Day 364: Empty Cup, Full Belly

Uh oh. In my haste to get this delicious chili into my tummy, I completely forgot to photograph it. Imagine a thick, dark mixture of beef, beans, and tasty spices and seasoning, with cheese sprinkled over the top. As you can see, I brushed off the chopped raw onions.

I paired my chili at tonight's Giants game with hefeweizen, my favorite type of beer. An hour of so later, I followed it up with some caramel corn - a hand made specialty at AT&T Park and a treat I can never pass up. For a photo of this ridiculous, mind blowing dessert, check out entry #344, "Go Team!". In this case, though, seeing is not believing. To understand why I go on and on about this stuff, you must try it for yourself.

One day to go!!

Day 359: Most Nutritious Dish Ever?

Recently, I read that kale is the most nutritious vegetable out there so I've been determined to try to prepare it.  Those stiff, tough leaves have always intimidated me at the farmer's market, but this weekend I decided to give it a go.

I found a recipe for kale and beans on Epicurious and followed it with the following exceptions, per some reviews from people who had prepared it before:  1/2 cup of chicken stock instead of a full cup, 5 cloves of garlic instead of 3, and 2 tsp of sherry vinegar instead of 1.  If you're looking for a hearty vegetarian meal, simply replace the chicken stock with veggie broth and you're sure to enjoy this dish.

I served the kale and beans over some lemony steamed quinoa - another super food that seems to have become a buzz ingredient lately.  Quinoa is a whole grain that packed a protein punch.  I've tried making quinoa lots of different ways and this is my favorite, as it's always light and fluffy.

Boil water in medium sized pot.

Rinse quinoa under cold water and place in boiling water for 10 minutes.

Drain quinoa in a metal strainer.

Bring a couple of inches of water to a boil in the pot and place the strainer over the top.

Cover strainer with a dish towel and then the pot lid.

Steam quinoa for 10 minutes.

Remove pot from the heat and remove the lid, leaving the towel in place.

Let quinoa sit for 5 minutes and then flush with a fork.

You can use quinoa as you would rice or couscous, plating saucy foods over the top.  Or, you can toss it with olive oil and the juice and zest of a lemon for a light, zesty side dish.  This is what I did tonight, scooping the kale and bean mixture over the top.  I found the freshness provided by the lemon really lifted up the overall dish.  The way I look at it, kale + quinoa = possibly the most nutritious dish ever!

The (animal) protein that I choose to serve tonight was lamb chops.  I seasoned the rack with S&P and browned it in a pan with hot olive oil.  I then transferred the rack to a baking sheet, coated it with a mixture of minced garlic, finely chopped rosemary, and olive oil, and baked it in the oven at 400 degrees for about 15 minutes.  Admittedly, I overdid it a bit.  It was still flavorful and juicy, but lamb should be served medium-rare and mine was medium-well.  This is a result of my desperate fear of poisoning my husband - I figure better overdone than underdone.

All in all - a very successful meal.  The kale was a hit, so I plan to purchase it again in the near future.  Any favorite kale preparations?  Please leave a comment with the details.

Day 358: Geez Louise - That Was Tasty!!

I had the urge to leave the 'hood for dinner tonight so we tried a restaurant we had never been to in Russian Hill - 1550 Hyde Cafe & Wine Bar.  Looking at their menu online, the numerous salads and fish entree appealed to me.

I loved the restaurant's setting right away.  It's small with simple decor - warm and welcoming with a very friendly staff.  The menu is somewhat limited - about 5 appetizers and entrees to choose from, but the menu changes regularly to reflect what's in season.

My salad was composed of baby greens with bing cherries, toasted almonds, and fiore sardo cheese.  I'd never tried fiore sardo before and as it turns out, this sheep's milk cheese was too strong for me.  When I ate it with a bit of each of the other components of the salad, it was okay - but otherwise it was just too much.  I wound up giving most of it to my hubby.  On the other hand, the almonds were among the most delicious I had ever had. 

I followed up the salad with salmon, served on top of a mix of fresh chickpeas, corn, and spinach.  I absolutely loved the veggies - the fish was okay.

The star of the meal, though, was dessert.  I rarely indulge in sweets after dinner but tonight's special could not be ignored:  nectarine and chocolate bread pudding with almonds, topped with vanilla ice cream.  Geez Louise - this dish was ridiculous!!  It had the perfect amount of chocolate and the nuts offered a bit of crunch.  It could have used a bit more nectarine, but it was amazing.

