New Layout, New Blog

I was getting pretty lazy with the updates...the pressure of posting a recipe was a bit too much for this busy little lady.  I thought a new layout and new look would help refresh the site and my comitment to posting.  Ill do fewer recipes and more general posts, with links, pics and random thing related to my obsession with food. 

With the news style is a new name...My Brain on Food...get it, much like a brain on drugs...my brain on food is like a fried egg.

I hope you read, like, enjoy and follow.  If you dont, it will at least drain my brain of all the junk I see and read day and night.

Happy eating,

Age

Pita!

This is the yummy soft, slightly salty pita from stews...totally worth it!

His and Hers Sandwich Night

Sandwich night doesn't sound very gourmet but of course I hooked it up a bit (sauteed onions:) and served both with Hot tomato soup and crackers:)

My leftovers started as inspiration for this dinner creation...I went out for a fancy steak dinner w/work and could barely eat half of my meal so of I took it home to recycle into something yummy for my guy.  Also, I have to think sandwich this week because I bought these amazing pita/flat bread from Stew Leonard's and it comes with 10 large round flat bread, a lot of pita for 2 people.

I didn't have a ton of other fridge items so I mixed it up and made different sandwiches for each of us

His:

• Sliced the steak very very thin, reheated in a pan w/A1 Steak sauce and a slash of chicken stock
• Toast pita to melt provolone cheese
• Spread a lil horseradish on on the bottom slice
• Add a healthy pile of arugula, top w/steak strips, caramelized onions and an extra drizzle of A1
• Add top slice of pita w/melted cheese
• He loved it

Hers:

• Saute sliced mushrooms in the same pan as the onions were cooked
• Toast pita to melt provolone cheese
• spread a lil horseradish and mayo on the bottom slice
• Add a healthy pile of arugula, top with turkey cold cuts, caramelized onions, and mushrooms
• Add top slice of pita w/melted cheese
• Amazing - Can't believe he doesn't like mushrooms!

Back to School Special

In honor of this rainy fall feeling day, and the kiddies going back to school I felt it appropriate to make some old school comfort food for dinner.
Most of the prep was taken care of last night to make for a smooth evening, good thing because the rain was gross and traffic was bad.


The Meal:

• Breaded Pork Chops
• Apple Sauce
• Mashed Potatoes
• Brussels Sprouts
• Gravy
• Biscuits

The Prep:

• Brine the Pork:  Rinse chops, put in Ziploc bag (inside a medium bowl) add chicken stock, salt, sugar, water, rosemary, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder
• Make the Applesauce:  2 Fuji Apples grated or finely chopped, 1/4 cup water, juice of half lemon or OJ, Cinnamon stick - Simmer in a pot till soft and slightly sweet
• Potatoes:  Peel and cut potatoes, cover in bowl of water and refrigerate overnight

The Dinner:

• Boil the taters
• Toast the biscuits
• Warm the Apple Sauce
• Dip the chops in egg, then panko, then place nonstick baking sheet - bake till 155 degrees
• Quarter the sprouts, sautee in medium/high pan w/olive oil, chopped shallots or leeks....cook till browned and tender.  Add a few splashes of chicken stock and maple syrup

Summer's bounty

I'm all about enjoying the local and summer treats lately, trying to take advantage of every ripe, yummie fruit and veg I can find.  Luckily with farmer's markets every day its hard not to to find great produce.  Even Stew's and Trader Joe's try to get in on the local veg but sadly they don't deliver as well as the white tent, cash only, weekly farmer's market.

• Tomato Salad (from our garden) with red onion and red wine vinegar is a favorite on our table - its simple, served chilled and goes perfect with grilled anything.  Bread is a must, white wine makes it even better!
• Corn doesn't last long here either, we have 2 cute, old school corn trays with the spiked holders, a must as well.  keeps the corn warm, gives it a butter bath and keeps the butter from running into your salad, a genius food design.
• Zucchini can get a little monotonous if you let it, but I've been trying to fry, bake, stuff, saute and soup these things as many different ways as the Internet will allow.
• Tonight Ill try out a Zucchini Angel Hair Pancake I found in cooking light:
• I haven't been too adventurous with Fruit when it comes to baking or cooking, simply eating a peach is good enough for me, however, come apple season Ill be sure to get my Bake On!

Restaurant Re-do

During a recent trip to Philadelphia we ate at the most amazing restaurant. The meal was one of the best ever, and that's hard to say since I've been lucky enough to feast on the finest around. All week I've been dreaming of replicating one of our favorites from the menu:


COSTILL AS DE TERNERA

Beef Short ribs, Horseradish, Parmesan & Bacon on flat bread
It was even more delicious than it sounds


Today, I attempt to recreate this amazing dish.
Part 1: Braised short ribs with red wine, tomato paste, herbs, onions, carrots and a splash of cola
Part 2: Grill flat bread, or Naan (in my case) top with shredded meat, caramelized onions, baby arugula, shaved manchego cheese and a drizzle of basil oil

My Version:

Food Porn on Tumblr

I've added a new section--->
My Food Porn site on Tumblr, dedicated to pics of food, one of my favorite things.

Some are new, some are old...I started cleaning up my old picture files and adding a few new things.

Enjoy