Monthly Archives: April 2014

I Have Some Reservations About Truffle Oil

1/4 lb of Frozen Truffles

1/4 lb of Frozen Truffles

If a quarter pound of good FROZEN  (not fresh BUT FROZEN) truffles coast a FORKING $500.00 do you really think your $20.00 bottle of truffle oil is any FORKING good? Do you think it’s really made of Forking truffles?

Most Truffle Oils are not actually made from truffles and are Forking SYNTHETIC CHEMICALS that are also called Aroma because they are similar to  FORKING perfume.

You can find oils and salts that have a trace amounts of truffle in them.

IMG_2918

But they don’t compare to real Truffle. They are only just a slight hint of truffle.

IMG_2915

 

Truffle oil (if it’s a really FORKING good (($$$$)) one goes well with potatoes(Fries), Eggs, Rice, Popcorn, Bread and Pasta.

But it can never be what real Truffles are.

Often if you get a real truffle it would be either old and dry or a variety that isn’t  desirable like from China or the U.S.A. Truffle. Desirable kinds are like Australian, French or Italian. Expect to pay $20-$75 additional charge to your meal for real FORKING truffle to be shaved on.

I’m not totally against my Trace amount Truffle Salt and Trace amount Truffle Oil after all they make my Fresh just Popped Popcorn taste slightly special.

IMG_2924

Fresh 2 min. no chemicals Popped Pop Corn

Recipe

One Brown Lunch Bag

1/4 C. Pop Corn (hint the big kernels taste and pop better)

Place Brown Bag with your 1/4 C. pop corn kernels with top rolled close. Place in microwave and let it go for up to two minutes. Add whatever spice seasoning you like and spring for butter if you care to.

Forking Truth

Forking Truth

Mandarin Orange Salsa Recipe

I purchased these delightful looking Mandarin Oranges from Sprouts. To my surprise they tasted too tart for me to eat.

IMG_2914

I didn’t want to throw them out or make a dessert out of them so I made them into salsa.

Salsa is very easy to make. All I added to the Mandarin Segments were…….

Sweet Onion Chopped

Jalapeño Chopped

Fresh Cilantro Chopped

Garlic Chopped

Some Apple Cider Vinegar

Some Sea Salt fresh Crushed

Some Black Pepper Fresh Grind

Then I just used my Hand Blender and made salsa.

Now it’s Tasty on Grilled or Pan Seared Meats or Seafood.

Mandarin Orange Salsa

Mandarin Orange Salsa

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

Vincent Market Bistro Phoenix Arizona #PhxFood

Why wait for Forking Restaurant Week when you can dine at Vincent Market Bistro and get Better than Restaurant Week Forking Pricing anytime on anything there! You can count on warm fresh flaky Croissants served on the most adorable plates.

Croissants

Croissants

We felt like a little wine.

IMG_0773

So we purchased the most Forking expensive bottle on the wine list. ($30.00)

 

We shared a Three Cheese Tartine with tomatoes and basil. That also came with a very fresh greens salad. ($9.50)

Three Cheese Tartine with tomatoes and Basil Pesto

Three Cheese Tartine with tomatoes and Basil Pesto

It was very hard to decide on what dinner to pick since they had so many Forking choices. Some of the dinners we had before were Beef Bourguignon, Coq Au Vin, Crispy Duck Confit, Lamb Shank,  Petite Filet, Lobster and other Seafood Dishes.

I went with one of the lighter dinners and had The Flounder with Basil Beurre Blanc sauce with Fresh Greens as my side. ($13.00)

Flounder with Basil Beurre Blanc Sauce

Flounder with Basil Beurre Blanc Sauce

A pretty Forking amazing dinner for $13.00.  The Fish was so fresh and cooked to perfection. The sauce was light but rich at the same time and the food here always has the perfect amount of fresh herbs in it.

Meat Paella Special

Meat Paella Special

My husband tried the Meat Paella Special. It had the most perfect Forking Scrumptious Moist Chicken.  The Rice wasn’t crunchy but was oh so delicious and was another very amazing meal. ($13.00)

The desserts are always worth the Forking calories here so I was just trying to decide what we’d try and all of a sudden a waiter presents us with Complimentary Strawberry Cobbler ala mode and a Chocolate Mocha Tart.

Strawberry Cobbler ala Mode

Strawberry Cobbler ala Mode

Chocolate Mocha Tart

Chocolate Mocha Tart

I was so full but had to eat the Forking desserts because they were so good!

Then another Waiter brings us more Forking Complimentary Dessrt and is was a trio of Pots de Creme.

