recipe: lahmajoon (armenian pizza)

April 26th, 2012 | Posted by admin in Entrées | RECIPES - (2 Comments)

Lahmajoon is really an Armenian pizza without cheese or tomato sauce.  Growing up this was one of my favorite meals.  I keep these in my own freezer for a quick snack or meal.  My girlfriend and I had a long day working with clients and we stopped at the house for a quick “nosh”.  I offered up the lahmajoon and the pizza idea sounded great to her.  I quickly heated up one for each of us and we were on our way.  My girlfriend loved the meal and was curious as to what was in it.  I said “lamb” of course!  Well she doesn’t eat lamb so she was surprised and slightly unnerved.  What I didn’t realize was that 40% of Americans have never even tried lamb.  Again this is a staple meat for my family.  She survived her encounter and actually liked the lamb pizza!  But for all of you who don’t eat lamb you can make this with ground beef.

I learned to make these from my grandmother.  She would stack 6 together and freeze them.  She would make about 50-60 so there was always food to serve.  The morning started with getting the dough ready, then mid-morning we would watch her roll out the circle of dough so fast your head would spin.

When she added the whole tomatoes to the meat mixture she squeezed them by hand, no food processor.  The tomatoes became part of the luscious lamb that rested on the crisp flat bread.  All the ingredients came from her garden so the peppers, tomatoes, parsley and onions tasted extra special.  I also have added garlic and a pinch of red pepper flakes to the meat.  Do not be tempted to add cheese… there is no need.  I could eat lahmajoon for an appetizer, lunch or dinner.  Usually I serve it with a big salad.  This recipe does take some time but you can make a large batch, freeze a few… you won’t be disappointed.

 

DOUGH INGREDIENTS:
• 4 ½ cups of sifted flour
• 1 ½ cups of luke warm water
• 1 package of yeast dissolved
• 1 tsp of kosher salt
• ½ tsp of sugar
• ½ cup of vegetable oil

 

MEAT MIXTURE INGREDIENTS:
• 1 ½ lbs of finely ground lamb
• 1 large white onion finely chopped
• ½ cup chopped parsley
• 1 green pepper finely chopped
• 1 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 small can tomato paste
• 1 14oz can of whole tomatoes

 

 

DIRECTIONS:
• Mix dough ingredients with sufficient lukewarm water to give a consistency slightly softer     than pie dough.

• Coat hands with vegetable oil and knead dough thoroughly for 12-15 minutes. (Important)

• Cover and permit dough to rise 2-3 hrs, it will double in size.

• While waiting for dough to rise, mix ingredients for meat in order given.

• After the dough has risen divide into 22-24 small egg size pieces, roll in hands and place     on counter or table and cover with a dish towel. Let sit for 10 minutes.

• Roll each round dough mound approximately 6-8 inches in diameter, about the size of         a pancake.

• Spread with your hands a layer of meat mixture on flattened dough.

• Place dough on a greased cookie sheet (or parchment lined sheet).

• Bake until dough is crisp on bottom and meat mixture is cooked. Serve!

• To store, stack lahmajoons between parchment or wax paper then wrap 4-6 together with      foil.  You can freeze for up to 2 months.

• To reheat place on a cookie sheet to warm.   Enjoy!

 

 

orchid ladder

April 24th, 2012 | Posted by admin in FLOWERS | Indoor - (0 Comments)

Just a great way to display and plant your smaller orchids. The color yellow is always a favorite of mine as it reminds me of my dad. He loved the daffodils in the spring, so this brings a small amount of that sunshine inside.

 

 

places to go: pastificio

April 23rd, 2012 | Posted by admin in PLACES TO GO - (0 Comments)

I live near a small town known for its restaurants, nestled between Lake Forest and Highland Park, it’s Highwood.  You will find authentic Italian food as well as other great spots to eat.  My favorite destination is not a place you stay to eat but a wonderful shop that sells homemade sauces, pasta, entrees, desserts and just about the best matzo ball soup around!  This is my go to place for fresh pasta and wonderful sauces for a crowd or just a meal for two.  I cook so I don’t  recommend buying prepared food often but sometimes we run out of time or need a hand when we are serving a large group… this is where I stop.  The quality, freshness and flavors taste like they came from my own kitchen.  The owner Patricia Galli makes you feel welcome and I know she cooks from a special place.  Serving food, cooking is a wonderful gift to those around you and Patricia embodies that warmth and comfort in her dishes and store.

