Showing posts with label Martha Stewart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Martha Stewart. Show all posts

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Dim Sum Sunday - A Little Something

I'm a fan of Martha. She who no longer needs a last name. I've never met the woman however I have no doubts our paths crossed long ago in the antique shops of Westport Connecticut. I was propper for the local theater, she had houses to furnish. I've always wondered who had the bigger budget. I'm not a fan of her early cookbooks. Too fussy and busy for me. However. Her hors d'oeuvres handbook is spectacular.Bright and easy to read. The photography is clean and luscious. You want to lick the photos to see if you can actually taste what's on the page. Tips, techniques and simple instructions to help any level cook. It was from this cookbook that I chose my snackies for Dim Sum Sunday.I started off with Ginger Spiced Pecans. I love nuts and there are numerous methods and spices you can use with pecans, cashews and walnuts. Fall is nut harvest season so take advantage and make yourself some wonderfully spicy nuts.I also decided to try Martha's Blue Cheese Popovers mainly because I had some wonderful blue cheese in the fridge. These are substantial, warm and hearty. I think I might cut back a tad on the thyme but still these popovers are delicious. But you know I couldn't just stop there. What could make it better? That's right - BACON JAM!! It's a nice match just be careful on the salt level of your jam. The bacon I had was pretty salty so I didn't feel like it needed any other additional salt. Thank you Kevin (current Top Chef contestant) bringer of the bacon jam. It's wonderful.Last but not least were the Spicy Tuna Rolls. It's a spicy tuna tartare rolled into very thin strips of cucumbers topped with a little spicy mayo. My only issue with this bit sized snack it that you should probably drain the tuna mixture before rolling to avoid liquid draining out of your little package. It was good but I think I'd use a lime spicing mixture as opposed to the light soy mixture Martha calls for in her cookbook.
If you haven't already added this cookbook to your kitchen shelves and you like entertaining, this cookbook would be a welcome addition and definitely a starting point for you imagination to go wild. Just like Martha.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Dim Sum Sunday - We All Scream for Ice Cream

I have a confession to make. I'm not all that "into" ice cream. I never broke up with someone and comforted myself with a half gallon of Chunky Monkey. Ice cream is not my first choice when the dessert menu rolls around to me. Currently there is no ice cream in my freezer nor is there any sort of appliance for making ice cream in my kitchen culinary arsenal. So what to make this week? I was rattling around Martha Stewart's massive online recipe index looking for something else when I found a couple of fun sorbet recipes.I settled on Tropical Sorbet Terrine. It's a really simple dessert that you can make ahead and leave in your freezer. The only problem that I had with it was the toasted coconut. Not everyone enjoys the chewy texture of coconut in their desserts. You might want to experiment with some fun substitutes for that particular ingredient. Otherwise, on a hot humid day this icy tart dessert is a fun change for all the Chunky Monkey devotees out there. Enjoy!

Monday, March 10, 2008

Harold and Ted and Martha...

The original "Top Chef", Harold Dieterle, Chef/Owner of Perilla restaurant will appear on The Martha Stewart Show this afternoon...On the menu? Spicy duck meatballs with mint cavatelli. And speaking of Perilla, guess where The New York Post caught up with Top Chef Chicago judge Ted Allen???