Mark here... this recipe is bit of a mix...I used the Barefoot Contessa's sweet potato fries recipe and found a honey mustard dipping recipe on epicurious.com.
Sweet Potato Fries
Ingredients
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into fries
olive oil
1 tablespoon Light brown sugar
salt and pepper
Preheat the oven to 450
The original recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of olive oil, but I probably used more. You want to toss the fries in the olive oil and brown sugar to cover them. They then go on a sheet pan but I would recommend covering the pan with foil. Cooking with sugar can be messy and can ruin some pans. Lightly salt and pepper the fries and then put in the oven. Here is the tough part, I found they need to be tossed almost constantly or the fries will stick and you could end up with just mashed sweet potato on a pan. It may take longer as you will be opening the oven a bit, but in the end the fries will be better...although I still found it hard to get them to "crisp" like fries as sweet potatoes tend to go soft. Anyway, it should take about half an hour or so.
Honey Mustard Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
1 cup mayonnaise
1/3 cup dijon
2 tablespoons of honey
1/4 teaspoon of salt
Combine and serve!
Thursday, April 17, 2014
Blue Cheese Burgers
Mark Here...This is taken from the Barefoot Contessa's recipe for Blue Cheese Burgers, although I was using a grill pan instead of an outdoor grill. We had this while watching Friday Night Lights episode, "Upping the Ante"
Blue Cheese Burgers
Ingredients
3 lbs ground beef (the original recipe called for half chuck and half sirloin, but I want to our local butcher, McCall's, told them what I was making and just got their ground beef...which was amazing)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup steak sauce
3 large eggs
salt and pepper
buns
blue cheese
arugula
sliced heirloom tomatoes (I picked an assortment)
Lightly mix the first 5 ingredients (salt and pepper to taste), being careful not to mash. Form hamburger patties.
Cook the burgers a couple minutes each side. This part is always iffy..3 to 4 minutes a side depending on the size of the patties and how well done you like your burgers ( I prefer medium rare). Remove the burgers, cover with tin foil and set aside for 5 minutes. Grill the buns, then assemble the burgers with patty, blue cheese, some arugula and sliced tomatoes.
Blue Cheese Burgers
Ingredients
3 lbs ground beef (the original recipe called for half chuck and half sirloin, but I want to our local butcher, McCall's, told them what I was making and just got their ground beef...which was amazing)
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/4 cup steak sauce
3 large eggs
salt and pepper
buns
blue cheese
arugula
sliced heirloom tomatoes (I picked an assortment)
Lightly mix the first 5 ingredients (salt and pepper to taste), being careful not to mash. Form hamburger patties.
Cook the burgers a couple minutes each side. This part is always iffy..3 to 4 minutes a side depending on the size of the patties and how well done you like your burgers ( I prefer medium rare). Remove the burgers, cover with tin foil and set aside for 5 minutes. Grill the buns, then assemble the burgers with patty, blue cheese, some arugula and sliced tomatoes.
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Sausage and Peppers, Potato Salad
Mark here...these recipes come from the Barefoot Contessa and I made them when we watched Friday Night Lights, the episode was called "It's Different For Girls"...I made a small quantity as there was just 2 of us.
Sausage and Pepper "Hot Dogs"
Ingredients
Sausage (We went fancy here and got some great sausages from McCall's Meat and Fish in Los Feliz)
Onion
Red Pepper
Yellow Pepper
Olive oil
chopped garlic (1 clove)
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon tomato puree
pinch red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
Cut the onions in half, and then slice them into 1/8-inch-thick half-rounds.
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the peppers, garlic, vinegar, tomato puree, pepper flakes, salt and pepper and continue cooking an additional 10 minutes.
Potato Salad
Ingredients
3 lbs Red Potatoes
Kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red onionPlace the potatoes and some salt in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel. Allow the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white wine, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, dill, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set aside.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters or in half, depending on their size. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, pour enough dressing over them to moisten. Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Sausage and Pepper "Hot Dogs"
Ingredients
Sausage (We went fancy here and got some great sausages from McCall's Meat and Fish in Los Feliz)
Onion
Red Pepper
Yellow Pepper
Olive oil
chopped garlic (1 clove)
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 tablespoon tomato puree
pinch red pepper flakes
salt and pepper
Cut the onions in half, and then slice them into 1/8-inch-thick half-rounds.
Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the onions and saute for 15 to 20 minutes. Add the peppers, garlic, vinegar, tomato puree, pepper flakes, salt and pepper and continue cooking an additional 10 minutes.
Potato Salad
Ingredients
3 lbs Red Potatoes
Kosher salt
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red onionPlace the potatoes and some salt in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel. Allow the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, white wine, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, dill, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set aside.
When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters or in half, depending on their size. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, pour enough dressing over them to moisten. Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.
Huevos Rancheros, Salsa and Tequila Sunrises
Mark here...just updating some old recipes...This is from the Friday Night Lights episode, "El Accidente"...First off is Mark Bittman's Huevos Rancheros, his Refried Beans and Salsa recipes follows...
Huevos Rancheros
Ingredients
1/2 cup of grapeseed oil
4 5-inch tortillas (I use flour)
Real refried beans
1 tablespoon butter
4 eggs
salt and pepper
Salsa
grated monterey jack cheese
chopped cilantro
Preheat oven to 350.
Cook the tortillas in the heated grapeseed oil, a few minutes each side and then dry on paper towels. Spoon a tablespoon of the beans into the center of each tortilla.
Melt the butter in a separate skillet and add the eggs. Cook until translucent and add salt and pepper to taste. Add an egg to each tortilla and top with salsa and cheese. Transfer to a baking dish and cook in the oven 5 minutes. Top with the cilantro
Real Refried Beans
Ingredients
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3-4 cups drained (liquid reserved) black beans (my choice)
1 large chopped onion
1 tablespoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro
Heat the oil in a skillet and add the beans. Gently mash with a fork or spoon. Add the onion, cumin and cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook until onions are cooked. Add some of the reserved bean liquid if the mixture is too pasty. Add cilantro at the end.
Salsa
Ingredients
2 chilies (I picked 2 at random that weren't too spicy, but I'd choose to taste)
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 chopped onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
3 cups canned chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons lime juice
Finely chop the chiles. Heat the oil in a skillet and add the chiles, onions and garlic and stir. Cook about 5 minutes before adding tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook 20 minutes before adding cilantro and lime juice.
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
good Tequila
Orange Juice
Grenadine
This is about one part tequila, two parts orange juice, mixed in a glass or pitcher. Once in a glass though, add a teaspoon of grenadine to the center, letting it drip off the spoon and drop to the bottom of the glass. Do not stir and you will get the sunrise effect.
Huevos Rancheros
Ingredients
1/2 cup of grapeseed oil
4 5-inch tortillas (I use flour)
Real refried beans
1 tablespoon butter
4 eggs
salt and pepper
Salsa
grated monterey jack cheese
chopped cilantro
Preheat oven to 350.
Cook the tortillas in the heated grapeseed oil, a few minutes each side and then dry on paper towels. Spoon a tablespoon of the beans into the center of each tortilla.
Melt the butter in a separate skillet and add the eggs. Cook until translucent and add salt and pepper to taste. Add an egg to each tortilla and top with salsa and cheese. Transfer to a baking dish and cook in the oven 5 minutes. Top with the cilantro
Real Refried Beans
Ingredients
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
3-4 cups drained (liquid reserved) black beans (my choice)
1 large chopped onion
1 tablespoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro
Heat the oil in a skillet and add the beans. Gently mash with a fork or spoon. Add the onion, cumin and cayenne, and salt and pepper to taste. Continue to cook until onions are cooked. Add some of the reserved bean liquid if the mixture is too pasty. Add cilantro at the end.
Salsa
Ingredients
2 chilies (I picked 2 at random that weren't too spicy, but I'd choose to taste)
1/4 cup grapeseed oil
2 chopped onions
4 chopped garlic cloves
3 cups canned chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper
chopped cilantro
3 tablespoons lime juice
Finely chop the chiles. Heat the oil in a skillet and add the chiles, onions and garlic and stir. Cook about 5 minutes before adding tomatoes, sugar, salt and pepper. Cook 20 minutes before adding cilantro and lime juice.
