I was so pleased to find in SAVEUR magazine, a recipe that I remember from my childhood. My mother made this soup based on a recipe that my father's mother used to make. I never knew my maternal grandmother because she died shortly after I was born. However, I have always heard from everyone what a wonderful cook she was.
Enjoy this soup on a chilly evening, and when you do, think of all the wonderful ethnic cooks you grew up with!
CSULKOS BABLEVES (Hungarian Bean and Ham Soup)
Serves 8-10.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup canola oil
5 cloves garlic, , minced
1 medium carrot, minced
1 medium yellow onion, minced
1 small parsnip, minced
1 stalk celery, minced
1 lb. dried pinto beans, soaked overnight and drained
2 bay leaves
1 large smoked ham hock
1/4 c flour
1 1/2 tsp Hungarian sweet paprika, plus more for garnish
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/2 c sour cream
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Heat half of the oil in a 6 quart sauce pan over medium-high. Add garlic, carrot, onion, parsnip, and celery; cook, stirring occasionally, until golden, 7-9 minutes. Add beans, bay leaves, ham hock, and 12 cups of water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium; cook partially covered, until beans are very tender, about 2 hours.
2.Transfer ham hock to a cutting board and let cool, then discard skin and bone. Shred meat and stir into soup. Using dry paper towels, blot the soup to remove surface fat. Heat remaining oil in a 2-quart sauce pan over medium heat. Whisk in sour cream. Stir mixture into soup and cook, until slightly thickened, 4-6 minutes more. Ladle soup into serving bowls; garnish with more paprika.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Monday, November 11, 2013
NEW COOKBOOK #3
Deborah Madison is one of America's leading vegetarian cooks. She's the author of several wonderful cookbooks but her latest, called Vegetable Literacy, is a tour de force. In this book she looks at the relationships between vegetables, flowers, herbs, and even some wild plants. She too is an avid gardener and her recipes reflect that fact. Recipes like tarragon mayonnaise with orange zest, mushrooms stuffed with caramelized onions and blue cheese, buttermilk skillet cornbread with heirloom flint cornmeal, and zucchini logs simmered in olive oil with onions and chard are just some of the offerings. I've always found Deborah Madison's books to be a little intimidating in that some of the ingredients are very hard to find but the book is worth it just to read about the various vegetables, fruits and grains and their properties. I'm sure it will make a great winters read when snow is piled around the door.
Until next time, stay warm and get cooking,.
Until next time, stay warm and get cooking,.
NEW COOKBOOKS (TO ME, THAT IS!)
Recently, I have begun to think that eating a little less meat is probably a good idea. I really have major issues with industrially raised meat products, from the inhuman treatment of animals to the carbon footprint this practice leaves.
Regardless, I recently invested and a three new cookbooks (I'm an avid collector.) that feature vegetarian fare. I bought each of these used, from Amazon or from one of their suppliers, at very affordable prices.
As some of you may know, I am an Orthodox Christian. Therefore, I'm about to begin the Advent Fast. This means that, as of November 16, I will fast from all meat and dairy products for six weeks. an exception is made for Thanksgiving day since it is a national holiday, so these cookbooks came right on time !
PLENTY: Vibrant vegetable recipes from London's Ottolenghi. Yotam Ottolenghi is a chef that I've been reading about for years. I was first exposed to one of his meat recipes when I attended the Ballymaloe cookery school in Ireland this past summer. That recipe was for a roasted chicken dish , which had been marinated overnight in saffron, olive oil and onions. The dish was finished with a mixture of ground hazelnuts, honey, and rosewater. It was so good that it made a believer out of me. I knew he had come out with a vegetable cookbook , but I wanted to wait until it was a year or two old before by one, so it would be more affordable. This book features such things as poached baby vegetables with caper mayonnaise, artichoke gratin, spiced red lentils with cucumber yogurt and mushroom with herb polenta. I cannot wait to get started on some of these.
RIVER COTTAGE VEG by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is another English offering. Hugh has been a BBC chef since 1998 and has established the River Cottage in Dorset as a working organic farm. Like Ballymaloe in Ireland, the River Cottage is home to cooking classes, lessons on sustainable farming and foraging, as well as a studio where the TV series is sometimes filmed. Just Google River Cottage to see what a great place this is.
