Author: Roscoe

  • Chicken Livers Peri Peri

    Are you wondering, “What can I make with chicken livers?” Try this Chicken Livers Peri Peri recipe!

    Chicken Livers Peri Peri

    When you think that chicken is the most eaten meat in the world, you realize just how many chicken livers there must be! The days of finding a little plastic bag inside the chickens we buy tend to be a thing of the past, but when we did have them, how many of us utilized those little delicacies within the bag – the liver of the chicken?

    All our supermarkets sell chicken livers, either fresh or frozen. These are so cheap, but they are ignored by so many people simply because they don’t really know how to use them.

    However, chicken livers are an excellent meat product to include in your diet – apart from the fact that they are really, really inexpensive – they are low in fat and calories but high in protein, iron, and vitamins – especially vitamin A.

    There are so many people who have never tried chicken livers, some because they just can’t imagine eating them and some because they just don’t know how to use them; but they really are very easy to use and make a really quick meal – either as a starter or a main course.

    They are perfectly quickly fried and lovely with bacon – just wash and drain the livers, season well and fry in a hot frying pan (skillet) in oil (or preferably bacon fat) for a few minutes until all the pinkness is gone – how easy is that! What is very important to remember when cooking chicken livers is that they WILL taste dry and bland if you cook them too long, serve them when they are still lovely and moist inside.

    It is as a starter or appetizer where chicken livers really come into their own; they make an excellent, quick and easy pate, they are delicious cooked wrapped in bacon, they make a perfect mousse – the list is virtually endless.

    If you are looking for a REALLY tasty and oh-so-cheap appetizer recipe that is both low fat and delicious, do try this excellent little recipe – you won’t be disappointed!

    Chicken Livers Peri Peri

    Serves 4 as a starter or appetizer

    Ingredients

        300g chicken liver
        1 onion finely chopped
        4 cloves garlic, crushed
        2 red or green chilies, de-seeded and chopped finely (or ½ teaspoon of dried chilies.)
        1 tomato, chopped
        1 teaspoon of peri peri powder (or cayenne)
        1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
        1 tablespoon of tomato puree (paste)
        100ml chicken stock
        Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
        Low-fat spray

    Method

    1. Spray a large frying pan (skillet) with low-fat spray, add livers, salt & pepper to taste.
    2. Sauté until chicken livers are cooked but do NOT overcook; they need to be a little pink in the middle as they will be re-cooked later, remove from pan.
    3. Using the same pan and juices, fry the garlic, chilies, and onion until soft, add the tomatoes and fry for a couple of more minutes.
    4. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for about 5 minutes; if the sauce is too thick, add a little more stock.
    5. Check to taste the sauce and add more chilies if you prefer it hot.
    6. Return the chicken livers to the sauce and let it simmer for one or two minutes or until livers are fully warmed through.
    7. Serve immediately with salad.

    I do hope that I have persuaded you to try this inexpensive delicacy; I am sure that you will be converted once you’ve tried it.

  • Tips for Buying Seafood

    Before you stock up on seafood for your next meal, read my Tips for Buying Seafood!

    Tips for Buying Seafood

    If you aren’t lucky enough to live by the sea and buy your seafood straight from the fishing boats, you really do need some basic knowledge of how to buy fish and other seafood. The Norwegians might say that white fish benefits from being left a few days to develop flavor, but my advice is to buy only fresh and eat it quickly.

    Depending on where you live, the seafood available in your local fishmonger’s or supermarket could be a couple of days old, so it does pay to know how to recognize the freshest produce.

    Tips for Buying Seafood

    First of all, a simple tip – DO NOT buy fish on a Monday. Fishermen rarely go out on a Sunday, so the fish on sale at the beginning of the week is likely to be from Friday, possibly Saturday, but less likely. Similarly, do not order fish from a restaurant on a Sunday, especially if it appears amongst the specials or in a fish pie or stew – it’s likely that the fish has been added to the specials to use up old fish. Even when refrigerated, fish go off more quickly than meat because they are cold-blooded, and their enzymes work at low temperatures.

