Recently, my parents went to a wedding where filet mignon was offered as a dinner option. My parents enjoy a good beef dish, so that's what they chose and they loved it. Apparently, it was tender, juicy and as my mom put it, "soooooooo good!"
So what is filet mignon? About.com has that answer for us, along with a bit of history. If you're more of a visual person, the Texas Beef Council has an image that shows where on the cow filet mignon comes from. Because of it's location on the cow, filet mignon is difficult to find kosher.
Eatocracy argues that the best way to cook filet mignon is to sear it after seasoning. I don't know about that - filet mignon with truffled mushroom ragout sounds pretty good to me. Chef Patrick O'Neil from Washington seems to like the searing technique as that's what he uses in his filet mignon recipe over at Epicurious, pairing the filet mignon with charred onions, zucchini and balsamic vinegar sauce. AllRecipes seems to like the balsamic and filet mignon pairing as well. Simply Recipes uses a red wine sauce to dress up filet mignon - after cutting it into a heart shape. (Might taste good, but I think meat in the shape of a heart is a little creepy.) And of course, Food Network has a collection of filet mignon recipes.
So, if you're a red meat eater, celebrate today with filet mignon at your favorite steakhouse or try any of the recipes above.
Monday, August 13, 2012
Sunday, August 12, 2012
August 12: National Julienne Fries Day and National Toasted Almond Bar Day
National Julienne Fries Day
Today is the day for celebrating something most people in the US are familiar with: the julienne fry. Usually, we just call it the French fry. Julienne refers to how the potato is cut into thin strips, which is how most French fries are served. Steak cut, curly, wedge cut... those are not julienne fries. Julienne fries are the the thin strips of potato, deep fried and served warm. McDonalds' French fries are a good example of julienne fries. Celebrate today by making your own julienne fries or head out to your favorite restaurant and order some as a side.
National Toasted Almond Bar Day
Until today, I had never heard of Good Humor's Toasted Almond Bar. I don't know if today was created in honor of it, but it certainly rules the search results for "toasted almond bar." It seems to be a popular ice cream treat on the East Coast, but is apparently unheard of on the West Coast. And there's apparently a tragic shortage this year. At least, the news articles make it seem that way. "Ice cream crisis" and "horrific" are used in two headlines. Then again, if East Coasters love Good Humor's Toasted Almond Bar as much as the author of this article does, then maybe there's good cause for such hyperbolic titles.
I did manage to find recipes for toasted almond bars that have nothing to do with ice cream. Toasted almond buttermilk bars make plain cake mix seem fancy by kicking up the flavor with cream cheese, buttermilk and toasted almonds. Or you could try adding coconut for a more tropical flavor. For the coffee lovers, there's Toasted Almond Cappuccino Oatmeal bars. And, of course, for the adults who like their bars to be a location for strong drinks, there's even a toasted almond drink.http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2429.html
Today is the day for celebrating something most people in the US are familiar with: the julienne fry. Usually, we just call it the French fry. Julienne refers to how the potato is cut into thin strips, which is how most French fries are served. Steak cut, curly, wedge cut... those are not julienne fries. Julienne fries are the the thin strips of potato, deep fried and served warm. McDonalds' French fries are a good example of julienne fries. Celebrate today by making your own julienne fries or head out to your favorite restaurant and order some as a side.
National Toasted Almond Bar Day
Until today, I had never heard of Good Humor's Toasted Almond Bar. I don't know if today was created in honor of it, but it certainly rules the search results for "toasted almond bar." It seems to be a popular ice cream treat on the East Coast, but is apparently unheard of on the West Coast. And there's apparently a tragic shortage this year. At least, the news articles make it seem that way. "Ice cream crisis" and "horrific" are used in two headlines. Then again, if East Coasters love Good Humor's Toasted Almond Bar as much as the author of this article does, then maybe there's good cause for such hyperbolic titles.
