Tag: cooks

Fish Stew – Sexy Is As Sexy Does

You often hear people describe food as “sexy,” but I’ve
always believed it’s really more the occasion and company that makes a meal
sexy. Put your Valentine across a candlelit table, pour a couple glasses of
wine, and no matter what you serve up, sexiness will ensue.

Having said that, it certainly doesn’t hurt to hedge your
bets and serve up a naturally sensuous dish like this simple, but
sophisticated fish stew. This is great for you less than confident cooks, since
your timing doesn’t need to be that precise. Did I mention there’d be wine
around?

You can actually do everything ahead, up until adding the
fish if you want. Since the pieces will cook in between 5 and 10 minutes, when
you’re ready to eat, simply bring the mixture to a boil, add the fish, and
simmer until done. You can also hold the stew over very low heat for a good
15-20 minutes without major problems, in case, well, you know.

By the way, make sure you check and see if your dining
partner likes fish and wine, as this would be a horrible choice if they don’t.
If they do, you’re in business. Almost any type of fish or shellfish will work
in this, as well as any small, cute potatoes. Just don’t forget to peel the middles, as it’s kind of a big deal. I hope you give this a try soon. Enjoy!

Ingredients for 4 portions:
2 tbsp butter

1 large leek, chopped

1/2 cup sliced shallots

1/2 tsp salt, more to taste

3/4 cup white wine

1 1/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 cup sliced fennel root

1 pound small red potatoes

cayenne to taste

1/2 cup cream

1 pound boneless fish filets

1 tbsp chopped tarragon

Top 20 pasta recipes

If you’re not sure what to make this month, pasta should definitely be on the menu. It’s so easy to prepare, only takes minutes to cook and can transform any dish into a filling, family favourite.

We’ve rounded up the most popular pasta recipes on goodtoknow, so you’ll have no problem finding the perfect dish for you. Maybe you’re looking for something healthy and simple for the kids? Or you’re watching your figure, counting the calories and want something light? Whatever your choice, this month’s selection of pasta recipes are sure to do the trick.

From creamy mushroom pasta bake to spicy chorizo and chicken pasta, vegetable macaroni cheese to classic spaghetti carbonara, the choice is yours. Pasta comes in all shapes and sizes and can be bought in all supermarkets so you’ll never have problems getting your hands on some.

If you’re looking for a speedy supper, use fresh pasta instead as it cooks quicker, or if you have pasta on a regular basis, buy in bulk as it’s much cheaper than buying small packs every time you shop.

Don’t forget to save any of these tasty dishes if you like what you see. Create your very own online recipe book by signing up through Facebook. Once you’ve logged in, you can save as many recipes as you like, all in one place so when you return to the site you won’t have to go far to find your favourites.

Duck Leg Adobo – A Real Family Meal

If you’ve worked in restaurants before, you know that every
night before service the staff sits down to what’s called the “family meal.”
One of the younger cooks is usually charged with scraping together something
filling and, more importantly, not expensive. It was during one of these
meals that I first had adobo.

When I worked at the Carnelian Room in the late 80’s, much
of the kitchen crew was Filipino, so chicken and pork adobo was a very
common dinner. One of the dishwashers made a particularly great version, and I fell in
love with the bold, simple flavors. I also remember being pretty annoyed that
the dishwashers there were better cooks than I was at the time,
but that’s another story.

Anyway, I happened to have some duck legs around last week, and all it
took was a well-timed email wishing for adobo to inspire this video. I
understand that most of you will not use duck for this, but if you do, be sure
to save the fat.

Duck fat is prized by chefs, and more heart-healthy than
people realize. It can be used for just about anything you’d normally fry
in butter or vegetable oil. I roasted some Brussels spouts with mine, but it
also will make just about the best homefries you’ve ever tasted.

Like I said in the video, no duck, no problem. If you can simmer it
in a sauce, it will work in this recipe. Because of the high soy sauce content,
be careful about over reducing, but other than that, not much can go wrong.
This is cheap, easy, and very flavorful, which is why it makes for such a
great “family meal.” Enjoy!

Ingredients for 6 duck legs:

6 duck legs (or about same amount of chicken or pork)

salt and pepper to taste

1 tbsp vegetable oil

1 tbsp reserved duck fat

1 large onion, sliced

8 cloves garlic, minced

1 cup seasoned rice vinegar (if not seasoned, use a little
sugar to taste)

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

2 tsp samal chili sauce, or other hot pepper sauce to taste

2-4 bay leaves