An Irish evening in the Midwest

I don't know why but I've been listening to Celtic (Irish Folk) music lately.  So...I got some friends together and we went to John D. McGurk's Irish Pub in Soulard which is an older part of downtown St. Louis.  It feels like you're in Ireland. 

They bring musicians from Ireland for six week periods to play.  It was fantastic!  The crowd was clapping and people were dancing.  Guinness (a very popular Irish dry stout) and various ales were flowing.  They even served battered cod with malt vinegar.  The decor was old-world rustic with a fun vibe.  If you are passing through St. Louis...music starts at 9 pm

 

 

 

1200 Russell Boulevard

Saint Louis, Missouri 63104

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Hour at Home

Today is Happy Hour at my place..So. I thought I would share a few simple, fast recipes to make gourmet happy hour in a snap!


Goat Cheese Fritters:
The filling:
6 oz goat cheese
zest of 1/2 lemon
6.5 oz jar of marinated artichokes (diced)

The coating:
1/2 c. panko bread crumbs (Japanese Bread Crumbs)
1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 beaten egg

It doesn't get any simpler...Blend ingredients for filling together.  Use small cookie scoop or melon ball scoop to for form balls... They should be golfball size.  Roll in the following order. 1. flour 2. beaten egg 3. Panko....Set formed balls on plate in fridge for 15 minutes.  Fry in vegetable oil at 350 degrees ( about 4 balls at a time, don't crowd or oil temp will drop) for about 2 minutes till light brown.




Crab Rangoon:
1--  4 oz can white crabmeat (well drained)                  
1 egg beaten w/ 1 t. water= eggwash
4 oz. Reduced fat cream cheese
2 T diced chives
3 dashes worchestershire
pinch white pepper and/or cayenne
12 wonton skins
Vegetable oil heated to 350 degrees

Lay out all wonton skins in rows.  Place one teaspoon of filling in the center of each skin.  Using a pastry brush apply small amount of eggwash around border of wonton skin and fold over.  Pinch together.  Make sure to get air out.  Best to do in an assembly line fashion.  ie.  Line up wontons, apply filling.  go down each row with eggwash and seal carefully  Take your time sealing or filling will spill out into the oil.  The more you make these...the easier it becomes.!  I use a dutch oven which is deep to fry stuff.  Put two inches of oil in, heat to 350 degrees and go.  Fry goat fritters first and then rangoons.  Only put four into pot at a time.  You will get lots of compliments.  Better than any I've had at any restaurant.  They come out light and crisp. Serve with soy sauce or plum sauce as a condiment if you wish.

Puff Pastry Pork Pockets:       I almost feel guilty calling this a recipe.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees
Ingredients:
1 thawed, chilled puff pastry sheet (Pepperidge Farm sells at grocery)
1 cup seasoned pulled pork (from deli)
1 t. cherry preserves to each pocket

Thaw pastry overnight in fridge.  Roll out on floured surface.  Cut into eight squares.  Place dollop of pulled meat in center,add teaspoon cherry preserves on top, brush edges with eggwash, fold over and crimp closed with tines of fork.
Place on cookie sheet, brush pocket with eggwash, cut a one inch slit in top to release steam.  Bake for 25 min. until golden brown. 

Serve with your favorite wine or cocktail.  We are having a smoky Zinfandel and a Chardonnay.

Entertaining in Style

Entertaining in Style requires only a few key elements.

• Beautiful silverware (I have a collection of heirloom silverware)  It's eclectic and special as well as a conversation piece since it is unique to dining at my place.  My friends know I use it only for special occasions.  Use whatever item you have that is unique to your household. 
• 

  Pretty dishes make food look better.  White with simple trim like I have makes your food standout.  Remember...you eat with your eyes first! I ordered these online via Sur La Table culinary store in my area.  They are porcelain but microwave and dishwasher safe.  A touch of Europe whenever I eat.

•  
• 

  Candles and cloth napkins make everything special too.
  

  

  Rachel Khoo's Croque Madame Muffin that I made and presented with fruit and smoky bacon.  Her cookbook "Little Paris Kitchen"

As far as the dinner goes...I enjoy a three course dinner.  A starter, entree with one side, and a dessert.  Most importantly, if  you are not an experienced cook do not attempt to cook something you are unfamiliar with.  It can be disastrous. 

Hope your next party is a hit!  Will come up with some simple dinner menus for your next gathering.

Books, Movies and TV series Recommendations

World War Z with Brad Pitt..

Wow!  I love scary, suspense thrillers.  They are my favorite.  Make sure you get your snacks before you sit down since this movie rolls super fast.  If you get up you are gonna miss something.  It was very well done.  NOT one of those low budget zombie flics. Brad is one of my favorite actors.  The novel is completely different and hasn't kept my attention.  I vote for the film on this one.!




Novel Series:  A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin (Game of Thrones)  Mr. Martin is a  #1 New York Times Bestselling author.  Fantasy, Medieval book series.  Escape to the fictional world and time of Westeros.  Thus far.six novels and the story isn't finished.  Many of you follow this highly popular series on HBO.  If you like queens, kings, conspiracy, dragons, magic and sword fighting with twists and turns you will be addicted.  UPDATE:  According to Barnes and Noble salespeople, there are two more novels in the series before the story resolves.  Next season is #4.  It is difficult to put the books down.  The TV series is brilliant and the books are intriguing but the TV series is easier to follow.  The books are more complex with so many characters it comes with an index and maps.   Anyway you slice it, I give it a thumbs up.  Both are addictive.  My friends and I get together for wine and dinner for season premiere and finale night.



