New Site

Hi all! I have switched my blog to the following site: http://eatinginandiland.wordpress.com/

Hop on over and see me there! Happy eating!

You might be aware from reading my previous posts that D loves and reveres Gooey Butter Cake, which is a St. Louis specialty that is served with breakfast and as snacks. I am willing to bet there have been fist fights over who makes the best GBC. D’s absolute favorite is his best friend’s mothers version which is also considered the best by a native St. Louis-an (this same person is an Italian grandmother in case a native to St. Louis did not hold enough weight for you). I was a bit of a brat over the weekend (sorry everyone) and so decided that I would try to make the Gooey Louis…look at me making dessert twice in two weeks. The thing with baking is that it has to be done precisely – measurements MATTER or the end result might have an off consistency. Considering my measuring cups have dust on them – or on their better days are used as spoon holders – baking is not a strong suit. Couple this “precision” weakness with my lack of desire for sweet treats and I just do not bake often. This aversion is apparent in my baking supplies: my flour was one year and two months expired – I wish I was kidding. All that said, I would like to start baking more and maybe one day I will smell less like garlic and more like cookie dough. =) Which brings me to the cake attempt. This was my first attempt with making a cake of anything other than Duncan Hines Red Velvet Cake (HEAVEN by the way) and I scoured recipes all day trying to devise a plan. I ended up using something like a combination of three recipes because there are two ways the cake is prepared. One is the traditional-but-made-in-bakeries method and the other is the home-kitchen-friendly method. The traditional uses corn syrup (which I just could not bring myself to buy) and also uses yeast for the crust dough. Sounds great in theory, but in reality, it was Wednesday night and I did not have time to make a yeast-dependent dough and deal with the rising process. In my pursuit of the perfect recipe (I was lacking D’s favorite at this point so I was trying to some how develop telepathy and guess the ingredients), I ran across a bog that discussed both methods – transnational versus cake version. Traditional won. So I decided to do something of a hybrid. I did not buy yellow cake mix at the store and instead had to “make” my own. I then used the non-traditional filling for ease and to avoid buying corn syrup. What is ironic about all of this is the email I received with D’s favotire recipe (Mrs. Rodriguez was wonderful enough to send it to him whilst I was walking back from Whole Foods – in the rain) and she used Yellow Cake mix! I was not about to venture out in the storm that opened up right when I was leaving the store, so I intend on making this again soon. This time with a cohesive plan, flour that is not expired, with yellow cake, and without accidentally skipping a step. Minor flaws aside, this cake smelled absolutely incredible and tasted pretty good – though it was not exactly like the gooey that Mrs. Rodriguez makes (and D loves). I need a few more trial and errors but, who knows,  maybe one day I will get this baking thing down! Oh, in case you are wondering – I still do not really know what Gooey Butter Cake tastes like as I did not have any – it amazes me how I cannot get out of the preztel jar but this delicious thing I have no aversion problems at all. I have issues…

For Crust

2 cups Flour

1.5 cups Sugar

One Stick Butter, melted

1 tablespoon baking power

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs

For Filling

3 tablespoons butter, melted

2 eggs

1 (8oz) Cream Cheese (room temperature)

1 Box Powdered Sugar

1 1/2 tablespoon Vanilla Extract

One teaspoon Almond Extract

Add the crust ingredients to a mixer and mix well.  Spread into an ungreased 9×13 glass baking dish. In separate bowl mix remaining ingredients, minus 2 tablespoons for topping. Mix well and spread over batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes, remove from oven to sprinkle remainder powdered sugar. Return to oven and bake an additional 25 - 30 minutes.

Black Bean - Mango Salsa

When mangoes are in season, I love to mix them with avocado and such things to top dishes off or as a healthy dip. This is interesting as I do not typically eat mangoes on their own - they are just a tad too sweet for me. But when mixed with other elements, the sweetness is decreased and I enjoy them immensely! This salsa is very versatile and cost effective. It can be used in tacos, on grilled or sauteed fish, on baked chicken as a dip or a salad topper. 

• One can Black Beans 
• Two Mangoes, diced
• Half red onion, small dice
• One cup cilantro, chopped
• One avocado, diced
• One Jalapeno, minced
• 1.5 cups Jicama, diced 
• Juice from one lime, mixed with pinch of salt and a little bit of olive oil (or garlic olive oil)
• Cayenne, Garlic Powder, Cumin, and Adobo spices as desired

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well (but gently). Season as desired.

Chipotle Aioli

Chipotle Aioli is a great sauce to make and keep in the fridge. You can throw it onto/into all sorts of things from sandwiches to tacos to grilled fish or chicken to sweet potato fries to  tempura fired veggies. You can also make this to your dietary needs as well. I imagine this can be made quite successfully with yogurt and when using the sauce in an Asian dish feel free to use Japanese Mayonnaise instead of American (this is what I do and use as a dip for tempura-fried sweet potatoes).

• Half can Chipotle Peppers in Aioli
• Half cup of Garlic Mayonnaise (Central Market sells Garlic Mayo or you can add roasted garlic to regular Mayo) 
• Half lime, juice squeezed

Coconut Shrimp and Chicken Tacos

Friday we were heading to the lake to celebrate D's momma's birthday. I knew I wanted to cook, but did not know what. We narrowed it down to fish tacos and spinach pasta with veggies. D lobbied for spinach pasta and I let him. That said, I was forming my plan to make some sort of taco over the weekend. Normally, as you can tell from my previous fish taco post, I crust whatever fish i am using in chile-corn crust. I did not have time to the desire to go to Central market to get this, so I decided I would make my own crust. Flash forward and I decide to make a chile-coconut-panko crust. I did both chicken and shrimp so that everyone could have something they enjoyed! One note - I did not have an egg for the shrimpies (well, in reality there was an egg in the fridge - I just could not find it until I had already crusted the shrimpies so the chicken got it but not the fish) and so they were not quite as brown and crispy. I also baked them for health reasons - feel free to pan fry them if you like. It will get them extra crispy!

For the Marinade

• One can coconut milk (lite or regular)
• Two Limes
• One pound Shrimp
• 2 chicken breasts, cut into tenders then halved
• 4 tablespoons Sriracha
• 2 tablespoons Tempura Sauce
• 2 teaspoons Curry Powder
• 2 ziplock bags

In one Ziplock, combine half of the coconut milk, half Sriracha, half tempura, half curry powder, and juice from one lime. Add peeled shrimp to this and refridgeate for about at least 2 hours. Repeat process with chicken and second ziplock bag. Adjust curry and Sriracha use to preference.

Crust (divide all ingredients between two plates - if only doing chicken or shrimp then use half of what I call for)

• 3 cups Panko
• 2 tablespoons Cayenne 
• A couple pinches of red Chile flakes
• 3 cups shredded coconut *
• Salt
• Pepper
• Add other seasoning as desired - I added just a pinch of adobo 
• Two eggs, beaten in separate bowls or dishes for dredging

If baking, grease a slatted cookie sheet and preheat oven to 400. Once shrimpies are crusted, place on the baking sheet until all are crusted. Bake for about 10 minutes, until crust is golden brown. Squeeze extra lime juice over the baked shrimp if desired. Same process for chicken.

If frying, fill a fry-pan with an inch of oil. Heat to appropriate heat (check by dropping a bit of crust into hot oil - when it sizzles on impact it is ready). Add shrimp or chicken one at a time with a slotted spoon or tongs (preferably the latter). Fry until golden brown. Remove to a drying rack or plate with a napkin on it and salt just a touch. Squeeze with lemon if desired.

