Nonna comes to dinner
We had Victor's mom over for dinner tonight. When Nonna's over, dinner gets pretty basic. I can't get away with exotic spices or overly-creative concoctions. Nonna likes her food recognizable. She's pushing 83. She's entitled...
Tonight's recognizable dinner was chicken parmesan. Thin chicken cutlets breaded and fried, topped with marinara Victor made earlier today, and some fresh mozzarealla and parmesan. Into the oven 'till the cheese melts.
We also had manicotti stuffed with ricotta... And overcooked peas. And a nice salad.
I love it when she comes over because she's here and gone in no-time at all. We work out the timing so she can eat dinner and be back in time for Bingo or Pokeno or whatever they're playing. And she always gets a big ol' doggie bag of goodies to take with her.
And dessert is calling.....
Excellent Enchiladas
We've been cooking up a storm at work, recreating all of the recipes submitted for the recipe contest. It has not been an easy task. We actually received too many good recipes! (okay - so everyone should have such a problem!)
And the tastes linger well after leaving work and coming home...
One recipe today did just that. It's a Chicken and Blue Cheese Dip. The flavors mixed well and the tasting panel really thought it would make a great filling for something like crepes, or even whole wheat tortillas (besides its original intent as a dip!) In our personal cooking, we don't limit ourselves to a few ingredients, and the ideas were flying - crisp steamed vegetables folded in and rolled into a crepe was one of my favorites. I think it's a sign we're all pretty serious foodies (or totally nuts - you be the judge!) when the first thing out of our mouths is what else we could do with something...
So I got home tonight and started thinking about dinner, and thought that a chicken and blue cheese enchilada would be the ticket!
The only actual ingredient I had at home from the original recipe was the chicken breasts. But did that stop me?!? Of course not!
I poached the chicken breasts in water. I added garlic powder, turmeric, cumin, and chipotle powder and let the chicken stew.
Into a bowl I crumbled a bit of roquefort cheese and sour cream. I added a bit of cheddar for body and balance. I have some Calypso Hot Sauce (really, really hot!) and added a few drops for heat.
I made an enchilada sauce from a half-jar of Salsa Autentica, a can of tomato sauce, and a bit of the simmering chicken water.
I rolled the filling in corn tortillas, topped with sauce, and baked at 350° for about 20 minutes. I also made rice and served it all with sour cream and a quickly-prepared uacamole.
Dinner start-to-finish was about 45 minutes.
And I am pleasantly stuffed.
Pugliese Rolls
Well... that biga from a few weeks back has been taking up space in the 'fridge, so I decided I had to do something with it,. today. This is such a totally easy bread to make, I have no excuses.
I followed the direction exactly as stated with the original recipe but made it into rolls instead of loaves. I baked at 450° for about 20 minutes.
And then - because I now had these fabulous rolls, I had to make sandwiches for dinner!
I marinated chicken breasts in Dale's Marinade, pounded them, then grilled. On the rolls went Duke's Mayonnaise (which is as good as I was told! It's my new favorite!!!) and then avocado, tomato, and roasted peppers. The sandwiches were total messes! It took me 4 napkins to get through - and it was worth every one of them!
I'm stuffed. I've been doing some serious eating all day.
And there's still Peach Upside Down Cake in the kitchen.....
Cassoulet Today
Back home. No more restaurants. Our own kitchen and a semblance of normalcy.
It was a bit chilly the other night and beans really sounded good. My mom used to make great beans, and I still need a bit of comfort food, right now. Beans, it was.
I cooked up a bit of onion, celery, and carrot, and when they were about half-way cooked, I threw in some white wine. (There's always a bottle of wine by the stove for cooking...) b Then added 2 cans of white beans and a bit of French herbs and a bit of dill.
I grilled some andouille sausage, a chicken breast, and a duck breast, cut them up and added them to the pot. Mixed, and put it all in the oven at 350 for about 30 minutes.
A bit of crusty French bread, and dinner was served.
Granted, it wasn't a traditional "Mom" recipe for beans, but it had the desired effect. I felt much better after eating them.
Cook Books Galore
We donated several hundred cookbooks to our local library book sale last year. The books were literally just collecting dust downstairs. We kept about a dozen of them - Lidia, Julia Child... more classic than trendy. figuring we might actually use a few books if they were upstairs, rather than a lot of books stored downstairs. It was a wise choice.
