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Showing posts with label pork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pork. Show all posts

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Get to know your Butcher on CBC's Weekend Morning Show

 This morning on CBC's Weekend Morning Show with interim host Laurie Hoogstraten, I am featuring a pork dish using pork buttons that I got from Denny's Meat Market.  This is a rather "old school" kind of cut of pork and many stores and butcher shops don't carry them any longer but these are so simple to prepare and a great value. 

I'm always telling people to get to know where they get their fish, vegetables and meats.  Getting to know your butcher is really recommended for your own interest.  They will give you a great deal of information on what you want or what you may try and they may specialize in products that you can't find anywhere else.  Denny's Meat Market, for example, also specializes in fresh sausages of a wide range of flavours.

For this dish, you can use the pork buttons, pork belly, or cuts for Kalbi.  For the vegetarians, this segment doesn't leave you out either.  You can use the marinade for seitan, tofu, eggplant, firm mushrooms or cauliflower.





Dwaejibulgogi (from Maangchi.com)

For the marinade :
½ cup of crushed Asian Pear
¼ cup onion purée (I put a yellow onion and the garlic in a small blender container with a bit of water and puréed it)
4 cloves of minced garlic
½ ts of minced ginger
1 chopped green onion
1 tbs soy sauce
2 tbs brown sugar
a pinch of ground black pepper
2 ts of toasted sesame oil
3 tbs hot Korean pepper paste (Kochujiang)

I used a package of pork buttons from Denny’s Meat Market.  I let them marinade for several hours.  You can then grill, broil or cook in a pan until tender.  Serve with rice, lettuce leaves, fresh chilies, green onions, or on their own as an appetizer.

Enjoy!

Monday, October 07, 2013

Tempting Thai Treasures with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and the MLCC


 Tomorrow I will be presenting the following recipes for the Assiniboine Park Conservancy at the Madison Square MLCC.  Please check the Leisure Guide to register for others.  Loads of fun.  Bran Adams, Education Coordinator at the Assiniboine Park Conservancy will lead the discussion on the plant life represented in the recipes and MLCC Product Consultant Jody will present beverage pairings.

Last week it was too hectic to take photos.  I hope that I can get some photos tomorrow.
1. Crab Rangoon
1 clove garlic, minced
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese
1 (6 ounce) can crabmeat, drained and flaked
2 green onions with tops, thinly sliced
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon light soy sauce
48 wonton wrappers

Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Lightly spray baking sheet with cooking spray.

Combine garlic, cream cheese, crab, green onions, Worcestershire sauce, and soy sauce in a bowl. To prevent wonton skins from drying, prepare only 1 or 2 rangoon at a time. Place 1 teaspoon of filling onto the center of each wonton skin. Moisten the edges with water and fold the wonton skin diagonally to form a triangle, pressing edges to seal. Moisten one of the bottom corners. Create a crown by pulling both bottom corners together and sealing. Arrange the rangoon on the baking sheet and lightly spray with cooking spray.

Bake in the preheated oven until golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes.

2. Salad wraps with peanut sauce
SERVES 4-6 as an appetizer
1 pkg. small, round rice wrappers (dried)
1 to 1 1/2 cups thin vermicelli rice noodles, cooked and run through with cold water, drained
3/4 to 1 cup cooked shrimp, OR 3/4 cup baked or fried tofu, or roasted chicken or turkey, cut into matchsticks
1-2 cups bean sprouts
½ cup fresh Thai basil or sweet basil, roughly chopped
½ cup fresh coriander, roughly chopped
¼ cup shredded carrot
3-4 spring onions, cut into matchstick pieces
2 Tbsp. soy sauce (or wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp.fish sauce (use black vinegar if vegetarian
1 tsp. brown sugar

Optional: TAMARIND DIPPING SAUCE:

½ cup water
½ tsp. tamarind paste
2 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce (or wheat-free soy sauce for gluten-free diets)
1 Tbsp. fish sauce OR vegetarian black vinegar
1 heaping tsp. arrowroot powder (or cornstarch) dissolved in 3 Tbsp. water
1 clove garlic, minced
1 green or red chili, finely sliced OR 1/2 tsp. dried crushed chili or cayenne pepper

Peanut Dipping Sauce
2 tbs grated ginger
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
2 tablespoons Soya Sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sweet miso
2 tablespoons mirin or sake
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (add more for spicier satay)


1.             Set rice wrappers aside. In a cup, stir together the soy sauce, vinegar, fish sauce (if using) and sugar.
2.             Place all other ingredients for the fresh rolls in a large mixing bowl and drizzle the soy sauce mixture over. Toss to mix.
3.             Fill a large bowl with hot water (but not boiling, as you’ll be dipping your fingers into it). Start by submerging one wrapper into the water. It should soften after 30 seconds.
4.             Remove the wrapper and place on a clean surface. Add another wrapper to the hot water as you fill and roll the first one.
5.             Place a heaping tablespoon of roll ingredients toward the bottom of the wrapper. Spread out the ingredients horizontally (in the shape of a fresh roll).
6.             Fold the sides of the wrapper over the ingredients, then bring up the bottom. Tuck the bottom around the ingrdients and roll to the top of the wrapper.
7.             To serve, place your platter or bowl of rolls on the table along with the dipping sauce. Eat with your fingers and lots of napkins. Enjoy!

