New Year's Eve 2010

New Year's Eve 2010

Peking duck
Winter melon, lotus root, Napa cabbage, & bean thread noodle soup
Steamed buns
Scallions
Hoisin sauce

Molten chocolate cakes with mint fudge sauce

Family favorite: Peking duck

Made by... Norbert & me (buns), Anja & Maxime (cakes)

Maple pork and beans

Maple pork and beans
Sauteed broccoli with shallots
No-knead bread

Family favorite: maple pork and beans

Chinese hot pot

Chinese hot pot with...
Thin-sliced beef, chicken, shrimp, & fish balls
Napa cabbage
Bean thread noodles
Gailan with oyster-soy sauce
Rice

Redux: three-cheese lasagna

Redux: three-cheese lasagna

Three-cheese lasagna

Three-cheese lasagna
Caesar salad

Family favorite: three-cheese lasagna

Redux: Christmas 2010

Redux: Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010
with Kris and Louise Wainscott

Mini-shrimp cornets
Toasted spiced pecans
Panettone*

Moroccan carrot soup
Sicilian flatbread
Stuffed turkey breast
Green beans with toasted walnuts and dried-cherry vinaigrette

Pear cranberry cake

New: Mini shrimp cornets (Gourmet, November 2004); toasted spiced pecans (Lisa Ota); Moroccan carrot soup (Bon Appetit, April 2010); Sicilian flatbread (Food & Wine, January 1992); stuffed turkey breast (Grilling, by John Philip Carroll, gen. ed. Chuck Williams, 1992); green beans with toasted walnuts and dried-cherry vinaigrette (Bon Appetit, November 2010); pear cranberry cake (Gourmet, November 2009)

Made by... Norbert (turkey, carrot soup), Norbert & me (green beans), Wainscotts (panettone)

Red-wine pot roast with morel mushrooms

Red-wine pot roast with morel mushrooms
Brussels sprouts with chestnuts
Mashed potatoes

Wonton noodle soup with watercress and spinach

Wonton noodle soup with watercress and spinach

Stir-fried Dungeness crab with ginger and scallions

Stir-fried Dungeness crab with ginger and scallions
Artichokes
Rice

Chicken with fresh ginger

Chicken with fresh ginger
Stir-fried baby bok-choy and shiitake mushrooms
Rice

Penne with roasted zucchini

Penne with roasted zucchini

New: Penne with roasted zucchini (based on "Ziti With Roasted Zucchini," in Bon Appetit, October 2010)

Pizzas with black olives or ham & pineapple

Pizzas with black olives or ham & pineapple
Salad

Made by... Norbert (salad)

Regular: pizzas

Jessica Alba's chicken enchiladas

Jessica Alba's chicken enchiladas
Salad

Made by... Norbert (enchiladas and salad)

Meredith and Dianne Chesson's red beans

Meredith and Dianne Chesson's red beans
Sauteed collard greens with bacon
Rice

Braised lamb shanks and spring gremolata

Braised lamb shanks and spring gremolata
Roasted carrots and parsnips with herbs
Garlic bread
Rice

New: braised lamb shanks and spring gremolata (based on "Braised lamb shanks with spring vegetables and spring gremolata" in Bon Appetit, March 2009)

Steamed cod with cauliflower in saffron broth

Steamed cod with cauliflower in saffron broth
Sweet batard*

Roasted chicken with tomatoes, potatoes, and olives

Roasted chicken with tomatoes, potatoes, and olives

Penne with broccoli rabe and sausage

Penne with broccoli rabe and sausage

Pumpkin curry

Pumpkin curry
Rice
Fruitcake

New: pumpkin curry (from The Wagamama Cookbook, by Hugo Arnold, 2004)

Chicken negimaki

Chicken negimaki
Caesar salad
Rice
Vanilla ice cream

New: chicken negimaki (from "For Moister Chicken, Tuck the Flavor Inside," by Mark Bittman, in The New York Times, August 18, 2010)

