Balsamic Truffles & Gianduja Bars

I was scraping the bottom of the bowl with my fingertips shamelessly hunting down the last smudge of batter. Raw eggs be damned. I plopped a messy bowl in Ray's lap & generously offered him a lick or two. He accepted.

Balsamic Truffles, makes about 12 - 16
2 tbsp. good balsamic vinegar
8 oz. good dark chocolate
1/4 c. heavy cream
1/4 c. coco powder

Melt the chocolate with the cream over a double boiler (or in a microwave in short bursts). Add the vinegar & stir in. Let the mixture cool in the fridge for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. Using a tablespoon (or any other spoon) scoop out a little bit & roll it into balls in the palms of your hands. You will get messy, promise. Roll the balls in coco powder.


Gianduja Bars, make 12
12 brownies (homemade, box mix or store bought will work)
1/4 c. nutella
1/4 c. toasted hazelnuts
1/4 c. chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 375F. Spread the brownies with nutella. Tops with hazelnuts & chocolate chips. Bake for 5 minutes or until the chips melt a tad. Refrigerate until the nutella topping hardens.

Sesame Snapper with Caper Remoulade & Dijon Green Beans

We're sitting on top of a messy shag run. Surrounded by books. Really too many books for such a tiny place. But I guess you can't expect much else when you're in the fog of grad school. Mess or not, we're saddled up to the coffee table sitting Indian style on the floor making the most of it. Eating crunchy fish, cheesy eggs, eggplant stir-fry, delivery pizza, lots of pizza, salads with capers, chili.

This has been the last two months. Many meals seemed unremarkable, so I kept them to myself. Well, myself & Ray, but he's a good sport. In the thick of it a nice dinner or two eked out. Things like: Parmesan Polenta with Egg & Roasted Mushrooms or Lamb Chops with Salsa Verde & Sauteed Eggplant. The Vanilla Bean & Butternut Squash Risotto was particularly good. Right now though, it's Sesame Snapper with Dijon Green Beans. These green beans, man, they're something.


Sesame Snapper with Caper Remoulade & Dijon Green Beans, for two
2 skinless red snapper fillets
1/4 c. toasted sesame seeds
1/4 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1/4 c. mayonaise
2 tbsp. spicy brown mustard
2 tsp. rice wine vinegar
1 tbsp. capers
1/4 lbs. green beans
1 shallot minced
3 tbsp. dijon mustard
3 tbsp. olive oil, devided
1 tsp. rice wine vinegar
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Heat a non-stick pan over medium heat & give the sesame seeds a swirl or two to toast them, about 3 minutes. Set the sesame seeds aside then, add a glug of olive oil & let it warm. Meanwhile, salt & pepper the fish. Toss the bread crumbs & sesame seeds together with a little more salt & pepper. Press the mixture frimly into the fish. Add the fish to the pan & brown, about 4 minutes on each side.


Meanwhile, blanche the green beans in boiling water, about 3 minutes. Drain & set aside. While the fish finishes cooking & the green beans cool, make the dressings. For the caper remoulade, combine the mayo, brown mustard, rice wine vinegar, capers, salt & pepper. For the dijon sauce (for the green beans), combine the dijon, remaining olive oil, shallot, rice wine vinegar, salt & pepper.

Toss the green beans in the dijon dressing & spoon a bit of the caper remoulade over the fish (or serve it on the side, your call).

A quick programing note...

I haven't run off and abandoned you, dear readers. I have however been a terrible delinquent when it comes to the kitchen. In the past month I have moved, taken on a new job, was re-hired at my old job and adopted a dog. Sure, it's nothing like opening your own restaurant or having a baby, but it's overwhelming none the less. I've fallen back on my staples of quick pastas, soups and beloved take out Chinese. Don't fret though - I believe I'm telling myself this more than you - I will be back. Busy schedule be damned. More soon...promise.

