Potato Leek Soup!!!

Ingredients:

5 lbs. potatoes – peeled and sliced

2 large leeks – cleaned and chopped

15 cloves of garlic – chopped

1 large onion – sliced

Healthy handful of Italian parsley - chopped

12 cups of chicken broth

Juice of 1 lemon

Dashes of salt

Dashes of black pepper

Olive oil

Heat a large soup pot with a drizzle of olive oil. Add the sliced potatoes, leeks, onions, and garlic. Sauté until the onions are soft. Add the parsley and chicken broth and simmer on low until the potatoes are soft. Add the salt and pepper.

Using a potato masher gently and carefully mash the soup.

Just before serving add the lemon juice and stir.

This soup is hearty and delicious.

With Love,

Catherine

xo

Pork Souvlaki and Greek Salad!!!

Ingredients:

For the Pork:

3 lbs. boneless pork loin – cut in small chunks

Marinade:

Juice of 1 lemon

Juice of 1 lime

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

1 tsp. dried oregano

Drizzles of olive oil

Drizzles of vegetable oil

For the Salad:

1 head of iceberg lettuce – shredded

Radishes – sliced

Red onion – sliced

Cucumber – sliced

Healthy handful of fresh Italian parsley - chopped

Favorite olives

Feta cheese

Dressing for the salad:

Lemon juice

Olive oil

Pinch of salt

Pinch of black pepper

Adjust the salad dressing to taste.

Procedure:

Marinade the pork chunks for 1 hour or more.

Heat a griddle and place the pork to grill. Grill until a beautiful golden color is achieved on both sides and the pork is cooked.

While the pork is grilling you may prepare your salad and the dressing. Serve the pork on the salad or on the side.

This is a delicious meal and perfect for any occasion.

With Love,

Catherine

xo

New York-Style Crumb Cake

Hello Living the Gourmet readers!!! I am so pleased to be back this week and sharing with you a recipe for New York-Style crumb cake.

There are many recipes I’ve been excited to try in the Best of the Best Cookbook Recipes by Food & Wine, and this cake was at the top of my list!

New York-Style crumb cake is not to be confused with coffee cake warns Matt Lewis & Renato Poliafito, the authors of this recipe. There are three 'New York Crumb Commandments' to making this cake. Their crumb cake has a buttery crumb topping that is in obscenely large proportion to the cake. Secondly, there are no nuts- crushed or whole. And lastly, no swirls.  

The cake is moist, and I guarantee you’ll be licking your plate clean as to make sure not a single crumb is left behind. Try it & Love it.

xx,

Tammy & Catherine

New York-Style Crumb Cake

(From Best of the Best Cookbook Recipes by Food & Wine)

For the crumb topping you will need:

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

2 dashes of cinnamon
1 cup unsalted butter, melted and warm

2½ cups AP flour

For the cake you will need:

2½ cups AP flour

¾ teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

12 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

1½ cups granulated sugar

2 large eggs

1¼ cup sour cream

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter the sides and bottom of a glass 9-by-13-inch pan. You can use a metal pan, but the edges of the cake may turn crispy (although that is not traditional, it is not an altogether bad thing).

MAKE THE CRUMB TOPPING In a medium bowl, stir together both sugars and cinnamon. Add the melted butter and whisk until combined. Fold in the flour until it is absorbed and set the mixture aside.

MAKE THE CAKE Sift the flour, baking powder, and baking soda together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In the bowl of a standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream the butter until it is completely smooth and ribbonlike. Scrape down the bowl and add the sugar. Beat the mixture until it starts to look fluffy.

Add the eggs, one at a time, and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and mix again for 30 seconds. Add the sour cream and vanilla and finally add the dry ingredients in three parts, beating until well incorporated.

ASSEMBLE THE CAKE Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Use your hands to scoop up a handful of the topping and make a fist. The topping should hold together. Break off in chunks and drop them over the cake. Repeat to use all the topping. Remember, the topping layer will look outrageously thick.

Bake the cake for 45 minutes, or until the cake tester comes out clean. Rotate the pan two times during the baking process. Cool the entire pan on a wire rack for about 30 minutes before serving.

*NOTE- The cake will last for 3 days, tightly covered, at room temperature.




(Don't forget to vote for my 'Gourmet Chicken' recipe #24 on Recipe Lion!!! Voting closes January 26!!! Thank you!!!)