Dyson's Delectables

Change

2011-06-09T13:43:49Z

This blog will be moving to http://menu-vldyson.blogspot.com/ both site will be maintained through June, but probably not beyond that. This site will remain up for the indefinite future just as www.vldyson.com has.

Blogspot has simply become far easier to use than Go Daddy.

June 6, 2011

2011-06-08T21:41:51Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 6, 2011

As we are contemplating a trip to France in the next year or so I decided to try and pick up on where I left off with my high school French (where, by the way, I was not the top of the class). I am working with an “instant immersion” thing and I am also trying to memorize the 40 page (three column, fine print) culinary vocabulary found in the index of Patricia Wells’ A Food Lovers Guide to France.

It is slow going. They say that “The French Have a Word For It”. Wrong. They have at least two dozen words for the same damned word, and probably more for each expression. And I think they also have far too many varieties of cheese and snails. Not that I don’t love the cheese…

They also say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Mais, oui perhaps.

Mon. AM Cold Cuts

Mon. PM Broiled Shark with Pesto Trapanese BA 5/97

Pasta with Fresh Tomato Sauce

Tossed Salad

Tues. AM Steak Salad Larcon GM 6/84 8

Tues. PM Grilled Chicken Thighs with Soy, Brown Sugar and Garlic

Marinade BA 6/07 121

Udon with Orange Vinaigrette FW 2000 106

Tossed Salad

Weds. AM Tuna Melts

Weds. PM Grilled Rosemary Brined Pork Chops RG 132

Hot Sweet Tater Fries BA 7/06

Tossed Salad

Thurs. PM Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Glaze BA 7/01 110

Grilled Potato Skewers with Curried Onion Dipping Sauce CIAG 155

Hoisin Glazed Eggplant BFGI 241

Fri. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. PM Grilled Fillet Mignon with Roasted Red Peppers BT 102

Potato and Arugula Salad EL

Tossed Salad

Sat. AM Pasta Shells with Bolognese Sauce f/i

Sat. PM Blue Cheese and Walnut Dip with Fresh Baked Tortilla Chips FW 2011 12

Grilled Tuscan Style Chicken Under A Brick PB 377

Mediterranean K Bobs CBG 59

Israeli Couscous with Black Olives and Roasted Tomatoes GM 9/02 128

Sun. AM Pulled Turkey Sandwiches f/i

Sun. PM Guacamole CCI

Stephen Raichlen’s Memphis Style Dry Rub Ribs BB

Cole Slaw with Buttermilk Horseradish Dressing VEA 152

Potatoes a la Ketchup BB

May 31, 2011

2011-06-01T19:21:00Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 31 2011

When I wrote the menu for last week, sauerbraten and the like sounded good. We were still in the monsoon season of damp and cold. Then Spring came – both days of it…Then we were in full summer mode – Hazy, Hot, and Humid. Temps in the 90’s. Ugh! So, in any case, you’ll see we switched a lot of things around for cooler eating/cooking.

Am now trying to gear up for the seasons grilling. It is amazing how much one forgets over a season. That’s a good reason why I keep indexes – I can go back and fresh my memory as well as get new ideas. One of the ones I’d forgotten was Stephen Raichlen’s ketchup potatoes. Sounds dreadful, but really is a lovely, easy dish with no cleanup. Basically sliced onions and potatoes are layered in aluminum foil with white wine, Worcestershire, butter, bay leaf and a little ketchup. The foil is folded into a packet and thrown on the grill. Viola!

Tues. AM Bratwurst

Tues. PM Bluefish baked on the Grill in Foil with Onion, Tomato and Lemon CFSF 321

Quinoa Salad with Peas, Corn, Cucumber, Fennel, Celery, Lemon,

Mint and Basil FW 6/94 92

Weds. AM Pasta with White Clam Sauce CCI

Weds. PM Sausage Lasagna with Smoked Mozzarella

Tossed Salad

Thurs. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. AM Burgers, Cole Slaw

