Lisa Pardo Kitchen : Weeknight Meals

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Weeknight Meals

Here is the thing; on the weekends we have time for fun cooking. Making dinners like Mario Batali’s seared tuna can be fun, relaxing and enjoyable. Try it during the week and its unlimited stress. Halfway through reading the recipe I realized that I needed at least 2 other recipes to make the dish- blood orange vinaigrette and a recipe for the garlic. OK, I can handle that on a Saturday, Monday night no way!

So for the past few days I have been cooking from some “weeknight meal” cookbooks. The problem with these is often that the flavors are meant mainly for adults not children, so then you still have to make 2 dinners. Another factor is that when you get right down to the actual cooking it may be fast but the prep time and cleanup is still a factor. Then there is taste.

Prompted by many e-mails that I have had from moms complaining that they make the same thing over and over again because it works, I thought I would give some Ideas about how to vary your dinner plans a little and still be able to feed everyone.

Soups on! - Make a soup, my kids love pea soup, other kids prefer a pasta soup, most soups can be make with pantry items like pastas, rice grains and frozen veg from the freezer
The super market prep cook- when shopping you can buy pre sliced mushrooms, peeled carrots, cut celery- it sounds lazy and expensive but, bear in mind that you do not have a helper in the kitchen and most chefs have a large staff. I find that I tend to buy only what I need when I buy food this way rather than buying extra which might go to waste.
Finding new flavors in old favorites- I introduce new flavors slowly to my kids for example, they love panko crusted chicken so this week I added a little fresh ginger to the breading. Not a big deal I admit, but if they like it they you have another flavor with which they are comfortable
Eggs and pasta- for these main courses you can keep them basic but I like to use them as a canvas adding in ham, chicken, and new vegetables. It is also easy to make two variations of a dish with 1 pound of pasta, just use different sauces. Eggs are great because you can go French in style and make different omelets, or Italian with different frittatas and Spanish with torte. Add in ham pr pre cooked potatoes and top with cheese and you have a very hearty meal.
Work in some fruit at dessert- stewed berries can be spooned over pound cake or fresh fruit over yogurt or use a delicious cheese like mascarpone – even Greek yogurt can be sweetened with a little honey – top the desserts with new fruits like poached pears and a little biscuit cookie or biscotti.
Roast a chicken- I love roast chicken and often season it with different flavors but during mid week the cleanup is a mess, so instead use a chicken that has been cut up by your butcher- it will cook faster and save you a lot of cleanup.
Stock the pantry- honestly there is nothing worse than having to run out mid week and for odds and ends- a well stocked pantry will save you a lot a of extra work
Use your freezer- I always keep mine stocked with pizza dough, frozen peas, pearl onions just to name a few things
Do Fondue- this sounds like a pain but actually I do it often, lots of cheese and chunks of cooked ham or chicken and fresh vegetables, or a nice chocolate fondue for dessert with fresh fruit- I don’t bother at all with the whole “light the fire under it to keep it warm” thing- just warn the fondue in a “le creuset” style pot on the stove and place it on to a trivet to serve. Many grocery stores now carry Fondue packets for both cheese or chocolate so there is really no work at all
Crepes- you can even buy pre-made crepes at gourmet store or make them ahead and freeze them- then just stuff and bake!

No comments:

Some terms

Baste- To spoon butter or fat or liquid over food
Beat- To mix foods vigorously, with your stand mixer!- or sometimes a whisk
Fold- to delicately blend
Fumet- Fish Stock
Gratine- to form an "upper crust" by placing breadcrumbs or cheese on top of food then, most often placing food under broiler
Pan Roast- To cook on stovetop then sometimes to finish in oven, in both cases you must baste often durning cooking
Poach-submerge food in cooking liquid (water, wine, oil)and simmer it to cook, over very low heat
Reduce- boil down a liquid such as wine to concentrate flavor or thicken
Saute-To brown food in fat, over high heat, to jump in the pan
To coat a spoon- napper la cuillere, if you dip a wooden spoon in liquid then run your finger across the liquid the lline that is made by your finger should hold

Stage 1 of cooking - going to the market

I once remember finding a beautiful recipe for fresh figs- I planed it into my menu. The following day while shopping I realized that figs were not in season. Very frustrated, I had to go back to the drawing board. The opposite is true also. We are often told by chefs, usually residing in the sunny south of France, that we ought to prance about the marketplace looking for things which are in season, to cook for dinner. Obviously, they are not shopping with small, fussy, impatient children. My hope here is to compile a somewhat comprehensive list of things often in the market. Mention what they are and how they are used, and lastly the season in which they are found.

