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Betzabroad…My personal recipe for tasting our big, fat, wonderful world

Betzabroad…My personal recipe for tasting our big, fat, wonderful world

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  • Bach-ing it…steakhouse style!

    Sometimes you just need to let loose and enjoy a nice steak! Although my Monday starts in the usual way with lots and lots of household chores, as the day wears on, I become emboldened to give Mr. Client a really simple, hearty, steakhouse style dinner. He has a ton of business and social meetings this last week in the States, so sneaking in my last few chances for great dinners is getting difficult. He advises me of his schedule late In the day so I opt for the ribeye steak tonight.
    As per usual, he likes to begin the evening with some type of hors d oeuvres, so I put together a nice meat and cheese platter for starters.

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    Next, I begin an old favorite from Jaques Pepin, Potatoes Fondants. Creamy, herby little potatoes that area perfect accompaniment to any protein, but especially beef. You cannot believe how these beauties melt in your mouth! And believe it or not they are fairly diet friendly! Baby Yukon Golds cooked to soft-tender in chicken broth laced with Rosemary-smashed, and then cooked some more…. until they have absorbed all the broth and a little butter. These have NEVER let me down.

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    Side salad…to make you feel good about what comes next!

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    Finally…the beast……Cooked stovetop on medium high heat in melted butter after marinating for one hour in my secret steak mixture! Oh yeah!

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  • Sunday dinner on Saturday

    Mr. Client spends most of his Saturday at an antique fair/flea market trying to score some finds for his refurbished 1802 built home. I do some housekeeping, menu writing, and laundry while he is away. When he returns he advises me that he will be eating out for Saturday dinner so I prepare his Sunday dinner ahead of time.
    I mention Shepherds Pie and he jumps at the idea.. Here is my recipe:
    Thaw out one sheet of puff pastry and lay into bottom of an 8×8 or 9×9 pan.
    Bake at 400° for about 12 minutes or until golden brown and puffy.
    Pull from oven and set aside.
    Decrease oven temp to about 360° while you are making your mash and filling.
    Filling consists of ground lamb or beef, minced garlic, celery, carrots, salt, pepper,a couple dashes of Worcestershire sauce, a dollop of tomato paste or catsup, and 3/4 bottle of a good dark beer. Simmer until some of moisture is absorbed and add fresh peas. Make a slurry of a tablespoon of cornstarch and water and add while stirring until filling is slightly thickened.
    Boil potatoes and carrots in salted water until tender enough to mash.
    Drain and mash with 1/4 stick butter and a little milk until smooth, but slightly loose. Add 1/2 cup grated cheddar.
    Now assemble. Filling goes over puff pastry. Mash goes over top of filling. Guild the lily by adding a bit more grated cheddar over top!
    Bake at 360° until top is slightly golden brown and set.

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    I throw together a couple fruit plates so Mr. Client will have something slightly less decadent to go with his pie!

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    Day is done.

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  • Thank God it’s Friday

    The weekend is upon us and my thoughts, as well as my Client’s turn toward entertaining at happy hour. Mrs. Client’s table linens have arrived and fit each dining room fabulously. I spend 2 hours ironing the two tablecloths because the dining room’s linens are so large they really require a double board, which unfortunately I do not have. 108″ rounds are hard to press because without double-size boards you are constantly trying to keep the already ironed fabric from pooling on the ground and re-wrinkling! It is a task that I don’t relish…but I carry on…..
    Tonight’s hors d’oeuvres consist of a cheese plate of goat Gouda and local artisan burrata with crackers.

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    Filo bundles of ground lamb, feta, mint, dill, salt, pepper, oregano, and Parmesan are buttery, crisp and warm.

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    The final offering is on the sweet side… Filo strudel of pitted prunes, cream cheese, gruyere and sugar with cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg. The roll is topped with melted butter and sugar and baked at 360° for 12 minutes.

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    The weekend is here!

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  • May Day

    I’ve had great success in locating some of the things Mr. Client has asked me to find. Notably, lamp oil and wicks for two antique brass lamps he purchased to display at his home. He lives (I work) in a home built in 1802 which most recently served as a hospital post, so the decor is traditional/eclectic. Mr. Client is also a huge fan of candles so that has been my other necessary search.
    Housekeeping has kept me busy today, as well as adjusting floral arrangements and ironing. It’s all good.
    Mr. Client requests a sandwich and salad for dinner because he is unsure of his evening plans. I comply with a peppered beef and Swiss on whole wheat and a side salad of mixed greens, shaved brussels sprouts, and romaine with a light citrus vinaigrette. Easy day!

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  • Wednesday in East Asia

    For lunch I repurpose some chicken satay skewers with spicy peanut sauce. I throw together a quick salad with greens, chopped peanuts and a ginger soy vinaigrette. Chana masala is the main dish, full of heavily spiced chickpeas. Warm and warming!

