Berbere (Ethiopian Spice Mix)

I mentioned using berbere in my last post and thought I should include the recipe. I double the batch and store in a glass jar.

1/2 teaspoon fenugreek

1/4 cup ground dried New Mexico chiles (or crushed red pepper)

1/4 cup paprika

1 tablespoon salt

1 teaspoon ground ginger

1 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/2 teaspoon ground coriander

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon ground allspice

Cooling Down Spicy Greens

I received a mountain of kale and collard greens from the CSA this week and decided to try something with cannelloni beans and a kick of spice.

I started by melting butter in a large pan and dumping in some of my homemade berbere (Ethiopian spice mix). Added the washed and trimmed greens and cooked until wilted, then tossed in a can of cannelloni beans.

Once the beans were heated through, I gave it a taste. Wow, was it spicy!

What to do? What to do? I rummaged around and found a beautiful orange. After adding it to the greens and beans, it cooled it down enough for me but was still too spicy for my eaters.

Last ditch solution ... bought more greens, cooked them down without the spice and combined all. It was a hit.

What I Learned in Italy #7

Even though there are grocery stores, it is better to purchase cheese, coffee, and flour from the cheese producer, the coffee bean importer, and the guy who grinds the wheat.

It should take at least three hours to complete these tasks due to the distance you must travel through the hillsides of Tuscany and the time you spend visiting with the people you meet at each location.

Italy - First Post of Many to Come! Pear Torte

The driving force behind my trip to Italy was to take cooking lessons so the fact that the weather was terrible on two of the side-trip days didn't bother me much. And really, after you've seen five castles and cathedrals, they all start to look the same! 

This is from the first class. It is a pear, ricotta, and pecorino pie in a puff pastry shell. Nutmeg and pine nuts give it a little extra interest.

Torta Salata con Formaggio and Pere

4 or 5 pears
1 puff pastry circle, thawed
1 egg
3/4 - 1 cup ricotta cheese
5 oz pecorino romano
Couple grinds of nutmeg
Dash of salt
Handful of pine nuts

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Peel and cut pears into 1 inch-ish chunks. Cut up pecorino to a similar size. 
Add ricotta, egg, nutmeg, salt, and pine nuts, then stir.

Place dough (on parchment) into pan and prick the bottom with a fork. 

Fill with pear mixture and fold edges of pastry over the top.

Cut parchment from around the pan.

Bake for 45 - 50 minutes until inside is firm and pastry is brown.

Tip: This can also be made as a savory pie by substituting the pears with zucchini.

If you are in the Washington, DC area and want to expand your cooking skills in a fun and stress-free environment, CulinAerie is the place for you.

I have taken many classes there including -- Knife Skills, Where's the Beef?, Cooking with Spirit, Indian Mystique, Playa del Sol, Channel Your Inner Julia Child: The Cuisine of the Perigord (one of my favorites), and several more. 

I recently had the opportunity to serve as a volunteer assistant at two classes. It was the hardest work I've done in ages, and the most rewarding. 

The chefs answer even the most elementary of my questions with patience and care -- and I am a better cook as a result.

Watermelon Gazpacho Topped with Crab

This gazpacho is super refreshing because I use watermelon juice along with tomato juice in the base. To that, I dice celery cucumber, green pepper, orange pepper, and tomatoes. Add chopped cilantro, salt and pepper, a few shakes of Worcestershire and a few shakes of hot sauce.

It's great just like that, but even better topped with some freshly picked crab meat right out of my sister's crab pot!

Strawberry Goat Cheese Salad

A great salad for a hot, summer day.

Tear spinach, radicchio, and romaine leaves. Add sliced strawberries, pecan pieces, and goat cheese. Top with olive oil and fig balsamic.

I'm a huge proponent of cleaning veggies before serving. This is a great salad spinner and a perfect way to dry your washed greens.

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