Made by... Norbert (chicken, salad, and rice) and Maxime (vanilla ice cream)

Pork chops with sauteed chard and kale with cranberry sauce

Pork chops with sauteed chard and kale and cranberry sauce
Wild rice

New: pork chops with sauteed chard and kale with cranberry sauce (based on Pan-Roasted Pork Chops with Cranberries and Red Swiss Chard, Gourmet, November 2001)

Black bean tart with chili crust

Black bean tart with chili crust
Caesar salad

Regular: black bean tart with chili crust

Pan-seared tuna

Pan-seared tuna
Gree-tea noodles with sauteed choy sum and fresh bean sprouts

New: green-tea noodles (based on monkfish yakitori in The Wagamama Cookbook, by Hugo Arnold, 2004)

Whole wheat spaghetti with broccoli, chickpeas, and Italian sausage

Whole wheat spaghetti with broccoli, chickpeas, and Italian sausage

Grilled apricot chicken

Grilled apricot chicken
Roasted beets
Latkes

Redux: red-wine pot roast with porcini

Redux: red-wine pot roast with porcini
Brussels sprouts with chestnuts
Latkas
Peppermint patties

Red-wine pot roast with porcini

Red-wine pot roast with porcini
Brussels sprouts with chestnuts
Mashed potatoes
Peppermint patties

New: red-wine pot roast with porcini (Bon Appetit, February 2006), peppermint patties (Gourmet, December 2007)

Made by... Norbert and me (pot roast), Norbert (Brussels sprouts, potatoes)

Chicken and tofu hot pot

Chicken and tofu hot pot
Rice

Redux: turkey chowder with wild rice, portobello, & pancetta

Turkey chowder with wild rice, portobello, & pancetta

Turkey chowder with wild rice, portobello, & pancetta
Caesar salad
Tortillas*

New: turkey chowder with wild rice, portobello, & pancetta (based on Turkey chowder with wild rice, crimini, & pancetta from Bon Appetit, November 2007)

Grilled trout with soy and ginger

Grilled trout with soy and ginger
Grilled zucchini
Rice

New: Grilled trout with soy and ginger (based on mackerel with soy and ginger, in The Wagamama Cookbook, by Hugo Arnold, 2004)

Empress Dowager's Lamb

Empress dowager's lamb
Gailan with oyster-soy sauce
Rice

Redux: turkey pot pie

Redux:
Turkey pot pie
Baby carrots and red bell peppers
Pumpkin cheesecake

Turkey pot pie with dilled buttermilk biscuit topping

Turkey pot pie with dilled buttermilk biscuit topping
Pumpkin cheesecake or vanilla ice cream

Redux: Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving 2010
with Kris and Louise Wainscott, and Jansen, Airin, & Naemi Ika

Belgian endives and granny smith apples with smoked trout and herbed cream cheese
Cheddar crisps

Grilled turkey
Pumpkin soup
Pureed yams with pecans
Stuffing with walnuts and dried cranberries
Parker house rolls
Glazed red pearl onions
Green beans with orange and rosemary gremolata
Cranberry-orange sauce
Gravy

Pumpkin cheesecake

New: endives with smoked trout and herbed cream cheese (Bon Appetit, November 2003), cheddar crisps (Gourmet, November 2006), glazed red pearl onions (Gourmet, December 2006), green beans with orange and rosemary gremolata (Bon Appetit, November 2002)

Made by... Anja and me (cheddar crisps, cheesecake), Maxime and me (green beans), Louise (stuffing), Jansen (pumpkin soup)

Black bean soup with fresh tomato salsa and cheddar cheese

Black bean soup with fresh tomato salsa and cheddar cheese
Salad
Rice

Swordfish in spicy tomato sauce

Swordfish in spicy tomato sauce
Sauteed garden-grown lacinato kale
Rice

Grilled lemongrass chicken

Grilled lemongrass chicken
Grilled onions and assorted bell peppers
Red quinoa
Cranberry vanilla coffeecake

New: Grilled lemongrass chicken, red quinoa (both, Self, July 2009)
Made by... Anja and me (coffeecake)

Fresh pasta with red sauce

Fresh pasta with red sauce
Salad of red bell peppers and cucumbers

Made by... Norbert (pasta and salad)

Take out...

