Join us on
Thur. May 10th & 17th
6:30 – 8:30, approximately
$45.00
For reservations call
Temecula Olive Oil, 148 Main St. Seal Beach
(562) 296-5421
Sponsored by
Photo by Applebees
Join us on
Thur. April 12 or 26
6:30 – 8:30, approximately
$45.00
For reservations call
Temecula Olive Oil, 148 Main St. Seal Beach
(562) 296-5421
Sponsored by
This is a quick and easy one pot dish that you can make stove top or in your Instant Pot. For variety change the vegetables with the seasons if you like.
Serves 6 – 8
Heat a deep sauté pan over medium heat and barely coat the bottom of the pan with a little olive oil or butter. Add the potatoes and stir for a couple of minutes. Sprinkle with a little sea salt and fresh ground pepper, cover the potatoes with chicken stock, reserving the rest of the stock. Cook the potatoes until almost done and the stock has reduced to almost nothing in the pan. Add a little more oil to the pan and add the carrots, cook for 1 minute before adding the leek, red pepper and kielbasa. Season again with a little sea salt and fresh pepper. Add the wine and reserved chicken stock, cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables have cooked but still have a little crunch. Add the sauerkraut and cook until heated, stirring once or twice. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Easy to make ahead of time and bake off at the last minute, make extra they go fast!
Preheat the oven to 350° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Mix the maple syrup and salt together, add the walnuts and stir until coated.
Spread the nuts on the baking sheet and bake for 12 - 15 minutes or until the glaze is bubbly and coats the walnuts well. Remove from oven and let cool.
Turn the oven up to 425° and line a baking sheet with a new piece of parchment paper.
Slice dates lengthwise and remove pits.
Scoop a small amount of Boursin cheese with a spoon and fill the date with the cheese, press a glazed nut into the cheese.
Wrap dates with a slice of bacon, and secure with a toothpick to hold bacon onto date. Place the dates on the parchment on their side and bake for about 7-8 minutes or until browned on the bottom and turn to the other side continue to cook for another 7-8 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and a little crispy, and the cheese is slightly melted.
Let cool and serve warm or at room temperature.
Photo: La Tienda
Join us on
Thur. Feb 8th or 22nd
6:30 – 8:30, approximately
Menu
Crab Imperial Stuffed Mushrooms
Baby Spinach Apple Salad with Pecans & Dried Cherries
Skirt Steak with Shallot Pan Sauce
Roasted Smashed Potatoes
Chocolate-Orange Panna Cotta w/Fresh Berries
$45.00
For reservations call
Temecula Olive Oil, 148 Main St. Seal Beach
(562) 296-5421
Sponsored by
Barley Basics
There are several types of barley, flaked, flour, grits, hulled, pearl and more. Most of the barley you’ll find in the supermarket is pearl barley or polished barley, which has had its hull removed, and most of the nutrients that go with that, but also reduces the cooking time (slightly). An un-hulled barley can take up to 20 minutes longer to cook but it’s an excellent source of fiber and keeps you fuller longer. Bob’s Red Mill has a great ‘hull-less’ barley that still contains the bran. It’s an ancient variety that grows in a loose hull thus saving much of the nutrition but it does take as long to cook as the un-hulled barley. Use 3 parts water or stock to 1 cup of barley; if using pearl barley start checking after about 20 minutes of cooking, barley can take up to 1 hour to cook. Try using a pressure cooker making a larger batch than you need and freezing the cooked barley in 1 or 2 cup packets for later use in soups or salads or as a side dish.
Some people like to soak their barley overnight or even for just a few hours. It doesn’t cut down much on cooking time and may alter the appearance or color of the grain but if you have trouble digesting whole grains this may work for you. Whole grains contain an anti-nutrient called phytic acid which binds with certain minerals (e.g. zinc, phosphorous, calcium and iron) and prevents them from being absorbed by the body. Phytic acid is also very hard on the digestive system. Most of the phytic acid is contained in the exterior bran and germ layers of the grain. Ironically, whole grains are much higher in minerals than polished or refined grains, but we won’t receive those benefits unless we neutralize the phytic acid. Soaking your grains before cooking them will neutralize the phytic acid and release the enzyme inhibitors, making them easier to digest and the nutrients easier to absorb. Soak overnight with a little squeeze of lemon juice or other acidic liquid (apple cider vinegar etc.), drain and rinse before using.
