Baja-Style Tortilla Vegetable Soup


Baja-Style Tortilla Vegetable Soup
Garnished with Avocado, Lime, Serrano, Cilantro
Queso Blanco

Baja California, Mexico! Have you been? Unfortuately it’s been a few years since I’ve been down there. We loved Ensenada –  a couple decades ago we rode our bicycles 50 miles from Rosarito to Ensenada. That ride is still going strong, in its 31st year. And we always love Los Cabos, with it’s great beaches, restaurants, nightlife and fishing. In Guerrero Negro, where the whales come in the winter to give birth, you can experience them up close in the lagoon.

Fish tacos have been a specialty in Baja, no wonder, as it is a long thin spit of land surrounded by water. Traditionally, the tacos are local fried fish served on a corn tortilla, with shredded cabbage, onion, crema, and lime. That’s the way I remember them sold from street vendors in Ensenada back in the early 80’s. Speaking of Ensenada, have you been to Hussong’s (est. 1892), the oldest cantina in the Californias?

Continue reading “Baja-Style Tortilla Vegetable Soup”

Elegant Leek & Celeriac Soup

Leek & Celeriac Soup
Toasted Sesame Oil & Black Sesame Seed Garnish
Ciabatta Toast with Smoked Gouda

We recently had one last Holiday Party…
Menu
Pork Potstickers, Apricot Dipping Sauce
Elegant Leek & Celeriac Soup, Smoked Gouda Ciabatta Toast
Pork Roast Roulade
Stuffed with Sausage, Pistachio & Chestnut
Cider Gravy
Wild Arugula Salad with Pistachios, Sherry Vinaigrette
Chocolate Pineapple Soup, Pound Cake Crouton
Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon 2000 (Thanks Adam!)

Cheese Fondue

Cheese Fondue – the National Dish of Switzerland

So… we were snowbound in New Jersey (not Switzerland) on a cold blustery winter night. But we were not lacking provisions. Susan held her fabulous annual Holiday Party the night before, and there were leftovers galore, including lots of fine cheeses and French bread…and it turned out she had a fondue set in the pantry just waiting to be broken in.
Fondue – it’s easy, social, delicious, cheesy, fun, unique, and oh so 60’s. We went online to find a fondue recipe, the one by Tyler Florence sounded good, but alas, we did not have all the ingredients. So we improvised, and it turned out great! Don’t be afraid of fondue…melt cheese in wine, eat with bread. Instant party success.

Our recipe:

  • 1 pound of mixed cheeses including Parmigiano-Reggiano
  • 2 T. flour
  • 1 garlic clove
  • 1 c. dry white wine, we used our favorite, Grüner Veltliner
  • 1 T. lemon juice
  • 1 T. Rémy Martin (Cognac)
  • 1 T. Grand Marnier (Orange-flavored Liqueur)
  • 1 t. Dijon mustard
  • nutmeg
Grate the cheeses and toss with flour, set aside. Rub the inside of the fondue pot with the garlic clove. Then add wine and lemon juice and bring to a simmer. Gradually stir in the cheese, adding more as the cheese in the pot melts. Traditionally Kirsch, a cherry brandy, is added at this point. We used what we had on hand, Rémy Martin and Grand Marnier. We also added a teaspoon of Dijon mustard and a pinch of ground nutmeg. I think it is important to use fine cheeses and high-quality wine for a superior result.
Serve with cubes of French bread and blanched vegetables. Have your guests swirl the bread cubes in a figure-eight motion. Mixing of the cheese by the guests keeps it from separating. And if the fondue starts to clump, just whisk in a tablespoon of lemon juice to smooth it out.
We hope you had a wonderful warm cozy holiday celebration
with your family and friends and pets.

Did you get a Snuggie for Christmas?

Unique Almond Pizza

Unique Almond Pizza
Sliced Blanched Raw Almonds, Mozzarella,
Shaved Garlic, Olive Oil, Sea Salt

I buy pizza dough and shredded mozzarella at my local Italian Market, the A-1 Deli.
Roll out the dough and arrange on a pizza screen. Top generously with shredded mozzarella and shaved garlic. Drizzle olive oil on top. Scatter sliced blanched raw almonds about and finish with course sea salt. Bake at 450° until golden.

This pizza is great with a green salad for lunch, or cut into small slices and served as an appetizer at a party.
foodbuzz

And thanks to the folks at Foodbuzz for choosing Unique Almond Pizza as one of the Top 9 photos last week! Please give this unique pizza a try, you won’t be disappointed!
HELP WANTED

My nephew Stone was setting up a “restaurant” in my kitchen. He put out his “Help Wanted” sign and I applied for the job. After I was hired, he crossed out Help Wanted, applications were no longer being accepted.
That is Jett in the left of the photo, he calls himself the “King of Liberty.” The King is an excellent waiter.

The “restaurant” served Cheese Pizza for the kids and Maple Barbecue Smoked Chicken Pizza for the adults.
The pizza screen is such a handy tool. It makes it much easier to spread out the dough, and get the pizza into and out of the oven. The perforated surface allows moisture to escape during baking, resulting in a nice crispy evenly-baked crust.

Those of us who were fortunate to attend the Foodbuzz Blogger Festival in San Francisco received a goodie bag including products from a company called Made in Napa Valley, of which one was this tasty Maple Barbecue Sauce with Horseradish.
Maple Barbecue Smoked Chicken Pizza

Spread a mixture of half pizza sauce and half the barbecue sauce over the pizza dough, top with shredded mozzarella and shredded smoked chicken. If you shop at Whole Foods Market definitely try their fabulous whole smoked whole chicken from the smokehouse.
The restaurant was a huge success, food and service were exceptional. Three Stars. Congratulations Stone & Jett!