Friday, March 12, 2010

Fish Are Friends, and Food

Seafood is probably one of my biggest weaknesses in this world. Luscious, delicate, scrumptious. I could spend a fortune on seafood. However, I would have to eat it in a couple of days because that stuff goes bad fast! If I were to go to my favorite sushi restaurant, Kohnami, I could easily spend at least 40 bucks on unagi rolls, shrimp tempura rolls, and spicy tuna rolls. Good thing I do that every several months. And forget about me going to Whole Foods, I'll buy salmon candy, unagi sashimi, lobster dip, crab dip, shrimp, scallops, more whole salmon. That's why I try to stay away from it when I go there, but really, the only reason I go to Whole Foods is to get my seafood, and maybe some chocolate truffles here and there. The point is, seafood is the amazing, expensive, but amazing.
I have a few recipes I'd like to share with everyone! First, is my family's favorite, Maple-Glazed Salmon. It's marinated in soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and of course, maple syrup. Second, Sauteed Scallops with Veggies. I made this is my Catering class. It is sauteed in bacon, garlic, onions, asparagus, and lemon juice. Finally, Pineapple and Coconut Rice. This was also made in my Catering class. It's pretty self explanatory, and I realize it's NOT seafood, but you always need a side, so HA!

Maple-Glazed Salmon

Ingredients:
-1 lb of salmon
-1 cup of maple syrup
-1/2 cup of soy sauce
-1/4 cup of teriyaki sauce
-2 cloves of garlic, minced
-2 tbsp of ginger, minced
-Pepper TT (to taste)

Directions:
-Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
-In a bowl, mix together the syrup, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, garlic, ginger, and pepper.
-Place salmon in the marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
-In a casserole dish, line with aluminum foil, trust me, it easy to clean, and hot syrup with thicken and turn into a candy like substance within seconds after you take it out of the oven. So line with aluminum foil.
-Place salmon and marinade in casserole dish and cook for 20 minutes.
-Check fish, if done, take out, and serve with mashed potatoes. Mashed potatoes taste so good with the sauce! Enjoy!

Sauteed Scallops with Veggies

Ingredients:
-6 fresh scallops
-4 strips of bacon, diced
-Half an onion, small diced
-2 cloves of garlic, minced
-4 tbsp of butter
-4 asparagus (after cooked, slice small)
-Juice of a lemon
-Salt TT

Directions:
-Put on a pot of water and bring to a boil. Have a bowl of ice water standing by. Place asparagus in boiling water, blanch it for about 5 minutes. After 5 minutes take it out of the pot and put it in the ice water bowl.
-Over medium high heat, add the diced bacon to a large skillet. After a few minutes, add the onion and let cook for a couple more minutes, then add the garlic and butter. While that is cooking, slice the asparagus. For two of the asparagus, only cut half way, and save for presentation (will still add to the skillet to cook), add the asparagus.
-Place your scallops in the pan. Add the juice of the lemon, and throw the rinds in the skillet, all the oils will come out from the peel as it cooks. Add salt to taste.
-The scallops will take about 4-5 minutes on each side.
-Put on a platter or plate, and place the halved asparagus over the dish.
-Enjoy!

Pineapple-Coconut Rice

Ingredients:
-1 cup of medium grain rice
-2 cups of rice
-4 oz can of pineapples, small diced, size of rice (if you can't find one, use an 8 oz, however you only need half a cup)
-1/2 cup of coconut milk
-2 tsp of cinnamon

Directions:
-Bring water to a boil with rice in it. Turn down heat to low and cover.
-When rice is done, about 15 minutes, add the pineapple, coconut milk and cinnamon. Stir and cook all ingredients added. Make sure not to burn the rice!
-Serve and enjoy!

I really hope you try these recipes. Hopefully, you will love them as much as I do.
Remember, fish are friends, and food.

“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I’m halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner.”
-Lyndon B. Johnson

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Top 100

So last week, I started working on a "bucket list". I have over a 100 things on it. Also, on the list, I have things on it that lead to other list such as, 100 books to read and 100 movies to see. I decided to make these lists because there is so much I want to experience and I don't want to forget what it is. I also made a list of food to eat and restaurants to go to before I die. So here it is, the list. Maybe you could eat some of it, too. Some testicles, sweetbreads, a Big Mac, maybe?

100 Things to Eat Before I Die (& restaurants to visit)

  1. Fugu -Hopefully, I won't die.
  2. Voodoo Donut Shop, Seattle -Greatest doughnuts in the world are made here.
  3. Huevos Rancheros -I won't have to worry about lunch or dinner if I have this for breakfast.
  4. Black Pudding -Blood.
  5. Carp -It will probably taste like every other fish.
  6. Baba Ghanoush -I love eggplant, however eggplant mash? Hm?
  7. Calamari (tentacles and all) - I have had the bodies, but the tentacles freak me out.
  8. Aloo Gobi - Can't say no to curry or cauliflower.
  9. Hot Dog from a NY street cart -Dirty water hot dog!
  10. Black truffle -Expensive mushroom that is not worth buying AT ALL!
  11. Pistachio Ice Cream -This just sounds nutty.
  12. Avocado Ice Cream -This sounds buttery and creamy.
  13. Foie Gras -While eating it, I want to say, "Well this is just delectable."
  14. Limburger Cheese -Plugging my nose might need to be necassary for this.
  15. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper -I'll probably need an esauphugus transplant after this.
  16. Homemade Dulce de luche -Put that in my Hot Cocoa.
  17. Baklava -I don't like phyllo dough, but everyone makes things differently.
  18. Bagna Cauda -I fondue!
  19. Wasabi Peas -Not like what they put on your sushi platter.
  20. Sauerkraut -It just doesn't sound tasty to begin with!
  21. Whole insects -...
  22. Goat’s milk -Creamy, warm, sour goodness.
  23. Chicken tikka masala -I love love curry. Did I say that already?
  24. Sea Urchin -Makes me think of eating Ursula, from the Little Mermaid.
  25. Prickly pear -"Don't pick the prickly pear by the paw, When you pick a pear, Try to use the claw."
  26. Abalone -Sushi is this planet's gold food.
  27. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal, with a Dr. Pepper -Believe it or not, I have never had it.
  28. Spaetzle -A german dumpling, now that sounds delicious.
  29. Frog Legs -This taste like chicken.
  30. Haggis -Nothing like an enlarged stomash stuffed with other organs, vegetables, and spices. Yum.
  31. Fried plantain -This sounds like it could be my weakness.
  32. Chitterlings -Fried pig intestines, might taste like pork rines.
  33. Gazpacho soup -I think this is something Isabelle, my sister, would like.
  34. Fresh roadkill -Ok ok ok, within an hour. After that, heck no no no.
  35. Plum sake -Just to try it. Sake is a delicacy.
  36. Kobe beef -The king of meat.
  37. Rabbit -I don't feel about eating Mr. Hare.
  38. Goulash -My kind of beef stew.
  39. Flowers -With a delicious, fruity vinaigrette.
  40. Horse -Like in China or something.
  41. Spam -By itself, then in sushi.
  42. Catfish -Taste like fish.
  43. Mole poblano -Chocolate, coffee, spices....A sauces dream.
  44. Polenta- Dry cornmeal...yum.
  45. Snake -I'll get back to you on that.
  46. Colombian Coffee -I just want to try this World Famous coffee and see what the fuss is all about.
  47. A Primanti’s sandwich from Primanti’s in Pittsburg -Slaw, meat, tomatoes, fries all under one bun.
  48. Rocky Mtn. Oysters -Testes...I am a Coloradian after all.
  49. Buckhorn Exchange Restaurant, Denver- Oldest restaurant in Colorado.
  50. Duffy’s Cherry Cricket, Denver -Gourmet Burgers Sold Here.
  51. Special #2 from Orochon Ramen, LA -Spiciest Ramen Noodles Ever.
  52. Philippe’s The Original, LA -I love a good sandwich joint.
  53. Rick Bayless’s restaurant, Frontera -My idol.
  54. Art Smith’s restaurant, Table 52 -My second idol, Oprah's personal chef.
  55. Art Smith’s restaurant, Art and Soul -The Obama's went to this restaurant for V-Day.
  56. Seasons 52 -Changes their menu to what is in season.
  57. Tofu -Give it to me deep fried.
  58. Gelato -Thank you Italy, thank you.
  59. Beignets -A french doughnut.
  60. Buffalo -One way enjoy nature.
  61. Chiles Rellenos -Stuffed, deep fried pepper, sounds like I need a jug of milk.
  62. Indian Fry Bread -Sweetened to perfection.
  63. Blueberry pancakes -Simple, laid back, country style food.
  64. Nutella -What the heck is this?
  65. Perogies -Stuffed dumplings never hurt anyone.
  66. French Fried Yams -I've had French Fried sweet potatoes...yams are NOT sweet potatoes.
  67. Steamed Clams -Little vinegar, little mustard, good time.
  68. Egg nog -What is this?
  69. Shark steak -Surpirse surpirse, does not look like fish, but beef.
  70. Mousaka -"Moose Caca?!"
  71. Sweetbreads -I'll just leave it at that.
  72. Baked Alaskan Pie -I would like to made this.
  73. Thai Tea -Strong, yes. Flavorful, yes. So why not?
  74. Donkey -Supposedly the most tender and delicious meat in the world. Those Chinese, man.
  75. Liver and Onions -Maybe grandma can help my with this one.
  76. Beef Wellington -It sounds like it is named after someone who was royalty.
  77. Fried Green Tomatoes -Good, ol' southin' food.
  78. Paneer -Seriously? A cheese that doesn't melt?
  79. Dragon Fruit -I like the Vitamin Water flavor, so why wouldn't I like the fruit itself?
  80. Fried Pickles -Another southin' food.
  81. Wild Huckleberries -Where the wild things grow.
  82. Deep Fried Twinkie -I'll have paramedics standing by to resuscitate me.
  83. Veggie Burger -How is this made? How?
  84. Tofu Burger -And what abou this crazy one?!
  85. A Ripe Georgia Peach -I can already feel the juices running down my face.
  86. Ants -Chocolate covered, I hope.
  87. Kangaroo -Awwwwwwww.
  88. Tongue Sandwich -With lettuce, tomatoes, onions, hold the mayo and mustard please.
  89. Chicken Feet -Maybe with a little teriyaki sauce.
  90. Whole anchovies -Puts hair on your chest.
  91. Kimchee -I thought this was a dessert.
  92. Quail Eggs -Sunny side up on a medium rare steak or a salad.
  93. Olive Oil Poached Salmon -How is it poached and not fried?
  94. A real Philly Cheese Steak -Help me out Philly.
  95. Fresh sashimi(on the boat) -Unhook the booger, chop him up, and put it in my mouth.
  96. Actual sandwich flavored ice cream served on a bun -Served in Thailand.
  97. A Chili dog from Weinerschnitzel -My mom use to work here.
  98. Maine Lobster -Bib, check, shell cracker, check, and butter, check.
  99. A “Cinnabon” -Anything that rhymes with cinnamon has me sold.
  100. A deep fried hot dog -Again, heart attack.


I'm looking forward to trying these different foods and visiting these restaurants of the world. If you can help me out, that would be so great. I'm looking forward to expanding my palette and exploring the world of food. Wish me luck with my life long goal.

"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good."
-Alice May Brock