Yesterday was the Saturday farmer's market in sunny Ossining. What a great atmosphere. It was about 60 degrees and sunny. There was a crispness in the air and a blue-grass band playing. Kids were picking out pumpkins and the pickle guy was there with full sour, half sour and pickled veggies. There were organic vegetable stands, wholesome baked goods and home-made cheese stands. I stocked my lower bin with carrots, our new favorite vegetable. I bought local celery, beets and a buttercup squash for chicken and squash soup. Chicken and squash soup is a favorite with my Dominican neighbors, and it has good chicken flavor without the noodles. Just reduced chicken stock (or bouillon), chicken, squash cubes (they mash up), carrots, celery and parsley.
Today I am making pork carnitas. Pork? you say. Yep, there are totally lean cuts at the grocery. I'm using a small lean loin that has 5 fat grams for a 4 oz. serving. I chunked it up and rolled it in fajita spice. I browned it in a little olive oil, and added a jalapeno, a red pepper, and onion. I covered it in water and it is reducing for about 3 hours. By then the water will be cooked off and the meat will begin carmelizing in the bottom of my cast iron pot (on top the stove). I'm going to eat mine on top of salad (like a taco salad without the tacos) and others will eat it rolled up in flour tortillas. Yum! What's for Sunday dinner at your house?
I should have given Joan credit for inspiring me to tackle the carnitas. I think she does hers in a crockpot all night, which also sounds good! And Easy!
ReplyDeleteI am a firm believer in Easy. I also have a HUGE crockpot, so I always make enough for 2 meals and freeze one. To answer your question--we had chicken inspired by a recipe DLee gave me years ago. Chicken thighs braised with tomatoes, red wine, chicken stock, garlic, some herbs and olives. Brown the thighs first, even if they're skinless. Or skip them altogether and use eggplant cubes and very coarsely chopped red bell pepper.
ReplyDeleteSecurity word: Untess. Verb. To remove someone from the d'Urbervilles.
Joan, this sounds like a great recipe, almost like a putanesca (gee I hope that's spelled right) and I can't wait to try it. I think it would fit my low fat, boring diet, too.
ReplyDelete