Chili-Beef Lettuce Wraps

A Novel Baker event just wouldn't be complete at our house without one of Bandwidth's contributions. The ex-rugby player has no interest in bunnies, but he's keen about food and greatly admires my fellow NBs, Jain (...a quiet life) and  Mary (Home Is Where the Boat Is).

He chose a Gordon Ramsay recipe on the basis that Gordon is British, as was Beatrix Potter, and also, Bandy is a huge Ramsay fan. So here is Bandy's version of Chile-Beef Lettuce Wraps.

Gordon Ramsay's Chile Beef Lettuce Wraps

from Gordon Ramsay's Home Cooking

      

Olive oil

8 oz lean ground beef

8 oz ground pork

Sa salt and freshly ground black pepper

Toasted sesame oil

2 garlic cloves, peeled and finely chopped

2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped

1 or 2 red chiles, seeded and chopped

1 Tbsp light brown sugar

1 Tbsp fish sauce

Zest of 1 lime; juice of 1/3 lime

3 scallions, trimmed and chopped

2 small Boston lettuces (or equivalent), separated into individual leaves

Mix the beef and pork, adding salt/pepper and blending well. Into a large frying pan, add a bit of olive oil. Add the meat mixture to the pan and cook until brown and crumbly. Drain the cooked meat and set aside. Using a paper towel, wipe out the pan. Into the pan, add 1 Tbsp toasted sesame oil. Next, add garlic, ginger, and chiles. Add a pinch of salt and a pinch of sugar. Cook for 2 minutes. Add the drained, cooked meat. Stir. Add the fish sauce (we used Worcestershire) and stir. Add lime zest and lime juice; stir. Add scallions and stir for about 30 seconds. Remove the pan from the heat.

In a separate bowl, mix:

1 Tbsp soy sauce

Juice of 1/2 lime

1 tsp toasted sesame oil

1/2 red chile, thinly sliced

Small bunches of cilantro leaves, chopped

1 or 2 tsp fish sauce (to taste)

1 tsp light brown sugar

1 Tbsp olive oil

Adjust the above dressing ingredients to taste. 

Pour dressing into a bowl. 

Place meat mixture in lettuce leaves and drizzle the meat with the dressing.

Serves 4

Bandy recommends taking a peek at Chef Ramsay's video, which

shows a step-by-step plus tips and commentary.



The Novel Bakers' Beatrix Potter Easter Week will continue today and tomorrow (I'll miss it!). Visit Jain (...a quiet life) and  Mary (Home Is Where the Boat Is) for some of the prettiest vignettes I've ever seen, along with festive springtime recipes. You can also find links on the Beatrix Potter Week board at Pinterest.

Bandwidth and I will return tomorrow, April 13, for the Beatrix Potter Easter Week wrap up.

Thanks for visiting!

 

 



I'm participating in:

Metamorphosis Monday

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Down the Rabbit Hole

 When Beatrix Potter created Peter and the other rabbits, I wonder if she had an inkling that her characters would be synonymous with Easter decorating. 

If she could peek into a Home Goods, I think she'd be pleased to see bunny tureens, napkins, plates, tablecloths, figurines--and faux chocolate rabbits.  

 Me, I have my share of rabbit stuff. 

There's just something about a bunny that says, 

"Spring is on the way." They're instant smile-makers for children of all ages.

I'm joining the Novel Bakers for Beatrix Potter Easter Week. Visit Jain (...a quiet life) and  Mary (Home Is Where the Boat Is) for some of the prettiest vignettes I've ever seen, along with festive springtime recipes. You can also find links on the Beatrix Potter Week board at Pinterest.

(Note: The Foodie Friday link will be available right here at 7 PM, Thursday April 10th.)

Thanks for visiting!

Sources:
Rabbit salad plates -- Williams Sonoma
White dinner plate -- American Atelier "Bianca"
Yellow daffodil bowl/plate -- Horchow (several years ago)
Depression glass
Flatware: Pottery Barn

A Tablescape Thursday contribution.
A Seasonal Sundays Contribution
An Inspire Me Tuesday Contribution
A Let's Dish Contribution
Wow Us Wednesday

Jemima's Savoury Picnic Omelette

Beatrix Potter Week continues today with a recipe, along with a closer look at the woman who created the world's most famous lagomorph: Peter Rabbit. 

