Chicken With Preserved Lemons / Parsley Gorgonzola Risotto

Overlake Golf And Country Club Medina Washington

The Culinary Crew at the opening of the Overlake Golf Club in Medina Washington. This turned out to one  of the best Golf Club dining rooms in the state. The staff was wonderful, enthusiastic and so eager to learn something other than the old tired food that is so common in country  and gold clubs. When I first talked to them about coming up and redoing the menus for what was to be a new clubhouse based on quality  of food and service.
The original General Manager left a few months after opening for some reason and I ran the place until they got a new General Manager.  After about six months they found one . Unfortunately the one they got was a jealous, vicious little pig who could not stand me and was about to bring the place to it's knees .  It would be unfair to blame him entirely although he did relish his role. The real culprits were the board of Directors who allowed this idiot to destroy the place. He was afraid I was going to take his job away from him although nothing was further from my mind. He started spreading rumours and turning people against one another.  A typical coward. It's a typical story and I have seen it many times.  

Spicy Lentil And Sausage Soup

This is a great soup and in fact it is the national soup of Egypt. It is sold on the streets from huge containers. It is relatively easy to make.

You will need:

2 lbs lentils soaked overnight

2 carrots

1 onion

1 Celery stalk

1 head of garlic

3 bay leaves

Turmeric

Cumin

Olive oil

Portuguese linguice or other smoked sausage

1 tablespoon flour

1/2 can of tomatoes

a few hot dried peppers to taste

2 or 3 slices of bacon cut into small strips for taste.

stock or water

Heat the oil in an appropriate saucepan. Cut the bacon into strips and add to the oil, cook lightly and then add the chopped vegetables and cook until all the flavors blend.
Add the lentils and allow to cook for a few minutes until you can smell all the flavors blending. Add the garlic, bay leaf, and peppers and cook them for a minute or two. Add the tomatoes with the juice and also the spices and the flour. Mix well. Add the stock or water and bring to boil. Add the sausages. Season and simmer on the stove or in a crock pot until the lentils are tender and all the flavors come to the fore.

Correct seasoning and serve.

This is a basic recipe. You can add lamb to this recipe. You can add other sausages or a ham hock or even ground beef.

Of course we learned very quickly in the middle east that you do not put pork in any of the soups.

Article In The Seattle Papers

Roger Verge Palm Desert

Lamb Curry / Rice

Gratin Potatoes With Ham And Cheese

Couscous Leftovers

Last night leftovers with the addition of Chicken, Garbonzo Beans and Preserved Lemon. Turned out to be a completely different dish.

Lamb Meatballs / Vegetables / Couscous

Breakfast For Dinner

Moroccan Lamb Stew / Jalapeno Polenta

Corned Beef / Root Vegetables / Cabbage / Yukon Mash

Nuttin' like it !.