Dining-Out

Italian 4-course Dinner

The Menu

Lobster Bisque

Salmon Tartar

Foie Gras and Beef Tenderloin with Spaghetti

Dessert – Chocolate Cake

Hot Pepper Compound Could Help Hearts

The food that inspires wariness is on course for inspiring even more wonder from a medical standpoint as scientists today reported the latest evidence that chili peppers are a heart-healthy food with potential to protect against the No. 1 cause of death in the developed world. The report was part of the 243rd National Meeting and Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS) held last week.

The study focused on capsaicin and its fiery-hot relatives, a piquant family of substances termed “capsaicinoids.” The stuff that gives cayennes, jalapenos, habaneros and other chili peppers their heat, capsaicin already has an established role in medicine in rub-on-the-skin creams to treat arthritis and certain forms of pain. Past research suggested that spicing food with chilies can lower blood pressure in people with that condition, reduce blood cholesterol and ease the tendency for dangerous blood clots to form.

The team found, for instance, that capsaicin and a close chemical relative boost heart health in two ways. They lower cholesterol levels by reducing accumulation of cholesterol in the body and increasing its breakdown and excretion in the feces. They also block action of a gene that makes arteries contract, restricting the flow of blood to the heart and other organs. The blocking action allows more blood to flow through blood vessels.

Read more ….

Fish and Risotto

Ingredients

Citrus Glaze

Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 1 lemon
2½ Tbsp honey
1 tsp dried dill
Zest of one lemon

Carrot Risotto

Olive oil
1/2 onion, finely diced
1/2 cup arborio rice
2 cups fresh carrot juice
1 Tbsp honey
Olive oil, to taste
Salt, to taste
Pepper, to taste

Fish

2 (7 oz) arctic char filets
1 shiitake mushroom, sliced
1 Tbsp chopped fresh chives
Salt & pepper, to taste

Method

Citrus Glaze

1. In a saucepan, combine all of the ingredients and bring to a simmer.
2. Reduce, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened to the consistency of a syrup, approximately 5 to 7 minutes.

Carrot Risotto

1. In a pan, heat oil. Sweat the onion.
2. Add the rice and sweat for 1 minute.
3. To the rice, add the carrot juice a little at a time. Cook until rice is al dente.
4. Flavour the rice with honey, olive oil, salt and pepper.

Fish

1. Using a sharp knife, make shallow gashes across width of each filet.
2. Into each gash, stuff a piece of mushroom. Sprinkle with chives. Season with salt and pepper.
3. With the oven on broil, cook fish for 5 minutes. Brush with glaze and cook for another 3 to 5 minutes.

To serve

Plate risotto, top with arctic char.

Makes 2 servings.

Source: ciao!

Today’s Comic

Home-cooked Chinese Breakfast

Char Siu Noodle Soup with Fried Egg and Seaweed