Category General

Getaway from the Cold with Moroccan Bisteeya Baskets

Last week, San Franciscans thanked their lucky stars they live in California.  This week, we join Seattlites and Chicagoans with cold, rainy weather so we decided to post a recipe that will help us all warm up and take a break from the cold.  Escape to Morocco without leaving the comfort of your home with our Moroccan Bisteeya Baskets Filled with Chicken, Raisins & Cinnamon Recipe.

Imagine yourself in the Red City as you sink your teeth into these savory & sweet phyllo dough pies with bite-sized servings of juicy chicken, exotically spiced with saffron, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon and cumin.  The blend of spices will whisk you away to the wonderful spice markets in Marrakech.

Ingredients:

Chicken Filling:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon saffron threads
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1 Tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted and ground
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground pepper
2 pounds boneless chicken thighs, shredded in a food processor
3/4 cup golden raisins, chopped
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup slivered almonds, lightly toasted and chopped
1/3 cup flat leaf parsley, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Topping:
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 cup powdered sugar

Baskets:
6 sheets of phyllo dough (1/3 pound)
1 sticks unsalted butter, melted

Methods/Steps:

Preheat oven to 375ºF.

Filling: Melt butter in large sauté pan. Add chopped onion. Cook on medium heat until begin to brown, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, saffron, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt and pepper and cook 1 more minute.  Add chicken and cook over low heat until cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add chopped raisins and then slowly add the beaten eggs, stirring constantly until set, about 2-3 minutes. Mixture looks curdled. Transfer the filling to a bowl to cool. Stir in almonds and the chopped parsley and cilantro.

Topping: Combine cinnamon and powdered sugar. Set aside.

Make Baskets: Place 1 sheet phyllo on dry surface.  Keep remaining dough moist with damp towel. Brush with melted butter. Top with second sheet, brush with butter. Finish with third sheet, brush with butter.  Cut out a 3-inch circle.  Sprinkle circle with the cinnamon sugar topping.  Transfer the circle in a mini muffin tin. Once a muffin tin is full, transfer to the oven and bake for 10 minutes or until golden.  Remove from the oven and fill each cup with chicken filling and return to the oven for 2 more minutes to heat through.

Serve: Sprinkle with more cinnamon topping and garnish with a cilantro sprig and serve while hot.  Makes 30.

Recipe created by Parties That Cook® www.PartiesThatCook.com

Culinary Food and Wine Tour of the Napa Valley

According to Sunset magazine, Yountville “boasts more Michelin stars per capita than any place on Earth”, which made it a perfect spot for Parties That Cook’s own Bibby Gignilliat to spend a culinary food and wine weekend with girlfriends. The ladies spent three days eating, drinking, and shopping it up in style, and the reports on Napa’s must-visit hot spots are in!

Oxbow Market is a fun stop for a quick bite at Pica Pica Maize Kitchen, a sweet treat at Kara’s Cupcakes, an energy boost at Ritual Coffee Roasters, or even some wine tasting at Oxbow Wine Merchant. San Franciscans will love the familiar Ferry Building feel of Oxbow Market, which is also home of Taylor’s Automatic Refresher and Hog Island Oyster Company.

Bibby insists that her meal at Michael Chiarello’s Bottega was one of the best she’s ever had. The entire table raved about the Pecorino pudding. Can’t make it out to Napa in the near future? Not to worry, you can make the pudding at home with this recipe from the San Francisco Chronicle.

Redd was another shining culinary star of the weekend, with dishes like Monterey Calamari with Chickpea-Pepper Ragout, Pinenuts, Olives, and Aioli, Crisp Duck Confit with Savoy Cabbage, Foie Gras Meatballs and Crispy Spaetzle, and the Butternut Squash and Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter and Pomegranate Reduction.

Also worth a stop is Etoile Restaurant at Domaine Chandon, whose own Perry Hoffman was recently named Rising Chef of the Year by the SF Chronicle. With mouthwatering menu items like the Dungeness Crab Kohlrabi with Passion Fruit and the Roasted Lamb Loin with Medjool Dates and Lentil Puree, it’s easy to see why.

For the absolute Napa brunch experience, one must dine at Ubuntu Restaurant and Yoga Studio (meal to either be preceded or immediately followed by a yoga class). This is true California zen.

Other notable restaurants in the Napa Valley roundup include the ever popular French Laundry, Ad Hoc, Bouchon, Bistro Jeanty, Terra, and Martini House.

It’s easy to get caught up in the fabulous food of Napa Valley, but don’t forget you are in wine country! Some of our favorite spots for wine tasting are: Duckhorn (relaxed spot where tasters can sit and enjoy their wine), Paraduxx (same owners as Duckhorn with a modern setting and feel), Cakebread Cellars (good for a tour and a tasting), Goose Cross Winery, Darioush, and Crushpad (recently moved from San Francisco).

For the ultimate in luxury Napa lodging, book a stay at Bardessano. The hotel features a restaurant with farm fresh menu, a rooftop pool, outdoor showers, organic linens, and bicycles for guests to explore wine country at no additional cost. Bibby and friends enjoyed a relaxing ride along Yount Mill Road.

For a slightly less indulgent stay, check out Maison Fleurie, described as “French country romance in the heart of Napa Valley” which “blends the modern luxuries and sophisticated services of a boutique hotel with the traditional amenities and architecture of a B & B”.

And no weekend getaway would be complete without a little shopping. The gals loved the Cake Plate in Napa, an adorable boutique that shares its space with a cupcakery. Artist Collective Maisonry allows admirers to sip wine while browsing art and vintage furnishings. Serious shoppers should stop in St. Helena, which holds a plethora of cute shops that are worthy of a few saved paychecks.

Skip the beach for your next vacation and head to California’s wine country for culinary food and wine tour you won’t soon forget. Been to Napa Valley? Feel free to share your additional tips and secret gems with us!