Thursday, January 30, 2014

Eat to Love:|Feed to Love

There's a new group in town...Eat to Love:|Feed to Love....What does that mean? 

In a previous post (Do Me a Favor...) I shared some of my thoughts on why friends and gatherings are synonymous with food for me.  I CANNOT go to a gathering of friends and show up empty handed...I feel naked if I do.  Gathering around food, family and friends makes my heart sing.  If they're happy (especially with what they are eating), then I'm happy. 

In my circle of friends I am known as the go-to-gal for all things food and restaurant related.  Whether it's what to take, what to make, or where to meet-up, I will always have a suggestion and a good one at that.  I've become reliable that way : ) 

So, Knife Out is branching out with a new event forum: Eat to Love:|Feed to Love is all about feeding and connecting with the ones you love.  It will consist of beautiful and creative women in the Los Angeles area that I will gather together on a quarterly basis over good food and fellowship. 

Living in Los Angeles can be lonely sometimes and having a core group of sisters, I believe, is really important.   These times together are all about edification, uplifting, and encouraging.  I am determined to bring together women in this city who want to connect with others that are of the same mindset, which includes a negative-free zone!  We catch it enough on the streets and in our workplaces that I want there to be one space that you go to (besides church, yoga class, etc.) where you can walk in feeling loved and knowing that someone is on your side. 

Eat to Love: will be the group gathering at a restaurant.  My goal is to have us eat our way through Los Angeles and enjoy what the culinary culture has to offer us.  These times will be about creating and learning to foster new relationships with others.  It's not necessarily for networking, since this word can have a negative connotation.  I am more in favor of building genuine friendships/relationships so that when you need a helping hand there is someone else that can help pray with you, connect with you, or just believe for/in/with you. 

Feed to Love has two parts.  One will be the group choosing a charity where we will take time to volunteer somewhere and feed the homeless, sick, or shut in.  The second, will consist of meeting at a home, where we will all participate in creating dishes that we would make for those we love.  This will be a more intimate gathering - a NO JUDGMENT ZONE - where people can kick off their shoes and unbuckle their pants!  My hope is that we leave feeling more full than when we arrived. 

Knife Out's first hosted event for Eat to Love: is Feb 8th.  For more information, please contact me directly. 

I am excited for this spin-off of Knife Out and my prayer and hope is that it will be as fulfilling and satisfying as I believe it will be. 

As always,

Happy Knife Out!

PS Stay tuned for photos from our first event...

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Swai to the left, swai to the right...

Who's heard of swai?  No?  Me neither.  For those of you who have, aren't you fancy!

I had been craving fish tacos so I went grocery shopping to purchase my items for dinner.  I'm not a fan of tilapia so I searched through the fish section to see what else I could get.  As I was searching, I came across a sign that said "Swai" which I had never seen in the store before.  I was kind of in a rush so I grabbed it and headed for the checkout counter, figuring that I was going to look it up when I got home and hopefully find a quick and easy way to prepare it.  I'm daring like that. 

In my research I found:

Swai, which is native to Southeast Asia--Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia--is very similar in character to catfish, it has a sweet mild, taste and light flaky texture that can be broiled, grilled, or coating with bread crumbs and fried, according to experts. It can be prepared simply, but also takes well to sauces. A 3.5-ounce serving of plain fish contains around 90 calories, 4 grams of fat (1.5 saturated), 45 grams of cholesterol and 50 milligrams of sodium. Not bad.  (ConsumerReports.org)  

Interesting.  I decided to create a quick marinade and grill the fish, adding a few fresh condiments to the side for toppings...quick, easy, and "healthy" (minus the tortillas, of course).   And I can't have fish tacos without beans and rice so I prepared those while the fish was marinating.  The fish doesn't take that long to cook once it's on the grill, so I was able to make this dish in under 30 mins.  And it turned out wonderfully!  This will also depend on how long you marinade your fish.   It was so tender and flaky and had a very mild flavor BUT is still very hearty like catfish.  Glad that my quick decision in the grocery worked out : )

Today's recipe:

