The Sloppy Jose

I grew up in the foothills of Southern California in the 1960s. Coming off the post-war 1950’s, it seemed like California was always on the cutting edge of music, technologies, fast cars and fast food. Taking over from the casual dining experience of Howard Johnson, Sambo’s, Shakey’s Pizza and  Bob’s Big Boy, America embraced the fast food convenience of McDonald’s (“tens of thousands sold) , In-N-Out,  Jack in the Box, A&W, Colonial Sanders and Taco Bell. In 1968, I could leave junior high school during lunch break on my bike, go to a fast food restaurant and get a cheese burger for .25 fries for a nickel and a large soft drink for .20 cents!

One of my favorites was what Taco Bell called the “Bell Burger.” It was a Sloppy Joe style sandwich using your season beef and cheddar cheese used in their tacos; add lettuce tomatoes and onion for the “Bell Grande.” During special promotions, I could get 5 for a dollar! Sadly, the Bell Burger was a casualty of the Burger War and was extinct by the mid-1970s. I do not profess to have their secret recipe, but this is pretty darn close. It is a simple and quick recipe if condiments are prepped in advance. The picante sauce is fresh and without preservatives. This would be a great item for game night.

 

 
Seasoned Beef:

1 lb. Ground beef

¼ c. all-purpose flour
1 tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. dried onion flakes
½ tsp. paprika
¼ tsp. onion powder
1 dash garlic powder
½ c. cold water 

Picante Sauce:

1½ c. cold water

1 tsp. cornstarch
½ (6-oz) can Tomato paste
1½ tbsp. distilled white vinegar
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. cayenne pepper

Additional Items:

6 hamburger buns, steamed slightly

¾ cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup shredded lettuce
½ diced tomato
½ cup diced onion

Preparation:

It is best to make the sauce first.  In a saucepan add the water and cornstarch and whisk until fully dissolved. Next add vinegar, salt, cayenne and tomato paste. While bringing it to a boil, continue stirring sauce. Reduce heat to low and let simmer until sauce thickens. Cool sauce in a covered container in the refrigerator.

 

Now for the filling: In a stand mixer or food processor, combine the ground beef and dry ingredients until well mixed. In a large skillet over medium heat, add beef and the ½ cup water. Stir the mixture while it cooks, breaking up large chunks. Cook until slightly browned. In a colander, drain off any grease or liquid. While cooking the beef mixture, steam the buns slightly in a rice maker or double boiler.

To assemble, spread some sauce on the bottom bun. Next, add two tbsp. seasoned meat. Sprinkle meat with shredded cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion.  Serve with guacamole as garnish. Enjoy, JW

Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken

I’ve never seen a buffalo fly, but Buffalo Style Wings have been made their mark as a favorite appetizer and party fare. It wasn’t long ago that wings were just scraps relegated to the stockpot for making broth or soup. With the commercialization of chicken harvesting, consumers opted for the better portions of chicken, the breasts, thighs and leg portions, the wings ended up going to soup factories.

 

There is much debate about who actually came up with the recipe for hot chicken wings, but the consensus points to the Anchor Bar in Buffalo, New York. The story goes that back in 1964, the owner of the bar had to feed a group of her son’s friends and with a bunch of wings on hand, deep fried them and then tossed them in a buttery chili sauce and served them with bleu cheese dip and celery. The wings were a hit!! The City of Buffalo has designated July 29^th Chicken Wing Day. And as a matter of record, the Anchor Bar serves 70 thousand pounds of chicken monthly!

 

This recipe combines the sweetness of the yam with the spiciness of the chicken and then finished with the coolness of the yogurt-bleu cheese topping.

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

3/4 c hot sauce
2 tbsp. coconut oil
1 tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp ground cayenne
4 sweet potatoes
1 tbsp. cornstarch
1 tbsp. water
Chopped green onions

PREPARATION:

Coat a slow cooker with nonstick spray and place the chicken in the bottom of the cooker.

