Friday, November 22, 2019

Cranberry Orange Sangria

750 ml red wine blend
1/2 cup cognac
1/4 cup Cointreau
1 cup cranberry juice
1 orange, sliced

1) Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher and let it sit overnight.

Review: Ah, this was tasty! The cranberry juice added just a bit of tartness, while the oranges added an essence of orange oil. The original recipe called for three oranges, which I felt was overkill. However, one orange seemed like it wasn't enough. I'd try it with two oranges for a good balance.
Adapted from:
https://www.wineandglue.com/cranberry-orange-sangria/

Sunday, May 5, 2019

Green Dal (Original Recipe)

2 Tbs coconut oil
6 cloves of garlic, minced
6 cubes of frozen ginger
1 tsp fenugreek
2 tsp cumin
1 tsp turmeric
1 tsp coriander
2 cups dried lentils, rinsed and drained
4 cups vegetable broth
1 cup brown basmati rice
13.5oz can coconut milk
1 lb frozen, chopped okra
salt to taste

1)  In a medium saucepan, add coconut milk. Fill can with water and add this water to the saucepan. Add rice and bring to a boil. Cover and cook until all fluid is absorbed.
2)  Meanwhile, in a large brazier (or Dutch oven), heat the coconut oil until melted. Add garlic, ginger, and all of the dry spices. Stir until fragrant.
3)  Add lentils and broth, bringing the mixture to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to a fast simmer. Cook for 20 minutes.
4)  Add okra, and again cover. Cook at a high simmer for an additional ten minutes, until okra is fully cooked and mixture thickens.
5)  Serve lentil/okra mixture over the coconut rice.

Review: When I mention frozen cubes, I hope everyone knows of the magic of Dorot Gardens. They are so amazing to have on hand, and make cooking so much easier. I've had half a bag of green lentils in the cabinet for some time, along with a can of coconut milk. The last time I went grocery shopping, a bag of frozen okra caught my eye. All the pieces came together in my head, but still took a few days before I finally had time to do some cooking. It was well worth the effort. The okra was tender, but not slimy as the curry dish used the slime to thicken the whole dish. It makes for a far more desirable okra texture. I've always heard this regarding gumbo, but that's not a dish I tend to make. And, I've grown bored with my standard dal recipe. I'm so glad I ventured out of my rut to try something new!

Saturday, March 23, 2019

NZ Breakfast

2 slices of bread, toasted
1/2 avocado, mashed
1 cup white vinegar, divided in half
2 eggs
salsa to taste
balsamic vinegar to taste

1)  Bring a medium saucepan of water to a boil. Meanwhile, place each egg (separate bowls!) in 1/2 cup of white vinegar. This must set aside for at least five minutes.
2)  Place avocado on toast and add salsa to taste.
3)  Swirl the surface of the boiling water with a silicone spoon, creating a vortex in the center. Add one egg/vinegar mixture and continue swirling as the egg cooks. This should take between 3 and 5 minutes, depending on your preferences. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a paper towel to drain. Repeat with egg #2.
4)  Place eggs on top of toast and drizzle with balsamic vinegar.

Review: I recently vacationed in New Zealand, where my favorite meal was this breakfast. It was so amazing, that I had to try it once I returned home. This involved researching how to poach eggs, as I had never done so before. The restaurant (EAT) made their poached eggs into the tallest, fluffiest, little clouds. Mine are not even close!! Mine were also a little under done. I'll certainly need more practice. This dish is incredibly tasty, as it's such a blend of savory, sweet, and exotic. So yum!!
Inspired by:
https://eat.net.nz