Marinated Grilled Swai
  • 1 Lemon
  • 1 tbsp chopped cilantro 
  • 1 clove garlic, smashed
  • 1 tbsp. honey
  • Salt & Pepper
  • Fillet of Swai (I didn't rhyme on purpose, I promise)
  • Corn tortillas 
Taco Toppings:
  • Avocado
  • Tomatoes
  • Cilantro
  • Lime
  • Salsa verde
  • Red onion
  • Cole slaw
Directions:
  • In a small bowl, add the juice one lemon, cilantro, honey, salt and pepper.  
  • In a baking dish, place the fillet of Swai.  
  • Rub the smashed garlic on both sides of the fish and place inside the baking dish.  
  • Pour the lemon mixture over the fish.  Let marinade for up to 1 hour making sure to turn the fish over after 30 mins.  
  • When you're ready to grill (indoor or outdoor, I did indoor),  season the swai with a little more salt and pepper (to taste).  
  • Make sure to spray the grill with cooking spray so that the fish does not stick to the grates.  
  • Place the fish on the grill, 4-5 mins on each side (depending on the thickness), until fish is white.  Place the tortillas on the grill, 1 minute on each side (just enough to warm through) and set aside.  Cover them to keep them warm.  Flake apart the fish and place in the center of the corn tortilla.  Add your favorite toppings.  It's easy!
As always, let me know if you end up trying the recipe.  I want to hear what worked for you!  Also, if there is a food that you want me to cover in a future blog post, let me know!  I will be happy to help. 

Until next time,

Happy Knife Out! 

Thursday, January 9, 2014

What's on tap for dinner...

Over the weekend my parents and I had the wonderful opportunity of visiting a restaurant that we received a gift card for.  I hadn't been to said restaurant in a while and wanted to catch up on their menu.  I ordered the lamb shank with seasonal vegetables & garlic mashed potatoes, my mom ordered a macadamia nut crusted mahi-mahi, and my dad ordered a salad (sheesh).

Once all of our food arrived we dove into the most delicious meal.  I, being the only one who eats lamb in our household (or I just ordered so brilliantly so that I didn't have to share) enjoyed every bite that I could before boxing the rest to take home to enjoy for lunch the next day.  My dad's salad was....a salad.  I'm not knocking salads because I do love them....but it was a salad.

My mother on the other hand fell prey to our hands constantly in her dish because her macadamia nut crusted mahi-mahi was cooked to perfection.  My dad is not prone to sharing food nor does he receive offers from other people's plates but this particular night he went to my mom's plate for seconds (and possibly for a third bite).  This is a true testament that this dish was delicious.   And for the next several days all we heard from him was how much he enjoyed it.  So, I did some research on some macadamia nut crusted dishes and decided to take his favorite fish and turn it into one of his newly favorite dishes.  Today's revamped recipe comes from fellow blogger Jo-Anna over at aprettylifeinthesuburbs.com. 

Macadamia Nut Crusted Salmon

Ingredients
1 flank of salmon (we usually cut these up to serving sizes)
1c - Macadamia Nuts
¼c  - Teriyaki sauce 
¼c - maple syrup 
1 tsp - ginger powder
Salt 
Pepper 

Directions 
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees. Pulse the macadamia nuts in the food processor.*
They will still be pretty coarse in texture but not too chunky.  Set aside.  In a baking dish, carefully place your fish (either the whole flank or the portion sizes that you have created).  Gently brush on some teriyaki sauce, generously coating the top of the salmon.  Next, brush on the maple syrup.  Then add the crushed macadamia nuts, covering the top of the fish, making a crust.  Sprinkle on your ginger, salt and pepper. Place in the oven for about 20 mins (depending on the thickness of your salmon, 10 minutes per 1 inch thickness of your salmon).  (If the macadamia nuts are starting to brown too quickly, place a piece of tin foil over the top and continue baking.) If not, when its ready to come out of the oven, turn on the broiler and let it sit for 2-3 mins until the macadamia nuts are golden brown. 
This quick and simple recipe is not a household favorite of ours.  I hope you enjoy as much as we did!  If you do try it, drop me a line and let me know how it work out for you or if you have any questions about the proportions or preparation of the fish.  
As always, 
Happy Knife Out! 
*Don't have a food processor?  Use a coffee grinder.  Don't have a coffee grinder?  Use your good old-fashioned hands. Place the macadamia nuts in a bag and use a coffee cup or a juice glass to grind the macadamia nuts.  Where there's a will...there's a way!

