02-23-10
Taco Pasta Toss
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil, salt it, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain and return to the pot.
- While the pasta is working, in a large skillet, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until browned, about 5 minutes. Add three-quarters of the onion, the jalapeño, garlic, chili powder, coriander and cumin; season with salt and pepper. Cook until the onion is softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute, then stir in the beer.
- Add the sauce to the pasta and toss. Spoon into a serving dish, top with the cheese and tent with foil to melt the cheese, about 1 minute. Top with the remaining onion, the tomatoes and lettuce— just like tacos!
02-23-10
Croque Monsieur-Style Monte Cristos with Fig Salad
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
- Preheat a griddle pan or cast-iron skillet over medium heat. In a large bowl, whisk together the preserves, shallot and vinegar. Whisk in the EVOO; season with salt and pepper.
- In a small saucepan, melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in the flour and cook for 1 minute. Whisk in 1 1/3 cups milk and cook until thickened enough to coat the back of a spoon, about 5 minutes. Season the sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Stir in the mustard and turn off the heat.
- Spread the sauce on 1 side of each bread slice. Top each of 4 slices with 1 cheese slice, 2 folded ham slices, another cheese slice and 1 of the remaining bread slices.
- Beat the eggs with the remaining 2/3 cup milk and coat the sandwiches twice in the batter. Wipe the griddle with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter nestled in a paper towel, then add the sandwiches to the griddle and cook, turning once, until deep golden, about 8 minutes. Halve the sandwiches diagonally.
- Add the romaine, frisée and figs to the dressing and toss. Serve with the sandwiches.
02-15-10
Faux Caesar Salad with Parmesan Croutons
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
1/2 cup garlic-flavored olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, divided, plus more as desired
4 ounces frozen pizza crust, thawed
1/2 lemon, juiced
1 medium head romaine, chopped, rinsed, and dried
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Directions:
Put 1/4 cup of oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat and heat until hot but not smoking. Add 1/4 cup of the cheese to a medium bowl and set aside.
Brush a work surface with a little oil and press the dough into a rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Cut the dough into thin strips, about 1/4-inch wide. When the oil is hot, using kitchen scissors, carefully hold the dough strips, 2 at a time, over the pan and snip off 1/4-inch pieces, letting them gently fall into the hot oil (this may take several batches). Shallow-fry the dough pieces, tossing frequently with a slotted spoon, Chinese strainer or tongs, until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer the croutons to the bowl with the cheese and toss to coat. Continue frying and dredging the dough in the cheese until all the dough is used.
When ready to serve, add the romaine to a large bowl, drizzle with lemon juice and add the remaining 1/4 cup oil. Season with salt and pepper, to taste and toss well to evenly coat the lettuce. Add the remaining 1/4 cup of cheese and the croutons and toss well until combined.
Transfer to a serving platter and top with additional cheese, if desired.
02-15-10
Stir-Fried Chard with Asian Ingredients
As seen in the Farm Fresh to You Newsletter
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1½ pounds Swiss chard, trimmed and coarsely chopped
2 teaspoons soy sauce
½ teaspoon sesame oil
3 drops Tabasco sauce, or to taste
Directions:
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Gradually add chard; as one batch wilts, add another. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until tender and most of the liquid evaporates, about 10 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and stir to combine.
02-15-10
Wilted Spinach Salad with Warm Feta Dressing
Makes 4 First-Course Servings or 2 Main-Course Servings
Ingredients:
1 9-ounce bag fresh spinach leaves
5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 medium red onion, halved, cut into 1/3-inch-thick wedges with some core attached
1 7-ounce package feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
2 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar
Directions:
Place spinach in large bowl. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in heavy large skillet over high heat. Add onion; sauté until brown and softened, about 7 minutes. Transfer to bowl with spinach; remove skillet from heat. Add remaining 3 tablespoons oil and cheese to skillet. Stir to melt cheese slightly, about 1 minute. Stir in vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Pour over spinach; toss to coat and wilt slightly.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 330 calories; 28 g fat; 3 g fiber; 9 g carbohydrates
02-01-10
Tabbouleh Salad with Nuts
Makes 6 Servings
Ingredients:
1 cup water
3/4 cup bulgur
2 handfuls pine nuts or slivered almonds
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 lemons, zested and juiced
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup freshly chopped mint leaves
1/2 cup freshly chopped flat-leaf parsley
4 scallions, whites and greens, chopped
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1/2 seedless cucumber, peeled and chopped
Salt
Directions:
In a small pot add the water and bring to a boil over medium heat. Pour the bulgur into a bowl, douse it with the boiling water and let stand 15 minutes.
