It’s Been A Good 2 Weeks

15 Friday Apr 2022

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Birthdays, Bistro, Brocolli, Buy Idaho, Buy Local, Cakes, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Chicken, Classic Cuisines, Comfort Food, Curry, Dessert, en Papillote, Food - French, Food - India, Green Beans, Green Salad, Housemade Soup, Idaho Trout, Local Farmers Markets, Parma Ridge Winery Bistro, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipes - French, Recipes - India, What's For Dinner?

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chicken, curry, en papillote, French Food, India foods, kokanee, kokanee salmon, Papillote

First of all. I made it to 80 the first of April and I thank all who helped me make it an awesome day! Parma Ridge Bistro and Winery for a super great dinner as always and the German Chocolate Cake! And Marnie and Eric for opening their house and the Open House. Thank you one and all!

The kitchen has been slow and moderately successful. If I must throw away “leftovers” then that tells me that it was not especially liked. But that’s just my opinion. So lets start with the German Chocolate Cake and homemade Cupcakes. Thank you Stephanie and Michelle. And a very special thank you to the Love of My Life, Robin – you always make these time so special!

German Chocolate Cake from Parma Ridge Winery and Bistro http://www.parmaridge.wine/

Special Occasion Sweets by Michelle Smith, our Granddaughter-In-law Anna Shanner’s sister.

Now for the dinners. One of the better ones was a Salmon Papillote. Eric caught the Kokanee 2 days prior ton the meal and it was delicious! Moist and succulent.

Salmon Papillote plated with a Green Salad and Carrots and Broccoli cooked in the papillote

And next there was an Indian Style Butter Chicken, a Rachael Ray treat that I “tweaked” somewhat. http://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Butter-Chicken.pdf. I added Kashmir Curry Powder that we make ourselves, which cuts the heat spice, somewhat. http://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Kashmir-Curry-Powder.pdf I also added some Sake. Here it is.

And finally, we had some boneless, skinless chicken thighs leftover from the Butter Chicken, so I made some Chicken Rice Soup and I really liked it.

So there you have some of the menus we had in the past week or so. The “not so popular” ones are not included. But enjoy these. I did. There is no recipe for the papillote. From Wikipedia, “En papillote (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ papijɔt]; French for “enveloped in paper”), or al cartoccio in Italian, is a method of cooking in which the food is put into a folded pouch or parcel and then baked. This method is most often used to cook fish or vegetables, but lamb and poultry can also be cooked en papillote. It is a combination cooking method of baking and steaming.

The parcel is typically made from folded parchment paper but other material, such as a paper bag or aluminum foil, may be used. The parcel holds in moisture to steam the food. The pocket is created by overlapping circles of paper or foil and folding them tightly around the food to create a seal.

The moisture may be from the food itself or from an added moisture source, such as water, wine or stock. The choice of herbs, seasonings and spices depend on the particular e being prepared.

The parcel can be opened at the table to allow people to smell the aroma when it opens.”

Let’s Make Some Indian Curry Spice Blends

13 Thursday Sep 2018

Posted by Bob and Robin in Classic Spice Blends, Cooking Styles, Curry, Ethnic Foods, Food, Food 0f India, Food of India, Indian Food, Indian Foods, Indian Spices, Recipes, Recipes - India, What's For Dinner?

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Indian Foods

When I was 15 – many, many years ago – I had the awesome experience of living in India for a year. We were 120 miles SW of New Delhi in the state of Rajasthan and the town of Pilani. It was absolutely a wonderful year for me. I met Jawaharlal Nehru – First Prime Minister of India, Rajendra Prasad – Former and First President of India, Lady Mountbatten, Haile Selassie – Former Emperor of Ethiopia and several other heads of state. The people and the food was superb. I will never forget, and have not forgotten, the people and the food. When I walk into an Indian restaurant here in Boise, or overall in the USA, I want to smell the fenugreek and the spices. Then I know it is authentic. If in Boise, go into the Bombay Grill at 10th and Main and inhale the spice odors. There you will be introduced to true and authentic Indian cuisine. Or into the Punjab Market in Yuba City, CA. If you want some really good Indian recipes that use these spice blends or you want to learn how to make Naan, look at Demuths Blog Indian Recipes.

Indian spices

Here are two very basic, but very good, Indian spice recipes from the Southern India area. (The blends will differ from area to area.) [Demuths Blog] Most, if not all of these spices, can be found in an Indian or Asian market.