Dinner with the Kanazawas

Take out... from Zachary's Pizza (Albany, CA)
Spring salad mix with d'anjou pears, blue cheese, and candied walnuts
Cheddar crisps
Lemon bars

New: Cheddar crisps (Gourmet)
Made by... Anja (lemon bars), and Anja and me (cheddar crisps)

Pork ribs with molasses glaze

Pork ribs with molasses glaze
Sauteed red Swiss chard with lemon and garlic
Potato gratin

new: potato gratin (Gourmet)

Red lentil soup with lemon

Red lentil soup with lemon
Roasted cauliflower and zucchini
Rice

Family favorite: Red lentil soup with lemon

Mapo tofu

Mapo tofu
Gailan
Rice

Salmon hot pot

Salmon hot pot
Roasted zucchini
Brown rice
Apple pie a la mode

Shrimp lo mein

Shrimp lo mein
Teryaki chicken
Apple pie a la mode

Dinner @ Cafe Raj

Dinner at Cafe Raj (Albany, CA)

Grilled Stemple Creek Ranch T-bone steak

Happy birthday to Anja!

Grilled Stemple Creek Ranch T-bone steak
Caesar salad
Apple sauce*
Rice pilaf*
Apple pie a la mode

Made by... Norbert (steak and salad), Anja (rice), Maxime and me (ice cream)

Pasta with cannellini, bacon, and sage soup

Pasta with cannellini, bacon, and sage soup
Salad

Family favorite: pasta with cannellini, bacon, and sage soup (Beans & Rice by Joanne Weir, Weldon Owen Inc., San Francisco, 1994)

Dinner with the Liews

Cream puffs with lemon-cream filling

New: cream puffs with lemon-cream filling (Bon Appetit, April 2010)

Made by... Anja and me (cream puffs)

Stir-fried seafood with oyster sauce and udon noodles (Kai sen udon)

Stir-fried seafood with oyster sauce and udon noodles (Kai sen udon

Tacos

Tacos
Salad

Regular: tacos

Lemon-orange chicken

Lemon-orange chicken
Broccolini
Thai jasmine rice

Tuna noodle casserole

Tuna noodle casserole
Butternut squash soup with star anise

Family favorite: tuna noodle casserole (Gourmet, May 2004)

Barbecued whole chicken, indirect heat

Barbecued whole chicken, indirect heat
Sauteed romano beans
Twice-cooked red potatoes

Made by... Norbert (chicken, beans, and potatoes)

(Almost) My mother's lamb curry

(Almost) My mother's lamb curry
Sauteed bok choy
Rice

Family favorite: (almost) my mother's lamb curry

Senate bean soup

Senate bean soup
Crunchy lacinato kale
Brown soda bread

Opah souvlaki

Opah souvlaki with cucumber-mint yogurt sauce and tomatoes
Sauteed spinach with lemon and garlic

Chicken tagine with hard-boiled eggs and almonds

Chicken tagine with hard-boiled eggs and almonds (tagine t'faia)
Sauteed kale with garlic and lemon
Rice

Hamburgers

Hamburgers
Mixed garden-raised salad greens with cukes, tomatoes, red bell peppers, and snap peas

Regular: hamburgers

(Take out)

Take out from...
Gordo Taqueria (Berkeley, CA)

Meatloaf

Meatloaf
Broccoli
Mashed Yukon gold potatoes
Butter cookies

New: Meatloaf (Gourmet, Feb. 2008)

Conchiglie with eggplant and two cheeses

Conchiglie with eggplant and two cheeses
Mixed garden-raised salad greens

Macaroni and cheese

Macaroni and cheese
Minestrone soup
Sauteed on choy

New: macaroni and cheese (Gourmet, Aug. 2007)