In a separate bowl, add the hot sauce, garlic powder, cayenne, salt, pepper and coconut oil and microwave for 45 seconds and then stir. Pour the sauce over the chicken breasts and cover the slow cooker. Then cook for 1½ hours on high until chicken is fully cooked. While the chicken is in the crockpot, prepare the sweet potatoes. Coat with butter, wrap in foil and bake in the oven at 400° for 45 minutes.

Leaving the sauce in the crockpot, remove chicken from slow cooker and shred with a fork on a separate plate. In a separate bowl, mix the cornstarch with the water and pour back into the slow cooker with remaining hot sauce. Combine using a whisk. Cook sauce on high for 30 minutes.

Add shredded chicken back into the slow cooker and toss it well into the sauce so that it is entirely coated.

Blue Cheese Yogurt Dressing:

 

½ c nonfat plain Greek yogurt
2 tbsp. milk
½ tsp white vinegar
¼ tsp black pepper
⅓ C crumbled blue cheese

Once everything is prepared, split the sweet potatoes and mash with skin on. Spoon on the chicken,  yogurt-bleu cheese and garnish with chopped, green onions. Enjoy, JW

Florida, the Sunshine Cake

“I like spring, but it’s too young. I like summer, but it’s too proud. So, I like best of all autumn, because its’ tone is mellower, its’ colours are richer and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its’ golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and it is content” Lin Yutang (1895-1976)

For those of us in South Florida, November means the return of the snow birds and yachts returning for refit and sale. And November is the start of the holiday season. My grandparents were early snow birds; having bought a winter home here in 1953 to escape the bitter Indiana winters. Grandma Maloy would make the most wonderful delights when we would fly out for the holidays. This is one of her recipes.

CAKE INGREDITENTS:
6 egg whites
1/2 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
3/4 c. all purpose flour
5 egg yolks
1 1/2 tbsp. orange juice
1 tsp. lemon juice

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350° F. Separate the egg whites from yolks. This is an easy task if you put a bowl in the sink, crack an egg and roll the egg yolk between your left/right hands, letting the white fall to the bowl below. Put yolk in another bowl.  Now, in a large mixing bowl, beat the egg whites until soft peaks form; then add the cream of tartar and salt while continuing to beat until there are stiff peaks.

In a separate bowl combine the sugar, flour, egg yolks, orange juice, and lemon juice. Beat until combined and then gently fold the whipped egg whites into the mixture.

Gently spoon the batter into an ungreased 9” spring form cake pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until the cake is lightly browned and the top springs back when lightly touched.

Invert pan until cool (at least 1 hour). Remove cake from pan and place on serving plate. Drizzle cake top with orange frosting.

 

FROSTING INGREDIENTS:

1 8 oz. package plain cream cheese, room temperature.
1 stick butter (8 tbsp.), room temperature
3 c. powdered sugar (sifted)
2 tbsp. fresh squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp. orange zest

PREPARATION:

In a large bowl (I use a stand mixer) mix the butter and cream cheese at ow speed until blended. Gradually add the powdered sugar until it is all well blended. Add orange juice and zest and then blend at medium speed until the mixture is fluffy. Drizzle the frosting over the cake. Sprinkle additional zest or garnish with mandarin orange sections. Enjoy, JW

Ginger Beef Stir-Fry

One would think that stir-frying is a Chinese technique that dates back thousands of years. This supposition is right but mostly wrong. Historians think that during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) that a bronze vessel was used for “stir-drying” for drying grain and roasting tea leaves. It is not until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) that the wok obtained its’ current shape. In ancient times, only the wealthy could afford cooking oil and the majority of the time, the wok was used for boiling and steaming. In the late Ming period, the cost of wood and charcoal in the cities made fast stir-fry cooking a necessity. Stir fry technique was brought to the west by early Chinese immigrants and has been used in non-Asian cuisine; like the Lomo Saltado recipe from Peru that I wrote about two years ago. An interesting fun fact: The term “stir-fry” did not enter the lexicon of cooking until the release of How to Cook and Eat in Chinese by Chao Yang Buwei in 1945.

