From Our Kitchen To Yours!

18 Wednesday May 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop Breads, Alley Gardens, Appetizers, Apricots, Arugula, Avocado, Backyard Garden, Bacon, Baking, Basque Bread, BFM, Boise Area Food Adventures, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Brussels Sprouts, Buy Idaho, Cabbage, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Crab Cakes, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Eggs, Greek Food, Green Salad, Healthy Eating, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Ice Cream, Idaho Chicken, Idaho Dairy, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Lamb, Idaho Vegetables, Local Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Ohana Micro Greens, Omelet, Photos By: Bob Young, Rice Family Farms, Salads, Sausage, Scallops, Seafood, Spice Blends, Spices, Spring Greens, True Roots Produce, What's For Dinner?

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BFM, Buy Local, herb chart, spice chart

It could be anything! But hopefully, it’s always pretty good. Mostly healthy and always has a local product element. Local. That’s what we try to feature always! Beef, pork, lamb, seafood, greens, fruit, vegetables, eggs, mushrooms, sprouts. You get the idea. And what’s even more fun – sometimes … most times – is preparing the meals. Here are a few photos of some of the dishes we have made recently. If there is a recipe for the item, it may be in the recipe file as listed above or you can look for it by Clicking Here.
We were going to make Greek kabobs and I wanted to find a good Greek herb blend. There is a really good Greek restaurant near us, Mazzah Mediterrean and every time I walk by it, I get this wonderfully awesome aroma of Greek spices. So I found this chart of cultural Spice Blends. We used the Greek Spice and added Sumac and Marjoram. If you are looking for a particular blend, this may help. Save the image and print it out if you need to.

I recently saw an article where folks were planting vegetables and herbs in their front yards, instead of grass! Talk about local and fresh! But we have been doing this for years. Our front lawns, as small as it might be, is our herb garden. Pretty blooms. Great smells and absolutely fresh herbs. Something to think about.

I recently saw an article where folks were planting vegetables and herbs in their front yard, instead of grass! Talk about local and fresh! But we have been doing this for years. Our front lawns, as small as it might be, is our herb garden. Pretty blooms. Great smells and absolutely fresh herbs. Something to think about.

Lamb Kabobs with Greek Spices
From the spice chart above. Local lamb and vegetables.

Greek 5-Cheese Filo on Spinach Bed
Local spinach! No we didn’t make the filo.

Vanila Ice Cream
It was super. Local dairy products.

Bacon and Cheese Omelet
Apricots
Toasted Basque Bread
Local eggs, bacon and Basque bread.

Creamed Spinach Popovers
Local spinach and dairy

Braised Scallops on Shredded Napa Cabbage Strawberries

Braised Scallops
on
Shredded Napa Cabbage
Sliced Strawberries and Kiwi
Strawberries are local.

Braised Scallops on Crab Rice
Green Salad with Carrot Strings and Micro Greens
Greens and carrots for the salad are all local.

Crab Rice and Shredded Napa Cabbage

Sunnyside Up Eggs
on
Spinach and 5 Greek Cheese Filo

Sausage Links
Apricot Chunks
Local eggs, sausage and spinach.

Mushroom Omelet
Sausage
Pineapple
Toasted Basque Bread
Everything but the pineapple is local!

Parsley Salad
with
Shaved Radish and Fresh Miners Lettuce
All local from the Boise Farmers Market (I’m there every week!)

So there you have it. Not 100% local, but darn close. And this time of year with the Boise Farmers Market being open, it gets easier to buy those local products. Plus, our herb gardens are in full swing – bloom! Enjoy.

Awesome Mother’s Day Weekend in the Kitchen

08 Sunday May 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Bacon, Baking, Blue Crab, Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Cast Iron, Chicken, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Crab Cakes, Creamed Spinach, Dessert, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Dinner With Family, Food Photos, French Foods, Green Salad, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Sauces, Housemade Tartar Sauce, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wine, Indian Creek Winery, Local Markets, Morels, Mother's Day, Mushrooms, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Pinot Noir, Popovers, Recipe: Bob and Robin Young, Recipes - Breakfast, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - French, Recipes - Seafood, Salad, Special Events, Spring Vegies, What's For Dinner?

