Parmesan and Panko-Crusted Halibut

The grocery store had a sale on halibut, so I bought a couple fillets on impulse.   I found this recipe and gave it a try.  It was good.  Likely, anything with parmesan-panko coating will taste good.  And it's baked, so it's relatively healthy.  I cooked green beans from our garden and made a little tomato salsa which gave some moisture to the bite of fish.  

Parmesan and Panko-Crusted Halibut

Ingredients:
2 halibut fillets, skin removed

2 teaspoons olive oil

juice from 1/2 lemon

salt and pepper

1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions:

Preheat oven to 450º F.  Line a baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack on the sheet.  Coat the rack with cooking spray.

Drizzle the oil and lemon juice over both sides of fish and season with salt and pepper to taste.   Combine the remaining ingredients on a plate or shallow bowl.  Press the fish into the panko mixture on each side and place on the cooking rack.   Bake for 10-15 minutes (depends on size) until the fish is cooked and flaky.   Serve with a lemon wedge.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

 

We bought a plain pork tenderloin on sale at the grocery store so I found this recipe to jazz it up.  I love grilling a tenderloin because it stays juicy on the inside and gets the tasty grill char on the outside.  I think the honey in the recipe made it char a little more than usual, but it was fine. The marinade flavor was really tasty.  I'll add this to the recipe save pile.

Grilled Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients:
1 to 2-lbs pork tenderloin

Marinade:

2 teaspoons minced garlic

1/4 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary

1/4 teaspoon dried parsley

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons oil

juice of 1/2 lemon

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

Directions:

Mix together all the marinade ingredients and pour half into a large Ziplock bag along with the pork.  Seal bag and massage marinade into all sides of pork.  Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Grill over medium heat for 15-20 minutes, turning every few minutes to ensure even cooking.  Brush reserved marinade over pork halfway through grilling.  When done, transfer to a cutting board to rest for 5 minutes before slicing.

Instant Pot Egg Bites

 

I've been wanting to make these egg bites since I got my Instant Pot.  The egg bite silicone molds have been sitting unused in the cupboard, and I finally decided to try them out.  The Instant Pot worked perfectly and the eggs tasted great.  It's like a little bite-size omelet. They were handy to store in the fridge and pop a few in the microwave for breakfast or to take to work.  I liked that this recipe used ingredients I already had on hand and was very easy to make.  I picked some of our garden veggies to add to it.

Instant Pot Egg Bites
Makes 14-21 bites (depends on how much extra stuff you add)

Ingredients:

9 large eggs

1/4 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

~1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper, to taste

cooking spray

Optional stuff, to taste (I added chopped chard, green onion, diced tomato, shredded cheese)

Directions:

In a 4-cup measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk, baking powder, salt, and pepper.

Spray two silicone molds with cooking spray.  Pour mixture into each of the 7 openings of each mold about 2/3 full.  Add whatever toppings you'd like.  No need to stir.   Close each mold with the silicone lid and stack in a staggered position on top of a trivet with handles

Add 1 cup water to a 6-qt or 8-qt Instant Pot and carefully lower trivet into the pot.  Close lid and pressure cook on low for 8 minutes.  When done, quick release.  Using oven mitts, carefully lift the entire trivet out of the pot by its handles.  Open the lid of each mold and let cool for a few minutes.  The egg bites should easily pop out.  

Refrigerate in an airtight container for up to 5 days.  Microwave bites to reheat for 30-45 seconds.

Freeze for up to 3 months.  Microwave 60-90 seconds from frozen.

 

Garlic Roasted Carrots

 

We plucked some carrots from the garden to give ourselves a break from the green beans and tomatoes we've been having every night.  This was a tasty side dish (you know, for a vegetable).

Garlic Roasted Carrots
Serves 2

Ingredients:
~3-4 carrots, split in half lengthwise if large

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

salt and pepper

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves

Directions:

In a bowl, combine the oil, vinegar, garlic, and thyme.  Toss carrots in oil mixture until well coated.  Place on a lined baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.  Bake at 375º for 35-40 minutes until tender.  Serve garnished with parsley if desired.

Tomato Jam

Another day, another bowl full of tomatoes.  I decided to try something a little different and made tomato jam.  I smeared some on crostini for a delicious snack.  I think adding some cheese and basil would be even better.  Or maybe as a topping for avocado toast. Delicious. 

Spiced Tomato Jam

Ingredients:
2 pounds ripe tomatoes, cored and coarsely chopped

1/2 cup brown sugar

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

1 tablespoon peeled and grated or minced fresh ginger

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

1/8 teaspoon ground cloves 

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Directions:

Add everything to a heavy bottom saucepan and bring mixture to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture has thickened to a jam consistency, about 1 to 2 hours. (Mine took 90 minutes)

Let cool and store jam in a glass canning jar.  May keep refrigerated in sealed container for up to 2 weeks.

