Just in time for Christmas

This recipe is an adaptation from my mothers Peanut Butter no bake cookies, but I just had to fiddle with it to make it my own!  Plus I needed something to take to the cookie swap at work! 

4.5 cups frosted flakes

1.5 cups sugar

1 cup Karo syrup

3/4 cup cashew butter

1 cup pecans

1 tablespoon sesame seeds

3 lavender flowers

1 tablespoon vanilla

Smoked salt (optional)

In a saucepan combine vanilla, syrup, sugar, and lavender, let come to boil.  Remove from heat and stir in cashew butter.  In large bowl combine pecans and cereal, pour over syrup mixture.  Stir well, drop by spoonfuls on wax paper lined cookie sheet to set, sprinkle with sesame seeds! 

*Optional, for an extra pop, sprinkle with course smoked sea salt for an extra dimension! I also sprinkled with powdered sugar just to make them look nice! 

Also, I don't like to drop by spoonfuls, I'd rather pour it all out, let cure, then cut into squares, it's just faster! 

Super Simple Sauce for Pasta

The other day I bought some artisan Lobster stuffed ravioli at an "organic" store.  They looked so perfect... big and puffy!   FULL of LOBSTER.

I got them home, boiled them in lemon and salted water till just done.  But what was I going to use as a sauce that didn't completely mask the perfection of lobster?  So I came up with this.

2 tbsp butter
1 tbsp olive oil
1 teaspoon prepared pesto
1 tbsp pasta water
1 tbsp fresh chopped parsley
Salt and Pepper


In a pan on medium heat, melt the butter in the oil.  Swirl in the pesto and let cook for about 30 seconds.  Splash in the pasta water and the chopped parsley.  Add the ravioli to the sauce and turn over a few times.  Slide onto a plate and top with some extra parsley and you will be amazed at how good this dresses these ravioli without masking their amazing flavor.

Life lessons

There are things in the kitchen that are not taught, you have to learn about them through trial and error.  

1) don't cook eggs in coconut oil

-trust me, they just turn out nasty!

What lessons have you learned that we can share? 

Tweet me @TeeJayToday 

Perfect Summer Pasta Recipe

I was trying to come up with a light pasta recipe that would be good for the summer, after a little playing around, I came up with this!  All measurements are for one person, please double or quadruple depending on your family.

 1 C spinach egg noodles (any thick noodle is good)

1 t pesto (the good stuff)

1 t olive oil

1 T butter

1 T ricotta cheese

Save 2 tablespoons of the pasta cooking water

S&P to taste

Cook noodles according to package, drain well (but save 2 T pasta water) add rest of ingredients to warm noodles and toss until butter has completely melted, serve warm.  

*Serving Suggestion* maybe add some roasted tomatoes on the side for a more complete summer brunch/lunch.

My New Favorite Thing

Fads come and go and right now I am in love with Ricotta Cheese.  Most people think that this bland cheese is just a layer in lasagna.  Lately I have been using it for so much more!

For breakfast I like to add a touch of salt and honey, smear it on a some puff pastry, bake it off and it is amazing!

For lunch it goes well in a frittata or quiche, I have also had it on pizza instead of tomato sauce.

For dinner, I have used it as a sauce for pasta... just add a little pasta water to thin it out, some olive oil, little seasoning, a few peas, top with freshly grated parm, and it coats pasta very well!

My new all time favorite way to eat ricotta is simply spread on a crispy thin cracker with maybe a tiny piece of prosciutto on top. 

To make the spread:

1 Cup ricotta
1 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
1 tablespoon olive oil
pinch of garlic powder (dont use fresh garlic, too strong here)
S&P to taste

mix everything together in a bowl and let set in the fridge for at least an hour before you serve it.  You can even mold into fun shapes for cheese platters for when you have guests coming over. 

*Serving Suggestion*  drizzle with some good aged basalmic vinegar to help make it POP!

Let me know how you eat ricotta!

Summer Ceviche

Ceviche has always scared me.  Eating raw fish with nothing but lemon on it cant be good right?  Well, I eat sushi (devour it is a better description) so why wouldn't I like ceviche?

Here is a recipe that I came up with while in the grocery store, it turned out so good, and even better the next day as I took some to work for lunch.

