Shaved Fennel Salad & Chicken w/ Red Pepper Aïoli (2012 - Week 21)

Week 21 Featured Ingredient: Fennel

Well, the chicken and aïoli sauce were excellent.  I probably wouldn't make the fennel salad again though.  It wasn't bad, but it just wasn't my thing.


Chicken with Red Pepper Aïoli and Shaved Fennel Salad
from Food Network Magazine
Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
2&1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breasts (4-6 breasts)
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 bulbs fennel, trimmed and quartered lengthwise, plus 1 cup fronds
2 sprigs thyme
4 cloves garlic
kosher salt
freshly ground pepper
2 red bell peppers
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup fresh parsley

Directions:

Put the chicken in a large pot. Add the broth, olive oil, fennel fronds, thyme, garlic, 1/2 tablespoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, then add enough water to cover the chicken and turn the heat to medium low. Poach the chicken, turning occasionally and keeping the liquid just below a simmer, until just cooked through, about 30 minutes (a thermometer inserted into the center of a chicken breast should register 155-160ºF). Remove the chicken to a plate with a slotted spoon and let cool to room temperature.

Increase the heat to medium high and simmer the cooking liquid until the garlic is tender, about 5 more minutes; remove the garlic and set aside. Strain the cooking liquid; reserve 1/4 cup and set aside.


While the chicken is cooking, place the red peppers directly on a stovetop gas burner over high heat and char on all sides, turning with tongs, about 10 minutes. (If you don't have a gas stove, char the peppers on a baking sheet under the broiler, turning occasionally, about 12 minutes.) Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside, 20 minutes. Peel the skin off the peppers with your fingers; discard the stems and seeds and chop.


To make the Aïoli: Puree about three-quarters of the roasted red peppers in a blender with the mayonnaise, reserved garlic and 1 tablespoon lemon juice until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.


To make the Fennel Salad: Thinly slice the fennel bulbs (use a mandoline if you have one) and transfer to a large bowl. Finely chop the remaining roasted red peppers, then add to the bowl along with the parsley, the remaining 2 tablespoons lemon juice and the reserved 1/4 cup cooking liquid; toss. Season with salt and pepper. Slice the chicken; top with the aïoli and serve with the fennel salad.

Ugli Duckling and Rosemary Potatoes (2012 - Week 20)

Week 20 Featured Ingredient: Ugli Fruit

I've seen this fruit in the store and wondered what it was like.  Now I know.  It tastes just like an orange.  This was a pretty good recipe.  The duck fat was nicely rendered, and the potatoes were a tasty accompaniment.  On a side note, I think this was the first time I've used watercress too.

Ugli Duckling

Ingredients:
Duck breast filets
salt and pepper
1 medium Ugli fruit, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon orange extract
small bunch watercress

Directions:
Season the duck with salt and pepper.  Heat a saute pan over medium heat for 3 minutes and then sear the duck filets, skin side down, for 10 minutes, covering pan.  Transfer the duck to a baking sheet, skin side up, and bake at 400º for 15-18 minutes until internal temperature of duck reaches 160º.

White duck is cooking, poach the Ugli fruit slices in a small pot with the sugar, orange juice, and extract, and heat to reduce and thicken the sauce.

Arrange duck on a plate over the watercress, garnish with Ugli fruit slices, and pour some of the remaining orange sauce over duck if desired.  Serve with potatoes.

Rosemary Red Potatoes

Ingredients:
1 pound small red potatoes, quartered
1/2 small onion, coarsely chopped
1-2 tablespoons olive oil
1-2 teaspoons dried rosemary, crushed
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 teaspoon garlic salt

Directions:
In a bowl, combine everything and toss to coat.  Transfer to a foil-lined baking pan and baked, uncovered, at 425º for 25-30 minutes until potatoes are tender and browned.

