This is a rich and yummy sauce that was used over our pork loin from the cooking class we took last month at the Chopping Block. This is a sauce you're going to want to have bread for just in case you have some left over on your plate that needs to be sopped up.
2 tbsp. butter
1 medium onion, medium dice
1 stalk celery, medium dice
1 carrot, peeled and cut into medium dice
1 tbsp. tomato paste
2 tbsp. all purpose flour
1/2 C. white wine
2 1/2 C. beef stock
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 bay leaf
2 tsp. Dijon mustard
salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp. cold butter
Heat a heavy saucepan over medium heat and add the butter.
Saute the onion, celery, and carrot until lightly caramelized, 5 to 6 minutes.
Add the tomato paste and continue to cook an additional minute.
Add the flour and cook, stirring for 1 additional minute. Deglaze the pan with the wine, scraping any fond off the bottom of the pan.
Add the stock, thyme and bay leaf and whisk to combine the ingredients. Bring the sauce to a boil, reduce the heat to a simmer and cook, uncovered, for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the sauce is reduced slightly.
Remove the bay leaf and whisk in the mustard. Remove from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste and mount with cold butter.
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Dijon and Herb Crusted Pork Loin
This was the main dish we made (OK we watched it being made) at our Chopping Block class. It was delicious and if it ever gets warm enough here to grow things outside, I'll have fresh herbs. The jury is out about it ever getting warm enough. :( Of course, it's awesome to have the oven going when it's this cold.
2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
1 2-2 1/2 pound pork loin
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4 roasted garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. fresh thyme, rough chopped
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, rough chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a saute pan over medium high heat and add the oil.
Season the pork loin with salt and pepper to taste and sear all sides to a deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan. Save the saute pan to prepare the sauce.
To prepare the mustard glaze, mix together the Dijon, olive oil, roasted garlic, thyme and rosemary in a small bowl.
Brush the seared pork loin with the mustard glaze and roast until the internal temperature reaches 135 to 140 degrees.
Remove the pork from the oven and set it on a cutting board with a juice groove. Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.
Cut the loin into 1/2 inch slices and serve with Sauce Robert and Aged Cheddar and Potato Au Gratin (recipes to follow).
2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
1 2-2 1/2 pound pork loin
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 C. Dijon mustard
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
4 roasted garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp. fresh thyme, rough chopped
1 tbsp. fresh rosemary, rough chopped
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Heat a saute pan over medium high heat and add the oil.
Season the pork loin with salt and pepper to taste and sear all sides to a deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Place on a roasting rack set in a roasting pan. Save the saute pan to prepare the sauce.
To prepare the mustard glaze, mix together the Dijon, olive oil, roasted garlic, thyme and rosemary in a small bowl.
Brush the seared pork loin with the mustard glaze and roast until the internal temperature reaches 135 to 140 degrees.
Remove the pork from the oven and set it on a cutting board with a juice groove. Allow it to rest for about 10 minutes.
Cut the loin into 1/2 inch slices and serve with Sauce Robert and Aged Cheddar and Potato Au Gratin (recipes to follow).
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Endive and Watercress Salad with Apples, Toasted Walnuts, and Goat Cheese
This is the salad we ate at our cooking class at Chopping Block...thinking about swapping out the walnuts for pecans but that shouldn't surprise anyone who reads this blog regularly.
For the salad:
2 heads Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise
1 bunch watercress, tough stems removed
1 sweet red apple, julienned
1/2 C. walnuts, toasted
1/2 C. goat cheese, crumbled
For the vinaigrette:
1 small shallot, minced
3 to 4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. dijon mustard or whole grain mustard
2 tsp. honey or maple syrup
1/2 C. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Gently toss together the endive, watercress, apples and walnuts in a large salad bowl. Set aside while preparing the vinaigrette.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the shallot, vinegar, mustard and honey. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking rapidly to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Dress the salad with just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
Serve on chilled salad plates topped with a sprinkling of the goat cheese.
