Volume 26 Issue 9 September 2012 www.ajijiccasa.org CULINARY ARTS SOCIETY OF AJIJIC MONTHLY NEWSLETTER CATEGORIES Category One (A): Mexican Main Dish Category Two (B): Mexican Dessert Next CASA Meeting Monday, September 17th Presenters should arrive to be set up no later than 3:45. Meeting begins at 4pm at Min Wah Page 1 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic NEW MEMBERS FOR 2012! CASA WELCOMES ALL OF OUR NEW MEMBERS! Evelyn Cronin Lois Cugini Audrey Doll David Evans Keith Martin Maureen Martin Richard Nast Daphne Peerless Erik Phariss Sacha Phariss George Radford Regina Szava Rosanne Wilshire Tony Wilshire Susy Wright Presidents Message As President I have decided that it would be interesting to hear from one of our board members each month. This month we are presenting Beth Cathcart, CASA’s Programs & Decorations Board Member. Thank you. Pat Carroll I was born in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, but raised in Toronto Ontario. Going to the University of Toronto, I worked the week-ends in a restaurant where I developed my love for cooking and entertaining. When I graduated, an opportunity came up to be a partner in a restaurant. After a very educational & demanding seven years running our business, we were very fortunate to sell to the restaurant chain, East Side Mario's. Owning a restaurant may seem glamorous, but it is the most difficult business of all. Then I had to decide what my next venture was going to be. With my experience in the hospitality industry; I went for my TRUE love...INTERIOR DESIGN. Studying at Niagara College of Applied Arts I got a four year degree in Architectural Drafting and Interior Design. Planning to specialize as a hospitality designer, I started a company with another designer; naming it “PARTNERS IN DESIGN”. Our marketing for clients was “you get two designer's advice for the price of one”! As our company grew over the 9 years...they only had advice from one partner! After getting married we relocated to Peterborough, Ontario; where we lived on the family cattle farm. Our business was BEEF and we had pride in our "Heads". When the spring came our calf's were born. I became very involved in the birthing and loved watching them being turned out to our pastures. I soon became an activist against milk feeding and slaughtering calves. Again, I took on another project; campaigning to have many MAJOR food stores not carry veal. I retired three years ago to Lakeside; first staying with my parents; where I enjoyed making their dinners. I loved researching all the great fresh produce, spices, fish & poultry that Mexico has to offer. A few months after I arrived here, I met a lovely lady in a beauty salon and after discussing nail colour, it turned to FOOD! She invited me to be her guest at CASA! I attended and decided I would join! I am VERY impressed by the caliber, expertise & dedication of the members of CASA. Every month is an amazing learning experience and it is a pleasure to be involved in this society. Beth “My first visit to the farm” “This hefer, #41, took a liking to me; she was never shipped-spending the next eight years in our pastures!”
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Volume 26 Issue 9 September 2012 www.ajijiccasa.org
CULINARY ARTS SOCIETY OF AJIJIC
MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
CATEGORIES
Category One (A): Mexican Main Dish
Category Two (B): Mexican Dessert
Next CASA Meeting
Monday, September 17th
Presenters should
arrive to be set up no later
than 3:45.
Meeting begins at 4pm
at Min Wah
Page 1 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
NEW MEMBERS FOR
2012!
CASA WELCOMES ALL
OF OUR NEW MEMBERS!
Evelyn Cronin
Lois Cugini
Audrey Doll
David Evans
Keith Martin
Maureen Martin
Richard Nast
Daphne Peerless
Erik Phariss
Sacha Phariss
George Radford
Regina Szava
Rosanne Wilshire
Tony Wilshire
Susy Wright
Presidents Message As President I have decided that it would be interesting to hear from one of
our board members each month. This month we are presenting
Camille feels very fortunate to be born in a family where the food was very important and healthy. It was customary in her family
to prepare food which was fresh and not processed food. Both her mother and father cooked at home. One of her first culinary
lessons was at 5th grade primary school, where she had two hours of class every week. She continued cooking myself and
referenced many culinary books and also enjoyed learning from culinary programs. Camille has been part of the judging team at
CASA five times in the past.
She personally likes to prepare interesting dishes from various countries. Some favorites are: French, Thai, Asian, Indian and
Italian. She believes the culinary experience has dramatically changed for the better; people are more health conscious now and
prefer to refrain by not using fats, sugars and salts. Rather blending herbs and spices and creating harmony and giving pleasure
to the taste buds.
AUGUST
2012
Judges
Page 5 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR SEPTEMBER SPEAKER!
RICCO KABANDE
OWNER OF TACO STAND ON CARATERRA IN AJIJIC
PART OF 2012 CHEF’S UNDER THE STARS & IS A PRIVATE CATERER!