Fri. PM Grilled Stuffed Prime Rib of Beef

Potato Salad with Haricots Verts, Walnuts, Blue Cheese and

Mustard Vinaigrette

Tossed Salad

Sat. AM BBQ Ribs

Garden Salad

Sat. PM Patricia Wells’ Artichoke and White Bean Dip with Roasted Pita

Chips PWVH

Grilled Balsamic Hangar Steaks

Spaghetti Vinaigrette with Tomatoes and Arugula BA 6/85 52

Sun. AM Scrambled Eggs,

Home Cured Bacon

Sun. PM Devilled Ham FW 2011 16

Grilled Chicken Thighs with Soy, Brown Sugar and Garlic

Marinade BA 6/07 121

Bulgur Pilaf with Dried Cranberries MSFFF 324

May 23, 2011

2011-05-25T16:55:00Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 23, 2011

Last weekend was a delight with old friends – with the exception that I fell on a pile of rocks in Harriman State Park and was somewhat worse for wear for the rest of the weekend. I am still bruised and sore and mad at myself for being such a klutz. I think the best comment of this event came from George who asked if I could move various body parts and then with a rather pensive expression asked if I could still stir(as in dinner)….He keeps his priorities!

Sat. evening we saw the Village Light Opera’s production of Carousel. It was lovely – one of the best they have done in a long time. That is one thing about being in New York, the quality of voices they have available to them. And in this production they did some rather serious dance as well. A lovely evening.

As for the house, they were able to finish up most of the work on Thurs. and were not scheduled back until Monday. (Still have the dumpster in the drive way, but they have cleaned that mess up a lot) Sunday afternoon I went to lie down for a bit and heard squirrels on the roof. I mentioned this to Warner and he went out to check. Technically the house was not finished yet and they had already gnawed their way through the new siding.

We called in an exterminator to deal with them and I couldn’t help but be amused at his statement that there would be a fee of x dollars for transporting each squirrel. What, they can’t take public transportation? Oh well, they are Flying Squirrels so I wonder whether they get Frequent Flyer Miles….

What next?

Mon. AM Seafood Omelets

Mon. PM Sauerbraten, Braised Red Cabbage f/i

Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream

Tues. Am Lidia’s French Garlic with White Grapes

Tues. PM Vichyssoise

Potato Crusted Salmon with Herb Salad FW 3/06

Haricots Verts with Dried Cranberries

Weds. AM Warner’s Home Made Bratwurst with Sauerkraut

Weds. PM Grilled Chicken

Potatoes a la Ketchup BB394

Grilled Marinated Red Onions

Baby Peas

Thurs. Pm Braised Cod with Fennel, Tomatoes and Black Olives BA 4/95

Steamed Rice

Tossed Salad

Fri. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. PM Cold Chicken Platter with Deviled Eggs, Tomatoes,

Vinaigrette, Potatoes and Zucchini

Sat. AM Cold Cuts

Sat. PM Smoked Mozzarella and Sausage Lasagna BA 3/04 106

Tossed Salad

Sun. AM Burgers, Potato Salad

Three rib standing rib, bone in, but I need boneless.

With a sharp knife cut behind the rib bones, as close to the bone as possible.

Do be careful, as you will be cutting toward your hand, but the ribs come off easily. Save them for stock. Even if they have been frozen, simply refreeze.

This is to be stuffed, use the sharpening steel, after wiping it with a sponge or damp cloth to remove any filings. The French tapered rolling pin works fine to enlarge the holes. So will your finger.

Stuff the holes with carrot, pepper, onion, ham, cheese and garlic.

Then tie firmly.

Grill over indirect heat until an internal temperature of 135 is reached for rare. Let stand 10 minutes before carving. Note this will take longer than in an oven, and I had to push the grill up to over 400 to do it in under 2 hours.

Sun. PM Guacamole with Fresh Roasted Tortilla Chips

Steven Raichlen’s Brazilian Stuffed Grilled Rib Roast BB 116

Red Potato Gratin with Tomatoes, Black Olives and

Capers ICC-CP 124

Steamed Broccoli with Orange

Mon. AM Cold Cuts

Mon PM Baked Stuffed Littlenecks SH 12

Emeril’s New Orleans Style BBQ Shrimp BB 359

Huron County Corn Pudding D H 138

Tossed Salad

Peasant Bread

May 16, 2011

2011-05-18T21:35:00Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 16, 2011

Seeing the damage the floods have done along the Mississippi I suppose I shouldn’t complain. But, what the hell. Enough already! We are having some major exterior work done on the house and it was supposed to be completed by 5/14. Guess what. Rained out. They weren’t able to start until the 12^th. Supposed to finish up by last Monday. Rained out. Perhaps will be able to finish tomorrow – but I’m not putting money on it. More likely Friday.

