Denver Life with Carl and Mark

New recipe, January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T20:37:00.000-08:00

Grilled Pork Tenderloin with Mustard Dill Sauce from the March 2011 Bon Appétit. The recipe include a quick zucchini pickle--we used cucumber, since that is what we have. Definitely will do this again--we give it a 4.
Wine: Brophy Clark 2009 Santa Barbara Pinot Noir

New recipe, January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T08:37:00.001-08:00

Today's new recipe is breakfast, the Mushroom and Bacon Frittata with Roasted Tomatoes from the December 2010 Bon Appétit. This is really delicious--a definite 4. We modified by using only egg whites (used 2 egg white for each egg in the recipe) instead of whole eggs, and turkey bacon.

We cooked breakfast because we went to Ember for dinner in Breckenridge. We were last at Ember almost 2 years ago, just after it first opened. It was quite good then, but it has just gotten better. The food is beautifully prepared, melding classical techniques with ingredients and flavors from around the world. The wine list is great, and the staff (at least Melia, who served us) know the wines and potential pairing really well. We had a wonderful time, and we think Ember is one of the best restaurant in Colorado.

New recipe, January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T19:58:00.001-08:00

Scallops with Almonds, from the January 2000 Gourmet. I altered this, using a low fat half and half instead of cream. The brandy and onion give it a nice sweetness. It gets a 3.5, and I am curious to try it with the cream! Served with a green salad with black and white sesame seeds.
Instead of wine, this was served with the Angry Orchard Dry Cider

New recipe, January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T20:28:00.000-08:00

Lemongrass Mojito from Epicurious--more dinner meetings, so the new recipe is another (delicious) cocktail.

New recipe, January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T20:08:00.000-08:00

We both had dinner meetings, so we had a cocktail--the Old Pal, from the February 2012 Bon Appétit.
Tasty!

New recipe, January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T21:31:00.000-08:00

Bacon Corn Chowder with Shrimp from the August 2011 Cooking Light. We liked this--gets a 4!
Wine: Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne 2009

New recipe, January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T19:15:00.000-08:00

Steamed Red Snapper with Roasted Butternut Squash Purée from Top Chef The Cookbook. A very tasty dish-we give it a 4.
Wine: Willm 2010 Vin D'Alsace Riesling

New recipe, January 22, 2012

2012-01-22T19:16:00.000-08:00

Beef Tenderloin Steaks and Balsamic Green Beans from the January/February 2012 Cooking Light. We give this a 4. We skipped the potatoes, since we are avoiding carbs at the moment.
Wine: 1998 Chateau Simard St Emilion

New recipe, January 21, 2012

2012-01-21T19:54:00.000-08:00

The new recipe is Quick Asparagus Stir Fry from Mangoes and Curry Leaves by Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Fuguid. The simple name might put you off, but this is really excellent, we rate it 4 (will definitely do again). We had it with the African Adobo Rubbed Tuna from Epicurious, which we have loved since we first made it and gets a 5 from us!
Wine: Guy Drew 2009 Russell Vineyard Riesling, from Montezuma County Colorado, a very nice bottle of wine, well suited to this meal

New recipe, January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Lamb Chops and Cilantro Relish from the August 2011 Cooking Light, served with a green salad with a lemon juice and balsamic vinaigrette and diced yellow bell pepper. Rating 4--really tasty!
Wine: 2004 Casanova di Neri Brunello di Montalcino. Fabulous!

New recipe, January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T19:57:00.000-08:00

Tonight we attended a report on LGBT Health in Colorado, presented by One Colorado, followed by 9 Circles at the Curious Theatre, a remarkable and powerful play. So the new recipe is a cocktail, the Parkside Fizz from the October 2011 Bon Appétit. Rating 3

New recipe, January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T20:58:00.000-08:00

Peppered Flank Steak with Salsa from the August 2011 Cooking Light. We used flat iron steak--a new cut for us, and one we'll use again! The salsa was ok, the meat and rub were the highlight, so it gets a 3.5 overall.
No wine, as we are headed to the theater

New recipe, January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T20:51:00.000-08:00

Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Loin with Baked Apples from Bon Appétit. We modified the recipe a lot--used pork tenderloin, left the ground pork out of the stuffing, so a lot healthier than the original. But still really nice flavors, and a beautiful dish to look at as well! Served with a salad with truffled oil and almonds. We give the pork a 4. Yum!
Wine: Riesling "Hugel" Alsace 2009