When Beatrix Potter was sixty years old, her books were international bestsellers. An American magazine invited her to write a short biography for her many fans, and Beatrix described herself as an artist/farmer/lawyer's wife who lived in the Lake District. In a private note to the editor, she added:

"I don't think anybody requires to know more about me." 

Eighty nine years later, her fans would beg to differ.

Beatrix's private life has been gleaned through letters, interviews, and her body of work. We know that she was a sickly, lonely, creative child. She grew up in London and summered in the country with her family. Her mother was loving but overbearing. 

On Beatrix's thirtieth birthday, she was still living at home, suffering through her mother's matchmaking. Beatrix was having none of it. She wanted to draw, write, and tend to her animals, real and imaginary. 

One summer her family leased a house in the hilly, northern Lake Country. The garden overlooked the water, which was always changing and provided endless inspiration to Beatrix. She was smitten with everything, from the moors to wild mushrooms.
The holiday ended, and Beatrix's parents herded her back to London, where she began to sell illustrated cards.

A decade later, professional success and an unbearable sorrow would dovetail into the perfect storm, bringing her back to the Lake District. She bought Hill Top Farm and orchestrated the renovation from afar, as her mother deemed it "unseemly" for a woman to live alone. However, she turned Beatrix loose now and then, allowing her famous daughter to visit her "country home."

Once, Beatrix arrived at Hill Top and discovered that the contractor had created a huge, hideous front lawn. (Possibly he'd assumed that a city slicker like Miss Potter would want to play croquet.)

It would cost a small fortune to correct the error, so Beatrix planted potatoes. 

Speaking of potatoes . . . I made a potato-leek omelette and

scorched it a bit. Still, it was delicious. How can you go wrong when a recipe calls for sauteed potatoes, onions, peas, leeks, peppers--and six large eggs?

The preface to the recipe* is utterly charming:

"In The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, gullible Jemima is delighted when the silver-tongued, foxy gentleman, Beatrix's favourite villain, invites the duck to a private dinner party.

 'Not even the mention of sage and onions made her suspicious.' She really believes 'the gentleman with sandy whiskers wants her to fetch herbs from the farm garden to make a savoury omelette." 

The author of Beatrix Potter Country Cooking, Sara Paston-Williams, added her notes to the recipe:

"This particular savoury omelette is delicious for a picnic. If you are eating it as part of a meal, the quantity will serve 6; for a main dish, count on 3 servings."

What You Need:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large potato, peeled and diced (I parboiled the potato to reduce cooking time)

1 small leek, finely chopped

6 tablespoons cooked green peas, fresh or frozen

1 large red bell pepper, deseeded and finely chopped

6 tablespoons (1/2 cup) chopped fresh parsley

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

6 large eggs

Salt and freshly milled black pepper

...

Over a medium flame, heat the oil. Add the potato and cook for about 10 minutes or until browned. Add the onions and sautee. Add the leek and pepper. Cook 6 to 8 minutes. Add the peas.

In another bowl, beat the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Add parsley and cheese. Pour the mixture over the potato-leek-onion dice. Cook over a medium flame for about 5 minutes. Stir at least twice to distribute the egg mixture. Do not burn the omelette (as I did). Remove the pan from the flame and run under the broiler. Cook until the eggs puff up and turn golden. Serve warm. If you're taking the omelette to a picnic, wrap and refrigerate.

Visit  Jain (...a quiet life) and  Mary (Home Is Where the Boat Is) for

springtime magic--recipes, tablescaping, and more.  You're invited to follow our adventures during Beatrix Potter Week on Pinterest.


You can find Monday's recipe for Cucumber-Strawberry Salad HERE.

Recommended Reading:
Beatrix Potter: At Home in the Lake District by Susan Denyer
Beatrix Potter's Country Cooking by Sara Paston-Williams
Beatrix Potter's Gardening Life by Marta McDowell





I'm participating in the following parties:
Wow Us Wednesdays
Tablescape Thursday
Seasonal Sundays

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