Ingredients
1 stalk celery finely chopped
1 avocado finely chopped
3 tomatoes seeded and finely chopped
1/2 of a red onion finely chopped
1 mango finely chopped
1 jalapeno chopped finely
4 limes
2 lemons
1 tbsp chopped parsley
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1 lb scallops raw
1 tbsp olive oil
S & P to taste

First, we need to prep the scallops, if they are thick, slice them thinly, if they are small, leave them as is.  Put in a bowl with the zest of one of your limes and the juice from all of the limes.  Let this set in the fridge for about 30 minutes (while you prep your other ingredients)

Mix all other ingredients into a bowl except the lemons.  Once the scallops have turned white, they are ready, drain the juice off of the scallops and add them to your vegetables.  Add the juice of the lemons with salt and pepper to taste.  Let set in fridge for 10-20 minutes before serving.

Serving suggestion
Always serve cold, and I ate mine with regular Saltine crackers.  I also served mine in a martini glass with a wedge of lemon on the side.  So good, AND HEALTHY!

Let me know what you do differently when you make ceviche!

Cured Salmon, easier than you think!

Curing your own salmon is EASY!  Here is how I did it...

What you will need: 

2 lbs salmon (get the good stuff) 

1 lemon

1 orange

1 small beet

1 lb sea salt

1 tsp dried dill

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp fennel seed

1 tsp black pepper

1 oz vodka

Deep dish (I used glass)

First, check your fish for bones and scales, you don't want these in your finished product.  Rinse off your fish and dry with a paper towel, set aside.  Using a grater, grate the beet into a bowl.  Zest the orange and lemon and add to the bowl.  Now juice the orange and lemon into the bowl.  Add the rest of the ingredients (except the fish) to the bowl and stir well.  You should have a "slush-like" consistency.  Into you deep dish, spoon approx 1/4 cup of your salt slush into the bottom of the dish to make a base for your fish.  Add the fish, skin side down.  Pour the rest of the slush atop the fish, making sure every part of your fish is covered.  Cover with plastic wrap and place into your fridge for 48 hours.  After 48 hours take the fish out of the bowl and rinse well under cold running water.  Slice thinly and enjoy!  Change the seasoning to get a completely different flavor, I like the citrus with the fish.

Q & A with Celebrity Chef Jason Roberts

 Before we start asking Chef Jason questions, let get a little background from www.ChefJasonRoberts.com :

"A native of New Zealand, Roberts is best known for his charismatic smile and fun personality. Having grown up in a family of food professionals, he discovered a passion for food at a young age. Turning it into a career, he spent seven years as an Executive Chef of the restaurant Bistro Moncur in Sydney, where he was immersed in the traditions and techniques of French Cuisine in by his mentor, Damien Pignolet. His accolades caught the attention of Australia’s Channel 9, where he became the host of Fresh, a cooking program which aired five days a week in Australia and New Zealand.

In January 2003, Roberts was introduced to the US on ABC’s Good Morning America. He has also appeared The Wayne Brady Show, The Sharon Osbourne Show, E!, The Style Network’s You’re Invited, New York City’s morning show Ali & Jack, and Talk Soap with Lisa Rinna. In 2005, Roberts hosted the award winning food talk show, Jason Roberts’ Taste on the PAX Television Network which earned him two American Accolade Awards for Best Host and Best Health & Lifestyle program. Roberts is the author of two cookbooks, Elements and Graze: Lots of Little Meals Fast. Jason Roberts is an internationally known chef and former cast member of the hit daytime talk show The Chew on ABC. Roberts brought his unique flair and cooking style to the show for in studio segments and traveled the country in search of unique and interesting food. He is currently working on a new cookbook, scheduled for release in late 2014,.

Jason believes that meal time fosters deeper connections between family and friends and his motto is “A family that cooks together, stays together.” As a long time supporter of OPAL, an initiative founded in Australia that teaches families in under-served areas how to cook healthy foods, Roberts’ advocacy for healthy living continues to make a difference. He is also a partner with Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign as a spokesman and advocate to end childhood hunger. "

Chef Jason Roberts

Jason, I just missed you at the MetroCooking Show in Dallas this past October, how was it?

The metro show was fun as per usual, always a great opportunity to bump shoulders with fellow chefs and fans. Plenty of new exhibitors and products to try.

 

Jason, it is the first of the year and, of course, the most common resolution is to lose weight.  Eating and diet are a huge part of this lifestyle change, what tips do you have for the everyday person?

Set yourself goals that you can remain accountable for…. Diets are a thing of the past, find a lifestyle that works for you and stick to it. The biggest change in my eating habits that have given me the greatest results was to go gluten free, eat smaller portions, more consistently and increase my exercise.

You are a very fit person, what does a typical day look like for you?
I have a pretty hectic lifestyle due to the amount of work commitments and travel. I make sure to always start with a good breakfast and at some point during the day at least 45 minutes of exercise. The day will generally involve recipe writing, recipe testing, conference calls or meetings, photo or TV shoots.

What are your thoughts on the FDA cutting the recommended sugar intake by half?
It's a start… I think they should be really letting people know how damaging the large consumption of GMO wheat, corn and soy is…..

If we opened your fridge right now, what would it have in it.
My fridge is always well stocked with vegetables, eggs, almond and coconut milk.. On occasion, a little cheese and prosciutto. I will only generally buy what I need daily as I live by myself.

 

What do you find to be the most under utilized spice or food and why?
Is it bad if I say salt, there are so many restaurants that I have been too with chefs who just don’t know how to season properly. But outside of that, we should be doing a lot more research into the wonders of mother nature. Currently loving fresh Aloe Vera and turmeric. Big cancer fighters.

What is Gluten Free, and how do I incorporate some of these recipes into my everyday routine?
Gluten free is pretty much removing all gluten from your diet. Gluten is found in wheat, rye and barley.. Gluten itself is one of the proteins found in these grains, it's the protein that gives breads, pasta, cakes its ability to stretch and bind. Its also the protein that is messing with our digestive systems.

You come from a culinary rich family, how was that growing up?…
Growing up on a farm was amazing. We were never short on something weird and wonderful to work with. There were plenty of mentors when it came to time in the kitchen…May Nana goodman, my mom, all the ladies in the kitchens. Having said that, I have always a burning passion for the hospitality industry, being amidst chefs and restaurants is a comfort zone for me.

 

You have cook alongside many chefs, who was your favorite and why?

Cooking alongside my grandmother will always be my favorite spot.. She is no longer with us in person, but definitely in spirit…she had the ability to not only create and cook, but to always bring our family together.. And yes there are some amazing chefs that I have worked alongside on a celebrity level.. But nothing will ever outweigh the importance of ones own family

 What did you see in BodyKey to make you want to be their spokesperson?

Bodykey was not only a gluten free product, but was more about eating smaller portions, encouraging exercise … but what really sets it apart from fad diets and other weight loss products is the genetic test, which determined what category you fall into.. As you're aware, not everyone needs to lose weight, not everyone needs to put weight on. Under the BodyKey program you fall under a Carb reducer, a better balancer or a Fat Blocker. It's a weight loss system designed around your personal genetics.
 

 

Can you explain the "Lost Art of the Chef" a little more for us.

Lost art of the chef, is about paying respect to the industry, the uniform, the chef. I have really noticed over the past few years that through, media, radio, the celebrity chef is really not embracing the importance of why we started in this industry. I see more and more people who want to become chefs, not so much to cook for the masses but to be a tv star… we are not pumping out tv chefs, but wanna be tv stars.. I find it most sad. 

 

You have already written 2 cookbooks, Elements & Graze, what can we expect from the book you are currently working on?

A Glutenfree book aimed at those who need a hand on a budget to eat well

What are some of the big differences in cooking from your part of the world (Australia, New Zealand) and America? What are some opportunities you see?

I think the biggest difference is the quality and quantity of ingredients we have to work with.. We have a sub tropical climate, so have the ability to grow pretty much anything, our choice of seafood is amazing.

 

I asked my twitter followers for questions for an upcoming Chef interview and YOU tweeted a question.... So... I have to ask you your own question, What is your biggest fear?

My biggest fear is failing, I am very competitive. Its' not even about coming in first. Its always about being good at what I do and finishing what I start.

 

What is next for Chef Jason Roberts?

A Ride across America for NO KID HUNGRY on my bike with chefs.. Raising money to help feed the 17 million children who turn up to school hungry. A possible new TV Show and I'm exploring opening up restaurants in NYC and Cleveland

Rapid Fire: Favorite: (one word answers)

 

Animal Unicorn

Food Mango

Sports team Browns

Song Hawai'I 78

Type of Music RnB
Sport surfing
Artist Escoffier
Actor/Actress Will Ferrell
Color pink
Number 88

Spice 4 spice
Astrological sign aquarius
Movie the goonies
Book Larousse gastronomic
Drink water
Interviewer You

You do lot of work for non-profits and charities, how can we help?

Log onto NOKIDHUNGRY and make a donation #shareourstrength 

How do you prefer fans to keep up with you? (Twitter, facebook, instagram, etc)

All of the above.. And to come say "hi" when they see me. 

Final Thoughts?

Make everyday count.. Life is to short to eat bad food!!!

 Don't forget to follow Chef Jason on Twitter, visit his website for links to all of his social media, and his calendar of events!

Thank you Jason!

-Thomas (TeeJay Today)