Wednesday, July 14, 2010

Potato Season


We never do know what tomorrow will bring. One day I am teaching a cooking class in my home for a group of friends and the next I am in Johnson, Vermont for the filming of a Gourmet Butchering Video, that I am co-hosting with a butcher friend (more details to come). Also new to my fun ever-changing day to day life, is the planning of a localvore dinner at Murray's Tavern in Essex Junction scheduled for September 13th (more details to come).

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Pilot Light


A good friend in the kitchen is the oven pilot light. Today I used its delicate warmth to assist my bread rise and to gently dry out my fresh picked herbs.

Herbs with a high resin content love to be dried and used in the beginning of cooking. What are the resin herbs?

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Favorite Cookbooks and My New Store


Check out my new store. Click here. You may also find a link to my store at chefcontos.com. On a regular basis I receive many questions about what books I like and what pots and pans I recommend etc. Now you can shop with my recommendations and guidance.


Every Wednesday for seven years I hunt down a New York Times and read the food section. I have had many funny moments doing this, like recently when I asked the shopkeeper if she had anymore Wednesday NYT because all I see is Tuesdays. She looked at me and said "today is Tuesday". Opps.
I try and never miss but sometimes I'm early.

We all like to read and if you are like me you have to much to read. We have our magazine subscriptions, newspapers, and books to name a few. I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite cookbooks, magazines, and books.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

In the News

Thank you to Melissa Pasanen and the Burlington Free Press for a great story in last weeks savorvore section. Read below.


This Friday on WCAX Channel 3 at 6:40am, I will be teaching you how to cook one of my favorite asparagus recipes (watch last segment on TV). After that I will head to JP's restaurant in Essex Junction where I will be live on the radio with Nolan & Tara (listen live at The Star 92.9) and having breakfast with one of my colleges from the new Five Corners Farmers' Market. We will be discussing the new farmers market in Essex Junction. Opening day is June 18th 4:30-7:30 and every Friday after that until October 18th. I will be doing a cooking demonstration opening day!
Burlington Free Press article: "The smoky smell of the woodstove mingled with the smoky scent of dried chili peppers in the Essex Junction home of Courtney Contos

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Mariachi Music and Chiles





Long long ago in Chicago lived Meson del Lago, an authentic Mexican restaurant run by my father Bill Contos. With my family's history in French restaurants it seems strange to have had a Mexican one but my family's extensive love affair with Mexican food has never puzzled me. I have it too!

Midnight. My travel companions and I arrived in the lovely town of San Miguel De Allende, Mexico. First things first: TACOS! So, our divine navigator wheeled us to the best Taco stand in town and within minutes three pork tacos with a side of grilled scallions was happily in front of me. "Salsa?" "YES please"!

Monday, February 15, 2010

The Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen

As I prepare for my culinary adventure to Mexico next week, I am enjoying the snow storm! Sledding, warm spiced wine, and laughs with a great friend visiting has kept me busy. Tonight we are headed to the Kitchen Table Bistro for dinner. If the snow lets up, we will head to Montreal tomorrow to dine at Au Pied De Cochon.

The dirty dozen and the clean fifteen are good to program into your grocery shopping routine. Take note if you have not already. Both lists are fruits and vegetables; the difference is that the dirty dozen are pesticide heavy and the clean fifteen are safely eaten non-organic. In these times when you are watching your dime and may not be buying everything organic, this list can help guide you while grocery shopping. Print a copy and keep it in your reusable grocery bag.

Dirty Dozen:
1. Apples
2. Pears
3. Carrots
4. Cherries
5. Strawberries
6. Lettuce
7. Bell Peppers
8. Peaches
9. Celery
10. Nectarines
11. Grapes
12. Kale



Clean Fifteen:
1. Sweet Potatoes
2. Broccoli
3. Watermelon
4. Eggplant
5. Onions
6. Pineapple
7. Avocado
8. Mangos
9. Asparagus
10. Sweet Peas
11. Kiwifruit
12. Cabbage
13. Eggplant
14. Papayas
15. Tomatoes

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Chinese New Year & Morning Muffins



Time is flying by lately. It must be the excitement of self-employment. I have been having an extremely great time teaching all sorts of cooking classes in private homes. Dinner party cooking classes seem to be the most popular this month. I am also working on a one list, 5 recipes project for a client consisting of four weeks of detailed recipes, shopping lists, chef's tips, and nutritional info. What an encouraging way to set a new direction in day to day cooking. Break your pattern of cooking those same old recipes. With my guidance eating healthy is easy!

Valentine's Day and Chinese New Year just passed and I seem to have celebrated both. Prince charming bought me the best point-and-shoot camera which I love! I missed taking pictures and am happily back in action mode. We had a blast with Chinese New Year. Below are some pictures.




















Breakfast is a meal you always hear nutritionists say not to miss and I believe them. I would like to share one of my personal favorite breakfast muffins. Favorite is rated on a healthy scale because lets get one thing straight, I would love a sour cream chocolate chip muffin with cinnamon streusel. BUT not after a cookie marathon and especially not after the holidays. So this Brown Sugar Carrot Muffin recipe makes 15 medium muffins or 8 large ones. They freeze well. Just take one out before you go to sleep and in the morning you have a light breakfast.

Brown Sugar Carrot Muffins
Makes 15 medium

1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 cup spelt flour
3/4 cup flaxseed meal
3/4 cup oat bran
1/3 cup brown sugar; plus 1/4 cup for topping
1/4 cup molasses
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
2 1/2 teaspoons fresh cinnamon, divided
1 1/2 cups grated carrots
1 large apple, grated
1/2 cup currants
1 cup walnuts, chopped
3/4 cup soy milk
2 eggs beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a large bowl mix together flours, flaxseed meal, oat bran, 1/3 cup brown sugar, molasses, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and 2 teaspoons cinnamon. Stir in carrots, apples, currents, and nuts. Combine soy milk, eggs, and vanilla and mix well. Then add to batter. Stir until just combined do not over mix. Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Mix 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle on top of muffins. Add a thin slice of apple for garnish. Bake 15-20 minutes.
*These muffins freeze wonderfully! 

Thursday, February 4, 2010

Sweet Clover Market

Attention Vermonters-
Not sure what to do with that defrosted chicken? This Friday, February 5th, I will be at your service at Sweet Clover Market in Essex, VT. The friendly Market is my personal favorite place to purchase local and organic foods. You will find me wandering the store offering personalized culinary advice! If you are craving some culinary guidance for your next meal or hors d'oeuvre party, come out and chat with me this Friday 3:30-4:30. My Mac Book and I will be ready to email you the recipes you need. I have easy Super Bowl Sunday one bite ideas for all tastes. Prince Charming and I love my Bacon & Cider Beef Sliders (see my 2009 Super Bowl blog post). We definitely will be making it again this year. Hey there's nothing wrong with a good thing! You will continue to find me at Sweet Clover once or twice a month on Fridays 3:30-4:30. Stay tuned to my blog and twitter page to find out about future dates.

Last night I headed out for food & wine at the Bearded Frog. Then Prince Charming and I went to see the 'Prairie Home Companion' showing at the Palace Nine. So fun. Thanks Edward Lieb for the tickets, we loved the show!

See you in your kitchen.

Bacon and Cider Beef Sliders

4 pounds beef brisket

3 garlic cloves, slivered

3 garlic cloves, crushed

1-cup apple cider vinegar

10 oz. Vermont maple smoked bacon, diced

2 medium onions, sliced thin

1-cup strong brew coffee

2 Tablespoons tomato paste

¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ cup grade B maple syrup

1 tablespoon sea salt

½ teaspoon black pepper

2 teaspoons dried oregano

20 rolls or small buns


Prepare brisket by cutting small slits all over the brisket. Insert garlic slivers into the cuts in the brisket. Pour cider vinegar over the brisket and rub it with crushed garlic.

Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Add bacon to a preheated cast iron pan with a tight fitting lid and cook at med/low heat until bacon is crisp. Remove the bacon but leave the fat in the pan.

Heat the skillet with the bacon fat to med/high heat. Once hot, pat the brisket dry with a paper towel. Add the brisket to the pan and brown both sides (approximately 3 minutes on each side)

Remove brisket and set aside.

Decrease the heat to medium and add the onions and cook until deep brown.

Return brisket to the pan.

