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I do like pork! But I really need to change my preparation of the meat. If not the preparation, then the plating of it. What to serve with it? Sauerkraut is a pretty standard plating. But I wanted to change that, And o I came up with this. I used red cabbage, snow peas and carrot rounds, to sweeten it a little, and a little balsamic glaze to soften the cabbage flavor. I brazed it with just a little Aleppo pepper. The combination worked well and folks enjoyed it. Then I took parsnips and chunk diced them and braised them also.
The pork. Braised it over medium heat so not to burn it. Initially and before cooking I used our Pork Rub, (https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Pork-Rub.pdf) all over the tenderloin and did not “skimp” on the amount. Then pat it into the meat and let it sit for about 30 minutes. The 2020 Parma Ridge Winery Boys Blend was superb with this dinner!
After braising the pork, I removed them from the heat and deglazed the pan (cast-iron skillet) with about 2 ounces of Tarragon Vinegar that we made a while back.Then a little butter in the drippings and some flour. Brought the roux together and added whole milk and about 2 T of Plochman’s mustard and stirred to combine and thicken. I then returned the tenderloin to the pan and spooned some of the sauce over it. After plating, I added a little more if it was needed. Everyone seemed to enjoy it – there is none left!
I love a good Shepard’s (Shepherd’s) Pie! Much better than a Cottage Pie. Maybe that’s because I do like good lamb. And as a side point, lamb is one year old or younger, while mutton is older than a year, just in case you were wondering. But also, it intrigues me as to the origin of these dishes. I always thought it originated in the Basque country of Spain. But after researching for this article, I am wrong!
Shepherd’s Pie: This dish is believed to have originated in Scotland or northern England (Ireland) during the late 1700s to early 1800s. It was initially made with leftover roasted lamb or mutton, and the term “shepherd” in its name reflects the traditional use of lamb meat.
Cottage Pie is thought to have originated in England, particularly in the Midlands or northern regions, around the same time period as shepherd’s pie. It traditionally uses minced beef, and the term “cottage” likely refers to the modest dwellings of the rural working class, who would have commonly prepared this dish. The cottage pie was the precursor to shepherd’s pie, which was coined in the middle of the 19th century. For a while it was used interchangeably with cottage pie. However, as time went on, a distinction was made: shepherd’s pie referred to a dish made with lamb (because sheep are tended to by shepherds!), and cottage pie referred to a dish made with beef.
This is a Shepherd’s Pie that I made this past week. And I think it was really good. Good robust herb and vegetable flavors. And the ground lamb was awesome with no “wild” taste that you can get with mutton. And it was from a very local farmer. Meadowlark Farms in Nampa, Idaho to be exact. The crust was a combination of Russet (Idaho) potato and Red Potato. I did not have and Harvest Gold potatoes so I made my own! The browning on the top was from a combination of the potatoes and Parmesan cheese. So, if you are interested, here is the recipe I came up with. Feel free to try it. Just let me know how it came out and how much you loved it! https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Shepards-Pie.pdf
The flowers here are some I bought Robin (my wife) a few days ago. They are springy, and we all know we can’t wait until Spring! I hate to throw away food with a passion. And if there is anything Robin has taught me over the past 40 years, is to use the leftovers, She was a magician with les restes, leftovers. So, a week ago I made a Tarragon Roasted Chicken (https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Tarragon-Roasted-Chicken.pdf) that was awesome. We had some left over, so I thought about what to make. How about a Chicken Salad? And I’m glad I did. It was differently good with the addition of the tarragon and the cream sauce that went with it. Add un-peeled shredded carrot, diced celery, a little mayo and serve over chopped iceberg lettuce.
To the plate add some sliced tomato, corn on the cob and grapes and a wonderful dinner. Well, it’s almost Spring. Why not rush the season? I’m all for that! Voila!
About a week ago while watching the Today Show, they made a spatchcocked chicken dish with tarragon. Spatchcocking is defined as a chicken or other type of bird that has been cut open down the backbone from tail to neck, pressed flat, andcooked, either in the oven, stove top or grilled. An interesting process that takes some skill, either by kitchen shears or a chef’s knife. So I took their process and recipe and altered it to our liking. I added some sliced button mushrooms and a little more wine. I also used Celtic sea salt and fresh ground Tellicherry black pepper. Here is our recipe: https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Tarragon-Roasted-Chicken.pdf.