Homemade Curry Powder
An essential ingredient for numerous Indian recipes.
Ingredients:
1 T whole Coriander Seeds
1 T whole Cumin Seeds
1 t whole Black Peppercorns
1 t whole brown Mustard Seeds
2 t whole Fenugreek Seeds
3 hot dried Red Chillies, crumbled. Careful!
3/4 t ground Turmeric
Directions:
Dry fry all the spices except the turmeric until fragrant, but don’t let them brown as it will ruin the flavor.
Add the turmeric and quickly stir. Decant onto a plate and leave to cool.
Grind in a spice grinder/coffee grinder as finely as possible. Store in an airtight container.

Homemade Garam Masala Powder (Bese Bele)
This is an aromatic sweet blend of spices favored by the Brahmins of Bangalore. Used in numerous Indian recipes, including our masala dosas and masala vada (split pea dumplings in masala gravy).
Ingredients:
1 T Cardamom Seeds
1 t whole Cloves
1 t Black Peppercorns
1″ stick of Cinnamon
1/3 of a Nutmeg
a curl of mace
1 sm dried Chilli
6 Curry Leaves
1 T un-sweetened Coconut Flakes
Directions:
Dry fry all the spices until fragrant, take off the heat and add the coconut flakes. Grind in a spice grinder/coffee grinder as finely as possible.
Store in an airtight container.

Marsala Spices

Masala Spice Mix – Northern Indian Curry powder
Ingredients – Whole Spices:
2 T Coriander Seeds
1 T Cumin Seeds
1/2 Cinnamon Stick
1 t Fennel Seeds
1 t Mustard Seeds
1 t Fenugreek Seeds
1 t Kalongi/Nigela (A common ingredient in Middle Eastern cuisine, it is in the same family as caraway, dill or parsley. Cumin seeds are a good substitute because they have a peppery and nutty flavor that is similar to nigella seeds.)
10 Curry Leaves
1 Bay Leaf
Ingredients – Ground Spices:
1 t ground Turmeric
1 t ground Ginger
1 t Chilli Powder
pinch of salt
Directions:
Dry fry the whole spices, until fragrant, cool and grind. Add the ground spices and mix in. This will store in airtight container for a month, or you can make a paste.
To make a paste mix the spice blend with a little vinegar and water until it resembles a paste. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.
Heat some oil in a pan and add the paste. Gently stir fry for about 5 minutes until the paste start to make a bubbling noise.
Remove from heat and leave to cool. The oil should rise to the surface.
Store in sterilized jars. The layer of oil on top adds to the storing process. Keep in the fridge.

Interesting Meals To Contemplate

27 Friday Oct 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Asian - Spices, Asian - Sushi Joy, Asian Stir Fry, Atlantic Salmon, Avocado, Bacon, Bagel, Beets, Boise Food Adventures, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Cheese, Chicken, Cooking Styles, Cream Sauces, Creamed Spinach, Curry, Eggs, Eggs Fried, Fruit, Greens, Heirloom Beets, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Tomatoes, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Pasta, Housemade Sauerkraut, Idaho Bacon, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Sturgeon, Idaho Vegetables, Local Farmers Markets, Lox, Lunch For Robin, Mushrooms, Pasta, Photos By: Bob Young, What's For Dinner?

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sturgeon

So much fun in the past month or two. Fun in the kitchen. No particular recipe, just a game of “Chopped”. We have these items, now make something edible. Mostly I did.
Hopefully I found something from breakfast, lunch and dinner. To see any of these photos enlarged, Left-Click them. Lets start with Breakfast. I do hope this stimulates you to prepare something different. Good luck! Most of these ingredients, are available at the Boise Farmers Market at 10th and Grove.

Poached Eggs on a Potato Raft
Fresh Fruit
Bacon
Acme Bakeshop Toasted Sourdough

Alia’s Manhattan Morning
Fresh Everything Bagel
Cream Cheese
Tomato
Capers
Onion
Lettuce
Lox

Strawberry Waffle

Bagel
Salmon
Spinach
Fried Egg
Pico de Gallo

Biscuits and Gravy
Poached Egg
Fresh Honeydew

How about some lunch?

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich on Ciabatta
Avocado
Heirloom Tomato

Huevos con Salsa
Tomato
Avocado

Deconstructed BLT

And now, Dinner!

