Tuesday, March 25, 2014

If You Love Mushrooms....Make This.

Mushrooms are funghi....and I don't care.

Mushrooms are delicious and good for you.   Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free and very low in sodium.  They're an excellent source of selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin D.

Next time you're craving comfort food - make this.  Alton Brown's my boyfriend and his recipes are solid.  This is a great "meatless Monday" recipe if you use vegetable broth, but Deb goes all in and uses beef stock...and throws in pancetta because, really, why not? Shallots work great in place of the green onions, but, you do as you do.

Alton Brown's Mushroom Stroganoff with Goat Cheese

Yield:
6 to 8 servings

Ingredients:

12 ounces extra-wide egg noodles
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 portabella mushrooms, stems removed and sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 bunch green onions, sliced and white bottoms and green tops separated
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
14 ounces beef broth
8 ounces sour cream
4 ounces fresh goat cheese
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, plus more for garnish

Directions:

Add the noodles to 4 quarts of boiling water. Cook to al dente, stirring occasionally.

Melt the butter in a 12-inch straight-sided saute pan set over medium-high heat. Increase the heat to high, add the mushrooms and sprinkle with salt. Saute until they darken in color, soften and give off their liquid, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the white bottoms of the green onions and saute 2 to 3 minutes.

Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine. Cook until the flour disappears and the fond on the bottom of the pan turns dark brown, about 1 minute. Deglaze with the beef broth. Bring to a simmer and decrease the heat to medium-low. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, and then add the sour cream, goat cheese and black pepper. Stir to combine, and then partially cover and bring to a simmer to warm through, 2 to 4 minutes.

Drain the noodles, add to the pan and stir to combine. Garnish with the green onion tops and additional black pepper. Serve immediately.

Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and very low in sodium, yet they provide important nutrients, including selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.dZADJBuA.dpuf
Mushrooms are low in calories, fat-free, cholesterol-free, gluten-free, and very low in sodium, yet they provide important nutrients, including selenium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin D - See more at: http://mushroominfo.com/benefits/#sthash.dZADJBuA.dpuf

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Blood Orange Cosmopolitans (Or, How to Make the Most of the Winter that Never Ends!)

Children's birthday parties.  They are all kinds of fun and fabulous.  I absolutely adore kids and wish I'd had more.  I always say that kids are brilliant and we just get dumb as we get older. 

Friends' children (TWINS!) turned one not long ago and we were fortunate to be part of the festivities.  When I asked the lovely mother of the children "what can I bring?", she responded, as exhausted, working mothers of one year old twins do, "Alcohol.  Mommy needs a cocktail.".  Not one to disappoint - I did as I was told. 

Blood oranges are in season in the U.S. from December through March.  They are delicious and I'm always looking for ways to use them in the short time they're available.  Plus, with the brutal Polar Vortex laden, Mother Nature is being a bitch Winter we've had, I felt a little sunshine was necessary.  Here's the result:

Blood Orange Cosmopolitans

Ingredients:

3 parts orange flavored vodka
1 part Triple Sec
3 parts cranberry juice (100% is best, cocktail will work - you do as you do)
1 part orange juice (100% fresh, not from concentrate is best - you do as you do)
Juice of one blood orange (3 or 4 if you're making a pitcher)
Juice of one lime (3 or 4 if you're making a pitcher)

Combine all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker.  Shake the H@LL out of it.  Serve cold in a chilled martini glass with a fruit garnish.

Guaranteed to cure scurvy, or mid winter blues, or provide fun to a party.  Friends were very kind at the party, drank them and asked for the recipe.  One of my "bonus nieces" asked that I make them for her upcoming birthday party, so I'm thinking it's a winner. 

Just doing my part to bring warmth to the Winter, People.