Two Great Meals

This potato salad,the recipe is located here Chef Lou’s Potato Salad, is full of vegetables. (Pictured above) You can use veggies, or not, or choose your own. The salad has an awesome dressing of mayo, apple cider vinegar and Dejon mustard. I also added some fresh lovage to add to the “celery” flavor. Try it. Easy to make. I chilled the cooked potatoes before adding them to the sauce/vegetable mix. I also cut the potatoes in “bite sized” pieces before cooking them. Try using new potatoes and quarter them.

The second wonderful dish we made was a Shrimp Salad. (Pictured above) This was a great, summer salad and it can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. Full of vegetables and shrimp and with a creamy sauce. I added frozen peas and corn to this salad which gave a a nice texture and flavor. I also used some fresh lovage in this, too. You could probably use lobster instead of shrimp, if you are so inclined. We served it with baked Orange Kokanee – salmon – (7 min at 375 degrees F) for 7 minutes. Toasted Sourdough Wedges with butter and garlic.

Well there are two meals you can play with. Have fun and enjoy! Just don’t forget: If it is on a plate, it is edible! Don’t ever put something on a plate that is not edible.

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Thanksgiving 2017

27 Monday Nov 2017

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Acme Bake Shop Sourdough, Bacon, Baking, Boise Farmers Market, Brine, Buy Idaho, Captain's Shack, Cheese, Classic Cuisines, Dessert, Dill, Dinner At Marnies, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Housemade Gravy, Housemade Pie Crust, Housemade Sausage, Idaho Bacon, Idaho Potatoes, Idaho Vegetables, Idaho Wild Game, Mascarpone, Onion, Oysters, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Captain's Shack, Recipes, Recipes - Dinner, What's For Dinner?

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Brining, crockpot, Dilly Bread

And a good Thanksgiving it was! Marnie had us all down to Marsing, ID for dinner. Robin, Chris, Eric, Emmet, Marnie and me. Beautiful view across the Snake River to Lizard Butte. Sunny and warm. We ate on her back porch. Served dinner buffet style. Much easier.
Eric made some fresh venison summer sausage so we had cheese and sausage to start. And yes, there was a variety of wine and drinks for those who do not drink wine. Emmet made a wonderful Pecan Pie and Marnie made Port Poached Pears. Oh yum! Robin and I made the turkey and some trimmings, including Crockpot Mashed Potatoes, a wonderful and easy way to make mashed potatoes. Chris made the Dried Corn for the first time. Good job, Chris. If you want to see these photos enlarged, Left-Click them.

Lizard Butte from Marnie’s front porch.

Robin on the porch.

The turkey is brining. Here’s how to brine the turkey – How To Brine a Turkey

Robin’s Orange Cranberry. (The recipe is on this site. Don’t leave home without it.)

Marnie, Chris and Eric in the kitchen at Marnie’s house, including Lola waiting patiently!

In the kitchen.

Marnie and Eric making Wilted Lettuce Salad.

Chestnut Stuffing ready for the turkey.

Dilly Bread is ready. Robin’s Dilly Bread

Candied Orange Peel

Dinner is plated.

Emmets Pecan Pie. It was good.

Marnie’s Port Poached Pear with Mascapone

Great Sunday Brunch at Parma Ridge Winery

08 Sunday Nov 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in 5-Stars, Appetizers, BBQ Sauce, Bistro, Braising, Brunch, Brunch with Robin, Buy Idaho, Classic Cuisines, Classic Sauces, Coffee, Comfort Food, Dill, Eggs, Eggs Poached, Herbs and Spices, Idaho Chefs, Idaho Greens, Idaho Pork, Idaho Potatoes, Idaho Wine, Idaho's Bounty, Parma Ridge Winery, Parma Ridge Winery Bistro, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Salads, Sliders, Special Information, What's For Dinner?, Wines - Idaho

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bistro, brunch, Parma Ridge Winery

Yea! Parma Ridge Winery, 24509 Rudd Road, Parma, ID has re-opened! Under new owners Chef Storm and Stephanie Hodge, the venue has changed also. They are now serving a wonderful Sunday Brunch from 12 noon to 5:00pm. The space indoors is limited in the winter season to about 25 seats. The deck is open in season. Wonderful owners. Wonderful location. Wonderful food. The wine pictured is really a good Rosé of Merlot. Not too sweet and with a little spice to it. It was named after their daughter. You might want to call for reservations if you have 4 or more people. Or visit their website at Parma Ridge Wine and Spirits. From their website, “Tasting Room hours are 12-5 p.m., Friday – Sunday. Now open for Happy Hour Friday from 4-7 p.m. Join us for a glass of wine, a bite of food and take in the amazing view!” Enjoy the creations of Chef Storm and/or the artwork of Stephanie. Here is what we had and some photos of the area. Enjoy! Ranks very high for winery food – 5-Stars! It’s that good! I have also listed it on TripAdvisor.