August Speakers
Mario & Marina Wille
Mario was born in Lima, Peru, however moved to Guadalajara in 1957. In the 1960’s his family spent weekends
in Chapala. Mario became a Mexican citizen and has lived in Mexico City for 32 years. His father was German
and his mother Spanish and he is the youngest of four children. He has two children. Mario graduated from the
University of las Americas (Cholula Puebla and earned a BSBA in Business Administration. He then earned
an Associate MBA from the University of Denver specializing in Marketing. He worked for Johnson & Johnson,
Alcon Labs and Polaroid Corporation, where he specialized in healthcare.
He and Marina just moved to San Niclas de Ibarra 40 days ago. Mario and Marina love to cook based on their
early childhood experiences with their mothers in the kitchen. Mario learned to make brownies when he was ten
years old along with many Christmas cookies. Marina learned many Mexican specialties such
as pozole blanco, tamales, cuitlachoche as she was growing up.
In 1979 Mario took an Oriental Cooking class while in Denver; which specialized on Chinese Szechuan food and
their use of hot pepper, hot & sour soups and stir frys.
Mario and Marina spoke about why their Gourmet Coconut Flan is in fact “organic” due to the use of “happy cow’s
milk”! We understand their “presentation” received cheers! They talked about using the best ingredients to make
the best product! Marina discussed her special pozole recipe and tamales. Mario closed the presentation talking
about his Peruvian background and the history of Peruvian foods.
Mario and Marina make a 100% Natural Gourmet Coconut/Caramel Flan called "Flantástico".
They presently sell at the Monday Market and the Tuesday Farmers Market.
Page 6 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
Judy
WINNER’S PHOTO GALLERY
JUDGES—CATEGORY A– Hot & Cold Soups
FIRST PLACE—Nancy Traill Tom Kha Gai-Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
SECOND PLACE– Alexandra Gordon Ukrainian Borscht
THIRD PLACE—Sally Myers Summer Evening Soup
FIRST PLACE
NANCY TRAILL
Tom Kha Gai
Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
SECOND PLACE
ALEXANDRA GORDON
Ukrainian Borscht
THIRD PLACE
SALLY MYERS
Summer Evening Soup
Page 7 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
WINNER’S PHOTO GALLERY
THIRD PLACE
EVELYN CRONIN
Bananas Foster Cake
FIRST PLACE
ROBERTA HILLEMAN
Pear and Almond Pie
SECOND PLACE
ANITA CALDWELL
Brownie Coconut
Chocolate Cream Cake
JUDGES CATEGORY B & PEOPLE’S CHOICE—ITALIAN DESSERT
FIRST PLACE—ROBERTA HILLEMAN
Pear and Almond Pie
SECOND PLACE—ANITA CALDWELL
Brownie Coconut Chocolate Cream Cake
THIRD PLACE—EVELYN CRONIN
Bananas Foster Cake
Page 8 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
WINNER’S PHOTO GALLERY
CATEGORY B
MARTI HURLEY
PIGNOLI NUT PIE
CATEGORY A
ANNIE GREEN
TOM KA GAI
THAI COCONUT SHRIMP
SOUP
PEOPLE’S CHOICE WINNERS
CATEGORY A—HOT/COLD SOUPS
ANNIE GREEN
TOM KA GAI-THAI COCONUT SHRIMP SOUP
CATEGORY B—PIES & CAKES
MARTI HURLEY
PIGNOLI NUT PIE
Page 9 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
Tom Kha Gai (Thai Coconut Chicken Soup) – Nancy Traill
Time to prepare: 30-40 minutes
2 cups chicken broth, fat removed (or water, but not chicken cubes)
8 slices galangal (if not available, use the bottled paste available at Superlake; ginger is not a substitute)
4 stalks of lemon grass, lower 1/3. Bash the stalks lightly but don't overdo it or you create slivers. Slice it into pieces on an angle
4-6 coriander roots
2 cups coconut milk (Chaokah is a good brand) or a mix of coconut milk and coconut cream
2 chicken breasts thinly sliced against the grain
10 kaffir lime leaves (dried are fine, use more if needed)
1/2 piece of kaffir lime peel (dried is fine), optional
1-2 cups mushrooms - I used a mix of tinned quartered straw mushrooms, fresh button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms, sliced
Red chile pieces as desired
Fish sauce to taste (about 4 tablespoons)
Lime juice to taste (about 1/2 lime)
Nam prik pao to taste
Simmer the galangal, lemon grass and coriander roots in the broth for about 15-20 minutes. Add the chicken and coconut milk, sim-
mer until the chicken is just cooked. Add the lime leaves, peel (optional) and mushrooms and cook for 5 minutes or so. Flavour with
fish sauce, lime juice and nam prik pao just before serving. Should be a little salty and sour with a touch of sweetness from the prik
pao and coconut. Serve with chile/garlic condiment or extra chilies, nam prik pao, chopped coriander. The herbs are usually left in
the dish and not eaten, but may be removed. Can be served over jasmine rice.