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coq au vin, crab cakes, Pinot Noir, popover

Just a super fun and good weekend celebrating Mother’s Day with Robin. Exciting coming up with meals that were different and surprisingly good. Fun to make. Easy to make, although some were rather involved. Great to have Marnie over for Sunday dinner. Even Ray, her Golden Lab, had a good time with Buddy.
Some of the photos that follow of the dishes I prepared, have the recipe hotlinked in the article. Please feel free to use the recipe if you would like. The Coq au Vin – Chicken in Wine – is not difficult to do, but it does take some time. The Popovers are quick and easy. The Crab Cakes are different. We had these for both dinner a breakfast! the remoulade is a pretty basic sauce and can vary widely. “… Rémoulade (English pronunciation: /reɪməˈlɑːd/; French: [ʁemulad]) is a condiment invented in France that is usually aioli- or mayonnaise-based. Although similar to tartar sauce, it is often more yellowish (or reddish in Louisiana), sometimes flavored with curry, and sometimes contains chopped pickles or piccalilli. It can also contain horseradish, paprika, anchovies, capers and a host of other items. While its original purpose was possibly for serving with meats, it is now more often used as an accompaniment to seafood dishes, especially pan-fried breaded fish fillets (primarily sole and plaice) and seafood cakes (such as crab or salmon cakes).” Ours is mayo, chilli sauce, ketchup and green tomato relish. And a touch of horseradish.

Crab Cakes on Biscuits with Strawberry Fan and Rumalade

Crab Cakes on Biscuits
with
Strawberry Fan and Remoulade

Here is the recipe for the Old Bay Crab Cakes. They are differently good.

Strawberry Pie

After the Crab Cakes, we just had to have this Strawberry Pie Recipe. I’m not a baker, but this is wonderful!

Crab Cakes and Eggs

This was an awesome breakfast! Nothing better than seafood for breakfast.

Popovers

Fresh from the oven. Great with butter and jam, too!

Popovers
with
Creamed Spinach Filling

Another suprisingly easy recipe. Popover with Creamed Spinach Recipe

Coq au Vin – Chicken in Wine – getting happy!

Coq au Vin Popover with Creamed Spinach Fresh Green Salad

Coq au Vin
Popover with Creamed Spinach Filling
Fresh Green Salad

One awesome and fun to make dinner. Here is the recipe for Coq au Vin, Chicken in Wine. Enjoy this one. It is a superb French classic!

Add to this dinner a very good

2008 Indian Creek Pinot Noir

and we had a fantastic experience. Plus the Coq au Vin had some in it too!

St Patrick’s Day Party

20 Sunday Mar 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Boise Food Adventures, Bread, Buy Idaho, Cabbage, Comfort Food, Corned Beef, Dinner With Friends, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Raisins, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes - Dinner, Roasted Vegetables, St Patrick's Day, Turnips, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

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cabbage, Corned Beef, irish soda bread, scotch whisky, whisky

Although it was not actually St Patrick’s Day on Saturday, we still had a wonderful party and meal. Thanks to Tom and Leanne Felzien for inviting us and for opening your home to all of us. It was delightful. Our task this year was to make the Irish Soda Bread, and that we did, after a little research and combining of recipes from Chef Michael Symon and The Chew, Ina Garten and the Tasting Table Test Kitchen. Here is the recipe I used for our Irish Soda Bread. And even if I do say so myself, it is by far some of the best soda bread I/we have EVER eaten! Bar none! Try it and let us know what you think. We also had a wonderful dip that Heather brought. I think this is the recipe: Guinness and Mustard Cheese Dip! Here are some photos from the party. And, by the way, this is the farm where we get our lamb. Never had a bad piece of lamb in almost 10 years from them. We are on the list again this year for 1/2 a spring lamb! Yum.

The day and the event calls for some good Scotch and maybe a brew, too.

The finished product of our soda bread.

Roasted Root Vegetables (Beets, Potato, Turnip} Cabbage Irish Soda Bread Corned Beef

Roasted Root Vegetables
(Beets, Potato, Parsnip, Turnip}
Cabbage
Irish Soda Bread
Corned Beef

Crescent Roll Tacos

17 Thursday Mar 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Beef, Boise Farmers Market, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Cheese, Comfort Food, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, Idaho Beef, Local Markets, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipes - Mexican

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Crescent Rolls, tacos

So different, yet so good. At least for a slight change. And you can make them at home easily. Let’s look at how to make these. And then ask the kids to help you assemble them. Cook for about 25 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

Crescent rolls are unpacked and laid in a circle on a sheet pan. Fry off about 1 lbs of hamburger mixed with some garlic and green onion. Add some Mexican spices and some salsa.

