Eats: Cooking Barefoot

“If you’re going to wear pleats, wear them like you mean it!” This was the response of my dear friend and fellow gourmand, Meg Behl, when I told her about someone I had gone out with who, to my surprise, wore one-pleated pants – something I had not considered in almost 15 years. But her comment made me think about the level of intensity for which we commit to things, e.g., work, school, fitness, family, friends, and food!

These days when I cook for just myself at home, I stick to a bland diet: eggs, veggies, bananas, cinnamon raisin bagels, wheat pasta, and milk-free frozen boxed lunches. Do not be fooled – this is a new diet. In the past, my dailies included such deliciousness as pizzas of all kinds and Philly cheese steak sandwiches. And when I say daily, I mean daily.

However, when I have time to entertain and cook for friends, I like to cook like I mean it! I owe much thanks to my step-mother Madelyn Harris, Peter Nguyen, and Irvin Lin, who inspired this blog post about food due to the launch of his own blog, Eat the Love, and who I will get to see Tuesday. Yay! During the most recent years, these people have cultivated my culinary knowledge and sluggish knife skills; provided direction in menu planning with interesting yet contrasting temperatures and flavors; and helped me accept the fact that the food I serve may not look like the food in the photographs of some cookbooks.

But when I am not being supervised, I owe much thanks to the brilliant recipes of Barefoot Contessa. They are easy to follow, even for an amateur like me. And my food, more often than not, has actually looked the pictures in her cookbooks! Below are my favorite starters, soup and vegetable recipes I have tried: (1) Raspberry Royale, (2) Roasted-Tomato Basil Soup, (3) Chicken Chili, (4) Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread, and (5) Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples. The recipes come directly from the cookbooks.


Raspberry Royale (Makes 4 to 6 drinks)
Heaven! And if you do not believe in heaven then believe in this raspberry royale! I served this at a brunch last summer and it was a major hit. Major!

· 6 teaspoons raspberry liqueur
· ½ pint fresh raspberries
· 1 bottle of good Champagne, chilled

Pour 1 teaspoon of raspberry liqueur into each champagne glass and add 2 or 3 raspberries. When guests arrive, pop the cork and fill each glass with Champagne. Serve immediately.


Roasted-Tomato Basil Soup (Serves 6 to 8)
I served this last August for friends at a “last minute summer supper.” It was delicious and spicy. The recipe was perfect.

· 3 pounds ripe tomatoes, cut in half lengthwise
· ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons good olive oil
· 1 tablespoon kosher salt
· 1 ½ teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
· 2 cups chopped yellow onions
· 6 garlic cloves, minced
· 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
· ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
· 28 ounces canned plum tomatoes with their juice
· 4 cups fresh basil leaves, packed
· 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
· 1 quart chicken stock or water

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Toss together the tomatoes, ¼ cup olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread the tomatoes in one layer on a baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes.

In an 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, sauté the onions and garlic with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, butter, and red pepper flakes for 10 minutes, until the onions start to brown. Add the canned tomatoes, basil, thyme, and chicken stock. Add the oven-roasted tomatoes, including the liquid on the baking sheet. Bring to a boil and simmer uncovered for 40 minutes. Pass through a food mill fitted with the coarsest blade. Taste for seasonings. Serve hot or cold.


Chicken Chili (Serves 12)
I served this in January for a dinner party for some colleauges. It was unpretentious, delicious and allowed the company to be the main entrée.

· 8 cups chopped yellow onions (6 small onions)
· ¼ cup good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
· ¼ cup minced garlic (8 cloves)
· 4 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
· 4 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
· 2 teaspoons chili powder
· 2 teaspoons ground cumin
· ½ teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
· ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
· 4 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for chicken
· 4 28-ounce cans whole peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
· ½ cup minced fresh basil leaves
· 8 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
· Freshly ground black pepper

For serving:

· Chopped onions, corn chips, grated cheddar, sour cream

Cook the onions in the oil over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes by hand or in batches in a food processor fitted with a steel blade (pulse 6 to 8 times). Add to the pot with the basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool slightly. Separate the meat from the bones and skin and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to the chili and simmer, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Serve with the toppings, or refrigerate and reheat gently before serving.


Jalapeño Cheddar Cornbread (Makes 12 large pieces)
Flavorful, impactful, all kinds of goodness! I served this with the Chicken Chili above. Please note that I modified the original recipe. My version is below.

