Brine?

I tried to brine these pieces before grilling. Not a good idea, got really smoky and not the good kind of smoke. So, remember, brinning is for the oven!

Poached Halibut

I recently taught this so someone who wanted a easy way to cook halibut. I figure since I have not make this for a while, I should do it again to make sure I did not make a mistake.

I put chicken stock, a mixture of dry wild mushrooms, white mushrooms, ginger, salt, peanut oil, white pepper, and halibut all into the pot. Bring it to a low boil and then turn the heat off with the lid on and wait till the fish is done. In this case about 10 minutes. It is the silkiest halibt ever and there are so many way you can season the stock. I added chervil and cilantro at the end.

Ham and Cheese what?

Is this a ham-and-cheese? Or a cold weather quesadilla? Or a bastard shawarma? I am not sure but ham and mozzarella and Parmesan and herbs grilled in bread can't be bad.

Sleeping

I poached this free range chicken with its head on. It looks like it is just sleeping.

Baru Latino, Vancouver

I had not been to Baru for a while, since I moved away from the neighbourhood. I took some relatives who do not usually eat non-Chinese food there today and every plate was cleaned to a shine. Now that is a sign of a good restaurant.

Oven-Roasted Coffee

The result of my first try at oven roasting coffee. It smoked a little, but I figure if I don't roast too much at a time, it won't feel like a fire in my kitchen. Next time I will try to turn on the convection to see if it gets more even or just blows up. Meanwhile, I am quite wired...

Pizza

It is unseasonably cold today and I forgot to turn the heat back on. The oven is therefore the ideal means of cooking.











A rectangular pizza fits so much better on a cutting board, don't you think?

Home Roasting

My first try at pan roasting coffee at home. I have to learn to control the heat better to get more even result. At it is, still make a good cup.

Chummy

Wild Chum Jerky from Coast Select Smokehouse, Sointula, Malcolm Island, BC. Very well done indeed. Expansive though.

Low and Slow

I was going to low and slow this on the barbecue but it started hailing out. So I did it in the oven. It is a pork shoulder and I rubbed it with salt, pepper, clove, fennel, garlic and olive oil then slow roasted it covered for four hours at 275F then degrease the juice, baste and brown at 400F for half an hour. Talking about fork-tender!

Leftover Dinner

Cold braised beef with marinated bean sprout salad











Goes well with a spicy tofu and asparagus soup made with shrimp shell broth and rice.

Ham and Egg Pocket Sandwich

Green Eggs and Ham, in a pita. I hope the good Dr. approves.

Colourful Plate

With the pita nicely puffed, what is better than some grilled chicken, some guacamol and some lettuce and tomatoes? The chicken has oregano, parsley, lemon juice, salt, pepper, paprika and cayanne this time. Lovely.

Pita on the Grill

I didn't think it would puff so nicely on the grill, almost as evenly as in the oven!

Another

Have a patty left from yesterday so I added mozzarella cheese and guacamole to make it interesting.

Burger

After all the other grillings, an old fashion burger or two seems a good idea. I have Worcestershire sauce, parsley, chervil, onion, salt and pepper in the patties.

Summer Cuisine

It is getting hot outside so something a little Vietnam-ish seems good. A few pieces of leftover beef ribs and cold rice vermicelli with fish sauce, vinegar, chilli pepper, sugar, chervil and cilantro. Very refreshing.

Panko'ed

To change things up a little bit, I panko'ed the dace paste and made these fish balls. They look non-descript, but tasted very nice indeed, light and crispy!

Kalbi

The Koreans cuisine has a somewhat limited range, but when it comes to beef they seems to have great ideas rivaled by few. When compared to Kalbi, a 20oz ribeye is just boring.

I marinated my shortribs with scallion, garlic, rice vinegar, korean chilli powder, mirin, soy sauce, sesame oil, sesame and sugar.

The bean sprouts were submerged in hot water for less than a minute and then marinated with gochujang, vinegar, soy sauce, sugar and sesame oil.

The soup is my usual giant mustard greens, salted pork and tofu soup.

I had some Muscadet left from yesterday and it, surprisingly, drank well with this dinner. It was showing off its acidity, very cleansing.

The Prawn Season Still Going Strong

A little dazed from the confinement of the shopping bag.









