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Category Archives: Vegetable

Taco Salad with Homemade Spicy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Posted on October 19, 2010 by amydeline

I saw a picture of tacos yesterday. I’m highly suggestible when it comes to food stimuli. Immediately, I needed tacos. Though, after a weekend of gluttonous eating, I was in the mood for something a little lighter, greener, and fresher. I set my sights on taco salad.

Now, it probably wouldn’t make for very interesting reading if I sat here and told you about how I picked up a bottle of dressing and a packet of taco seasoning and whipped up a taco salad. Admittedly, that would be the fastest approach to building a taco salad and I’m sure the result would be pretty delicious. But, if you’ve got the time to do it, building the pieces from scratch will give you a fresher, healthier, and tastier result. And you can rest easy in knowing that you’ve eliminated all of those hard to pronounce food additives from your meal. Who wants to eat shelf-life extenders, stabilizers and anticaking agents anyway?? I know I’d much rather eat food.

The hero of this dish is the Spicy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing. I started with a basic buttermilk ranch, but with a little twist. Many ranch dressing recipes call for mayonnaise, which, as you may know, is on the short list of ingredients I avoid. Without naming names, I recently ran across a recipe, authored by a certain mayonnaise-loving Food Network celebrity chef, which called for mayonnaise as an ingredient in a layered cranberry sauce dish. I cringed. I’m still cringing. She seems to seek out opportunities to incorporate mayonnaise into dishes. I suppose that’s a positive for people who enjoy mayonnaise. But, I am on the polar opposite end of that spectrum. With that in mind, I created a mayo-free buttermilk ranch dressing. Once I was satisfied with the basic ranch dressing recipe, I added a few more ingredients to spice it up for our taco salad. You’ll notice that in the recipe, I italicized the final four ingredients. Without those ingredients, you can use the recipe as a basic buttermilk ranch dressing. Add the final four ingredients for a kicked-up Mexican-style ranch, perfect for a taco salad!

Taco Salad

Ingredients

  • 4 10″ Tortillas
  • 1 Head Iceberg Lettuce, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Black Olives, sliced
  • 1 cup Mexican Blend cheese, shredded
  • 2 Tomatoes, diced
  • 1 Avocado, chopped
  • 1 pound Seasoned Taco Meat (recipe below)
  • Spicy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing (recipe below)

Directions

To Make the Tortilla Shells: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a 10 ” flour tortilla inside of a medium-sized oven-safe bowl. Push the tortilla down to the bottom of the bowl. Place the bowl into the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, until golden brown and crispy. Repeat with all tortillas.

To Assemble the Salad: Fill the baked tortilla shells with chopped iceberg lettuce. Top each salad with about 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Top with 1/4 of the seasoned meat. Sprinkle with tomatoes, olives, and avocado. Drizzle with the spicy buttermilk ranch dressing.

Spicy Buttermilk Ranch Dressing

Ingredients

  • 1 cup Buttermilk
  • 1/2 cup Sour Cream
  • 1/2 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 3/4 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper
  • 1/4 tsp Dry Mustard Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Paprika
  • 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 5-6 Chives, chopped (about 2 Tbsp)
  • 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 1 Tbsp Diced Chiles, fresh or canned
  • 1/4 tsp Chile Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne

Directions

Whisk together the buttermilk and sour cream, until smooth. Add the lemon juice, salt, pepper, dry mustard powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. Stir in the chopped chives. (At this point, you’ll have a tasty, homemade buttermilk ranch dressing.) Add the final four ingredients and stir to combine. Refrigerate for at least an hour before using. The dressing can be made a day or two ahead of time.

Seasoned Taco Meat

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Lean Ground Beef or Turkey
  • 1 tsp Chile Powder
  • 1 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Onion Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Cayenne
  • 1 Tbsp Tomato Paste
  • 2 Tbsp Water
  • 1/8 tsp Cumin

Directions

Cook ground beef or turkey in a skillet over medium heat, until fully cooked. Add the chile powder, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, cayenne, and cumin. Stir to combine. Add the tomato paste and water. Stir until evenly combined. Taste and adjust seasonings, as desired.

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Italian Mac and Cheese

Posted on October 18, 2010 by amydeline

This recipe comes by request of my sister. After trying out my Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese, her brain went into mac and cheese overdrive. (It’s a very common side effect after consuming tasty mouthfuls of ‘ronis oozing with cheese.) Moments after her first bite, I received a message which read, Italian Mac and Cheese…mozzarella, provolone, prosciutto, and roasted red peppers. Go! My sister’s wish is my command. So, away we went.