Now here’s the scenario for Friday. My college roommate and her husband are flying up from Florida for a weekend of festivities…. I’m betting they arrive around the same time as the construction crew. They probably won’t be able to drive up to the house. And they probably won’t be able to come through the front door. They’ll have to trip over the construction waste waiting for the dumpster and tip toe through the garage set up as mission control. Just the way one wants to greet dear friends…

Fortunately, they both have a good sense of humor. And they have both served as surgeons in the Air Force, so they should have some sense of war zone. And at least I have plenty of home made ice cream in the freezer.

And a good bottle of scotch on hand. As I have the feeling I’ll need it…

(Note: the house did get finished).

Mon. AM Cold Cuts

Mon. PM Pan Roasted Salmon with Red Wine Lentil Sauce and Carrots &

Celery LBCB-R

Peasant Bread

Tues. AM Chicken Soup

Tues. PM

Pork Stew with Red Pepper revisited

Steamed Rice

Baby Peas

Weds. AM Gumbo with Rice

Weds. PM
Classic Roast Chicken

Steamed Rice, Pan Gravy

Sautéed Green Beans

Thurs. PM

Grilled Rib Eye Steak

Baked Potatoes, Sour Cream

Tossed Salad

A Weekend With Chris and George

Fri. AM Savory Rosemary Madelines with Parmesan TPC 6

Lidia’s French Garlic Sausages Sautéed with Grapes and Made From

Warner’s Home Made Sausage LCFTH 214

Warm German Potato Salad LCFTH 106

Hericots Verts Vinaigrette

Tossed Salad

Peasant Bread

Double Chocolate Loaf Cake DEX 50

Patricia Wells’ Coconut Ice Cream SF-PW 307

Fri. PM Dorie Greenspan’s Mustard Batons AMFT

Jean Georges’ Beet Tartare JG

Julia Child’s Vichyssoise JCI

Grilled Lobster and Yukon Gold Potatoes with Arugula and

Basil Vinaigrette

Spoon Bread CSCB 411

Strawberry Shortcakes

Blueberry Ice Cream GM 6/90 128

Sat. AM Fresh Zucchini Bread CIABAH 80

Coffee

Sat. Noon Grilled Shrimp Rolls

Cole Slaw SSCB

Chocolate Hazelnut Sandwich Cookies BOTB vol6 126

Georges Perrier’s Pistachio Ice Cream BA 1/97

Sun. AM

Fresh Zucchini Bread

Coffee

Sun. Brunch Sliced Melon with Lemon

Gail Gand’s Blue Cheese and Celeriac Strata GGB 48

Warner’s Home Cured Bacon

Coffee

Jack Daniels Chocolate Ice Cream FSST 290

Sun. PM Key West Pork Chops CCI

Sautéed Green Beans

May 9, 2011

2011-05-11T16:54:00Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 9, 2011

We are, at long last, having some lovely spring weather. Even the cat is happy - and very busy with her spring things.

Among our seasonal chores for the house is the replacement of roof shingles that didn’t make it through the winter. This year the roofer came down off the ladder with photographs of the house which showed a lot of rotting. Oh goodie! Just what we need in this point in time – a major house hold repair expense. But there was no turning back. Yesterday the materials for the new siding were delivered here (the cat thinks it is a new jungle gym for her and will be very surprised and unhappy when the work crew shows up later today.

No question the house will look a hell of a lot better, it was indeed time. No all I need to do is to win lotto. I won the grand total of $2 last week! Hardly know where to spend it first….

We are working hard in the garden. Thee past few years it has gotten ahead of us. It is futile to try and raise vegetables here because of the woodchucks. They also destroy a lot of flowers. Last year I tried to plant a mess of dinner plate dahlias. I’d get them planted and the wood chuck would come right along behind be and dig them up. All of them. And my flowering pots on the front porch !I think I’ll just put in some decorative herbs when they finish with the house

And what the deer and the woodchucks don’t get the gale winds and sub zero temperature will. We’re very careful about what we plant. We check for correct plant zones, we check the Cornell Extension charts for deer culinary preference….and still. I’m guessing we lose about 70% of the plants we add to the garden each year.