The Organic Cooks Bible, By Jeff Cox, The Bread and Circus whole food bible by Christopher Kilham, and Whole grains by Lorna Sass are my references here- I am not a
Farmer but I am giving my best shot at helping you to navigate your way through the market and perhaps this may even help you plan ahead.

Amaranth-a grain like Quinoa, work well mixed in with soups and risottos- toast grain for a minute or two in the pot then add water cook as you would rice for 7-10 minutes- 1 cup dry grain to 1 ¾ cups water

Barley-barley, and pearl barley differ in the processing method the latter is sometimes less nutritious depending on wow it is processed. Nearly is the same grain only the outer layers fall off by themselves so it is similar to pearl barley but requires no hulling process. Cooking- bring 3 cups water to boil add 1 cup dry grain and simmer semi covered 40 minutes until tender (give or take 10 minutes either way depending on the processing method of the grain

Barley grits- sliced faster cooking barley for cooking add 3cups water, 1 cup dried grain and oil or butter, salt – add everything to pot- boil then reduce to simmer and simmer semi covered 16-20 minutes- I like to add cream at the end of cooking

Corn on the cob- boil it or take it off the cob and sauté it in the skillet

Hominy – in the corn family, I buy it cooked in cans in the regular grocery store, also known in Spanish as posole, look for it in both French style soufflés as well as many Latin dishes- if you cant find it at first with the canned goods try looking in the ethnic isle

Masa Harina- flour, which is used for making South American dough’s such as empanada dough-

Cornmeal-corn flour- this is just more of a flour texture as opposed to polenta that is slightly grainier

Polenta-cornmeal ground medium fine, there is instant and regular – one takes a bit longer to cook – served soft and creamy, or allowed to harden and sautéed or grilled- sometimes when serving it in its hardened state you will find recipes which use corn meal and corn flour in the same manner about 1 cup dry to 4 cups liquid- the liquid is milk and or cream or plain water- sometimes there is a base of sautéed fresh herbs or garlic then the polenta or cornmeal is added and stirred frequently over low heat for 20-30 minutes

Quinoa- called the mother grain of the Incas because it is high in protein- actually a seed but found in along with grains in upscale markets1 cup dry to 2 ½ quarts water (about, drain at the end to be sure as you would pasta but through a finer strainer) Bring to a boil and cook semi covered for about 15 minutes

Rice

Basmati, Jasmine, black rice/forbidden- rinse and then cook in rice cooker or pot as you would regular white rice- sometimes water amounts may vary check package instructions

Wheat-
Wheat berries- often used in salads, soak grain in water overnight before use- to cook- 1 cup dry to 21/2 cups new water, after water boils add it to pan with grain, and place in the oven at 350 for 30 minutes

Farro- often used in Italian cooking-usually in soups or salad, 1 cup dry grain to 13/4 cups water bring to boil then cook semi covered 20-30 minutes

Bulgur- used in mideleastern cooking, 1 cup dry to 2 cups water- boil water then add bulgur, cook for 10 minutes on low while semi covered, more if necessary or until tender

Couscous- 1 cup dry grain to 2 cups boiling water- combine off heat and cover- allow to steam then fluff. Use in tagines or just mix with cooked vegetables or lamb

Farina- very important, my son has this often for breakfast it is a wheat cereal mix 3 tablespoons with ¾ cup water or milk and a dash of salt- microwave for about 2 minutes or until it thickens, you might want to add more grain as I do if it looks wet- once it looks like mashed potatoes when its stirred I add in a bit of cream and fresh fruit