Put the nuts in small skillet over low heat and lightly toast. Remove from the heat and let cool.
In a salad bowl, combine the cumin, zest and juice of 1 lemon and whisk in the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the bulgur, herbs, scallions, tomatoes, cucumber and salt, to taste. Toss together, let stand a few minutes, adjust seasoning and toss again before serving.
01-18-10
Bacon and Egg Salad
Makes 4 Servings
Ingredients:
6 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 shallot, sliced
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar, divided
4 large fresh farm eggs
1/2 pound frisee (about 2 large heads) washed, dried, and chopped into bite-size pieces
Kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper
Directions:
Cook the bacon pieces in a large skillet over medium-high heat until crisp; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Add the shallots to the pan and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in 2 tablespoons vinegar, reduce the heat and simmer gently for 1 minute.
In a large skillet, bring about 6 cups of water and 1 tablespoon of vinegar to gentle simmer. Crack the eggs, 1 at a time, and gently slip them it into the water. Cook until white is set but yolk is still runny, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
Add the frisee and crisp bacon pieces to the warm pan dressing, season with salt and pepper, to taste, and toss to coat. Divide the dressed frisee and bacon between 4 plates; top with a poached egg and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve immediately.
01-09-10
Spiced Pumpkin, Lentil, and Goat Cheese Salad
Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients:
3/4 cup French green lentils
6 cups 1-inch pieces peeled seeded sugar pumpkin or butternut squash (from about one 2-pound whole pumpkin)
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon hot smoked Spanish paprika
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
4 cups baby arugula
1 cup soft goat cheese, crumbled
1/4 cup thinly sliced mint leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
Directions:
Place lentils in small bowl. Cover with cold water and soak 10 minutes; drain.
Cook lentils in boiling salted water until tender but firm, about 30 minutes. Drain lentils. Rinse under cold water, then drain.
Preheat oven to 375°F. Place pumpkin in large bowl; toss with 2 tablespoons oil, cumin, paprika, and sea salt. Arrange pumpkin in single layer on baking sheet; roast 20 minutes. Turn pumpkin over. Roast until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Cool.
Combine lentils, pumpkin, and oil from baking sheet with arugula, half of goat cheese, mint, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper. Divide among plates; sprinkle remaining goat cheese over.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 196 calories; 9 g fat; 6.5 g fiber; 23 g carbs
11-24-09
Brussel Sprouts with Mustard Dressing and Maple-Glazed Pecans
Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients:
Directions:
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 223 calories; 17.1g fat; 4g fiber; 13g carbohydrates
08-30-09
Sweet Potato and Poblano Salad with Honey and Rosemary
Makes 8 Servings
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons honey
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced shallot (about 1 small)
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
Dash of Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup olive oil
2 1/2 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, quartered lengthwise
Canola oil or vegetable oil (for brushing)
2 fresh poblano chiles (about 8 ounces total), seeded, diced
1/4 cup green onions, thinly sliced diagonally (about 2)
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley
Directions:
Whisk first 6 ingredients in small bowl. Gradually whisk in olive oil. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook sweet potatoes in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just barely tender, about 6 minutes. Drain; run under cold water to cool. Cover and chill at least 1 hour and up to 1 day.
Preheat barbecue (high heat). Brush potato wedges with canola oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill potatoes until grill marks appear, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer potatoes to work surface. Cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces. Place potatoes, poblanos, green onions, and parsley in large bowl. Drizzle dressing over; toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve warm or at room temperature. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before serving.