Thursday, April 4, 2013

Out and about – Pizza and Flat Bread


Out and about…

Pizza and Flat Bread

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington - pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, red onion, roasted garlic, feta and mozzarella Pizza
Piccola Pizza
102 Union Avenue
Snohomish, WA 98290
360.563.5400

We may have found the best pizza in Snohomish and may be in Snohomish County. Piccola Pizza in downtown old Snohomish is a gem. The experience starts with owner and Washington Husky/ Seahawk player Ricky Andrews greets you as you come in. Ricky is passionate about his pizza and the fresh sauces and dressings they make, but if you want to talk about football he is more than willing.

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington

Out and about - Piccola Pizza Snohomish Washington - pepperoni, Italian sausage, bacon, red onion, roasted garlic, feta and mozzarella Pizza


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Contos' Pizza & Pasta
Frontier Village
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
425.334.5034

Did I say cheeeeeeeeeese…. Yummy

Out and about - Contos Pizza and Pasta Lake Stevens – pepperoni and olives pizza
Out and about - Contos Pizza and Pasta Lake Stevens – pepperoni and olives pizza

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Luca’s Pizzeria and Ristorante
430 91st Ave NE #10
Lake Stevens, WA 98258
425.334.2066


This is the place for authentic Neapolitan pizza. Oh Yes, it’s so good…

Out and about - Luca’s Pizzeria and Ristorante Lake Stevens Washington

Out and about - Luca’s Pizzeria and Ristorante Lake Stevens Washington

Out and about - Luca’s Pizzeria and Ristorante Lake Stevens Washington

Out and about - Luca’s Pizzeria and Ristorante Lake Stevens Washington
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Blazing Onion Burger, Brews and Spirits (Marysville)
3701 116th Street NE
Marysville, WA. 98271
360.322.7088

Incredibly good, from the garlic and the bite of the kalamata olives, to the coolness of tzaziki… Was hard to put down...


Out and about - Blazing Onion Burger, Brews and Spirits Marysville Washington -
Mediterranean Lamb Flatbread Pizza - Grilled ­flatbread topped with roasted garlic, ground lamb, red onion, diced tomato, kalamata olives, feta and tzaziki




zzz

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Out and About – Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards “Crazy for Cabs” Wine Dinner


Out and about…

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards “Crazy for Cabs” Wine Dinner...

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Dinner 


“Crazy for cabs” was Lombardi's first wine tasting dinner at the year. They are planning to have a dinner each quarter. Lombardi's Everett Marina was lucky enough to have the first dinner, followed the next day by the mill Creek Lombardi's and the next week, Issaquah Lombardi's.

Executive chef Matt Romeo did an outstanding job of pairing the food with Milbrandt's wines. We are looking forward to our next chance to enjoy Lombardi's wine tasting food pairing dinners.

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Tasting Dinner - Executive chef Matt Romeo
Antipasto

Beef carpaccio, horseradish mascarpone, shaved Parmesan, arugula taro chip****

Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘Traditions’ 2011***+ black cherry, black berry, spice

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Dinner – Beef carpaccio, horseradish mascarpone, shaved Parmesan, arugula taro chip

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Primi

Risotto with wild boar bacon and wild mushrooms***+

Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘The Estates’ 2010**** black cherry, boysenberry, coco, silky

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Tasting Dinner - Risotto with wild boar bacon and wild mushrooms

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Secondi

Lamb Osso Buco, pecorino polenta, gremolata****

Cabernet blend, ‘Sentinel’ 2009**** black currant, jammy, velvety

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Tasting Dinner - Lamb Osso Buco, pecorino polenta, gremolata

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Insalata

Spring mix hazelnuts crusted goat cheese quenelle, roasted tomato Cabernet vinaigrette***

Cabernet cuvée ‘Cask Wine’ 2010**+ plum, mocha, smooth

Dinner - spring mix hazelnuts crusted goat cheese quenelle, roasted tomato Cabernet vinaigrette
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Dolce

Amaretto ricotta cheesecake, almond cookie crust***

Chef Matt's homemade amaretto

Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Tasting Dinner - Amaretto ricotta cheesecake, almond cookie crust


This is the place I wood have a picture of a sunset over the Everett Marina or a picture of the boats, not this time. Half way through the dinner it snowed, not bad for the 3rd day of Spring….


