Showing posts with label Cooking with Jan D'Atri. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cooking with Jan D'Atri. Show all posts

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Officially...I'm a Radio Co-host!

I just got the most amazing phone call from my darling Jan D'Atri! After I stop crying tears of joy I can finish this post...

I've been Jan and Momma's "unofficial co-host" on the radio show for about a year, but today it is official. Jan asked me to be on the show every week as Chef Tess! It will be every Saturday from 3-5 PM Arizona Time. We'll be talking about fresh local farming, healthy food, cooking ideas and having an all around giggling happy time! You won't want to miss it!

Saturday 3-5 PM AZ time or listen to it online at  http://www.iheart.com/live/550-KFYI-37/

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess



 

Saturday, June 8, 2013

Painted Whole Grain Bread for Momma

 I had the chance to visit Jan D' Atri and Momma (Momma's name is Livia) at their book signing on Saturday and decided to take Momma some bread since it was her birtday this week! What do you think?
 I especially love this new spin-wheel design I came up with. I think it's totally retro!
There you go. Just a little "had to share".

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Radio Show links and Jan's Oatmeal Cake with Coconut Broiler Icing...Evil. Sooo good.

This is a random post, yet one that just needs to be done. I love Jan D'Atri. She's been the most amazing blessing to our family the last little while and I especially love that she always thinks to send something home with me for my kids after the radio show. Few things bring me more joy than having someone think of my babies. So, that being said, thank you Jan for the second pan of your Oatmeal Cake with Coconut Broiler Icing. I couldn't find the recipe on her website, but when I do...you all will be in trouble. 



I made the Steel-cut-oat-risotto from the blog. Mama had 3 helpings. I'm feeling really good about that. I'm not going to lie, I was really freaked out about sharing a new risotto with a true Italian. 

If you missed today's show, here is the link to the podcast... 
The Jan D'Atri Show
· Click Here to Download MP3
The Jan D'Atri Show 3-16 Hour 2

The Jan D'Atri Show
· Click Here to Download MP3
Jan D'Atri Saturday 3-16-13 Hour 1

Here's last week's:
03-09-13 4PM
· Click Here to Download MP3
Mama on TV?!

03-09-13 3PM
· Click Here to Download MP3
It's pot roast day!


Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess


Friday, March 8, 2013

Jan's Cola Pot Roast and Tess' Cola Spiced Peach and Rosemary Ham. Two Crock Dinners. One post.


I'm a sucker for a great Pot Roast recipe. Twice a month as a kid I remember us having a nice Sunday roast. The smell of that luxurious meat simmering in a crock-pot when we arrived home from the 3 hour Sunday church services we attended was like walking in the gates of heaven. It was always a welcomed almost intoxicating event.  There is not a smell on earth that makes me more homesick, or more comforted. That being said, when my friend Jan D'Atri shared her latest recipe that will post tomorrow in the Scottsdale Republic here in Arizona, I was excited. My mom used to use a can of Dr. Pepper with our roast and Jan's Recipe with the addition of a can of cola sounded just too close to my childhood comfort food to pass up!  I thought I'd share her recipe with you today as well as another favorite at our house for your upcoming Easter events! 


Recipe and photo courtesy of Jan D'Atri, Rescued Recipes


Jan D'Atri's Braised Pot Roast in Cola
 Ingredients:
4-5 pound boneless chuck roast or rump roast
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large sweet yellow onion, diced and sautéed
2 tablespoons FRESH garlic, minced
3 teaspoons salt, divided
2 teaspoons black pepper
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
2 cups beef broth
1 (12 oz) can cola (I used Blue Sky All Natural Soda)
2 tablespoons organic tomato paste
2 tablespoons flour

