Food

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter X

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Xia, Gan Shao which translates to Sweet and Sour Shrimp! I know I’m stretching the alphabet a bit thin with this one, but I am crazy about shrimp! I improvised a little, so I apologize in advance. Hopefully this will become one of your all time favorites. 
XIA, GAN SHAO
Ingredients:

1 pound of jumbo shrimp

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 teaspoon crushed pepper flakes

1 teaspoon Mrs. Dash Garlic & Herb seasoning blend

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/4 cup lime juice
Instructions:

Put shrimp in a baking dish, single layer. Mix remaining ingredients and pour over shrimp. Marinate 1 hour. Remove shrimp from marinade and place in a nonstick vegetable grilling basket. Discard marinade. Preheat outdoor grill for medium heat. Grill 2 minutes on each side, or until opaque. Do not over-cook! Serve with Asian Sesame dressing infused with Sriracha sauce. 

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter W

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Watercress Bacon Dinner Salad! If you like salad, you will find yourself saying, “OMG, I want a second helping!” My husband and I can literally eat this dinner salad until we think we will burst! And then we’ll have one bite more! (P.S. Spring is the best time of year to pick up watercress at the Farmer’s Market.)
Ingredients:

3 Eggs

7 slices Bacon

1 Vidalia Onion, Small

1 cup sliced Mushrooms

10 ounce package Grape Tomatoes

6 ounces Watercress

1 heart of Romaine Lettuce

1 cup seasoned croutons

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

5 Tablespoons Reserved Bacon Grease (*or substitute with olive oil)

3 Tablespoons Garlic Wine Vinegar

2 teaspoons Honey

1/2 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
Instructions:

Cook eggs: cover with water, bring to a boil, then turn off heat and allow to sit in water for 20 minutes. Drain off water and add ice on top of eggs. Fry bacon until crisp. Drain on a paper towel. Remove 5 tablespoons grease and set aside. Use 2 tablespoons of grease in a separate skillet over medium heat. Slice thin the Vidalia onion, then add to skillet. Cook slowly until onions are caramelized and reduced. Remove to a plate and set aside. Add mushrooms to the same skillet. Cook slowly until caramelized and brown. Remove to a plate and set aside. Cut bacon into pieces. Peel and slice eggs. Mix romaine and watercress in a large bowl. Arrange onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, and bacon on top. 
Hot Bacon Dressing: Add 3 tablespoons bacon grease, vinegar, honey, and Dijon to a small saucepan or skillet over medium-low heat. Whisk mixture together and heat thoroughly.

Pour hot dressing over the salad; toss to combine. Arrange eggs over the top, add croutons, sprinkle on grated Parmesan cheese, and Voilà! Dinner is served!

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Letter V

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Virginia Smoked Ham Sandwich! The wonderful thing about baking a Virginia smoked ham is the assortment of menu options you glean from a three-pound ham purchase. And with picnic season upon us, this is a quick and easy meal to enjoy at the park. 
VIRGINIA SMOKED HAM SANDWICH 
Ingredients:

1/2 pound shaved precooked smoked Virginia ham pieces

4 slices sesame seed artisan bakery-fresh bread

2 tablespoons butter

2 slices Baby Swiss cheese

Mayonnaise or Mustard, optional to taste

Dill Pickle wedge for garnish
Instructions: 

Butter top sides of bread all the way to the edge. Put two slices into a heated skillet over medium-low heat. Assemble ham and Swiss cheese; top with remaining bread slices. Cook until golden brown on each side, turning once. Serve with the slightly tart taste of a dill pickle. Add a tossed salad and sea salt Kettle chips for the perfect meal!

Dining Outside the Home: Café Art Hemingway in Old Kapaa Town, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Café Art Hemingway in Old Kapaa Town, Kauai.  At first glance, it may appear as though this quaint little eatery, in that elusive shade of French Blue, is located along a scenic waterway flanked by a pastoral countryside in the south of France. On the front terrace the prized wicker chairs, with their airy casual character, suggest this is a place where friends kick off their shoes and relax while sipping espresso coffee and nibbling on buttery baguettes. After all, the simpler things in life can be an adventure on a somewhat ordinary day. Step inside Café Art Hemingway where food becomes art. It can be a raw delicacy, a creative masterpiece, an expression of the chef, or a delight for the eyes as well as the palate. You choose the genre from the diverse menu offerings, as long as it’s Old World European blended with a shot of Hawaiian cuisine. Merci Aloha!

Hemingway Sighting? 

“You can write any time 

people will leave you alone 

and not interrupt you. 

Or rather, you can if you will be 

ruthless enough about it. 

But the best writing is certainly 

when you are in love.” 

~ Ernest Hemingway 

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: JJ’s Broiler in Lihue, Kauai!  When visiting a tropical island, it’s not unusual to expect fresh fish daily as well as locally-grown ingredients. Open the menu at JJ’s Broiler and see. “Voted Island’s Best” Fish and Chips is a natural choice, in my opinion. A generous platter of Pacific Mahi Mahi engulfed in a crispy beer batter coating is paired with seasoned french fries for a salty crunch that does not disappoint. The house tartar sauce is a nice complement. Take advantage of the spectacular ocean view. Dine on the outdoor terrace for an open-air experience. Ignore the feathered friends wandering around. They simply cannot resist a crumb or two that has fallen to the ground. 

Dining Outside the Home: Gaylord’s at Kilohana in Lihue, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Gaylord’s at Kilohana in Lihue, Kauai!  Nothing compares to an enchanting plantation sprawling with cool island breezes, fragrant foliage, flirting dragonflies, and a tropical Hawaiian buffet that’s easy like Sunday morning. Gaze upon the lush landscape where children frolic, beyond the terrace, on the estate lawn. Romantic music fills the air with cello music soothing the soul that can make a wise man weep; especially Pachelbel’s Canon in D which brings back memories of wedding day bliss. Who hasn’t felt that before? Kudos to Diane Rubio for being spot on. Gaylord’s Sunday Brunch offers healthy farm fresh selections as well as Polynesian favorites. Choose wisely. Whatever the craving, pace yourself. The bounty continues long after you’ve had your fill. 

Dining Outside the Home: Garden Island Grille in Old Kōloa Town, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Garden Island Grille in Old Kōloa Town, Kauai!  Ramble down the boardwalk of Old Kōloa Town to where you see remnants of the theatre that once was the social gathering spot of the community. Follow the signs to the Garden Island Grille which now occupies an old plantation site some still believe is visited by lingering spirits. Now a restaurant that specializes in seafood and fresh island fish, the Garden Island Grille features fresh island-grown products, including organic cocktails. Sample the Seared Ahi seasoned with volcanic spices and pickled ginger. Move on to the fish tacos, lightly grilled corn tortilla shells stuffed with the catch of the day, shredded cabbage, and chipotle-lime sauce. Yum. Stick around for the live entertainment. It’s worth another round of plum sugar-rimmed margaritas. 

Dining Outside the Home: Scorpacciata Food Truck in Lawai, Kauai

Dining Outside the Home: Scorpacciata Food Truck in Lawai, Kauai.  One of the advantages of eating at a food truck is its mobility. Food trucks are specialty restaurants on wheels. They can pop up anytime and anyplace there’s a gathering or private party. For those who are curious about the name, Scorpacciata, it is Italian for bellyful, overeating, and binge eating. I don’t know about you, but for me that definition sums it up nicely. Perhaps that is why the menu is stuffed full of Neapolitan Pizzas! For example, the Fig and Pig Pizza is made with smoked bacon, fig jam, balsamic reduction sauce, mozzarella cheese, and fresh basil. Now that’s what I call “Score-potch-chee-yatta!” Grazie!