That being said, many of the shrubs that we planted early on are arriving at maturity and it is developing into a very lovely pool area garden. Just no vegetables (hell, I got 100 or more pounds out of my garden in Brooklyn) and very few cutting flowers…..

Mon. AM Memphis Ribs, Cole Slaw

Mon. PM Eric Ripert’s Roasted Cod Nicoise LBC 272

Lemon Pasta EI, Baby Peas

Tues. AM Cold Cuts

Tues. PM Steak Marchand de Vin CCF 139

Oven Roasted Potatoes

Asparagus Vinaigrette

Weds. AM Soup Cresson Pommes de Terre (Watercress and Potato Soup) BC-PW

Weds. PM Sour Orange Yucatan Chicken

Polenta, Sautéed Corn and Scallions

Thurs. PM Almond Flounder Meuniere AMFT 290

~~Parsley Potatoes, Sautéed Green Beans~~

Fri. AM Steak Marchand de Vin and Eggs

Fri PM Fresh Orange Pork Tenderloin AMFT 273

Celery Root Puree AMFT 354,Tossed Salad

Sat. AM Scrambled Eggs, Mashed Potato Pancakes f/i

Sat. PM Garlic Shrimp Tapas

Bouillabaisse de Poulet BC-PW

Tossed Salad, Peasant Bread

Sun. AM Cold Cuts

Sun. PM Mini Egg Rolls

Pepronata de Porc – Pork Stew with Red Wine, Bell Peppers & Tomatoes CCF

Orzo, Tossed Salad

May 2, 2011

2011-05-04T23:09:00Z

MENU FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 2, 2011

Mother Nature is teasing us yet again with very few lovely Spring days and a lot more cold and damp ones. As I write this (on May 4), I still wear my down vest and have the space heater on in my den.

Last week, however, Mother Nature was more than a tease. Weather reports charted the line of deadly tornados coming north but going through Pennsylvania and not coming close to us. Then on Thurs morning the US Weather Service announced the storms had changed direction and issued Tornado Warnings for Jersey. Then for Rockland County where we live. Then we heard our village mentioned specifically in the warning. Nothing we could do except watch the sky to our south and try not to remember the awful photographs from Alabama. Fortunately, in the end, all we got were torrential rains ( 2 inches per hour) and high winds. We were lucky. But I would rather not repeat the strain of that wait while the Tornado Warning was in effect.

Much to Warner’s disgust, I did get up on Friday to watch the royal wedding. The British know how to put on such a show and so much of their history is tied to the monarchy to say nothing of Westminster Abbey. The Pomp and Circumstance (to coin a phrase) was at its best and the sight lines in the abbey were magnificent, as was the music. I read that organ recitals are given on Sunday afternoons and hope that within the next year I can witness this music in the abbey live for myself. Minus the tiara….

Mon. AM Scotch Broth f/i

(salad prior to being picked)

Mon. PM Ligurian Fish Stew with Clams, Shrimp, Sea Bass and Peas FW 11/06

Garlic Bread, Tossed Salad

Tues. AM Cold Cuts

Tues. PM Pork and Potato Stew, Tossed Salad

Weds. AM Shrimp Salad Rolls

Weds. PM Pierre Franey’s Fillet of Sole Moutarde 60 Min.

Spaghetti with French Pasta Sauce

Sautéed Broccoli with Orange Zest

Thurs. PM Cinco de Mayo- Tingo Poblano WSSM 158

(Pork Stew with Chipotle)

Sour Cream, Avocados, Flour Tortillas

The pickle is a home made Traditional Garlic Dill

Fri. AM Cold Cuts

Fri. PM Memphis Style BB Ribs BB

Sautéed Corn, Cole Slaw

Sat. AM ~~Chicken Soup~~ Egg on a raft with bacon

Sat. PM Salami Crisps GM 9/04

Rogan Josh (Indian Lamb Stew) M JIC

Querto Style Green Beans MJIC

Steamed Rice, Layered Bread

Sun. AM Warner’s Home Made Hot Dogs, Sauerkraut

Sun. PM Beef Tartare JG

Sour Orange Yucatan Chicken FW 2010 98

Soft Polenta, Sautéed Green Beans