Pho

Serves 4

That really good Vietnamese beef and noodle soup...and it's pronounced 'fuh', like duh.

Ingredients

• 1 16-ounce pack of Rice Noodles
• 32 oz low sodium beef broth
• 2 inch piece of fresh Ginger
• 3 limes
• 2 Star Anise stars
• 8 oz bag bean sprouts
• 1 bunch green onion light green and white parts only
• 1 big handful Cilantro
• 1 pound beef
• 1 small red jalapeno or chili, seeds removed and diced small
• 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce

Directions

1. 30 minutes before you're ready to serve - put the beef in your freezer
2. To a medium pot add broth, Star Anise, juice of 2 of the limes and ginger - bring to a boil and continue to boil about 15 minutes
3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add noodles and cook for 10 minutes
4. slice green onion into thin vertical strips
5. Slice beef into very thin strips and set aside
6. Drain noodles well and separate into 4 bowls
7. Cover noodles with beef slices, and top with broth
8. Then to each bowl add some bean sprouts, cilantro, green onion, red jalapeno, fresh lime juice and Hoisin
9. Mix in hoisin and eat - damn it's so good

Chicken Soup with Rice, Dill & Spinach

Simple simple simple.

Makes about 8 cups

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 3 ribs of celery, each sliced lengthwise down the middle then crosswise into thin pieces 

• 1 small yellow onion, diced small

• 8 cups chicken broth

• 1/2 cup rice, uncooked

• 2 cups shredded, cooked chicken

• 3 ounces (roughly 2 cups) packed fresh spinach leaves, rough chopped

• 3/4 ounce chopped fresh dill

• 1 teaspoon Kosher salt

• 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

• Lemon wedges for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Put olive oil, celery and onion in the bottom of a medium pot

2. Cook until softened - about 5 minutes

3. Add broth (carefully cuz it'll steam) and bring to a boil and add rice

4. When it comes to a boil again, turn down to a simmer and cook about 10 minutes or until rice is softened

5. Add chicken, spinach and dill - stir and let simmer about 5 minutes more

6. Season with salt & pepper

7. Serve in bowls with a lemon wedge squeezed on top

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

(in the video I use leek instead of onion, but you don't have to) 

CANNELLINI AND BACON FLATBREAD

Super quick (10-15 minutes), healthy and protein rich pizza-type-flatbread-thing. It's super delicious. #lovethebean

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 can Cannellini Beans, drained and rinsed
• 4 bacon strips, chopped
• 2 tablespoons bacon grease
• big handful chopped kale
• 1 garlic clove, crushed (I cheated and used frozen)
• 1/4 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded

DIRECTIONS

1. Pre-heat oven 450
2. Cook bacon, remove, but leave most grease in pan
3. Add kale cook 2 minutes
4. Add cooked bacon, garlic and cook 30 seconds, add beans – smash a few up
5. On baking sheet baste naan with a teaspoon of bacon grease, spread out mixture evenly
6. Top with cheese, bake for 7 minutes, slice, eat.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS...

Roasted Tomatillo Salsa

Make this and make it often, I'm in love.

Makes about 2 cups

1 pound tomatillos, 5 or 6

3 cloves garlic

1 jalapeno pepper

1 Serrano pepper

1 small white onion, cut in half

3 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Kosher salt

1. Heat broiler to high

2. Remove husks from tomatillos and rinse well to get off the sticky stuff

3. Put tomatillos, garlic, peppers and 1/2 the onion on a baking sheet, drizzle lightly with oil and broil about 6 inches away from heat coils until beginning to start to blacken a bit - about 3 minutes

4. Flip over and repeat, let cool slightly

5. Put in a processor and whiz until nicely chunky, put in a bowl and add salt to taste, the other half of the onion finely diced and cilantro

6. Stir and serve

Poached Eggs

Makes 1

My final meal would be anything that had a poached egg on it. Period. Enough said.

Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 tablespoon White vinegar

Directions

1. Bring at least 5-6 inches of water to a simmer - not boiling, but just before (180-190 degrees)
2. Add a tablespoon of vinegar and stir to mix - the vinegar helps pull the egg whites together
3. Crack an egg into a small cup
4. Then using a large spoon, swirl simmering water (to create a mini vortex) then gently slip the egg into the center of the swirl - the egg white will slowly come together
5. Using a slotted spoon check the egg after about 3 minutes - the white should be set and the yolk runny
6. Remove, drain on a cloth or paper towel and use

WATCH ME COOK THIS

GRILLED HALLOUMI CHEESE & TOMATOES

Serves 3-4

I love this simple appetizer: grilled cheese, literally. You’d seldom think to use an outside grill for cheese because it would just melt all over, but Halloumi is a super hearty Greek cheese that’s just perfect for grilling. And served alongside some grilled tomatoes it’s even better.  

INGREDIENTS

• 8 ounce block Halloumi cheese
• 6 roma tomatoes, halved
• Extra virgin live oil
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• Fresh ground pepper
• Baguette, grilled for serving

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat grill to medium
2. Slice cheese in half to make 2 half inch thick pieces
3. Brush both sides of each cheese and grill until well marked on all sides
4. When you flip the cheese, oil tomatoes and add to grill cut side down
5. Cook tomatoes until softened and marked – remove to serving plate with cheese
6. Sprinkle cheese & tomatoes with oregano, drizzle with a little extra oil and serve with bread

Black Eyed Pea Salad

Serves 4

This culinarily ambiguous healthy salad…dip... side dish…or, as the south call it, "Cowboy Caviar" (which was highly recommended to me by my SIL, Danna) is so versatile, it's perfect for any potluck party.

INGREDIENTS

• 2/3 cup green onion, sliced
• 2/3 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 15 oz can black eyed peas, drained
• 11 oz can White Shoepeg Corn (or reg corn), drained
• 2 avocados, diced
• 1/2 cup tomato, de-seeded, diced
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix everything up in a big bowl, eat!

TIP: Make a bunch, keep it in the fridge, it'll be good for 4-5 days. I would serve this with a burger, steak or grilled Tuna. If you don't have BEPeas just use cannellini beans.

WATCH SAM MAKE THIS>>>

RED PEPPER & TOFU STIR FRY

Serves 2 as main

Perfect for meatless monday – fast and healthy dish I love any day of the week.

INGREDIENTS

• 1 tablespoon peanut oil
• 1lb firm tofu, drained, 1/2'' cubes
• 2 teaspoons sesame chili oil
• 1 red pepper, 1/4'' strips
• 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced 
• 1 teaspoon arrowroot or corn starch
• 1/4 cup hot water
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1/4 cup chicken broth
• 1 garlic clove, diced
• 1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger, finely diced
• 1 cup cooked rice
• 1 green onion, finely diced

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat wok on high, until smoking, add peanut oil
2. Add tofu, let it brown then flip and brown for another minute then keep moving cooking for 5-6 minutes
3. Add sesame chili oil, red pepper and red onion, cook for 4 minutes
4. In small bowl mix corn starch, hot water, soy, sugar and chicken broth – keep to one side
5. Add to wok, garlic and ginger fry for a minute
6. Pour in sauce, cook for 2 minutes to thicken
7. Serve over rice, garnish with green onion

Tomato Sauce Poached Halibut

Stupidly simple (like me) and so delicious.

Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups Tomato Sauce, see recipe
• 2 tablespoons capers
• Four halibut fillets, about 4 ounces each

DIRECTIONS

1. Put sauce & capers in a small pot (but large enough to hold the fillets) and bring to a low simmer
2. Add fish, cover and cook until just getting firm, 8 to 10 minutes
3. Serve.

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Hoisin Beef Skewers

Makes about 2 dozen skewers

These can be made in 5 minutes and cooked in about 5. That's pretty darn good - plus you get to eat them off those cool little sticks. Put the steak in the freezer for about 15 minutes before slicing - it will make it easier.

Ingredients

• 1 pound steak, I think a New York works well
• 1/2 cup Hoisin sauce, supermarket Asian aisle
• Juice from 2 limes
• 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• bamboo skewers
• chili sauce, to taste
• green onions, thinly sliced and toasted sesame seeds for garnish

Directions

1. Mix Hoisin, lime juice and garlic well - set aside
2. Trim steak across grain into slices about 1/4 thick
3. Thread steak onto skewers
4. Add some of the sauce to the skewered meat - reserving some for dipping
5. Heat grill pan or bbq really well
6. They won't take long - no more than about 3 minutes a side
7. Mix a little chili sauce with reserved dipping sauce and serve on the side

Shrimp & Corn Chowder

Makes 4 servings

So good, so simple, so quick. Made even easier by keeping a bag of raw shell-on shrimp in the freezer and a can of corn in the pantry.

