Salsa Happens

The word "salsa," in Spanish, means "sauce." It is derived from the Latin word "salsus," meaning "salty." Generally thought to be a savory, saucy condiment, salsa can take on many forms.

This past weekend, at a 3rd of July party, I found myself in the kitchen with some extraneous produce: avocados, mangos, tomatoes, a few ears of corn. What happened next? Salsa.

3rd of July Salsa

2 champagne or honey mangos

2 ripe but firm avocados

2 medium tomatoes

2 ears of sweet corn

juice of one lime

white wine vinegar

salt (non-iodized)

Cut the flesh of the mangos and avocados into pieces about as big as a kernel of corn. Slice the tomatoes into slightly larger pieces, removing and discarding the seeds as you go. Cut corn off the cob. Combine in a mixing bowl and mix well. Add the juice of one lime, mixing gently to combine. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and white wine vinegar. Serve immediately as a side for grilled chicken or fish, on fresh tacos, or with tortilla chips.

Making Dinner "Out of Scratch"

I believe that everybody has a special skill that makes them unique in all the world. A skill that makes them a superhero to someone. A skill that can seem like magic.

My special skill is making dinner "out of scratch."

I am very lucky to live close enough to one of my sisters that I can stop by and hang out with her and her lovely children on any given warmer-than-usual, late February, Thursday afternoon--such as today. Her husband was working late, and my sister was working on costumes for a production of Annie which both of my nieces are in next month. She asked me if I wanted to stay for dinner.

"Sure," I replied. "What are we having?"

"I have absolutely no idea!" she exclaimed with more exasperation than seemed necessary.

But then I opened her fridge.

She had milk and butter and eggs and cheese. And seltzer water. And quite a few condiments. Not much else.

Hmmmm.

That's when I decided it was time to pull out my special skill set and take charge in the kitchen.

It started with biscuits. My grandmother always made biscuits, and some of my favorite memories of big family holiday meals were of eating her biscuits. I'm sure lots of other food was on the table, but to me, the biscuits were the meal. If there are biscuits, there is dinner.

Flour, baking powder, spices, salt, butter, cheese, egg, milk: everything I needed was there in my sister's kitchen. In the fifteen minutes it took to preheat the oven to 400 degrees F, the dough was made and ready for the oven.

In the twenty minutes it took to bake the biscuits, I found some salmon fillets and asparagus in the freezer.

And just as the biscuits were coming out of the oven, there was pan roasted wild salmon with lemon butter and fresh cracked pepper, roasted asparagus, and two rogue sausages for my youngest niece, who has not yet developed a taste for fish.

As we sat down to dinner, my niece's eyes were wide with wonder, as if she was experiencing some deep, mystical magic. "Wow," she breathed, "did you make these out of scratch?"

"Yes, Michele, I sure did."

This recipe is not my grandmother's. I only have one of her biscuit recipes written down--one for "Angel Biscuits" which call for yeast and baking powder. She used to make them at her church for their weekly suppers, but that is another story.

This recipe is for cheesy garlic biscuits, which I first started making with my youngest sister when we were both living in the Pacific Northwest many many moons ago. It is best to buy block cheese and grate it yourself (as packaged grated cheese are coated with an anti-caking agent which prevents it from melting properly; it also doesn't taste as good). I like to vary this recipe by throwing in a variety of fresh herbs when I can, and switching up the cheeses. But here is the recipe as I made it last night.

Cheesy Garlic Biscuits "Out of Scratch"

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1 tbsp white sugar
1 tsp salt (non-iodized)
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
1 stick (8 tbsp) butter, cut into 16 equal sized pieces
1/2 cup finely shredded yellow cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
1/2 cup finely shredded mozzarella cheese
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup whole milk

Preheat oven to 400 F

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, garlic powder and pepper. Mix well to combine.

2. Rub in the butter with your fingers until well incorporated. There should be small pieces about the size of a flake of oatmeal, and larger pieces about the size of a pea. This is as it should be.

3. Add the shredded cheeses. Using a fork, gently toss the cheese into the flour mixture until well incorporated.

4. In a separate small bowl, combine the egg and milk and whisk well.

5. Make a well in the middle of the flour mixture. Pour in the milk mixture. Using a fork, lightly stir just until the dough holds together.

6. Lightly grease a baking sheet. Using a spoon, drop the dough into 12 equal sized biscuits (about a scant 1/4 cup each), leaving space between them on the baking sheet. Lightly brush the tops with melted butter, or lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray.

