Showing posts with label onions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label onions. Show all posts

3.31.2011

Temptation Thursday

What do you get if you divide the circumference of a pumpkin by its diameter? Pumpkin pi.

Hello! I hope you are enjoying your week. Today I would like to share a simple, yet delicious recipe. It is a great side dish, that is sure to please. Enjoy!

What vegetable did Noah not take on the ark? Leeks.

Aviary wegmans-com Picture 1
Yam Tsimmes
(Adapted from Wegman's)

Ingredients:

* 2 cups yams, cut into 1" pieces
* 2 cups baby carrots
* 1 cup onions, chopped
* 1 turnip, peeled, cut in 1/2" slices
* 1 parsnip, peeled, cut in 1/2-inch slices
* 12 oz figs, stems removed, halved
* 2 cups chicken stock
* 6 Tbsp brown sugar

Equipment Needed:

* Medium Bowl
* Oven proof casserole
* Aluminum foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350°.
2.) Mix yams, carrots, onions, turnips, parsnips & figs in medium bowl.
3.) Transfer to large casserole dish.
4.) Add chicken broth to vegetables.
5.) Cover with foil and bake 50-60 min, until tender.
6.) Uncover and sprinkle with brown sugar.
7.) Bake 30 minutes more, until well glazed.


Why do potatoes make good detectives?
Because they keep their eyes peeled.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

3.19.2011

Souper Saturday

"I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond."
-Mae West


Happy Saturday! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Today's soup recipe is a bit unusual, but it is very tasty. I add crispy wonton noodles to the soup when I eat it instead of crackers for a different flavor. Enjoy!

carrot-ginger bisque
Carrot & Ginger Soup
Servings: 17 cups

Ingredients:

* 3 Lbs. baby carrots
* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 1 tsp rosemary
* 1 tsp parsley
* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 2 medium onions, peeled, diced
* 2 Tbsp ginger root, chopped
* 64 oz vegetable stock
* 32 oz carrot juice
* 2 Tbsp sesame oil
* 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
* 1 Tbsp kosher salt

Equipment Needed:

* Baking sheet
* Stockpot
* Handheld blender

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2.) Toss carrots with olive oil, rosemary & parsley in large bowl.
3.) Spread carrots in a single layer on baking sheet.
4.) Roast carrots on center rack of oven 30-45 min, until lightly browned and tender.
5.) Set aside.
6.) Pour olive oil into stockpot and heat on medium.
7.) Stir in onions; cook 10 minutes.
8.) Add ginger; cook, stirring, about 2 min.
9.) Add roasted carrots and vegetable stock to pot.
10.) Bring to a boil; simmer 10 min.
11.) Mix in carrot juice.
12.) Carefully puree soup with handheld blender until smooth.
13.) Add sesame oil, hoisin sauce, and salt.
14.) Stir well and simmer 5 min.
15.) Serve warm.

"There was an Old Person in gray,
Whose feelings were tinged with dismay;
She purchased two parrots,
and fed them with carrots,
Which pleased that Old Person in gray."

-Edward Lear



Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

3.17.2011

Temptation Thursday!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

"For each petal on the shamrock... this brings a wish your way. Good health, good luck, and happiness, for today and every day."
-Author Unknown


I am not a big corned beef and cabbage fan, so I decided NOT to share a recipe for that. Instead, I thought I would give you a recipe with a main ingredient that can be substituted with left over corned beef. Enjoy!

"Never iron a four-leaf clover, because you don't want to press your luck."
-Author Unknown


picnikfile_9kkTr3
Brisket Hash

Ingredients:

* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 2 cloves garlic, peeled, minced
* 3 cups Idaho potatoes, peeled, very finely chopped
* 1/2 cup carrots, peeled, finely chopped
* 1/2 cup celery, finely chopped
* 1/2 cup sweet onion, peeled, finely chopped
* 3 cups beef brisket cooked & finely chopped
* 1 tsp. Tabasco sauce
* Salt and pepper to taste
* Your favorite toast

Equipment Needed:

* Large Ovenproof skillet

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2.) Heat skillet on medium high.
3.) Add oil and swirl to coat.
4.) Stir in garlic and potatoes, cook 3 min, until lightly browned.
5.) Add carrots, celery, and onion, cook 3 min.
6.) Mix in brisket and tabasco; cook, without stirring 5 min.
7.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
8.) Place skillet in oven and bake 10 min, until lightly browned.
9.) Serve with toast.

"May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light,
May good luck pursue you each morning and night."

-Irish Blessing



Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

2.06.2011

Salivation Sunday: The Superbowl Edition!

