Thursday, September 27, 2007

When you read the label...

We went to the grocery store this week and looked at a few items that are available that are similar to what we are producing. We were curious as to what their labels looked like. Here is what we found...

Pesto - produced by a well known label - had the following ingredients:
sunflower oil, basil, glucose solids, granapadno & pecorino cheeses, water, cashew flour, salt, potato flakes (contain mono & dyglycerides, sodium phosphate, sodium metasulphite, BHA), pinenuts, modified milk ingredients, virgin olive oil, garlic powder, basil flavour.

What does Chef Stephen put in his pesto? Fresh basil, garlic, pinenuts, salt, pepper, extra virgin olive oil. That's what.

A major label with a `low fat' line has the following ingredients in it's `Skinless, boneless chicken breast with a honey mustard glaze': skinless, boneless chicken breast, water, salt, spices, honey powder (honey, wheat flour, soy flour), sodium acetate, acetic acid, Xanthan gum, dehydrated parsley, flavour. Glaze contains: glucose, fructose, water, dijon mustard (white vinegar,water, mustard seed, salt, white wine, citric acid, tartaric acid, spices), honey, white vinegar, glucose, modified corn starch, tomato paste, salt, mustard flour, mustard seed, dried onion, concentrated lemon juice, spices(including onion & garlic powder), flavour & caramel colour.

What does Chef Stephen put in his chicken breasts? Chicken breast, salt, pepper. Glaze contains: honey, mustard, shallots, garlic, white wine, fresh rosemary, salt & pepper.

You decide which you want to feed to your family.

Here's the recipe of the week for your fall curry...
Jamaican Coconut Cornbread
1 c unsweetened, shredded coconut
1 c coarse corn meal
1 c whole wheat flour
1 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/4 firmly packed brown sugar
1 1/2 c coconut milk
1 large egg (vegan can substitute a couple of T of coconut milk for the egg)

Method:
Preheat the oven to 300 F. Oil a 9x9" square baking pan. Spread the coconut on a baking sheet & bake for 5 minutes. Then stir. Bake for 5 minutes more. When the coconut is golden brown transfer to a bowl and cool. Raise temperature of oven to 400 F. In a large bowl stir together the coconut, cornmeal, flour, baking powder, salt & brown sugar. In a separate bowl whisk the coconut milk & egg (if using), stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Transfer to the prepared baking pan. Bake for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool on a rack.

Enjoy with your curry!

See you at the Moose this weekend Friday, Saturday or Sunday. We also have lots in the freezer to sell so give us a call to place your order!
CA & Chef Stephen

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

We'll cater to you...

We are very open to suggestions in when it comes to the catering part of the business.
  • We will do what we are calling `drive by's' - this is where we will drop off the food `oven hot'. This is no- frills. You have the dishes. You do the service. This is available from $16 per person. Minimum of 10 people.
  • While the Moose Mountain Grill is still available for us to use that is the second level of catering. For a minimum of 10 people and a maximum of 30 we will deliver our usual delicious meal. We require $100 catering fee and a minimum of $30 per person.
  • Finally, what Chef Stephen really wants to do - come into your home for a minimum of 10 people. This service starts at $30 per person. And the sky is the limit in terms of what you and Chef can come up with!
And now...with the cool weather...Chef has come up with a wonderful recipe you warm your insides!

Thai Fish Curry
4T Thai fish sauce
2T soy sauce
1 fresh red chili seeded & chopped
12 oz halibut cut into cubes
12 oz fresh salmon cut into cubes
juice of 1 lime
1 3/4 c coconut milk
3 kaffir lime leaves
1 T red thai curry paste
1 lemon grass stalk (white parts only) finely chopped

Method:
Combine 1/2 the fish sauce and soy sauce in a shallow non metallic dish. Add the chili & fish. Squeeze over the lime and stir to coat. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Bring the coconut milk to a boil in a pan & add the lime leaves, Thai curry paste, the remaining fish sauce & the lemon grass. Simmer gently for 10 minutes. Add the fish & the marinade. Simmer gently for a further 5 minutes or until fish is cooked. Serve hot with rice!

