Gastronomous

Did you know that that there is  a tomato called ’Pomme d’Amour’ ? Literally it translates to  ”love apple” Pomme d’Amour (French for “love apple”) is similar to these small-fruit tomatoes that were mostly grown for ornament; however, the mild, pinkish-red tomatoes are ideal for garden snacking, salads, and drying. Because they re so hard to find, we used Roma tomatoes for this love jam. Fragrant and delicious, this sweet jam is a favorite at tea time or for a romantic  breakfast in bed.

Enjoy!

Ingredients (for 2-1/2 twelve ounce jars)

1-1/2 pounds Roma tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
3-1/2 cups sugar

Measure into a large non reactive pot, discarding seeds and juice left on cutting board. Add sugar.

Stir in the ginger. Place pot on stove on high heat, stirring with a wooden spoon until the sugar is dissolved. Maintain a full boil until thick and clear . This takes about 20 minutes. Stir often to avoid burning during the last few minutes.

Remove from the heat, allow to stand a moment or two for scum to side and set, so it may be easily removed. Place in hot sterilized jars, cool slightly and seal with paraffin. Yields approximately 2-1/2 twelve ounce jars.

In the mood for a sweetheart of a cookie that will not take all day to make? These sticky toffee cookies hit the spot. I first tried these delights at a holiday cookie swap and been hooked ever since. They are the perfect Valentines day treat!
Use peanuts instead of regular walnuts in case of allergies 

2 sticks of butter
1 cup light brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 box graham crackers(*)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Meanwhile place the butter in a pan over medium heat and bring to a boil Add the sugar and stir till dissolved. take off the heat and stir in the nuts. Line bottom of a baking sheet with sides ( do not use a cookie sheet) with graham crackers. Spread butter nut mixture over the crackers. Bake for 10 minutes . Let cool till they are slightly warm and separate/ slice to your liking. ENJOY!

(*) please pay attention to graham crackers ingredients since they may include corn, soy and/ or other food allergens

It’s cold and we crave comfort food. We has our mashed potatoes, our pot roast, our oven roasted chicken, ham pot pie. We are ready for some hearty Italian goodness! One of our favorite heart dishes is the wonderful chicken parmesan: breaded chicken topped with sauce and mozzarella served on a bed of linguini or spaghetti. The recipe calls for a breast a person and makes a LARGE portion, but splitting the breast to make two “human size” portions is not a bad idea

Ingredients: (For each serving)

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1/2 cup bread crumbs, seasoned with herbs and spices such as basil, parsley and pepper to taste
1 egg, beaten
enough oil to fry the breast
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup grated mozzarella

Heat the oven to broil 500 degrees or very hot.
Meanwhile, place the breast in between two layers of plastic wrap and pound with a meat mallet till it has a thickness of 1/2 throughout.
Unwrap, dip the breast in the egg to coat well then bread with the seasoned crumbs on both sides.
Heat oil in a frying pan and cook the beast, turning only once, till golden brown. Remove and drain any excess oil with paper towels.
Arrange the chicken on a baking pan, top with the tomato sauce, sprinkle the mozzarella on top. Broil till the cheese starts bubbling and browning, as if it were a pizza (around 10 minutes). Remove from the oven, serve over a bed of linguini or spaghetti.
Enjoy!

Steak Diane

The classic steak dish as prepared by world-class Master Chefs just in time for a romantic for two menu.   The question remains: who is Diane? Believe it or not, steak Diane is a tribute to the goddess of the hunt herself: Diana! How the pepper and the wine came in to play is still a mystery . But we all enjoy the end result.  Enjoy with a robust Bordeaux or Cabernet Sauvignon. 

