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I know, another chicken dinner. But this one is absolutely wonderful! I found it on FB, but altered it slightly.The recipe is easy and fairly quick to make. 30 minutes and you are eating. It did not have a name, so I named it Creamy Chicken, even though it has no cream in it.https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Creamy-Chicken.pdf A good Niguri Creamy Sake would be great with this!
The finished product
The browning fry
Seasoning the chicken. After the garlic, vinegar, soy sauce and honey have been added
The finished product. Delicious!
The only changes I made were different types of salt, I used Celtic Sea Salt, fresh ground Tellicherry Black Pepper, unsalted butter and chopped green onion for the rice, I added braised Jasmin rice with the green onion.
I really think this is a fantastic way to make the chicken. Almost a fusion version of an Asian dish. You might want to add grated fresh ginger, too. The Jasmin rice gave the dish and extra boost of flavor, but searing it in butter is essential, in my point of view. If you make it let us know how you liked it.
Ok. Finally got my computer running correctly after 12 hours of working on it. I know, take it to a shop next time! And miss all the fun?
But now, the real purpose of this post – Oven BBQ Pork Ribs. You can use any ribs you prefer, but we like pork and St Lewis Style at that. Easy to do but takes time,4 hours or so.
These are right out of the oven. Notice the crispness of the outer surface. The broiler did this. The recipe –https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Pork-Ribs-2.pdf And then we served Potato Salad (https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Lou-Potato-Salad.pdf) The recipe comes from Chef Lou Arron of Westside Drive-In on State Street, Boise, ID. The only problem is that he no longer offers this on the menu. He was kind enough to give it to me and it is very similar to my Mom’s. I use it with permission from the Chef. Thank you Chef Lou!! I have added fresh Lovage to the salad to increase the celery flavor just a small amount, abt 2T of fresh, diced. I grow my own and it is easy to grow, even here in Idaho. It is a Scandinavian herb of the celery family.
“… Lou moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1981 and worked for Hilton Hotels until 1983. In 1983, he opened The Top of the Hoff restaurant in Boise, Idaho. From 1986-1988, Lou worked for Hilton Corporation in San Antonio, Texas, where he was featured in the national television series “Great Chef’s of the West” along with the companion cookbook, “Southwest Tastes”. Lou has won numerous awards for his food presentations and recipes. “He has been a contestant on “Guy’s Grocery Games”(although he didn’t fare very well!)” Westside Drive-In website
3 of the herbs I used with the ribs.
plated ribs with potato salad and fresh peach sections
We do like a good bagel, cream cheese and lox, We have been known to make our own lox – cured salmon. We also like an old dish, Egg in Hole. This is a twist on that theme – Grilled Bagel (any kind), Egg in Hole and Lox. A n easy recipe, quick – 10 minutes and delicious. Here.s how to do it.
Ingredients – (Serves 2) 2 Bagels, any kind 4 lg Eggs Lox unsalted Butter Micro Greens, any kind, I like Alfalfa/Broccoli
Directions – 1. Cut each bagel in half, leaving half of the hole with the bagel hole. Enlarge the hole if necessary. 2. Thoroughly butter both sides of the cut bagel, Add butter and a little vegetable oil to a large skillet. Start to grill the bagel halves, cut side up. Grill until the bagel is browned, Turn bagel over and grill the cut side until barely browned. Add an egg to the hole and cook until the white is set. 3. Add a little water to the pan and cover with a glass lid. Cook until the yolk is set to your liking. Remove from pan and top with lox and then some sprouts on the lox. Serve immediately.
I have a lot of fun looking for recipes, especially when Robin requests a specific item, and then adapting it to our likes and what we have available, We had some button mushroom that needed to be used. So, mushroom soup – cream of mushroom soup. It was a hit! Here is the recipe I came up with. https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Cream-Of-Mushroom-Soup.pdf.
It really is a good soup. Rich. Creamy. Full of flavor. I even added some fresh baby asparagus, diced, and it gave the soup a good, gentle crunch. The recipe calls for celery including the leaves and along with the arugula,gives the soup an additional layer of flavor and texture. If you make it, let us know how you liked it and if you “Made it your own” by making adjustments. This soup goes well with a chardonnay. Have fun and good eating!
