Tag Archives: Food

Cioppino

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This is a recipe that I really like … I originally found it on the American Diabetes Association web site, but it moved … I found it again here and decided to reproduce it here, just in case it moves again.

  • Makes: 9
  • Serving Size: 1 cup
  • Preparation Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 1 1/2 hours

Ingredients

1Tbsp.olive oil
1Tbsp.butter
2Stalkscelery, chopped
1largeonion, chopped
4Clovesgarlic, chopped
1can(28 oz.) crushed tomatoes
2cupsclam juice or fish stock
1cupdry white wine (such as Pinot Grigio)
1cupwater
1Juice of 1 lemon
1tsp.worcestershire sauce
1bay leaf
1tsp.dried oregano
1tsp.dried basil
1/2tsp.crushed red pepper flakes
1 1/2lbs.halibut, cut into 1 inch cubes
24largepeeled and deveined shrimp
12mussels
salt and pepper to taste
1/2cupminced parsley

Directions

  1. Heat the oil and butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add the celery, onions, and garlic, and sauté for 6 to 8 minutes. Add the tomatoes, clam juice, wine, water, lemon juice, worcestershire sauce, bay leaf, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes.
  2. Bring to a simmer, lower the heat, and simmer, covered, for 1 hour. Uncover and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. Add the halibut, shrimp, and mussels. Cover and increase the heat to medium high. Steam the seafood until the mussels have opened. Remove the bay leaf before tasting and seasoning with salt and pepper.

Nutritional Information

PER SERVING
Makes: 9
Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories195
Fat6g
Saturated Fat1.5g
Trans Fat0g
Carbohydrate12g
Fiber3g
Sugars7g
Cholesterol65mg
Sodium385mg
Protein24g
Choices: Vegetable 2, Lean meat 3

Reality TV

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next_iron_chef.jpgI’ve never been a big fan of reality TV … but I have to say, I’m really enjoying the show “The Next Iron Chef” on Food TV.   I’ve always enjoyed The Iron Chef (although I do admit to liking the American version better than the original, Japanese, version … maybe because it’s easier to follow).

It really seems to show the pressure that the chef’s are under and the extraordinary challenges they are presented with.

I also see a genuine camaraderie amoung the chefs … they clearly know each other, know each others cooking, and respect each other.   They are friendly rivals instead of being out and out combatants.

I like the fact that Alton Brown, acting as commentator & moderator, is able to participate in the evaluation … if not acting as a full judge.

The other judges I could take or leave … they are unimpressive at the very best.   Boring in some respects.   This last episode, in the Lufthansa’s catering facilities, they included the head chef from Lufthansa … who added a unique perspective.   I really liked his inclusion in the judging.   IMO, he was probably the only person qualified to really judge this competition.

(warning, spoiler ahead)

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Interesting Weekend

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We had a very interesting weekend … did some fun stuff … saw some thing interesting, and encountered a new situation.

First, the fun stuff … we went to the Darwin exhibit at the Field Museum with my parents. It was quite interesting and informative. It covered both his Theory of Evolution, his personal life, and some discussion of Evolution in general. Did you know that he almost didn’t go on the Beagle voyage? He had asked his father for permission, but it was denied. After some huranging, he got is father to agree that … if Charles could get a reasonable person (in his father’s opinion, of course) to present good reasons for him to go on the voyage, he would allow it. Charles worked with his uncle, who his father apparently thought was reasonable, to put together a point by point rebuttal for all Mr. Darwin’s arguments against going.

After the museum, we decided to go for dinner … we didn’t want to go for Greek food, as that’s what we have a habit of doing. We also didn’t want Chinese, because Ginny and I just had Chinese food.

We decided on Italian … and found a place about two miles west of the loop for dinner. As we were driving there, I spotted a yellow cab that was a Ford Escape Hybrid. Considering how taxis drive, a hybrid vehicle makes a lot of sense. It was a 2008 model, which I’m not a big fan of … but it’s better than anything else. That was the interesting bit.

On to the weird … we got to the restaurant, had to wait a bit of time for a friend to join us, ordered and ate. The food was good. We were ready to leave, asked for the check, and I tried to give the waitress my AMEX card. She waved me off saying that they didn’t take that. So I asked her if Discover was OK. She clarified by saying that they didn’t take ANY credit cards. I only had $20 cash in my wallet. Luckily dad had some cash.

I was kind of shocked … I had never encountered a main-stream restaurant that didn’t take credit cards. I wonder what they do if someone shows up, orders, eats, but doesn’t have enough cash?