Recipes
Pimento Cheese Sandwiches
Serves 2 to 4 people 8 ounces sharp cheddar, coarsely shredded ½ cup jarred pimentos, drained and finely diced ¼ cup mayonnaise Homemade style whole wheat bread Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir well. Spread the cheese on the bread to make sandwiches and cut into quarters.…
Church Ladies’ Crab Soup
Serves 4 to 6 5 tablespoons unsalted butter ½ cup finely chopped onion ½ cup finely chopped celery ½ pound cooked crabmeat (the church ladies use canned) 2 ½ cups whole milk, divided 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups half and half ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce or to taste ¼…
White Chicken Chili
Makes 6 servings Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total Preparation time: 40 minutes 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1 cup) 3 garlic cloves, minced (about 1 tablespoon) 1/4 cup unbleached all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon chili powder 1 tablespoon ground cumin 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne…
Martha Lou’s Fried Chicken
Martha Lou’s Fried Chicken Note: if you don’t have Lawry’s products handy substitute the homemade seasoning salt for both the Lawry’s products in the ingredient list Serves 6 1 1/2 tablespoons Lawry”s Seasoned Salt 1 1/2 tablespoon Lawry’s Garlic Salt ½ teaspoon Black pepper one 3 to 4 pound chicken,…
Rosemary Honey and Georgia Peach Chutney Burgers
Serves 4 For Peach Chutney: 1/2 cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup loosely packed brown sugar 1/2 cup Savannah Bee Rosemary Honey 1 large sweet red pepper, seeded, diced 1/4 inch, about 1/2 cup 1 small white onion, peeled and diced, about 1/2 cup 1 small jalapeño pepper, seeded and diced, 2…
Kielbasa, Cheddar and Kimchi Sandwiches
Serves 4 1 cup well-drained Quick Kimchi (see recipe below) 4 hero rolls 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 1/2 pounds kielbasa 2 ounces sharp cheddar cheese Prepare Quick Kimchi. Heat a large skillet over medium heat until hot. Split the rolls horizontally to within 1/2 inch of the…
Bahamian Fish Chowder
Norman Van Aken, © 2001 Serves 8 to 10 2 ounces diced slab bacon, rind removed if any is on it ¼ cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, very thinly sliced 1 Scotch bonnet, seeds and stems removed, minced 1 medium sweet onion, peeled and diced medium 4 celery…
Key West Backyard “Cut Up” Salad
©2019 All rights reserved by Norman Van Aken I first learned of this salad like creation from a woman born and raised in Key West by the name of Sheila Sands-Davenport. We were at a party at her home having dinner when talk turned to true ‘conch’ cooking. ‘Conchs’ are…
Chicken Paillard with Greek Salad and Tzatziki
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 45 minutes Suggested Accompaniments Greek Farmer Salad (see recipe below) Tzatziki (see recipe below) 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves Olive oil 2 large cloves garlic, minced 3 lemons, 2 zested and 1 cut in wedges 1 teaspoon coarse sea…
Two Melon Prosciutto and Feta Layered Salad
Makes 4 servings Hands-on time: about 15 minutes Total preparation time: 15 minutes 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, sweet or hot Kosher salt and freshly milled black pepper 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1/8 medium watermelon (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into bite…
Steakhouse Salad
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 30 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 35 Minutes 1 pound russet Potatoes (2 medium) 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper One 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 pound beef sirloin steak (about 1 1/2 inches thick) 1…
Korean Style Burgers
Makes 4 Servings Hands-On Time: 15 Minutes Total Preparation Time: 25 Minutes Quick Kimchi (recipe below) or store bought kimchi 4 medium scallions One 3/4 inch piece fresh ginger 3 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium if you prefer) 1 1/2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown…