The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the part of a trilogy of novels by the late Stieg Larson.  I've read them all and own the movie version of the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.   This is by far the most intriguing book series I have ever read.  This story starts as a murder mystery set in Sweden but turns out to be three plots that merge and inner link.  The American version of the film is wickedly good.  It is graphic but well done.  I thought it was great but I preferred the book series.  Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig star  in the lead roles.  The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest and the Girl Who Played with Fire are the other two novels in the series.  There is talk of making two more movies to finish out the trilogy.  The original is a Swedish film but I preferred the American version more.  Mara's performance was over the top.  Check it out!  Wildly suspenseful.

Independent Films

What is an independent Film?  Not everyone is familiar with that term.  They are frequently called Indie Films.  Specifically, low budget movies with a couple well-renown actors that have limited distribution.  So far,  I think they are some of the best.  They are frequently projects big studios don't back but famous actors want to do.  They are usually my favorites because they aren't franchise films and therefore special.  Screenwriters that think "out of the box".

Black Swan((2010)and Requiem for a Dream (2000) by Director Darren Aronofsky are well known.  I think just about everyone has seen Black Swan.  Both films were rather dark and haunting but superb in their own right.  A little known film by famous Director Neil Jordan is called Ondine.  He also has an addictive series on Showtime called The Borgais.  I'm hooked on that.  Three seasons thus far and based on the reign of a notoriously scandalous pope in the sixteenth century.  Scandal, corruption and devious plots keep you hooked.

If you are interested in something more enchanting...I recommend a film by above-mentioned, Neil Jordan entitled Ondine.  Ondine (2009)was filmed in Ireland.  A modern day fairytale about an Irish fisherman whose life changes suddenly after catching a mysterious, beautiful woman in his fishing net. Touching screenplay, Colin Farrell as lead role with beautiful cinematography.  I came across it in my movie collection and thought I should recommend since it didn't get the PR Black Swan had and is just as good.  You can now find it on cable if you have premium stations sometimes.

Hmmm. Ireland..That reminds me...I need to hurry up and visit there too;)  

 So..if you come across a film listed as IFC or Indie, take the time to watch.  Majority of the time they are excellent.  Some to check out are Darjeeling Limited, Amelie, Bel Ami, Ondine and of course Black Swan. /Darjeeling Limited and Amelie are whimsical.  Bel Ami and Ondine are more serious while  Black Swan is more mysterious.  Watch and you be the judge.

Hope you are enjoying my blogs so far.!

Cultural Arts...Ballet

Hooked on watching Russian Ballet lately.  That really is eccentric!  I saw a very interesting documentary by Director Bertrand Normand.  I happened to accidentally find on Netflix and You Tube.  The film is dated 2009.  It traces the start of a ballerina's life in Russia from their selection process at age 10 for eight years and their young, short lived career

s as prima ballerinas. The selection process chooses 30 girls from 100 applicants and only 15 usually complete the grueling training. The most well renown school is Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet.

It is unbelievable the devotion and discipline they have.  Very inspiring film.  In my opinion, the most beautiful and exquisite to watch perform is Diana Vishneva.  She became a prima ballerina after only one year out of the academy which is a rare accomplishment. She currently is in the Russian ballet as well as the American Ballet.  She also has a fabulous layout in Russian Vogue you can google.  The film is simply entitled Ballerina. 

For anyone residing in St. Louis...the Fox Theatre has ballets usually once a year for you to enjoy!

Check it Out!

 

 

Visiting France through your own kitchen

Did I mention I'm a francophile.  Want to get to Paris and Versailles.  Grandfather was from Alsace which is a small province on the Eastern French border.  I think that is where my love of cooking comes from.  We all might want to have crepes in Paris this morning but since I'm sitting in the Midwest, USA I thought I would just make some and eat off my new Parisian dishes.  Recipe is my own.

French crepes:

1 c. flour
1 3/4 c. milk (2% or whole, no skim)
1 t. vanilla
zest of one orange
2 whole eggs
1 T. sugar
1 T. melted butter
3 T. melted butter for coating pan

You will need 8 inch or 10 inch nonstick skillet, small pastry brush, 1/4 c. measuring cup or soup ladle.

Mix ingredients well to remove any lumps. A whisk works the best.   Heat skillet on medium, brush with melted butter and add 1/4 c. of mixture, immediately swirl around coating bottom...wait about one min and flip and cook for another 30 sec. and repeat.  Don't be alarmed if initial crepe is a mess.  This is usual and you become better each time you make it.  Serve with fresh berries and dusting of confectioner's sugar.

Berry Compote (I make this when I have a little more time)
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes

3 cups fresh berries.  I use blueberries, blackberries and/or raspberries
1/2 c. sugar
1/2 t. cinnamon
2 t. cornstarch
1 T. water


Rinse berries, mix ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes on stove until they become slightly thickened.  Then spoon over crepes.  Tastes great on vanilla ice cream too.!