Salmon Yakitori
Jasmine Rice
Spinach Salad
Yellow Beets
Heirloom Tomato
White Carrot Threads

Note: Yakitori is mostly a form of skewered chicken. But if you take the sauce, called “… tare, a special sauce consisting of mirin, sake, Japanese soy sauce (Shoyu. Prefered dark but white is also fine), and sugar …” and add it to something like this salmon, you get something completely different and good. No need to skewer the salmon, just marinate it for about 30 minutes and then slowly cook it on top of the stove or bake it in the oven. I do like this sauce and usually have some on hand. Easy to make.

Scallops
Fig Jam Marinated Shrimp
Celeriac Thread Salad
Celeriac, also called turnip-rooted celery, celery root or knob celery, is a variety of celery cultivated for its edible roots, hypocotyl, and shoots.

Lobster Ravioli
Fresh Green Salad
with
Heirloom Tomatoes and Rose Turnip Threads

Braised Sturgeon
mushroom sauce
Heirloom Carrot Thread Salad
Creamed Spinach

From Sushi Joy in Boise
Playboy Sushi Roll
House Salad

Captains’s Shack Housemade Pasta with Prosciutto
Prosciutto is an Italian dry-cured ham that is usually thinly sliced and served uncooked; this style is called prosciutto crudo in Italian (or simply crudo) and is distinguished from cooked ham, prosciutto cotto.

Some Good Summertime Meals at The Captain’s Shack

06 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Atlantic Salmon, Avocado, Bacon, Baking, Baking - Papillote, Boise Artisan Bakery's, Boise Farmers Market, Boise Food Adventures, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Chicken, Cooking Styles, Crab, Curry, Desert Mountai Grass Fed Beef, Dessert, Dinner For Robin, Eggs, Eggs Over Easy, Eggs Poached, Eggs Sunnyside Up, en Papillote, Heirloom Beets, Heirloom Carrots, Heirloom Tomatoes, heirloom vegetables, Herbs and Spices, Homemade Sauce, Housemade Sauces, Ice Cream, Idaho Bacon, Idaho Chicken, Idaho Eggs, Idaho Grains, Idaho Trout, Idaho Vegetables, Korean BBQ, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Martin's Swiss Dressing, Meadowlark Farms, Oma and Popie's Sauces, Oriental Food, Photos By: Bob Young, Purple Sage Farms, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Recipes - Dinner, Recipes - Sauces, Salads, Salmon, Sausage, Teriyaki, What's For Dinner?, Yakitori

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Ah yes! Life in the kitchen in one of the hottest July’s on record at The Captain’s Shack (The Shack). But so much fun to make and serve. Some of these dishes are “eye candy”, too. Some have recipes; Some don’t. (If you want a recipe, just let me know. I’ll see what I can do.) As with most photos on this blog, Left Click them and see them enlarged. Enjoy these photos and if you make any of the recipes, let us know how you liked them. Thanks and Cheers!

Mango Salsa

Fruity and sweet with a moderately spicy component. Great with seafood.

Huevos con Mango Salsa and Avocado

Poached Idaho Trout Nage
Here is the recipe: Idaho Trout Nage

Eggs Florentine
with
Tomato and Bacon Sourdough Toast

Zucchini Galette

Crab Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms
Recipe: Crab Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms

Chicken Yakitori with Jasmine Rice
Recipe: Chicken Yakitori

We modified the Yakitori sauce somewhat and have our own Teriyaki sauce that we use. Here are the recipes: Sauce Recipes.

And if you are interested, here are some of the main sauces we use. Enjoy.

Salmon
Peas and Beet Greens
Jasmine Rice

Salmon Yakitori
Lemon Rice
Green Salad
with
Shaved Baby Golden Beets
White Carrot Threads
Heirloom Tomato
Martin’s Swiss Dressing

Biscuits and Herbal Sausage Gravy

Curry Chicken Salad
Avocado Slices
Heirloom Tomato Slices
Acme Toasted Sourdough

Peach Jam on Cinnamon Pinwheels

Peach Jam on Cinnamon Pinwheels
Vanilla Ice Cream and Peach Jam Drizzle

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!

