Cape Ann Brewing Selects Tea For New Craft Beer Video

click picture to play video
click picture to play video

Keeping it Local-and my Food Network Recipe from Ultimate Recipe Showdown

Copy of Laurie for Food Network

Hi!  Thanks so much for checking out this episode of Inspired Cooking!  Here it is…my Food Network Ultimate Recipe Showdown entry that got me on TV for a chance to win $25,000.  No, I didn’t win but hey, how many other people get that opportunity?

And here is the link to my recipe–right from the Food Network site.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/north-atlantic-pan-seared-cod-with-new-england-succotash-and-cranberry-vinaigrette-recipe/index.html

Yes, I might be showing off a little, but if you had a recipe on Food Network, wouldn’t you put up the link too?

And here is a photo of the finished dish–not my best photo, but a photo nonetheless.   The original recipe had goat cheese on the salad but my brother-in-law the chef told me not to use it in the final recipe.  Doesn’t that fish look delicious?

Food Network 30 Minute Entry 003

A little behind the scenes:  When I was flouring the fish before pan cooking it, Chef Micheal Psilakis was questioning why I was doing that.  He was afraid it would be gluey.  One of the other judges responded that it’s the way they do it in New England.  Loved that!  Then, when I was standing in front of the judges, Chef Psilakis took a bit of the fish and told me that it was cooked perfectly and that I “made New England proud” with it.  That last part never made it on the air but it was one of the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me about pretty much anything.  I almost cried, right there on TV. 

I prepped and cooked this entire dish to feed 5 people in30 minutes in front of the studio audience, tons of cameras and hot lights.   And even thought I didn’t win I was so incredibly proud to be there and thankful to my friends and family for their support.

IMG_0854

“Biscookies” with local mix ins

3 cups flour

1 ½  tablespoons baking powder

¼ tsp salt

1 tsp cardamom

¾ tsp nutmeg

½ cup unsalted butter, cold

¾ cup sugar

¾ cup light brown sugar

2 eggs

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Cover two large baking sheets with parchment and set aside.

Whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream butter, sugar and brown sugar until well combined and lighter in color.  Add eggs, one at a time and vanilla extract.  Beat until lighter in color and well mixed.  With mixer running on low, add dry ingredients and beat until incorporated.

Divide dough into 4 portions and knead in “mix ins” as desired.  Form into 4 loaves and bake two loaves to a sheet.

Suggested Mix ins:

Chocolate chips & chopped dried strawberries

White chocolate and dried blueberries

Crystalized ginger and dried peaches

Chopped salted pistachios with sweetened dried cranberries

Use a few tablespoons of each.  If additional spices are desired, sprinkle them over the dough and knead in with the mix in ingredients

Bake at 350º for approx 30 min. when loaves turn light brown.  Remove from oven and cool for 15 minutes.  Slice on the diagonal.  Allow to cool completely and drizzle with chocolate if desired.

For the chocolate drizzle:

½ cup chocolate, finely chopped

½ teaspoon shortening

In a small microwave safe bowl, combine chocolate and shortening.  Cook on high power for 1 minute.  Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.  Spoon in to a small plastic zip top bag, seal bag, snip corner of bag and drizzle over ‘biscookies.”  Allow chocolate to harden before serving.

The video with this episode will be on GMG tomorrow at 1PM

Jeremy Goldberg Picks Tea For New Cape Ann Brewing Testing

Running into Jeremy Goldberg at the Common Crow yesterday I asked what he was doing.  He was picking out some teas to use in designing a new Cape Ann Brewing Tea Beer.

Video tomorrow at 8AM

Common Crow Soup

I had never been in the Common Crow so it was an eye opening experience for me yesterday when stopping by to see what’s up.  The place is pretty big and has a wide variety of natural and healthy grub.  Pictured below is one of the soups which is available and made in house daily.  There are also sandwiches and prepared foods to-go.

Look for the first of a multi-part Common Crow video series coming tonight at 8PM

Common Crow Soup, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Farmer’s Market Dinner- Pam’s Black Bean Salsa

Last week while I was shopping at the Farmer’s Market, I sampled some of Pam’s Black Bean Salsa. I’m not a big salsa fan, but I love black beans and corn. It was delicious!

salsashotI had spent my limit, so put off buying some until this week when I got more stuff from the local farms and picked up a pint of the salsa (after, of course, trying another sample!)

