Stan Schutte looks like a typical central Illinois farmer, with his buzz haircut and weather-beaten face. On hot days at Wednesday’s Old State Capitol Farmers Market, he’s probably wearing his battered straw hat. He sounds like an archetypal central Illinois farmer, too, with a bit of drawl and occasional grammar faux pas. But if you […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
Wrap it up
Wraps – usually utilizing a flour tortilla or equivalent that encompasses some sort of sandwich or burrito-esque filling – are ubiquitous throughout America today. But lighter, even elegant, wraps have been around for centuries in Asia – especially Southeast Asia – that act as a vehicle for getting the food into your mouth: Lettuces, either […]
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Thai cucumber salad
• 2 T. fresh lime juice• 1 T. fish sauce• 1/4 c. light brown sugar• 4 thinly sliced fresh Thai hot chiles OR Serrano chiles, or to taste, optional• 1-2 “burpless” cucumbers, unpeeled• 2 T. minced shallots• 2 T. chopped fresh cilantro• 1 T. chopped fresh mint• 2 T. chopped unsalted dry roasted peanuts, optional […]
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Pork or Chicken Satés
• 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken or pork loin For the marinade• 1 tsp. coriander seeds• 1 tsp. cumin seeds• 1 T. fish sauce (Preferably the Vietnamese Three Crab Brand; it’s easily identifiable by the three crabs on the label, available in some groceries, and at Little World Market.)• 2 T. minced garlic• 1 T […]
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Saté peanut sauce
• 8 T. natural crunchy peanut butter• 3/4 c. minced white onion• 1 tsp. minced garlic• 1 c. coconut milk, reserved from above• 2 T. light brown sugar• 1 tsp. cayenne or to taste • 1/4 c. finely minced lemongrass, tender parts only• 1 T. fish sauce, see above• 1 T. soy sauce, preferably Kikoman […]
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Hacked Chinese Chicken with Szechuan peppercorns
• 1-2 lbs. boneless, skinless poached or grilled chicken, cooled• 1 T. minced garlic• 1/4 c. cilantro • 4 T. soy sauce• 6 T. smooth, natural peanut butter• 3 T. shao hsing (Chinese cooking wine), or substitute dry sherry or vermouth.• 3 T. honey• 2 T. Chinese (toasted) sesame oil • 1 1/2 T. seasoned […]
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Crab and sweet corn salad
• 2 c. crabmeat (or substitute small cooked shrimp or larger shrimps cut into bite-sized pieces)• 2 c. cooked sweet corn kernels (4 ears should yield about 2 c.)• 1/2 c. chilli sauce, bottled or homemade• 1/2 c. mayonnaise ,preferably Duke’s or Hellman’s, mixed with 1 T. minced scallion, and 1 T. minced jalapenos (optional)• […]
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The delights of special dinners
Some of Springfield’s most exciting and innovative cuisine isn’t found on its restaurants’ regular menus. It’s true that Springfield’s best restaurants’ daily specials for appetizers, entrées or desserts are often composed of locally procured ingredients at the height of their seasonal best. But hands down, the most satisfying way to enjoy their succulent ripeness is […]
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Ricotta Gnocchi
Jordan and Aurora Coffey say that their Ricotta Gnocchi is an ongoing customer favorite, one so popular it’s become a staple that will always be on the menu in some form or other. It’s those seasonal changes and ingredients that enable their luscious and ethereally light gnocchi to be both a much-loved familiar comfort dish, […]
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Peach Melba pie
The Belle Époque, known in America as the “Guilded Age,” lasted roughly between 1890 and the onset of WWI. Auguste Escoffier was its most renowned chef, and he paid homage to its most renowned soprano, Australian Nellie Melba, by naming two of his creations in her honor: Melba toast (very thin dried toast that he […]
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Peach ice cream with a blueberry swirl
Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams (see my 10/22/11 IT column, “Ice cream art and science”) provided the techniques for this recipe; the flavor combination is my own. The blueberry swirl/compote also sings a delectable solo over vanilla or lemon ice cream, pancakes or waffles, or drizzled over pound cake. I use a 1 1/2 qt. Cuisinart […]
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Nectarine and blueberry salsa
This riff on Mexican fruit-based salsas is eye-catching and delicious. Serve with tortilla chips, or as a condiment for grilled fish or pork. • 2 c. unpeeled, ripe but firm nectarines, cut into small dice• 1/4 c. fresh lime juice• 1 c. fresh blueberries• 1/2 c. minced sweet onion or scallion• 1/2 c. thinly slivered […]
