Monday, October 14, 2013

Fall Cooking

It is fall and the temperatures are getting cooler.  I know, this is Texas, it isn't that cold.  but, the temps are down at least 3 degrees, okay?  so, where was I?  Oh yes, cooler temps lend themselves to heartier meals.  I want to share a dish I saw on the Saveur website.  My wife and really enjoyed it.


I could not find some items at my local grocery stores; so I omitted the juniper berries; and substituted some celery in place of the celery root.  My pork was also two pieces that I had packaged up in my freezer so I did not have the opportunity to butterfly it and roll it.  But it came out quite well indeed.  I also did not have to thicken the sauce.  The starches from the root vegetables and reduction during the cooking did the job for me.  I am thinking about adding this to my International Cuisine Class.
Here is the recipe as printed on the Saveur Website.  I hope you enjoy.



Schweineschmorbraten mit Rübengemüse  
(Braised Pork Roast with Root Vegetables)
 

INGREDIENTS
1 (5-lb.) boneless pork shoulder, butterflied
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tbsp. whole juniper berries
4½ tsp. caraway seeds
8 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
8 strips bacon
¼ cup olive oil
3 medium parsnips, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
3 medium carrots, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 large russet potato, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 small celery root, peeled and cut into 1" chunks
1 medium yellow onion, cut into 1" chunks
½ cup dry red wine
1½ cups chicken stock
6 sprigs thyme
3 bay leaves
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Heat oven to 350°. Season pork with salt and pepper, rub with juniper, caraway, and garlic, and lay 4 strips bacon across pork, parallel to short sides and spaced about 2" apart. Starting at one of the short edges, roll pork into a tight bundle, and place seam-side down; lay remaining bacon lengthwise across the top of the roast, and tie securely with kitchen twine at 1" intervals. Season outside of pork with salt and pepper, and set aside.

2. Heat oil in a large roasting pan set over two burners over medium-high heat. Place roast, bacon side down, in pan, and cook, turning as needed, until browned all over, about 25 minutes. Push roast to one side of the pan, and add parsnips, carrots, potato, celery root, and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 15 minutes. Add wine, and cook, stirring to scrape the bottom of the pan, until liquid is reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add stock, thyme, and bay leaves, and using tongs, arrange roast on top of vegetables. Cover with foil, and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast reads 165°, about 2 hours.

3. Transfer pork to a cutting board, and let rest for 20 minutes. Discard bay leaves and thyme, and arrange vegetables on a large serving platter; slice pork, and arrange over vegetables.

4. Bring roasting pan with pan juices to a boil over high heat. Mix cornstarch and 2 tbsp. water in a bowl. When juices boil, whisk in cornstarch mixture and cook until gravy is thick, about 2 minutes more. Strain gravy through a fine-mesh strainer, stir in vinegar, and season with salt and pepper; serve alongside roast.

Bread dumplings make a great accompaniment to this dish.

Until next time.
Happy cooking and eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh 
Bon Appetit Ya'll

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

It is that time of the year


It always seems to happen that we spot flocks of pink flamingos on campus right before school starts.  This particular flock is little earlier than normal, school does not start until August 26.  Since they are coming from admissions and heading to the book store perhaps they are trying to prove the old adage:  The early bird gets the books!


Happy Cooking and Eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Professionals in Culinary Arts - Hops and Hogs

Last night our program had the opportunity to participate in the Hops and Hogs event sponsored by the Professionals in Culinary Arts.  This event was the first annual Hops and Hogs event.  Proceeds from the event benefited culinary schools with scholarship monies.  This was the first Professionals in Culinary Arts event the Alvin Community College program has been able to participate in.  The event was held at St. Arnolds Brewery.

The theme for the event was Baconmania!  We prepared two dishes.  A savory dish and a sweet dish.
For the savory dish we served, Bacon Caviar (Bacon Jam) on a Bacon Flat Bread.  And for the sweet dish we served mini chocolate cupcakes made with St Arnolds Santo, frosted with marscapone cheese and topped with candied bacon.  Drippings from the candied bacon were used in place of the oil normally used in the cupcake batter.  Both dishes were basically bacon on bacon.

Here is a photo of the Bacon Caviar followed by a photo of the cupcakes on a four tier stand.



The recipe for the Bacon Caviar is as follows:



Yield:  approximately 6 cups
  • 3 pounds bacon
  • 4 large yellow onions, peeled and thinly sliced
  • 8 cloves garlic, smashed with the flat side of a knife or a pan and peeled
  • 1 cup cider vinegar
  • 1 cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1½ cups very strong brewed black coffee
  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
  1. Cut the bacon slices into one inch strips. Add the bacon to a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Cook the bacon, stirring frequently, until the bacon is browned. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the bacon to a paper-towel lined plate. Drain all but 2 tablespoons of the bacon drippings into a heat-proof jar with a tight-fitting lid.*
  2. *Save the bacon drippings in the refrigerator. That’s too much flavor to trash!
  3. Place the Dutch oven back over the medium-high heat and add the onions and garlic. Stir well and reduce heat to medium. Continue to cook for about 8 minutes, or until the onions are mostly translucent. Add the remaining ingredients, stir well, and drop heat again, this time to low.
  4. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently, and boil hard for 2 minutes. After 2 minutes, stir the browned bacon into the onions and liquid.
  5. Simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to make sure things aren’t sticking, adding ¼ cup of water if it seems to be drying out. When the onions are meltingly soft and the liquid is thick and syrupy, remove the dutch oven from the heat and let stand for 5 minutes.
  6. Transfer the contents of the Dutch oven to the work bowl of a food processor that has been fitted with a blade. Fit the lid in place and pulse several times or until the Bacon Jam is a spreadable consistency. Scrape into a jar (or jars) or a container with a tight fitting lid. Store in the refrigerator for up to one month or in the freezer for up to 6 months.
  7. Can be served cold, room temperature or warmed.
Notes
The bacon jam could take up to 3 hours to reduce to a syrupy consistency. Just stick with it! 
This recipe is adapted from Rebecca Lindamood, who adapted her recipe from Martha Stewart.