Just like with my Spicy Bacon Mac and Cheese, I started with a basic base of thickened milk; a roux made of 3 tablespoons of butter and 3 tablespoons of flour, then 2 cups of milk. Skim milk works perfectly fine for this step. You might as well save yourself the calories and fat where you can in this indulgent treat. To this basic thickened milk base, we’ll add the cheese. Here’s where you can have fun! For our Italian-style mac and cheese, I used a blend of smoked mozzarella, provolone, and parmigiano-reggiano. Mozzarella has got some major gooey-factor going on. Delicious! Finally, we’ll throw in a few extras; homemade roasted red peppers, prosciutto, julienned sun-dried tomatoes, and a little basil chiffonade.


Italian Mac and Cheese

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Pasta
  • 3 Tbsp Butter
  • 3 Tbsp Flour
  • 2 cups Milk
  • 1/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Romano, grated
  • 1 cup Smoked Mozzarella, shredded*
  • 7 slices Provolone
  • Salt and Crushed Red Pepper
  • 5-6 Basil Leaves, chiffonade
  • 8-10 Sun-dried Tomatoes, julienned (thinly sliced)
  • 1 Roasted Red Pepper, diced
  • 5 slices Prosciutto, chopped

*You can substitute regular shredded mozzarella if smoked mozzarella is not available.

Directions

Cook the pasta according to package directions. Strain and set aside. In a saucepan, combine butter and flour over medium heat. Cook for a couple minutes, until it forms a thin paste-like consistency. Add the milk and whisk to combine. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for a few minutes until the milk thickens. Turn the heat down to low and add the cheese. Stir until the cheese has melted into the sauce. If the sauce becomes too thick, add a bit more milk. If the sauce is too thin, add more cheese. Season with salt and crushed red pepper. Pour the hot sauce over the cooked pasta and toss until evenly coated. Stir in the basil, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red pepper, and prosciutto. Garnish with a bit of extra basil and parmigiano-reggiano cheese. Serve immediately.

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How to Roast Peppers

Posted on October 18, 2010 by amydeline

Roasted peppers are a sweet and delicious addition to many meals. My favorite thing is to build a little sandwich of roasted red peppers, fresh mozzarella, and a drizzle of balsamic reduction on ciabatta. Then, I wrap it up in foil and pop it in the oven until the cheese gets a bit warm and melty. Mmmmm! I’m drooling just thinking about it.

Roasted peppers are a cinch to make at home, so save yourself the money and make your own, rather than buying those jarred peppers. Here’s a little photo guide on how to easily roast your own peppers. Then, check out my Italian Mac and Cheese recipe (coming up later!) for a tasty way to put them to use!

Start with firm, fresh peppers. You can use any kind of pepper. My favorite variety for roasting are Red Bell Peppers.

Cut the pepper in half. Use the edge of a spoon to remove the seeds and ribs.

Pour a drizzle of oil over the pepper halves and rub to evenly coat the skin side. Place the peppers, cut side down, on a baking sheet.

Cook in a 425 degrees oven for 15-20 minutes, until the top appears lightly browned and the skin begins to pucker.

Remove from the oven and place the hot peppers in a sealed ziploc bag. Allow to cool for 15-20 minutes. This step will help the skins to release from the peppers.

Peel the skin away from the peppers. If necessary, use the tip of a paring knife to release an edge, then simply peel the skin away.

Enjoy your homemade roasted peppers!

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How to Make a Basic Chicken Soup

Posted on October 14, 2010 by amydeline

So, you’ve roasted a chicken for dinner. You’ve carved the breasts and removed the drumsticks and now you’re left with a mound of bones, skin, and some other inedible remnants. But there’s also a lot of good, tasty chicken hanging around too. Well, I’m almost positive that best part of cooking a roasted chicken, is using the leftovers for chicken soup! Doesn’t a big, hot bowl of fresh chicken soup sound great right about now??

Here’s a little guide on how to turn that leftover roasted chicken carcass into a pot of flavorful chicken soup. It’s not a specified recipe, but rather a basic process, which you can customize to your tastes. By the way, you can use this same process with your turkey carcass after Thanksgiving!

Here’s what you do:

Step 1: Take the whole carcass mess, throw it in a big pot, and fill the pot with enough water to cover the chicken. Bring the water to a gentle boil. Cover and let it simmer for a few hours. You can get it started right after you carve the pieces you’ll be serving for dinner that night!