Pots de Creme trio

Pots de Creme trio

Service is always Outstanding with a professional dressed staff that works as a team! I do note there is no late night here I think they stop serving at 8pm so you need to arrange for that.

This restaurant is Forking Amazing!

Worth a Fork. I'd drive up to 45 minutes to eat here.

Worth a Fork. I’d drive up to 45 minutes to eat here.

Forking Truth

Forking Truth

Filipino Eggplant

Filipino Eggplants

Filipino Eggplants

Filipino Eggplant next to a Chinese Eggplant

Filipino Eggplant next to a Chinese Eggplant

I saw Filipino Eggplants at the Market today so I thought I’d give them a try. I don’t know if mine were typical or not but seemed to have a very thick skin so I removed it.

I thought they seemed more dense than Chinese Eggplants so I broiled them till they had crispy ends.

Broiled and with skin removed Filipino Eggplant

Broiled and with skin removed Filipino Eggplant

I made a thin not sweet Asian Style Inspired sauce and added it to the Eggplant along with sautéed green onions and chopped cilantro, and green onion tops.

IMG_2845

 

The ends stayed crispy that way.

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

Delicious! Oven Fried Parsnip Fries with Ginger Cream and Green Garlic Recipe

Parsnips are very delicious in a number of ways but at the moment I’m liking them Oven Fried with Ginger Cream and Green Garlic.

Oven Fried Parsnip Fries with Ginger Cream and Green Garlic

Oven Fried Parsnip Fries with Ginger Cream and Green Garlic

They are very easy to make as you just wash then cut the Parsnips into  French Fries Shapes. Place on pan to roast and drizzle with oil. Roast them till just fork tender and then let them go a little more on upper rack to crisp and brown them slightly.  Add fresh ground Sea Salt and Crushed Black Pepper.

To make the Cream you can use or make Cream Fraiche and strain. But I make my cream with less fat so I use a combination of Whipped or Light Cream Cheese mixed with Nonfat Greek Yogurt. I grate a good amount of fresh Ginger into it till it’s strong of ginger.

I then top with Chopped Green Garlic.

Green Garlic

Green Garlic

There is no substitute for green garlic. The freshness and milder garlic flavor is delicious here and goes insanely well with the ginger cream. You can use chives or green onions but it won’t be the same. These Parsnip Fries are so tasty you will make them again and again!

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

Carrot Ribbons around Parsnip Fries

Carrot Ribbons around Parsnip Fries

 

Easy Delicious Roasted Carrots with Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

Roasted Carrots, Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

Roasted Carrots, Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

I purchased some Black Garlic at Trader Joe’s.

Trader Joe's Black Garlic

Trader Joe’s Black Garlic

I wasn’t sure what I was going to do with it so then I tasted the Black Garlic.

To me it seemed more like fruit than garlic and was sort of like a fig and a prune mixed together but with a little twang going on.

I thought since Black Garlic is only Garlic I thought it would go with my Grape Tomatoes I had.

So I put my Grape tomatoes and Black garlic with a sprinkle of extra virgin olive oil in a pan to roast.

Grape tomatoes with pealed black garlic

Grape tomatoes with pealed black garlic

Till they looked like this.

Roasted Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

Roasted Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

I also just roasted red carrots from the farmers market.

Roasted Red Carrots

Roasted Red Carrots

So I tasted them together and it is a very good match. The sweetness of the carrots and Jammy from the Black Garlic almost candies the carrots and the tomatoes are already sweet.

Roasted Carrots, Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

Roasted Carrots, Grape Tomatoes and Black Garlic

 

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

 

 

 

 

 

Asparagus Guacamole

Asparagus Guacamole

Asparagus Guacamole

Asparagus Guacamole is Forking easy to make.  It’s just like regular Forking guacamole but you need to work with cooked asparagus (over cooked asparagus works best) and then process it. (Smooth or Chunky)

IMG_2800

This isn’t  Forking Rocket Science and it’s just a combination of.

Asparagus

Lime

Salt

Onion

Fresh Cilantro

Tomato

Garlic

Cayenne

Jalapeño

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

 

 

Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol Glendale AZ

Popo’s Fiesta Del Sol isn’t the best or most Forking authentic Mexican Restaurant but it is budget priced and family friendly.  You can always count on tasty chips, delicious fresh salsa and low priced very FORKING strong Margaritas from this family owned restaurant.

IMG_2715

 

Did I say VERY FORKING Strong Margaritas?

IMG_2720

 

My favorite meal to order at Popo’s is their Chicken Fajita salad.

