Got The Sniffles? Try This Tea...

I f you have the sniffles, or just don't want to get them, try this wonderful and soothing tea!

My friends Ian and Josie have a bit of the sniff's that's going around, and here's what they are doing about it...

Recipe for two cups:

3 c water
2 t honey
1/2 lemon
2 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
4 slices fresh ginger, peeled and smashed

Place the ginger, garlic and water into a small saucepan.  Over high heat bring it to a boil, then simmer on medium low heat for about 30 minutes.  Strain the liquid into mugs and add the lemon and honey!

Bon Appetit!  Chef Hobbes

Dover Sole, Bok Choy, Cilantro, Lime With a Ginger Soy Sauce

A nice change of pace...

Recipe for two:

2 fillets fresh dover sole*
1 scallion, thinly sliced
1 shallot, finely chopped
1 t garlic, finely chopped
1 T ginger, finely chopped
1/4 c cilantro, rough chopped
juice of one lime
4 medium size Bok Choy, quartered lengthwise
1/2 c sake or white wine
2 T soy sauce*
2 T rice vinegar
flour
salt and pepper*
olive oil

* A couple of notes:  Dover sole is very delicate, so avoid handling it to much and don't over cook it.  Cook it hot and fast on the presentation side, then turn it gently with a large steel spatula.
*Because you are using soy sauce, go easy on the salt!

First season and flour the fish.  Place a little olive oil in a heavy saute pan and heat over medium high heat.  When the oils hot and shimmering carefully place the fish (presentation side down) into the oil, shaking the pan as you go to avoid sticking.  Turn when brown, and cook for about 1 minute more, then transfer to a warm oven.

Using another pan with a lid.  Saute the shallots in a little olive oil until soft.  When almost done then add the garlic and ginger.  Cook a little more, and then add the sake or wine, and reduce it down by half.  Add the lime juice, vinegar and soy sauce, cook for about 30 seconds then reduce the heat to low.

Add the bok choy and half of the cilantro, place the lid on for just a couple of minutes.  Serve the veggies and sauce onto warm plates and then place the fish on top.  Garnish cilantro and scallions...

Bon Appetit!  Chef Hobbes

Stir Fry With Soba Noodles

After the prep is done, this dish only takes minutes to cook!

Recipe for four:
1 packet soba noodles (3 bundles)
1 2" piece ginger, peeled and finely chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped
1 small leek, white and pale green part only, sliced
1/2 c sweet potato, cubed smallish
1 red bell pepper, chopped large
1 poblano pepper
1 stem lemon grass, finely sliced
2 bulbs bok choy, chopped large
1 red onion, chopped large
Handful bean sprouts
Soy sauce
1 t fish sauce
1 T sesame oil
1 T chili paste
Grapeseed oil
Thai basil, chopped

Start the water for the noodles, they cook quite fast so follow the instructions on the packet.
If you have a wok, use it, otherwise use a large saute pan.  Place a good amount of grapeseed oil in the pan over high heat.  (When cooking on high heat, grapeseed oil is the best due to its high smoke point.)  When the oil's good and hot add the onion, sweet potato, peppers and leek, toss and/or stir so not to brown.  When close to being done, about 4 minutes, add the garlic and ginger and toss, then add the sesame oil, fish sauce and soy sauce and toss.  Now add the bean sprouts and toss and serve, you don't want to cook the sprouts, just warm them so they don't get soggy.

Serve with the noodles and garnish with the basil.

Bon Appetit!  Chef Hobbes

Ginger Tea...

So, I was in the store yesterday, and heard two ladies complaining about how sick they were and that all their friends had the bug!

So here's a recipe to help you, if you have a cold, or if you just want to build your immune system up a bit...

2"-3" fresh organic ginger peeled and sliced
1/2 organic lemon
1 large teaspoon local honey

Bring two big cups of water to a boil and add ginger, turn heat down so you have a vigorous simmer. Simmer for about 20 minutes, then strain liquid into a cup and add honey and the lemon half. The tea will be spicy hot so you may need more or less honey...

Cheers!