I adore restaurants that support local farmers and change their menu frequently to include seasonally relevant dishes.  We'll definitely be returning to 1550 Hyde Cafe and I'm glad I was able to include them in this blog before the 365 days are up!

Day 354: Cook It To Death!

Two of my favorite Greek restaurants, Ethos in NYC and Mezes here in SF, offer a dish that I love - green beans stewed in tomato until they practically fall apart if you look at them too hard.  Normally, I prefer my veggies to have some crunch left in them after cooking, but there's something about those beans that makes me so happy.

We have managed to figure out how to make this dish fairly well at home.  Fresh green beans, pressed garlic cloves, a can of tomatoes, a few splashes of white wine, and lots of time and you can have these delicious beans too.  Just be sure you cook them to death!

Like last night, I took the easy way out with the rest of our dinner.  I purchased some pre-made meatloaf from the deli counter at one of our local grocery stores and just reheated it at home.  It was delicious!  Sometimes I really buy into the "why make it when you can buy it" concept!

Day 332: Doing Our Part

With the economy in the toilet, we've been doing the same thing many Americans have been doing - eating more at home.  In response, restaurants have had to offer incentives to drive diners through their doors and Jardiniere is no different.  For the past couple of months, they have offered a prix fix menu on Monday nights - three courses with wine pairings for $45 per person, each week focused around a different theme.

We first explored Jardiniere's Monday night menu about a month and a half ago when it was built around the arrival of spring.  We returned tonight - you know, to do our part to help improve the economy - and enjoyed their "Chinoiserie" menu (Chinese focus).

The first course was shrimp and hearts of palm dumplings with veggies in Shang Tong broth (pictured).  I looked up Shang Tong online and believe it means "superior stock/broth" but I didn't much care for it.  The dumplings and vegetables were tasty, though.

The entree was divine:  five-spice roasted duck leg with insanely crispy skin, served with green beans, spring onions, and apricot scented jus.  I absolutely love the flavor of five-spice.

Dessert was a plum tart with black sesame ice cream.  On its own the ice cream just tasted odd, but it paired well with the tart.  I was impressed that the tart was just fruit and crust - no custard or creme.  None was needed - those plums were so juicy and velvety on their own.

A Monday night splurge definitely means we have to be more economical during the week, but it was definitely worth it.  If you live in SF and are looking for a really good meal, check out Jardiniere's Monday night prix fix.  It's a great, (more) affordable way to experience a wonderful restaurant.

Day 320: Sometimes Edible is Good Enough

I stayed later than usual at the office so a quick and easy dinner solution was in order for tonight.  Luckily, my hubby was making a stop at Costco on the way home, so he picked up one of their delicious (savory!  juicy!) and cheap ($4.99!!) rotisserie chickens.

Our sides were 3 day old slaw that I made on Sunday and some supposedly spicy frozen Thai string beans from Trader Joe's.  The slaw wasn't super flavorful but it was edible.  The beans were technically edible, but neither my husband nor I actually ate them.  It's rare that we are disappointed with a Trader Joe's product.  In fact, the only other one I can think of that we didn't like was their sea salt, which was too finely ground and therefore difficult to shake out of the canister.

If you are the kind of person who eats to live, this was a great meal for you.  It took next to no time at all to pull together, was relatively well rounded, and was edible.  If you live to eat, like I do, this meal barely cut it.  It wasn't particularly satisfying, but at least I won't die of starvation tonight.  :-)

Day 312: When The Hubby's Away...

Anyone who has been reading this blog for awhile knows that I am a frequent fish eater.  I love it - it's tasty, it's healthy, and it's usually easy and quick to prepare. 

Unfortunately, my husband is not fond of salmon and so I've had little opportunity to cook it at home, instead taking every opportunity to order it in restaurants.  The hubby is away this week, though, so the wife will play - with salmon.

It was so easy and so delicious!  I heated up some olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat until it was good and hot.  I seasoned the salmon well with S&P and then cooked it for 3.5 minutes on each side, beginning with the skin side down.  Once it was plated, I sprinkled some freshly chopped dill and fresh squeezed lemon juice over the top.

My sides were salads that I bought at the grocery store.  One was a red quinoa salad with lima beans and carrots and the other was marinated white beans with celery and tomatoes.

In total, this meal took less than 10 minutes, from prep to eating.  Perfect for a mid-week dinner.  I'll have to remember this one the next time hubby goes away!

Day 308: Fishy Friday

My husband was away most of this week and so I had relatively boring meals at home by myself.  Today we celebrated his return and the return of Friday by going to one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants for dinner - Cafe Maritime.