Chile and garlic condiment Chop finely equal amounts of fresh red chilies and garlic, add a little ground white peppercorn and a small amount of very finely
chopped fresh coriander roots.
Nam Prik Pao (Roasted Chile Paste) 35 g dried red chilies, most seeds and all stems removed (wear gloves)
65 grams garlic cloves
85 g shallots, peeled
20 g shrimp paste (or belacan)
banana leaf for roasting shrimp paste
150 g palm sugar ground or chopped into small pieces. (Golden cane sugar also works well)
25 g dried shrimp, ground in food processor
4 tablespoons tamarind paste
4 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 c water (about)
1/2 cup vegetable oil (not olive-use something without much flavour)
1/2-3/4 c vegetable oil
Keep the garlic and shallots separate and slice them finely and evenly on a mandoline or in a garlic slicer. Lay them out on a pan and
dry them in the sun or at a very low setting in the oven. Wrap the shrimp paste in a banana leaf and roast for a minute or two over a
gas flame or BBQ. Fry the garlic and shallot slices separately in the oil until crisp and golden. Fry the dried shrimp in the same oil
until almost crispy. Lastly fry the roasted shrimp paste lightly.
Roast the chilies in a dry iron pan but don't burn them. In a blender on a lower speed, grind the fried garlic, shallots & dried shrimp
with the dried chilies into a fine paste. Add the roasted chilies, fried shrimp paste, tamarind, palm (or golden cane) sugar and fish
sauce to the blender and grind until you make a paste. Heat another 1/2 c oil and fry the paste for a few minutes. Add a little water
and cook until it is like jam or ketchup in texture. Colour should be dark mahogany. If too thick add more water. Store it in a jar top-
ping with the cooking oil (the oil is used as well as the paste). Will keep refrigerated for months.
10Page 10 Culinary Arts Society of Ajijic
Pear and Almond Pie with a Chocolate-Almond Crust – Roberta Hilleman
Pears 4 cups water
1 ¼ cups sugar
1 ½ TB fresh lemon juice
4 firm ripe Anjou pears, peeled
Crust
½ cup confectioner’s sugar
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
¼ cup blanched slivered almonds
1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
9 TB unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
3 TB unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon salt
Almond Filling
2/3 cup blanched silvered almonds
1 TB all-purpose flour
7 TB sugar
6TB unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg
(Pears, crust, and filling each can be made 2 days ahead. Keep refrigerated separately.)
For Pears:
Bring 4 cups water, sugar, and lemon juice to boil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar
dissolves. Add pears. Reduce heat to medium and simmer until pears are very tender, turning occasionally, about
20 minutes. Cool pears in syrup.
For Crust:
Blend powdered sugar, almonds, and salt in processor until nuts are finely ground. Add butter and blend until smooth,
scraping down sides of bowl occasionally. Mix in egg. Add flour and cocoa. Using on/off turns, blend until dough
comes together in clumps. Gather dough into ball; flatten into disk. Roll out chilled dough between two sheets of
plastic to 14-in. round. Transfer to a baking sheet and freeze until firm.
For Almond Filling:
Finely grind almonds and flour in processor. Mix in 7 TB sugar, then butter, blending until smooth. Mix in lightly
beaten egg. Transfer filling to medium bowl, cover and chill at least 3 hours.
Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 350F. Turn dough into 12-in.-diameter tart pan with removable bottom,
peeling off plastic on one side, inverting dough, then peeling off rest of plastic. Fold overhang in, making double-thick
sides. Pierce crust all over with fork. Freeze crust 10 minutes. Line shell with parchment paper and fill with pie
weights or beans. Bake in center of oven for 30 minutes, until shell is nearly cooked through. Remove paper and
weights and bake until shell is cooked through, about 15 minutes longer. Transfer to a rack and cool.
Spread almond filling evenly in crust. Stem pears and cut each in half lengthwise; scoop out cores. Cut each half
crosswise into thin slices. Gently press each pear half to fan slices but keep the slices tightly overlapping. Slide spatula
under pears and arrange atop filling like spokes on a wheel with the narrow ends in center. Bake tart until golden and
tester inserted into center of filling comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in pan on rack. Push pan bottom up,
releasing pie from pan. (Can be made 8 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.) Cut pie into wedges;
sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and decorate with some almond slivers.
CASA Categories for 2012
MD= Main Dish
Dessert can have many ingredients but must include a fruit, nuts and a
liqueur (not liquor).
** All meeting dates are the 3rd. Monday of each month except for March
and November which are held on the 2nd Monday because of Mexican