A very simple and tasty recipe, I use either flank or flap for best results. The important thing to remember is to cut your thin strips of meat across the grain. If you made the ponzu recipe from last month, use it for the meat marinate and cooking. If not, use the recipe below for excellent results. Make sure your wok and oil are hot.

 

INGREDIENTS:

12 oz.  Stir Fry Noodles

2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. seasoned rice wine vinegar
3 tbsp. soy sauce, divided
1 tsp. sugar
1 lb. beef flank steak, thinly sliced
2 tbsp. sesame oil
2 c. snow pea pods
2 tbsp. fresh ginger root, grated
2 tbsp. toasted sesame seeds, optional

PREPARATION:
Prepare noodles according to package directions. In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, vinegar, 1 tablespoon soy sauce, and sugar. Add thinly sliced beef and stir to coat with marinade. Cover and set aside for 15 minutes.  In a large wok or skillet, heat sesame oil over high heat. Add beef and stir fry 5 minutes.  Add snow peas and ginger. Stir fry 3 minutes.  Add cooked noodles and remaining soy sauce and continue to stir fry 2 more minutes. Plate and serve with a white wine like a Riesling. Enjoy, JW

EASY PONZU SAUCE

One of the best things about working in the yacht industry is the fruits of the sea. Wahoo, mahi-mahi and tuna are frequent visitors to my cleaning table. Nothing is finer that a nice tenderloin of wahoo and a sharp knife.

I like a citrus ponzu sauce for dipping sushi. This recipe is simple and beats store bought ponzu, hands down. It also makes a terrific marinate for steak.

INGREDIENTS:

½ c. soy sauce (low sodium)
¼ c. fresh squeezed orange juice
2 tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
1 tbsp. spring water
1 tbsp. mirin, a sweet Japanese rice wine
1 tbsp. red pepper flakes

PREPARATION:
Simply mix all of the ingredients in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Be creative and make it you own signature dipping sauce by adding ginger or pureed mango. Enjoy. JW

YUM NAM SOD

One of the most difficult things I find while working on yachts is maintaining a strict diet plan. We work long hours, have infrequent breaks and at the end of the day, exhaustion. And Exercise? Pull this, lift or climb that; yacht work is a workout program in itself. But where we tend to stray off course (pun intended) is with our dietary intake.

While trying to lose weight by cutting your calorie and carbohydrate intake, cravings can be subconscious triggers.  A burger or sandwich will satisfy that craving, yet blows your whole regime. Lettuce wraps are a great solution for staying on a plan. By simply substituting your bun or bread for a lettuce leaf, you save calories and carbs and can have a healthier version of your favorite meal. For instance, the average burger contains around 53 grams of carbohydrate, nearly all of which come from the bun, so by cutting this out, you automatically save yourself around 200 calories. Conversely, a serving of lettuce contains less than 3 grams of carbohydrates. You also get the added benefits of the vitamins and minerals from the lettuce. So drop the bun and wrap your head around lettuce.

INGREDIENTS:

Cooking spray

1 lb. ground chicken (or pork)
1/2 c. thin vertical slices red onion
1/3 c. finely chopped green onions
3 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tbsp. fish sauce
1 tbsp. minced peeled fresh ginger
1 tsp chili paste with garlic (or substitute Sriracha chili)
2 tbsp. dry-roasted peanuts (lightly salted)
2 tbsp. fresh chopped cilantro
1/2 head romaine or bib lettuce, separated into leaves

PREPARATION:

 

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add meat to pan; cook 5 minutes or until done and crumbled. Remove meat from skillet and set aside to cool. Add peanuts to hot skillet and roast until they start to brown.  Mix onion slices and all remaining ingredients (including roasted peanuts) in a medium bowl. Let stand 10 minutes. Stir meat into onion mixture; sprinkle with peanuts. Serve meat mixture in lettuce leaves. Enjoy, JW

Smoked Chicken and Andouille Sausage Gumbo

I have just completed my 207^th career Florida to New England transit delivering a Viking 54C from Panama City FL. to East Greenwich RI. One of my favorite stops is St. Simons Island, Ga. With Fernandina Harbor Marina a good 24 months from reopening, St. Simons is a close alternate. Morningstar Marina is convenient with cheerful dock staff.  But be sure to call ahead for reservations as this place fills up each night with transients.

