As previously promised on this Blog .. MORE Videos !
This time, Fish Steaks with Tomato and Cilantro.
Also known as Pescado con Tomate y Culantro
These Pictures will take you to the YouTube Videos
Fish Steaks with Tomato and Cilantro PART 1
Fish Steaks with Tomato and Cilantro PART 2
Please enjoy the Videos .. More to come at a later time.
Special Thanks to the Hard Drive Doctor .
“We are not Africans. These people are not from Africa; they don’t know a thing about Africa . . . That is totally stupid. I was born here, and so were my parents and grandparents and, very likely, my great grandparents. I don’t have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to Germany, Scotland, England, Ireland, or the Netherlands. The same applies to 99 percent of all black Americans as regards to Africa. So stop, already!! With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all that crap . . . And all of them in jail.”
The above is from Dr. William Henry Cosby, Jr., Ed.D. Otherwise known as simply, Bill Cosby. I must admit to a similar qualm that I’ve had ever since the “African-American” definition began to replace the term “black” as a cognitive for Americans of color. I’ve always felt a bit unease about it. How many Americans are actually “African-Americans?.” Not only that, how many know anything about Africa or its history? My father was a man of color from the Caribbean. He had brown skin and straight jet-black hair (the Caribbean Indian influence) while my mother’s ancestry is Italian. I am of mixed heritage, a mongrel, if you will and proud of it. I have no right to classifying myself as an “African-American.”
Perhaps President Obama could classify himself as such since his father was a Kenyan. But how many out there can claim the same? It reminds me of the old Barney Miller TV series in the 70s where one of the detectives, a black man naturally, decides to trace his family tree. This was during the time of the “Roots” mini-series TV phenomenon. Well, he discovers that his lineage is Scottish! How to explain that to his wife and kids?
When I was a young boy way back when, the appellation used was either “colored” or Negro. In the sixties Negro was discarded and “black” became the preference. It was a point of pride to refer to oneself as being “black.” Yet, in terms of biology there are three definitive DNA groups: Caucasoid (white), Negroid (black) and Asiatic. There is no African-American DNA reference, or even “colored” DNA reference.
Now, I don’t care what anyone wants to call themselves; it can Northwest Pacific Islander, or North African-Equatorial Arabist, or Martian, or other. But, at least have a point of reference. Humanity began on the Serengeti Plains of East Africa. Does that mean that someone from Norway is a “African-Norwegian,” or from China a “Chinese-African,” or if from Russia, an “African-Russian?” Labels can be deceiving, folks. Want to call yourself an “African-American?” It’s you choice and your right. But I’d rather think of all of us as being just plain Americans, and nothing less.
Yesterday In New York, the temperature reached 104 degrees F.—and that was the mean temperature, not the heat index (which was probably 112-114 degrees). Today, we’re told, ain’t going to be much better. With heat like that, the idea of cooking anything is out of the question. Even lighting up the old grill seems onerous. So what better way to fight heat and hunger than with AVOCADOS! Yes, that delicious fruit. That’s right, it’s a fruit, not a vegetable.
In my family we’ve consumed avocados forever. And not only as guacamole. We have it with eggs for breakfast; or in sandwiches for dinner. Mainly we eat it anywhere with a dash of salt and pepper. Avocados are perfect for summer since they need no cooking. Just peeled, remove the pit, slice, drizzle with a little olive oil and salt, and there you have it. But more, avocados and perfect for salads.
Avocados were introduced from Mexico to California in the 19th century, where they proliferated and became an extremely successful cash crop. In fact, Fallbrook, California, claims to be the “Avocado capital of the world.” The most common type of California avocado is the Hass variety, which is found everywhere these days. In my clan we like the Mexican /Guantemalan breeds life the Fuerte or Mexicola. These are bigger, have a smooth green skin and, to my palette, a richer nuttier flavor. But our prefer variety are those from Florida (like the type called Spinks) which are larger, rounder, with a smoother flavor.
Avocados got their name from Spanish Explorers who couldn’t pronounce the Aztec word for it: “ahuacatl” or “testicle” (because of its pear shape appearance). The Spanish mispronounced it as “aguacate.”
Below are 3 quickie avocado salad recipes, all from my cookbook Puerto Rican Cuisine in America (Avalon Books: Thunders Mouth Press). Now, the main question: how can you tell when an avocado is ripe? Simple. It’s outer skin will yield to gentle thumb or finger pressure. Eat ripe avocados right away. If they are green and hard, store in a cool place a day or two before using. If you want it to ripen faster, put the avocado in a brown paper bag.
