Steak and peas

Got really lazy and realized why lazy people like steaks--no fuzz.

Return of my favorite salad

This is my all time favorite: smoke salmon, toasted pine nuts, dry cranberries, my own baby lettuce with balsamic vinaigrette.

Blueberry pancakes

It is blueberry season and eating this turns me into a kid.

Short Ribs

Just can't stay away from short ribs on the Q. This time a lighter marinate: mirin, soy sauce, garlic, Korean chili, rice vinegar and sesame seeds and oil.

Spagetti with Clam Sauce

Fresh manilla clam makes a sweet sauce. Very basic, just garlic, chilli pepper, onion, lemon juice and white wine then parsley and chervil at the last moment. Clean and good.

Redemption

Half of this chicken did not work out yesterday, so I have to make something good to redeem myself. I made this poor man's version of paella and it was good. Salt and pepper and sautee the chicken, remove. Sautee carrot, onion, chilli pepper and garlic until soft. Add tomato paste and then rice and toast around for a minute or so. Add white wine then hot stock (I made it with the back and wing tips and feet of the chicken) to which saffron has been added. Simmer for a few minutes until the water level is down to just over the rice then add the chicken back. Turn down the heat, put on the lid and the rice is ready in a few minutes. Tasty.

Sauteed Chicken and Snap Peas

Chicken sauteed with garlic and herbs. I shouldn't have put the lid on, the chicken's texture turned out a little funny. Good thing is the peas from my garden were fresh and very sweet.

Empty Fridge Dinner

I forgot to defrost more things and was too lazy to go shopping so a fried up some dace fish cakes and a hairy melon soup. It is simple but the very very hot sauce make it interesting.

Amaranth

This is 莧菜 from my garden. One of my favorite summer vegetables. I like it in light soup or sauteed with garlic. A very fast grower, a lot of pressure to eat!

Poached Sockeye

Saved a fresh piece from the barbacue and I poached it with white wine, onion, thyme, parsley, peppercorn and a little salt. Use the poaching liquid to make the veloute sauce. Added some peas and shanghai bak choy from the garden, it is very very seasonal.

Smoke Sockeye

Bought a whole sockeye today and smoked the leftover. Lighter brine and cooler temperature this time, it is less stong than the coho last time but very creamy.

Hen on the Grill

Fit just perfectly. A little salt, a little pepper, a little lemon juice, a little garlic, a little chili pepper and a little olive oil on the bird and that is it. Yummmmm

Must be Summer

The pea pods are plump...


















And the strawberries are ripe.

What Kind of Mess is This?

Blueberries, pecan macaroon and sweeten whipped cream, sort of a darker Eton Mess. I like this one better.

One and A Half Claws

This poor thing just started to grow back that claw and found itself in my pot! Oh, well, saved money for me.