Eating Out Loud by Deryl Williams
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Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage

 Great, easy pasta dish for the weeknight.

12 oz Orecchiette pasta (little ears)
2 tbsp EVOO
8 ounces chorizo or hot Italian sausage with casings removed
2 spring onions (green onions) sliced
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
8 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
s/p
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Bring pot of water to boil. Add pasta and cook as directed. Orecchiette takes about 18 min vs 10 to 12 for regular pasta. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water.

Heat oil over medium heat and add sausage and cook, breaking up with a wooden spoon until brown.

Add spring onions and cook until soft, (3 min), add garlic, mushrooms, 1/2 tsp salt and pepper and cook until mushrooms start to brown. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until they soften. 

Add stock to skillet and cook for 1 min. Stir in the pasta and cheese, add some of the pasta water to loosen. Season with s/p.

Divide among bowls, drizzle with EVOO and top with more cheese.

Serve.

Paella

I usually do this outside on an open flame or fire in a paella pan. We usually have this every year camping with a large group of friends. This is a great group dinner and everyone can participate.

1/4 cup olive oil.
1 red pepper chopped
2 celery sticks chopped
1 large onion chopped
4 garlic cloves chopped
2 chorizo or hot italian sausage chopped
1 strip bacon chopped
8 bone in skin on chicken thighs
15 shrimp
2 cups Bomba or Aborrio rice
1/2 tsp saffron
1 tsp rosemary fresh chopped
8 plumb tomatoes chopped
4 cups chicken stock
2 Tbsp smoked paprika

Best if you buy and use a traditional paella pan.
In a large paella pan, add oil to hot pan and cook chicken through, remove, add bacon and sausage and cook through and remove.
Add garlic/onion/red pepper/celery and cook 5 min until soft. Add rice and cook 2 min. Stir in tomatoes, stock rosemary, saffron and paprika. Cook for 8-10 min uncovered.
Add sausage, along with Chicken back to the pan.
Mix all well and cook 2-3 min. Add shrimp on top and do not stir. cook for about 8-10 min, turn shrimp and cover pan with foil and turn heat off. Let stand for 10 min while shrimp continue to cook.

Serve from the pan. Goes good with a salad.

Spaghetti Carbonara

1/2 lb pancetta diced

4 garlic cloves (mashed)

3 tbsp olive oil

1/4 cup dry white wine

2 large eggs beaten with a little salt

3/4 cup parmigiano cheese grated

s/p

2 tbsp Italian parsley

1 lb spaghetti pasta

Heat lots of water in a large pot for the pasta and salt.

Fry pancetta, add oil and saute garlic, when pancetta is crisp, add wine and turn off heat.

Cook spaghetti al dente (firm to the bite) and re-heat pancetta and add drained cooked spaghetti.

Remove from heat and add eggs and cheese and toss quickly so eggs do not scramble. The sauce should be creamy. Add parsley and serve.

Baby-back ribs roasted with Sage and White Wine

This is a great dish. Serve with mashed potatoes or soft polenta.

2 medium racks of baby-back ribs divided into single ribs
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 garlic cloves, peeled and sliced thin
2 tablespoons fresh sage leaves
2 cups dry white wine
Salt/Pepper

Heat oven to 350.

Choose a heavy cast iron pot that will accommodate all the ribs. Heat pot on stove and add oil, when hot, brown the ribs deeply all over. Do in batches.

Drain any oil and add garlic and sage and cook for 10 seconds, add all the ribs, stir and add the white wine. Let the wine boil for 20-30 seconds and reduce the heat to low.

Add salt and pepper and cover the pot with a tight fitting lid.

Place pot in oven and leave for 2 hours. Occasionally stir ribs and check for enough liquid. If the liquid is low, add a bit of water.

When done, place on serving platter and serve with Polenta or mashed potatoes.