To make the Tamarind Dipping Sauce (optional): simply mix all dipping sauce ingredients together in a saucepan and heat.
When near boiling, reduce heat to low, stirring until sauce thickens.
Taste for saltiness, spiciness, and sweetness, adding more fish sauce (instead of salt), more sugar, or more chili as desired.
Note: the sauce can be served warm or cold. With fresh rolls, I personally prefer a warm sauce to contrast with the cool rolls)

3. Pork Satay

1 lb pork shoulder or butt in slices
2 tbs grated ginger
1/4 cup hot water
1/2 cup peanut butter (chunky or smooth)
2 tablespoons Soya Sauce
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons sweet miso
2 tablespoons mirin or sake
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (add more for spicier satay)

Mix ginger, water, peanut butter, soya sauce, vinegar, miso, mirin or sake and pepper flakes. Add vegetarian chicken strips. Let marinade in the refrigerator for at least one hour. Skewer and grill on the BBQ or sauté in a non-stick skillet. Enjoy as an appetizer, salad wrap or with rice or noodles.

Enjoy!

* Traditional recipe for pork, chicken, or beef satay.

3. Thai Coconut Curry (serves 2-4)

4 boneless skinless chicken thighs
½ tin “Lite” coconut milk
2-3 tbs yellow curry paste, to desired heat (yellow curry paste does not contain any shrimp)
1 tbs grated ginger
1 tbs grated lemon grass
1 tsp sugar (optional)
splash Mirin
3-5 Kefir Lime leaves
drizzle olive oil
salt, to taste

Mix the last 9 ingredients in a bowl and add chicken thighs. Marinate for a few hours. Place on a hot grill, turning for grill marks at two minutes, and flipping over at four minutes. Repeat for grill marks at the next two minutes.

Serving suggestion:  Place rested cooked chicken on a toasted or warmed flatbread such as naan or pita. Add favourite grilled vegetables and wrap up. Wrap again in foil and place in an insulated bag or enjoy cold.

* These ingredients can be found at most Asian specialty stores such as Sun Wah and Oriental Market on King St. or Young’s Market on William and on McPhilips.

For an elegant entrée presentation, try using a stem of fresh lemon grass as a skewer before grilling or frying.


Monday, January 21, 2013

Ribs on CBC's Weekend Morning Show!

On Saturday I had a distinct pleasure of presenting the following recipe for CBC's Weekend Morning Show with host Ismaila Alfa.  Ribs are so easy to prepare and come in quite a variety of forms.  Try these with our wonderful Berkshire Pork, great beef, lamb or goat from Manitoba! Come in to Arkadash Bistro and Lounge for a taste.

Spanish Smoky Ribs

1 rack ribs (pork baby back, lamb, goat, beef short, etc)
3 tbs Dijon mustard
3 tbs honey
1 tsp hot smoked paprika
3 tbs butter
3 tbs olive oil
3 tbs Bourbon or Whiskey (optional, but a good option)
pinch salt

Place ribs in baking dish and set oven to 350ºF.  Cook remaining ingredients in a saucepan.  Cover ribs with sauce.  Cover baking dish with lid or foil.  Bake for a few hours, basting occasionally, until meat is tender and ready to fall off of the bone.  Serve and enjoy!



There are many variations on ribs possible.  Try with your favourite spice blend, marmalade and seasonings.  Ras el Hanout, a Moroccan spice blend, will soon be available at Arkadash Bistro and Lounge.  Cooking lessons now available at Arkadash Bistro and Lounge starting Monday, January 28th.  Book now to reserve your space.

Saturday, February 20, 2010

This morning on CBC Weekend Morning Show - Cuban Pulled Pork

This morning I had the pleasure of presenting a very simple slow cooker recipe for Cuban pulled Pork on the Weekend Morning Show with Kerän Sanders on CBC Radio. For sources of local naturally raised pork in Manitoba, please see http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/livestock/mbmeat/mb_meat_pork.html. The tortillas are also a wonderful local product from Winkler, Manitoba by Sunny Day Products that I have found at Mercadito Latino on Henderson Hwy and at Dino's Grocery Mart on Notre Dame.


Cuban Pulled Pork

½ cup lime juice
¼ cup water
¼ cup grapefruit juice
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
2 bay leaves
One 3-pound boneless pork shoulder roast (I used a pork butt cut)
1 cup sliced onion

• In a small bowl combine the lime juice, water, grapefruit juice, garlic, oregano, salt, cumin, pepper, and bay leaves.
• Trim the fat from the meat. If necessary, cut the roast so that it will fit easily in the slow cooker. Pierce the meat in several places; then place it in a large plastic resealable bag or a large glass bowl.
• Pour the marinade over the meat. Chill in the refrigerator for 6 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
• Place the sliced onion in a 3 ½- to 5-quart slow cooker. Top with the meat and the marinade mixture.
• Cover the crock pot and cook on the low-heat setting for 10 to 12 hours or on the high-heat setting for 5 to 6 hours.
• Transfer the meat to a cutting board and cool slightly.
• Skim the fat from the juices in the slow cooker and remove the bay leaves.
• Use 2 forks to gently separate the meat into shreds; then transfer the shredded meat to a serving platter.
• With a slotted spoon, remove the onions from the juices; then transfer the onions to same serving platter.
• Wrap the meat and onions in the tortillas and serve with small bowls of the hot juices and Pico de Gallo. If desired, add lettuce and guacamole.

I found this recipe to have wonderful flavours but I also added hot smoked paprika after shredding the meat with forks. I later added the sauce from canned chipotle peppers.

Enjoy!