*If using unsweetened coconut, add a bit of honey to the marinade. If sweetened coconut, omit honey.

Taco Bar

• Half head shredded red cabbage or radicchio
• Shredded Cheese (suggestions: Cheddar and Jack mixture or Queso Fresco or Cojita Cheese)
• Chipotle Aioli*
• Black Bean-Mango Salsa*
• Sliced Avocado
• Fresh Lime Juice
• Chopped Cilantro
• Corn and Flour Tortillas, Warmed

*Elsewhere in blog

Build your taco as desired!

No-Butter Garlic Bread

I am aware that most people know how to make garlic bread. I am also aware that this is a fairly boring version of garlic bread. However, mixing garlic with cheese is not "garlic bread," it is cheesy garlic bread (and it is fabulous). There are loads of variations for this, but this particular garlic bread is incredible when floated into  soups or brothy dishes because it is toasted longer than normal and individually sliced instead of toasted as a loaf. It is also fanstastic when thrown into a food processor and made into homemade bread crumbs - I promise that you will not get the same crunch from the canned kind. This version is also healthier than the garlic bread that most people typically think about - it is not dripping with butter (not that things dripping with butter are in any way appetite supressing, they just simply add too much jiggle to my thighs) and it still has a great deal of flavor. That said, man do I love cheesy garlic bread...Advice for cutting your bread if you do not elect to have your baker do it for you - use a serrated knife. You will make your life easier.

• Half loaf of Ciabatta bread (or similar), sliced
• Five cloves garlic, finely mined
• Favorite Oil (I use garlic or basil oil usually), put into a small container
• Small handful of fresh parsley, chopped
• Paprika
• Cayenne (optional)
• Fresh Black Pepper, to taste

Brush each side of the bread with a bit of oil, place on a baking rack or tray that has holes or slats. Sprinkly each peice of bread with Cayenne, Paprika, and Pepper. Top with an ample amount of garlic and parsely. Bake for about five to seven minutes at 375. Serve with Soup or baked tomatoes or turn into homemade bread crumbs.

Balls of Joy aka Oreo Cake Balls

For those of you who roll your eyes when I talk about the importance of organic food and aversion of processed food - eat your heart out (though I have to admit, I will not be eating these - they are presents). I first had little Balls of Joy over the weekend at a shower (see previous baked tomatoes post). Not being a sweets person, I really intended to just try a bite and see what it was (I mean even if you aren't a sweets person, when you see something dipped in white chocolate your brain says EAT). I had two. They were so good. Soooooooo good. So good that I decided they would make lovely mother's day treats for our wonderful Mommas! So it was decided, I was going to make sweets. I honestly do not remember the last time I made dessert or sweets of any kind. I know what it was (a chocolate and amaretto pear torte with orange infused whipped cream), but that had to be at least three years ago - and I did not eat it (though I was told it was very good). I was shocked to find that there are more than ample recipe ideas for these little guys online. So I read one, got the basic method down and planned to make little Balls of Joy. Enter Cinco de Mayo and skinny-girl Margaritas and I start this process at about 7:30, thinking it won't really be that messy or take that long. It wasn't any more messy and did not take any longer than I usually take to do things - take that for whatever it is worth. D also helped out, something I rarely allow him to do (not because I don't want him to just because I micromanage and tend to take over). We learned an important lesson last night - that is do not put too many balls in the warm chocolate - they will melt and look funny. This is for aesthetic purposes only - they still taste great, I am told, they just look a little sad. Now that I have the basics of this down, I cannot wait to make more and add my own little twists to them. I am willing to bet that these would be awesome with mint oreos, with little bit of cherry mixed into the Mud, or with some crushed nut sprinkled over the top. Oh the world of experimentation=) 

Balls of Joy - Pre Bath

Balls of Joy

• One package Oreos
• One 8 ounce package of cream cheese, at room temperature
• 3-4 Ghirardelli White Chocolate Baking Bars
• 3-4 Cadburry Milk Chocolate Bars

Special Equipment

• Toothpicks
• Double Broiler



Mud

• Wax Paper or Aluminum Foil

Put the Oreos into a food processor and process until finely ground. In batches (if you have a smaller food processor which I do) add  Oreo and cream cheese, blending until a big, giant, black, creamy substance. Repeat as necessary until smooth and all cheese and cookie has been incorporated. Pick up small handfuls of the black mound (which will be called Mud from now on) and roll into small balls with your hands. Place on a cookie sheet lined with Wax Paper or aluminum foil. Once all Mud is rolled into little balls of Joy, put cookie sheet into the fridge or freezer and chill for an hour or so. About ten minutes before you need to pull the Mud balls out, prepare a double boiler (if you do not have one, or in my case cannot reach yours feel free to place a oven proof bowl over a pan with water) and over a low heat begin to melt the chocolate - adding small handfuls one at a time until melted. If you have two double boilers, or the ability to create two double boilers, then feel free to heat milk chocolate in one and white chocolate in the other and decreased your time frame to finish. Once chocolate is melted, place one ball into the chocolate and roll gently with a spatula to coat well with chocolate. Remove quickly  with a toothpick so as to prevent melting and ball disfiguration (oh the horror). Return to wax paper and allow chocolate to cool. After about fifteen minutes drizzle chocolate of the opposite color over the balls and return to the fridge.

Baked Tomatoes, Italian Grandmother Style (Almost)

Awesomeness

Let's just clear the hurdle and accept the fact that you will see an abnormal (by abnormal I mean INSANE) amount of baked tomatoes. And some will be different and some will not be different. When you have a man-friend who would literally eat baked tomatoes at every meal it is bound to happen. Additionally, I almost always have everything i need to throw them together and since they are healthy and extremely satisfying , cheap, and easy - trust me when I say I am not complaining at all. So, Saturday we were in Katy (yes - this girl just said that) for D's best friend from - well diapers I think - wedding shower. I have been hearing, pretty much since the day we started dating, the amazing food that he would eat at this Italian/Texan via Mexico household growing up. Side-bar: Gooey Butter Cake was mentioned frequently. Naturally, I was thrilled to get to experience this food and talk food with foodies (they own restaurants in the Houston Metroplex). The day was wonderful, the people were absolutely incredible and the food was - celestial (I really wanted to use another word, but propriety stopped me - first and last time for that to occur I can promise you). It was kind of like one of those get-togethers you read about in a Bon Appetit magazine - you know when food really brings you together (okay really it was the engagement of a fantastic couple - but food brought me closer to a dream I have had since I started cooking. This dream, ladies and gentlemen, is to cook with an Italian grandmother. Recall I mentioned that the family was half Italian. By this I mean Nina came off the boat from Sicily. HEAVEN. So whilst I was gorging on amazing pulled pork and cabbage slaw with sweet buns, I had a long conversation with an Italian grandmother. She suggested how I should make baked tomatoes. Spicy Provelone is the secret. I also got an invite to her home, which incidentally has a basement that has been converted into a second kitchen. So last night I made baked tomatoes (thought not exactly following her instructions but that will come later) and today I am happy that I am one step closer to my dream.

These tomatoes were so good. They were large tomatoes and I left a good amount of juice in them before baking, something I normally do not do. The result was almost like a brothy soup with yummy stuff in it. I made four thinking we would eat two and save two for lunch today - that did not work out - we ate them all. =) If you are looking for a budget and belly friendly meal that is tasty and satisfying this is it. You can feed a family of four with this meal for about ten dollars (probably less - I can cook, but my math skills are not anything to brag about).