Directions:
Season the roast on all sides by sprinkling 2 teaspoons of salt and 2 teaspoons pepper over the entire roast. Sautee diced onion in a little oil until golden brown and set aside. Heat a Dutch oven on high heat and add oil. When oil is hot,  place roast in pot and cook until browned on all sides.  Add beef broth, cola, garlic, sautéed onion, rosemary and remaining teaspoon of salt. Bring to boil, stirring to release browned bits.  Add tomato paste and stir.  For crock-pot cooking method, transfer meat and juices to crock-pot and cook on high for about 4-5 hours (or until fork tender) or cook overnight in crock-pot on low heat. For oven method, cover Dutch oven and cook at 325 degrees in the oven for 3 1/2 hours. Liquid should be at least 1/3 of the way up the roast. Add more beef broth if necessary.
To make gravy: Remove roast from pot and keep warm. Pour beef liquid through a strainer to catch onion bits, mash through and then discard remaining onions. In a bowl, add 1/2-cup hot beef liquid to  2 tablespoons of flour. Whisk to combine eliminating lumps.  Slowly whisk mixture into the remaining liquid on the pot. Whisk frequently until mixture comes to a boil. Cook for another 5 minutes or until sauce thickens. Serve roast with hot gravy.

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Pavlova 101, The Meringue Based Cake Tutorial

What the heck is a Pavlova? If you've never had one, you're in for a happy delight! Especially if you're gluten-free and trying to go a little more low-fat!Pavlova got it's name in honor of Anna Pavlova, a Russian ballerina who toured Australia and New Zealand in 1926. I'm assuming she was light on her feet and completely delicate.  I'm sharing two version of this recipe today. One is a traditional version from the Joy of Baking, and the other is my higher protein, less sugar version. Both are excellent!

Pavlova is basically a wheat-free, flour-free meringue based cake that has a delicate and crispy crust. The inside is almost a marshmallow center.  My dad, the Pansy Man, has no affection for marshmallow, so we really  never made these when I was growing up. Now however, I have a great love for these bad-boys. Seriously. The crust alone is enough to make me smile. It is just a tender, divine piece of happiness on a plate...if that's possible. 

Usually this remarkable dessert is served with lusciously whipped, lightly-sweet whip cream and fresh fruit.  My personal preference is to make the cream with a kiss of fresh orange zest and a pinch of fresh grated nutmeg, just enough to give a subtle nuance to the cream.  Another secret is I often will dip the fruit in a fresh fruit marinade made from Avocado Oil, lime or lemon juice, and a drizzle of honey.    

The basic tutorial video from Joyofbaking.com (though 8 minutes ) is pretty helpful in seeing how this dessert is made.



 Pavlova on The Joy of Baking.com :

4 large (120 grams) egg whites
1 cup (200 grams) superfine (castor) sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch (corn flour)
Topping:
1 cup (240 ml) heavy whipping cream
1 1/2 tablespoons (20 grams) granulated white sugar (or to taste)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Fresh fruit - kiwi, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, passion fruit, peaches, pineapple, or other fruit of your choice

Serves 6 to 8.



Pavlova: Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (130 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and draw a 7 inch (18 cm) circle on the paper. Turn the parchment paper over so the circle is on the reverse side.

In the bowl of your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites on medium speed until they hold soft peaks. Start adding the sugar, a tablespoon at a time, and continue to beat, on high speed, until the meringue holds very stiff and shiny peaks. (Test to see if the sugar is fully dissolved by rubbing a little of the meringue between your thumb and index finger. The meringue should feel smooth, not gritty. If it feels gritty the sugar has not fully dissolved so keep beating until it feels smooth between your fingers). Beat in the vanilla extract. Sprinkle the vinegar and cornstarch over the top of the meringue and, with a rubber spatula, gently fold in. Spread the meringue inside the circle drawn on the parchment paper, smoothing the edges, making sure the edges of the meringue are slightly higher than the center. (You want a slight well in the center of the meringue to place the whipped cream and fruit.)


Bake for 60 to 75 minutes or until the outside is dry and is a very pale cream color. Turn the oven off, leave the door slightly ajar, and let the meringue cool completely in the oven. (The outside of the meringue will feel firm to the touch, if gently pressed, but as it cools you will get a little cracking and you will see that the inside is soft and marshmallowy.) 


The cooled meringue can be made and stored in a cool dry place, in an airtight container, for a few days. 


Just before serving gently place the meringue onto a serving plate. Whip the cream in your electric mixer, with the whisk attachment, until soft peaks form. Sweeten with the sugar and vanilla and then mound the softly whipped cream into the center of the meringue. Arrange the fruit randomly, or in a decorative pattern, on top of the cream. Serve immediately as this dessert does not hold for more than a few hours.



My Chef Tess Version uses less sugar and powdered egg white, increasing the protein content quite a bit!

