We call it crunch for a reason...

...aaaand, three weeks later:
Have I mentioned how erratic my schedule can be? Not that I haven't been working, mind you, but that I've been working enough that leaving this unattended like a ginger-haired stepson lost in the clothing racks at the mall was really my only option. Sadly, I've misplaced several of my menus that I jotted down since last time. My lifestyle being non-conducive to short term memory retention, those menus have been caught in the madly rushing currents of time to be flung far and wide, never to be seen again. That being said I did some nice work earlier this week.

BoP Y2W5D1
Szechuan Flank Steak & Bok Choy Stir-fried Rice
Homestyle Kettle Chips with Blue Mornay, Anchor Bar Buffalo Sauce, & Grilled Chicken Breast
Crisp Pancetta & Shrimp with Lemon, Grape Tomato, & Fresh Basil 
Roasted Vegetable Couscous Pilaf
Caramelized Belgian Endive
Saute of Baby Kale & Asparagus Tips with Braised Garlic Cloves & Charred Red Peppers
Snap Peas & Beans with Caramelized Onions & Carrots

Pizzeria (All pies are oven-fired and finished on the char-grill)
The Laredo Express - Hand-Stretcehed Thin Crust, Roasted Tomato Salsa, Sharp Cheddar & Monterrey Jack, Seasoned Ground Beef, Poblano & Lime Creama

Melange de Trois

Crunch time makes it a bit difficult to keep up with this I'm finding, so to play a bit of catch up...

BoP Y2W2D1

Meatball Stroganoff 
Egg Noodles with Fresh Lemon Zest, Parsley, and Parmesan Cheese
Roasted Halibut Steak with Charred Tomato Salsa
Grilled Vegetable, Rainbow Quinoa, & Basmati Rice Pilaf
Saute' of Fresh Grape Tomatoes, Baby Spinach , and Crushed Garlic  

BoP Y2W2D2

Almond Crusted Gulf Black Grouper with Coconut Lime Curry Lump Crab
Mo' Rockin' Spice Roasted Potatoes
Fire Roasted Broccoli with Melted Grape Tomatoes and Braised Garlic Cloves
Stir Fried Cabbage, Carrots, and Scallions with Kefir Lime, Ginger, and Chili Garlic Sauce

Pizzeria (All pies are oven fired and finished over a char-grill)
Butcher's Delight 
-Tomato Basil Sauce, Mozzarella, Asiago, Parmesan, Boar's Head Sandwich Pepperoni, Chopped Grilled Ribeye Steak, Ground Spicy Italian Sausage, Applewood Smoked Bacon Bits

BoP Y2W2D3

Grilled  Bone-In 12oz Lollipop Pork Chop with Caramelized Shallots & Candied Applewood Smoked Bacon Bits
Pan Seared Carolina Wreckfish with Sweet and Spicy Cider Slaw
Jumbled Basmati & Himalayan Red Rices
Fresh Roasted Corn, Grape Tomato, & Pink Lady Pea Succotash
Fried Okra with Toasted Almond Cornmeal

Way of the Fudge II & III coming soon!

Just a li'l mornin' quickie.

Remind me to tell you all about monkfish some time... peanut butter pie today, and then on to the Peanut Butter Fudge Lolli of Doooommm. For those of you just joining our regularly scheduled broadcast feel free to wander around and pick up a clue...

Birds of Prey Y2W1D4
Char-Grilled Monkfish with Zesty Bloody Orange Ginger Glaze
Golden Fingerling Potatoes Smashed with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Lemon Zest, Parsley, & Sea Salt
Fire Grilled Zucchini, Summer Squash, & Carrot "Steaks" with Sriracha & Ginger Butter
Toasted Rainbow Quinoa & Fresh Kale Saute'

Pizzeria (All Pies are Oven-Baked and Finished on the Char-Grill)
Classic Pepperoni & Three Cheese
-Pomodoro Tomato Sauce, Asiago, Parmesan, Mozzarella, & Deli Sliced Boar's Head Pepperoni, 
Santa Fe Grilled Chicken
-Three Pepper Pesto, Grilled Sliced Chicken Breast, Black Bean and Roasted Corn Relish, Mozzarella & Cheddar, finished with Sriracha, Fresh Lime & Cilantro
Char Sui
-Szechuan Peanut Sauce, Bulgogi Style Ground Beef , Parmesan and Asiago, finished with Sriracha, Sesame Teriyaki-Que, Fresh Lime & Grated Ginger, Toasted Sesame Seeds, Fresh Basil Chiffonade
Spinach Mushroom Alfredo
-Spinach Alfredo Sauce, Sliced Baby Bela Mushrooms, Fresh Baby Spinach, Asiago, Parmesan, & Mozzarella finished with Fresh Basil Chiffonade & Extra Virgin Olive Oil Drizzle

Oh my gosh? Ganache?!

     There were these jars of organic peanut butter. Big suckers, too. Not just one or two either, a whole armload. Can you do any thing with all this? I'm asked... heh, so tomorrow or maybe Friday there will be Oreo Bottom Peanut Butter Pie with Peanut Butter Fudge Chunks mainly because I made a ton (not hyperbole, I swear) of said peanut butter fudge yesterday which turned out delicious, if a trifle crumbly around the edges (perfect pieces to stir off into the aforementioned pie). I was able, in the end, to portion out quite a number relatively squarish bits.
     After a round of sampling and communal discussion it was readily agreed that I would have no choice but to freeze a number of those tasty little squares, mount them ceremoniously on bamboo skewers, dip them in nothing less than some exquisitely tainted (hmmmmm... booze maybe?) variant of funnel cake batter, bury them at sea in the deep fryer for a short time, and finish them half-dipped in dark chocolate ganache. This is my mission. I choose to accept it.

Birds of Prey Y2W1D3

Menu
Key Largo Lump Crab Fritters with Yumyum Sauce
Two Pepper & Cashew Pesto Grilled Turkey Breast Steaks
Fire Roasted Vegetable Couscous Pilaf
Campfire Pinto Beans with Chilis & Sweet Onions
Saute' of Fresh Baby Spinach & Caramelized Shallots with Balsamic & Blood Orange Reduction
Grilled Corn on the Cob with Chili Cilantro Butter


...and now that I've read over that I'm pretty sure minced bits of candied bacon will be forcefully tossed in the general direction of the freshly dipped and cooling evil lollipop things. I'll keep you updated.


P.S.
I almost forgot!
The Great American Bacon Cheese Burger Chicago Style Deep Dish Pizza with Caramelized Onions & Mushrooms
Char-grilled Pizza Margherita with Cherry Tomatoes, Asiago, Fresh Basil served with Two Pepper Cashew Pesto

Birds of Prey Menu Y2W1D2

Good mornin', y'all! Just a quick menu post, then it's time to make the donuts. To check out all my recent menus follow the BirdsofPrey tag.

Pan Seared Barrelfish with a sauce of Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Fresh Grape Tomatoes & Basil
Herb-Crusted Grilled Ribeye of Beef with Blood Orange & Caramelized Onion Marmalade
Spinach Alfredo Potato Gratin
Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Fresh Thyme, Lemon Zest, and Roasted Red Peppers
Tri-Color Carrots with Gingered Wildflower Honey
Saute' of Zucchini & Summer Squash with Fresh Herbs

Birds of Prey Menu Y2W1D1

I've been back at it for a couple of days now, but today my previous year's duties resumed in earnest. Specifically, I get to cook for a select and captive audience of individuals (generally between 30-40 people) 3-5 nights a week utilizing what ever ingredients at hand strike my fancy. Occasionally, the menu may get planned out a week ahead (or, heaven forbid, 3-4 weeks), but most often I show up ready to create and execute menus on a daily basis. We're currently riding the early waves of an extended crunch, so for the next several weeks I may be at it 7 days a week, but I'm going to try and make a post with daily menus to wrap up my night. So, ...

Red Snapper & Black Tiger Shrimp Pad Thai with Cashews, Fresh Cilantro, Sriracha, and Lime
Smoked Paprika Peri Peri Grilled Chicken Breast
Jumbled Basmati & Forbidden Black Rices
Zesty Sesame Carrots & Snap Beans
Coconut Curry Cauliflower Mash
Fresh Kale Saute' with Caramelized Mushrooms, Fresh Ginger & Garlic



...how 'bouta bump if I just moistened up yer mouth! ;-P