Pork tenderloin is popular because it’s lean and reasonably priced, but it lacks flavor and tends to be dry. Grilling increases flavor but only on the meat’s exterior. By cutting the tenderloin into 1-inch cubes for kebabs, it creates more surface area for flavorful char. Salt the chunks briefly to help the pork retain moisture. If your pork is enhanced (injected with a salt solution), do not salt it in step 1.

Toss the pork pieces in a flavorful, low-moisture glaze (which contains added cornstarch to help it cling) and thread them onto skewers. You will need four to five 12-inch metal skewers. A mid-cooking application of glaze adds extra zing, and the brief time on the grill minimizes moisture loss. In the end, the kebabs were done perfectly and so tender that we could cut them with the edge of our fork!

Our tenderloins weighed in at closer to two, as opposed to the 1 1/2 pounds called for so we doubled the glaze to make sure we had enough. Plus given the size of the pork chunks, I think Russ had a bit of an issue calculating a 1″ cube because they measured closer to 2″ each! To accompany the entree, we stir-fried some asparagus and shiitake mushrooms in a wok on the grill’s side burner while the pork rested under a tinfoil tent. (Recipe posted in another blog.) Both meat and veggies cooked within minutes, perfect for when you are squeezed for time.

Plated meal of pork kebabs and asparagus and shiitake mushroom stir-fry.

a.kitchen, is a highly acclaimed restaurant at AKA Rittenhouse Square on 18th near Walnut St. in Philly. Chef Eli Kulp and Ellen Yin of Fork collaborated on a new culinary concept, with Kulp reinventing the menus using the freshest seasonal ingredients in a simple, yet notable approach: flavor-forward cooking over lump hardwood charcoal. The technique is old-school in a way—just a red-hot smoldering fire—bringing a modern approach and attention to detail to each dish.

Char-grilled whole fish picture from a.kitchen website.

Identified by Zagat as one of Philadelphia’s “hottest tables” and having read a positive Craig LaBan article in the Philadelphia Sunday Inquirer some time ago, Russ selected a.kitchen for his birthday dinner. Looked at as a new adventure, and with all of the upbeat reviews, both printed and online, his decision was swayed. Our visit coincided with a beautiful Spring Sunday evening and upon arriving, we were seated at the best table in the house (in our humble opinion), straddling the open walls—still inside but enjoying the outside with streaming views of an eclectic mix of people (and their pets) as they strolled, ambled, or skateboarded on by.

Russ peruses the extensive wine menu.

Described in Philly Mag as “Perhaps the sexiest bar in Philadelphia complimented by excellent cocktails and a menu by Eli Kulp.”

After selecting a bottle of Spanish red wine from a very extensive wine list, our friendly waitress brought us a wooden box of paper thin bread crisps, seasoned with black garlic and spices, to nosh as we pondered the menu—full of small plates with huge flavors—right up my alley! She explained that patrons usually order with family-style in mind, sharing the plates as they are delivered in non-rushed fashion. So as twilight settled around us, we enjoyed a leisurely 2 1/2 hour dinner.

Black garlic and spiced complimentary bread crisps.

For starters we shared Grass-fed PA Beef Tartare: a well-chilled, grass-fed tri-tip steak seared directly over coals, then diced up into pieces that ranged from raw to caramelized. The course created cool textural interplay, and the flavors mixed in — gherkin vinaigrette, dry-aged beef fat, egg yolk, tarragon-and-chive-flecked Bearnaise aioli — made each bite fluctuate between luxurious and spicy. The tartare was served with crispy puffed potato skins dusted in malt vinegar powder. If I had to choose, this was probably my most favorite plate of the night!

Not looking like much, this Beef Tartare dish was beyond incredible!

Our other starters were the Spiced Cauliflower, with black garlic and avocado. Beautifully arranged in a mound, the spiced vegetable was cradled in a bed of creamy avocado, just the right counterpoint for the tangy flavors. And Fried Oyster Tartine with creamed collard greens, lemon, and crispy shallot, slathered on chunky slices of terrific bread that sopped up the flavors.

Starter plates of Spiced Cauliflower and Fried Oyster Tartine.