New recipe, January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

Tonight's new recipe is Herbed Shrimp and White Bean Salad from the August 2012 Cooking Light. This is very easy and flavorful--the red onion we had is pretty hot, so it is a bit too dominant. Defiring it a bit with a rinse in cold water would have been helpful. It gets a 3.5.
Wine: finished the 2005 Michel Langlois Coteaux du Giennois
Mark spent Martin Luther King Day volunteering at Project Angel Heart. They provide meals for 850 clients with life threatening illnesses in the metro area, and with their recent move to a new space, they hope to quadruple that! Let's just say it takes a lot of cabbage to feed 850 people! A day there gave me new appreciation for the tremendous work they do!

New recipe, January 15, 2012

2012-01-15T20:12:00.000-08:00

Sautéed Chicken with Onion Jam from the January-February 2012 Cooking Light, with a green salad with tomato, bell pepper and some grated truffled pecorino. The chicken dish is simple and quite delicious--it gets a 4. The addition of the truffled pecorino adds a nice dimension to the salad--the nice salty and sheep character and the earthiness of the truffles are fun! I will certainly use this cheese on a salad again, so I guess it gets a 4 too
Wine: 2005 Michel Lanois Coteaux du Giennois. Though a little long in the tooth for most whites, this is still very nice.

New recipes, January 14, 2012

2012-01-14T19:33:00.000-08:00

Chilled Persian Yogurt Soup from the June 2011 Food and Wine, Braised Cucumbers with Dill from the August 2011 Food and Wine, and Skirt Steak with Moroccan Spice Rub and Yogurt Sauce from the June 2006 Food and Wine. A middle eastern feast! The soup is a really interesting combination of flavors we don't often think of putting together here--it is delicious! The steak with the rub is also delicious. The cucumbers seemed a little bland by comparison. We give the soup and the steak a 4, and 3 for the soup.

Wine: Alamos 2010 Malbec

New recipe, January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T20:16:00.000-08:00

Pan Seared Halibut with Bell Pepper Relish from the January-February 2012 Cooking Light. Nice dish, nice flaky fish. I used hot smoked paprika--might have melded a little better with sweet smoked paprika. It gets a 3.5
Wine: Domaine Jean Pascal & Fils 2009 Meursault

New recipe, January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T20:11:00.000-08:00

Hanger Steak (we used skirt) with Mushrooms and Red Wine Sauce from Bon Appétit, with a side of braised fennel and celery. Very tasty, we used less butter than suggested, but still a bit high on the fat, so we give it a 3

New recipe, January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T19:42:00.000-08:00

Vietnamese Salad, from the September 2011 Cooking Light. All the delicious fresh flavors of Vietnamese food--mint, lime, fresh chili, fish sauce-but a bit more subtle than we like--we would make it spicier, so we give it a 3. Nothing wrong with it at all--we'd like a little more character.
Wine: Brophy Clark Pinot Noir 2009

New recipe, January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T19:56:00.000-08:00

Maple Mustard Glazed Chicken from the January 2012 Cooking Light, served with cumin roasted carrots and a green salad.
We gIve this a 3 1/2--nice sauce!
Wine: Muga Rose Rioja 2010

New recipe, January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T20:24:00.001-08:00

Grilled Scallop Salad from the July 2011 Cooking Light. Very nice! We give it a 4. The combination of lime, watermelon and mint with the scallop is quite nice. Try it!

Wine: Ribbonwood 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

New recipes, January 8, 2012

2012-01-08T19:07:00.001-08:00

Double Plum Baked Chicken from Cooking Light, and Leeks Vinaigrette from Bon Appétit. Green salad on the side. The leeks are especially fine! The sauce for the chicken was also quite nice.
To help us keep track of what we love, we are going to use a 1-5 scale to rate the recipes.
5 - Can't wait to make this again!
4 - Will make this again
3 - Good, may make this again
2 - OK, probably would not do it again
1 - Awful, definitely would not do it again
Using that scale, the leeks get a 4. The chicken sauce gets a 4, but the chicken was a bit tough--would make sure the chicken breast is unfolded and possible pounded to give a thinner, more rapidly cooking piece of chicken.
Wine: Infinite Monkey Theorem Petite Sirah 2009

New recipes, January 7, 2012

2012-01-07T19:35:00.001-08:00

Curried Beef Stew and Long Bean, Cucumber and Tomato Salad, from the January 2012 Bon Appétit. These were both tasty, and are amazingly nearly fat free.