Tomato-Bacon Soup with Gouda Chive "Biscuits"

I adore rainy days. In East Texas we had plenty of them. I spent many of them on a damp gray front porch tossing every blanket I could capture over white rocking chairs lined back to back. My favorite was a bright red, yellow, blue and green buffalo plaid with little tassels. I think that one's still tossed over a chair on the front porch. If my little brother was lucky, I would invite him into my makeshift shelter to watch the storm roll in over the sprawling valley my grandparents porch loomed over. He usually brought along his tattered striped blanket - white with thin primary red, yellow, blue and green stripes - it was practically thread bare, but he loved it. Usually after the rainy chill had fully set in my grandma would stick her head out the door and call us in for lunch. Grilled cheese, casseroles, and hot dogs were common. We loved everything she fed us. She was a master at "kid food," cheese toast and honey toast (just what the sound like) were, respectively, my all time favorites. Tomato soup wasn't in common rotation to my recollection, but I imagine that if she'd had this recipe she would have brought us mugs of this sharp, salty soup with a gooey slice of cheese toast.

Tomato-Bacon Soup, for 8
4 slices bacon slices, diced
2 15 oz. cans tomato sauce
1 dzn. sweet grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tbsp. fresh basil, minced
1 tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
1 c. chicken stock (homemade if you can!)
1/4 c. red wine
splash bourbon
1/2 c. cream
1/4 tsp. pimenton (smoked paprika)
1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
pinch sugar
salt to taste
pepper to taste

In a deep dutch oven or pot over medium-high heat, fry the bacon. Once crisp, remove it from the pan to a paper towel to drain. In the fat, saute the onions, garlic, cherry tomatoes and herbs. Once soft, about 3 - 4 minutes, add the stock, bourbon, wine and tomato sauce. Then add the smoked paprika, red pepper, salt, pepper and sugar.

Bring up to a simmer. At this point you can either simmer for some time to let the flavors more fully combine, or you can go ahead and add the remaining ingredients. Regardless, prior to serving, stir in the cream and bacon. Top with a bit more basil if you like.

Gouda Chive "Biscuits," makes 12
1 tube prepared croissant dough
2 tbsp. chives, minced
2 tbsp. gouda, grated

Preheat the oven according to package directions. Contrary to package directions, cut the dough into 1/2" rounds and top with gouda and chives. Bake about 15 minutes or until the cheese has melted and the "biscuits" are golden.

Goodbye Gourmet

As I'm sure you all know by now, the incomparable Gourmet is ceasing publication. It will be tough to imagine a world without such a culinary keystone. I remember flipping through my step-grandmother's stacks of back issues as a little girl - all those glossy pages filled with impeccable dinners, words I couldn't yet digest, and that fantastic winding title script (I'm a sucker for a nice font)! I'm sure her infamous hollandaise sauce and creamy cheese cake came from between those pages. My grandfather's steak that always went alongside the two prior dishes, that's another story...

"Gourmet showed us the real possibilities of food: It wasn't just to nourish the body or excite the palate, but to engage the mind and imagination, to magnify our experience, bringing us more fully into our senses, allowing us to be more completely alive."


Goodbye, Gourmet.

Images, top to bottom: Seriously Wine and Gourmet Magazine
Quote: Diana Abu-Jaber for NPR

Red Wine & Tomato Braised Chicken Thighs

We stepped out of the movies Saturday night to a sharp, cold wind and I knew fall had hit. Just out of the blue, poof, fall! It just happened in an instant, but then again, I guess it always does. For some reason, I expected summer to last indefinitely this year. The sunshine and heat hasn't paused for months, a raindrop hasn't graced Southern California since last winter, and frankly, I'd pretty much forgotten what a treat the crisp fall chill could be. Of course with nippy fall weather comes cozy comfort food: spaghetti and meatballs, creamy soups, casseroles, pot roast, and now, a new constant on my comfort food list, braised chicken thighs. Fall-off-the-bone tender meat swimming in coaxed smoky tomato sauce warms to the core - just right for those impending low temperatures.

Red Wine & Tomato Braised Chicken Thighs, for 2 - 4
2 - 3 chicken thighs, bone-in, skin removed
1 16 oz. can tomato sauce
1 16 oz. can diced tomatoes or 1 1/2 c. cherry tomatoes, chopped
1/2 c. red wine
3 - 4 roasted peppers, chopped
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. smoked paprika
1 tbsp. fresh basil, plus more for garnish
1 tbsp. fresh flat leaf parsley, plus more for garnish
1 bay leaf
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 - 2 tbsp. olive oil
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Salt and pepper the chicken thighs on both sides. Bring 1 tbsp. of olive oil up to heat and brown the chicken on both sides (about 2 minutes per side). Remove from heat and set aside.

Add the onions, garlic and if necessary, more oil. Salt them and saute until soft (about 3 - 4 minutes). Add the paprika, bay leaf, cumin and red pepper, plus salt and pepper to taste. Add the tomato sauce, diced tomatoes and red wine. Add the basil and parsley.