The chicken has been spatchcocked and it is in a large (12″), deep (2″) cast-iron skillet. It has been salted and peppered. The garlic is placed under the chicken.
After cooking in the oven for 30 minutes at 450 degrees F and the skin is browned – I should have added about another 10 minutes – add the sliced mushrooms and a liberal amount of white wine.
Then pour the heavy cream, chopped fresh tarragon leaves and Dijon mustard mixture all over the bird. Reduce the heat to 325 degrees Ft and cook for another 30-40 minutes.
After all that work, just follow the recipe, plate it up with some corn on the cob, pour a glass of good chardonnay and sit down, relax and have a delicious meal. As a note, 1 bulb of garlic sounds like a lot, but it will cook down, become sweet and delicious.
The other product that I have working on for the past several months, is BBQ Sauce. And I think we are there with this one. https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-BBQ-Sauce.pdf It is a mix of St Louis Style and Texas Style. Can be spicy if you want, just add more Aleppo Pepper. And there is a sweetness to it that is not over powering. The longer you keep it refrigerated, up to 6 months, the better it gets. And probably the strangest thing in it is Pomegranate Molasses. Not much because it can be powerful, but enough so you sayu, “What is that?”
Hope you have enjoyed these recipes and give them a try. Let us know what you think. Chau!
I have been wanting to try this pasta for quite a while now and finally got up the nerve to try and make some. I think it came out very well. Originally, the sauce does not include any vegetables or protein. I changed that and used some large dice zucchini, shrimp, scallops and quartered crimini mushrooms. I like those additional items as it gives the pasta a good texture and mouth feel. Vodka Sauce is a popular Italian-American pasta sauce known for its rich and creamy texture. The exact origins of vodka sauce are unclear. One popular belief is that vodka sauce originated in Italian-American restaurants in the United States during the mid-20th century, more than likely in the 1970’s. Vodka was added to tomato sauce as a way to enhance the flavors of the ingredients. Vodka is thought to interact with the fat in the cream and the acid in the tomatoes, creating a smooth and balanced sauce. Here is a link to the recipe. Enjoy. https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Penne-Pasta.pdf
I had the great pleasure to attend a Lox Class this past week. I’ve made lox before, but this was a great class to attend to learn maybe a better technique led by Brad Wolf. It is not difficult. 1-3 pounds of fresh salmon, 1/4 cup kosher salt per pound, 1/4 cup sugar per pound, 2 aluminium pans and saran wrap. You can also use some fresh herbs for this, too. We like fresh tarragon but others like black pepper and dill. Use what you like. Combine salt and sugar and add about 1/2 of it in one pan, add the salmon, skin side down, add the herbs if you are using them and coat the salmon with the remaining salt and sugar mix. Cover tightly with saran wrap and place the second aluminium on top. Weight down with something. I use a 5 quart cast-iron Dutch oven, but you can use anything. Place in the refrigerator for 48 hours. After 48 hours, rinse the salt, sugar and herbs off. Pat dry. Slice on the diagonal thinly using a very sharp Chef’s knife and enjoy! Here is the way mine turned out. Enjoy! (Click on an image to see enlarged)
Correction – The salt and sugar ingredients should be 1/4 cup per pound of salmon. Sorry for the error.
Sliced a piece off. Delicious!
Class Bagel and Lox with a good red wine. This one was a Porteugese wine.
Bagel and Lox for lunch.
Cranberry Sourdough and Lox. Different., but good.
So there you are. Easy to do, fun and a great party treat, for those who like Lox Enjoy.
There are times when one feels really challenged in the kitchen, whether it is perfecting a dish, Creamed Spinach for example, where something just does not come out as you had planned or pictured. And at other times you want to create something kind of different with pan drippings. Or you want to create a dish that can be daunting or challenging. Well here are 3 that did just that. Let’s take a look. (Click on the images to see them enlarged)
This one was, I thought, just a basic baked chicken and rice dish. But then I thought, plain Jasmin rice with a good baked chicken can be sort of mundane, so why not add some green onion – a very Oriental twist – and fresh spinach? That spinach was a surprise to some who ate it. And the pan drippings of the rosemary and sage can create a differently good gravy. It did! Even added a little to the rice, which gave it a whole new twist. I think, and use it quite often, that it is sinful to “dump the pan drippings” in the trash, so I used it. Not many in the household would do such a thing. Use those drippings!