Poached cod with shiitake mushrooms and green bell peppers

Poached cod with shiitake mushrooms and green bell peppers
Sauteed on choy with calamari
Rice

Minestrone soup

Minestrone soup

Chicken and chorizo paella

Chicken and chorizo paella
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon

Braised pork with orange and fennel

Braised pork with orange and fennel
Stir-fried garden-grown kale
Rice

Made by: Norbert (braised pork, kale)

Pasta with caramelized onion, swiss chard, and garlicky bread crumbs

Pasta with caramelized onion, Swiss chard, and garlicky bread crumbs
Grilled chicken breasts

New: Pasta with caramelized onion, swiss chard, and garlicky bread crumbs ("Fiber Meets Flavor in New Whole-Grain Pasta," by Melissa Clark, New York Times, Oct. 13, 2010)

(Almost) My Mother's chicken curry

(Almost) My mother's chicken curry
Gailan with oyster-soy sauce
Rice

Black bean tart with chili crust

Black bean tart with chili crust
Caesar salad

Regular: black bean tart with chili crust

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal
Roasted cauliflower
Melody's corn bread
Tartar sauce

Lamb shanks braised with garlic, rosemary, and white wine

Lamb shanks braised with garlic, rosemary, and white wine served over egg noodles
Sauteed carrots and red bell peppers

New: Lamb shanks braised with garlic, rosemary, and white wine served over egg noodles (Not Your Mother's Slow Cooker Cookbook by Beth Hensperger and Julie Kaufmann. Boston, MA: Harvard Commons Press, 2005).

Potato and chorizo soup with crunchy kale

Potato and chorizo soup with crunchy kale
Mixed garden-raised salad greens with cucumbers and tomatoes

Family favorite: potato and chorizo soup with crunchy kale

Pizzas with black olives or ham & pineapple

Pizzas with black olives or ham & pineapple
Caesar salad

Regular: pizzas

Dinner @ Skates on the Bay

Dinner @ Skates on the Bay (Berkeley, CA)

Peanut noodles

Peanut noodles
Winter melon (Donggua) soup

Red beans and rice, Southern style

Red beans and rice, Southern style
Broccoli

Family favorite: red beans and rice, Southern style (Beans & Rice by Joanne Weir. Weldon Owen Inc., 1994)

Grilled tuna with mango salad

Grilled tuna with mango salad
Soba noodles with snap peas

New: grilled tuna with mango salad (Bon Appetit, Oct. 1995)

Braised chicken with garlic and white wine

Braised chicken with garlic and white wine
Mixed garden-raised salad greens with mandarin oranges
Wild rice

Fettuccine with Brussels sprouts and pine nuts

Fettuccine with Brussels sprouts and pine nuts
Cajun-style sausage*

Oct. 8-10: Visiting Yosemite National Park

Dinner with Piedmont Swim Team

Trout with mint pipian

Trout with mint pipian
Salad
Rice

New: trout with mint pipian (Bon Apetit, Oct. 2010)

Italian meatball soup

Italian meatball soup

Pure-cut chicken with ginger-scallion sauce

Pure-cut chicken with ginger-scallion sauce
Sauteed long beans
Rice
Ice cream*

Soy-braised pork country ribs with carrots and turnips

Soy-braised pork country ribs with carrots and turnips
Mixed green salad
Rice
Ice cream*

New: soy-braised pork country ribs with carrots and turnips (Bon Apetit, Oct. 2010)
Made by... Norbert (pork)

(Take out)

Take out from...
Zachary's Pizza (Berkeley)
Salad

Chicken mole

Chicken mole
Beet and orange salad
Rice

Maple pork and beans

Maple pork and beans
Salad
Bread*

family favorite: maple pork and beans

Penne with broccoli rabe and sausage

Penne with broccoli rabe and sausage

Moroccan-style cod with green olives, lemon, and cauliflower

Moroccan-style cod with green olives, lemon, and cauliflower
Roast Yukon gold potatoes with portobello mushrooms and onions