I did manage to find recipes for toasted almond bars that have nothing to do with ice cream. Toasted almond buttermilk bars make plain cake mix seem fancy by kicking up the flavor with cream cheese, buttermilk and toasted almonds. Or you could try adding coconut for a more tropical flavor. For the coffee lovers, there's Toasted Almond Cappuccino Oatmeal bars. And, of course, for the adults who like their bars to be a location for strong drinks, there's even a toasted almond drink.http://www.drinksmixer.com/drink2429.html
Saturday, August 11, 2012
August 11: National Raspberry Bombe/Tart Day
Some sites list today as National Raspberry Bombe Day, while others list it as National Raspberry Tar Day. I also have down that May 3 was National Raspberry Tart Day and since I wrote a bit about it then, today I'm going to focus on raspberry bombes. (Mainly because I had no idea what a raspberry bombe was until not too long ago.) If you would like to celebrate National Raspberry Tart Day, check out this recipe from Emeril.
I had no idea what what a bombe was until fairly recently. Essentially, a bombe is a two-layer ice cream dessert shaped into an inverted bowl (or other similar shape.) It can be any two flavors you want and so many pair well with raspberry. There's raspberry and vanilla bombe, which can be dressed up even further by the addition of merengue. Lemon always provides a nice counterpart to raspberry flavor. Chocolate is a favorite for many people, but you can also try white chocolate. This old newspaper clipping recipe for raspberry bombe uses strawberry or peppermint ice cream and adds things like nuts, fruit pieces, and rum. Even though most of the nation isn't feeling the heat like a couple of weeks ago, this is a great summer dessert.
I had no idea what what a bombe was until fairly recently. Essentially, a bombe is a two-layer ice cream dessert shaped into an inverted bowl (or other similar shape.) It can be any two flavors you want and so many pair well with raspberry. There's raspberry and vanilla bombe, which can be dressed up even further by the addition of merengue. Lemon always provides a nice counterpart to raspberry flavor. Chocolate is a favorite for many people, but you can also try white chocolate. This old newspaper clipping recipe for raspberry bombe uses strawberry or peppermint ice cream and adds things like nuts, fruit pieces, and rum. Even though most of the nation isn't feeling the heat like a couple of weeks ago, this is a great summer dessert.
Late! August 10: National S'mores Day
Made a decision yesterday not to write, because I was sick and needed rest. Which is sad, because I love s'mores. They're perfect when camping, and you can even fake 'em at home. (I totally believe true s'mores are made with a marshmallow roasted over a campfire.) All you need are graham crackers, Hershey's (or other plain chocolate in flat bar form), and marshmallows. Sure, you can get all fancy and dress up your s'mores, but the classic recipe is always tops in my book.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
August 9: National Rice Pudding Day
Rice pudding is a delectably creamy and sweet dessert. I've always done the "cheater rice pudding" where I take cooked rice, add milk or cream, add some sugar or honey and cook it down a bt in a saucepan. Personally, I like mine with raisins mixed in and a little cinnamon sprinkled on top, but I know that's not for everyone.
Rice pudding is pretty ubiquitous. Would you like Bulgarian rice pudding? Indian? Egyptian? British? Or do you have a rice preference? Thai rice pudding can be made with black rice , sticky white glutinous sweet rice, or with red rice. Or maybe you want to pretend something made with cream and sugar is healthy and use brown rice. You could probably use any kind of rice you want. (Again, I vote for whatever leftover rice you have on hand.)
But then do you want to bake it? Or just go with stove top? And then would you like to add a flavor, maybe coconut or vanilla? Raisins? Nuts? Ahhh!!! Too many choices and all just for rice pudding!
Rice pudding is pretty ubiquitous. Would you like Bulgarian rice pudding? Indian? Egyptian? British? Or do you have a rice preference? Thai rice pudding can be made with black rice , sticky white glutinous sweet rice, or with red rice. Or maybe you want to pretend something made with cream and sugar is healthy and use brown rice. You could probably use any kind of rice you want. (Again, I vote for whatever leftover rice you have on hand.)
