Smokin’ oysters #castiron #oysters #food #foodporn #soupmama (at Hog Island Oysters Tamales Bay Ca)

Happy valentines day #mypotatoheart #vday

Pretty chiogga beets💕 #vday #food #foodporn #soupmama

My olive loaf 😊 #wildyeast #bread #soupmama #food #foodporn #tartine (at Luce)

I wonder what else is growing in my yard? Foraged sorrel flowers, rosemary, miners lettuce, chickweed. ✂ it will be on your dinner plate tmrw! #wildthings #foraging #food #foodporn (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

Caper Salsa Verde

SALSA VERDE!! It is great with just about everything!  Above I topped the verde on my steak for a quick flavorful sauce.  You can try it with fish, chicken, or even just grilled bread or a fried egg!

Recipe:

1 Tbs capers (drained and chopped)

1/2 small garlic clove (finely minced) a little goes a long way!

large handful of italian parsley leaves (chopped)

juice of half a lemon or splash of red wine vinegar

about 1/4 cup - good quality olive oil

maldon sea salt

fresh ground pepper

The key is to have a very sharp knife when cutting the herbs.  This prevents bruising and really exposes the freshness of the herbs.  Mix the chopped parsley, capers, garlic together in a bowl.  Add a few pinches of maldon salt and fresh cracked pepper. THEN add the olive oil.  If you do not mix them first before adding the oil, you will end up with large raw clumps of garlic which is not fun to bite into.  Then add a few squeezes of lemon juice to your liking and adjust seasonings.  It should not be drowning in olive oil, just like a paste in the picture above.  You want to be able to taste each individual flavor.

Suggestions:  Try playing around with different oils, acids, and fresh mild herbs.  Mint and tarragon are good choices.  If you’re looking for more depth of flavor, add anchovies!  YUM!

Beef Chili with Kidney Beans

Amount: Feeds your whole DANG family!

2 lbs of Beef Chuck (ground or I prefer small dicing by hand, removing tough sinew)

1 each - onion (small dice)

1 each - green bell pepper (small dice, no seeds)

1 each - jalapeno (small diced, no seeds)

1 stick - celery (small diced)

4 cloves - garlic (minced)

1 large can - tomatoes, crushed or diced, no salt

1/2 small can - tomato paste

1 can - kidney beans (drained, rinsed)

3 Tbs - rice vinegar

1/4 cup - ancho chili powder

1/4 cup - ground cumin

1 tsp - paprika

1 tsp - garlic powder

1 tsp - powder (unsweetened)

1/2 tsp - ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp - dried or fresh chopped oregano

1/2 tsp - chipotle powder (optional for heat)

few dashes - Tabasco sauce (optional for heat)

1/4 tsp - cayenne (optional for heat)

salt/black pepper

Sweat onion, peppers, jalapeno, celery, garlic, heavy pinch of kosher salt with oil on med-high until very soft and slightly caramelized (not burnt!) about 5-10 minutes.  Add diced meat.  When meat is all brown, add spices and cook for 2 minutes.  Add tomato paste and cook for a few more minutes.  Add canned tomatoes and bring to a boil.  Cover with lid and lower heat to a simmer.  Simmer for 1 hour+ or until meat is tender and all the flavors start to blend together into one.  Add rice vinegar.  Adjust seasonings by adding more spices, heat, or salt, and cook down the spices for another 15 minutes.  If it gets too dry, add stock/water.  If it’s too wet, cook it with the lid off to reduce.  Add beans at the last minute and warm through.  Try serving with sour cream, shredded cheese, avocado, red onion, cilantro and CORNBREADDDDD!

Super Bowl beef chili!! #superbowl #49ers #food #foodporn #soupmama #chili (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

Fresh fried eggs from @backyardtreasures farm with maldon salt and housemade raisin levain #wildyeast #eggs #food #foodporn #soupmama #breakfast (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

Fresh laid farm eggs: golden yolks! Your hens did good @backyardtreasures #eggs #food #foodporn #soupmama (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

My port-raisin walnut levain #wildyeast #food #foodporn #bread

The BEST QUACAMOLE in the world...MINE.

Soup Mama’s Guacamole

Makes enough for your super bowl party!  Go 49ers!!!

Recipe:

2 each - Japaleno (seeded, fine mince)

1/2-1 each - Small Red Onion (fine mince)

5 cloves - Garlic (fine mince)

1 bunch - Cilantro (chopped)

5 each - Limes

5-6 each - Large Ripe Avocados

Kosher salt/black bepper

Finely chop the peppers, garlic, and onion.  If you want it spicy, add serrano chilies or use the seeds of the pepper.  Add fresh lime juice and a pinch of kosher salt, and let this marinate for 5 minutes like a ceviche.  As it sits in citrus and salt, the natural juices in the aromatics will release, this equal FLAVOR!  Smash the onion mixture with a muddler or the back of your spoon to really extract all that flavor.  Better yet, if you have a mortar pestle, now we’re talking!

Add your chopped cilantro!

Mix together!

Add avocados!  And mix and mash away!!  Season generously with salt.  Remember, avocados are pretty bland and salt/citrus help to boost the flavor.  Adjust your seasonings by thinking, does it need more acidity?  more salt?  more cilantro? is it spicy enough?  I personally like it really heavy on the lime, salt, and heat, and chunky!  Enjoy!

Chinita’s street tacos #staffmeal #food #foodporn

2 months later…Home-brew success! European amber ale with orange peel and fenugreek #beer #food #foodporn (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

I make broccoli beef 👲 #staffmeal #food #foodporn (at Luce)

Mama makes pickles! #food #foodporn #pickles (at Mel’s kitchen)

Nailed it. Pistachio cocoa-nib bread (at Luce)

Went to Smitten for liquid nitrogen spun ice cream: Meyer lemon with crushed ginger snaps, salted caramel with TCHO chocolate sauce. A favorite for SF locals! (at Smitten Ice Cream)

It just keep gettin’ mo bettahh #food #foodporn #bread (at Soup Mama Mel’s Kitchen)

Studied Tartine’s bread book for a month, $30 cast-iron dutch oven from antique fair, wild yeast starter…fresh sourdough country loaf for dinner everyday!

Spaghetti and meatball night!

Sauce: San marzano tomatoes, sweated onions and garlic, extra-virgin olive oil, basil leaves, pepper flakes

Meatballs: Beef, veal, pork, bellwether ricotta, parmesan, bread crumbs, milk, egg, pepper flakes