Bacon Flat bread:

Yield will vary according to size you cut the bread

16 oz. All purpose flour
½ oz. Baking powder
10 oz. Milk
.30 oz Salt
1 ½ oz. Shortening (may be replaced with butter)
7 oz fine bacon bits

Combine all ingredients and work gently to form a smooth dough.
Allow dough to rest at least 30 minutes.
Roll dough 1/8 inch thick.
Cut out to desired shape and bake at 375 degrees for up to 15 minutes.
The flat breads can also be pan fired or deep fried.
 
Remember to brush off excess flour before baking.

 As I go to close this entry, I realize I forgot to mention something important.
The ACC culinary arts program was the winner of the culinary school category for the competition.
We were awarded the Golden Hog trophy and some scholarship monies too!  The award was decided by peoples vote.
Thank you to the Professionals in Culinary Arts for the invitation to particpate in this event.  Everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves.  We are already looking forward to next year!
Thank you Chef Mary Bass and Tyler Henderson for your efforts and work.

Until next time.
Happy Cooking and Eating.
Chef Leslie Bartosh




Friday, April 26, 2013

Spring Family Night Photos

Every spring we hold a family night to give our students a chance to show their families what they have learned.  This year the execution and food was outstanding.  I am posting some photos from the event below.  I still have more photos to process.  I hope to post the remaining photos next week. and add captions then.  I hope you enjoy.

                                        













Thursday, February 28, 2013

Piggy


Those of you who follow us on Twitter or Facebook, know that we had a piggy kind of start to this week.  For those of you who don't, the following photo should sum things up quite well.

Gives new meaning to the term:  Fresh Food!  Everything but the oink is usable. 

Happy Cooking and Eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Black Fin Tuna with Salmorejo Sauce


As a part of lab last night we tried a new recipe, thanks to Dean Nelson.  Dean Nelson was kind enough to donate some very nice Black Fin Tuna to the class.  The tuna was seared and then cooked briefly with the salmorejo sauce.  The sauce was nicely robust and played very well against the great tuna.

It was wonderful.  Thanks Dean Nelson for the addition to our class!

Happy Cooking and Eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Spain



The International cuisine class is Spain tonight.  Here is our menu:

Day Eleven Spain – Tuesday 2/12/13



Aceitunas Negras Alinadas (Marinated black olives)
Ajo Blanco (chilled almond and garlic soup)
Albornia (eggplant, peppers and tomatoes with cumin and cilantro)
Almejas a la Gaditana (Clams in a Sherry Sauce)
Andalusian meatballs
Brazo de Gitano ("Gypsy's Arm" Rolled Sponge Cake)
Champinones al Ajillo ( mushrooms)
Crema Catalana
Gallina En Pepitoria (Chicken Cooked in an Almond and Saffron Sauce)
Gambas al Ajillo (Shrimp in Garlic)
Gazpacho Andaluz
Gazpacho de Garbonzos ( garbanzo gazpacho)
Grilled zucchini
Lecho frito
Paella Valencia
Pepper Salad, Cadiz Style
Platanos al horno (Baked bananas )
Queso fresco (blanco)
Romesco sauce
Solomillo de Cerdo Ibericao en Adobo Exremeño (Iberian Pork Loin in an Adobo (Spice Paste) from Extremadura
Tortilla de Patata Jose Luis
Prep Char Sui
Black Fin Tuna with Salmorejo Sauce

Happy Cooking and Eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh



Monday, February 11, 2013

Eastern Europe Menu


Our class is visiting Eastern Europe tonight.  Here is our menu:

Apfel strudelfulle

Banitsa (Flaky Cheese Rolls)
Borshch Ukraïnsky Ukranian Beet Soup
Bramborava Polevko – potato soup
Bramborové Knedlíky (Bohemian potato dumpling)
Brotknoedel (bread dumpling)
Csirke paprikas (chicken paprika)
Fazolove Lusky na Paprice ( green beans with paprika)
Galuska ( small dumpling)
Gulyás (Hungarian Goulash)
Kolache
Lecso (tomato and green pepper ragout)
Moraské Zelí (Moravian cabbage)
Pierogi
Srski Ajvar (Serbian Vegetable Caviar)
Székely Gulyás (Transylvanian Goulash)

Looking forward to it.

Happy Cooking and Eating
Chef Leslie Bartosh

Monday, February 4, 2013

Menu for Day 2 in France

Day 8 France Monday 2/4/13


Blanquette de veau
Champignons aux fine herbs
Egg noodles
Filet de poisson au vin blanc
Green beans ala bonne femme
Pomme de terre Dijon
Poularde al’Estragon
Red potato mushroom
Rice pilaf
Sauté de Veau Marengo
Tart tatin
Bouillabaisse
Sauce Rouille and croute
Pate de Campagne
Escargot a la Bourguigognne, en vol au vent

Happy Cooking and Eating Chef Leslie Bartosh