Our local grocery store advertised a special on Bartlett pears recently. It’s a little late in the year to find fresh pears, but I love this aromatic fruit and purchased a basket. The memory of a unique pizza at served at California Pizza Kitchen Restaurant has always stuck with me. It was made with fresh pears, Gorgonzola cheese and topped with salad greens. Thought I’d try using my pears to make it.
During this holiday season, we ate the most delicious cauliflower appetizer, “Cauliflower Tempura with Gochujang Sauce,” at a P.F. Chang’s Restaurant. I love cauliflower, prepared in any way, and this was simply one of the best preparations I have ever tasted. I decided to research the recipe and duplicate it at home. I am pleased. The result turned out great; it was similar but uniquely my own. Here is P.F. Chang’s Cauliflower Tempura.
Let’s begin the new year by cooking something new: Anasazi beans. These heirloom beans have an interesting history. The beans shown here are from a farmer’s market in Taos, New Mexico, which is the closest town to the Taos Pueblos. My brother’s family purchased the beans while on a cross-country driving trip from California. Along the way they visited several American Native Indian cliff dwelling sites and ruins. I made a hearty soup with the beans.
Let’s start the New Year on a healthy note. Here’s a tasty way to prepare and serve fish fillets. The fish fillets are topped with an almond crust and baked, then served over a bed of savoy cabbage, onions and dried fruit along with a tangy mustard sauce. The fish fillet with crunchy topping simply melts in your mouth! This is an easy way to live a heart healthy diet. With all of our fried food served in Louisiana, the recipe is a welcome change.