Did you see the snow this morning?! Have you bought your ski passes? OK - there's a bit of summer left! See you at the Moose this weekend!
CA & Chef Stephen.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

You can start ordering anytime...

We are ready to go - and in fact are eager for your suggestions on what you would like in your freezer. We have the items listed in the last blog and Chef is busy testing lasagne's and playing with his new cryovac machine. Here's something you might like... we will be assembling meals ...sealing them... and with a snip of your scissors and a micro wave you can have a Moose Mountain Meal in the comfort of your own home! Great for you ranchers who are a loss on what to eat on those nights in the field!

The Moose Mountain is ready to discuss your Christmas function. We have taken a few calls already so phone and reserve your date.

We are announcing Moose Mountain Breakfast Meetings. For a minimum of 10 people we will supply a BEAUTIFUL continental breakfast, complete with tea, coffee, juice, milk, GST, Grat & use of the room for $20 per person.
Also... Moose Mountain Lunches...real, homemade (not Bridgebrand!) soup, 2 varieties of sandwiches on homemade bread, non alcoholic bevie, GST, Grat & use of room for $20 per person - a minimum of 10.

And now the recipe...
Chicken in Lemon & Garlic
4 large skinless, boneless chicken breasts
5 T olive oil
1 onion finely chopped
6 garlic cloves finely chopped
2 lemons - zest & juice
4 T chopped, fresh Italian parsley
Salt & pepper
lemon wedges & crusty bread to serve

Method:
Slice chicken breast width wise into thin slices. Heat olive oil in a large, heavy bottom skillet. Add onion & cook for 5 minutes or until softened but not brown. Add garlic cook for 30 seconds then add chicken and cook gently for 5 - 10 minutes until all ingredients are lightly browned. Add the grated lemon grind & juice scrapping and stirring all the bits from the bottom of the skillet. Remove skillet from heat. Stir in the parsley and season with salt & pepper. Serve on warm platter with lemon wedges and chunks of crusty bread. Enjoy!

In case you think that Chef could get a bit crazy with his new cryovac machine - have no fear - the taste will still be there. Not at all like this...

On airplane food:
"The shiny stuff is tomatoes.
The salad lies in a group.
The curly stuff is potatoes, the stuff that moves is soup.
Anything that is white is sweet.
Anything that is brown is meat.
Anything that is gray, don't eat."
-Stephen Sondheim, "Do I Hear a Waltz?" 1965.

All for now! See you at the Moose this week starting tomorrow thru Sunday at 5:00 PM!

CA & Chef Stephen


Thursday, September 6, 2007

We're ready to go when you are...

Chef Stephen has been working hard to fill the freezer and we have the following selections available for sale:
  • basic tomato sauce
  • white sauce (bechemel)
  • bolognese sauce
  • pasta sauce of the week
  • green peppercorn sauce
  • wild mushroom sauce
  • satay sauce (spicy peanut)
  • thai coconut curry sauce
  • pesto
We are ready to take bookings for Christmas parties and orders for freezer food. Please let us know what you are interested in buying and we will make it! It's that simple!

The restaurant remains open Friday, Saturday & Sunday until the end of October. It would be nice to see you before we close & of course I'm always interested in talking about the new business!

Now for the recipe of the week...
Poke (pronounced poky!)
1 lb fresh ahi tuna
1 medium tomato chopped
1 1/2 c fresh seaweed (or substitute nori - chopped up)
1/2 c maui onion
1 t sesame oil
1/2 t crushed red pepper
2 T Japanese soy sauce

Chop ahi into 1/2 inch cubes. Place in large bowl. Gently toss with tomato, 1 cup of seaweed, onions, sesame oil, and red pepper. Add soy sauce & serve garnished with remaining seaweed.

For those of you that have about as much chance of finding ahi tuna and fresh seaweed as flying to Maui on the next plane - I have already slapped Chef across the head - and he promises - no swears that you can find these ingredients at Sobeys. Let us know!

All for now! Call us with your catering needs. We'll be ready to roll at the end of September!

CA & Chef Stephen!