Fresh Artichoke and White Bean Crostini

I know this looks like a lot of ingredients for a tiny crostini but you should have most of these laying around and if you don't have the exact cheeses listed in the recipe go ahead and improvise. I should name my next blog Everything is Better with Cheese.

Crostinis have great texture and white beans with a little salt and lemon could be one of my favorite snacks. If you don't want to go through the labor of carving out fresh artichoke hearts just use the canned or jarred ones. I like to drain them and give them a quick rinse so they are not so oily. This cuts prep time and makes the recipe more accessible. Maybe an after work bite with a nice glass of Sauvignon Blanc?
Fresh Artichokes and White Bean Crostini
Ingredients

4 artichokes, halved lengthwise, tops and stems trimmed, center leaves removed, chokes scraped out
6 cups (or more) low-salt chicken broth
1 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup chopped carrot
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped celery
2 large fresh thyme sprigs
1 cup drained rinsed canned cannellini (white kidney beans)
1/2 cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese
1/4 cup (packed) finely chopped fresh basil plus whole leaves for garnish
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil plus more for brushing
8 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick slices pain rustique or other flat country bread
Lemon wedges

Preparation

Bring artichokes, 6 cups broth, and next 5 ingredients to boil in large saucepan, adding more broth if necessary to cover. Reduce heat; cover and simmer until artichoke hearts are very tender, about 50 minutes. Chill artichokes in broth mixture, uncovered, until cold, at least 2 hours and up to 1 day.

Remove artichokes from broth; drain. Pull off leaves. Cut hearts into 1/3-inch cubes; place in large bowl. Mix beans, cheese, 1/4 cup chopped basil, and 2 tablespoons oil into hearts. Season with salt and pepper.

Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange bread on rimmed baking sheet. Brush with oil. Bake until beginning to crisp, about 8 minutes.

Spoon artichoke topping onto bread. Squeeze lemon juice over; top with basil leaf.

Fresh Artichoke and White Bean Crostini

Chicken Piccata Like Dad Used to Make

Two weeks before my freshman year of high school (circa the 90's for anyone that is curious) I moved from California to the great city of Chicago to live with my father. Now, my Dad doesn't mess around. Everyone in my family can cook to a significant extent but my father is really the pace car. Have you ever come home from volleyball practice and been offered homemade lobster bisque and homemade fudge (his specialty) for dessert? I didn't think so. And, yes, I know I am VERY lucky.

When I left Chicago to go the University of Colorado at Boulder, I no longer had the great chefs, that are my Mom and Dad, cooking for me anymore. That's when I decided to give the kitchen a shot for myself and the rest is history.

I'm a little homesick. My boyfriend and I just moved to San Francisco 4 days ago and left all of our friends and my father behind in Chicago. My father used to make Chicken Piccata quite a bit when we lived together and it's one of the first recipes he taught me to make on my own via the phone my sophomore year of college..."Hey Dad, how do you make that chicken with all that lemon and butter?"

There is something gratifying about filleting chicken breasts and then beating them to a pulp with a meat tenderizer. If you don't have one, no worries. Just throw plastic wrap over the breast and get creative. I've used everything from a book to a hammer to my fist.

By the way, Happy 65th birthday, Dad. We'll be thinking of you on Monday.

Chicken Piccata

2 skinless and boneless chicken breasts, butterflied and then cut in half

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

All-purpose flour, for dredging

6 tablespoons unsalted butter

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup brined capers, rinsed

1/3 cup fresh parsley, chopped

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in flour and shake off excess.

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter with 3 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 2 pieces of chicken and cook for 3 minutes. When chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for 3 minutes. Remove and transfer to plate. Melt 2 more tablespoons butter and add another 2 tablespoons olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add the other 2 pieces of chicken and brown both sides in same manner. Remove pan from heat and add chicken to the plate.

Into the pan add the lemon juice, stock and capers. Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits from the pan for extra flavor. Check for seasoning. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Pour sauce over chicken and garnish with parsley.

Chicken Piccata Like Dad Used to Make

Pho Bo

Pho (pronounced 'fuh') is a classic Vietnamese rice noodle soup that is delightful, especially on a foggy night like the one we we are having in San Francisco today. Pho is traditionally made with beef in a beef broth however you can substitute chicken or prawns with a chicken or seafood stock broth instead. The best part about this soup is the multiple garnishes that you can choose from and add to your liking. Choose from cilantro, bean sprouts, green onions, Thai basil and lime wedges. Sauces range from (sweet) housin to my uber favorite (spicy/hot) Sriracha.

