9/9/12

Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Gnocchi

Why is Italian food SO intimidating?

Ravioli? Tortellini? Manicotti? Cannoli? Tiramisu?

Gnocchi?

The French may have their delicate sauces, but the Italian have their fair share of intimidating, time consuming items.

So what the hell would possess me to try to make gnocchi? It's literally a two hour process, people.

Answer:
1. A few near-death sweet potatoes
2. A deep love for all things gnocchi
3. Spare time

I definitely recommend that you make gnocchi from scratch just so that you appreciate it even more the next time your order it at a fancy Italian restaurant. I do not, however, recommend making it for a group of people. You would be rolling and cutting and forming for HOURS.

So here goes.

Recipes inspired by The Noshery and All Recipes

Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Gnocchi

3 large sweet potatoes
1/4 tsp dried sage (or 1/2 tsp chopped fresh sage if ya got it)
1 clove garlic, minced
1/8 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
2+ cups whole wheat flour*
1 large egg
*extra flour for rolling

Wash sweet potatoes, pierce 3-4 times with fork or knife. Nuke for 5 minutes on each side.



Remove from microwave, slice in half, and let cool for 5 minutes. Peel off skins.


Mash sweet potato flesh. You could use a ricer if you like doing extra dishes.


The goal is "no chunks". Apply this goal to your entire life.


Add garlic.


Sage.


And nutmeg. Oh, and salt! Mix well so flavors are well distributed.


Add flour and egg.


Mix er up! You're going to have to mess up a hand.


Turn out onto a clean, floured surface. Knead a few times. This makes sure that all ingredients are well distributed. (i.e. that egg)


Working in small batches, roll out dough in tubes the thickness of a finger. Cut into 1 inch pieces.


Here's the tricky part. This it totally optional, but makes gnocchi look restaurant-quality. Dust the back of fork tines in flour. Place the back of the fork on top of the gnocchi pieces. Drag the fork towards you, applying light pressure.


Once the gnocchi reaches the tip of the fork tines, it will be slightly cylindrical.


Repeat 1234378776 times. Place rolled gnocchi on a baking sheet lined with parchment so they can await cooking.


Boil a large pot of water - salt it! Once rolling, lower gnocchi into pot.


Once they float, they are done! About 2-3 minutes.


Remove gnocchi and place on a paper towel so they may drain.  Look at these suckers! omg



Now you have some options on how to dress these little treasures.

1. brown butter and sage
2. with some other items for heartiness, like browned hot italian sausage and spinach
3. cheese sauce

Guess which one I chose?

Romano Cheese Sauce

3 tbsp unsalted butter
3 tbsp flour (I used whole wheat, but I would recommend AP flour unless you have a thing for whole wheat like me)
2 cups low fat milk
1/4 white onion
1/4 tsp dried or fresh sage
1/8 tsp white pepper
4 oz. grated romano

Add 1/4 onion and sage to milk. Warm slightly in the microwave (1-2 minutes).


Meanwhile, make a roux! Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Once it starts to foam, add flour. WHISK WHISK WHISK.  You will whisk for about a minute. This time is critical to cook out the flour-y taste.


Once roux starts to turn a little darker shade of brown, slowly add all of the milk. WHISK WHISK WHISK. This step is critical for lump prevention. 


Once all lumps are out and milk is all incorporated, switch to wooden spoon. Sauce will be thick! Add cheeeeessseeee. Stir well.


Oh hi there, cheese sauce.


Lovingly spoon cheese sauce over pillows of sweet potato gnocchi.


Totally worth it.

9/3/12

EZ Tzatziki

I watch a lot of Food Network, ok?

Ask me what's new on normal channels like abc, nbc, cbs, whatnot? NO clue. Food Network? Yeah, I am aware of what's happening there.

One of the recurring "things" on Diners, Drive-In's, and Dives on Food Network is mispronunciations of  the item "worcestershire" sauce.

There's the verrrryyy literal phonetic interpretation: WAR-chest-er-SHIRE
The British way: WUH-ster
The lazy, are you kidding? way: WUH-she
My favorite way:

But, the generally acceptable way: WUH-sta-sure

And now you know!

I can't think of another culinary word that is more... creatively? ... announced. Except maybe tzatziki.

Tuh-ZEE-kee? Suh-ZEE-kee? Zat-TIKI? Kawasaki?

Tsah-ZEE-kee. And yeah, I'm the kind of person that might correct you. Sorry in advance.

Tzatziki and I? We're pretty tight. You've seen it here before. And in a different version on greek nachos too. But today's version is quick and easy.

If you're like "WTF is tzatziki, bro?":
1. Don't say bro.
2. A yogurt-based greek sauce with cucumber, garlic, and some seasoning that is excellent, will improve any pita/cracker/vegetable/sandwich you ever encounter, and leaves you with just enough garlic breath to be shunned by your friends and family.

Here's how you make it!

Easy Tzatziki
makes ~1 cup

2 cloves garlic
3" english (hot-house) cucumber (you can eat the skin)
3/4 c. nonfat plain greek yogurt
pinch of kosher salt
2 tsp good quality, fruity EVOO



Peel 2 cloves garlic and chop in food processor


SO much easier than chopping!


Add roughly chopped cucumber


Pulse until shredded, but not until pureed


Transfer to a bowl with greek yogurt. Drizzle EVOO and a pinch of salt.


Mix er up!

Here is the worst picture I've ever taken:


But trust me, it's delicious!

8/25/12

China Eats

Wondering where I've been? I have spent the last two weeks exploring China! 

Like any normal person, my favorite part of travel is food. I will admit, I was nervous about China since I absolutely hate what I know as "Chinese" food here in America.... and I'm really not a picky eater. Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, yes, loves it. But Chinese? Meh.

Well it's a good thing that food in China is not like American Chinese food. 

The best thing I ate were these little dumplings filled with hot broth and pork meatballs. It's a feat of science. How did they get the soup inside the dumpling!?!?! I learned the secret and I plan to recreate these here at home (just minus the pork).

That's another thing. SO MUCH PORK. And I really try to avoid pork... China consumes half of the world's pork supply. The average Chinese consumes 39kg or 85 lbs of pork per year. (sourced) Imagine my horror. I love pigs, I don't want to eat them.

Well I probably ate a whole pig in China. Sorry, future pet pig. 

Other pro's: Noodles (oodles!), tons of veggies, tofu tofu tofu!, cheap beer, watermelon!!, international selection

Con's: when shit got spicy, shit got spicy. (i.e. hot pot), and mystery meat

mall noodles 
candy selection in a department store

lunch at Ericsson canteen in Beijing

lunch at Taiwan Airport

my favorite meal on the trip, post great wall. So many dishes! So little tummy space! This egg and tomato business on the right was a favorite.

when in china? no.

mystery street food=preventative pepto

yin and yang mcdonald's sandwiches

stretched noodles!

fresh and delicious

for all the tea in china...

tea ceremony

cute, but non-delicious dumplings

again, nothing delicious


saucy

a face?

hot pot pain.

sushi in shanghai! 

pho in shanghai, unfortunately disappointing.

food safety ratings reflecting how my tummy felt in china. 
It was an adventure for the taste buds! China has changed my mind on Chinese food, though I think it will be difficult to find authentic Chinese here in Ventura County. But for a bit I am going to reward my tummy with my American food.

I missed cheese.