Dancing Spoon

Wicked Good Hot Sauce

Ordinary Out of the

OOO by Kate Krukowski Gooding

The Scotch bonnet pepper is slightly different from the Habanero pepper. They are two varieties of the same species but have different pod types. Both peppers have the characteristic thin, waxy flesh with a similar heat level and flavor however, the actual degree of "heat" varies greatly with genetics, growing methods, climate, and plant stress. While the Scotch Bonnet pepper originated in the Caribbean, the Habanero came from the Yucatan Peninsula.

I first discovered the Scotch Bonnet pepper in Jamaica while trying some Jerk Chicken; they are well known for their Jerk Sauce on chicken and pork. The peppers left a residual burn on your lip, it was a happy burn. 

The first time I made this sauce my nose was running and I was sneezing up a storm. I blew my nose and some of the juice went through the tissue. Not funny then but it is now. There I was running around with ice cubes up my nose calling the hospital to see what I could do since I had no milk products to calm this down. In the end I had to call my husband to come home with sour cream to neutralize the heat. I dilearn this one the hard way! Always wear gloves and don’t touch ANYTHING until your hands are clean!

Wicked Good Hot Sauce

Ingredients
Serves 2-4
1 ½    cup carrots, chopped
1 yellow onion, chopped    
2 cups white vinegar
¼ cup lime juice
12 garlic cloves, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1  teaspoon sugar
13 fresh Scotch Bonnet peppers, chopped 

Directions
1. Combine all ingredients except Scotch Bonnet peppers in saucepan. Boil 19 minutes or until carrots are soft.  Add Scotch Bonnet peppers. Puree in blender until smooth. 
2. Pour in sterilized jars and refrigerate. 

Note: I follow regular canning instructions for a longer shelf life.

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You can find Kate Gooding's book, Black Fly Stew - Wild Maine Recipes at Foodie's Emporium! Click here Kate has published three cookbooks: Wild Maine Recipes and Simple Gourmet Lamb with Side Dishes and Wine Pairings. She is currently is working on her one in the Black Fly Stew series – which carries and an international flair.
 More information at www.blackflystew.com

Wild Mushroom Veal Marsala

Ordinary Out of the

OOO by Kate Krukowski Gooding
When the rain comes, or the chill is in the air, it feels like a comfort food moment to me. I have been dying to try something with a twist using this free-range veal. I love all kinds of mushrooms, and the layering of the mushroom oil, powdered mushrooms and then adding the fresh mushrooms gives this dish richness with which to reckon with. You won’t want to put your fork down until the last bite is gone. And be careful if you are too slow an eater, someone may be eyeing that last bite of yours! 

Wild Mushroom Veal Marsala

Ingredients
Serves 2-4
2 tablespoons Porcini Olive Oil    
4 veal chops    
½ ounce morels mushroom powder  
½ ounce porcini mushroom powder
1 teaspoons powdered garlic
½ teaspoon Sea Salt 
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 shallots, minced
6 ounces fresh baby Portabella’s, sliced thin
1 teaspoon garlic paste
1 cup dry Marsala Wine
¾ cup chicken broth
¾ cup lamb broth
Leaves from 1 sprig rosemary leaves (about 3 teaspoons)
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Use non-stick spray on 9 x 9 baking dish.
2. Combine mushroom powders, garlic and salt together; dredge veal chops in mushroom mix. Heat the Porcini Olive Oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear on both sides in heated skillet about 5 minutes total, to an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Remove veal chops to baking dish and cover with foil; keep warm in oven until ready to serve.
3. Heat olive oil in skillet over medium low heat, and sauté shallots and mushrooms, scraping up any browned bits, until shallots are tender. Increase heat to medium high, and stir in Marsala Wine and garlic paste; stir until thickened. Combine chicken broth and lamb broth with rosemary leaves; add to skillet and cook until liquid is reduced to about ¼ cup. Remove from heat, and whisk in butter until melted. Serve Marsala sauce over veal.

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You can find Kate Gooding's book, Black Fly Stew - Wild Maine Recipes at Foodie's Emporium! Click here Kate has published three cookbooks: Wild Maine Recipes and Simple Gourmet Lamb with Side Dishes and Wine Pairings. She is currently is working on her one in the Black Fly Stew series – which carries and an international flair.

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Whole Fish in Salt Crust

Italy Delicious

by Ashley Bartner

Whole Fish in Salt Crust: Pesce in Crosta di Sale
This is delicious healthy fish dish that comes out super moist & buttery every time with a dramatic table-side presentation! Don't be afraid of the name - it is not salty at all. In fact the salt crust seals in moisture essentially steaming the fish inside. Because the salt absorbs the moisture, the texture and taste of the fish ultimately is more that of roasted than steamed fish.

