Let’s Make Some Pasta!

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Robin-Bob-In-Kitchen_Looking-RightPasta. Ever think about how it is made? Really not hard to do. A little flour, some eggs, a little oil and water. That’s all there is. Oh yes. Then mix it all and not in a mixer. On a flat surface. Don’t get any on the floor! Here is a recipe from Chef Anne Burrell. Pasta. OK. So now I have made the pasta, and not to much of a mess.
Now what? Try a Bolognese Sauce with your pasta. The Bolognese is a very Tuscan style of sauce. We made all of this to take to the Treasure Valley Wine Society Board meeting last night. I think they liked it! Let me take you through the process of making the pasta. Here we go!

First. Make a hole in the center of your flour - I used Semolina. Add the eggs and the egg yolk, oil - I used a garlic infused olive oil - salt and 1 or 2 T water.

First. Make a hole in the center of your flour – I used Semolina. Add the eggs and the egg yolk, oil – I used a garlic infused olive oil – salt and 1 or 2 T water. Use a fork to mix the eggs. Start to bring the sides into the egg mixture and slowly mix.

It should start to look like this.

It should start to look like this.

Once it is all mixed and blended, you should have a ball of dough like this.

Once it is all mixed and blended, you should have a ball of dough like this.

Knead it for 8 to 10 minutes by hand. When done, the dough should look very smooth and feel almost velvety.

Knead it for 8 to 10 minutes by hand. When done, the dough should look very smooth and feel almost velvety.

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour,m if you are not going to use it immediately.

Wrap in plastic and refrigerate for 1 hour, if you are not going to use it immediately.

Remove from the refrigerator and flatten out. Flour well. Cut into thirds, or even quarters - I used quarters.

Remove from the refrigerator and flatten out. Flour well. Cut into thirds, or even quarters – I used quarters.

Start on setting 1 on your pasta machine. The one pictured here fits on our Kitchen Aid. But there are other mechanical ones the fit on a counter top. They both do the same thing, except the one for the mixer does not require hand turning, obviously.

Start on setting 1 on your pasta machine, speed on mine set at 4. The one pictured here fits on our Kitchen Aid. But there are other mechanical ones that fit on a countertop. They both do the same thing, except the one for the mixer does not require hand turning, obviously.

Increase the setting to number 2, and runn the dough through the machine again. And Voila! Fettucin

Increase the setting to number 2 (the higher the number, the thinner the pasta.), and run the dough through the machine again. And Voila! Fettuccine.

27Jan20015_1_Captains-Shack_Making-Pasta

Fettuccine processed and floured to keep it from sticking.

Fettuccine processed and floured to keep it from sticking.

Sofritto cooking for the Bolognese. See the recipe above.

Sofrito cooking for the Bolognese. See the recipe above.

Bolognese Sauce.

Bolognese Sauce.

Wine for the Bolognese. This is what I used in the sauce.

Wine for the Bolognese. This is what I used in the sauce.

New Page On The Blog!

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BobAndRobin_Nov2009_1_Pizzalchik_PhotoI am starting a new page on this blog called Boise Restaurant Guide – see the header. This page will include restaurants in Boise and the close surrounding area that we have tried. This will not be a rating page, but, out of a 5-Star rating system, these restaurants are at least a 3-Star eatery. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 3-Star restaurant! Here is a link to the Boise Restaurant Guide. It is meant to inform you of the extremely varied cuisines available in Boise – Food Trucks, Italian, Pizza, Greek, Basque, Baltic, Persian, Asian, Mediterrean, Drive-Ins, Bistros, Brewpubs, Indian, Pakistani and many more.
I love it when people ask us, “Where is a good place to eat in Boise?” My stock answer is, “What do you like?” Boise is that varied for eating. So hopefully, this page will direct people to different restaurants and they will be able to at least find something they like. I might even include Carl’s Jr., McDonald’s, or Jacks. They are all available.
If you have a BNB in Boise, or know of someone that does, this list just might help our Visitors locate a good meal after traveling. Cheers!

Thailand Express by Chef Pong

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17Jan2015_1_Thailand-Express_SignLocated at 2025 12th Ave Nampa, Idaho 83686. This was a very good surprise! Super food. Great Waite Staff. Ambiance was OK – open and more like a country cafe, not formal like Mai Thai in Boise. From their website, “Looking for mouthwatering Thai restaurants in Nampa, ID? Call Thailand Express at (208) 501-7975 and ask all about our menu that is chock-full of delicious Thai Food. Our chef has years of experience working in top tier restaurants and provides some of the best Asian food in the area. Whether you are looking for quick and easy lunch specials to share with coworkers or something a little fancier for dinner, you will find it here. We have both spicy and mild dishes for the whole family.” Here is a link to Thailand Express.
We found their food to be deliciously intriguing. Not spicy hot, unless you want it that way. Very large servings – Robin and I could have shared a bowl of the soup – no telling how large the pot size of soup was. Probably good for a family. Presentations were good. Prices were good for the quality and serving sizes. Watch their opening times as they are open twice daily, with a break in the afternoon when they are not open. “NEW BUSINESS HOURS – LUNCH —Tuesday-Friday–11:00a.m.2:30p.m., Saturday-Sunday–12:00p.m.-3:00p.m., Dinner –Tuesday-Thursday 4:30p.m.-9:00p.m., Friday-Saturday 4:30p.m.-9:30p.m., Sunday 4:30pm – 9:00pm. Monday Closed
We rate this 4-Stars out of 5-Stars – on their FB site and their website they have a rating of 4 1/2-Stars. We will return to Thailand Express by Chef Pong. Enjoy these photos of the evening. Left-Click any of the photos to see enlarged.

