LAMB RAGOUT IN A WOK

What's a wok? ............Something you throw at a wabbit. Get it? The missus just read this and by the blank look I got I might have to explain it. I always liked that joke. Anyway moving on. My clients love lamb so I'm always trying to do it differently. The wok? The biggest pot I have at work is, you guessed it, a wok. I'm not sure if this could be called Italian Asian cooking but either way it's my lamb ragout in a wok. Here goes.

Recipe:

4 lbs. grass-fed lamb shoulder on the bone

1 medium white onion - sliced

1 tbsp. garlic - minced

1 32oz tin tomatoes

2 cup red wine (I like a syrah/zinfandel)

1 quart (4 cups) broth (veal, veg)

2 tsp. cinnamon

Olive oil

S&P to taste

In medium hot large saute pan season and sear each lamb chop in 1 tbsp. olive oil 'til golden, 3-4 mins. each side. This is done to lock in the juices while you braise the meat. Meanwhile in another pot or as in my case a wok, saute the onions in 1 tbsp. olive oil for 3 mins. on medium heat. Add garlic, cook 1 min. Add red wine and let simmer for 5 mins or 'til liquid is reduced by 1/2. Add chopped tomatoes, cinnamon, broth. Pop your chops in. Make sure the chops are covered by liquid, if not add more broth. Bring to a boil. Once at a boil, reduce to a simmer and partially cover with lid or foil, about 2/3. You want some of the liquid to evaporate so as to naturally thicken the sauce. Cook for 2 1/2 - 3hrs. The meat should be falling off the bone. Sounds good right? If the sauce is reducing too quickly just add more broth.

If you're interested in 'healthifying' your food a little more, I'm big into quinoa pasta. I've been using quinoa for a while but came across their pasta which is dynamite. It's well known for it's nutritional value more so than regular grains. Instead of me pretending I know everything about it, check it out on Wikipedia.
felice 吃
(happy eating)

PARSNIP & POTATO PANCAKES

PARSNIP & POTATO PANCAKES

Recipe
3 cups yams or sweet potatoes, grated
3 cups parsnips, grated
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/2 tbsp thyme
2 eggs, beaten
2 tbsp. olive oil
S&P to taste

Servings: 10-12 individual pancakes

In a large bowl combine potatoes, parsnips, green onions, flour, thyme and beaten eggs. Season with S&P. Toss with your hands making sure the egg is blended well and evenly distributed in the vegetables. Preheat a skillet or saute pan on med. heat with 1 1/2 tbsp. of olive oil. Add the mixture in individual pancake size portions, patting down to make even. Brown for 3-4 minutes. Check to see if crispy, then drizzle olive oil over the top (so it won't stick) before flipping. Turn over and brown other side for another 3-4 minutes. That's it!

NOTE: Make sure your saute pan isn't too hot or the pancakes will brown too quickly and the veg. won't be cooked.

This is a great brunch idea and you'll definitely impress you're friends. It is not only delicious, it makes a great healthy alternative to fried potatoes. Even the little ones will like it because it's sweet and has the name Pancake. You can always trust an Irishman. We think of everything!

CURRIED PARSNIPS

MARDI GRAS SHRIMP GUMBO

Is it odd to say I'd never heard of Mardi Gras until I moved to the States? The wife kept bringing it up so I assumed we were in the season. All I knew about it was that it's a huge party and everybody goes nuts. So far it sounds right up my alley. I wanted to look into it more so we hit up Google. Really, all she had to say was Pancake Tuesday and I'd have known exactly what it was, the day before Lent (which starts this coming Wednesday).

My take on Mardi Gras: French for Fat Tuesday, it's the mother of all piss-ups (you people in New Orleans what I mean) before you're supposed to give up something you really like for Lent. When I was a kid I'd always give up sweets (candy) for Lent although I never lasted too long. It was always the easiest thing to tell the parents and have a chance of getting away with it although they weren't that strict. Back in the day giving up alcohol was a requirement. I don't know who's day that was but I'll tell you what, it wasn't mine! Today, the main tradition is no meat on Fridays. I grew up with always having fish on Friday so this got me thinking I should do something that is not only a Louisiana favorite but also something you can make on Fridays (that is, if you practice Lent). The missus likes it hot and spicy (too many obvious jokes here) but I only added a tiny kick so feel free to add more if you like.