· 2 cups all-purpose flour
· 2 cups yellow cornmeal
· ½ cup sugar
· 2 tablespoons baking powder
· 2 teaspoons kosher salt
· 2 cups buttermilk
· 3 extra-large eggs, lightly beaten
· 1/2 pound (2 sticks) salted butter, melted, plus extra to grease the pan
· 8 ounces aged extra-sharp Cheddar, grated, divided
· 1/3 cup chopped scallions, white and green parts, plus extra for garnish (3 scallions)
· 4 oz diced jalapeño peppers
· Small can of Mexican corn

Combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, and butter. With a wooden spoon, stir the wet ingredients into the dry until most of the lumps are dissolved. Don’t overmix! Mix in 2 cups of the grated Cheddar, the scallions and jalapeños, and allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch baking pan.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top, and sprinkle with the remaining grated Cheddar and extra chopped scallions. Bake for 45 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool and cut into large squares. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Smashed Sweet Potatoes with Apples (Serves 8)
I think this was the first Barefoot Contessa recipe I ever cooked without supervision … Valentine’s Day 2008. This is also a family favorite.

· 4 pounds sweet potatoes (about 6 large)
· ½ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
· ½ cup heavy cream
· 4 tablespoons (½ stick), melted
· ¼ cup light brown sugar
· 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
· ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
· 2 teaspoons kosher salt
· 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

For the topping:

· 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
· 3 McIntosh or Macoun apples, peeled, cored, and cut into eighths
· 3 tablespoons light brown sugar

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Scrub the potatoes, prick them several times with a knife or fork, and bake them for 1 hour, or until very soft when pierced with a knife. Remove from the oven and scoop out the insides as soon as they are cool enough to handle. Place the sweet potato meat into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and add the orange juice, cream, butter, brown sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Mix together until combined but not smooth, and pour into a baking dish.

Bake the potatoes and apples for 20 to 30 minutes, until heated through.

Looks like I still have my work cut out for me to try some Barefoot Contessa salad, dinner, and dessert recipes!

Best,
Hadley

Travel: Minneapolis

I have never been to the Minnesota state fair. I have never eaten walleye. I just tried cheese curds last summer and have yet to see curling. I still own a rear-wheel drive auto, which is horrible in this snow-heavy climate, just horrible, and I still print out directions to navigate around Minneapolis proper.

Normally I would not consider putting my favorite hotels, restaurants, spas, and shops that reside in the same city as where I live in a “travel” post but even after two years of living in Minneapolis, it seems fitting. I do own a home here but I feel like a tourist. I have yet to really enjoy Minneapolis and cultivate my love affair with it. However, my ignorance about Minneapolis brings me bliss. On a weekly basis, more often than not, I learn something new about this city. I do desire many new experiences here but I have acquired some favorites along the way.


Hotels (and their lounges)
I have not yet stayed at either of these hotels but if I were visiting I would most definitely stay at one of them.

Hotel Ivy: From what I hear, the hotel is gorge – it is a Mobil Four-Star, AAA Four Diamond hotel. Yes, I have not even been inside but I have friends who expressed interest in having their wedding there. I want to try Tea at Ivy, an afternoon (or low) tea. Tea at Ivy is from 3 – 5pm daily and for more information other than what is on its website, you can check out a City Pages blog post (please note the blog post is answering a question about “high tea,” which is generally served from 5 – 7pm and much meatier, thus, taking the place of dinner; thankfully the blogger was able to decipher the intent of the question).

The Living Room at the W Minneapolis – The Foshay: This place is decadent and its Art Deco interior is fabulous. I have enjoyed The Living Room several times for after-work drinks with friends and have on the occasional Saturday evening swooped in for some merriment and libation. The scene has always been lively and stylish, people were lounging and mixing it up, and on Saturdays, the crowd danced away to the musical selections of the DJ. Much fun was had. Oh yes!


Restaurants
Even with my newly-implemented dairy-free diet, my love for food is still a main priority. However, I would not consider myself a foodie. (I actually do not even know the true definition of a foodie. Irvin, if you are reading this, can you please define?) I can certainly appreciate good food and good service, though. A few favorites in a few words:

La Belle Vie: Top contender for my graduation dinner! ’Nuff said.

La Grolla: This St. Paul restaurant is hands down my favorite Italian restaurant in the entire Twin Cities area. But here is my caveat: Sadly, I cannot recommend any one dish because both times I was there I was too distracted conversing with my dining companions that my recollection of the food is feeble. However, at a high-level, I remember my friends all commenting how delicious their meals were. Also, the ambiance was lively and the staff was charming.

Meritage: This French restaurant in St. Paul reminds me of a small Balthazar in New York City. I have always been fully engaged with the food here but French food is my favorite, thus, I am biased. Meritage is extremely energetic yet simultaneously romantic. If you go for brunch before a show at the Ordway, consider the croque madame. It is delicious yet not too heavy like how many of them are made, so you will not feel full and uncomfortable during your show.

Nicollet Island Inn’s Champagne Sunday Brunch: I have had a lot of brunches in my day but this is by far the best I have had in Minneapolis and quite possibly one of the best I have ever had anywhere. It is a fabulous five-course menu champagne brunch. The first course is an assortment of pastries. The second course is where the fun begins. If I remember correctly, I had the crème brûlée French toast, petit croquet monsieur, strip steak (which could have been a meal in and of itself), and the German chocolate cake. I remember being a little overwhelmed with the choices and champagne but without a doubt, you will love it like a fat kid loves cake.