Step 2: Give the chicken about 3 hours to simmer. Then, set a colander over a large container. Pour the chicken and broth through the colander. Save everything. Allow the chicken parts and broth to cool. Then, cover the container of broth and refrigerate. Place the chicken parts in a ziploc bag and refrigerate to cool. *If you haven’t prepared to make the soup, you can complete this step right away, then refrigerate overnight and pick up the remaining ingredients the next day!

Step 3: When the soup has thoroughly cooled (the next day), use a spoon to remove the excess fat, which will have risen to the top. Reheat the remaining broth, which will probably have thickened into a gelatin-like consistency.

Step 4: Add a bunch of rough chopped vegetables to the broth; celery, carrots, and onions. Don’t worry about cutting them nicely. They will be discarded after we’ve used them to add another delicious layer of flavor to the broth. These are your aromatics or mirepoix (pronounced meera-pwa). Simmer the broth with the vegetables for about an hour in a covered saucepan.

Step 5: While the broth is simmering with the vegetables, pick through that mess of chicken, which you strained the night before. Find and save any good bits of chicken. Discard the remaining bones, skin, and inedible parts. Also, cut up any leftover chicken breast or drumstick meat.

Step 6: Nicely chop the vegetables you’d like in your soup. I’m not a big fan of tons of mushy veggies in my soup, so I only added a handful of sliced carrots. But, celery, leeks, onions, or tomatoes would all be good additions. Cut these veggies small and even, since they will be remaining in your soup.

Step 7: After the rough-chopped veggies have simmered for about an hour, strain and discard the vegetables. Return the hot broth to the saucepan. If too much water has reduced during the simmering, add a little more. Taste your broth. It should have a rich, delicious flavor, but will be in need of salt and pepper. So, season with salt and pepper, as desired. I also like to add a dash or two of hot sauce. *If your soup tastes too watery, try simmering it without a lid for a little while to reduce the liquid and concentrate the flavors.

Step 8: Add the chopped chicken and your nicely chopped veggies. Bring to a simmer and cook for a few minutes, until your veggies are tender, but not mushy.

Step 9: Prepare some rice or pasta to serve with your soup. I prefer Orzo pasta.

Step 10: Serve a big ladle of hot, yummy soup over your rice, noodles, or pasta. Enjoy!

*Store the soup separately from the rice or pasta. If you mix them together, the rice or pasta will drink up the broth. Chicken soup freezes great!

**If you want to make chicken soup from an uncooked chicken, there’s no need to roast it first. Just remove the giblets, rinse the chicken, and throw it in a pot. Cover with water and bring to a gentle boil. Simmer for a three to four hours in a covered saucepan. Then, proceed from Step 3.

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Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Chicken on the Side

Posted on October 12, 2010 by amydeline

It felt like the right time for a roasted chicken, rubbed and stuffed with tons of fresh garlic. Something about the aroma of roasting chicken and garlic seems to instantly warm the house on a crisp autumn day; the same effect as a fireplace ablaze with crackling logs in the winter or a cool glass of lemonade on a hot summer day. Comfort. My husband remarked that the scents which fill our house will leave lasting impressions on our kids. Someday, when they’re all grown up, they’ll catch a whiff of garlic somewhere and think of home. That’s a thought which comforts my heart.

Roasted chicken with garlic always makes a tasty meal, but the brussel sprouts became the surprise star of this show. One bite of the brussel sprouts and the chicken quickly became relegated to side-dish status. Don’t get me wrong, the chicken was delicious. But it paled in comparison to these brussel sprouts; these lovely, lovely brussel sprouts.  If you think you don’t like brussel sprouts, I implore you to try this recipe. It’s inspired by a similar dish, which my local Wegmans carried in their prepared foods section, last year. It was the first time I’d ever tried roasted brussel sprouts and I became an instant fan. The roasting process develops a vibrant, nutty flavor and pleasant texture, which is nothing like the bland, boiled brussel sprouts you may be familiar with. Tossed with crispy bacon and toasted walnuts, these brussel sprouts become a heavenly autumn feast.

Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Bacon and Walnuts

Ingredients

  • 1.5 Pounds Brussel Sprouts
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • 5 slices Applewood Smoked Bacon, chopped*
  • 1/3 cup Walnuts, chopped
  • Salt and Pepper

*I prefer Applewood Smoked Bacon for it’s flavor. Plus, it’s uncured and nitrate free! If applewood smoked bacon isn’t available, regular bacon will work fine.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut off the ends of the brussel sprouts, slice them in half lengthwise, and remove any browned or yellow leaves. Toss the sprouts in olive oil and season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Place the brussel sprouts in a baking dish and cook  for 45-60 minutes (depending on the size of the brussel sprouts). Occasionally toss the brussel sprouts as they cook, to promote even browning.

