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 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 351: The Steak-Free Streak is Finally Broken!

The last three times I went to Izzy's Steaks & Chops, I ordered fish.  Fish!  At a steak restaurant!  For some unknown reason, I hadn't craved my beloved prime rib dish on any of these occasions.  I hoped this trend would end, because that prime rib is SO good - finally tonight, my old craving returned, so off to Izzy's we went.

As always, I started with the prawn cocktail which is served with Izzy's amazing house made cocktail sauce.   After that, I had the prime rib with steamed broccoli and ate every savory, meaty bite.  Yum!  

Day 344: Go Team!

I must have gotten swept away in the action tonight at the A's vs. Giants game, because I forgot to take a picture of the awesome sandwich I purchased for dinner.  A friend and I actually each ordered a different sandwich and then swapped a half with each other so I got to have a turkey sammy and a brisket one.

Luckily, I remembered in time to capture a picture of our dessert - freshly made caramel popcorn.  This stuff is addictive.  If you are ever lucky enough to find yourself on the Club Level at  AT&T Park, take yourself immediately to the caramel corn booth.  It's worth every calorie!

Day 343: An Oldie, But a Goodie

The recipe for this tart is from the May 2006 issue of Saveur magazine.  I made it several times for dinner parties when the magazine first came out, but then forgot about it.  Tonight we were having some friends over, so I brushed the dust off the issue and made this delicious tart again.

I'll warn you - this recipe isn't difficult, but it takes a long time to pull it together.  But it is so yummy, so it's worth it, especially if you're making it for people who will appreciate it. 

The main course tonight was flank steak (2 lb), marinated for 6 hours in this delicious mixture and then grilled:

1.5T freshly squeezed lime juice

1T olive oil

2 cloves garlic, pressed

1t hot chili paste, like Sambel Oelek

1/2t grated or minced ginger

1/2t honey

Finally, we had some grilled figs, which are a seasonal specialty that I absolutely love.  Fresh figs are lightly coated with olive oil, then seasoned with S&P, and grilled for a couple of minutes over medium-low heat.  Simple, but amazing.

I encourage you to try any or all of these recipes!

Day 336: Seeking Softness

I'm having a rough couple of weeks.  First, I seriously cut my thumb while slicing eggplant for moussaka.  Then, a few days later, I had a couple of wisdom teeth extracted.  Now, I've found out that there's an infection at one of the extraction sites, which is why I continue to experience a lot of discomfort on one side of my mouth.  So, I continue to try to eat mostly soft foods or to cut things into very small pieces.  With all of this in mind, we went to Isa for dinner tonight.

At Isa, diners are supposed to share all the dishes they order.  My husband and I love to eat that way since we both get to try more things, so we love Isa.  Tonight we ordered:

> Tuna tartar (small pieces of diced tuna, served over mashed avocados)

> Baked goat cheese with tomatoes, basil, and pine nuts (wonderful - and soft - when smeared on the soft insides of Isa's baguettes)

> Scallops with mashed potatoes

> Grilled yellowtail with sauteed zucchini and artichokes

> Flat iron steak with roasted potatoes (I had a couple of bites, but this was mostly consumed by my hubby)

I didn't struggle too much through any of this and the yellowtail, a new dish on the menu, was absolutely amazing.  It was very simply prepared, with the fish left rare in middle, and the whole dish was full of fresh flavors.

It's probably going to be another few days until I'm able to eat normally again.  Fish seems to be the best solution, delivering yummy and healthy protein with minimal chewing required.  Soups, noodles, and well cooked veggies work as well.  As long as I can keep a nice variety of food on my plate, I'll be okay.  Food boredom is the worst!

Day 333: Cooking One Handed

Tonight was the first night I truly attempted to cook dinner since sliced off the tip of my thumb last Monday.  I made stuffed peppers and did a pretty good job, too!  This is a recipe I made up as I went along and I didn't measure anything out so the quantities here are estimated.

Ingredients (serves 2):

2 bell peppers (color of your choice), halved, seeded, and white bits removed

3/4 lb. lean ground beef

1 small shallot, minced

3 large cloves of garlic, sent through a garlic press

1/4 cup chopped sweet pear or grape tomatoes

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp freshly ground pepper

Shredded mozzarella

Preheat oven to 375 degrees and gently mix all ingredients (except the peppers and cheese) in a bowl.

