Posts from May, 2009

Confessions of a Potato Salad Purist

by Guest Blogger Chef Cameo McRoberts

 

 ‘Tis the season to reinvent the potato salad. A picnic staple that heats the debate over ‘classic’ versus ‘contemporary’ as much as blue jeans and the little black dress.  Potato salad could be coined the “carbo-loaded fashionista” of the summer BBQ runway.  Each season it is reinvented, time and again. The Donna Reed, red checker style with yellow mustard and egg –  the Heidi Klum, German potato spiked with vinegar and  pork fat –or the Selma Hyak, loaded with  chilies and Latin flair.

 

Foundations may vary as much accessories, be it red bliss, Yukon, russet, sweet, purple, baked, boiled or steamed. Properly cooked potatoes make all the difference: creamy throughout but not overcooked. Keep it cool at parties! Keep in mind that the starches in potatoes can be as harmful as the mayo when heated by the sun. 

 

Trends come and go but the important thing to remember is construction and style is the true test of a well-dressed salad.  Let your salad drink up the dressing and season it well. 

 

For fear of dragging out the fashonista analogy any longer, remember to play to your audience and the occasion: for family picnics stick with a classic but do it with charm and finesse, for a BBQ with friends try out the newest potato on the block by zesting up your pots with curry and fresh herbs.  But don’t over do it! Like Coco Channel says, the secret to accessorizing is to take one thing off before you leave the house. Here’s to a summer full of good cheer, good taste, lots of sunscreen and not ending up on the ‘worst dressed’ list.

 

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Thanks Cameo for a fun blog on a summer classic. I love old school “mom-style” super mayo laden potato salad – but to the waistline, it’s not so friendly! So for a tasty potato salad that will keep you looking at your fashionable best here is one of my favorite potato salad recipes – a great mayo’less salad to take or serve at any outdoor get together. – Kathy

 

Summer Garden Potato Salad with Feta Vinaigrette

You’ll want to dress your potatoes while still warm to soak up all the dressing! This is a great salad to serve as a side-kick to grilled chicken, steak or fish.

 

Makes 8 cups

 

2 pounds red potatoes, cut in 1-inch pieces (about 6 cups)

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper

1/2 cup halved pitted calamata olives

1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced

1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers (or sub fresh peppers)

1 small green pepper, diced

1/2 cup finely diced red or sweet white onion

4 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1 cup crumbled cheese)

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

 

Steam potatoes until very tender, about 12 – 14 minutes.

 

Meanwhile, in a large bowl make the dressing by whisking together the vinegar, olive oil, Dijon, oregano, salt and pepper.

 

When potatoes are still warm, toss them with the dressing and set aside until cool, then stir in the remaining ingredients.

 

Copyright © 2009 Kathy Casey Food Studios

 

Posted by Kathy on May 28th, 2009  |  Comments Off on Confessions of a Potato Salad Purist |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts, salads, sides

Margaritas & Deviled Eggs on “al Dente”

Check out my most recent post on Amazon.com’s foodie blog, al Dente for some great margarita tips and a recipe for my d’lish deviled eggs!

Posted by Kathy on May 26th, 2009  |  Comments Off on Margaritas & Deviled Eggs on “al Dente” |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts

Delicious Information is Everywhere!

With all of the blackberries, i phones, and social networking applications like Facebook and Twitter, there is certainly no lack of information out there no matter what your passion is – whether it be cooking, cocktailing, cupcakes, cookies, quick dinners, bbqs, restaurant reviews and on and on.  The great thing is: there are so many doors that open once we embrace the opportunities technology brings!

Last weekend I had the honor of attending and speaking at the first International Food Blogger Conference held in Seattle. I was a guest speaker at – children, shield your eyes – The Food Porn seminar! Now, don’t get all hot and bothered, the topic of this seminar was Food Photography and Styling, which is what really makes websites, books and blogs come to life!

