Working with What You Have

After preparing the segment for Renaissance Magazine, Brandon and I had a lot of left overs – about 3/4 lb of pieces of roast pork (uncooked), carrots, leeks, and a few other ingredients.  I put them together to create a lovely curry pork and vegetables.

Utilizing the ingredients above and adding a few, I created a dish that was quoted as, “tastes like it came from a ‘nice’ Asian restaurant” from a Chinese national. 

Below is the recipe I came up and I have been enjoying it for my lunches. 

one cup of leftover braised carrot and leek dish
3/4 lb of roast pork, cut up
one onion, thinly sliced
1/2 cup of frozen peas
1 tbsp of yellow curry powder (store bought)
1 tsp ground cumin
2 pinches of sea salt
ground pepper to taste
1 tbsp of cooking oil (sesame or sunflower)

In a heated wok, add the oil and when hot enough begin adding the pork to begin cooking.  Turn the pork every two minutes so that it begins to brown nicely and add the onions. 

Continue to cook and add the left over braised carrots and leeks.  Continue to cook and add frozen peas.  Continue to stir when cooking and add the curry powder and cumin.   Finish with the salt and pepper. 

I did not need to use rice or noodles with this dish.  It should be sweet and savory, not spicy.   Sadly, I ate it all before I could photograph the plate.

Skirt Steak

It is no secret that I love food.  I enjoy a well-prepared meal.

 

Tool of the Trade
Tool of the Trade
Several years ago, I was introduced to a cut of beef known as a skirt steak.  Skirt steak is a well flavored, tender cut of beef usually popular in Mexican cuisine in fajitas and shredded beef dishes.  When grilled slowly, it is one of the more tasier morsels you will encounter.   

We discovered this past week, that Metro area Super Target stores has been having sales on several of their beef products including beef ribs, skirt steaks, etc.  I paid $6.80 for a piece that would feed six.  It was slow cooked on the grill on low heat and served with rice and grilled asparagus.  Ideally, skirt steak should be cooked medium-well and let to sit for 5 minutes after pulling off the heat to let the moisture settle, but not drain. 

I urge you to find your own way of preparing this little known morsel.  You may find your own marinade and soon this can become a family favorite.