    A fresh fish should not smell fishy – it should smell of the sea, but if it smells strongly of fish, it’s not very fresh. Next, look at the eye – the eye should be bright and not bloated. Move onto the gills; they should be bright red. The flesh of a fresh fish will be firm and will spring back into place when you press a finger against it.

    For shellfish, it is slightly easier – if you are not a squeamish shopper, what could be fresher than shellfish that is still alive? This way, you are guaranteed that your lobster, crab, or oysters are as fresh as can be. The flesh of shellfish decomposes rapidly, so you should try to get over any hang-ups you may have about buying live shellfish.

    For both shellfish and fish, you should ideally eat it on the day of purchase or early into the following day. Do not dismiss the idea of buying frozen fish. Many fishing boats have on-board freezing facilities, so a frozen fish may be as fresh – or even fresher than – some that are described as “fresh.”

    Find a good fishmonger and talk to him or her; sometimes they are willing to specially buy and cook shellfish such as crab and lobster for people uncomfortable about buying the produce live. Be sure to ask, though, where the food has come from and how old it is.

    A good fishmonger is an invaluable friend since buying seafood for a special meal is much more difficult than buying meat. Bad weather may stop particular boats going out, or a trawler may land only one kind of fish that day, and before you know it, your dinner party menu is lacking the main ingredient.

    Therefore it pays to learn about the different fish groups and know what substitutes you can make. Sometimes you will see something you don’t recognize, and your fishmonger will be able to tell you whether it’s suitable for your chosen dish. If in doubt, ask; tell him what you are trying to make, and he will be able to suggest alternative fish if your first choice is not available.

    One last tip – a fresh fish should be pliable; there is an old story that says that if you can kiss the tail of a fish, it’s not fresh – so pucker up!

    More Tips:

    How to Cook Clams

    How to Cook Mussels

    How to Cook Oysters

    How to Cook Scallops

    Easiest Way to Open Oysters

    How to Butterfly A Lobster Tail

  • How to Prepare Fresh Horseradish

    Learn tips for How to Prepare Fresh Horseradish!

    How to Prepare Fresh Horseradish

    For many people, horseradish sauce is often only considered as something of an afterthought, used to spice up the odd boring meat or salad dish with its distinct fiery bite. However, based upon the potential health benefits and its well-known medicinal properties, perhaps it is time to reconsider this versatile little spice.

    Why You Should Eat More Horseradish

    Horseradish has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. Not only is it packed full of essential minerals, such as calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. It also contains anti-bacterial properties that can help combat a range of ailments and potential diseases, ranging from offering relief against common colds to fighting a urinary infection. Horseradish can also be applied externally, used as a poultice to treat infected wounds, and it even has combative properties for longer-standing problems such as gout and arthritis.

    How To Prepare Fresh Horseradish

    Preparing fresh horseradish is a quick and simple job, and it can be safely stored for up to six weeks in the refrigerator.  

    Clean And Chop

    As with any root vegetables, a good thorough wash under a running tap is essential. A light scrub may also help to remove any resistant dirt. A good wash of the hands afterward is a good idea, as the oil from horseradish can cause irritation, not unlike chilies, especially if it comes into contact with the eyes. When the roots are looking clear, the next stage is to chop off the ends of the root and remove the outer layer. This can be done with a small knife or vegetable peeler, depending on preference.

    Slice And Dice

    A good kitchen knife should be used to first slice the horseradish root into small cubes and then again into smaller pieces. The idea is to crush up the horseradish to activate and get the most out of its pungent oils. When it is nicely chopped, it is time to prepare it for storing in the refrigerator or cupboard.