Deryl's Jambalaya

I made this, first, in 1987 and it has been a old standby for parties and groups of friends. I would suggest you follow exact as possible to get the true flavor of the dish.

3 tbsp butter
½ lb smoked sausage (mix 2 kinds) cubed
½ lb smoked ham cubed
¾ lb boneless bite size chicken pieces
¼ lb bacon in ½ inch pieces
2 bay leaves
2 tbsp Cajun magic or other Cajun spice blend; I can add one later if you want
½ lb shrimp peeled and deveined
1 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup chopped celery
2 garlic cloves minced
½ cup tomato sauce
1 cup tomatoes chopped
2 ½ cups chicken stock
1 ½ cups converted long grain rice

Melt butter over high heat, add bacon and brown
do not drain
Add sausage, ham
Add chicken and brown 4-5 min
Stir in bay leaves, Cajun spice
Add ½ of each onion, celery and pepper (the trinity)
Add the garlic
Cook until the veg starts to soften, -6-8 min
Stir in tomato sauce and cook 1 min
Stir in remaining onion, pepper, and celery
Stir in stock, rice and bring to a boil; simmer for 30 min covered
Add shrimp 10 min before done
Cook until rice is done.
When done, turn off the heat and let sit 5 min.

BBQ Ribs - my way

Deryl’s Ribs

These ribs are cooked on a water smoker or equivalent. You can use a Weber kettle BBQ and if you search on the web you will find an equivalent method. If you don't have a water smoker, buy one.You can also do on a traditional "Texas" dry smoker, but use a mop. With a water smoker, no mop is required.

Buy good baby back ribs. if you are cheap, use 1/2 rack per person, up to one full rack. Buy fresh, never frozen or you will lose moisture when thawed and they will be dry. Always pay more and buy quality, it will pay off in taste.

The day before, remove membrane from back of ribs. Turn ribs over and slide a pointed small knife barely under the membrane and wiggle the knife between the ribs and bone without cutting or tearing. Remove knife and slide your baby finger in the slit and enlarge slowly until the membrane starts to pull away. Pull membrane off, best to use a paper towel for grip.

Put a good quantity of rub on meat (below). Once Rub is “rubbed” into meat, wrap with cling film and place in the fridge over night.

Rib rub

Many exist and are very regional based - Carolina, Texas, Kansas city, etc. Here is mine, which is based on a Kansas City rub;
1 1/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup paprika
3 tbsp dried basil
3 tbsp dried parsley
Mix all the ingredients together and rub on ribs. Rub stays in sealed jar for 3-6 months.

Next day. Start where you will have about 5 hours before your meal.

Soak wood chunks for 30 min and place in container at bottom of smoker.

Fill water pan with hot water. Heat water smoker (charcoal, gas or electric)for 20 min.

Place racks on top grill rack in a rib rack if you have one (or roll if not).

Manage the heat to about 230- 280.

Slowly cook ribs for 3-4.5 hours and not too fast. Monitor temp which should be about 230. Do not lift the lid. For every lid lift add 20 min cooking time. On my Brinkman smoker heat indicator I don’t take it past the 1/3rd setting.

Meanwhile, make BBQ sauce for finished ribs;
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup cider vinegar
2 cups tomato sauce
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 large garlic clove finely minced
1/2 tsp celery salt
pinch allspice
1 tbsp grated onion - fine grate
2 tbsp red chile powder
1/4 tsp cayenne
Mix all in sauce pan, heat and thicken for 15 min on med heat. Warm again before placing on ribs just after removed from BBQ.

Remove ribs from bbq, cut in half and add sauce. serve and eat. Serve with lots of napkins, corn on the cob and coleslaw.

Good BBQ

Mushroom Costini

This makes an awesome appetizer any time of the year.