But then do you want to bake it? Or just go with stove top? And then would you like to add a flavor, maybe coconut or vanilla? Raisins? Nuts? Ahhh!!! Too many choices and all just for rice pudding!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
August 8: National Zucchini Day and National Frozen Custard Day
National Zucchini Day
Zucchini is one of those vegetables that I just don't understand why some people don't like it. My parents have always grown zucchini and while we've done the "give a couple to the neighbors or visiting friends," we've never planted so many that we were doing the "ding dong ditch-the-zucchini-on-the-doorstep" you hear jokes about. Then again, zucchini is a very popular plant for home gardens so it's entirely possible for a neighborhood to have an excessive amount of zucchini.
While I like eating zucchini sauteed or added to pastas, you can use zucchini in so many different ways. (I recently tried making zucchini fries - didn't exactly work.) Zucchini is a popular vegetable for magazines to do collections on: Health has 26 "quick and easy" recipes for zucchini; Good Housekeeping has a recipe collection for zucchini; Taste of Home has their top 10 zucchini recipes; and Marth Stewart also has a collection of ideas on using up your summer bounty of zucchini.
Surprisingly, it's hard for me to find good records of zucchini production. This is likely due to the fact that zucchini often gets lumped together with the other summer squashes.
If you're ever at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market in the San Diego area, definitely check out the zucchini blossom tacos or quesadillas. They're super tasty. So much so that I wish it were more common for zucchini blossoms to be sold in stores.
National Frozen Custard Day
So what's the difference between frozen custard, ice cream and all those other cold confections? Frozen custard is made with more eggs than ice cream and has a creamier texture.
Celebrate by going to your local Goodberry's (which I only mention because it is the only chain I know of that features frozen custard.) If you're in Los Angles, LA Foodie has list of the best frozen custard places in LA.
Then again, you can always just make your own.
Zucchini is one of those vegetables that I just don't understand why some people don't like it. My parents have always grown zucchini and while we've done the "give a couple to the neighbors or visiting friends," we've never planted so many that we were doing the "ding dong ditch-the-zucchini-on-the-doorstep" you hear jokes about. Then again, zucchini is a very popular plant for home gardens so it's entirely possible for a neighborhood to have an excessive amount of zucchini.
While I like eating zucchini sauteed or added to pastas, you can use zucchini in so many different ways. (I recently tried making zucchini fries - didn't exactly work.) Zucchini is a popular vegetable for magazines to do collections on: Health has 26 "quick and easy" recipes for zucchini; Good Housekeeping has a recipe collection for zucchini; Taste of Home has their top 10 zucchini recipes; and Marth Stewart also has a collection of ideas on using up your summer bounty of zucchini.
Surprisingly, it's hard for me to find good records of zucchini production. This is likely due to the fact that zucchini often gets lumped together with the other summer squashes.
If you're ever at the Ocean Beach Farmers Market in the San Diego area, definitely check out the zucchini blossom tacos or quesadillas. They're super tasty. So much so that I wish it were more common for zucchini blossoms to be sold in stores.
National Frozen Custard Day
So what's the difference between frozen custard, ice cream and all those other cold confections? Frozen custard is made with more eggs than ice cream and has a creamier texture.
Celebrate by going to your local Goodberry's (which I only mention because it is the only chain I know of that features frozen custard.) If you're in Los Angles, LA Foodie has list of the best frozen custard places in LA.
Then again, you can always just make your own.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
August 7: National Raspberries in/and Cream Day
Some places have today listed as National Raspberries and Cream Day, while other have it listed as National Raspberries in Cream Day. Both seem pretty straightforward - eat raspberries with cream or in cream. Simple!
Well, if you want to take it a step further, try making a raspberries and cream layer cake. Or go for cupcakes. Raspberry and cream crepes are also a great way to change things up. If you really want to change things up and celebrate in a slightly different way, try a variation on flavor with black raspberry and lemon crush ice cream cupcakes.
Hey, it's still raspberry and cream.... ice cream, that is. :)
Well, if you want to take it a step further, try making a raspberries and cream layer cake. Or go for cupcakes. Raspberry and cream crepes are also a great way to change things up. If you really want to change things up and celebrate in a slightly different way, try a variation on flavor with black raspberry and lemon crush ice cream cupcakes.
Hey, it's still raspberry and cream.... ice cream, that is. :)
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