What we would do different: blanch the long beans for a little more tenderness, and increase the temp of the stew above a simmer to tenderize the beef more. The stew could use another tablespoon of Thai chili. There was a lot of broth-more vegetables would also be nice.

The wine was Bleasdale The Broad Side Langhorne Creek 2008 Shiraz Cabernet Sauvignon Malbec. As we hoped, the rich fruitiness from the Shiraz, which is the primary grape, was a nice match with the spiciness of both dishes, as well as the lime in the salad.

New recipe, January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T18:11:00.001-08:00

Scallops with Warm Tomato Basil Dressing, from the June 2011 Food and Wine. Delicious! I think virtually anything with scallops are delicious, but this really is good! With a Green Salad with Diced Bell Peppers.
No wine, as we are traveling to Tabernash.

New recipe, January 5, 2012

2012-01-05T21:08:00.000-08:00

Pan Grilled Ginger-Honey Pork Tenderloin from the December 2012 Cooking Light, with a green salad with diced bell peppers. Very tasty--the caramelization of the marinade and umami from the soy are delicious, and using a Meyer lemon from our tree is fun.
Wine: Brézème 2007 Côtes du Rhône, a very nice match.

New recipe, January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T19:12:00.001-08:00

Spicy Thai Coconut Chicken Soup from the January 2012 Cooking Light, with a quick cucumber pickle. This soup is quite a bit lower in fat than the traditional version, but it is equally delicious!
Wine: Villa Wolf 2008 Gewürztraminer

New recipe, January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T19:08:00.000-08:00

Chipotle Chicken from the January 2012 Cooking Light, with a roasted corn salad.
Wine: Creekside Cellars 2008 Colorado Syrah

New recipe, January 2, 2012

2012-01-02T18:40:00.000-08:00

Chicken Piccata, from the December 2011 Cooking Light, with oven roasted parsnips with smoked paprika, and a green salad with a lemon-Viandox dressing. Very easy, very tasty--we used quite a bit less oil than the recipe calls for, and didn't miss it at all.
Wine: Ribbonwood 2010 Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc--nice match.

New recipes, January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T21:29:00.001-08:00

For lunch, we had Hoppin' John (which contains the black eyed peas we have to celebrate the new year!) from Epicurious, with rice. This was very tasty!

Dinner is Crispy Duck Legs with Toasted Hazelnut and Garlic Sauce from the January 2012 Food and Wine, with a salad of baby kale and assorted bell peppers. Delicious--a great way to start the New Year!

Wine: La Cartuja Priorat 2007

New recipe, December 31, 2011

2011-12-31T21:40:00.000-08:00

Having dinner with Mark's family, so the new recipe is Teff Porridge, from Eat This! Teff is a tiny Ethiopian grain, the key ingredient in that spongy Ethiopian bread called Injera. It has a little chocolate character to it.

New recipes, December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T18:48:00.000-08:00

Cumin Seed Roasted Cauliflower with Salted Yogurt Mint and Pomegranate Seeds, and Mediterranean Salad with Prosciutto and Pomegranate (we used Mangalica Ham instead of prosciutto), both from Epicurious. We served the cauliflower on a bed of amaranth. All delicious, and worth a repeat!

Wine: Piere Sauvignon 2007 Vie di Romans Sauvignon Blanc

New recipe, December 29, 2011

2011-12-29T17:51:00.001-08:00

Spicy Chicken Peperonata with Lime and Mint Dressing, from Epicurious. We had it with the remaining Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger. We also had a salad with baby kale, a green we haven't seen in the market before--peppery and delicious! A very nice meal
Wine: Nanfrè Valpolicella 2008

New recipes,December 28, 2011--A New Year!

2011-12-28T19:46:00.001-08:00

These are the first dishes in a new year of preparing at least one new recipe a day!

Indian Spiced Carrot Soup with Ginger, and Fillet of Beef with Arugula, Cherry Tomato and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette, both from Epicurious.
The soup is fabulous! For the salad, we used a top round steak (as different from fillet as you can get!) and yellow pear tomatoes from our garden that we had frozen. The meat was pretty chewy and the tomatoes mushy, though the flavors are good. Ah well--had to try!

Wine: Amethyst 2003 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon--this is fairly fruit forward, so if worker well with these dishes.

New recipe, December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T20:56:00.001-08:00

This is the 365th day of our year of making at least one new recipe a day! By my count, we missed 2 days, but we made well over 365 new recipes. And it is a blast! We are definitely looking forward to another year of new recipes!

