MacGourmet News


MacGourmet news, recipes and announcements


Friday, August 27, 2004

Recipe of the Week: Danish Strawberry Cake


Danish Strawberry Cake"Although this recipe has several steps to it, don't let it put you off. You can use an instant pudding (custard) mix and/or a ready make sponge-type cake to shorten the process considerably. Danes would have no objection to the short cuts."

This is kind of a long recipe with many parts, so click into the Recipe of the Week page, or download the MacGourmet file to see more of what is a sure-to-be-delicious dessert.


MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Read the latest Recipe of the Week.

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

Sync Your MacGourmet Recipes to your iPod


MacGourmetStan Soria has released a beta of a great new utility that allows you to sync recipes from your MacGourmet application to your iPod:

"MacGourmet To iPod is an application that will import recipes from MacGourmet to your iPod. Your iPod must be running a minimum of iPod 2.0 software which includes the Note Reader feature (3G and 4G iPods)."

You can download MacGourmet to iPod for OS X 10.3 here or for OS X version 10.2 here


Monday, August 23, 2004

Food News: New Fat-Busting Microwave Oven Unveiled


An interesting new device, but they don't mention anything about TASTE. Let's face it, fat and salt are what make a lot of thing taste GOOD...

"Eyeing up that juicy steak but worried about your waistline? Japanese electronics maker Sharp Corp. says it has developed a new fat-busting microwave oven that can melt some of your worries away.

Unveiling its invention to media on Monday, Sharp said the microwave generates "superheated steam" at a temperature of about 572 degrees Fahrenheit, hot enough to melt fat and reduce oil and salt from steak, chicken, fish and other foods."


Read the entire story here.

Saturday, August 21, 2004

Cajun Clark's Fortnight Recipe: Kathy's Cajun Egg Rolls


Kathy's Cajun Egg Rolls
<br />"New Internet friend Kathy sent this next recipe. Her "lesser half," Brother Paul does the interpreting; his comments are in quote marks "like this". Funny, but when da ol' mon thinks about it, he knows more touchy-feely cooks than those who follow a recipe verbatim. Wonder what that says?"


See this recipe and read Cajun Clark's latest Fortnight Recipe.

MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Friday, August 20, 2004

Extreme Cooking: Forget Delivery, Dinner Out Here Means Cooking


And we sometimes think we have it tough when we can't find something like Cayenne pepper at the nearby market??? (That happened to me last night...) We have it so easy...

"Kirsten Richardson, a cook who lives here, wanted to make some gnocchi to go with salmon a friend had pulled from the nearby Copper River. But a quick check of the pantry told her she needed Parmesan cheese and eggs, among other staples. So Ms. Richardson left her cabin in this tiny village deep inside Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, and made the 600-mile round trip to Anchorage."

Read the entire article here (NYT Free registration required).

Thursday, August 19, 2004

Food News: Adding a little polish to Granny's recipes


From the Kansas City Star, some hints on improving Grandma's recipes...

"Still, there was no mistaking her elegant script and uplifting style of coaching in the faxed recipe. She reminded me about the importance of fresh ingredients, adding: “Don't forget, recipes are only meant to be guidelines. Adjust ingredients according to best available ingredients and personal taste, to make any recipe your own."

Read the entire article here (Free registration required).

Recipe: Egg Salad Wraps
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Tropical Fruit Cocktail
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Recipe: Spicy Mini-Meatloaves
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Food News: Gurus of the grill to compete in the Northwest


"There are many competitions in the Northwest, but the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Low & Slow Pro BBQ State Championship, which takes place this Sunday, is fast becoming the premier event."

Read more about this interesting cooking competition that goes on the the Northwestern US.

Gurus of the grill to compete in the P-I's Pro BBQ State Championship
Chefs will serve heaping helpings of advice for grill success
A sampling of the recipes that will be demonstrated by the chefs

Recipe: Satay Stuffed Pork Loin
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Aw Shucks Grilled Corn
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Whole Grilled Salmon
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Sweet Fennel Butter
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Beef and Apricot Sate
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.
Recipe: Grilled Wild Mushrooms on Rosemary Skewers
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Recipe of the Week: Turkey Kabobs and Greek Salad


Turkey Kabobs and Greek SaladThis is a quick and easy meal. The turkey meat is lean and the salad very refreshing and healthy. The Greek yogurt is very mild and adds a little richness to the meal.

1 lb Turkey breast
8 oz (240 g) feta cheese, cubed
1/4 Cup (1/2 dl) green, pitted olives
1 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
2 Tbsp olive oil
4 tomatoes
1 red onion
1 clove garlic
1 lime
Small container (ca. 7 oz/ 200 g) Greek yogurt

Directions:

Cut the turkey into cubes. Mix half of the whey (liquid from the cheese) and juice of half of the lime, 1 tablespoon olive oil, minced garlic, chopped rosemary; marinate the turkey in this mixture for 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Place the turkey on a skewer and grill or barbecue and grill four minutes on each side.

Cut the tomatoes into thin wedges. Cut the red onion in half, then cut each half into thin slices. Crumble the feta cheese and add the olives (these may be cut in halves, quarters or sliced). Mix the rest of the whey from the cheese, half of the lime, chopped rosemary, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and minced garlic and pour over the tomato salad. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve the turkey skewers, tomato salad and a spoonful of the Greek yogurt. Good with Naan or pita bread. (Serves 4)

MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Read the latest Recipe of the Week.

Tuesday, August 17, 2004

Welcome to The Mac Gourmet


Welcome to the companion site to Advenio's MacGourmet recipe, wine note and cooking note organizer application. While this site is targeted at users of MacGourmet, cooks and gourmets of all walks of life will hopefully find the content here interesting and useful.

Every week you'll find recipe suggestions, cooking news from around the web, and reviews of new and tried-and-true cooking gadgets. You'll also find recipes from Cajun Clark's Fortnight Recipes, from EcelecticCooking.com's Recipe of the Week, and from cooking and recipe sites all around the web. Enjoy!

Saturday, August 14, 2004

Recipe of the Week: Mango Trifle


Mango TrifleThis trifle is quite easy to make. If you buy the custard and sponge, you can make the dessert in about 20 minutes. You can make it the day before and refrigerate until ready to serve.

1 packet of trifle sponges *
3 Tbsp apricot jam
16 oz (ca. 425 g) can mango slices
4 Tbsp orange liqueur, sherry or Cointreau (or use orange juice)
2 Cups custard* (or see recipe below)
1 Cup whipping cream
Finely grated zest of 1 small orange
2-3 slices mango or strawberries for decoration

* If you cannot find trifle sponges, use sponge cake, pound cake, or ladyfingers.
* You can buy the custard if you want to save time.

Directions:

Cut the trifle sponges in half, spread generously with apricot jam and sandwich them together. Put four of the sponges (cut them into smaller pieces if you wish) in the base of a glass bowl. Drain the mango slices and save the juice (about 1/2 Cup / 1 dl). Cut the mango slices into halves or thirds length-wise and place them over and between the sponges in the bowl. Mix the mango juice and liqueur and pour half over the sponges. Cut the last four sponges in half again and arrange over the mango slices. Pour the remaining mango juice over the sponges. With a wooden spoon, gently press down to even the top. Pour the custard over the sponges and spread evenly. Whip the cream (it should not be too firm). Stir the orange zest into the cream and cover the custard with big spoonfuls of cream. Chill for a couple of hours before serving. The trifle is best if made a day before.

MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Custard

Makes about 2 Cups. This is a very simple method for cooking a creamy pudding or custard.

1/3 Cup (2/3 dl) sugar
2 Tbsp corn starch
1/8 tsp salt
2 Cups (4 dl) milk
2 egg yolks, slightly beaten
2 Tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Blend sugar, cornstarch and salt in a medium-sized saucepan. Combine milk and egg yolks and gradually stir into the sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir 1 minute. Remove from heat, stir in butter and vanilla. Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to cool.

MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Read the latest Recipe of the Week.

Thursday, August 12, 2004

Wine News: On the Popularity of Reds vs. Whites


I'm a big fan of red wine, I think most people who like wines are. They are often robust and complex. Unlike a lot of other people it seems, though, I actually like white wine too. I like the freshness of it, how light it can be, I like it when there are hints of citrus etc, I like that it's served cold. And to be honest a lot of times it's a perfect complement to the dish you may be serving, one where a red may be too bold, and a lighter red not worth serving at all.

From "Talking wine: Sunny Sicilian whites take over"

"White wine gets no respect these days. America's thirst for red wines -- especially red wines from Australia -- is literally off the charts. Lost in the rush to slurp down vast quantities of Aussie shiraz is a world generation of great white wines that, as always, we will never see again.

America's international white wine market suffers from a few maladies, not the least of which is suffering the same increased intense global competition everyone else does. More persistent than market forces, perceptions around white wine govern a lot of our consumer realities.

Great white wines like regal Burgundies (French chardonnay) may cost dozens of dollars and age for many years, but even the best (most expensive, of course) cannot persist for decades like a red their equal can.

At its heart, the perception this leaves is correct: white wine -- as a very general rule -- is not for aging. Like most wine, it's for drinking today, and as such, we perceive it as less serious."

Read the whole article here

Wednesday, August 11, 2004

Wine News: Much of Bordeaux Goes Begging


With the decline of wine consumption domestically, Bordeaux makers of "generic" brand wines are running into difficulties, while the premium vineyards still flourish.

"With their elegant gardens in the English style, their placid swans, their manicured lawns and their meticulously trimmed vines spreading to the horizon, the great wine chateaus of Bordeaux are pictures of prosperity. The 2002 vintage has just been bottled, and the small, uneven 2003 vintage, most of it already sold at double the 2002 prices, is maturing in oak barrels.

But these great estates, most of them members of the prestigious Union des Grands Crus, account for barely 5 percent of Bordeaux's production. For the 95 percent outside this magic circle in what was once the undisputed capital of the wine world, life has grown grim. Their vineyards are in what may be the deepest crisis since the phylloxera aphid devastated Bordeaux's vines a century ago."

Read the entire article here (Free registration required).

NYT Dining & Wine: It's Better to Be Whole Than Refined


I found an interesting piece on whole grains at NYTimes.com, with a couple of related recipes: "In just a couple of years, low-carbohydrate diets have accomplished what the government has failed to do in decades of trying: convince the public that refined grains are bad actors and whole grains are good."

Read the entire article here (Free registration required).

Recipe: Farro Salad With Tomato and Corn
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.

Recipe: Fried Brown Rice
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Sunday, August 08, 2004

Cajun Clark's Fortnight Recipe: Rhubarb Bread Pudding


Rhubarb Bread Pudding
<br />Nancy, Queen of the Rhubarb Patch, took Miz Amy's squash casserole recipe and adapted it so she could use her favorite veggie. She reports the results were a mouth-watering delight. Or, as she says, YUM YUM!!!

2 cups raw rhubarb cut in 1" pieces
1 red delicious apple FINELY diced
2 cups 1" cubes of bread slices

Put above ingredients in large mixing bowl.

1 stick butter or oleo
2 eggs
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup sugar
1 package 8-ounce cream cheese
1 cup evaporated milk

Combine above 6 ingredients, beat with mixer, combine well. Fold into cubed ingredients. Mix well. Pour into a greased oblong, 2" deep metal or glass baking container.

Bake at 375 degrees F for about 40 minutes.

Note: Next time I will use shredded cheddar cheese in place of the cream cheese.

Caj's Note: If you can't find fresh rhubarb, take a look in the frozen food section at your super market; just don't looking at the general store where da ol' mon shops--you won't find it.

Copyright 2004, Cajun Clark. All rights reserved.
Email: cajsfortnight@cajunclarkssweetandsassy.com

Cajun Clark's Cookbooks make great gifts that keep on giving, and when you give the print version you'll never be forgotten. Take a look, there's something for everyone.

Read Cajun Clark's latest Fortnight Recipe.

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Friday, August 06, 2004

Recipe of the Week: Baked Vegetables with Halloumi Cheese


Baked Vegetables with Halloumi CheeseThis is an easy but tasty way to serve vegetables. You can top each stack of vegetables with a sprig of fresh rosemary or sprinkle the layers with some fresh herbs.

1 aubergine (egg plant)
1 squash (e.g. zucchini)
3 medium tomatoes
2 packages Halloumi Cheese (ca. 1 lb)

Rinse and trim the aubergine and squash, and cut into medium thick slices. Slice the halloumi cheese into thin slices. Place the vegetables and cheese in layers. Start with a slice of aubergine, then cheese, squash, cheese, tomato and end with cheese.

Brush with a little olive oil, wrap in foil and place on the grill over medium heat for 10 minutes or until tender. Vegetables can also be placed in a casserole dish and baked in the oven at 350° F (175° C) for 30 minutes or until done.

Makes 6 servings.

Read the latest Recipe of the Week.

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Sunday, August 01, 2004

Wine.com Wines of the Month


Ch. Ste. Michelle 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon
<br />Ch. Ste. Michelle 2001 Cabernet Sauvignon

"This Cabernet Sauvignon always scores high on the value to price index, and the 2001 vintage is one of the best in recent memory. Sweet wood, clove and cassis aromas introduce the dark, ripe stone and berry fruit flavors. Complex notes of toasty oak and vanilla meld with supple tannins to give this cabernet a long and graceful finish. Great with food or on its own, this Cabernet Sauvignon is simply delicious."
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Nepenthe 2000 The Fugue (Cabernet/Merlot/Cab Franc)
<br />Nepenthe 2000 The Fugue (Cabernet/Merlot/Cab Franc)

"Always a classic Bordeaux style blend from Australia, this vintage (from a warm year) hits a home run. Pure fruit, great balance, and complexity equals amazing value. The main characters present in this wine are violets, red berries and earthy notes. The fruit is the dominant feature, with hints—the way it should be—of tar and coffee from the predominantly French oak in which the wines spent their adolescence. The palate is youthful and firm, with even tannins that start early and persist right through the lingering savoury finish. This evenness is something that we actively pursue, and which we associate with genuinely ripe cool-climate fruit."
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Gadget Corner: ThermoWorks Thermapen


ThermoWorks ThermapenI think all cooks want to believe that they can just sense when what they are cooking is done to perfection. Some people can, and some people just get lucky. I've found that personally, my results often improve greatly if I know the precise internal temperature of what I'm cooking. Steaks come off the grill perfectly medium rare or medium. Pork and chicken are guaranteed to be cooked to a safe temperature, but one that also allows them to retain their "juciness." I've messed around with cheap cooking thermometers in the past, purchasing, I think, probably 3 different models. None of them worked well. They were slow, and they were inaccurate. And they were slow. Did I mention they were slow? In the past, I had read a Cook's Illustrated review of the Thermapen and they raved about it. To me, it always seemed too pricey to be really worth a purchase. Well I can tell you, after purchasing one and having it for a while now, that the ThermoWorks Thermapen is worth every goshed-darned penny of its near $70 price tag.

Readings with this cooking thermometer are displayed within 4 or 5 seconds on a large, easy to read LCD display. This prevents you from burning yourself or letting too much heat escape from the oven while you have it open to check on what you are cooking. The Thermapen has a long temperature wand (which folds for storage), perfect for the grill or oven, allowing you to insert the tip of the probe into the center of whatever you are cooking, without singeing your hand in the process. The Thermapen is tested and certified to be accurate, and it's dead-on. I can honestly say that I can't think of any one single cooking gadget has changed the quality of what I prepare more than this one has. Highly recommended.

The ThermaPen is available directly from ThermoWorks.
MacGourmet downloadTo import, drag image to your MacGourmet recipe box.




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