• Two large heirloom or beefsteak tomatoes, halved
• 1 Large shallot, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• handful of torn arugula, roughly chopped
• 6 large basil leaves,roughly chopped
• Fresh Ground Pepper, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Red Pepper Flakes
• 4 slices of smoked Provelone
• One link of Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage
• One tablespoon pesto

Topping

• 2 cups baby Spinach
• 3 tbs white wine
• 1 shallot sliced

Stuff me please!

Cut tomatoes in half and scrape out about half of the juice (trying to get as many seeds out as possible - the seeds can give you heartburn, make the tomato acidic or be bad for people with certain health conditions). Place each half into a small ramekin and let them hang out for a little bit.

Heat oil of choice in a skillet. Add shallots and garlic and a pinch of salt, cook for about five minutes and add the sausage, red pepper flakes, and pepper. Cook for about five minutes and remove from heat. Add to basil, arugula, pesto, pepper and mix well. Stuff the mixture into the tomatoes. Bake on 375 for about 20 minutes, remove, then add the cheese slices over the top and return to the oven for about five minutes.

Sausage, Garlic, Shallots: They Love Each Other

Whilst the tomatoes are baking prepare the spinach by heating a small bit of oil in the same pan the sausage was in. Add shallots, cook until glassy and add the wine. Allow the wine to cook until the alcohol is just cooked off, add spinach to the pan, crack fresh pepper over it and allow to wilt. If making garlic bread (which is HIGHLY recommended) begin preparation now and add to the oven in the last 7 minutes. 

Remove tomatoes and top with Sauteed Spinach and serve with garlic bread that is very toasted.

Chicken Marsala - The Version that occured last night

As with practically everything else I make, this is a dish that is different every time. That is what I get for not using recipes I suppose. I admit I had some anxiety before making this last night. I actually have not made it since maybe the first month that D and I started dating. The story with that meal is less than a fairy tale. It was getting cooler at night and I was craving chicken Marsala like I sometimes do. I did my shopping at the Marble Falls HEB - a decent size but not anywhere near my normal spots (which we all know by now are Central Market and Whole Foods). This ends up with me staring wistfully at the Marsala choices (only one and it was NOT Holland House) knowing that my craving was probably not going to be satisfied but hoping the dish would still come out - yes that is how much loyalty I show to my products. I also used the only selection of pancetta that was available, again a product that was new to me. This whole "new to me" argument really is not a god one I suppose, as a decent cook should be able to roll with the punches but new products coupled with a salt shaker that apparently does not show that salt is coming out (also my first time to use) lead to a meal that was so salty I refused to eat it. D was a trooper and ate it, I am still not sure how, but he had to drink water with every bite. Believe me when I say I did everything possible to tone the salt down - lemon, the rest of the cream, more Marsala (which led my to believe this particular Marsala contained a higher amount of salt than ANY Marsala should), more butter, water.NOTHING worked. I was going to throw it all away (unprecedented - I HATE wasting food), but D would not let me. Considering this was only the second meal I had cooked him - I am pretty lucky he gave me another shot and stuck around for the third (though I am certain he agrees that worked out well for him). Basically, I cooked the worst thing I have ever made and he ate it - all of it - that is some kind of wonderful right there. =) But what I have been craving is my Marsala. The Marsala that is better than any restaurant can offer. The Marsala that my Dad licked off of his plate. The Marsala I made for my friend Mel's bachelorette party and the Marsala that I made for large dinner parties that always resulted in a recipe inquisition (and my lack of response since I just throw stuff into a pan). Then there is also my stuffed Marsala -- but that will have to be another entry. You get the gist, I was craving Marsala and - last night - I redeemed myself. Due to the previous disaster, I asked D if he liked it maybe 4 times. His response: Silence. He was too busy eating. He only stopped to say that if I want him to talk during dinner, I have to stop making food that is so good. Hey, I'll take it! This version is lower calorie than the big versions I make for larger groups. It is much lighter and less rich but even more flavorful than what you can get in a restaurant. 

FYI - in a resturant you will get just the broth and the mushrooms. I prefer mine with the broth that still contains everything that went into it. The sweetness of the shallots soaked in sweet Marsala is just - well - perfect on bread after you finish your chicken. 

Marsala

• 4 Large Shallots, thinly sliced
• 4 Cloves Garlic, minced
• One pound of Cremini mushrooms, sliced (mix and match if you like)
• 4 fresh sage leaves, whole
• 10 fresh thyme stems, whole
• 1 tablespoon Herbs de Provence
• 1/2 tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper
• Pinch of Salt
• Large amount of black pepper, cracked
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1.5 tablespoons truffle oil
• One slice of Pancetta or thick prosciutto sliced
• Juice from one/half lemon
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 tablespoons Half and Half
• Half a bottle (plus a little more) of Holland house Marsala - about 1 1/4 cups (I think)
• about 1/2 cup of chicken broth
• Handful of baby spinach 
• 3/4 cup flour, plus 2 tablespoons for sauce
• One tablespoon Cayenne
• 1 teaspoon Salt
• One tablespoon of Fresh thyme or Herbs de Provence
• Generous amount of cracked black pepper
• One egg, beaten
• Two Chicken Breats
• Two small slices of Fontina cheese (or whatever you have)

 One a plate combine 3/4 cup flour, Cayenne, Salt, Pepper, and fresh Thyme or HDP and mix well (add and decrease seasoning as desired). Coat Chicken in egg then dredge in flour (I do not pound my chicken breasts thin because that is one more step and the chicken is generally less juicy and tender). Brown chicken well on each side in a large skillet with heated truffle oil. Remove chicken to a plate and discard plate with flour.


In the same pan, add a dab of butter, allow to melt, then add pancetta, shallots, garlic, crushed red pepper, and a pinch of salt. Scrape bottom well to soak up all the chicken flavor and bits from the bottom. Saute until almost glassy, then add mushrooms, sage, thyme, plenty of cracked black pepper, and HDP. Cook until mushrooms are browned and add a dab more butter and 2 tablespoons flour, making a very quick roux. Add Marsala, cream, and broth and allow to reduce - about 8 minutes. Squeeze the lemon juice in and let it hang out for a second. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired (I would add more pepper and a touch more cream of butter if it needs it). Cut a slit in each chicken breast and insert a small slice of Fontina cheese in the slit. Return to pan and let warm for a few minutes and add spinach to wilt into sauce. Remove from heat, top with Parsely and serve chicken smothered with sauce with warm, crusty bread.

*Before serving remove the thyme stems and sage leaves.

Nairagi Tartar with Mango and Zucchini

I know, I know....you are probably getting sick of seeing this variation of my favorite dish, but what can I say - I love it! So simple, so satisfying, so not bad for you, such a better bargain than restaurant tartar, so amazing and addictive! Sorry, groan all you want but I eat a variation of Tuna/Salmon/Nairagi tartar EVERY week. Here is this weeks!

Tartar

• 1/3 pound of fresh Nairagi, cut with a Sushi Knife into small dice
• 1/2 Large Avocado – diced
• 1 cup Green onions – large dice
• Sesame seeds – black or white – to taste (I use about two tablespoons)
• Sriracha – to taste – I use about a tablespoon and a half
• Soy sauce – to taste about a 1/2 tablespoon
• One Lime, Juiced
• Eel sauce, 1 tbsp
• Ginger Lime marinade/sauce, 1.5 tbsp
• Salt and pepper
• 1 Mango, diced
• 1Small Zucchini, cut into small dice

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well, adjusting flavors as desired.

Coconut Rice

• One cup Coconut Milk
• Two Tablespoons Ginger People Minced Ginger
• One tsp salt
• Half cup of Basmati Rice

Bring milk, ginger and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice, cover, reduce to simmer. Cook for ten minutes and fluff.

