Tag: Quick

Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Roasting brussel sprouts turns them from a bitter despised vegetable into a delicious carmelized vegetable. They are sweet with some crunchy leaves. 

Ingredients

2 C sliced brussel sprouts

3 T olive oil

Salt and pepper.

Fresh squeezed lemon juice and 1 t lemon zest(optional)

Directions

Preheat oven 400º F. Foil cover baking sheet. Serves 4

Rinse and dry brussel sprouts. Cut off the tip end and remove outer layer of leaves. Slice in half and place on baking sheet. Pour olive oil over them and toss until all sides are coated  in oil.*

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Sprinkle with salt and pepper and place in oven. Roast 8-10 minutes then toss and roast another 8-10 minutes on other side until outer surfaces are carmelized. Remove, add lemon juice and zest. Toss and serve.

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Note:

*This step could be done in a bowl.

Lemon adds brightness to the dish.

Brussel sprouts have become the favorite vegetable of out family and our guests. We enjoy them year round. In the warm months when we have the grill going, this is an easy to grill vegetable.

 

Turkey Sausage Burger with Pretzel Bun

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Kitchen to table meal of turkey sliders on a pretzel bun served with green beans and roasted fingerling potatoes in 30 minutes

Ingredients

1 pound Jennie-O® spicy turkey sausage*

1/3 C panko

1 shallot diced

1 C Mexican cheese blend

1/2 t rosemary finely chopped

4-5 Munster or Havarti cheese slices(optional)

4-5 pretzel buns split

Burger dressings: lettuce, tomato slices, pickles, Tzatziki sauce,mayonnaise, mustard or what ever is available

Sides: roasted fingerling potatoes and green beans

Fingerlings

2 pounds sliced in half and tossed in olive oil

Seasoning of choice

Green beans

3/4 -1 pound fresh green beans

Salt and pepper

Directions

Foil covered baking sheet. Pan with boiler insert. Oven temperature 400º F  Serves 4-5

Fingerlings

On foil covered baking sheet add olive oil covered fingerlings. Season with salt and pepper. Roast turning once about 15 minutes roasting time. Plate and adjust seasoning if needed

Green beans

Wash and destem green breans. Bring about 1″ to 1 1/2″ water to boil in pan with steamer basket. Add beans cover and cook until al dente about 4-5 minutes. Season and plate

Burgers

Place on Ingredients in bowl and combine.

Heat large skillet on medium high heat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Form turkey mixture into 4 large patties or 5 slider patties.

Place patties in skillet and cook about 8 minutes per side or until temperature reaches 165º F. Add cheese slice if desired  and cook 2-3 minutes.

Transfer burgers to split buns. Serve wth green beans and fingerlings

Note:

* I do not add salt to the turkey sausage as it is already seasoned. I will add other herbs that I have available.

 Good after a busy day with sports and school work.

Grilled Radicchio with Bocconcini Mozzarella

This recipe makes great bruschetta of tomato, mozzarella, and radicchio.  I would highly recommend giving this recipe a try.

Ingredients

1 radicchio head

6 Bocconcini  Mozzarella

2 T olive oil

2 large heirloom tomatoes

Optional 24 Kalamata olives pitted

6  slices of olive bread or sour dough

4 large garlic cloves finely minced

1/2 C olive oil

Directions

Grill temperature 320º F Oven temperature 375º F

Remove core of radicchio and separate the leaves and wash gently then dry. Prepare 12 leaves. Drain the cheese and cut 6 into half. Season with sea salt and pepper. Place a  cheese half inside a leaf and brush with olive oil.

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Fold the radicchio around the cheese and skewer it.

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Heat grill to 320º F Brush packets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper then grill about 3-4 minutes per side until the cheese melts. 

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Garlic Toast

Heat olive oil in small sauce pan and add garlic. Cook for 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside. Slice 6  one inch slices of bread and remove crusts and cut them into half. Place slices on foil covered baking sheet.Brush both sides with garlic olive oil. Bake  about 7 minutes per side. Remove to rack and cool. Maybe made ahead of time and stored in sealed bag.

Place a slice of tomato on the toast and season with salt and pepper.

 

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Remove the skewers and place radicchio packets on  the tomato slices and serve. Optional: Place olives on top of the open packets

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Raspberry Feta Green Salad with Walnut Vinegarette Dressing

Ingredients

Salad

6 C of salad greens

8 ounces raspberries

1/2 C walnuts crumbled

1/2 C Feta crumbled

Dressing

Walnut Vinegarette

Directions

Serves 6

Rinse and dry salad greens. Place in large salad bowl.

Toss with Walnut vinaigrette.

Top with raspberries, walnuts, and feta.

Drizzle a light amount of dressing on top to finish–the lettuce is all reeady coated.  Toss lightly and serve.

Another option is to place dressed lettuce in bowls and place raspberries, walnuts, and feta on top.

 

Pear Melon Gorgonzola Salad*

 

Ingredients

3 pears ripe

1 lemon juiced

1 C rose wine

1 t brown sugar

1/2 t cumin

1/3 C Gorgonzola cheese

1/4 C pistachios

1 cantaloupe seeded

2 limes  zested and  juiced

2 T honey

1 t Dijon mustard

1/4 C olive oil

Salt  and pepper

Directions

Serves 3-6

Cut pears in half and remove cores. Place in skillet add lemon juice, wine, brown sugar, and cumin. Simmer until tender but firm. Chill in wine sauce.

