my birthday goodness

and finally, the rest of my birthday post: on the actual day I was born, Daniel handed me a little box wrapped in pink. beneath the layers of cellophane and pink, there was...

!!
daniel bought me an SLR!!!

the first photographs taken with the camera, which I have christened Alexis (yes, after my favourite sextuplet of Jon and Kate Plus Eight), was of the super delicious birthday dinner we made together: tuna tartare and pan-seared tuna over braised leeks.

for the leeks:
some butter
some olive oil
keels, white bottoms only, halved lengthwise
some red wine
some chicken broth
salt and pepper

preheat pan and add oil and butter. add the leeks when the butter/oil foams. pan roast for a few minutes until the bottom of the leeks are browned and softened. add enough red wine and chicken broth (about the same ratio) to cover leeks and season with s&p. cover pan, reduce heat and braise at a slow simmer for about 30 minutes.

for the pan-seared tuna:
ahi tuna
peppercorns
salt

grind peppercorns and coat both sides of the tuna with salt and pepper. pan sear each side of the tuna for a couple of minutes. the tops and bottoms should be cooked but the center still raw and cool. serve over the braised leeks

for the tuna tartare:
tuna
salt and pepper
soy sauce
sesame oil

dice raw tuna into little pieces and mix with everything else. serve over chopped and seasoned avocado.

if you need special occasion, forget the lamb or steak; tuna is definetely the way to go!