1 cup dried mushrooms (morel, porcini, oyster, etc)
1/4 inch thick piece pancetta cut into 1/4 dice
1/2 lb fresh shiitake mushrooms
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup mushroom stock (from soaking dried mushrooms)
2 shallots minced
1 garlic clove minced
1/2 cup walnuts chopped
1/2 cup Fontina cheese grated
Bread - French baguette, ciabatta, etc
2 tbps olive oil
Heat oven to 400 C

Soak dried mushrooms for 30 min in hot water, reserve
Roughly chop mushrooms
Heat saute pan with olive oil
Saute shallots and garlic for 2 min on med heat
Add fresh mushrooms and saute for 8-10 min on med high heat
Add dried mushrooms to mixture
Add walnuts and reduce heat to med for 2 min
Add mushroom stock and reduce by 2/3 6-8 min
Add cream and reduce for 2 min
Meanwhile cut bread to 2 inch pieces and toast bread in oven
Place tablespoon of mixture on bread
Add grated cheese on top
Put in 400 degrees oven for 3-4 min until cheese is melted
Serve

Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Banana and brown sugar

Everyone loves these!

8 sweet potatoes or large yams
3-4 tablespoons kosher salt
1 banana
8 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 cups heavy cream
1 cinnamon stick
1/4 cup brown sugar
pepper to taste

Wash potatoes, poke, rub with salt and wrap in aluminum foil.
Place on BBQ or bake in the oven at 350 for 60 min or until tender.
Cook the banana on the BBQ (in peel) until black - about 12 min on med heat
Remove potatoes when cooked and scoop insides into a bowel
On the BBQ or stove, heat a baking dish (metal), until hot.
Add butter and let melt, add cream, cinnamon stick, brown sugar, potatoes and banana.
Add salt and pepper.
Mash with a masher and combine all ingredients.

Serve

Bracciole di maiale

2 ½ lb boneless pork loin
s/p
2 cloves garlic chopped
5 – ¼ inch thick provolone cheese slices cut in medium dice
1 ½ tbsp grated Romano
1 small onion chopped
3 sprigs fresh Italian parsley
4 basil leaves
2 Italian sausages – casing removed and lightly browned
1 hard cooked egg quartered
2 tbsp olive oil

Butterfly pork loin and lay flat
Season meat
Mix all ingredients except oil
Lay mixture evenly down centre of the meat
Roll meat and tie
Place olive oil in pan and brown meat
Add to ragu (tomato sauce) or 1 ½ hour
When done, cut in ½ inch pieces and service with the tomato sauce on pasta

Cannelloni al Forno

2 tablespoons butter

1/2 pound ground pork

1/2 pound ground veal

1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano, grated, plus more for garnishing pasta

1 tablespoon flour

1 cup milk

Salt and pepper

Pinch nutmeg

1 egg, beaten

Cannelloni pasta tubes (dried)

2 cup basic tomato sauce, recipe follows

2 cup besciamella, recipe follows

In a large skillet, heat the butter over high heat until it foams and subsides. Add the ground pork and veal and cook over high heat until it begins to brown in its own fat.

Drain excess fat and add the Parmigiano, the flour and the milk and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes, stirring regularly, then remove from heat and allow to cool. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg and stir in the egg. Set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Take 16 or so cannelloni pasta tubes and blanch until tender in boiling water. Remove and put in an ice water bath. Fill the tubes with the meat filling by holding them and spooning in the filling.

In an 8 or 9-inch square, oven-proof casserole, spoon half the tomato sauce across the bottom in an even layer. Carefully lay each pasta package in the casserole so that they are in a single layer. Top with the remaining tomato sauce, then the bechamel. Finish with the freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano and bake in the oven 20 to 25 minutes, until the sauces and cheese are bubbling and the edges of the pasta are crispy and browned. Serve immediately from the cooking dish.

Basic Tomato Sauce

¼ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 Spanish onion, chopped in ¼ inch dice

3 tbs chopped fresh thyme

½ medium carrot, finely shredded

2 – 28 oz cans whole plumb tomatoes, crushed by hand

Salt to taste

In a 3-quart saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until soft and light golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Add the thyme and carrot and cook 5 minutes more, until the carrot is quite soft. Add the tomatoes and juice and bring to a boil, stirring often.

Lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes until as thick as hot cereal. Use hand blender or food processor to pulse a few times to break down the large tomato chunks. Season with salt and serve. This sauce holds 1 week in the refrigerator or up to 6 months in the freezer. Yield: 4 cups

Beciamela (Bechamel Sauce)

5 tablespoons butter

4 tablespoons flour

3 cups milk

2 teaspoons salt

½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg

In a medium saucepan, heat butter until melted. Add flour and stir until smooth. Over medium heat, cook until light golden brown, about 6 to 7 minutes.

Meanwhile, heat milk in separate pan until just about to boil. Add milk to butter mixture 1 cup at a time, whisking continuously until very smooth and bring to a boil. Cook 10 minutes and remove from heat. Season with salt and nutmeg and set aside.

Steak au Poivre

1 Tbs whole black peppercorns

2tsp chopped fresh thyme

Kosher salt

Two 1 ½ inch boneless tenderloin or New York steaks

1 Tbs canola or grapeseed oil

2 Tbs unsalted butter

¼ cup finely diced shallot

1/3 cup plus 1 tsp Cognac

½ cup heavy cream

1 Tbs chopped fresh tarragon.

Crack the peppercorns with a mortar and pestle, or with a bottom of a small heavy skillet.

Sprinkle 1 tsp of the thyme and 1 tsp salt evenly on both sides of the steaks and then pat peppercorns on both sides. Let steaks sit at room temperature for 30 min.

Heat oven to 425F.

Turn on stoves exhaust fan and heat a heavy 10 inch ovenproof skillet over medium high heat for 2 min, until hot.

Add oil and when hot, add steaks and cook 2-3 min each until browned and they release from the pan.

Transfer skillet to oven and cook for 4-78 minutes until an instant read thermometer reads 125f for rare, 130 for medium rare and 135 for medium. Transfer steaks to a plate and tent with foil.

Pour off any fat in the pan. Melt butter in the skillet over medium heat, and add the shallot. Cook for 2 min until softened. Remove the pan from the heat and add 1/3 cup Cognac. Return the pan to the heat and cook until cognac reduces to a glaze, about 2 min.

Add cream, tarragon, 1 tsp thyme and any accumulated juices from the resting steaks.

Bring to a boil and reduce to a simmer and cook stirring frequently until reduced, about 2- 3 minutes more.

Stir in the remaining 1 tsp of Cognac and season to taste.

Spoon sauce over the steaks and serve.

Grilled Breaded Chicken Thighs

12 garlic cloves crushed
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
4 oil packed anchovy fillets
1/2 cup chopped flat leaf Italian prsley
2 cups fresh bread crumbs
12 skinless, boneless chicken thighs


Combine garlic, 1/2 cup olive oil, anchovies, parsley and bread crumbs in a food processor and process until smooth. Put chicken thighs in large bowl and pour on bread mixture, turning to coat well.

Place on single layer on platter and refrigerate for 20 min.

Prepare grill for indirect heat.

Place chicken thighs on cooler part of grill and cook about 15-20 per side only turning once.

Serve.

Potato Gratin

2 garlic cloves halved
2 large eggs
2 lbs potatoes sliced very thin
2 tbsp flour
1 ½ cups grated Gruyere cheese
Nutmeg
Salt/pepper
2 cups chicken stock
2 tbsp butter

Heat oven to 300 degrees,
Rub garlic in baking (7x9) dish
Place aluminum foil in bottom of oven
Beat eggs and add to mixing bowl
Add potatoes
Sprinkle flour
Add 1 cup cheese
Season with salt/pepper and a pinch of fresh nutmeg
Transfer to dish for oven
Scatter remaining cheese on top and dot with butter
Poor stock from side

Bake 1 hour or until golden brown

Let sit for 10 min before serving

The best simple Mushroom soup

This is sooooo easy and can be done during the week....

