surprise

Well if I am not mistaken I said last weeks party was the end of the party season for the

“hood” man was I ever wrong. OK it was the first party of 2011. Not really your typical

rowdy boisterous new years party but a really incredible elegant new years day casual

gathering at Marvin and Gina’s featuring – Gina,s ( always from scratch ) dungeness crab

gumbo and Marvin’s triple lemon, lemon cake with fresh pomegranate seeds. Needless to

say you won’t see those recipes here as neither of them will give them up, no matter how

we begged. But on a snowy, rainy afternoon it was just right especially with the fresh jumbo

shrimp, salmon spread, triple creamy brie and Cajun deviled eggs. And Oh yes Gina’s from

scratch biscuits drizzled with melted butter, just right.

So that made me think about more comfort food for those cold winter nights and the playoff

game afternoons. So for the next round of recipes we’ll focus on a lot of both.

For a mid week dinner for the family, even if there is only two, how about a fancy greens

salad with citrus dressing a #10, boeuf bourguignon or beef burgundy, baked fries and

indian pudding for desert.

What could be better for the first weekend of football playoffs but a couple of great make

ahead dishes to free you up to watch the games, right she says. Any way a simple chop

salad followed by corn, crab and lobster chowder and creme de menthe pie for desert. Now

don’t weaken and just throw out chips and salsa, a simple app like stuffed dates in bacon

and some paprika spiced almonds to start will make for a great afternoon of food and fun.

Don’t forget the beer and JK or Wildfire wine.

suggestion on the salad, beef burgundy, fries and indian pudding menu. start the fries first

so they can soak and marinate while cooking the bourguignon, the indian pudding only

takes 30 min to cook and a few minutes to put together and is best served hot with vanilla

ice cream. you can prep the salad while the beef is finishing in the oven and serve just as

the beef comes out of the oven and the fries go in.

SALAD #10 W/ CITRUS DRESSING

1 small bag baby greens – rinsed and spun dry

1 small red onion sliced thin

1 orange peeled and sectioned, sections sliced in half length wise

1 small pink grapefruit peeled and sectioned

1 avocado sliced into wedges

1 dozen pitted ripe black olives sliced

8 cherry tomatoes halved

3 oz blue cheese crumbles

CITRUS DRESSING

2 tsp lemon zest

4 tbsp lemon juice

4 tbsp orange juice

2 tbsp dijon mustard

2 tsp honey

1/2 tsp fresh thyme leaves – chopped

1/2 tsp fine salt

1/2 cup olive oil

whisk all ingredients except oil in a medium bowl. gradually whisk in oil slowly a few drops

at a time then a steady stream until smooth.

toss greens with dressing, divide onto chilled plates, top in order with; thin sliced onion

rings, 2 orange slices, 2 grapefruit slices, 1 avocado slice, black olives, cherry tomatoes and

blue cheese crumbles finish with fresh ground pepper.

BEEF BOURGUIGNON

2 lbs lean beef trimmed and cubed 1/2

″

1 tbsp unsalted butter

2 tbsp olive oil

salt & pepper

1 cup chopped onion

1 tsp chopped garlic

1 tbsp flour

1 bottle wine – JK merlot

2 bay leaves

1 sprig (4

″

) fresh thyme

15 pearl onions – peeled

15 cremini mushrooms quartered

15 baby carrots whole

5 oz piece pancetta

1/4 cup water

dash sugar

chopped fresh parsley

preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt butter with 1 tbsp olive oil in large dutch oven. Brown

meat then add chopped onion and garlic, cook 5 mins stir occasionally. Add flour and mix

well, no lumps. Stir in red wine, add bay leaves and thyme – salt and pepper to taste- stir

well and bring to a boil, cover. place pot in oven and cook for 1 1/2 hours.

Cut pancetta into 1/2

″

pieces. bring pancetta in two cups of water to a boil in a sauce pan –

simmer 30 mins and then drain. In a large skillet combine 1 tbsp olive oil, pancetta, onions,

mushrooms, carrots , 1/4 cup water a dash of sugar, salt and pepper. bring to a boil and

simmer covered 15 to 20 mins until water is almost gone. uncover and cook over high heat,

sauteing the vegetables until nicely browned 5 to 6 mins.

when done remove dutch oven from oven and mix vegetables into stew, keep hot on top of

stove, garnish with chopped parsley before serving. Serve with sliced baguette and JK

Merlot.

BAKED FRIES ( for 4 )

6 to 8 medium potatoes sliced into fries – skin on - soaked in ice water

4 tbsp olive oil

2 tbsp crushed garlic

salt & pepper

In a large plastic bag add oil, garlic and seasoning, add drained and dried potatoes,

marinate 1 to 2 hours. preheat oven to 475 degrees, bake on a large cookie sheet 15 mins

or until crisp.

INDIAN PUDDING

2 cups whole milk

1/4 cup sugar

3 tbsp corn meal

1/2 cup molasses

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

2 eggs – beaten

2 tbsp unsalted butter softened at room temp

vanilla ice cream

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix 1/2 cup cold milk with sugar, corn meal, molasses, salt

and cinnamon. Scald 1 1/2 cups milk in medium sauce pan, add cold milk mixture to pan,

cook until thickened stirring constantly, add beaten eggs and butter. bake in casserole dish

for 30 mins. serve warm with ice cream.

Enjoy and let me know what you think about these recipes. Still waiting for some of your

favorites. tomorrow the Chowda for the weekend games.