Peanut Butter and Julie

Charred Tomato and Pesto Pizzas

The average American eats approximately 46 slices of pizza each year.  I guess I am below average in my contributions to this $40 billion piece of the restaurant industry pie.  On the other hand, if you look at our household contribution, we are most likely doing our part.  Eric does love his pizza.

I can count on one hand the number of times that I eat pizza each year.  That being said, when I decide to indulge in a slice, I am extremely picky as to where it comes from.  In Las Vegas, we always go to Settebello, a bit off the beaten Strip for any tourists planning to visit, but well worth the 15 minute drive.  The owner went all the way to Naples, Italy to find his pizza maker and pizza oven, they only use imported products, and their crust is charred on the outside, chewy on the inside.  I am a connoisseur of pizza crust and anything but the best is a deal breaker for me.

My brother, Jay, used to live in New York City, and any time that I would visit him, I would always want to go to John's Pizza on Bleecker Street.  They've been around for almost 90 years, so they must be doing something right, right?  To me, this is straightforward New York pizza: Thin, slightly charred crust, seasoned sauce, and fresh cheese.  You just know that they have a bunch of guys in the back named Vinnie, Tony, Frankie..........oh, and John.

When I visit my parents in Delaware, we almost always make the half-hour drive up to Pizza By Elizabeths, a sort of gourmet twist on the California Pizza Kitchen style pizza.  Owned by two ladies named Elizabeth, each pizza on the menu has an Elizabeth (or Betty)connection, such as "The Taylor" or "The Rubble."  Toppings choices are abundant, from meats to veggies, to cheeses, so this is not a place for the indecisive, but you can actually leave feeling like you've had a well-rounded and healthy meal.

This version was inspired by a combination of my three favorite pizza joints.  The simple tomato, basil, and cheese on a thin crust is my nod to John's.  The individual size and healthiness factor is a la Elizabeths, and the authentic Italian look and crisp chewy crust is so Settebello.  Serve it as snack or as a meal alongside a salad.  Here are some extra tips for these tomato-topped crowd pleasers:

• The pizza dough for this recipe can either be homemade or store bought.  I do not recommend buying the processed pizza dough that comes in a tube, rather, try to find a higher quality version, such as the kind sold at Trader Joe's for about $1.99.  You will need two of these for this recipe.
• If you choose to make your own crust (which is much easier than it seems), I recommend Ina Garten's recipe, which I have been using for years.  Sometimes I change it up a bit by using whole wheat flour or by adding fresh, finely chopped herbs to the dough.
• For a homemade pesto recipe, check out my Arugula Walnut Pesto Chicken Salad post.  You might need to thin the pesto that you are using out with a bit of hot water in order to be able to drizzle it over the pizza. 
• Feel free to substitute other cheeses, such as fontina, buffalo mozzarella, or asiago for the ones below. 
• Panko are Japanese breadcrumbs, and they can be found in the Asian foods section of most grocery stores.

Charred Tomato and Pesto Pizzas

Serves 6

Ingredients:

3/4 pound grape tomatoes

1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

3 cloves fresh garlic, thinly sliced

1 large shallot, thinly sliced

5 fresh basil leaves, roughly chopped

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Homemade or store-bought pizza dough (see note above)

1 cup grated aged Gouda cheese

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmigiano--Reggiano cheese

Fresh or store-bought pesto

Preheat the broiler.   In a medium baking dish, toss the tomatoes with the panko, garlic, shallot, basil, olive oil, and crushed red pepper.  Season with salt and pepper.  Broil the tomato mixture, about 6 inches away from the heat, for about 5 minutes, or until the tomatoes are lightly browned and start to pop.

Preheat the oven to 500F degrees.  Set a pizza stone on the bottom rack and heat for at least 15 minutes.

On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each ball of pizza dough to a 7-inch round.  Transfer the rounds to the bottom side of a baking sheet or another flat surface from which you can easily transfer the rounds to the pizza stone.  Spoon one-sixth of the tomato topping on each round.  Slide the pizzas onto the heated stone and bake for about 5 minutes, or until sizzling and just set.  Remove from the oven and sprinkle each with one-sixth of the Gouda and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheeses.  Return the pizzas to the oven and bake for about 5 minutes longer, until the cheeses are melted and the crust is lightly browned.  Drizzle with some of the pesto and serve.  Repeat the process with the remaining dough, toppings, cheeses, and pesto. 

Sake-Soy Marinated Pork and Pineapple Kebabs

I consider myself to be a very adventurous eater.  Mind you, I'm not about to go head to head with Anthony Bourdain in a who-can-eat-the-grossest-thing competition, but I'll try just about anything once (so long as it doesn't contain mayonnaise.)  At Thai restaurants, I'll order my food at a level 8 on the heat scale, which usually results in the server giving me that "are you sure?" expression.  When dining out, if a chef recommends them, I'll take on tartares, polish off hot peppers, and even enjoy eel.  Some of the best dishes that I have ever tasted are ones that took me out of my culinary comfort zone.  When mom said "Try it.  You might like it.", she really knew what she was talking about!

