Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Ready, Set, Blog!

When I first read this first challenge, the very wide question, "What defines you as a food blogger?" my mind immediately set off in a million different directions, spinning completely out of control. What defines me, Am I a home chef? A foodie? A kid playing house? Someone with a little too much free time? Well, I guess I am a little bit of all of those things. Simply, I am a girl who loves food and loves sharing (I learned my kindergarten lessons well). So, while I cannot physically feed you all, and believe me I wish I could, I can share my creations, my recipes, and my meals with you. I could write you a novel on how much I love food, and how much joy this blog brings me, and maybe you would start to understand why I cook, why I blog, what makes me as a food blogger, and why I want to be the next Food Blogging Star. But instead I want to show you, so allow me to invite you to dinner...



Trout with Crispy Shallots:
1 lb of trout fillets, 3-4 fillets
1 lemon, plus additional lemon for serving if desired.
2 tbsp of olive oil
1 medium shallot
2 tsp cayenne pepper
salt, pepper

Heat oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Slice and separate shallots so that they form small rings. Cut a few slices out of the center of the lemon, and quarter the rest for juicing. Put the shallots and the lemon slices in the oil. While they are in, salt and pepper the trout on the non-skin side, sprinkle with 1/2 tsp of cayenne pepper each (or to taste), Squeeze the lemon juice over the trout. Put in the pan skin side down (the shallots should already be a bit crispy at this point). Cook for 4 minutes then flip over, and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes. Serve with fresh lemon and the crispy shallots from the pan.




Truffled Asparagus:
1 bunch fresh asparagus
1 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp fresh goat cheese
1 egg
salt, pepper
A few fresh shavings of Parmesan cheese
1-2 tsp of truffle oil

Pre-heat oven to 400. Salt and pepper asparagus and drizzle with the olive oil. Cook for 15-20 minutes until the asparagus are tender and the ends are crispy. Poach the egg: In a small sauce pan, boil some water and then reduce to a simmer, crack an egg into the water. Maintain a constant simmer and cook egg for a few minutes until the white is set. Top asparagus with the goat cheese, then the egg, then the fresh Parmesan.



Quiona
1 cup red quinoa
2 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup of white wine
2 medium shallots
1/4 cup of dried fruit, I used raisins and apricots
1/4 cup of pine nuts
1 tbsp of olive oil
Salt, pepper

Heat the olive oil in a small pan, over medium-low heat. Dice the shallots and add to the oil. When they begin to stick add the white wine and the fruit, allow to simmer until the wine is reduced and almost evaporated. Pour in the stock and bring to a boil. Salt and pepper broth to taste. Add the quiona, cover pot and reduce heat to low. Cook covered until the visible liquid is gone and the grains look split, about 30 minutes (My box of quinoa says it cooks in 15 minutes, but it does not, not even close). In a small pan toast the pine nuts over medium heat, stiring frequently. This could also be done in an oven, just be careful not to burn them. Stir pine nuts into quinoa.



Happy Eating.


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38 comments:

  1. Quinoa just happens to be a personal favorite of mine :) Love the blog Lindsay! Good luck in the food blog competition!!

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  2. This looks DELICIOUS! But then again, so does everything you make. I aspire to be able to make dishes that look even half as good as yours. GOOD LUCK ON THE CONTEST!! You are already a food blogging star in my eyes

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  3. Good luck...and nice dinner! Great approach for your first post!

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  4. Hi lindsay!

    great post and entry!
    good luck :)

    drop by my blog sometime soon!

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  6. Butter said...
    Hello, This is a really nice entry - And this look absolutely delicious! I often feel like "a kid playing house" too :)
    -Butter

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  7. Just voted for you! Thanks for your vote :)
    -Stephanie @ 52KitchenAdventures.com

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  8. Love Quinoa... looks great!!! I voted! and thank you for my vote too! Cant wait to read more!

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  9. Hi! I'm making all of this tonight for our anniversary dinner! Looks delicious! You've got my vote!

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  10. Thanks for the vote! I sent a happy ♥ vote your way too sister!

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  11. Thanks for the vote! I'm more than glad to return the favor :) I'd come over to your place for dinner anytime. Nothing beats asparagus with Parmesan and a poached egg. Yum!

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  12. Thanks for dinner! You've got my vote :)

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  13. Wow, that trout looks delicious!
    Thanks for the visit! You've got my vote. :D

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  14. Ooh I love crispy shallots, and trout! Yum. A vote for you! I hope you'll read my post and visit me at The Bad Girl's Kitchen

    Good luck!

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  15. Great post! It all looks delicious. I voted for you! =)

    Good luck!

    Check out my PFB post: http://www.foodbuzz.com/project_food_blog/challenges/1/view/503

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  16. Fish, asparagus, and quinoa are three of my favorite things! Thanks for stopping by my blog, and I voted for you too!

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  17. Thanks for my vote, and I just voted for yours, too! I want to go buy asparagus now.

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  18. Wowzers that trout looks mighty tasty. How did you know asparagus was my favorite???? Voteddd :)

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  19. Sent a vote your way! Thanks for yours too!

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  20. hi lindsay!

    love this post ! i always like trout, will try this sometime .. and thanks for droppin by my blog too

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  21. Hello! Just voted for you. I have never tried red quinoa... does it taste different than regular?

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  22. Wow, really beautiful, thanks for the vote and I will return the favor!!

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  23. I love quinoa! Well, I've only tried the frozen kind at Trader Joe's but it's awesome.
    Thanks for the vote! I returned the kindness and good luck!

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  24. MMMMM poached eggs on asparagus is one of my FAVORITE things! Beautiful!!!

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  25. Those asparagus look amazing! Just voted for you.

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  26. Oh my goodness. I honestly want to jump through my computer and attack that platter of fish. It looks so scrumptious!

    Best of luck with the food challenge. I'm off to vote for you now!

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  27. Great entry and dishes...good luck with PFB :)

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  28. Wow! That dinner looks so yummy! I love trout and shallots and asparagus and eggs and quinoa... you get the point!

    Just gave you a vote! A million thanks for voting for me! :D

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  29. I always load up on shallots at the farmers markets when they're cheap & plentiful... because I love crispy shallots. All your dishes look delish. Best of luck with the contest. You've got my vote!

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  30. Just voted! Thanks for the visit to my site. Good luck!

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  31. The Truffled Asparagus look really yummy. So does the trout. Haven't tried Quiona though.

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  32. Looks great! You got my vote. Good luck!

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  33. How fun! Thanks for the great meal!

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  34. Thanks for the vote! You've got mine as well. I HAVE to try that onion lager soup... and maybe the maple apple pie for dessert. What an awesome fall meal! Good luck!

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  35. You don't have to ask me over for dinner twice! What time was it again? Looks great! (And good luck to both of us in PFB!)

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Thanks for leaving some blog love!