Idaho Trout Dinner


I guess we have to keep the dinner tonight a little low in carbs. About 23 carbs total. Tomorrow we go to the Le Cafe de Paris for an awesome Wine Dinner. So here was our dinner tonight. Enjoy. We did!

Start with some nice plump and fresh Idaho Trout. A little sesame oil and seeds. Stuff the cavity with lime slices, green onion and lemon thyme. Bake it at 350 degrees F for about 30 minutes.

And voila! You have a succulent Idaho trout with a nice (1 cup) green salad and kale with garlic and peanut butter (1/2 cup). Serve it all up with a 2008 Indian Creek Pinot Noir Blush and you have a delicious dinner.

So there you have it. Oh my, but that was good. Cheers!

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South African Sosaties


We were watching the walla wasalla (You cruise, You loose) from South Africa and they were making a watermelon leaf and pumpkin vegetable dish. It sound good – and looked good – but we missed the name of the dish. Sounded like “African Mocolho Sauce”. I Googled it but nothing was found. Instead, I found this recipe which really sounds good. They say you can substitute pork, chicken or beef for the lamb, but lamb is traditional. You be the judge. The South African recipes can be found at Chirundu. It is hosted by Chirundu Jason.

Traditional South African Sosaties Recipe
Source: Chirundu Jason
In Zimbabwe as kids, we often called them skewers, here in the UK they call meat on a skewer a kebab. They call a braai a barbeque (BBQ) but what ever the name, it is hard to beat the traditional South African Lamb Sosatie on a real charcoal or wood braai!

Lamb Sosaties on the braai
Below are the ingredients and the method to making the perfect Lamb Sosatie for the braai. You can use 0ther types of meat like chicken, pork or beef, but lamb always seems to taste the best.

Lamb Sosaties Recipe

Lamb Sosatie Ingredients, To make traditional South African Lamb sosatie you will need:
2 lbs Lamb (boned shoulder or leg of lamb)
2 large Onions
¼ c Olive Oil
4 cloves of Garlic
1 T Curry Powder
1 x t Turmeric
1 x T Brown Sugar
4 crushed Bay Leaves
1 x T Lemon Juice
2 x Lemons, cut into small wedges
½ c Meat Stock
¼ lbs dried Apricots
1 x Green Pepper, cut into bite size pieces to fit onto the kebab
Butter
Skewer sticks

To make the Lamb Sosaties, first cut the lamb up to 1½” cubes, slice one onion into wedges (for the skewer – you could use shallots) and the other chop finely, peel and crush the garlic. Heat the butter in a saucepan and sauté the chopped onion, garlic and curry powder for a few minutes. Add the turmeric, lemon and meat stock, bring to the boil.

The put the meat in a non-metal bowl with the bay leaves at the bottom. As soon as the marinade comes to the boil, pour it over your meat mixture and then allow it to cool and place in the fridge to marinade overnight.
The next day when you are ready for the braai (barbeque), skewer the meat, apricots, green pepper and onion wedges (shallots) onto the sticks.
For the sauce, pour the leftover marinade into a saucepan, add some butter and salt and pepper to taste, bring to the boil and serve warm with the sosaties and lemon wedges.

The best way to cook the sosaties is over a hot braai (barbeque) turning them as you go, but you can also cook them under a grill.

As a variation, and if you like hot food, why not try adding crushed chilies, more garlic and some peri-peri to the marinade.

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Good luck and let us know how it came out for you. Cheers!

Robin’s Meatloaf


We had some ground lamb and Robin wanted to make something different. We both agreed on a meatloaf. She blended it, though, with ground beef, 7%. Here is the result. Enjoy! It is an awesome meatloaf!!

Robin’s Meatloaf

Author: Robin Young
Degree of Difficulty: Easy
Oven Temperature: 350°F
Servings: 8

Ingredients:
¾ lbs Lamb, ground
¾ lbs Beef, ground 7%
¼ c Red onion, chopped
¼ c Bread crumbs, unseasoned
3 T Worcestershire sauce
1 Egg slightly beaten
6 Cherry tomatoes, sliced
8 Basil leaves, fresh

Directions:
1.) In a large bowl, combine all ingredients by hand. Mix thoroughly.
2.) Divide the mixture in half. Place in a 4×8″ loaf pan. Dot the top with basil leaves and sliced cherry tomatoes.
3.) Bake in a 350°F oven for about 1 hour. Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing.

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 1 hour
Inactive Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

Nutrition Facts:
Serving size: 1/8 of a recipe (4 ounces).
Percent daily values based on the Reference Daily Intake (RDI) for a 2000 calorie diet. Nutrition information calculated from recipe ingredients.
Amount Per Serving

Calories – 219.36
Calories From Fat (67%) – 145.91

% Daily Value
Total Fat 15.61g 24%
Saturated Fat 6.66g 33%
Cholesterol 86.4mg 29%
Sodium 90.05mg 4%
Potassium 295.96mg 8%
Total Carbohydrates 1.38g <1%
Fiber 0.3g 1%
Sugar 0.11g
Protein 16.31g 33%

Le Cafe de Paris – French Region Night: Dinner in Alsace


I think we are going to this. It should be awesome. Anyone else? Join us at French Region Night: Dinner in Alsace. Great food and great wine will be served! Don’t miss this.