Ingredients
Whole fish (we use Spigola or Orate but you can use any whole round fish you like or that looks good at the market on any given day)
Lemon
Parsley
Pepper Flakes
Sea Salt, course ground or rock salt
Egg
Olive Oil

Directions
1. Stuff the cavity with parsley & lemon slices.
2. In a separate bowl put 3 1/2 pounds of coarse sea salt per 1 1/2 pounds of fish, a small handful of pepper flakes, rind of one lemon and one egg for each fish & mix. (You can add any herbs you like - rosemary, thyme, garlic cloves - it doesn't matter you are just flavoring the salt.) It should have the consistency of for making good sand castles, add a water a little at a time to achieve this consistency.
3. Rub the fish down with olive oil and then lay a 1/2 inch bed of salt in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place down the fish and cover with the remaining salt. There should be a 1/2 inch crust of salt all around the fish. It is not necessary to cover the head & tail.
4. Bake at 425 degrees for 20-40 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish. You can insert a fork into the center of the fish & when the tips are hot the fish is done. The fish will stay warm in the salt crust for well over an hour - this is something you can do ahead of time as pull it out as your guests arrive.
5. Crack the salt crust table side - for a dramatic entrance of the secondo! Use a pastry knife to gently brush away excess salt.

Tutti a tavola — everyone to the table!

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Ashley Bartner is living the foodie dream in Italy. Together with her Chef-husband Jason, they own and run La Tavola Marche  an organic farm, inn and cooking school in Central Italy's region of Le Marche.

Planning Thanksgiving Dinner

Planning Holiday

by J. Michael Wheeler
Thanksgiving Tips: Game Plan
There’s no question about it, for me, Thanksgiving is absolutely the best holiday: it’s all about getting together with friends and family and eating a great meal. No Christmas present stresses or New Year’s Eve anxiety. Cook a lot of good food and share it with friends and family. One of my favorite Thanksgivings was when I was in college in San Diego and I organized an “Orphan’s Thanksgiving” for my fellow college friends who wouldn’t be traveling home for the holiday. It was a bit less than traditional, but the spirit certainly was there.

Of course, for the host, Thanksgiving might not be all that stress-free. Still-frozen turkeys, wallpaper-paste gravies, and well, we’ve all got our stories (we’d love to yours). So in the interest of everyone enjoying our favorite holiday, we’re sharing with you some tips for a great Thanksgiving. We’ll start out with an overall game plan that we call, cleverly, T-Day Game Plan.

Break it Down
Sit down with paper and pen well before your first trip to the grocery store (yes, you’ll shop in phases) and starting with the menu, break the T-Day undertakings into steps. This will give you a bird’s eye view (couldn’t resist that one) of what needs to be done and when. As you accomplish each task you can check it off, giving you a measure of your progress, as well as what tasks remain to be done. Learn to love Lists.

Big Helpful Tip: Organize all of the recipes you plan to use ahead of time. Photocopy each recipe from your cookbook, recipe card, or torn out newspaper article and create your own personal T-Day Cookbook for that meal. With all of your recipes together, in one place, you won’t have to flip through several books and different pages.

Greens & Homemade Croutons

Tips Tasty

by Anna Tourkakis

The wholegrain mustard is the mustard of choice in this recipe. It is a bit milder than other types and works better with the red wine vinegar. 

Salad Greens with Homemade Croutons and Bacon

Ingredients
Serves 4
4 slices bread, whole-wheat
1 garlic clove, cut in half
3 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil, separated
2 scallions, chopped
3 slices turkey bacon, cut into short strips
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
3 teaspoons wholegrain mustard
8 oz mesculin salad mix
4 eggs, poached or soft-cooked eggs 
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Rub the bread with the garlic. Brush each side of bread slices with a bit of  oil. Toast the bread. Cool and cut into ½ inch crouton size bite.
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat with remaining oil. Add scallions and turkey bacon,  regular pork bacon can be substituted. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the vinegar and mustard and cook for 2 minutes. Remove from heat and pour over salad leaves; toss to wilt a little. Arrange on serving platter.
3. Poach the eggs by placing 3 cups of water in a shallow pan with 1 tablespoon of vinegar and bring to a simmer. Crack each egg in a small bowl and gently slide in simmering water. Adjust the heat to keep the water at a simmer. Poach for 3 minutes or until yolk is cooked as desired. Lift out with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Place on salad and sprinkle with the croutons. Serve immediately. 
Note: Simmer is when liquid is just about to boil but not boiling. The water temperature is held at about 200 degrees.