My stomach might be steel-coated when it comes to food, but alcohol is an entirely different story altogether.  I learned this the hard way.  For the most part, I am strictly a wine drinker.  Oh sure, I'll have the obligatory Baileys and coffee apres-ski or the margarita in Mexico, but painful encounters with a sidecar (I still don't know what possessed me to order one) and multiple mojitos taught me a lesson that will be tough to forget.  Therefore, when I untwist the cap of the rum, brandy, or Grand Marnier bottles at home, chances are pretty good that they are just part of my latest recipe. 

With regards to cooking and baking, a little bit of alcohol goes a long way.  Simmering some Kahlua with sugar and water creates a coffee-flavored simple syrup for a chocolate cake.  Adding a few tablespoons of brandy as you saute wild mushrooms gives them a slightly rich twist.  Marinating meats in various wine and spirit reductions  helps to tenderize and infuses them with flavor.  While technically, I know, sake is a wine, its proof level is high enough for me to reserve it for kitchen creations.  In this recipe, a simple marinade of 3 items works wonders on the pork tenderloin.  Paired with juicy grilled pineapple (if you've never grilled fruit before, you're missing out), and charred red onions, you've got a meal that is salty, sweet, sour, juicy, crunchy, and healthy to boot!Here are a few extra tips for these sake-soaked skewers:

• Mirin is sweet rice wine, and it can be found in the Asian foods section of your grocery store.  Be sure not to confuse it with rice wine vinegar, which has a very different flavor profile!
• Sake or rice wine can likely be found in the wine section of most grocery stores, and it is usually located with some of the other international wines.  Don't spend a fortune on the sake, as it is just being used as part of a marinade and for tenderizing the pork.
• This marinade would work well with any number of proteins.  Cubed chicken breasts or thighs, beef tenderloin or sirloin, or even firm fish like salmon, halibut, or tuna would be good choices for pork substitutes.
• If you don't have an outdoor grill, you can prepare these over an indoor grillpan.
• If your skewers are not long enough to support 3 pieces of each component, then use 12 skewers with 2 pieces of each component instead.
• Serve these kabobs over steam brown rice, rice pilaf, or couscous.

Sake-Soy Marinated Pork and Pineapple Kebabs

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/2 cup mirin

1/2 cup sake

1/4 cup soy sauce

1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed and cut into 24 pieces

24 (1-inch) pieces red onion

24 (1-inch) cubes pineapple

In a small saucepan, combine the mirin, sake, and soy sauce and bring to a boil.  Cook the mixture over medium heat until it has reduced to about 3/4 cup, 8 minutes.  Remove the mixture from the heat, transfer it to a medium bowl, and cool completely.

Add the pork to the cooled marinade and toss to coat.  Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours and up to 6 hours.

Heat a grill over medium-high heat.

Using a slotted spoon, remove the pork from the bowl, reserving the marinade.  Transfer the marinade to a small saucepan and bring it to a boil.  Reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Cool slightly.

Thread 3 pork cubes, 3 red onion pieces, and 3 pineapple cubes alternately onto each of 8 skewers.  Place the kebabs on a grill rack coated with cooking spray and grill until lightly charred, about 3 minutes per side, basting frequently with the reserved marinade.

Whole Grain Penne "Caprese"

I would like to start this post by extending a sincere "thank you" to Haley Suzanne at Appoggiatura (gosh, I hope I didn't butcher the spelling) for an award that she honored me with.  Apparently, I occasionally "make her day," via this blog and my "sunny disposition."  Obviously, she hasn't seen me before I have my morning caffeine fix.  Seriously though, Haley, I am humbled by your kind words, and I encourage everyone to click on over to Haley's beautifully photographed blog for a sampling of her culinary grace notes, as she so eloquently puts it (although I would love to say that I came up with that phrase on my own.)   As the recipient of this award, I am now tasked with passing it on to some other bloggers who make me smile.  After many sleepless nights of surfing the blogosphere, analyzing posts, and agonizing over who would make the cut---O.K., I'm over-dramatizing this a bit.  Here are five talented bloggers who help to brighten my day (drumroll):

1. Candy, at The Courageous Cook, has a fairly new blog, but with her lighthearted and amusing stories, which accompany each recipe, I am a frequent reader.  Candy is also a talented contest cook, who is heading to the Gilroy Garlic Festival next week, so stop by and wish her luck!
2. Anne, at Cooking With Anne, always has the most beautiful photos of what is growing in her garden in Pennsylvania.  I was particularly captivated by the squash blossoms.
3. Shannon, from Writing as I Eat, is not only a talented cook, but a darn funny one too!  Read her post about her recent trip (her third) to the Pillsbury Bakeoff.  I told you that she is talented.  You might have also seen her as one of the featured contestants on Food Network's coverage of the Bakeoff.  She had that sinful looking tart....
4. I like to visit Jeni at I Found Happy because she writes all about Durham, North Carolina, where I went to grad school, and one of the sleeper great food cities in America.  Jeni, next time you go to Foster's, tell Sara Foster I said "hi!"
5. Finally, for dessert, there's Amy of Sweet Freak.  How can you not love a site whose URL is dessertsfordinner.com?  Amy's blog is all about NYC's best sweets, and boy, am I going to be well equipped with ideas come my next trip to the Big Apple!