Finding produce

All year-
Artichokes, Bananas, bock choy, Avocados depending on type, carrots, celery coconuts, eggplant, garlic, ginger, kiwi, lemons, limes, button mushrooms, onions, parsley, snow peas, pineapples, baking potato’s, radishes, scallions watercress, leeks, mache or lambs lettuce, though cool weather radishes can be found all year, (seaweed- Kelp or kombuused for soup or dashi, nori used for sushi, dulse sued as a relish all found dried all year), tomatillo- grow year round in Mexico and sold here, watercress, plantains, citrus, grapes, tomatoes are sold all year but look for canned or fresh cherries or grape tomatoes in the mid to late winter- they are at their best in late august/ September and sometimes into October, melons are also sold all year but look for them in July- august, olives, papaya, pineapple, strawberries are found all year but best in June

January-
Broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, chicory, fennel grapefruit, mandarin oranges, and kale

February-
Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, celery root, grapefruit leeks, shallots, kale

March-
Artichokes, Arrugula, asparagus, avocados, beets, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cauliflower, celery root, fennel, grapefruit, leeks, peas, rhubarb, spinach shallots

April-
Artichokes, Arrugula, asparagus, avocados, beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, Chinese cabbage, chard, cauliflower, celery root, chili peppers, chives, cucumbers, leeks, papaya, peppers, rhubarb, shallots, spinach, summer squash, turnips

May-
Artichokes, Arrugula, asparagus, Basil, beans beets, berries, broccoli, cabbage, chard, chili peppers, chives, cucumbers, figs, lettuce leeks, papaya, mangos, oranges, papaya, peas, peppers, rhubarb, shallots, sorrel, summer squash, watermelons, cherries

June-
Strawberries are at their best, Apricots, arrugula, basil, beans, beets, berries, cabbage, cherries, chili peppers, chives, chard, cumber, lettuce, mangos, okra, papaya, peppers, plums, sorrel, summer squash watermelons, cherries, Nectarines

July-
Apricots, arrugula, basil, beans, berries including black berries boysen berries and loganberries, blueberries, red raspberries, beets, cherries, chili peppers, corn, cucumber, chard grapes, mangos, melons, nectarines, peaches, plums sorrel, summer squash, tomatoes, watermelons, baby leeks, seasonal potatoes, nectarines

August-Apricots, arugula, basil, beans, berries including black berries boysen berries and loganberries, blueberries, red raspberries, cherries, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, chard, figs, grapes, mangos, melons, peaches, plums, sorrel, summer squash tomatoes watermelons, baby leeks, seasonal potatoes, salsify, asian pears, nectarines, passion fruit and sometimes figs

September-Arrugula, beans, beats berries, cabbages, cauliflower, corn, cumbers, chard, crosnes, dates, figs, grapes, wild mushrooms, pears, shallots, summer squash, tomatoes and watermelon, lima beans, seasonal potatos, salsify, Asian pears, nectarines, passion fruit

October-
Apples, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery root, chicory, chili peppers, cranberries, crosnes, cumbers, dates fennel, figs, grapes, kumquats, leeks, lettuce, wild mushrooms, peppers, permissions, pomegranates, prickly pears, shallots, spinach, star fruit, sweet potatoes and winter squash, lima beans

November-
Apple, Broccoli, bussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery root, chicory cranberries, cumbers, dates, fennel grapes, greens, kale, kumquats, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, oranges, parsnips, pears, persimmons, pomegranates, prickly pears, quince, shallots, spinach, star fruit, sweet potatoes, and squash.

December-
Apples, Broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, celery root, chicory, dates, kale fennel, grapefruit, greens, leeks, wild mushrooms, oranges, parsnips, pears, quince shallots, spinach, star fruit, sweet potatoes, winter squash

Note to self- Figs are both early summer and late fall

These notes on chili peppers below are probably and editor’s nightmare. Please do not hold me accountable for precise information on chilies- Honestly I can barely grasp all the different names and find my self incredibly frustrated when I go shopping. Almost never, do they have exactly what the recipe in my hand calls for. I have made this list as more of a cheat sheet. If you would like absolutely precise info on chilies you may want to consult other sources, although people seem to often disagree on chili names and origins. To complicate matters the same chili from different regions may be renamed and chili-dried verses the same chili fresh may have two different names. Please use this list as I do. It is a helpful guide for shopping rather than precise scientifically correct information. This is to encourage you to cook with chilies rather than to loath or fear them, Best of luck.