To make in a pressure cooker or Instant Pot check the manufacturer’s instructions or try this website for info, https://instantpot.com/instantpot-cooking-time/
Combine the barley and water or stock in the saucepan. Add the salt if using.
Bring to a boil over high heat, then lower the heat, cover and simmer, checking at 20 minutes for pearl or polished barley. Keep an eye on the pot as barley will give off a lot of foam at first and can cause the pot to boil over, for hulled barley, start checking at 40 minutes. The barley is done when it has tripled in volume and is soft yet chewy. Add more water if the pan becomes dry before the barley has finished cooking; check every 5 minutes until desired chewiness is reached.
When the barley is done, it will have absorbed most of the water. If there is a little water still left in the pot, just leave the barley to sit for 10 minutes, covered, until it has all been absorbed. If there is a lot of water left, drain the barley. If you want to cool it quickly to freeze, spread it out on a half sheet pan until cool, then measure and freeze.
Here’s a great recipe for a weeknight dinner, easier than stopping at the store or fast food for dinner. Make sure to stock your pantry ahead of time.
Be sure to form the patties into ¾” thick ‘burgers’ and cook according to directions. This will ensure that your Salisbury Steaks come out perfectly cooked and not overdone. The recipe is really as easy as cooking one of those frozen dinners and tastes so much better! Serve with mac and cheese, mashed or roasted potatoes.
Mix the Salisbury steak ingredients with your hands or a wooden spoon, form into 4 thick patties (about ¾” thick) and set aside.
In a deep sided skillet, heat oil and when hot add onion and sauté until translucent. Add the mushrooms into the pan and cook, stirring until lightly browned. Transfer into a bowl.
Add a splash of oil, if needed to the pan and add the meat patties, cook the first side for 1 minute or until browned, then flip and brown the other side (they will still be raw inside).
Take the skillet off the stove and transfer meat patties onto a plate. Turn the heat down to medium low.
Return skillet to the stove and add butter. Once melted, add flour and cook for 30 seconds. Whisk in remaining Gravy ingredients until smooth. Increase heat to medium then transfer the reserved onions and mushrooms into the gravy. Stir, then add the patties into the gravy along with the juices on the plate. Cook for 7 minutes, or until gravy is thickened and patties are just cooked through, stirring occasionally around the steaks. If the gravy thickens too quickly, add more water.
Remove steaks onto a plate. Adjust the seasoning, if needed, with salt and pepper.
Adapted from Recipe Tin Eats
Photo: Recipe Tin Eats
If you google how to bake brownies in a skillet you will find recipes that actually cook in the oven in a skillet rather than a recipe you can cook in a skillet on the stove top. Why bother unless you’re going to serve the brownies to your guests in the pan? I’m talking about actually BAKING them in a skillet on the stove top. This makes them super fudgy but a little difficult to get out of the pan so be sure to use a good nonstick skillet. Here are two recipes, one traditional and one cooked in a skillet (a cheater recipe as I used a box mix-yes a box!) You decide which one works for you!
This recipe yields 2 pans of yummy, fudgy brownies using an 11″ skillet (w/lid) or sauté pan.
Mix brownies according to package directions, adding peppermint extract.
Add ½ of the batter to skillet and stir it around over low to medium heat while it ‘bakes’ and solidifies. Cover and cook over low heat for approximately 10 minutes or until the sides start to crisp. Add candies to the top of the brownies, turn off heat and let the pan sit for about 5 minutes before cutting.
Preheat the oven to 375° and lightly grease a 9x13 pan.
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl in the order they are listed. Stir together and beat until the mixture is smooth. Mix in nuts, chips etc. that you’d like to use.
Spoon into the prepared pan and bake 25-30 minutes, or until just barely beginning to pull away from the sides of the pan, remove from oven and let cool.
Last Class of the Year
Festive Family Dinner
Thursday December 7th
6:30 – 8:30, approximately
Menu
Artichoke Bruschetta
Tomato Bisque with Gruyere & French Ham Croutons
Italian Roasted Beef in Barolo Wine Sauce
Balsamic Butternut Squash, Brussels Sprouts & Pecans
Stuffed Shells with Homemade Ricotta
Cranberry-Orange Olive Oil Cake
$45.00
For reservations call Temecula Olive Oil, Seal Beach
(562) 296-5421
Sponsored by
Join us for our next cooking demo
Thursday, 6:30-8:30, approximately
Nov 9th & 16th
Menu
Smoked Trout Canapés
Spinach Bacon Salad with Pine Nuts & Croutons
Roast Duck Breast with Blackberry-Orange Sauce
Pumpkin Risotto with Pomegranate Arils & Shaved Parmesan
Haricot Vert (French style Green Beans) with Bacon & Pearl Onions
Mini Pumpkin Cheesecakes
$45.00
For reservations call Temecula Olive Oil, Seal Beach
(562) 296-5421
Sponsored by
Rinse and pat dry the chicken. Trim any excess skin and fat.