5 tbsp butter
1 medium onion chopped
16 oz mushrooms (fresh white, or shiitake or mixed) sliced
4 cups chicken stock
salt/pepper
2 oz sherry
2/3 cup of milk (optional)

In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tbsp butter and cook onions over medium heat until soft.
Add the remaining butter and the mushrooms and stir and sweat mushrooms for 8-10 min.
Don't let the onions brown.
Stir in chicken stock and salt/pepper, bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and let cook 1 hour.
After an hour, let soup cool for a couple of minutes and put in two batches in blender (careful to pulse in short blasts so as not to burn yourself.)
Return soup to pot, add sherry and thin out with a little milk.
Bring up the heat and remove just before boiling. Adjust seasoning.

For extra enhancement, add a small pile of chopped chives to garnish and 5 drops of truffle oil.

Enjoy!

Great Mac and Cheese

1 lb macaroni elbows

Salt

4 Tbsp butter

4 tbsp flout

2 cups hot milk

1 tsp pepper

¾ c grated fontina

¾ c grated gruyere

¾ c grated cheddar

¼ c grated parmesan

½ c bread crumbs

½ tsp cayenne pepper

Heat oven to 350

Cook pasta al dente

Beat butter, wisk in four to make a roux and cook over low hear for 5-7 min

Add hot milk a little at a time and cook low for 10 min

Add Salt/pepper, cayenne, cheese and mix well for 2 min

Drain Pasta and place in baking dish

Add cheese mixture and sprinkle with bread crumbs

Bake 15 min, rest 10 min.

Couscous with Feta and Mint

1 cup water
1 tbsp Olive oil
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cup couscous
1 lemon
1/4 cup crumbled feta
3 tbsp chopped fresh mint
1 green onion sliced thin

Bring a meduim sized pot of water to boil, add oil and salt. remove from heat, stir in couscous and cover 5 minutes.

Grate Lemon peel and juice lemon.
Fluff couscous, add mint, feta, green onion, lemon peel. Pour lemon juice over top and stir.

Beef Short Ribs Braised in Red Wine

One 750-milliliet bottle dry red wine
3 to 4 cups Chicken Stock or canned reduced-sodium chicken broth
½ cup dried porcini mushrooms
6 pounds beef short ribs, cut into 5 – 6 ounce pieces
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
¼ cup vegetable oil
2 large onions, chopped (about 3 cups)
¼ cup minced pancetta or bacon
1 1/2 cups grated carrot
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 fresh or dried bay leaves
6 whole cloves
1/3 cup tomato paste
2 cups crushed canned Italian plum tomatoes and liquid


Bring the red wine to a boil in a medium saucepan. Lower the heat so the wine is boiling gently and cook until the wine is reduced to 1 cup. (about 25 min) Set aside.

Heat 1 cup of the stock and pour over the mushrooms in a small, heatproof bowl. Let stand until softened, about 20 minutes. Drain the mushrooms in a sieve lined with a double thickness cheesecloth or coffee filter; reserve the soaking liquid. Rinse the mushrooms briefly to remove any grit. Chop the mushrooms coarsely and set them aside.

So the ribs don't separate during cooking, tie each with kitchen twine. Season the ribs generously with salt and pepper. Heat the oil in a wide, heavy braising pan over medium heat. Lay as many of the short rib pieces as will fit into the pan in a single layer. Cook, turning as necessary, until evenly and very well browned on all sides (about 2 min per side). Remove them to a plate and repeat with the remaining ribs. Adjust the heat as the ribs cook, so that they brown without burning.

