What's Cooking?

[Northern Light]

Tonight's dinner:

A dry-rubbed, Pork Tenderloin (curry, garamasala, cumin, lime zest, salt, ginger powder, cayenne), oven-roasted, then sliced, fanned over Kashmiri chili, cilantro, and ginger couscous w/fresh mint, and steamed broccoli on the side.

All coated in a rich curry pan sauce, w/homemade chicken stock, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, garamasala, cumin, a hint of soy, some sugar, lime zest and lime juice, reduced and then thickened with cold butter whisked in off the heat.

 

[just east of the creek]

Tonight's dinner:

A dry-rubbed, Pork Tenderloin (curry, garamasala, cumin, lime zest, salt, ginger powder, cayenne), oven-roasted, then sliced, fanned over Kashmiri chili, cilantro, and ginger couscous w/fresh mint, and steamed broccoli on the side.

All coated in a rich curry pan sauce, w/homemade chicken stock, fresh garlic, fresh ginger, garamasala, cumin, a hint of soy, some sugar, lime zest and lime juice, reduced and then thickened with cold butter whisked in off the heat.

View attachment 569713

Awesome. But it’s really just the steamed broccoli I question. A. That I have consumed enough steamed brocolli for a lifetime I think, and B. We are still harvesting fresh Ontario grown asparagus…..and not much tops fresh and local asparagus. Peas, strawberries and beets coming soon.

 

[Northern Light]

Awesome. But it’s really just the steamed broccoli I question. A.

I like Broccoli. To be clear, steamed in this context does not mean turned into mush, nor does it mean plain.

I pre-heated the saute pan, with just a hint of neutral oil, took it almost to smoking, and quickly charted the cut-side of the veg for about 45s, then I added a cup of water, and put a lid and went 45s more, then I removed it, still tender-crisp.

It was also coated in the lovely sauce you see on the bottom of the plate, there was ample for the veg and the carbs!

*****

I like Asparagus, especially w/east-Asian flavours like Sesame and Soy, but I have to find the thin stuff. For some reason, in Ontario, we grow more of the thick asparagus, and I find that texture unappealing.

 

[just east of the creek]

I like Broccoli. To be clear, steamed in this context does not mean turned into mush, nor does it mean plain.

I pre-heated the saute pan, with just a hint of neutral oil, took it almost to smoking, and quickly charted the cut-side of the veg for about 45s, then I added a cup of water, and put a lid and went 45s more, then I removed it, still tender-crisp.

It was also coated in the lovely sauce you see on the bottom of the plate, there was ample for the veg and the carbs!

*****

I like Asparagus, especially w/east-Asian flavours like Sesame and Soy, but I have to find the thin stuff. For some reason, in Ontario, we grow more of the thick asparagus, and I find that texture unappealing.

I, on the other hand, are far too guilty of feeling rushed, so a quick chop, into the non stick with some water and a lid, and steam. I like what you are doing and will think a little harder next time.

As for size re asparagus. I agree. It is a tendency, and I think part of that is consumer driven, size equates to value. Harvesting just a little earlier will yield smaller in diameter stalks. However, you really want a European variety or the female plant of the North American - probably a Mary Washington or Apollo - known for size and yield. Very North American that.

Now for a discussion of the libation to be consumed?

Cheers!

 

[Jonny5]

Late summer brunch sandwich, toasted rye, fried eggs, big beefstake tomato slices lightly griddled, plus some hot sauce on the side.

It is a very messy sandwich with the egg and tomato juices soaking into the bread making it fall apart by the time you get to the end, but I'm at home so I don't have to care about eating daintily.

 

[evandyk]

I popped by Vince Gasparro's and got a bone-in leg of lamb to grill over charcoal tonight.

 

[Northern Light]

I popped by Vince Gasparro's and got a bone-in leg of lamb to grill over charcoal tonight.
View attachment 592705

Looks and sounds great. Does it come with a rub, or marinade? What's on the side?

 

[Jonny5]

I popped by Vince Gasparro's and got a bone-in leg of lamb to grill over charcoal tonight.
View attachment 592705

So what time do we show up for dinner?

 

[evandyk]

Looks and sounds great. Does it come with a rub, or marinade? What's on the side?

I marinated it in lemon, oregano, garlic, etc. for a few hours and made an oregano gremolata to spoon on top. Side is Greek salad and Blackbird sourdough.

 

[Northern Light]

Penne in a semi-caramelized Fennel and Onion, Tomato Ragu featuring Hot Italian Sausage (de-cased), olive oil, garlic, chili flakes and a splash of red wine, dried oregano and fennel.

 

[evandyk]

Thanksgiving, but it’s just the 2.5 of us today, so we couldn’t do a whole turkey. Managed to find a single drumstick at Pavao.

 

[Towered]

I shop at Pavao too, especially for meat to BBQ. I will say though that 2 years ago I had to return 3 packages in a row of "fresh" chicken breast filets because they all smelled off as soon as I opened them, despite it being earlier than the printed "best before" date. The fourth one they gave me also stank, but I gave up at that point.

 

[evandyk]

We only recently moved out west, so I haven’t been there that often. But we do our weekly groceries at No Frills at Duff Mall, where they run a pretty good meat counter too.

 

[Northern Light]

Last night's dinner, Pork Tenderloin with a Red Wine - Rosemary reduction, Maple-Rosemary Glazed Carrots, and Garlic-Rosemary scented Basmati Rice: