Posts Tagged ‘food’
Super Bowl Recipes and Links
January 30, 2009 | 
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Posted in food, Recipe, super bowl recipes | 
Tags: food, football recipes, links to super bowl recipes, noble pig, Recipe, super bowl, super bowl recipes | 
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Best Chicken Soup Recipe for Colds and Flu
Doing Dinner Over Conversing Politics
Our American Flag
I am not new to the idea being said that no one should talk about religion or politics in a bar – but what about in your own home? As I grew up, I had parents who sat on either side of the political poles, at either side of a long dining room table, sparred lively over presidential candidates and political hot topics while enjoying the meal at hand that was made with love.
Did this keep my family together as I grew up? Well, I knew this, it made dinner conversation more interesting while asking someone how they thought their politician liked their steaks cooked all the while passing the steamed vegetables down.
I bring this up since last night, while eating at a couple’s home while lamb stew was simmering in a slow cooker with carrots, onions, prunes and fresh hard boiled eggs that were literally hatched that morning, I wondered how the night would end when the conversation got a little hot. One couple who are very pro-Obama couldn’t believe the Host’s position in politics and in the Host’s particular vision of what’s wrong with this country.
Ironically, the Hostess, whose house it was, had left before we arrived and never returned due to ‘Severe PMS’ – and as odd and possibly rude as that was – it only made me wonder more about our Host who didn’t once call her to see if she was ok or to politely ask her to return to her own abode.
I kept my mouth shut, since one, the host who has lived in this country, my country – for over 25 years without becoming an American citizen and further, cannot vote in this Country – This host though is living legally in our Country. My own personal feelings will be kept mum on this – as I do not have enough patience to write a dissertation at the moment – BUT….
It is possible to have a delightful dinner while sparring over politics – it’s not only permissible, but I believe we should TALK about our feelings, fears, cares and hopes. By learning not only how one cooked an amazing meal, you might also discover how little or how much other people know and believe about politics.
My thoughts are this, if you can’t vote in this Country, you have no right to spew your mouth off in ridiculous statements that show off only your ignorance, unless you can support your wacky sense of beliefs. If you don’t vote and are able to, you too shouldn’t be running amok with your mouth in irrelevant thoughts that you didn’t like who won the election. There are so many ways to vote if you are not able to actually reach the voting polls in person.
So go out and vote, and before Tuesday night, have yourself a wonderful homemade meal and talk shop with your friends and family. Even if they can’t vote, won’t vote, don’t believe in Santa Clause or Satan, their opinion at the very least could make for some lively conversation – just watch out while you are chewing in case you start laughing…. it could be dangerous to your health!
I bless the person and the new administration who ever wins this election – since we are in for a ride regardless who is sitting at the Oval Office. I know who I am voting for and hope you do Chef Maven proud, but going out and voting for your choice…which ever that may be.
America the Beautiful
Written by: Katherine Lee Bates
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for pilgrim feet
Whose stern impassion’d stress
A thorough fare for freedom beat
Across the wilderness.
America! America!
God mend thine ev’ry flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law.
O beautiful for heroes prov’d
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved,
And mercy more than life.
America! America!
May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness,
And ev’ry gain divine.
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears.
America! America!
God shed his grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
Posted in food, Food Funnies | Tags: food, Food Funnies, politics, talking politics over dinner, voting for obama, words to "america" | 2 Comments »
Best Grilled Rib Eye Steak
I finally have gotten the boyfriend to learn that rib eye steaks are simply one of the juiciest and tender steaks available. While being quick to grill, dinner can be ready in a flash. I am sure you have seen a variety of recipes out there, but there is a theme to this particular recipe, simpler is better.
Yes you can apply dry rubs, marinate a steak for hours upon hours, but this little trick will make the next rib eye steak you make taste superb and lovely.
