Sunday, March 30, 2008

The Bold and the Flay-VOUR-ful

I know what I like. I like food. Wait. Like is too mild of a word, let’s try that again.

I LOVE food.

I crave very certain things. Earl’s chicken wings being one of them.




And I know why. The sauce? It has copious amounts of vinegar in it.

And I love me some vinegar.

I am like Pavlov’s dogs. I salivate at the scent of some tangy acid.



Ever put vinegar on your fries? Oh yeah, now THAT’s what I am talking about. That is, IF you can find some decent french fries. Let me know when you do but my cholesterol won’t thank you.

My food needs to have flay-VOUR. Some zip. Some Bam (Thanks Emril!). Something to light up my tongue with zesty goodness.

Don’t give me no pansy assed alfredo sauce.

I mean no personal offence to those of you who like it. I mean, who doesn’t want to eat what is the equivalent to a stick of butter in one sitting? THAT I can relate to but the bland flavour, not so much. Give me a pound of good fries with salt and vinegar instead. Or chocolate. I am indifferent.

But I am fickle. Today I may think BBQ ribs would be a good meal choice for tomorrow. But tomorrow? I’ll want chickpea curry (Chana Masala for those who know your Indian Cuisine).

That’s why meal plans? Not in my vocabulary. I am a type A accountant but when it comes to food, I fly by the seat of my pants. And it doesn’t always work.

Just ask Jay how many times he gets a phone call to drop by the store on his way home for some key ingredient to the dish’o’jour. Let’s just say if I had a nickel for every time, I would be sitting pretty and leave it at that, shall we?

So in honour of my zesty preferences I am going to share a couple of my latest favourite recipes. This is actually an inaugural event here at Kami’s Khlopchyk.

Go out and be BOLD!


Tangy Beef and Vegetable Stew
(as printed in Our Canada magazine - February 2008)



6 c cubed potatoes
8 medium carrots, cubed
2 medium onions, chopped
4 lbs stewing beef, cubed 1"
4 beef boullion cubes
3 c boiling water (or stock in place of boullion and water)
1/3 c vinegar (told you I liked it!)
1/3 c ketchup
3 tbsp mustard
3 tbsp horseradish
2 tbsp sugar
2 c frozen veggies (corn, peas, green beans)
2 c fresh mushrooms (personally cooked mushrooms make me want to hurl but if you are into them then add away)

Place potatoes, carrots, onions and meat in slow cooker (you can brown the meat first but personally, doesn't that defeat the purpose of using the slow cooker?). Mix boullion with boiling water and then add the condiments. Pour over contents in slow cooker. Cook on high for 5 hours then add frozen veggies for 45 min more.

Enjoy with some down home baking powder biscuits! This stew is not for the weak, it packs some serious flay-Vour punch.

Then for dessert, Lemon Meringue Pie, from scratch people, and come on, live a little and add a lemon or two more!



Oh and if you have a recipe that you find is bold and delicious, by all means let me at it!

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh wow, a person after my own heart! I love zesty & tangy stuff too. And OMG, looks at those wings ... I am salivating. Just like Pavlov's dog!

I used to love putting vinegar on my fries. Haven't done that for ages, usually because we end up eating our fish & chips at the beach and vinegar is not close at hand :-)

I am going to have to try that stew, it sounds amazing.

Anonymous said...

NOW I WANT THIS!!

Also!

I, too, am a vinegar fan. My current salad dressing is one I make by mixing vinegar with Dijon mustard. Mmmm...

Anonymous said...

I love vinegar too and that soup looks wonderful! Did you make up that recipe? I'm definitely going to try it (when I do I'll try to get pics and post on it but it may be a while cuz I'm slow). LOL. I've never had vinegar on my fries. But I have had it on my fish with fish and chips. Weird. I love salt & vinegar potato chips. So I guess I'll have to try it. ;)

Lori said...

I love flavorful meals too... my hubby says I have to Lori-ise everything I make to give it more flavor... my spices are in the drawer right next to the stove and are used often!

Unknown said...

Those wings looks SO good! I like thoe Salt and Vinegar chips, I am sure you've had those.

And I agree, no alfredo for me.

Thanks for making me SUPER hungry! ; ) Oh and for the recipe too!

KATE said...

Wow, I love "zippy" food too! Yum yum, now I'm starving!!

Anonymous said...

Wow, I'm hungry.

Have to give that recipe a try, It sounds scrumptous!

Conor

Laski said...

"My food needs to have flay-VOUR."

My food must have some BAM, POW, ZOWIE, WOO HOO . . . you name it.

Hot. Spicy. Tangy. Sweet. Sour.
There is the restaurant in Chicago (Heaven on Seven) where I was seen downing copious amounts of hot sauce. By the time I reached the "Catch your hair on fire" sauce, I had the bar chanting--Go, Go, Go. Well, I went. It wasn't pretty, but don't let anyone tell you I didn't go for it!

Food for me is an experience . . .

Misty said...

From one food lover to another.... YUMMY post!

Stacy said...

I love some flavorful food too!And those wings sound uber yummy!Hmmm.....now I am getting hungry:)

mamatucci said...

I used to put vinegar on my fries,in the olden days when I still ate at Macdonalds. You know the styro containers, put in fries ketchup and vinegar and shake shake shake! hmmm

Anna-b-bonkers said...

Mmm, my mouth was watering through this whole post, you got me at the vinegar, drool!
Those wings are something I will totally go back for too, they were good, still drooling.
Mmm, stew...more drool.
Yummy!

Karen MEG said...

Great post Kami! I am JUST like you ... I'm so bad with menu planning, but lists for everything else galore!
And I luvs me some fries with vinegar! I have to sneak it in with my own batch when I take the kids out ... they like them totally plain.

I actually don't mind McD's fries if they're piping hot ... but after watching "Supersize Me" it makes it tough to eat more than a couple at a time.
New York Fries are addictive though.
And thanks for that recipe. I will have to try it ... the parental units in this household like tang and spice too!

Lizzy in the Burbs said...

Well,..I just ate my lunch and I'm actually very full, but you've managed to make me HUNGRY!! :o) The old fashioned "fish and chips" with the vinegar/salty fries are the best! Your stew recipe sounds very zippy, quite different from my mom's Irish Stew recipe that's rather bland, I'll have to try 'er out! I also copied your lemon pie recipe, my son Andrew loves anything lemon and I bet he'll love this! Thanks for sharing!

Lizzy

Unknown said...

everyone is talking food lately...how hungry am I that I keep reading and drooling? Those wings LOOOK SO YUMMY and TOTALLY off of my "what I can eat" list. :(

Kellan said...

I have been in the hospital for 8 days and home only 3 and I am starving for some really good food. All of this food you mention and offer recipes on sound wonderful - WONDERFUL!!

Nice to see you Kami - I have missed you. Kellan

Anonymous said...

Those wings are making my mouth water. I too love vinegar, yummy.

Man, it's bedtime, and I want wings.