1) GAZPACHO DE AGUACATE: In a bowl, combine 1 large ripe tomato, diced; 1 medium cucumber, diced; 1/2 medium green bell pepper, seeded and diced; 1 small onion, finely sliced; 2 cloves garlic, minced; 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley; 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried; 3 tablespoons olive oil; 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar; 1/4 teaspoon oregano; salt and ground black pepper to taste. Mix well and let stand in the refrigerator for15 minutes. Take 3 fully ripened avocados, cut in halve; and place an avocado half on a salad plate with a bed of crisp lettuce leaves. Fill each avocado half with the vegetable mixture and serve. 6 servings.
2) ENSALADA DE AGUACATE Y HONGO: In a mixing bowl, combine 3 tablespoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 2 cloves minced garlic, salt and pepper to taste. Add 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, washed and thinly sliced. Mix well. Cut an avocado in half; and cut each half into 1-inch cubes. Add to mushrooms and blend gently. Serve immediately. 4 servings.
3) ENSALADA DE AGUACATE Y JUEYES: In a bowl, combine 1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, 1 cup mayonaise, juice of 1/2 lemon, 2 tablespoons finely chopped onion,1 minced clove garlic, 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, salt and pepper to taste. Mix lightly. Cut 2 ripe avocados into slender wedges and squeeze juice of remaining 1/2 lemon over the avocado to prevent discoloration. Place crabmeat in the center of a serving platter. Arrange avocado wedges along with slices of 2 medium tomatoes, alternately, around the crabmeat. Sprinkle avocado and tomatoes with salt; garnish with a few parsley springs and serve.4 servings.
Almost mid-summer, and the grill nuts are proliferating. But how about something unique and different besides the usual steak, hot dogs and franks? I know, some of you adventurous types have even taking to grilling lamb and pork chops. But how about a whole fish? Huh? What you say? Yes, barbecuing a whole fish. In Greece this is a very common procedure. It ain’t that hard, kiddies. And the ingenuity and combination of flavors will leave your guests wanting for more.
Any firm fleshed fish will do, bass, striped bass, flounder, rockfish, blue fish, monk fish, or fresh water trout. Have the fishmonger (or fish guy) clean and gut the fish, but with the head kept intact.
In terms of the grill, make sure it’s well oiled. Soak a paper towel with canola or vegetable oil, then wipe the grill with it before cooking the fish. This will prevent the burning or sticking of fish to the grill. Also, while grilling, some recommend sprinkling lemon juice over the fish to keep it moist.
So, guys, try grilling something out of the ordinary. Take that leap forward and expand your horizons. Become a real connoisseur of the grill. Besides, fish is brain food. Can’t go wrong with that.
GRILLED WHOLE FISH
1 cup diced ripe tomatoes
1/2 cup diced chopped fresh basil leaves
4 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano or 1 teaspoon dried
Ground black pepper to taste
Salt to taste
1 large whole fish or 2 smaller ones, 2 to 3 pound total
1 small lemon, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, peeled and finely minced
1 bay leaf
1. In a bowl, combine tomatoes, basil, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, garlic powder and oregano. Season to taste with black pepper. Let it sit at room temperature while you prepare the fish.
2. Preheat grill to medium high. Do not use high heat while cooking. High heat will burn the fish on the outside, while leaving the center uncooked.
3. With a sharp knife make 3 or 4 diagonal slashes on each side of the fish. This helps the fish cook evenly. Sprinkle salt liberally over the fish. Rub the fish in and out with remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Now, here we have a difference of opinion. Some experts state that no other seasoning should be added since other seasonings, like pepper, will burn on the grill, and give the fish a bitter taste. Other experts state that seasoning the fish with additional pepper, oregano and other spices will enhance the taste. This is your call. If you want it well seasoned, go with it. If not, save the seasonings for the end.
5. Stuff the inside of the fish with lemon slices, garlic, and bay leaf.
4. Place and cook the fish on the grill about 10 minutes. Rule of thumb is fish should cook 8-10 minutes per inch of thickness. Turn and cook the other side 8-10 minutes. It’s best, when turning, to gently flip the fish over with 2 spatulas or one long one.
5. Fish is cooked when exterior is crisp and meat will flake easily with a fork. Carefully lift off the grill and set on a platter.
6. Serve fish topped with the tomato-basil mixture.
Yield: 4 servings.
If you’re a barbecue or outdoor grill fanatic, and are looking for something different and unique, then nothing fits better than satay. This is a Southeast Asian dish consisting of some pieces of meat, either lamb, chicken, beef, or pork, grilled on a skewer and served with a spiced sauce, usually a peanut sauce. The origins of satay may be Java, Sumatra, or Indonesia, where it’s very popular. Indonesians have a https://www.thedaily meal.comvariety of satays, and they are commonly sold by street vendors; and the meats used may range from mutton, to rabbit, to squid.