Both in the mood for lamb, we each ordered the large plate of Colorado Lamb, with “burnt” celery root, cabbage, and huckleberry bbq; and asked to share a side of Grilled Shiitake Mushrooms with seaweed and eucalyptus. When the lamb entree was delivered to the table, I was rather miffed at the small portion thinking it was two orders. But our waitress thought she heard we were “sharing” the entree, so she only put in for one order, which ended up being more than plenty anyway— dissatisfaction dissolved!

Entree of Colorado Lamb.

Shiitake Mushroom side dish.

Of course, being Russ’ birthday, he had to have dessert, which comes on a different menu. With little hesitation, he opted for the Goat Cheese Mousse with honey, blueberries and a crumbled graham cracker topping, nicely presented with a glowing candle on the side. Not a dessert eater myself, he did insist I try a taste, and it was wonderful!

Russ ready to dive into his Goat Cheese Mousse dessert.

As an added bonus, Russ had found a free, on-street parking spot just around the corner off of Rittenhouse Square Park. Would we go again? Yes, the restaurant did live up to it’s reputation—although the prices make it a special occasion destination.

If you ever get the opportunity to buy some good, thick veal chops on sale, don’t hesitate! We don’t eat them too often because they’re expensive, but every now and again Russ finds them on sale at a grocery store out on the Main Line. This was one of those times. When cooked/grilled properly, they melt in your mouth.

Some months ago Russ cooked some darn-right tasty veal chops in a cast iron skillet (I guess it had to be before grilling season began) and we wanted to replicate that recipe but neither one of us could remember where we got it! (Must have been before I started the food blog too.) So we immediately googled a recipe and came across this Gas-Grilled Veal Chops with Mediterranean Herb Paste from Cook’s Illustrated, which looked succulent indeed.

To accompany the chops, we made Glazed Carrots with Tarragon and Smashed Baby Potatoes (which have recently become a favorite side dish of ours.)

NOTE: Recipe called for Rib Chops, we used Loin Chops (with meat on both sides of the bone)

Simplicity is key at Acacia. They use local ingredients whenever possible and don’t try to mask them with heavy sauces; instead letting the ingredients shine. Now almost 20 years later…

Check out the blog under the Neighborhood Joints tab.

I mentioned in a recent blog that good friend and partner in crime, Rosanne, created a gorgeous, and super tasty appetizer platter. While she plated several different hors d’ oeuvres, one favorite stand out was…

Read more under the Bits N Pieces Tab…

Sometimes I just don’t feel like following a recipe and will just wing it based on ingredients that I like, and that go together—at least in my opinion. This Whole Grilled Chicken recipe is one of those times. You may remember my blog on Orange Juice Chicken (you can find it posted under the “Sentimental Favorites” tab.) I’d say this recipe is a more zesty and grilled twist on that formula.

At the time (meaning last summer), our herb garden was brimming with fresh rosemary, parsley and tarragon so that germinated the concept for the rub. The herbs were combined with citrus, garlic and olive oil in a mini food processor to create a paste. Although during this maiden voyage, I used the juice of an entire orange and a whole lemon which made the rub quite thin, so in the ingredients listed below, I cut back the amount of juice to 1 tablespoon for each fruit.

Just look at this gorgeous grilled bird… Perfecto!

Ingredients

• 4-5 lb. whole chicken
• 2 Tbsp. fresh tarragon, minced
• 2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, minced
• 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, minced
• 4 large cloves of garlic, minced
• Zest of one orange, plus 1 Tbsp. juice
• Zest of one lemon, plus 1 Tbsp. juice
• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 Tsp. salt
• 1/2 Tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Directions

Massage spice rub all over chicken, inside and out. Lift up skin over breast and rub spice rub directly onto meat.

Light grill and turn all burners to high; cover and heat grill 15 minutes. Turn off all but one burner. Place chicken, breast-side down, over cool part of grill; close lid and grill-roast for 35 minutes. Turn chicken breast-side up, so that the leg and wing that were facing away from lit burner are now facing toward it. Close lid and continue grill-roasting until thermometer inserted into thickest part of thigh registers 170 to 175 degrees, 30 to 40 minutes longer.

Now that the weather is conducive to grilling again, go ahead and get creative with your rendition of this tasty bird!