Lime Vinegarette

Whisk lime juice, zest, honey, Dijon, olive oil and salt and pepper in small bowl. Adjust seasoning  if needed.

Cut  cantaloupe in half and remove seeds then using melon baller cut 12 balls. Place a smear of wine sauce on serving dish. Place pears on wine sauce and add melon balls to cored out center of pears. Sprinkle with Gorgonzola and pistachios. Dress with lightly with  lime vinagarette. Season with salt and pepper and serve.

Note:

*Can  also be served on a bed of arugula

 

 

 

 

Easy Spaghetti Sauce with Pasta

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An easy to make spicy pasta sauce made from scratch served over pasta that is low fat but flavorful.

Ingredients

3 T olive oil

1 red onion diced

2 carrots diced

4 garlic cloves minced

2 Jalapeños diced

1 pound 93% lean ground beef

1 T oregano sliced

1 T Worcestershire sauce

3 T Kalmata olives sliced

1/2 C red wine

3 T Cento® tomato paste

3 C tomato sauce

2 C crushed tomatoes

1 box of spaghetti or linguine

5-6 quarts of salted water

1/2 C grated Parmesan(optional)

Directions

Serves 6 – 8

Heat olive oil in large skillet then add onions,carrots, Jalapeño, and garlic and cook 7-10 minutes. Add in ground beef  and cook until meat is brown. Add red wine, tomato paste, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and Worcestershire sauce. Bring to boil then lower heat. Add in olives and oregano and simmer 15 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Ready to serve.

Bring salted water to boil and add pasta. Boil for 9-10 minutes for al dente. Drain and plate in large spaghetti bowl. Pour sauce over the pasta and sprinkle on cheese. Serve with green beans and in the summer with a simple Caprese salad.

 

Sugar Spiced Pecans

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A delicious, easy to make spicy, sugared pecan recipe. Tasty with cheese and fruit plates or on salads.

Ingredients

8 ounces pecan halves

4 T sugar

1/4 – 1/2 t cayenne pepper

2 T butter, melted

Directions

Oven 350º

Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread pecans out on baking sheet and bake for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove from oven, toss, cool, and place in air tight container.

Note:

Serve with a cheese platter or on a green salad.

Richard’s Pork Tenderloin and Rice Casserole

Ingredients

Brine

1 quart of water

1/3 C Kosher salt

1/4 C brown sugar

1 garlic clove smashed

2 bruised rosemary stems

1 t sage leaves

2 pound pork tenderloin

Recipe

Brined tenderloins 

1 C brown rice

1 onion fine sliced

1 can of beef consommé

1 1/2 C water

Salt and pepper

Directions

Heat oven to 350º Serves 4

Mix brine ingredients and pour into gallon resealable  bag. Add pork tenderloins that have fat and silver removed. Brine in refrigerator for two hours.

Add rice and sliced onions to 9 inch square dish or large loaf pan then add consommé plus water.  Remove tenderloin from brine, dry and season  with salt and pepper.  Place on top of rice.

Cover and seal dish with aluminum foil. Bake for about 1 hour. Serve with steamed broccoli.

Note:

My friend was going to law school and I was a financially struggling undergrad. He occasionally fed me. His favorite to share was his Granny’s pork tenderloin rice casserole. Not fancy but easy and tasty.

Tzatziki Sauce

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Chunky tzatziki sauce with dill and lemon. With 2% low fat greek yogurt, this dip is low calorie and big-flavored.

Ingredients 

1 C Greek yogurt plain

1/2 cucumber de seeded, grated or diced*

1 garlic clove grated

2 t lemon zest

1 T lemon juice

1 T white wine vinegar

1 T dill chopped

1/2 t salt

Pepper to taste

Directions

Place double layer of paper towels in small bowl. Place yogurt on paper towels to de water for 30 minutes. At same time de water cucumbers by placing in double layer of paper towels.

Combine all ingredients in small bowl and adjust seasoning. Cover and rest for 4 hours to over night. Ready to serve with pita, vegetable sticks, topping for vegetables, fish, or chicken.

Note

* Cucumbers can be peeled

Tomato Bread Soup

Ingredients

1 28 ounce can of whole San Marzano(Roma) tomatoes

2 T olive oil

1 T butter

1 large onion chopped

2 cloves of garlic minced

1/2 t red pepper flakes

3 sprigs of basil plus 3 T sliced basil set aside

2 C tomato juice*

1 C broth or water as needed

2 C Day old rustic bread chunked*

1/4 C Parmesan grated plus 1/4 C set aside

Directions

In 3 quart Dutch oven melt butter with olive oil then add chopped onions and cook 5 minutes then add minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook for about 1-2 minutes.

Add  San Marzano(Roma) tomatos hand crushed, basil sprigs, and tomato juice. Bring to boil then simmer 10 minutes.

Add bread and gradually  stir in broth just  until bread starts to get mushy. Simmer until thickened. Add chopped basil and Parmesan. Season and serve with additional Parmesan on the side.

Note:

I remove the crust. (Alternative way to use leftover bread.)

I have used spicy tomato juice and also spicy  V8®when out of juice.