For Christmas this year, Mr. B gifted me with a half-gallon of Katz Gravenstein Apple Cider Vinegar. It was as much of a gift for himself as it was for me- a testament to our collective food geekiness if I’ve ever seen one. Gravenstein apples are recognized as a heritage food by the Slow Food movement, and Katz lovingly takes these special apples and first turns them into a hard cider before aging the liquid in oak barrels to create a wonderful nuanced apple cider vinegar. Mr. B loves the magical ability of apple cider vinegar to transform a dish from ho hum to to fantastic and often suggests a splash of it when helping me tweak a recipe simmering on the stove. (...)
Read the rest of Braised Pork Loin with Calvados, Cider, and Apples (543 words)

© Annie for Phoo-d, 2011. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apples, Braised, Comfort Food, Dinner, Pork

Are you ready to talk about Thanksgiving? Now that November has arrived it seems that everywhere I look there are images, recipes, and ideas for the upcoming holiday. Usually I’m not one to jump on the bandwagon, but Thanksgiving just happens to be my #1 favorite day of the year. Why, you ask? Because it is all about the food, of course! No gifts to give, no fireworks to dodge, and no romantic moods to create- simply a giant feast where everyone can eat, drink, and be merry. This year, for the first time, I managed to get ahead of the game and pull together an entire menu of Thanksgiving classics for you to enjoy.(...)
Read the rest of Green Apple and Butternut Squash Soup (557 words)

© Annie for Phoo-d, 2010. | Permalink | 13 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apples, Fall, Holiday Food, Soup, Thanksgiving

I can see the wheels turning in your head. “Another pork recipe?” you ask. Yes, yes indeed, another pork recipe. I promise that this will be the last one for a stretch but I offer no apologies. Pork, apples, and fennel, are such a happy trio that there have been zero complaints at the dinner table over the frequency of their appearance this fall.(...)
Read the rest of Braised Pork Shoulder with Fennel, Leeks, and Marsala Wine (644 words)

© Annie for Phoo-d, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apples, Braised, Comfort Food, Dinner, Pork

The weather is at it again- seesawing between warm days and crisp nights. I love fall. My flip flops can still make an appearance but the flannel sheets and cold air from open windows mean summer has packed its bags until next year. In the kitchen I am ready to say farewell to gazpacho and to welcome autumn flavors with open arms. A recent weekend trip to Minneapolis (to find clothes that fit an expanding belly!) took us past several apple orchards. Never one to pass up fall apples, I arrived home with several bags of apples and a jug of freshly squeezed apple cider. (...)
Read the rest of Fennel Braised Pork Chops with an Apple Cider Demi Glace (915 words)

© Annie for Phoo-d, 2010. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Apples, Dinner, Fall, Pork