Chili peppers-
Anaheim-long narrow and mild
Ancho- a dried poblano, very hot- also found dried and ground- ancho and pasilla are often confused and sometimes used in the same sauces
Bird- also known as Thai chili
Caribe-yellow Caribbean chili
Cascabel-small, round dark red, medium heat- sometimes found dried
Cayenne-red and hot- most often used dried in powder form
Charleston hot-similar to cayenne
Cherry pepper- small, round, mild to medium heat
Chilaca- fresh form of pasilla, can substitute pablanos, long and narrow called big horns, fruity flavor, substitute poblanos if unavailable
Chipotle- a dried smoked jalapeno- most often found in a can with adobo sauce
De arbol- slender, often toasted and ground into powder look for them in Latin markets
Fresno-small and green, medium to hot
Guajillo- a dried, red chili, very hot- also sold ground into powder, very popular in us, often confused with cascabel
Habanero-very strong yellow pepper, can substitute scotch bonnets for heat
Hungarian wax-greenish yellow, medium heat
Italian Peppers- called Italian Frying peppers, commonly available
Jalapeno-small green or red chili of medium heat, smaller version called chili mora
Jamacian Hot- very hot red chili
Mazano-Found in Latin America, Texas but not widely know
Mulatto-dark brown fruity chili used to make mole
Pasilla (also often called chili Negro)-dark brown black dried chilaca
Peperoncini- sweet and pungent often sold pickled
Pequin-Tiny, hot and smokey flavor, look for fresh or dried
Piquillo peppers- small red Spanish peppers usually sold roasted and canned- substitute roasted red peppers from your Italian market if you can’t find them
Poblano-Blackish green and used for chilies relleno, used as a stuffing chili
Puya- similar to guajillo, and used in a similar manner
Santa fe greande-yellow to red and medium hot
Scotche bonnet- similar to habanero in apperance and taste
Serrano- very hot little chili with green, red or yellow skin
Thai chili- very small and pungent chili, often sold dried and in big bags in Asian, markets

Tograshi-small, medium hot Japanese chili

Chili Negro, rojo, Amarillo, - special chillies, very hot people often substitute guajillos because they are hard to come by

Chili costero, rojoy, Amarillo- used in sauces, look in Latin markets

Chili chilacate-often used with anchos, sometimes sold as guajillo

Italian red pepper flakes- little jars of these are found in almost every pizza place in New York. I love to keep some handy in my kitchen because they will add heat to a dish with almost no fuss whatsoever. I suppose that’s why real chefs use other chilies instead- can you imagine being able to find everything you need for a dish in one grocery store? hah!

Edible other stuff-
There are edible flowers, although, I consider these to be more in the category of food friendly garnish- for example lavender, Johnny jump ups, violets, squash blossoms for stuffing, lemon verbena, and hydrangea leaves to garnish platters with.

Nuts and seeds-
Almonds, brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, Macadamia nuts peanuts, pine nuts or pignollie, pistachio, walnuts, pumpkin seed, sunflower seed- most are found all year in the market and at their best if placed in a dry skillet or toaster oven and heated or toasted until just fragrant

Herbs and spices- I like all herbs fresh, cilantro/coriander, basil, opal basil, lemongrass, mint, oregano, marjoram, parsley, chervil, chives, dill, ginger, horseradish-some fresh herbs keep well frozen during winter months, like rosemary and thyme

Star anis-a spice used in Asian cooking, caraway, cardamom, cumin, and annatto, bay leaves, Mexican bay leaves, dried kaffir lime leaves, Korean chili threads see www. Savory. Com for unusual spice

Meat eggs and dairy-

Well, I am not about to try to tell you what to do here. I like to buy some organic products, especially organic eggs, lemons, limes, oranges, apples, peppers, celery, cherries, grapes peaches pears, berries, and all lettuce- if you are using the zest from citrus fruits this is particularly important.

Pages

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Weeknight Meals

No comments: