19 August 2013 Annual Quebec Smoked Meat Pilgrimage

Annual Quebec Smoked Meat Pilgrimage

August 19, 2013 By
Cruditees

Cruditees

I just got back from making my summer trip up to Quebec and to my delight, my dad hosted us for his famous smoked meat sandwich party.

Smoked Meat Steaming

Smoked Meat Steaming

Steamed smoked meat sandwiches are a special Quebec treat.  Dad used his restaurant-grade food steamer to cook a 10-pound piece of corned beef for about 4 hours. The result was a perfectly moist and fork tender piece of meat. Rye bread was also steamed for a few minutes to create the perfect sandwich.

Smoked Meat Sandwich

Smoked Meat Sandwich

After its steam bath, the meat was sliced thin on an electric meat slicer and piled high on the rye bread. The only condiments the delicious sandwich needed was a little mustard and some crunchy pickles – yum!

Coleslaw

Coleslaw

My step-mom, Rolande, made her creamy, tangy coleslaw and served cold and crisp cruditees for all to enjoy. It was the perfect ending to a great family weekend.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Beef, Canadian, Culinary Travel Tales, Entrees, Sandwiches Tagged With: , ,
12 June 2013 Jumpin’ Turkey Swiss Burgers by Chef Ariane Duarte

Jumpin’ Turkey Swiss Burgers by Chef Ariane Duarte

June 12, 2013 By

Jumpin Turkey Swiss BurgerI’m always on the lookout for a good burger recipe that uses proteins other than beef. I was sent the following recipe for a turkey burger with a kick, and since it’s by Ariane Duarte, Executive Chef of award-winning CulinAriane restaurant in Montclair, NJ and finalist on Bravo’s Top Chef, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Chef Duarte has the following tip for this burger: “I created this recipe using Finlandia cheese due to the incredible robust flavor and great melting quality”.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds ground turkey
  • 1 or 2 jalapeño peppers, small dice (depending on how much heat you like)
  • ½ cup chopped cilantro
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. chopped garlic
  • 1 small onion, diced
  • Salt & pepper
  • 12 slices Finlandia Swiss or Light Swiss Cheese
  • 6 burger buns of your choice

Directions:

  1. In a bowl, combine all ingredients. Divide equally into 6 balls. Form into patties.
  2. Grill on high heat for four minutes on one side, then flip and cook three to four minutes on the second sider.
  3. Add two slices of Finlandia Swiss and allow to melt.
  4. Place the cheesy patties on then bun and serve with preferred condiments.

Serves 6.

Finlandia cheeses are available in the deli department of local supermarket chains and at high-quality neighborhood delis.

Filed Under: American, Cuisine Type, Entrees, Sandwiches, Turkey Tagged With: , , ,
17 March 2013 Michael Psilakis Gyro Spiced Sliders

Michael Psilakis Gyro Spiced Sliders

March 17, 2013 By

Gyro Spiced SlidersI sampled these sliders at the Morristown Buick Discovery Tour event last weekend. These are by far the most flavorful sliders I’ve ever had and a very good example of how delicious Michael Psilakis’ food is.

Gyro Slider Spice Ingredients:

  • 12 tbsp. Cumin
  • 2 tbsp. Coriander
  • 8 tbsp. Yellow Mustard Seed
  • 2 1/2 tsp. Cloves
  • 2 tbsp. Black Cardamom
  • 4 tbsp. Fennel
  • 2 tbsp. Cinnamon

Tsatziki Ingredients (makes one pint):

  • 1/2 English cucumber, peeled
  • 5 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
  • 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
  • 2 shallots, thickly sliced
  • 1/2 cup fresh dill
  • 1 1/4 cups strained Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
  • Kosher salt and cracked black pepper

Gyro Slider Ingredients:

  • 12 2-ounce beef patties
  • 12 slider potato rolls
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt & pepper
  • 12 cornichons (optional)
  • 12 frilly toothpicks

Gyro Slider Spice Directions:

  1. Combine all spices in mixing bowl, transfer to airtight container.

Tsatziki Directions:

  1. Cut the cucumber into very small pieces, even dice. Transfer to a mixing bowl.
  1. In a food processor, combine the garlic, vinegar, shallots, and dill. Pulse until finely chopped, but not pureed.
  2. Add the mixture to the cucumbers; add the yogurt. Fold together with a rubber spatula, adding the olive oil and lemon juice.
  3. Season liberally with kosher salt and pepper, starting off with 1 tablespoon salt.
  4. You can store the Tsatziki in a covered, clean jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Gyro Slider Directions:

  1. Preheat a large cast iron skillet on medium high heat and coat bottom of pan with olive oil.
  2. Season sliders on both sides with salt and pepper and dredge sliders in Gyro Slider Spice mixture.
  3. In small batches of 3-4 patties sear sliders for approximately 1 minute per side. Allow to rest once cooked.
  4. Remove excess grease with paper towel and repeat until all sliders are cooked.
  5. To serve, place each slider on bottom of potato roll and top with dollop of Tsatziki sauce and cover gently with bun top and cornichon. Spear with toothpick.

Makes one dozen sliders.

Filed Under: Beef, Entrees, Greek, Sandwiches, Sides Tagged With: , ,
6 February 2013 Cranberry, Almonds and Cilantro Chicken Salad Melts

Cranberry, Almonds and Cilantro Chicken Salad Melts

February 6, 2013 By

Chicken Salad MeltsI love chicken salad and many times after buying a roast chicken for a quick chicken noodle soup, I use some of the white meat to make chicken salad.

This version is a bit dressier and unusual with dried cranberries, slivered almonds and fresh cilantro. The chicken salad gets scooped on a lightly toasted English muffin then topped with sharp cheddar cheese for a couple of minutes under the broiler.

Ingredients:

  • 1 chicken breast, either from leftovers or poached, then cut into bit-size pieces
  • Pinch of salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp. freshly chopped cilantro
  • 1 celery rib, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp. finely chopped onion
  • ¼ cup light mayonnaise
  • 1 Tbsp. slivered almonds
  • 1Tbsp. dried cranberries
  • 1 English muffin, sliced horizontally then lightly toasted
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl, carefully combine the chicken, spices, cilantro, celery, onion, mayo, almonds and cranberries. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Turn the oven broiler on high. Place the English muffin halves, cut side up, on a baking sheet. Scoop the chicken salad onto each muffin half, top with the cheddar cheese then place the baking sheet under the broil. Broil until the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes.
  3. Garnish with a few cilantro leaves and serve hot.

Serves 2.

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Chicken, Sandwiches Tagged With: , ,
24 August 2012 Boucheron and Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese

Boucheron and Sharp Cheddar Grilled Cheese

August 24, 2012 By

I love grilled cheeses and I enjoy experimenting with various cheeses, breads and condiments to create new versions of the old stand-by. One variation I adore is made with sharp Vermont cheddar and Boucheron, a goat’s milk cheese from the Loire Valley of France.

Boucheron Cheese

For those not familiar with Boucheron, it is a goat cheese that has been aged so the outer layer is soft, the rind is bloomy and the center is dry and crumbly as it ages. This is not your typical goat cheese. Let it come to room temperature and it is gooey and perfect.

In this grilled cheese, I pair the Boucheron with Cabot’s Shredded Sharp Cheddar as it is just great.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp. mayonnaise
  • 2 slices oatmeal sandwich bread
  • ¼ cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
  • 1/8 pound slice of Boucheron, crumbled

Directions:

  1. Heat up Panini press or a grill pan over high heat.
  2. Spread 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise on one side of each slice of bread.
  3. Arrange the cheddar and Boucheron on a un-mayonnaised bread slice and top with the second un-mayonnaised side of the second bread slice so that both mayoed sides are on the outside and the cheeses are on the inside.
  4. Place the sandwich in the Panini press and grill for 3 minutes, until golden brown.  Alternatively, place the sandwich on the grill pan (still on high heat) and top with the weight of multiple pans or a pan with a 2-3 pound weight in it and cook 1 1/2 minutes per sides.
  5. Transfer sandwich to a cutting board and cut sandwich in half using a serrated knife.

1 serving.