For the salad:
2 heads Belgian endive, thinly sliced crosswise
1 bunch watercress, tough stems removed
1 sweet red apple, julienned
1/2 C. walnuts, toasted
1/2 C. goat cheese, crumbled
For the vinaigrette:
1 small shallot, minced
3 to 4 tbsp. apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp. dijon mustard or whole grain mustard
2 tsp. honey or maple syrup
1/2 C. extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Gently toss together the endive, watercress, apples and walnuts in a large salad bowl. Set aside while preparing the vinaigrette.
To make the vinaigrette, whisk together the shallot, vinegar, mustard and honey. Slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking rapidly to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
Dress the salad with just enough of the vinaigrette to coat.
Serve on chilled salad plates topped with a sprinkling of the goat cheese.
Sauteed Scallops with Brussel Sprout Bacon Hash and Brown Butter Sauce
A couple of weeks ago...OK, it was the weekend after Valentine's Day...Chris and I went to a cooking class at one of our favorite cooking schools, The Chopping Block. This was a demo class so we were able to sit back relax and eat. The Chopping Block has fantastic chefs that have such a passion for cooking and with great personalities as well. This class got Chris to eat Brussels sprouts and me to scallops. Yep, it's possible the Earth fell off its axis that night. All of the food was fabulous but the appetizer was one of the more amazing things I have eaten lately.
For the hash:
1/4lb. bacon, cut into thin slices
4 fingerling potatoes, sliced into thin circles
1lb. Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
2 shallots, thinly sliced
t tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. fresh thyme, rough chopped
salt and pepper to taste
For the scallops:
2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
8 sea scallops
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. butter
4 fresh sage leaves
To prepare the hash, heat a saute pan over medium low heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until just crispy.
Add the potatoes and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the Brussels sprouts and shallots and continue to cook until the potatoes are tender and the Brussels sprouts are crisp yet tender.
Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
To cook the scallops, heat a separate large saute pan over medium high heat and add the grapeseed oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange them in the pan so they aren't touching and sear on the first side until very caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, flip the scallops and swirl in the butter. Baste the scallops with the butter until they are just cooked through, about 1 additional minute. Remove from the heat and add the sage leaves.
For the assembly, place a small spoonful of the Brussels sprout hash on each plate. Top with 2 scallops and drizzle the brown butter sauce around and over the scallops. Garnish with sage leaves and serve.
For the hash:
1/4lb. bacon, cut into thin slices
4 fingerling potatoes, sliced into thin circles
1lb. Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced
2 shallots, thinly sliced
t tbsp. balsamic vinegar
1 tsp. fresh thyme, rough chopped
salt and pepper to taste
For the scallops:
2 tbsp. grapeseed oil
8 sea scallops
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp. butter
4 fresh sage leaves
To prepare the hash, heat a saute pan over medium low heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until just crispy.
Add the potatoes and cook for about 2 minutes. Stir in the Brussels sprouts and shallots and continue to cook until the potatoes are tender and the Brussels sprouts are crisp yet tender.
Deglaze with the balsamic vinegar, scraping any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the thyme and season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
To cook the scallops, heat a separate large saute pan over medium high heat and add the grapeseed oil. Season the scallops with salt and pepper to taste. Arrange them in the pan so they aren't touching and sear on the first side until very caramelized, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium, flip the scallops and swirl in the butter. Baste the scallops with the butter until they are just cooked through, about 1 additional minute. Remove from the heat and add the sage leaves.
For the assembly, place a small spoonful of the Brussels sprout hash on each plate. Top with 2 scallops and drizzle the brown butter sauce around and over the scallops. Garnish with sage leaves and serve.
Chipotle Braised Sweet Potatoes
This is a recipe from Flavour Cooking School which is one of the local schools where Chris and I take classes. This was one of the their holiday 2012 recipes. Chipotle goes so well with sweet potatoes.
4 pieces of bacon, stacked and cut into 1/2 inch thick pieces
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
1 tsp.-1 tbsp. minced chipotle pepper with adobo
1/4 C. dry white wine
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice
2-3 C. chicken or beef stock
1/2-1 lime freshly sqeezed
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Add bacon to cold, large heavy soup pot. Cook over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from pot, drain and set aside.
Add onion, garlic, ginger and sugar. Saute until onion is tender--5-7 minutes.