So there you have it, my sure-to-cause-a-smile list 'o blogs.  Drop by over your morning coffee and start your day out right!

Today, keeping with yesterday's "marathon training" theme, I made one of Eric's favorite pasta  salads for him to graze on over the next few days.  Named after the traditional basil, tomato, mozzarella Caprese salad, this recipe was inspired by one of Ina Garten's many simply delicious "why didn't I think of that?" creations, which I've worked on enough times to finally tweak it to perfectly suit our tastes.  Because it is a lighter pasta dish, this recipe works year-round, and from my experience, it is a true crowd pleaser, so keep it in mind for your next potluck or dinner party.  Here are a few tips from preparing this colorful, healthy, and hearty dish:

• Pine nuts can be expensive, so if you don't have any on hand, or if you cannot find some at a reasonable price, then by all means substitute some toasted and chopped walnuts or hazelnuts for a similar effect.
• Depending on whether or not I can find good basil in my grocery store, I'll often substitute chopped arugula, which has a bit more of a bite, but it works very nicely in this recipe.
• This dish can be served hot, cold, or at room temperature.  Serve it as a main dish, or use it as a side for grilled chicken or fish.
• I mentioned this in previous postings, but my current preferred pasta is the line that includes flaxseeds from Trader Joe's.  This pasta has great texture, a nutty flavor, and at 99 cents per pound, you can't beat the price. 
• If you can't find good ripe tomatoes, feel free to substitute a 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes or fire-roasted diced tomatoes.

Whole Grain Penne "Caprese"

Serves 6-8

Ingredients:

8 ounces whole grain pasta

14 sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil, divided

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

6 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

2 large cloves garlic, peeled and diced

2 teaspoons capers, drained

3/4 cup kalamata olives, pitted, divided

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1 pound ripe roma tomatoes, coarsely chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

12 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/3-inch cubes

1/3 cup pine nuts, lightly toasted

3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 cup loosely packed basil leaves, julienned

In a pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until it is al dente, according to package directions.  Drain the pasta and toss it with some olive oil in order to prevent it from sticking.  Place the pasta in a large bowl.

In the bowl of a food processor, combine 7 of the sun-dried tomatoes, the red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, capers, 4 olives, and the crushed red pepper.  Puree the mixture until fairly smooth.  Add half of the tomatoes to the processor, and pulse several times, until the mixture is almost smooth.  Add the other half of the tomatoes, and pulse 2 or 3 times, so that the sauce contains larger pieces of tomato.  Season with salt and pepper.

Chop the remaining kalamata olives and sundried tomatoes and add them to the pasta in the bowl.  Add the mozzarella and pine nuts to the bowl and toss to combine.  Pour the sauce over the pasta, sprinkle with the Parmesan and the basil, and toss well to coat. 

   

Indian Spiced Vegetable Burgers

There are some foods that were never destined to be more than a flash in the pan, no matter how many millions of marketing dollars were invested in them.  McDonald's has had a few flops that come to mind: McRib, Arch Deluxe, the Michael Jordan Burger, and of course the ill-fated McDLT, with its separate sides for hot and cold ingredients.  Huh?  Remember the green and purple colored ketchup, which I'm guessing was meant to be "fun?"  It wasn't.  All this product did was send your taste buds signals that you should be tasting grape or lime on your fries, not tomato.  Yes, good times.  And then there's the granddaddy of them all, New Coke (which, after it flopped, was replaced by Coke Classic, a.k.a. Old Coke.)  Folks, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

On the other end of the spectrum lies the chickpea, or garbanzo bean, whatever you prefer to call it.  Doing a little research for today's post (believe it or not, I don't make this stuff up,) I learned that 7,500 year old remains of these legumes have been discovered in the Middle East.  Now that's a food that stands the test of time.  I mean, how many other foods can you name from the Neolithic era?  It must be, as Martha would say, a good thing.

I've loved garbanzo beans ever since I had my first taste of hummus.  I love their buttery smooth flavor and their superfood-worthy nutritional profile.  Chickpeas are high in protein, fiber, folate, iron, zinc, and the list goes on and on.  Because they are so filling, these beans are a perfect substitution for meat in salads, soups, stews, and in this case, burgers.  With their crisp exterior and creamy center, these Indian cuisine-inspired veggie burgers are part potato pancake and part falafel.  Best served in a pita pocket, so they won't fall apart, the patties are very filling, but low-fat.  Dress them up however you like, but they really don't need more than a little dollop of chutney--and certainly no purple ketchup!  Here are some extra tips for these bean based burgers:

• Do not try to cook these burgers without chilling the mixture first.  Chilling allows the mixture to bind, and the patties will fall apart otherwise.
• Garam Masala is a spice blend, which is very common in Indian and Middle Eastern cooking.  You should be able to find it in your grocery store's spice section.  You can replace the Garam Masala with curry powder, if desired, but it won't have quite the same toasty, spicy flavor.
• Make smaller portions of the burger and serve a few as an appetizer or as hors d'oeuvres for a cocktail party.  Top each patty with some chutney for serving.
• Instead of regular breadcrumbs, you can also use panko, or Japanese breadcrumbs, which are a little bit lighter.