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Entrees, French, Sandwiches Tagged With: , , , , ,
6 June 2012 Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Noodles and Peanut Sauce

Asian Chicken Lettuce Wraps with Noodles and Peanut Sauce

June 6, 2012 By

Yum – lettuce wraps! It’s summer and a time when I try to use the kitchen oven as little as possible and the grill as much as possible. It’s also a time when I enjoy lighter fare that can be whipped up in a flash. These lettuce wraps are easy to prepare and lets the whole gang participate in the final dish – fun! Don’t forego fixing this dish because you don’t have time to grill the Asian Whole Grilled Chicken, simply pick up a grilled chicken at the supermarket.

Ingredients:

Directions:

  1. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, until slightly softened. Add the mushrooms and continue cooking for 5 minutes over medium heat. Set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, combine a cup of peanut sauce, the sesame oil and the Sriracha.
  3. Boil the noodles according to package directions, drain and add to the peanut sauce in the bowl. Toss the noodles well with the peanut sauce to fully coat.
  4. Add the onion and mushroom mixture to the noodles and toss to combine. Serve at room temperature. If the noodles cool down too much before serving, simply heat them up for 20 seconds in the microwave.
  5. Give each person 2-3 lettuce leaves to use as wraps to contain the noodles and chicken. Extra peanut sauce can be used as additional dressing in the wraps.

Serves 4 people.

Notes:  You can find fresh Chinese noodles in the bagged salads section of your supermarket or at Asian markets.

 

Filed Under: American, Asian, Chicken, Entrees, Japanese, Sandwiches, Sides, Vegetables Tagged With: , , , ,
6 December 2011 Fig Jam and Cambozola Grilled Cheese

Fig Jam and Cambozola Grilled Cheese

December 6, 2011 By

Cambozola blue cheese has the rich flavor of Gorgonzola with the lovely gooey texture of Camembert.  The off-white interior offers striking blue veins.  It’s a cheese that’s growing in popularity because of its creamy texture and buttery, slightly tangy flavors.

This grilled cheese sandwich uses fig jam to compliment the delicious sharpness of the blue cheese.  The mayonnaise adds to the comfort level of an already comforting dish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp. mayonnaise
  • 2 slices white sandwich bread
  • 1 Tbsp. fig jam
  • 3 thin slices of Cambozola cheese

Directions:

  1. Heat up Panini press or a grill pan over high heat.
  2. Spread 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise on one side of each bread slice.
  3. Spread the fig jam on the un-mayonnaised side of one bread slice.
  4. Arrange the Cambozola slices over the jam.
  5. Top the Cambozola with the un-mayonnaised side of the second bread slice so that both mayoed sides are on the outside and the goodies are on the inside.
  6. Place the sandwich in the Panini press and grill for 3 minutes.  Alternatively, place the sandwich on the grill pan (still on high heat) and top with the weight of multiple pans or a pan with a 2-3 pound weight in it and cook 1 1/2 minutes per sides.
  7. Transfer sandwich to a cutting board and cut sandwich diagonally using a serrated knife.

1 serving.

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Entrees, Sandwiches Tagged With: , , ,
29 November 2011 Peanut Butter, Banana and Nutella Panini

Peanut Butter, Banana and Nutella Panini

November 29, 2011 By

My grandma used to make my sister and me peanut butter and banana grilled sandwiches in a cast iron contraption when we were kids.  This contraption, an early version of a Panini press, had long handles that could be flipped on the stovetop until the bread was perfectly browned and gorgeous.  I miss those days and decided to sort of recreate the sandwich using my modern day Panini press and a little twist – Nutella!

Ingredients:

  • 2 tsp. softened butter
  • 2 slices whole wheat bread (I like oatmeal and whole wheat for this)
  • 2 Tbsp. chunky peanut butter
  • 1 Tbsp. Nutella
  • ½ ripe banana, sliced

Directions:

  1. Heat up Panini press or a grill pan over high heat.
  2. Spread 1 teaspoon of butter on one side of each bread slice.
  3. Spread the peanut butter on the unbuttered side of one bread slice.
  4. Spread Nutella on the unbuttered side of the second bread slice then arrange the banana slices over Nutella.
  5. Top the Nutella/banana slice with the peanut butter slice so that the buttered side of each bread slice is on the outside and the goodies are on the inside.
  6. Place the sandwich in the Panini press and grill for 3 minutes.  Alternatively, place the sandwich on the grill pan (still on high heat) and top with the weight of multiple pans or a pan with a 2-3 pound weight in it and cook 1 1/2 minutes per sides.
  7. Transfer sandwich to a cutting board and cut sandwich diagonally using a serrated knife.

