Oatmeal

Ok, fellow Monkeys, oatmeal is good, it's good for you, and your better than Quaker Instant Oatmeal. There are a variety of different Oatmeals out there taking different amounts of cooking time depending on how much of the good stuff has been stripped or how much they have been pre-cooked. Here's how you do it to it Steel Cut Oatmeal, monkey-fied!

INGREDIENTS:

1 c Steel Cut Oats (eg: John McCann)
3 c Water (Sometimes 4 c depending on the brand)
1 Banana - Sliced
1/3 c Dried Cranberries
Cinnamon (to taste)
Crushed Walnuts (to taste)

WHAT TO DO:

1. Bring Water to Vigorous Bowl
2. Pour in Oatmeal, Reduce Heat to low, & stir thoroughly
3. Cook for 20 min stirring 1-2 times.
4. Add Bananas and Cranberries, stir and cook 10 more min
5. Serve with Walnuts & Cinnamon sprinkled on top


So, here's the deal. Oatmeal in itself is bland. That's where your creativity comes in. I like to make a big batch of Oatmeal and then warm up it throughout the week. I usually just add 2-3 T of water or milk to smooth it out a bit.





AUDIBLES:
1. Replace 1/2 the water with OJ or AJ (apple juice)
2. After boiling the water, steep 2-3 bags of your favorite tea (I'll use Chai)
3. Use a slightly overripe Pear instead of the banana
4. How about raisins or blueberries etc instead of the cranberries.
5. Honey or Nutmeg along with or instead of the Cinnamon
And the best for last:
6. Make Drunken Oatmeal. Top with a "Wee-bit of Baileys"

Roasted Cauliflower with Arugula & Toasted Almonds

Ok, listen monkey nation. I really don't like cauliflower, never have. But something magical happens to cauliflower when you roast it in the oven. Here is a Roasted Cauliflower Salad recipe inspired from the NY Times.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5MFtDfEyxw (check out the video)




1 head of Cauliflower cut into fork sized pieces
6-8 T of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 t of Kosher Salt
Pepper (to taste)
2-3 T of Balsamic Vinegar
3 c of Arugula, torn into fork sized pieces
3/4 c grated Parmesan Cheese (use the real stuff!)
1/2 c toasted Almond Slivers


Dried Cranberries (optional)


1. Heat the oven to 400 deg.


2. In a large bowl, toss together the Cauliflower, 2-3 T of Olive Oil, 1-2 t of Salt, & Pepper to taste. Spread the Cauliflower on a baking sheet in a SINGLE, non-packed layer. Stirring occasionally, roast on the middle rack until tender and golden (about 30-35 min)
3. After putting in the Cauliflower to roast, use another baking sheet (can be smaller) and spread the Almonds in a SINGLE, non-packed layer. Stirring occasionally, toast on the bottom rack until lightly browned (about 12-15 min)


4. While the Cauliflower is roasting and the Almonds are toasting, whisk the Vinegar with the remaining Salt & Pepper in a small bowl. Then whisk in the remaining Oil.


5. Let the roasted Cauliflower cool for about 10 min.


6. In a large bowl, toss the Arugula, Cheese, Almonds, & Warm Cauliflower together. Pour in your Vinaigrette and toss some more.

7. Can be served with additional Cheese, Almonds, Dried Cranberries, and/or Vinaigrette sprinkled/drizzled on top.


Audibles:


1. Use Spinach instead of Arugula
2. Use Toasted Cashews/Walnuts etc instead of Almond Slivers
3. How about Mozzarella or Romano or Gruyere instead of Parmesan Cheese
4. Regular or Golden Raisins (or fresh berries in season) instead of Cranberries
5. Gasp! Use a store-bought vinaigrette if pressed for time.
6. Used sparingly and with more cheese, a pizza topping!

Trust me on this one. Give this a go because Anymonkeycan make this fantastic Salad!!
#2 of 48...

Happy 2011!

Well, Monkey Nation, I have not been the most disciplined monkey this past year. My goal was to consistently post in 2010 and I managed a grand total of 12. That's right 1-2, or only 1 per month! Bah! That's horrible! Well, this year my goal is 4 each month. Aim for the sun, I say.

So here's post #1 of 48.

In order for a good cooking experience, anymonkey needs quality tools. Here are some basic thoughts on that:

Item 1: You need a quality 6-8 in Chef's knife. This does not mean dropping 3 hun on 1 knife, however this could easily be done. In fact, "Cook's Illustrated" recommends the Victorinox Fibrox 8 inch Chef's knife currently listed on Amazon.com at $26.99 with free shipping. A quality knife that you keep sharp will go along way to kitchen happiness. Just remember hand washing is often recommended. Also, go to a Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table to see how a knife feels in your hand. Take it for a spin. Then go home and see if you can find an internet deal!

Item 2: What does a good Chef's knife need? That's right, 1 (maybe 2) sturdy cutting boards that are roughly 11" by 17" and made of wood. I'd steer clear of glass, plastic etc. Make sure it has rubber feet to keep it steady while you are using your quality knife. If yours does not, then make a trip to the Home Depot and buy some. It also may be a good idea to have 2 boards. One for raw meat/chicken and 1 for non-meat use. Better safe than sorry when it comes to that stuff!

Item 3: A quality skillet (8" or thereabouts.) Just like in #1, you can drop some serious bananas on a set of All-Clad pots and pans, but this is not necessary especially if you are just getting into cooking. I have a Calphalon Stainless Steel tri ply set with which I am happy. I like the Stainless Steel vs non stick because I don't have to worry about someone accidentally using a metal fork and ruining the non stick finish.

Item 4: A quality sauce pan (2.5 quart or thereabouts.) Same rules as #3. It's nice buying a set of pots and pans, but there is nothing wrong with only buying 1-2 pieces at a time. That way you can spend a little more buying quality vs. buying a big set that's cheaper. You want to start thinking of buying pots, pans, and knives that will last beyond your lifetime.

Items 5, 6, 7: Metal measuring cups, metal measuring spoons, glass liquid measuring cup. You need accurate amounts of ingredients

Items 8, 9: A quality spatula (small turner) and whisk. Look for something that has a bigger, comfortable handle especially for the whisk.

Item 10: A quality vegetable peeler. Just like for the whisk, a comfortable handle along with a good blade are very important. A cheap peeler with a harsh, metal handle will be no fun!

So, in 2011 (or MMXI for the educated monkeys...) anymonkeycan cook!!