Campaign Cocktails for Debate Drinking

Ladies and gentlemen, Election Season 2012 is underway, and the first Presidential Debate is airing on Wednesday, October 3. Whether you’re a committed party member or just a committed partier, the Presidential Debates can provide loads of information—and, often unintentionally, loads of laughter.

Whether you’re genuinely interested in what the candidates have to say or if you’re just in it to play a few drinking games (remember “Palin Bingo?”), here are three cocktails that everybody can agree on: For the Lefty, the ALObama Slammer; for the Righty, the Mitt-tini; and for the Swing Voter, the Singapore Mudsling.


The ALObama Slammer

The traditional Alabama Slammer is made with Amaretto, Southern Comfort, and Orange Juice. In this version, we substitute Peach Lambic beer for the peach-flavored Southern Comfort, because we know our President likes his beer. This recipe serves two, because when it comes to good beer, it’s always nice to share your wealth.

2 shots amaretto
Orange juice
1 750 mL bottle Lindeman’s Peach Lambic

Divide the amaretto between two pint glasses. Add a splash of orange juice to each, and fill each glass with the Peach Lambic beer.



The Mitt-tini

Sometimes a candidate has to abandon ideals to appeal to his/her base, so this martini features a few things that your typical Mormon would frown upon, but on top is a float of Goldschlager, which contains flakes of gold. This recipe serves one—if someone else wants a sip, just say, “You didn’t build that!”

1 oz. vodka
½ t. cocoa powder
2 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. goldschlager

Combine the vodka, cocoa powder, and Kahlua in a shaker with ice. Strain into a chilled martini glass. Pouring slowly and carefully over the back of a spoon, “float” the goldschlager atop the mixed drink so that you can see the gold flakes.


The Singapore Mudsling

This drink is for the person who can’t take the back-and-forth blame game or the mudslinging. Sometimes, all the lying and the finger-pointing and the half-truths will drive you to drink! This cross between a Singapore Sling and a Mudslide will do the trick. It serves two, and I must warn you that it’s deceptive strength may sneak up on you, so make sure you don’t drink too many and sleep through Election Day!

1 oz. dry gin
2 oz. pineapple juice
2 oz. coconut coffee creamer (SoDelicious is my favorite brand)
2 oz. Kahlua
1 oz. brandy from brandy-soaked cherries
4 brandy-soaked cherries
1 t. cocoa powder
Squeeze lime juice
Handful ice cubes
Lime wedges, to garnish
Sprinkle cocoa powder, to garnish

Blend all ingredients except the lime wedges in a blender—the drink will foam a bit, so pour immediately. Serve in margarita glasses, garnished with a lime wedge and a sprinkle of cocoa powder atop the foam.

Butternut Squash Risotto, Cinnamon Spiced Chicken

“I could go crazy on a night like tonight, when summer’s beginning to give up her fight.” So goes the lyrics to my favorite Indigo Girls song. But as much as I love the beach, grilled food, and rooftop bars, I don’t go crazy when summer fades away. The shift in seasons means a shift in cooking. The beers we drink get a little darker and a little heavier. Oysters start to taste a bit crisper. Fresh beans and tomatoes give way to apples, squashes, and grapes, and the cooler temperatures mean more time that I get to spend indoors, particularly in my kitchen, where I love experimenting with autumn’s bounty.

Two recipes that showcase some of my favorite fall flavors are Butternut Squash Risotto and Cinnamon Spiced Chicken. These are perfect dishes to cook on that first fall day that’s chilly enough to make you wear a jacket!


Butternut Squash Risotto

4 cups chicken broth

2 T. butter
1 medium butternut squash, cut into cubes
1-2 shallots, minced
1 cup Arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine
1 t. nutmeg*
¼ t. cayenne pepper
1 T. olive oil
1 ½ c. grated pecorino romano
Handful chopped parsley
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat the chicken broth in a small saucepan. Keep the broth simmering on low while you complete the remaining steps.

In a large, heavy bottomed pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the butternut squash cubes and the shallot. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes, or until the shallot has softened.

Add the Arborio rice. Stir until each grain of rice is coated with the melted butter. Reduce heat to low and add the wine, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper. Stir constantly until all of the wine is absorbed.

Add 1 cup of the chicken broth. Again, stir constantly until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this step, adding more chicken broth, until the rice is fully cooked through but not mushy.