To Assemble:

Pack Rice into a small, round ramekin. Turn upside down in the middle of the plate, then remove ramekin leaving a small mound of rice. Top with the tartar, drizzle with additional eel sauce - or place a small dot in various spots on the plate. Feel free to top with fried shallots if desired. Alternately, you can Julienne the zucchini and arrange the zucchini below, above, or around rice, then top with tartar and shallots if desired. I went for the all-in-one combo to make life simple.

White Bean Soup with Ham, Sausage and Kale

Easter weekend just passed and it was a very incredible weekend filled with yummy food, time to cook, good wine, mimosas, family (well D's family not mine but they are wonderful so I am not complaining!), four amazing labs (usually there are six but two stayed in Katy), and plenty of pool/sun time. Post-Easter saw D and I with a fridge that was literally overflowing with leftover food (thanks to D's generous mom). I had two honey baked hams. One was destined for soups because it had been in the freezer since Christmas and was defrosted for the weekend, but just did not have the right texture to eat. Not a problem at the time of eating has we had a back up ham and the old one would be perfect in soup because the texture would not matter. Incidentally this old ham, also had the largest ham hock I have ever seen. It was the size of my forearm - if not bigger. So the fridge is full and I have carrots and celery and 20 pounds of ham that need to be eaten. I am thinking...you know I have always wanted to try a cassoulet. Dilemma - it is the weekday and I do not have the time it takes to make a cassoulet. I need something I can prep ahead, throw in a pot in the morning and simmer it until I get home for dinner. Additionally, Whole Foods does not sell duck thighs and I am not paying 30 bucks for a do-it-from-your-fridge meal. Solution: White Beans (which I had in the pantry), Spicy Chicken Sausage (which I had in the freezer), Ham (you are quite aware I had ham) and Kale soup. Kale later turned into Swiss Chard because WF was out of it. It was good for my first time. I can see why it is a winter trend - next time I think that I will use less liquid to make a ticker stew that the beans really stand out in (I LOVE beans). I also think that I will finish it off in the oven with a nice layer of cheese and some garlic croutons - in a nod to one of my favorites - French Onion Soup. Cassoulet - that masterful feat I have yet to accomplish - will have to wait. Don't be intimidated by the length of this list - it is basically just the contents of a fridge, pantry and freezer thrown together to get used in time.If you have chicken thighs, those would be great to throw in this as well. You should know that I did this the incredibly lazy way - I did not put my soup broth through a strainer. I did not puree it. I did not pick out the veggies and replace with uncooked one (carrots and such lose their flavor after about two hours cooking so generally, you are supposed to replace them to obtain a soup that does not have muddled flavors). I just ate it as it was.

Time wise here is what I did. The day before cooking, I prepped all ingredients and put them into bowls and soaked the beans. Day off I brown the meat, then threw in the veggies, liquid and seasoning. Let hang out for a few hours, taste test once you get home and adjust seasoning as necessary.

• 2 large white or yellow onions
• 1 entire (Large) head garlic, cloves peeled and halved
• 3 celery stalks, diced
• 5 carrots, sliced into half inch pieces then halved
• couple of pieces of fresh torn sage leaves, whole
• 2 bay leaves
• One sprig rosemary
• 8 Thyme stems
• Red Pepper Flakes
• Salt
• Pepper to taste (a lot)
• 1.5 cups dry white wine
• 2.5 cups Chicken Stock
• Sun-dried tomatoes or regular tomato paste, to taste
• Dried Chipotle Peppers or Sriracha to taste
• 1/4 cup Parmesan or Pecorino cheese, grated
• 2 tablespoons pesto
• A couple of slices of toasted garlic bread 
• 2 links of Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage
• One ham Hock 
• Handful of torn ham pieces
• 4 cups dried Great Northern beans, soaked overnight
• Two bunches Kale or Swiss Chard, sliced into long sliced and stems removed
• 1-2 Parmesan Cheese Rinds (I keep old rinds in the freezer and throw them into soups to get them more depth)
• Smoked Paprika (optional - I added it just because)

Soak beans over night in room temperature water (fill bowl with water covering the beans plus four inches). The next day, heat a good amount of olive oil in a large dutch oven. Add sausage (and whatever other meat is being used i.e. chicken thighs, duck thighs, ham hock, etc) and sear. remove from pan and add the onions, garlic, red pepper flakes, celery, bay leaves, a pinch of salt, and a small bundle (tied with kitchen string) that contains the rosemary, sage, and thyme to the pan and saute until glassy - scrapping up the bits of meat from the bottom. Once glassy, degalze the pan with the white wine cook for a couple minutes. Add beans, meat, dried chilis, cheese rind, tomato paste and a good amount of black pepper to the pan. Add the chicken stock. Stir and cover. Cook over a low heat for 2-4 hours. Taste test and add flavors has necessary. Add the greens and allow to cook for another 30-45 minutes, then remove any bones or chunks of fatty meat, chilis, and the bouquet garni from stew. Laddle into large bowls and top with a handful of shredded cheese and a spoonful of pesto. Serve with crusty, toasted garlic bread.

Spinach and Apple Salad with Pesto Chicken Salad

Elsewhere in the blog, there is a recipe for Pesto-Chicken Salad which I love. The other day I had some chicken breast I needed to use up, so I whipped up some Pesto Chicken Salad and brought and apple and a bag of spinach to work the next day for a light, healthy and quite tasty lunch.

• 3 cups Spinach
• 1/2 favorite Red Apple of Choice (I used a small Gala apple), thinly sliced
• 1cup Pesto Chicken Salad with Cranberries*
• 1.5 tbsp Girard's Light Champagne Dressing
• Fresh Black Pepper

*Elsewhere in blog 

Put Spinach in a large bowl on on a plate. Cut apples into spinach and crack black pepper over spinach. Pour dressing in a circular motion over spinach. Mix well. Top the greens with a scoop of Basil Pesto Chicken Salad and enjoy. Feel free to heat the chicken first if you prefer that element hot.

My favorite Breakfast Smoothie

I love smoothies for breakfast. Partially because I cannot eat most breakfast food and partially because I LOVE fruit! Smoothies are perfect for custom design, but here is my favorite.

• 2 cups Strawberries (whole)
• 1 cup Blueberries
• 1/4 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
• 2 large handfuls of baby spinach
• 1 tbsp Flaxseed
• Small amount of Juice Plus Complete - French Vanilla
• 1 Pure Acai concentrate packet (kept in the freezer)
• 1.5 cups Crushed Ice

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

Enchilada Eggs

Pretty quick and easy combination that occurred when I took last Friday off and made D breakfast. We had had enchiladas the night before and had leftover sauce so I decided - since D loves them so much - that I would combine them with eggs for homemade breakfast tacos (I of course had a smoothie given my egg allergy). He liked them=)

• 2 eggs, cracked and beaten
• Pinch Cayenne
• Salt and Pepper
• Monterrey Jack or Cheddar Cheese
• Dash of milk or cream
• 1/2 cup of Black Bean Corn Salsa
• 1/2 cup Green Chile Pork Enchilada Sauce
• 1 shallot, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• Small handful of torn rotisserie chicken
• Salsa of choice

Combine Eggs, milk, Cayenne, and Sat and Pepper in a small bowl and beat well.

In a pan, saute the shallot and garlic in a dab of butter until glassy. Add black bean corn salsa and heat for about a minute. Add eggs and scramble. Once almost cooked, add enchilada sauce to the pan, along with cheese and chicken pieces.Serve with warmed tortilla, avocado slices (if desired), and salsa of choice.