Ingredients:( for 2)

2 rib-eye steaks (3/4 inch thick)
6 Tbls butter
1/2 tsp Rosemary
Cracked pepper and salt to taste
1/2 cup red wine

Rinse and pat dry the meat with a paper towel to eliminate odor from packaging an any loose particles. Trim the excess fat of the steaks, rub the steaks with the Rosemary and the pepper. Set aside till they reach room temperature. Heat a heavy sauté pan very hot. Place a pat of butter in the pan then place the steaks to sear; DO NOT TOUCH OR MOVE THE STEAK!, let it cook according to your liking flipping only once! :3 min on each side for rare, 4-5 on each side for medium, 6 minutes on each side for well done. If your steak is thicker you will need to increase the cooking time.
Remove the steak from the pan and place on serving dish “to rest” remember the steak will continue to cook while on the dish due to the absorbed heat.
Put the pan back on the burner and lower the heat to medium; add the butter and stir with a wood spatula or spoon, add the wine and stir, try to get as much brown as you can from the bottom of the pan. Let the alcohol boil off and pour on top of the steak. Serve immediately.

Are Starches ruining your complexion? Do you miss potatoes like crazy but must reduce your carbs? Then this zucchini, yellow squash and shallot bake is just for you! What an simple and elegant dish to accompany a roast, baked fish or scrambled eggs. If you add tomatoes you’ll have a completely deconstructed ratatouille ! It’s extremely fast to make , it took us 1 minute  of prep time  and 20 minutes of baking. A great recipe to keep in mind if you have unannounced extra guests!

Ingredients:( for 4 side portions)

1 large zucchini
2 medium yellow or crooked neck squash
1 Shallot
1 medium carrot 
3 Tblsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 tsp kosher salt
fresh ground black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp herbs de Province

With a mandolin on number 1 ( or thinnest size) slice zucchini, the squash, the carrot and the shallot into a large bowl. Carefully toss with olive oil, and the condiments.. Arrange mixture  in a 8×4 loaf pan and bake for 2o minutes  in a 325 degree oven. The vegetables will be cooked but still crisp  and not mushy! Use a pair of cooking tong for serving or to arrange on serving platter. Enjoy!

 Tools:

Kyocera 10.5-in. Double-Edged Ceramic Mandoline Slicer with Handguard, Black  Get the advantage of ceramic using this Double-Edged Mandolin, the perfect tool for quickly and evenly slicing vegetables and fruits. Made by Kyocera, leading manufacturers of professional knives, the double ceramic edge is second only to diamonds in sharpness and holds it’s edge 10 times longer than stainless. So sharp, it makes it a cinch to create paper-thin slices of food like potatoes, carrots, jicama, cucumbers, squash or apples, to name a few. Won’t discolor or rust. Safety handguard included. Dishwasher safe.

OXO 16-in. Mandoline Slicer  OXO’s very versatile V-Blade Mandoline slices fruits and vegetables with ease. Four blades and a simple height adjuster let you make straight slices, crinkle cuts, French fries and julienne strips in a variety of thicknesses. The blades store on board and are easily removable for cleaning. We’ve added bonus cubing blades for large or fine dice too! A textured surface keeps food from sticking to the Mandoline and the food holder securely holds food and protects your fingers. The handle and turning knob are soft for comfort and non-slip feet keep the Mandoline secure on your work surface. Fold the feet and lock the Mandoline for compact and safe storage. Hand wash the blades; the Mandoline body and food holder are dishwasher safe. Features Include: Sharp, V-shaped blade of hardened stainless steel easily slices both firm vegetables like potatoes and soft fruits like tomatoes Straight and wavy blades for straight or crinkle cuts Four easily adjustable slice thickness settings: 1.5mm, 3mm, 4.5mm and 6mm Julienne blades for French fries or fine julienne strips Straight, wavy and julienne blades conveniently store on board and remove for cleaning Bonus cubing blades for large or fine dice store in a handy box Soft handle and turning knob for comfort and non-slip feet for safety Textured runway keeps food from sticking Food holder securely holds food and protects fingers Mandoline locks closed and feet fold in for safe and compact storage Hand wash blades. Mandoline body and food holder are dishwasher safe