Once the rice is cooked, add the olive oil, pecorino romano, parsley, salt and pepper. Stir until the cheese has melted.

Serve piping hot, alongside Cinnamon Spiced Chicken.


Nutritional information: serves four. 300 calories, 14 g fat, 36 g carbohydrates, 7 g protein.


Autumn Spiced Chicken

½ t. cayenne pepper
1 t. ground cinnamon
2 t. dried thyme
2 t. nutmeg*
Pinch salt
Pinch freshly ground black pepper
1 lb. chicken breast tenders, pounded thin

First, preheat the oven to 400. Next, combine everything but the chicken in a small bowl. Blend well, then rub the spice blend into the chicken until the chicken is fully coated.

Place the spice-coated chicken strips on a wire rack over a baking sheet. Place the chicken in the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes, then remove from the oven and allow to rest for 3-5 minutes. Serve alongside piping hot Butternut Squash Risotto.

Nutritional information: serves four. 124  calories, 1 g fat, 0 g carbohydrates, 31 g protein.


 
* You can use ground nutmeg in these recipes, but that stuff is practically flavorless – you’ll get a much brighter flavor if you buy whole nutmegs and grate them with a microplane grater just before use. To purchase a microplane grater, click the link below:

Soft-Handle Microplane Zester Grater, Green, 12" (Google Affiliate Ad)

 

 

Curry Crusted Swordfish With Vegetables and Sriracha Cream

This is the first actual meal that I cooked from scratch in my new kitchen! There’s not much to it – if you can slice, you can cook this dinner. This dish goes together in no time, and the combination of hot jalapeno, bold spices, and cool cucumber is surprisingly refreshing!


Curry Crusted Swordfish with Vegetables and Sriracha Cream

For the spice crust
Pinch kosher salt
1 t. / 5 g coriander
1 t. / 5 g cumin
1 t. / 5 g mustard seed
½ t. / 2.5 g kala jeera*
½ t. / 2.5 g turmeric powder
½ t. / 2.5 g coarsely ground black pepper

16 oz / 455 g swordfish, tuna, or other firm-fleshed fish steaks
2 roma tomatoes, chopped
1 large cucumber, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced
2-3 jalapeno chiles, chopped

For the sriracha cream
4 T. / 60 g sour cream
1 T. / 15 g sriracha
2 t. / 5 mL mild vinegar (white wine vinegar is a good choice)
2 c. / 450 g cooked rice

 

 

toasting the spices

First, toast the salt, coriander, cumin, mustard seed, and kala jeera in a frying pan until they become fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes. Place them in a mortar and pestle along with the turmeric and black pepper. Grind coarsely. Rub the spice mixture into the swordfish, set aside.

Preheat your broiler. Line a baking dish with foil, then add the tomato, cucumber, and jalapeno in a single layer. Place the spice-crusted swordfish on top of the veggie layer, and broil for 12-15 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through.

While the fish and vegetables are cooking, make the sriracha cream by whisking together the sour cream, sriracha, and vinegar. If the mixture seems too thick, add a few drops of water to the sauce until it is thin enough to drizzle.

Take the fish and vegetables from the oven; let rest for 3-5 minutes. In the meantime, divide the rice among four individual plates. After the fish has rested, divide the fish and vegetables into four equal portions, serve atop the cooked rice. To finish, drizzle with the sriracha cream.

* Also known as black cumin – if you cannot find kala jeera, you can order it online from Penzey’s.

Nutritional info: serves four. 317 calories, 9 g fat, 29 g carbohydrates, 25 g protein.

My New Kitchen!

Folks, it's been a hectic few weeks! I moved into a new apartment, which means getting used to a brand new kitchen. I finally unpacked all my kitchen items, and last night I christened the new kitchen with a quick dinner featuring sauteed salmon alongside leftover saag paneer.

While it is definitely going to take me a few weeks to get used to cooking in a new kitchen, this space has one major plus that my last kitchen did not have - open space! My old kitchen was separated from the dining room and living room by a wall. Although there was plenty of counterspace, the kitchen felt cramped when friends congregated in the kitchen while I cooked, and there was no seating. My new apartment features an island with chairs, and it is open to the dining room so friends can sit at the table as well. I can socialize while I cook!