Pizza Spam Bake (2012 - Week 19)

Week 19 Featured Ingredient: Spam

Jeremy came home with a can of Spam, so I decided I might as well use it.  This was a good recipe.  Can't go wrong with hiding the spam in a cheesy casserole.  In the future, I would use less cheese and more sauce.  I used Wisconsin Badger pasta... you can see the W-shaped red and white pasta if you look closely (well, more like pink and off-white).  :)

Pizza Spam Bake
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients:
1 (16oz) package elbow macaroni (or other pasta)
1 (12oz) can SPAM, cubed
1 cup Hormel Pepperoni, cubed
1 onion, diced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (16oz) jar pizza sauce
2 pinches salt
1 pinch pepper
1/2 tablespoon basil
1 teaspoon oregano
4 cups (16 oz) shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:
Cook pasta according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the Spam, pepperoni, and onion in oil until lightly browned.  In a large bowl, combine macaroni, Spam mixture, pizza sauce, and seasonings.  Slowly stir in 3 cups mozzarella cheese.  Transfer to a large casserole dish or 9x13" baking pan.  Sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese.   Cover and bake at 350º for 30 minutes.  Uncover and bake another 5-10 minutes.

Mango-Chipotle-Agave Chicken (2012 - Week 18)

Week 18 Featured Ingredient:  Agave Nectar

Happy Cinco de Mayo!
I went Agave Nectar crazy this week.  I saw it in the baking aisle of the grocery store and decided to use it this week since most Agave nectar is produced in Mexico and today is Cinco de Mayo.  Agave nectar is a liquid sweetener that comes from the Agave plant.   Anyway, here are my Cinco de Mayo recipes.... enjoy!!

Mango-Chipotle-Agave Chicken 

(on Cilantro-Lime Rice and Cumin Black Beans)

Ingredients:
Chicken breasts, boneless, skinless
mango, cut into strips
rice
cilantro, chopped
lime juice
black beans, rinsed and drained
ground cumin
 
Marinade Ingredients:
1-2 cups chopped mango
1 cup mango juice (I used Tropicana Orange-Mango juice)
2 tablespoons amber agave nectar
1 cup fresh cilantro
1 shallot, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (add an extra if you like lots of heat)
1 tablespoon adobo sauce
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
1 tablespoon canola oil
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper


Directions:
Throw all the marinade ingredients into a blender and puree it.  Reserve half the mixture, and pour remaining half into a large resealable plastic bag and put chicken breasts in the bag and massage until chicken is coated well.  Refrigerate and let marinate for at least 6-8 hours.

Remove chicken from bag and sear breasts in large skillet on medium-high heat for 2-4 minutes per side, depending on thickness of breasts (internal temperature of 160ºF).  Pour reserved mixture over chicken and let reduce in pan to get a nice sauce, occasionally basting chicken.

Cook the rice according to package directions and toss with chopped cilantro and lime juice (I have no idea how much I used... I just squeezed whatever I felt like).   Cook the black beans and stir some ground cumin in with them. Place rice and beans on plate, top with chicken and sauce, and garnish with mango slices.  Enjoy!

Mexican Churro Balls with Agave Nectar Caramel Sauce

Ingredients:
1 cup water
1/3 cup butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup flour (Note: I ended up using over 2 cups flour to make this batter work at all!)
4 eggs
canola oil, for frying
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (I used Penzeys Ceylon Cinnamon)

Caramel Sauce:
1&1/2 cups Agave nectar
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
2 tablespoons butter
pinch sea salt

Directions:
To make donuts, in a medium saucepan, heat water, butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt over medium-high heat until the edges of the liquid start to bubble.  Add the flour all at once and stir briskly with a wooden spoon until well mixed. Remove from the heat and add eggs, one at a time, beating well with spoon after each.  The dough should look soft and glossy and retain a "hook" shape when the spoon is pulled from the dough.

Pour 1 to 2" of oil into a deep heavy skillet or pot.  Heat over medium heat.  Pipe dough (for crullers) or drop by spoonful (for balls) into the oil.  Don't overcrowd.  Fry, turning once, until golden brown.  Drain on paper towels.   Mix the sugar and cinnamon together and place in paper bag.  Drop a few donuts in bag and shake until coated.

For caramel sauce, mix all ingredients in saucepan over medium-high heat.  Cook 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  For a thinner sauce, add more cream.  Serve.  Store sauce in fridge.

Agave Mint Limeade

Ingredients:
1/2 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh mint leaves, crushed
2 tablespoons agave nectar
5 cups water
crushed ice

Directions:
Combine lime juice and mint leaves in blender.  Add agave nectar and water and stir.  Chill and serve with ice.

