The Wooden Spoon in Chicago
Chef Todd Moore teaches the classes.
Grilled Beet and Endive Salad
Herb Marinated Flank Steak
Potato Tomato Gratin
Grilled Peaches
6 medium beets1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup walnut halves
1/4 cup sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon-style mustard
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons walnut oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 heads Belgian endive
1 pear
1/3 cup coarsely chopped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
1 head Bibb lettuce, leaves separate
2 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
Scrub beets; trim off stem and root ends. Peel and quarter beets. Fold 36x18-inch piece of heavy foil in half to make 18-inch square. Place beets in center of foil. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon olive oil; sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring up 2 opposite edges of foil square and seal with double fold. Fold remaining edges to completely enclose beets, leaving space for steam to build.For charcoal grill, arrange medium-hot coals around edge of grill; cover. Test for medium-hot heat above center of grill (not over coals). Place foil packet on grill rack over center of grill (not over coals). Cover; grill 35 to 45 minutes or until beets are just tender when pierced with knife. (For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium-high. Adjust for indirect cooking. Place packet on grill rack over burner that is turned off. Grill as above.)Remove packet from grill, and open carefully. Allow beets to cool.Meantime, place walnut halves on baking sheet; bake in 350°F oven 8 to 10 minutes or until fragrant and lightly toasted. Remove walnuts from oven; cool completely.Place vinegar in a small non-reactive bowl. Whisk in mustard. Slowly drizzle in 1/4 cup olive oil, whisking constantly until blended. Whisk in walnut oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.Slice each endive in half lengthwise. Remove bottom core. Cut endive halves crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Cut pear lengthwise into quarters, remove core. Cut pear lengthwise into thin slices.In very large bowl combine walnuts, endive, pear, and parsley. Gently toss to mix. Add vinaigrette; toss lightly to coat. Place Bibb lettuce leaves on six salad plates. Divide endive mixture evenly among plates. Top with beets and crumbled goat cheese. Serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.Oven-Roasted Beets:Scrub beets; trim off stem and root ends. Peel and quarter. Place beets in shallow roasting pan; drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Roast, uncovered, in 450°F oven 25 to 40 minutes until beets are just tender when pierced with knife and edges are browned; toss once to coat in oil. Remove from oven and let beets cool.
Potato Tomato Onion Gratin
The layered gratin is pictured here underneath the flank steak. That is how it is served at The Wooden Spoon. You could, of course, choose to serve it as a side dish instead of under the steak.
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
2 large onions, sliced 1/4 inch thick
Pinch cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 pound Yukon gold potatoes
1-1/4 pounds tomatoes
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 ounces Gruyère cheese, shredded (1-1/2 cups)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 cup soft bread crumbs
In large skillet, melt butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions, cayenne pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, covered, 13 to 15 minutes or until onion is tender, stirring occasionally. Uncover; cook and stir over medium-high heat 3 to 5 minutes more or until onion is golden.Preheat oven to 375°F. Use mandoline or slicing blade of food processor to slice potatoes 1/8 inch thick. Line baking sheet with paper towels. Slice tomatoes 1/4 inch thick; place on paper towels to drain excess juices.Lightly oil 2-quart au gratin or baking dish. Place half the caramelized onions in bottom of dish. Arrange half the potatoes over onions, overlapping slightly. Season with some of remaining salt and black pepper, drizzle with some of remaining oil (reserving 2 to 3 teaspoons for topping), and sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese and a third of the thyme. Arrange half the tomatoes over potatoes. Season with some of salt and pepper, drizzle with additional oil, and sprinkle with half of remaining cheese and half of remaining thyme. Add remaining onions. Repeat with remaining potatoes, tomatoes, salt, pepper, oil, and thyme; sprinkle remaining cheese on top. Cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes.In small bowl combine reserved oil and bread crumbs; toss to coat. Uncover baking dish; sprinkle crumbs over top. Bake, uncovered, 10 to 15 minutes more or until the topping is golden brown and vegetables are tender. Let stand 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Herb-Marinated Flank Steak
10 sprigs fresh thyme, torn
4 large sprigs fresh rosemary, torn
1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, torn
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
6 cloves garlic, smashed
1 (1-1/2 to 2 pound) beef flank steak
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Place thyme, rosemary, basil, olive oil, vinegar, black pepper, and garlic in large self-sealing plastic bag. Seal bag tightly by squeezing out extra air. Using your hands, massage bag to combine herbs and oil mixture, allowing herbs to release their essential oils.Trim fat from steak. Score steak on both sides by making shallow cuts at 1-inch intervals in diamond pattern. Place steak in bag with herb mixture; seal bag. Turn bag to coat. Set bag in shallow dish.Marinate in refrigerator 4 to 24 hours, turning bag occasionally. Remove steak from refrigerator 30 minutes before grilling; brush off herb sprigs and garlic. Season steak with kosher salt.For charcoal grill, grill steak on rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals to desired doneness, turning halfway through grilling. (Allow 10 to 12 minutes for medium rare (145°F) and 17 to 21 minutes for medium (160°F).) Remove steak from grill; let rest 10 minutes. To serve, thinly slice steak diagonally across the grain. Makes 6 servings.
Grilled Peaches
Crisp Topping (see recipe)
6 small-to-medium firm, ripe peaches, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon sugar
3/4 cup whipping cream
1/4 cup honey
Prepare Crisp Topping; set aside. Sprinkle cut sides of peaches with sugar; set aside. In chilled medium mixing bowl beat whipping cream until peaks just begin to form. Beat in honey. Continue beating until soft peaks form. Set aside.For charcoal grill, place peach halves on rack of uncovered grill directly over medium coals for 8 minutes or until tender and slightly charred, turning once. (For gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Place peach halves on grill rack over heat. Cover; grill as above.)To serve: Place peaches in bottom of trifle bowl. Top with whipped cream; sprinkle with Crisp Topping. Or, place 2 peach halves on each dessert plate; top with dollop of whipped cream and sprinkle with desired amount of crisp topping. Makes 6 servings.
Crisp Topping
:Prepare honey butter: In a medium mixing bowl beat 2/3 cup softened butter and 3 tablespoons honey until combined. Cover; chill at least 30 minutes or until firm. OR, substitute 3/4 cup purchased honey butter.Preheat oven to 350°F. In medium mixing bowl combine 3/4 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup chopped toasted almonds, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/8 teaspoon ground ginger. Cut in honey butter until clumps are pea-sized. Spread in 13x9x2-inch baking pan. Bake, uncovered, 15 to 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, or until topping is golden brown. Cool 30 minutes before using.
I hope that you enjoy each of these recipes my dear friends.
Now on to Embracing Etiquette with Teresa...
Bottom-of-the-Barrel Behavior
Spitting on a sidewalk, belching at the table, blowing your nose on anything other than a tissue or handkerchief, and cursing in public are only a few of the gross rudeness used by those who couldn’t care less about the feelings of others. Talking about obscene acts in front of children and strangers is another appalling rudeness.
This new freedom to do as you feel is nothing new and the people that behave this way just don’t seem to go away. Media and entertainment, overcrowding, individualism, and stress are excuses made for this type behavior.
Tomorrow we will cover Rage as a form of rudeness.
See you soon,
Teresa
xoxo