super-tasty

oh so simple puttanesca

BReN — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 22:14:21 +0000

super… tasty, quick and easy! the main ingredients come straight from the cupboard. perfect for an amazing weeknight dish.

RECiPE: oh so simple puttanesca

acidic love

BReN — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 00:28:13 +0000

i love lemons especially meyer. i use them in so many of my dishes. they always brighten up my food in more ways than one…

you know when you want to serve fruit (apple, pear, etc) as an appetizer, side dish or hell just for a snack… but by the time you finish cutting it up, it’s already begun turning a nasty brown.

WHAT TO DO: as i’m cutting, say an apple or ripe banana, i throw the pieces in a bowl and i squeeze and fold in a bit of fresh lime or lemon. the natural acid acts as a simple preservative to your lovely fruit. YAH! no more nasty brown.

SPECIAL NOTE: meyer lemons are the sweetest of them all, so if you want more sweetness try either one of them or a plump juicy orange.

nutty meg

BReN — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:40:09 +0000

nutmeg is a spice that is often not used to its potential. growing up we used it for cookies and cakes… but you’d be surprised just what a great subtle “flavor enhancer” spice it can be. i use it to brighten and balance out great creamy dishes — like: fettucine alfredo or potato and leek soup. it’s also great in enhancing cooked greens, such as spinach, collard, kale, etc. all it takes is a couple of sprinkles into your dish. lightly fresh ground is the best, but a few shakes from the spice rack works too.

SPECiAL NOTE: like all spices. make sure you keep this golden nugget fresh!

cuts like a knife

BReN — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 21:29:28 +0000

knives are a must for every cook. i cook almost everyday of the week and currently only own the following: a medium size chef’s knife, a bread knife, one small boning knife and two leftover steak knives from an old room mate. now i’m the first to declare that our knive situation is pitiful.

because it’s so crucial to most of my recipes my chef knife is the most used instrument in my tackle box.

i use this awesome knife every day for chopping, slicing and dicing: vegetables, fruits, herbs, meats… just about anything and everything — hence, CHEF’S KNiFE or COOK’S KNiFE.

we decided that if we were going to be basically relying on one knife it would be good to invest in a super high quality one. i have to say i never thought i would pay a $100 for a knife… but man was it worth every cent.

CHEF’S KNiFE
now if you don’t have many knives (like us)… i would highly recommend you at least have one of these (see above). we own an 8 inch medium size one by WUSTOF. here is the 8 inch KNiFE we have.

this isn’t your mother’s GiNSU if you keep it safe and sharp, you’ll have it for life.

super spicy curry lentil soup

BReN — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 20:50:39 +0000

lentils are awesome cause they soak up any spice you desire. let’s add curry and a few others — YEAH!

RECiPES: super spicy curry lentil soup

pear walnut bleu cheese spinach salad

BReN — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 22:30:17 +0000

this makes for a great fall, winter salad and is a cool fresh addition to all those rich heavy holiday meals.

FiX: 10-15 minutes

GOODS:
2 fresh PEARS
1 bag fresh BABY SPiNACH
1 cup lightly toasted, sweetened WALNUTS*
1/2 cup of crumbled BLEU CHEESE
1 tbs. EXTRA ViRGiN OLiVE OiL
CRACKED BLACK PEPPER
1 pinch SEA SALT
1/4 MEYER LEMON

TOASTED, SWEETENED WALNUTS: to toast, sweetened up your own walnuts. drizzle a touch of OLiVE OiL into a frying pan. set heat to medium. toss in a cup of RAW WALNUTS. sprinkle in a tablespoon of RAW SUGAR and a pinch of SEA SALT. keep an eye they toast up in just a few minutes. let cool before using.

TACKLE:
chef’s knife
chop board
salad serving tongs
salad bowl

GO: grab a good size salad bowl and drop a bag of fresh, washed BABY SPiNACH in. slice up and toss in the PEARS. give a good squeeze of a 1/4 MEYER LEMON. sprinkle in the BLEU CHEESE and toasted WALNUTS. give a small pinch of SEA SALT and 5 rounds (1/8 tsp.) of CRACKED BLACK PEPPER. give a good squeeze of a 1/2 of MEYER LEMON.

ASSEMBLAGE: just before serving… drizzle in your EXTRA ViRGiN OLiVE OiL and lightly toss.

FEEDS: this fresh, bright salad makes a tasty side dish for 4.

download pdf super-tasty 4×6 recipe card!

oh so simple puttanesca

BReN — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 21:11:20 +0000

i love the simple flavors of a good puttanesca. it’s a great super: tasty, quick, easy and convenient dish. the main ingredients come straight from the cupboard. a perfect stockables recipe!

RECiPE: oh so simple puttanesca