January 28, 2010

Dinner for One:
Gratin d'Endives (Gratin of Endives with Ham).
My beau is off playing his last performance of "Wicked" and so I'm left to defend for myself.  He and a colleauge of his will be home around midnight and they've been promised something to eat; whether it be gratin, chips or beer I've got it all.
The recipe calls for belgian endives (whatever that is).  The supermarket only has Italian endives and by looking at them, they don't seem to fit the description: 12 firm, medium-sized endives with tightly closed leaves.  The Italian endives look like a head of green salad that's exploded.  I decide to go to Plan B, chicory, hoping that it'll work just as well.  
Surprise!  Wikipedia has confirmed that Belgian endives are also known as.....chicory!!
I really like the smell of chicory braising in lemon juice and butter.  It's kind of sweet and earthy, and very delicate. 

January 21, 2010

Dinner for Two:

Sauté de Boeuf à la Parisienne (Beef Sauté with Cream and Mushroom Sauce), served with tagliatelle noodles and "Jürgen Ellwanger" Lemberger 2007.  The recipe calls for 2 1/2 lbs. filet of beef.  A high quality filet costs about 36 euros for two pounds.  I halved the recipe :-) and only spent 18 euros for the beef alone!  I've seen filet of beef in restaurants go for over 25 euros a pop, so I guess it'll always be better to cook at home (and at least I know what I'm eating).  The recipe was fantastic, but didn't top the Boeuf Bourguignon at my parents!