The sign at the entrance.

The tasting room and restaurant.

View from the patio at the tasting room.

There is a variety of herbs from the garden for the kitchen.

Artist Stephanie Hodge at the tasting counter.

Chef Storm Hodge in his kitchen.

The seating area in the restaurant.

Happy Hour menu.

Sunday Brunch menu in addition to the Happy Hour menu.

Cheese and Salami Platter
smoked provolone, Boursin, dill Havarti, muenster, fresh mozzarella, warm brie and bleu cheese with dry salami and fresh baked bread

Parma Ridge House Salad
mixed greens with apple cider vinaigrette, Bleu cheese and poached pear with grilled bread

Sliders and Rosemary Garlic Truffle Fries choice of Ground Beef with smoked provolone, bacon and mesquite aioli "Triple B" Ground Beef with bacon, bleu chees and BBQ Braised Pulled Pork with black cherry BBQ sauce

Sliders and Rosemary Garlic Truffle Fries choice of
1. Ground Beef with smoked provolone, bacon and mesquite aioli
2. “Triple B” Ground Beef with bacon, bleu chees and BBQ Braised
3. Pulled Pork with black cherry BBQ sauce

Best Ever Biscuits and Gravy with a Fried Egg

Slow Braised Beef Short Ribs
rosemary mashed potatoes, grilled asparagus, homemade bread

Another Good Römertopf Chicken

22 Friday May 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Alley Gardens, Arugula, Boise Farmers Market, Capers, Captain's Shack, Carrots, Chicken, Classic Cuisines, Dill, Dinner At The Captains Shack, Dinner For Robin, Garlic, Green Salad, Healthy Eating, Heirloom Carrots, Herbs, Herbs and Spices, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Locavore, Morels, Onion, Party Time, Peaceful Belly Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Potatoes, Römertopf, Römertopf Cooking, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes, Rice Family Farms, Roasted Vegetables, Salad, Salt, Things To Do, Traditional Food, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?

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Römertopf, Römertopf cooking

Yes indeed, another good Römertopf Roasted Chicken. Love using this style of cooking – Römertopf or Tagine; slow, steamed in it’s own liquid. I like to place chopped carrots, onion and potato on the bottom of the Römertopf to keep the chicken off of the bottom of the cooking pot and keep it from burning. Make a gravy from the liquid and use the roasted vegetables as a side. I cooked this one covered at 375 degrees F for about 1 1/2 hours, plus 1/2 hour uncovered at 400 degrees F.
And we do like to keep the ingredients as local as possible: Potatoes from Rupert, Onions from Nyssa, Carrots from Boise, Herbs from our herb garden. Look at what we did and enjoy. We did! Serve with a good Pinot Gris or Pinot Grigio. Left Click the photos to see them enlarged.

One of our herb gardens. All four are about this size. The front space between the sidewalk and the street is chock full of herbs – No Grass or otherwise known as a No Mow Lawn.

The 6# chicken is resting after cooking. Stuffed with garlic - a whole bulb cut in half - onion quartered, thyme, rosemary, sage, sea salt and Tellicherry pepper.

The 6# Römertopf Chicken is resting after cooking. Stuffed with garlic – a whole bulb cut in half – onion quartered, thyme, rosemary, sage, Morel mushrooms, sea salt and Tellicherry pepper. The skin is rubbed with unsalted butter, sea salt and Tellicherry pepper. Thyme and sage leaves are scattered on the skin.

Römertopf Chicken Roasted Potatoes, Onion and Carrot Drippings Gravy Green Arugula and Black Leaf Lettuce with capers, radish sticks Olive Oil, Lime Zest and Juice and Honey Dressing

Romertopf Chicken
Roasted Potatoes, Onion and Carrot
Drippings Gravy
Green Arugula and Red Leaf Lettuce Salad
with
capers and radish sticks
Olive Oil, Lime Zest, Lime Juice and Honey Dressing

Just Another Breakfast at the Captain’s Shack

16 Friday Jan 2015

Posted by Bob and Robin in Acme Bake Shop, Acme Bake Shop Breads, Acme Bake Shop Multi-Grain, Bread, Breakfast, Breakfast At The Captains Shack, Breakfast With Robin, Captain's Shack, Classic Sauces, Dill, Eggs, Hollandaise Sauce, Icebox Lox, Local Harvests, Meadowlark Farms, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe by: Robin and Bob Young, Recipes - Sauces, Seafood, Vegetables, What's For Dinner?, Whats For Breakfast?