I was starving when I got home and wanted something quick and easy. I threw some gound turkey in to start. I had no idea where I was going with it, but I often do that hoping for inspiration!

I had just gotten a bunch of veggies at the market, so I sliced up zucchini and summer squash and dumped that in with the turkey. Usually I’ll use diced tomatoes for a base for sauce, but this time I used 1/4 cup of the salsa. No other seasoning was needed.

It was excellent! And to add to the meal, I steamed an ear of the best, freshest corn on the cob!

Absolutely yummy! And everything except the ground turkey came from the Farmer’s Market!

If you’ve made a meal primarily from foods bought at the market,  feel free to send them in to us!  Thanks!

Cooking Demonstration At Cape Ann Farmer’s Market Video

Cooking demonstration using ingredients which can be purchased at the Cape Ann Farmer’s Market-

click to play video
click to play video

Virgilio’s Take Out Menu Click and select “all sizes” for full size copy

Gloucester At Dawn- Harbor Cove 4:40AM 8/1/09

Breakfast at the Atlantis from Donna Ardizzoni

They are not messin’ around with pancakes like this- or maybe they are.

Turtle Alley Chocolates and Recipes to use them…….YUM!

Copy of Laurie for Food Network

Hi!  I want to thank Hallie from Turtle Alley Chocolates on Washington Street in Gloucester again for her hospitality (and chocolate) and for taking us through some of what they do in a day in the shop.  It is amazing to me that no only do they stock that store to the gills with delicious treats but they also stock their store in Salem as well!

The aroma of chocolate is intoxicating in the shop……if you have not been there–GO NOW!

I hope you enjoy these simple recipes.  Very easy to make and certain crowd pleasers!  Inspired Cooking airs Tuesdays at 8:30, Fridays at 4:30 in the afternoon and Sundays at 11:30 am on Channel 12, Cape Ann TV.  I hope you will tune in.

Decadent Spiced Caramel Brownies

20 Salted Ancho Chipotle Caramels—from Turtle Alley Chocolates—refrigerated and cut into fourths

(if you live far far way and can’t get these, you have two options—Turtle Alley has mail order OR you could use regular caramels and toss them in a tiny tiny bit of chipotle or ancho chili power right when they come out of the fridge)

2 sticks salted butter

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Pinch kosher salt

4 large eggs at room temperature

2 cups granulated sugar

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.

In a microwave save mixing bowl, melt together butter and chocolate, about 2 ½ minutes.  Stir until smooth and set aside.

Whisk together flour and cinnamon and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together eggs and sugar.  Stir in flour mixture until smooth.  Mix in butter and chocolate mixture and pour in pan.

Drop prepared caramel pieces over brownies and swirl to combine.  Bake 24-26 minutes until center is set.  Remove from oven and cool on a rack.  Allow to cool completely before serving(good luck with that!).  Enjoy

Bolster Cookies

Peanut Butter Kissed Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ cup butter flavored shortening

¼ cup salted butter

1 ¼ cup light brown sugar

1-2 tablespoons milk

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 ¾ cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

¾ teaspoon baking soda

15 Turtle Alley Peanut Butter bolster bars, chopped

½ cup milk chocolate, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line 4 baking sheets with parchment or spray with non stick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, cream shortening, butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.  Add milk, vanilla and egg and mix until smooth and lighter in color.  Wisk together flour, salt and baking soda and add to sugar mixture.  Mix until well blended.  Add bolster bars and chocolate and mix just until combined.

With a small scoop, dish out 12 cookies per tray.  Bake cookies for 10 minutes, turning once at 5 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly on pan before moving to a cooling rack.

Enjoy!

*if you are making these on warm muggy day, refrigerate the dough for an hour or so before you make them

Sailor Stan’s Rocky Neck Breakfast

Funky bright colors and gentle Rocky Neck breezes flowing through the screens make Sailor Stan’s a perfect summer breakfast stop.


Sailor Stan’s Greek Omelet

It’s been a while since I’d had breakfast at Sailor Stan’s on Rocky Neck.  Too long.  This Greek Omelet was fantastic.

