Tuesday, February 21, 2017

Give Her the Perfect Day: scrambled eggs with chives, grilled ham, & fresh fruit



She said “I need a hug.”   He said “come over” and hung up the phone.
When she got there, there was a bottle of prosecco chilling on the counter, and 2 more in the refrigerator, next to a fresh bowl of fruit.

“How on earth are you not taken?” she asked him.  He winked at her and said “I am”.   So taken.

Then she sat at the counter and drank her chilled and bubbly prosecco and ate her cold fruit while she watched him and his muscles and his crazy blue eyes make her brunch, and realized she too was taken.  So taken.  

They ate outside on the patio by the pool, listening to Pandora’s Sunday Funday Brunch on the Sonos, while the warm tradewinds from the Gulf blew through the palm trees and her hair, and he said the pool was heated did she wanna swim.  “I didn’t bring my bathing suit” she said, sadly.    Two sips of prosecco and 3 smiles later he said “I won’t look.”

Perfect meal, perfect music, perfect company, perfect weather, perfect day.   And even if it wasn’t, it seemed like it.   Make the day special for someone you love...she’ll thank you in the most wonderful of ways :)

-------------------------------------------
(WHAT YOU WILL NEED)

eggs, milk, butter, chives,  your favorite fresh fruit, ham steaks, prosecco

There is no recipe really: 

First, pour her a glass of prosecco and make her comfortable so you can get to work.
Just cut up your fruit into chunks and keep it cool in the refrigerator.  I used strawberries, canteloupe, and honeydew melon.  This, of course, can be done earlier to save time.


Grill your ham and let it rest, while you make your favorite scrambled eggs:  whisk eggs with a splash of milk, salt, and pepper; melt butter in pan; cook eggs over medium heat.  When they are almost done add chopped fresh chives on top.



That's it.  Fifteen minutes of work for the perfect day.  Not bad...

Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Thai-inspired Tacos





If you’ve got people coming over for the Super Bowl, these Thai-inspired tacos are perfect for a crowd. 

The brisket is the hard part:  it only takes 5 minutes to assemble but you have to cook it low and slow for almost 4 hours.  Once it’s done though, you shred it in a big pan, put out your condiments, and let your guests go to work making their own.  Simple.  And you serve it in the pan you made it in.  Even easier.

The fresh jalapenos and the Thai chili sauce give these some heat so be sure to have lots of chilled beverages on hand…like an icy cold Bud Light or three...  :)

_______________________________________

(WHAT YOU WILL NEED)

For the brisket:
1  4 or 5 pound fresh beef brisket, trimmed of excess fat
2 onions, sliced
1 bottle beer (not dark)
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1/2 cup beef broth
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed
salt/black pepper
13x9x2 aluminum disposable baking pan
aluminum foil

small flour tortillas
Thai chili sauce (I use Tabasco brand, it's really good!)
fresh jalapeno peppers, chopped in wheels (you can remove seeds and membrane to lessen the heat.  I don't because I think I'm such an animal and I always regret it)
1 bag coleslaw mix (ideally:  shredded cabbage, carrots, and radishes)
sugar
apple cider vinegar
fresh limes, cut in wedges
fresh cilantro


To make the brisket:
Preheat oven to 320 degrees
Season brisket with salt and pepper.  Place in pan and cover with onion slices.  Sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Combine beer and next 5 ingredients, pour over meat.  Cover tightly with foil.  Bake for approx 3 1/2 - 4 hours until tender.  

While meat is cooking, mix 3 teaspoons sugar into 1 cup of apple cider vinegar.  Taste.  It should be sweet and sour.  Make it as sweet and sour as you want, this is the dressing for your coleslaw.  And make as much as you want, it's up to you.
Place coleslaw in bowl and pour dressing  over.  Season to taste with salt/pepper and mix.
Chop the rest of your ingredients.

spiiiicyyyyy...

When meat is done, uncover.  Drain some liquid but keep most because you don't want your meat to be dry. I also keep some of the onions.  It should shred easily with 2 forks.  Mix shredded meat with some of the onions and the juice.  Salt and pepper to taste.



Heat tortillas in microwave for 1 minute between 2 paper towels.  Bring all to table and serve.  Make sure to have the Thai chili sauce for dipping.