 The cut of beef known as "tri-tip" is a griller's dream. This thick, triangular hunk cut off the sirloin section of a beef actually originated in the Santa Maria Valley of California's wine country. In fact, yours truly learned how to prepare this beautiful cut of meat right there in Santa Maria. Typically, a tri-tip weighs between two and three pounds, making it perfect for the average family, or a single or couple wanting leftovers. As our weather changes to reflect spring and summer, it's time to fire up the grill and spend some time outdoors, and this tri-tip recipe is perfect for some at-home dining. So let's do it. INGREDIENTS 2-to 3-pound tri-tip roast Your favorite barbeque rub PROCEDURE Remove roast from refrigerator and coat with rub. Cover and let sit at room temperature for about an hour. To grill: (I used a gas grill in this example so the heat will be medium high with the lid open.) Sear the roast on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Grill for 8 minutes, then turn and grill for another 8 minutes. Repeat this until the internal temperature reads approximately 120 degrees F for rare and 130 F for medium. Remove from heat and let rest for 20 minutes. This is very important! Note: the internal temperature will rise by about 5 degrees when resting. Plan accordingly. Slice across the grain and serve.
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 One of the most popular comfort foods is now available in a cup. That's right, a cup. Perfect for a snack or even a full meal, this microwaveable "pizza in a mug" is easy to make and takes only a few minutes. Continuing the Pandemic Pantry series with KFQD radio in Anchorage, this recipe is also great for using up the last bits of vegetables, meats, cheeses, or spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator. Have kids? Let them make their own individual pizzas and teach them the power of the "nuker." *Tips: No spaghetti sauce? Tomato sauce works, too, but you may want to add a few more spices to jazz it up. Pre-mixed pizza crusts are perfect for this recipe, especially if you are out of all-purpose flour.* Ingredients 1 microwavable coffee mug 4 Tbs all-purpose flour 1/8 Tbs baking powder 1/16 Tbs baking soda Pinch of salt 3 Tbs milk 1 Tbs olive oil 1-2 Tbs jarred or homemade spaghetti sauce 2 + Tbs parmesan or mozzarella cheese Fresh peppers for topping Sliced olives for topping A dash of died oregano A pinch of red pepper flakes Procedure: Add the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in microwaveable mug. Mix dry ingredients together. Add milk and oil. Mix until well combined. Add spaghetti sauce, and trowel over the top to form a complete layer. Sprinkle cheeses on top. Top with peppers and olives or whatever else you desire on top. Sprinkle with oregano. Microwave for 1-1.5 minutes (based on the wattage of an average1200-watt microwave). NOTE: Not sure of your oven's wattage? Look inside at the data plate. If it not listed the take a microwave safe vessel and fill it with one cup of water. Turn on your microwave: If the water boils at 1.5 minutes than you have a 1200-watt microwave. 2 ½ minutes to boil ? 800 watts, hence a 1 ½ minute cook time for the cup o pizza ~TFC   The Flying Chef's Pandemic Pantry series continues (listen to the whole segment on KFQD HERE) with this can-do soup, made with ingredients you've probably got in your cupboard already. Even if you don't and have to go to the store, canned beans and soups are still easily found on store shelves. Try this fast, tasty meal with a tossed green salad. Add a crusty artisan bread instead of corn chips if desired. Ingredients 1 can of pinto beans 1 can of black beans 1 can diced tomatoes 1 can sweet corn 1 can chicken 1 can green enchilada sauce 1 can diced green chilies 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 can chicken broth 1 packet taco seasoning Tortilla chips Cilantro to garnish Procedure: Open cans ( it's just that easy). Drain and rinse cans of beans and chicken. Add all ingredients except cilantro and chips, and simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve and plate with chips or warmed bread. Garnish with cilantro. ~TFC   There's a challenge afoot, readers of The Flying Chef Journal. How many recipes can yours truly come up with involving canned ingredients from the pantry? Mission accepted, especially when the results are broadcast on KFQD radio in Anchorage. The full episode will air tomorrow morning (Tuesday), but in the meantime, here's the first of four 'can-do' recipes (see what I did there). Getting creative is one of the hallmarks of this COVID-19 craziness, and the first recipe out of the gate sure did deliver. Canned black beans and brownie mix. What could go wrong? Turns out, nothing! The beans provided an earthy, nutty flavor and density that made these brownies something to be proud of. So give it a try and let me know what you think. INGREDIENTS 1 box brownie mix (I used Betty Crocker brand) 1 can low-sodium black beans Water - according to package directions Egg - according to package directions Oil - according to package directions PROCEDURE Preheat oven to 350 degrees (or as recommended on box for your pan type). Follow package directions for mixing brownies. Open can of beans, and rinse thoroughly in a strainer. Place brownie mix and beans in a blender or food processor. Blend together until no chunks of beans remain. Pour into greased baking pan and bake for 30 minutes or