This conference shed the light on a lot of up coming trends of how we share information in 2009. There are so many new information-sharing sites and different ways of communicating popping up all the time, it can be hard to keep up! The conference brought together the timeless and classic food and hospitality industry with the relatively new and ever-changing and updating technology industry, which came to be a very interesting and fun group of minds.

People are getting really creative with their sites and we have so much to be inspired by, right at our fingertips! So no matter what your pleasure is there is something out there in cyber land to feed your interest. Here is a list of some fun websites and blogs that my foodie friends and I love- let me know which sites are your favorites!

Bakerella – for super fun and innovative baking tips for all different skill levels, and lots of fun pictures!

Smitten Kitchen – A clever, witty site for comfort food recipes and other fun ideas from a woman who is probably thinking the same thing you are (wishing she had a bigger kitchen!!)

The Pioneer Woman Cooks –  A favorite of radio personality Lisa Brooks – A light-hearted series of narratives that everyone can relate to and will inspire you to get in the kitchen.

Recipe Runway – If you’re an avid recipe collector and don’t know what you are going to do with all those clipped recipes and stain splattered recipe cards – Recipe Runway is for you! It is an interactive site where you can organize and share your favorite recipes. I’m featured as the “Chef on Board” and will be posting some fabulous summer recipes and entertaining ideas. Never again will you have to tear your kitchen apart looking for that illegible recipe card, covered in ingredients!

Foodista – The cooking encyclopedia everyone can edit! Where you can search recipes, foods, tools and techniques.

Simply Recipes – Elise Bauer’s site with a variety of really fun and delicious recipes for the home-cook. Elise started Simply Recipes to document her family’s extensive recipe collection. The blog has grown into what Time Magazine called a “great resource for cooks” in their “50 Coolest Websites of 2006.

All You Can Eat – This list would not be complete without Seattle’s go-to foodie, Nancy Leson who always keeps us up-to-date on the latest and greatest of Seattle’s dining scene.

Eat All About It – Rebekah Denn’s fun and insightful blog featuring what’s hot in the foodie scene. Rebekah is a James Beard award wining writer.

Steamy Kitchen – Jaden Hair is a food blogger, newspaper columnist and television host who focuses on Modern Asian cuisine. The photos are worth a visit alone!

Cakespy – is a sweet site – literally – the motto: seeking the sweet things in everyday life! Jessie Oleson’s search for sweet treats – is complimented by her amazing artwork! I absolutely adore her paintings!

Seattle Tall Poppy – Amazing musings by Traca Savadogo – an avid foodie and super connector of people! From her blog: What is a Tall Poppy? That’s an Aussie expression for “a happy high achiever.” – She is a huge achiever and a Tall Poppy in my book!

Drink Boy – Author of the Essential Bartender’s Guide, Robert Hess’ site shares all kinds of knowledge of the bar.

Al Dente – The cooking portion of the Amazon blog features guest chefs, including myself! My posts are every Wednesday so be sure to check it out!

Posted by Kathy on May 21st, 2009  |  Comments Off on Delicious Information is Everywhere! |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts

KOMO 1000 to Simulcast on 97.7 FM

Now in addition to KOMO 1000AM you can tune in to FM station 97.7 to hear Dishing with Kathy Casey every Thursday at 4:15pm PST and again at 6:15pm PST. If you aren’t in the Seattle area, you can also listen online!

Posted by Kathy on May 19th, 2009  |  Comments Off on KOMO 1000 to Simulcast on 97.7 FM |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts

Summer Strawberries on “al Dente”

Check out my Amazon “al Dente” blog this week on summer strawberries!

Posted by Kathy on May 16th, 2009  |  Comments Off on Summer Strawberries on “al Dente” |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts

Halibut – the white prince of fish graces our stores and dinner tables this summer

Pacific halibut is found primarily along the North American West coast and is commercially fished mainly off Alaska and British Columbia. In 1923, with reserves suffering from being overfished, the United States and Canada signed a convention on halibut, leading to the creation of the International Pacific Halibut Commission, which today regulates Pacific halibut fishing. Members meet annually to review research, check on the progress of the commercial fishery, and make regulations for the next year’s season. This management allows for a maximum of sustained halibut harvesting.