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    Dinner begins with canapés of larb on endive leaves. Ground pork stir fried with lemongrass, lime, black pepper, garlic, ginger, mint and fish sauce.
    A main course of Gai Pad Grapow, sweet, salty, herbaceous chicken with thai eggplant, red bell pepper, mushrooms, onions, sweet basil, and chili peppers makes Mr. Client happy. Thai basil fried rice with shrimp rounds out the meal.

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    Spice chases away the rainy day chills.

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  • Rain, rain go away…

    Ever notice that the day you have multiple errands to run is the same day that they forecast 2-4 inches of rainfall? Murphy’s Law? Bad Luck? Twist of Fate?
    I decide that today is a perfect day for a cassoulet! Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain! After a quick run to the grocery for replenishment of staples and such it is time to make a small lunch and dive into household chores. A half sandwich of capicola, prosciutto, provolone, lettuce and aioli witha lightly dressed salad fills the bill.

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    Running errands for decorative articles for my Client’s household is kinda fun! I must say I am enjoying myself! Rain be damned, who cares about a few showers?! Hah! I score some great finds and do so within budget.
    Once back at the house, I begin my cassoulet. Thankfully, I did my mise en place before I left to run the errands, so it comes together rather easily. My cassoulet will include sweet italian sausage, chicken, and pork but no duck so it is a modified recipe. The aroma is really intoxicating as it cooks due to the thyme, rosemary and parsley melding with the aromatics of fennel, onions, garlic, carrots, and celery. Simmer…simmer…simmer……..
    A little cheese and crackers before dinner. A side salad, a piece of crusty bread…a great glass of red wine. Life is good.

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  • Jamaican me crazy!

    Mondays at work are always a lot of housekeeping days. Client has purchased more alstroemerias at the market, so first order of business is to cut and arrange at the locations throughout the house that were not changed last Saturday.
    I am feeling in the mood for some “comfy food” to counteract the rainy day we face today. Mr. Client is gone most of the day so I cannot run my menu by him, but I believe he will enjoy this offering. Jerked chicken (my recipe is on the mild side tonight) is accompanied by homemade cornbread with bits of fresh corn, baked sweet potato laced with butter and cinnamon and a side of tomatoes and cucumber. Ya mon!

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  • Saturday is flower day

    Alstroemerias, alstroemerias everywhere! One of the least expensive and longest lasting flowers are a favorite of Mr. Client. The ones he purchased 2 weeks ago have started to wilt after three re cuttings with fresh water so today my first order of business is to buy more. I underestimate the number of vases to be filled, so I come up short. No worries, more will be furnished by tomorrow!
    My clients attended a garden walk this morning and they are ravished when they return. A quick lunch of grilled cheese (gruyere and Swiss) and pastrami sandwiches with a salad of tender greens with Granny Smith apples, Gorgonzola and a balsamic vinaigrette is served within minutes.

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    Mrs. Client has returned to Hong Kong today, so Mr. requests a salad and sandwich for dinner, which I leave in the icebox for him to eat at his leisure. I make a small Caesar salad (to be dressed later), a ham, chicken breast, and provolone sandwich, and thaw out some leftover pastichio to be eaten tomorrow. No pics….sorry:(

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  • Thank God it’s Friday, gluten free!

    Thank God it’s Friday, gluten free!

    The clients ask for an early lunch as they are meeting with their general contractor and designer at 1:00pm. So I quickly throw together a sandwich of lettuce, gruyere, chicken breast, chili mayo and butter accompanied by a tossed salad with mixed greens, asparagus, mushrooms, fennel, green onion, Gorgonzola and vinaigrette. No complaints.

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    Original plans were for gluten-free appetizers for four between 6-7pm tonight. Mid-afternoon I am advised by Mr. Client that only one guest will be joining them for hors d’ oeuvres. At 5:10pm, Mr. Advises that guest will be joining them for dinner in house, not just hors d’oeuvres. Thank God I have two proteins thawed out!
    Cocktails will be accompanied by chicken satay with peanut dipping sauce and crudités with a light homemade ranch sauce.

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    I decide on a middle eastern/Greek theme for dinner. It includes brown rice pilaf, hummus, mini pitas, keftedes of chicken with a tzadiki sauce, and watermelon, feta and mint salad. Yassou!
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  • If it’s Thursday, it must be time for Thai….

    Today, I act more as personal assistant than chef. I handle a variety of tasks for my clients, do some light housekeeping and laundry, and set out to decide on dinner tonight. Thai food is a favorite of mine and I know both Mr. And Mrs. are fans also. My menu for dinner is a Marinated Cucumber Salad, Coconut Rice, and Green Curry Chicken.
    No mandoline in the house so I decide to use a box grater to thinly slice the cucumbers and carrots for the salad. Big mistake! The slicer is not sturdy or sharp enough for the carrots and I get my first badge of “chef-dom”!

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    Needless to say, I deign to hand slice the rest of my veggies!
    Coconut rice is fluffy and deliciously salty-sweet to counter balance the somewhat spicy Green Curry sauce. To the Green Curry I add celery, carrots, green onion, mushrooms, miniature corn, basil and of course chicken. Finish with light coconut milk. Enjoy!

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