Gluten Free-adaptable | Jaden's Steamy Kitchen

Last Minute TV + Roasted Chicken with Sweet Plum Sauce

Caption me! What the hell am I saying???

(no, your screen isn't dirty - I had to snag that off my TV by taking a pic of the video. The smudges? I was watching Anthony Bourdain on TV and was either practicing kissing him like a lovestruck teen or trying the new scratch 'n sniff feature on his show)

The station called me Monday morning as I was rounding the kidlets up to go to school. "We need a chef to come on air this morning! Can you do it?"

Good thing I had my Wonder Woman cape in my purse.

and good thing I had ingredients in my freezer and pantry for Firecracker Shrimp. Otherwise, I might have been forced to cook Spam 'n leftover fish scramble with a stale Cheetos crust and frozen raspberry puree.

Video here - just click on the "Featured Video" link.

***

from the Steamy Kitchen Tampa Tribune column

Part of being a good parent is teaching your kids how to eat well, you know, the whole balanced meal and limiting junk thing. Yes, I know my responsibilities well. But seriously, most kids these days register only 3 taste sensations: sweet, salty and gross. As a lover of all things delicious, the concept of “eating well” is just not enough. I want my kids to experience the goofy giddiness that follows a spoonful of the most decadent, smooth, rich chocolate pudding. Twirl with delight as they pop a sugar-snap pea open and discover bright green jewels inside. Oh, but it doesn’t end there.... (more...)

March 26th, 2008 in Chicken & Turkey |

How this food adventure all started...

So, you curious about how I started teaching cooking classes? It wasn't that long ago, 3 years ago to be exact. While this published in my weekly food column in Tampa Tribune, I wanted to share the column with you guys here on the blog as well. The point of sharing how I started is because I know many of you would LOVE to have a food related career, whether it's food writing, food photography, food blogging, teaching classes or maybe even owning your own restaurant. And hey, if I can do it without any formal culinary training (psssst...I've never even worked in a restaurant before either), anyone can.

Or, in other words, to borrow from great master, Martin Yan, "If ~~Yan~~ Jaden can cook! You can too!"

btw, in the paper, I'm limited to 650 words (which includes the recipe), and I have so much more to say than just these 650 words! So, first the text from the column, and then more from me afterwards:

(more...)

March 19th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Dear John....

Dear John....

To my dear Creative Loafing....

We’ve had a whirlwind of a romance these past 6 months. You’ve been a wonderful partner but, sadly, I must go. I’ve found someone else. And no, I’m not fucking Matt Damon.

There’s no easy way to break up, except to just tell the truth. He’s older, more mature and…sigh…has a bigger masthead. I’d be lying if I told you that size doesn’t matter, because right now at this stage in my life and career, it does.

(more...)

March 11th, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Orzo with Brown Butter and Cinnamon + Winners of tsp spice contest

Guys! Gals! Androids! I have something SO AWESOME to share with you...

and I'm not gonna.

just yet.

maybe in a couple of days.

I know, I'm a tease. But would you expect anything less from Steamy Kitchen?

In the meantime, I wanted to share a how decisions get made in the Steamy household.

(more...)

March 2nd, 2008 in Uncategorized |

Ginger, Coriander & Orange Braised Chicken + Free Spice Drawing!

I teased about this awesome package that I got and asked for several testers to help out with product testing. Thank you to the 15 testers to responded! I sent each of them 1-3 samples of tsp spices, and they each cooked with the spice and gave me a short 2 sentence review.

You guys rock.

What is tsp?

tsp spices are organic spices in perfectly measured, freshly sealed, single-use packages. Each tin comes with 12 spice packets - each 1 tsp of the spice. Their products, “packets of pure adventure,” make measuring spoons obsolete and also protect spices from light and air to ensure freshness and the fullest flavor. A reprieve from spice cabinet chaos, these one-teaspoon spice packets are stored in tin cans that look great displayed on the kitchen counter, which makes them a perfect gift for home cooks.

Dried spices lose their potency after 6-12 months and the more light and air that gets exposed to the spice, the shorter the shelf life. Simply put, if you've still got that ground ginger in the back of your pantry, inherited from old Aunt Martha, your food is gonna taste like...well...crusty Aunt Martha. Nasty. I love the concept of tsp, because I only open what I need. the rest stays fresh and sealed.

(photo from tsp spices)

Such fancy packaging...are they expensive?

$7-$9 a box (12 tsp per box) - which is about 30% more than I pay for non-organic supermarket spice. However, I've learned something this year. Rather than go find the best deal possible, I've decided that I want to buy less and splurge on things that are beautiful, lovely to use and good for my family. I want to really savor and enjoy the things I have in my home, especially in the kitchen. Let me tell you, these spices are gorgeous.

Actually, when I first opened the package, I said out loud to Scott, "Damn. All this packaging - so wasteful! What's the point of organic spices if you're going to waste earth's resources for the packaging?"

And of course, Scott replied, "Stop bitching. Reuse the boxes." So now my boys' matchbox cars smell like Oregano.

read on....I'm giving some tsp spice tins away!!!

(more...)

February 26th, 2008 in Chicken & Turkey |

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