Simmer over medium-low heat, covered for 1 - 1 1/2 hours. At this point the sauce should have reduced by nearly half and the chicken should easily pull away from the bone.

While the chicken simmers, make 1 c. white (preferably basmati) rice. When the chicken is done, shred it, remove the bones and serve with the sauce over a bed of rice.

Cinnamon-Nutella Croissants

I used to haunt a little bakery with worn sea green floors, rickety mismatched chairs and spotty sunshine. The place was strewn with coffee jagged college students and mediocre art. It was always a few degrees colder than necessary in there and impossible to find a table, but early in the morning – perfect. Things were quiet: a sleepy dog curled up by the door, a few moms with mussed children in tow, regulars and the heavy scent of baked goods filling every nook and cranny. Everything packed in the small glass case looked delicious and lacked pretension. Nothing overly glazed, no fancy styling, just rustic, made-from-scratch goodness. Between the tomato croissants, zucchini bread and cheese danishes lied my $2 habit, the reason I stopped in far too often, chocolate croissants. Buttery, flakey, golden chocolate croissants.

Since my favorite breakfast pastry is now 3,000 miles away that habit would begin to quickly ad up. Sure, there are chocolate croissants here, but not like those. So, when I came across the chocolaty stroke of genius on A Cup of Jo earlier this week I smacked myself squarely in the forehead for not thinking of it sooner. Nutella croissants! Why the hell not, right? They’re just like my beloved, too-far-away chocolate croissants only, dare I say, better. With these little gems you get not only chocolate and a buttery croissants, but hazelnuts and, if you’re so inclined, a smattering a cinnamon sugar on top! Oh, and I don’t have to spring for a plane ticket every time I get a hankering for chocolate baked goods.

Cinnamon-Nutella Croissants, makes 8
1 roll of croissant dough (I used Pillsbury, but any kind will do.)*
8 tbsp. Nutella (chocolate-hazelnut butter)**
2 tbsp. cinnamon sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tbsp. water

Preheat the oven to 350F. Roll out your croissant dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet. Put a tbsp. of Nutella on the wider end of the dough (it should be cut in a triangle shape). Roll up the dough wide end first until you get to the point. Combine the egg & water then lightly beat together. Brush the croissants with the egg wash & sprinkle to your liking with cinnamon sugar. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until the croissants are golden brown. Serve with a stiff cup of coffee & an espresso.

*These croissants come rolled up in a tube just like biscuits. They're usually in the refrigerated section of the grocery store near the eggs.

**Nutella is sold in most major groceries and is typically next to the peanut butter.

Honey-Bourbon Pork Loin with Basil Brussels Sprouts

Finally (finally!) that last looming box was emptied & we're, for all practical purposes, full operational & moved in. Random odds & ends are lingering, USB cables, snow globes, paperbacks, small bottles of cologne, empty shoe boxes, pushed into corners reminding us of our old place. I always wonder where those leftovers lived in former homes. Most likely they were tucked in bedside tables & bookshelves at the end of the last move & never thought of again ... until now. Regardless of the miscellaneous tchotkes I felt like celebrating - like making a really great dinner. It had been far too long. Weeks of traveling, packing, house hunting & new doggie training left us with little time for meal making. A juicy, buttery cut of pork, my personal favorite, seemed the proper way to christen our new, window lined kitchen. After a long bourbon & honey bath & a slow roast in the oven this spicy-sweet Honey-Bourbon Pork Loin truly hit the spot. My kitchen officially feels warmed and ready for meals to come.

Honey-Bourbon Pork Loin, for 2 - 4
1/4 c. whiskey (I prefer Bullet Bourbon)
1 tbsp. rock salt
2 tbsp. dijon mustard
1 tsp. smoked paprika (such as pimenton)
1/4 c. honey
salt to taste
pepper to taste
1 1 1/2 - 2 lb. pork loin

In a deep dish or baking pan combine the whiskey, rock salt, dijon mustard, smoked paprika & honey. Rub the pork liberally in salt & pepper. Let marinate for at least 2 hours & up to over night.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Sear the pork loin in an oven safe skillet (about 3 - 4 minutes per side). In the skillet, transfer the loin & remaining marinating liquids to the oven & bake for 1 - 1 1/2 hours or until the pork is firm to the touch & cooked through.