Traditionally gumbo is made with a roux (flour and oil) which is used to thicken the sauce. This recipe is the Healhty Irishman way-brothy and light, healthy and tasty.

1 lb. medium shrimp - peeled and deveined

1 med. red pepper -med. dice

1 green pepper - med. dice

1 red onion - med. dice

1/2 cup celery - med. dice

1 1lb. bag okra - fresh or frozen (1/2 inch rounds)

2 cloves garlic -minced

1 16oz tin chopped tomatoes

1 cups clam juice

1 cup white wine (optional)

3 bay leaves

1 tbsp. thyme - chopped

1/2 tsp. cayenne

1 quart veg./chicken stock

1 lemon - zested

olive oil

S&P

When I cook a lot of these dishes I try to keep it as low maintenance and easy as possible. I could do without having to wash up after myself if I could get away with it. Some people will attest I'm a messy bastard so I like to limit the pot usage (don't get too excited, I mean what I cook in) as much as possible.

This is pretty straight forward I think, so here we go.

Pre-heat a med. large soup pot. If using fresh okra, wash in cold water. Remove the caps and cut into 1/4 inch rounds. Add 1 tbsp. olive oil to pan followed by the okra, whether fresh or frozen. Saute on med. heat, stirring constantly for approx. 10 mins. or until the slime has disappeared. Add your chopped veg and garlic and cook for 15 mins. or until soft, stirring occasionally. If the veg start to stick to the pan add another dash of olive oil. Add your wine and let it reduce for 3-4 mins. Go ahead and add the tomatoes, bay leaves, thyme, cayenne, clam juice and broth. Bring it to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer for another 20 mins. You can take the recipe this far if you want to do this in advance. When you're ready to eat add in your shrimp and simmer for 20 mins. I like to finish by adding the lemon zest. It gives it a nice bite.

Taste and season. How easy is that? Cheers to Mardi Gras!

JALAPENO CORN CHOWDER, MY WAY

Here's another cheap 'n' cheerful idea for you all. With the weather being pretty bad right now, soup is an easy, quick and cheap option. Although chowder is usually made with milk or cream I decided to play around with the idea of making it vegan. I've made this soup a few times and eventually decided on this recipe. Corn doesn't come into season until the summer but it lasts 'til December so you may find good quality corn still in the market. If you want, use tinned corn for the base of the soup and fresh kernels for the garnish.
Recipe:
1/2 medium white onion - thinly sliced
2 small cloves garlic - minced
1 tsp. fresh ginger - grated
1 tbsp. jalapeno - fine dice
1 quart (4 cups) - vegetable broth
2 corn on the cob or 1 16oz can
1/2 red pepper -thinly sliced
7 oz. soft/silken tofu (approx 1/2 a block)
2 tbsp. fresh cilantro (coriander)
2 tbsp. olive oil
S&P to taste








Pre-heat soup pot on medium heat.
Add 1 tbsp. olive oil along with onions and cook for 2 mins. Add garlic and jalapeno and stir. Keep an eye on the onions as you don't want them to color. Meanwhile, remove the kernels from the cobs. In a pre-heated saute pan add 1 tbsp. olive oil and saute the kernels from one of the cobs along with the sliced pepper. Saute on medium to low heat for 5-6 mins or until softened. Set aside. Add your broth to the soup pot along with the 2 cobs having removed the kernels. Also add your grated ginger.

This soup should simmer for 1/2 hour to get the flavor of the corn cobs. When ready, remove the cobs and discard. Blend soup in stages along with the tofu and cilantro. If you want a very creamy consistency add more tofu. NOTE: be careful not to over-fill the blender with hot liquid as it will expand. Make sure you hold the lid on tightly when turning it on or otherwise it might blow up in your face. Not good!

You want the soup to reach a creamy consistency. Season to taste.
To Serve: Add some of the sauteed kernels and red pepper to each bowl.