The only thing I have left to do is to buy a bottle of champagne. It is my belief that one should ALWAYS have a bottle of champagne chilling in the refrigerator, because you never know when life will give you a reason to celebrate.

Cheers!

Restaurant Review – Sip Wine Bar (Boston, MA)

I’ve found an upside to the hell that is moving—the lack of time to cook means that I get to try new restaurants!!! I recently visited Sip Wine Bar with a few fellow bloggers, and Sip got a unanimous two thumbs up!

Sandwiched between Chinatown and the Theatre District on the corner of Washington & Avery, Sip boasts a perfect patio for people watching—enough foot traffic to keep it interesting, not so much that it’s overwhelming. There are plenty of tables inside the restaurant, including a good-sized bar and a small, slightly private booth area that would be great for a small celebratory gathering.

Sip’s concept is great—you can try “sips,” which are 2-oz. pours, of most of the wines on the menu. What’s nice about this is that unlike a wine tasting, you can leisurely decide which wines to try, you can base your choices around your food orders, and if you find one you really like, you can order more without having to commit to an entire bottle (they pour most of their wines by the glass as well). This is perfect for anyone who, like me, believes that variety is the spice of life.

Sip’s menu, like its wine list, certainly offers something for everybody. The chef pulls off eclectic variety without appearing schizophrenic and all of the small plates and sushi rolls are perfectly portioned for sharing with a small group.

We tried the following dishes:

• Crispy Stuffed Olives (sweet Italian sausage, panko crust, crushed red pepper)
• Skillet Roasted Mussels (shallot oil, Italian parsley, grilled ciabatta)
• Blackened Dayboat Scallops (horseradish marmalade)
• Tempura Green Beans (chipotle barbecue dipping sauce)
• Mini Arancini (warm mozzarella centers, oven roasted tomato sauce, truffle essence)
• Ahi Tuna Poke (minced #1 tuna, ginger, sesame, chili oil, sushi rice cake)

The two dishes that stood out most were the Ahi Tuna Poke—spicy and gingery but not overwhelmed by the seasonings; there was no question that the tuna was the star of this dish—and the Tempura Green Beans. Wow! Barbecue sauce with fried green beans? I wouldn’t have thought to combine those two things, and it worked fabulously!

Those six dishes took us through our first bottle of wine, the Clean Slate Riesling, recommended because it is dry and pairs well with seafood. I usually don’t drink Riesling, but this was not sweet, so I enjoyed it.

Next, we grabbed two of Sip’s sushi options, the Firecracker Yellowtail sashimi and the Sip Scallop Roll. Along with our sushi, we ordered a bottle of Sokol Blosser Winery’s Evolution White, a blended white wine that had been recommended to us from the time we were seated. We couldn’t turn down such a highly recommended wine, and this bottle exceeded my expectations. It paired perfectly well with the sushi, and while drinking it on its own, I picked up new notes with each sip. Its balanced, nuanced flavors make it very versatile.

The sushi itself was phenomenal. The Sip Scallop roll featured tempura scallops rolled inside salmon belly, which was wrapped around the scallops and torched, serving in place of what would typically be nori in a maki roll. The Firecracker Yellowtail was a beautifully presented sashimi with a spicy ponzu sauce, and it was presented so artfully that it almost felt wrong to eat it, like I was using chopsticks to destroy the Mona Lisa.

Finally, we topped off the night with dessert—each dessert on the menu! I was born without a sweet tooth and my body exacts its revenge on me via nasty headaches, so I did not partake in all the offerings. However, the apple crisp and chocolate cake were pretty stellar! I’d even order the apple crisp on my own, and I next to never order dessert!

Sip is one of those restaurants where I have trouble deciding what to order because everything sounds amazing. That is a good thing. Luckily, the fun wine list, the great location, and the vibrant atmosphere give me great reasons to go back and try more—who’s coming with?!?