Doro Wett (Ethiopian Chicken Stew) from Epicurious, with white rice. Fabulous! The berbere spice mixed came from Savory Spice in Denver.
Wine: Red Wire Hawkes Bay 2007

New recipes, December 26, 2011

2011-12-26T19:05:00.001-08:00

Farro Salad with Peas, Favas, Arugula and Tomatoes, and Seared Scallops with Roasted Garlic Sabayon, both from Epicurious. The scallops were delicious, the farro salad seemed a bit in conflict--the arugula overpowered the nuttiness of the farro and legumes a bit.
Wine: Liana 2009 Pinot Grigio

New recipes, December 25, 2011

2011-12-25T20:17:00.000-08:00

Today's new recipes were the center of the Clark Family Christmas dinner. First was Christmas Pork from Rocco DiSpirito--a low calorie alternative to ham. This was quite tasty--would like to do it again! The second, from Epicurious, is Sweet Potatoes with Blue Cheese and Pecans--fabulous, and the opposite of the low cal Rocco dish!. The last is something neither of us had ever made before--Green Bean Casserole right from the Crispy Onion package! (the link has the recipe we used).

New recipe, December 24, 2011

2011-12-24T15:37:00.001-08:00

Poached Pears with Cardamom and Saffron, from the January 2012 Bon Appetit--our contribution to the Clark Family Christmas Eve Dinner. This was delicious, and even better the second night!

New recipe, December 23, 2011

2011-12-23T09:35:00.001-08:00

Today's new recipe is a birthday brunch Mushroom Poblano Frittata from Epicurious, celebrating Mark and Julie Clark's birthdays. Very tasty!

New recipe, December 22, 2011

2011-12-22T19:19:00.000-08:00

Stir Fried Brussels Sprouts with Garlic and Chili from Epicurious, served with a chicken chipotle sausage. The sprouts are delicious, though the combination of soy and fish sauce is a bit salty--we will likely cut back on them a bit, but the dish is definitely worth a repeat!
No wine, as we are headed to Tulsa tonight for Christmas.

New recipe, December 21, 2011

2011-12-21T18:56:00.000-08:00

Halibut with Clementine Gremolata from Epicurious, with baked new potatoes and a clementine and greens salad. The fish and gremolata are so nice!
Wine: Van Ruiten 2009 Chardonnay

New recipe, December 20, 2011

2011-12-20T20:38:00.000-08:00

Beef Stroganoff from the most recent issue of Food and Wine, served over rice with a cucumber salad. A simple recipe, but so good!
No wine, as we are headed to the theater (West Side Story).

New recipes, December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T19:13:00.000-08:00

Flank Steak Salad with Frisée and Charred Pepper Salsa (we used arugula instead of frisée) and Butter Lettuce with Apples, Walnuts and Pomegranate Seeds (we used mâché instead of butter lettuce), both from Bon Appetit. New potatoes on the side. These are both delicious. You should make them both! They are both in the January 2012 issue--I am not finding them online yet.
Wine: Matteo Correggia Roero 2006

New recipe, December 18, 2011

2011-12-18T18:11:00.001-08:00

Today's new recipe is Radicchio and Arugula Salad with Dates, Hazelnuts and Feta from Epicurious. This was our contribution to dinner with Mark's family. It is simple, and very tasty. Once again, ingredients are key.

New recipe, December 17, 2011

2011-12-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Today's new recipe is the Arugula and Roasted Pear Salad from Epicurious. Really spectacular!

It was an excellent match to the main dish, a repeat, the Lamb Chops with Pomegranate and Fig Relish, also from Epicurious. I did this again with fresh figs, using about twice as much fresh fig as the recipe called for dried.

Wine: Forefront 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

New recipe, December 16, 2011

2011-12-16T18:30:00.000-08:00

Todays's new recipe is Sautéed Carrots and Red Bell Peppers from Epicurious. Served with the last of the delicious leftover Prosciutto and Lemon Stuffed Roast Pork Loin with Broccolini, and Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping.
No wine as we are driving to Tabernash.