January's Cheap 'n' Cheerful

January's best known for a couple of reasons. Lots of new gym memberships, in most of which the people only last a few weeks so good news if you own the gym, and the other is people wanting to eat better and probably a little cheaper after the holidays.

We all over-indulged a bit over the past month or so with food and spending so I decided to dedicate January as the Cheap and Cheerful month for cooking, and by cheap I don't mean bland. I'll show you easy, delicious, rather inexpensive and always healthy recipes all month long. I cooked this one when I was back in Ireland for my sister's family. We were all sick of eating the leftover Christmas food and needed something clean and simple so this seemed to fit the bill.

STEAMED HALIBUT W/ WHITE WINE & PEPPERS
4 servings

4 x 4oz wild Pacific halibut (any firm white fish such as Pacific cod or black sea bass will do)
1 x red pepper - thinly sliced
1 x yellow pepper - thinly sliced
1 x green pepper - thinly sliced
1 cup oyster mushrooms (button, brown, or whatever you like) - quartered
2 cups broccoli florets
1/2 bunch asparagus (not Britney) spears (12 spears approx) - halved
1/2 cup white wine
2 cloves garlic - minced
1 tbsp. oregano - chopped
1 x lemon - zested
1 tbsp. olive oil
S&P

This is an all in one dish so is perfect if you have some friends coming over.
Pre-heat oven 400 degrees.
Saute the peppers with the garlic for 5 mins. on medium heat. Add mushrooms and cook for another 2 mins. Season w/ S&P. Add white wine and oregano, reduce for 2 mins. on high heat. While this is going on, prepare the fish. You have two options here. I decided to sear the halibut on med. high heat in a saute pan with 1/2 tbsp. olive oil to give them a nice golden color. Sear for about 2-3 mins. on both sides, though you don't have to. If you prefer the nice white color of the fish or don't have time, simply season with S&P and set aside until needed. Next get a sheet pan and some aluminum foil. Tear off enough foil that measures twice the length of your sheet pan. With the foil on your pan place your cooked pepper mixture in center of pan. Spread the broccoli florets and asparagus around and place seared or raw fish on top. Sprinkle lemon zest over everything.
Fold the extra foil over the fish and gently seal the sides together. You want to make sure all the juices and steam stay inside. Cook for 10 - 12 mins. in pre-heated oven. You'll know the fish is done by touching it--it should be firm. Also, if it's flaky and white all the way through, you're golden. (See above photo for example)

To serve: I made some wasabi mashed potatoes which worked brilliantly, if I do say so myself!

FRIDAY DINNER

CHICKEN CACCIATORE
4-6 Servings

3x 8 oz skinless grass fed or organic chicken breasts
1x med red onion, thinly sliced
1x red pepper, thinly sliced
1x green pepper, thinly sliced
2x small garlic cloves, minced (smashed)
1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes (or as much as you can handle)
1x 28 oz. tin chopped tomatoes
1x lemon, zested or grated
32 oz. (aka 4 cups/1 qt) chicken broth
1x glass white wine (whatever you're drinking)
2x tbsp olive oil
salt & pepper to taste
1x bay leaf
1x bouquet garni of oregano & thyme
(fresh herbs stacked together, tied with string)

In large pot, saute onions and peppers in two tablespoons of olive oil over med-low heat for 5 minutes. Add minced garlic, sautee for 1 minute. Add chopped tomatoes, chili flakes, herbs, bay leaf and broth. Bring to a boil.
Meanwhile, cut chicken breast in half. Season with salt & pepper. Sear until golden in saute pan over high heat. Add to sauce. Once removed, add wine to same saute pan and cook for 30 seconds and add to sauce. Once liquid has come to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer. Partially cover with lid and cook until chicken is very tender (falling apart), approx. 1-1 1/4 hours. Stir in lemon zest and S&P to taste.

TIPS: If on a calorie controlled diet, omit wine.
For all of you veggies, I tried the recipe with seitan and to my surprise it worked, though I'd recommend cooking it for longer to absorb the flavor.

Whenever possible use Organic ingredients, particularly with meat and dairy products.