Bean and Sausage Soup

This recipe was modified to remove the kale and yield more of a stew type of consistency. Source http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/kale-and-white-bean-soup-106153 Equipment 8 quart soup/stew pot Ingredients 455 grams (1 lb) dried beans (half of each: Great Northern and Pinto) 2 onions, coarsely chopped 2 tablespoons olive oil 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped 5 cups chicken broth 2 qt water 1 (3- by 2-inch) piece Parmigiano-Reggiano rind 2 teaspoons salt ½ teaspoon black pepper 1 bay leaf 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh rosemary 1 lb smoked sausage such as kielbasa (optional), sliced crosswise ¼ inch thick 8 carrots, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into ½-inch pieces Preparation Soak Beans (I found this was not sufficient; needs a better method) ...

March 1, 2015

Sauced Shrimp with Lemon, Garlic, and Parsley

This recipe has been modified slightly to include the addition of dry white wine and reduction of butter from 3 to 1 tablespoons. Source http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/sauteed-shrimp-with-lemon-garlic-and-parsley-51262060 Ingredients 1 pound fresh, medium-sized shrimp 1 bunch flat leaf parsley 4 cloves garlic 1 lemon ½ cup dry white wine 1 tablespoons butter Sea salt Freshly cracked pepper Preparation Clean and devein shrimp In cold water, clean and devein shrimp. Set aside on a paper towel to absorb any excess water. Saute In a large saute pan on medium-low heat, add enough olive oil to coat. Add 4 cloves of minced garlic. Add your shrimp so they are all even on the bottom of the pan. Add the zest of one lemon Season with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes and flip. Deglaze with wine Add wine and deglaze pan. Simmer until most of the wine has evaporated. Finish Finish with: Handful of fresh chopped parsley The juice of the lemon One tablespoon of butter. Serve Serve hot with a baguette for dipping and/or with pasta. ...

March 1, 2015

Chráime

Ingredients 2 large baking potatoes 2 medium red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and cut into ½ inch thick wedges 5 garlic cloves, peeled and smashed Chili peppers, quartered and seeded (your choice of the freshest available or personal favorite): 1 to 2 pimiento (cherry bomb) peppers (my personal favorite) –or– 1 to 2 jalapeño peppers (perfectly good, and readily available) –or– 1 to 2 serrano peppers (good for heat, but not much flavor) salt, to taste 1¼ to 1½ pounds of white fish fillets (tilapia, sole, halibut, or cod) 1 tablespoon sweet paprika 3 ripe tomatoes, coarsely chopped 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro or parsley 1 cup water ⅓ cup olive oil coarse salt, to taste Preparation In a large flame-proof casserole or Dutch oven, build the casserole: Set the potato slices on the bottom. Scatter the bell peppers, garlic, and chili peppers over the potatoes. Sprinkle with salt. Place the fish on top and sprinkle it with paprika and salt. Add the tomatoes and cilantro or parsley. Pour the water in at the edges. Sprinkle the top with oil Sprinkle generously with salt. Set the pan over high heat, cover, and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat slightly and simmer for 25-30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the fish is cooked through. Check the pan after 20 minutes; if there seems to be too much liquid, uncover the pan for the remaining cooking time. At this point, the casserole should be fully cooked and ready to serve, however, I’ve found that cooking for an extra hour, uncovered, over low heat really brings the flavors together and is really worth the extra time. ...

February 1, 2015

Sauerkraut, Onions, and Mushrooms

The title says it all. This recipe pairs well with Potato Dumplings Ingredients 1 medium yellow onion, chopped 1 medium purple onion, chopped 16 ounces white button mushrooms, chopped 32 ounces sauerkraut, drained Broth, as needed (vegetable, chicken, beef, etc. Your choice) Salt Olive Oil Preparation In a large skillet, combine onions and mushrooms. Add some salt. Add enough olive oil to lightly coat and prevent sticking. Cover and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until mushrooms and onions soften. Uncover and continue over low heat, stirring frequently, until mushrooms turn deep brown and liquid has cooked off. Add sauerkraut; stir to combine. Cover; stir frequently to prevent burning; add broth as needed to maintain moisture. Cook until sauerkraut turns deep brown. Serve You may serve as is, or compliment with as side dish. ...