Crispy Kale Chips (2012 - Week 17)

2012 Week 17 Featured Ingredient: Kale

I've been wanting to try these "Kale Chips" for awhile now to see what all the fuss is about.  They're supposed to be crunchy, salty, and addictive like potato chips, but with actual nutritional content.  Well, they were okay, and I think they would have been a lot better if I had not added so much salt.  I decided to "spice up" the recipe by adding some Penzey's Old World seasoning but I didn't reduce the salt which was a mistake.  Yikes, too salty!  Still, not bad.

Crispy "Old World" Kale Chips
Serves: 6 - 8

Ingredients:

1 head kale
1-2 tablespoons olive oil (or cooking spray to lighten it up)
Penzey's "Old World" seasoning
sea salt (to taste, if needed)


Directions:
Remove the ribs from the kale and cut into 2-inch pieces. Toss with the olive oil and seasoning.  Lay on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake at 300ºF until crisp, turning the leaves over once, about 10-15 minutes total.  Don't let them brown. Sprinkle with salt if necessary and serve as finger food.

Seared Ahi Tuna on a Pummelo & Tangelo Salad (2012 - Week 16)

2012 Week 16 Featured Ingredients: Pummelo & Tangelo

I saw a Pumello (aka Pomelo) in the produce department of Sendik's and asked myself, "What is that?"  So I put it in my basket and decided to make a recipe with it.  Turns out it is very similar to a grapefruit.  Not my favorite citrus fruit, but oh well.  I also picked up some Minneola tangelos for the first time as well.   Minneolas are a cross between a tangerine and grapefruit, but they looked and tasted a lot like oranges to me.  I liked them much better than the pomelo slices in the salad. And then I was browsing the meat/seafood department and saw two fine-looking Ahi tuna steaks and thought it would go well with the salad recipe which it did.  I rubbed them with a little salt, pepper, cayenne, and paprika.  Look at me, improvising my own recipe!!  :)

Seared Ahi Tuna on a Pummelo & Tangelo Salad
Salad Serves: 4-6

 Ingredients:
1 pummelo, peeled and sectioned
2 tangelos, peeled and sectioned
1 banana, sliced
4 cups baby lettuces or torn mixed greens
2 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons orange juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon sugar

Ahi Tuna Steaks
salt, pepper
ground cayenne pepper
ground paprika

Directions:
For vinaigrette, combine lime juice, orange juice, olive oil, mustard, and sugar in a screw-top jar.  Cover and shake well to mix.  Combine fruit in a bowl.  Pour vinaigrette over fruit and toss gently to mix. 

Place a small amount of olive oil in a large skillet and heat to medium-high.  Rub spices on tuna steaks and sear on skillet for 2-3 minutes on each side. 


Arrange salad greens, fruit, and tuna on plates to serve.

Asparagus and Prosciutto Fettuccine Alfredo (2012 - Week 15)

2012 Week 15 Featured Ingredient: Prosciutto

Here is the second recipe I made using prosciutto.  I wanted an excuse to use asparagus because it's all over the produce department right now and I thought this would be a good way to use both ingredients.   I really liked the flavor the prosciutto brought to the pasta along with the asparagus.  I combined various recipes for fettuccine alfredo and ended up just throwing ingredients into the pan.  I don't even know how much I added of certain things.  Oh well.  I'll try to estimate the best I can.  I just know that it was creamy and delicious.  :)

Asparagus and Prosciutto Fettuccine Alfredo
Serves: 4-6

Ingredients:
12-16 oz uncooked fettuccine
1&1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1" pieces
1 shallot, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons butter
4-5 oz diced prosciutto
1 cup heavy cream 
1/3 cup white wine
2 oz cream cheese, cubed
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
dash ground nutmeg
salt and pepper

Directions:
Cook fettuccine according to package directions.  
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute the asparagus, garlic, and onion in butter until tender.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Cook and stir over medium heat for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted and sauce is blended.  Drain fettuccine and toss with asparagus mixture.  Serve immediately.

Apple, Gouda, and Prosciutto Panini (2012 - Week 15)

2012 Week 15 Featured Ingredient: Prosciutto

When I told Jeremy that I was picking prosciutto as my ingredient of the week, he said, "Isn't that just ham?"  Well, yes, but it's a specialty Italian ham that is dry-cured instead of smoked like all other hams.  They're always using it on those Food Network cooking shows, so I decided to buy some and see what I could make.  This is the first of a few recipes I have planned using this ingredient.  I liked this Panini a lot, but I wish I would have used less mustard because it overpowered the apples and prosciutto.  Next time, I'd add a tomato slice and lettuce/spinach to add some healthy vegetables.