While the brussel sprouts are cooking, prepare the bacon and walnuts. Warm a pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until browned and slightly crispy. Carefully pour off the excess bacon fat, leaving a tablespoon or two in the pan. Add the walnuts and continue cooking for another minute or two.

During the last 15 minutes of the brussel sprouts’ cooking time, pour the bacon, walnuts, and remaining bacon fat over the sprouts. Toss to distribute. Continue cooking until the brussel sprouts are tender, but not mushy. Taste and season with additional salt and pepper, if desired.

For the Chicken: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove and discard the giblets from a 5-6 pound roasting chicken. Rinse the chicken, inside and out, and pat dry. Place the chicken on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour about two tablespoons of olive oil over the chicken and give it a little massage to evenly coat. Rub a couple smashed garlic cloves all over the skin. Gently loosen the skin on the top. Insert a few garlic cloves under the skin. Throw a handful of garlic cloves inside the chicken. Generously season with salt and pepper. Place the roasting pan on a lower rack in the oven. Roast for 15 minutes at 400 degrees. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 165 degrees, as measured by inserting an instant-read meat thermometer into a deep section of the breast. (My almost 6-pound chicken took about 90 more minutes.) Occasionally baste the chicken with the juices which will begin to collect in the bottom of the pan. When cooked, remove the chicken from the oven. Loosely cover with foil and allow it to rest for about 15 minutes. Carve and serve. *Save the carcass for chicken soup. An easy chicken soup guide will be coming up soon!

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Mission Fiesta

Posted on September 24, 2010 by amydeline

Tomorrow afternoon we will celebrate my little one’s second birthday. Where in the world did two years go?? It seems like only yesterday that I was waddling around, anxiously awaiting his birth. And now he’s this tiny little man. So utterly perfect.

I really love throwing birthday parties. There’s a good possibility that I actually enjoy throwing the party more than the kids enjoy celebrating the party. And with a little bit of thoughtful planning, I find it to be a relatively stress-free and enjoyable experience. In my opinion, a stress-free party is all about planning a menu which can be mostly prepared the day before and requires minimal fuss on the day off. I like dishes served cold or at room temperature or trays of food which can be reheated in the oven, while still maintaining their fresh taste and appearance. I avoid things like burgers, which need to be cooked in batches during the party and usually result in people standing around waiting for the platter to be refilled. I think burgers are great for barbecues, but for birthday parties, I like all the food to find its way to the table at the same time. Just my personal preference.

I also like to vary our party menus so that there’s always something new for our guests to enjoy. I’ve also got a few party standards, which I make again and again, like the Dinosaur Bar B Que Macaroni Salad. For this little fiesta, I’ll be serving an assortment of sandwiches and salads. Hopefully there will be a little something to delight everyone’s tastebuds.

Sandwich and Salad Party Menu

Sandwiches

Waldorf Chicken Salad on Pain de Campagne

Egg Salad on Marble Rye

Honey-Roasted Turkey Breast with Lorraine Swiss, Thinly Sliced Pears and Honey-Mustard on Mutligrain Baguette

PB&J on White

Roast Beef, Cheddar, and Apple with Horseradish Sauce on Onion Rolls

Prosciutto and Figs with Gorgonzola Cream on French Baguette

Fresh Mozzarella and Roasted Red Tomatoes with Basil Pesto on Ciabatta

Salads

Dinosaur Bar B Que Macaroni Salad

Greek Couscous Salad

Ambrosia Salad

Napa Cabbage  Salad

Today’s mission was simple. Prepare as much of the food as possible.

I started with the Ambrosia Salad. Ambrosia is a childhood favorite of mine. Seriously, it’s hard to disappoint kids with a salad whose main ingredient is marshmallows. My Aunt Theresa is the queen of ambrosia, so I use her recipe, which couldn’t be simpler. There are no set measurements and it’s almost impossible to mess up. Simply mix a bag of mini marshmallows with a can or two of strained mandarin oranges and a can or two of strained pineapple tidbits. Then mix in about 1/2 cup of sour cream. If desired, throw in a cup of shredded coconut. Stir and refrigerate. Make a few hours or a day ahead of time. If desired, garnish with marashino cherries.

