Posts filed under 'Grocery Finds'
Tamarind is a tropical fruit with origins in sub-tropical Africa. It is very popular in South and Central America, India and Southeast Asia. It is revered for its unique flavor profile of being tart and sour.
Interestingly enough, especially for fruit, tamarind is actually high in calcium and B vitamins. In some cultures, it is recommended for gastric ailments and in others it is enjoyed as a beverage during hot steamy weather. It is one of the secret ingredients in Worcestershire sauce. It is wonderful in Zingy, Tangy and Fruity Chicken.
This tangy and tart dish delivers incredible pomegranate and tamarind flavor.
1/4 cup mild oil like safflower or canola for high heat cooking
6 to 8 skinless chicken thighs
1 large red onion, diced into small pieces
1 cup fresh cilantro
5 cloves of garlic
1 tsp. sweet paprika
1 tsp. spicy paprika
3 Tbsp. Tamarind paste or 2 tsp. tamarind concentrate
(Neera’s is great, otherwise it’s available at Latina and Asian markets)
1/4 Cup Pomegranate molasses diluted in 1/2 cup water or 3/4 cup Pomegrante juice
1 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, finely chopped
1/2 cup grapes
1 tsp each salt and freshly cracked pepper
Juice from 3 tangerines
In a large dutch oven or large stainless steel pan, heat the oil and place the thighs in and brown on each side for about 6 to 8 minutes. Remove from pan. Saute onions until soft.
In a food processor process the garlic with the cilantro. Add to the pan with the remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Return chicken to pan and make sure to coat and submerge into the sauce. Cover and cook for about 20 minutes, turning a few times during that time. Garnish with extra chopped cilantro and fresh pomegranate seeds if you like.
February 12th, 2010
The scene in It’s Complicated where Meryl Streep makes Pain au Chocolat with Steve Martin reminded me how much fun it is to cook with puff pasrty.
This onion tart is a really easy and delicious; it goes well with any meat, with soup or alongside salad. It could also be cut into thin slices and served as an hors d’oeuvres. I love recipes that lend themselves to versatility. Serve this tart with a German reisling or Alsastian white.
Made like a tarte tatin, but savory, this tart will forever be in my repetoire. I don’t make my own puff pasty because I think DuFour makes a very good one. I found mine at Whole Foods but you can check their website for other locations. If you love puff pastry then you will also love Martha Holmberg’s book called Puff. I will post some fantastic things to do with Dufour’s over the next few months.
Onion and Potato Tart
Makes one 12-inch tart
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Upside down tart baking. Flip it and serve.
8 Tbsp. butter
2 medium yellow onions, sliced thinly
6 Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch think pieces
Salt and Pepper
1/2 tsp. freshly chopped thyme, or a bit less dried thyme
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese ( or cheese of your choice) as garnish
1 sheet puff pastry
Preheat oven to 400.
In a 12-inch skillet that is ovenproof, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onions and potatoes, season with salt and pepper and thyme and stir to coat well. Cover and cook for about 15 to 20 minutes. While the potatoes are cooking, roll out the puff into 12 inch circle about 1/8 of an inch thick. Prick holes all over the top. Turn off the flame and place the pastry on top of the potato/onion mixture. Pat it down and place it into the oven and bake for 10 to 12 minutes.
Remove it from the oven and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. Place a large plate over the top of the pan and carefully invert the tart on to the plate. Slice tart into 6 wedges and serve.
January 22nd, 2010
I picked up a jar of this vanilla bean paste with high hopes. I had previously tried other vanilla bean pastes and they just never lived up to my expectations.
This version from Nielson-Massey delivered true vanilla flavor and vanilla bean seeds without scraping a pod or investing in whole vanilla. Not only did it satisfy my inner flavorista but it appealed to my tendency to be obsessed with efficiency.
When kitchen-tested in vanilla ice cream, Dorie Greenspan’s No Bake White Chocolate Pie (post forthcoming) and Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche, this vanilla bean paste shined in every test. I can’t wait to try it in a cake!
To find a retailer near you, click here. If you happen to live in greater Portland, check out Micucci’s on India St., they sell a nice assortment of Nielson-Massey products at very reasonable prices.
Flavorista made it into the finals for a Homie Award over at Apartment Therapy. When you have a free moment, please cast one more vote for us. Click here to vote.
While you are in the voting spirit, please cast a vote for our friends over at Remodelista, a finalist in the Home Design category. Thanks!
January 4th, 2010
These flaky, rich biscuits from Robinhood Meeting House are the perfect way to start the New Year. I strongly suggest you purchase two packages because once you bake off the first package, you will instantaneously want more.
Made in a family-owned bakery in Bath, Maine, this biscuits are the penultimate biscuit. After winning a Fancy Food Award in 2006, the company has grown swiftly. The biscuits are in most of the 50 states and online.
I have never made it up to Robinhood to have dinner at the Free Meeting House, where these biscuits originated, but it is on the list.
Lollie is an 11 year-old biscuit aficionado and she has proclaimed these biscuits "the best to date." So add them to your shopping list and start the New Year with sheer biscuit bliss.
December 31st, 2009
When in doubt, go for a book, gadgets or something homemade!
Momfuku by David Chang is probably one of the best cookbooks of the year. If you are ever in New York, his restaurants are a must.
Citrus reamers or a citrus press like you see in Mexico.
Kimberly’s Sweet & Spicy Slow Cooker Almonds.
These beautiful folding wooden salad tongs are also perfect.
Give the gift of a flavor trip this holiday season with Frooties! This is a great activity for the whole family. Watch everyone eat lemons, limes and grapefruits with gusto!
A jar of Barr’s homemade Chocolate Hazelnut spread.
December 17th, 2009
Around the holidays sometimes a little smoke and mirrors is necessary. I am all for homemade cookies and for Martha Stewart Gingerbread Houses, but my reality is that sometimes I take short cuts, especially when deadlines are looming over my head.
Right now, despite the snow and winter temperatures, my kitchen is cranking out a burger round up for Father’s Day. Despite my children’s enthusiasm for Christmas, my work clipboard reads, "GRILL TIME!"
So what is a busy mom to do? Treat herself to a grown up cookie treat that can be made in seconds (literally). In less time than it takes to boil water for tea, you can have a small plate of these Ginger Pumpkin Sandwich Cookies at the ready. Thank you Trader Joe’s!
Simply sandwich about 1 1/2 teaspoons of Trader’s Joes’s Pumpkin Butter between two Triple Ginger Cookie Thins and you are done. Very pretty, brightly flavored, crispy cookies with a sweet filling. Mmmmmm.
You could work off the same theme and offer shortbread sticks with lemon curd. Or you could place a small amount of chocolate ganache or hot fudge between some Nabisco chocolate wafers. Mix the latter with some quality hot cocoa and you might actually catch a buzz.
You definitely could showcase these cookies outside of tea time. Offering them at the end of a dinner party with some satsuma tangerines would be perfectly lovely. Thinking outside the box certainly has its benefits 
December 8th, 2009
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