Author: admin

Crusty Italian Bread

Bread  Baking with Amy Scherber AMY’S BREAD 75 Ninth Avenue New York, NY 10011 Phone: (212) 462-4338 Makes 3 Loaves Active dry yeast 3/4 teaspoon Very warm water (105 to 115F) 1/2 cup 4 ounces Cool water (75 F) 1 – 11/8 cup 8-9 ounces Sponge Starter 1 1/2 cups 12 ounces Unbleached all-purpose flour 3 1/2 cups 16 ounces Kosher Salt 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon Combine the warm water and yeast in a large bowl and stir with a fork to dissolve the yeast. Let stand for 3 minutes. Add the cool water and sponge to the yeast mixture and mix with your fingers for about 2 minutes, breaking up the sponge. The mixture should look milky and slightly foamy. Add the flour and salt and mix with your fingers to incorporate the flour, scraping the sides of the bowl and folding the ingredients together until the dough gathers Read More…

Beaujolais Dijon Pasta Sauce

BEAUJOLAIS DIJON PASTA SAUCE 2-3T Olive Oil 1 onion, diced 1 red pepper, seeded and chopped 1 green pepper, seeded and chopped 2T Dijon mustard 1 bottle Beaujolais (1/4 cup for sauce) 1lb. cooked penne pasta Sauté vegetables in oil, add other ingredients. Serve over pasta.  

Vegetarian Chili & Grilled Vegetables with Salsa

Vegetarian Chili & Grilled Vegetables with Salsa VEGETARIAN CHILI (copyright Curtis G. Aikens) 2 Tablespoons margarine 1 onion, chopped 2 cloves garlic, chopped 1 cup mushrooms, sliced 1 green bell pepper, chopped 4 cups of red kidney beans, canned or cooked 8 tomatoes, chopped 2 Tablespoons chili powder* 1-2 jalapeño peppers, chopped (optional) In a large pot, add margarine, onions, and garlic. Sauté until the onions are clear. Add mushrooms and pepper(s). Cook about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes, beans, and chili powder. Simmer about 45 minutes. Season to taste. *You will probably want to use more. Chili powder is the key to obtaining a rich, hearty flavor, particularly in a meat-free recipe. GRILLED VEGETABLES WITH SALSA (copyright Curtis G. Aikens) 1 large onion, sliced 2 zucchini, sliced 1 eggplant, sliced 1 red bell pepper, sliced 1 green bell pepper, sliced 6 oz salsa METHOD Marinate vegetables in salsa (overnight if possible).  Read More…

Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup

  My lawyer, Charles B. Tunnell, and I were having our annual Christmas lunch at the Savannah Grill in Corte Madera, California. We both ordered soup…two bowls, two spoons…and with our first taste began the great adventure of trying to identify the ingredients. We could taste garlic and oregano, and the peppers, tomato and cream. But there was something else. After repeated testing and tasting, I discovered the something else is Worcestershire sauce. Serves 2 to 3 2 large red bell peppers, roasted, peeled, seeded, and cut into bits 2 large tomatoes, peeled and diced 4 garlic cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 cup vegetable stock 1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1/4 cup heavy cream 2 teaspoons sugar Place the peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and oregano in a medium pot along with the stock. Cover and bring to a boil. Cook for 10 minutes, then reduce the heat to simmer. Add Read More…

Tropical Fried Rice

TROPICAL FRIED RICE 1T vegetable oil 1T minced garlic 1T minced fresh ginger 1 cup sliced sweet onion 1/2 head bok choy, chopped 1cup green peas, fresh  or frozen 2 large eggs, beaten 1/2 lb. cooked tofu 1/2 cup diced Maui pineapple 1/2 cup diced mango 1/2 cup dried papaya 1/2 cup diced Macadamia nut 2 whole green onions, chopped 1/4 cup tamari sauce 1/4 cup dry sherry 1/4 cup vegetable stock 3 cups cooked long grain rice METHOD In a wok, heat the oil and stir-fry the garlic, ginger, and onion slices until the onion slices are translucent. Add the remaining ingredients and sauté until the eggs are cooked and all the vegetables are heated thoroughly, including the rice.  

Vegetable Chili

Ingredients: 1 yellow squash, chopped 1 zucchini, chopped 2 yellow onions, diced 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1 red bell pepper, diced 1 green bell pepper, diced 1/2 cup olive oil 2 14-ounce cans plum Italian tomatoes, chopped, with juice retained 1 pound fresh plum Italian tomatoes 2T chili powder * 1t  ground cumin 1T dried basil 1T dried oregano salt and freshly-ground black pepper to taste 1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped 1 32-ounce can dark kidney beans, drained 1 32-ounce can garbanzo beans, drained 3T fresh dill, chopped juice of 1/2 lemon METHOD: In a large pot, sauté the squash, zucchini, onions, garlic, and red and green bell peppers in the olive oil.  Add the tomatoes, seasoning, kidney beans, garbanzo beans, dill and lemon juice.  Stir to mix well, cover, and simmer 45 to 50 minutes. * you will probably want to use more.  Chili powder is the key to obtaining Read More…

Vegetable, Tomato and Rice Soup

    1/2 cabbage shredded 2 carrots diced 1 zucchini lg dice 1 yellow squash lg diced, 2 C water 2 C vegetable broth 1 stick of butter 2 oz olive oil 2 C cooked rice 1 lg tomato diced salt pepper. Put the cabbage, carrots zucchini and yellow squash in large stock pos. Pour in half cup of water, and cook over high heat about 10 minutes. Add broccoli cauliflower, stock 3 T butter and another 1/2 C water. Bring to boil and cook 15 minutes. Add remaining 2 cups of water and return to boil. Stir in tomatoes and onions. Reduce heat and simmer until rice is done about 25 minutes. Add butter  and season to taste.  

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Curtis Aikens on Charlotte Today

  APR 29 The Royal Wedding, NFL Draft, and Curtis Aikens on Charlotte Today Posted by: admin /  Tags: champagne, Curtis Aikens, dijon, food university, IKEA, pasta, sauce Don’t just call him a chef, Curtis Aikens is an entertainer.  He discusses the Royal Wedding and the NFL draft on Charlotte Today while he whips up his champagne dijon pasta sauce, yum!  Click here to watch the video (look for the kiss at the end), and click here for the champagne dijon pasta sauce recipe.  Stop by the IKEA in Charlotte tomorrow from 2 – 4 p.m. to see Curtis Aikens give a cooking demonstration and learn culinary tips you can use in your kitchen.

Details Leaked About Food U Appearance This Weekend

29 APR The Royal Wedding, NFL Draft, and Curtis Aikens on Charlotte Today Posted by: admin /  Tags: champagne, Curtis Aikens, dijon, food university, IKEA, pasta, sauce Don’t just call him a chef, Curtis Aikens is an entertainer.  He discusses the Royal Wedding and the NFL draft on Charlotte Today while he whips up his champagne dijon pasta sauce, yum!  Click here to watch the video (look for the kiss at the end), and click here for the champagne dijon pasta sauce recipe.  Stop by the IKEA in Charlotte tomorrow from 2 – 4 p.m. to see Curtis Aikens give a cooking demonstration and learn culinary tips you can use in your kitchen. 27 APR Details Leaking About Food U Appearance This Weekend Posted by: admin /  Tags: cooking, cooking demonstration, Curtis Aikens, Family Circle, food university, free, IKEA, kitchen An article in today’s Charlotte Observer reveals the topics Food University Read More…