Grilled Ham and Cheese Cornbread Sammies with Cilantro-Jalepeno Pesto

Over Easter weekend, D and I scored the jackpot (because his parents were generous enough to give us the leftovers) and bring home, not one, but two spiral hams. One was destined for soups (and had a hock the size of my forearm) and the other was destined to be enjoyed on its own - or maybe my favorite way - in sandwiches. My mom had given me these giant corn bread muffins a while back so I pulled them out of the freezer for a quick meal.

Cornbread sandwhich

• Two slices of corn bread, one side of each buttered
• One thick slice of spiral ham
• One slice of Fontina or Monterrey Jack cheese
• Small handful of Arugula
• Two slices Avocado

Assemble sanwich and place on a panini maker. Grill until nice, dark marks appear and cheese is melted. 

Cilantro-Jalapeno Pesto

• Half Bunch of Cilantro
• One half of a roasted Jalapeno Pepper
• One half of 1/4 cup grated Parmesan 
• One half of 1/4 cup Good Quality Olive Oil
• Squeeze of lime juice if available

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth.

Serve with Tomato soup.

Green Bean Casserole

Who doesn't love Green Bean Casserole? I have been (not-so-secretly) pining to do a dinner consisting of ham, green bean casserole, scalloped potatoes and other veggies. I was partially satiated over Easter weekend. We spent a great weekend with D's family and there were two HUGE hams....D literally ALWAYS wants scalloped potatoes, so I decided to make those and my green bean casserole. I was happy as a clam. Incidentally, I do not think that I have ever had green bean casserole made with canned beans. I always use fresh. Additionally, I usually make my own cream of mushroom soup when I have the time so that I do not have to fill my body (and the bodies of everyone eating) with all the bad things in the processed kind, but this version will be featuring partially processed food. In fact, this sauce is a hybrid of  "made from scratch" and processed - I was trying to use up some cream that was set to expire the next weekend and did not want to buy more because I was shopping at HEB versus my usual stores. Ergo, I did not have quite enough of the ingredients I needed to make the sauce entirely from scratch. Also, I usually fry my own shallots as toppers to my casserole but used the canned french-fried onions in this version. As I was a guest in someone's house and had already made a good mess (and they had company) so I just wanted to save time and the mess and go the easy, processed route. My apologies to the health nuts and you are welcome to those in a time crunch.

• 4 Cups fresh green beans, sliced into one inch pieces (and washed)
• 2 cups fresh mushrooms, halved
• 5 large shallots, thinly sliced
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup cream
• 4 TBSP butter
• Red Pepper flakes, to taste
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 1/2 can of Cream of Mushroom Soup
• Handful of French Fried Onions or Fried Shallots
• Chicken Broth 

Boil Green Beans in Chicken Broth (or water with chicken bouillon) until slightly underdone (about 8 minutes) and then transfer immediately to an ice bath. Reserve some of the chicken broth.

In a pan, saute the shallots, garlic, red pepper, and mushrooms in the butter (salt and pepper to season). Add a splash of white wine, cream and mushroom soup and allow to reduce (add pepper and other seasoning to taste). Once the texture is as you like it (I like mine in a semi-tick sauce - combine with green beans and top with fried onions. Bake uncovered for 30 minutes.

Hatch Green Chile Mac and Cheese

So this might take me a while to get to the recipe as there are about five stories that go into this dish. First, we had dinner at a friends house last weekend and the fare was fajitas. I was going to bring black bean corn salsa and brilliantly garlicky guac (guac turned into pico but that is another story) and then make rice cooked in Hatch Green Chili enchilada sauce (it just sounded so good). But I failed to specify the ingredients I needed to the person buying them, ergo no sauce. The next night we went to my parent's house and I walked into my bedroom and there was a can of the missing ingredient sitting on the dresser. I laughed and texted my Ervetta (the person doing the shopping the day before) who happened to be in the ER with an extremely broken toe. Needless to say - she did not care much. But I was excited because now I get to make the dish I had envisioned. Fast forward to this weekend, we are heading out to the lake to have Easter with D's family. D says that I can figure out what I am making in the car and we can stop at the HEB in Marble Falls. This complicates things for me because I am not sure what staples I need to bring, so I pack two grocery bags (yes I pack food to take with me in case the store doesn't have it) and see the sauce and say - why not? IN goes the sauce, out goes D, Foster Brown, and I on the road. His brother was making flank steak so I started turning the wheels and gave D his options - knowing which one would get picked (the options were roasted mashed sweet potatoes, green beans and hatch green chili mac and cheese - no brainer). We decide on mac and cheese (shocker I know), hit the grocery and relax at the lake for a while before I start cooking. As it turns out, this was the best choice for a side because it ended up being the only thing we ate for dinner. =)

Hatch Green Chile Mac and Cheese

• One pound pasta of choice (something tubular or shell shaped works best)
• One can Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce
• 2 Hatch Green Chilis, roasted and skins removed (since these are not in season most of the year in Texas sub Jalapeno, Serrano, or Poblano)
• One Tomatillo, hush removed and boiled or roasted)
• 1 cup Sharp Cheddar, shredded (aged about 2 years for best melting results)
• 1.5 cups Queso Asadero, shredded
• 1 cup Jalapeno Jack Cheese, shredded
• 2 Large Shallots, sliced and diced
• 3-4 large handfuls of Spinach
• 1 half lime, juiced
• 1 cup cream or whole milk (I used less for health reasons but the sauce did not come out quite as creamy as I liked - but I also did not put it in the blender which I will tell you to do later)
• 3 tbsp butter
• 6 large cloves garlic, minced
• One pint of Cherry tomatoes, seeded and roughly chopped
• Pinch salt
• Good amount of black pepper
• Chicken Broth
• 2-3 heaping tablespoons of Wheat Flour
• Sriracha (optional)
• Parmesan, shredded or grated (optional) 

Cook pasta in salted water according to instructions.

Saute (seasoned) garlic, shallots, and flour with butter - stirring well to make a light roux. Add roasted peppers and continue to saute. To the pan, add the Hatch Green Chile Enchilada Sauce, Cream, remaining butter, and chicken broth - stir well and reduce slightly. After the tomatillo has been boiled it should be soft, coarsely chop it and add it to the pan. Continue simmering. Remove from heat and put the sauce into a food processor and puree until smooth (this step is optional - if you do not mind chunk then by all means skip - I did). Return the sauce to the hot pan and add in a small handful of cheese (this needs to be done in batches) and stir until melted. Repeat this step until cheese is gone and sauce is thick and gooey. Add lime juice, salt, and pepper to taste. Combine the pasta, tomatoes, spinach, and sauce in a greased oven-safe dish. Stir well. Top with bread crumbs and parmesan cheese if using (feel free to butter your bread crumbs to get them extra brown and delicious - I usually skip this step out of deference to my remarkably expanding derrière). Drizzle the topping with Sriracha (make a pretty design). Bake, uncovered, in an oven that has been pre-heated to 375. Bake until the top is golden brown and the sides are bubbling up. About 45 minutes.

Variation: I think this would be splendid with the addition of a small amount of leftover pulled pork, chicken or ham for a one pot meal. I also think that fresh cilantro would be excellent in this and brighten the dish well if you have it.

Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes with Fontina and Spinach

I am aware that this is the SECOND stuffed tomato recipe, but D likes them and they are so fun to play with. This is how this one came about:

Me: What do you want to do for dinner?
D: Up for anything, anything you have in mind?
Me: Well, I have fish, sausage, and veggies I need to use up - how are you doing on your leftovers?
D: I'm ready for new food!.....(me thinking wait for it)...Can we do baked tomatoes of some sort? Please. Pretty please?
Me: If you feel like going to get the tomatoes. What do you want me to put inside - sausage, garlic, shallots, cheese, and...?
D: So far so good.....and something crunchy for texture (me thinking man my love is getting to be more of a demanding foodie - has he been hanging out with me too long?)
Me: I can throw in some pork rinds ;)
D: No thank you, maybe just some bread crumbs on top.
Me: hmmmm....
Me (30 minutes later after thinking about it and not wanting to do bread crumbs because I have done it before) I could put a piece of toasted garlic bread over the top and it will be all crunchy-like and delicious.
D: Sounds amazing! Let's do it. 

This conversation leaves me thinking a) man this boy likes tomatoes and b) this will be a super easy dinner to prepare and I can make my nairagi tartar to avoid having to put the leftover fish in the freezer. Yay everyone will be happy! This was all before Senate Finance threw a giant wrench in my plans. It was 9:50 before I was finished working an could start cooking. On the bright side - the tomatoes came out amazing! I do not think that I will ever use bread crumbs again - the toasted garlic bread was so flavorful and so perfectly crunchy in a way that breadcrumbs just are not. I came up with the Spinach and cheese topping somewhere near the end of sauteing the sausage - highly recommended. Even though I did not get my fish, I was extremely satisfied for all of five minutes before I passed out after my 14 hour workday (not sure how but I managed to work out for almost two hours, work for 14 hours, clean the floors and pick up clothes, make dinner, and shower before I passed out but that is another story).

Sausage Stuffed Tomatoes

• 2 large cluster tomatoes, halved and seeded
• One shallot, minced
• 3-4 cloves garlic, minced (with about half reserved to make garlic bread)
• 1 -2 tablespoons basil pesto
• One Spicy Italian Chicken Sausage (or other sausage of choosing)
• 1/3 cup of shredded Mozzarella 
• 1/2 cup shredded Fontina 
• Dash of White Wine
• A couple good hanfduls of baby spinach
• Crushed red pepper (optional)
• Salt and Pepper
• Olive Oil

Garlic Bread

• One load of good quality Cibbatta or French Country Bread, sliced into half-inch thick slices (4-6)
• 1-2 tbsp butter (melted) or 2 tbsp oil (I used basil oil, you can use truffle, garlic, or olive) 
• 1-2 cloves garlic, minced 
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley or 1 tbsp dried parsley
• sprinkle of paprika 

Special Equipment 

• Small, individual ramekins for baking the tomatoes in
• Brush (to brush the oil or butter on the bread)

Preheat oven to 375 and use oil to grease four small Ramekins.  In a pan, heat oil and add shallots and garlic (seasoned properly - add crushed red pepper if using). Hit with a bit of white wine and let the alcohol just cook off. Cut the sausage casing and empty the filling into the pan and saute with the garlic and shallots. Once mostly cooked, stir in pesto and some pepper (salt if necessary) remove to a bowl and allow to cool for a minute or two before combining with Mozzarella. Throw the spinach with some salt and pepper into the pan and scrape the bottom to pick up sausage drippings. Whilst spinach is cooking, stuff the sausage mixture into the tomatoes (making sure to get the yumminess all the way down in the bottom cavity of the tomato) then sprinkle top with salt and pepper as desired and place each into a Ramekin (for easy removal place all Ramekins on a baking sheet). Ensure that the tomatoe is upright and stable in the ramekin, then top each with a handful of spinach and a handful of Fontina.  Bake for fifteen - twenty minutes on 375.

While tomatoes are initially baking, oil BOTH sides of the bread slices. Rub each side with a whole, raw garlic clove (skin removed), then top one side with minced garlic, parsley, and paprika. Place directly on the oven racks for about five minutes. Remove and place on top of the tomato. Enjoy!

 

Wasabi-Hoisin Marinated Flank Steak with Mango Salsa and Coconut Rice

I realize that there are two very similar posts back to back with the Wasabi crusted fish, but when I make fish I also make either chicken or beef for D. Ergo, you are getting beef and fish versions of this wonderful dish (you can also do this dish with spicy marinated shrimp but I will not confuse you that much today).


Beef

• 1/2 pound Flank Steak
• 3 tbsp Wasabi Paste
• Half Cup Soy Sauce
• Dash of Mirin
• Powered or minced Ginger
• Powdered or minced garlic
• 3 Tbsp Hoisin or Eel Sauce
• 2 Tbsp Sriracha
• Squeeze of lime
• 1.5 tbsp honey or sugar
• Crushed red pepper flakes - to taste (optional)

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and marinate overnight. Adjust flavors according to preference- add whatever you like! When ready to cook the beef, coat well with salt and pepper (and maybe a bit of wasabi powder), and heat oil in a pan. Place beef in pan and sear well on each side. Remove from heat, allow to sit for five minutes then cut meat into thick slices. If meat is cooked to desired doneness then begin assembly. To cook longer, return slices to pan and add a bit of the marinade and stir fry for a few additional minutes. Remove from pan and begin assembly of dish.

Coconut Rice

• One cup Coconut Milk
• Two Tablespoons Ginger People Minced Ginger
• One tsp salt
• Half cup of Basmati Rice

Bring milk, ginger and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice, cover, reduce to simmer. Cook for ten minutes and fluff.

Mango Salsa

• Two Mangoes, diced
• One half a red onion or one large shallot, fine dice
• 2 garlic cloves, made into a loose paste
• 1/3 cup minced green onions
• 1/2 large avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• Cayenne Pepper to taste
• Squeeze of lime juice, about half a lime
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• One Jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• A few tablespoons of fresh basil or mint (optional) 
• 2 tablespoons Ginger, minced

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well (but gently) keep in fridge until ready to use.

Fried Shallots (had I had time I wanted to make this, you can also use pre-made ones that you can buy in Asian markets)

• One shallot, thinly sliced
• Canola Oil (can use olive oil but Canola or Safflower oil will be best for frying) 
• A small handful of flour 
• Salt

Dish Assembly
Place a small mound of rice in the center of a plate (can be done in free form, with a molding ring, or with an upside down measuring cup. Place the beef on top of the rice once it has finished searing. Drizzle steak with a bit of the reduced marinade (or eel sauce) then top with the Mango Salsa. Top the Salsa with Fried Shallots and serve.  

Wasabi Crusted Nairagi with Mango Salsa and Coconut Rice

Nairagi is a Hawaiian fish that is very similar in texture to Big Eye Tuna. Central Market (at least in Austin carries it) and it is cheaper than big eye and yellow fin tuna (more expensive than albacore). Lately the price has been about two dollars higher than normal, luckily my fish monger likes to talk to me about food and gives me a fantastic discount whenever I go! Gotta love fish mongers! This dish is one half of what I made last night. I needed a recipe that I could use for both fish and beef and I wanted a twist on my classic fish dish (I seriously eat Ahi poke with coconut rice WAY too much), so I sort of said hey this sounds good and this sounds good and this sounds good. In truth, in making the nightly menus for the week I decided to just take components from three different meals and put them together. Had I had more time I would have loved to do a couple more things, which I plan to just include in my recipe. Additionally, the mango that I bought was deceptively un-ripe and the salsa, though it tasted great was a bit off texturally and looks less like salsa than I would like. This will be remedied soon when mangoes come into full season so it will be great if you try it over summer. Also, word of caution - I HATE cutting mangoes. It is one of those fruits that I just cannot figure out regardless of how many times i do it, see it, read about it - you get the picture - so I will not be telling you how to cut a mango.