 

Fished for in Alaska and British Columbia, halibut are the largest of all flatfish. The biggest ever recorded for the northern Pacific was a 495-pound fish caught near Petersburg, . Alaska

 

Halibut is valued for its sweet, mild flavor, firm meat, and snow-white color; it is the second favorite fish in the Northwest, surpassed only by salmon. Market forms of the fish include steaks, fillets, and fletches (split body-length fillets), plus the extra-tasty cheeks so applauded by their culinary fans.

 

I have included a very simple recipe for Grilled Halibut with Lemon Herb Splash that really lets the delicate fish shine though. I like to serve it with a simple bread salad studded with fresh summer tomatoes and cucumbers.

 

In the Seattle metropolitan are you can find fresh halibut at:

 

Seattle Fish Company

 

Seattle Fish Company stores are located in Freemont and West Seattle. Independantly owned, Seattle Fish Company features NW fish as well as warm water ‘exotics.’ They purchase daily and troll-caught halibut will be available through the end of the season (November 15th)

 

112 N 36th Street

(between N 1st Ave & N Palatine Ave)

Seattle, Wa  98103

 

4435 California Ave  

Seattle Wa, 98116

 

www.seattlefishcompany.com

 

Metropolitan Markets

 

If want your fish skinned they can accommodate that – just ask the fish monger. And for shopping assistance look for the folks in “Red Coats” on Fridays and Saturdays at the Admiral and Proctor Stores.

Store locations:

Queen Ann Uptown – “bottom of hill”

Sand point

Admiral (West Seattle)

Dash point (Federal way)

Proctor (North Tacoma)

Recipes are available for halibut at the fish case and on line at www.metropolitan-market.com

 

Grilled Halibut with Lemon Herb Splash

Makes 1/2 cups Splash, enough to top 4 – 6 pieces of fish.

 

Lemon Herb Splash

6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

2 teaspoons minced fresh lemon zest

1 1/2 teaspoons finely minced fresh rosemary

1 1/2 teaspoons minced fresh basil

1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley

1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

1/2 teaspoon minced fresh garlic

1/4 teaspoon salt

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4 fresh halibut steaks or fillets, approx. 6 oz. each

oil as needed

salt & pepper as desired or Dish D’Lish French Seasoning Salt

 

To make the splash: Mix all ingredients together well. Add other fresh herbs if you like such as chives, thyme, lemon verbena or tarragon too!

 

To finish the recipe: Heat grill till hot. Lightly rub fish on each side with a little oil and season with salt and pepper or Dish D’Lish French Seasoning as desired.

 

Grill fish for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, cooking more or less, depending on the thickness of the fish. Fish should be nicely grill-marked, cooked through but still juicy.

 

Place halibut on plate and splash each piece of fish with 1 tablespoon or more of the Lemon Herb Splash as desired. Pass remaining splash on the side.

 

 

Chef’s Notes: Soak a few wood chips in water and throw on coals just before placing fish on grill to add a nice, light smoke flavor.

 

Copyright ©2009 by Kathy Casey

 

Posted by Kathy on May 14th, 2009  |  Comments Off on Halibut – the white prince of fish graces our stores and dinner tables this summer |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, KOMO Radio, My Seattle, Recent Posts, Recipes, seafood

Kathy on Amazon’s “Al Dente”

Every Wednesday I will have a new post on Amazon’s “Al Dente” food blog. Check it out here! I will be posting my most recent favorite recipes and ideas for fun, spring entertaining.

Posted by Kathy on May 12th, 2009  |  Comments Off on Kathy on Amazon’s “Al Dente” |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts

USA Today; The traditional cocktail gets a shake-up

Check out the fantastic article in USA Today by Kelly Carter on celebrating World Cocktail Week, that I am featured in!

Posted by Kathy on May 8th, 2009  |  Comments Off on USA Today; The traditional cocktail gets a shake-up |  Posted in Dishing with Kathy Casey Blog, Recent Posts
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