"If a man watches three football games in a row, he should be declared legally dead."
-Erma Bombeck


Hello! I have returned! Vacation was wonderful, I will share more about it later in the week! Since today is Super Bowl Sunday I thought a recipe that is easy to make, sure to please and delicious was in order. Enjoy!

"Football is not a contact sport. It's a collision sport. Dancing is a good example of a contact sport."
-Duffy Daugherty




Turkey Chili
Serves 8

Ingredients:

* 2 Tbsp olive oil
* 2 lbs lean ground turkey
* 12 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 sweet red peppers, finely diced
* 1 green pepper, finely diced
* 1 large onion, minced
* 2 Tbsp McCormick Mexican-Style Chili Powder
* Salt to taste
* 2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
* 1 Tbsp soy sauce
* 2 dried bay leaves
* 1/4 tsp ground cloves
* 2 tsp ground cumin
* 2 cans diced tomatoes
* 4 cups chicken stock
* 2 cans great northern beans, rinsed & drained
* 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
* Crusty Italian bread

Equipment Needed:

* Large stockpot

Directions:

1.) Heat oil in large stockpot on medium-high until oil faintly smokes.
2.) Add ground turkey.
3.) Crumble and sear until lightly browned, about 5 min.
4.) Mix in garlic, peppers, and onions to browned ground turkey.
5.) Add chili powder, salt, Worcestershire, soy sauce, bay leaves, cloves, & cumin.
6.) Stir in tomatoes and stock.
7.) Bring to simmer.
8.) Add beans.
9.) Continue to simmer, uncovered, on medium-low 45 min, stirring occasionally.
10.) Discard bay leaves.
11.) Ladle chili into warmed bowls.
12.) Top with cheese.
13.) Serve with bread.

"The reason women don't play football is because eleven of them would never wear the same outfit in public."
-Phyllis Diller


Thought of the Day:

"The color of springtime is in the flowers, the color of winter is in the imagination."
-Terri Guillemets


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

1.15.2011

Souper Saturday

"A Jewish woman had two chickens. One got sick, so the woman made chicken soup out of the other one to help the sick one get well."
-Henny Youngman


Hello! I hope you are doing well on this fine Saturday. Do you have any plans? If so, have fun. Today's soup recipe is an oldie, but goodie! Now, I am not a big fan of onions, but I will eat this soup up in a flash! Enjoy!

"It is impossible to think of any good meal, no matter how plain or elegant, without soup or bread in it."
-M.F.K. Fisher



(Photo: Wegman's)

French Onion Soup

Ingredients:

* 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 8 cups yellow onions, peeled, thinly sliced
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 tsp dried thyme
* 1/2 cup white wine
* 1 cup beef gravy (use your favorite)
* 4 cups chicken stock
* 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
* 2 bay leaves
* 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 1/2 cups seasoned croutons
* 6 slices mozzarella cheese (1/2" thick)
* Crusty Italian Bread

Equipment Needed:

* Stockpot
* Baking sheet lined with foil
* 6 - 2 cup oven-proof soup bowls

Directions:

1.) Heat stockpot on medium-high.
2.) Add olive oil and onions.
3.) Cook, stirring, 6-8 min until onions begin to brown.
4.) Reduce heat to medium.
5.) Mix in garlic, cook, stirring 3-4 min, until slightly browned.
6.) Add thyme; cook, stirring, 2 min.
7.) Pour in wine, stirring to loosen browned bits from bottom of pan.
8.) Cook 2-3 min.
9.) Add gravy, stock, Worcestershire, and bay leaves; bring to a simmer.
10.) Cook 15 min.
11.) Preheat oven to broil with rack set 6-inches from top.
12.) Cook stock mixture 10 min while oven preheats.
13.) Place soup bowls on lined baking sheet.
14.) Ladle soup into bowls; season with salt and pepper.
14.) Add 1/4 cup croutons to each bowl.
15.) Top each bowl with one slice cheese.
16.) Broil 4-5 min until well-browned and bubbly
**Watch carefully so the cheese does not burn**
17.) Serve with bread.

Thought of the Day:

"Winter is nature's way of saying, "Up yours.""
-Robert Byrne


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

1.04.2011

Tasty Tuesday

“We can see a thousand miracles around us every day. What is more supernatural than an egg yolk turning into a chicken?”
-S. Parkes Cadman


Hello! Have the dog days of winter got you down? Well don't let them! Try this slow cooker recipe and it will put smiles on the faces of your entire family! What is not to love? It is easy to make, fairly inexpensive and is truly a comfort food that will warm you to your cockles! ENJOY!