BON APPETIT!
Bonsoir Mes Amis!

Back by popular demand, our French Region Night will be Thursday, January 21st, featuring Alsace. The menu is a classic four-course Alsatian menu. Live music by the Frim Fram Fellas, and some fabulous wines from this region and surrounding regions. The dinner itself is $39/person with reservations strongly recommended, and can be made by calling (208)336-0889. We hope to see you there!

Bon Appetit!
Mathieu

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Le Menu

Foie Gras Torchon

(Goose Liver Pate)

brioche crouton, muscat gelée

Soupe A L’Oignon

(Three Onion Soup)

apple brandy, fine herbs, gruyère cheese

Choucroute Garnie

(Dressed Sauerkraut)

braised pork ribs, kielbasa sausage,

Yukon gold potatoes, braised cabbage in chicken bouillon with roasted

pork loin, bacon-mustard sauce

Tarte Tatin

(Caramel Apple Pie)

vanilla bean ice cream, housemade caramel sauce

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"The Buzz" Celebrates 3rd Birthday


On Friday, 15 January, The Buzz celebrated it’s 3rd Birthday of being in business! Congratulations to Tommy and Christie for a fantastic 3 years!! And just to keep the record straight, Bailey, Christie’s daughter, is selling Girl Scout Cookies and we all know YOU NEED some. Hurry while supplies last!

A poster greets you at the register!

And the music was good. Not too loud … Not too soft. Just right!

Robin pours one of her 1979 Cabernet Sauvignon which was very good for as old as the wine is.

And Tommy! Watch out Debbie! Tommy made an awesome Prime Rib with a Fresh Green Salad and Vegetable Mashed Potatoes. The potatoes mixed with carrot, leek, onion, celery and spinach. Now that hit the spot.

And just to let you know, there were other wines there too. Maybe there will be a 4th Birthday Party? That would be nice. See you then. And don’t forget the TVWS Mixer at The Buzz on 30 January 2010 from 7:00pm – 9:00pm. Cheers!

The Picks from "Rudy,s – A Cooks Paradise"



I seem to have “lost” Rudy’s newsletter and it is probably due to our email change. I will correct that soon. But for now, here are some of The Picks from Rudy’s – A cooks Paradise in Twin Falls, Idaho.

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Tom Ashenbrener’s Pick
“…the nose has notes of black cherry, root beer syrup and cedar.” ~Tom Ashenbrener

Leese-Fitch, Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008, California

Deep ruby in color, the nose has notes of black cherry, root beer syrup, and cedar. The 2007 vintage of Leese-Fitch Cabernet has flavors of rich berry cobbler, cappuccino, chocolate covered mints, currants & fig cake. It finishes with toasted marshmallows and dried blueberries. Pair this wine with hearty fair such as seared flank steak with a port reduction sauce and rosemary fingerling potatoes, roasted venison loin stuffed with wild mushrooms alongside Asiago polenta, or a good beef burger topped with white cheddar cheese and caramelized onions served with sweet potato fries.
Rudy’s Rating: 88
We had some Leese-Fitch Merlot at The Buzz the other night and it was very good!

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Jess Gough’s Pick
“Great as a glaze for fast and delicious chicken!” ~Jess Gough

Columela Sherry Vinegar Glaze from Spain

Columela Sherry Vinegar is produced in only in the Jerez region of Spain . Palomino Fino grapes, grown in the unique microclimate of Spain’s sherry region, yield a pale, delicate base wine that is then fermented to create a unique full flavored vinegar. Superior flavor!

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Nicole Bell’s Pick
“Nice and sharp!” ~ Nichole Bell

Ballard’s Vintage White Cheddar

A well aged (2 years) tangy flavor accents a smooth texture to create a full-bodied cheddar experience.

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So there you have some choices. Cheers and enjoy!

"the Buzz" – wine and Food


So another night of awesome food and awesome wines at the Buzz on 12 January. And for you Treasure Valley Wine Society folks, on 30 January from 7:00pm – 9:00pm, the TVWS is having a mixer at “the Buzz”. With a membership it is free! Wine! Appetizers! Fun! And Conversation!

On the 12th, we started out with a good Jalapeno Cranberry and Cream Cheese dip that went very well with the crackers provided.

And then there was a great Broccoli Slaw.

And I don’t know where Debbie got the recipe for these Crab and Shrimp Cakes, but they were the Hit of the Night, so far as I am concerned. But then, I do like my seafood. Especially crab cakes that have some crab in them and not all filler! You outdid yourself on these, Debbie, and there are some Chefs and restaurants in Boise that need to take your preparation to heart! These went great with a 2008 Walnut Block Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand that we had. We also had a Walnut Block Reserve Sauvignon Blanc that did not really impress me. Oh well, that’s why there are more than one wine made.