Indian Spiced Vegetable Burgers

Makes 8

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups canned garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup chopped cilantro

1/2 cup chopped carrot

1 teaspoon Garam Masala

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/4 teaspoon cayenne

1 jalapeno, seeded and quartered

2 pounds red potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces

1/4 cup chopped red onion

1 cup breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 2/3 cup baby spinach, arugula, or mixed greens

4 whole wheat pitas, halved

Sliced red onion

Mango Chutney (optional)

In the bowl of a food processor, combine the garbanzo beans, cilantro, carrot, Garam Masala, cumin, salt, pepper, cayenne, and jalapeno.  Process the mixture until it is finely chopped.

Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover it with water.  Bring the water to a boil and cook the potatoes for 12 minutes.  Add the onion, and cook for 3 more minutes or until the potatoes are tender.  Drain; cool for 10 minutes.  Place the potato mixture in a large bowl and mash with a potato masher or fork.  Stir in the garbanzo bean mixture and breadcrumbs.  Cover the mixture and chill for 4 hours or overnight.

Divide the mixture into 8 portions, shaping each portion into a 1/2-inch thick patty.  Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add 4 of the patties to the pan and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until browned and heated through.  Repeat the procedure with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and patties.  Place about 1/3 cup spinach or arugula in each pita half and top with 1 patty, red onion, and some mango chutney.

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken

I honestly can't remember the last time, in the past 15 years, when I have eaten fried chicken.  When my brother and I were little, and our parents used to go out for the evening, leaving us with a babysitter, the go-to meal was usually chicken fingers and tater tots.  When we moved to Houston, as a pre-teen I discovered Chick-Fil-A, and I loved getting their fried chicken sandwiches (with a pickle on top!) to eat as my mom chauffeured me home from my downtown ice-skating lessons.  At picnics, I would always opt for a golden and crispy piece of seasoned chicken over burgers and dogs.

Then I had to go and get all health conscious and ruin everything!  Why is it that so many of the wonderful foods that we devoured as children turn out to be so bad for us?  I've seen half a dozen special Dateline reports, telling me just how unhealthy Oreos, Pop Tarts, and Chicken Nuggets are, including horrifying statistics on the shelf life of a Twinkie.  Obviously, all of this nutritional knowledge takes away from the enjoyment of eating these forbidden foods, so what's a girl to do when she suddenly needs a fried chicken fix?

Paula Deen is to blame.  There she was, in her enviable Savannah kitchen, doing what she does best: frying things in lots of oil.  There I was, on the treadmill, getting hungrier by the minute.  In that 30 minute episode, she produced fried chicken that looked like it came straight out of central food styling.  At that point, I decided that I needed to compromise and find a good way to oven fry chicken, thus eliminating the vats of oil, but maintaining the crispy seasoned exterior.

This recipe is about as close to the southern-fried real deal as you can get, while cutting down significantly on fat and calories.  By soaking the chicken in a spicy, low-fat buttermilk marinade overnight, the meat becomes very tender, and it stays moist throughout the baking process.  Panko bread crumbs mixed with a little bit of Parmesan cheese, flour, and seasonings creates a crisp crust, without a trace of oil.  Yes, Ms. Deen might disapprove of my technique, but we thought it was delicious.  Here are a few tips for this spicy summer favorite:

• If you want to make this recipe even lighter, then make it using trimmed boneless, skinless chicken breasts.
• By cutting boneless, skinless chicken breasts into strips, marinating, breading, and baking, you are essentially making your own, healthier chicken fingers, which children are sure to love!
• Don't be alarmed by the amount of curry in the marinade.  Although the flavor comes through, it by no means dominates the recipe.  If you don't like curry at all, feel free to leave it out and replace it with paprika, chili powder, or even garlic powder.
• Panko bread crumbs, which are the Japanese bread crumbs found in the Asian foods section of the grocery store, can be replaced with regular unseasoned breadcrumbs.
• Although the recipe says to marinate the chicken for at least 4 hours, I prefer to marinate it overnight, as this results in a moister, more flavorful product.

Spicy Oven-Fried Chicken

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 cups buttermilk

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons curry powder

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves, minced

3 teaspoons salt, divided

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

12 chicken pieces (breasts, thighs, and drumsticks) with skin and bones

1 cup Panko breadcrumbs

1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup flour

2 teaspoons dried thyme

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon cayenne

In a large casserole dish, whisk together the buttermilk, oil, curry, mustard, garlic, 2 teaspoons salt, and pepper to blend well.  Add the chicken and turn to coat.  Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or up to 1 day, turning occasionally.