Pour off all but about 2 tablespoons of the fat from the pan. Stir in the onions and bacon and cook, stirring, until the onions are lightly browned (about 6 minutes). Stir in the chopped mushrooms and the carrot, rosemary, bay leaves, and cloves. Season lightly with salt and pepper, and cook until the carrot is wilted (about 3 minutes). Stir in the tomato paste and stir well until the vegetables are coated and the tomato paste begins to darken, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the reduced wine and the crushed tomatoes and tuck the short ribs into the pan. Pour enough of the remaining chicken stock to barely cover the ribs. Cover, bring to a boil, then lower the heat so the liquid is at a lively simmer. Cook, adding the remaining stock a little at a time as necessary to keep the ribs covered, until the ribs are tender and just about to fall off the bone, 2 1/2 to 3 hours. Taste the cooking liquid from time to time as the ribs cook and add salt as necessary.

Pick out the ribs from the sauce, carefully so as to prevent the bone from falling out, and set them on a baking sheet. Cut string from ribs. Ladle the cooking liquid into a sieve or strainer placed over a bowl and push the liquid through with the back of the ladle. Discard the solids in the sieve and return the strained liquid to the pan. Tuck the ribs back into the sauce. You may serve the ribs at this point, or cool them in the liquid and refrigerate them for up to three days. Bring them back to a simmer and cook until heated through before serving.

Rosemary roasted loin of pork

3 lbs. loin of pork, boneless butterflied and pounded 3/4 inch thick
2 garlic cloves
4 sprigs of rosemary
1 cup fresh fennel and leaves
3 tbs. olive oil
½ cup carrot, diced
½ celery stalk, diced
½ cup onion, roughly chopped
2 ½ cups chicken stock

Finely chop garlic, leaves from 2 rosemary sprigs and fennel. Add 1 tbs. of oil, freshly ground pepper and salt to taste and make a paste in a mortar or blender.

Spread 2/3 of the mixture on the inside of the loin, roll tightly and tie with kitchen twine. Thread the 2 remaining sprigs of rosemary through the ties on either side of the roast. Salt and pepper the outside, set in a baking pan and coat with remaining olive oil. Bake at 450F for 15 minutes.

Turn down the oven to 400F, drain fat from the pan and place the vegetables around the roast. Cook for 15 minutes. Add stock and baste periodically for and additional 45 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 155 to 160 degrees.

Remove the roast to a platter and crush all the vegetables well. Pass them through a sieve or food mill, along with the pan juices. Skim fat and cook sauce a bit longer if it is too thin. Season with salt and pepper, if needed, and serve with the sliced roast.

Lasagna (The best around)

Lasagna is a great family dish. The secret in this one is to slow cook the sauce, which can also be used on spaghetti as pasta sauce.

¼ cup olive oil
1 cup chopped onion
2-3 garlic cloves – minced
1 lb lean ground beef
¼ lb ground pork
2 Italian sausages
1/4 cup red wine
2 cans chopped plumb tomatoes
2 oz tomato paste
Salt/pepper
1 tbsp dried oregano
1 bay leaf
1 tbsp dried basil
1 large container Ricotta cheese
½ cup grated parmesan cheese
½ cup grated Romano cheese
2 packages mozzarella cheese
1 box of thin Italian sheets for noodles

Heat oil, fry onions, garlic until translucent. Add hamburger, pork and sausage and fry until brown, chopping into small bits.

Add tomatoes, paste, red wine, oregano, basil, bay leaf, salt pepper and bring to boil. Lower heat and slow boil for 2 to 2.5 hours to remove water and thicken sauce.

When sauce is nearly done, boil pasta sheets for 9-10 minutes and remove and place in ice water to cool.

In a very deep lasagna dish, layer ¼ cup sauce/noodles/ricotta/parmesan/romano/noodles/sauce/
mozza/sause/mozza and repeat as many times as you can.
Top with ¼ cup of sauce so the noodles will not dry out on top. With a small baking dish you get three layers, with a deep dish you can get about 5 layers.

Back at 350 for 40 minutes.