“The key to everything is patience. You get the chicken by hatching the egg, not by smashing it.”
-Arnold H. Glasgow



Slow Cooked Hunter Chicken

Ingredients:

* 1 pkg split chicken breasts w/ ribs, drums & thighs (3 Lbs)
* salt and pepper to taste
* flour (for coating)
* 2 Tbsp vegetable oil
* 2 cloves garlic, minced
* 2 cups mirepoix (diced carrots, celery & onion)
* 6 Tbsp all-purpose flour
* 2 cups dry red wine
* 32 oz chicken stock
* 1 cup white mushrooms, sliced
* 1 can Italian style tomatoes
* 2 tsp Herbs de Provence
* 1 Tbsp tarragon, chopped
* Crusty Italian bread

Equipment Needed:

* 6-8 qt slow cooker
* large braising pan


Directions:

1.) Season chicken with salt/pepper & dust with flour.
2.) Heat oil on medium in braising pan.
3.) Brown chicken pieces lightly on all sides, 8-10 min.
4.) Remove chicken & place in slow cooker.
5.) Discard all but 1 Tbsp oil.
6.) Lower heat to medium-low.
7.) Add garlic & mirepoix to pan; cook 2-3 min, stirring frequently.
8.) Stir in all-purpose flour and mix well.
9.) Add wine and stir.
10.) Slowly mix in chicken stock and bring to simmer.
11.) Pour stock mixture over chicken in slow cooker.
12.) Add mushrooms, tomatoes, and herbs, mix well.
13.) Cover & cook on HIGH 3-4 hours or LOW 6-7 hours.
14.) Remove chicken & arrange on a large serving platter.
15.) Stir tarragon into sauce; season to taste with salt and pepper.
16.) Pour sauce over chicken and serve w/ bread.

(P.S. Dunking the bread in the sauce is DIVINE!)

Thought of the Day:

"People who count their chickens before they are hatched act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately."
-Oscar Wilde


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

12.14.2010

Tasty Tuesday

“Shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. There's, um, shrimp kebabs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo, pan fried, deep fried, stir fried. There's pineapple shrimp and lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich... That's, that's about it.”
-Mykelti Williamson



Hello! Have a great day everyone! I hope you have time to prepare this tasty recipe I have for you today! They make a great hor's dourves! Enjoy!


Shrimp Balls:
Makes 18 balls

Ingredients:

* Non-stick pan spray
* 1 lb uncooked shrimp, thawed & peeled
* 1 egg white
* 1 tsp garlic Sauce
* 1 tsp chili sauce
* 1 tsp lemongrass
* 1 tsp ginger
* Zest of 1 lime
* 2 Tbsp shallots, peeled & minced
* 1/2 cup green onions, trimmed & thinly sliced
* 1 Tbsp cilantro, finely chopped
* 1 tsp sea salt
* 3 Tbsp asian style bbq sauce

Equipment Needed:

1.) Food processor
2.) Citrus zester
3.) Sheet pan
4.) Aluminum foil
5.) Thermometer

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2.) Line sheet pan with foil and spray w/ non-stick pan spray.
3.) Put shrimp in food processor, in batches.
4.) Process on medium until shrimp is pasty; transfer to large bowl.
5.) Add egg, garlic sauce, chili sauce, lemongrass, ginger, lime, shallots, green onions, cilantro, & salt into bowl with pureed shrimp.
6.) Mix until well-combined.
7.) Form mixture into small balls, about 1 inch in diameter.
8.) Arrange in single layer on lined baking sheet.
9.) Dab each ball with BBQ sauce.
10.) Bake 10-12 min, until internal temp reaches 165 degrees.
(check by inserting thermometer halfway into thickest part of shrimp ball.)

Thought of the Day:

"Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
-Theodore Roosevelt



Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

12.04.2010

Souper Saturday!

"Chowder breathes reassurance. It steams consolation."
-Clementine Paddleford


Hello! I am pressed for time today, but I wanted to share a great soup recipe. It makes a lot, so have some friends and family over and make it party! Enjoy!