New: Moroccan-style cod with green olives, lemon, and cauliflower

Smokey grilled whole chicken

Smokey grilled whole chicken
Yam hobo packs
Grilled corn on the cob
Roma tomatoes and baby carrots
Chocolate chip ice cream

Made by... Norbert (chicken, yams, corn) & Maxime (ice cream)

Three-cheese lasagna

Three-cheese lasagna
Salad

family favorite: three-cheese lasagna

Oxtail soup with watercress

Oxtail soup with watercress
Rice

(Almost) My mother's chicken curry

(Almost) my mother's chicken curry
Gailan
Rice

Baked petrale sole with tomato caper sauce

Baked petrale sole with tomato caper sauce
Zucchini-corn saute
Italian bread*

Black bean soup with two kinds of sausage

Black bean soup with two kinds of sausage
Corn bread
Cucumbers, red corn on the cob, and red bell peppers
Rice

Chicken cacciatore

Chicken cacciatore
Braised endives
Rice

Lamb shoulder chops with apples and prunes

Lamb shoulder chops with apples and prunes
Roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and lemon
Rice

new: roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon and lemon

Fresh pasta with red sauce

Fresh pasta with red sauce
Caesar salad

Family favorite: fresh pasta with red sauce
Made by... Norbert (pasta)

Chicken with apples and cinnamon

Chicken with apples and cinnamon
Moroccan swiss chard salad
Rice pilaf* with pine nuts

new: chicken with apples and cinnamon, Moroccan swiss chard salad

Tacos

Tacos
Salad

regular: tacos

Lentil soup with Italian sausage and escarole

Lentil soup with Italian sausage and escarole
Garlic bread

Whole striped bass with ginger and scallions

Whole striped bass with ginger and scallions
Spinach and daikon soup
Rice
Coffee cake with crumb topping

Mexican pasta with black beans

Mexican pasta with black beans
Salad
Coffee cake with crumb topping

family favorite: Mexican pasta with black beans

Wonton soup with noodles and watercress

Wonton soup with noodles and watercress
Coffee cake with crumb topping

family favorite: wonton soup with noodles and watercress
new: coffee cake with crumb topping
made by... Anja (coffee cake)

Roast chicken

Roast chicken, Yukon gold potatoes, parsnips & carrots

Cuban black beans

Cuban black beans
Sauteed Swiss chard with pine nuts
Rice

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal
Boiled green beans
Tartar sauce
Rice

Chicken donburi

Chicken donburi
Steamed broccoli and carrots
Caesar salad
Rice

Sep. 4-6: Visiting Los Angeles

Cuban black beans

Cuban black beans
Creamy cole slaw
Rice

Noodle soup with stir-fried ham and vegetables

Noodle soup with stir-fried ham and vegetables

Chicken with pasta

Chicken with pasta (Jaj bel lissan al assfour)
Zucchini with raisins and pine nuts

new: chicken with pasta, zucchini with raisins and pine nuts

Teriyaki salmon

Teriyaki salmon
Gailan with oyster-soy sauce
Rice

Spicy pork and cashew stir-fry

Spicy pork and cashew stir-fry with snow peas and red bell pepper
Rice

(Take out)

Take out from...
Cafe Raj, Albany

Hamburgers

Hamburgers
Caesar salad

regular: hamburgers

Penne with white beans and sage

Penne with white beans and sage
Salad with figs and walnuts

family favorite: penne with white beans and sage

Chicken drumsticks with muhammara sauce

Chicken drumsticks with muhammara sauce
Miso-glazed eggplant
Cherry tomatoes
Pita crisps

family favorite: chicken drumsticks with muhammara sauce, pita crisps
new: miso-glazed eggplant

