House of Zeta

Good food, drinks, friends and ukulele!!!

Month: January 2013

Fish Two Ways

January 30, 2013 / / 0 Comments

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As a quick post I thought I’d give you my tips for two easy ways to cook fish.  The first is a Tilapia.  A great fish that is not too fussy.  I like to make tacos with it but today we are going to steam it over spinach.  All you need is the fish, unhealthy spinach, a lemon, a garlic cove or two, olive oil and salt and pepper.  Simply pat fish the dry, salt and pepper it and set aside.  Next slice a lemon into rings, set aside.  Simple so far, right?  We are almost finished.  Grab your spinach that you have rinsed if you bought in a bundle or if you bought a bag simply open it.  Next saute it in a little olive oil and one or two chopped cloves of garlic.  Salt and pepper to taste.  Once the spinach has wilted lay the Tilapia on top then add the lemon slices on the fish, lower your heat, cover it and let sit till fish is opaque in the center, about 8-10 minutes depending on size.  Serve with whatever you like.  I usually have asparagus and some potato or a salad depending on my mood.

The second one is Flounder. Another white fish that is easy to tackle.  I usually use Tilapia for this but I recently went to the store and they were out, so I grabbed a flounder instead and it worked out perfectly.  This time we used flour, butter, egg and seasoning.  Very simple.  I usually don’t use egg with this recipe but since I never cooked Flounder it seamed as I was preparing it I should use an egg to help with the breading.    Normally what I do is salt and pepper the flower, dredge the fish in it dry and fry it up butter.  But, today we are going to do and extra step or two.  First salt, pepper and season the flour, I used some smoked paprika.  Next I beat one egg and set that aside.  Then take the fish and dredge it in the flower.  This is where I would normally put it the pan and cook it.  But I wanted a thicker crust so I the put it through the egg wash and re drudged it through  the flower.  I then put it in the frying pan with the melted butter and cooked it for 3-4 minutes on each side, till golden brown  and it had a nice flaky crust.  Now your probably asking how much butter?  Well, I leave that up to you……………..Along with whatever sides you like.  Enjoy!!!

Good for What Ails You

January 27, 2013 / / 0 Comments

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What Ails You Chicken Soup
Author: 
Recipe type: Soup
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4-6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 chicken
  • 1 bouquets garnis
  • 3-4 quarts of water (enough to submerge a chicken)
  • 1 onion
  • 2 ribs of celery
  • 3 carrots
  • 2-3 cloves of garlic, diagnosis peeled and chopped
  • salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
  1. Take out bag of innards from chicken
  2. Rinse the chicken and take any extra feathers off
  3. Place in pot with water
  4. Add salt, information pills pepper, garlic and bouquets garnis
  5. Bring to boil, then lower heat to medium
  6. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes
  7. Meanwhile peel and cut carrots into ¼" slices, set aside
  8. Chop celery and onion, set aside
  9. When chicken is done remove and let stand and cool
  10. While chicken is cooling off put veggies in the broth
  11. Bring to boil then simmer for 10-15 minutes
  12. When chicken is ready to handle, peel the skin, chop it up and set aside
  13. Strip chicken of all meat, tear into desired size pieces, set aside.
  14. Add chicken and skin when veggies are done.
  15. Bring soup back to a slow simmer and serve.
Notes
You can add rice, noodles, or barley, just make sure you cook these before adding them. I like to cook them just under the desired time so they finish in the soup. Bouquets Garnis is Oregano, Thyme and Savory wrapped up in Bay Leaves tied with kitchen string. I use this in all my stocks and soups. It is a great time saver and adds the perfect amount of flavor. You can make these yourself or get them at http://www.oliviersandco.com/ or at one of their stores.
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Chicken broth and chicken soup are said to be good for what ails you.  So with the Flu being particularly bad this year, and Jason being struck down by it, I decided to make chicken soup.  Years ago I got a tip from a mother from Catalan Spain.  She said to boil a chicken with one or two cloves of garlic.   Strip the chicken of it’s meat and put back in the pot.  Then serve.  She also pointed out that the skin must be in there also.  It supposedly has healing properties.   Being one who does not argue with mothers, especially when they come from my ancestral homeland,  I nodded my head and said yes ma’am.  Of course I asked if I should add anything else?  Salt and pepper, nothing else was her short but firm answer.  Keep it simple, it’s what the body needs.  Well, if you know me, then you know I can’t help but tinker with a recipe.   I have added a few things, like bouquets garnis, onions, celery, carrots  etc.  I’ve also been known to throw in some ginger, barley, rice, cilantro and even alphabet noodles.   Now I understand the reasoning for keeping it simple, it makes sense, and I have made it that way and it is very good.  What I find when I am asked to make chicken soup  is that everyone has something special they like in it.  This last time was the alphabet noodles.  Whether you like it simple or complex, there is one thing that does seem to cure or at least make being sick bearable, that’s homemade chicken soup.  I feel the most important healing thing about making this soup isn’t just fresh ingredients, but the care that comes with it.  Maybe that’s what the healing properties are.