7. Bake in preheated 400 F oven until they smell delicious and are lightly golden, about 20 minutes.

My Best Scrambled Eggs

I learned how to scramble eggs when I was seven years old. My dad taught me how to beat the eggs with salt and cream, and cook them up with an obscene amount of butter in an electric skillet. They were quite tasty.

Over the years I've cooked many an egg, and have finessed my own personal method of how to scramble an egg. Truth be told, I prefer my eggs to be scrambled, but I rarely order them that way when I eat out. I like my scrambled eggs--soft with an almost creamy consistency, salty and buttery but not too heavy.

I spent Christmas with family--all of them very discerning with their food preferences. One of my sisters swears she hates eggs, but she'll eat my scrambled eggs every time I make them. I whipped up a large batch of scrambled eggs on Christmas morning. My mom marveled at them and said, "These are the best scrambled eggs I've ever eaten. What did you put into them?" My answer, which was the simple truth of the matter: "Butter and love."

I hesitate to describe my method of cooking scrambled eggs for the simple reason that the debate over how to "properly" cook an egg has a long and tempestuous history among culinary professionals and enthusiasts. I flatly refuse to engage in any conversation that argues the points of egg cookery (the only exception to date being a humorous and informative exchange of information on the topic with Harold McGee). Lifetime grudges have ensued from passionate disagreements between chefs on this topic. Battle lines have been drawn in kitchens on this point. It isn't pretty.

And so I put forth this method not as *The* best method, but as *My* best method to make scrambled eggs--the eggs I enjoy cooking, and eating, and serving to family and friends. I do this for my Mama, who called me this morning and asked me to walk her through making scrambled eggs, which I did. And just so you can make them again, Mom, here you go.

My Best Scrambled Eggs

2 large eggs at room temperature*

3-finger pinch of kosher salt (NOT iodized)

a bowl big enough to beat the eggs in (one that holds at least 2 cups)

a fork to beat the eggs

1 tbsp butter

love

7" or 8" non-stick frying pan

rubber scraper spatula

a plate to remove the eggs to when they are done cooking

a fork (different from the one above) with which to eat the eggs

It is very important to have all of the things listed ready to go before you start cooking. Making scrambled eggs is a very time sensitive business. If you don't have a plate ready to remove the eggs when they are done cooking, you will have overcooked eggs, which are not my best scrambled eggs. On this point I can not be too emphatic of the importance.

*If you keep your eggs in the refrigerator, take two out before you go to bed and let them sit at room temperature overnight. Don't let the FDA or USDA scare you--eggs in their uncracked shell keep quite well for a few weeks at cool room temperature (68F to 73F). If you are uncomfortable with the idea of leaving your eggs out, you can bring them up to temperature by placing the eggs (in their shells) in a bowl that holds at least 6 cups, then running hot tap water (up to 120F--any hotter and you may scald yourself) into the bowl and letting the eggs sit for 5-10 minutes.

To see if the egg has warmed up sufficiently, hold it in the palm of your hand and gently cup in with your fingers for about 20-30 seconds. If you can discern the egg shell becoming cooler in that time, the inside of the egg has not sufficiently warmed up. Return to the hot water bath, refreshing with more hot water if necessary, until the egg held in your hand feels at least as warm as room temperature.

Once your eggs are ready, and you have assembled all of the above ingredients and equipment, you are about three minutes away from having scrambled eggs ready to eat. If you attempt this method, I would suggest you try it exactly as written just for the first time. The directions are written in a very specific order for purposes of timing. You will find that once the eggs hit the pan, they will be cooked enough to remove to the plate in a little less than a minute. If you move steps around or don't have ingredients/equipment ready, the eggs may overcook and become rubbery.

First, crack the eggs into a bowl big enough to beat them in (one that holds at least two cups). Discard the egg shells.

Place the skillet over medium high heat.

Add a three-finger pinch of kosher salt to the eggs. (A "three-finger pinch" employs your thumb, index and middle fingers. Reach into a container of kosher salt and "pinch" with those three fingers. What you get goes right into the egg bowl). Beat well with a fork until salt is well mixed, and yolks and whites are well blended. This should take you about 30-45 seconds.

