Aug 3, 2011

Curried Carrot Soup....Perfect For Iftar!

 I know you're probably thinking it's WAY too hot for soup, but this nutritious and healthy recipe is a perfect way to enjoy your veggies and have a light but satisfying meal at the same time.  The best part is that it's super quick and easy!!!


Curried Carrot Soup
8-10 Carrots Peeled and Sliced into small pieces
½ Cup of Chopped onion
½ Cup of Chopped Celery
1 TBL Fresh Minced Ginger
1 tsp Cumin Seeds
1 tsp Curry Powder
1 tsp Salt (to taste)
2 TBL Vegetable or Olive Oil
4 Cups of Vegetable Stock (chicken Stock)
4 Cups of Water
In a Medium Sauce Pan Bring 4 Cups of Water to a Boil. Add the Caters and cook for 8-10 minutes or until soft.   Drain and Reserve some of the water (1 Cup).  Now place the cooked carrots in a Food Processor or Blender along with the reserved liquids and puree into smooth.  Set Aside.
In a Large Stock Pot, heat the oil at a medium high temperature.  Now add the onions and celery along with the cumin seeds and ginger.  Cook for about 5-6 minutes or until the vegetables have softened.  If it looks like the vegetables are drying out, add some water to help the cooking process along.
Next, add the Carrot Puree and mix through with the stock vegetables. Add the Curry Powder and salt and stir until blended.  Now add the vegetable stock, mix, and with a hand blender submerged in the stock pot blend all the ingredients together until the texture becomes smooth.  You can adjust the liquid if necessary by adding more vegetable stock or water.
Bring the temperature to a high and bring everything to a boil, stirring to make sure the texture is consistent.  Now bring the temperature to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. 
To serve, garnish with fresh coriander leaves and some crackers or toast.  I used Chura in these photos.  It's a salty spiced South Asian snack. Enjoy!

Aug 2, 2011

Quick and Easy Guacamole:)


I think Avocadoes tend to have a bad reputation for being "unhealthy" and "fattening".  It's true that it is referred to as "Nature's Butter", but this gorgeous fruit is also quite nutritious because all the monounsaturated fats that the fruit contains helps you to increase basal metabolic rate which can help people reduce their appetite that prevent them from over eating 


Here's quick recipe with which you can enjoy this marvelous fruit in its best form.

2 Avocados
Juice of 1 Lime
1 Jalapeno
1/4 Shallot (or substitute 2 Spring Onions)
1 Clove Garlic
3 TBL Chopped Fresh Cilantro
1/2 Tomato (Seed and Flesh Discarded) and finely chopped
1 tsp Cumin Powder
Salt Taste

Prep all the veggies first then combine ingredients one by one, starting with the Avocado.

Grind it smoothly with a Mocojate, Mortar and Pestle or a Large Bowl and Spoon, then add the lime juice.

Now add the Jalapeno, Shallot, and Garlic and blend into Avocado with a Spoon.

Follow with the Cumin Powder and Salt.

Last, add the the Tomato and Fresh Cilantro and Mix lightly with a fork.  

The Guac should have some texture. Taste and add more seasoning if needed.  
 
You can enjoy Guacamole on its own or as an accompaniment to grilled chicken, fish, or meat!
 
 

More Adventures in Martha's Vineyard......

 Murdick's Fudge is considered a "Slice of the Island" and offer a variety of flavors of fudge including Cape Cod Cranberry and Rocky Road!


 Soft as a Grape is a cute little trinket shop in Edgartown.  They sell novelty t-shirts and funny things like life saver bottle jackets......
 and Chocolate Covered peanuts they call Lobster Squirts, Starfish  and Whale Poop!
Past and Presents is an antique shop in Edgartown that carry these unusual home goods products like this potpourri slice of cake.....

and ceramic crudites plate.

Aug 1, 2011

Lobster Ice Cream???!!!!!

Is it possible that someone is more obssessed with Lobster than I am????
Ummmmm.......YES!

Lobster Ice Cream was a first for me.  It's not something I would order again, but it is something unusual enough to get the taste buds going!!!!

My love affair with Lobster continues.......

 Nothing beats this summertime favorite....but to enjoy it to the fullest it has to be pronounced "Lobstah" like a true New Englander.....
This heavenly 2 pounder was decadent, and enjoyed in a modern style of preparation with a Pecorino crust.
As they say, "When in Rome" or as I say, "When in the Vineyard".......
I had to have a Lobster Roll as well.....a Martha's Vineyard specialty!

Enjoying it in front of the famous Black Dog, a Quintessential Martha's Vineyard Shop.





Jul 31, 2011

This was one of the most Beautiful meals I enjoyed......and the restaurant is appropriately named "Beauty and Essex"

Too begin we were given this Amuse Bouche of some sort of Red Beet Caviar, this is the Beauty of Molecular Gastronomy
Followed by a Tomato Tartar and Yellowtail Crudo.....Beautifully presented and equally as tasty.
Next we enjoyed this Beautiful "Jewels on Toast" dish consisting of Nectarine and Whipped Ricotta with other gorgeous accompaniments.

These tasty little Beauties followed.....Lobster Tacos!
Staying in line with the Mexican theme, we couldn't leave without trying the Beautifully Braised Short Rib Tamales!!!!!


Our last course was the Spaghettini, Seared Nori Spiced Tuna, and Skillet Roasted Corn.....a "Thing of Beauty"!

And if that wasn't enough food.....Dessert was an absolute necessity.   Black Bottomed Butterscotch Pot De Creme and Molten Chocolate Bread Pudding.....Need I say more. 
This restaurant blew me away...I'm so full I can barely type....but this calorie fest was definitely worth every bite.  I highly recommend a stop here if you're visiting NYC.  But you need to call ahead for reservations...it's an NYC "HOT SPOT", and a fabulous evening out.  You won't be disappointed! 

Beauty and Essex is located at:
146 Essext Street
NY, NY 10002
(212) 614-0146



Jul 28, 2011