Mango Cranberry Chutney
March 24, 2011
Have you noticed the beautiful mangoes in the market this month? They are abundant, inexpensive, and delicious! Mangoes have firm flesh and a sweet and tangy flavor. This makes them incredibly versatile. They are hardy enough to cook, soft enough to eat raw, and excellent in salads and of course chutneys. First though, you have to know how to cut into the fruit. Since mangoes have a disc-shaped seed in the center of fruit, it is important to locate it and cut around the seed.
First peel the fruit.
Then, hold the fruit upright and slice down, guiding the knife along the side of the seed. Repeat on the other half, so you end up with two halves and one seed pod with minimal flesh attached. Slice or dice the mango halves depending on what you are using it for.
Mango Cranberry Chutney is a medley of sweet mango, tart cranberry, spicy peppers and zippy ginger. I love having a stash of it in the pantry. It is a wonderful accompaniment to a cheese platter. I made this batch especially to serve with Redwood Hill’s cheese at the Sono-Ma Soiree tomorrow night. It is also delicious as a side to any Indian meal. Try it with Divine Indian Butter Chicken.
Chipotle Salsa
March 2, 2011
Abandoned on a desert island with just one food to eat for the rest of my life, salsa would be my number one pick, hands down. I am a salsa fanatic. In the spring, I choose which tomato plants to grow in my garden with salsa in mind. Through the summer months, our refrigerator is filled with various forms of salsa: pico de gallo, roasted tomato salsa, green tomatillo salsa, peach salsa, you name it. In the winter, I make salsa with canned tomatoes freshened up with fresh cilantro and lime. There is almost no dish that cannot be improved by some sort of salsa.
Frustration over the mediocre quality of most commercial jarred salsas and the exorbitant cost of most commercial fresh salsa inspired the creation of Chipotle Salsa. It is really easy and inexpensive to create great tasting salsa with basic pantry items. This recipe uses canned tomatoes, chipotle chiles, garlic, onion, cilantro, and lime. Blend the ingredients until they are somewhat uniform, but still slightly chunky. Serve the salsa over eggs, with tacos or quesadillas, pour it over chicken and bake, or eat it with chips. There are unlimited uses for this salsa.
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Salt Preserved Lemons
February 23, 2011
Yes, it is true, I’m on a serious citrus kick. Why not? What better to brighten the palette on a dark and dreary winter day, than the vibrant colors and tart flavors of lemons, oranges, grapefruit, and lime? Lemons are my current favorite. Last summer, in an act of manifest destiny, we cut down our lemon tree to make way for a larger outdoor dining area. Luckily our neighbors have supplied us with a steady stream of Meyer lemons to fuel each of my citric indulgences. The latest… Salt Preserved Lemons.
This recipe comes from my grandmother’s recipe file. She, like me, sought out ways to celebrate each harvest and make it last. The first time I made these, I had no idea what to do with them. Luckily, they last a ridiculously long time in the refrigerator, so I had plenty of time to accumulate recipes. (After a year in the fridge, they still tasted fine, but I tossed them because it just seemed wrong to be eating something so old.) They are used often in North African and Middle Eastern foods. They can be added to dishes whole or you can remove the pulp and pith and add the preserved zest.
Fresh Herb Chevre
February 15, 2011
Last weekend, I took my first cooking class! It was a soft cheese making class taught by Mary Karlin, an expert in artisan cheese. It was such fun to spend a day with other hungry folks trying to expand our culinary repertoire. One of the cheeses we made was chevre. It is incredibly easy to make by simply adding culture to warm goat’s milk and allowing the mixture to sit overnight so the curd can form. I’ll admit my product wasn’t exactly as I dreamed, it was a bit too dry and crumbly instead of creamy. Still, it was delicious.
I love the tangy creaminess of chevre. I often serve it as an appetizer with caramelized onion relish or pepper jelly. Another favorite preparation is simply rolling the log in fresh herbs, lemon zest, and ground pepper. It is the perfect last minute appetizer because it is quick, inexpensive, and delicious. It looks like something really special, even though it is incredibly easy to create.
Using fresh herbs for this recipe is crucial. Fortunately, I live in a climate where my garden provides fresh herbs year round. The following recipe is more of an idea and guideline than a recipe to strictly follow. The precise mixture of the herbs is not crucial, but I like half of the herb volume to be parsley and the other half to be more intense herbs like thyme, rosemary, oregano, and the lemon zest.
The Fresh Herb Chevre is delicious with grilled or toasted bread. I slice the bread, brush or spray it with olive oil, and then grill or broil until toasted. Guests serve themselves slices of the herb cheese on the toasted bread.
Fresh Herb Chevre
makes one herby loaf of goat cheese
1 8-ounce log of chevre
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme
1 tablespoon minced fresh oregano
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced lemon zest
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Mince herbs and zest. Mix thoroughly with black pepper. Roll chevre in herb mixture. Serve with toasted bread.
Here is a printer friendly version of the recipe: Fresh Herb Chevre
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Herb Rubbed Pork Loin with Onion, Raisin, Garlic Compote
February 11, 2011
Over the past four and a half years, my husband and I have mastered the art of the special dinner at home. Our kids, too young to tuck themselves in, hold us captive. We have a running joke where one of us asks, “What do you want to do tonight?” In response, the other spouts off lists of adventurous ideas all involving actually leaving the house together, even though our kids are sound asleep. We laugh as we pretend we have options aside from the rented movie, the game of dominoes, or going to sleep at a deliciously early hour- oh, now I really am sounding old. All jokes aside, a night at home can be quite special. We prefer to celebrate the opportunity staying in presents, rather than long for the greener grass.
In our home every detail of our meal can be catered to our whim. We choose festive, fancy, or casual. Our tastes can travel to Thailand, Italy, or Mexico. We can eat with china or our fingers. At home we make the food exactly how we want to eat it. We use only the freshest, seasonal ingredients, all at a fraction of the cost of a nice restaurant meal. There is no need for reservations or babysitters. Perhaps the best reason to celebrate the special dinner at home, is the pride and satisfaction of sitting down together to eat a meal which one of us (or both) have put our heart and hands into preparing with love.
Our most recent special meal was Herb Rubbed Pork Loin. I used an exceptional brine from the girl and the fig that I have used in the past with chops. Brining allows the meat to retain moisture through the cooking and infuses the meat with tremendous flavor. To ensure the brine and seasoning could permeate the entire roast, I sliced the meat horizontally, a technique I picked up from Cook’s Illustrated. After the brine, I marinated the meat in mustard and herbs from the garden. We were able to take advantage of unseasonably warm weather here in Sonoma County and grill the loin. This could easily be roasted in the oven as well with the added bonus of being able to collect the juices for a gravy.
The pork loin turned out incredibly moist and flavorful. The brine perfectly seasoned the interior of the meat, and the marinade gave a delightful herbal tang to the exterior. Do not overlook the Onion, Raisin, Garlic Compote, it is fabulous! We both agreed that we could eat an entire bowl of it as an official side dish. Onions, raisins, and garlic are cooked down with butter, port, and herbs. This is a perfect accompaniment to the pork loin. This meal turned another night at home with the family into a special night indeed.
My Pantry Shelf 