Ingredients:
- Rib eye steak 1 inch thick per person
- kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper (fresh cracked pepper a must)
- white or brown sugar
- olive oil
- butter (yes the real McCoy)
- grill pan – I have a grill pan than has raised ribs to leave nice marks on the steaks which I can use inside my kitchen
- If cooking inside, make sure you have adequate ventilation
- Working timer – you will be broiling 3 and a half minutes per side for medium rare steaks
- 1 large onion and bell pepper (optional)
Tips:
- You really want to have your broiler, grill, grill pan preheated for at least five minutes so that you will create an excellent sear to keep in the juices.
- You will let the steak ‘rest’ – by pulling it off the heat once done for five to eight minutes, and placing it on a plate without cutting into it.
Directions:
- Take steaks out of the refrigerator, unwrap them and place them on a large plate. You want to leave them out of the refrigerator for one hour to allow them to get the chill off of them.
- I start the heat under my grill pan about 7 minutes before I am about to cook the steak.
- Sprinkler about a half a teaspoon of sugar on each side of the steaks, add good amount of salt and a large amount of freshly cracked pepper.
- Drizzle a little olive oil on one side and place steak on grill with coated olive sided steak down onto grill.
- Start timer for 4 minutes. After two minutes, using tongs, pick up steak and rotate 45-90 degrees so you get nice marks on that one side.
- Drizzle a little more olive oil on the side you didn’t and turn steak over when 4 minutes is up.
- Allow to cook for 4 minutes and take off steak and place onto platter.
- Take a teaspoon of butter and place it onto steak to melt while the steak is still hot.
- While steak is resting, put onion and pepper slices onto grill. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper and olive oil. Add a little sugar to the onions. Allow to grill for at least 3-5 minutes on one side then turn.
- By the time the veggies are done, you can simply put them on top of the steak and serve.
If you should find these on sale, by all means take advantage of these easy to make, quick grilling steaks. I prefer them with the bone still in, the marbling allows for a moist and tender steak that makes you feel like a million bucks – serve them up with crisp blanched greenbeans and with the grilled onions and peppers, you will have created yourself a fine meal.
Posted in easy dinner, quick dinner ideas | Tags: best steak recipes, food, quick dinner ideas, ribeye steak | 2 Comments »
October 11th is National Sausage Pizza Day
I am still waiting for my local pizzerias to get the hint, the other month when I walked in to grab a slice for lunch, I let them know it was national cheese pizza day. They were in total disbelief, why hadn’t anyone told them this before? First of all, they were shocked that there was even a special day for ‘them’ and two, were even more surprised that this happens every year on the same day. Wow guys, don’t leave your day jobs.
So, October 11th is no different. The only specials on pizza I see come from Pizza Joints I don’t necessarily call ‘real’ pizza such as Dominos – now don’t get your panties up in a bunch. I actually like Domino’s Pizza and I can even call myself a New Yorker.
In fact I was letting my guy know last night that I was in the mood to make pizza and this is without learning that this day is national sausage pizza day. What a coincidence, or is it fate? In a previous post, I shared my own recipe for a white pizza with fennel and goat cheese. I may end up doing that with making the dough myself and adding sausages to it as a topping.
A word to the wise, should you wish to do the same, I would highly suggest you cook the sausage in a skillet almost completely before placing it onto your pizzas for toppings. Personally I would slice the sausages thinly, then brown them up, then place them onto the pizza. No one needs uncooked meat toppings on their pizzas. I might also add steamed brocolli which I then ladened with garlic and a little of olive oil. Should be good!
So from me, Chef Maven to you, my faithful hungry Reader, have a great sausage pizza day this October 11th.
Other interesting tidbits and this day in history:
Feast of St. Gummarus, patron of cowherds. (sorry, I didn’t find much info. about this particular saint.)
1844 Henry John Heinz was born. Founder of the H.J. Heinz company and creator of its slogan ’57 varieties.’
1887 The first accurate adding machine patented by Don Eugene Felt. (The Comptometer).
1911 Nathaniel Wyeth was born. Nathaniel Wyeth, American chemist and inventor, received patent for PET (polyethylene terephthalate) beverage bottles. This was the first safe plastic strong enough to hold carbonated beverages.
(Extra facts courtesy of foodreference.com)