I have served her matzo ball soup and been asked for my recipe on many occasions… well this is my secret.  The matzo balls are beyond fluffy in a wonderful homemade chicken broth.  I’ll add carrots to my pot and serve.  Did I mention the lasagna?  It’s another must, a veggie and meat version.  I cannot leave without buying the veal tortellini and the modenese sauce.  I have served my family this combination and an entire high school and college hockey team.  If you find yourself in Highwood you must stop at Pastificio!  In my conversations with Patricia they are looking to add a rooftop garden so I’ll be back to visit and share my experience.

I highly recommend Pastificio.

 

 

places to go: chilam balam

April 20th, 2012 | Posted by admin in PLACES TO GO - (0 Comments)

We were looking for a good place to eat after a day of apartment viewing with my younger son.  It was early on a Saturday and we weren’t dressed for any place too fancy.  He suggested Chilam Balam… a place I had heard so much about but could never quite get there early enough as it’s small, very popular and not easy to get into on a Saturday night.  We had perfect timing, arriving around 5:45.  Our only downside was we did not come prepared with spirits as it is BYOB… but we survived.  The atmosphere is warm, with that perfect glow, the lighting dimmed but not too dark.  We tried quite a few items on the menu and enjoyed everything.  I had watched Chuy on Top Chef so I knew he was known for his sauces.  I could have licked each bowl especially the chipotle sauce that was served on the flautas with chicken thighs, rajas and picked cabbage with crema.  The scallops were amazing, take a look!

Every dish had a different sauce… we loved the fried parsley with the spinach creme.  Another favorite, which we did not get a picture of because we devoured it so fast, was the pineapple ricotta strudel with a cilantro pesto and coconut sorbet.  I suggest you visit this great little spot with big flavors.  It has gotten a lot of attention since Top Chef and it was featured on “Check Please”, so bring your favorite drink, relax and enjoy the wait it is well worth it.  They just added new entrees to their menu and I know I’ll have to make another dinner date.

 

 

I love these cookies!  I certainly will never turn away a great chocolate chip but this cookie may be my next go-to cookie treat.  Momofuku Milk Bar is in New York City; in their cookbook you will discover a whole new world of sweets.  One of the secrets of these cookies is the milk crumbs.  The recipe for those is as follows:

 

 

Milk Crumbs

 

INGREDIENTS:
• ½ cup of milk powder
• ¼ cup of flour
• 2 tablespoons of cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons of sugar
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 4 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1/4 cup milk powder
• 3 oz of melted white chocolate

 

DIRECTIONS:
• Preheat oven to 250°F.

• Combine the first five ingredients in a medium bowl, toss with your hands… add melted       butter and continue to toss using a spatula.  The mixture will start to look like small             cluster/crumbs.

• Spread the clusters on a parchment lined sheet pan and bake for 20 minutes.  The             crumbs should be sandy and your kitchen should smell amazing.  Cool the crumbs.

• Crumble any milk crumb clusters that are larger than ½ inch and put the crumbs in a           medium bowl.  Add the milk powder and toss together.

• Next poor the white chocolate over the crumbs and toss until your clusters are enrobed.       Then continue tossing them every 5 minutes until the white chocolate hardens.  The             crumbs will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one month.

 

 

 

Blueberry & Cream Cookies

 

INGREDIENTS:
• 2 sticks of butter
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup lightly packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons of corn syrup (or ¼ cup glucose)
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of flour
• ½ teaspoon baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ recipe of milk crumbs
• ¾ cup dried blueberries

 

DIRECTIONS:
• Combine first 4 ingredients in medium speed mixer for 2-3 minutes.

• Scrape sides of bowl and add eggs one at a time, beat for 7-8 minutes till creamy.

• Reduce speed and add dry ingredients.  While still on low speed add milk crumbs and         then blueberries.

• Using an ice cream scoop put rounds of batter on a parchment lined cookie sheet.

• Wrap in plastic wrap and put in fridge for about an hour.

• Preheat oven to 350°F.

• Keep cookies about 4 inches apart on cookie sheet and back, they will crackle and             spread.  They should be browned slightly on the outside and creamy yellow in the center.

• Cool completely on the cookie sheet… Enjoy!!!!

