CHEF STACEY BETH

Saturday, January 10, 2009

TOFU-RIFIC STIR FRY

Every new years, people always resolve to eat better. I don't make resolutions myself, but I would like to kickoff 2009 by eating right and providing healthy, delicious recipes to help other reach their goals. I thought it would be fun to try cooking with tofu. I've had tofu in miso soup, but I've always been to afraid to cook with it. I also want to branch out and eat more vegetables. I use a lot of broccoli so I am going to start cooking with other vegetables (except mushrooms of course). I have recently started cooking with peppers (and even dicing up some yellow ones and adding them to my chinese chicken salad http://chefstaceybeth.blogspot.com/2008/12/new-product-alert_17.html). I didn't even think I really liked peppers that much, until I taught myself how to cook them. Peppers are great because they don't have a lot of sugar or carbs, but they keep you full for a long time. So I hope you enjoy my COLORFUL stirfry. It's pretty simple and easy to make and tastes great, so great that I made it for dinner two nights in a row!!

You will need:

Firm Tofu

Brown rice

Peppers (bell peppers any colors or use all three)

Carrots

Peas (canned, frozen or fresh)

Brocolli (I used fresh, but you can you frozen)

Teriaki sauce

1. Cook rice accordingly and set aside

2. slice peppers, carrots and tofu (into cubes)

3. steam broccolli, I do this by taking a handful, placing them in zip lock bag with water and microwaving them for 2 minutes and then straining

4. heat olive oil in a pan and stri in carrots and peppers (they will take longer to cook than the tofu and peas)

5. stir the for about three minutes, then stir in rice, tofu, peas and broccoli

6. Stir in teriaki sauce (I like to start in the middle of the pan and make a circle so that its even and doesn't burn)

7. ENJOY!!

MISS SHIRLEY'S CAFE

I went to the Miss Shirley's on Cold Spring Lane (one recently opened in downtown Baltimore) with a friend for lunch. They also have an amazing brunch (expect to wait on a Sunday) and some of the best sweet potatoes fries I have ever had. They serve them with two a flavored ketchup and an aioli dipping sauce and they are un-skipable!! I ordered the "can't beet this spinach salad" and it was pretty unbeatable. I don't even really like beets that much, at least I thought I didn't, but this salad was delicious and out of the world. I really enjoyed it. The salad had red and yellow roasted beets, pear slices, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, red onion, over spinach with poppy seed balsamic dressing. I ordered it with grilled chicken, which was perfectly seasoned and warm and without mushrooms because I hate them (and found three in my salad). It also came with a piece of flatbread on top that was really good. My friend ordered the side by side (below). You can order half a soup and half a sandwich. She ordered pumpkin soup which looked awesome and a tuna salad sandwich. They don't toast the bread and they don't really give you much tuna. It's pretty expensive and it's basically bread. I love Miss Shirley's though and have never been disappointed with anything I order. I always leave full and happy. Check it out http://www.missshirleys.com/pdf/menu.pdf

BURGER BALL @ GOOD STUFF EATERY, D.C.

Spike Mendolson's, a top chef season 4 favorite, restaurant GOOD STUFF EATERY will be open 24 hours 7 days straight in honor of inauguration (OBAMA!!!!!). The excitement begins January 16th. If you are in the area please eat here and support his new restaurant.

For more info check out

www.goodstuffeatery.com

YES WE CAN, OOPS I MEAN PECAN!

YES PECAN!

"YES PECAN!" An Inspirational Blend! Amber Waves of Buttery Ice Cream With Roasted Non-Partisan Pecans.

If you decide to indulge in some “Yes Pecan” in Scoop Shops during the month of January, Ben & Jerry’s is donating the proceeds to the Common Cause Education Fund.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, nonprofit advocacy organization founded as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process. They are committed to honest, open and accountable government, as well as encouraging citizen participation in democracy. Their Education Fund conducts research, education, and outreach activities. Check out http://www.commoncause.org to take action.

Find “Yes Pecan” at a Scoop Shop near you!

In addition to the flavor in Scoop Shops, for every person who joins Common Cause or donates $1 to the Common Cause Education Fund, Ben & Jerry’s will also donate $1. Visit our Facebook page to learn more.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

MERIDIAN 54 IS THE NEW RED FISH

845 S. Montford Ave

Baltimore, MD 21224

www.meridian54.com

I went to Meridian 54 tonight with a friend for dinner. They are also open for lunch and dinner. Meridian 54 recently re-opened and has been the third chef at the old red fish spot in the past 5 years (there could even more a few more than that). Red Fish has definetly has a lot of trouble getting it's act together. However, they have completely redone the concept and menu and are under new management and yet another new chef, so I decided it was time to give this place a chance. I am pretty desperate to find a new restaurant opening in Baltimore. Since the economy is so terrible, a lot of long standing favorites are closing.

When we got there we decided to sit at a bar table since the dining room and bar were both REALLY EMPTY. I don't like to be the only person sitting in a dining room and at least there were about 4 other people sitting at the bar. I didn't really like our server, who also doubled as the bartender. I thought she over explained things (I'm not a moron) without being asked and was really slow. They were also out of the first two wines my friend and I tried to order. I ended up getting a glass of merlot which was just fine. My friend did have a dietary restriction (kosher) and the server was very good about checking the ingredients and didn't seem to be annoyed at all, even though we sent her back to the kitchen about 3 times.

We started with the Pita Plate ($5) which was great. For a little money you got a ton of food! The plate came with unlimited pita and a trio of dips, hummus, olive tapenade and tomato tapenade. The tomato was my favorite. I thought that hummus was a little dry and that the olive was really good.

For our entrees I ordered the Arugula and Sweet Potato Salad ($8) and added on rare steak ($4.50). The salad was REALLY GOOD it had toasted cashews, blue cheese and a sauvignon blanc vinaigrette dressing. The steak, however, was over cooked, bland and chewy. I should have ordered chicken! I was really craving meat though. My friend ordered a pasta dish with penne, peas, sundried tomatoes and a cream sauce. It was kind of bland, but she seemed to like it.

We were too full to get dessert. Everything was really reasonably priced and they had a big menu, which might be why their food overall was just okay to good. They don't seem to focus or specialize one anyone thing or do any one thing specifically well. Overall it was a pleasant evening. I wish them luck.

TODD CONNER'S

700 South Broadway
in the Heart of Historic Fells Point
Baltimore, MD 21231
410-537-5005

www.toddconners.com

We went to Todd Conner's for the late game this Sunday. It serves the normal bar fare with some upscale dishes. I've eaten here before and never been thrilled and this time was no different. We sat at the bar. The bartenders are friendly and attentive and make an AWESOME Irish coffee. I've never had a bad Irish coffee, but it was perfect on a cold day where I was tired from the hard partying of the previous Saturday night!

I ordered the Thames St Turkey Wrap with bacon, swiss, lettuce, tomato and ranch dressing. They gave us chips while we were waiting, they were herbed and served warm and were irresistable! I also got a side of pasta salad with my sandwich. The pasta salad was pretty bland. The sandwich did the job, but definetly not dying to go back and probably will never be craving one. The wrap felt kinda stale and chewy and the turkey was bland and sliced too thick for my personal taste. There wasn't much bacon on it and the ranch was a bit watery. It was just okay, but a decent size and filled me up. They have all sorts of games, specials on various nights and trivia night so I would definetly go back for the fun and atmosphere, but not just simply for the food.