Thursday, February 21, 2019

Pork Agrodolce & more...


For the Stew, I did use the leftover Pork Agrodolce, cubed & the remaining sauce.
I sautéed a red onion, chopped & 2 stalks of celery chopped.
Added 1/2 cup white wine, 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar, & 1/2 cup chicken broth.
1 Tbsp. Chopped fresh rosemary, 1/2 tsp. Roasted Chipotle Pepper & Garlic,
4 medium carrots, cut in 1” chunks & 1/2 cup dried cranberries.
Everything cooked in the crockpot on low for 4 hours. Stir occasionally.
I served it with Parmesan Polenta.

Pork Agrodolce 
&
Pork Stew Agrodolce 
Pork Agrodolce 
From allrecipes.com 

 I did add 1/2 tsp. Smoked paprika. Served it with Parmesan Polenta & steamed Brussels sprouts.

Recipe by: Chef John
 "Agrodolce, a generic Italian term for any type of sweet and sour condiment, really shines when used for braising chunks of succulent pork shoulder. This soul-warming comfort food is amazing served on rice, pasta, polenta, or, as seen here, a big pile of ricotta mashed potatoes. I'm not sure if Italians barbecue like we do here in the States, but the sauce very much reminded me of something we'd brush on a rack of ribs while sipping a cold beer."

Ingredients

12 servings
199 cals

1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/3 cup aged balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
3 tablespoons honey
1 anchovy fillet, or more to taste, mashed (I used 3)
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon kosher salt, or more to taste(I only used 2 tsp.) 
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
(1/2 tsp. Smoked paprika) 
3- 1/2 pounds boneless pork shoulder
Directions

Prep
15 m
Cook
2 h 30m
Ready In
2 h 45m
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (160 degrees C). Brush a baking dish with olive oil.
Whisk tomato paste, vinegar, honey, mashed anchovy, green onions, garlic, rosemary, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper together in a large bowl to make the agrodolce.
Cut pork shoulder into roughly 3-inch pieces. Add to the bowl of agrodolce and mix by hand until coated. Transfer pork and sauce to the prepared baking dish.
Bake in the preheated oven, flipping pieces over halfway through, until pork is very tender, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Add a splash of water if pork appears too dry. Skim off fat as desired.
You might also like

Pork Agrodolce
Chef John's pork recipe is a little sweet, a little sour, a lot of simple.

Footnotes
Chef's Notes:
It's hard to skim rendered fat while it's still in the baking dish, so I usually remove the meat, and pour the sauce into a measuring cup or small saucepan. That way, we have much less surface area, and it'll be way easier to spoon off the top. Or you can make this ahead of time, chill overnight, and remove the hardened fat.
To make the agrodolce even more like barbecue sauce, add a little touch of smokiness, such as smoked paprika.
Nutrition Facts

Per Serving: 199 calories; 12.9 g fat; 6.5 g carbohydrates; 13.8 g protein; 52 mg cholesterol; 555 mg sodium.

And, now the rest of the story...

PORK STEW AGRODOLCE
Lake Lure Cottage Kitchen 

3 pounds boneless pork shoulder, cut into 2-inch pieces
*** see below 
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 large onions, chopped
2 large celery ribs, chopped
1 cup dry white wine
3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 large carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
1/2 cup golden raisins (I used dried cranberries)

Pat the pork dry with paper towels. Sprinkle the meat with salt and pepper to taste.

In a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the pork, without crowding the pan. Brown the meat on all sides and transfer it to the slow cooker.

When all the meat has been browned, reduce the heat to medium. Add the onions and celery to the skillet and cook, stirring frequently, until golden.

Add the wine and vinegar and bring it to a simmer. Transfer the onion mixture to the slow cooker. Add the carrots and raisins. Cover and cook on low for 6 hours, or until the pork is tender. Serve hot.

Great with rice or polenta.
***
I will use remainder of pork from yesterday’s Agrodolce. 
Will sauté a chopped onion & chopped celery.
Add wine, balsamic, more rosemary, roasted  chipotle pepper & garlic. 
Carrots & Cranberries & cook in crockpot for 3-4 hours. 

Will also serve with polenta. 

Sunshine...aka Sweet Joanie



Just across town (cyberspace), my friend awaits something new, something unknown...I'm sure there are questions crossing her mind, anxious moments...Just across town (cyberspace), know, My Friend, that many hold you in their hearts and minds! We're also questioning, anxious...yet knowing you are cradled in the Master's arms...Just across town (cyberspace), love & friendship embrace you for whatever YOU need! You know who you are!
February 2011 Paula 

Saturday, February 16, 2019

Spiked Tomato Soup

SPIKED TOMATO SOUP
Colorado Collage
With my additions/changes 
2 cups tomato juice (1-1/2 cups)
2 cups V-8 juice (1-1/2 cups)
5 Tablespoons Vodka (1/3 cup)
1 Tbsp. Sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire
1 tsp. kosher salt (1/2 tsp )
1/2 tsp. Fresh ground pepper
3 drops hot red pepper sauce (  1 tsp.) 