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Eggs Benedict, Hollandaise Sauce, icebox lox

I reported earlier that we received a luscious, fresh Alaskan salmon from our neighbor. Here are two breakfasts that we made. I updated the Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce and I think this one is a little better. Another layer of light flavor. Great on the Eggs Benedict with Lox we had. Would also be good on asparagus.
Both of the breakfasts below have Robin’s Icebox Lox in them. Again, this one really turned out great. Take a good look at the photos – enlarge them using Left-Click – and enjoy! Both of the recipes listed are really easy to do. The Hollandaise may be the most difficult of the two. And just to note: The Eggs Benedict is not an everyday breakfast, although it would be good!

Grilled Asparagus and Robin's Icebox Lox Omelet Fresh Fruit

Grilled Asparagus Omelet
Robin’s Icebox Lox
Fresh Fruit

Meadowlark Farms Eggs Benedict
Robin’s Icebox Lox
Easy Blender Hollandaise Sauce
Acme Bake Shop Multi-Grain Toast
Fresh Fruit

Happily, Healthy Wine Tasting

10 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by Bob and Robin in Carrots, Chicken, Dill, Ginger, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipes, Salads, Soup, Special Events, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food, Wine Dinners

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lentils, the Buzz, The Buzz Coffee and Wine, wine club dinner, Wine Dinners

Cristi, in her Queen of Wine Crown, led us through a wonderfully different Wine Club Dinner last night at The Buzz here in Boise. (Her recipes for these dinners can be found at Buzz Wine Blog.) Several interesting points that she made. (1) “Superfood is a marketing term used to describe foods with supposed health benefits. [The term ‘superfood’ is] not commonly used by dieticians.” She also pointed out that there is no evidence to support that 8 – 8oz glasses of water a day is beneficial. However, soaking in water relaxes us; cleanses us; sounds of running water are soothing and swimming is good exercise to name a few. Best rule of thumb for water consumption is thirst! The amount of water intake varies on size and activity and general overall health.
As for wine: There is a 16 year Harvard study showing that drinking wine reduces heart attack. That does not mean a gallon a day of wine – 2 oz a day would be a better target. A French study showed that wine reduces the risk of heart disease. A 12 year study in Amsterdam shows that limited amounts of wine reduces the risk of Type 2 diabetes.
And to balance out the wine, here is what we had for dinner. Enjoy the photos; check out the link above for recipes from some of the wine dinners and Left-Click any of the photos to see them larger. Cheers!

Some of the 7 wines we had.

Chicken Satay with Kale Chips 2011 Tapiz Chardonnay 13.9% alc. well rounded and went very well with the kale and the yogurt sauce. [18] $20.00

Chicken Satay with Kale Chips and Yogurt and Honey Mustard Sauce
2011 Tapiz Chardonnay
13.9% alc. well rounded and went very well with the kale and the yogurt sauce. [18] $20.00

Ginger Lentil Soup (delicious!) 2012 Revelry Merlot 13.6% alc. this was a superb match with the spiciness of the ginger in the soup. perfect paring! [18] $17.00

Ginger Lentil Soup
(delicious! Robin enjoyed this.)
2012 Revelry Merlot
13.6% alc. this was a superb match with the spiciness of the ginger in the soup. perfect paring! [18] $17.00

Spinach Salad with Warm Bacon Dressing
(Delicious!)
2012 Tangent Albarino
13.5% alc super paring. went especially well with the dressing and the oxalic acid of the spinach. another great paring! [19] $16.00

Beef Stroganoff Dill Carrots Cauliflower with Peas 2012 Vistalba 14.0% alc it was surprising how well this plate went with the wine. even the fresh dill pared well. [18] $22.00

Beef Stroganoff and Noodles
Dill Carrots
Cauliflower with Peas
2012 Vistalba
14.0% alc it was surprising how well this plate went with the wine. even the fresh dill pared well. [18] $22.00

Chess Pie with Raspberries
Henkell Brut
11.5% alc. good paring with the pie, even for this non-sparkling wine enthusiast. it did go well with the berries. (We purchased 2 bottles.) [17] $16.00

A good – great healthy meal! Great wine parings. Overall a great food preparation. Cheers and hope to see you at the Wine Dinner in January.