    Storage

    Horseradish can be stored in a small airtight container, but first, a little vinegar may be added in order to control its pungency. If milder horseradish is required, simply add more vinegar to the mixture and then drain. The horseradish can then be added to a small, convenient container and stored for up to six weeks. From here, it can be used to spice up a variety of dishes or used in home remedies. It is, of course, advisable to read further before using horseradish for this purpose.

    Horseradish is often the perfect match for strong meats like roast beef or burgers, but it can also easily be applied to seafood or even add a little life to a range of salad dishes. Given health benefits and ease of preparation, horseradish could easily play more of a central role, helping to add a little spice to life.

  • How to Cook Mussels

    Don’t let the idea of cooking mussels overwhelm you! Here are tips for How to Cook Mussels!

    How to Cook Mussels

    Mussels are a seasonal treat that many people are afraid to even attempt to cook. There seems to be this common misconception that if you really don’t know what you’re doing, you run the risk of food poisoning. While there is a risk, it’s no more than that of beef, chicken, or pork. And, frankly, mussels are far easier to do.

    How to Cook Meat Safely

    Buy Fresh

    I’ve heard others say that frozen mussels are actually better to deal with than fresh. I presume this is because they think there is a lower risk of poisoning. Actually, frozen may pose a greater risk, as you have no way to know what state they were in before they were frozen. And when have you ever been satisfied that frozen anything is better than fresh?

    When Buying Fresh, They Are Alive

    If they’re not alive, don’t ever eat them! This is where the real risk of poisoning is. If they smell really, really fishy, they’re probably not very fresh. Really fresh ones smell a little fishy but also quite salty.

    To test if they are alive, simply pick one up and tap it on any hard surface a few times. If it slowly closes, it’s very much alive and fit to eat. Any you find with big cracks or breaks in the shell, you should probably throw out. Better safe than sorry.

    How to Cook Mussels

    Wash Them Thoroughly

    Running under tap water, wash them against each other for a minute or two. Do the ‘tap-tap test’ to see they all close before they go into the pan. If they don’t close, don’t put them in the pan.

    Once you’ve got your pan full of mussels, add about a half-cup or so of cheap white wine. Cover with a lid and turn heat to medium-high. Check them every couple of minutes. They should take 5-10 minutes to cook completely, depending on the size of them.

    You’ll know they’re done when they are pretty much all opened. Any that don’t open should not be eaten. All that do are perfect.

    Mussels cooked in white wine with garlic and parsley is a simple peasant dish that has sprung to international fame as ‘moules mariniere.’ Born in the channel ports of north-west France, it spread rapidly throughout that country, up into Belgium, where it is practically a national dish and on through the rest of Europe.

    Variations of it are now served just about anywhere that mussels are available, and there are even restaurants devoted to little else. New ingredients, such as cream and brandy, have been added, but the simple classic dish is probably still the best. It is certainly the easiest and is completely foolproof.

    This is what you need for four people:

        4 pounds of mussels
        2 French shallots, finely chopped
        2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
        bunch chopped Italian (flat-leaf) parsley
        1 cup good quality dry white wine
        1 tbsp oil or butter

    In the US, sealed packages of cleaned, live mussels are now available, which makes the next step redundant. So if that is what you intend to buy, skip all but the last line of the next paragraph.

    Carefully scrub the mussels, removing any ‘beard’ by pulling it clear. Don’t worry if a small strip of flesh comes with it; this will not kill the mussel. Discard any mussels with broken shells or ones that fail to close when firmly tapped.

    In a large pot with a close-fitting lid, saute the shallots and garlic in the oil or butter until just soft, then add the mussels. Scatter over half the parsley and pour in the white wine.

    Bring to the boil, cover, and simmer for five minutes. The mussels will cook in their own steam, releasing more liquor into the mix. This is what makes the ‘soup’ that the mussels are served in. There is no need to add more liquid.

    Divide the remaining parsley between four good-sized serving bowls.

