Blueberry Buckle

The Wheel of Meals landed on Local Ingredients

I bought some really yummy-looking blueberries at the local farmer's market and I also needed to a bring a dessert to my tennis league, so this recipe seemed like a perfect fit.  I found the recipe online and chose it because it used a LOT of blueberries plus it had a nice crumb streusel.   This was simply spectacular.  A++

Blueberry Buckle
Recipe adapted from www.browneyedbaker.com

Ingredients:

For Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

For the Cake:
1&1/2 cups flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 eggs, at room temperature
4 cups fresh blueberries

Directions:

To make Topping:  With an electric mixer, combine the flour, sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt on low speed until well combined, about 45 seconds.  Add the butter and continue to mix on low speed until the mixture resembles wet sand, about 2 minutes.  Transfer to a small bowl and set aside.

To make Cake:  Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and preheat oven to 350ºF.  Grease a 9" round cake pan or a 10" springform pan (that's what I used) and grease the bottom and inside.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; set aside.   Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, sugar, salt, and lemon zest at medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add the vanilla and beat until combined, about 30 seconds.  Reduce mixer speed to medium and add eggs one at a time; beat for 5-10 seconds, scrape sides, and continue to beat until fully incorporated.  Reduce mixer speed to low, then gradually add flour mixture and beat until flour is almost completely mixed in, about 20 seconds.  Use a rubber spatula to finish mixing (the batter will be very thick).   Gently fold blueberries into the batter.

Transfer batter to the prepared pan.   Squeeze a handful of streusel in your hand to form a large clump; break up the clump and sprinkle evenly over batter.  Repeat with remaining streusel.

Bake 50-55 minutes until the top is a deep golden brown and a thin knife inserted into center of cake comes out clean.  Place on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes.    Run a knife around edges.  Invert cake and then turn right-side-up onto serving dish.  Allow to cool for at least 1 hour before serving.

Cedar-Planked Salmon with Cucumber-Dill Sauce

Ever since I tried a planked salmon at a restaurant last summer (the BEST salmon I've ever had), I've been wanting to try it at home.  They were out of planks at the store, but Jeremy found an untreated cedar board in the basement and cut and sanded a piece to use.   I soaked it in water plus a little apple cider vinegar for about 90 minutes (weighed it down with a large pot).  We put the smooth side down on the grill first (over medium heat), waited for it to smoke a little, then flipped it over and turned off the heat on that side of the grill so that the salmon would cook over indirect heat.  The salmon went skin-side down on the smooth side.  I thought it tasted really, really good.  Jeremy said he didn't notice the cedar board adding extra flavor, but I enjoyed it regardless.   The bottom of our board got a little charred so we probably should have soaked it even longer.

Cedar-Planked Salmon with Cucumber Dill Sauce
from Better Homes and Gardens Grill It! Cookbook
Serves 4

Ingredients:
4 salmon fillets, 1" thick
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped cucumber
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons fresh snipped dill
2 teaspoons prepared horseradish (optional)

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the cucumber, yogurt, mayo, dill, and horseradish.  Cover and chill until serving time up to 4 hours.

In a small bowl, make rub by combining brown sugar, salt, and pepper.  Pat salmon fillets dry.  Place fish skin side down in a shallow dish.  Sprinkle rub evenly over fish and rub in using your fingers.  Cover and marinate in the fridge for 8-24 hours.  (Or substitute your own rub or herb blend)

For a gas grill, preheat grill, then reduce to medium.  Adjust heat for indirect cooking.  Place a pre-soaked cedar plank on the grill rack over the burner that is turned off.  Place salmon, skin side down, on plank.  Cover and grill for ~20 minutes or until fish begins to flake when tested with a fork (time will depend on thickness of fillets.  Ours took 30 minutes).    Slide a spatula between fish and skin to release fish from plank.  Serve with the Cucumber-Dill sauce.

Kale-Stuffed Chicken Roll-ups

I had half a jar of pasta sauce to use up and some kale in the fridge (instead of spinach), so I made my own little version of Kale-Chicken Parmesan, roll-up style.  It was delicious.

Anne's Kale-Stuffed Chicken Roll-ups
Serves 6

Ingredients:
6 thin-sliced chicken breasts (pounded to 1/4" thickness if needed)
~2 cups chopped kale leaves (spinach will work too)
~1/4-1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese
1 egg
salt and pepper
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 jar Ragu Veggie-Smart pasta sauce
~1/4-1/2 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese

Directions:
In one shallow container, beat an egg with a fork with some salt and pepper.   In another shallow container, combine the Panko and Parmesan.   In a square 8x8" baking pan, pour half the pasta sauce.

Divide kale and Mozzarella cheese on top of the chicken breasts.  Roll each chicken breast up tightly (no need for toothpick).   Dip chicken in the beaten egg, then the Panko mixture.  Place seam side down over the sauce in the baking pan.   Bake, covered, at 425º for 25 minutes.

Uncover pan and pour remaining pasta sauce over chicken.  Top with remaining Mozzarella cheese.  Continue to bake, uncovered, another 5 minutes until cheese is melted.