Next, I got to work on the Greek Couscous Salad, another simple and delicious side salad. Simply cook some couscous according to package directions. Allow it to cool for a few minutes. Then, I made a greek vinaigrette using lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, garlic, a bit of greek seasoning, salt and pepper. Toss the couscous in the dressing. Throw in some crumbled feta cheese, chopped kalamata olives, marinated artichoke hearts, and sun-dried tomatoes.

The macaroni salad is one of my recurring regulars. I use the Dinosaur Bar B Que recipe, found in their cookbook. As I’ve mentioned before, I have a bit of an aversion to mayonnaise. So, I tend to avoid salads dripping in mayo. The Dinosaur recipe is hands-down my favorite macaroni salad, since it incorporates a good amount of creole mustard into the dressing, which cuts the mayo consistency. The flavor is fantastic! The salad starts with a pound of small pasta shells. Throw in some chopped celery, tomatoes, and green peppers. For the dressing, combine a cup of mayo (Hellmans, of course) with 1/4 cup of Creole Mustard. (I tend to add a bit more mustard). Add a teaspoon of brown sugar, 4 cloves of minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss the dressing with the pasta and veggies, then refrigerate to cool.

My egg salad recipe couldn’t be simpler. Hard boil some eggs. Cool the eggs under cold running water. Remove the shells and cut the eggs in half. Remove the yolks and place in a bowl. Use a fork to crush the yolks. Combine with enough mayonnaise and mustard until creamy. Season with salt and pepper. Chop the egg whites and add to the bowl. Slice a few green onions and add. Stir until well mixed.

I prepared my recipe for Waldorf Chicken Salad, which you can find here and my Basil Pesto recipe, which you can find here. To keep things simple tomorrow, I also sliced the mozzarella and the figs and prepared the honey-mustard sauce, horseradish sauce, and gorgonzola cream for the sandwiches.

For dessert, I baked my little guy a giant cupcake, using my favorite chocolate cake recipe, found here. I decorated the top with a dumptruck and candy rocks, per his request.


I made a double batch of the cake batter, so that I could bake some cupcakes. But, I way overfilled the cupcake pan, which caused the cakes to overflow. They began to fall apart when I tried to remove them from the pan. They were not in any condition for frosting. So, rather than waste the perfectly tasty cakes, I made Muddy Cups; a perfect addition to the Construction theme we’ve got going on. I stuffed the slightly mangled cupcakes into the bottom of small plastic cups. Then I covered them with a scoop of chocolate pudding and sprinkled them with crushed Oreos and candy rocks.

I’ll also be serving a Caramel Apple Cake and Peanut Butter and Jelly Baklava. Those recipes will follow at a later date.


It was a productive day and we’re in good shape for tomorrow’s party. All that remains for tomorrow is composing the actual sandwiches, baking the Caramel Apple Cake, and decorating, of course! Should be a fun, stress-free, and tasty party!

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Shaved Apple-Fennel Salad

Posted on September 22, 2010 by amydeline

This past weekend, we took the boys apple-picking. As I’ve mentioned after our berry picking excursions, the boys are highly skilled fruit pickers. The looks of concentration on their faces, as they go about their work, is priceless. And we always end up with far more fruit than we needed.

Such was the case this past weekend. The boys moved through the aisles of apple trees with focused eyes and hands, proudly filling their bags with ripe McIntosh and Cortland apples, until the bags were too heavy to be carried. We brought home at least a peck per picker. In layman’s terms, that’s a boat-load of apples. **Author’s note: The more accurate descriptor of our quantity of apples is a poop-load, but it struck me as unappealing to use the word poop in a blog about food. Oh drats, it seems that I wrote it anyway.

Well, when you’ve got a poop-load of freshly-picked apples sitting around, you need to start thinking creatively. Of course, I could bake more apple crisp, but since I gorged myself with it again last night (after consuming a massive BLT) I think it’s better for my waistline that I refrain from baking any more. Apple pie would, of course, be delicious. But, then I’d face the same self-control problem I’m having with the apple crisp in my fridge. So, thinking on the lighter side, I decided to incorporate some of the fresh, crisp apples into a salad with a bit of thinly shaved fennel and a white balsamic vinaigrette.

Fennel conjures up strong images of Thanksgiving at my Italian Grammy’s house. Thanksgiving at my Grammy’s house is a marathon of eating, which challenges even my expert ability to overeat. It starts with an antipasto platter; layers of rolled meats and cheese, adorned with spicy peppers, marinated mushrooms and artichokes, and black olives, dressed in a spicy, tangy vinaigrette. Following the antipasto, we sit down at the table for fruit salad. Then, the pasta course comes out; typically a lasagna, baked ziti, or stuffed shells with garlic bread. And then, after all of that meat and cheese and fruit and pasta and the occasional stolen dessert cookie; then we sit down for a traditional Thanksgiving meal; turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, baked sweet potatoes, creamed onions, green beans, cranberry sauce, and rolls. After which, there is dessert, of course; usually a selection of pies, cookies, cheesecakes, and trifle. It’s quite the feast.