    At the end of cooking time, discard any mussels that have failed to open and divide the remainder between the bowls, pouring the liquor over the top. Serve with a side dish of frites (thin French fries) or crusty bread.

    If you live where they are available, Muscadet or Gros Plant are the traditional wines to both cook this dish and to drink with it. A dry Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc makes a reasonable substitute.

    More cooking tips:

    How to Cook Oysters

    How to Cook Clams

    How to Cook Scallops

    Easiest Way to Open Oysters

    How to Butterfly A Lobster Tail

    Tips for Buying Seafood

  • How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

    Having lobster for dinner this week? Learn How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail with these tips below.

    How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

    The lobster is both a simple and elegant crustacean. To butterfly, a lobster tail is quite simple, and you should try it at home. The thought of a butterflied lobster tail can bring back memories of an expensive celebration complete with melted butter, baked potato, champagne, and a rich dessert.

    Lobster can also take you back to your childhood, or even an adult vacation, at the sea where you munched on lobster rolls at lunch with crunchy potato chips, a crisp pickle, and a tall glass of iced tea or lemonade.

    The lobster is an arthropod, which I am sorry to say, is a relative of the insect family. Their skeleton is called an exoskeleton because it is protecting them on the outside from the sea’s world. They can crawl, swim and attack. Saltwater lobsters are the largest crustaceans in the sea.

    The tail, body, and claws of the lobster are edible and most often served simply with butter and lemon. The largest lobster caught to date weighed in at 40 pounds. You are going to need a lot of butter for that one!

    The white tail meat of the lobster is considered to be the best part. The meat tastes sweeter than the claws. The claws, on the other hand, possess a richer flavor than the tail. The meat from the lobster’s body tastes similar to that of the tail, but you have to work more for the meat in the body. So if you order a whole lobster and are really hungry, make sure you start off with an appetizer.

    Not many people buy or order an entire lobster when they go to the fishmonger or out to dinner. Most oftentimes, the lobster is offered in the form of the tail. To create the elegant effect of a butterflied lobster tail, you need to start, of course, with the lobster tail itself and a good pair of kitchen shears.

    You can start with frozen or fresh tails. If the lobster tails are frozen, place them in the refrigerator overnight and make sure they are covered with cling wrap on the plate you use.

    How to Butterfly a Lobster Tail

    Once the tails are ready, it’s very fast and easy from here. Place the lobster on your cutting board for seafood. The tail should be with the bottom of the tail facing down. Take your kitchen shears and gently cut the shell in half, beginning your cut at the top of the tail’s shell and cutting to the tip of the tail.

    Be careful to cut only the shell, not the lobster meat. Slowly pull both sides of the shell away from the lobster meat. Pretend that you are taking off the lobster’s jacket. It’s a fairly slow process because you want to pull the shell away from the meat without taking any meat with the shell.

    Once the meat is free of the shell, squeeze that part of the shell together a bit and lay the meat on top of the shell.

    It’s like you are giving it a boost. It should look like it did when you started with the top of the shell still facing up, but now the meat is going to be on top of that. Cut a small slit down the middle of the meat from top to bottom. Grab the meat and pull it over the shell.

    Imagine you are putting a sweater on now instead of the coat. This is the actual butterfly process. Marinade the lobster tail with butter, lemon, and pepper, or whatever you prefer. Broil time will depend upon how much your tail weighs. It’s also nice to pour a little more marinade over the tails about halfway through broiling, so they don’t dry out. Serve with a lemon wedge and melted butter. Enjoy!

    Broiling Times for Lobster Tails

        2 oz. 12 minutes
        4 oz. 18 minutes
        6 oz. 22 minutes
        8 oz. 26 minutes
        12 oz. 30 minutes
        14 oz. + 35 minutes

    More Tips:

    Tips for Buying Seafood

    How to Cook Clams

    How to Cook Mussels

    How to Cook Oysters

    Easiest Way to Open Oysters