Your Cooking Guide to Fun and Adventurous Home Cooking!

On Thursday, February 11, 2010, I visited the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at Hyde Park, NY. My nephew graduated with his bachelors degree. It was a beautiful ceremony with insightful speeches. I also got a tour of the grounds and inside the main building.

The Culinary Institute of America at Hyde Park, NY, used to be a Jesuit monastery.  The architecture and interior design have character. The campus is beautiful. Sitting on the edge of the Hudson River, not far from Marist College and West Point Academy, it is located in an attractive area, great for the college experience.

This post will be the first of several where I’ll include pictures of the campus and facilities. For more information about the CIA, check out their website.

The Lodges - Upperclassmen Housing

The Clove Lodge (All lodges have culinary names) My brother Eric and his wife Sue standing in front of the Lodge.

Clove Lodge Kitchen in Common Area

Clove Lodge Kitchen Area

Ristorante Caterina de Medici

The Library

Roth Hall - The Main Building

Building List

A View of the Hudson River

In my next post in this series, I’ll show pictures of inside Roth Hall and some of the classrooms, hallways, and restaurants.

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

Dear home cook,

With the winter storm hitting us pretty good in SW Virginia, it knocked out my power at around 9pm Friday evening. It did come back on Saturday around 2:30pm. In that time period, the video explains how I coped!

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

Dear home cook,

When a day like this comes, it’s a great idea to cook up those traditional cold weather foods. As I write this from Southwest Virginia, we are getting 8 to 12 inches of snow. The high temperature is expected to get a whopping 21 degrees. It is cold. And very beautiful!

January 30, 2010 Snow Scene - From My Back Porch

A snowy day is a great day to make a chili, stew, or bisque. Something hot and hearty. When you look outside and you see the scene above, one of the last things you want to hear is: “Hey honey, how would you like a nice cold salad?” Brrrr!

No thanks! For me, it has to be hot and hearty.

In my food shopping, I picked up a couple pork chops, a sashimi tuna steak, and some tilapia fillets. The pork chops I’ll be brining this evening to braise tomorrow. The tuna steak is for lunch today, where I’ll be making a yogurt dill sauce to pour over the top. And the tilapia will end up in a fish stew.

For beverages, days like these scream to me “hot tea!” I like the products from The Republic of Tea. What I’m drinking now as I write this is their Daily Green Tea Ginger Peach. It has a great green tea mellow flavor with ginger and peach. It’s very good. Another one of my favorites is their Pomegranate Green Tea. Very tasty!

And if you want to liven it up a bit, add a little blackberry brandy to it! Or Amaretto. Or any other of your favorite cold weather adult beverages! But I’ll let Corky write about his adventures in those areas.

How about you? What do you like to eat or drink when the weather is frigid outside? Do you have a favorite chili, stew, or bisque you like to make? Tell me about it in the comment section below.

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

PS. If you like tea, here’s some things I recommend:

Pomegranate Green Tea by The Republic of Tea - 50 tea bags, without Caffeine

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Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

Ginger Peach Tea by The Republic of Tea - 3.5 oz loose, with Caffeine

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Retail Price: Varies based on product options

Amazon Price: View Sale Price

Numi Tea Bamboo Flowering Tea Gift Set [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]

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Retail Price: $42.64

Amazon Price: $21.00

20,000 Secrets of Tea: The Most Effective Ways to Benefit from Nature's Healing Herbs

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Retail Price: $7.99

Amazon Price: $7.99

Dear home cook,

Tonight President Obama will present the State of the Union. You might be asking what that has to do with cooking. I say… everything!

What is the state of the union speech? It is a reflection on the past year’s good stuff and not so good stuff. It is also a presentation of the plan for next year and what direction he wants to take us.

I am a big fan of personal development and goal setting. When it comes to cooking, a state of the “kitchen” perhaps, would be a reflection of what was good and not so good in the kitchen. It would also be a plan for the direction of kitchen activities for next year.

What would be considered in a state of the kitchen address? Well, if you’ve spent any time at all on this site, you know I am a fan of having fun in the kitchen, and being adventurous. So, how much fun did you have in the kitchen this past year? How were you adventurous? What new foods did you try? What new techniques or skills did you learn? And when it comes to planning, what would you like to do in this coming year? How many new foods would you like to try? How many new tips or techniques wold you like to learn?

For myself, I had a lot of fun in the kitchen this past year. I experimented with a lot of new techniques, and tried several new foods. For example, the first two foods I became much more aware of, and used a lot more, are kalamata olives and quinoa. A friend gave me a kalamata olive spread as a Christmas gift. I was very timid about trying it. An olive spread? Boy was I in for a wonderful surprise! Spread some on a French baguette, enjoy it with a glass of white wine, and I was in a very delightful mood! It was extremely tasty with a strong and slightly salty flavor. On good bread, it was a real treat. I started buying whole, pitted kalamata olives and eat them with some goat cheese. Now that is a real treat. The goat cheese mellows out the intense flavor of the olives.