Potatoes. They are good, but if it were up to some other cooks that need potatoes at every meal – you know who you are – at least change them up from peeled, water logged piles of something that resembles pablum, to maybe some good, crispy hash browns that don’t need to be only served at breakfast. And to, add something green, like the creamed spinach pictured here. Add some mushrooms to the pan dripping gravy from the seared pork chop. Don’t be afraid to be creative and adventuresome in preparing a meal. If nothing else, it’s fun!
Here is another adventure. Steak with Mushroom and Onion Pan Gravy, Asparagus with Lardons and Green Onion and Smashed Potatoes and Gravy. (I used an hand masher and left the potatoes a little lumpy and as always, left the peels on.)
I guess I like to “mix things up” in the kitchen and try different variations of a given dish. Have fun when preparing and use your imagination. And, I might add, most of the products here came from the Boise Farmers Market.
It was strongly suggested by my friend Joe Levich that I try this Basque restaurant. Robin and I have been to 5 other Basque restaurants in Boise and two in Oregon, The Basque Hotel in Jordan Valley and The Basque Hotel and the Basque Restaurant in Winnemucca, OR. Ansots is definitely 5-Stars. Delicious! 560 W Main St in Boise, (208) 336-9166. http://www.ansots.com on the web. If you are in Boise, definitely try to enjoy their food. It won’t be difficult. Here are some photos of what I had – I was told to try a variety, and I did – and the inside. The Waite Staff is awesome.
Ansots is owned and operated by Dan, Tamara, and Ellie Ansotegui. Here we make a variety of chorizos, marinated solomo, and Basque bacon for you to enjoy at home. Our Ansots crew is also available to come to your house to cook and cater your event. We welcome you into our restaurant for small plates, Basque & Spanish wines, Basque natural cider, and espresso like you remember from your trips, either real or imagined, to the Basque Country.
The Ansotegui Inchausti family has been a part of the Idaho Basque scene for over a century. In 1908, Dan’s grandfather, Santiago Ansotegui, jumped ship in New York and made his way out west to find work. He ended up on a ranch in southern Oregon herding sheep. In 1911, his betrothed, Gregoria left Ibarrangelua, Bizkaia, in Spain to be with him. They were married and started their family. The couple had four children, Antonio, Domingo (Dan’s dad), Francisca, and Julia. They moved to Nampa in 1920 and lived across from the Spanish Hotel, a Basque Boarding House run by the Jausoro Family.
David Inchausti, Dan’s maternal grandfather, immigrated to the U.S. in 1922, working on the Drake Ranch between Challis and Mackay, Idaho. He returned to Spain in 1925, met and married Epifania Lamiquiz, and came back to earn the money to bring her back to the States. She came to the U.S. in 1928 with their 2 year old daughter, Rosie, who had been born after David had returned to the U.S. Although she was a seamstress by trade, Epi became the ranch’s head cook, and the Inchausti family took root. The family later moved to Hailey. David opened the Gem Bar and Epi started taking in Basque boarders to make ends meet. Epi became well known for her wonderful food as she served a few lucky diners each night if there was room. Ernest Hemingway, Bing Crosby, and Tennesse Ernie Ford, were among the famous who ate at Epi’s.
Dan Ansotegui has been involved in the Boise food scene for 40 plus years, starting both Bar Gernika in 1991 and The Basque Market in 1999. He was recently involved in Txikiteo known for its fine charcuterie and tapas. Dan drug in his wife, Tamara Ansotegui, and daughter, Ellie Ansotegui, into their project here at Ansots. They couldn’t be happier to work with a kinder, more talented man, but someday would like to try…
Ansots Web Page
The front door displays the times they are open. Generally a lunch schedule.
The inside prep area.
The smaller dining room. There is a much larger one, too
I had the Tortilla de Chorizo and Idiazabal Cheese Bocadillo, A 3 egg bocadillo with traditional chorizo and six-month aged idiazabal smoked sheep’s milk cheese with piquillo peppers and served in a baguette from Acme Bakeshop here in Boise.