Here's a take on the recipe by our friends at Gourmet.

Pho Bo (Hanoi Beef Noodle Soup)

6 cups beef broth

1 (1/4-inch thick) slice ginger

2 whole star anise*

1 cinnamon stick

1/2 pound piece boneless beef sirloin, trimmed of any fat

3 ounces dried flat rice noodles*

1/4 cup Asian fish sauce*

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 cup fresh bean sprouts, rinsed and drained

1/8 cup minced scallions

1/4 cup fresh cilantro sprigs, washed and finely chopped

1 small thin fresh red or green Asian chilie, sliced very thin

1/2 cup fresh basil leaves

Lime wedges for garnish

*Available at Asian Markets

In a 2 quart saucepan bring broth, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. With a very sharp knife cut sirloin across the grain into very thin slices. In a large bowl soak noodles in hot water to cover 15 minutes, or until softened and pliable. While noodles are soaking, bring a kettle of salted water to a boil for noodles. Drain noodles in a colander and cook in boiling water, stirring 45 seconds, or until tender. Drain noodles in a colander. Set aside.

Strain broth into saucepan and bring to a boil. Stir in fish sauce, salt and pepper. Add sirloin and sprouts and cook 30 to 45 seconds, or until sirloin changes color. Skim any froth from soup. To serve, divide noodles into 4 bowls. Ladle soup over noodles. Sprinkle scallion greens, cilantro, chilies and basil over soup and serve with lime wedges

Pho Bo

Grilled Tuna with Basil Butter and Fresh Tomato Sauce

Now we all know that I am not a fish person but look at this dish! Who doesn't love any kind of flavored or textured butters? Can't you just imagine all those roasted tomatoes topped with fresh basil butter on that great cut of mouth-watering tuna? I'm sorry, but I can begin to like fish with a recipe like this.

It's been several days since my last post and I am sorry Dear Reader. However, tomorrow we are finally en route to San Francisco where I will begin yet another culinary adventure! First stop? The store to pick up some tuna to cook this Cooking Light recipe for my sister, her husband and my fish-loving boyfriend. A treat for all!

Grilled Tuna with Basil Butter and Fresh Tomato Sauce
Ingredients

Basil Butter:
3/4 cup fresh basil leaves
2 tablespoons butter, softened
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 garlic cloves, minced

Sauce:
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
3 cups grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons capers
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley

Tuna:
4 (6-ounce) tuna steaks (about 1 inch thick)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Cooking spray
4 basil leaves (optional)

Prepare grill or broiler.

To prepare basil butter, combine first 5 ingredients in a food processor; process until smooth, scraping sides as needed. Set aside.

To prepare sauce, heat oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and 2 garlic cloves; sauté 3 minutes. Add tomatoes; sauté 2 minutes. Stir in wine, capers, vinegar, and sugar; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in parsley. Set aside.

To prepare tuna, sprinkle tuna with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Place tuna on grill rack or broiler pan coated with cooking spray. Cook 5 minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness. Serve with sauce and basil butter. Garnish with basil leaves, if desired.

Grilled Tuna with Basil Butter and Fresh Tomato Sauce

Prosciutto with Port-Marinated Figs and Gorgonzola Dolce

PlumpJack is a food, wine and hospitality group based in San Francisco that has locations in Squaw Valley and Napa Valley as well. Their humble beginnings began in the wine business when mayor, Gavin Newsom, opened up a little wine shop in San Francisco. Now, PlumpJack has restaurants, wineries, and boutique hotels. Not bad.

The PlumpJack Cookbook is definitely my style of cooking. In this cookbook book you'll find a range of recipes from Braised Lamb Shanks in Red Wine with Pomegranate/ Mint Gremolata to Sea Scallops with King Trumpet Mushrooms and Meyer Lemon Relish.

This was a great salad to kick off our dinner party last weekend. I doubled the port and honey so our figs were really saturated and yummy and subbed goat cheese for the Gorgonzola.

Prosciutto with Port-Marinated Figs and Gorgonzola Dolce
12 figs, halved
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons port
12 slices of prosciutto
3 ounces Gorgonzola cheese
Salt and pepper
1 bunch of watercress or arugula
12 walnut halves

Add port, honey and salt and pepper to bowl and whisk together. Add figs cut side down and marinate at room temperature for at least two hours.