At the head of the main dock is the Country Kitchen restaurant. The food here is outstanding. Under the charge of New Orleans trained Owner/Executive Chef Archie Prince, many low-country favorites of fin, feather and hoof are prepared for the hungry yachtsman. My personal favorite is the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo. Chef Archie provided me his recipe; which I have incorporated with my touch to condense it down from restaurant quantity to a more manageable amount for owner and crew.

As a New Orleans classic, chicken and sausage gumbo is perfect for owner and guests. This recipe calls for andouille sausage and pulled chicken. But if you can’t find andouille sausage, any kielbasa or smoked sausage will do. For the chicken, I go to my favorite BBQ joint as I like to add complexity with the smoky chicken. However, supermarket rotisserie works just as well.  Add a trio of ingredients typical of Cajun cuisine—bell peppers, celery, and onions—that when blended together form a flavorful and spicy backdrop to this signature dish. Perhaps the most delicious and simplest of gumbo combinations, it’s a full-bodied stew with a seasoned roux-based sauce. There’s no mystery to making a roux; you just have to pay attention and take it almost to the point of burning before its’ just right. Great as a left-over dish, just warm it up and eat as is, or serve it over white rice for a delicious quick meal.

 

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 c. butter, divided

1/2 lb. andouille sausage, halved lengthwise and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
3/4 c. all-purpose flour

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 large onion, finely chopped
3 celery ribs, finely chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 tsp. ground sea salt  
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
4 c.  chicken broth
1 (14.5-oz.) can diced tomatoes
1 tbsp. dried oregano
1 tsp. dried thyme
2 bay leaves
2 1/2 c. shredded chicken, smoked or rotisserie (about a pound)
1 tbsp. File gumbo powder (optional)
Garnish: white rice and sliced green onions

PREPARATION:

Melt 1 tbsp. butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Cook sausage 6 minutes or until browned; remove sausage with a slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels, reserving drippings in skillet. Add remaining butter to skillet. Gradually whisk in flour; whisking constantly, until flour is a milk chocolate color (about 25 minutes).

Stir in green bell pepper and next 5 ingredients; cook, stirring constantly, 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Gradually add broth, stirring until combined. Add tomatoes, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves. Bring to a light boil; reduce heat to low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, 30 minutes or until slightly thickened.

Return sausage to pan; simmer, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. Stir in chicken. Remove and discard bay leaves before serving. Garnish with a white rice, green onion and honey/jalapeno cornbread. Enjoy, JW

SIMPLE SALISBURY STEAK

The great thing about crock pot cooking is that, no matter how “sporty” the weather is out at sea, you can still cook a hearty meal, in the sink! I have an upcoming voyage to the Galapagos and this will be one of the go-to meals that I will prepare for the crew.

 

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs. lean ground beef

1 envelope dry onion soup mix
½ c. Italian seasoned bread crumbs
¼ c. milk
¼ c. all-purpose flour
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 (10.75 oz.) cans condensed cream of chicken soup
1 packet dry au jus mix
3/4 cup water

PREPARATION:

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, onion soup mix, bread crumbs, and milk using your hands. A stand mixer makes this simple. Shape meat mixture into 8 patties.

Heat the oil in a large (cast iron) skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge the patties thru the flour just to coat and quickly brown on both sides in the hot skillet. Place browned patties into the slow cooker stacking alternately like a fan.