Given below is a typical recipe for grilled Chicken Satay. If you prefer, pork tenderloins can be used. Just cut them into 1-inch cubes and follow recipe directions
Another piece of trivia: some experts state that the word “satay” is derived from the Minnan-Chinese words sa tae bak (“three pieces of meat.”).
CHICKEN SATAY
1/2 cup soy sauce
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger root
1/2 teaspoon dried turmeric
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch strips
8 (10-to-12 inch) bamboo skewers
1 cup coconut milk or cream
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
1 tablespoon honey
1/4 teaspoon curry powder
1. In a bowl, combine soy sauce, garlic, ginger, turmeric. red pepper flakes, lemon juice and cumin. Add chicken to the mixture and stir to coat. Cover and marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Do not marinate overnight. This will make the meat too dark.
2. Meanwhile, soak the skewers in a pan or skillet filled with cold water (or the kitchen sink if it has a stopper) to prevent skewers from burning.
3. Mix coconut milk or cream, peanut butter, honey, and curry in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 2 to 4 minutes until sauce thickens. keep warm.
4. Drain chicken, and reserve the marinade for basting. Thread chicken strips accordion-style onto each skewer. Fill up to 3/4 of each skewer so that you have a handle to easily turn the satay during grilling.
5. Grill on a lightly oiled preheated grill over medium-hot coals (or gas grill) 6 to 8 minutes, turning half way through grilling time and brushing with marinade. Serve with warm peanut sauce for dipping.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
Almost every culture has dumplings as a staple. Usually, the dumplings are stuffed with some savory ingredient or other. In our culture we have domplines (pronounced “dom-plee-ness), which are our version of dumplings, except, they are not stuffed. It’s more like deep friend dough, which is a common staple in the Caribbean. Other places have it such as in Indian cuisine where they deep fry the dough and call it poori.
In our family, domplines have been with us forever. I remember my grandmother making them for breakfast with eggs, or at lunch or dinner with codfish. They are deceptively easy to make, and quite tasty. Given below is the basic recipe for domplines. If you want to liven up the recipe even more, you can add one or two minced cloves of garlic to the dough. This will give it an extra tang (if desired).The recipe is from my first cookbook, Puerto Rican Cuisine in America (Perseus Books Group: Running Press).
DOMPLINES (Puerto Rican style dumplings)
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup lukewarm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
Vegetable oil for frying
1. Combine flour, baking powder and butter in a bowl.
2.Add salt to water and add to flour, a bit at a time, while mixing with a wooden spoon until it forms a doughy consistency.
3. Remove this dough to a lightly floured surface and knead continuously with hands until soft.
4. Form kneaded dough into a horseshoe shape and set aside.
5. Fill a cast iron or heavy bottomed skillet halfway with vegetable oil (usually about an inch). Heat until oil is very hot. Break off a small piece of dough and shape into a flat round patty. Drop patty into skillet and stir-fry until golden (about 5 minutes). Repeat until dough is all gone. Remove and drain on absorbent paper towels.
Yield: about 20 dumplings
Note: If a little color is desired, you can add 1/2 teaspoon of ground turmeric to the flour during the first step. This will render truly golden-yellow dumplings.
I know, it’s been a damp, raining, chilly spring, and the rapture didn’t happen, and you’re all bummed out. But, guess what, pretty soon the hazy, lazy days of summer will be upon us. And what better way to celebrate summer (besides hot dogs and baseball) than with cold soup? That’s right, “cold soup,” as in that classic dish, vichyssoise (pronounced “Vihsh-ee-SWAHZ”). Also, an added note,the fabled vichyssoise is an American dish. Not French. It’s a creamy potato-leek soup that’s served cold; and its creator was Chef Louis Diat of the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in New York City. Chef Diat conjured up the dish in 1917.
Still, we must give the French credit since the soup most likely evolved from the leek and potato soup very popular to France, potage bonne teme. In his tome, Cooking a la Ritz, Diat himself states that the name of the soup comes from Vichy, the French town near his childhood home. He calls it Cream Vichyssoise Glacee. Vichyssoise has entered the lexicon along with such nuggets as chicken tetrazzini, egg foo young, and English muffin (another American novelty). Vichyssoise is also very easy to prepare with a blender or food processor. If you desire, you can use scallions instead of leeks. In my version, I like to add cayenne pepper to it instead of ground black pepper. Either way, you can’t go wrong with Mr. Diat’s creation.