Set the bowl aside and test your pan. If you hold your hand flat and bring it to about one inch above the bottom of the pan, it should feel extremely warm but not uncomfortably hot. When the butter goes into the pan you want it to melt but not sizzle; It should definitely not brown. To take out a little insurance, you can get your hand wet from the faucet and shake a few drops into the skillet. The should land in the pan and sort of simmer. If they turn immediately to steam, you have heated your skillet too long.

So add the butter to the pan when the skillet is ready. Let the butter melt and tilt the pan so the butter spread around to coat the bottom of the pan. Once the butter has must melted, pour the eggs into the pan.

The eggs should begin to set very quickly, within 5-10 seconds. Using the flat side of rubber scraper spatula, gently pull the cooked part of the egg away from the side of the skillet and toward the center of the pan, letting the still liquidy uncooked part of the eggs slide beneath the cooked part to the bottom of the pan. Do this at the 10 o'clock, 2 o'clock, 4 o'clock and 8 o'clock points of the pan, working quickly (it should take you no more than 15 seconds). Then remove the pan from the heat source. (Yes, you read that right. The carry over heat from the pan and in the eggs will continue to cook them).

Continue stirring the eggs, folding them over if necessary. Cook them until they still look a little moist then transfer them to a plate. (Yes, you read that right. If you wait until the eggs look cooked in the pan, they will be overcooked and rubbery on the plate. If you've done it the way I do it, the eggs will have been in the pan for about 60 seconds.)

If you think you might want toast with your eggs, put the bread in the toaster before you start the egg making process. When you get to the part where you crack the eggs, start the toaster. The toast will be ready for buttering when you plate the eggs, and the minute it takes to butter the toast will allow the eggs to "coast" to the perfect temperature and doneness.

Et voilà! My best scrambled eggs. Can you taste the love?

Bacon and Cake as Fast as You Can!

My four year old niece, Emily, has said some of the most fantastic things.

Last week she asked me to make her some breakfast.

"What would you like me to make you, my dear?" I asked.

Without hesitation she exclaimed, "your special eggs with butter and love!"

I melted, quicker than butter in a hot skillet. Then I opened the fridge and pulled out the eggs.

Emily is also the one who came up with my favorite version of pat-a-cake.

Pat-a-cake! Pat-a-cake! Bacon man!
Bacon and cake as fast as you can!

Emergency Brownies, for when Mercury Retrogrades

Yesterday was an odd day.

It took me three hours to upload some photos from my digital camera (which usually takes about three minutes). I burned the bacon.l My friend Erin's power went out. My brother-in-law took the waffle maker out of the cabinet and it promptly fell apart right in his hands.

And then I heard someone say, "Mercury is headed to retrograde."

I'm not saying I believe that's why it was such an odd day, but I am saying that the world as we know it stretches far beyond my kitchen, and many, many things are beyond my control.

But some things are not beyond my control.

Like making brownies.

And in case of emergencies such as the occasional everything-seems-to-be-going-wrong day, it is nice to have an ace in the hole.

My ace in the hole...these chocolate brownies.

This recipe uses ingredients that are most likely in your kitchen right now. They are easy, delicious, and practically foolproof.

Even when Mercury is retrograde.

Emergency Chocolate Brownies

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.

Cut up one stick (1/2 cup) butter and melt it in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Remove from heat before butter starts to foam. Off heat, add 1-1/4 cups sugar and mix well with a spatula or wooden spoon. Add 2 eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Add 1/2 tsp kosher salt, 1/3 cup cocoa powder, 1/3 cup all purpose flour, and 1/8 tsp baking powder. Fold gently until combined.

Pour batter into a lightly greased 8"x8" square pan. Place pan into preheated oven, then reduce heat to 330 degrees F. Bake 30-35 minutes (do not overbake!). Remove from oven and cover loosely with aluminum foil and allow to cool at least 30 minutes before cutting.

Roasted Kale, for Elizabeth

This story begins with a tale of two children.

One child is picky to a fault, mostly because her father is picky. He turns his nose up at new foods. He is incredibly vocal about the foods he does not like. "Ewwww! This is terrible!" he exclaimed last Thanksgiving. "What's in this stuffing?" It was made from scratch, rather than from the Stove Top box. He did not like it AT ALL. He let everyone know. Right there at the dinner table. I felt very embarrassed for him, and very sad for his in-laws who made the dinner.

But most of all I felt sad for his daughter. She adores her father and wants desperately to please him. And so, without even trying the stuffing, she exclaimed, "ewww! That's gross!"

