Food Links

2010 "IN" list for diners
Chicago Tribune

12 Great soups, unfortunately you'll have to go to Detroit to get them.
Freep

China may ban cat meat. Dog meat too.
NY Mag

Master pizza maker Chris Bianco of Pizzeria Bianco is taking a leave due to health reasons.
AZ Central

Awesome Kale and White Bean Stew recipe.

Lentil Soup

Lentil Soup Recipe

What you'll need:

3/4 pound of bacon (chopped)
2 lbs Lentils (rinsed)
2 Med Size Onion (diced)
4 Garlic Cloves (whole)
2 White Potatoes (diced)
6 Carrots (Chunked)
1 Tablespoon Oregano
3 Tablespoons Parsely
1/4 cup Parmesean cheese
Salt/Pepper
1/2 Red Bell Pepper (chopped fine)
32 Oz Broth (Any, chicken/beef/veggie)
2 Cups water

What to do:

First rinse your lentils and be sure to look for any lil stones. Place them in a pot, cover them with water and boil. Once they boil turn the heat off and let them sit for an hour or two. Set aside.

Now for the soup, render the bacon until crispy. While the bacon gets crispy add in the onions. Once the onions are translucent and the bacon is crispy add the diced peppers, chunked up carrots and the garlic cloves. Add the water now. Then turn up the heat to a boil. Once it starts to boil add the diced potatoes and the dreid seasonings. Don't forget salt and pepper but be easy on the salt. Bacon and cheese in this recipe. Now you'll boil this for about 15 minutes.

Then start adding in the rinsed lentils, spoonful at a time all the while stirring them in. Continue to leave the pot at a boil. Once you've emptied all the lentils into the soup you'll boil this for about 10 minutes. Now reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for about an hour. Add some cheese right before serving. Or to order. Mangia.

Great Dinner

A steak that needs no hout sauce. Great fliet last night.

News and Notes

Michael Symon's burger joint sounds awesome.

Pizzeria Uno claimed Bankruptcy.

That is all for now.

Party Menu

Bruschetta : You know, chopped tomatoes, basil mixture on some grilled crusty bread.

Salami/Olives/Cheeses/Hams: Parmagiano Reggiano, Smoked Mozz, Cheddar, Smoked Gouda, Sopressota, Proscuitto, etc.

Shrimp Avocado Endive Bites : It's a shrimp salad (shrimp/scallions/celery/carrots mixed with olive oil and lemon or lime juice, toasted sesame seeds) placed on an endive leaf with tiny bites of Avocado.

Chicken Quesadilla : Self explanatory I think

Pulled Pork Sliders : In the Slow-cooker. Dry rubbed and placed on a bed of green peppers and onions. Cooked in BBQ sauce for 7 hours. Unreal.

Gauc/Salsa with chips. Various other chip dips. Standard veggie platter.

The Ziti is baked.

Baked Ziti.

Boil your pasta. Strain. Return to pot.

Sauce. Add Ricotta, shredded mozz, dried basil, dried parsley, grated cheese.

Mix well.

Pour into oiled baking vessel, pyrex or a cake pan.

Top with more cheese.

Bake 35-40 min, 375.

Bake again for 5-7 minutes at 500 to crip cheese on top or broil for 2 minutes.

Mangia.

Bisquick Tarts

Recipe for the FM's of our worlds. Easy, and impressive and tasty as a quick dessert. You ever find yourself taking on some last minute company? Whip up a quick batch of these tarts. The secret is Bisquick.

450 degree oven, 10-15 minutes (12)
Tarts
2 cups Bisquick
2 tablespoons of white sugar
1/4 butter, soft
2/3 cup milk
pie filling/jelly

Glaze
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
drop of milk

Mix dry ingredients together, cut in soft butter. Add the milk, mix well with wooden spoon. You'll get a sticky looking cookie dough texture. Good news. Preheat oven to 450, grease a large baking sheet. With a tablespoon, round out a good portion of the dough and place on the sheet. Keep about 2" in between each tart. With a wet fingertip, place a small button hole for the filling. Fill with a pie filling of your choice or if you don't have that jelly would be fine. I really like blackberry reserves.

Glaze
2 tablespoons of powdered sugar, add a drop of milk. Mix furiously until you develop a glaze. Add more milk if the texture is not there. A drop at a time though, too much and you'll just have sugared milk instead of a sugar glaze. Glaze the tarts right when they come out. Serve.