Clam Chowder:
Servings: 15 cups

Ingredients:

* 4 oz pancetta, cubed
* 4 Tbsp butter
* 1/2 cup diced onions
* 1/2 cup diced celery
* 1 cup leeks, diced
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1/4 cup flour
* 32 oz. clam juice
* 4 cups heavy cream
* 2 lbs white potatoes, peeled & diced
* 16 oz clam meat
* 2 Tbsp chopped parsley
* 1 Tbsp chopped thyme
* 1 tsp cayenne pepper sauce
* Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment Needed:

* Stockpot

Directions:

1.) place pancetta & butter to stockpot on medium.
2.) Cook 2-3 min, until pancetta is crispy.
3.) Add onion, celery, leeks & garlic; stir well.
4.) Cook about 5 min, until soft but not browned.
5.) Add flour; stirring until completely blended.
6.) Cook, stirring & scraping bottom of pan every 30 seconds, about 2 min.
7.) Whisk in clam juice and cream.
8.) Add potatoes.
9.) Increase heat to medium-high.
10.) Cook, stirring occasionally, about 10 min, until it comes to a boil.
11.) Reduce heat to medium-low.
12.) Simmer 10-15 min, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are fork-tender.
13.) Add clam meat, herbs, & pepper sauce.
14.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
15.) Stir until soup is warmed through, about 3 min.
16.) Ladle soup into warmed bowls.

Thought of the Day:

"Don't look where you fall, but where you slipped."
-African Proverb


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

11.02.2010

Tasty Tuesday!

"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, "thank you," that would suffice."
-Meister Eckhart


Hello!! Have I mentioned how much I love fall and Thanksgiving? Well, if I have neglected to do so, let me say it now!! I LOVE FALL & THANKSGIVING!!

Everyone always laughs at how much I cook for Thanksgiving dinner, but I just cannot help myself! There are so many wonderful recipes!! Today's recipe is one of my favorites!! I can eat yams/sweet potatoes everyday - they are so YUMMY! Enjoy!


Apple, Almond and Yam Patties

Ingredients:

* 1 1/4 lbs yams, peeled, coarsely grated
* 1 large honeycrisp apple, peeled, cored, coarsley grated
* 1/4 cup finely diced onions
* 1 1/2 Tbsp sour cream
* 4 large eggs, lightly beaten
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup sliced almonds
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* Sour Cream

Equipment Needed:

* Large nonstick skillet
* Box grater
* Ice cream scoop

Directions:

1.) Combine yam, apple, and onion in a large mixing bowl.
2.) Add sour cream and eggs; season to taste with salt and white pepper.
3.) Stir ingredients to combine.
4.) Slowly fold in flour, then add in almonds.
5.) Mix well.
6.) Form patties: scoop mixture with ice cream scoop, press firmly with hands.
7.) Set patties aside.
8.) Heat oil on medium-high 1-2 min. (do not let oil reach smoking point)
9.) Reduce heat to medium.
10.) Add yam patties to pan.
11.) Cook, 7-8 min until edges begin to brown.
12.) Gently turn patties over and cook 5-6 min until browned and tender.
13.) Place on a double layer of paper towels to drain.
14.) Repeat with remaining yam patties, heating additional oil if needed.
15.) Serve warm with sour cream as garnish.

(These can be made ahead of time and reheated in a 350° oven for 20 min)

Thought of the Day:

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."
-John Fitzgerald Kennedy


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

7.05.2010

Mangia Monday!

“To make a good salad is to be a brilliant diplomatist -- the problem is entirely the same in both cases. To know exactly how much oil one must put with one's vinegar.”
-Oscar Wilde

Hello! I hope you had a great weekend! Mine was busy, yet fun and it still is not over! For those of you who over-indulged this weekend I have a simple, yet satisfying salad recipe for you. It is a quick, one dish meal - serve with bread and you are good to go!

“Friends are the Bacon Bits in the Salad Bowl of Life.”
-Unknown


Curry Yogurt & Almond Chicken Salad
Serves 8

Ingredients:

* 4 cups celery, diced
* 1/2 cup red onion, peeled and minced
* 4 cups red seedless grapes, halved
* 1 Rotisserie chicken, dice meat
* 12 oz curry yogurt dressing (recipe below)
* 2 heads green or red leaf lettuce

Directions:

1.) Put celery, onion, grapes, chicken in a bowl.
2.) Add dressing and coat well.
3.) Arrange lettuce on plates.
4.) Top lettuce with chicken mixture.
5.) Serve immediately.

"Salad - Freshens without enfeebling and fortifies without irritating."
-Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

Curry-Yogurt Dressing

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar
* 1 teaspoon curry powder
* 1/4 cup lowfat plain yogurt
* 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
* 1 tablespoon low-fat milk
* 1 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1.) Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.
2.) Whisk until well mixed.
3.) Thin the dressing with milk, if desired.
4.) Chill well before using.

Silly Joke of the Day:

What do you get if you cross a chicken with a cement mixer?
.....A brick layer!

Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!


4.27.2010

Tasty Tuesday!

“Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.”
-Francis Bacon

Hello! Today I have a wonderful breakfast/brunch recipe for you! However, if you like us you may even make it for dinner at times! (brinner!) This recipe is easy to make and only requires one pan! Enjoy!

“Marriages are all happy, its having breakfast together that causes all the trouble.”
-Irish Proverb


Sweet Potato & Apple Hash

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

* 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 2 medium (about 1 1/2 lbs) sweet potatoes, peeled, diced small
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 2 Tbsp sweet onions, minced
* 4 medium (about 2 lbs) firm apples, peeled, diced small
* 1 tsp chopped fresh thyme
* 4 large eggs


1.) Heat olive oil on high, in large saute pan until oil begins to faintly smoke.
2.) Add sweet potatoes in single layer and cook, turning occasionally, 3-4 min.
3.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
4.) Stir in onions and cook for 1 minute.
5.) Add apples to the pan and cook, turning occasionally, 3-4 min.
6.) Season with thyme and cook 1 min.
7.) Remove from pan and set aside.
8.) Cook your eggs in same pan, until yolks are desired consistency.
9.) Portion potato/apple mixture onto plates and top with an egg.
10.) Serve with fresh fruit and/or toast.

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked”
-Bernard Meltzer

Silly Joke of the Day:

What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
....A nervous wreck!



Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

4.06.2010

Tasty Tuesday!

Hello! I hope you are doing well! Now that grilling season is upon us I am pulling out my arsenal of favorites! The following meal is sure to satisfy any palate! Enjoy!

"Tomatoes and oregano make it Italian; wine and tarragon make it French. Sour cream makes it Russian; lemon and cinnamon make it Greek. Soy sauce makes it Chinese; garlic makes it good."
-Alice May Brock



Jerk Pork Tenderloin w/ Apple-Onion Relish & Sweet Pepper Salad

Serves: 6

Pork Tenderloin:

Ingredients:

* 2 Whole pork tenderloins (about 1 Lb. each)
* 1/2 cup Jerk Seasoning (I use Tropical Pepper Co.)


Directions:


1.) Coat pork tenderloins thoroughly with Jerk Seasoning (wear gloves).
2.) Marinate 2-4 hours in refrigerator.
3.) Preheat grill on high for 10 min.
4.) Clean grill with wire brush.
5.) Using a soft cloth, coat grill lightly with vegetable oil.
6.) Sear pork on grill until it changes color 1/4 way up from bottom, 3-4 min.
7.) Turn and sear all sides, 3-4 min longer.
8.) Reduce heat to medium and close lid.
9.) Cook to 145 degrees, 10-12 min. (Check by inserting digital thermometer halfway into thickest part of tenderloins).
10.) Remove from grill and let stand 5 min.
11.) Temperature will continue to rise and reach target internal temperature of 150 degrees.


"There is no love sincerer than the love of food."
-George Bernard Shaw


Apple-Onion Relish

Ingredients:

* 1 Medium mayan sweet onion, peeled
* 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1/2 cup all natural, chunky applesauce
* Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment Needed: Aluminum foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat grill on medium-high for 10 min.
2.) Brush onion with basting oil; wrap loosely in foil, creasing edges to seal.
3.) Place onion on grill, close lid, and grill 15 min.
4.) Turn and grill 15 min longer.
5.) Remove from heat.
6.) Carefully open foil to avoid steam and cool.
7.) Dice onion and combine with applesauce in medium-size bowl.
8.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.


"It's the company, not the cooking, that makes a meal."
-Kirby Larson


Sweet Pepper Salad

Ingredients:

* 6 medium assorted sweet peppers, seeds removed, cut into 1/4" strips
* 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 tsp parsley, finely minced
* 1 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
* Salt and pepper to taste

Equipment Needed: 1 sheet (about 2 ft.) Reynolds non-stick grill foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat grill on high for 10 min.
2.) Toss peppers with basting oil in large bowl.
3.) Place foil on grill.
4.) Arrange peppers on foil and grill 10-12 min, until tender.
5.) Remove from grill.
6.) Toss with vinegar and season to taste with salt and pepper.


Bad Joke of the day:

What do you call a stolen yam?
A hot potato.


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

3.02.2010

Tasty Tuesday!

I eat my peas with honey,
I've done it all my life.
It makes the peas taste funny
but they do stick to my knife.

-Unknown

Hello - come on in!

I don't know about you, but I love to cook! However, that being said - I like to cook for A LOT of people. Cooking for two is not fun for me, I find it to be a waste of time and energy. I know my husband appreciates it when I cook nice meals for us, however, I really do not like spending all that time cooking and cleaning just for us, when I know we will not have the time to enjoy it properly with two young boys at the dinner table also!