When it comes to the quinoa, that is one I will enjoy for the rest of my life. I heard about quinoa being rich in protein, so I wanted to try it. I found it in my favorite store, and bought some. I was very pleased with the slightly earthy taste, and small size. Since I am more aware of it, I’m seeing it in a number of restaurants as side dishes mixed with black beans, corn, onions, squash, and other nutritional foods. If you see it somewhere, check it out.

For the coming year, I plan to introduce at least 5 new foods into my routine. I don’t know what those 5 are yet, but I’m excited to see what they are. I’m also looking to have some great adventures in the kitchen by doing more steaming, roasting, braising, and definitely more brining. I started brining this past year and have quickly become a raving fan of brining.

So what can add some adventure and fun into your kitchen? How many new foods would you like to try and add to your routine? What cooking tips or techniques would you like to do more of, or try for the first time?

Add a comment to this post with your “State of the Kitchen” plans for next year. I’d like to hear from you.

I’ll add more posts about this topic and how I’m coming along during the year. Until then…

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

Dear home cook,

I have to tell you, I am very impressed with Rice Select Couscous, made with the chicken/vegetable stock I made earlier in the week. This combination bursts with flavor. I poured a bunch over a braised pork chop that I brined overnight, and the combination was awesome.

Couscous is a very small grain. It has a very mild flavor. According to the nutritional info, each serving contains 150 calories, 0 fat, 0 sodium, 31g carbs, and 5g protein. It is not the superfood that quinoa is, but as a change of pace to regular white rice or potatoes, it can be awesome.

Rice Select Couscous

Unlike many grains or rices that have a 2:1 ratio of liquid to grain, this couscous has a 1:1 ratio. I added a little bit more liquid, and it took it all. I made a pretty large batch to use for several meals. I heated nearly 3 cups of my home made chicken and vegetable stock, 1 tablespoon of butter, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Note that the nutritional info says no salt. Without some salt, it would be pretty bland. To this liquid, I added 2 cups of couscous. The end result is nearly 4 cups of fluffy tri-color couscous goodness.

The stock gave the couscous a rich flavor of chicken and vegetables. When used as a side to my braised pork chop, the flavors mixed exceptionally well. I braised the brined pork chop with onions and yellow peppers. The brining, in a salt and lemon solution, made the pork chops super tender, and full of flavor. I’ll write about the pork chops next.

So for now, if you are a little tired of the same old rice or potatoes, I encourage you to try other grains like couscous. The change in consistency and size will add life to your meals.

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

RiceSelect Couscous Variety Pack, 4-Container Set

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Retail Price: $35.84

Amazon Price: $29.87

RiceSelect Organic Whole Wheat Couscous, 31.7-Ounce Jars (Pack of 4)

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Retail Price: $35.20

Amazon Price: $29.33

RiceSelect Tri-Color Couscous, 31.7-Ounce Jars (Pack of 4)

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Retail Price: $35.20

Amazon Price: $29.33

Osem Israeli Couscous, 8.8-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 12)

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Retail Price: $33.48

Amazon Price: $22.24

Dear home cook,

It’s late at night and I should be going to bed, but I’m just too excited. I have to tell you about the home made chicken vegetable stock I just made. It is so good, I can eat bowls of this stuff just by itself!

Earlier in the week I made the brined chicken. The plan was to make this stock with the bones and any remaining meat. That’s what I did. I picked up a bunch of celery, a large onion, and a bunch of carrots.

While I was preparing the veggies for the miropoix, I put the chicken bones on a broiler pan and cooked them in the oven at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. I made a miropoix with the veggies and cooked it with some of the chicken juices left over earlier. It smelled wonderful! I added about 2 tablespoons of salt, 1 1/2 tablespoons of minced garlic, and a tablespoon of pepper.

Once the veggies were sweated and started to turn translucent, I added the chicken bones, and filled the stockpot with water. I brought it to a small rolling boil, and kept it covered. After about 3 1/2 hours of stirring it up now and then, I strained the contents of the stockpot into another pot, squeezing out all essential goodness from the veggies and chicken bones.

It tastes fantastic! It is far better than any store bought stock. I can eat bowls of this stuff just by itself it’s so good.

The plan is to use this stock as the liquid for rices, quinoa, couscous, and some steaming. It will be an excellent adventure in cooking!

More to come later as I use this stock in other cooking.

I wish you great adventures having fun cooking!
Mark

Dear home cook,

Hello, hello! Corky here with my first post for the Home Cooking Guide! I am happy to be here and I hope to provide you with plenty of great stories, reviews, and beverage updates.

Today I am coming to you from Clarkville. It’s very quiet here. It gives me a chance to catch up on some reading and try some of these new beverages Mark snuck in for me!

I have a review of the Cavit collection Pinot Noir, 2006. Now, please understand that it has been my finding that inexpensive (under $15) Pinot Noir’s are not the greatest. Higher end Pinot’s are a real treat with their delicately smooth flavor, aroma, and satisfaction.

Here is the scoop from the Cavit website:

Vineyard
Grapes for the Pinot Noir are harvested in hilly areas throughout the province of Trento, Grave del Piave in the Veneto region and Grave del Friuli.

