Monday, January 14, 2008

Ceviche in Spoons


I catered a Mexican themed dinner party on New Year's day and for one of the passed Hor'D ouevres we served ceviche in spoons. Enjoy the recipe below....p.s. it goes down better with a margarita or two!


Ceviche
4-6 servings
½ day 20 min prep
1 lb halibut or sea bass fillets (or use a mixture of fish and shrimp)
5-6 limes (Enough Juice to cover fish) 1 cup diced fresh tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, chopped
5 tablespoons chopped cilantro
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh cracked pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped (or more to suit your taste)
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 medium red onion, finely chopped
1 dash hot sauce lettuce leaves (to line serving bowls)
avocados (optional)
sliced olives (for garnish) (optional)
Dice the fish (approximately 1/2-inch dice if using shrimp use cleaned shrimp).
Marinate fish in the lime juice in the fridge overnight (this step cooks the fish).
Stir often.
Pour off most of the lime juice (just leave it moist).
Add remaining ingredients except lettuce, avocado and olive. Do this preferably a few hours before serving & refrigerate.
Toss well and arrange in individual serving bowls (I used chinese spoons to serve the ceviche in, since my servers were passing this as an appetizer) that are lined with the lettuce leaves.
If you wish garnish with sliced avocado and sliced black olives.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Pumpkin Waffles

For those of you that missed my last Postcard Recipe in the mail, below is the recipe!
enjoy!...
By the way, if you are not on my mailing list please let me know and you will get a great recipe card about 3 to 4 times a year


Pumpkin Waffles- makes 12 (4-inch) waffles

2 ½ Cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cup packed Light Brown Sugar
2 ¼ tsp. Baking Powder
½ tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Baking Soda
2 tsp. Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp. Ground Ginger
¼ tsp. Ground Cloves
4 Large Eggs
1 cup Whole Milk
1 cup well-shaken Buttermilk
1 cup Canned solid-pack pumpkin
¾ stick Unsalted Butter,
melted Veggie Oil for brushing waffle iron

Preheat waffle iron, if you don’t have a waffle iron- make pancakes. Sift together flour, brown sugar, baking powder and soda, salt, and spices. Whisk eggs, milk, buttermilk, pumpkin, and butter until smooth. Whisk in dry ingredients just until smooth. Brush waffle iron lightly with oil and spoon batter into waffle iron, spreading quickly. (about 2 cups for 4-inch Belgian waffle iron)Transfer waffles to warm oven. Serve with Maple Syrup and crumbled candied pecans!!!

Ladies Christmas Luncheon Menu 2007



Cooked for a fun client of mine for a "Ladies Christmas Luncheon" in December of 2007.


I have cooked for her many times before and for some of her party guests that were there that day. What a fun group! Everyone enjoyed the menu and I had many requests for some of the recipes. Below is the menu that I served that day and a photo of the main dish!



Menu:
Appetizers:
Almond Stuffed Dates wrapped with Bacon
Mini Artichoke Pesto Pizzas with Pine Nuts
Soup: Coconut Pumpkin Bisque with Toasted Pumpkin Seeds and Creme Fraiche
Salad: Baby Greens, Persimmons, Pomegranate seeds, Candied Walnuts, Sharp Cheddar, Pear Dijon Vinaigrette
Entrée: Roasted Pork Loin with Blackberry Sauce
Medley of baby squash
Wild Mushroom Bread Pudding
Dessert: Chocolate Crème Brulee