Place peppers on  a greased baking sheet or pan.  Fill peppers with meat mixture.  You don't have to press very hard - just place a loosely packed mound of meat in each pepper half.

Bake peppers for 40 minutes.  Sprinkle cheese on top of each pepper and continue to bake until melted.  Sprinkle another round of cheese on top of each pepper and turn broiler on.  You don't have to move the pan to sit directly under the broiler - just having it on with allow the cheese to brown a bit on top.  Watch it carefully to ensure it doesn't burn.

I wish I had served this alongside a salad, but in any case it was tasty.  Hope you enjoy!

Day 329: Mush Mouth

I had my last two wisdom teeth extracted this morning.  Fun!  After a day of smoothies and broth I was hungry and ready for some real food, but needed to be careful to find something soft.  We headed to Luisa's for their divine eggplant parmesan.  I've had this dish many times before and I love it, especially when the waiter generously grates parm over the top!

I had been planning to begin the meal with soup, but I noticed a new meatball appetizer on the menu.  Soft minced meat?  Sounded perfect to me!  They were delicious and easy for me to consume once chopped up into small bites.

I expect that I'll need to continue to find more tooth/gum friendly foods tomorrow.  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.  Leave a comment if you have one.

Day 326: How to Get Out of Cooking Without Even Trying

Here's a tip.  If you get tired of having to cook and clean up, just cause some serious bodily harm to yourself and your wonderful hubby is bound to step in.  At least that's how it works in my house!

Last night I cut my thumb rather badly while preparing dinner.  24 hours later it's still sore and generally in rough shape so there was no way I could cook tonight.  So, we picked up a couple of NY strip steaks and some two types of orzo salad.  My husband grilled up the steaks with a simple seasoning of S&P and dinner was ready lickety split.

I love to cook and so expect this whole thing to get old kind of fast.  But I think another few days of having dinner cooked for me instead of by me is going to be quite okay.

Day 311: Asparagus & Peas Part 2

A couple of days too late, I was craving red meat tonight.  So, I picked up a strip steak, seasoned it well with S&P and grilled it for 3.5 minutes on each side (for medium temperature meat).

I plated it on top of some leftover asparagus and pea puree from last night and sauteed some broccolini with garlic (2 cloves, minced) and white wine (approx. 3T) for the perfect side dish.

The whole meal took about 15 minutes to make and it was delish!  

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 296: Please Pass the Burger Bite

Day 2 of my marathon of friends during this trip back east, this one with college friends. There are two couples who live within just a 15 minute drive of my parents' house so we decided to take advantage of the amazing weather we've been having and gathered at one of their homes for a bbq.

It was a great night to sit outside, sip some cold white wine, and enjoy catching up with friends that I haven't seen in well over a year! Dinner was hamburgers and sweet potatoes, both from the grill, and potato salad and green salad. One hamburger became the casualty of "the flip" and broke up into what we called "burger bites" which sort of got passed around throughout the meal, depending on who needed another small does of red meat in their system. The bite on my plate actually wound up in someone else's belly.

The sweet potatoes were definitely the star of the meal, however. They had marinated in olive oil, some herbs, and S&P and then were grilled until tender. Everyone raved about them! Good job, Kelly!

And, I'm thrilled to say that I did indeed carry last night's lesson with me, sipping a beer and some white wine like the adult I am supposed to be! Will it last? The marathon isn't over yet!

Day 282: Brownie Points from (Someone Else's) Mom

We have a couple of goy friends who really love when I cook up a Jewish feast for them.  So, in celebration of Passover, I invited ourselves to their house with a feast in tow:  matzoh ball soup, brisket, and roasted butternut squash.  One friend's parents were in town so it was a downright Passover party of six.

This was actually my first time making matzoh balls, so I cheated and relied on a mix.  Considering how delicious they turned out, I may cheat every time!

My soup took awhile to come together but once it was done, it was SO good.  I followed a recipe from Epicurious.com but found that once it was complete, the broth was thin and rather tasteless.  To solve that problem, I simmered the broth (minus the chicken which I reserved to serve with the soup and the veggies which I threw away) for about 2 additional hours, allowing it to reduce, bringing out much more flavor.  Adding more salt helped as well.