Place a couple slices of prosciutto on each plate. Arrange figs cut side up and add a dollop of cheese on top of each fig. Place walnut half on top of cheese. Arrange arugula or watercress in center of plate and drizzle entire salad with remaining port mixture.

Prosciutto with Port-Marinated Figs and Gorgonzola Dolce

Alice Water's Vinaigrette

Last night my sister took me to the preview party for Slow Food Nation in San Francisco. There we met famed chef and slow food pioneer Alice Waters. Her restaurant, Chez Panisse, has been practicing her local and sustainable preach for over 25 years. Cooking segments are being taped in the Green Kitchen, a small studio in the convention hall, to be posted on You Tube shortly after the event wraps. The idea is to show viewers how to cook and knowing your ingredients. Fresh food is best left simple. See for yourself in Alice's cookbook, The Art of Simple Food.

This is the recipe she shared with us that you can find in her book:

Alice Water's Vinaigrette
INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Salt
• Fresh-ground black pepper
• 3 to 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

This is the sauce I make most often, and if it’s made out of good olive oil and good wine vinegar, it’s the best salad dressing I can imagine. At its simplest, vinaigrette is a mixture of vinegar and oil in a ratio of 1 part vinegar to about 3 or 4 parts oil. Start by estimating roughly how much vinaigrette you will need. This depends on what you’re using it for; a quarter cup is more than enough for four servings of green salad, for example, but you really never need to measure out exact amounts. Start by pouring the vinegar into a bowl. Dissolve a pinch of salt in it and taste for balance. The salt has a real relationship with the vinegar. When you add just enough salt, it subdues the acid of the vinegar and brings it into a wonderful balance. Try adding salt bit by bit and tasting to see what happens. How much salt is too much? How much is too little? What tastes best? If you add too much salt, just add a touch more vinegar.

Grind in some black pepper and whisk in the oil. The vinaigrette should taste brightly balanced, neither too oily nor overly acidic. Adjust the sauce, adding more vinegar if you’ve added too much oil, and more salt, if it needs it.

Alice Water's Vinaigrette

Fig Season

Summer may be coming to an end but Fig Season has just begun. That's good news for us all, especially my little sister. When you eat a ripe fig, there are few fruits that can beat it, if at all. A ripe fig is luscious, sweet, beautiful in color and is delicious fresh or dried. But my favorite is Fig Jam. My sister always has some store bought jam on-hand and it's a perfect accompaniment with any cheese platter, especially one with goat cheese. Here is a homemade recipe to take advantage of the fig harvest this fall.

Fig Jam

5 pounds fresh figs, chopped

6 cups of sugar

3/4 cup of water

1/2 cup of lemon juice

To prepare chopped figs: Cover figs with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes. Drain, stem, and chop figs.

Combine figs, sugar and 1/4 cup of water in a large sauce pot. Bring slowly to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves. Cook rapidly until thick. Stir frequently to prevent sticking. Add lemon juice and cook 1 minute longer. Pour hot into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch head space. Adjust caps. Process 15 minutes on a boiling water bath. Yields about 5 pints.

Fig Season

Pride Mountain Vineyards

I've made some great friends since I started working at Duckhorn this summer. My time is winding down and so is my friend Jen's so we decided to a tasting with our other partner in crime, Matt, before our last day. Jen used to run the wine club at Kellogg and has recently graduated. Matt is a semi-retired investment banker from San Francisco that is trying to learn the ins and outs of the wine business so he can pursue his own label one day. They are both very knowledgeable about wines and the perfect pair to do tastings with.

We decided to start at Pride Mountain Vineyards and work our way down Spring Mountain and hit the mom and pop wineries. Pride was a home run and I would have to say that it's a must if you are ever in Napa Valley.

Pride is a 235-acre estate divided by the Sonoma and Napa county lines. It has gorgeous caves (see room below for private events), incredible views, knowledgeable and passionate employees and tasty, tasty wines.

Pride is ran by the Pride family. They purchased the land in 1989 and had their first vintage in 1991. Jim Pride (who sadly passed in 2004) started the Pride Institute, a dental practice management company. While Jim focused on his business his wife Carolyn managed the operations at the winery.

Pride's consulting winemaker, Bob Foley, is known for his unique wine making style. He began his career at Heitz, moved on to Markham and has devoted the rest of his career since to Pride and wine education within the industry.