Chicken Fajita Salad with Cheese on Side and a s/o of guacamole

Chicken Fajita Salad with Cheese on Side and a s/o of guacamole

The Chicken is always tasty with the fried onions and peppers. The salad is fresh and for my taste it doesn’t need dressing just some salsa. The proportions of the ingredients vary a bit. This time they gave me lots of avocado.

Sometimes the plates are a little messy. Forking Truth!

IMG_2664

IMG_2663

 

The Guacamole is very unique here. You can clearly taste the fresh avocados and it’s different because it’s very smooth and heavily laced with fresh cilantro and not chunky. I think something heavy and creamy like cream cheese might be added to it but I don’t know for sure.

The sour cream is also real Mexican Style meaning it’s the extra heavy kind.

Carnitas

Carnitas

On our last visit my husband had the Carnitas. He thought they were good.

We like coming here because we don’t Peso Much! We had a total of four Forking  Strong margaritas and our two meals and spent somewhere around only $40.00 Forking dollars before tip.

IMG_2717

3.5 Meaning  Good Value not award winning. if you are in the neighborhood kind of place.

3.5 Meaning Good Value not award winning. if you are in the neighborhood kind of place.

Forking Truth

Forking Truth

 

 

 

Spicy Green Skhug Sauce Recipe makes your Falafels Extraordinary

Green Skhug Sauce also called Yemenite Sauce

Green Skhug Sauce also called Yemenite Sauce

Skhug Sauce also called Yemenite Sauce is made up of Spicy peppers, Garlic, Fresh parsley and or cilantro and a variety of spices.  This sauce can be made red with the use of red peppers or brown with tomatoes but at the moment I’m liking the green one best.

I never knew what I was missing till I was first served Skhug Sauce with my Falafel, Hummus Combo Plate that I like to get at those Mid East kind of Eateries.

The Skhug sauce adds life to food. The Spices are complex and lingering. Hummus and Falafels are boring to me now with out Skhug Sauce.

I developed my own recipe after experimenting with it for a while and this is what I came up with. I DO WARN YOU a little goes a long way this sauce is very spicy!

Green Skhug Sauce

1/2 Bunch Fresh Cilantro rough chopped including stems (Some people like more like a whole bunch but for me 1/2 taste good in this recipe. Some people only use parsley and some use 1/2 and 1/2. I’m not the biggest fan of Cilantro but in this sauce it shines.

12 Cloves Garlic Chopped

6 Thai Chilies (Rough Chopped)

4 Jalapeños (Rough Chopped)

2 t. Cumin

2 t. Coriander (Heap them a little I go a little heavy on the Coriander)

1 t. Black Pepper

2 t. Cardamon (I fresh grind mine and never go over on this one or it’s too much)

1/4 t. Cloves

1/4 t. Caraway Seeds

1/2t. Kosher or Sea Salt

Juice of one small or 1/2 large Lemon

About 1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Enough Water to get it Processed in your Processor or Blender.

I usually make it slightly thicker than what I just made. It should be a little chunky. A little goes a very long way.  Sometimes I use a little Green Skhug to flavor dressings or Mayo for a spread on a sandwich or Burger.

If you like Spicy and Hummus you’ll be hooked on Green Skhug Sauce!

IMG_4144

This Batch is a little different. I made it more relish style and made with the same spices but I used different peppers, and brine from some jarred Cherry peppers instead of Lemon Juice. I also added some fresh mint. The Peppers I used were Shishitos, Cherry Peppers and a few Thai Chili’s.

Forking Good!

Forking Good!

 

 

CASTOREUM (it could be in your food) #Foodie

IMG_2727

 

Castoreum comes from the Beaver’s Castor Sac ( that’s the scent gland). The castor sac fluid is mixed with urine and the castor sac is located under the beaver’s tail by it’s anus. (Forking Yuk!)

Castoreum is considered a “Natural Flavoring” and is listed on food labels that way. (“Natural Forking Beaver Butt area Juice”)

Castoreum is used mostly in Vanilla, Strawberry and Raspberry processed foods. (Non vegetarian Forking Beaver Butt area fluids)

Vegetarian and Vegan foods don’t have Castoreum in them.

Foods marked K do not have Castoreum in them since Beavers and anything from a Beaver can never be Kosher.

Scandinavian Schnapps is traditionally made with Castoreum.

Jamie Oliver made a point about letting the world know about Castoreum and was  talking about Castoreum on a past David Letterman Show. (easy to find on Web) (very funny you need to Forking watch it)

Not a lot but 300 pounds of Castoreum is consumed annually. (Forking Gross)

The Huffington Post reported that Cadbury Cream Eggs have a slight amount of Castoreum  in them.

Forking Truth

Forking Truth