Mai Thai Visited

18 Wednesday Mar 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 4-Stars, Asian Food, Boise Restaurants, Buy Idaho, Curry, Dinner With Robin, Duck, Locavore, Mai Thai, Photos By: Bob Young, Sushi, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

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Asian - Mai Thai, chicken, curry, duck, Mai Thai, sushi

We have been to Mai Thai several times, but this is the first time for the lunch buffet. They are located at 750 W Idaho Street, Boise. (208) 344-8424. Such a treat! They continue their outstanding cuisine. With just a small comment: The duck could have had more of the fat removed and the connective tissue trimmed. The vegetable tempura was good, but slightly soggy and cold. For those reasons, I can only rate this visit a 4-Star, out of 5-Star, meal. The ambiance is terrific. The Waite staff is very attentive and polite. The price, $11.95 for the buffet, is extremely reasonable for the amount of food that is available. Mai Thai is well worth the trip to go there. If you like Asian cuisine for lunch, this is the place to go. It is just a little more of a formal setting than most of the other Asian places in Boise. Give it a try. I have also listed Mai Thai on TripAdvisor. Here are some photos we took. Left-Click any of the photos to see them enlarged. Enjoy!!

Buffet menu

Makings for a salad

Lettuce Wrap Ingredients and Vegetable Tempura. (The tempura was not heavy with batter.)

Sushi offerings

Curry

Noodles

Chicken and Duck

Vegetable Tempura, Salad and Sushi

Sushi close-up

Duck, Noodles and Curry on Rice

Dinner at Bombay Grill

20 Wednesday Aug 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Boise Adventures, Bombay Grill, Chicken, Classic Sauces, Comfort Food, Curry, Dinner and a Movie, Dinner With Robin, Indian Cooking, Indian Food, Lamb, Main Dish, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurants To Try, Rice, Special Dinners, Spices of India, Vegetarian Foods, What's For Dinner?

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Bombay Grill, indian food

And a super dinner it was! This is still my first pick for Indian food here in Boise. Easily rates 5-Stars out of 5. I spent a year in India, when I was 15, and I remember the smells of the fragrant spices. The Bombay Grill takes me back in time and brings back the enjoyable aromas and flavors of the spices and food. They do offer a full vegetarian menu, although we had chicken.
Then we went to see The Hundred-Foot Journey, a movie I highly recommend, especially if you like cooking. Basically, it tells a story of the clash between two cuisines, French and Indian. An Indian family buys a rundown restaurant across the street from a high end French restaurant. They remodel the building and open up their own restaurant. The movie mostly takes place in France. Here are some photos from the Bombay Grill, 928 W Main St, Boise, ID 83702, (208) 345-7888. I just wish their website was up and running. Enjoy!

We arrived at Bombay Grill about 10 minutes before they opened. We were some of the first to be seated. Here you can see the interior of the restaurant.

Good appetizers.

A nice light Lager from India.

Robin had a medley of entrees. It gave here an idea of the range of the cooking style and the ingredients used.

Robin had a sampling of entrees. It gave her an idea of the range of the cooking style and the ingredients used.

I always like the curry. Here is a chicken curry entree. Just spicy enough without being overpowering. Thanks to the Chef, Mr Singh, for coming to our table and talking to us. Your food is superb!

Boise Foodies Party On!

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by Bob and Robin in Appetizers, Boise Foodie Meet-Up, Comfort Food, Curry, Dinner With Friends, Finger Foods, Friends, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Indian Food, Main Dish, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Robin Young, Salads, Side Dishes, Special Events, Tapas, Turkey, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

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Boise Foodie Meet-Up Group, curry, Heirloom Seed Suppliers, Idaho wine, indian food, Thai Food

And a great party it was! Great to see so many people there and to talk to them. Thanks Kat for opening your home to all of us. And the decorations, as in this tree where Robin and Tina are chatting, were marvelous. And the food that everyone shared was fabulous. And if you are in search of Heirloom seeds, here is a list of Heirloom Seed Suppliers. Enjoy the following photos and Left-Click any of them to see enlarged. And while you are at it, please rate this article above and Follow us on this blog – there is a place to do so in the sidebar. Cheers!

Kat, Rick and Tina are chatting on the couch.

Cathy

Lance, The Elevated One, and Bernadette

Krista and “Louie’s Pizza Maker”

Kitchen workers

I don’t know what to say here.

Layered Russian Salad that Robin brought. I will have the recipe posted in the Recipe File above later today.

Seven-Layer Russian Salad that Robin brought. I will have the recipe posted in the Boise Foodie Blog Recipe page, listed at the very top of this page, later today. (Seven-Layer Russian Salad Recipe – PDF format)

Turkey Meatballs. Here is the recipe: Cranberry Turkey Meatballs (This is a PDF file)

Curry, Thai food, different types of rice, chicken, pasta and much, much more. No one went away hungry!! There are some awesome cooks in this group. I like this type of Meet-Up just as well as visiting our local restaurants. As my Supervisor at the duPont Company would say many years ago, "Atta boy!!"