CREAM VICHYSSOISE GLACEE
2 leeks, white part, finely sliced
1 medium onion, peeled and thinly sliced
2-3 tablespoons sweet butter
2 medium potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 cup chicken broth or stock
1 cup milk1 cup light cream
Salt to taste
Cayenne pepper to taste
1/2 cup heavy cream
Finely chopped chives (optional)
1. In a saucepan, gently saute the leeks and onion in butter until soft, about 8 minutes. Do NOT let them brown.
2. Add potatoes, chicken broth or stock, milk, light cream, salt and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil, and then simmer on low heat for 30-35 minutes.
3. Puree in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Let cool, and stir in the heavy cream. Chill thoroughly before serving. If you prefer, you can add finely chopped chives before serving.
Yield: 4-6 servings.
One of most popular food in the Spanish speaking Caribbean is a tortilla (pronounced: tor-tee-jah) But to us this is very different from the common Mexican-style tortilla. In Mexico, a tortilla is a flat bread; actually a flat thin cake made of corn or flour. Mexican corn tortillas are commonly eaten throughout America and Europe as tortilla chips. They are the mainstay of such dishes as enchiladas, tostadas, and flautas. What we know as the popular “taco” is usually made with a corn tortilla, a staple not only of Mexican cuisine but of Tex-Mex food as well.
A Spanish tortilla is different altogether. It is a round omelet-like egg dish originating in Spain. It is normally made with beaten eggs, pieces of potatoes and other ingredients such as bell peppers, onions and chives. The dish is cooked slowly in a little oil, and served hot or cold. In the Rivera family we have always referred to Spanish tortilla as just a plain Spanish omelet; and we’ve kept the same family recipe for generations.Only difference is we omit the potatoes. Don’t ask me why. That’s the way my mother has always prepared it.
So, here follows our version of the Tortilla Española (or Spanish omelet). It’s from my first cookbook, Puerto Rican Cuisine in America (Thunders Mouth Press)
TORTILLA ESPAÑOLA (Spanish Omelet)
1/4 cup olive oil
2 medium red onions, peeled and thinly sliced
1 medium green bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 medium sweet red bell pepper, cored, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch strips
1 clove garlic, peeled and crushed
2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
8 large eggs
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1. Heat oil in large non-stick frying pan or skillet. Add onions, green and red peppers and garlic. Stir-fry over moderate heat until vegetables are tender (about 5 minutes).
2. Add tomatoes and cook 3 minutes more.
3. In a bowl, beat eggs lightly and add salt, pepper and oregano.
4. Add eggs to vegetables and cook over moderate-high heat, letting the eggs set in the bottom and sides of the pan.
5. When the eggs start to brown, reduce heat to low and cook until upper part is dry.
6. Here you have a choice, either:
A. Run a spatula or knife around the outside of the tortilla. Place a large serving plate over the pan and quickly flip the tortilla onto the plate. Slide the tortilla back into the frying pan and cook until set on the other side (about 10 minutes).
Or:
B. Place tortilla pan under the broiler and cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until golden brown. (Be sure the pan has an oven-proof handle).
7. Serve the tortilla cut into wedges as you would a pie.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings.
This entry is care of my friend, Paul Goldstein, who, every so often ventures to Thailand so he can get away from the damp and wet of a Seattle winter. He e-mailed me about this recipe, if it can be called that. He was dining was at a small restaurant in Bangkok “around the corner from the Grand Palace and art school” in that city when he came upon this dish. Basically, it’s dry teriyaki chicken without the sauce. Add a scoop of white rice and a pile of sliced white ginger, and there you have it. Pablo states that an interesting addition is sweet chili sauce. He does caution that the dish is “not for everyone.” But, it’s worth a try. The only drawback: white ginger may be hard to get in your area; so just substitute regular ginger. The heart of this simple dish remains the same.
CHICKEN WITHOUT THE TERIYAKI
2 pieces chicken thighs
1 1/2 cups water
2 cups steamed white rice
1 piece fresh ginger (about the size of your thumb), peeled and grated
Sweet chili sauce, optional
1. Wash chicken pieces under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.
2. Place chicken in pot or pan with water. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer on low heat for 15-20 minutes until chicken thighs are tender.
3. Place a scoop of rice on a plate. Place a chicken thigh on top.
4. Spread some grated ginger on chicken and rice. Serve with sweet chili sauce, if desired.
Yield: 2 servings.
Note: If you desire, instead of boiling the chicken pieces, you can cook them in one tablespoon of oil over medium high heat until done (about 5-7 minutes). Then serve with rice and ginger, as noted. This is for those who prefer fried chicken instead of boiled chicken.
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