Dazed no more.

Merry-Go-Around

I had no plan tonight so I just kept spinning the merry-go-around in my spice cabinet and shaked whatever seemed good into the chicken. Turned out pretty tasty.

Bao

I had some fillings left from the pot stickers so I made some steamed buns. Should have work the dough a bit more though.

Pot Stickers

Haven't had these for a while. The wrappers are just flour and hot water; and the fillings are ground pork, chinese chives, shaoxing wine, sugar, soy sauce, grated ginger and sasame oil. The rolling take some time but otherwise quite easy.

Ugly Biscotti

This is what happens when you don't let it cool before cutting into it. Chocolate chunks make the whole situation worse. Still tastes good but certainly doesn't look good.

Cornish Game Hen

I think I am addicted. I grilled again. This time little game hen with garlic, fresh chili pepper, lemon juice and olive oil. Simple and good.

Grilled Asparagus

I don't know why people boil their asparagus before grilling. I just added salt and pepper and olive oil and they all grill up very nicely.

Crab and Avocado

I had some crab meat left from the other day, so I add it to an avocado, chives, cilantro, lemon juice and tobasco. It was better than I expected. Feels like summer.

Transformed Pork

I bought a rib roast but do not want a big chunk of meat so I cut it into chops and ribs. Made a kitchen-sink sort of rub: cayenne, chilli, cilantro, cumin, chervil, thyme, garlic, paprika, all spice, salt, pepper, brown sugar, coriander seeds and cinnamon. Turned out very good.

Stars Are Edible Too

If you let them rippen properly, they are both pretty and tasty.

Chaozhou Cold Crab

The best way to eat meaty crabs, I think. Just steam it for 10 to 15 minutes and then chill it for a few hours to a few days.










When ready, just crack it open and eat it. In the chilling, the meat takes up firmness, sweetness and flavour from the shells. Dipping into vinegar sauce or not is up to you. I never understand dipping in butter. If you like butter just eat it on toast. Perfect crab need very little enhansement.

Wings, like the red ones, cooked

I like the chicken thighs a couple days ago so much that I decided to make some wings too. I remember why I love eating grilled wings so much when I was a kid.

Spicy Soup

I made a stock with the shrimp shells from a couple of days ago and added hot dou ban zhang, tofu and a head of giant mustard green to make this soup. Kind of a soup from scraps.

Three Days Old Dough

I left a lump of bread dough in my fridge for three days and this is what happened. Very different texture and taste than the same day one, I think I like it better this way.

Chicken Legs

A little nostalgia for barbacues of my childhood.










The chicken is marinated with garlic, ginger, chili, scallion, parsley, sugar, salt, soy sauce, Shaoxing liquor, Rose Liquor, and sesame oil.
I remembered why I love barbacuing when I was little.

Prawn Season

This is the season for local spotted prawns. Two months a year, that is all. I steamed about a pound and have a simple dip of soy sauce and my home grown three chili pepper oil. They tasted so good, I wanted to go and buy more immediately!

Biscotti

My first attempt, tasted great with coffee.

Recipe:
Beat three eggs with 3/4 cup of sugar, shift together two cups of flour, a pinch of salt and a teaspoon of baking power, mix everything together, add a hand full each of pecans and raisins, form into 3x9 in rectangle, bake at 350F for 20 minutes, cool for 10 minutes, cut and bake again at 275F for 40 minutes.

I will bake it less next time to see if it will be softer and if I will like it.

Mushroom Omelette

They had a little sale on white mushroom at my local store so I made omelette with parsley. I think it looks pretty good.

One Pan Meal

I was tired this evening so I just put everything into one pan. Turned out very good.

Mediterranean Korean

Italian style roast pork, pita bread, Spanish wine, kimchee and hot korean bean paste, came together really well.

Roast Pork

Funny looking slices.

Ham Fried Rice

I dare say I make good fried rice.

Hainan Chicken

Poach the chicken and get soup and rice too, cook one get two free! Good deal!

Seafood Grill

Use more charcoal, much better.

Bought Me A Little Grill

And I learnt I need to put in more charcoal!

They Pop

This is the first time I try my hands on popovers. Slightly darker than I wanted. Good eating still.