My brisket recipe was also from Epicurious.com.  I prepared this dish for others on Hanukkah to rave reviews and it didn't disappoint this time either.

I roasted the butternut squash simply.  After peeling it and removing the seeds, I cut it up into uniform 1 inch pieces and mixed them with olive oil, about 2 T fresh thyme leaves, and a good dose of S&P.  I lay the pieces out in a single layer on a baking sheet and roasted it at 400 degrees for about 22 minutes, or until very tender.

My friends loved the meal, as did my husband and the visiting parents.  They didn't just clear their plates, they gobbled it all up and handed out lots of compliments.  I'm always happy to earn some Mom love, even from someone who isn't my own mom!

Day 261: Double Recipe Entry

I make damn good meatballs and today's you're lucky day because I'm going to give you the recipe.  Usually we eat them without pasta, but tonight I boiled up a little bit of whole wheat spaghetti.  I also made some baby broccoli as a side dish and it was beyond delicious.  All in all, a stellar meal tonight.

Meatballs:

2 eggs, lightly beaten

1/3 cup bread crumbs or panko

1/2 cup cold water (or beef broth if you have some handy)

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 cup chopped flat leaf parsley

1/2 cup grated parmesan

1 lb lean ground beef

1/2 lb ground pork

1/2 lb ground lamb

Place first four ingredients in large bowl, stir together, and let sit for 5 minutes.

Pour a thick layer of olive oil into a pan and place it over a medium-high burner.

Add garlic, parsley, and parm to the egg mixture and mix everything together.  Add meat and use your hands to gently mix everything together.  If it seems too wet to hold together, add some more bread crumbs until you're happy with the consistency.  

Place two jars of your favorite tomato sauce in an oven proof pot and place in the oven at 225 degrees.  I like Classico and use some combination of their tomato basil, roasted garlic, or spicy tomato flavors.  Of course, you can make your own sauce if you prefer, but having tried that a couple of times, I find it's way more effort than it's worth for this particular recipe.

Make balls out of your meat mixture.  I like to make larger ones because you can get them all fried in fewer batches.    I get about a dozen and a half large meatballs out of this recipe.

Place a batch of meatballs in your hot oil and cook until browned.  Turn them and allow the other side to brown and then place them in your pre-heated sauce.  Once all of your meatballs are in the sauce, allow them to cook uncovered for an hour and a half.

Upon serving, grate some more parm or melt some mozzarella over the top.

Baby Broccoli:

1 package of fresh baby broccoli (we purchased ours at Trader Joe's)

2 large cloves of garlic, minced

1 small shallot bulb, chopped

1/4 cup white wine

Pour a thin coat of olive oil into a pan and warm over low heat.  Add garlic and shallot and saute for a couple of minutes until soft and fragrant.

Add broccoli, season with S&P, and turn heat up to medium-high.  Add half of the wine and stir everything together.  Add the rest of the wine a couple of minutes later, or when you see the initial bit has evaporated.

Stir frequently and cook until broccoli is at the desired doneness.  I like mine to still have a lot of crunch.

This dinner definitely takes some time to prepare, which is what makes it perfect for a Sunday night.  If you're cooking for two, then you will also be blessed with some yummy leftovers which will make dinner preparation a lot easier one night during the week.  Enjoy!

Day 260: Eating with Tuizers

Who needs chopsticks or silverware when you can eat with Tuizers?  Of course, I do not mean tweezers - I mean Tuizers, as in my friend Julie and her mom Mary (Tuizer).

Julie's mom is visiting for the weekend and my husband and I joined them for a Vietnamese feast at Three Seasons.  We ordered a variety of dishes and shared them all:  duck springrolls (pictured), chicken satay, crunchy fried egg rolls filled with shrimp and pork, shrimp potstickers, shrimp in tamarind sauce, and beef sauteed with chopped mango.  We also shared the fried banana and coconut ice cream dessert.

Places like Three Seasons are best when enjoyed with a group so that you can order up and taste a bunch of different things.  I find that a couple of bites of lots of different flavors is better than a big plate of only one thing.  Less is not more if you ask me!

Day 259: Back to Life, Back to Reality

After three straight days of vegetarian dinners (what???), life finally returned to normal tonight.  We dined at Isa, one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants, which specializes in small plates.