So, where’s the fennel come in? Well, before the feast begins, there are nuts, olives, and fennel. As a child, the presence of this strange, celery-looking, licorice-tasting vegetable alongside the olives always confused me. Even more confusing was that my Italian family members pronounced it in a way which sounded like FUH-nook. But then again, I was also taught to pronounce ricotta like Rrrr-GOAT (don’t forget to roll your r’s) and mozzarella like Mootz-a-REL.

In my mind, fennel equals Thanksgiving at Grammy’s. I’ve never actually used fennel in any of my own recipes, but I was inspired recently by a salad which was featured in my grocery store’s seasonal magazine. Their salad blended fennel with oranges and onions over spinach in a vinaigrette. I’m taking inspiration from the apples in making my own twist on a fennel salad, using a light, crisp white balsamic vinegar in my dressing. If you can’t find white balsamic, you can easily substitute regular balsamic. The tastes are similar. The addition of walnuts and applewood smoked bacon to the salad add a wonderful complement in flavors and a perfect bit of crunch.

Shaved Apple and Fennel Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 Apples
  • 1 Fennel Bulb
  • 6 cups Spinach
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
  • 6 Slices Bacon, cooked and crumbled*

For the Dressing

  • 1/4 cup White Balsamic Vinegar
  • 1/3 cup Olive Oil
  • 1 Tbsp Honey
  • 1 tsp Mustard
  • Salt and Pepper

*Use applewood smoked bacon, if available.

Directions

Cut the apples in half and remove the core. Cut the fennel bulb in half. Using a mandoline slicer, very thinly slice the apples and fennel bulb. If you don’t have a mandoline, use a knife to slice the apples and fennel as paper-thin as possible. Make the dressing by whisking together all ingredients. Toss the spinach in a small amount of dressing. Divide the spinach onto four plates. Toss the apples and fennel in a small amount of dressing. Place a mound of the dressed apples and fennel on top of the spinach. Top with walnuts and crumbled bacon.

Serves 4


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Asian Chicken Salad in Phyllo Bowl

Posted on September 18, 2010 by amydeline

Syracuse, New York was recently given the distinction by Farmer’s Almanac as being the #1 Worst Winter Weather city in the United States. Speaking for all Syracusians, I’d like to express our sincerest gratitude for this special honor. We’re all truly humbled by this special recognition. We’d like to thank Mother Nature, Queen Frostine, and Madam Lake-Effect-Snow. We couldn’t have done it without you all.

A Lion on the Clearwater Beach Dunes...moments before he charged at me and bit my thigh

Winters are a truly cold and snowy mess up here. So, you may understand why my family ran away to Florida last year. We hopped in the car and drove ourselves down for a month-long winter reprieve. While there, my husband worked as he would work up here. And I tended to the family, as I would tend to the family up here. We just did it all in the Florida warmth. The modern luxury of telecommuting is a priceless gem.

Playing in the sand, while waiting for a table at Frenchy's Rockaway Grill

We retreated to an area called Clearwater Beach, where we rented a townhouse, which was situated a block from the Gulf of Mexico. Most nights, I cooked, as I would at home. But, we also enjoyed some of the local beachfront dining options. The place that became our favorite was called Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill. The menu featured a predictable selection of salads, sandwiches, burgers, and seafood. But the sunsets were always beautiful, the pitchers of Sangria were oversized, and the food never failed to hit the spot.

During our stay in Clearwater Beach, I became somewhat addicted to the Rockaway Grill’s Asian Chicken Salad; crisp lettuce and tender chicken tossed in a slightly sweet and spicy sesame dressing, topped with crunchy nuts and noodles and served in a phyllo dough bowl. It was a perfect blend of sweet, spicy, savory, tender bites, and crunch. It was, by far, the most satisfying Asian Chicken Salad I’ve ever tasted. So, now whenever I think of Asian Chicken Salads, I think of Clearwater Beach.

With Clearwater Beach on my mind, I’m making up my own version of Asian Chicken Salad, served in a phyllo bowl, Rockaway Grill style!

