Viennese Cherry Walnut Strudel w/ Amaretto Whipped Cream

Had a blast making this simple but irresistibly delicious treat from Austria for Mom’s birthday dinner party.

Indulgent Pesto Mushrooms

Stem/clean some Cremini/Portobello Mushrooms. (They’re actually the same mushroom, just different ages!)

Arrange Shrooms on a plate and cover with a bowl.

Microwave for 30-45 sec.

Fill warmed Mushrooms with Basil Pesto and, if on-hand, top it off with a candied Jalapeño.

Again, cover the plate and microwave for another 1.5-2 minutes at about 1000MW.

For additional umami, garnish with roasted seaweed (Kizami Nori きざみのり).

10-Minute Citrus-Poached Catfish

Fill a skillet with a 1/2 inch of water, add a splash of citrusy vinegar — Calamansi Balsamic was on-hand for this instance– or a  squeeze of fresh lemon. 

Bring to a boil over medium / 60% heat.

With scales down, cook the catfish for 4-5 min in the uncovered skillet.

Flip the fish, add spinach atop, and cover.  Cook another 3-4 min, or until the fish and greens are cooked. There should only be a little liquid remaining.

Remove from heat.

Using two turners, flip the fish and leaves onto a plate so the fish has a vibrant bed of green. 

Drizzle broth atop the finished product.

Bon Appetit!

Belt fish Stew with 밥, 누룽지, & 숭늉

Belt Fish Stew with 밥, 누룽지, 숭늉

Vietnamese Meatball Soup with Rice Noodles

Vietnamese Meatball Soup with Rice Noodles

Garden Vegetable Soirée

Lightly Charred Yellow Squash dusted with Paprika & Perilla.

Fanned Potatoes avec Purple Carrot and Fresh Sage & Rosemary.

Arugula Salad with Flash-Frozen Cherry Tomatoes and Turnip-Cabbage Misozuke.

A drizzle of Olive Oil unifies the plate resting upon the Carrot Greens.

Citrus Ginger-Beers

Lime Ginger-Beer

These effervescent refreshers rose-out of the quest to concoct the most gingery punch-in-the-face devisable in liquid form.

Gardener’s Red Wine Pizza Pie

All the leftover pie dough had to go somewhere!

Caramel-Drizzled Banana Cream Pie w/ Chocolate Sauce.

My friend Charlie and I whipped-up this masterpiece rendition of Chef Emeril’s Banana Cream Pie recipe.
Guess what’s coming to work in the morning.
ლ(´ڡ`ლ)

Strawberry Chutney

In preparing to cut-up the leftover half of a watermelon, the quart-sized Ziploc of formerly frozen strawberries Mom had given me revealed itself.  Never one to waste food, these babies quickly found themselves boiling with a few splashes of White Wine & Apple Cider vinegars.