As you might expect, Cafe Maritime's menu is packed is fish dishes:  swordfish, tuna, linguine with clams, fish & chips, and so on.  Tonight, after my green salad, I opted for grilled mahi mahi, which I believe is a new addition to the menu.  It was meant to be served with string beans and baby potatoes, but I requested that they substitute horseradish mashed potatoes instead of the baby ones.  As always (I think I almost always make a side swap at CM!) they were happy to oblige.

Lucky for me, after my entree I still had enough room left to share an order of Mark's Mom's Coconut Cream Pie with my hubby.  This is without a doubt, one of my favorite desserts in the world.  Happy Friday, everyone!

Day 307: Kebad

When I left the gym at 8pm tonight, I wanted something fast, easy, and healthy for dinner.  So, I decided to try Marina & Kebab, a new restaurant that opened in the neighborhood.  I ordered two skewers - one chicken and one lamb - and took them home and paired them with some raw veggies and Trader Joe's white bean hummus.  

The meal met my three requirements:  fast, easy, and healthy.  But unfortunately, it did not meet the most important requirement of all - taste!  I didn't think the meat was seasoned very well and the lamb was a bit tough.  These kebabs were keBAD!  Somehow, the place gets great ratings and reviews on Yelp, so maybe I didn't order the right things.  Maybe I'll try it again, but probably not.

My veggies were good, though.  And that Trader's Joe's hummus is amazing.  The beans are blended with pesto, pine nuts, and olive oil and it's rich, savory, and so delicious.

Day 304: Rivers of Cheese

Is there such a thing as too much cheese.  I think not!  

Tonight I made enchiladas using leftover chicken from a soup I made over the weekend.  I shredded the meat and mixed it with 1/2 of a finely minced and sauteed onion and a can of black beans (rinsed).

I heated a can of enchilada sauce over low flame and added a couple of dashes of cayenne pepper to up the spiciness.  Once it was warm, I dipped a corn tortilla in the sauce and then placed some of the chicken mixture across the middle of it.  I sprinkled some shredded cheddar cheese on top of the filling and rolled the tortilla as tightly as I could without tearing it.  I then laid the enchilada, flap side down, into a baking dish that I had coated with some of the enchilada sauce.

After repeating this exercise with five more tortillas, my dish was packed full.  I sprinkled some more cheese over the top, then poured the remaining enchilada sauce over everything, and then sprinkled what was left of the cheese on top of that.

The dish was baked for 20 minutes at 350 degrees and when I pulled it out of the oven, beautiful rivers of cheese flowed between each enchilada, the tortillas were softened, and the filling was warm.  Perfecto!

One of my favorite things about this dish is that it can be made with any filling and cheese you like.  You can also adjust the spice level by buying milder or hotter sauces or by adding cayenne pepper.  It's a great way to use leftovers you have on hand and it's easy to make and comes together quickly.  And...there are the rivers of cheese to consider!!

Day 300: Day 300!!?!

Okay.  So yesterday I made a big deal out of how excited I was to be home and cooking again after a week away on vacation.  One day later, here I am going out to dinner again!  

After work, I decided to join some colleagues for a drink (or three).  After that outing, it just  wasn't desirable (or safe) for me to handle sharp implements, so off to Bistro Aix we went.

As always, I started with a salad.  Usually at BA, I order one of their seafood dishes for my entree but tonight I had a craving for beef so I ordered the rib eye.  It normally comes with french fries and watercress salad but I substituted haricots verts instead and didn't eat any of the buttery sauce that was served.  Those moves made me feel better about eating the red meat.

It's almost the weekend, so that means more restaurant wining and dining.  Next week I will really have to get back into the kitchen to make some good, tasty meals at home.  Tune in to see what I whip up!

Day 288: Zuni Cafe's Famous Chicken

After two and a half years of living in SF, we finally made it to the famous Zuni Cafe.  Zuni Cafe opened 30 years ago and is cheffed by Chez Panisse alum Judy Rogers.  It is a legendary place and it's hard to believe that it took us so long to check it out for ourselves!!

Any time I've heard someone talk about Zuni, it is usually coupled with mention of their chicken for two.  It is a whole chicken (cut into pieces), roasted to order with a bread stuffing with currants and pine nuts.  Mustard greens are tossed over the top.

You know when things are talked up so much that you automatically assume that there's no way that they can live up to the hype?  Well, this was one of those times, only it TOTALLY lived up to the hype.  Perfectly seasoned.  Crispy skin.  Delicious accompaniments.  When can I have it again?