Thursday, January 2, 2014

Baby It's Cold Outisde...Well, not in CA...

Welcome to the 2014! 

My parents church had a chili cook-off that I participated in.  It was my first competition of the sort and I started a week before preparing everything I needed to do to have my recipe ready for review (which definitely included visits to several grocery stores to acquire all of my ingredients).  My father is a vegetarian...so.....he couldn't taste my chili.  And two days before the competition my mother fell ill with a stomach bug and could not hold any food down.  What was a girl to do?  Luckily, I have some dear friends who do not mind eating my cooking ; )  So off to LA I drove and received a glowing response from three dear friends.  I knew I was ready. 

Sunday morning came and my crock pot of chili crossed several city lines and was ready for taste testing.  The judges that participated could not be competing, nor could they have any family members that were competing.  This was a very serious competition.  The judges tasted without knowing who's chili belonged to whom.  While the the results were being tallied, the cooks served their pots of chili to congregants.  And I am proud to announce that my pot of chili won 2nd place!

For my friends snowed-in in NY, I hope you have all of these spices+ingredients in your cabinets.  If not, I'm sure you will be able to make some variation of the recipe.  

Now, I will not be posting the recipe that I created (of course not, it's a secret) BUT I will be posting a recipe that one of my favorite chefs (Ina Garten) shared on her show, the Barefoot Contessa.  I present to you:




Devon's Award Winning Chili

Ingredients

5 pounds beef brisket, cut in 1-inch cubes
1/4 cup olive oil
2 cups chopped yellow onions
6 large garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons chili powder
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes, crushed
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 green peppers, seeded and diced
1 bay leaf
6 cups tomatoes, chopped with their liquid
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (15-ounce) cans kidney beans

Serve with:

Sour cream
Grated Cheddar
Diced tomato
Tortilla chips 
 
Directions

Pat the brisket cubes dry with paper towels. Heat the oil in a very large heavy-bottomed pot and quickly brown the meat, in batches, on all sides. Transfer the brisket to a separate bowl and set aside. Saute the onion and garlic in the same oil over medium heat until limp, but not brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the chili powder, pepper flakes, cayenne pepper and cumin and saute for 1 minute. Add the green peppers, bay leaf, tomatoes with their juice, the reserved meat, 1 tablespoon of salt and 1 teaspoon pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat, cover the pot with a tight fitting lid and simmer for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Taste and season with salt, to taste.

Add the kidney beans and warm through. Transfer the chili to a large serving bowl and serve with sour cream, grated Cheddar, diced tomato, and tortilla chips.
 
**Should you have the time to try the recipe, please let me know how it turns out.  You may not have all of the ingredients (namely, the meat) but I do suggest making sure that these list of spices stay stocked in your cupboard. 
 
As always, 
Happy Knife out

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Do me a favor, will you...

Go to a BBQ this weekend or invite some friends over! It will be the perfect excuse to make today's recipe...the oh-so-flavored turkey burger!!!!! (recipe adapted from FoodNetwork.com)

But if you don't have time this weekend (because you're rushing off to a baby shower or a baseball game...) have no fear....there are plenty of days still left in summer to enjoy this wonderful recipe.  Or you can make during the week for you + your family or roommates and at least sit down at a table together to enjoy a good meal. 

I had a friend who had a photoshoot this weekend and when she asked me to be a part of it, I immediately thought about what food I wanted to bring.  There's something about going over to a person's house empty handed that irks me (thanks to my mother).  Also, I love breaking bread (does anyone even use this phrase anymore?) with friends and family.  But because I was running late, I didn't have the opportunity to get the snacks items I wanted to bring for everyone.  As we were getting ready to shoot, a part of me felt guilty that I didn't bring something and then the other side of me was saying - Hey, you're here to work, just like everyone else.  Calm down! 

The shoot went great and while I was on my way home, I had to think about and analyze why I felt so guilty about not bringing something.  Here is what I concluded, there is something about sharing stories over food that is comforting to me (almost to a fault at times) and it allows everyone to be converse over various topics while filling their bellies with good food.  It's comforting and it makes me happy to watch people enjoy themselves, especially if I had a hand in. 

