a mixture of ground pork and beef, which was tasty, but I feel the lamb would really kick it up a notch.

I am obsessed with Mediterranean cuisine and would prefer to eat pita and dips all day long. This white bean hummus did not disappoint, and if you wanted to go all Sandra Lee on me, you could save a little time and buy white bean hummus or regular hummus from the store. But why would you when all you have to do is put everything into a blender/food processor? Also, much cheaper.

The recipe says to put the meatball ingredients into the food processor after you've made the dip to emulsify it with water. I wasn't sure the blender could handle this so I went the old fashion way and mixed by hand sans water. Still good, but I can see how emulsifying the water into the mixture would make it really silky. I'll remember that for next time.

Mmmmmmm

Now get in there, and make a million TINY meatballs. Mine were probably a little bigger than necessary, but I'd try to get them about one and a half teaspoons. Food is so much cuter in mini form, and that means you can eat more of it so I'm down.

They don't need long to bake since they're so mini. Check after about five minutes to see if they're almost done. They don't need to be entirely cooked through because you'll finish them off on the stove with a little more EVOO, pine nuts, fresh mint and red pepper flakes. 

These are a few of my favorite things...

Serve these bad boys over the dip with some warmed pita wedges, and you've really treated yourself. I'm kicking myself for not remembering the Greek Yogurt, Cucumber and Feta Sauce I made last night and plopping some of that on top too. It's impressive enough for a date night, your roommates or a dinner party (could be an app?) but easy enough to cook for number one. Yourself.

The long list of ingredients might intimidate you, but get over that. Most are things you already have in your pantry so you have no excuse. Unless you just prefer subpar food in which case I'm sad for you.

Turkish Mini Meatballs with White Bean Hummus and Toasted Pine Nuts

Serves 2-3

Ingredients:

White Bean Hummus:

2 cans of cannellini beans

1/2 cup of Greek yogurt

1 clove of garlic

1 tbsp of tahini/sesame paste

1/4 tsp of ground cumin

1/4~1/2 tsp of salt

1/4 tsp of ground black pepper

Meatballs:

1 pound of ground beef, pork and/or lamb (mix and match!)

3 cloves of garlic, finely minced

1 shallot, finely minced

1 tsp of ginger, grated

1 small egg, or 1/2 large egg

1 1/2 tbsp of corn starch

1 tbsp of olive oil

1/2 tsp of ground allspice

1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp of ground cumin

1/4 tsp of ground coriander

1/2 tsp of salt

1/8 tsp of ground black pepper

2 tbsp of water to drizzle in (if using food processor method)

2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil, plus more to drizzle

2 tbsp of pine nuts

1 clove of garlic, minced

1 bunch of fresh mint, chopped

1~2 tsp of chili flakes

Pita 

Directions:

Drain the cannellini beans of any excess water (the dryer the better). Add beans, Greek yogurt, garlic, tahini/sesame paste and cumin in the food processor. Run until a very smooth puree forms. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. You could cook the puree in a pot for a few minutes to get rid of the “can”-taste, but it doesn’t really bother me so I wouldn’t stress it. Set it aside until needed.

If using food processor to mix meatballs, clean the food processor bowl and towel-dry it really well.  Add ground beef/pork, garlic, shallots, ginger, corn starch, olive oil, allspice, cinnamon, cumin, coriander, salt and black pepper.  Pulse until all the ingredients are evenly combined, then keep the machine running on low and start drizzling in 2 tbsp of water.  Keep the food processor running for a few seconds until the mixture become “paste-like”.  You could also do this on a stand-mixer with a pedal-attachment.  

If going old fashioned, mix all meatball ingredients together without the water by hand until fully incorporated.

Preheat the oven on 430ºF.

Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or cooking spray. Form the lamb mixture into tiny meatballs, approx 1 1/2 tsp each and lay them evenly on the baking sheet. Bake in the preheated oven until the meatballs start to brown and are set in shape, about 5 minutes, but keep an eye on them. Once the meatballs are set, take them out of the oven. Heat up 2 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil in a large non-stick pan on medium-high heat.  Add the meatballs and brown them all over. Add the pine nuts and let them toast until golden brown (this would happen relatively quick!). Then add the minced garlic, fresh mint and chili flakes.  Cook only for another few seconds. Re-season it with salt and pepper to taste.

Pour the white bean hummus on a big platter or individual plates. Add the meatballs and pine nuts on top and drizzle more extra virgin olive oil and chili flakes on top.

Serve with hot pitas.

[Recipe adapted from Lady and Pups]

Salmon Gyros with Greek Yogurt, Cucumber and Feta Sauce

So I ate Mexican twice in one day this weekend. Pathetic. Yesterday was also my company's board luncheon with a buffet consisting of wedge salad, mac and cheese, fried chicken, short ribs, grilled cheese and tomato soup. For LUNCH. HELP.

Detox was needed, and when I think healthy, I think salmon. It's ridiculously easy and quick, which is ideal for when I just don't feel like cooking. More easy pita inspired meals to come for all the lazy people.

Don't mind the chipped polish.

I've been searching around for a good tzatziki/yogurt sauce for a while now and have been unsatisfied with all of my attempts. I'm too lazy to strain the yogurt and shredded cucumber like in the authentic versions so it's probably my own fault. I liked this version though, and while not a classic tzatziki, it was a nice rendition. Plus, it wasn't too watery like most of my failed attempts.

Besides assembling the sauce, all that's left is to broil your salmon for about 10 minutes. As Ina would say, "How easy is that?"

This meal can be thrown together in under 30 minutes and is so flavorful while staying waist conscious. Just one of the many ways to enjoy salmon.

Salmon Gyros with Greek Yogurt, Cucumber and Feta Sauce

Serves 2

Ingredients:

1/2 pound salmon, skin on

1 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

1 whole wheat pita pockets, split in half

1 cup arugula, for serving

Lemon wedges, for serving

For the dip:

1 cup Greek yogurt

1/2 cup crumbled feta

1/2 seedless cucumber, grated

Zest of 1 lemon

1/4 teaspoon oregano

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon onion powder

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

In a medium bowl, combine Greek yogurt, feta, cucumber, lemon zest, oregano, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, to taste. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.

Preheat oven to broil. Line a baking sheet with tin foil.

Place salmon onto prepared baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Broil until pink, about 10 minutes. Let cool for 5 minutes before flaking into 1/2-inch pieces.

To assemble the gyro, stuff pita halves with salmon, arugula and Greek yogurt, cucumber and feta sauce. Serve immediately with lemon wedges.

[Recipe adapted from Damn Delicious]