For the gravy, in a medium bowl, mix together the cream of chicken soup, au jus mix, and water. Pour over the meat. Cook on the Low setting for 4 hours, ladling the gravy over the meat occasionally until patties are well done. Serve over rice or noodles. Enjoy, JW

POLLO DE MAYO

Pollo de Mayo

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is often mistakenly associated with Mexican independence. Cinco de Mayo, in Mexico, commemorates their victory against the French in the Battle of Pueblo. Mexico’s independence is celebrated September 16^th.

I like “theme parties” and this recipe would be a nice dish to proffer the party host. Except for the green onion, every major component is already pre-cooked. This makes the dish easy to assemble, in advance, then pop it in the oven when needed.

INGREDIENTS:
2 c. diced cooked boneless, skinless chicken breast (or 2 x 12.5 oz. cans chicken breast meat)
1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 can (15 ounces) no added salt corn, drained
2 cloves garlic, minced
6 green onions, chopped (about ¾ c.)
2 tbsp. chili powder
2 cans (10.5 oz. each) of Cream of Chicken Soup
6 corn tortilla (6 inch) (add more if needed)
1/3 cup shredded reduced fat Cheddar cheese
4 limes, juiced

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 350˚F.  Stir the chicken, beans, corn, garlic, three-fourths of the green onions, the chili powder, soup and lime juice in a large bowl.

Now, spread about 1/4 of the chicken mixture in the bottom of a 12” cast iron skillet (a casserole dish will work fine). Arrange 3 tortillas on the chicken mixture.  Top with half the remaining chicken mixture. Repeat with the remaining tortillas and the remaining chicken mixture. Cover with tin foil.

Bake for 30 minutes or until hot.  Uncover the casserole.  Sprinkle with the cheese. Bake, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Sprinkle with the remaining green onions. Enjoy, JW

EASY ONE SKILLET CHICKEN ALFREDO

Recently, I delivered a Viking 52 C from Palmas del Mar, Puerto Rico to Miami with Capt. Devon Tull as my co-captain. We pulled into Turtle Cove Marina in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos from Dominican Republic, at the start of four day blow. We enjoyed a nice post-bash dinner at Mango’s Reef, but the bill came to $114.00 for two! On crew pay, that’s nice after a hard 9 hour run in 15-20 knot head winds, but it’s a little too much on the per diem side to maintain during a weather delay.

Providenciales is a terrific layover. Most everything a transient boat would need can be found here.  A large DYI hardware and well stocked NAPA stores takes care of the boat needs. And the Graceway IGA is a modern supermarket that has everything I need for this dish, and more. This simple one skillet dish is super easy to make with just a couple of store bought items.

 INGREDIENTS:

2 tbsp. Italian dressing (not the creamy kind)

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts  cut into cubes

10 oz. small/medium sized penne pasta

1 16 oz. jar of your favorite Alfredo sauce.

1 tbsp. dried oregano

Salt and pepper to taste

½ c. shredded mozzarella cheese

½ c. grated parmesan cheese

1 ½ c. sun dried tomatoes

Fresh chopped parsley as garnish

PREPARATION:

Heat chicken and Italian dressing in a large 12 inch skillet over medium high heat (If you don't own a large skillet, you can use a stock pot). Season chicken with salt and pepper to taste.

Cook chicken until browned and just cooked through, about 5 minutes depending on thickness of chicken.

Add the box of pasta and the entire jar of Alfredo. Add ½  the empty marinara jar with water and add to the skillet. If using a stockpot, use 2 cups water. Add the salt and pepper to taste and the dried oregano. Lightly stir the mixture to combine.

