Passionate Home Cooking

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Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Shrimp Fettuccine with Mushrooms, Red Pepper, Garlic and Scallions





1 lb. Shrimp, peeled ( can use scallop as well or instead)
1 lb. Cremini Mushrooms 
Four or five scallions, chopped fine
4 cloves garlic, minced
A pinch of Red Pepper ( or more )
1 lb. Al dente fettuccine or thin spaghetti or wide noodles 
1 teaspoon of butter
4 teaspoon Extra virgin olive oil
1 or 2 splashes Dry White wine ( Pinot Grigio, Chardonnay)
2 tablespoons of cream or half and half (optional)
1 teaspoon of lemon juice (optional)
1 teaspoon sugar with a pinch of salt
3/4 cup of Marinara sauce to add moisture to the dish, or more

In large frying pan, over medium heat melt 1 teaspoon of butter, the optional lemon juice and heat the olive oil. When melted, sauté the mushrooms, with the sugar salt on high. When the mushrooms are caramelised, set aside in a bowl. Now fry the shrimp with the garlic and red pepper, turn as they cook until done. Turn out in same bowl as before. Spoon in cooked fettuccine and heat with a splash of dry white wine. When noodle are warmed thought, add back mushrooms, scallions, and the shrimp. Add an optional bit of cream or half and half.  If dry, add  marinara sauce.
Serve hot.

Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Pot-au-feu (Simmered French Coutry Soup) in process


Pot-au-feu is a slowly simmered meat and vegetable dish that appears on most home tables in France. Pot au Feu, which literally translates to ‘pot in the fire’, started its life in working-class homes as a way to make less expensive cuts of beef more tender and palatable. 

The long slow cooking resulted in 2 dishes: a clear nourishing broth and a rich meal of beef and vegetables. 

 There are as many variations of pot au feu as there are cooks. I have eaten pot-au-feu prepared with lamb, chicken, lobster.  

The broth is always served first with toasted slices of baguette crowned with morsels of fatty beef marrow, and the meat and vegetables are served second. 



Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Vicki’s Broiled Atlantic Salmon-Tomatos-Asparagus


 
 
1 1/2 lb. Atlantic Salmon*
1 bunch fresh small Asparagus trimmed**
1 lb. Fresh cherry tomatoes, halved
1 tbls Maille old Style Mustard 
2 tbls. Best Food Mayonnaise 
2 tbls brown sugar
1/2 tsp. Cayenne pepper
salt and pepper

Set the broiler height to 6”. Pre heat the oven to broil, 550F

Make a sauce out of mayonnaise, mustard, brown sugar, pepper. 
Slather the top of salmon cut into serving sized steaks. Place asparagus and tomatoes rubbed with a bit of olive oil, between the steaks. Broil in a 550F oven.

Watch progress, making sure not to overcook.
* Farm raised salmon has less mercury found in wild caught.
**Can substitute brocolli par-boil til al dente
 
When is the salmon dome?
when the tamotos are beginning to blacken, the salmon is done. I personally like salmon at  125-130°F.
 
USDSA recommends minimum internal temperature of 145F (63°C)