Deep Fried Feta Cheese Recipe

This weekend is the Super Bowl, but Lulu and his friends are so disappointed that the Niners didn't quite make it (and with Kyle Williams in particular) that they're threatening not to watch the game. Even though the boys are being such party poopers, I still plan on putting out a nice spread. As they say, the game must go on!

This particular dish is my take on the traditional fare of breaded mozzarella cheese sticks. Instead of mozzarella though, I made my fried treats with raw feta cheese. The cheese is from Redwood Hill Farms, and it is just delicious! It has such a strong flavor and really holds up well to being deep-fried. Unlike mozzarella, feta cheese doesn't melt but keeps a very pleasant firm texture. 



To finish the plate, I drizzled a basil dressing on the appetizers for a contrast of color. For the party, I'll probably serve the fried feta cheese on a large tray, but you could also place a smaller portion as I did on a bed of diced vegetables.

Peanut Butter Banana Milk Drink Recipe

This recipe is for the ones who love the good old combination of peanut butter and banana, but with fewer calories. As I've said in the past, I always try to find ways to ensure that my husband Lulu, who is a vegetarian, has enough nutrition in his diet. He's also been exercising regularly lately, so I figured a healthy treat was in order.

I made banana milk that is vegan (Lulu's lactose intolerant too!). The drink is a blend of bananas, soy milk, peanut butter, cinnamon, whey protein and vanilla extract. It's a delicious way to start the day with healthy servings of potassium and protein, which is great for a vegetarian diet. Best of all, Lulu loves it! And if you like this drink, I'll post more whey protein-enhanced beverages soon.

Beef Sirloin Tri-Tip Roast Recipe

If you're having trouble cooking red meat to perfect doneness, this recipe is for you because I believe it's fool-proof. I used a bottom sirloin tri-tip roast and marinated it overnight. To ensure the meat is properly seasoned, I placed a spicy marinade (I used homemade chili garlic sauce from last summer, onion purée, maple syrup and cinnamon) in a bag and vacuum-sealed it. The following day, I seared the meat to create an outer crust and the juice remained inside for optimum tenderness. The meat roasted in the oven until the probe thermometer indicated the right internal temperature.

It was quite a large piece of meat; if wrapped properly, you can carve the meat and make the best roast beef sandwich the next day! For all you beef lovers out there, don't forget, La Cense Beef is offering a special deal to Pham Fatale readers. You can get $20 off 8 10-ounce ribeye steaks, plus 1 lb of free meatballs, all with free shipping! If that's too much meat for you, La Cense is also offering $10 off 4 10-ounce ribeye steaks. The offer ends soon, so take advantage of it now if you need steaks from Valentine’s Day, or for any other special occasion you might be planning!

The top photo was taken the following day.

Canh Kho Qua (Bitter Melon Soup Recipe)

Khổ qua ("bitter melon" in English) is a truly unique vegetable. Its warty, pale-green color could scare even a veteran foodie away. However, it’s actually a very forgiving and versatile veggie! In Vietnamese cuisine, it's often served with pork or shrimp; I filled it with soybean stuffing instead to imitate the meat and served the bitter melons in canh (Vietnamese broth).

I love this dish because it's so flavorful and the texture of the soybeans is dense and very similar to meat. I also flavored the filling with fresh wood ear mushrooms for a more meaty texture. If you're trying this dish for the first time, I have to warn you that bitter melon, as its name indicates is, well, bitter. But really, you have to try it at least once. It's a love-it or hate-it kind of vegetable, but who knows, my might get struck by Cupid's arrow!

Foie Gras Poele with Granny Smith Apples

I love foie gras. I don't get to have it as much since moving to the States, but I received some from my  very kind friend Steve over at The Milk Pail Market. And if you like this French delicacy, you will love what I accompanied it with. I sautéed diced Granny Smith apples in the rendered fat from the foie gras. It's a very simple dish but for sure will wow your Valentine if s/he likes refined French cuisine. My foie gras poêlé aux pommes Granny Smith is a delight.

The best part is that there are not a lot of ingredients involved in this dish. I simply used foie gras, Granny Smith apples, freshly pressed apple juice, apple cider vinegar and a little chicken stock. For a contrast of crunch you could add coarsely chopped hazelnuts with a drizzle of hazelnut oil as garnish. Toasted gingerbread would also make a great addition.