Thai tofu with red curry sauce

Thai tofu with red curry sauce
Coconut-scallion rice
Salami and morsels of ham*

Seafood with chorizo, peppers, & potatoes

Seafood with chorizo, peppers, & potatoes
Sauteed sugar snap peas

Grilled chicken and plantains, Jamaican-style

Grilled chicken and plantains, Jamaican-style
Grilled yellow zucchini
Grilled bi-colored corn
Crostini

new: grilled chicken and plantains, Jamaican-style

Lamb kebabs with mint pesto

Lamb kebabs with mint pesto
Warm green bean and yellow wax bean salad
Sweet baguette*

new: lamb kebabs with mint pesto, warm green bean and yellow wax bean salad

Grilled pizzas

Grilled pizzas with ham and pineapple or with nicoise olives
Caesar salad

new: grilled pizzas

Chicken tagine with hard-boiled eggs and almonds

Chicken tagine with hard-boiled eggs and almonds (Tagine t'faia)
Sauteed spinach with garlic and lemon
Rice

Perciatelli with meatballs in tomato sauce

Perciatelli with meatballs in tomato sauce
Salad with figs and walnuts

Red lentil soup with lemon

Red lentil soup with lemon
Sauteed broccoli and chicken/turkey Cajun-style sausage
Rice

Salmon hot pot

Salmon hot pot
Crunchy dinosaur kale
Rice

Grilled turkey breast

Grilled turkey breast
Red Diane yam hobo packs
Mashed potatoes
Sauteed asparagus

Oven-fried chicken fingers

Oven-fried chicken fingers
Roasted cauliflower with onions
Mashed potatoes

family favorite: oven-fried chicken fingers

(Almost) My mother's chicken curry

(Almost) My mother's chicken curry
Stir-fried long beans
Rice

Thin spaghetti with pesto sauce

Thin spaghetti with pesto sauce
Baby carrots and yellow pear tomatoes
Banana-walnut mini-muffins

Tacos

Tacos
Caesar salad

Regular: tacos

Orange-flavored beef

Orange-flavored beef
Gailan
Rice
Apple pie

New: orange-flavored beef

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal

Pan-fried tilapia fillets dusted with cornmeal
Roasted Brussels sprouts with garlic and bacon
Rice pilaf*
Tartar sauce
Apple pie

Jessica Alba's chicken enchiladas

Jessica Alba's chicken enchiladas
Sauteed zucchini with garlic and lemon
Chocolate chip cookies

family favorite: Jessica Alba's chicken enchiladas

Toasted cheese sandwiches

Toasted cheese sandwiches
Cherry tomatoes
Fruit salad

Dinner @ Lihbin & Peter's house

Dinner @ Lihbin and Peter's house

Focaccia with olives and rosemary
Genoa salami*
Blueberry pudding cake with lightly-sweetened whipped cream

New: Focaccia with olives and rosemary

Teriyaki chicken

Teriyaki chicken
Marinated grilled vegetables
Rice
Chocolate truffles

New: chocolate truffles

Black bean tart with chili crust

Black bean tart with chili crust
Caesar salad

Regular: Black bean tart with chili crust

Sweet miso cod

Sweet miso cod
Stir-fried snow peas with red and yellow bell peppers
Miso soup
Rice

Pasta salad

Annual Neighborhood Potluck

Pasta salad: cavatappi with cherry tomatoes, olives, fresh mozarella, and basil

The empress dowager's lamb

The empress dowager's lamb
Stir-fried bok choy with shiitake mushrooms
Rice
Bittersweet chocolate cake

Spicy super-crunchy fried chicken

Spicy super-crunchy fried chicken
Potato salad
Corn on the cob
Tuscan melon
Bittersweet chocolate cake

Grilled shichimi spiced duck breast

Grilled shichimi spiced duck breast
Spinach soup
Rice
Bittersweet chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream

Chicken lo mein with yau choy

Happy birthday to me!

Chicken lo mein with yau choy
Bittersweet chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream

made by... Norbert (cake), Anja and Maxime (ice cream)

hello, world!

dinner for four