Recipes in this book feature both vegetarian and vegan dishes like zucchini and rice filo pie, creamy mushroom soup, spiced spinach and potatoes, and Summer stir-fry with fried rice. Hugh's recipes feature fresh garden produce , but almost everything can be found at local grocery stores here in Ohio .
Regardless, I recently invested and a three new cookbooks (I'm an avid collector.) that feature vegetarian fare. I bought each of these used, from Amazon or from one of their suppliers, at very affordable prices.
As some of you may know, I am an Orthodox Christian. Therefore, I'm about to begin the Advent Fast. This means that, as of November 16, I will fast from all meat and dairy products for six weeks. an exception is made for Thanksgiving day since it is a national holiday, so these cookbooks came right on time !
PLENTY: Vibrant vegetable recipes from London's Ottolenghi. Yotam Ottolenghi is a chef that I've been reading about for years. I was first exposed to one of his meat recipes when I attended the Ballymaloe cookery school in Ireland this past summer. That recipe was for a roasted chicken dish , which had been marinated overnight in saffron, olive oil and onions. The dish was finished with a mixture of ground hazelnuts, honey, and rosewater. It was so good that it made a believer out of me. I knew he had come out with a vegetable cookbook , but I wanted to wait until it was a year or two old before by one, so it would be more affordable. This book features such things as poached baby vegetables with caper mayonnaise, artichoke gratin, spiced red lentils with cucumber yogurt and mushroom with herb polenta. I cannot wait to get started on some of these.
RIVER COTTAGE VEG by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is another English offering. Hugh has been a BBC chef since 1998 and has established the River Cottage in Dorset as a working organic farm. Like Ballymaloe in Ireland, the River Cottage is home to cooking classes, lessons on sustainable farming and foraging, as well as a studio where the TV series is sometimes filmed. Just Google River Cottage to see what a great place this is.
Recipes in this book feature both vegetarian and vegan dishes like zucchini and rice filo pie, creamy mushroom soup, spiced spinach and potatoes, and Summer stir-fry with fried rice. Hugh's recipes feature fresh garden produce , but almost everything can be found at local grocery stores here in Ohio .
Sunday, November 3, 2013
IT'S COOKIE TABLE TIME AGAIN
I promised you a second post about another committee that I'm working with. You'll remember that last February I posted about the first Cookie Table event held at the Tyler History Center.
That event was such a success that we've decided to do it again this year. For those of you who might not have attended, let me tell you It was like the best ethnic wedding you've ever been to --but no one has to get married!
Again, this year, there will be competitions for professional as well as amateur bakers for the best cookies. Attendees will be able to pick and choose the cookies they want to sample and even purchase some to take home.
This event will be held on February 8, 2014. It will be a wonderful event to take your sweetie to, just before Valentine's Day.
Stay tuned and I'll be bringing you up to date as to how the event is progressing.
To quote Dr. Sheldon Cooper of televisions Big Bang Theory, " interesting factoid:" Did you know that people outside of the Youngstown -Pittsburgh area have never heard of the cookie table at weddings ?
It is believed that the tradition began here in Youngstown (or Pittsburgh) in the late 1800s when immigrant families did not have enough money for a wedding cake. Guests would arrive at the reception with cookies and place them on a table as a gift for the bride and groom. The practice became so established that is hard to imagine attending a wedding in our area without a cookie table.
Because it is unclear whether the practice began in Pittsburgh or Youngstown, the committee is investigating the possibility of having two separate cookie table events, on the same night, one in Youngstown and one in Pittsburgh . We envision having a video link between the two events so that Youngstown in Pittsburgh can celebrate this tradition together! Hopefully, this will take place in 2015.
Stay tuned for exciting developments about this future event.
That event was such a success that we've decided to do it again this year. For those of you who might not have attended, let me tell you It was like the best ethnic wedding you've ever been to --but no one has to get married!
Again, this year, there will be competitions for professional as well as amateur bakers for the best cookies. Attendees will be able to pick and choose the cookies they want to sample and even purchase some to take home.