Place racks on 2 large rimmed baking sheets and spray the racks with nonstick spray.  In a large baking dish, whisk the Panko, cheese, flour, thyme, paprika, cayenne, and 1 teaspoon salt.  Remove the chicken from the marinade, allowing excess to drip off.  Add the chicken to the breadcrumb mixture and turn to coat completely.  Arrange the chicken, skin side up, on the racks on the baking sheets.  Let stand 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 425F degrees and place oven racks in the upper and lower thirds of the oven.  Bake the chicken until crisp, golden, and cooked through, about 50 minutes, switching positions of the trays halfway through.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

Ancho-Coffee Braised Short Ribs

A few weeks ago, through Eric's work, I was lucky enough to be able to attend the Bon Appetit Grand Tasting Sip and Stroll, which was part of Uncork'd, the magazine's food and wine celebration week, which is held each year in Las Vegas.  During this event, over 40 of Las Vegas's best restaurants were represented, each with a booth located around the perimeter of a ballroom, at which chefs prepared their signature dishes or latest creations for the lucky attendees.   

What made this event extra special was that most of the restaurants' celebrity chefs were also there, mingling with the guests, posing for photos, signing autographs, but ironically, not cooking  (I suppose they are allowed a night off....).  I recall looking to my left and seeing Daniel Boloud having an animated discussion with Joel Robuchon.  To my right was Cat Cora, in all of her Iron Chef glory.  I took a few steps forward and almost ran over Guy Savoy, which would have been embarrassing, although not surprising, as I tend to do that sort of thing more often than I'd like to admit. 

The highlight of the evening was meeting Mr. Spago, Chef Wolfgang Puck himself, who I have watched and admired since his early Food Network days.  I'm not usually the one to approach a celebrity and ask for a photo, but he was right there, so I couldn't resist.  It was a true relief to find that he is just as friendly in the flesh as he is personified on T.V.   I can't imagine how many photos he has had to pose for over the years, but he happily posed for one more with me (sorry, it's a bit blurry--Eric took it while balancing his plate and while being jostled by the crowd.)

I thought that Eric put it very eloquently when her described the event as "Julie's Superbowl," and since I won him a trip to see his Patriots play at the actual Superbowl earlier this year, I guess we are even. 

The gourmet fare during the event was plated in amuse bouche-sized portions, so that we would be able to try as much as possible.  We managed to make it to each restaurant's booth, although there were some (anything with the dreaded mayonnaise, cream cheese, or scallops, which I am allergic to) that I skipped.  While everything was delicious, it was apparent to me that the superstar chefs didn't all get together and have a big pow-wow about who was going to make what.  It was also clear that there are certain menu items which are currently considered "hot."  Many items, although prepared in different styles, were a common theme throughout the event.  There was an abundance of tartare, lots of flan,  and pea soup was well represented.  The one dish that seemed to pop up the most, however, was short ribs.  To be fair, I think the chefs were just being smart.  I mean, who doesn't love a slowly braised, falling-off-the-bone short-rib?  I took it upon myself to sample them all, and not a one disappointed.  My compliments to the chefs.

Ever since that evening, I have been wanting to create my own version of short ribs at home.  One of the best flavor combinations that I have recently tasted is an Ancho-chile and coffee based sauce.  I though this would taste heavenly with the short ribs, and it did.  The spiciness from the chiles mellows out over time and the sauce becomes thick and rich as the ribs simmer.  Serve them over polenta or with lots of good bread for mopping up the sauce.  Here are some extra tips for tall on flavor short ribs:

• If possible, prepare the ribs one day in advance.  Ribs improve if flavors have time to develop.  After braising the ribs, let them cool completely, uncovered, and then chill the ribs in the pan, tightly covered with a lid or with foil.  Remove any solidified fat from the top prior to reheating in the pan.
• Do not be alarmed if the sauce tastes bitter or spicy prior to braising the ribs.  The flavor really mellows out during the braising process.
• If you like a thicker sauce, combine 2 tablespoons of the liquid with 1-2 teaspoons cornstarch, and mix well to blend.  Add this mixture back to the sauce in the pan, stir, and simmer over medium-low heat until it thickens to your desired consistency. 
• To maximize moistness, rotate the ribs a few times during the braising process.
• I like to serve the ribs over soft polenta that has been cooked in chicken broth and seasoned with chopped fresh rosemary, salt, and pepper.  I'll either stir in soft goat cheese, grated parmigiano-reggiano, or smoked cheddar for extra flavor. 

Ancho-Coffee Braised Short Ribs

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 cups beef broth

2 tablespoons Ancho chili powder

1 medium yellow onion, quartered

4 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons chopped canned chipotle chiles in adobo plus 1 tablespoon adobo sauce

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons lime juice

Salt and pepper

6 pounds beef short ribs

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 cup strong brewed coffee or espresso

1/3 cup red wine (recommend Zinfandel or Cabernet)

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.  In a blender, combine the ancho chile powder, broth, onion, garlic, chipotles and adobo sauce, maple syrup, lime juice, and 1 teaspoon salt.  Puree the mixture until smooth.

Season the short ribs on all sides with salt and pepper.  Heat the oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until hot, then brown the ribs in 3 batches, turning occasionally, about 5 minutes per batch.  As they brown, transfer the ribs to a casserole pan or dutch oven large enough to hold the ribs in 1 layer. 