New recipe, December 15, 2011

2011-12-15T19:00:00.001-08:00

I still had asparagus, so I roasted it in a little olive oil, salt and pepper at 425 for 15 minutes. Topped it with some grated Parmesan and Pomegranate avrils. Served with delicious leftover Prosciutto and Lemon Stuffed Roast Pork Loin with Broccolini, and Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping (we have a lot of leftovers, but almost gone!)
Wine: Bleasdale Vineyards The Red Brute Sparkling Shiraz

New recipe, December 14, 2011

2011-12-14T19:37:00.000-08:00

I riffed off the Roasted Asparagus from Epicurious, to make Roasted Asparagus and Red Bell Pepper. Delicious! Basically, I used the recipe for the asparagus and added thin strips of red bell pepper. Served with delicious leftover Prosciutto and Lemon Stuffed Roast Pork Loin with Broccolini, and Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping (we have a lot of leftovers!)
Wine: 1998 Château de Bellevue Lussac St Emilion

New recipe, December 13, 2011

2011-12-13T18:45:00.001-08:00

Sweet Radish and Cucumber Salad from Epicurious. Served with delicious leftover Prosciutto and Lemon Stuffed Roast Pork Loin, and Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping
Wine: Villa Antinori Toscana 2007

New recipe, December 12, 2012

2011-12-12T18:22:00.001-08:00

Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad with Fresh Walnuts and Pecorino from Epicurious. Very tasty, and very easy. Served with delicious leftover Prosciutto and Lemon Stuffed Roast Pork Loin with Broccolini, and Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping.
Wine: Oak Grove Petite Sirah 2009 Reserve

New recipe, December 11, 2011

2011-12-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Christmas Tonic from Epicurious. Yum!

New recipes, December 10, 2011

2011-12-10T11:04:00.000-08:00

From Epicurious, three new recipes for Carl's Exective Team Holiday Party:

Lemon and Prosciutto Stufffed Pork Loin Roast with Broccolini

Spiced Pumpkin, Lentil and Goat Cheese Salad

Root Vegetable and Mushroom Pie with Rosemary Biscuit Topping

All three were absolutely delicious! If we had to pick a favorite, I think it might be the root vegetable pie, as the ingredients seem so humble, but the end results was so darn good!

Mark Groshek
755 Oneida St
Denver, CO 80220
mgroshek@me.com

Check out what we are eating today--one new recipe every day for a year!
http://denverlifewithcarlandmark.blogspot.com/

New recipe, December 9, 2011

2011-12-09T21:14:00.001-08:00

Room 4 Dessert Sour from Epicurious

New recipe, December 8, 2011

2011-12-08T19:04:00.001-08:00

The new recipe is Date Relish, from Epicurious, which is fun and very tasty, worth making! I served it with veal scallopini, whole wheat farfalle, and the absolute last of our garden tomatoes, which ripened in the kitchen.
Wine: Al Verdi Sangiovese 2008

New recipes, December 7, 2011

2011-12-07T20:47:00.001-08:00

Tuna Steak Marchand du Vin with Herbed Cannelini Beans, from Epicurious. Served with a radicchio and arugula salad.
Wine: (fabulous) Tablas Creek Vineyard 2007 Esprit de Beaucastel

New recipe, December 6, 2011

2011-12-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

Chicken Cutlets with Warm Green Olive and Shallot Vinaigrette, from Epicurious. Delicious, and easy--make this. We had it with rice and steamed asparagus with lemon zest.
Wine: Oak Grove Sauvignon Blanc 2010 Reserve--nice match!

New recipe, December 5, 2011

2011-12-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

Scallop Sauté with Miso from Epicurious, with a quick cucumber pickle

New recipe, December 4, 2011

2011-12-04T19:35:00.000-08:00

Tonight's new recipe is Fennel and Potato Hash, which we had with Grilled Porterhouse Steaks with Olive and Caper Spread (we used New York strip) the Arugula Salad with Pomegranate and Toasted Pecans, all from Epicurious.
Wine: Terredora Dipaolo Aglianico 2008

New recipe, December 3, 2011

2011-12-03T19:02:00.000-08:00

Scallops with Blood Orange Gastrique (no blood oranges available, so we used mandarins) from Epicurious, with Israeli couscous with mushrooms and pine nuts.
Wine: Cakebread Cellars Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2006--nice match. We also tried the Ribbonwood Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010--this one has lots of grapefruit and acid. Excellent wine, but not the right match for this dish.

New recipe, December 2, 2011

2011-12-02T17:45:00.001-08:00

Made up by Carl: Pork Chops with a Roasted Poblano Tomatillo Salsa on a Bed of Lettuce With Orange Viandox Dressing

No wine, as we are headed to the mountains.