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup onion, finely diced
• 1 - 15 ounce can whole corn kernels
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp paprika
• 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 1/3 cups milk
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 large potato, cut into large dice
• Salt to taste
• 1 pound 31/40 raw shrimp, peeled, deveined

Directions

1. Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat and add onion, garlic and corn
2. Cook until softened then add the paprika and cayenne and cook, stirring until mixed well
3. Add the milk, stock, potato and salt
4. Bring almost to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover
5. Stir occasionally for about 30 minutes, or until potatoes are tender
6. Add shrimp during the last 5 minutes of cooking, and cook until they just turn opaque
7. Add some fresh chopped parsley on top
8. Serve with tons of good crusty bread and a big fat salad

Warm Cabbage Salad

Bacon, mushrooms, blue cheese and that cool looking Napa cabbage you've never known what to do with. In fact, you could make a meal around this I think. Ok, I don't think - I know. I've had it by itself and it's terrific. And how come people don't say 'terrific' all that often anymore? And btw a little grilled chicken would be a great add to the top.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 medium Napa cabbage (not the core end) finely shredded - about 6 cups
• 4 ounces crumbled blue cheese
• 1/3 pound bacon, diced
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, sliced
• Approximately 1/3 cup honey mustard dressing, or make your own

Directions

1. Place cabbage in a large bowl and top with blue cheese
2. Cook bacon in large pan until about halfway done & remove grease, but leaving about 2 tablespoons and then add mushrooms
3. Cook until mushrooms have softened and bacon is done, 3 to 4 minutes
4. Add dressing to pan (being careful as it'll splatter a bit) and stir to heat through - about a minute
5. Pour warm dressing with bacon & mushrooms onto the cabbage/cheese and mix well
6. Season with salt, lots of fresh ground pepper and serve

Yakitori Chicken

Japan is famous for the little shops that serve many incredibly delicious types of charcoal grilled chicken. The 'little' refers to the fact that the shops can be as small as having seats for as few as 6 or 8 people. The 'many types' refers to the many different 'parts' of the chicken they use. For our purposes, we'll stick with just thighs.

Ingredients

• 16 bamboo skewers
• 4 chicken thighs
• 5 tablespoons soy sauce
• 5 tablespoons sake
• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 4 green onions

Directions

1. Soak skewers in water for 20 minutes
2. Combine soy, sake and sugar in small pot over medium heat for 5 minutes
3. Cut each thigh into approximately 8 bite size pieces
4. Thread 2 chicken pieces onto a skewer with a piece of green onion in the middle
5. Grill chicken over medium heat until done, basting constantly while they cook until done

Feta Shrimp

Looking for a ridiculously easy meal, or a super fast appetizer? You've come to the right recipe.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1/2 lb raw, peeled and deveined shrimp
• 3-5 ounces tomato sauce
• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• oregano - dried or fresh

Directions

1. Heat olive in pan until hot, but not smoking.
2. Add garlic, shrimp and about a teaspoon of oregano and saute until cooked - will only take a couple of minutes
3. Add tomato sauce and cook for about 30 seconds
4. Add crumbled feta and cook until thickened - about a minute.
5. Garnish with a littlechopped oregano and serve over rice if you like - it's very, very good.

Tequila Shrimp

This one is so quick and fun to make. Once the flames burn down you can added greek yogurt and chipotle to add even more flavor to the dish.

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 pound large shrimp - peeled and deveined
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 large cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/4 cup tequila
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Heat oil in a large skillet over high heat
2. Add shrimp saute quickly until almost done - then add garlic
3. Saute for another minute, then remove completely from heat and add tequila
4. Allow alcohol to burn off briefly and carefully return to heat (there's a good chance here will be flames - just be careful)
5. Add cilantro, salt & pepper - stir briefly and serve (you can add greek yogurt and chipotle to add even more flavor to the dish).