Carefully transfer the chile puree to the same skillet (be careful as the sauce will splatter a bit), and cook over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, 5 minutes.  Add the coffee and wine, bring the mixture to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 5 minutes longer. 

Pour the liquid over the ribs in the pan.  It should reach at least halfway up the sides of the ribs.  Cover the pan tightly with a lid or foil.  Roast at 350F for 30 minutes, reduce the heat to 300F, and braise the ribs until very tender, 2 1/2-3 hours longer.  Serve the ribs with the sauce over polenta, couscous, or mashed potatoes.

Korean Grilled Flank Steak with Hot Peanut Sauce

Every once in a while, I will try a restaurant dish so incredibly delicious and satisfying, that I will return to the restaurant specifically for that item, never tire of it, and never have the desire to order anything else.  True, this may prevent me from experiencing other outstanding creations that these chefs have to offer, but I'll just wait until my dining companions order those, so that I can have a taste.  For the time being, I am just not willing to sacrifice my tried and true favorites for something that might not be as memorable.

At Table 34, my favorite dish is Chef Kendrick's pan-seared halibut, served over a salad of mixed melon with a chili vinaigrette.  Unfortunately, this is only available from April through October, when halibut is fresh and in season, but you can bet that they know to call me (and a handful of other halibut devotees) as soon as the halibut arrives.   Oh yes, it's that good. 

At Rao's, it's all about the meatballs, and this is coming from someone who isn't exactly a meatball fanatic.  About the size of a softball and covered with their signature sauce, take one bite of a Rao's meatball and you will understand why it is impossible to get a reservation in their New York hole-in-the-wall (hint: try the Vegas locale).  After 110 years, I guess it should come as no surprise that these guys know what they are doing. 

At Todd's, my love affair with the Korean Beef Salad came about accidentally.  On that fateful night, they had 86'd my usual salad, and our brilliant server recommended that I try this instead.  No, let me rephrase:  He told me that if I didn't absolutely love the salad, then he would pay for it.  With that sort of endorsement, how could I refuse?  It  did not disappoint, and our server walked away with a heck of a tip.  Since Todd's menu is also seasonal, I call ahead to see if the Korean Beef Salad is on the menu.  Even if it's not, the chef will usually make it for me, if only to prevent a grown woman from throwing a tantrum in his establishment.

This marinade is about as close as I've been able to come to the one used for the salad at Todd's.  They sprinkle chopped peanuts on their salad, so I made a spicy peanut sauce to serve alongside my version.  The longer you marinate the steak, the deeper the flavor will be.  Serve it over rice with some stir fried bok choy or sugar snap peas.  And next time you're in Vegas, head to Table 34, Rao's, and Todd's--and tell them I sent you!  Here are a few extra tips for this spicy sliced steak:

• Feel free to substitute another cut of steak for the flank steak if desired.  Strip steak, rib-eye, and tenderloin would all be good substitutions.  You can also use the marinade for pork or chicken.
• As an alternative to keeping the steak whole and then slicing it after grilling, try cutting it into cubes prior to marinating, and then grilling the cubes on skewers as kabobs.  You can alternate the cubes with peppers, mushrooms, and onions.

Grilled Korean Flank Steak with Spicy Peanut Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/3 cup chopped scallions

1/3 cup light soy sauce

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon grated peeled gingerroot

1 tablespoon lime juice

2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

1 teaspoon crushed red pepper

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 (1 pound) flank steak, trimmed

1/2 cup water

1 tablespoon crunchy peanut butter

1 teaspoon cornstarch

Combine the scallions, soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger, lime juice, sesame oil, crushed red pepper, and garlic in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.  Place the steak and half of the scallion mixture in a large, zip-top plastic bag and seal.  Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Combine the remaining marinade with the water, peanut butter, and cornstarch in a small saucepan and whisk to blend.  Bring to a simmer and cook for 1 minute, stirring, until the sauce thickens.  Remove from the heat and keep warm.

Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat.  Remove the steak from the marinade, discarding the marinade.  Grill the steak for about 3 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness.  Transfer to a cutting board, let rest for 5 minutes, and then slice diagonally against the grain.  Serve the steak with the peanut sauce.   

Tandoori Chicken

We are very fortunate in Las Vegas to have a wide array of fine dining restaurants to choose from, whenever we want to go out for a special occasion meal.  It seems that every great chef from Guy Savoy to Charlie Trotter has opened up at least one establishment here.  They are usually located on the strip, and they are always an investment.

The challenge with the Las Vegas food scene is that, despite all of the wonderful steakhouses, gourmet rooms, and tasting menus, there are very few great quality casual dining options.  This is a town in love with (and overflowing with) franchises and chains.  Have a craving for a Bloomin' Onion at the Outback?  It's just down the road.  Looking for a Quizno's, Subway, or Cold Stone?  Pick a direction, and you'll reach one eventually.  What we really need here are more of those great hole-in-the-wall, locally owned and operated, mom-and-pop places; the kind that you can go to over and over again because you know that you will be served great food, and the staff will greet you by name.