Asian Chicken Salad in Phyllo Bowl

Ingredients

  • 2 cups Chicken, cooked and chopped
  • 8-10 cups Lettuce (Iceberg/Romaine blend)
  • 1 cup Chow Mein Noodles
  • 1/2 cup Cashews
  • 1/2 cup Green Onions, chopped
  • 4 sheets Phyllo/Filo Dough, defrosted according to package directions**

For the Sesame Dressing

  • 1/2 cup Sesame Oil
  • 1/2 cup Rice Vinegar
  • 2 Tbsp Soy Sauce
  • 4 Tbsp Brown Sugar
  • 2 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
  • 2 tsp Garlic, minced
  • 2 Tbsp Black Sesame Seeds
  • Cayenne Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a medium sized bowl with cooking spray or lightly coat with vegetable oil. Gently arrange one sheet of phyllo dough inside the bowl, so that it takes the shape of the bowl. Hang the tips of the phyllo dough corners over the edge of the bowl to hold it in place. Place the bowl in the oven and bake for about 4 minutes, until golden brown and crisp. Remove the phyllo shell and repeat with the remaining three sheets, to form four phyllo dough bowls.

Prepare the dressing by whisking together all dressing ingredients. Season with cayenne pepper, as desired.

To arrange the salad, toss the lettuce and chicken in the dressing. Place the phyllo bowls onto plates. Distribute the dressed salad into the four phyllo bowls. Top each salad with chow mein noodles, cashews, and green onions.

Serves 4

**It took me a few tries before I got the phyllo bowls just right. Once I got it, they were a cinch to make. Just to be safe, you may want to have a few extra phyllo sheets on hand!

To keep the phyllo bowl light, I chose to use one single phyllo sheet for each bowl. But, for a thicker, puffier bowl, simply brush one sheet of phyllo dough with melted butter. Lay another sheet of phyllo on top. Brush the second sheet with butter. Lay a third sheet on top and brush with butter. Arrange the three stacked layers into the bowl and bake until golden brown and crisp.

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Honey-Balsamic Salmon over Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash

Posted on September 16, 2010 by amydeline

I must be dreaming about fall lately. Perhaps it’s the cool evening breeze coming through the barely opened windows, just enough to adjust the temperature in the room to perfect down-comforter weather. Whatever it may be, I’ve been waking up with fully formed fall dishes on my mind. Well, almost fully formed. The details take a moment to come to me, almost in the way you have to strain to put together the pieces of a dream.

Most recently, I awoke thinking of honey-glazed salmon. Yes, that sounds good. With pureed sweet potatoes. Correction; pureed gingered sweet potatoes. Wait, that’s still not right. It should be a sweet potato hash with apple. Yes, that’s it… Honey-Glazed Salmon with Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash. I didn’t decide to add the balsamic until I actually got cooking. And it was a wise addition, indeed.

There’s not much else to say about this dish. It’s simple, delicious, and perfectly fall-icious.

Honey-Balsamic Salmon over Gingered Sweet Potato and Apple Hash

Ingredients

For the Salmon

  • 4 4oz. Salmon Fillets
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1/8 cup Honey
  • 1/8 cup Balsamic Vinegar

For the Hash

  • 2 Sweet Potatoes
  • 1 Apple
  • 2-3 tsp Fresh Ginger, grated
  • 1 Tbsp Lemon Juice
  • 3 Tbsp Butter
  • Salt and Pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the salmon fillets in a baking dish and season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the honey and vinegar. Stir until well combined. Pour the mixture over the salmon fillets. Place the baking dish in the oven. Cook for 15-20 minutes, until cooked through. Periodically spoon some of the honey-balsamic mixture over the fillets as they cook.

For the hash, peel the potatoes and apple. Use a box grater to shred the potatoes and apple. Combine with the grated ginger. Toss with a bit of lemon juice to prevent the apples from browning. In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sweet potato mixture and cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring and flipping often to prevent burning. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

To serve, place a mound of the sweet potato-apple hash in the center of the plate. Place a cooked salmon fillet on top. Drizzle with a bit of the honey-balsamic sauce from the baking dish. Garnish with sliced green onions.

Serves 4


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Eggplant Parmigiana

Posted on September 15, 2010 by amydeline

Winter comes on fast here in Syracuse. It seems like one week you’re sweating in 90 degrees weather at the fair and the next week you’re rummaging through the house trying to figure out where you stashed your scarf when winter finally ended in June. It’s a long, cold, snowy winter ’round here, predominated by gloomy, gray skies and frostbitten noses.

But, there’s a short period of time between the summer and winter, where the sun is still shining, but the air carries just a touch of chill; sweater weather. The leaves turn a beautiful rainbow of rusty reds, burnt oranges, and golden yellows. Apples are ripe for picking. It’s perfectly autumn.