This recipe that I am sharing today takes some time to prepare, but it is a great comfort meal and will definitely please any crowd! Enjoy!


"The chicken came first - God would look silly sitting on an egg."
-Author Unknown


Chicken Coq au Vin - Slow Cooked
(adapted from Wegman's)

Servings: 8

Ingredients:

* 3 Lbs split chicken breasts with drums & thighs, breasts halved
* Salt and pepper
* 2 sprigs of fresh thyme
* 6 fresh bay leaves (about 2 dried)
* 1 bottle (750 ml) pinot noir
* 4 oz salt pork, rind removed, finely diced (I used Hormel)
* 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 3 Tbsp flour, divided (lightly season with salt and pepper)
* 1 cup mirepoix (diced carrots, celery & onion)
* 6 oz whole, baby mushrooms
* 4 cloves garlic, peeled & crushed
* 2 cups pearl onions (I used frozen ones)
* 1/2 can tomato paste
* 1 1/2 cups chicken gravy
* Crusty Italian bread


Equipment Needed:

* 6-8 qt slow cooker
* large braising pan


Directions:

Day before serving:

1.) Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
2.) Add chicken, thyme, bay leaves, and wine to large bowl.
3.) Cover and refrigerate overnight to marinate.


Day of meal:

1.) Heat braising pan on medium heat
2.) Add olive oil and salt pork to pan.
3.) Cook about 2-3 min, stirring occasionally until lightly browned.
4.) Transfer pork to the slow cooker, but reserve oil in pan.
(there should be about 1 Tbsp oil, add more, if necessary, to equal that amount).
5.) Transfer chicken to work surface, but reserve wine marinade.
6.) Pat chicken dry with paper towel.
7.) Dust the chicken lightly with flour, shake off excess.
8.) Sear the chicken in braising pan, about 3-5 min each side.
9.) Transfer the chicken to the slow-cooker.
10.) Add the mirepoix, mushrooms, garlic, and pearl onions to braising pan.
11.) Cook about 10-15 min, stirring frequently, until their moisture is released.
12.) Stir in tomato paste and cook 2 min, stirring frequently.
13.) Add remaining 2 Tbsp flour to the tomato paste mixture.
14.) Add reserved wine marinade and chicken gravy to pan.
15.) Bring to simmer on medium-high.
16.) Add mixture to slow-cooker.
17.) Cover and cook for 4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on LOW.
18.) Discard bay leaves and thyme before serving.
19.) Ladle into serving bowls and serve with bread.


Joke of the Day:

Sign behind an Amish carriage:

"Energy efficient vehicle. Runs on grass and oats. CAUTION: Avoid exhaust!"


Have a great day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

2.27.2010

Souper Saturday!

“There is nothing like soup. It is by nature eccentric: no two are ever alike, unless of course you get your soup in a can.”
-Laurie Colwin


Hello - Come on in!

I have a wonderful soup recipe to share today: Squash Soup. Even if you are not a fan of squash, you will love this soup! Squash is not one of my favorites, but I love the taste and texture of this soup. It is smooth, creamy and delightful! Enjoy!

“Good soup is one of the prime ingredients of good living. For soup can do more to lift the spirits and stimulate the appetite than any other one dish.”
-Louis P. De Gouy


Squash Soup

Servings: 5 cups

Ingredients:

* 2 1/2 cups butternut squash, cleaned and diced
* 1 cup mirepoix (finely chopped carrots, celery and onions)
* 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 3/4 cups chicken stock
* Salt and pepper to taste
* 1 Loaf crusty french bread (sliced)

Equipment Needed:

* 2 quart microwave-safe dish
* Stockpot
* Blender

Directions:

1.) Place squash in 2-qt microwave-safe dish with 1 Tbsp water and cover.
2.) Microwave squash on high 10 min until soft.
3.) Set squash aside.
4.) Add mirepoix and olive oil to stockpot, heat to medium-low.
5.) Cook mirepoix, stirring, about 10 min, until soft but not browned.
6.) Add squash to stockpot and season to taste with salt and pepper.
7.) Pour chicken stock into pot and simmer 10 min.
8.) Remove from heat and let cool 10 min.
9.) Ladle small batches into blender and puree until smooth.
10.) Return soup to pot and reheat on low.
11.) Season to taste with salt and pepper.
12.) Serve with french bread.

"There was a Young Lady of Poole,
Whose soup was excessively cool;
So she put it to boil,
By the aid of some oil,
That ingenious Young Lady of Poole."