Braising is not just for tough roasts. It can also give you supple, perfectly cooked fish—with a vegetable side and a silky sauce, to boot. Cook’s Illustrated prefers to prepare this recipe with halibut, however the prices lately are over-the-top, so a similar firm-fleshed white fish such as striped bass or sea bass that is between 3/4 and 1 inch thick can be substituted. Our fish choice was cod and it made for an excellent substitution. To ensure that your fish cooks evenly, purchase fillets that are similarly shaped and uniformly thick.

As a moist-heat cooking method, braising is gentle and thus forgiving, all but guaranteeing moist, succulent fish. Plus, it makes a one-pot meal (no complaints here) since the cooking liquid becomes a sauce, and it’s easy to add vegetables to the pan to cook at the same time. Butter gives it some much-needed richness and the right velvety texture.

Have a love affair with superb Italian food? Be sure to check out Trattoria Rosa Bianca in the heart of Yardley, PA. Find out more under the “Neighborhood Joints” tab…

A little squeamish about trying Bison, or more commonly known as Buffalo? Here’s a blog that just might make you want to try this healthy alternative. Check out the blog under “The Savory Side of Life” tab…

~A fabulous recipe adapted from Steven Stolman found on
The New York Times Cooking site~

Roasted Chicken Provençal is a perfect dinner-party meal: chicken thighs or legs dusted in flour and roasted with shallots, lemons and garlic in a bath of vermouth and under a shower of herbes de Provence. They go crisp in the heat above the fat, while the shallots and garlic melt into sweetness below. Heaven on earth!

Typically, I am a fan of white breast meat when it comes to chicken, but we used thighs (no legs) resulting in perfectly moist and flavorful meat! At the end of the cooking time we found that the skin hadn’t crisped up like we thought it should so we cranked up the temp to 500º, put it on convection, and within about 5-7 minutes, it was picture-worthy crisp. For future undertakings, we made a note to turn the chicken and vegetables after the first 30 minutes (see Step 3.) Soooo succulent!

INGREDIENTS

• 4 chicken legs or 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2-3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
• 1 lemon, quartered
• 8-10 cloves garlic, peeled
• 4-6 medium-size shallots, peeled and halved
• ⅓ cup dry vermouth
• 4 sprigs of thyme, for serving

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 400. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow pan, and lightly dredge the chicken in it, shaking the pieces to remove excess flour.
2. Swirl the oil in a large roasting pan, and place the floured chicken in it. Season the chicken with the herbes de Provence. Arrange the lemons, garlic cloves and shallots around the chicken, and then add the vermouth to the pan.
3. Put the pan in the oven, and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, then baste it with the pan juices, and turn chicken and veggies over. Continue roasting for an additional 25 to 30 minutes, or until the chicken is very crisp and the meat cooked through.
4. Serve in the pan or on a warmed platter, garnished with the thyme.

A fresh, healthy twist on an old classic, Turkey Stroganoff. A split turkey breast is a terrific cut to use in this healthy slow-cooker recipe because it stays moist. Here turkey breast is cooked in the crock pot with lots of mushrooms and carrots, then pulled off the bone, chopped and stirred back into a creamy sauce. If you can’t find a split turkey breast, try using bone-in chicken breasts. Serve over whole-wheat egg noodles, on mashed potatoes, or even thick slices of toasted whole-grain country bread.

Beef Stroganoff or beef Stroganov is a Russian dish of sautéed pieces of beef served in a sauce with sour cream; and has become popular around the world, with considerable variation from the original recipe.

Bland came to mind when first looking at the ingredient list. And after reading some of the reviews, that’s exactly what some readers wrote. (And you know my affinity for intense flavors!) To that end, we added two teaspoons of adobo secco seasoning and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard—which added a punch of flavor without overpowering. And for the whole wheat egg noodles, we substituted Ronzoni’s SmartTaste egg noodles which contain 2.5 more fiber.