 

 

recipe: armenian pilaf & lahvosh

April 18th, 2012 | Posted by admin in RECIPES | Side Dishes - (3 Comments)

Most American dinner tables accompany a meal with a starch… usually potatoes of some kind.  The staple side dish in our home was pilaf.  We had pilaf with our “lamb burgers” not fries!  It is quick, easy and delicious.  I always have these ingredients in my pantry for a side dish.  The bread is an Armenian flat bread.  My grandmother would make this, stacking flat rounds of bread a foot high each in the pantry.  I purchase the bread from “Valley Bakery” in Fresno, CA.  They call the bread Valley Lahvosh, original Armenian Sesame Seed Cracker Bread.  This is the closest bread I have found to my Grandmother’s.  You wet the bread with a spray of water and then wrap it in a clean dish towel.  As kids we had our sandwiches on this softened bread.  I was always slightly embarrassed by my Persian cucumbers and nontraditional sandwich bread, but it was so good.  It also comes in a whole wheat version.  You can order a case and it lasts a while… but in my house it doesn’t last too long!

 

RECIPE: Armenian Pilaf

INGREDIENTS:
• 1 cup of egg noodles
• 6 tablespoons of butter
• Dash of kosher salt
• 2 cups of Uncle Bens white rice.
• 4 cups of chicken broth

 

DIRECTIONS:
• In a medium sauce pan Sauté egg noodles in butter till brown.

• Then add the chicken broth and rice… bring to a boil then turn to low heat and cook until     rice is fluffy approx. 25 minutes.  Keep a close watch.  When you lower the heat keep         pan covered.

 

 

places to go: nana

April 18th, 2012 | Posted by admin in PLACES TO GO - (0 Comments)

Saturday morning and no market to shop in yet so next best option… breakfast date with my favorite friend, foodie and market companion.  The place to go is “Nana” local, organic and sustainable food.  I have previously been there for lunch and started my love affair with Nana.  Breakfast did not disappoint.  I had the omelette special with scallions, Meyer lemon and a luscious soft cheese oozing out the sides.  It comes with a thick toasted grainy bread and duck fat roasted potatoes.  Also a side of arugula, and I had to order the spicy slaw.  My friend ordered the fried oyster soup and a side of the truffle macaroni and cheese.  Not only was everything delicious with great flavors and fresh ingredients but the atmosphere was upbeat and fun.  We sat next to a group of great girlfriends who enjoyed the food as much as we did as we shared and discussed our meal choices.  Next stop for Nana will be a dinner date!  I am such a fan of this organic delicious food.  It is worth the trip!

 

cookbooks: ruhlman’s twenty

April 16th, 2012 | Posted by admin in COOKBOOKS - (0 Comments)

I purchased this cookbook a while ago and have used it as a reference for just about everything!  This book explains to the home cook why and how certain techniques work.  I recommend this cookbook to anyone who wants to learn to cook, who wants to improve their cooking, and to anyone who just loves to cook.  The last recipe I tried, sautéed chicken breasts in a tarragon butter sauce, was mouthwatering!  It could be my new gift idea for my favorite cooks.

 

table dressing: introduction

April 13th, 2012 | Posted by admin in TABLE DRESSING - (0 Comments)

Playing with your dishes, adding new ones to the mix and enjoying the look of a beautiful table… I call it table dressing.  Just like dressing yourself, a table can be simple but elegant with a dash of something special, a wonderful napkin, a colorful floral arrangement, a beautiful salad plate, or the perfect charger that frames your plate.  Have fun with your table!  The dishes pictured are from “Material Possessions” in Winnetka and Chicago, IL.

 

A full cart at one of my favorite garden centers fills my heart.  This is what “Feast & Flowers” is all about for me. It’s a full table, a feast of another kind.

No matter what type of mood I wake up in going to a nursery and seeing beautiful plants makes me smile.  I am energized by the colors, textures and varieties of flowers.  One cart is usually never enough as I shop for clients to pick the perfect plants for their containers.  I suggest the next sunny day you venture out to Gethsemane Garden Center.  They have one of the best selections of perennial, annual and indoor plants around.  If you are a beginner in this arena they have knowledgeable personnel that are very helpful.  Gethsemane is located on Clark St. in Chicago.

This planter is filled with mostly perennial plants that will stand up to the cold spring nights and look beautiful through the end of May.  Delphinium, Columbine, Candy Tuft, Hyacinths, Daffodils, Variegated Ivy, Bellflower, Creeping Phlox, Bergenia, Forget-Me-Nots, Golden Variegated Sweet Flag Grass, Coral Bells, Ranunculus, Stock, Linaria and Forsythia… some annuals mostly perennials a great mix.

Start with a small pot by your entry so you smile as you enter and exit your home.