Combine coffee, tomato paste, cayenne, maple syrup, salt, pepper and oregano and pour over the brisket. Cover the pan and bake for 30 minutes.

Decrease the heat to 250 degrees and cook for an additional 3 ½ -4 hours until meat is tender.

Let rest for 20 minutes, carve and garnish with crisp bacon. Make sliders and save sauce on the side to dip! Yum.


Saturday, January 23, 2010

News from my kitchen




Hello,

We have finally adjusted to not having an abundance of cookies in our house. The cookie marathon was extremely fun, I highly recommend it! Smiles. Actually, I am not using my oven because I am waiting for our new hood. Let me bring you up-to-date, last fall Prince Charming and I drove to Chicago to pick up my great uncle Bob's, lightly used, beautiful, monster of a Wolf stove. Eight burners of commercial btu's. Vermont gas hooked the house up and long story short the stove which we call "uncle Bob" is in the kitchen. I still jump at the sight of the large, black, eight burner beast in the kitchen! Another addition to the sacred kitchen space is an antique rock maple, end grain, hand-made, butcher block. The condition is perfect! We adore our amazing find and are using it daily to chop and prep our meals. Thanks Prince Charming for secretly scanning craigslist. We had a party for each new addition, so needless to say it has been fun and busy here at the house. Smells of goat rib chops seasoned with rosemary and lemon zest, veal meat balls with bacon (goat and veal was purchased from Consider Bardwell Farm), and tons of ethnic homemade flatbreads are in the air.

Me, I am happily self employed! I offer a whole spectrum of culinary services on my website (chefcontos.com). I am keeping busy traveling to homes teaching private cooking classes and preparing weekly menus for clients. Complete with recipes, shopping list, and helpful tips.
Yes, I am working on a cookbook proposal with my dear friend Susan Rogol. I will keep you posted on our outrageously fun progress. As far as the The Essex goes, I offer my culinary services to them for Vip events as their "celebrity chef".

In one month I will find myself learning authentic Mexican cooking at Sazon, in San Miguel Alliemte, Mexico. Sazon was voted one of the worlds best cookings by Gourmet Magazine. Click here to read...

Don't forget:
Happy New Year to you all!
Continue with you emails and wonderful comments. Thank you to all my positive clients.

See you in your kitchen,
Courtney









Thursday, December 31, 2009

Cookie Marathon Comes To an END




My cookie marathon comes to an end but not without one last recipe. Ending on a healthy note has been on mind, especially since I tallied up my cookie marathon butter totals. Yikes!

I will continue on with other things now, like culinary coaching for you, and working on my cookbook.

I would like to thank all of you for your support and for sharing your enjoyment. Prince Charming gets a big thank you for his support, encouragement, and for doing all the dishes! I would also like to mention Lauren, Belinda, and Susan, thanks, life would not the same without fabulous girlfriends.

My Blog will continue on into it's third year. You never know what spring may bring. Another marathon?

Just for fun:
Number of cookies without butter- 5
Total butter used- 41 sticks of butter
Funniest moment- Christmas day, outside arranging my gingerbread village. Prince Charming was video taping me, taking my photo shoot. Out of no where I asked my gingerbread village animals, men and women to smile for the picture.
Favorite cookie- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chunk
Cookies made, but didn't make the cut- Turtle cookies, gingersnaps and cherry chocolate oatmeal.
Favorite picture- Chocolate Espresso Sparklers
Favorite moment of the month- Reading about my cookie marathon in The New York Times!
Last minute trips to the store- To many to count.



Cookie talk- I heard about sunnies and thought really? But when I tasted them I knew they were going to be the last cookie of my marathon. I wanted to end on a healthy note so Sunnies are perfect. A no-bake cookie that can be quickly prepared. This is a great cookie to keep around when you want a healthy snack. Great for the kids. Other than a few small changes this cookie is a Waite original from St. Albans Vermont. Thanks big Jim and Marilyn.

Sunnies
Makes 14

1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts
1/4 oat bran
pinch of sea salt
1/4 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup unsweetened peanut butter
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1. Place seeds, nuts, oat bran, salt, and wheat germ in food processor. Finely grind.
2. Then add honey and peanut butter. Mix until well combined.
3. Shape into balls and flatten with a fork. Top with a chocolate chip. Cover well and refrigerate.