Grapes
100% Pinot Noir

Winemaking
The grapes are picked at peak maturity in the second and third weeks of September. Fermentation takes place over 6-8 days under controlled temperatures of 30°C in small stainless steel vats. The wine then is placed in larger oak barrels where it rests on its lees (skins) until release.

Wine Profile
This silky smooth red is medium-bodied with well-defined fruit redolent of red berries, cherries and soft, supple tannins.

Pairings
Enjoy with grilled or roasted red meats, chicken, fresh seafood  and  flavorful vegetarian entrees.

Sizes
Available in 750ml, 1.5L and 187ml sizes.

It’s fair to say that I have liked other Cavit wines. They tend to be great values for the money.

At our nearest Fresh Market in Roanoke, Va, Mark picked up a couple bottles of these Cavit Pinot Noirs for me to try. Suprisingly, they were in a discontinued lot, and on sale for a very reasonable $6.99.

I have to say I like this wine. It is quite smooth, though a little light, somewhat resembling a Merlot. (In my mind I’m replaying scenes from the movie “Sideways!”)

It’s hard to beat at the price Mark got it for. It would be a value for much more than that. It has enough body to let you know you are drinking a real wine, and yet light enough to not be so bold it hits you. It is smooth and tasty.

Give it a try. I think you will enjoy it.

I wish you great adventures in food!
Corky

The Wine Bible

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Retail Price: $19.95

Amazon Price: $13.57

Windows on the World Complete Wine Course: 2009 Edition

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Retail Price: $24.95

Amazon Price: $16.47

Metrokane Rabbit Wine Opener Tool Kit, Silver

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Retail Price: $110.00

Amazon Price: $39.50

Oxo Steel CorkPull Wine Opener/Corkscrew

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Retail Price: $27.95

Amazon Price: $24.65

Dear home cook,

Hello world! This is my first post here at the Home Cooking Guide, and I want to say I am very glad to be here to share some great stories with you.

Today I want to tell you about one of my favorite foods, which I often use as a dessert. It is the Chobani brand of Greek yogurt. There are several flavors in the nonfat fruit based yogurts including blueberry, strawberry, and peach. The plain nonfat yogurt, though not as tasty as a dessert, is great for adding to other dishes to get a creamy texture and add awesome nutrition.

What makes the Chobani Greek nonfat yogurt so good is its thick, luscious, creamy texture. The first time I tasted it, I couldn’t believe it was nonfat.

Check out the Chobani website! They have coupons where you can score some free Chobani! And they have recipes!

Here is what Chobani says about their nonfat, fruit on the bottom, yogurt:

• All natural
• 5 live & active cultures
• No artificial sweeteners
• No preservatives
• No synthetic growth hormones
• Rich smooth creamy taste
• Delicious fruit on the bottom

One of the things I like about Chobani yogurt is that in each 6oz serving, there are 14g of protein. That 20% of the RDA!

I have to tell you this story. Mark got back from his favorite store the other day, Fresh Market, in Roanoke, Virginia. While checking out, with my Chobani yogurts, he told the checkout person how much he and I enjoyed the Chobani Greek yogurt. He says the checkout persons eyes lit up and proceeded to rave about how much she and her family loved it. Then, the checkout person in the next isle came up to him and also raved about how much she loved it. Mark started a commotion at the Fresh Market store right there in checkout, all over how great this Chobani Greek yogurt tastes.

Look for it in your local food stores. You’ll love it! It definitely gets 4 paws!

Have fun cooking!
Sugar

I just finished watching the 2008 movie/documentary FoodMatters. If you are concerned about your health, and what you can do about it, this is a must see movie. FoodMatters spells out an excellent argument why we need to take control of our lives and our health, and control what we eat. It is a new paradigm that needs to be understood.

Like the movie Food, Inc., which I reviewed, FoodMatters also goes into detail of how our current food and agriculture system are woefully under-nourishing us. This movie goes into much more detail about nutrition and how nutrition is being used in select places around the world to heal cancers and other severe diseases.

Our medical professionals, the movie portends, are severely lacking in nutritional expertise. A lot of emphasis is placed on the drug industry and how there is no money in good health. When people are sick, and the drug industry just treats symptoms, and not the root cause, they make more money. The many hundred billion dollar drug industry has incredible influence within the government and medical establishment. Laws are in place that prohibit the use of nutrition therapy. Medical libraries routinely disregard listing journals which emphasize medical or holistic therapies.

FoodMatters strongly encourages the use of vitamins, preferably through natural organic sources. The movie cites many examples where vitamin C and Niacin therapy treat cancers and suicidal depression with great success. All disregarded by the established medical community.

The movie is about an hour and a half. Their website is www.FoodMatters.tv. I highly recommend the movie. After watching the movie, you’ll feel like juicing an apple or eating some broccoli!

Foodmatters

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Retail Price: $24.95

Amazon Price: $21.99

Food Matters: A Guide to Conscious Eating with More Than 75 Recipes

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Retail Price: $25.00

Amazon Price: $16.50

The Unhealthy Truth: How Our Food Is Making Us Sick - And What We Can Do About It

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Retail Price: $24.95

Amazon Price: $16.47

The Future of Food

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Retail Price: $14.95

Amazon Price: $14.49