This dish takes a bit of skill. Many I’ve talked to just can’t get the sauce right, and it’s a matter of knowing the texture you are looking for. This lends itself to a thought – a couple posts in the future on sauces, especially those that start with a roux. Depending on the interest, I’ll start thinking about an upcoming ‘sauce series.’

Now the cream sauce for today’s dish:

Start with a stick (1/4 lb) of butter and melt in the pan. Slowly add 4-5 tablespoons flour while whisking continuously. Before the roux (this flour/butter mix) starts to brown, add one pint heavy cream, still whisking. Once the cream is incorporated, add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese.

Serve over poached salmon and shrimp or scallops, whichever you prefer. You can choose among many sidedishes, we prefer to keep it simple, brown rice and steamed carrots.

Any leftover sauce can be the start of a nice mac and cheese for lunch.

Enjoy.

written by admin \\ tags: cream sauce, salmon, shrimp

When visiting New York City, there’s one thing you can’t miss, the hot dog vendors. And there’s one thing these vendors have that we’ve not seen anywhere else, the onions they put on top, along with mustard and sauerkraut. Not just any brand, this is specific to the Sabrett vendors. We recently made this recipe and would like to share it here.

SABRETT’S HOT DOG ONIONS
1 1/2 teaspoons olive oil
1 medium onion, sliced thin & chopped
4 cups water
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons corn syrup
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup vinegar

Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.
Saute sliced onion in the oil for 5 minutes, until onions are
soft, but not brown.
Add water, tomato paste, corn syrup, cornstarch, salt and red
pepper flakes, and stir.
Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.
Add vinegar. Continue to simmer for an additiona1 30 to 45 minutes (last 15 or so minutes with no lid)
or until most of the liquid has reduced and the sauce is thick.
Makes about 1 cup.

For anyone who has eaten the original, and tries this, let us know what changes you’d suggest, it’s 99% of the way there but we suspect it can still use some minor tinkering. Enjoy.

Note: The recipe used to include 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, but we found it too spicy and don’t add it any longer.

written by admin \\ tags: hot dog onions, New York, Sabrett

You may have been using the jarred sauces, and we’ll admit to using them as well, from time to time. But there’s nothing like the taste of homemade. This is the next recipe in our “cooking for the week” series, as you can use this sauce for multiple meals during the week and/or freeze a portion for another time. Next week we will use this sauce to make a lasagna.

3 cans (28oz ea) tomatoes (whole or crushed)
1 large onion
1 tbl garlic
1 tbl oregano
1 tbl basil
1/2 tsp black pepper

Cut onion, I like it chunky, so it’s cut top to bottom (like you’d cut an orange) into 8 sections. You may prefer it minced. Then fry in olive oil. As onion starts to brown, add the garlic and continue to fry a few minutes more, then add the tomatoes, and the spices. Let this simmer on low for about 3 hours. Yes, 3 hours. Use a screen if it splatters. Stir every 15-20 minutes. For a meat sauce, add 1-1/2 lbs or so of ground beef or ground turkey. This is a pretty basic sauce, and takes on additional ingredients pretty readily, add peppers, carrots, peas, or other garden vegetables if you wish.
Back next week with the lasagna.

written by admin \\ tags: cooking for the week, italian cooking, pasta sauce, recipe