Sailor Stan’s Greek Omelet, originally uploaded by captjoe06.

Mudiga Steak Sandwich At Fort Square Cafe

If you’re an out of towner or if you’re an in-towner but haven’t gone to experience a mudiga steak sandwich at the Fort Square Cafe you have no idea what you’re missing.

This is the real deal baby!  Old school Sicilian staple bursting with flavor.  Made with the good oil and the Italian breadcrumbs on a fresh Virgilio’s roll.

What are you waiting for?   Get your ass down there!

Mudiga Steak Sandwich at The Fort Square Cafe
Mudiga Steak Sandwich at The Fort Square Cafe

Here’s the directions so now you have no excuse-

click map for directions
click map for directions

Cooking With Lily-A healthy dinner and Lily’s decadent dessert!

This was so much fun cooking with my favorite girl!  Please tune in to Inspired Cooking on Cape Ann TV, Channel 12 on Tuesdays at 8:30, Fridays at 4:30 and Sunday mornings at 11:30.  We hope you will watch!

Lily & Baby Sarah 6-28-09

Here’s a picture of m Lily with her new cousin, Sarah

Anyway, here are the recipes from Cooking with Lily:

Panko Crusted Chicken Tenders with Lily’s Honey Mustard Sauce

For the Sweet Potato Oven Fries:

4 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into 12 wedges
2-3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly spray two large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

In a large bowl, toss together potatoes and oil and season well with salt and pepper.

Pour onto prepared baking sheets and bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes until browned on one side.  Flip over and bake for an additional 10-15 minutes until browned on both sides.   Serve with Panko Crusted chicken fingers.

For the Panko Crusted Chicken Fingers:

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts (sliced into thin strips) or tenders
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
2 tsp. cumin, or more to taste (you can use whatever spices you like)
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
Dash hot sauce
cooking spray

For Lily’s Honey Mustard  Sauce:

¼ cup mustard
¼ cup honey

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Cover a baking sheet with foil and lightly spray it with cooking spray.

2. In a shallow dish, season the crumbs with salt and pepper and cumin or whatever spices you like. In a second shallow dish, lightly beat the eggs and milk and season with hot sauce (if desired)

3. Dredge strips first in egg mixture, shaking off any excess, then coat them with the bread crumb mixture. Arrange on the baking sheet.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, until golden brown, flipping halfway through.  Mix the sauce ingredients together while chicken is cooking.

Lily’s Raspberry Goodness Pie

8 oz white chocolate, melted

10 raspberries

Dip strawberries in chocolate and set aside to harden at room temperature

For the crust:
20 chocolate wafers cookies

1/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup melted butter

½ cup milk chocolate, chopped

½ teaspoon shortening

Combine all ingredients in the food processor.  Process until fine crumbs form.  Press into 9” pie plate.  Bake at 375 for 10 minutes.  Cool completely.

Combine milk chocolate and shortening in a microwave safe bowl.  Cook on high power for 1 minute or until chocolate is melted.  Stir to combine and brush onto bottom of crust.

For the filling:

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups light cream

½ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup cornstarch

¾ cup granulated sugar

2 large eggs plus one egg yolk

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ teaspoon salt

In a large microwave safe bowl, whisk together 1 cup heavy cream, cocoa powder and cornstarch.  Stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla extract and salt.

In the microwave on 100% power, cook custard mixture for 11-13 minutes, depending on the strength of your microwave, pausing to stir the custard at 5 minutes and every 30 seconds thereafter until thickened.  Refrigerate until cooled.

To assemble pie

15-20 raspberries

1 ½ cup heavy cream

3-4 tablespoons confectioner’s sugar

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

When ready to assemble pie,  place 12-15 raspberries  over chocolate coating on pie crust, reserving a few for the top of the pie.  Spoon custard over strawberries and spread until level.

Whip cream, confectioner’s sugar and extract until stiff peaks form.  Decorate pie as desired and garnish with white chocolate covered raspberries.

Gloucester At Dawn- George’s Coffee Shop 4:50AM 7/29/09

If you click on the picture and select “all sizes” you can see the full sized version.  To me it looks like a scene from a movie.