April 11, 2007

Mango Chutney, Red Hot Chili Sauce & Mangosteen Preserves

Labels: , ,

For the past 2 days I have been attending to my garden, which is very tiny, but cleaning up after winter, and feeding plants and lawn take time. We have plenty of leftovers so I haven't really been cooking. I am making siopao this afternoon, though and will post them tomorrow. Meantime, I am sharing with you the recipes for two condiments and a fruit preserve that I made last week. Enjoy!


mango chutney and red hot chili semi-dry sauce

Chutney: 3 chopped mangoes, ½ onion, chopped, ½ C golden raisins, ¼ C chopped ginger, 1 chopped garlic clove, ½ C each white and brown sugar, 3/4 C vinegar, ¼ tsp each whole allspice, whole cloves and whole peppercorns, 1-inch pice cinnamon stick and ½ tsp salt. Bring everything to a boil, then simmer for 2½ hours. Store in sterilized jars.
Chili Sauce: Cook finely minced red hot chili, finely minced small piece of pork roast or chicharrones, sugar, salt, vinegar, chopped garlic and chopped shallots for 30 minutes until almost dry but still moist. Adjust seasoning to taste.


mangosteen preserves

I have mentioned this in a previous post. To make: boil the syrup from 2 cans of Thai mangosteen with 5 -6 T sugar until almost caramelized, add the fruits, separated into sections, and cook until thick and dark brown/purple in color. I purposely burn the bottom just for a second to deepen the flavor and color.

The Bad Plus

Labels: ,


My favorite jazz band's new album is coming out on May 8, I can't wait!
Here are samples of their music:
And Here We Test Our Powers of Observation


And my favorite song Cheney (the Vice Pres.) Piñata




April 10, 2007

The Best Caramel Ice Cream

Labels: ,


I was set to make black pepper ice cream. I have always wanted to try this unusual flavor because of one of the Japanese group Cibo Matto's song 'White Pepper Ice Cream' and I think, although not very sure, it was also mentioned in the funny novel Cooking With Fernet Branca by James Hamilton-Paterson. But when I read David Lebovitz' post this morning I changed my plans and made the caramel ice cream instead. Sigh, I am such a sheep, I'm going to baa anytime soon. Who cares, at least I made the bestest tasting caramel ice cream ever. The black pepper ice cream can wait another day.

April 9, 2007

Sorbet, Ice Cream, Pastillas de Leche, & Peeps!

Labels: , , , ,

fresh pineapple sorbet with rum
It's ice cream season! Actually we have ice cream all year round, I just didn't have freezer space the last few months. But with my new ice cream book, David Lebovitz' THE PERFECT SCOOP (psst, go buy a copy, it's the only ice cream cookbook you'll ever need), I have to make room in my freezer, or I will get a compact upright freezer just for ice cream, cakes and dessert. ;D

coffee ice cream topped with mangosteen preserves, I missed you so!


pastillas de leche, recipe here

and, they're disgustingly sweet but I gotta have my peeps!

 
Design by New WP Themes | Bloggerized by Lasantha - Premiumbloggertemplates.com