Drain the liquid from the hamburger. Place in a ring as shown and top with some shredded cheese. Fold the “points” to the center and tuck under.

Bake off at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes or until the rolls turn light brown. Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before cutting.

Serve with sour cream, diced fresh tomatoes and fresh shredded lettuce.

Can also be served without the sour cream.

There you go. Easy to do and fun to make.

Meal Variations and Other Things

01 Tuesday Mar 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in Apricots, Baking, Biscuits and Gravy, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Captain's Shack, Chicken, Chutney, Comfort Food, Cooking Styles, Copper River Salmon, Crème fraîche, Cultural Differences, Curry, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Eggs, Eggs Benedict, Eggs Poached, Ethnic Foods, Food of India, Ham, Hard To Find Recipes, Housemade Hollandaise Sauce, Housemade Sauces, Housemade Soup, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Pork, Idaho's Bounty, Indian Food, Mirepoix, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes - Sauces, Salmon, Sausage, Seafood, Sofritto, Soup, Special Information, What's For Dinner?

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biscuits, country gravy, Hollandaise Sauce, recipes

Such a great weekend again working in the kitchen. Warm enough outside to keep the kitchen door open. We can still find fresh, as such, asparagus but watch the prices. I saw prices vary here in Boise from $2.99 a pound for medium sized spears – which I bought – to $8.99 a pound for the skinny little spears, which I did not buy. It’s either $8.99 a pound for skinny little asparagus spears or my meds for this month. I chose my meds. (This is week #6 past open heart surgery for me. Go Team!) So with that introduction, here are some photos, and recipes, for our culinary endeavors for this past weekend. Enjoy!

Cream of Asparagus Soup

Such a good and rather easy soup to make. Here is the Recipe. Enjoy! It is really a good soup.

Homemade, absolutely superb biscuits! And bake them in a waffle iron for different effects. Just don’t cut them much thicker than about 1/2″. They will rise!

Waffle Biscuits

Here is the recipe for these Angel Biscuits. The original recipe came from Trisha Yearwood.

Salmon Benedict on Waffle Biscuits and Country Sausage Patty

Salmon and Ham Benedict on Waffle Biscuit and Country Sausage Patty

Cut those biscuits out. These are thicker – about 3/4″ – than the waffle biscuits.

Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
Scrambled Eggs with Hollandaise Sauce

Oh yes! The easiest Hollandaise ever. 5 minutes to make and no double boiler. Here is the Recipe – It is also in the recipe file above. And do you need a basic white gravy recipe? Here is my variation – White Gravy. Just add crumbled sausage for Sausage Gravy or sauteed dried beef for Creamed Dried Beef. Or try it over steamed asparagus. There’s a hundred thousand uses for this gravy. Be inventive. And daring.

I don’t have any photos for these recipes, but the plates were delicious. We made a chicken and then prepared a Chicken Curry Salad with some of the left-overs. (The rest are used in chicken stock!) But for the dressing we used this recipe, and it is superb! Chicken Curry Salad Dressing The curry dressing calls for a chutney. We don’t have any in the house. Don’t fret! Here is our own recipe for the Apricot and Cranberry Chutney.