Of course we had a couple of starters before the miracle chicken:  fried cauliflower, onions, and capers (fair), breasola with grilled fava beans (I did not care for this), and polenta with marscapone & parmesan cheese (um, YUM!).

Believe it or not, after all of this, we also had dessert.  I was very intrigued by the caramel and balsamic vinegar ice cream, which was most sweet but also a bit sour-tangy.  

What a meal!  And excellent service, too.  Our waiter was a recently relocated New Yorker, like us, and we enjoyed reminiscing about all the great food offered there.  When we go back to Zuni, we will definitely request Jeff as our server.

Day 276: Farmer's Market Flavor

Anticipating several late nights at the office this week, I cooked up some food yesterday that would lead to some quick and easy dinners.

For tonight, I did the prep for pork tenderloin with kumquat-jalapeno marmalade.  I had been seeing kumquats at the farmer's market recently and was determined to try to cook them.  This recipe was very easy.  I made the marmalade yesterday and then tonight, my husband warmed it up and threw the pork tenderloin on the grill while I made my way home.  Perfect teamwork!

Our sides were steamed asparagus (also fresh from the farmer's market!) and some white bean salad that we purchased this weekend at a lovely little Italian cheese shop in our neighborhood.

Being spontaneous is fun, but during a hectic work week full of long days, nothing beats a flavorful, healthy, quick dinner on the table.  Let's hope the rest of this week goes this smoothly.

Day 266: Mark Rocks. And So Does Cafe Maritime!

After last night's dinner of chips and pizza (oy vey!), I knew tonight's meal needed to be a little bit lighter and a hell of a lot healthier.  So, off we went to Cafe Maritime.

We've had many amazing meals at CM.  They introduced me to Lobster Thermador which is SO  delish.  I've also had salmon, swordfish, and tuna there and all have been delightful.

Tonight I started with a vodka oyster shooter.  As I mentioned in a previous post (entry #226 "Slimy and Snotlike"), I really want to like oysters and I'm looking for non-intimidating ways to try them.  What's more welcoming than vodka?

Next, I had swordfish with ancho chile sauce and green beans & broccoli.  Cafe Maritime is always really nice about letting me swap out the carby side (potatoes or rice) with a green veggie.

Finally, my husband and I shared an order of Mark's Mom's Coconut Cream Pie.  Mark is CM's owner and his mom is apparently kept in the basement and forced to crank out amazingly light and perfectly sweet pies all day long.  I say, keep her down there and keep those pies coming!  They are perfect!

Everything was delicious tonight but the best part was that Mark, the owner, recognized me from this blog and comped our meal!  That was the most pleasant surprise I've had in ages!  Thanks for another great meal, Mark.  We will definitely be back!

Day 258: Seriously. What's Going on With Me?

A vegetarian dinner for the third night in a row?  What the hell is going on with me??

I went to the gym after work and took a crazy "ultra conditioning" class that totally kicked my butt.  Afterwards, all I wanted was a fresh, crisp salad.  I bought a pre-made one at the grocery store, along with some white bean salad that I adore.  Huge white beans are mixed with olive oil, chopped bell peppers, and herbs.  Yum.

Of course, I paired this healthy meal with a nice big glass of red wine.  A girl's gotta live somehow!

Day 242: A Waste of Food & Money

This was an awful dinner.  One of the worst I've made in the past 242 days.  It was a recipe from Epicurious.com  - chicken with chickpeas and tomatoes, cooked in a spiced oil made with cumin, garlic, paprika, and red pepper flakes.  How could that be bad?  Well, I don't know how it was bad, but it was BAD.

And that's about all I have to say about this meal.  I'm ready to move on.  And I owe my husband one bang up dinner tomorrow night!

Day 228: Soup & Salad

It's been raining for days here in SF and that kind of weather always makes me crave soup.  

On Sunday, I made some beef barley soup with mushrooms, intending to eat it later in the week.  Soup, chili, and stew are always better when they've had a chance to sit for a day or two.

Tonight we paired a bowl of that soup with ahi tuna salad, which I quickly whipped up when I got home tonight.  For the recipe, check out entry #158 (Pretty Enough for Christmas?).