Mussels and Bok Choy with Green Tea Pilaf
Start to finish: 45 minutes Hands on time: 35 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil 1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 teaspoons finely grated ginger 6 scallions, sliced thin crosswise and white and green parts kept separate 2 tablespoons fermented black beans rinsed well and mashed lightly…
Eggs Baked in Red Wine
Makes 2 servings Hands-on time: 20 minutes Total Preparation time: 40 minutes Suggested Accompaniment steamed asparagus tossed with a little butter Ingredients 2 slices homemade-style white bread 2 garlic cloves, one halved and one minced 3 strips bacon 1 shallots minced ¾ c dry red wine ¾ c chicken stock,…
Souffle Omelet filled with Broccoli and Goat Cheese
Makes 2 servings Hands-on time: 15 minutes Total preparation time: 27 minutes Ingredients 1/2 pound cooked broccoli, coarsely chopped 3 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 5 large eggs, separated 2 tablespoons all purpose flour Directions Preheat oven to 375°…
Ham, Egg and Cheese Galettes with Butter Lettuce Salad
Makes 12 Galettes 2 cups buckwheat flour 1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt 13 large eggs 1 cup whole milk 1 cup water clarified butter for brushing the pan 6 thin slices ham, cut into julienne strips 6 thin slices Emmenthaler, cut into julienne strips In a medium…
Chicken Vaca Frita
CHICKEN VACA FRITA For the mojo: 10 garlic cloves, peeled 2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon black peppercorns ½ cup fresh orange juice ¾ cup fresh lime juice done 1 teaspoon dried oregano leaves 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil For the Chicken Vaca frita 2 cups cooked shredded chicken breast 3…
Dirty Duck Rice
Dirty Duck Rice Serves 4 to 6 people 3 large duck livers 1/2 cup whole milk 6 confit duck legs (available on line from Dartagnan.com and Mapleleaffarms.com) 2 tablespoons duck fat (available from the above on line sources) 1/4 cup finely chopped yellow onion 2 tablespoons minced garlic 2 tablespoons…
Dandelion Green Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash and Pecan Dressing
Serves: 4 For the dressing: 2/3 cup raw sugar 1 cup toasted pecans 1 cup red wine vinegar 2 teaspoons minced garlic 2 pinches salt 1 ½ teaspoons chile de arbol powder (or chile powder of your choice) 3 cups blended oil For the salad: 6 cups dandelion greens 1…
Pork Medallions with Prunes and Spicy Mustard Cream Sauce
Start to finish: 45 minutes Servings: 4 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 large pork tenderloin, about 1 ¼ – 1 ½-pounds, cut at an angle into ½-inch thick medallions Kosher salt 2 tablespoons minced shallots ½ cup dry white wine 1 ½ tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary ¼ – ½- teaspoon…
Camarones Enchilados and Fried Sweet Plantains
Camarones Enchilados 4 servings 1/2 cup olive oil 1 large onion, sliced 1 large green pepper, sliced 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and chopped 2 roasted jarred red peppers, lightly chopped 15 oz can plain tomato sauce 1 cup dry white wine 1 bay leaf Salt Red pepper flakes 2 pounds…
Zucchini in Cuban Style Cherry Tomato Sofrito
Makes 4 servings Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour 15 minutes Suggested Accompaniments Rice or shredded Napa cabbage seasoned with just a bit of olive oil and salt. Ingredients 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 3-4 garlic cloves, mashed with mortar and pestle or finely chopped 1 medium…
Mugwort (Artemisia) Soup
Serves 4 Hands-On Time: 30 minutes Total Preparation Time: 1 hour 1 medium shallot, onion or 3 small spring onions sliced 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 garlic cloves, minced 10 white mushrooms sliced (2.5 ounces) 1 large or 2 medium Yukon gold or russet potatoes (10 oz) peeled and cut…
Wisteria Flowers with Asparagus and Parma Ham
Serves 4 1 bunch thin asparagus spears, bottom 3 inches cut off 4 thin slices Parma ham, prosciutto or Serrano ham, torn into small pieces 5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Salt and pepper 1 ounce (1.5 cups) Dame’s Rocket (from 2-3 bunches) or other edible…