So far, we have only found a handful of these hidden gems.  One of them, Table 34, we dine at so often that we are probably nearing stalker status.  Let's put it this way: We were asked by our usual server, Rich, if we wanted to be part of the waitstaff's NCAA pool for this year's Final Four Tournament.  The food is always great, and the atmosphere is relaxed, and that combination is perfect after a long work week.  Another favorite find is Crazy Pita, a small Mediterranean restaurant, which serves some of the most flavorful chicken kabobs and couscous that I have ever tasted.  I have not once been at Crazy Pita when the owner, Mehdi, was not there too.  He runs a tight ship, which is reflected in the quality of his craveable cuisine and operational efficiency.  My only complaint is that we need to travel about 15 minutes to get there.

No matter how much I am craving a Crazy Pita Marinated Chicken Skewer Platter with a side of hummus, sometimes I just don't want to make the trip.  So, I decided to attempt to come up with my own similar marinade.  While this is definitely not the same caliber as Mehdi's masterpiece, it does have some similarities, and it is enough to keep me satisfied until my next Crazy Pita run.  Here are a few tips for making this healthy, flavorful, and moist main dish:

• If you can, marinate the chicken overnight, or for at least eight hours.  The extended marinating time is important for tenderizing the chicken and for keeping it juicy throughout the grilling process.
• Garam masala is a traditional Indian spice mixture with many variations.  It usually contains cinnamon, cardamom, garlic, ginger, chili, and cloves.  If you don't have any on hand, then add about 1/4 teaspoon of the included spices in order to achieve a similar flavor profile.  Garam masala has become popular enough that most major spice companies now offer it, and you should be able to find some in your local grocery store. 
• This chicken is great on its own, served over a bed of baby spinach or with a side of couscous, but it also makes a wonderful grilled chicken sandwich, topped with some caramelized onions, mixed greens, and the seasoned yogurt sauce.
• This recipe would also work well with chicken thighs, shrimp, beef, lamb, and firm cuts of fish.  You can also make it into kabobs.

Tandoori Chicken

Serves 4

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons canola oil

4 teaspoons sweet paprika

2 teaspoons ground cumin, divided

2 teaspoons ground coriander, divided

2 teaspoons garam masala

1 teaspoon ground turmeric

1 teaspoon cayenne

2 cups chopped red onion

1/2 cup chopped peeled fresh ginger

2 teaspoons chopped seeded jalapeno

8 cloves garlic, crushed

2 1/2 cups plain lowfat yogurt, divided

1/4 cup lemon juice, divided

2 teaspoons salt, divided

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Heat the oil in a small skillet over medium high heat.  Add the paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons cumin, 1 1/2 teaspoons coriander, garam masala, turmeric, and cayenne to the pan; cook for 2 minutes or until fragrant, stirring constantly.  Remove from the pan and cool.

Place the onion, ginger, jalapeno, and garlic in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth.  Add the spice mixture, 1/2 cup of the yogurt, 2 tablespoons lemon juice, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt to the onion mixture; process until smooth.  Transfer the mixture to a large zip-top bag, add the chicken to the bag, seal, and toss to coat.  Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat the grill.

Combine the remaining 2 cups yogurt, 2 tablespoons juice, 1/2 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon coriander, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a bowl and mix well.  Cover and chill.

Remove the chicken from the bag and discard the marinade.  Grill the chicken about 7 minutes on each side, or until cooked through.  Serve with the yogurt mixture. 

Grilled Chicken with Sweet Tomato Barbecue Sauce

I really love this time of year, because I start to use the outdoor grill almost every day to prepare dinner.  We typically don't use it for lunch, as the Las Vegas temperatures rise a bit too high for grilling to be tolerable during the daytime hours.  Grilling is one of my favorite methods of food preparation.  It allows to you take some extremely simple ingredients, such as a marinated chicken breast, some unshucked ears of corn, and a few pieces of ciabatta drizzled with olive oil, and convert them into a barbecue feast.  Something about those little perfectly angled criss-cross grill marks takes something that might be very ordinary coming out of the oven and makes it irresistible to onlookers. 

Although becoming a whiz at the grill isn't difficult, many people seem to be intimidated by it, spurred by too many memories of overcooked, overcharred, and overdried chicken breasts, burgers, and ribs.  After years of watching the grillmaster himself, Mr. Bobby Flay, on his Food Network shows: Hot Off the Grill, Grillin' and Chillin', Boy Meets Grill, and, well, you get the picture, I like to think that I've picked up at least a few proper grilling techniques.  The most important of these is to not move your food too much on the grill.  People have a tendency to want to flip and move their food around, and it really should only be flipped one time.  I also know to never cut into meats to check for doneness.  Use a thermometer or check for firmness instead, as cutting into it will release too many juices and dry out your food.  Third, Bobby seems to think that nothing goes better with grilling than a margarita (he makes them often), so always make a batch of these to go with your meal.