Serves One

Fish

• One four oz Nairagi steak (can sub tuna if you wish)
• One tsp Wasabi powder
• Half Cup of crushed Wasabi Peas
• One tablespoon Sesame Seeds
• Salt 
• Pepper
• Olive Oil for coating

Combine salt, pepper, Wasabi powder and crushed wasabi peas, and sesame seeds on a plate - mix well. Dip the fish in olive oil on both sides then coat each side with the wasabi mixture. Bring olive oil or canola oil to temperature over medium heat, place fish in pan and sear for about 45 seconds on each side. Remove and reserve.

Coconut Rice

• One cup Coconut Milk
• Two Tablespoons Ginger People Minced Ginger
• One tsp salt
• Half cup of Basmati Rice

Bring milk, ginger and salt to a boil in a small saucepan. Add rice, cover, reduce to simmer. Cook for ten minutes and fluff.

Mango Salsa

• One Mango, diced
• One half a red onion or one large shallot, fine dice
• 2 garlic cloves, made into a loose paste
• 1/3 cup minced green onions
• 1/2 large avocado, diced
• 1/2 cup chopped cilantro
• Cayenne Pepper to taste
• Squeeze of lime juice, about half a lime
• Salt and Pepper to Taste
• One Jalapeno, seeded and finely diced
• A few tablespoons of fresh basil or mint (optional) 
• 2 tablespoons Ginger, minced

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well (but gently) keep in fridge until ready to use.

Fried Shallots (had I had time I wanted to make this, you can also use pre-made ones that you can buy in Asian markets)

• One shallot, thinly sliced
• Canola Oil (can use olive oil but Canola or Safflower oil will be best for frying) 
• A small handful of flour
• Salt

Heat oil in a skillet (about a cm worth of oil) to 325 degrees. Toss Shallots with flour then put into the hot oil. Fry until a LIGHT golden brown (anywhere from 2 minutes to 12 minutes depending on heat and depth of oil and amount of shallots being fried) and remove to a napkin lined drying rack or plate. Sprinkle with a bit of salt.

Dish Assembly
Place a small mound of rice in the center of a plate (can be done in free form, with a molding ring, or with an upside down measuring cup. Place the fish on top of the rice once it has finished searing. Drizzle fish with eel sauce then top with the Mango Salsa. Top the Salsa with Fried Shallots and serve (fish can also be sliced before serving if desired - this is recommended if you do not have sushi knives or smaller sharp knives).

Chicken and Dumplings

Night after night of nostalgic food sure is fun! Chicken and Dumplings is another childhood favorite. One of those - I like the one that my momma makes the best and cannot ever stray to far away from it or I will not like it - meals. Everyone has their favorite version and I swear I am not knocking them, but if you put a soup with some dumplings and a bunch of carrots in front of me and call it chicken and dumplings I will make a huge scene about how it is an imposter!!!  (unless the plate is placed in front of me by Thomas Keller or Wylie Dufresne...I will eat anything they place in front of me without a thought in my head except maybe amazement, wonder, and happiness). Proper Chicken and Dumplings. I tried for years (before I actually knew how to cook) to make this like my momma and never could so, brimming with disappointment,  I put the idea , along with the heart-healthy Bisquick, on the shelf for a while. Then I learned how to cook and decided to try again one night. Much better results but,  still not like momma made it - it was sweeter almost. For comparison sake, soon thereafter I asked my mom to make it for me. I knew almost instantly what the problem was. Verdict: throw out your "healthy" Bisquick and use the regular stuff! Makes all the difference. Now I make them exactly the way I love them (albeit a bit different from my momma's but there is a very strong resemblance) and there is no low-fat Bisquick involved. If you think about it saying a processed food is more "healthy" than some other processed food is - well - absurd...it is all bad for you so eat it sporadically and, when you do, get the good stuff.

• One Box plus 1/2 cup of Good Quality Chicken Stock
• 2 Bay leaves
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• 1.5 - 2 chicken breasts (seasoned with salt, pepper, cayenne, and herbs de provence)
• 3.5 cups Bisquick mixed with enough water to bind
• 3 celery stalks, sliced a little under a quarter inch thick
• 2-3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• one large shallot, chopped 
• splash of white wine
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

In a mixing bowl, mix Bisquick and water until you have a thick dough. Reserve.

Heat 1.5 tablespoons oil in a skillet. Season chicken and place in hot oil, brown on each side. Remove from pan and reduce heat so as not to burn the mirepoix. Add garlic, shallots, celery and bay leaves (with a pinch of salt) to the pan and scrape bottom well to coat with chicken bits leftover. After a few minutes, hit the mixture with a splash of white wine and allow to cook off. Pour in all of the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Gently drop dumpling mixture into the liquid a spoonful at a time until it is all gone. Add salt and pepper and stir once. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered for 20 minutes. Stir again and cover. Continue simmering for another 20 minutes. At some point during the simmer time, slice chicken into thin slices, then cut in half and reserve. About five minutes before the dumplings are ready, add sliced chicken, salt as needed and pepper and stir. Five minutes later and you are done. Good luck not eating the whole pan.

Chicken and Rice

I am willing to bet that "Chicken and Rice" will be the most simple dish you see in this blog. For as long as I can remember, whenever I was sick, my momma would make this for me. In fact, there is not really any chicken (any real chicken) in the dish. I made it last night to ease my upset stomach and just thought I would share in case anyone has the flu, some rice, and cream of chicken soup.

• One can Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup
• One can milk or water (I use water most of the time)
• One can white rice (as in I put the rice into the can and that is how I measure it)
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

Bring the soup and the water to a boil and add rice and a pinch of salt, stir, reduce heat to a simmer and cover. Allow to cook for 15-20 minutes (or however long your particular rice takes to cook). Salt and pepper to desired taste. Get back in bed and eat it curled up in a ball.

*I have to have this "sick food" in my "sick bowl" - a blue and white bowl I have had since before I could walk. It just is not the same without it.

Tomato, Artichoke, and Zucchini Casserole

I am thrilled that I created this. D wanted baked tomatoes because he loves them. I did not want to buy two types of tomatoes (I was buying cherry tomatoes for a dish later in the week) so I decided to bake tomatoes but inside a casserole dish. The result of my creation was a man friend who did not say a word throughout dinner, licked his plate, and got seconds. These actions were all precursors to a rave review. This is a super easy, super fresh, super healthy, super delicious, super versatile, and perfect for summer or winter (adjust veggies accordingly).Final verdict: Keeper!

Tomato, Artichoke and Zucchini Casserole
Serves 4

• 3/4 of a pint of Cherry or Grape tomatoes, halved and seeded 
• One zucchini, cut into half moons 
• One can artichoke hearts, quartered
• 1-2 large shallots
• 3-5 cloves garlic 
• Salt 
• Pepper
• 3 tablespoons chicken broth
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• handful torn basil
• a few dots of goat cheese or some shredded Fontina
• a few pieces of torn prosciutto or pancetta (optional)
• Bread crumbs (optional - I actually do not think they added anything)

Grease a baking dish. Preheat oven to 400. In a skillet, heat olive oil and add prosciutto or pancetta (if using) and allow to render. Remove from plan and garlic and shallots (properly seasoned) and saute until glassy. Add white wine and chicken broth and reduce a bit to just cook off the alcohol.Add some pepper and the thyme and reserve.While the shallot mixture is cooking, seed tomatoes, cut zucchini and artichoke and combine in the baking dish. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and mix with cheese. Once the shallot mixture is done, pour mixture into the baking dish. Top with breadcrumbs and bake for 15-20 minutes. You can pull out halfway through and top with more cheese (or you can just move the previous addition of cheese to now if using less cheese). Pull out of the oven and spoon into small bowl or onto a plate.