I have been working on some new recipes for the past several weeks. I have 3 that I will post here. Hope you like them. Let me know. The3re will be at least three new recipes. My favorite oven bbq pork ribs, a really good bbq sauce in the Memphis style – slightly tart, but also with a sweetness. A Memphis style bbq rub that is great on ribs, beef, pork and chicken. Then a side dish – corn fritters, since corn is now in season. I grew up on these and love them. Almost as good as a corn pie! Most, but not all of the ingredients in the posted recipes, come from the Boise Farmer’s Market (BFM) and I am grateful for their products and information. Use your local farmer’s markets. Enjoy!
Starting with the Oven BBQ Pork Ribs, I have created our version of a Memphis style bbq rub. Sweet, but tangy. Best to be very generous with this rub and the longer it “cures”, stays refrigerated for awhile – I let the ribs I was doing to rest (cure) in the refrigerator for 24 hours. But that length of time is not essential. 8 hours will also work. Don’t forget to let the meat come to room temperature before you cook it. This rub is full of sugar, sea salt, onion powder and garlic granules, Aleppo pepper, cumin and smoky paprika. Great on the pork In did and super on chicken.
The BBQ Sauce I came up with, https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-BBQ-Sauce.pdf, CS BBQ Sauce, is thick and rich. Slightly smoky. Slightly tangy. It includes red onion, minced garlic, ketchup, dark brown sugar, apple cider vinegar and pomegranate molasses among some other ingredients. Check the recipe by clicking the link.
Now, IMNSHO, In My Opinion Not So Humble Opinion, are super good! And they are done in the oven. (Can these be considered truly BBQ Ribs?) As plated here, we added some of our Doctored Baked Beans and a Corn Fritter. Drizzle some CS BBQ Sauce over the ribs (even go well with the beans) and Yum-O! They fall of the bone and have great flavors from the rub and the sauce.
And since I mentioned Corn Fritters, they go really great for breakfast with eggs. The eggs above are basted. A very Pennsylvania Dutch (German) treat. I was raised on these and they were aq hit when I made them for folks. Not hard to do. Fresh corn works best, but frozen corn can also be used. Here they are served with fresh fruit and homemade sourdough bread toast.
The last item I want to share is a sourdough bread we have been working on since January of this year. Created our own starter and it takes a while to develop and experiment making bread and other treats. Sourdough Blueberry Muffins, for one. (https://www.rockinrs.com/Sourdough-Blueberry-Muffins.pdf) This bread I have baking in a Romertopf Clay Pot and it comes out just great.It is a full flavored sourdough. Robust. Makes great toast and sandwiches. Great grilled cheese.
So there you are. Try these and let us know if you liked them or not. If not, let us know why. Cheers and Good Eating!
Been trying some4 different recipes, most of which are Use What You Have In The Kitchen. You end up with some interesting combinations and meals.
For instance, I really hate to throw away the sourdough starter. Seems a waste to me both in time and ingredients. S I came across this recipe for http://www.rockinrs.com/Sourdough-Blueberry-Muffins.pdf – Sourdough Blueberry Muffins, that are really good and easy7 to make. Not particularly easy, but fun and delicious. Give it a whirl and see what you think, I haven’t tried, but why not change the fruit, strawberries, apricots or blackber4ies, for instance?
And if you have made some sourdough bread, why not make Sourdough French Toast? This was really deliciously different.
And here is a very basic Salisbury Steak dinner with Pan Gravy made with Apple Brandy and Caramelized Vidalia Onion and Button Mushrooms. Corn On the Cob and Steamed Asparagus on the side. Then add a slice of homemade Sourdough Bread.That sauce with the apple brandy was fantastic!
And this one, a Pork Loin Chop in a Brandy-Apple-Pear-Herb Sauce with Corn On the Cob. It was delicious! Apples and pork with fresh pears is an awesome combination. Just be sure to caramelize the apple and pear The pears should break down to act as a thickener. slices with some brown sugar in the unsalted butter.
And as an endnote, the sourdough recipe that I have been using I named Anna’s Sourdough and it comes from my Granddaughter In-Law, Anna Shaner. You can find her recipe at http://www.rockinrs,com/Annas-Sourdough.pdf
Boise Foodie Guild 