French Press

So I've always been told I'm a "bull in a china shop" and the other day I continued with that.... I was cleaning my coffee pot and smashed it in the sink, needless to say I needed a new one. So never had a French Press and always heard they make a good cup of coffee so I went out and got one. For me when it comes to buying things I go BIG or I just go home. I got the biggest one they had: Bodum Chambord Coffee Press "12 Cups" and today I tried it out. Read the directions which isn't like me at all. For every 4 oz you add 1 tablespoon of course coffee: lets just say this will make Jet Fuel if you need it.

So 24 oz of water boiled on the stove in a pot NOT the French Press. While that was boiling I put 6 tbsp of Dunkin' Dark in the glass container without the press in it. One the water was at a complete boil I poured that into it. Let it sit for a couple minutes and stirred it with a plastic spoon. NOW the tricky part, put the press on and SLOWLY, I MEAN SLOWY press down on it. Don't rush it believe me you don't want coffee grind in your coffee!

So the out come of this: A French Press does make a nice cup of coffee. Its darker then a coffee maker and has a nicer flavor to it, but there is a little more work to it and you need to have the patients to do it. A complete side note you may want to use a less caffeinated coffee, cause you're going to get it all from this!

Finished Product:

Blackened Salmon, Jasmine Rice, Corn off the cob and a Caesar Salad

Blackened Salmon

Follow the recipe for the blackening Seasoning and apply generously to the Salmon 3 hours prior to cooking. I leave the skin on my Salmon and cook them on the grill, Medium temp, with the skin side down first. Leave it there for about 6 mins then you can flip it over. At this point you can peal the skin off. Once skin is pealed off I usually apply more Blackening Seasoning to the bottom side. Cook for another 4 mins and it should be cooked. The Salmon will feel firm when it is fully cooked. If you're not sure what "firm" feels like use the muscle between your thumb and pointer finger for a judgement. Make a fist without clenching tight that would be rare, medium clenching would be medium and a fully clenched fist would be well done. You can use that as your judgement.

"Mint Chip Martini "

2 shots of Vanilla Vodka Stolichnaya

1 to 1 1/2 shots of Creme de Cacao

1/2 shot of Peppermint Schnapps

1 Martini Glass

Put lots of ice in a metal shaker, add the alcohol, shake the hell out of if for a good 20 seconds-REMEMBER the colder it gets the smoother it'll go down. Strain into a Martini glass and serve.

"Pico De Gallo"

3-4 Tomatos diced

1/2 medium sized Shallot finely diced

1/3 to 1/2 cup of frozen corn defrosted

1/3 cup Chopped Cilantro (leaves only)

1 clove of Garlic minced

1 jalapeño seeded and minced (add more or less depending on your liking)

Salt to taste

let it sit after you mix everything up for a while so the flavors marry

Blackening Seasoning

(Fish or Chicken)

Ingredients:

1 teaspoons ground paprika

2 teaspoons dried leaf thyme

1 teaspoons onion powder

1 teaspoons garlic powder

1 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar

1 teaspoons salt

1 teaspoons black pepper

1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, or to your taste

1/2 teaspoon dried leaf oregano

3/8 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Lemonade

2 cups freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 cup of sugar

1/4 cup honey

7-8 cups water

Dissolve the sugar in the water before adding the honey. Once the sugar, honey and water a completely mixed add the lemon juice to the mixture. Place into the refrigerator for 2 hours. Make sure you taste the mixture, you may need to add more of one of the ingredients. (Side note: if you want to dissolve the sugar and honey faster warm the water on the stove then add them.)

I hear that a shot of Southern Comfort in a glass with this comes out pretty well. Or if you're my mother a good splash of Grey Goose.

"the ocean"

Grape Shakka

Ketel One

Tonic Water

Get yourself a "double old fashion" glass and fill it with ice. Then pure about a shot of Grape Shakka into it followed by a shot of Kettle One vodka or whichever vodka you like. Then slowly pure the Tonic water into the glass the "blue" color should stay at the bottom of the glass and create a wave motion. Basically it tastes like a Vodka and Tonic with a hint of grape.

A little bit about me

20 April 2010

So today is the first time I've ever even sat down to think about putting up something like this. I decided to do this when a good friend of mine asked me too cause he was getting sick of seeing my nightly dinners posted on Face Book. I'm sure I'll be posting these blogs for myself and I guess it will be a good way to keep myself busy.

I must warn you of 2 things first:

1. I'm the worst at spelling

2. I do not have any formal culinary training so my food in which I make is from reading, seeing how my parents and friends cooked and from my own pallet.

Heres a little bit about me I recently moved to the West Coast after 31 years living on the East Coast Boston to be exact. Now I'm living on Hermosa Beach, CA and learning to be in the role of the person that takes care of the house, food shopping and cleaning.