until a toothpick poked into the center comes out clean. Cool, cut, and serve. ~TFC   We've talked a lot about ramen in The Flying Chef Journal because it's such a versatile staple for many kitchens. In our current situation, however, ramen is fast becoming a staple of many a lunch or dinner meal. Fresh or dried, ramen is good stuff, but not just for soups. This recipe is a fresh twist on the usual, with pickled ginger, mandarin oranges, green onions, and crunchy Napa cabbage. The dressing's sweet-tart flavor comes from honey and rice vinegar, with a dash of soy. Turn your Pandemic Pantry around and surprise your people with this colorful ramen salad. Ingredients 1 head Napa cabbage 1 package instant ramen noodles, crumbled ½ cup sliced almonds 1 can mandarin orange slices, drained 1 bunch green onions, chopped 1 handful sliced, pickled ginger Dressing 2/3 cup oil, vegetable works best 1/3 cup honey or agave 1/3-cup rice wine vinegar 2 tsp soy sauce ¼ tsp sesame oil A dash salt and black pepper Procedure Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Place sliced almonds on cookie sheet, and add the dry uncooked, crumbled ramen. (You can throw the ramen seasoning packet away; you won't need it.) Place ramen and almonds into oven and bake for about seven minutes, or until all crunchy bits are lightly toasted. Do not burn. Remove from oven and let cool. Rinse, drain, and chop cabbage into bite sizes pieces. Chop green onion and slice pickled ginger. Drain mandarin orange sections. Mix all ingredients in a bowl Whip up dressing and toss the salad. Eat promptly; the ramen will get soggy if held too long. If you want to prepare the salad ahead of time wait until it is time to serve to add the dressing. See, cooking is easy! ~TFC  If you, like most of us, are spending more time at home, it's probably a sure bet that you've started cleaning stuff, and this cleaning might include the freezer. Spring is finally here, which means we can look toward (I hope) another salmon fishing season. But first, last year's fish needs to be used up, especially if space is at a premium. These salmon burgers are a perfect way to use up that fish. A rich blackening seasoning, made from ingredients you probably have at home already (or hey, why not clean out the spice cupboard, too?), provides a nice summery flavor that will help us think of better times ahead. Ingredients For the burger: 2 salmon fillets, skin removed, cooked, and shredded 2 eggs 2 TBS chopped onion ¼ tsp fresh chopped parsley ¼ cup bread crumbs (Italian seasoned is the best, but use what you have) ½ tsp dried basil 2 Tbs lemon juice 1 Tbs vegetable oil Red pepper flakes, to taste For the dressing: 3 Tbs mayonnaise 1 pinch dried basil Chopped fresh dill to taste (dried is fine, too) Procedure In a bowl, mix all of the burger ingredients except the oil, and form six patties about ½-inch thick. In a large heavy pan over medium heat, add the oil. Just as the oil starts to smoke, add salmon patties, and cook about 4 minutes per side, or until browned. For the dressing, mix mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil and dill. It’s just that easy. Smear some atop your burger and enjoy. Homemade Blackening Seasoning Ingredients 1 Tbs paprika 2 tsp salt 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp cayenne (or to taste) 1 tsp black pepper 1 tsp white pepper ½ tsp dried thyme leaves ½ tsp dried oregano Procedure: It is perfectly OK if you don’t have all seasoning ingredients on hand. Wing it with what you have and make your own flavor. Mix it all up and store in an airtight container. This seasoning would be good on halibut or chicken, too. Use as a rub and let set in on the salmon before cooking. Stay cool. ~ TFC  Remember that chicken you roasted yesterday? Today it will become a comforting meal that everyone in your family will eat. Just what is it about casseroles? These one-dish wonders that are known also by other names -- "hot dish," "covered dish," or perhaps something else in your family. Casseroles are true comfort food, called such because of the sense of nostalgia they provide, especially in times like now. This hearty, warming dish is made even more delicious by the leftover chicken roasted in yesterday's post. Today's lunch or dinner meal is the second in my installment of "Pandemic Pantry" recipes, and is a sure bet to help you feel good in these troubled times. A note: If you'd like to stretch this dish even further, serve over hot rice or wide egg noodles. Hey, and I hope you'll tune in to my latest radio appearance with KFQD, where I expand upon the Pandemic Pantry options, and how we can all help one another and appreciate our food service workers during this difficult time. Ingredients 3 cups chopped, cooked chicken 2 cans condensed cream of chicken soup, or cream of mushroom soup 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 3 cups panko or Italian bread crumbs (some mothers in the 1950's and 60's used corn flakes or other dry cereals; do what you remember fondly) 6 Tbs butter, melted Salt/pepper to taste Procedure Preheat oven to 350F Grease a 13x9-inch baking dish Combine soup, chicken, salt/pepper, and shredded cheese and spread in dish In a large bowl, stir bread crumbs and melted butter, top casserole Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until bubbling, and topping is golden brown ~ TFC  If there's one thing I do know during this crazy Coronavirus pandemic, it's that we'll all likely have