-Edward Lear


Joke of the Day:
Why did God create men first? Because we learn from mistakes.


Enjoy your weekend remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

2.20.2010

Souper Saturday!

Every winter,
When the great sun has turned his face away,
The earth goes down into a vale of grief,
And fasts, and weeps, and shrouds herself in sables,
Leaving her wedding-garlands to decay -
Then leaps in spring to his returning kisses.

-Charles Kingsley


Hello! I live in upstate New York, so soup is always welcomed, especially in winter. For those of you living in warmer climates, soup may not be needed to ward off the chills - however, it is always sure to "warm" you in other ways! Enjoy!


"Shipping is a terrible thing to do to vegetables. They probably get jet-lagged, just like people."
-Elizabeth Berry



Moroccan Lentil & Chick Pea Soup

Serves: 8
Cost Per Serving: $2.25

Ingredients:

* 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
* 1 cup (8 oz) mirepoix (finely chopped carrots, celery and onion)
* 4 cloves garlic, minced
* 16 oz organic green lentils, sorted and rinsed
* 1 can (28 oz) cut roma tomatoes with seasonings
* 2 cartons (32 oz each) vegetable stock
* 1 tsp coriander seed or ground coriander
* 1 tsp cumin
* 1 tsp turmeric
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
* 1 can (15.5 oz) garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained
* 2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
* Salt to taste


Tools needed:

* Hand-held or regular blender


Directions:

1.) Heat stockpot on medium and once warmed, add olive oil.
2.) Add mirepoix and garlic. Cook, stirring, 5-6 min, until soft but not browned.
3.) Stir in lentils, tomatoes, stock, coriander, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, and cayenne.
4.) Cook, covered, 20-25 min.
5.) Puree briefly (15 secs) with hand-held blender or in regular blender, just to thicken (don't puree all the lentils).
6.) Return to stockpot if you used a regular blender.
7.) Stir in garbanzo beans and cilantro.
8.) Season to taste with salt.
9.) Simmer about 5 min on medium until heated through.


"Great eaters and great sleepers are incapable of anything else that is great."
-Henry IV of France


Enjoy the day and remember: Go Ahead & Indulge!

2.09.2010

Tasty Tuesday!

Hello! I hope you are having a wonderful day everyone! I have a great meal to share with you - it is one of my husband's favorites!

"This is every cook's opinion -
no savory dish without an onion,
but lest your kissing should be spoiled
your onions must be fully boiled."

-Jonathan Swift



Italian-Style Slow-Roasted Pork Roast
Serves: 8

Ingredients:

*3 small onions, peeled, and thinly sliced
*2 navel oranges, unpeeled, thinly sliced
*1 pork tenderloin (4-5 Lbs.)
*6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
*1 Tbsp. fennel seed
* Salt and fresh black pepper
*2 Tbsp. corn starch
*2 Tbsp. cold water
*1 1/2 cups gravy (your choice)

Equipment Needed:

* Roasting Pan
* Medium sauce pan
* Gravy Separator

Directions:

The day before serving:

1.) Combine onion and orange slices in roasting pan.
2.) Diagonally score fat-side (top) of pork about 1/2" deep in a diamond pattern.
3.) Rub garlic and fennel seeds into top of pork.
4.) Season well with salt and pepper.
5.) Place pork on top of onion and orange slices.
6.) Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The day of the meal:

1.) Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
2.) Remove plastic wrap from pork and bake uncovered, 2-3 hours.
3.) Remove pork from oven.
4.) Carefully place roast on clean platter and allow to rest.
5.) As roast rests, ladle hot juices in roasting pan into gravy separator.
6.) Pour de-fatted liquid (about 1.5 cups) into a medium sauce pan.
7.) Discard remaining liquid, onions, and oranges.
8.) Combine cornstarch and water in a small bowl and set aside.
9.) Add gravy to the juices in the sauce pan and bring to a simmer.
10.) Mix in corn starch mixture and cook, whisking well - about 2 min.
11.) Serve with pork.