So...enjoy yourself this weekend.  Eat a burger, eat some ice cream, have great conversations with those that are around you and laugh until your stomach hurts.  And share your stories with me.  I love to hear about food tales from the great beyond, and by that I mean from those that are in NY!  Let's eat and be merry.  It's good for the soul!


**Oh-So-Flavored Turkey Burger

Ingredients
Burgers:

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 onion, cut into 1/4-inch dice
Kosher salt
2 cloves garlic, smashed and finely chopped
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1/4 cup soy sauce
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
1/2 bunch fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

Optional Garnishes:

4 slices Cheddar
4 seeded burger buns
1/4 cup mayo mixed with 2 teaspoons taco seasoning
4 slices beefsteak tomatoes
4 slices raw red onion
Slices of Avocado
Butter lettuce

Directions

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees to keep the first batch of burgers warm.

For the burgers: Coat a large saute pan with olive oil. Add the onions, season with salt and bring to a medium-high heat. Cook the onions until they are soft and very aromatic, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and let cool.  (Reserve the onion pan to cook the burgers in later.)

In a large mixing bowl, combine the turkey, soy sauce, a sprinkle of the taco seasoning, ginger, cilantro and the cooked onions and garlic.  Add one-quarter to one-half cup water to your turkey mixture; this will help the burgers stay nice and moist. Using your hands, squish everything together until they are really well combined.

Make and cook a little tester patty to be sure that the turkey is really well seasoned. Re-season if needed. If the burger is missing salt add more soy or just give a little sprinkey dink of salt.

When the burger mix is seasoned appropriately, form the mix into 4 equal size patties.

Coat the saute pan with new olive oil and bring to a medium-high heat. Place the burgers in the pan. Be sure not to crowd the pan, if you need to work in batches go ahead! Cook the burgers for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Place the cheese, if using, on the burger and cook for 1 more minute.

Toast the buns in a broiler or toaster. Schmear each side of the bun lightly with the taco seasoned mayo. Put a burger on each of the bottom buns and top each burger with tomato, onion and lettuce. Close up each burger, give each one a little squish and eat em' up! (PS. You can also add avocado for nice creamy touch!)  And Enjoy!


~ Knife Out

(PS...Oh! If you want to know what the photo shoot was for go to RockYourStance.com - Keepin' Locked 'Til I Get That Rock! hosted by the funny and beautiful Yvonne Orji)
 

Friday, July 5, 2013

Go with what you know...

I just started rehearsals for a wonderful production of Clybourne Park (runs Aug 2-18) and one of my lovely cast mates (Amy) brought a bag full of peaches grown from her backyard.  She and her husband have planted their own orchard in their backyard to create the most green experience they can.  They are growing lemons, limes, tomatoes, apricots, and more!!!!  So, you know me, naturally, I helped myself to a small bag of 10 peaches (I wasn't being greedy if thats what you're thinking). They were extremely sweet and juicy. 

A soon as I got them home, I knew I wanted to cook with them.  After discussing the possiblities with my mother, we decided to make a peach cobbler.  But not just any peach cobbler, a Bourbon peach cobbler. I scourged our cabinets to see what we had: bourbon (for a salmon recipe we make), oatmeal cookie mix (Betty Crocker was my friend that day), and sugar. Sigh. Cobbler. Want to know how I made yesterday's Bourbon Peach Cobbler? Stick around! 

Bourbon Peach Cobbler (adapted from a recipe of Food Network.com)


Ingredients

  • Filling:
  • 10 ripe peaches
  • 3 tablespoons bourbon or whiskey
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 2 cups brown sugar
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons corn starch

  • Topping: 
  • 1 bag oatmeal cookie mix 
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 tsp cinnamon 
  • 2 tsps sugar 
  • 3tbsp butter  (softened)

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the peaches, bourbon, nutmeg, cinnamon, brown sugar, granulated sugar and corn starch. Mix together. Pour mixture into a 13-inch-by-9-inch casserole dish and place  in the oven while mixing the cookie topping. 
  3. Combine the cookie mix, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and butter.  
  4. Place a layer of  cookie mix on the bottom of  your ramekins and let sit.  
  5. Remove the peach cobbler mix from the oven and spoon into each ramekin, leaving a 1/2 inch from the top of the ramekin for the topping.  Sprinkle the remaining cookie mix topping on each cobbler and place in oven  on a cookie sheet. These will take much less time to bake. Start at 20 mins and keep checking until tops are golden brown. 
  6. Remove from heat and let sit to cool.  Enjoy. 