Chutneys, by nature are, “Chutney (Hindi/ Nepali – “चटनी” also transliterated chatney or chatni, Sindhi: چٽڻي‎) is a side dish in the cuisines of the Indian subcontinent that can vary from a tomato relish to a ground peanut garnish or a yoghurt, cucumber and mint dip…Major Grey’s Chutney is a type of sweet and spicy chutney popular in the United Kingdom and the United States. The recipe was reportedly created by a 19th-century British Army officer of the same name (likely apocryphal) who presumably lived in Colonial India. Its characteristic ingredients are mango, raisins, vinegar, lime juice, onion, tamarind extract, sweetening and spices. Several companies produce a Major Grey’s Chutney, in India, the UK and the US…The word “chutney” is derived from the Hindi word chatṭnī, meaning to lick. It is written differently in North and South Indian languages (Nepali: चटनी, Gujarati: ચટણી, Bengali: চাটনি, Marathi: चटणी, Punjabi: ਚਟਣੀ, Tamil: சட்டினி chaṭṭiṉi, காரத் துவையல் karathuvaiyal, Kannada: ಚಟ್ನಿ, Hindi: चटनी, Urdu: چٹنی‎, Sindhi: چٽڻي‎, Malayalam: ചട്ടിണി, chattin̩i, ചമ്മന്തി, Telugu: పచ్చడి). Pacchadi, as written in Telugu script, refers specifically to pickled fruits, whilst chutney refers to minced foods, usually made out of coconuts.
In India, “chutney” refers to fresh and pickled preparations indiscriminately. Several Indian languages use the word for fresh preparations only. A different word achār (Hindi: अचार) applies to pickles that often contain oil and are rarely sweet.” [Wikipedia]

Our chutney, is but one of many variations of chutney. Ours is not cooked. Think of chutney as jerk sauce or sofrito, “…Italian soffritto, the Spanish sofrito, from Portuguese-speaking nations refogado (braised onions, garlic and tomato), the German Suppengrün (leeks, carrots and celeriac), the Polish włoszczyzna (leeks, carrots, celery root and parsley root), the U.S. Cajun and Creole holy trinity (onions, celery and bell peppers), and the French duxelles (onions, shallots, and mushrooms, sauteed in butter). Or Cajun Trinity – they can all vary from kitchen to kitchen. Fun stuff!

Special Food – Special Family

18 Monday Jan 2016

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Boise Restaurants, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Dinner With Family, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Flying Pie Pizza, Idaho Bacon, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Grains, Idaho Polenta Floriani, Idaho Pork, Italian Food, Local Farmers Markets, Meadowlark Farms, Next Generation produce, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Pizza, Pizza and Brew, Restaurants, Salad, Special Dinners, Special Events, What's For Dinner?

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Flying Pie Pizza

Well, tomorrow at this time who knows where I’ll be. Open heart surgery to start at 0530. Do people actually move around at that hour? But I am so thankful for Marnie, Mac, Carlynne – Robin’s sister who came to help all the way from Delaware – Chris and my Super RN’s who are always in my thoughts – Robin, Roli and Cristi. They will hold my hand as will my sister Peggy and my brother Alex, although they will be long distance.
But one must eat first. Carlynne took us all out for pizza last night at Flying Pie Pizza and it was super, although I think the service is really getting slooooooow. The pizza is still great; The service is not. Thanks Carlynne for this treat. I also came across this chart which helps to figure out recipes if you must change the size and servings. A conversion chart of sorts. Enjoy and I will see you all in about a week. Cheers! Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged.

Idaho Breakfast
Next Generation Polenta
with
Meadowlark Farms Poached Eggs
Falls Brand Bacon
(Twin Falls)
Blueberries
(not from Idaho)

Flying Pie Pizza
White Pizza
with
Artichoke and Cheese Variety

Flying Pie
Meat and Vegetable Pizza

Tonight? Seafood dinner by Marnie, Mac and Carlynne. Homemade and good! Cheers!

Modern Motel Brunch

19 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Beef, Boise Restaurants, Bread, Brunch, Brunch at Modern Motel, Brunch with Robin, Buy Idaho, Comfort Food, Eggs, Greens, Idaho Beef, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Greens, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurants To Try, What's For Dinner?

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brunch, Modern Motel

The Modern Motel Restaurant, 1314 West Grove Street, Boise, ID 83702, never ceases to amaze me with the quality of food that they present and serve. We have been there several times and I have never had a meal I did not like. Today was no exception. Their Brunch Menu offers at least 1 special. It changes. See if they have the Cauliflower Grits or the Squash Bread with Coffee Butter. If they do, get some! Here is their Dinner Menu, which is also subject to change. Here’s what we had. It’s really great to see that they use local products whenever possible.