The Viognier and Cabernet are not to be missed even though I don't think you can go wrong with any of their wines. Pride is appointment only so be sure to call ahead (707) 963-4949 and it's worth the drive.

Pride Mountain Vineyards

Slow Food Nation

I don't know what you are doing this Labor Day Weekend but I plan on attending Slow Food Nation in San Francisco, one of the largest celebrations of food in this great nation. There will be speakers, dinners, chef demonstrations, workshops, taste pavilions of every kind and much more. Tickets are still available for Sunday night so don't miss out on all the foodie fun! Visit http://slowfoodnation.org

Slow Food Nation

Indoor Clambake

When Duckhorn had its employee dinner this summer, they had a local caterer whip up a mean outdoor clambake. It really was heaven and a great way to break the ice. Once they pour out the pots on butcher paper, all you do is roll up your sleeves and go at it with your hands. There are no utensils insight.

This recipe was a feature on Epicurious and provides an excellent recipe to recreate this dish on a smaller scale and in your own kitchen.

Indoor Clambake
2 pounds medium new potatoes, red or white
4 ears corn, husked
2 pounds soft-shelled steamer clams, scrubbed
1 1/2 pounds mussels, scrubbed and beards removed
1 pound Spanish-style chorizo or linguiça, cut crosswise into 4 pieces (andouille or smoked kielbasa sausage can be substituted)
4 (1 to 1 1/4 pound) live lobsters
5 large eggs

For Cooking
4 large mesh bags (such as onions or citrus fruit come in) or 4 pouches made from several wide layers cheesecloth
Kitchen twine
Large pot (5 or more gallons) with tightly-fitting lid

For Serving
12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted
Old Bay seasoning
4 lemon wedges

Preparation

Place potatoes in large saucepan; cover with cold water and bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook just until tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain well. Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate until well chilled, at least 2 hours and up to 2 days.
Into each bag or cheesecloth pouch, put: 2 potatoes, l ear corn, 1/4 of steamers, 1/4 of mussels, 1 piece sausage, 1 lobster, and 1 egg. Gather bags or pouches together and tie closed with kitchen twine.

Fill 5-gallon pot with 1 inch of water and add 1 tablespoon salt. Add steamer rack or enough rockweed to keep clambakes elevated. Cover and bring to rolling boil.

Gently layer bags in pot. Nestle extra egg in a central position where it's easily retrievable. Cover tightly and steam 15 minutes, maintaining water at full rolling boil. Uncover pot, set aside extra egg, and gently rearrange bags from top to bottom to promote even cooking. Replace egg and re-cover pot.

Steam additional 5 minutes, then retrieve extra egg and crack open. If it's hard-cooked, clambakes are done. If egg is not yet cooked, steam bags an additional 5 to 10 minutes. (If you're unsure, untie one bag and test with another egg). When done, lobsters will be completely red. Transfer each bag to large plate and serve immediately.

To serve, divide melted butter among 4 small cups and season to taste with salt. Ladle some broth from pot into 4 small bowls. Cut open bags. Discard any steamers or mussels that have not opened and loosely arrange food on plates. Sprinkle with Old Bay seasoning. Place one cup of butter, one dish of broth, and one lemon wedge on each plate. Have bowls for shells and plenty of napkins at the ready.

• For an outdoor clambake, the food is layered from the longest cooking time (on the bottom) to the shortest. In the indoor version, all ingredients must cook in the same time, so the potatoes are boiled in advance.

Indoor Clambake

Noodle Nest with Tapenade

This recipe was published as an Olympic Lunch, hence the title. My husband, Kevin, loooves anchovies and olives so this was right up his alley.

NOODLE NEST

1/2 pound linguine

1 cup tapenade (recipe follows)

1 Tablespoon olive oil

1/2 Tablespoon lemon juice

1 pound Halibut steak or fillet, 1 inch thick

Boil: Cook noodles until just tender. Drain and toss with half the tapenade. Curl into a circle on a serving platter.

Grill: Mix olive oil and lemon juice in a shallow bowl. Dip in halibut, coating both sides. Grill over a hot fire until just cooked through, 4 minutes per side.

Serve: Let fish rest 2 minutes. Slice thinly. Arrange slices in the center of the noodle nest. Top with remaining tapenade. Enjoy warm or at room temperature.