This would be delightful with a piece of toasted garlic ciabatta bread. It would also be delightful with some chicken sausage for a one-pot meal (can you call it a one-pot meal if you also use a pan - in Andiland you can!).

Ricotta Gnocchi with Aspargus and Creamy Pesto

I have been wanting to make gnocchi for a long time now, so yesterday I gave D his dinner choices - lucky for me he went with gnocchi. I had three potatoes that were leftover from the previous week and needed to use them so I figured - why not try! Luckily I had also bought Ricotta at Whole Foods as a back up in the event the potatoes were not giving the gnocchi the proper texture (freshness, size, type of potato all affects gnocchi texture and I did not want them to be too dense). Glad I had my back up, because come to find out that the potatoes had gone all sorts of bad. Into the trash they went and out came the Ricotta. I really had so much fun making this dish (and the mess that was a side product) and it turned out wonderfully the very first time! Ironically enough, we had just had gnocchi at Sullivan's - mine was better (we both agreed). It probably could have been a little more light and airy but overall, for the first time, it was light and not rubbery at all. D got seconds of BOTH dishes I served last night - which does not usually happen - so I guess he really, really liked it?

Ricotta Gnocchi
Serves 6 (small portions) or serves 2-3 and leaves half recipe for freezing

• One 16 Ounce Container of Ricotta (I used Part Skim, feel free to use whole)
• 1/2 cup flour ( you will likely need more but start with this and add a tablespoon at a time - the idea is to use as little as possible)
• 1/2 tbsp salt
• One egg
• One cup finely grated Parmesan, Pecorino, or Grana Padano

Dough Making
Line a strainer with a cheese cloth. Add the ricotta and let the cheese drain for about an hour. (This can be done several days in advance - this only really needs to be done if you have a particularly watery ricotta - I only needed about five minutes because my ricotta was more firm and I wanted to eat before 10 pm!). In a large bowl, mix the strained ricotta, egg, cheese, and 1/2 cup of the flour until all ingredients are incorporated. Cover and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Check the dough by rolling a bit in your hand. If it clings to your fingers, incorporate more flour one tablespoon at a time until you reach a tacky, workable consistency. Refrigerate for another 15 minutes. On the stove, bring water to a boil (salted).

Shaping 
Shaping can be done one of two ways depending on your tools and your preference. Sprinkle a baking sheet with flour and set it close to your work space. Sprinkle your hands and work surface with a little flour.

1) Put dough into a disposable piping bag with 5/8th inch tip (or whatever size that you have or prefer). Pipe out half inch pieces of dough and cut at the top with a sharp knife. To make grooved gnocchi, roll the "Pillow" against the back of a fork with your thumb. Place on a floured surface until all gnocchi are formed.

2) Break off a tennis-ball sized piece of the dough and roll it into a thick log about 3/4-inch thick. Cut the log into 3/4" pieces. Shape them by rolling the "pillows" off the back of a fork with your thumb.
Transfer this batch to the baking sheet and toss with flour to prevent sticking. Repeat rolling process with the remaining dough.

Cooking
Bring salted water to a rolling boil. Gently drop the gnocchi into the boiling water - they will sink to the bottom. Once they bob to the surface, they are cooked. Remove gnocchi with a slotted spoon and transfer to a colander set over a bowl to finish draining. Repeat with second batch of gnocchi. Toss the gnocchi with sauce and serve immediately.

The Whole Dish - The Sauce from last night was a creamy pesto because I had leftover basil pesto and it is well...divine.

• 3 cups Ricotta Gnocchi
• 3/4 pound Fresh asparagus, steamed to slightly undercooked and cut into one inch pieces
• Handful of Shaved Parmesan Cheese
• Handful of torn basil (optional)
• 1/3 cup Basil Pesto (more to taste or quantity available)
• 2-3 tbsp cream, whole milk or half and half
• Fresh ground black pepper to taste 

In a large skillet, combine cream, pesto, asparagus, and fresh pepper (if you have minced garlic or shallot you need to use throw it in but it is not necessary) and bring to a simmer for about 5 minutes. Gently toss the gnocchi with the sauce, coating well. Remove from heart. Garnish with Cheese, basil, and pepper to taste and serve immediately. 


* You can freeze leftover gnocchi for up to a month. Frozen gnocchi can be dropped directly into boiling water for an easy weeknight meal.
**There are so many variations for this dish that I cannot list them. I plan on making different types of gnocchi and experimenting with different sauces and veggies! Will post those as I make them.

Bruschetta

Bruschetta makes me so wonderfully happy! It is one of those super simple meals that great ingredients just make amazing. I love making a big batch of this to use as appetizers, chicken toppers, pasta mix-ins and a healthy snack with pita chips. It is awesome for lake weekends and large groups. I like it cold and warmed up - will provide both methods below.

Cold Bruschetta

• 1.5 pounds ripe, plum tomatoes - drained, seeded, chopped *some people remove skins - I skip this step
• 4-7 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cups julienned basil
• .5 - 1 tbsp good quality balsamic vinaigrette to taste
• Salt to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper
• A small dash of Gerrard's Champagne Light Dressing *optional
• One french baguette or ciabatta loaf (I prefer ciabatta but the baguette is much easier to make appetizer portions with 
• High quality olive oil

In a large bowl combine all ingredients and mix well, adjusting amounts to taste. Set aside.

Slice bread into slices (between a centimeter and half inch thick depending on preference), brush with olive oil and place on a greased baking dish. Bake on 450 for 5 minutes (longer if more doneness is desired, shorter if using smaller slices than half-inch). Remove and top with tomato mixture. Serve immediately.

Warm Bruschetta

• All the same ingredients, plus Fresh Mozzarella or Burrata, diced

In a large bowl combine all ingredients, plus mozzarella, and mix well, adjusting amounts to taste. Set aside.

Slice bread into slices (half inch thick depending on preference), brush with olive oil and place on a greased baking dish. Bake on 450 for 3 minutes. Remove, top with the tomato mixture and return to the oven for 3-4 minutes - until cheese is melty. Serve immediately.

Pesto Chicken Salad Panini

This mayo-free chicken salad is absolutely incredible and SO easy. This was a concoction I made up one day with leftover rotisserie chicken, leftover pesto that I needed to use and cranberries (I always have cranberries on hand) when I wanted a sandwich. Since then, I have made this many times as a sandwich filler, spinach salad toppers, and spinach pasta dish. It is so good and has frequently made the menu for bachelorette and Christmas parties and other events that require feeding a large group. Here is the version of a panni that I made - not going to lie, it was one of the best sandwhiches I have ever had in my life.

• 1 cup leftover chicken, shredded
• 1.5 tbsps of basil pesto
• freshly cracked pepper to taste
• handful of dehydrated cranberries
• small handful arugula (or spinach if you have no arugula)
• 1 tbsp chipotle aioli *optional
• 1-2 ounces of cheese (I used Fontina but you can use whatever you have on hand)
• 2 slices of ciabatta bread, one side each oiled and rubbed with a garlic clove

Special equipment

• Panini Maker

Turn the panini maker on so that it is heating. In a small bowl, combine chicken, pesto, cheese, pepper and cranberries and mix well. Garlic and Oil the outside of each piece of bread, spread aioli on the inside of the bread. Layer arugula, chicken salad mixture on the bread then place in the panini maker. Grill until golden brown, remove, cut in half and serve.

*When not making a panini leave the cheese out and add chicken mix to salads, pasta, eat as a dip with pita chips etc.