Mostly, we ordered our favorites:  tuna crudo, arugula salad, pan seared scallops, baked Laura Chenel goat cheese.  The new item we tried tonight was from the specials list:  short ribs with mashed potatoes, carrots, and broccoli (pictured).  It was too rich for my blood, especially after three nights of veggie dinners, but it was nice to try something new.

It looks like life has returned to normal.  Meat and fish were on my plate tonight!

Day 254: Carnivore's Delight

After an afternoon in wine country, I needed a dinner with substance.

Vegetarians out there may be disgusted, as well you should be.  I dedicate this and all entries from Izzy's Steak & Chops to my carnivorous readers.  

My favorite item on the Izzy's menu is their slow roasted prime rib, cooked medium rare.  It savory and juicy and so delicious.  At Izzy's you get to choose two sides with your entree.  Normally, I request a double order of steamed broccoli but tonight the waitress let me know that they had some fresh asparagus, so I had an order or each.  All those fresh steamed veggies make me feel a lot less guilty about the giant slab of meat I gobble up!

Day 248: Dinner Overseas

An SF urbanite friend of mine refers to traveling over the Golden Gate or Bay Bridges as "going overseas".  I always found that very amusing and rarely can I go to Oakland or Berkeley without thinking of him or that funny phrase.

Tonight I had to attend focus groups in Berkeley for work.  My husband, who works overseas, agreed to pick me up and since it was 7:30, we decided to find dinner over there rather than drive back into the city and eat too late.

I was hoping to eat at Bette's Oceanview Diner, a famous Berkeley institution with my name in it.  Unfortunately, we got there and it was closed.  While this Bette blogs about her dinner every night, that Bette doesn't even serve dinner (and nor does the restaurant have an ocean view)!  So, we wound up at the next open place we found, Spenger's Fresh Fish Grotto.

Oddly enough, I was craving beef, so I ordered the surf and turf dish:  a sirloin steak and half a stuffed lobster.  It was fair.  The lobster was stuffed with more mushroom than lobster, but I suppose that's to be expected for $28.  The steak was actually quite tasty.

Unlike my friend, I love going overseas and trying out the restaurants there.  We'll probably try lots of other places before we ever go back to Spenger's.  If you have a recommendation in Oakland, Berkeley, or beyond, leave a comment and let me know!

Day 243: Guilt Free Beef

Just because you're trying to be healthy, doesn't mean that you can't eat beef.  Prepare it the right way, and it can be a tasty AND good for you.

The first tip is grill, baby, grill.  Grilling adds so much great flavor without adding any extra fat.

Next, make a sauce like chimichurri, from olive oil (good fat) and loads of herbs and spices.  Put all of the following ingredients in a bowl, whisk them together, and drizzle the mixture over your steaks prior to serving.  This recipe is enough for 4-6 steaks.

1/2 cup olive oil

1 cup red wine vinegar

1/2 cup rice wine vinegar

4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tsp cayenne pepper (more if you want it spicy)

2 tsp dried oregano

1 cup of chopped fresh parsley

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 tsp salt

The side dish I chose to make with our steaks was roasted bell pepper and cauliflower in lemon caper vinaigrette.  The simple recipe from Epicurious.com takes advantage of fresh vegetables and paired really well with the steak and chimichurri sauce.

If you read last night's entry, you know that we had a barely edible meal.  Tonight I redeemed myself, much to my (and my husband's) relief!!

Day 239: I Don't Care What You Think

This steak, served at Izzy's Steaks and Chops, is not attractive.  It may even be downright gross looking.  But you know what?  I don't care.  And that's because it was freaking delicious and made my tummy very happy!!

Beef is notorious difficult to photograph.  Even the Beef Council's ads make beef look more creepy than mouth-watering.  

Like your mother instructed, I beg you not to judge a book by its cover.  This steak should be judged based on how good it is on the inside - not on its outward appearance.  And I'm here to tell you that on the inside, this steak is wonderful.

As always at Izzy's, I ordered this prime rib medium rare with au jus and steamed broccoli.  And I'm proud to say that I ate every bite, less the fatty bits, plus a shrimp cocktail appetizer.  As the Hillshire Farm people say, "Go Meat!!"