To be honest, the soup was okay, but not great.  I used a recipe from an old Food & Wine cookbook that had provided lots of great recipes to me over the years.  Here it is, with my suggestions for enhancing it:

Ingredients:

2 T olive oil

1 lb boneless beef chuck, cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 large onion, chopped

2 ribs celery, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 lb shitake mushrooms, stems removed, caps chopped

1/2 lb cremini mushrooms, chopped

1/2 cup red wine

6 cups low sodium beef broth (cookbook recipe calls for water)

1.5 tsp salt

1/2 cup barley

1 tsp (not packed) freshly chopped rosemary

1 jalapeno, scored 3-4 times from top to bottom (cookbook recipe doesn't include this)

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

In a large pot, heat the oil over medium-high heat.  Add the meat and brown well (approx. 8 minutes).  Remove meat and set aside.

Reduce heat to medium-low and add onions, celery, and garlic.  Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are translucent, about 5 minutes.  Increase heat to medium, add mushrooms and saute until soft, about 5 minutes.  Add the wine and simmer 2 minutes.

Return meat to the pot with any juice that has accumulated.  Add broth and salt and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.  Reduce the heat and cook at a bare simmer for 30 minutes.

Add barley, rosemary, and jalapeno and cover pot.  Cook until barley is tender, about 1 hour longer and then stir in pepper.

This soup is easy and healthy but I wouldn't say it's the tastiest thing I've ever made.  Any thoughts for improvement?  Please share!

Day 220: Birthday Week #2!

The initial reason why we decided to travel to Central America on vacation this year was that my parents would be renting a house in Panama for several weeks.  After a week in Costa Rica and a night in Panama City, we finally made our way to them today.

Since my bday had occurred recently, they had a cake for me after dinner tonight.  It was a yellow cake with colored coconut on the outside - very pretty and festive like confetti.

Back to dinner...  My dad cooked tonight - BBQ chicken from the grill, baked beans, and green plantains.  It was really good and very nice to be with family - especially in a new and tropical place!  I can't wait to explore the sites and the food in Panama!

Day 211: Birthday Week Marches On

I'm a big believer in stretching out a birthday for a good solid week.  My week-long celebration began last night and carried on tonight at Cafe Maritime.  Basically, my celebration is defined by eating out rather than cooking and  indulging in dessert every day.  I love birthdays.

My dinner tonight started with shrimp cocktail.  At Cafe Maritime, that means five huge shrimp, dangling from the edge of a huge glass which holds sweet cocktail sauce with huge chucks of avocado floating in it.  Yum.

Next, I had the lobster thermidor which is, hands down, my favorite dish at CM.  As you can see, chunks of lobster and veggies are stuffed back into half the lobster shell and a little bit of cheese is melted over the top.  Most of the time, restaurants make this dish way too rich - with loads of cream and cheese.  This one, though, is pretty light and really allows the flavor of the lobster to shine through.  

And, because it is birthday week, of course I needed to have dessert.  "Mark's Mom's Coconut Cream Pie" is THE thing to get at CM.  The crust is so light and flaky and the coconut and meringue are light as air.  The only thing wrong with it is that it's not bigger.

Tomorrow is my actual birthday, but I'll spend the majority of it on an airplane or in an airport, so I'm not expecting the usual high caliber birthday dinner.  But it's okay - that's why I celebrate for a whole week!

Day 210: An Early Happy Bday to ME!!

My birthday is on Sunday.  Normally, my husband would treat me to a big, fancy dinner out but we'll actually be on a plane all day (more on that later) so we celebrated tonight instead.

In recent years, my birthday has been celebrated at some freaking amazing places:  Chez Panisse, Gary Danko, Babbo!!  This year I wasn't sure what to choose and so I asked for a recommendation from a colleague who is also a big foodie.  He suggested Range.  I had never heard of it, but based on his high praise and a yummy sounding menu, I went for it.  And it was GOOD.

I started with "artichoke stuffed pasta".  Okay - that was ravioli - and I have no idea why they didn't just call it ravioli - but it really doesn't matter.  It was to die for.  Chopped almonds and fried sage leaves were sprinkled on top of the pasta and addeda ton of additional and amazing flavor.  Seriously - I could eat this dish every day.  Twice.

My entree was slow cooked pork loin with white beans, fennel, and kale.  This dish was simple, yet flavorful and delicious.

My colleague had insisted that we order dessert - and who am I to argue with advice like that?  I ordered the pink lady apple & huckleberry tarte tatin and my husband had the chocolate and espresso souffle.  I loved mine.  It came with a scoop of creme fraiche ice cream which was perfect because it wasn't too sweet while the tart itself was quite sweet.  A perfect balance.

This was a wonderful meal.  And so the birthday week begins!  We fly to Costa Rica on my actual birthday and will spend a week and a half there and in Panama.  365daysofdinner.com will go on hiatus, but check back mid next week.  I'm sure I'll have LOTS of rice and beans to tell you about!