Recipe compliments of EatingWell.com

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups sliced mixed mushrooms (about 20 ounces)
• 3 medium carrots, sliced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 1 3- to 4-pound split turkey breast, skin removed, trimmed
• 1 cup reduced-fat sour cream
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup dry sherry (see Tip)
• 1 cup frozen peas, thawed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 8 ounces whole-wheat egg noodles (6 cups dry), cooked
• 1/4 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley

PREPARATION

1. Combine mushrooms, carrots and onion in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add turkey, meat-side down. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours (or on Low for 8 hours).
2. Transfer the turkey to a cutting board.
3. Whisk sour cream, flour and sherry in a bowl. Stir into the slow cooker along with peas, salt and pepper. Cover and cook on High until thickened, about 15 minutes.
4. Remove the turkey from the bone and cut into bite-size pieces; cover to keep warm. When the sauce is done, gently stir in the turkey. Serve over noodles, sprinkled with parsley.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Prep vegetables and turkey; cover and refrigerate separately for up to 1 day. | Equipment: 5- to 6-quart slow cooker

• Use dry sherry instead of “cooking sherry” in recipes calling for sherry. It adds depth of flavor to sauces and stews like stroganoff, without adding the extra salt that’s typically in cooking sherry. Look for dry sherry with other fortified wines at your wine or liquor store.

NUTRITION

Per serving: 437 calories; 6 g fat (3 g sat, 2 g mono); 110 mg cholesterol; 43 g carbohydrates; 0 g added sugars; 46 g protein; 7 g fiber; 526 mg sodium; 865 mg potassium.

This healthy slow-cooker Pinto Bean Stew with Jalapeño-Corn Dumplings recipe is bursting with veggies—onion, bell pepper, celery and corn—and if desired, topped with crunchy bits of radish and chile- and lime-flecked cornbread dumplings. If you’re pressed for time, skip the dumplings and serve this pinto bean stew straight out of the crock pot, topped with crushed tortilla chips and a sprinkling of Monterey Jack cheese. Make sure to soak your dried beans before using them in the slow cooker to ensure even cooking.

As beans are a very inexpensive form of good protein, they have become popular in many cultures throughout the world and are the most highly consumed dried bean in the United States. They have a beige background strewn with reddish brown splashes of color, and look like little painted canvases, à la Jackson Pollack; hence their name “pinto,” which in Spanish means “painted.” When cooked, their colored splotches disappear, and they become a beautiful pink color. In addition to lowering cholesterol, pinto beans’ high fiber content prevents blood sugar levels from rising too rapidly after a meal, making these beans an especially good choice for individuals with diabetes, insulin resistance or hypoglycemia. So what’s not to like?

When a recipe calls for water as it’s base, we will more than likely swap it out for a flavored broth, in this case chicken stock. And without any Monterey Jack on hand, we used shredded sharp cheddar. Finally, not in the mood to make (or eat) dumplings, we crumbled some blue corn chips on the stew. While in the end, it had a light zesty note, I would increase the spice amounts next time for a hardier kick (as several reviewers suggested), perhaps even adding a chipotle pepper.

Planning on having this for dinner on a Monday, we soaked the beans overnight directly in the crock pot (no heat). And to expedite the work day morning, we chopped the veggies and measured the spices on Sunday evening; then drained the beans and threw everything into the slow cooker on Monday before we headed out the door. This will definitely be on a future menu…

Recipe compliments of EatingWell.com

INGREDIENTS

STEW

• 1 pound dry pinto beans, soaked (see Tip)
• 6 cups water
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1 medium red bell pepper, diced
• 2 stalks celery, sliced
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 2 tablespoons lime juice
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt

DUMPLINGS

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cornmeal, preferably whole-grain
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons cold butter, cut into cubes
• 1 fresh jalapeño, finely chopped
• Zest of 1 lime
• 1/2 cup buttermilk

GARNISH

• 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• 1/2 cup sliced radishes

PREPARATION

1. Drain the soaked beans. Combine the beans, water, onion, bell pepper, celery, corn, garlic, chili powder and cumin in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Cook on High for 4 hours (or on Low for 8 hours).
2. To prepare dumplings: Just before the end of the 4 (or 8) hours, whisk flour, cornmeal, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl. Add butter and use a pastry blender, two knives or a fork to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Add jalapeño and lime zest and toss to coat. Add buttermilk and stir to form a dough.
3. After the stew has cooked for 4 (or 8) hours, stir in lime juice and salt. Using generous tablespoonfuls of dough, drop 8 dumplings on top of the stew. Cover and cook on High for 1 hour. Serve each portion of stew topped with a dumpling. Garnish with cilantro and radish.