Wall decorations.

Wall decorations.

Table Appetizer

Table Appetizer

Marinated roasted duck and fresh veggies wrapped rice paper and served with special brown sauce. 4 pieces, $6.95

Peking Duck Roll
Marinated roasted duck and fresh veggies wrapped in rice paper and served with special brown sauce.
4 pieces, $6.95 (Well presented and delicious!)

Thai Brown Sauce. This recipe is what we came up with after trying theirs. It is very close.

Coconut Soup (Tom Kah) Coconut milk, chicken and mushroom in lime juice and fish sauce served mildly. Bowl $3.95, Popt $8.95

Coconut Soup (Tom Kah)
Coconut milk, chicken and mushroom in lime juice and fish sauce served mildly.
Bowl $3.95, Pot $8.95 (Robin had a bowl. Delicious!))

Wonton Soup A traditional Chinese soup with homemade wontons and veggies, mixture of seasoned ground pork, minced shrimp, chicken and water chestnuts. Bowl $4.95, Pot $9.95 (I had the bowl. Delicious!)

Wonton Soup
A traditional Chinese soup with homemade wontons and veggies, mixture of seasoned ground pork, minced shrimp, chicken and water chestnuts.
Bowl $4.95, Pot $9.95 (I had the bowl. Delicious!)

Chef's Special Honey Crispy Duck Half duck marinated sauce and then roasted. Served with special honey sauce on top a bed of vegetables and jalapeno soy on the side.  $13.95

Chef’s Special Honey Crispy Duck
Half duck marinated in sauce and then roasted. Served with special honey sauce on top a bed of vegetables and jalapeno soy on the side. $13.95
(Robin made a really good choice with this.)

Praram Long Song Your choice of meat (Pork) stir fried in Thai peanut sauce and served atop a bed of stir fried broccoli. Jasmine rice on the side.  $9.95 and worth every penny. There was none to take home!

Praram Long Song
Your choice of pork, beef, chicken, veggie, tofu, shrimp or duck (Pork) stir fried in Thai peanut sauce and served atop a bed of stir fried broccoli. Jasmine rice on the side. $9.95 and worth every penny. There was none to take home!

Glad I tried this Thailand beer. Light and a refreshing lager that was a perfect match to the food. After a language lesson, it is pronounced "sing-ha" with a slight inflection on the "sing". Our Wait Person was delighted that we asked how to pronounce this. She was very helpful throughout the meal. Thank-You!

Glad I tried this Thailand beer. Light and a refreshing lager that was a perfect match to the food. After a language lesson, it is pronounced “sing-ha” with a slight inflection on the “sing”. Our Waite Person was delighted that we asked how to pronounce this. She was very helpful throughout the meal. Thank-You!

Just Another Breakfast at the Captain’s Shack

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Tango-Corte-Window-FloridaI 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

Fresh Alaskan Salmon 2 Ways

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BobAndRobin_Nov2009_1_Pizzalchik_PhotoWow! This salmon was super good and fresh! It should be. Our neighbor, Cary White, returned from an Alaskan trip and brought us a side of fresh salmon. Thank-You so much, Cary, this was superb. We made Asian Grilled Salmon, a new and awesome recipe that we tried, and Robin’s Icebox Lox from the side. I know the Asian Grilled Salmon was wonderful – we had some last night – and I know the lox will be superb. Here are some photos of our endeavor. Enjoy and Enjoy the recipes! Cheers.

Robin's Icebox Lox getting ready for the refrigerator.

Robin’s Icebox Lox getting ready for the refrigerator and the weight.

Asian Grilled Salmon getting to know the marinade. Just remember to use a hot grill and 3 - 5 minutes per side. Cook just long enough so the salmon releases from the grill or grill pan easily.

Asian Grilled Salmon getting to know the marinade. Just remember to use a hot grill and 3 – 5 minutes per side. Cook just long enough so the salmon releases from the grill or grill pan easily and is slightly “marked”.

Asian Grilled Salmon Fresh Asparagus and Snap Pea Saute Green Salad with Yellow Heirloom Carrots

Asian Grilled Salmon
Fresh Asparagus and Snap Pea Saute
Green Salad with Yellow Heirloom Carrots

Tailgate Food?

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03Jan2015_1d__Captains-Shack_Robin-Bronco-HatRobin has made some awesome “tailgate” food in the past several days. Here is the Tiramisu recipe from Giada De Laurentiis on the Food Network. Raspberry Tiramisu. The photo here is Robin wearing her new BSU Bronco hat! You can Left-Click any of these photos to see them enlarged. Enjoy!