Squash Bread with Coffee Butter

Tiramisu Crepes

Steak
Mixed Greens
Cauliflower Grits
Egg Yolk and Balsamic Drizzle

New to us: BrickYard – Steakhouse – Spirits – Dueling Pianos

17 Thursday Dec 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Beef, Boise Adventures, BrickYard Restaurant, Comfort Food, Hamburger, Hendrick's Gin, Housemade Soup, Idaho Beef, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Potatoes, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Lunch With Robin, Photos By: Bob Young, Potatoes, Restaurants, Restaurants To Try, What's For Dinner?

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BrickYard Restaurant, Chihuly, glass art, piano bar

In Boise, one of the better burgers! Almost as good as Storm’s Burger from the Parma Ridge Winery Bistro in Parma, ID. The BrickYard, Boise offers a very attractive dining area and a good BrickYard Menu along with Idaho, and other, wines and spirits. Children are welcome! I need to say right now, our Waiter, Brandon, was superb. Friendly, polite, and liked to engage in good conversation and could answer all of our questions. He even made my lunch a little different and not on the menu. Well worth a trip and be aware, one of the best burgers in Boise! We will go back. “… Brickyard Music – This weekend scheduled to play Friday December 4th, & Saturday December 5th featuring dueling pianos with Robert Morrow, Danny Beal and on the drums (& Vocals), Adam Troutman, playing all requests starting at 10pm. For an extended music calendar and ticket information on upcoming events, follow us on Facebook! The BrickYard strives to showcase local products when available.” Definitely a 4+-Star restaurant. Here are some photos. Enjoy! This would be a good restaurant for the Idaho Wine Commission Restaurant of the Year Award.

The front door sign on Main Street in Boise. 601 Main Street, Boise, ID 83702, Mon-Wed: 11am – 10pm, Thu: 11am – 10pm, Fri: 11am – 2am, Sat: 5pm – 2am. Phone: 208.287.2121, Fax: 208.287.9203, Parking: Street, Food Styles: Steakhouses, Attire: Dressy, Culinary Team: Executive Chef – Drew Ledger and Owners: Chad and Kristi Johnson.”

The restaurant is in what used to be the Idaho Statesman Building.

The dining area.

Chihuly glass art on the wall! “… Dale Chihuly (born September 20, 1941), is an American glass sculptor and entrepreneur. His works are considered unique to the field of blown glass, “moving it into the realm of large-scale sculpture”. The technical difficulties of working with glass forms are considerable, yet Chihuly uses it as the primary medium for installations and environmental artwork.”

Close up of the wall art.

Chuhuli Light in the main dining area! If you know glass art, you know Chuhuli!

Chuhuli Light in the main dining area! If you know glass art, you know Chihuly! This light art is probably worth in the neighborhood of $14000.00 – $15000.00. Just thought I’d let you know.

Flora Dora

Ahi Club
Thin sliced seared Ahi tuna on a toasted ciabatta bun with wasabi sauce, applewood bacon, lettuce leaves, fresh tomato slices and shaved pickled ginger
Smoked Bacon and Potato Soup
Idaho Yukon gold potatoes poached in chicken stock then slow cooked with hand cut shoestring fries

BrickYard Burger
Hand formed half pound ground chuck patty infused with smoked bacon, char-grilled and crowned with sharp cheddar. Dressed out with crispy onions, butter leaf lettuce, sliced fresh tomato and mayonnaise on a fresh baked bun served with hand cut steak fries

I had them hold the bun and they did that. It was good to see that they would alter their menu to suit the client. I ate about 1 cup of the fries and Robin ate the rest.

Two Super Breakfasts!

08 Tuesday Dec 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Apple Sauce, Boise Farmers Market, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Comfort Food, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Idaho's Bounty, Local Harvests, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

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Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Meadowlark Farms, Poached eggs

Potato Latkes
Apple Sauce
Sour Cream

Mostly all Idaho products. Yummers!

Basil Poached Meadowlark Farms Eggs
Toasted Acme Bake Shop Sourdough
Ham

Tea Time at Capitol Cellars

05 Saturday Dec 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Capitol Cellars, Comfort Food, Idaho Beef, Idaho Greens, Idaho's Bounty, Local Markets, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurants, Tea, What's For Dinner?

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tea, tea time

Ah yes! Interesting and a good time. No wine, although there was a bubbly offered. Tea. All types and kinds of tea. And “finger foods” – really good. And fresh made. Yummers! Here’s what we had.