Archive for October, 2008

Seafood and Sausage Gumbo

1 lb Crab legs (whatever your preference, I like Dungeoness and King)
2 Halibut steaks – approximately 1lb.
1/2 pound bay scallops
1/2 pound shrimp – deveined/peeled.
1 package/6 Andouille sausage – sliced into medallions
10-16 oz salt

2 lbs okra – sliced, seeded
2 cups celery – chopped
1 bell pepper – chopped
3 tbsp – minced garlic
2 onions – chopped
1 leek – chopped
2 shallots – chopped
3 tomatoes – chopped, retain juice

6-8 cups chicken stock (or fish stock if you wish to make your own)
1 beer – I used Newcastle
1/2 cup olive oil

2 tbsp paprika
2 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp black pepper
1 tbsp powdered garlic
1-2 tbsp salt
4 bay leaves
dash Worcestershire sauce
few dashes pepper sauce
3 tsp file powder

Rice – cooked

Heat olive oil and garlic over medium heat. Slow cooking by adding liquids. Add vegetables, meats, and spices except file powder. Cook at least 1 hour, then remove the bay leaves and salt . Add file powder just prior to serving and stir well. Serve in bowls over rice.

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Dijon Roasted Pork Loin

1 Loin
3-4 tbsp minced garlic
1 orange, sliced
1 large lemon, juiced
sprigs fresh thyme
sprigs fresh rosemary
Dijon mustard
Chardonnay
Dijon Caper sauce (below)
salt/pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Brush loin liberally with Dijon mustard in a shallow roasting pan (about 2″ depth, 12″x18″).

Apply minced garlic generously to the surface on the meat. Mustard will hold some of the garlic on across the entirety of the surface, but not nearly as well to the lower half as the upper. So, concentrate the majority of the garlic onto the upper diameter. Brush another light coat of mustard on to cover any spots exposed during the garlic application.

Pour white wine into the pan to achieve about 1/4-1/2″ depth.

Salt and pepper the meat generously. Finely chop a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme and sprinkle over the meat.

Apply Orange slices generously over the meat. Drizzle slices with Dijon mustard, then finish with a couple spoonfuls of the white wine.

Bake ~1hr uncovered at 350. Baste once with lemon juice at about 30 minutes. Remove and rest before slicing. Serve slices with a ladle of Dijon Caper sauce.

Dijon Caper Sauce
1 stick butter
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup chicken broth
drippings
4 tbsp capers, well-rinsed
salt/pepper

In a small pot, melt butter over med-low heat. Whisk in heavy cream. Add chicken broth. When you’ve got about 10 minutes left on the meat, add capers. When the meat is done and resting, pour juices off into your sauce and stir. Add salt and pepper to taste.

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New Toys! More Camping Gear Essentials

I picked up a few new items for the camp. I’m hoping to get a couple more outings in before it gets too bitter cold to want to attempt the overnights outdoors. I’ll work on updating the /packing lists, and maybe start to pick out and post thoughts on the equipment in the field as I have a chance.

First up, something basically everyone needs. The Silva 360 Lensatic Compass. Heavy-duty, illuminated, and comes highly recommended, all at a very reasonable price. I don’t expect to be lost at the local car camp, but I’ve had a little experience with Orienteering so I’m able to take this on some short explorations if I like.

Leatherman Juice CS4
Second, something of much greater utility, in the field, in the office and at home. A solid multi-tool, the Leatherman Juice CS4. I have one multi-tool which I got free, but I’ll leave that in the jump pack for computer work. This new one will be much better suited to outdoor tasks and being used every day–it’s a lot smaller, and weighs a lot less, meaning I’m more likely to have it with me.


Lastly, I’m really happy to be getting an Ontario RAT-5. This knife is the fruit of a joint effort between Randall’s Adventure and Training (RAT Cutlery) and Ontario. It’s made out of extremely tough D2 steel, and the construction and finish are superb. I have a great Cold Steel Kobun tanto knife, but by design it’s more of a lethal device, whereas the RAT-5 is purpose-built for survival and outdoor utility.

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