"Politicians say they're beefing up our economy. Most don't know beef from pork."
-Harold Lowman


Cooked Rappi
Serves: 4

Ingredients:

*6 cups water
*3 Tbsp. lemon juice
*6 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
*1 Tbsp. sea salt
*1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
*12 ounces fresh chopped rappi
*1/4 cup asiago cheese, grated

Equipment Needed:

*Large sauce-pan

Directions:

1.) Mix water, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and oil in sauce-pan.
2.) Cook on high 2-3 minutes.
3.) Add rappi and bring to boil.
4.) Cover pan.
5.) Cook mixture 8-10 min. (rappi should be tender and has changed color)
6.) Place rappi on a serving dish.
7.) Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

"Vegetables are interesting but lack a sense of purpose when unaccompanied by a good cut of meat."
-Fran Lebowitz


Roasted Fingerling Potatoes
Serves: 8

Ingredients:

*1 1/2 Lbs. fingerling Potatoes, washed and cut in half
*3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
*1/2 tsp. rosemary
*1/2 tsp. thyme
*1/4 cup onion, finely diced
*3 garlic cloves, peeled and finely minced
* Sea Salt
* Fresh cracked black pepper
* Nonstick cooking spray

Equipment Needed:

*Large baking sheet
* Aluminum Foil

Directions:

1.) Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2.) Line baking sheet with foil and coat with non stick spray.
3.) Toss potatoes and olive oil in large bowl.
4.) Mix in herbs, onions and garlic - coating potatoes.
5.) Arrange in single layer baking sheet.
6.) Roast 25-30 min on center rack, until potatoes are tender and light brown.

"Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart."
-Thomas Fuller

Have a great day and until tomorrow: Go Ahead & Indulge!

1.11.2010

Mangia Monday!

Hello! I hope you had an enjoyable weekend, and wish you well for the upcoming week! I am sharing a few recipes today that will make a great family meal - Enjoy!

Nothing is more memorable than a smell. One scent can be unexpected, momentary and fleeting, yet conjure up a childhood summer beside a lake in the mountains; another, a moonlit beach; a third, a family dinner of pot roast and sweet potatoes during a myrtle-mad August in a Midwestern town. Smells detonate softly in our memory like poignant land mines hidden under the weedy mass of years. Hit a tripwire of smell and memories explode all at once. A complex vision leaps out of the undergrowth.
-Diane Ackerman, A Natural History of the Senses


Home-Style Pot Roast



Serves: 6

Ingredients:

* 3 yellow onions
* 1 beef chuck roast, (about 2 1/2 lb.)
* 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, plus more, to taste
* 1/2 tsp. freshly ground pepper, plus more, to taste
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 3 Tbs. canola oil
* 4 garlic cloves, chopped
* 1 tsp. sweet paprika
* 1 1/2 cups beef broth
* 1 1/2 cups canned plum tomatoes, drained and chopped
* 2 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley, plus more for garnish

Equipment Needed: Dutch Oven

Directions:

1.) Slice the onions into 4 pieces, then Set aside.
2.) Season the chuck roast with the salt and pepper.
3.) Spread the flour on a plate. Coat the roast with the flour, shaking off the excess.
4.) In a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, warm 2 Tbs. of the oil.
5.) Add the roast and cook, turning occasionally, until browned on both sides.
6.) Transfer to a plate.
7.) Add the remaining 1 Tbs. oil to the pot and heat over medium-high heat.
8.) Add the onions, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft. minutes.
9.) Stir in the garlic and paprika and cook until the garlic is fragrant.
10.) Stir in the stock, tomatoes and the 2 Tbs. of parsley.
11.) Return the beef to the pot, nestling it in the onions.
12.) Bring the liquid to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low.
13.) Cover and simmer until the beef is fork-tender, about 2 hours.
14.) Transfer the pot roast to a deep serving platter.
15.) Season the onion mixture with salt and pepper.
16.) Skim off any fat from the surface.
17.) Spoon the onion mixture around the roast and garnish with parsley.
18.) Serve immediately.



Garlic Mashed Potatoes



Serves: 10

Ingredients:

* 4 lb. small Yukon Gold potatoes, skins on/left whole
* Salt
* 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 1 3/4 cups half-and-half, warmed
* 1/2 cup sour cream, at room temperature
* 4 Tbs. garlic (crushed into a paste)
* Freshly ground pepper, to taste
* Chives, finely chopped

Equipment needed: Potato Ricer

Directions:

1.) Place potatoes in a large pot and add water to cover the potatoes by 2 inches.
2.) Generously salt the water and bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
3.) Reduce heat to medium and cook until the potatoes are tender.
4.) Drain well in a colander.
5.) Set a potato ricer over a large bowl and pass the potatoes through in batches.
6.) Add butter, 1 1/4 cups of the half&half and the sour cream and stir until smooth.
7.) Add more half-and-half until the desired consistency is reached.
8.) Stir in the garlic paste, and pepper to taste.
9.) Transfer to a warmed serving bowl and garnish with chives.
10.) Serve immediately.

(Potatoes boiled whole in their skins absorb less water and produce lighter, fluffier mashed potatoes)


Have a great day!

Until Tomorrow: Go Ahead & Indulge!