I've been really good. I haven't bought a cookbook in several years. Once upon a time I bought then constantly - hence the several hundred we donated - but I just didn't use them enough to justify buying more just to have them collect more dust before giving them away, again.
Santa, (and Leah and Ross) this year, decided I had been too good for too long and brought two new books into the house. The first, from Santa, is a fun book titled Celtic Folklore Cooking. Just my kind of book! Not only is it full of fun recipes, it has great stories to go along with them! It lists what foods to eat with which holiday and delves into the history behind them.
My first recipe of the new year is Chicken with Almond Rice - a dish that is associated with several holidays, including Yule and New Year's Eve. (I'm less than 24 hours late...)
Chicken With Almond Rice
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 1 chicken, cut in pieces (I'm using breasts - it's what I had in the freezer.)
- 1/2 cup ground blanched almonds
- 1 tbsp butter
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp ginger
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp cardamom
- 3 tbsp slivered almonds lightly browned in butter
Rinse rice in water; drain. Cover with cold water and leave to soak. In another pan, cover the chicken pieces with salted water and let simmer over low heat for one hour. Skim off the fat and measure 3 cups of the water into a separate saucepan. Add the ground almonds to the liquid and let steep about 10 to 15 minutes. drain the rice and cook it in the broth until tender. Remove the skin and bones from the chicken and cut into bite-sized pieces. Add chicken to the rice mixture along with the butter, sugar, ginger, salt, and cardamom. Cover and cook over low heat about 15 minutes, or until meat is thoroughly heated. To serve, garnish with the slivered almonds.
The second book is already a favorite of mine!
The Philadelphia Italian Market Cookbook - a Christmas present from Leah and Ross who just bought a house within walking distance of the market - is not only a great cookbook, but it's a fantastic history of South Philadelphia! It's loaded with fun food and stories about the Italians from the first immigrants to the neighborhood today! It's especially fun for me since I'm not from here. This is all new. I see many great meals coming soon!
Oh... and I was on the Barnes and Noble website looking for post-holiday cheapies and ended up with two more cookbooks - 100 Great Risottos and 100 Great Tapas.
Winter... Risotto... Yum...
Chicken with Leeks
I stopped by the Farmer's Market this afternoon after my Saturday workout. And after the 45 minutes of steam room and jacuzzi that followed. The steam and jacuzzi are my reward to my protesting muscles after their workout. I like it. too. Quiet, peaceful, relaxing... I just kinda melt. It's great. But I digress...
I headed over to the bank after to make a quick deposit, and the Farmer's Market is 20 feet away. Saturday and Shopping usually do not mix for me, but I was in the neighborhood - literally.
I really didn't need anything, but I did want to see what was available, and maybe pick up a few rolls for sandwiches. Walking by one of the two main produce stands, I spied a leek. Not just any old leek, mind you, but a 24" (at least) beauty that was all "white and pale green part.' It was perfect. 99 cents. Sold. I had no idea what I was going to make for dinner, but that leek was going to play an integral part.
I picked up a few rolls, some German Bologna and then stopping by to say HI to my friend Michael, I spied a great Santa in his display. It was a cast iron door stop that just screamed "take me home." Not only was the price right, Michael gave me an additional discount (it's his store, afterall!) and happily home I went.
Off to check recipes, I came across one from Gourmet Magazine a few years back:
Braised Chicken Breasts on Creamy Leeks
- 2 lb medium leeks (white and pale green parts only)
- 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 1/2 lb total)
- 1/2 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup dry white wine
- 1/3 cup chicken broth
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
Halve leeks lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1-inch pieces.
Pat chicken dry and season with salt and pepper. Heat oil and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then brown chicken on both sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer to a plate.
Add wine to skillet and deglaze by boiling over high heat, stirring and scraping up brown bits, until reduced to about 2 tablespoons, 1 to 2 minutes. Add leeks and remaining 2 tablespoons butter and salt and pepper to taste, then simmer over moderately low heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until leeks are wilted, about 10 minutes. Stir in broth.
Top leeks with chicken breasts and juices from plate, then gently simmer over low heat, covered, until leeks are tender and chicken is just cooked through, about 8 minutes .
Transfer chicken breasts to a plate. Add cream to skillet and boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until thickened slightly, 1 to 2 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Serve chicken on top of leeks.
Okay. That was their recipe. I changed it just a bit.