She misses out on lots of tasty things.

A food educator I know teaches a great phrase to the kids in her program: "Don't yuck my yum!" I hope some day this young girl is smart enough and brave enough to say that to her dad.

The second child eats just about everything. Her mom is a vegetarian and her dad is not. This little girl eats cucumbers and avocados and tofu and kiwi as eagerly as hot dogs and pancakes and pizza. And she is very open trying new foods.

I think a big part of this little girl's delight in tasting and eating new foods is the openness of her parents to eating a variety of different foods.

So when I mentioned making roasted kale for dinner one night and her mom asked me how to make it, I promised I'd post it on the blog.

This roasted kale is one of my favorite things. I got the recipe from a vegetarian friend who lives in Gloucester, MA. She tears the kale into bite size pieces before roasting and calls it "kale chips," eating it instead of popcorn on movie nights. Her 3 year old son LOVES it. I hope you like it, too!

Roasted Kale

Ingredients:


Fresh kale (younger/smaller leaves are better)
Olive oil
Fine salt (not iodized)


Method:

1) Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2) Tear kale leaves off of stems (tear into bite sized pieces if you want kale chips). Discard or compost stems. Wash leaves, then dry well in a salad spinner or with a tea towel.

3) Place kale on a baking sheet with a raised edge (use about one baking sheet per bunch of kale). Drizzle lightly with oil, then toss gently by hand to evenly distribute the oil. Sprinkle lightly with fine salt to your taste.

4) Place in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes until kale is crisp and edges just begin to brown, stirring the kale at least once during roasting (tongs work well). If you are roasting more than one pan, you may need to rotate the pans after about 6-8 minutes. (Younger, more tender kale roasts quicker than older, thicker kale--adjust cooking times accordingly.)

5) Remove from oven and serve hot. Kale will stay crisp for about an hour if you want to enjoy it instead of popcorn on movie night.

Sunday Pot Roast

After enduring the longest, coldest, snowiest winter of my life, I finally made it back to Boston to visit my best friend.

The morning after I arrived, I woke up to snow. Snow falling. Snowy snow. Snow.

It didn't last long, and didn't stay long--just snowy snow for the day.

And snow makes me think of comfort food.

Today it made me think of Pot Roast.

I love making a good pot roast, but I rarely get to. There's no real point in making a pot roast just for myself.

So I offered to make on today for Sunday supper with my friend and her family.

Over the years, I've gotten to try many variations on pot roast. I've tried slow cooker pot roast, and low fat pot roast, and hurry-up pot roast.

But the recipe I like best is the one I made today. It is in the oven right now. Here is the recipe.

Sunday Supper Pot Roast

Ingredients:

bacon drippings

3 1/2 lb top round beef roast, patted dry and seasoned with salt and pepper

1 lb pearl onions, peeled

5 cloves garlic, peeled

3-4 large carrots, peeled and cut into 2" pieces

2 stalks celery

3 tbsp flour

1 cup red wine

3 tbsp tomato paste

2 bay leaves

fresh thyme

2-3 cups beef stock

1 lb small red skin potatoes

bacon drippings

2-3 yellow onions, chopped

1 lb button or brown mushrooms, quartered

Preparation:

1) Preheat oven to 350 F.

2) In a large dutch oven, heat several tablespoons of bacon drippings over medium high heat. Sear the roast on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Remove roast from pan and set aside.

3) Cook pearl onions in dutch oven over medium high heat, swirling the pan as needed, until they begin to brown. Add carrots, celery, and garlic and continue to cook, swirling the pan as needed, until they brown, about three minutes.

4) Sprinkle vegetables with flour and stir to coat. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until flour begins to brown.

5) Add red wine and return to medium high heat. Stir to combine well. Bring liquid to a boil, then add tomato paste, thyme and bay leaf. Cook until mixture begins to thicken, about 2 minutes.

6) Return roast to dutch oven. Add beef broth and return to boil. Place potatoes around sides of roast. Cover and continue to cook in 350 F oven for about 2 hours.

7) About 30 minutes before roast is finished, saute chopped onions in a large pan until they are nicely browned. Deglaze pan with beef broth and add thyme. Simmer about 5 minutes, then remove from pan.

8) Return pan to stove and brown mushrooms in bacon drippings. Return onions to pan and heat through.

9) Remove roast from oven. Place mushrooms and onions on top of roast and let rest about 15 minutes before cutting and serving.