Tuna Salad

  I have been wanting to go to Ping for dinner since it opened and I finally went there.  The food was delicious and I can't wait to go back and take my son.  I love spicy ethnic food and love their other restaurant Pok Pok.  The last time I went to Pok Pok I tried their Yam Tuna salad.  I wanted to come home and make the salad myself thinking it would be a great summer dish.  Well I finally came home and tried to make the salad myself.  I think it turned out pretty good.  I didn't measure anything and just went off the spices that was described on the menu.  Well here goes!

Yam Tuna/ Tuna Salad

1 can Albacore tuna in water
2 garlic cloves
1/4 thinly sliced red onion
1 fresh stock of lemon grass
1 tablespoon fresh ginger
1/2-1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 lime squeezed
and a guess of 1/4 cup or less of fish sauce
Thai chilies or a jalapeno chili I am sure would work too!                                                            chopped cilantro


I put the tuna in a bowl, threw in the sliced red onion, halved the tomatoes and chopped cilantro.  I decides to mix the fish sauce, lime juice, garlic, ginger, lemongrass and thai Chile's in a separate bowl and then pour over tuna mixture.  I think this turned out pretty good and a great alternative to ceviche in the summer.  I did add red onion and cilantro which the restaurant used green and no cilantro.  I think this is a keeper and am sure I will make quit often this summer!

Greek Night

  My son was in the mood for burgers and I wanted something else other than the traditional.  I decided to do some research thur all my food magazines that I have saved for the past 15 years.  I finally found one worth trying or I was in the mood to taste I should say.  It reminded me of some greek meatballs with tomato sauce and feta cheese sprinkled on top, served with pita.  That dish is to die for!  So we had greek lamb burgers with spinach salad.  Easy and took less than 30 minutes and I just used my panini machine, to grill the burgers, so need for an outdoor bar-b-que.

greek lamb burgers with
spinach salad and red onion
4 servings

1/3 cup fresh mint
2 tsp paprika( I used smoked paprika because it's what I had @ home)
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp sea salt or kosher salt
1 1/3 lb ground lamb  ( I found this at Whole Foods or you can buy @ Zupans)
4 hamburger buns or ciabatta rolls
1 1/2 cups baby spinach ( I used way more for salad on the side)
1 1/3 cups feta cheese ( I recommend Israeli feta from Pastaworks, it's my favorite, great taste)
thin sliced red onion ( use as much or as little as you like)
cherry tomato's
1 1/2 tsp balsamic vinegar

Mix first 4 ingredient's and a 1 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a bowl with the lamb.  I also added some feta in this point but you don't have too, and I let this mixture sit for a little while to absorb some of the flavor.  Make 4 patties and cook in a non stick skillet over medium high heat about 4 minutes per side.  I used my panini machine and it took 5 minutes. 
  While those are cooking I put the spinach in a bowl with the sliced onion, cherry tomato's, feta cheese, and tossed with the balsamic vinegar and about a tbls olive oil.  Mix together and use a little salt and pepper.  Place salad atop the burger's and some on the side!  It was a hit and will do again.  So fast and easy it can be done on a school night!

Shrimp and Polenta

I have been dying to make this shrimp and polenta recipe for a week or so.  So disappointed it was not what it seemed.  Even after I tweeked it!  Not worth posting,  When I find a good one I will!

The Start of Something New

  Last night I got together with a few friends for dinner.  We had not hung out in a while, but we love to get together drink wine, cook, and talk food.   A little history about myself is that I have worked on and off for a small resturant distributor for 16 years in Portland, Oregon, I was a flight attendant for 11 years for Delta Airlines, and most recently was a Personal Chef/ Assistant.  I do love the hobby of cooking and am always looking for new recipes to try, make my own, or just create a new one.  So this is how this starts, my friend Chris last night created this great soup recipe.  As were were talking I was sharing ways to bump up the recipe for final touches, alternate ways to serve, and creating a menu plan.  We then came up with this idea and I decided I was going to start a blog.  This is also for you  Chris and Dennis.  Since this is the weekend Saturday is a day I love to cook so I will start posting recipes as I try them, change for personal preference, and post the old tried and true.  Bon Appetite!