Robin constructing the tiramisu.

Robin constructing the tiramisu.

Completed tiramisu.

Completed tiramisu.

Want a slice? Left-Click to enlarge.

Want a slice? Left-Click to enlarge.

Black Bean, Corn and Avocado Salad. Another yum offering.

Black Bean, Corn, Chicken and Avocado Salad. Another yum offering.

Egg Salad on Sourdough with Water Cress. Corn, Chicken, Avocado and Black Bean Salad.

Egg Salad on Sourdough with Water Cress. Corn, Chicken, Avocado and Black Bean Salad. The Acme Bake Shop Sourdough was not available at the COOP when I went there, so I tried the Bigwood Bread Sourdough out of Sun Valley. This sourdough was a lot denser than the Acme sourdough. Not bad, but I prefer Acme Bake Shop. Hard to overcome that bias! Just a personal preference.

Making Your Own Vinegar

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Robin-Bob-In-Kitchen_Looking-RightOh yes. It is very possible and easy to do. We make our own wine vinegars, both red and white, from left over lees. Add some herbs, and you have an expensive herbal vinegar. Here is a great link for making the mother for the vinegar. Making a Vinegar Mother. But first – What is a vinegar mother? Wikipedia explains it this way,

[A vinegar mother] is a substance composed of a form of cellulose and acetic acid bacteria that develops on fermenting alcoholic liquids, which turns alcohol into acetic acid with the help of oxygen from the air. It is added to wine, cider, or other alcoholic liquids to produce vinegar.

And from Mossgrownstone, we learn that

The resulting vinegar tastes great- use as you would use store brought apple cider vinegar. It takes less than 5 minutes to make. I make about 2-3 batches a year- making about a half gallon at a time. Other than the initial cost of the bottle of Braggs vinegar with the mother my only cost is the apple juice. I cook and clean with the vinegar but I do not do my canning with it. In order to can with homemade vinegar it is important to get a hydrometer (anywhere with homebrew supplies should carry one) in order to insure the vinegar is acidic enough.

You can learn more about making your own vinegar from Making a Vinegar Mother. Have fun and explore the variations.

You can learn more about making your own vinegar from Making a Vinegar Mother. Have fun and explore the variations.

Locally Produced Foods Still Available

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Yes! Even at 12 degrees here in Boise, we still have an outlet for those wonderful locally produced foods. Get to know your local farmers, and they will probably be able to get you some of their product that is not available in the stores. For instance, Ed Wilsey, Homestead Natural Foods, is looking into 1 1/2″ bone-in pork chops for me so I can stuff them. Yum! Here is a link to the Winter Boise Farmers Market Newsletter. Great information resource for places that sell local foods. Enjoy!

Boise Farmer Market Newsletter.

Boise Farmer Market Newsletter. Newsletter Link. Check out their Web Page, too. Lots of great information.

Here is a Beef  Stew we made for a New Years Day Party. Mostly local products: beef, carrots, onions, potatoes and herbs. It was yummy!

Here is a Beef Stew we made for a New Years Day Party. Mostly local products: beef, carrots, onions, potatoes and herbs. It was yummy!

2015 – Here We Come!

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29Dec2014_1a_Captains-Shack_Buddy_With-TeddyBear_GoodWell, 2014 has been a good year. We spent some time on a houseboat in Portland, OR. We saw my brother and sister in Jacksonville, FL – I had not seen them for “too many years”. We saw old high school classmates in Florida, too. Had a great time in the kitchen and will be making our own pasta from now on – we got a pasta machine for our Kitchen Aid – and we will be making our own pie crusts now. The store bought ones although being good, have too much salt in them. Buddy, pictured here with his Teddy Bear, is now 12 years old. Here is how we are preparing for the New Years celebrations – Our menu.

New Years Eve
East Coast Crab Dip
Stuffed Mushroom Caps
Fried Baby Artichokes with a Yogurt Dip
Bacon Wrapped Scallops

New Years Day
Open House at Meadowlark Farms in Nampa. We are making an Italian Pot Roast with as much local products as possible; Beef, onions, carrots and potatoes are all local.

Here are some photos of our meals for the past few days; Our New Years Prep meals.

Start off with Shrimp Pasta Acme Bake Shop Garlic Sourdough

Start off with

Shrimp Pasta
Acme Bake Shop Garlic Sourdough

5 Hour Chicken Mashed Potatoes and Gravy Creamed Onions and Spinach

5 Hour Chicken
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
Creamed Onions and Spinach

We have done 5 Hour Goose, 5 Hour Chicken and the original 5 Hour Duck. The duck is by far the best.

Baked Ham Grilled Zucchini Squash Baked Yam

Baked Ham
Grilled Zucchini Squash
Baked Yam

So there is our Lead-Up dinners and then our menu for New Years Eve and New Years Day. And of course, there will be wine from our cellar and Martinelli’s also. What are you having? Staying home? Going out? Be careful and have a Happy New Year! Cheers!

2014 in review

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The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here's an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 34,000 times in 2014. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 13 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

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