Saturday, August 7, 2010

Too hot to friggin' cook? Try these ideas from Edge!


NYC has just had one of the hottest, stickiest July's on record & August isn't looking much better. Mistakenly, on one of the grossest days thus far I decided to use my broiler to cook some fish. What am I?! I'll tell you what! An idiot! That's what! Yeah I have air conditioning but so what. It's a window unit & when it's 100 degrees outside & your broiler is on your entire apartment will become 100 degrees AND smell like fish! Genius!!! Do yourselves a favor & don't use your oven or broiler when it's hot outside unless you like sweating & foul odors. Here are some fun ideas that you can enjoy this Summer for simple dining.

1) Taco or Burrito Night! Just brown some ground beef, chicken or turkey with your favorite Mexican seasonings & put out all the toppings so you & your family or Guests can make their own! Shredded lettuce, tomatoes, radishes, onions, cheese, avocado, sour cream, salsa, limes, etc... Get taco shells or burrito wraps & your set. Olé!

2) Pasta!!! Screw the carb bulls#$@*%t! Boil, drain, top with favorite sauce. Marinara, pesto, oil & garlic, white or red clam, bolognese, amatriciana, puttanesca, fra diavola, carbonara, alfredo,...I could go all day here! Add a salad & a glass of vino & voila!

3) Fry a steak!!!! You can call it pan roasting but it's still frying & there's nothing wrong with it. You can also use a stove top grill that drains some of the drippings if you have one but to me the best way to eat a really good piece of meat is to pan fry it! Buy a good quality steak. I like a rib eye 'cause it has nice fat on it. Let it get to room temperature (about a half hour out of fridge), pat with paper towels & sprinkle with kosher salt & cracked pepper. Heat up a good skillet on med high heat until a drop of water sizzles & throw in steak. Depending on the thickness sear on both sides for 3-5 min depending on temperature you want. Medium rare should feel slightly firm in the center to the touch with your finger. Don't forget to sear the sides as well to hold in juices. Let it rest for a few minutes before cutting & serve with a simple arugula salad & some sweet summer corn. Mmmmmmmmm. So good. Feel free to do the same with chicken or fish but remember to use some butter or oil n the pan because they aren't as fatty as meat! Duh!

4) How about just a big salad!? You can stand to lose a few. Just don't fill it up with cheese & dressing! Make it colorful to get lots of nutrients & make it pretty. Colored peppers, corn, peas, carrots, kidney, cannellini, black or garbanzo beans, turkey, tuna, salmon, chicken, hard boiled eggs, etc... It wouldn't kill ya to have this meal a few nights a week. Am I right!?

5) Eggs! I looooooove eggs! Make a wonderful stove top frittata or omelette or poach, scramble, fry, baste what ever you want!!!! They're good for you & be creative with what you add. Cheese, veggies, herbs, meats, etc... If you haven't tried adding sauteed garlic or shallots to your eggs do it!!!!! It's de-lish! Add a salad, some crusty bread & a glass of white wine & it's tres elegant!

6) Sandwich Night! 'Nough said!

7) A bowl of your favorite cold cereal! You have your milk & most cereals are fortified with all sorts of vitamins & minerals. Get fancy & add berries & bananas for extra nutrients & prettiness! I like eating pretty foods! Don't you?

That's it!!!! A meal for every night of the week that won't make your home feel like a sauna. So enjoy this Summer or anytime of the year with these simple meals that not only keep you cool but are easy, creative, nutritious & take very little time to prepare so you can stay cool this Summer & all year round! edge

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Summer is Lobster time!


Jews looooooove lobster! I'm a Jew & thus... Even the supposedly "Kosher" Jews I know seem to make an exception when it comes to the forbidden, sweet crustacean as long as they eat it at a restaurant or on a paper plate. Hypocrites! Well, lobster season is here & the chosen ones are happy along with the rest of all you lobster lovers out there.

(Side note: Not ALL Jews or non-Jews love lobster but come on...most do! Lobster is sexy. "Flashdance" anyone?!)

Lobster season is July through December. New shell lobsters are through October. These have just finished molting or shedding & the shells are softer than lobsters between October - December. Some people feel that hard shell lobsters are better quality but since there are such an abundance of lobsters in the Summer months who really cares. They're also cheaper now especially on the east coast where most come from. You can find them on the average for about $7.99 per lb. Just don't overcook them. The biggest mistake is overcooking your lobster which results in tough meat. I've already had lobster twice in restaurants this summer & they were tough and that just sucks!

The easiest way to cook lobster is to boil them. Just throw them in a large pot of boiling salted (or sea) water. Add about 1-2 tablespoons of kosher salt to each quart of water. When it's boiling place live lobsters in claws first & make sure lobster is submerged. When it comes to a boil again, cover & start timing. Boil 10 minutes for a 1 1/4 lb lobster & for each additional 1/4 lb add another minute on to the cooking time. The meat from a boiled lobster is easier to remove from the shell so for me this is the way to go although they say steaming a lobster yields more tender meat. Your choice folks. For this recipe, don't broil the lobster. A lot of people like broiled lobsters but I think the meat is the toughest cooked this way. I'm a purist so boiling or steaming is my favorite methods for cooking. Also, spiny lobsters are not the same so don't use them.

(Another side note: I have never heard a lobster scream. If it makes you feel better stab it in it's chest before boiling. All better!)

Anyway, this recipe for Lobster Rolls is simply de-lish! Lobster & corn really compliment each other so I add some charred corn off the cob to my lobster salad. It adds a slightly smoky, sweetness to it. If you want to be fancy like in my picture just carefully remove the meat from a lobster & place shell in the center of your platter. Fugghedabout the friggin' parsley. Who needs it!? If you don't want the carbs just make this as a lovely Summer salad. Either way I would enjoy with a lovely, slightly citrusy, white wine like a Sancerre or Sauvignon Blanc! Buon a-friggin petit!


Lobster Rolls

2 _ Cups Lobster Meat (3 1 _ lb lobsters)
_ Cup very finely chopped celery
_ cup very finely chopped red onion
_ cup mayo
1 tablespoon finely chopped chives (optional)
_ tsp Worcestershire sauce
salt & pepper to taste
Tabasco to taste (just a touch)
1 tsp lemon juice or to taste
1 Cob of Grilled/Charred Sweet Corn , cut off niblets from cob
Butter lettuce
6 Hot Dog Buns (Not fancy ones. The cheaper the better or potato buns are awesome.)
Melted Butter
2 tablespoons finely chopped flat leaf parsley for garnish (I know! Whatever!!)

Break up meat & add other ingredients to combine. Brush buns with butter & griddle. Place on beautiful white platter with shell of a lobster & enjoy!!!


makes about 3 cups
(about 6 rolls.)