Pizza Luce: For years I have sworn by the X-Pepperoni pizza at Dewey’s in St. Louis but I now can also swear by the Pizza Athena made vegan by Pizza Luce. It is made with spinach, tomatoes, calamata olives, artichoke hearts, red onions, Greek oregano and toasted garlic with soy cheese on bianca sauce. It is so tasty; there are so many flavors. It probably is a good thing that I do not live within Pizza Luce’s delivery area otherwise the Athena would become a staple in my diet.

Salut in Edina: Aside from serving my favorite cuisine, there is something about Salut in Edina that brings me pure joy. Perhaps because it is conveniently located near my house, perhaps because the food is consistent, or perhaps because its croque madame is my utmost favorite? “I’ll have the croque madame with a side of Lipitor, s’il vous plaît.” Heaven! Three friends swear by the steaks.

Sea Change: There are only three things I know about this restaurant: It is a sustainable seafood restaurant. The chef is a James Beard award winner. And, the braised beef shortrib is brilliant! Back in August 2009, my friends and I experienced the lip-smacking goodness of Sea Change but my friend’s shortrib tasted like the good life. Yums! But another friend, who was coincidentally at a nearby table, said his arctic char was the best he had ever had, so that sounds worthwhile, as well. The next time I dine there, I may have to order both!

Wilde Roast Cafe: This coffeeshop is my favorite place to study when I need a change in scenery. I have spent hours in this café doing homework and enjoyed several of its goodies. It has a lovely selection of teas, sandwiches, and breakfast/brunch items. But really, it just serves as a nice escape, and the friendly staff and cute clientele are bonuses. :-)


Shops
Classic Retro @ Pete’s: There is an area in the Twin Cities called the St. Paul Retro Loop, which is a consortium of mid-century modern shops. And within the loop is Classic Retro @ Pete’s, which has some awesome pieces. I purchased this little Florence Knoll chair that I use in my dressing room and a brilliant Danish wooden bowl. Pete’s does not have a website, so its information is below:

2145 University Avenue West
St. Paul, MN 55114
(651) 224-5235
Hours: Wed–Sat 11–5; Sun 12–4

Intoto: Hands down one of my favorite boutiques in any city. The clothes are hip yet appropriate. I think Intoto buys one full run of each piece (do not quote me on that), so you risk someone else buying it if you do not buy it then. Trust me; I missed out on the opportunity to purchase this awesome green plaid Paul Smith jacket but I consoled myself with three cashmere Inhabit sweaters, which by the way, is the best cashmere I have ever owned. It feels like money. Anyhow, Intoto has (re-)introduced me to some fantastic brands: A.G. Jeans (its jeans are baby-making worthy and can make anyone look good!), Citizens of Humanity, Etro (guiltiest pleasure, more so than La Mer or Louis Vuitton), C.P. Company, Rag & Bone, and others. And store manager Michael B. and his team are super nice.


Art & Culture
Minneapolis has an amazing arts community which includes well-known visual arts institutions (Minneapolis Institute of Arts, Walker, Weisman), music venues (Orchestra Hall, First Avenue), and tons of theatre, I mean tons – it is second to New York City in terms of live theatre per capita. I have two absolute favorite ways of supporting the arts, both of which are at the Ordway and I would participate in either of them even without their young professional membership programs:

The Minnesota Opera: Enjoying opera is something that I have always aspired to and am finally mature enough to appreciate it. Without much thought, I realized that this is the first season that I am seeing all the operas (“The Pearl Fishers,” “Casanova’s Homecoming,” “Roberto Devereux,” and this Saturday is “La bohème” and in April is “Salome”) of a company within one season. The Minnesota Opera allows persons aged 21 – 39 to join its Tempo membership program and to purchase a pair of opening night tickets for each opera at a ridiculously discounted price of $30 each. This program is so generous.

The St. Paul Chamber Orchestra: The way I felt about opera is the same I felt about classical music and luckily I can ease into it with SPCO concerts through its club2030. This membership program is available for 18 – 39 year olds and you can get a pair of tickets for selected concerts for $10 each. Since joining this program, I have only been to the “Welcoming Christian Zacharias” concert and it was super delightful. Prior to club2030, I saw “Beethoven’s 5th Symphony” and a concert with Dawn Upshaw but both were equally enjoyable.


Gifts
If I were a florist I would be Bastian + Skoog. Without ever having met Liz Bastian and Heidi Skoog, I have been able to just convey a few adjectives and known facts about those that I have sent arrangements to and Bastian + Skoog was able to create floral arrangements that were gorge. I cannot wait until my Total Money Makeover days are over so that I can order weekly arrangements for my house from Bastian + Skoog.

So, thanks letting me share a few of my favorite things about Minneapolis. I look forward to discovering more things about this city and its fabulousness.

Best,
Hadley