New recipe, December 1, 2011

2011-12-01T20:58:00.001-08:00

Neapolitan Pork Chops (sorry, can't find a recipe for this specific version online) from the New York Times Cookbook by Craig Claiborne, on a bed of farro. Nice enough, but not a highly memorable dish.
Wine: Pierre Chainier 1749 Sauvignon Blanc

New recipe, November 30, 2011

2011-11-30T20:34:00.000-08:00

Grilled Steak with Olive and Caper Spread served with a tomato, onion arugula salad from Epicurious. Winner!

Wine Matteocorreggia Roero 2006

New recipe, November 29, 2011

2011-11-29T19:38:00.000-08:00

We attended an event for One Colorado, so the new recipe is a cocktail: Tres Agaves Margarita from Epicurious

New recipe, November 28, 2011

2011-11-28T20:00:00.000-08:00

Grilled Scallops with Tomato-Onion Relish from Epicurious (delicious! Is there anything with scallops that isn't?), and red quinoa with green onions.
Wine: Ribbonwood Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2010

New recipes, November 27, 2011

2011-11-27T19:06:00.001-08:00

From Epicurious: Rice and Chicken Pilaf with Dried Currants and Toasted Almonds, and Cucumber and Pomegranate Salad. Both are quite tasty!
Wine: Lan Rioja Crianza 2006. Very nice match with these dishes!

New recipe, November 26, 2011

2011-11-26T19:19:00.000-08:00

Pork Roulade with Red Bell Pepper, Leek, Fresh Fig and Sage (we created this), Roasted Butternut Squash and Potatoes, and Arugula, Pomegranate and Toasted Pecan Salad from Epicurious. These were all delicious! The figs came from our tree at home, and the squash was from our garden!
For the roulade, we cut a pork tenderloin in half, just keeping the two halves from separating. Then pound the tenderloin til it is about 1/2 inch thick. The filling is about 1/4 cup finely diced red bell pepper and 1/4 cup minced leek, both sautéed a few minutes in 1 tbsp olive oil. Mix these with 5-6 minced fresh figs, and 4-5 large leaves of sage finely minced. Mix these ingredient with 1 tablespoon olive oil and a little salt and pepper. Place the mixture on the tenderloin, then roll it and use toothpicks to close. Salt and pepper the outer part of the tenderloin. Sear the tenderloin for 5-6 minutes in olive oil, then roast for 13 minutes in the oven. Let rest for 5 minutes, then slices and serve.
Wine: 2005 Maison Ambroise Côtes de Nuits Villages

New recipe, November 25, 2011

2011-11-25T19:33:00.000-08:00

Beef Tagliata with Arugula and Radicchio from Epicurious, with Herbed Roasted Potatoes. Absolutely delicious!
Wine: Espiritu de Chile 2007 Carmenère

New recipe, November 24, 2011

2011-11-24T21:16:00.000-08:00

Herb Roasted Turkey from Cooks Illustrated via NPR. This got raves from the whole family! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner with contributions from the whole family. This was our part!

New recipe, November 23, 2011

2011-11-23T20:30:00.001-08:00

As we were driving up to Tabernash for Thanksgiving, the new recipe was a Negroni, from Epicurious. Yum!

New recipe, November 22, 2011

2011-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

From Epicurious: Jumbo Shrimp Marsala House-wife Style (Gamberoni Casalinga Siciliana), served with glass noodles. No wine this evening.

New recipe, November 21, 2011

2011-11-21T18:27:00.000-08:00

Spanish Pork with Apple Citrus Salsa from Cooking Light. Yum! The pork tenderloin recipes in the September 2011 issue have been great. Several of the heirloom tomatoes we picked green at the end of the season ripened while we were gone, so we also had fresh heirloom tomatoes seasoned with alder smoked salt.
Wine: Puerta Bonita G5 2008 Garnacha

New recipe, November 20, 2011

2011-11-20T20:25:00.000-08:00

Enchildadas Suizas from Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's. Delicious! We also had the Mexican Cosmos and Guacamole with Orange and Chipotle (a riff off some of Rick's recipes).

New recipes, November 19, 2011

2011-11-19T21:22:00.000-08:00

Our watermelon-goat cheese-greens and fig appetizer again, with Achiote Seared Shrimp with Quick Habanero Pickled Onions, from Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's and the Mexican Style Cosmo, made with the simple and delicious Agua de Jamaica.

Yum!

New recipes, November 18, 2011

2011-11-18T18:19:00.000-08:00

From Rick Bayless' Authentic Mexican:
Pork Filled Enchiladas Filled with Orange Red Mole (can't find a recipe link on line), and Relishy Cactus-Paddle Salad (I grilled the nopales on a griddle, they are great!). Both are absolutely delicious! So much fun to shop for the ingredients in Mexican markets, and to cook everything! We had to wait for the tortillas to come off the comal--can't get any fresher than that!

New recipe, November 17, 2011

2011-11-17T18:39:00.000-08:00

Chicken-Filled Enchiladas with Tangy Tomatillo Salsa (we skipped the crema) from Rick Bayless' Authentic Mexican. Rick hits these flavors on the nail--another winner!

New recipe, November 16, 2011

2011-11-16T19:15:00.001-08:00

From Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's: Yucatecan Shredded Salad with habanero and cilantro (Dzik de Res). Sorry, but I can't find a recipe online to link to. Delicious! Different cuisine, but reminds us of our favorite Thai chicken salad in the balance of spice, tart, salt, and crunch and soft textures.
Wine: Don Simon Airen 2008

New recipes, November 15, 2011

2011-11-15T18:10:00.000-08:00

Minced Pork with Almonds, Raisins and Sweet Spices (Picadillo Oaxaqueño) from Rick Bayless' Authentic Mexican, and Spicy Jícama, Cucumber and Fruit Skewers (we skipped the skewers and made it a salad) from Fiesta at Rick's.
The Picadillo is often in an empanada, but we did not want to fry, so we did the Picadillo in a tortilla--the empanada would have been better. The salad was delicious.

New recipe, November 14, 2011

2011-11-14T17:35:00.000-08:00

From Rick Bayless' Authentic Mexican: Cold Chicken and Avocado with Chile Chipotle. A delicious salad!

New recipes, November 13, 2011

2011-11-13T19:51:00.000-08:00

Huitlacoche Filling with Caramelized Vegetables for Crispy Tacos (sorry, I can't find a link for this), and Savory Tomato Broth and Pickled Vegetables for Crispy Tacos, from Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's. Served with sautéed chopped chicken breast marinated with guajillo chiles and lime juice (a simple marinade we created). To avoid the extra fat, we just heated the fresh blue corn tortillas on the griddle and rolled the tacos.
Delicious! We are in Mexico, how could we not cook with such a unique local ingredient? The caramelized vegetables give the filling such depth and body! Huitlacoche is a fungus that grows inside corn kernels. In Mexico it is a unique gourmet ingredient, but in the US it is called "corn smut" and has been all but eradicated. What a pity!

Wine: Don Simon Airen 2008--an off-dry white from a grape variety we had never had before. Worked nicely with the spiciness of the food.

New recipe, November 12, 2011

2011-11-12T19:27:00.001-08:00

Beef and Potato Salad with Smoky Chipotle from Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's. With corn tortillas, and a "deconstructed pico de gallo" (tomato salad with onion, serrano, cilantro and lime juice).

New recipes, November 11, 2011

2011-11-11T21:21:00.000-08:00

Cooking in Mexico, staying with our friends Larry and Viny! From Rick Bayless' Fiesta at Rick's: Grilled Skirt Steak Tacos with Knob Onions and Cactus, and Orange Tomatillo Salsa. We also repeated the Mango Guacamole. Delicious!

New recipe, November 10, 2011

2011-11-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

Pepper Coriander Scallop Skewers with Tarragon Salad from Epicurious, with some modifications (didn't use skewers, didn't have tarragon, and I did not use eggwhite to coat the scallops--I just rolled them in the spices), and an Autumn Couscous from Whole Foods Market. The scallops were excellent! I will make this one again!
Wine: Domaine de Pellehaut Harmonie de Gascogne 2009

New recipe, November 9, 2011

2011-11-09T20:22:00.000-08:00

Bifteck Sauté Bercy from Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, with Couscous with Peas and Truffle Salt, and a fresh garden salad, with a few more late ripening tomatoes from our garden.
Wine: Craneford Barossa Valley 2005 Merlot

New recipe, November 8, 2011

2011-11-08T20:15:00.000-08:00

Queen Elizabeth cocktail, from Epicurious.

New recipe, November 7, 2011

2011-11-07T19:51:00.000-08:00

Spicy Glass Noodle Salad from Epicurious. Loaded with garlic, but balanced. "Amazingly good!"