TAPENADE

1 orange

3/4 cup oil cured black olives, pitted

1 can anchovy fillets, drained

3 cloves garlic

1 small bunch parsley

1 sprig rosemary

1'4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 Tablespoons capers, drained

Freshly ground black pepper

Zest and juice the orange. Chop the zest together with olives, anchoies, garlic, parsley leaves and rosemary needles. Scoop into a bowl. Stir in olive oil, capers and 2 Tablespoons orange juice. Season with black pepper.

Noodle Nest with Tapenade

Roasted Harrisa Chicken

Last year, Napa debuted its Oxbow Market. This wonderful place reminds me very much of Chelsea Market in NYC but with an extensive wine bar instead of the Food Network studio. It has a charcuterie spot (Fatted Calf), a cheesemonger (Oxbow Cheese Merchant), a seafood outpost (Kanaola) and much more. Oxbow is located just next to Copia which was Robert and Margaret Mondavi's philanthropic pet project that created a center where food, wine and the arts are all celebrated. All this greatness aside, the place that really caught my attention and the rest of the cash in my wallet was a gorgeous spice stand by the name of Whole Spice. The best part about Whole Spice was Shuli Madone, its passionate owner. Originally from Israel, Shuli brought his family tradition to the states and let me tell you that this guy knows his stuff.

I've found that when you approach an exciting market filled with specialty stores that it is best to leave it to the pros. Ask them what they like. What they suggest. And why. To own a store like this or to even work in one requires passion. These people are often great cooks. They love to share their recipes and will talk for hours if you let them. Sometimes, these folks are better than any cooking show or cookbook you can get your hands on. I love that.

Shuli was no exception. He insisted that I take some free Herbs de Provence Sea Salt to test against my own since I told him 'I already have that'. I can tell you for a fact that his is much better. I also made it home with a Zhug Dipping Sauce that is a spice mix that I will add some olive oil to and serve with a baguette for snack-time around the house. A teaspoon will do just fine with a 1/4 cup of olive oil. It's spicy but Drew and I love our spice. However, his go-to, the one I HAD to get, was his Harrisa Spice Mix.

Harrisa is a hot blend that can accompany a variety of foods and adds an unmistakable Middle Eastern flavor. It's very common in North African cuisine and can be used in couscous, soups, salads, veggies and kabobs. But I'll use this mostly in my marinades for lamb, beef or chicken just as he suggested as well. The ingredients include chili California, chili New Mexico, coriander, garlic, cumin, cayenne and citric acid. Oh yeah, it can be made into a paste by smashing up some garlic and adding a dash of olive oil in a mortar and pestle.

Before I packed up my spices to move on to the wine bar, Shuli gave me this wonderful recipe for my Harrisa Spice Blend:

Roasted Harrisa Chicken
2 lbs chicken leg quarters
4 cloves of garlic, crushed
3 tablespoons Harrisa
5 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

In a small bowl or mortar and pestle crush garlic and add Harrisa and olive oil. Mix it into a paste. Season chicken with S&P on both sides. Generously rub chicken with paste until covered.

Heat oven to 400 degrees and roast in pan for an hour. Serve immediately.

Roasted Harrisa Chicken

Turkey Burgers

To be honest, I screwed this recipe up. I haven't grilled a lot of turkey burgers in my day and since they are lean they do not extract fatty juices that create a great natural divide between the grill and the meat. Instead, each time I flipped these burgers the grilled portion would stick to the grill and rip off the bottom. Thus my burgers became thinner and thinner and thinner. A medium heat and like brush of oil on the grill will solve that problem. I guess there is always next time...

Here is a great recipe from Martha Stewart's website. I would sub panko instead of breadcrumbs but if you don't have panko around it's no big deal.

Turkey Burgers
Ingredients

Serves 4
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey, preferably 92 to 93 percent lean
1/2 cup finely grated Gruyere cheese
4 thinly sliced scallions
1/4 cup dried breadcrumbs
1/4 cup Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Vegetable oil, for grill
4 hamburger buns

Sliced tomatoes, red or white onion, ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and lettuce leaves, for serving

Directions
Heat grill to high. In a medium bowl, use a fork to gently combine ground turkey with cheese, scallions, breadcrumbs, mustard, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Gently form mixture into four 1-inch-thick patties.

Lightly oil grill. Place patties on the hottest part of the grill; sear until browned, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Move the patties to cooler part of the grill; continue grilling until cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes per side.

Turkey Burgers

Boboli Post Script

OK Brand new post, brand new person on this fabulous website that I have been reeling in the benefits but not giving back...not good. I'm going to change that. Before I post some recipes, I have to comment on your post from August 18th re: Boboli...you remember that wonderful store, Symons General Store in Petoskey, Lizzie? I saw a creative prop on the aisle that had a Boboli Grill recipe. The instructions are: Grill cheese side down of Boboli in a closed grill for 1-2 minutes. Flip over and add Roasted Garlic Onion and Fig Jam from Stonewall Kitchen (our choice, any jam or tapenade will work) and crumbled goat cheese. Continue grilling for 4 minutes with lid closed...incredibly delicious, we tried different spreads and substituted feta and gorganzola all summer and loved every one!

Boboli Post Script

The Chameleon: Boboli Crust

Boboli pizza crust is nothing special. You can find it anywhere. Actually, the brand even makes its own pasta sauces and more generic offerings these days and are available in just about every grocery store. But these crusts can really take a new meaning if you don't actually use them for making pizza.

First off, props to my Aunt Kristi who has been using this bread as everything BUT pizza crust since I can remember. Now, I see crusts like these served alongside some roasted garlic and blue cheese ( a Tra Vigne classic), next to pasta with some olive oil or other innovative ways. In fact, I used it as an 'English Muffin' for my Eggs Benedict with pesto hollandaise (had to throw the pesto in there because it was so dang good) the other day. Best part was I grilled it instead of baked it so it took a whole new dimension and gave it some presentation flare, too. So stock up on this stuff cause you never know when it will come handy.

The Chameleon: Boboli Crust

Mexican Torta

Those with high cholesterol beware of the Torta. It takes no prisoners...

It's good to be back in the land of good Mexican food. Napa Valley is over 65% Hispanic and there are great local markets, such as La Luna and Azteca Market, that don't mess around. Both usually have lines around the block during lunch so go during off hours. La Luna is a store I have been going to since I was a kid. I used to ride with my friend from her nearby vineyard (now a HWY 29 hot spot by the name of Peju Province) on their 3-wheeler to grab lunch and go to their nearby stable and ride horses in the afternoon. They sell everything from hot peppers to wedding dresses. It's a town gem.

Regardless of my history with tasty Mexican cuisine, it's hard to go a long day of hard work in the Valley without filling up on a torta. Now, these are no joke. Beginners should split one. They don't mess around and Mexican food is never good left over. You MUST eat on-site. Take-out is for rookies and drunks.

If you cannot find this sandwich locally at a Mexican or Cuban joint than try to make it at home after a day of some hard labor or if you are just in the mood. Tortas are a pretty generic term so basically all you you need is to pick a protein (beef, pork, shrimp, fish...) and choose from refried beans, scrambled eggs, milanesa, chipotle, avocado, sour cream, lettuce, jalapeño, tomato, and cheese. The bread is key so expect a nice soft white roll with a house sauce (red or green). Also, if I were you, I'd add spice wherever possible.

Enjoy your next (or first) Mexican sandwich.

Mexican Torta

Chateau Montelena

While Drew was in town, we picked up a copy of the Judgement of Paris. This is the story of the famous blind tasting conducted just outside of Paris between French and Californian wines judged by George Taber and leading industry professionals. California's victory put Napa Valley wines on the map and brought some passionate vintners some well deserved respect. One of the wineries that competed in this tasting was Chateau Montelena. On my day off, we hopped in the car and drove 10 minutes to Calistoga to see it in person and learn more of its dynamic history that began in 1882.
For instance, did you know that there is a gorgeous man-made pond dedicated to a past owner's wife named Jade that descended from China? Did you know that they remodeled the winery into their home and the home was later remodeled back into the winery and tasting room?
Bottle Shock just released in town and is an exaggerated tale of the Judgment of Paris that depicts Napa Valley in the 70's as a hippie culture where vintners surf in the afternoon. Trust me, this was not the case back then. However, it is a reminder of how far California wines have come and how they have paved the way for more emerging wines from regions in other countries, such as New Zealand and Chile.

Chateau Montelena

Steamed Artichokes

There are few things better than a steamed artichoke. I grew up on these. They were my father's favorite. And when you serve these yummy leaves with a caper-mayonnaise dipping sauce you can do no wrong. Artichokes are pointy, prickly and weird looking. So when you serve these to someone that doesn't spend that much time in the kitchen they are really impressed. Truth is they are a piece of cake if you have a sharp knife and a pair of kitchen scissors.