Properly grilled food requires little more than something simple to go on top, and this homemade roasted tomato barbecue sauce is just that.  With a smoky undertone from the sauteed bacon, tang from the balsamic vinegar, and a little bit of kick from the Tabasco, this recipe has something for everyone.  Best of all, it can be pulled together in no time, for an impromptu grill-fest!  Here are a few tips for this recipe, perfect for easy outdoor entertaining:

• To make this recipe lower in fat and calories, opt for some high-quality, preferably smoked, turkey bacon.
• The Tabasco sauce may be eliminated if spicy foods are not favored in your household.
• This barbecue sauce is very versatile, and it will last for several days, covered and refrigerated, so make a double or triple batch if you plans include a lot of grilling.  This sauce would taste great over pork chops, grilled salmon, or a firm white fish, such as halibut, seabass, or swordfish steaks.  You could also use it as a topping for burgers or grilled chicken sandwiches.

Grilled Chicken with Sweet Tomato Barbecue Sauce

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 pint grape tomatoes

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

2 tablespoons lime juice

4 slices center cut or pepper bacon, chopped

1 yellow onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, chopped

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed

2 teaspoons Tabasco sauce

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees.  On a baking sheet, toss the tomatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Roast until charred, 15-20 minutes.

Preheat a grill or grill pan to medium-high.  Drizzle the chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon olive oil and the lime juice.  Season with salt and pepper.  Grill, turning once, until cooked through, about 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium heat.  Add the bacon and cook for 3-4 minutes, until slightly crisp.  Drain off all but 1 tablespoon of the fat.  Add the onion and garlic and cook until softened, 3 minutes.  Stir in the vinegar, brown sugar, Tabasco, and Worcestershire sauce.  Add the roasted tomatoes and mash together.  Season with salt and pepper.  Top the grilled chicken with the tomato sauce and serve.

Moroccan Spiced Kebabs with Pistachio Couscous

I went through a long phase of not eating any red meat, as I just associated it with being high in fat, high in cholesterol, and just plain bad for you.  Fortunately, I don't have the level of influence that Oprah has, as I seem to recall her spending the better part of a year fighting a nasty lawsuit, which was filed against her by the Texas cattle farmers, for voicing that very same opinion during her talk show.  Then, a few years ago, I was informed by my doctor that I have an iron deficiency, as many women do, and my options were to either start taking iron supplements or to start incorporating more iron into my diet.  I have never been one to pop a vitamin in order to get my nutrients, because I would prefer to get them by eating the right foods, and I had heard that the iron pills cause nausea, so I opted for the eating method.

I could only eat so many roasted beets and bowlfuls of steamed spinach, two foods that contain significant amounts of iron, so I found myself wandering over to the steaks section of the supermarket, intending to check out the nutritional labels.  Imagine my surprise to find several cuts that had calorie contents and levels of fat similar to those of chicken, pork, and even certain types of fish!  Yes, if you grill up a rib-eye, delicious as they are, you're really not doing your arteries any favors, but if your menu includes boneless sirloin, filet, or even flank steak, prepared correctly, then you will have a heart healthy, iron-rich meal. 

Marinated kebabs are one of my favorite ways to serve steak.  By marinating the meat for several hours, it becomes juicy and tender on the inside, with a slight char on the outside.  Kebabs cook very quickly, and you can tailor each one to each person's preferred level of doneness.  This Moroccan-inspired version uses many of the traditional Moroccan spices, such as cumin, turmeric, cayenne, and ginger.  Serving the kebabs over a healthy, pistachio-studded couscous makes a complete meal.    Here are my tips for this spiced steak supper:

• As noted below, feel free to substitute another meat, such as chicken or lamb, for the beef in this recipe.  You can also try a firm fish, such as swordfish or tuna, or you can make the kabobs with shrimp or scallops.
• If you want to alternate some vegetables with the meat on the kebabs, try using pieces of red onion, zucchini, red and yellow bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or mushrooms.
• Dried cranberries or fresh pomegranate seeds would be good in place of the golden raisins in the couscous.  If using the pomegranate seeds, stir them with the pistachios as opposed to when you boil the chicken stock.
• These kebabs would also be great prepared on an outdoor grill over indirect medium-high heat.

Moroccan Spiced Kebabs with Pistachio Couscous

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Zest and juice of one lemon

2 cloves minced garlic

2 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoon ground cumin

1 teaspoon grated ginger

1/4 teaspoon turmeric

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 1/2 pounds lamb, chicken, or beef, cut into 1-inch cubes

1 1/2 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup golden raisins

1 1/2 cups couscous

1/2 cup toasted pistachios, chopped

1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

In a large bowl, combine 1/2 cup of the olive oil, garlic, salt, cumin, ginger, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne.  Add your selected meat and marinate, covered and refrigerated for up to 4 hours.

Thread 4-6 skewers with the cubes of meat, reserving the extra marinade.  On a non-stick grill pan, over medium-high heat, grill the meat until slightly charred, about 3-4 minutes on each side, brushing with the reserved marinade.

Prepare the couscous:  In a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock and the raisins to a boil.  Add the couscous, remove from the heat, and cover for 5 minutes.  Fluff with a fork, stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil, the pistachios, and the parsley.  Season with salt and pepper and serve with the kebabs.