Tequila Sunrise
Ingredients
good Tequila
Orange Juice
Grenadine
This is about one part tequila, two parts orange juice, mixed in a glass or pitcher. Once in a glass though, add a teaspoon of grenadine to the center, letting it drip off the spoon and drop to the bottom of the glass. Do not stir and you will get the sunrise effect.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Pegasus
Mark here... we're watching episode 10 of Season 2 of Battlestar Galactica, "Pegasus". This episode aired as sort of a finale of season 2.5 of the show and so this episode was a cliffhanger until 6 months later when the next episode aired. With that in mind, we are going to end this round of Battlestar Galatica reviews on the cliffhanger...
On to the episode...this one was a doozy, one of my favorite as it harks back to the original series. In this episode the Battlestar Pegasus shows up. All the other Battlestars were assumed destroyed when the Cylons attacked but apparently the Pegasus survived. Not only that, but when we meet the crew, Admiral Cain, who commands Pegasus, outranks Adama. I had Laurel take note of the point when everyone meets because Cain shakes hands with Adama and clearly takes the overhand dominant role, however when she meets Roslin they shake hands as equals...Roslin being unwilling to submit and Cain not knowing her/Roslin's role.
In any case, the episode is really an exciting look at the road not taken, had Adama not had Roslin. Cain is a military commander at war. She takes control of the fleet and ignores the civilians. She has a Cylon prisoner who is tortured (a 6 model), clearly as an allegory to the effectiveness of torture (she's recovered no useful intelligence). Pegasus' version of Col Tigh, the XO tells awful stories of Cain's command. Adama, to his credit, dismisses this, saying they also had to make tough decisions aboard Galactica in uncertain times.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger after Helo and Chief stop Pegasus' interrogation officer from raping Sharon, by accident killing him in the process. Cain decides they deserve to die for this and Adama launches fighters against the Pegasus to get them back....
Laurel here...I just wanted to emphasize Mark's point about the road not taken...Both fleets have been under duress for a long time, and you can see the context of how both fleets have gotten to where they are, but they have ended up in such different places. Adama, who would have gone the purely military practical route has ended up in a more humanitarian place because he has had Roslin's opinion to consider the whole time, which I feel like has tempered his decisions (rightly so) to be a little more compassionate than an unchecked military commander would have chosen normally. Cain's decisions have gone unchecked for months so her ship has been run like a military state. The humanitarian concerns have been ignored. I don't blame her because there is a context to why she has gotten to this place...but hence the decision to torture the Cylon prisoner, and execute the two Galactica offers who killed her officer by accident.
On to the episode...this one was a doozy, one of my favorite as it harks back to the original series. In this episode the Battlestar Pegasus shows up. All the other Battlestars were assumed destroyed when the Cylons attacked but apparently the Pegasus survived. Not only that, but when we meet the crew, Admiral Cain, who commands Pegasus, outranks Adama. I had Laurel take note of the point when everyone meets because Cain shakes hands with Adama and clearly takes the overhand dominant role, however when she meets Roslin they shake hands as equals...Roslin being unwilling to submit and Cain not knowing her/Roslin's role.
In any case, the episode is really an exciting look at the road not taken, had Adama not had Roslin. Cain is a military commander at war. She takes control of the fleet and ignores the civilians. She has a Cylon prisoner who is tortured (a 6 model), clearly as an allegory to the effectiveness of torture (she's recovered no useful intelligence). Pegasus' version of Col Tigh, the XO tells awful stories of Cain's command. Adama, to his credit, dismisses this, saying they also had to make tough decisions aboard Galactica in uncertain times.
The episode ends on a cliffhanger after Helo and Chief stop Pegasus' interrogation officer from raping Sharon, by accident killing him in the process. Cain decides they deserve to die for this and Adama launches fighters against the Pegasus to get them back....
Laurel here...I just wanted to emphasize Mark's point about the road not taken...Both fleets have been under duress for a long time, and you can see the context of how both fleets have gotten to where they are, but they have ended up in such different places. Adama, who would have gone the purely military practical route has ended up in a more humanitarian place because he has had Roslin's opinion to consider the whole time, which I feel like has tempered his decisions (rightly so) to be a little more compassionate than an unchecked military commander would have chosen normally. Cain's decisions have gone unchecked for months so her ship has been run like a military state. The humanitarian concerns have been ignored. I don't blame her because there is a context to why she has gotten to this place...but hence the decision to torture the Cylon prisoner, and execute the two Galactica offers who killed her officer by accident.