Stir in chipotle to taste and wine. Cook until wine evaporates--2-4 minutes.
Add sweet potatoes and enough stock to reach 1/2 way up the potatoes. Cover and simmer until potatoes are knife tender--20-25 minutes. Add bacon back to pot.
Stir in some lime juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
4 pieces of bacon, stacked and cut into 1/2 inch thick pieces
1 medium onion, diced
5 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. finely grated fresh ginger
2 tbsp. dark brown sugar
1 tsp.-1 tbsp. minced chipotle pepper with adobo
1/4 C. dry white wine
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch dice
2-3 C. chicken or beef stock
1/2-1 lime freshly sqeezed
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Add bacon to cold, large heavy soup pot. Cook over medium heat until crispy. Remove bacon from pot, drain and set aside.
Add onion, garlic, ginger and sugar. Saute until onion is tender--5-7 minutes.
Stir in chipotle to taste and wine. Cook until wine evaporates--2-4 minutes.
Add sweet potatoes and enough stock to reach 1/2 way up the potatoes. Cover and simmer until potatoes are knife tender--20-25 minutes. Add bacon back to pot.
Stir in some lime juice. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Mistakenly Zesty Pork Chops
I found this on allrecipes.com A simple mistake of cocktail sauce instead of chili sauce and a taste sensation was born!
1 C. soy sauce
3/4 C. water
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 tbsp. honey
1 dash lemon juice
1 C. ketchup
1/2 C. cocktail sauce
1/4 C. brown sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. ground dry mustard
In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the soy sauce, water brown sugar, honey, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and cool.
Place the pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour the cooled soy sauce mixture into the bag, seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Drain the pork chops, and discard marinade. Arrange the pork chops in a baking dish and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
In a bowl, blend the ketchup, cocktail sauce, brown sugar, water and mustard. Pour over the pork chops and continue baking 30 minutes to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
1 C. soy sauce
3/4 C. water
1/2 C. brown sugar
1 tbsp. honey
1 dash lemon juice
1 C. ketchup
1/2 C. cocktail sauce
1/4 C. brown sugar
2 tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. ground dry mustard
In a saucepan over medium heat, mix the soy sauce, water brown sugar, honey, and lemon juice. Bring to a boil, remove from heat, and cool.
Place the pork chops in a large resealable plastic bag. Pour the cooled soy sauce mixture into the bag, seal and marinate in the refrigerator for 4 to 6 hours.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Drain the pork chops, and discard marinade. Arrange the pork chops in a baking dish and bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
In a bowl, blend the ketchup, cocktail sauce, brown sugar, water and mustard. Pour over the pork chops and continue baking 30 minutes to an internal temperature of 145 degrees.
Baked Omelet Squares
I may try selling Chris and the kids on breakfast for dinner. We all like breakfast...I've just never served it for dinner for them before. This would be easy enough to serve with some bacon and English muffins.
1/4 C. butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 12oz. can sliced mushrooms
1 6oz. can sliced black olives (Might have to omit these, not too many fans in the family!)
Chopped cooked ham, optional
sliced jalepeno peppers, optional
12 eggs, scrambled
1/2 C. milk
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, can cook the onion until tender.
Spread cheddar cheese in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer with mushrooms, olives, sauteed onion, ham, and jalepeno peppers. In a bowl, scramble eggs together with milk, and season with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over ingredients but do not stir.
Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until no longer runny in the center and slightly brown on top. Allow to cool slightly, then cut into squares and serve.
1/4 C. butter
1 small onion, chopped
1 1/2 C. shredded cheddar cheese
1 12oz. can sliced mushrooms
1 6oz. can sliced black olives (Might have to omit these, not too many fans in the family!)
Chopped cooked ham, optional
sliced jalepeno peppers, optional
12 eggs, scrambled
1/2 C. milk
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper, to taste
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat, can cook the onion until tender.
Spread cheddar cheese in the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Layer with mushrooms, olives, sauteed onion, ham, and jalepeno peppers. In a bowl, scramble eggs together with milk, and season with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture over ingredients but do not stir.
Bake, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until no longer runny in the center and slightly brown on top. Allow to cool slightly, then cut into squares and serve.
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