This is a wonderful quick and easy recipe for when company is coming over and a quick dessert is needed. You can also used your preferred ice cream or whipped cream  to add a little bite to your sweet treat.  

Send me your nots when you try the  recipe and remember: Be good to yourself. 

- Knife Out 

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Summer...summer...summertime!

We all know the classic Will Smith song.  For me, it brings up fond memories of being in my car with my best friend Katrina, with the windows rolled down and that song blaring from my speakers.  We would laugh and create games along the way to...whatever the destination was for the day (my mom may be reading).  And what is the  first line of the song....Here it is the groove slightly transformed just a bit of a break from the norm....and...how do we break from the norm? With this great new recipe that provides a twist to a classic: Strawberry Short-cake. 

According to Best Health Mag, strawberries are "not only are they juicy, summery and delicious, they’re a bona fide superfood, too. Nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants (like vitamin C), strawberries offer a wide range of health benefits."  Ready for a few surprises about strawberries? 

 1.  "Aside from providing vitamin c (helping to boost your immune system), strawberries also promote eye health and can prevent cataracts.  Eyes require vitamin C to protect them from exposure to free-radicals from the sun’s harsh UV rays, which can damage the protein in the lens. Vitamin C also plays an important role in strengthening the eye's cornea and retina."

2. "The power of vitamin C in strawberries continues, as it is vital to the production of collagen, which helps to improve skin’s elasticity and resilience. Since we lose collagen as we age, eating foods rich in vitamin C may result in healthier, younger-looking skin."

3. “Ellagic acid and flavonoids [found in strawberries]— or phytochemicals—can provide an antioxidant effect that can benefit heart health in various ways,” explains Edwards. “One way includes counteracting the effect of low-density lipoprotein, or LDL—bad cholesterol in the blood—which causes plaque to build up in arteries. A second way is that they provide an anti-inflammatory effect, which is also good for the heart.”  

4. "Folate is a B-vitamin recommended for women who are pregnant or trying to conceive, and strawberries are a good source with 21 mcg per serving. Folate is necessary in the early stages of pregnancy to help in the development of the baby’s brain, skull and spinal cord, and the folic acid in strawberries may help to prevent certain birth defects, such as spina bifida."

5. "Strawberries can help regulate blood pressure.  Potassium is yet another heart healthy nutrient, and with 134 mg per serving, strawberries are considered a "medium source," according to Alberta Health Services. Potassium can help regulate blood pressure and may even help to lower high blood pressure by acting as a buffer against the negative effects of sodium. With their impact on the reduction of LDL, inflammation and high blood pressure, strawberries have earned the title of one of the most heart-healthy fruits you can eat."
 

So, let's get a jump on summer and add this twist on Strawberry Short-cake to recipe books.  You can be feeding people healthy items and they not even know it!  Have parties to go to and don't have a ton of time to cook...(points fingers to self)?  This quick and easy recipe will have you be the talk of the party.  Today's recipe is brought to you by our friends at the FoodNetwork:

Toasted Pound Cake with Strawberries & Chocolate Cream (YUM!)

*Photograph by Anna Williams

Ingredients:
1 cup cold heavy cream
1/4 cup chocolate syrup, plus more for drizzling
1 quart strawberries
2 tablespoons sugar
2 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 slices pound cake

Directions:
Beat the heavy cream and 1/4 cup chocolate syrup in a bowl with a mixer on medium-high speed until soft peaks form, about 3 minutes. Refrigerate until ready to use. Hull and chop all but 6 strawberries and toss them with the sugar in a separate bowl; set aside.

Melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl on medium-high power in 30-second intervals, stirring, until smooth, about 2 minutes. Dip the 6 whole berries in the chocolate, then transfer to a sheet of parchment paper and let cool.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pound cake slices and cook until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to a plate. Wipe out the skillet and melt the remaining 1 tablespoon butter. Add the chopped strawberries and 1 tablespoon water and cook until juicy, about 2 minutes.

Drizzle some chocolate syrup on each plate; top each with a piece of pound cake. Top with some of the chopped strawberries and their juices, a dollop of the chocolate whipped cream and a chocolate-covered strawberry.