And though I don’t particularly care for the long periods of Syracuse winter gloom, I feel a buzz of excitement on the day I wake up to that perfectly autumn weather. To me, the first cool day in September is shouting one thing, loud and clear… Welcome to Comfort Food Season!

Comfort food season. It’s the time for spending a little longer in the kitchen. Time for heating up the oven and letting the warm aromas permeate the house. Time for hot, cheesy dishes, casseroles, and slow-cooked meats with roasted potatoes. Time for forgiving stretchy pants and bulky sweaters. Comfort food season makes this Gourmand Mom a very happy girl.

So, in honor of comfort food season, I’m making one of my childhood comfort food favorites. You see, I’m Irish, Scottish, and Armenian by heritage, but a good part of my family is Italian. I was raised on Italian food. There may not be a drop of Italian blood in me, but there’s the heart of an Italian cook hiding in there. And, as far as I’m concerned, when it comes to comfort food, it doesn’t get much better than Eggplant Parmigiana. Breaded and fried eggplant, layered with cheese and tomato sauce, then baked until perfectly hot and delicious.

My recipe is based on the recipe I was raised with. The secret comes from the combination of three different cheeses between each layer of eggplant; parmigiano-reggiano, mozzarella, and ricotta. The ricotta’s the real key, if you ask me. You can use any kind of tomato sauce in the dish. Homemade marinara or a high-quality store-bought sauce would be fine. I’m using a jar of Bertolli’s spicy Arrabbiata Sauce, which I received in the welcome gift bag over the weekend.

My process for making eggplant parmigiana begins with salting the eggplants. If you’re using freshly picked or baby eggplants, you can probably skip this step. For larger eggplants, which have been off the plant for a few days, salting serves a dual purpose. The salt draws out the bitter liquids which can accumulate in older eggplants, leaving you with a better flavor. Also, as a result of removing some of the liquid, you’ll have a firmer eggplant which will absorb less oil during the frying process.

The entire process of composing the eggplant parmigiana is a little time-consuming, but not complicated. The great part is that is can be prepared ahead of time and refrigerated or frozen until you’re ready to eat. If baking from refrigerated or frozen, be sure to add some additional cooking time to ensure that the dish gets thoroughly heated through.

Eggplant Parmigiana

Ingredients*

  • 2 medium/large Eggplants, sliced into approximately 1/3″ slices
  • Salt
  • 1 cup Flour
  • 3 Eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups Bread Crumbs
  • 1/2 cup Olive Oil
  • 2 cups Tomato Sauce
  • 1/2 cup Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups Mozzarella Cheese, shredded
  • 2 cups Ricotta Cheese

* All measurements are approximate. Adjust according to the size of your eggplants and your preferences.

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Arrange the eggplant slices on a baking sheet. Generously sprinkle the slices with salt. Allow the salted eggplant to rest for 15-20 minutes. You will begin to see droplets of liquid forming on the eggplant. Rinse the eggplant slices and pat dry.

Then, set up a dish of flour, bowl of the beaten eggs, and a dish of bread crumbs. Press both sides of each slice into the flour, dip in the beaten eggs, then press into the bread crumbs to thoroughly coat. Repeat this process with all eggplant slices.

Heat a few tablespoons of olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Places slices of eggplant in a single layer in the pan. Cook for about two minutes, then flip and cook on the other side for two minutes. Both sides should be a golden brown. Place the slices on layers of paper towels to drain. Continue this process, adding more oil as necessary, until all of the eggplant has been cooked. If the bread crumbs remaining  in the pan between batches begin to burn, wipe out the pan and replace with fresh oil before beginning the next batch.

Pour a small amount of sauce in the bottom of a baking dish. To compose the eggplant parmigiana, spread a spoonful of ricotta onto a slice of eggplant. Place the slice on top of the sauce in the baking dish. Sprinkle with parmigiano-reggiano and mozzarella. Then drizzle a small spoonful of tomato sauce on top. Repeat with additional eggplant, cheese, and sauce to create layered towers of eggplant, cheese, and sauce, each without about four eggplant slices. After placing the final slice of eggplant on the tower, top with sauce, then parmigiano-reggiano and a generous amount of mozzarella.

Bake for about 30-35 minutes. For a firmer cheese crust, leave the baking dish uncovered. For a meltier, gooey cheese topping, cover the baking dish with foil for the first 25 minutes or so.

Serve over spaghetti with extra sauce and cheese.


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