Thursday, October 8, 2009
WHAT'S COOKIN THIS MONTH
Autumn marks the transition from summer into winter and when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier. Autumn is also associated with the Halloween season. Here in Southern California the oncoming season is hard to fathom. Warm weather has us still craving salads and cold soup. This is a great time to pull out some of my Autumn reciepes and few Halloween party treats. Let have some fun with this year harvest crops and spooky eye ball soup
History of Columbus Day
The first recorded celebration honoring the discovery of America by Europeans took place on October 12, 1792 in New York City. The event, which celebrated the 300th anniversary of Columbus' landing in the New World.
San Francisco's Italian community held their first Columbus Day celebration in 1869. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison urged citizens to participate in the the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus' first voyage. It was during this event that the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publically for the first time. Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905.
In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as "Columbus Day" and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.
Test your knowledge on Columbus
1) Which ship did Columbus command on his first voyage to the New World?
Nina
Pinta
Santa Maria
2) When was the first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the United States?
1692
1792
1892
3) The Santa Maria was shipwrecked off the coast of this present-day island:
Haiti
Cuba
Trinidad
4) During which voyage was Columbus led back to Spain in shackles?
2nd voyage
3rd voyage
4th voyage
5) Columbus declared himself governor of this island:
Hispaniola
Puerto Rico
Jamaica
I will post the answers on Columbus day
San Francisco's Italian community held their first Columbus Day celebration in 1869. In 1892, President Benjamin Harrison urged citizens to participate in the the 400th anniversary celebration of Columbus' first voyage. It was during this event that the Pledge of Allegiance, written by Francis Bellamy, was recited publically for the first time. Colorado was the first state to observe the holiday in 1905.
In 1937, President Roosevelt proclaimed October 12 as "Columbus Day" and in 1971, President Nixon declared the second Monday of October a national holiday.
Test your knowledge on Columbus
1) Which ship did Columbus command on his first voyage to the New World?
Nina
Pinta
Santa Maria
2) When was the first recorded celebration of Columbus Day in the United States?
1692
1792
1892
3) The Santa Maria was shipwrecked off the coast of this present-day island:
Haiti
Cuba
Trinidad
4) During which voyage was Columbus led back to Spain in shackles?
2nd voyage
3rd voyage
4th voyage
5) Columbus declared himself governor of this island:
Hispaniola
Puerto Rico
Jamaica
I will post the answers on Columbus day
Friday, September 25, 2009
JERKED CHICKEN WINGS
If you love to grill, try this Buffalo Wings they are great
3 pounds chicken wings
1/2-cup lime or lemon juice
3/4 cup Jerk Marinade (recipe follows), divided use
Use a sharpened cleaver to chop between the wing and leg sections of the chicken wings and separate. Place in a large container, pour over lime or lemon juice, and rinse under cold running water. Pat dry and place the wings in a large non reactive container.
Pour over 1/2 cup of the Jerk Marinade and ensure that all the wings are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove marinated wings from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling and let stand at room temperature. Discard marinade left in container from wings.
Place the chicken wings over medium-hot coals and grill for about 15 minutes on one side. Turning once. Baste with the remaining 1/4 cup of the Jerk Marinade and grill for an additional 10 minutes, or until wings are browned to your taste.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve.
JERK MARINADE
This marinade works equally well with chicken, fish or ribs.
1 teaspoon ground Jamaican pimento (allspice)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (green and white parts)
4 Scotch Bonnet peppers or 6 jalapenos, stems removed and cut in halves, retaining seeds
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon salt
Pinch of garlic powder
Combine all ingredients in a blender of food processor. Process or blend on the liquefy setting for 2 minutes.
Pour into a jar and refrigerate until ready for use. Jerk marinade will remain good indefinitely as long as it is covered and kept refrigerated. Makes 1 cup
3 pounds chicken wings
1/2-cup lime or lemon juice
3/4 cup Jerk Marinade (recipe follows), divided use
Use a sharpened cleaver to chop between the wing and leg sections of the chicken wings and separate. Place in a large container, pour over lime or lemon juice, and rinse under cold running water. Pat dry and place the wings in a large non reactive container.
Pour over 1/2 cup of the Jerk Marinade and ensure that all the wings are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove marinated wings from the refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling and let stand at room temperature. Discard marinade left in container from wings.
Place the chicken wings over medium-hot coals and grill for about 15 minutes on one side. Turning once. Baste with the remaining 1/4 cup of the Jerk Marinade and grill for an additional 10 minutes, or until wings are browned to your taste.
Transfer to a serving platter and serve.
JERK MARINADE
This marinade works equally well with chicken, fish or ribs.
1 teaspoon ground Jamaican pimento (allspice)
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup finely chopped scallions (green and white parts)
4 Scotch Bonnet peppers or 6 jalapenos, stems removed and cut in halves, retaining seeds
1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 Tablespoon salt
Pinch of garlic powder
Combine all ingredients in a blender of food processor. Process or blend on the liquefy setting for 2 minutes.
Pour into a jar and refrigerate until ready for use. Jerk marinade will remain good indefinitely as long as it is covered and kept refrigerated. Makes 1 cup
Monday, September 21, 2009
Chicken Wings and Health
No doubt about it, if you are going to enjoy true Buffalo-style wings in all their glory, you will be eating the skin. The skin is indeed the fatty part, comprised of 17% fat, yet it also lends the most flavors along with the sauce of choice.
If the oil is hot enough when you fry the wings, much of the fat will cook off into the frying oil while sealing in the juice of the meat, leaving a nice crispy skin.
Baking is also an alternative. Bake until crispy on a rack inside a baking pan to catch the drips, and then dip into hot sauce mixture.
If you are watching your fat intake and must avoid the skin, some markets carry skinless drummettes, both fresh and frozen. Try baking them and dredging in a hot sauce, but you'll also want to forego the traditional butter that is mixed in with the hot sauce.
If the oil is hot enough when you fry the wings, much of the fat will cook off into the frying oil while sealing in the juice of the meat, leaving a nice crispy skin.
Baking is also an alternative. Bake until crispy on a rack inside a baking pan to catch the drips, and then dip into hot sauce mixture.
If you are watching your fat intake and must avoid the skin, some markets carry skinless drummettes, both fresh and frozen. Try baking them and dredging in a hot sauce, but you'll also want to forego the traditional butter that is mixed in with the hot sauce.
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