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Anna's new cookbook Delicious Simplicity is now available. It's packed with quick-and-easy recipes, Delicious Simplicity is your go-to cookbook for scrumptious meals. Save time and money while preparing delectable recipes that make nutritious eating in your busy life practical.

Buy Delicious Simplicity.

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Foodie's Emporium is an Amazon Pro Merchant!

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Indonesian Rice Salad

Ordinary Out of the

 

OOO by Kate Krukowski Gooding
The combination of the sweet, tangy, and salty with the textures and colors make this salad in high demand in your kitchen. It is an easy summer salad for any gathering and goes well with everything, especially on the grill.

This is my number one most requested salad. It is great warm or chilled.   

Indonesian Rice Salad

Ingredients
Serves 2-4
2 cups brown rice
1/3 cup peanut oil    
¼ cup sesame seed oil
½ cup orange juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 cup crushed pineapple
1 tablespoon honey
3 scallions, minced
½ pound mung bean sprouts
1 cup raisins
½ cup chopped peanuts
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
2 cups red, orange, and yellow peppers, diced
1 cup water chestnuts, slightly chopped

Directions
1. Cook brown rice in 3 cups water.  
2. Wisk together peanut oil, sesame seed oil, orange juice, soy sauce, crushed pineapple and honey to make the dressing.
3. Add scallions, bean sprouts, raisins, chopped peanuts, toasted cashews, sesame seeds, peppers, and water chestnuts to hot, cooked rice. Pour dressing over rice and vegetables, mix and enjoy.

 

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You can find Kate Gooding's book, Black Fly Stew - Wild Maine Recipes at Foodie's Emporium! Click here Kate has published three cookbooks: Wild Maine Recipes and Simple Gourmet Lamb with Side Dishes and Wine Pairings. She is currently is working on her one in the Black Fly Stew series – which carries and an international flair. More information at www.blackflystew.com

And visit Foodie's Emporium for Unique Kitchen items!

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Sauteed Italian Green Beans

Italy Delicious

by Ashley Bartner

Green beans, runner beans, french beans or fagiolini — whatever you call them they are in-season on our farm! Here we pick them while they are still young & tender — not the huge knobby tough beans I was used to before. And don't even get me started on the difference between fresh picked beans and the soggy, salty ones I was force-fed to eat as a kid...from a can!! (No wonder so many kids grow up hating vegetables). Now I eat them right off the vine!

This is a delicious, fast, simple and healthy way to devour these fantastic green veggies. The crunchy, toasty almonds pair so nicely with the al'dente green beans, just begging you to go back for seconds - guilt free!

Sauteed Green Beans with Toasted Almonds

Ingredients
Serves 4
4 handfuls of green beans, trimmed and cut in half
2 cloves of garlic
Pinch of chili flakes
100 gram toasted almonds, chopped
Olive oil
Salt & pepper
 

Directions
1. Blanch your beans in boiling salted water for 3-8 minutes depending on the size and thickness of beans or until half cooked.
2. Drain and rinse under cold water.
3. In a frying pan slowly heat 3-4 glugs of olive oil along with the garlic and chili flakes.
4. When the garlic is nicely browned turn the heat up and add in the green beans and saute for a minute or two.
5. Add quarter cup of water. Allow the water to evaporate fully cooking the beans for about 3 minutes.
6. Season with salt & pepper.
7. Toss in toasted almonds.(If you like you can add in a squeeze of lemon.)
8. Serve. (Leftovers: also delicious served cold.)

Tutti a tavola — everyone to the table!

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Ashley Bartner is living the foodie dream in Italy. Together with her Chef-husband Jason, they own and run La Tavola Marche  an organic farm, inn and cooking school in Central Italy's region of Le Marche.

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Foodie's Emporium is an Amazon Pro Merchant!

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Maple Grilled Swordfish

Ordinary Out of the

OOO by Kate Krukowski Gooding
If you have never experienced Maple Sunday in Maine, put it on your calendar for next year and go to Dragonfly Farm and Winery in Stetson, Maine, or your closest maple producer. I paired my sample dishes with their wines. I made this maple mustard for dipping and later lathered it on a grilled swordfish. I have made this Maple-Mustard Sauce several time, with the new addition of Raye’s “Bar Harbor Real Ale” Stone Ground Mustard, your senses will reach heightened awareness as the taste of the mustard stimulates your taste buds!

Raye’s Mustard Mill, located in Eastport, Maine, is a working museum with tours given weekdays. Did you know mustard is perhaps the world's oldest condiment. All recorded histories note the cultivation and use of the plant for epicurean and medicinal purposes. Napoleon's armies were supplied with mustard to ward off digestive ailments and make their food more palatable. Modern science has shown that mustard seeds are high in antioxidant properties and in combination with other herbs and spices have antibacterial qualities.

