Friday, November 12, 2004

Stephanie Inn Crab Cakes

KATU 2 - Portland, Oregon
Stephanie Inn Dungeness Crab Cakes with Lemon Aioli - 7/13/2004
Served with a Garlicky Lemon Aioli and a glass of Chilled Sauvignon Blanc or Semillon, these crab cakes are the ultimate. Unlike many crab cakes that are filled with breadcrumbs or other fillers, these are pure crab, bound lightly with a fish mousseline. At the Inn, the chefs top the crab cakes with a thin slice of lemon and drizzle a touch of balsamic syrup around the edges. The dish is garnished with fresh chopped chives, and, in season, fiddlehead ferns.
Serves 2 as a main course or 4 as an appetizer.

Crab Cakes
  • 1/2 pound cooked Dungeness crabmeat
  • 2 ounces shelled, tailed, and deveined prawn or shrimp meat
  • 2 ounces fresh scallops
  • 4 tablespoons heavy cream
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1/4 cup chopped chives
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Lemon Aioli

Makes about 3/4 cup

  • 2 egg yolks
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 1 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • Water if needed

Balsamic Syrup

  • 1 cup balsamic vinegar
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
  • Fresh chopped chives for garnish

To prepare the Crab Cake mixture: Pick through the cooked crabmeat and remove shells. Set the crabmeat aside. In a food processor, combine the prawns, scallops, cream, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Puree the mixture until smooth. Transfer the mousseline to a mixing bowl and gently fold in the crabmeat, chives, and parsley. Cover the mixture with plastic wrap and chill until needed.
To make the Lemon Aioli: In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolks until thick and lemon colored. Whisk in the lemon juice, garlic, and mustard, mixing well. Gradually add the olive oil, mixing steadily, until it is incorporated. If the mixture is too thic, substitute a bit of water for the oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cover and store in the refrigerator until needed.

To make the Balsamic Syrup: Pour 2 cup Balsamic vinegar into a saucepan, bring to a boil, and simmer rapidly, until it is reduced to the consistency of maple syrup.

To complete the Crab Cakes: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-heat. Form 1/4-cup portions of the crab cake mixture into small patties, about 1/2-inch thick. Fry the cakes on both sides until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side.

To serve: Arrange hot crab cakes on a plate and sprinkle with chopped chives. Drizzle a touch of Balsamic Syrup around the dges and serve with Lemon Aioli on the side.

Chef's Tip: The crab cake mixture can be preapred up to 8 hours in advance. The Lemon Aioli will keep, covered, up to three days in the refrigerator.

Chevy's Fresh Mex Sweet Corn Tomalito recipe | restaurant recipes

Chevy's Fresh Mex Sweet Corn Tomalito recipe restaurant recipes
Chevy's Fresh Mex Sweet Corn Tomalito
Source: Chevy's Fresh Mex Restaurant

5 tablespoons margarine, softened
1/4 cup Masa Harina
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
2 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen, thawed, divided
1/2 cup cornmeal
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon milk

In a small mixing bowl, mix the margarine, masa and sugar using an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 1 minute.

In a blender container, blend half the corn kernels with the water until smooth. Combine this mixture with the margarine mixture, stirring well. Add the remaining corn kernels, corn meal, baking powder, salt and milk and mix well. Pour the corn mixture into an 8-inch square baking pan. Tightly cover with plastic wrap and steam by setting atop a medium saucepan of water on top of the stove. Bring water to a boil and steam corn mixture for 50 minutes to one hour (check to see whether you might need to add more water), until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Tomalito should have a smooth, moist texture.

NOTE: The pan must be tightly wrapped at all times.

Makes 12 to 16 servings.

Thursday, October 21, 2004

One Hundred Years of Solitude

11/3/04 Book Group Selection - postponed
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060531045/qid=1098407357/sr=1-3/ref=sr_1_3/104-0016964-1934333?v=glance&s=books

Took me a long time to finish this book. Not my favorite. Too many words and I wonder about the quality of the translation. I had a difficult time keeping all the characters straight since they all had similar names throughout the generations.

My favorite parts were before the modern world started to infringe on the village. I enjoyed the gypsies and the history of why the location of the village was selected. As soon as the revolution started, I lost interest.

I enjoyed the mystical parts, but after awhile I just wanted it to end. Once the original generation died, I wasn't interested in what happened to their descendants.

Other books it reminded me of were Like Water for Chocolate and House of the Spirits. I would recommend these over One Hundred Years of Solitude.

A Girl Becomes a Comma Like That : A Novel -- 3 Stars

11/4/04 Book Group Selection
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0743257758/qid=1098407108/sr=8-1/ref=pd_csp_1/104-0016964-1934333?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Dinner at Clark's in Lake Oswego.

This book is written from the viewpoint of three women. Rachel, the main character, is struggling with her mother's battle with breast cancer. Her method of coping is promiscuity and clinging to her mother. The relationship of the mother/daughter was never close until the cancer diagnosis. Now Rachel has moved in and can't cope with her mother dying.

Georgia, a teenager who gets no love at home and turns to boys/men, to fulfill her need for 'love'. She is connected to the other character, Ella, because Ella is a counselor at the Women's clinic that Georgia uses for treatment of her various STDs.

Rachel is Ella's poetry professor.

The underlying theme is the unhealthy relationships that exists between these women and the men they choose.

After bookgroup discussion, I had more appreciation for the story. Probably would give it 3 out of 5 stars.

Monday, October 18, 2004

GolfDigest.com - Course Critic

GolfDigest.com - Course Critic

Review for a great looking Riverside, CA Golf Course.

Sunday, October 17, 2004


Rosie Posted by Hello

Sassy


Rosie & Sassy Posted by Hello

Women's Work/Recipes & Crafts/Caramel Dumplings

Women's Work/Recipes & Crafts/Caramel Dumplings
Caramel dumplings are a family favorite. The original family recipe has been lost, but here's one I'd like to try.