This event will be held on February 8, 2014. It will be a wonderful event to take your sweetie to, just before Valentine's Day.
Stay tuned and I'll be bringing you up to date as to how the event is progressing.
To quote Dr. Sheldon Cooper of televisions Big Bang Theory, " interesting factoid:" Did you know that people outside of the Youngstown -Pittsburgh area have never heard of the cookie table at weddings ?
It is believed that the tradition began here in Youngstown (or Pittsburgh) in the late 1800s when immigrant families did not have enough money for a wedding cake. Guests would arrive at the reception with cookies and place them on a table as a gift for the bride and groom. The practice became so established that is hard to imagine attending a wedding in our area without a cookie table.
Because it is unclear whether the practice began in Pittsburgh or Youngstown, the committee is investigating the possibility of having two separate cookie table events, on the same night, one in Youngstown and one in Pittsburgh . We envision having a video link between the two events so that Youngstown in Pittsburgh can celebrate this tradition together! Hopefully, this will take place in 2015.
Stay tuned for exciting developments about this future event.
MEMORABLE MEALS OF THE MAHONING VALLEY
I have to share with you work I am doing with a committee of the Tyler History Center and Grow Youngstown, the Mahoning Valley's community supported agriculture entity. I will post after this about a second committee I am on - both leading up to stellar food events with the goal of beginning to make Youngstown a sought-after tourist destination for the wonderful ethnic food we have available to us through our restaurants and places of worship.
Memorial Meals of the Mahoning Valley: Homes and Restaurants, will take place on April 27, 2014, at the Tyler History Center . This event will feature classic foods from the greater Youngstown-Warren area such as Brier Hill pizza, pirogi, kosher corned beef, Italian, greens, and perhaps even Strouss' malted's!. The committee hopes to gather a number of restaurants to provide samples for the event attendees, so no doubt some of your favorite restaurants will be featured.
The committee is also seeking photographs from family collections of memorable meals in their homes . These photographs should be accompanied by a short paragraph describing the the special occasion shown in the photograph. Additionally, a recipe for one of the dishes shown in the photograph should be included.
These should be sent via email to memorablemeals@growyoungstown.org . These photographs, recipes, and narratives will be used the evening of the event as well as on WKBN's morning show. They will be collated into a digital cookbook , which will be available for purchase that evening.
My fellow committee members and I believe that Youngstown the best-kept secret in northeastern Ohio , as far as amazing ethnic food goes. Please mark your calendars now and support this event to bring Youngstown closer to being a food destination.
Memorial Meals of the Mahoning Valley: Homes and Restaurants, will take place on April 27, 2014, at the Tyler History Center . This event will feature classic foods from the greater Youngstown-Warren area such as Brier Hill pizza, pirogi, kosher corned beef, Italian, greens, and perhaps even Strouss' malted's!. The committee hopes to gather a number of restaurants to provide samples for the event attendees, so no doubt some of your favorite restaurants will be featured.
The committee is also seeking photographs from family collections of memorable meals in their homes . These photographs should be accompanied by a short paragraph describing the the special occasion shown in the photograph. Additionally, a recipe for one of the dishes shown in the photograph should be included.
These should be sent via email to memorablemeals@growyoungstown.org . These photographs, recipes, and narratives will be used the evening of the event as well as on WKBN's morning show. They will be collated into a digital cookbook , which will be available for purchase that evening.
My fellow committee members and I believe that Youngstown the best-kept secret in northeastern Ohio , as far as amazing ethnic food goes. Please mark your calendars now and support this event to bring Youngstown closer to being a food destination.
ALMOST THERE!
Well, everyone, I am just about there with the book. I am currently restructuring it to be more of a memoir on the advice of the University of Akron Press. I have given myself (and The Press) a deadline of December 1st. I always work better with a deadline.
I am quite excited that it should be published in the Spring of 2014. It certainly has been a long haul but my other always said that anything worth having is worth working for. Guess she was right! :-)
I am quite excited that it should be published in the Spring of 2014. It certainly has been a long haul but my other always said that anything worth having is worth working for. Guess she was right! :-)
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