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Tandem Cooking by Cameron Walker

The dinner menu
Orzo and Veggies
Spinach Salad with Caramelized Pecans
Apple-Berry Strudel

The shopping list
5 apples
1 package of phyllo dough (in frozen pastry section)
berries of your choice (one basket, or frozen package)
1 lb. orzo (a pasta)
1 pkg. frozen peas 
1 14 oz. can of corn, or 2 ears 
1 8 oz. package of pepper jack cheese 
Shredded parmesan 
1 bunch green onions a.k.a. scallions 
1 red pepper 
1 bunch of spinach (or one package pre-washed spinach) 
1 4 oz. package of pecans
1 package feta cheese

Staples
white sugar
cinnamon
cornstarch
salt/pepper 
olive oil 
balsamic vinegar
mustard
lemon juice

Weird kitchen item that you’ll need: small pastry brush

 

Person A
Before you begin...
1.   Get yourselves some drinks (most recently, we had Pete's Wicked Oktoberfest, to which we added a splash of lemonade for German authenticity.  Yum).

For the salad: 
2. Melt 2 tbs. butter in a saucepan. Add pecans to saucepan, let them get coated with butter, then add 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/3 cup water. Raise the heat to med-high.
3. The mixture will start to bubble; the water evaporates, leaving behind sugar-coated pecans.  Be careful, the pecans are VERY hot! (A little nibble could turn into a major tongue-burn).  Spread them out on a plate or pan and cool in the refrigerator

For the orzo: 
4. Boil water. Add orzo and boil until tender (5-7 minutes).
5. Chop the green onions, including 1-2” of the green part.
6. Dice the bell pepper into small chunks.
7.  Open the can of corn, or, if you’re using the fresh stuff, slice the corn off the cob.
8.  Chop 1/2" chunks of pepper jack.
9.  Sauté the chopped veggies with salt, pepper, and 1 tbsp. oil (5-7 minutes).
10.  Add 1-2 cups of peas at the end of the sauté
11.  Drain orzo, and combine with cheese chunks and veggies.
12. Stir it up, adding ample parmesan and pepper.  Your orzo is ready to serve!

For the dessert:
13. Assist person B with the final steps of the dessert making.

For the table:
14.
Pull out the plates, silverware, etc.  Take the salad out of the fridge, sprinkle on nuts, and dress.

 

Person B
For the dessert: 
1. Chop 4 apples and toss the pieces in a bowl. 
2.  Add 1/3 cup brown sugar.
3.  Add a splash of lemon juice. 
4.  Mix in the berries. 
5.  Add 1 tbsp. cinnamon.
6.  Add 1/3 cup cornstarch. Put the bowl in the refrigerator.

For the salad: 
7. Wash the spinach (or you can splurge on the pre-washed kind). 8.  Chop 1/2 onion and put it into a small bowl.
9.  Crumble about 2 oz. feta into the bowl with the onion. 
10.  Chop the apple into bite-sized chunks, and add that to the bowl.
11.  Combine the above with the washed greens and set it aside in the fridge. 
12.  Make the dressing.  I start with equal parts oil and vinegar (balsamic), a spoonful of mustard, a splash of lemon juice, and some salt and pepper.  Taste, adjusting the proportions until you get what you like. 

For the dessert:
13.  Melt about 3 tbsp. butter in the microwave.14.  Pre-heat your oven to 350°F. 
15.  Grease up a baking sheet (rectangular, at least 9”x13”).
16.  Put down one layer of phyllo.  Butter it up. 
17.  Continue layering until you have five sheets stacked up. 
18.  Spoon apple-berry mixture onto center of dough. 

Enjoy your drink, kindly poured by person A, until he/she is ready to assist with dessert.  Help with the orzo making. 

 

Together: Check your drinks.  See that they’re full.  Enjoy! (And don't forget about the strudel in the oven). 

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