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Simple Roasted Asparagus

Serves 2

What goes better with a great rack of lamb...or anything else for that matter?

Ingredients

• One pound asparagus, not too thick, not too thin - just right
• 1 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, depending on the size of the
• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 500 (You will have already done this if you are making this with the Rack of Lamb.)
2. Rinse the asparagus and cut off the tough ends
3. Put on a baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil and season with Kosher salt and pepper
4. Put in hot oven (hopefully with the rack of lamb) for about 10-ish minutes. They will get a little darkened but stay crisp and taste wonderful
5. Put on something that looks cool and serve

Five Spice Grilled Chicken

Serves 6

So easy but so really good. You can find Five Spice seasoning in any supermarket spice aisle. And if you can't - go yell at them and tell them you want it.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of extra fat
• 1 cup low sodium soy sauce
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon Chinese Five Spice seasoning
• 1 bunch green onions, diced very fine

Directions

1. Combine brown suger and Five Spice in a bowl then stir in soy
2. Mix really well
3. Add the chicken and mix really, really well, to coat the chicken so it is all well covered
4. Let marinate an hour up to overnight if possible
5. Pre-heat grill to high
6. Cook chicken until done but not too long or it will dry out
7. Top with the diced green onions

Spicy Hoisin Tofu with Eggplant

Serves 4

Ok, I know what you're thinking..."Tofu Sam, really? No...really.

Ingredients

• One 14 ounce block firm Tofu
• 2 Asian Egg Plants, the long thin kind
• 2 tablespoons peanut oil
• 1/4 cup Hoisin
• 1 tablespoon Chili Paste
• 2 tablespoons green onion light green and white parts only, chopped

Directions

1. Remove Tofu from package, wrap in a double layer of paper towel and let dry about 15 minutes
2. Cut off ends of eggplant, slice lengthwise and cut into even 3/4 inch slices
3. Add peanut oil and eggplant to hot pan or wok and cook for 5 minutes, stir often
4. Remove eggplant from pan and set aside
5. Cut Tofu into even medium size cubes, about the same size as eggplant and put in hot pan or wok with a little oil and stir fry about 5 minutes
6. Add eggplant back to pan with tofu and add Hoisin and Chili paste, stir well until well mixed - but don't be too rough or you'll bust up the tofu
7. Garnish with green onion and serve

Halibut with Olive Tapenade

Serves 2

Simple and simply great.

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup Black olives
• 3 tsp capers
• 3 tsp parsley
• 1/4 cup olive Oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
• 2 - 6oz Halibut fillets
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• Kosher Salt & Pepper to taste

Directions

1. Chopped drained olives, capers and parsley either by hand, or in a processor until chunky but fine add olive olive, salt & pepper - mix well and set aside
2. Drizzle halibut with olive oil and season with salt & pepper
3. Grill or sear until cooked to where you want it
4. Top with tapenade - serve

Cioppino

Serves 2-4

Think fish stew - unless that sounds gross. Then just think super delicious seafood in a glorious, rich tomato broth (which is basically a fish stew)

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 large yellow onion, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1-28 ounce can whole peeled tomatoes (preferably San Marzano if you have them)
• 2 ounces Stu's 'This is Bloody Mary' or substitute with:
• 1 ounce Worcestershire sauce, 1/2 ounce hot sauce, juice from 1/2 lemon and 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 pound raw large shrimp, peeled - about a dozen
• 1 pound sea scallops - about 10
• 3/4 pound mahi mahi, halibut or red snapper - cut into big bite size pieces
• And of course you can always add clams, mussels, lobster (raw) cut into pieces - anything you like
• To garnish - chopped cilantro & green onion

Directions

1. Put a large pot over medium heat and add oil, onions & garlic
2. Cook slowly until onions have brown lightly and softened
3. Add tomatoes - squishing to break them up as you add them to the pot, then add Stu's (if using) or the Worcestershire, hot sauce lemon juice & chili powder - stir well
4. Bring to a boil, turn down to a simmer and put the lid on - cook about 20 minutes
5. Open lid and add seafood, then return lid and cook until done, roughly 10 to 15 minutes
6. Serve by topping with cilantro & green onions