Grilled Swordfish with Raye’s Maple-Mustard Sauce

Ingredients
Serves 2-4
1 pound swordfish steak, about 1 ¼-inch thick
2 teaspoons smoked sea salt   
2 tablespoons Dragonfly Farm Dark Amber Maple Syrup

Raye’s Maple Mustard Sauce
2 tablespoons butter, melted
¼ cup Raye’s “Bar Harbor Real Ale” Stone Ground Mustard
2 tablespoons Dragonfly Farm Maple Syrup
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

Directions
1. Spray gas grill rack with non-cooking spray and heat on high. Pat fish dry, sprinkle smoked sea salt and brush with maple syrup. Grill swordfish about 10 minutes; turn and grill 3 more minutes.
2. Heat butter in small saucepan; add maple syrup, apple cider vinegar and mustard and simmer until heated through..
3. Spoon auce over swordfish and serve.

Wine Pairing Dragonfly Farm and Vineyards-By-the-Numbers white wine.

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You can find Kate Gooding's book, Black Fly Stew - Wild Maine Recipes at Foodie's Emporium! Click here. Kate has published three cookbooks: Wild Maine Recipes and Simple Gourmet Lamb with Side Dishes and Wine Pairings. She is currently is working on her one in the Black Fly Stew series – which carries and an international flair.

More information at www.blackflystew.com

And visit Foodie's Emporium for Unique Kitchen items!

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(Cucumber) Relish Your Meal

Tips Tasty

by Anna Tourkakis

Relish Your Meals
Cooking is definitely simpler and easier during summer. Temperatures are warm, fruits and vegetables are plentiful and meals can be easily put together.

For quick cooking, grilling is a frequent go-to method. Adding a relish to these meals produces a surprising delightful lunch or dinner. Typically, a relish consists of raw vegetables, pickles and spices. This cucumber relish replaces the pickles with jalapeño and uses a combination of summer favorite ingredients that are colorful and flavorful accompaniment to grilled meats resulting in a satisfying, healthy and delicious meal.

Cucumber Relish

Ingredients
1 cup seedless cucumber with skin, diced
1 cup tomato, seeded and diced
½ cup red onion, diced
1 teaspoon jalapeno, minced
4 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped parsley
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
Fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions
1. Toss all ingredients together.
2. Taste for seasoning.
3. Serve as a relish.
TIP If you get excess liquid, drain the relish and use it as part of a salad dressing. Toss with mixed greens.

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Anna's new cookbook Delicious Simplicity is now available. It's packed with quick-and-easy recipes, Delicious Simplicity is your go-to cookbook for scrumptious meals. Save time and money while preparing delectable recipes that make nutritious eating in your busy life practical.

Buy Delicious Simplicity.

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Foodie's Emporium is an Amazon Pro Merchant!

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Radicchio Crostini

Italy Delicious

by Ashley Bartner
What to do with radicchio? Sauteed with cherry tomatoes and piled high atop crostini!  

Ok, so what is radicchio? If you once thought it was just a purple lettuce, think again. Its an ancient leafy vegetable in the chicory family. Radicchio has a bitter and spicy taste, which mellows when it is grilled or roasted. Its commonly found throughout Italy and we grow it on our farm too! Radicchio is such as versatile ingredient — eaten raw, grilled with olive oil or in risotto.

Here's a quick and easy recipe to enjoy this under rated leafy veg, you can use this topping as crostini, atop grilled chicken or try it in a frittata.

Radicchio Crostini

Ingredients
Radicchio, core removed, sliced
4-5 Cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Clove of garlic
Extra virgin olive oil
Salt & pepper
Soft cheese (we use stracchino a soft cows milk cheese)
Toasty bread

Directions
1. In a frying pan heat 3-4 glugs of olive oil and gently fry the clove of garlic. Once brown, remove garlic.
2. Raise the heat, add radicchio, season with salt & pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes as the radicchio will cook down a bit.
3. Add the cherry tomatoes and lower the heat to medium-low. Gently cook everything down, letting the tomatoes wilt about 10 minutes. It may be necessary to add a spoonful or two of water if it looks like its drying out.
4. Taste and check your salt & pepper.
5. Turn off heat & allow to cool. Add a healthy drizzle of extra virgin olive oil over top and mix in.
6. Toast your bread slices. Spread layer of soft cheese & spoonful of radicchio mixture.

Tutti a tavola — everyone to the table!

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Ashley Bartner is living the foodie dream in Italy. Together with her Chef-husband Jason, they own and run La Tavola Marche  an organic farm, inn and cooking school in Central Italy's region of Le Marche.

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Foodie's Emporium is an Amazon Pro Merchant!

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