a lot more time to cook, for better or worse. The State of Alaska has also mandated several actions, including maintaining several feet of distance between people, which means a lot fewer trips to the grocery store. This is a great opportunity to use up several common pantry items, and get creative, but also fall back on old favorites. Over the next several days, look for The Flying Chef's "Pandemic Pantry" series, hopefully inspiring and comforting all of you (read: us) stuck at home. First up: The Flying Chef's Two-Day Chicken. A favorite from the minute you purchase in bulk (two chickens) from your local big box store. Just remember to wash, wash, and wash your hands some more, for at least 25 seconds, with real soap, and don't touch your face. Just don't. Stay at least six feet from other people, which may mean a slower shopping process, but that's OK if it keeps us from getting sick, OR transmitting the virus to other people. OK -- message received? Let's cook. The Flying Chef's Two-Day Chicken. Ingredients: 1 whole chicken (buy in packs of two or individually) 1 lemon ¼ cup olive oil 8 cloves garlic 2 teaspoons whole basil 1-teaspoon kosher salt ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp brown sugar 1 cup wood chips for smoking (see procedure for option) 1 plastic bag (produce bags work, as do smaller-size NON-SCENTED trash bags) Procedure: Add the following to a blender: Slice lemon and extract juice. Pour juice into blender and reserve the rind. Add all remaining ingredients, except the wood chips and blend for about a minute. Set aside. Clean chicken under cool running water, remove giblets and discard. Place chicken in plastic bag. Pour contents of blender into the bag and fully coat the bird with the mixture, being sure to get some of the marinade into the cavity. Place the reserved lemon rind into the cavity of the chicken. Remove excess air from the bag and tie closed. Place in refrigerator for 24 hours. Make sure and knead the bag once or twice in this period. From here, vary the recipe depending upon your cooking equipment: Option 1: Use a grill and cook with wood chips for about 90 minutes on indirect heat. Using charcoal? Move the coals to one side and place the bird on the other. With a gas grill, light only one burner to ensure that the tasty entrée will not burn when it drips, and will be a golden brown success. Don't have a grill or want to cook inside? No problem. Roast at 375 degrees for about an hour, or until the internal temperature of the hip joints reaches 180 degrees. Yes, you should clean the kitchen drawers to find that meat thermometer. Remove bird form heat and cover with foil for approximately 15 minutes. Carve, serve and wait for the complements to roll in. Seriously. I suggest a few side dishes. Stuffing or garlic mashers along with a light salad should do the trick. ~ TFC  Here's the thing about ramen noodles -- those squiggly, narrow noodles most of us cooked in two minutes or less during less-affluent times in our lives: They are not all created equal. Good ramen noodles are slightly-sweet, wheaty-flavored goodness with just a bit of chew to their texture. Ramen comes in three styles; fresh, dried, and fried (we are all familiar with the "blocks" of noodles that come wrapped in plastic and sold with a spice packet, yes?). Hey, eat what pleases you, but if you can get fresh ramen noodles at a local store, do it, then make this "to-go" style ramen recipe that serves up well at lunchtime, no matter where you might be. INGREDIENTS 2 small mason jars (pint) 1 package ramen noodles 1 TBS soy sauce 1 tsp ginger, grated 1 tsp hot sauce 1 cup shredded chicken 1 cup spinach, chopped ½ cup carrot, cut julienne-style 2 TBS sliced green onions PROCEDURE Cook ramen noodles like you always do, according to directions on package Run cold water in the pot of ramen to stop the cooking process and preserve noodles' firm texture Tear open ramen flavor packet and pour in the bottom of the mason jar Split the soy, ginger, and hot sauce between the two jars Add the chicken, then layer the spinach and carrots. Top with the chopped green onions and screw the lid on. Refrigerate. When ready to dine, boil water and pour into jar, just topping the ingredients Screw the lid back on and let steep for 3 minutes. Remove lid. Stir, and enjoy! ~TFC  Did you think you blew it this Valentines Day? There is still time to recover; even at this late hour. This quick treat is sure to fire up the one you love -- Or, at least, get you out of the doghouse. American Airlines has long been known for their ice cream desserts for their First Class cabin passengers, and this chocolate-berry combination is a treat to behold. It might even remind you of a time when, you know, flights were something special to dress up for. First Class Ice Cream Ingredients: - 4 oz. frozen berries, such as strawberries or raspberries, blended and poured in a parfait glass to be re-frozen as a single layer. - 1 large scoop of Ben and Jerry’s Karamel Sutra or, you know, something like that. - 4 chunks dark chocolate for the top; I used Cadbury brand. Procedure: Thaw frozen berries just enough to slightly blend and pour in to glass. Re- freeze. Add a large scoop of Karamel Sutra, or other yummy flavor ice cream. Place 4 or more chunks of dark chocolate on top and place back in freezer until ready to eat… Prep time: 10 minutes 1 decadent serving per glass. ~TFC |
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