Salty, Sour, Bitter, Sweet.

BBBT - Bacon, Basil, Bagel & Tomato

2011-09-13T14:49:00.002-04:00

Savory French Toast with Pan Fried Basil and Cherry Tomatoes

2011-09-12T10:37:00.001-04:00

There was a time when breakfast was unnecessary for me. I'd wake up and cruise on empty until lunch, never really interested in taking the time to stop and eat. Recently that's all changed and I'm starving in the morning, waking up dreaming of french toast.

Cinnamon and apples is great but I needed a break from it so I've added savory French Toast to the menu. I highly recommend it for a change of pace.

Caramelized Pears

2011-09-09T18:15:00.003-04:00

Full disclosure on this one, I just wanted to play with the torch. There's something about cooking with a finger of flame that makes everything a bit more fun. Watching things caramelize is so much different than a hot surface where you hear it, you feel it, but you can't see it. The blowtorch head might be the oldest thing I own, a gift from a good friend in high school. It was a gag gift, something every teenage boy wants but has no business having in their possession. By my estimates this Bernzo' is 16 years old, and even though it spent the first half of it's life sitting as a trophy the second half has been full of caramelized bananas, perfectly cooked meats, and now, caramelized pears.

They'll end up on some of the ricotta I can't stop making, maybe with some french toast style angel food cake underneath.

Home Made Ricotta, with Red Pepper & Shallot Soup

2011-09-08T10:30:00.005-04:00

Home Made Ricotta, Used in a Zucchini Lasagna

2011-09-06T19:05:00.000-04:00

Salmon, Baby Yukons, and Broccolini

2011-06-14T22:56:00.004-04:00

Frushi

2011-06-14T22:51:00.005-04:00

Frushi!

Tip: adding toasted coconut to the frushi gives you a taste somewhere between rice pudding and macaroons.

2011-01-09T21:52:00.000-05:00

Caramelized Apple Bread Pudding

2010-12-26T14:37:00.004-05:00

Bacon Wrapped Scallops

2010-06-22T22:15:00.011-04:00

Step 1. Roll scallop in bacon
Step 2. Repeat with chili flakes and sea salt
Step 3. ?
Step 4. Profit!

Burgers with homemade Basil-Mint-Mayo, Fries.

2010-06-21T21:02:00.012-04:00

Basil grilled wild salmon.

2010-06-19T23:01:00.009-04:00

Rub Salmon with a small amount of olive oil, salt, and fresh cracked pepper.

Firmly Stick a fresh Basil leaf to the fish.

Sprinkle with a small amount of cayenne pepper.

Toss on a hot grill with lenghtwise quartered yellow squash and zucchini, also oiled and salted.

3 Minutes on each side, and voila!

RGB Panna Cotta

2010-06-12T21:48:00.022-04:00

Rosemary Garlic Bacon (RGB) Panna Cotta.

RGB Panna Cotta:

Ingredients: (for a 1/4 cup serving, which, believe me, is plenty.)

1/2 of a piece of thick cut bacon
1/2 of a large clove of garlic
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 sprig rosemary
1/3 of a packet of gelatin

To begin:
Brown 1/2 of a piece of thick cut bacon. as it is finishing add roughly chopped rosemary and a finely minced large clove of garlic. A dash of salt and pepper won't hurt anyones feeling either.
Turn the heat to the lowest setting, and let this sit for 3-5 minutes.
Remove from pan, divide, 1/2 goes into food processor, 1/2 goes into the cups you are going to use for the final product. I also added more pepper to the tops of these cups. Also make sure to get all the fat out of the pan and into the food processor.
To food processor add 1/4 cup heavy cream, blend until nearly smooth.
I strained mine at this point, to eliminate a small amount of residual liquid that came from the garlic cooking.
Set up a double boiler, empty the food processor into it, and them add another 2-3 table spoons of cream and 1/3 packet/envelope of gelatin.
Get this to almost a low boil for a few minutes, and then spoon it into cups and chill for 60+ minutes.
You will need to run a knife around the edge of the mold in order to release your bacony treat.
Garnish with a few leaves of fresh rosemary, and if your feeling adventurous, serve atop a steak, pile of mashed potatoes, or a scallop.