Bring mixture to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender to your liking. Stir in the sun dried tomatoes. Cover with grated parmesan and then shredded mozzarella. No need to stir. Continue to cook for 2-3 more minutes or until cheese is fully melted. You can also broil the entire skillet for about 4 minutes to make the cheese extra melty! Top with chopped parsley and serve! Enjoy, JW

BACON RUM BUTTER TARTS

When was the last time you went to Clematis Street or Las Olas Boulevard with your friends for a night out dining on fine Canadian Cuisine? Okay, I know that Canadian Bacon doesn’t actually come from Canada. But, other than poutine (French fries with cheese curds and lamb gravy), what is Canada known for, food wise?

“Peter” is a Canadian who owns a 90 foot yacht that I captain, on call. Yesterday, he sent me a couple of links about a summer time treat that folks in Ontario go absolutely bonkers over- Butter Tarts! Sensing a hint, I delved into the story.

”Butter Tart Trail” is a 30km stretch of rural Highway 6, with 18 different bakeries, markets and stores. Kenilworth, a town of 11,500 people in the middle of “the trail,” sells thousands of tarts a week. Business is so good that there is a rural battle going on over butter tarts. When the town of Wellington North heard about Kawartha Lakes, a 3 hour drive to the east, had begun their own butter tart tour, cease-and-desist letters were sent and lawsuits contemplated. One can imagine The Great Canadian Butter Tart Wars coming to blows over this delicious confection.

The only request from Peter was, “not nuts or raisins.” He didn’t say anything about the rum and bacon, but then I didn’t tell him. The report back from Peter, “They were perfect!”

INGREDIENTS:
1 box readymade pie pastry (2 crusts)
5 slices bacon, cooked until crispy and chopped
2 stick soft butter
1 c. lightly packed brown sugar
2 c. corn syrup
½ tsp. salt
2 tbsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. dark rum

PREPARATIONS:

Preheat oven to 375ºF. Cover a cutting board with parchment or wax paper. Roll out the pie dough and cut with a 3 ½” round cookie cutter to make the pastry shells. Save the leftover dough for repairs or roll it out again to make more shells. Coat your 9 count 3” mini-muffin pans (x 4 for this recipe) with non-stick spray. Carefully line muffin tins with the pastry. Place pans on middle rack of oven and bake until the shells start to brown and remove from oven.

In bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Stir in corn syrup, rum, salt and vanilla. Combine until it is just blended.  Arrange cooked bacon in bottom of the shells. Add mixture into tart shells filling each to about 2/3 full (kitchen hack – use an empty plastic catsup bottle for filling shells). Bake for about 10 minutes. Do not allow filling to bubble over. Let cool before removing tarts. Yield: 36 tarts. Enjoy JW

BREAKFAST RING

This is a fun recipe that impresses charter guests and owners alike. This basic recipe is easily modified by the ingredients you choose. Add peppers/cilantro to the eggs and place a ramekin of pico de gallo in the middle of the ring for a fiesta breakfast. Simple to make yet looks like a million bucks. Personally,  I find that a pizza baking stone works best. 

 

INGREDIENTS:

½ lb. bulk breakfast sausage

8 slices bacon, thick
5 eggs, slightly beaten
Salt and pepper, if desired
½ c. chopped sweet onion
1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 c. shredded colby-jack cheese
1 tbsp. cornmeal
Salt and pepper to taste

 

PREPARATION:

In a skillet, brown the sausage and onions over medium-high heat. Once cooked, add 4 beaten eggs and cook until eggs are firm and incorporated with the sausage/onion. Set aside.  In the microwave, cook the bacon until medium well done (not crispy). Drain and set aside. Unroll the crescent roll dough and cut along perforated lines. On the cooking stone, spread out the cornmeal.  Arrange the triangle dough into an 8 point star.  Place one strip of bacon, lengthwise, on each of the triangle dough. Trim the bacon at the pointy end so at least an inch of the dough extends past the bacon (this will be important later) Spoon the egg/sausage around the base of the dough. Cover with egg/sausage with the shredded cheese. Now carefully fold the dough over and tuck the pointy end under the base of the star. With the remaining beaten egg, brush it onto the dough. Bake at 375 or until golden brown. Serve and enjoy. JW