1 Tbsp. Olive oil 
1/2 cup chopped red onion
3 cloves garlic, minced 




GARNISHES:
your choice...
fresh celery ribs with leaves
lime wedge
Pickled green beans
Pickled okra
Olive skewer
In medium saucepan, sauté red onion in olive oil for 5 minutes, add garlic & cook an additional minute.  Add  tomato juice, V-8 juice, sugar, Worcestershire, salt, pepper & red pepper sauce. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Cook 15 minutes, add vodka & heat through. Purée with immersion blender. Ladle into soup mugs & garnish with celery or optional garnishes. 

Friday, February 8, 2019

February 2019 Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2019 NEWSLETTER 

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: 

With Thoughts of You

I Cried today...
With Thoughts of You.

I Laughed today...
With Thoughts of You.

I Hurt today...
With Thoughts of You.

I Smiled today...
With Thoughts of You.

I Loved today...
With Thoughts of You.

With Each Today that passes...
I Cry...
I Laugh...
I Hurt...
I Smile...
I Love...
With Thoughts of You. 

Paula 2019 

RECIPES:


FLOUNDER PARMESAN 

For 1 pound of fish, I cut the ingredients in half.
2 pounds flounder fillets (any white fish)
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, room temperature
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
3 tablespoons finely chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon seasoned salt
1/4 teaspoon dried basil
Black pepper to taste
Dash of hot pepper sauce (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a buttered 13 x 9 inch baking dish, lay fillets in a single layer. Do not stack fillets. Brush top with lemon juice.
In bowl, combine cheese, butter, mayonnaise, onions and seasonings. Mix well with fork.
Bake fish in preheated oven for 15 - 20 minutes or until fish starts to flake.
Spread with cheese mixture and broil for 3 - 5 minutes until golden brown.
Makes 4 servings.

***************************
Cajun Alfredo Sauce

1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter 
1 -12 oz pkg frozen seasoning blend  or
(the cajun trinity - 1 cup chopped onions, 1 cup diced celery, 1 cup diced red or green bell pepper) 
2 tsp chopped or minced garlic 
1/8 tsp celery salt 
16 oz heavy whipping cream (2 cups)
16 oz half/half  (2 cups)
(To make a bit lighter sauce, use 1 cup each heavy cream and half & half, 2 cups chicken or seafood stock.)
8 oz shredded parmesan cheese 
1 cup chopped provolone cheese 
salt and pepper to taste (or Tony Chachere's Creole/Cajun seasoning , about 1-2 Tbsp. my preference) 

2 Tbsp. fresh snipped parsley for garnish

Saute vegetables in melted butter for 10 minutes...add remaining ingredients except cheeses & cook for 5 minutes. 
Add cheeses & simmer 5 additional minutes. 
Toss with  fettuccine noodles. 
Plate & top with Grilled/Sautéed Shrimp or Chicken. Garnish with parsley.

***********************

Panda Express Orange Chicken
Copycat recipe 























Momma’s Alfredo Sauce 
Paula Smith 

4 oz. unsalted butter
4 small shallots, minced
4 cloves, garlic, minced
1/4 cup AP flour
1 cup chicken broth
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk
1 heaping tsp. Italian seasoning
1 heaping tsp. Parsley flakes
1 tsp. Fresh ground pepper
2 oz. fresh grated Parmesan
2 oz. fresh grated Pecorino Romano
3 oz. shredded Provolone

In medium skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add shallots & garlic, sauté 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add flour & cook for an additional minute. Whisk in broth, add heavy cream, milk, seasonings, bring to boil. Reduce to simmer & add cheeses. Cook stirring frequently for 10 minutes. 
Serve over your favorite pasta. 
I like to serve with fettuccine, grilled chicken & steamed broccoli. 

**************************
Chocolate Cobbler 

13x9 baking dish, melt 1-1/2 sticks butter.
Combine:
1-1/2 cups self-rising flour
1-1/4 cups sugar
1 cup cocoa
1 cup milk
2 tsp. vanilla extract
Spread over melted butter.

Combine:
1/2 cup cocoa
1-1/2 cups sugar
.
Bring 2-1/4 cups water to boil and combine with sugar/cocoa mixture. Pour over batter mixture in pan. Do not stir. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.
Serve warm, topped with vanilla ice cream.