Then Debbie also provided a Beef and Pork Chili with Spicy Cornbread Muffins that was really good and contrasted the cold, rainny, yukkie night outside. Top it with Green Onion and Cheddar Cheese and you have a dinner entre that will “stick to your ribs”. We had a 2007 Les Jamelles Merlot and a 2007 Leese Fitch Merlot that went extremely well with this chili.

But now, top that dinner off with a scrumptious slice of Chocolate Pumpkin Bundt Cake and glass of a Hungarian Merlot, and you have completed a Feast For A King, or Queen.

So there you have another fascinating evening of Wine With Dinner at “The Buzz”! Contact the “the Buzz” – look in the Sidebar or on Facebook – and get on their mailing list for these parties. Well worth it. I don’t think the 30 January event will be as “in depth” as this, but I bet it will be as every bit as good. See you there. Cheers!

Chicken ‘N Dumplings


Homemade Chicken Soup is really good on a cold winter day. But Chicken Soup, or Stewed Chicken, is absolutely awesome with homemade Dumplings! The dumplings tend to thicken the soup, so don’t be surprised. They will also
tend to thicken the broth of a Stewed Chicken. There are probably 100 recipes, at least, for Chicken Soup or Stewed Chicken. I am not going to list any here – use your family favorite recipe. The same probably goes for Dumplings too, but these are close to the ones I remember from home. I remember my Mother saying that there was another style – I think from her childhood – called “Slippery Dumplings”. She would not make them because “… your Father does not like them.” (My Dad was German and my Mother was Scot) Instead, she made something very, very similar to these. Drop Dumplings. I guess I tend to agree with my Dad and like the Drop Dumplings best. Anyway, here is but one recipe. My Mother would have never put chives, or anything like that, in hers.

Drop Dumplings

Ingredients:
1 c All-Purpose Flour
1/3 c Oat Flour
2 t Baking powder
¼ t Salt
½ c plus 1 T Whole Milk
¼ c Heavy Cream
2 T Butter, softened
2 T Chives, fresh and chopped

Directions:
Mix to combine the milk, cream and softened butter. Set aside.

Sift together 3 times (this makes the dumplings very light) the flour, baking powder, and salt. Combine the flour mixture, milk mixture and chives, and stir until moist.

Drop dough by 3 tablespoonfuls into a barely simmering chicken mixture. Cover and cook over medium-low heat 12 minutes, or until the dumplings are done (do not bring to a boil, or the dumplings will break up).

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So after we had our Chicken Soup with Dumplings, Robin asks, “Do you have any Snickers?” With a chuckle I said, “No.” So she suggested that I melt some chocolate and dip pretzels in them. Then add coconut and almonds. Her wish is my command!! When you’re retired, you will have the time to do these awesome things in the kitchen. Well, fun at least. Enjoy and Cheers!

Deep Dish Apple Pie


When you have some apples just laying around the kitchen and Buddy has had his fill and the fruit flies have not yet started to swarm and invade and there are really fresh apples at the store, it’s time to make something from them. How about this Deep Dish Apple Pie?


And then after about 50 minutes in a 350 degree oven, one ends up with this gastronomic treat!! Great apple flavor (Granny Smith, Winesap and a variety of red ones) and the sweetness of the brown sugar and cinnamon. YUM-O!! Add to that a piece of Washington cheddar, aged for 2 years, Natural Cougar Gold – from the Washington State University Cougars via Jerri and Roger Nelson – and you have a delicious blend of flavors!

Then after eating that scrumptious piece of pie and cheese, you can sit back in your easy chair and play “Find Waldo” in this crowd!! Thanks Rex for showing Marnie where this photo was and Marnie for bringing it to us. I just heard that there’s a new BSU shirt out that says, “We Messed With Texas”. I’ll have to find one. Cheers!!

Gluten Free Yellow Cake


From Karen Miller of the Boise Ukulele Group (BUG) I received this recipe. It really is an awesome cake. Thanks Karen for sending this!

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Gluten Free Yellow Cake

Ingredients:
1½ c White Rice flour
¾ c Tapioca flour
1 t Salt
1 t Baking Soda
3 t Baking Powder
1 t Xanthan gum
4 eggs
1¼ c White sugar
2/3 c Mayonnaise
1 c Whole Milk
2 t Gluten-free vanilla extract

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and rice flour two 8 or 9 inch round cake pans.

Mix the white rice flour, tapioca flour, salt, baking soda, baking powder and xanthan gum together and set aside.

Mix the eggs, sugar, and mayonnaise until fluffy. Add the flour mixture, milk and vanilla and mix well. Spread batter into the prepared pans.

Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes. Cakes are done when they spring back when lightly touched or when a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Let cool completely then frost, if desired.

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Cheers!