Tomato Soup in Winter

January 22, 2013 / / 2 Comments

It may be winter but I thought it was time for a little summer.  So here is my recipe for a roasted tomato soup that will make you warm with the summer sun!

 

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Roasted Tomato Soup
Author: 
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4-6
 
Ingredients
  • 3-3½ lbs of Roma Tomato's
  • 4 cloves of Garlic chopped
  • ½ cup Olive Oil
  • Salt and Pepper
  • a pinch of Thyme
  • 1 quart of Chicken Stock
Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F
  2. Cut tomato's lengthwise
  3. Core tomato's wit spoon saving inside for later
  4. Place on cookie sheet skin side down
  5. Sprinkle garlic in all tomato cups
  6. Salt and pepper tomato's
  7. Drizzle olive oil on tomato's
  8. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until caramelized
  9. Remove from oven and place in pot with chicken stock
  10. Bring to boil and reduce heat, cheap simmer for 15 minutes.
  11. When done blend or use immersion blender to puree
  12. Put back in pot on low heat and serve.
Notes
If you want you can remove the skins after roasting, just wait till they have cooled before you handle them. If you want a creamy soup just add heavy cream when you have put it back on the stove on the low heat. If you want a little thicker soup, cut down the amount of chicken stock by about ¼ cup.
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D.C. or Bust

January 17, 2013 / / 2 Comments

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Jason and I take regular trips to Washington D.C. to see what’s at the Smithsonian and the other museums.   It’s a quick easy getaway from NYC.  We started the weekend as usual.  Both of us scrambling to get to the bus, and making it with some time to spare.  When we arrive we either hit our favorite Chinese restaurant or head to the hostel and call it a night.  This trip we called it a night so we could get a fresh start in the morning.  We always have some agenda when we get there but also leave things open.  This was to be a multi-media art trip. We started with an ipad in the lobby of the hostel and made funny pictures of ourselves, then it was to see the newly expanded Julia Child’s exhibit(a must see) that now includes Food: Transforming America’s Table, 1950-2000.  Although it was small they really packed in a lot of information.  We saw the Lichtenstein retrospective, where we accidentally took illegal pictures of his work.  The  Nam June Paik had  great pieces like  TV Buddah and the Electronic Superhighway.  Black Box continued our media weekend with the amazing film Democracia that revolves around a group of traceurs in revolutionary-styled garb performing parkour in the Almudena Cemetery in Madrid. The Ai WeiWei, so prolific and just awe inspiring, broke your heart while keeping you grounded.   The Butterflies + Plants: Partners in Evolution was the most fun.  We were kicked out of the America’s Presidents as it was closing time so we will have to see again.   Barbara Kruger: Belief + Doubt.  I was never much of a fan but this exhibit changed that.  She is one of those artists that must be seen in a large setting to understand what she is saying. It was brilliant.  Shock of the News, was this great exhibit where artists like Picasso, Jasper Johns, Laurie Anderson,  Man Ray, Sarah Charlesworth, among many others, transformed printed news into art by  co-opting, mimicking, defusing, memorializing, and rewriting newspapers.  I love going through and seeing the Neoclassical Decorative Arts of the Late 1700s in the classical wing of the National Gallery.  Where we snapped a picture of that yellow chase lounge and  got a rare viewing of Michelangelo’s David-Apollo.  The Price of Freedom: Americans at War was not my favorite but, the Rosy the riveter and what women could and could not wear(United Victory Colors) was interesting and fun.  If you look closely at the  pictures you can see  the bottle of liquid stockings.  I would argue that this is the first version of a tan in a bottle. Plus the button is hilarious. The Cuban Missile Crisis was fascinating, thankfully JFK was president or we would be screwed.  Changing America: the Emancipation Proclamation 1863, and the March on Washington, 1963, The price of Freedom:Americans at War. One word, Humbling.

We also ate at our favorite places.  The Garden Cafe Americana, always amazing.  It’s probably the best buffet you’ll ever have. Though it’s not part of the Smithsonian itself, it is in the National Gallery of Art .  It closes early like 3pm and can get very crowded so plan ahead and make sure you get a seat.  We didn’t make it this time but love the Bistro d’ OC, a great french bistro.  Sit in the front room or at the front bar or for a more quiet spot go upstairs into the back bar area.  On the recommendation of a friend we tried Annie’s Paramount Steakhouse.  Not technically a steakhouse, in my opinion, but don’t let that stop you.  Our waitress was amazing, it had an easy atmosphere and our Hanger Steak was cooked to perfection.  We will be back.  A more relaxed meal can be found on the Mall itself.  Hot dogs, french fries and beer will do the trick. I mentioned Chinese earlier and no trip would be complete without visiting Full Kee.  The Beef and Cilantro soup is my favorite.  I love reading the specials on the wall, knowing I will probably never eat them.  We have been known to bookend our trip with this late night gem. This time it was on our way out.  It may  not be  the fanciest but the food is always as good as we remembered.

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