Lombardi’s Everett Marina and Milbrandt Vineyards Crazy for Cabs Wine Tasting Dinner 





zzz

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Riesling


Cooking at Home

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Riesling

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Riesling 
Coq au Riesling was our second main course for our family French dinner.

Cooking at Home – Our French Bistro Tablescape  Photo by J. Rodgers

Coq au Vin (Riesling)

Ingredients

6 chicken Thighs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 tablespoon each butter and olive oil, plus more butter for frying
4 shallots, minced
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons Cognac
1 cup dry Riesling
1/2 cup chicken stock
8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
1/2 cup creme fraiche
Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions

Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Optional: debone the thighs, place the bone back in the thigh and tie with string. Remove the bone prior to serving.

Heat the fat in a sauté pan and brown the chicken on all sides.

When all the chicken is browned, remove it to a plate.

Add the shallots and garlic to the pan for 1 minute.

Pour in the Cognac to deglaze. (Flambé is optional)

Put the chicken back in the pan.

Pour in the wine and stock, cover and cook until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes, turning once.

Melt a little butter in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms until golden.

When the chicken is cooked, remove it to a serving platter and keep warm.

Boil the cooking liquid down to sauce consistency.

Stir in the creme fraiche, mushrooms and a little butter.

When hot, taste and correct the seasonings.

Pour the sauce over the chicken, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

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Directions in Pictures

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - prepare the chicken, salt and pepper
  • Sprinkle the chicken with salt and pepper. Optional: debone the thighs, place the bone back in the thigh and tie with string. Remove the bone prior to serving.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - brown the meat on all sides
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - brown the meat on all sides
  • Heat the fat in a sauté pan and brown the chicken on all sides. 

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - remove the chicken
  • When all the chicken is browned, remove it to a plate.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - add the shallots and garlic
  • Add the shallots and garlic to the pan for 1 minute.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - pour in the Cognac to deglaze
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - flambé if you wish - Sorry the flame did not show in the picture...
  • Pour in the Cognac to deglaze. (Flambé is optional)

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) -put the chicken back in the pan
  • Put the chicken back in the pan.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - pour in the wine
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - pour in the stock
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling)
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) - cook the chicken is tender and turned once
  • Pour in the wine and stock, cover and cook until the chicken is tender, about 20 minutes, turning once.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) – cook the mushrooms until golden
  • Melt a little butter in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms until golden.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling)
Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) – when the chicken is cooked, remove it to a serving platter and keep warm
  • When the chicken is cooked, remove it to a serving platter and keep warm.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) – boil the cooking liquid down to sauce consistency
  • Boil the cooking liquid down to sauce consistency.

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Vin (Riesling) – stir in the creme fraiche, mushrooms and butter
  • Stir in the creme fraiche, mushrooms and a little butter. 

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Coq au Riesling 
Bon Appétit



zzzz

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Poached Eggs in Burgundy Wine Sauce on a croûte or Oeufs en Meurette


Cooking at Home

Oeufs pochés dans une sauce au vin de Bourgogne sur une croûte (Poached Eggs in Burgundy Wine Sauce on a croute) or Oeufs en Meurette

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - Poached Eggs in Burgundy Wine Sauce on a croûte (Oeufs en Meurette)

Poached eggs in Burgundy wine sauce on a croûte was our first main course for our multiple course French bistro dinner we cooked for our family. 

Picking the right ingredients is important, as is staging. I think a good egg dish is a good substitute for a first main course fish dish. We substituted a Washington state Pinot noir for the French Burgundy because of the cost and quality. We hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did.

Bon Appétit


The Recipe - Oeufs en Meurette (Poached Eggs in Burgundy Wine Sauce)

Ingredients

1 bottle dry red wine
2 cups beef stock
4 to 8 eggs
1 bay leaf
1 carrot, thinly sliced
1 celery stalk, sliced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1 onion, thinly sliced
3 sprigs fresh thyme
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons butter
4 ounces button mushrooms, sliced
4 ounces bacon, sliced into paper clip-size pieces
15 to 20 pearl onions, peeled

Directions

Bring the wine and stock to a slow boil in a sauté pan.