January 4, 2015

Mushroom and Gruyère Quiche

For this recipe, substitute low-fat buttermilk in place of heavy cream for a lower fat yet creamy mouth-feel. Also, make your own crust. It’s so easy… Source Mushroom and Gruyère Quiche Special Equipment Rimmed baking sheet Preheat Oven Preheat oven to 400°F Prerequisite Recipes Half a recipe of Pâte Brisée Ingredients ¼ pound cremini mushrooms, cut into quarters or eighths, depending on size ¼ pound portobello mushroom caps, diced ¼ pound shiitake mushrooms, stems removed and discarded, cut into quarters ½ medium yellow onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper ½ cup low-fat buttermilk 2 eggs 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme 4 ounces gruyère cheese, shredded (about 1 ½ cups) 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme Preparation Roast Mushrooms and Onions In a large bowl, toss: Cut mushrooms Onion Olive oil Salt Pepper Place on a rimmed baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for about 15 minutes, or until cooked and firm. Remove from oven and set aside. ===Bake Pie Shell== ...

November 30, 2014

Crustless Broccoli and Onion Quiche

I’ve modified this recipe to streamline the cooking of the veggies and the final quiche. Source http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/crustless-broccoli-and-onion-quiche Special Equipment 9" Cast Iron Skillet Preheat Oven Preheat the oven to 350°F. Ingredients 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil 1 large onion, diced 2 cups broccoli florets, cut into 1-inch pieces 4 large eggs 1 cup low-fat (1%) milk 1/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese ½ teaspoon fine sea salt Freshly ground black pepper ½ teaspoon dried oregano ¼ cup brown rice flour –or– whole wheat flour dash paprika Preparation ===Cook Onion & Broccoli ...

November 30, 2014

Bean Burgers

Equipment Food Processor Ingredients 1 medium onion 2 cups canned white beans, drained ½ cup rolled oats 1 tablespoon chili powder Salt Pepper Hamburger buns Lettuce Tomatoes Olive oil Preparation Cut a medium onion into chunks add to food processor. Add beans rolled oats, chili powder and salt and pepper. Pulse, stopping occasionally to scrape the sides as necessary. Taste; if it’s too dry, add water; too wet, add more rolled oats, a tablespoon at a time. Divide the mixture into four even patties and cook them in olive oil until nicely browned each side. Serve on toasted buns with lettuce, tomato and onions.

November 30, 2014

Chicken Enchilada Casserole

Source http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/chicken-enchilada-casserole Equipment Parchment paper Large baking sheet Food processor 9 x 13 baking dish Ingredients 3 split skin-on, bone-in half chicken breasts (about 2 ¼ pounds total) 5 poblano peppers, halved, stemmed and seeded 2 red bell peppers, seeded, stemmed and cut into quarters 1 cup cashews 1 tablespoon cider vinegar Pinch fine sea salt Pinch cayenne pepper 12 corn tortillas, halved 1 ½ cup salsa, preferably hot or medium-hot ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese or nondairy cheddar-style cheese Preparation Roast Peppers and Chicken Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place chicken on one side of the baking sheet and poblano and bell peppers on the other side. Roast, stirring peppers once or twice until peppers are browned and chicken is just cooked through, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool slightly, then remove and discard skin and bone from chicken and shred meat. Dice peppers. Cashew Cream Meanwhile, place cashews in a small bowl and cover by about 1 inch with boiling water. Let soak 30 minutes. Drain and discard soaking liquid. In a food processor, combine cashews, ½ cup water, vinegar, salt and cayenne, and blend until smooth; add more water a tablespoon at a time, if necessary, to purée. Salsa and Broth In a separate bowl, Combine salsa and broth Construct Casserole Reduce the oven temperature to 375°F. Layer 1/3 of the tortillas in the bottom of a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish. Spoon ½ cup of the salsa/both mixture over the tortillas. Top with half the chicken and half the roasted peppers, and drizzle with half of the cashew cream. Repeat layering again, finishing with a layer of tortillas and salsa mixture. Sprinkle with cheese and bake until bubbling and golden brown, about 35 minutes. Cool Let cool 10 minutes before cutting and serving. ...

