HUNGRY GERALD

Creative BSK is always looking for soup recipes. There are standards that BSK always cooks (much to HG’s pleasure):  black bean soup; escarole and cannellini bean soup; chickpea soup (from a Marcella Hazan recipe); “green” soup (a delicious BSK invention utilizing over the hill refrigerator veggies). These are all  delicious and make Lunch (or supper) in HG/BSK’s Central Falls,RI, loft a happy experience—welcoming in this cold, snowy, wintry season. Yesterday, BSK cooked a new, lush soup composed of coconut milk, a lot of ginger, spinach and sliced chicken sausage—a savory surprise.

Escarole and cannellini bean soup is one of HG’s favorite dishes. Gilded with olive oil and sprinkled with hot pepper flakes, it’s good hot, room temperature or cold. BSK made a big pot yesterday. Knowing HG’s swallowing handicap, BSK used an immersion blender to turn the mix into a savory soup. The immersion blender is an excellent tool–BSK uses it often to make sauces, purees and soups.  Efficient and saves clean up time. It helped make BSK’s escarole and bean soup into a lusty supper when accompanied by a baguette and glasses of red wine. (The New York Times did a recent article in the cooking section praising the immersion blender).

HG first tasted Hake, a tasty fish, in a modest bistro in the bustling Spanish metropolis, Madrid. The Hake was sauteed and covered in a robust parsley sauce and flanked with boiled potatoes. Splendid eating. Curiously, Hake does not appear in many American seafood counters but BSK always finds it at Fearless Fish Seafood Market in Providence and at Tony’s Seafood in Seekonk. MA. It’s a happy supper at HG/BSK’s loft in Central Falls, RI. Last night, BSK made Hake in  Spanish style—cooked filets in a sheet pan with sliced potatoes, garlic,onions, tomatoes—it was moistened with olive oil and sea broth. BSK showered the dish with plenty of Pimenton, fiery Spanish paprika.  A lusty nourishing supper–just a bit picante.

Some years ago, HG/BSK had a scenic loft (it overlooked the skyscrapers, mountains, sea) in the magical city of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Vancouver was the food city supreme—the best public market, fabulous Asian restaurants due to the large Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Malaysian, etc. population. Because of its Pacific Ocean location there was seafood galore—oysters, shrimp and other crustaceans, squid, fish (large variety). It was in Van that HG first tasted a favorite fish–John Dory. Don’t know where the name originated but it’s euphonious. Introduction to John Dory was at a stylish restaurant where it was served in a pool of lemon butter sauce, ethereal mashed potatoes and a mound of finely chopped spicy baby spinach. HG/BSK drank a dry chilled white wine from the Okanagan region and were ecstatic. Last night, BSK cooked a large filet of John Dory from Fearless Fish in Providence (also bought hake for another  night). BSK cooked the fish on a sheet pan—it rested on a bed of onions, garlic, pepper, tomatoes–all moistened with  fish broth and olive oil. No butter sauce for health and diet conscious BSK—just squeezes of lemon juice and coarsely ground black pepper. Sensational supper—butter wasn’t missed.                                                                                         

BSK is an international home chef. BSK delights HG at supper with dishes from Italy, France, Spain, China, Morocco, Japan and other nations. A favorite is Buldak ( Fire Chicken) from Korea. BSK marinates chicken thighs in a fiery sauce of gochujang, gochugaru, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, chiles and sesame oil. Using half of the sauce, BSK grills the chicken and then adds it (with the rest of the sauce) to a pan of boiling chicken stock. The chicken is simmered until it gets a delicious picante glaze. The pan is covered with mozzarella and placed under the broiler until the cheese melts. Served on a bed of rice and accompanied by pinot noir, this is a taste tingler supper. 

It’s cold here in Central Falls, RI,  the  city where HG/BSK enjoy life in a spacious (3,200 square feet) loft. Outside temperature is 9 degrees. Mighty chilly. Comfy in the loft. However, winter calls for a comfort supper—a steaming bowl of pasta. BSK cooked a lush bowl of  penne in a zucchini/bacon/ricotta sauce. Perfect dish for a freezing night.

Warm and happy in HG/BSK’s Central Falls, Rl, loft as snow continues to fall. BSK found some fresh okra at the supermarket so it was time for a large pot of gumbo (enough  for two jolly suppers). First supper was chicken gumbo and the following supper featured shrimp. HG made a fiery sauce of mayonnaise and Frank’s Hot Sauce. Both gumbos were delicious but HG preferred the shrimp. The sauce was a worthy addition.

Creative BSK mixed ground turkey, chopped onions, garlic, parsley and a variety of spices including cumin and pimenton into cigar shaped kefta. They were cooked  in a sheet pan to a crisp and juicy deliciousness. The big surprise was BSK;s sauce—a mix of sour cream, yogurt, a dash of olive oil, a squeeze of lemon juice—and an exuberant amount of Frank’s Hot Sauce. Molto picante and yummy. Great supper.

Wow!! The mammoth blizzard has hit Rhode Island and all is buried in snow. It’s a white, white world. However, all is comfortable in HG/BSK’s Central Falls loft. BSK’s culinary response has been outstanding—a big pot of picante, flavorful chili–served with. toppings of grated cheese, chopped onion, sliced avocado. Beer is the appropriate drink. Thankfully, there’s enough chili for two suppers. A bowl o’ red is happy food during snowtime.

New England weather is frigid but HG/BSK are warm and cozy in HG/BSK’s spacious Central Falls, RI, loft. BSK added to the warmth in a delicious supper. BSK cooked chopped chicken, golden beets, spinach, garlic and onions in a coconut milk broth and served it over a bed of rice.  Creamy. Hearty. Warming. Life is good when BSK creates wonders in the kitchen.