Dyson's Delectables

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

September 12, 2011

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 12, 2011

End of the summer madness continues here as the Pickle Prince of Pomona puts up 60 pounds of Kirby as pickles. First crisis was finding that amount – or any amount for that matter. Summer weather with heat and floods have been hard on our local farmers. However bit by bit were able to put together his requested quantity. Then we ran out of dill seed. And one of those little supermarket bottles wasn’t going to cut it. I used to be able to get large quantities from The International Market in Spring Valley but they have unfortunately cut way back. So we took off to the Bergen Restaurant Supply Co. in Pearl River. In the past they have had the large jars of a lot (although not all) herbs and spices. In the present it would appear they have moved to somewhere in the wilds of Jersey….We ended up at the health food store in New City (I never can remember their name) where they sell loose amounts of herbs. We bought up their entire supply of dill seeds and the day was saved.

So, happily the whole house now smells like a pickle factory. A sure sign the fall is not far behind.

Mon AM Shrimp Quiche

Mon. PM

Alaskan Cod Fillets in Romesco Sauce CL 1/11

Steamed Rice in Stock, Local Corn

Tues. AM Cold Cuts

Tues. PM Summer Jambalaya

Salad

Weds. AM Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce and Turkey Meatballs f/i

Weds PM Chicken Provencal revisited

Peasant Bread, Salad

Thurs. Pm Jacques Pepin’s Chicken Vegetable Pot Pie FR 2004 111

Salad

Fri. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. PM Spaghetti with Shrimp, Black Olives and Tomatoes

Peasant Bread, Salad

Sat. AM Pot Pie Revisited

Sat. PM Guacamole with Fresh Baked Tortilla Chips CCI

Stephen Raichlen’s North Carolina Pulled Pork BB

Rolls, Cold Slaw

Local Corn

Sun. AM Scrambled Eggs

Home Cured Sausage

Sun. PM Beet Chips GM 1/95 70

Hungarian Roast Chicken with Horseradish Sauce

Spaetzle

Green Beans

Monday, September 5, 2011

September 6, 2011

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 6, 2011

We were busy this weekend! We froze large amounts of local corn and string beans. We also put up about 20 pints of vegetable stock. And as we were doing stocks, I got an 8 lb sack of carrots from Costco where they cost $.69/ lb as opposed to $1 or more per pound when you buy them in small quantities. The leftovers I froze, in this case 4 pounds. Having these vegetables in the freezer is such a convenience –and a delight. Local corn in Feb. is lovely. And economical. We figure that ¼ lb or carrots will usually work as a side dish for the two of us. Ergo, for $.69 we get vegetables for 4 meals – can’t beat that. And they are easy to reheat and healthy as well – no preservatives!

We made it through Irene last week, but the weather this week promises to give us the side effects of the storm in the gulf coast. Or, we are told to expect rain pretty much all week. So the grill has a week off in this plan. For some reason Warner doesn’t like to grill in the rain.

And speaking of the devil. Here’s a case of what should be justifiable homicide. A while back I had read something about doing a stock with corn cobs. To that end we’ve been freezing the cobs as we use the corn. So we put up a 20 quart stock pot with the cobs and other vegetables one would use for a vegetable stock. It yielded a lovely, rich, corn flavored broth. Just what you’d like to have for corn soups and chowders.

Yesterday’s Journal News printed an interesting looking recipe for a soup/chowder. I pointed this out to Warner, who then shook his head (after we had spent the better part of a day making this stock and it will take at least half a day for can it) and stated bluntly that I should know that he loathes corn chowder. Do you think a jury would convict me????

Tues. AM Gumbo with Steamed Rice f/i

Tues. PM Eric Ripart’s Pan Roasted Salmon with Red Wine Lentil Sauce LBCB-R 198

Tossed Salad

French Bread

Weds. AM Cold Cuts

Weds. PM Tuscan Grilled Chicken Revisited

Tortellini with Red Pepper Vinaigrette

Sliced Tomatoes

Thurs. PM Summer Jambalaya with Chicken and Sausage FW 2001

Tossed Salad

Fri. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. PM Moules a la Provencale BC-PW

French Bread

Tossed Salad

Sat. AM Summer Jambalaya

Sat. PM Salami Crisps GM 9/04 14

Fillet of Beef au Poivre BIP 129

Gratin of Potatoes Savoyard

Glazed Carrots JCI 424

Sun. AM Baked Eggs with Fresh Herbs BIP

Home Made Sausage

Garlic Toasts

Sun. PM Julia Child’s Shrimp Quiche JCI

Poulet Provencale (Braised Chicken with Tomatoes and

Black Olives) GM 3/08

Steamed Rice

Sautéed Green Beans

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

August 29, 2011

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF AUGUST 29, 2011

It would appear that we came out of Hurricane Irene in pretty good order. We got a little water in the cellar and lost power for a short time over Sat. night. All in all, we were very lucky as a lot of areas around here were hard hit. We are thankful.

I have yet again and hopefully put the grilled Tuscan steak under a brick on the menu. Every time I have done it in the last few weeks, it has rained and we’ve had to take another direction. I’d like to do this again once before fall really hits.

Julia Child’s Syrian Beef Salad has been good – and rather cost effective for roast beef for two. A month ago I roasted a small eye round. Then cut of 12 slices and marinated them. The rest I froze.

It was the frozen roast that I worked with this week, and we are getting two more meals off of it. And it really is a treat.

As we head into September I am not yet willing to think fall food. I hate to rush the season, so I will continue the cold preparations and the grilling for a while yet. I really want the cool weather to coax me into thinking braises and the like. And there is always the point that as we both are trying to shed a few pounds, the summer diet is a bit more figure friendly…..

And to this end, we have both done the unthinkable….. We have joined a gym. Fortunately (or not) it is a new facility and it is not yet ready to open so we have some time to get our mind set in order. I never would have thought this possible, not being the most athletic couple on the face of the earth. However, with age, gravity and our culinary tastes the time has come - both for weight and for fitness issues. Damn!

Mon. AM Cold Cuts

Mon. PM Lasagna with Bolognese and Spinach Ricotta Sauces

Tossed Salad

Tues. AM Cold Roast Beef Sandwiches

Tues. PM Roast Chicken, Pan Gravy

Roasted Potatoes

Carrots with Mint

Weds. AM ~~Lasagna revisited~~
(Meals often morph around here. When I first met my wife I would not eat spaghetti this was made very clear, it was not on the menu. I have always disliked it. A few years after we got married my sister in law served, as entree, two different spaghetti. My wife may even remember what they were. Of course, out of courtesy, I ate them. I could always get a couple of slices at my end of the subway. To my surprise I liked both of them. Since then it is often a lunch. wwj)

Weds. PM Cold Syrian Roast Beef with Taboula Salad

Sliced Tomatoes and Cukes