When selecting artichokes, choose those whose petals have not opened far. The tighter and more compact the artichoke, the fresher.

Steamed Artichokes
1 artichoke
1/2 lemon, squeezed
2 teaspoons of olive oil
1 bay leaf

Cut off or trim end of artichoke stem. Create a 'cross' slit on the bottom of the steam but not very deep. If desired, snip thorny tip off each leaf with kitchen scissors. Wash artichokes, taking care to shake out excess water so they will not be soggy when steamed. Place in a vegetable steamer, covered, over boiling water and add the juice of a half lemon, the olive oil and bay leaf. Steam for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on size. The artichokes are ready when one of outer leaves can easily be removed. Serve with caper-mayonnaise.

Caper-Mayonnaise
1/3 cup of mayonnaise (the real stuff, please)
2 tablespoons capers, minced
1/2 lemon, juiced
salt and pepper
2 teaspoons of dried tarragon

Whisk all contents together with a fork and serve cold.

Steamed Artichokes

Shanghai Fried Noodles

We went to San Francisco for the day to apartment search and stayed with my sister and her husband at their new house in the Haight. As much as I have loved living in Napa this summer, there really isn't a lot of ethnic food at your finger tips (with the exclusion of Mexican, of course). So when my sister asked me what I was in the mood for I didn't hesitate to say Asian. Turns out that she has a fantastic spot around the corner where dishes run in single digits called Citrus Club. This place really hit the spot and portions ran very large so you get a huge bang for your buck. I ordered the Shanghai Noodles with Flank Steak so I did a quick search and pulled this recipe from Food Network so I can try to make it at home. I heart udon noodles.

Shanghai Fried Noodles
Ingredients
1 pound fresh Shanghai noodles, or Japanese udon noodles
2 tablespoons Chinese rice wine
1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
12 ounces flank steak, sliced into 1/4-inch strips
3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon minced ginger
1/2 teaspoon minced green onions, plus 1 cup cut-on-a-bias green onions
3 cups julienned Napa cabbage
1/2 teaspoon minced jalapeno

Directions
In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the noodles until al dente, about 8 minutes. Rinse under cold running water and drain well. Set aside. In a small bowl, combine the rice wine, hoisin, and cornstarch. Add the beef, toss to coat, and marinate for 15 minutes. In another bowl, combine the dark soy, soy sauce and sugar, and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Place a wok over a high heat and add 1 tablespoon of the peanut oil, swirling to coat. When hot, add the garlic, ginger, and minced green onions, and cook, stirring quickly, for 10 seconds. Add the beef and stir-fry for 3 minutes. Add the cabbage and stir-fry for 3 minutes.

Transfer to a platter and return the wok to a high heat. Swirl the remaining tablespoon of peanut oil in the wok and once hot, add the noodles to the pan and stir-fry for 1 minute. Add the sliced
green onions and jalapeno and sauce and toss all for 1 minute. Add the beef and stir to heat
through. Serve immediately.

Shanghai Fried Noodles

Kristi's Summer Pasta with Brie

When I crave some home cooking I crave many of my Aunt Kristi's staple recipes, especially her twist on Silver Palate's Summer Pasta. She often subs grape tomatoes and Capellini pasta. In addition, sometimes she likes to add some olives and homemade pesto. I love this stuff...

Kristi's Summer Pasta with Brie

Ingredients

4 large ripe tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch cubes (can sub grape tomatoes)

1 lb Brie cheese, rind removed, torn into irregular pieces

1 cup clean fresh basil leaves, cut into strips

3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced

3/4 to 1 cup, plus

1 Tbsp, best quality olive oil

2 1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper

1 1/2 cappellini (angel hair)

Freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese

Directions

Combine tomatoes, Brie, basil, garlic, 3/4-1 cup olive oil and salt (optional) and pepper in a large serving bowl. Prepare at least 2 hours ahead before serving and set aside, covered, at room temperature.Bring 6 quarts water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and remaining salt. Add pasta and boil until tender but still firm, 8 to 10 minutes.Drain pasta and immediately toss with tomato sauce. Serve at once, passing the peppermill and grated cheese if you like.Serves 4 to 6.

Kristi's Summer Pasta with Brie