Gently crack the eggs in and poach until the whites are set and the yolks runny, 2 to 3 minutes.

Remove to a plate.

Remove any clumps of egg white and bring the wine-stock mixture back to a boil.

Add the bay leaf, carrots, celery, garlic, onions and thyme.

Simmer until reduced by half and concentrated, about 20 minutes.

While the sauce reduces, melt 1 spoonful of the butter in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms, about 3 minutes.

Remove the mushrooms.

Add the second spoonful of butter and fry the bacon until brown.

Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.

Fry the onions in the fat left in the pan until tender and golden, about 10 minutes.

Drain off the excess fat and put the bacon and mushrooms back in.

Once the sauce has reduced, knead the butter and flour together to form a paste (Beurre manié*).

Whisk it, a piece at a time, into the simmering sauce until thick enough to coat a spoon.

Strain the sauce over the onions, bacon and mushrooms.

Bring to a boil, and check the seasonings.

Gently place the poached eggs in the sauce to reheat for a minute.

Serve the eggs in wide, shallow bowls on a croûte** with some sauce. Scatter with the parsley.

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Directions in Pictures

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - bring the wine and stock to a slow boil
  • Bring the wine and stock to a slow boil in a sauté pan.

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - poach until the whites
  • Gently crack the eggs in and poach until the whites are set and the yolks runny, 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Remove to a plate.

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - add the bay leaf, carrots, celery, garlic, onions and thyme
  • Remove any clumps of egg white and bring the wine-stock mixture back to a boil.
  • Add the bay leaf, carrots, celery, garlic, onions and thyme.
  • Simmer until reduced by half and concentrated, about 20 minutes.

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce – fry the onions, bacon and mushrooms
  • While the sauce reduces, melt 1 spoonful of the butter in a frying pan and cook the mushrooms, about 3 minutes.
  • Remove the mushrooms.
  • Add the second spoonful of butter and fry the bacon until brown.
  • Remove the bacon with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
  • Fry the onions in the fat left in the pan until tender and golden, about 10 minutes.
  • Drain off the excess fat and put the bacon and mushrooms back in.

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce – add the beurre manié
  • Once the sauce has reduced, knead the butter and flour together to form a paste (Beurre manié(1)).
  • Whisk it, a piece at a time, into the simmering sauce until thick enough to coat a spoon.
Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - strain the sauce over the onions, bacon and mushrooms
  • Strain the sauce over the onions, bacon and mushrooms.
Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - bring to a boil, and check the seasonings
  • Bring to a boil, and check the seasonings.

Cooking at Home – Poached Eggs in Wine Sauce - Gently place the poached eggs in the sauce to reheat
  • Gently place the poached eggs in the sauce to reheat for a minute. 
Cooking at Home – French Cooking – place a croûte in your bowl

Cooking at Home – French Cooking - serve the with a croûte with some sauce - Oeufs en Meurette
  • Serve the eggs in wide, shallow bowls on a croûte(2) with some sauce. Scatter with the parsley.
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(1)Cooking at Home – making beurre manié…

What is beurre manié?

Beurre manié (French "kneaded butter") is a dough, consisting of equal parts of soft butter and flour. When the beurre manié is whisked into a hot or warm liquid, the butter melts, releasing the flour particles without creating lumps.

Beurre manie is also used as a finishing step for sauces, imparting a smooth, shiny texture prior to service.


Cooking at Home – beurre manié – equal parts butter and flour

Cooking at Home – beurre manié – equal parts butter and flour

Cooking at Home – beurre manié – knead the butter and flour

Cooking at Home – beurre manié 


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(2)Cooking at Home – Croûte

What is a croûte?

A slice of toasted or fried bread used as a foundation in serving food.

Cooking at Home – croûte – fry bread in butter (lots of butter)

Cooking at Home – croûte 
Bon Appétit

zzz