Let rest for 10 - 15 minutes. While resting, reduce any of the remaining liquids in a small sauce pan. Slice the pork in 2" thick medallions & drizzle with the marinade reduction. Serve with brussels sprouts.

Basil Brussels Sprouts, for 2 - 4
2 c. brussels sprouts, halved & outer leaves discarded
1/2 head of garlic (simply cut a head of garlic right down the center)
2 tbsp. olive oil
1/4 c. fresh basil, minced & divided
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. butter
salt to taste
pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350F (the same temperature the pork above cooks at). Toss the sprouts with olive oil, half of the basil, salt & pepper. Line a baking pan with foil & add the sprouts & garlic head.

Bake for 1 - 1 1/2 or until the sprouts are golden. While the sprouts bake, melt the butter in a sauce pan. Let the butter cool. Once cooled, add the balsamic vinegar.

Once golden, toss the sprouts with the balsamic butter & remaining basil.

Guest Post: Caviar and Crème Fraîche Omelet

Last week Shane, a fellow Tex-pat, artist, & all around great guy, was in a celebrating mood. Our movie night compadre decided on a whim that he would take a turn making dinner. Maybe it was the whiff of fall in the air. Maybe it was the beginning of the end (of grad school). Maybe it was being one year closer to Texas (fingers crossed). Whatever it was, it was delicious. He was nice enough to share his recipe with me & I couldn't resist passing it on to you. Here's what Shane had to say about our treat of a dinner:

As a poor grad student I'm not one to make a habit out of eating extravagant foods like caviar or truffles, but (and there's always a "but" with me) when there's an opportunity or excuse I'll take it. The excuse: Going into our final year of grad school it is now the beginning of the end, just cause for celebration. The company: The always pleasant and delightful fellow Tex-pats, Laura and Raymond Uhlir. The dinner: Caviar and Crème Fraîche Omelets with Roasted Asparagus. Cooking dinner for the Cook can be intimidating, but this recipe turned out well. The eggs with dill form a solid neutral base while the sour taste and velvety texture of the crème fraîche pair well with the crisp, sweet flavor of the roe. Remember, don't be tight with the caviar, a 50g or 2 oz jar should be split between two people. If you're new to caviar I recommend something mild and affordable like Golden Whitefish Roe. Also, I made the mistake of pairing our dinner with a bottle of champagne. This meal is all about the caviar and whatever drink you serve with the dish should not compete. I recommend a good, dry mid-shelf bottle of vodka like Stolichnaya.

Or, if you're so inclined, Absolute on ice.



Caviar and Crème Fraîche Omelet, for 1
3 large eggs
2 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. freshly chopped dill
Pinch sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tbsp. unsalted butter
1 oz Golden Whitefish Roe (or whichever caviar you'd prefer)
1/4 c. of crème fraîche

Combine the eggs, milk, dill, salt, and pepper in a bowl and whisk. Heat a pan over the stove at medium high and melt the butter. Add egg mixture and make your omelet.
Fold the omelet, top with crème fraîche and caviar. Serve with roasted asparagus, a green salad, or both if you're so inclined. Enjoy!

Sharp Cheddar & Pear Tart

It was a rookie mistake, I know, but I hoped that baking right on the oven racks would work out just fine. All of my baking sheets were in a box among far too many other boxes & I had a friend's birthday to prep for that evening. Why I packed up the kitchen prior to a baking experiment I'll never know. Minutes after popping these spicy, sweet little tarts into the oven.. plop .... thud... sssss... Half a dozen tarts gone, burned up, in a flash! Luckily, my trusty cast iron skillet was still hanging around the kitchen so I threw the survivors in there & finished baking them off. With a smattering of sharp cheddar on top, they turned out beautifully.

Sharp Cheddar & Pear Tart, for 6 to 12
Adapted from Sunny Anderson
1/4 c. raw sugar
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
1/2 stick butter, melted
1 (15 1/4-ounce) can pear halves, cut into 1/4-inch thick slices
1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar

Preheat the oven to 400F, & once thawed, cut the the puff pastry into 12 equal pieces. Combine the cinnamon & sugar in a bowl & set aside. Brush the pastry with a bit of butter & top it with a slice or two of pear fanned out. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar & a bit more butter. Bake for 20 - 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, sprinkle with cheddar & bake 5 minutes more. Sprinkle with a bit more sugar & let cool.