Chef Tess-no-mess-never-fail Meringue from Food Storage

1 1/2  cup warm (not boiling) water
3/4 cup sugar
2T Ultra gel  (modified corn starch)
1T lime or lemon juice
1 tsp vanilla
Directions: 
In a very clean (must be free from any oily film whatsoever!)metal bowl combine the egg white powder and water with a whisk until smooth. Fit a stand mixer with a metal bowl with the wire whisk (again, VERY clean). Pour egg whites into the bowl.
 Turn mixer on medium high setting. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and ultra gel. 
When eggs start to get stiff and glossy, add the sugar mixture in a steady stream to the mixer. 
Continue to whisk about 4 minutes until firm peaks form. Add vanilla  and lemon or lime juice and mix to combine.


 I made personal-sized Pavlova by dividing the meringue into 6   5 inch circles on a parchment lined baking sheet. The parchment will help it not to stick like crazy.  Bake the full 60 minutes at 250 degrees. Turn off the oven and allow the Pavlova to sit an additional hour or more in the oven. I personally leave them in the oven overnight. This just assures they will be dried enough.

For service, top with whip cream and fresh sliced fruit. 

There you go my darlings! You're really going to love this one!

Always My Very Best, 
Your Friend Chef Tess

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Just a Reminder! Today's Fox Radio Show!


This afternoon I'll be on the air live for the full two hour show with Jan D'Atri for some laughs and love for baking bread easily, shelf-stable meals and just great ideas for making your family's menu more simple and delicious! Come and hear the good stuff! The direct link to listen to the show live is Here. Please spread the word! The more who listen, the better chance I'll have of getting to do a lot more with Jan in the future! Xoxo!

To find out more about the ever amazing and fantastic adventures of Jan, visit her website :
Jan D'Atri.com

Always My Very Best,
Your Friend Chef Tess


Saturday, June 18, 2011

Painted Whole Grain Bread for Momma (and Jan D'Atri)

 I had the chance to visit Jan D' Atri and Momma (Momma's name is Livia) at their book signing on Friday and decided to take Momma some bread since it was her birtday this week! What do you think?
 I especially love this new spin-wheel design I came up with. I think it's totally retro!
There you go. Just a little "had to share". I'm loving these ladies! Jan invited me to come back on the radio show and help her with a private cooking class in July! Yes! Dancing the happy dance!

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

I'm going "In The Kitchen With Jan"! {Squeal} YES! *The* Jan D'Atri!



  If you're not from Arizona, as many of my international readers are...you may not know who this shining beautiful face is...but I dare say that I'm standing here beside myself right now. This is Jan D'Atri. You must read:  About Jan, because she's an icon here...and I'm about to be introduced to a  hero of mine! I promise not to pass out...today.  Jan called me yesterday and invited me to be on her radio show...This SATURDAY 3:00-5:00! That's a lot of food and zany fun folks!
On the radio:
"In The Kitchen With Jan
Saturdays 3-5PM (Arizona Time)
NEWSTALK 550 KFYI, Clear Channel Phoenix
www.kfyi.com

So, I started in making dough last night...
 Yesterday after she called I got on the phone to Michael at Love Grows Farms to hook up with some sweet organic veggies...They took really good care of me. Smooches!






 Most exciting  is the fact that since the show will be on cooking with whole grain and whole foods, Preparing Wisely will get to show off it's amazing organic grains! I love teaching Classes there.  I love the store. I've never met better people.
 So we'll be talking super grains and cooking up some black quinoa...

How about a Father's Day breakfast that's made with a healthy twist?

 Zucchini whole grain pancakes using whole grains without a flour mill...and a blender!


We'll also be making some Fast and Easy bacon wrapped shrimp lemon herb linguini

And of course the grilled portabello mushroom and pineapple salad with avocado, bell peppers, and pistachio...and we'll throw in some surprises with some whole grain!


Grain isn't just for bread...and gosh darn it...I'm excited to be on Jan's show this Saturday. Please share the news with everyone! Let's make this the best show yet!
 That being said...this sweet rum, flax and orange bread is still pretty amazing for grain...
Bread will never be something I give up. Thank goodness I don't have to do so! Remember to share the love folks. I'm so excited!