Preheat oven to 375°.
Heat a large Dutch oven, add the butter and oil. Season the chicken with sea salt and pepper, place the chicken pieces skin side down in the pan and brown well on both sides. Don’t crowd the chicken in the pan, do this in 2 steps if needed.
Set aside and pour off most of the drippings leaving about 2 Tablespoons in the pan. Sauté the onions, carrots and celery, return the chicken to the
pan and add chicken broth, bay leaves, thyme, tomatoes, white beans and a little salt
and pepper. Cover and place into oven and cook 30 minutes.
Check to make sure that chicken is nearly cooked.
Add bread crumbs and return to the oven, uncovered. Cook until crumbs are
lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Photo: Christina Peters
I love fall and winter and I love to cook hearty stews and warming soups. One of the most important ingredients is stock or broth for your dish and homemade is the best. Most of the time spent making stock is hands off, it needs to simmer for a good 4 hours so prep time in the kitchen can be limited to about 1/2 hour. Cut most of that time in half by making the stock in your pressure cooker but I like the results better just simmered slowly on the back of the stove. (Besides it makes your house smell wonderful!) I’ve included a list of descriptives for stock, broth, stew, soup etc. And my recipe for a perfect stock; stock is made with bones and broth is made with pieces of meat and vegetables and is a little less hearty than stock. Keep some stock in your freezer for quick meals during the winter season. Recipe below but here are some descriptives of soups, stews etc.
Bisque: a rich, thick usually smooth soup. Thickened either by pureeing or adding cream and usually made with some kind of seafood.
Chowder: a thick, chunky soup
Stock: clear savory liquid made from vegetables or meat on the bone
Broth: similar to stock but made with just meat or vegetables, not a hearty as stock
Gazpacho: a cold vegetable soup usually with tomatoes as main ingredient
Gumbo: thick broth with creole seasonings and chunks of meat & vegetables
Stew: thick soup with chunks of vegetables and/or meat
Soup: thinner than a stew with less chunks
Guides for making stocks
Use mild flavored vegetables, onions, celery, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes
No oily fish such as salmon
Beef bones with marrow will have more flavor
Use chicken feet for great taste and lots of natural gelatin
Do not season stock with salt until after it’s cooked
For making soups or stews
Any fresh or frozen veggie can be used. Do not defrost vegetable before using, just toss it into the stock.
Onion, peas, broccoli florets, celery, carrots, potatoes (will help to thicken soup also), corn, zucchini, peppers
Herbs
Basil, oregano, thyme, Italian parsley, crushed red peppers, Italian seasoning
Beans
Keep canned or frozen beans such as kidney, navy, white beans, pinto, black beans
Grains (pre-cook and freeze) Add at the end of cooking time
Farro, barley, rice, pasta, quinoa, beans
Place the chicken into a large stockpot and cover with cold water. Bring to a boil over high heat; reduce to a simmer and skim any foam that rises to the surface. This should take about 15 minutes.
After removing any foam add the cider vinegar (for bone broth), vegetables and herbs, bring back to a boil, turn heat to a simmer and cook 2 – 2 ½ hrs.
Remove from the heat and let the stock sit for 10 to 15 minutes, remove large chicken pieces and strain remaining stock through a cheesecloth-lined strainer. Cool by placing the container of strained stock in an ice water bath in the sink and then refrigerate overnight.
The next day, remove the fat from the stock by skimming with a ladle. The stock will keep for 3 days in the refrigerator or 3 months in the freezer. Be sure to label and date before freezing.
To adapt the recipe for Turkey Stock, roast a turkey back, neck, 2 wings and 1 package of chicken feet (yes, chicken feet have tons of flavor!) in the same manner as above.
For a deep rich flavor you can brown all your chicken pieces and vegetables, if desired, before making stock.
*Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot Directions
Place all pieces into the pot along with herbs, vegetables etc. Add 10 cups of cool water, cover and cook on high for 1 hour in your electric cooker. Let pressure cooker release naturally, strain and cool as above.