Flight of The Phoenix
Mark here... We're on to episode 9 of Battlestar Galactica, Season 2. This episode is called "Flight of the Phoenix". Basically this episode follows up last episode by showing us how worn out the crew of Galactica is. At the same time Galactica is infected with a Cylon virus. The flight deck crew decides to deal with their frustration by building a new fighter. We see the build up with the tension between Chief and Helo over Sharon and Chief decides to focus his issues into something productive. The repair crew has seen many fighters destroyed and they decide to do what they can to build a new one. Problem is they have few materials. In the end, the end up building a stealth fighter out of unconventional materials. The episode is clearly a bit of filler from the main plot line but it's nice to see the crew working together. In the end the also name the fighter "Laura" in honor of Roslin, a nice testament to everyone's faith in her.
Separately, the Cylon virus is dealt with by trusting Caprica-Sharon...who proves herself useful, though the humans are clearly still skeptical...
Hey Laurel here...I'm still not totally sure, but it seems that this episode we learn that The Cylon plants can actually overcome their programming and exert some free will if they are strong enough...we still are not sure whether we can trust her or not, but it seems like the surviving Sharon overcomes her Cylon programming to save the Galactica fleet by "plugging herself in" to the Cylon network and basically hacking the Cylon fleet so that Galactica has the advantage...it remains to be seen if this is actually true in the long run but in this case Sharon seems to have overridden her Cylon directive. Even if this is true though will she ever be able to regain our trust completely?
Separately, the Cylon virus is dealt with by trusting Caprica-Sharon...who proves herself useful, though the humans are clearly still skeptical...
Hey Laurel here...I'm still not totally sure, but it seems that this episode we learn that The Cylon plants can actually overcome their programming and exert some free will if they are strong enough...we still are not sure whether we can trust her or not, but it seems like the surviving Sharon overcomes her Cylon programming to save the Galactica fleet by "plugging herself in" to the Cylon network and basically hacking the Cylon fleet so that Galactica has the advantage...it remains to be seen if this is actually true in the long run but in this case Sharon seems to have overridden her Cylon directive. Even if this is true though will she ever be able to regain our trust completely?
Final Cut
Mark here... Laurel and I are watching the next episode of Battlestar Galactica, "Final Cut". I've made us some Bow Tie Carbonara courtesy of Jamie Oliver. Laurel has made some garlic bread and Broccoli Almondine.
This episode has Lucy Lawless guest starring as a reporter in the fleet covering a story of an incident that happened while Col Tigh was in charge of the fleet. The episode plays out as a "filler" episode at first. It's still interesting but we are lead to believe that D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) is simply an overeager reporter in the fleet. In the footage she shoots we see the overworked soldiers on Galactica and how Roslin and Adama want to show a "warts and all" view of them, no matter what. At the same time we see the guilt Tigh feels over the incident. The catch though is that Biers can't show the pregnant Caprica-Sharon. We think all is good as the end shows Biers' report as a inspirational portrait of Galactica's crew. Fake out! D'Anna Biers is another Cylon! The end of the episode shows another D'Anna viewing the footage back on Caprica with the other Cylons!
Hi Laurel here...nothing to add really, but what a twist! We think Lucy Lawless is a sympathetic human reporter showing the human side of Galactica, but it turns out she's a Cylon?!? She has clearly built some trust with Roslin and Adama by making her piece show Galatica in a positive light, I wonder how she will use her newfound trust?
This episode has Lucy Lawless guest starring as a reporter in the fleet covering a story of an incident that happened while Col Tigh was in charge of the fleet. The episode plays out as a "filler" episode at first. It's still interesting but we are lead to believe that D'Anna Biers (Lucy Lawless) is simply an overeager reporter in the fleet. In the footage she shoots we see the overworked soldiers on Galactica and how Roslin and Adama want to show a "warts and all" view of them, no matter what. At the same time we see the guilt Tigh feels over the incident. The catch though is that Biers can't show the pregnant Caprica-Sharon. We think all is good as the end shows Biers' report as a inspirational portrait of Galactica's crew. Fake out! D'Anna Biers is another Cylon! The end of the episode shows another D'Anna viewing the footage back on Caprica with the other Cylons!
Hi Laurel here...nothing to add really, but what a twist! We think Lucy Lawless is a sympathetic human reporter showing the human side of Galactica, but it turns out she's a Cylon?!? She has clearly built some trust with Roslin and Adama by making her piece show Galatica in a positive light, I wonder how she will use her newfound trust?
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