No wine with this dinner,

New recipe, November 6, 2011

2011-11-06T20:09:00.000-08:00

Pepper Pork from Cooking Light, with Couscous and Peas, and a garden salad with Viandox vinaigrette. This recipe is another absolute winner--so simple, so healthy, and so damn good!
Wine: Craneford Barossa Valley 2005 Merlot

New recipe, November 5, 2011

2011-11-05T20:07:00.000-07:00

A Blenton, from Epicurious. Mark was in New Haven for a memorial and crew reunion, and Carl had a dinner event, so another cocktail!

New recipe, November 4, 2011

2011-11-04T20:05:00.000-07:00

Asian Noodle Dinner Salad from Epicurious. Simple and delicious! No wine--we went to see American Night: The Ballad of Juan Jose at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts.

New recipe, November 3, 2011

2011-11-03T20:28:00.000-07:00

Corpse Reviver No 2, from Bon Appetit. We attended Dining Out For Life, a fund raiser for Project Angel Heart, so no dinner prepared this evening.

New recipe, November 2, 2011

2011-11-02T19:41:00.000-07:00

Baja Pork Stir Fry from Cooking Light, with hot corn tortillas. A really simple recipe, and well worth the effort! Make this dish!
Wine: Puerta Bonita G5 Garnacha 2008. Perfect match!

New recipes, November 1, 2011

2011-11-01T20:07:00.000-07:00

Bifteck Sauté au Beurre from Julia Child's classic Mastering the Art of French Cooking, sautéed onions and mushrooms deglazed with sweet vermouth (just went with the riff), and Roasted Red Pepper Salad with Harissa from Epicurious. All quite delicious!
Wine: Château Les Rosiers Bordeaux 2009

New recipes, October 31, 2011

2011-10-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

Festive Tuna Salad, and Cucumber and Pomegranate Salad from Epicurious. Both of these are very tasty!

Wine: Dr Loosen Riesling 2010. On the sweet side, but worked nicely with these dishes.

New recipe, October 30, 2011

2011-10-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

Marinated London Broil with Lemon and Garlic from Epicurious, with roasted vegetables and sliced tomatoes.
Wine: Dr Loosen "Red Slate" Mosel Dry Riesling 2009. This has apricot and citrus in the aroma--the flavor is good, not quite up to the aroma. Overall very nice, and a good match to the lemon and other flavors in the meat.

New recipe, October 29, 2011

2011-10-29T17:41:00.000-07:00

Acorn Squash Velouté with Ginger and Mustard Seeds from Epicurious, with an arugula salad with turkey and ham. No wine this evening, as we are heading to a neighbor's Halloween party.

New recipe, October 28, 2011

2011-10-28T19:23:00.000-07:00

"A Fork on the Left" cocktail, from the Denver Post, in honor of Emily Post's 139th birthday. We are going to a dinner event, so the new recipe was a cocktail again.

New recipe, October 27, 2011

2011-10-27T20:24:00.000-07:00

Tender Chanterelle Salad from Epicurious--delicious! We had it with a repeat, the Lamb Chops with Pomegranate and Dried Fig Relish from Epicurious, with rice on the side. Both of these recipes scream for repetition!
Wine: Oak Grove Petite Syrah 2009 Reserve

New recipe, October 26, 2011

2011-10-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

Adonis Cocktail, from the Mr Boston's Official Bartender Guide. Two reasons for a cocktail: 1) we both had dinner meetings. 2) our lovely wet early winter storm has resulted in a power failure for our block.

New recipe, October 25, 2011

2011-10-25T20:05:00.000-07:00

Irish Manhattan from Epicurious. We had an event tonight, so the cocktail is the new recipe.

New recipes, October 24, 2011

2011-10-24T20:15:00.000-07:00

Turnip with Coconut from Yummly.com, and Curried Lamb with Rice from Southernfood.about.com.
Honestly we expected more flavor from both.
No wine--we headed out to an event after dinner.

New recipe, October 23, 2011

2011-10-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

Tuna Steaks with Garlic, Tomatoes, Capers and Basil from Epicurious. Served with herbed quinoa and a mâché salad.
Wine: Bionzo Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2006

New recipe, October 22, 2011

2011-10-22T20:23:00.000-07:00

Spice-Rubbed Pork Tenderloin with Roasted Baby Carrots from Epicurious, with a salad of the last heirloom tomatoes from our garden. Make this dish--it was wonderful!
Wine: Bionzo Barbera d'Asti Superiore 2006--excellent match!!