TIPS & NOTES

• Make Ahead Tip: Soak beans; prep vegetables, cover and refrigerate for up to 1 day; measure seasonings. | Equipment: 5- to 6-quart slow cooker

• Tip: Before using beans in a slow-cooker recipe, soak them to ensure even cooking. Start by sorting beans to remove any pebbles; rinse well with cold water. To soak overnight: Place beans in a large bowl, cover with 3 inches of cold water and soak at room temperature for 8 to 24 hours. To “quick soak”: Place beans in a large saucepan with enough cold water to cover them by 2 inches. Bring to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, cover and let stand for 1 hour.

Other Quick Serving Ideas

• Use pinto beans in chili recipes in place of kidney beans.
• Blend together pinto beans with sage, oregano, garlic and black pepper for a delicious spread that can be used as a crudité dip or sandwich filling.
• Layer cooked pinto beans, chopped tomatoes and onions and shredded cheese on a tortilla. Broil in the oven until hot and cheese melts. Top with chopped avocado and cilantro.
• Add pinto beans to vegetable soups.
• Heat pinto beans together with cooked rice. Add cooked chopped vegetables such as carrots, zucchini and tomatoes. Season to taste and enjoy this simple-to-prepare one pot meal.

~The first blog in a series of healthy recipes from Eating Well.~

Chicken Pho, a classic Vietnamese soup, is a perfect recipe for a slow cooker. The chicken and seasonings of star anise, cloves and ginger simmer all day in the crock pot, welcoming you home with an alluring aroma. Serve with the essential garnishes for pho soup—fresh herbs, bean sprouts, chiles and lime—and let everyone top their own. Serve chile-garlic sauce for those (like me) who want more heat.

Hey what’s not to like? This easy, healthy meal is high in potassium, low in saturated fat, is heart healthy, high in calcium, and is gluten free. We found it flipping through a recent copy of Eating Well magazine. Since this was a weekday meal, we portioned out the seasonings and prepped the chicken the night before so that we could throw it all together in the crock pot before heading out the door for work in the morning.

A note to the wise — make sure you plug it in before you take of — Russ told me later that evening that he went to check on it after I left for work and before he headed out the door, and found that while I turned the knob to Low, I forgot to plug it in!! Thank goodness he looked, otherwise the whole thing would’ve been tossed out …

INGREDIENTS

• 8 cups low-sodium chicken broth (two 32-ounce boxes)
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons fish sauce
• 10 whole star anise (see Tip)
• 6 whole cloves
• 1 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 bone-in chicken breasts (about 2 1/2 pounds total), skin removed, trimmed
• 6 ounces wide rice noodles (we only had access to thin rice noodles)
• 6 cups chopped bok choy
• 2 cups mung bean sprouts
• 2 cups fresh basil leaves
• 1 cup fresh mint leaves
• 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
• 1 fresh Thai chile or serrano, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, cut into 6 wedges

PREPARATION

1. Combine broth, brown sugar, fish sauce, star anise, cloves, ginger and cinnamon stick in a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker. Add chicken breasts, meat-side down. Cover and cook on High for 4 hours (or on Low for 8 hours).
2. Transfer the chicken to a cutting board. Remove spices and discard. Add noodles and bok choy to the slow cooker. Cover and cook on High for 30 minutes.
3. Remove the chicken from the bone and shred with two forks. When the noodles are tender, stir in the shredded chicken. Serve bowls of soup with bean sprouts, basil, mint, cilantro, sliced chile and lime wedges on the side so everyone can add their own toppings.

TIPS & NOTES

• To prep ahead: Combine seasonings with broth; prep chicken; cover and refrigerate separately for up to 1 day. | Equipment: 5- to 6-quart slow cooker (we used a 7-quart).
• Tip: Add star anise, named for its star-shaped pods, to Asian-inspired dishes to lend distinctive licorice-like flavor. Look for it with other bulk spices in natural-foods stores, in Asian markets or online at penzeys.com.

Always in cruise control to discover new culinary adventures, we recently enjoyed a wonderful meal at the Blooming Grove Inn in West Trenton, NJ. Located inside a former Victorian Mansion that dates back to the 1860’s, many locals may remember it being called …
Read more under the “Neighborhood Joints” tab…