Crispy Stuffed Olives


 

Skillet Roasted Mussels
 

Blackened DayboatScallops
 

Mini Arancini
 

Ahi Tuna Poke
 

Firecracker Yellowtail
 

Sip Scallop Roll

 

Apple Crisp

 

Chocolate Cake

 



 

 

 

 

 

Restaurant Replica Recipe: Gourmet Dumpling House’s Beef with Longhorn Peppers

Longhorn Peppers

Readers, I must apologize for not posting much lately. Before my vacation, I found out that I needed to search for another apartment, so I spent the greater part of July seeing dozens of apartments, subsisting on Chinatown takeaway and frozen toaster waffles. Now that I know where I’ll be living in September, I’m back in the swing of actually cooking meals for myself, but I still find myself craving certain dishes that I fell in love with during my “no time to cook” period. One of those is Gourmet Dumpling House’s Beef with Longhorn Peppers! This is not their exact recipe, but I did my best to duplicate it. I found longhorn peppers at C-Mart in Chinatown, but if you cannot find these, you can substitute poblanos. Try this if you’re looking for something quick and easy!


Gourmet Dumpling House’s Beef with Longhorn Peppers

1 T. toasted sesame oil
1 lb. top round steak, sliced into thin strips
8 long horn peppers
1 T. garlic and ginger paste*
2 T. soy sauce
2 green onions, sliced
Cooked rice, to serve

Heat a large frying pan or wok over high heat. Add the sesame oil, shake the pan to coat. Add the steak, peppers, and garlic and ginger paste. Stir-fry until the beef is cooked through. Finally, add the soy sauce and green onions, stir fry for about 30 seconds until well-blended. Serve over cooked rice.

* Garlic and ginger paste can be found in most Indian or Asian markets
Nutritional information: Serves four. 355 calories, 7.9 g fat, 42.4 g. carbohydrates, 28.5 g protein.

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Vacation Food Photos!

Dear readers,

I am in the process of packing up and moving into a new apartment and recipes might be posted less frequently than usual. Once I’m settled, I’ll resume cooking and posting! Until then, here are some food pictures from my recent vacation to Martha’s Vineyard – I’ll post some of these recipes soon!

Grilling a ginormous steak

My mom slicing the charred deliciousness

Bringing my plate of awesome from the kitchen to the table

Baked sole with butter and lemon

Seared scallops in browned butter; served with a chile-lime dressing

Toasted marshmallow!

Creamed Callaloo with Jerk-Seasoned Chicken

This summer, the local farmers’ harvests have been good to me. I’ve picked up early season green tomatoes, some fantastic golden raspberries, fresh garlic, rainbow carrots, and a bounty of other goodies, and to my surprise, one of the vendors was once again selling Callaloo, a green leafy vegetable that grows in tropical climates and is popular in Caribbean cooking, especially when made into a hearty stew bearing the same name (click here for my Callaloo recipe).

The actual species that gives us Callaloo leaves is the amaranth plant, a powerhouse whose seeds nutrient-packed, gluten-free seeds are cooked like grains. Back to the leaves—Callaloo leaves are full of vitamins A and C, and they taste like milder spinach.



Creamed Callaloo with Jerk-Seasoned Chicken

Callaloo leaves

1 T. / 15 mL coconut oil
1 t. / 4 g grains of paradise (also known as melegueta pepper)
1 large brown onion, sliced
1 serrano chile, minced
1 bunch callaloo leaves, chopped and rinsed
1 c. / 230 mL coconut milk
Juice of 1 lime
Salt and pepper to taste
Cooked rice, to serve
Grilled Jerk-Seasoned Chicken, to serve (recipe below)

Heat the coconut oil over medium heat in a large, heavy-bottomed pot. Add the grains of paradise, onion, and Serrano chile. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion becomes soft and translucent.

Add the callaloo leaves and a splash of water. Stir, then cover and reduce heat to low. Cook until the leaves have begun to wilt.

Add the coconut milk, lime juice, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until heated through. Spoon over cooked rice and serve alongside Grilled Jerk-Seasoned Chicken



Grilled Jerk-Seasoned Chicken

20 allspice berries, ground
½ t. / 3 g grains of paradise (also known as melegueta pepper)
1 t. / 4.5 g. ground ginger
2 t. / 9 g cayenne pepper
2 t. / 9 g garlic powder
2 t. / 9 g dried thyme
2 t. / 9 g salt
Approx. 2 lbs. / 1 kg chicken breast tenders, pounded ultra-thin

Combine all ingredients except the chicken. Blend well, then rub the spice mixture into the chicken. Grill over medium heat, approximately 2 minutes per side. Serve with Creamed Callaloo.

Nutritional info: serves six.  425 calories, 14 g fat, 34.5 g carbohydrates, 39 g protein.