I floured the chicken breasts, used 1/2 cup wine and 1/2 cup broth and omitted the heavy cream altogether, and served the leeks on top, rather than beneath, the chicken breast.Otherwise, followed the recipe fairly closely.
I steamed some asparagus and made a brown rice dish by sauteing a bit of green onion, celery, garlic and mushrooms in a bit of olive oil, added 1 cup of water and 1 cup of chicken broth and 1 cup of brown rice. Cooked for 40 minutes. Dash of S&P.
My stomach is smiling, we have a new Santa, my muscles aren't aching quite as much as they were, and we're supposed to get snow tomorrow.
Life is good.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
I was at the farmer's market Wednesday to order my 32+ pound Thanksgiving Turkey, and picked up a stewing hen while I was there. There is just nothing more flavorful than soup or stew made with a stewing hen.
Into the pot the bird went with carrots, celery, onions, garlic, bay leaves, and about 3/4 bottle of white wine I've been using for cooking. I simmered it all day Wednesday and Wednesday evening, strained the broth and removed the chicken. After cooling, they both went into the 'fridge.
Yesterday afternoon, the fun began - clean out the 'fridge! The broth went into the pot along with celery, carrots, fresh peas, green beans, 2 different leftover cooked brown rices, chopped up mustard greens, and a bag of tortolini - and a goodly amount of chicken. (There's at least one - if not two - other meals from the chicken!)
It was sooooo good! Really rich, chicken flavor and lots of good vegetables. I almost licked the bowl. And the garlic bread was the perfect accompaniment.
Pomegranate Chicken
I worked up an appetite today! I actually went to the gym. Yes. Me. A gym. Not only did I go to a gym, I saw a personal trainer. Yes. Me. A gym AND a personal trainer.
I just quit smoking and decided I just didn't want to gain 60 pounds - again. I've lost 35 pounds this past year just by watching what I eat, making better choices -and smaller portions. I haven't done any excersize. None. Nadda. Zip.
The way I like food, I'm going to balloon if I don't do something drastic - and for me, there's nothing more drastic than walking into a gym. Until three days ago, I had never been in one in my life! Oh... I've done my share of luxury hotels with their health spas. I head directly to the massage table and then to the steam room and sauna.
Times have changed.
So I'm starting a regimine that should start to get this old out-of shape body back into shape. And I hate to admit it, but I felt good after leaving today! Granted, this was only session one of the program - the easiest - I'm looking froward to going back for more.
But all the working out in the world will be for naught if I don't eat better.
Tonight's better choice was Chicken with Pomegranate Sauce. (Better doesn't have to be boring!)
I took two huge chicken breasts and cut them in half, pounded a bit and dredged in seasoned flour (King Arthur White Whole Wheat.) I browned the chicken in a bit of olive oil and removed it from the pan. I added a cup of chicken broth and a couple of tablespoons of sherry and then about a cup of pomegranate seeds. A bit of S&P.
I cooked it down a bit and then added the chicken back to the pan to finish cooking and to help thicken the sauce a bit.
Meanwhile, I cooked up wild rice and steamed a big bunch of broccoli.
I was a good boy and didn't clean my plate! (But I sure wanted to!) I had to leave room for dessert! (Baked Apples!!!)
Birthday Dinner
Happy Birthday To Me! And what a fun birthday it has been!
It's been a crazy few days around our house... Wednesday, Victor had surgery on his foot. He had a Retro-Calcaneal Right Heal Exostectomy… Roughly translated, he had a bone spur on his heal that had gone around his achilles' tendon and they had to go in, cut the achilles’ tendon, scrape a bunch of crud, and sew it (and him) back together. He’s in a knee-high cast for the next 4-6 weeks, and lots and lots of therapy after. He's not exactly the most mobile person right now.
Yesterday, just to add a bit of misery to the household, I had a wisdom tooth pulled. We had already taken the time off to go up to New York to visit friends and celebrate the 34th anniversary of my 21st birthday.But... it was not to be.
Trust me... I would have rather been up there!
Fortunately, the surgery came out fine - as did the tooth. Between Victor's vicodin and my percoset, things have been going swimmingly along. The house has been full of family and friends, the phone and doorbell have not stopped ringing - plants and flowers and chocolates and a huge Edible Fruit Bouquet... and even an ice cream birthday cake!
The house finally cleared out and I decided I wanted a nice birthday dinner - and since Victor is out of commission as a cook for a while, I headed off to the kitchen...
