November 2012
Tuesday November 27, 2012
Stuffed loin of pork, a rack of lamb, roast beef--all impressive dishes to consider for your next romantic meal for two. Stuffed loin of pork is a traditional Mexican wedding dish. Here we have a stuffing that consists of chopped pork, garlic, cloves, cinnamon, raisins, and almonds. It adds a wonderful layer of taste to this succulent pork dish. This meal can be served with beer or wine and taste even better with a side of sauteed apples.
STUFFED PORK LOIN
Recipe from Mexican: Healthy Ways with a Favorite Cuisine by Jane Milton
(with a few tweaks) / Serves six
Ingredients:
- 3lb boneless pork loin, butterflied ready for stuffing
For the stuffing:
- 1/3 cup golden raisins
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- tbsp bacon fat or vegetable oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, crushed
- 1/2 tsp ground cloves
- 1tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 1/4 lb minced pork
- 2/3 cup vegetable stock
- 2 tomatoes
- 1/2 cup chopped almonds
- 1/12 tsp each salt and ground black pepper
Directions:
- To Make the stuffing. Put the raisins and wine in a bowl. Set aside.
- Heat the oil in a large pan, add the onion and garlic and cook for 5 minutes over a low heat.
- Add the cloves and cinnamon, then the pork. Cook, stirring, until the pork has browned.
- Add the stock. Simmer, stirring frequently, for 20 minutes.
- While the pork is simmering, peel the tomatoes. Cut a cross in the base of each tomato, then put them both in a heatproof bowl. Pour over boiling water to cover. Leave the tomatoes in the water for 3 minutes, then lift them out on a slotted spoon and plunge them into a bowl of cold water. Drain. The skins will have begun to peel back from the crosses. Remove the skins completely, then chop the flesh.
- Stir the tomatoes and almonds into the mince mixture; add the raisins and wine. Cook until the mixture has reduced to a thick sauce. Leave to cool.
- Preheat the oven to 180ºC/350ºF/Gas 4.
- Open out the pork loin and spread on a cutting board or flat surface, trim it neatly.
- Season the minced pork stuffing with salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread the stuffing over the surface of the meat in a neat layer, taking it right to the edges and keeping it as even as possible.
- Roll up the pork loin carefully and tie it at intervals with kitchen string.
- Weigh the pork and calculate the cooking time at 25 minutes per lb/450g (so 3lbs = 75 min).
- Put the assembled stuffed pork in a roasting tin, season with salt and pepper and roast for the calculated time. When the joint is cooked, transfer it to a meat platter, place a tent of foil over it, and let it stand for 10 minutes before carving and serving with the roast vegetables of your choice.
- Tip: Be sure to check the pork using a thermometer. Some ovens cook hotter/faster and pork can dry out quickly. It will continue to cook when it is resting.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on November 27 in
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Friday November 23, 2012
by MK Burnell
With winter on the way and wild winds buffeting the city, a lot of lovers are choosing to snuggle up for an at-home date night. Skipping the fancy restaurant or exclusive club not only saves you some petty cash, but also lets you set the mood for the evening any way you like! Candlelight and a nice Montepulciano will only take you so far, though; to really transform your living space into a romantic getaway, you need the proper background music. Here are five can't-miss tunes to get you started.
One of jazz's all-time greats on the tenor saxophone, Coleman Hawkins can provide a beautiful mellow ambiance like nobody else. Sensual yet subtle, Star Dust is a great choice for a date night playlist - at nearly nine minutes long, it's just right for your appetizer course.
Any romantic playlist has to feature some bossa nova! Bebel Gilberto's sultry English-language cover of Os Mutantes' "Baby" is a less conventional choice. With its gentle guitar and Mediterranean vibe, it's just a tad outré and sure to become one of your favorites.
No romantic playlist is complete without a duet. Bublé's irresistible vocals mesh perfectly with Furtado's for a charming bilingual samba. It's sweetly melodic and sure to add that special touch to a home-cooked dinner for two.
This playful little French tune will add a touch of whimsy without breaking the mood. It's the perfect accompaniment to a sweet dessert or hot toddy . . . as long as your sweetheart doesn't speak French.
While Edith Piaf may have made the song famous, something about Louis Armstrong's mellow trumpet evokes a sweet nostalgia for a simpler, more elegant time. La Vie En Rose is pure romance; and the Armstrong version can make a simple table set for two feel like an intimate, smoky 1940s jazz club. It's perfect for an after-dinner slowdance, too!
So don't be afraid to cozy up at home once in a while. A date can be even more special when you've put in the effort to create the ambiance yourself. With the right music, the right meal, and the right company, you'll be in the right mood in no time. And remember, there's no such thing as PDA in the privacy of your home!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on November 23 in
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Tuesday November 20, 2012
Side dishes can be the most exciting part of a holiday meal. Why settle for cranberry sauce from a can with tantalizing recipes like these floating around the web?
A good soup makes a great appetizer. Celebrate the flavors of fall with savory pumpkin and sage. Click on Title for FULL RECIPE
Nobody does holidays like Martha! This homemade cranberry sauce recipe is a surefire winner.
Sauteed spinach is a cinch to make, and a green vegetable dish really rounds out your holiday meal. Click on Title for FULL RECIPE
Just the right amount of cheese! This dish makes a mouth-watering alternative to baked or mashed potatos.Click on Title for FULL RECIPE
Delicious on any occasion, this side should appeal to even the pickiest eater at your table. Click on Title for FULL RECIPE
Happy holidays from your friends at Seduction Meals!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 12:08PM on November 20 in
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Tuesday November 20, 2012
Stressing out over your holiday spread? Here are some fabulous recipes sure to please the whole family.
A delicious and innovative twist on the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, this roulade wins points for both creativity and flavor with its sausage-infused stuffing. Click on title for FULL RECIPE
The classic turkey course, with a succulent and luxurious truffle butter to bring your holiday gathering to the next level. Click on title for FULL RECIPE
Just as festive as a turkey, and every bit as tasty! Pork loin is a great option for the family who's not tied down to tradition. The combination of pork, apples and cranberry is a holiday classic in its own right.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 10:11AM on November 20 in
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Friday November 16, 2012
Now that I've got your attention...
Imagine slowing indulging in chocolate lightly dusted with sultry sea salt, or a slow-burning spicy chocolate bar, or a ravishing rocky road bar . Well now you can!
Chuao Chocolatiers is giving away a Sweet Makeover to one lucky Facebook fan. Enter for a chance to win a $1,000 designer shopping spree on Shopbop.com, plus a shot at a fabulous weekly giveaway.
All you have to do is "like" Chuao Chocalatiers on Facebook by clicking on the link above or the image below; fill out their quick and easy entry form. and you are in!
What's not to "like" about gourmet chocolate?
Good luck to all!
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on November 16 in
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Tuesday November 13, 2012
by MK Burnell
There's nothing like baking up a batch of cookies or cupcakes to keep you warm on a chilly autumn afternoon. Nothing, except maybe sharing them with your sweetheart later on! Here are five of our favorite cool-weather baked goods: simple to make, and simply delicious.
Hershey's makes a seasonal Pumpkin Spice Kiss, and one creative baker found the perfect cookie to complement them. Mix up a batch of these for your Thanksgiving table to impress the in-laws!
The warm, inviting flavor of French Toast and maple syrup, condensed into a delicate cupcake garnished with a sprinkling of powdered sugar. Yes, please.
These bite-size pies put a charming twist on the much-beloved apple dessert. A small wedge of cheddar cheese melted on top (we recommend local cheese if it's available) adds an irresistible tang. C'est magnifique!
An autumn classic. Add walnuts and cranberries for some added texture and flavor. Whip up a loaf and spend the next few days indulging in some warm zucchini bread for breakfast - you'll never want to go back to toast.
This time, the pumpkin flavor is the star of the show. The delicately sweet honey frosting is a perfect complement to the rich pumpkin spice. Easy to make but hard to resist.
Whipping up a batch of goodies is a delicious way to show someone you care - and it fills your home with that tantalizing warm-cookie smell! Anybody can bake, so go ahead and indulge a little this autumn.
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Posted by terry dagrosa at 11:11AM on November 13 in
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Saturday November 10, 2012
by MK Burnell
With winter just around the corner, it's important to get
outside and relish the sunshine during the last snow-free days of the year. The
season for lazy days of sunbathing in the park may be past, but you and your
loved one can still enjoy a magical day touring the late autumn Hudson Valley
countryside together.
BENMARL WINERY
156 Highland Avenue / Marlboro, NY
Whether you and your sweetheart are conoisseurs or just
casual fans, a wine tasting is a fabulous way to pass an autumn afternoon.
Benmarl Winery in Marlboro is convenient to the city and boasts a spectacular
view of the Hudson River and surrounding countryside. They are open daily for
wine tastings from 12 to 6pm through December.
DUBOIS FARMS
209 Parkinsville Rorad / Highland, NY
If you've never gone apple picking, then you've never
truly experienced autumn in New York! Beautiful Dubois Farms offers fresh fruits
and vegetables from 1 to 5pm through November 4th. Take a stroll
through the orchard, stop into their rustic cafe and farm market for a hot
apple cider, then snuggle up on a hayride back to the parking area.
OLANA
5720 Route 9G / Hudson, NY
The stunning Persian-style manor of artist Frederic Edwin
Church has been preserved as a state historic site. The impeccably landscaped
and picturesque grounds are open daily from 8am to sunset, and the house is
open for tours Friday through Sunday. The decor and architecture found inside
the house are as breathtaking as the Hudson River scenery.
SANTA FE RESTAURANT
52 Broadway / Tivoli, NY
To put a cap on your day, you can't do better than dinner
at Santa Fe in sleepy Tivoli. Made with fresh, local ingredients and plenty of
attention to detail, this is authentic Mexican to satisfy even the most
particular of palates. The atmosphere is romantic and intimate, the service
warm and gracious, and the portions generous. They also boast the area's most
comprehensive collection of gourmet tequilas!
So pick a sunny day, bundle up and get an early start. The
Hudson Valley is a beautiful place all year round, and there's still plenty of
time to get out and enjoy it!
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