1 serving.

Filed Under: American, Breakfast, Canadian, Chocolate, Desserts, Entrees, Fruits, Sandwiches Tagged With: , , ,
22 August 2011 5-Minute Lobster Rolls

5-Minute Lobster Rolls

August 22, 2011 By

Every summer, I go to Maine for a long weekend.  I’ve done this since the year I was born, and my parents did this with their families growing up.  It’s what we Quebecois do in the summer – drive to the nearest beach, get some sun and eat seafood.

This summer when I drove up to Maine, I had three foodie goals in mind in the spirit of traditions: beach pizza, boardwalk fries and a lobster roll.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to make it to the lobster roll shack and have had this craving ever since.

While at the grocery store Saturday, I saw New England-style hot dog buns with the top split.  In Quebec, where I grew up, all the hot dogs are top split, but after moving to the USA in the late 80s, I quickly discovered that hot dogs are mostly side split with crust on all around.  When I saw the New England-style buns, I just knew I’d be taking advantage of them by filling them with decadent lobster salad.  Here’s how simple and quick it is to make lobster rolls.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup chopped celery
  • 4 Tbsps. good quality mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. lemon juice
  • 1 heavy pinch each, salt and pepper
  • 2 small lobster tails, cooked and roughly chopped
  • 2 New England-style hot dog buns
  • 2 tsps. room-temperature butter

Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the celery, mayo, lemon juice and salt and pepper.  Add the lobster meat and gently coat the meat with the mayo mixture using a fork.
  2. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  While the skillet is heating up, butter the crustless sides of each hot dog bun.  Add the buns to the hot skillet and grill each buttered side to a deep golden brown.  Remove from the skillet and open up each bun.
  3. Divide the lobster salad into two portions.  Scoop each portion into a bun and pack in tightly using the back of the fork.

Makes two lobster rolls.

Notes:  Cooked lobster tails can be found in the seafood section of your local grocery store.  If you can’t find cooked lobster tails and don’t feel like cooking some, you could replace with canned lobster meat or even with lump crab meat.

Filed Under: American, Entrees, Sandwiches, Seafood, Starters, Vegetables Tagged With: , , , ,
27 July 2011 Opa Burgers

Opa Burgers

July 27, 2011 By

Opa Burger

If you follow my blog, you must know by now that I love Greek food, and wines.  I try to incorporate typical Greek flavors in many of the food I make and when it came time to create a special burger to pair for a wine tasting, I opted for a Greek version of the American classic.

Burger Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground lamb
  • 2 Tbsps. fresh mint, chopped
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • ½ tsp. each, salt and pepper
  • 2 Tbsps. olive oil, preferably Greek
  • 4 small pita pocket bread, often referred by the name Pitettes, sliced in halves horizontally

Topping ingredients:

  • 8-ounce block of Halloumi cheese, cut into 8 slices then lightly coated in olive oil
  • 8 tsps. Tzatziki sauce, homemade or store-bought
  • 1 heirloom tomato, cut into 4 slices

Directions:

  1. Heat a gas or charcoal grill to medium-high.
  2. In a medium bowl, combine the lamb, mint, garlic, salt and pepper and form into four medium patties. Be sure not to overwork the meat causing it to be tough after grilling.
  3. Lightly coat the four patties with the olive oil, and then grill for 3 minutes on each side.
  4. While lamb patties are grilling, place the eight slices of Halloumi cheese on the grill and sear for one minute on each side.
  5. Lightly toast each of the Pitettes halves on the grill.
  6. To assemble, place a lamb patty on a Pitette half, top the meat with two teaspoons of Tzatziki sauce, 2 slices of Halloumi and a slice of tomato. Top with another Pitette half.  Assemble the remaining three burgers.

Makes 4 burgers.

Notes:  Halloumi cheese is ideal for this burger but it can be replaced with crumbled Feta if unavailable.  There are many good quality Tzatziki sauces in the supermarket deli section, so don’t pass on making this burger because you don’t want to make a homemade batch.

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Entrees, Greek, Lamb, Sandwiches Tagged With: , , , , ,
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