We made a great stilton and arugula soup at work last week and I bought the fixin's thinking I'd make it at home. Instead, it became Chicken Breasts with a Caramelized Onion and Stilton Sauce served on a bed of sauteed Arugula and Baby Bella Mushrooms, topped with Caramelized Onions and Currants. Can you say "yummy" boys and girls?!?
I also made a classic pommes anna. Butter and potatoes. How decadent! It was just what the Doctor ordered.
It was one of those use every pan in the kitchen meals, but it was worth it!
And I made a Fresh Peach Pie for dessert.....
Happy Birthday, indeed!
Chipotle Chicken
We've been having a lot of food fun the past few days... Our friend Dorrie and her son Jordan are down visiting from Boston - and that means getting to cook even more food than we usually do!
We had planned on going over to Victor's brother's house for the 4th - they're out of town and have a pool - but the weather just wasn't cooperating, so... we just BBQ'd at home. Hot dogs, burgers, ribs, three different types of sausages... It was yummy. Of course I cooked a bit too much... So...
Last night I decided to just do a bit of a clean out the 'fridge dinner... I took the leftover sausages - andouille, chorizo, and spicy Italian - and sliced them up. I fried up a bunch of onions and mixed peppers, and added tomatoes and lots of chipotle pepper and cumin. I then grilled a couple of chicken breasts and added them to the pot.
Boiled up some egg noodles, and voila! Dinner was served!
It was spicy hot without being 5 alarm, and we had some crusty bread to sop up the sauce. Simple and satisfying.
Dessert was a snap... We just got in puff pastry at work, so I baked off a sheet and after it came out of the oven, i split it in two. Earlier, I took some raspberries and sprinkled a bit of brandy over them.
I whipped up some cream, spread half on the pastry, added the raspberries, more cream, and then the top. Can we say "Yummy" boys and girls?!?
I have a whole chicken marinating in the 'fridge for tomorrow.....
Herb Grilled Chicken
That few minutes yesterday really paid off today! Dinner took 15 minutes from start to finish!
The herb-marinated chicken came out great! All of the herbs - and the wine - were present, but none of them overpowered the flavor of the chicken. Starting with good chicken is the key. It seems that most times when one buys that massed produced commercial chicken nowadays, it's so flavorless that if you don't marinate or add some sort of sauce, you end up with a blah bird on your plate. A free range organic bird may cost more, but it's the difference between eating at McDonald's or eating at Le Bec-Fin. It's worth it.
To round out the dinner was a tortellini dish that tomorrow will make a great cold salad. While cooking up the tortellini, I cooked up some onions, garlic, Italian peppers, and mushrooms, and then added roasted tomatoes in oil, kalamata olives, and roasted red peppers. I then mixed the tortellini in with the veggies and called it good!
Who says they don't have time to cook?!?
Chicken and Asparagus
I guess one of the most fun things about cooking is creating something on the fly from what's in the refrigerator. Dinner last night was a perfect example of just that.
I had done my weekly shopping, taken Victor's mom to the Dr in Bryn Mawr, worked on a website for a friend, and suddenly started getting those hunger pangs... I had eaten my bowl of Shredded Wheat with Bran mixed with Grapenuts and a banana, but had somehow missed lunch. The stomach started rumbling...
Not quite sure what I was making - only that it involved chicken - I put on a pot of TJ's Brown Rice Trilogy. Whatever I made was going to be derved with rice.
I opened the fridge and there was the fresh asparagus I had bought (on sale - $1.99/lb) and some fresh Italian peppers. In the cabinet was a bag of fresh bread crumbs Victor had made a few days ago. A plan was forming...
I breaded the chicken breasts with the crumbs - I added some Italian seasoning, salt and pepper - and lightly sauteed in olive oil to brown, and then popped them into the oven to finish.
In the meantime, I steamed the sparagus, and made a quick ricotta cheese sauce to top everything.
I chopped about 1/4 cup of Italian pepper, 2 scallions, and a clove of garlic and sauteed quickly in a tad of olive oil. I then added about 2/3 cup of part skim ricotta, a few tablespoons of nonfat milk to thin, and a bit of salt and pepper, and heated it all through.
The presentation was simple. A bed of rice, topped with the chicken breast. Asparagus on the side, and sauce on top. It was yummy!
Start to finish was under 30 minutes - not counting the rice that took longer - but required nothing. I did dirty 4 pots and pans, but... sometimes quick dinners require a few utensils!
At any rate, it was a great dinner!