Curry, Thai food, different types of rice, chicken, pasta, chocolate bacon, egg salad bruchetta and much, much more. No one went away hungry!! There are some awesome cooks in this group. I like this type of Meet-Up just as well as visiting our local restaurants. As my Supervisor at the duPont Company would say many years ago, “Atta boy!!” A job well done.

Tagines and Tagine Cooking

18 Monday Nov 2013

Posted by Bob and Robin in Anthropology of Food, Chicken, Curry, Ethnic Foods, Food Prep, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Interesting Information, Lamb, Main Dish, Mediterrean Foods, Moroccan Food, Moroccan Spices, Persian Food, Special Information, Spices of Morocco, Tagine, Tagine Cooking, What's For Dinner?

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chicken tagine, Mediterrean, moroccan cuisine, Morocco, tagine cooking, tagine recipes

Robin and I like the cuisines of different cultures, as some of you may well know. The cooking traditions of Morocco or of the Mediterrean area, can produce some really wonderful dishes. But to do them, you probably would benefit by using the correct cooking utensil. In this case a tagine, as pictured here.

Tagine is named after the pot [an entree] is cooked in, a thick clay cone resting on a rounded base. While many tagines are ornamental – see the delicate ceramic ones [above], hand-painted carefully – the basic cooking version is unpainted and only occasionally glazed. Practical and durable (except if you drop it, of course), the dish is synonymous with Morocco for good reason: every roadside stall, tourist restaurant and cafe seems to have pots of the stuff simmering all day long. (legalnomads.com)

You can spend a lot of money on a tagine, or not. The ones pictured above, could be rather expensive. The one Robin and I have is an earthen color and can prepare a meal for 6. We bought it online and it was not expensive. A good source for information about Mediterrean cooking and tagines is Legal Nomads. Another good source on Facebook is the group Moroccan Cuisine. There are several articles, and tagine recipes, on this blog. One such article/recipe is Chicken Tagine and Mushrooms with Moroccan Green Olives. On this blog, search on the word tagine, and several articles will be found.
Basically, tagine cooking is defined as:

… By virtue of slow-cooking meat at low temperatures, effectively braising it until tender, a lower quality or tougher meat can be used. And the food cooks with minimum of additional liquid (water is added as it simmers), and no additional fat. The meat browns in the heated clay despite the slow simmer – the heat remains trapped inside the pot by the raised outer ridges on the base of the tagine. [legalnomads.com]

The method of cooking – via a tagine – is partially what makes this cooking style so unique. The other very important ingredient are the spices. Here are some that are used in tagine cooking, and in particular, foods from Morocco. Sweet paprika, good quantity of cumin, Moroccan saffron – if you can find it, turmeric, garlic, freshly chopped parsley, ground ginger, and salt and pepper. In the article, It’s Always Tagine O’Clock in Morocco, you will find more information on tagine cooking as well as recipes for Tagine of Beef, or Chicken or Mutton. Or, if you like shrimp or other shell fish, here is a good recipe for Tagine of Shrimp in Tomato Sauce.

Try this cuisine, you may find you like it. Think slow cooking and low heat. Sound familiar? And remember the tagine spices, and actually the ones I have listed are only a fraction of the spices use, but they are the basic ones. Enjoy!!

Our Curry Hake Dinner Tonight

16 Friday Aug 2013

Posted by Bob and Robin in Captain's Shack, Curry, Ethnic Foods, Food Photos, Green Beans, Hake, Indian Cooking, Local Harvests, Main Dish, Mushrooms, Photos By: Bob Young, Salad, Seafood, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

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chantrell mushrooms, cinsault, coconut milk, costco, tomato salad

Our supply, bought from Costco, comes from Namibia, South Africa. We are going to make a Coconut Milk Curry Hake with Roasted Couscous and Green Beans

Coconut Milk Curry Hake
on a bed of
Roasted Quinoa with Chantrell Mushrooms and Raisins
Fresh Cucumber and Fresh Tomato Salad
Sauteed Green Beans with Garlic
2012 Sawtoth Winery Cinsault Rosé

Oh my! This was really good. Our supply of Hake was bought from Costco, comes from Namibia, South Africa. The mushrooms, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumber were all from the New Boise Farmer’s Market.