Crunch Time - Sugar Snap Pea and Fava Bean Salad

This is yet another recipe that found its way into my repertoire after a trip to the Copley Square Farmers Market. If you're looking for a dish with bright, fresh flavors and tons of crunch, give this one a try. This recipe goes together in a snap (pun intended...), and it's as easy as brewing a cup of tea.

Crunch Time - Sugar Snap Pea and Fava Bean Salad

2-3 pounds / 1 kg. favas in pods, shelled and peeled*
8 oz. / 250 g. sugar snap peas
2 T. / 30 mL Olive Oil
1 t. / 10 mL chile-infused vinegar**
1/2 t./ 2.5 g. ground coriander seed
1 T. / 15 g. grated pecorino romano
ground pepper to taste.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the peeled favas; blanch for 30 seconds, then remove from the water using a fine-meshed sieve to fish them out of the water - don't pour out the water (you'll use the water in the next step to blanch the sugar snap peas). Once the favas are removed, rinse them with cold water and add them to a large container with a lid.

Next, add the sugar snap peas to the boiling water. Blanch these for 1-2 minutes (no more than 2); then drain. Rinse the sugar snap peas under cold water, then add them to the container along with the favas.

Add the olive oil, vinegar, and coriander seed to the container with the favas and sugar snap peas. Toss to coat, then chill in refrigerator for at least one hour.

Just before serving, toss in the pecorino romano and ground pepper. No need to add salt - pecorino romano is naturally salty!


* For instructions on preparing favas, click here.
** If you do not have chile-infused vinegar, simply use 1 t./ 10 mL red wine vinegar and add a dash of cayenne pepper.

Nutritional information: serves four as a side dish. 163 calories, 9.3 g. fat, 18.5 g. carbohydrates, 7.1 g. protein.

Grilled Eggplant Medallions with Sherry and Caper Dipping Sauce

This is the first recipe I created after my recent trip to Boston’s Copley Square Farmers’ Market. I rarely visit farmers’ markets with a recipe in mind; instead, I buy whatever looks best and let the inspiration follow.

When I saw Asian Eggplant at one of the stands, I immediately knew that I wanted to slice it into rounds, coat it with a spice paste, and grill it. Originally, I was going to make the spice paste with Indian flavors, but after asking myself how I could incorporate capers into the dish, I decided to use Spanish flavors in the recipe.

The result? Flavor-packed eggplant with a slightly crisp crust, accompanied by an indulgent dipping sauce. These are ridiculously easy to make and are guaranteed to be a crowd-pleaser; prepare these in advance and grill them up at your next outdoor party!


Grilled Eggplant Medallions with Sherry and Caper Dipping Sauce

Coating the eggplant

For the eggplant:
½ t. / 2.5 g cumin seeds, toasted and ground
2 T./ 30 g smoked paprika
½ t. / 2.5 g finely ground black pepper
½ t. / 2.5 g smoked sea salt
1 t. / 4.5 g dried thyme
Dash cayenne
Dash unsweetened cocoa
4 T. / 60 mL dry sherry
1-2 garlic cloves, pressed
1.5 T. / 23 mL olive oil
1 Asian eggplant, sliced into ½” (1cm) rounds

Combine all ingredients except the eggplant in a shallow baking dish until a paste is formed. Dunk each eggplant round into the spice paste, coating both cut sides of the eggplant. Set aside on a wire rack for 20-30 minutes. 

Next, grill over hot coals for 1-2 minutes per side, or until the paste begins to brown and char a bit on the outside. Alternatively, if you are using your oven’s broiler, line a baking sheet with foil and place the wire rack on top of the foil. Broil about 5 minutes on the first side, turn, and grill for 2-3 minutes on the second side.

Serve piping hot with Sherry and Caper Dipping Sauce.


Nutritional information (eggplant only): serves two. 140 calories, 7 g. fat, 11.6 g. carbohydrates, 2.2 g. protein.


For the dipping sauce:
1 T. / 15 g capers, minced
1 small garlic clove, pressed
2 T. / 30 mL olive oil
1 T. / 15 mL dry sherry

Whisk all ingredients together until completely blended. Place in a dip bowl and serve alongside Grilled Eggplant Medallions.

Nutritional information (dipping sauce only): serves two. 325 calories, 36 g. fat, 0.2 g. carbohydrates, 0.1 g. protein.