We had some things in the refrigerator and pantry that needed to be used. So I came up with CS Chicken Marinara, https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Chicken-Marinara.pdf and it was a hit! But I do have some suggestions. (1) This is not a tomato dish and the tomato sauce should not be forward. The recipe calls for 4 oz, but start with 2 oz and build from there. (2) I used a mixed frozen vegetable package and thawed it before adding to the mixture.(3) Sliced button mushrooms would also be good in this.
The dish is cooked in a large cast iron skillet.
Here it is plated with a topping of Italian Parsley
It is not a difficult dish to prepare. Use your imagination. As for the mushrooms, use any type you wish, but I would slice them. It’s your choice to use them nor not. I served it with a slice of toasted sourdough bread. Enjoy and “biadh mathl” – Eat well.
An Instant Pot is diverse and fun to use. It cooks many styles and methods. I love ribs done on a grill, but this method is quick and somewhat easy. The recipe is a little involved, but if you follow it, your ribs will come out great. Especially at the end where you caramelize them under a broiler. Here is the recipe we use. I like Baby Back Rib, but you can use any ribs. A good gameday treat. https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-IP-Ribs.pdf . In the photo below, we served them with fresh off the cob corn, or you can leave it on the cob, and doctored Bush’s Beans.
Just watch your time in the Instant Pot. 23 minutes should be enough. I went 25 minutes and that was a little long. The ribs fell off the bone when I got them out to go under the broiler. Let us know what you think and if you liked them.
As you can see, I have changed the opening graphic. I was playing around with AI and came up with several of these. It fits with the Captain’s Shack. Robin and I thoroughly like scallops, especially sea scallops – the larger ones. We also enjoy brazing them, over medium low heat, and that is important. Here is the recipe. I know, there are several recipes available for a Viognier Sauce, but this one is one I came up with. https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Scallops-Viognier.pdf. The recipe is scaled for 2, but you can easily adjust the recipe to suit your needs without adjusting the sauce.
Braised Scallops with Viognier Sauce
Notice the light braise on the scallops and it is served with Creamed Spinach. A good combination. I always put fresh grated nutmeg in all by white sauces and a cream sauce is a white sauce. If you make these, and it is not difficult, just watch the heat and cook 2-3 minutes per side, and let us know how you liked them.
I have had several questions about the difference between crab back fin and claw meat. Are they not from the same animal? Yes they are, but like different cuts of beef, they come from different parts of the crab. I hope this short discussion will clarify the question. I prefer to use Blue Crab over any other type. Here is a recipe for Crab Cakes. http://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Crab-Cakes.pdf (Tartar Sauce – https://www.rockinrs.com/CS-Tartar-Sauce-Best.pdf)
Crab meat can be found in different parts of the crab, and each type has distinct characteristics. Here are the key differences between claw meat and back fin meat:
Crab Cakes
Claw Meat
Texture: Claw meat is typically firmer and more fibrous than back fin meat. This is because the claws are used for defense and feeding, requiring stronger muscle fibers. Color: It often has a darker color compared to back fin meat, with a slightly reddish-brown hue. Flavor: Claw meat tends to have a stronger, more pronounced flavor, which can be slightly sweeter. This makes it a favorite for dishes where a robust crab taste is desired. Use: It’s commonly used in dishes where the crab flavor needs to stand out, such as crab cakes, soups, and stews.
Back Fin Meat
Texture: Back fin meat, also known as lump or body meat, is usually flakier and more delicate than claw meat. It comes from the crab’s body and the area where the back fins attach. Color: It is typically whiter and more translucent compared to claw meat. Flavor: The flavor is milder and less pronounced than claw meat. This subtle taste makes it ideal for dishes where a delicate crab flavor is preferred. Use: Back fin meat is often used in salads, cocktails, and more refined dishes where the presentation and texture of the crab meat are important.
Each type of crab meat has its own culinary uses and can be chosen based on the desired texture and flavor profile of the dish being prepared. The crab cakes pair well with a Parma Ridge Winery Avielle.
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 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!
Boise Foodie Guild 