Dijon-Crusted Tilapia

I had some tilapia in the freezer to use, so I went back and found this recipe I made back in 2010.  It's a good one so I'm re-posting it on this blog.  This time around, I used Panko bread crumbs for a crunchier coating.  I also made some herbed red potatoes (which I loved) and steamed broccoli to round out the meal.

Dijon-Crusted Tilapia
Makes 4 servings
(214 calories/serving)

Ingredients:
3 tablespoons reduced-fat mayo
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon horseradish
4 Tilapia fillets (4-5oz)
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs (I used Panko this time)
2 teaspoons butter, melted

Directions:
In a small bowl, combine the mayo, 1 tablespoon Parmesan, lemon juice, mustard, and horseradish.  Place fillets on a baking sheet coated with baking spray.  Spread the mustard mixture evenly over fish.

In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, remaining 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, and butter.  Sprinkle over fish.   Bake at 425º for 13 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork.

My photo from 2010:

Herbed Red Potatoes
Makes 4-6 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound small red potatoes, halved or quartered (depends on size)
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon rosemary
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper
grated Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions:
Whisk together the oil, garlic, and herbs in a large bowl.  Add the potatoes and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.  Toss to coat.  Transfer the potatoes to a baking dish.  Roast at 425º, covered, for 45 minutes, then uncover to cook another 15 minutes until potatoes are tender and golden.   Sprinkle with a little Parmesan cheese if desired.

Fresh Cherry Galette

I saw cherries on sale at the grocery store, so I decided to buy a bag.  As I ate a few and spit out the seeds, I got annoyed with the seeds, so I decided to pit them all.  I tried a couple different methods, but using the end of a round pastry tip seemed to work the best for me.  Once I had them all pitted, I started looking through my cookbooks for a nice fresh cherry recipe.  This one called out to me.  It was delicious.  I couldn't find the larger turbinado sugar at the store, so I just used a sprinkle of regular sugar on the outer edge.

Fresh Cherry Galette
from Cooking Light Pick Fresh Cookbook
Serves 6; 227 calories/slice

Ingredients:
1/2 (14-oz) package refrigerated pie dough
3 tablespoons sugar, divided
1/2 tablespoon cornstarch
3&1/2 cups pitted fresh cherries
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1&1/2 tablespoons buttermilk
1 tablespoon turbinado sugar

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and unroll pie dough onto parchment, rolling into a ~12" circle. Combine 1 tablespoon sugar and 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, stirring with a whisk.  Sprinkle cornstarch mixture over dough, leaving a 2-inch border.

Combine cherries, 2 tablespoons sugar, and the lemon rind and juice; toss well to coat.  Arrange cherry mixture over dough, leaving a 2-inch border.  Fold dough border over cherries, pressing gently to seal (it won't completely cover cherries).  Brush edges of dough with buttermilk and sprinkle turbinado sugar over cherries and edges of dough.  Bake at 400º for 25 minutes or until dough is browned and juices are bubbly.  Remove from oven and let cool for at least 20 minutes before serving.  Slice into 6 wedges.

Tuna Noodle Casserole for 2

The Wheel of Meals landed on No Shopping

Yikes, it finally happened--we landed on the dreaded 'No Shopping' space.   It was almost time for dinner and the fridge had barely anything to contribute and nothing was thawed from the freezer.  I looked around in my cupboards and found a can of tuna, some chicken broth, and a half-empty bag of egg noodles.  In the fridge, I had a half-empty bag of shredded cheese and milk.  Yes, this can work.   The casserole was really pretty good although we really couldn't taste the cheese.  We left out the peas because we didn't have any in the freezer.  I just made a broccoli side dish instead.  I liked the crunchy Panko topping.  No complaints.

Tuna Noodle Casserole for 2 
from iowagirleats.com
Serves 2

Ingredients:
3 oz egg noodles
1 tablespoon butter
1 shallot, minced
salt and pepper
1&1/2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup skim milk
1/4 cup frozen peas
5-6oz can tuna packed in water, drained
1/4 cup shredded cheese
1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon Panko breadcrumbs
1/8 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 tablespoon butter, melted

Directions:
Cook noodles in boiling salted water until slightly undercooked.  Drain and return to pot. Set aside.

In a medium sized skillet over medium heat, melt butter.  Add shallots, season with salt and pepper, and saute until softened, about 3 minutes.  Add in flour and stir, cooking another minute.  Slowly whisk in chicken broth, breaking up any clumps of butter and flour.  Next, pour in the milk and bring mixture to a boil.  Add peas.  Reduce heat to medium and let mixture bubble until thickened, about 5-6 minutes, whisking every minute or so.

Add drained tuna to the sauce and salt and pepper to taste.  Turn off the heat and stir in the shredded cheese until completely melted.  Pour the sauce into the pot with the noodles and stir to combine.   Spray two individual ramekins with cooking spray and divide the mixture evenly between the two.

In a small bowl, combine the Parmesan cheese, breadcrumbs, Italian seasoning, and melted butter.  Sprinkle over the casseroles.   Bake in a preheated 375º oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.