Short Ribs, Mashed Goodness and Stroganoff!

Talk about an odd line up of foods for Cooking 2 last Wednesday. The syllabus reads funny at times, as though it is not paired properly. The chefs probably have so much they need to teach us in so little time. Like with everything in life.

I never tasted Beef Stroganoff before last week, and man what a surprising delicate and scrumptous taste. It was a complicated construction with a lot of ingredients but the end result was worth it! Really tasty (probably because its fatty as heck)! We tackled short ribs and made a delicious "smashed" potato along with other things prepared that day. I took the "smashed" potato from the Chef from work. He makes mashed potatoes with the skin on in butter and cream and salt and pepper, simple cooking.

Baking Bavarians

Below are snaps from last weeks baking class. We made Bavarian cream over pound cake with a handmade tuille (the cookie in the shape of a spoon) and a raspberry coulis (fruit sauce for plate decoration)...

 

Reflection with time to kill, peering into the raspberry coulis sauce...

Starfruit

I got my hands on a starfruit at work the other day. Man! I have never played with starfruit, let alone tasted! One, its delicious. Two, it is absolutely a beautiful lil piece of nature. A perfect star! Apparently Florida produces starfruit so you can get the seemingly exotic fruit somewhat locally (on a national scale). Wash, slice and eat. It's crisp and a blend of an apple and a citrus fruit perhaps? Crunchy and watery with light citrusy bursts! If you have not tried, do. Also,
consider the fruit as a pretty garnish!

A Dinner Date

After working a good 10 hours in the kitchen yesterday, I was most relieved to find my boyfriend had made late dinner plans for us with his best friend and fiance, who also happens to be best friend of mine here in this great lil city. After cooking all day for others (and getting paid!) I walked in their door to warm friends, good food and an immediate full to the brim, glass of red. The gal pal, prepared a shrimp, spinach and feta rice bowl, topped with a scallop. It was delicious. The addition of the pine-nut was a must. Do try and do share and do try and share with a glass of Marques de Caceres, a tasty 'Rioja" wine, 2008, and cheap enough!

The scallop addition was their idea which they dusted with a mole seasoning and seared. The asparagus you see on the side of the bowl, was leftover from work, my offering!

Cake Dos

Herein-lies, the second cake I have ever created from scratch. Difficult because it requires delicate, gentle and patient bodies for construction. Delicious because, well because it's just delicious.
You'll never forget your first, eh? But my first cake was not as great as this cake, numero dos. I mean a good two pounds of butter was included in that first cake! This cake, the second was not butter-filled and therefore more enjoyable. And just easier. Like I mentioned in the previous Cornish game hen post, practice does indeed make perfect.

Orange Chiffon with Chocolate Ganache

The Cornish Game Hen

The Cornish game hen, a tiny and young chicken typically served whole...
I got my hands on a Cornish game hen, slathered it in some olive oil, salt and pepper. Baked it on low at 325 for about an hour. Served the cute lil chicken up with a medallion of homemade cilantro butter to top and over a homemade pineapple papaya salsa I had leftover in my fridge. I must admit, I get a lil freaked out preparing meats for theirs and my first time together. Don't know how to verbalize that feeling other than, its unknown and confusing and messy, delicious and like with anything, "practice makes perfect"...
Impromtu Cornish Game Hen
Inspired by: life
325 degree 1-1.5 hours
Oil
Salt
Pepper
Roasted in a baking dish. Served with a slab of compoud butter (see previous post about compound butter, replaces need for sauce) and over some leftover sweet and salty salsa...

First Cake from Scratch!

Chocolate Coins 

Made from scratch and piped out through a pastry bag

 

Italian Chocolate Butter-cream White Cake

First cake assembled from scratch. What a production!