Apple, Gouda, and Prosciutto Panini
 
Ingredients (for each sandwich):
Whole wheat (or regular) baguette, cut in half
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 slice Prosciutto
Apple slices (very thin)
1 slice Gouda cheese


Directions:
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat and cook the prosciutto for 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until crispy. Remove from the pan and set aside on a paper towel.

Spread the mustard on one half of the bread. Lay the apple slices atop the mustard. Top with the prosciutto and cheese and remaining bread. Lightly coat both sides of the sandwiches with cooking spray.  Heat the same skillet over medium heat and toast the sandwiches for ~4 minutes per side, pressing down with a spatula often, until golden brown on both sides and the cheese is melted.

Carrot Cake Cheesecake

Ooooooh yeah.  It was good.  REALLY good.   How can you possibly go wrong with carrot cake and cheesecake and a yummy cream cheese frosting???!  Answer: you can't!   I found this recipe online and followed it exactly as is.  It's a winner in my book.  The ingredient list looks long, but this was actually really easy to make.  I cut the cake into 18-20 wedges for my family's Easter celebration which was just fine for a portion size.   And I even decorated it all pretty:

Carrot Cake Cheesecake

From CD Kitchen's Cheesecake Factory's Copycat Recipe 
Serves 8 to 20, depending on your slice size...

For the Cheesecake Batter:
16 oz cream cheese, at room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon flour
3 eggs

For the Carrot Cake Batter:
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1&1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1&1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon ginger
8 oz can crushed pineapple, packed in 100% juice, drained well; reserve juice
1 cup grated carrots (from ~1-2 medium carrots)
1/2 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

For the Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
3 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 cups confectioners' sugar (powdered sugar)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons reserved pineapple juice

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350˚F and grease a 9- or 9 1/2- inch springform pan.

For the cheesecake batter, in a large bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese and sugar until smooth.  Mix in the flour, eggs and vanilla until fully incorporated and no lumps remain.  Set aside.

To prepare the carrot cake batter, combine the oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and spices.  Stir into the egg mixture and mix well.  Add the pineapple, carrots, coconut and walnuts.  Stir until just combined.

To assemble the cheesecake, pour 1&1/2 cups of the carrot cake batter over the bottom of the prepared pan.   Drop spoonfuls of the cream cheese batter over the bottom layer of carrot cake, using up 1/4 of the batter and reserving the rest for the top layer. Top with large spoonfuls of remaining carrot cake batter.  Repeat with remaining cream cheese batter, spreading evenly with a knife.

Bake for 50 to 55 minutes or until cake is set and cooked through.  Cool completely, then cover and refrigerate.  When the cake is cold, prepare the Pineapple Cream Cheese frosting.

Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting:
Using an electric mixer, combine the cream cheese, butter, sugar, vanilla and pineapple juice. Beat until smooth.  Add additional juice or sugar to desired spreading consistency.   Frost the top of the cheesecake.  Refrigerate 3 to 4 hours before serving.  Enjoy!!

Roasted Edamame Salad (2012 - Week 14)

2012 Week 14 Featured Ingredient: Edamame


I've been wanting to use this ingredient for awhile since it's supposed to be a super healthy food with lots of protein and various vitamins/minerals.  I figured Good Friday would be a good day for a meatless recipe.  I plan to take it to work tonight, so I'll update this page with a taste verdict in the morning.

Roasted Edamame Salad
Serves 4

Adapted from Alton Brown's Food Network Recipe 
 
Ingredients:
12 ounces fresh or frozen shelled edamame, about 2 cups
1/2 cup fresh corn kernels
1/4 cup finely diced scallion
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup chopped fresh tomato
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar

Directions:
Place the edamame, corn, scallion, garlic, olive oil, chili powder, salt, and pepper into a 13x9 metal pan and stir to combine. Place on the middle rack of the oven and roast at 400ºF for 10 to 15 minutes, just until the edamame begins to brown. Remove from the oven and place in the refrigerator until completely cool, approximately 30 minutes. Add the tomato, basil, and vinegar to the edamame mixture and toss to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, as desired. Serve chilled or at room temperature.