November 30, 2014

Chicken and Broccoli Noodle Casserole

For this recipe, you will need 340 grams (12 ounces) (or 2 good sized chicken breasts) of cooked, shredded chicken. The chicken can be cooked ahead of time by boiling two chicken breasts in a pot of seasoned chicken broth for about 1 hour, or until the meat begins to fall apart. Source http://www.skinnytaste.com/2012/02/chicken-and-broccoli-noodle-casserole.html Ingredients 170 grams noodles 2 tsp oil 4 cloves garlic, sliced thin 340 grams fresh broccoli florets, chopped 14 grams butter 1 medium shallot, minced 15 grams all purpose flour ¼ tsp cyanne pepper 1-¾ cups fat free chicken broth 1 cup 1% milk 340 grams cooked shredded chicken breast 115 grams aged cheddar cheese cooking spray 25 grams shredded Parmesan cheese 30 grams breadcrumbs Equipment 9 x 12 casserole dish Large skillet Large pot Pre-heat Preheat the oven to 375°. Preparation If needed, cook chicken breasts. In a large pot: ...

November 30, 2014

Grill Gazed Pork Tenderloin

Source This recipe was sourced from the below two recipes; combined and modified. https://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/7406-grilled-glazed-pork-tenderloin-roast https://www.cooksillustrated.com/recipes/7409-sweet-and-spicy-hoisin-glaze Special Equipment Grill Large container in which to brine tenderloins Five 14-inch lengths of kitchen twine; oiled Ingredients 2 (1-pound) pork tenderloins, trimmed 3 tablespoons Salt 1 ½ quarts cold water Glaze 1 teaspoon vegetable oil 3 garlic cloves, minced 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes ½ cup hoisin sauce (one 210 gram jar) 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 tablespoon rice vinegar Preparation Brine Tenderloin Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 1 ½ quarts cold water in large container. Lay tenderloins on cutting board, flat side (side opposite where silverskin was) up. Holding thick end of 1 tenderloin with paper towels and using dinner fork, scrape flat side lengthwise from end to end 5 times, until surface is completely covered with shallow grooves. Repeat with second tenderloin. Submerge tenderloins in brine and let stand at room temperature for 1 hour. Glaze Heat oil in small saucepan over medium heat until shimmering. Add in garlic, ginger, and pepper flakes; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Whisk in hoisin and soy sauce until smooth. Remove pan from heat and stir in vinegar. Transfer 1/3 cup glaze to bowl for grilling; reserve remaining glaze for serving. Prep Tenderloin Remove tenderloins from brine and pat completely dry with paper towels. Lay 1 tenderloin, scraped side up, on cutting board and lay second tenderloin, scraped side down, on top so that thick end of 1 tenderloin matches up with thin end of other. Evenly space twine underneath tenderloins and tie. Grill Turn all burners to high, cover, and heat grill until hot, about 15 minutes. Leave primary burner on high and turn off other burner(s). Clean and oil cooking grate. Place roast on cooler side of grill, cover, and cook until meat registers 115 degrees, 22 to 28 minutes, flipping and rotating halfway through cooking. Slide roast to hotter part of grill and cook until lightly browned on all sides, 4 to 6 minutes. Brush top of roast with about 1 tablespoon glaze and grill, glaze side down, until glaze begins to char, 2 to 3 minutes; repeat glazing and grilling with remaining 3 sides of roast, until meat registers 140 degrees. Transfer roast to carving board, tent loosely with aluminum foil, and let rest for 10 minutes. Carefully remove twine and slice roast into ½-inch thick slices. Serve with remaining glaze.

November 26, 2014