blueberry galette

I started out with the intention of making this rhubarb galette recipe. But alas, I couldn't find rhubarb in any of my local markets that day, so picked up blueberries instead. I followed the basic structure of Elise's recipe, but with the following substitutions/tweaks:
-rhubarb —> blueberries (3 small containers)
-orange zest —> lemon zest
-reduced sugar to about 1/2 cup (blueberries don't need as much added sweetness), and omitted the vanilla
-Also, before baking, I brushed the top of the crust with egg wash (1 egg whisked with a little water), and sprinkled sugar over it... because I'm a sucker for a sparkly, sugary pie crust.

caramel brownies

From Bonnie's Baked Goods

...and boy, were they goood.
Rich, dark, not-too-sweet chocolate brownie, full of gooey ribbons of caramel. I'm not sharing... you'll have to go get your own.

pork tenderloin with pineapple-mango salsa

Pork tenderloin, cut into 1" slices, flattened slightly, seasoned with salt & pepper, and cooked in a pan with 1 TBSP oil (only takes a couple of minutes per side).

The salsa: mango, pineapple, jalapeño, onion, cucumber, cilantro, and lime juice. Seasoned with salt & pepper.

mango crêpes

What to do with a couple of leftover crêpes?

Cut into small squares (these are about 3"), heat in a pan, and stack with mango in between the layers. The mango is diced, and warmed in a little bit of melted butter and brown sugar.

stuffed jalapeño

-Cut jalapeño in half, and remove the ribs & seeds.
-Fill with a mixture of cream cheese and shredded cheddar, seasoned with salt & pepper.
-Bake at 450 for 10-12 minutes.

raspberries

falafel-coated shrimp

Dip shrimp in beaten egg white, dust with falafel mix, and cook in a hot pan with a few TBSP olive oil.

The dipping sauce is greek yogurt with 1 clove minced garlic, lemon zest & juice, chopped fresh parsley, salt & pepper.

(Recipe from an old issue of Everyday Food magazine)

poached egg & asparagus

This is my idea of a good late-night dinner. When I don't want anything too filling, but it still has to be substantial enough to pass for a meal. And as it gets later in the evening, I start craving breakfast foods.

The asparagus is steamed for about 5 minutes (so it's cooked, but is still bright green). Season with salt & pepper and a squeeze of lemon, and top with a poached egg. Garnish with chives and shaved parmesan.

I find poaching an egg to be a surprisingly tricky thing, but this is a pretty simple method that works well for me: Bring a couple cups of water (plus about a TBSP of an acid, like lemon juice or vinegar) to a rolling boil, then turn the heat OFF. Stir the water in a circular motion, so it looks like a mini whirlpool, and gently drop the egg in the center (this helps the egg hold together tightly). Put a lid on the pot, and leave it for 3 minutes (for a runny yolk). This dish benefits from a runny yolk, since it drips down over the asparagus and combines with the lemon juice and parmesan to make a yummy sauce.

food porn: the gallery show

I am excited to report that my food porn has broken out of the virtual world, and now adorns the walls of my office's café space (aka "the food porn gallery"). We even had an opening celebration, to unveil the newly-decorated space...

For the party, I made the rhubarb crumb cake, whose picture is on the wall, so people could fully experience the art.

Life imitates art. Here is Stacey, generous patron of the food porn arts, taking part in the interactive exhibit:

The artist:

coney island

What better way to take advantage of a summer-like Spring Sunday, than a day at Coney Island?

We begin with breakfast at Nathan's (yes, breakfast. You got something to say about that?)

In case french fries for breakfast aren't indulgent enough, I give you bacon-cheese fries:

After a leisurely stroll on the boardwalk, and a nail-biting ride on the Cyclone, I needed something to quench my thirst and calm my nerves. So on to Cha Cha's for a madras cocktail (vodka, cranberry & OJ):

And, since Cha Cha's is located next to the "Shoot the Freak" boardwalk attraction (where players get to shoot at a human target with paintball guns), it seemed appropriate to go for the freakish Coney Island Lager:

And finally... lunch at Totonno's, a NYC pizza institution, for a lovely Neapolitan-style pie: