Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cooking. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 19, 2017

Whole Fruit Marmalade :: Oh So British Baking ::








BASICS

For the weight of the cooked fruit use
70% Organic Cane Sugar
10% Honey
10% Port Wine or Sweet Marsala
I round up

This recipe uses whole citrus fruits boiled for several hours.  It’s definitely got that bitterness that the British (and I love).  I’ve cut back on the sugar, so this is even more flexible for use in savory applications.  Try it w/ mango on focaccia.  If you use grapefruits as I did, you’ll find the bitterness increased.  For a more mild version start w/ mostly oranges and tangerines.  Blood oranges add a gorgeous color.  Add in a few lemons and limes regardless.  They add so much flavor complexity.  Meyer lemons and Bearss limes are great.  Start with about 4 to 5 pounds of washed whole citrus fruits.  Put into a large pot w/ enough water to cover.  Put a lid on the pan and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat to simmer and simmer covered for 2 hours.  Turn off heat and cool over night in the covered pot.  Strain and save liquid











 

For the Batch in the Avanti Blog Photos

Amount
Measure
Ingredient
Prep Method
4
Pounds (64 oz)
Cooked Whole Citrus Fruits
Orange, Grapefruit, Lemon
45
Ounces
Organic Cane Sugar

7
Ounces
Honey

7
Ounces
Tawny Port

64
Ounces
Cooking liquid



Juice of 2 lemons
Optional

Directions:

The original recipe has you warm the sugar in a low oven at 200 F for 30 while you prep the fruit. Heat the liquid, honey & port while the sugar is warming.  Use the widest large pot you have.  Cut the fruit into dice or strips.  You can pulse in batches in the food processor for a finer preserve.  I like bigger strips.  Add the chopped fruit and the warm sugar and bring the heat to high.  Stir frequently & skim until the mixture comes to 105 degrees Celsius on an instant read thermometer.  Cool, then pack into sterilized glass jars & refrigerate.  You can can it if desired, but it keeps for months in the fridge.  The texture is divine & the color a rich rosy amber. 
















Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!
Eat, Live & Party Well
Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.  You can Eat Well & Live Well.  Follow us on social media to see what Avanti is up to now.  We are Whole Foods Experts.  Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube pages.  Check our blog on the website for how to recipe blogs.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

Pinterest

Full Portfolio




https://readychefgobags.com/recipes-home/

Youtube

Avanti Natural


Avanti Café


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linkedin


Pasta Fagioli Video https://vimeo.com/133115733


Thursday, April 13, 2017

Lentil Stuffed Portobellos :: Chef Mark Cleveland @ Ready.Chef.GO! ::























Microwave high for 3 mins or 450 oven or 20 to 30 mins
Per porto recipe. Typically 2 portos per bag

For each porto (remove stems for another use)
1/2 Tsp Soy Sauce
1/8 Tsp Everson California Garlic Medley or Flavored Salt & Spice Blend

1/4 Cup Cooked Lentils or Favorite Grain Medley
1/4 Cup Kale or Greens, chiffonade
3 Cherry Tomato Halves
2 Tbs Feta or Crumbled Cheese
3 Basil Leaves
Scallions, long diagonal sliced

Salsa and marinara, citrus & grated cheese for garnish



Sprinkle the soy sauce and seasoning into the mushroom caps & let marinate at room temp for 30 mins or so.  Grill or roast for 6 to 9 mins.  Layer in the cooked lentils, kale, cheese, tomatoes, basil & scallions.  Load into bags & seal.

REHEATING INSTRUCTIONS: Microwave high for 3 mins or 450 oven or 20 to 30 mins.  Let rest for 2 mins before opening the bag.  Garnish w/ salsa or marinara sauce, grated cheese & wedges of fresh citrus

NOTE:  Ready.Chef.GO! bags allow for excellent texture in the microwave & fast high heat cooking in the oven.  The results are always succulent & tender.  You’ll taste the difference.  This is a hearty meatless meal option for lent, meatless Mondays, vegetarian displays and more.  Fast & easy to assemble.  Use a variety of seasonal vegetables & wild mushrooms to showcase specialty produce

POINT OF SALE DISPLAY:  Sell with a full variety of Mexican, Italian, Spanish & French red sauces like salsa, marinara, tomato Vodka sauce, romesco & fresh tomato & herb concasse.  Pack the display with gourmet lentils as an opportunity to showcase the wide variety of these specialty grocery products. Add gourmet artisan breads, fun appetizers for anti-pasta such as olives, roasted peppers, marinated vegetables & cheeses, & gigantic beans.  Add fresh salads, grilled vegetables, fresh salad dressings, drinks & desserts.  Display fresh citrus & grated cheeses for additional garnish

LENTIL NOTE:  Use canned or frozen cooked lentils or favorite grain medley.  Or cook dry lentils using this simple method.  Lentils come in many varieties today.  I used small black beluga lentils.  


EASY COOKED LENTILS
1 Cup Lentils, soaked for several hours or sprouted
1 1/2 Cups Water to cover
(Opt) 1/2 Tsp Salt

Bring to a boil covered.  Reduce heat to med high and simmer covered for 15 to 18 mins until most of the water is absorbed.  Allow to cool covered until ready to use. 
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Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!
Eat, Live & Party Well
Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.  You can Eat Well & Live Well.  Follow us on social media to see what Avanti is up to now.  We are Whole Foods Experts.  Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and YouTube pages.  Check our blog on the website for how to recipe blogs.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

Pinterest

Full Portfolio




https://readychefgobags.com/recipes-home/

Youtube

Avanti Natural


Avanti Café


Facebook





Twitter


Instagram


Avanti Natural Website & Blog




linkedin


Pasta Fagioli Video https://vimeo.com/133115733

Sunday, July 12, 2015

Pasta Fagioli :: Avanti Takes On The Italian Classic ::

The finished product, a fine plated bowl of the mighty Pasta Fagioli
Pasta Fagioli, a simple but nuanced Italian soup must be mastered from experience, not rote recipe recitation.  It all starts with beans.  Typically white beans such as cannellini, or any of the small white beans in that category like great northern, navy, etc.  Start w/ dry beans and soak overnight in cool water.  The next day rinse well, change the water for fresh clean water and add your flavorings.
This time, I've gone grand and added a whole lotta flavor. Bay leaves, rosemary, sage, miso of course, kombu seaweed and a splash of Madiera.  Cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer until nicely tender, about an hour or so.  
You'll want a nice full pot of onions as they cook down.  We'll sweat the onions for this soup, meaning adding salt in the beginning.  This is not a soup for caramelized onions.  More bay leaves, sea salt, black pepper, evoo and dry vermouth.
Next there's the celery.  Organic celery has so much more flavor and such a vibrant crunch, chose to use it whenever you are able.  I've added a little matcha green tea and more miso, a little sake and some water.  I like the celery crisp tender, but you can cook it longer if you prefer it soft.  This is not a soup for those that don't like celery, but if you just hate celery, make it anyway.  Find something you like to substitute.  I won't be traditional, but all my Japanese additions have already strayed from tradition as it is.  Innovation in the kitchen is the way to go.  Fennel would be a good substitute for the celery, as would leeks or maybe parsnips. 
When the beans are done, fish out the tough large herbs and get ready to combine everything into one large pot.
Into the beans, go the onions.  The kombu kelp has nicely disintegrated adding flavor and body and nutrition to our soup base.
Next add the tomatoes to the celery mix.  I like whole tomatoes hand crushed and some crushed tomatoes too.  Bring everything to a simmer.  Some cook the pasta in the soup.  I don't, since as you can see, when I make pasta fagioli I make a LOT.  And I don't want the pasta to linger in the left overs.  I cook the pasta separately, reserving a bit of the pasta water to add to the soup and then add the pasta to the soup as I serve up each bowl to keep the texture spot on.  Typically small pasta such as the ditalini (thimbles) shown below are used.  But macaroni, alphabet (to encourage the kids) or even cavatappi would be fun.  
And there you have it!  Garnish w/ fresh basil and shavings of Parmesan and dive right in.  Watch Chefs Mark Cleveland and Tanya Fuqua make this scrumptious Pasta Fagioli Soup w/ filmmaker Ryan Adams on Vimeo and on the Avanti Natural YouTube Channel.  

"The smell of a good pasta fagioli can make me cry!"  Sophia Loren

Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!
Eat, Live & Party Well
Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.  You can Eat Well & Live Well.  Follow us on social media to see what Avanti is up to now.  We are Whole Foods Experts.  Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram pages.  Check our blog on the website for how to recipe blogs.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

Avantinatural.com

Pinterest




Youtube

Avanti Natural


Avanti Café


Facebook





Twitter


Instagram


Avanti Natural Website & Blog



linkedin




All Sorts of Dishes Flavored w/ Roasted Garlic

You've roasted your California grown garlic as we showed you in the Avanti Roasted Garlic blog, and now you're flush w/ flavor.  Now it's time to figure out what to make with it.  Let your culinary imagination rip.  The possibilities are endlessly delicious.
Let's start at the very beginning.  These deep golden roasted orbs can be squeezed into almost everything.  Let's take a tour of recent Avanti roasted garlic creations.
Focaccia pizzas are a natural.  Ancient grain Kamut crust rubbed w/ roasted garlic cloves and garlic oil and topped w/ herbs, organic cherry tomatoes, goat cheese and baby greens.  
The complimentary rich texture and sweet nature of avocado & roasted garlic cloves makes for an extra special guacamole.
Organic cherry tomatoes and shichimi finish the flavors.  We used Avanti Roasted Garlic Coconut Spread on the tortillas and crisped them up in a 375 oven.  
An extra exotic salsa verde.  The silky sweetness of roasted garlic plays against bitter dandelion greens, feisty cilantro & the mighty Bhut Jolokia HOT chili to stand up to the perfection of sake steamed golden beets w/ anise seed, black Hawaiian sea salt and coconut roasted garlic baby organic greens & shallot.  That's fancy food!
Zippity zing lime tomato dressed Yukon gold potatoes w/ roasted garlic, garlic oil and basil blossoms.
Avanti Ringo Rock Star apple HOT sauce brings the flavor to this crispy Korean noodle cake served w/ roasted garlic, citrus & golden beet summer herb gastrique
There is not a risotto, grain or bean dish that doesn't love some roasted garlic stirred in.  
This sweet and savory organic egg scramble has whole roasted garlic cloves in the egg mix.
And finally a crispy rice organic tofu stir fry.  Tofu loves roasted garlic.  It soaks up the flavor and their textures compliment each other mighty fine.  


Now it's your turn.  Make some roasted garlic magic and post your creation photos on our twitter and tag us on instagram and pinterest.  


Eating Healthy & Delicious is a Win Win Win Situation!
Eat, Live & Party Well
Blog post by Chef Mark Cleveland

Avanti is the longstanding leader in organic, sustainable, local, flavorful cuisine in Orange County, CA.

Meaning 'forward' in Italian, Avanti Natural is a culinary philosophy that integrates the best of traditional European and Asian healthful eating with the latest nutritional information for optimum health.

At Avanti Natural, we believe that you don't have to sacrifice taste to eat healthy.  You can Eat Well & Live Well.  Follow us on social media to see what Avanti is up to now.  We are Whole Foods Experts.  Post photos of your versions of Avanti Natural recipes on our Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram pages.  Check our blog on the website for how to recipe blogs.  We’re excited to see and share your culinary creativity!

Avantinatural.com

Pinterest




Youtube

Avanti Natural


Avanti Café


Facebook





Twitter


Instagram


Avanti Natural Website & Blog



linkedin