Easy Chicken Fajitas

Our garden has an abundance of bell peppers right now, so I figured this would be a tasty way to use the peppers and also incorporate a tomato salsa with our many tomatoes.  The chicken seasoning was really tasty and the tomato salsa I added as a topping helped prevent the fajitas from being too dry.  It was a super fast and easy recipe which I appreciated.

Easy Chicken Fajitas
Makes 4 servings (2 fajitas/serving)

Ingredients:

2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon cumin

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

1 medium onion, sliced 

3-4 bell peppers (depends on size), sliced 

1 lime

tortillas

Optional toppings:  diced tomatoes/salsa, chopped cilantro, shredded cheese, sour cream, etc

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine seasonings.  Add chicken strips and toss to coat.   

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.  Cook chicken in skillet until done, about 5 minutes.  Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.  Heat another tablespoon of oil in the now empty skillet and add peppers and onions.  Cook 3-5 minutes until they start to soften.  Add the chicken back into the skillet, and squeeze the lime over everything. Stir to combine.  

Serve chicken mixture in a tortilla with toppings of your choice.

Fresh Tomato Salsa (Pico de Gallo)

 

Fresh Tomato Salsa (Pico de Gallo)

Ingredients:

3-4 medium-large fresh tomatoes, diced

1/4-1/2 red onion, minced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

juice of one lime

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

salt and pepper to taste

pinch dried oregano

pinch cumin

Directions:

Put everything in a bowl and stir to combine.  Adjust seasonings as needed.  Store covered in fridge for up to 5 days.

Cheesy Bacon-Tomato Pie

 

WOW!  This was soooo good!  I was flipping through cookbooks looking for recipes that used tomatoes and decided to try out this one.  So glad I did.  It was like deep dish pizza but better because the ingredients were fresh.   I was able to use green onions and basil from my garden.  Luckily, I had a spare homemade pie dough round in the freezer that I thawed and leftover bacon from earlier in the week so that saved me some time.   Of course, you could just buy a pie crust, but I think the homemade buttery crust made it taste extra delicious.  I didn't have any mayonnaise on hand (because I'm a Miracle Whip person), so I made my own easy mayo recipe to use for the pie.

Cheesy Bacon-Tomato Pie

From Taste of Home Test Kitchen

Ingredients:

1 single-crust pie pastry  (see recipe below)

1&3/4 lbs tomatoes, sliced and seeded

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

1/2 cup mayonnaise (see recipe below)

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I used both cheddar and mozzarella to use up fridge supply)

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Directions:

Roll dough to an 1/8"-thick circle.  Transfer to a pie plate and trim to 1/2 inch beyond rim.

In a small bowl, combine the mayo, shredded cheese, basil, salt, and pepper.

Place half the tomatoes and half the onions in the crust.   Spread the cheese mixture over the top.  Top with remaining tomatoes and onions. Sprinkle the bacon and Parmesan cheese over the tomatoes.  Fold crust edge over filling, pleating as you go.

Bake at 400º for 30-40 minutes until crust is golden.  Transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 5 minutes.  Sprinkle with additional basil if desired.

*****

Homemade Mayonnaise (Immersion Blender)

Makes ~1 cup

Ingredients:

1 egg, room temperature

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 cup vegetable oil or grapeseed oil

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in a tall slender container.  Use an immersion blender that reaches the egg until the bottom thickens. Slowly pull the blender up to thicken the rest of the mixture.  Season with salt and pepper and store in refrigerator for up to 1 week.

*****

Buttery Pie Crust Recipe 

(Makes 2 Crusts-- you can freeze half the dough for another time if not needed)

Ingredients:
2&1/2 cups flour
1&1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
3/4 cup vegetable shortening, chilled
1/2 cup ice water

Directions:
Stir the flour and salt in a large bowl.  Using a pastry cutter, cut in the butter and shortening until it resembles coarse crumbs.   Add ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring between each addition.  Only add enough water until the dough begins to form large clumps (usually about 1/2 cup total).

Transfer dough to a floured work surface and fold the dough unto itself several times until flour is fully incorporated into the fats.  Form the dough into a ball and divide into 2 equal pieces.  Using your hands, flatten each piece into a 1-inch thick circular disc.  Wrap each disc in plastic wrap.   Refrigerate at least 2 hours (up to 5 days).  [If saving for the future, freeze disc for up to 3 months and thaw in fridge.]

Roll out dough starting from center and roll outward in all directions until it's about 12-inches in diameter.  Follow baking instructions per pie recipe.

Grilled Steak with Balsamic-Basil Tomatoes

I decided to treat ourselves to grilled steaks last night.  And since we have a bounty of tomatoes, I made a grilled tomato salsa for it.  The warm balsamic tomatoes were super delicious.  They are very versatile and would work with chicken or fish as well.   We had leftover salsa so I saved it in the fridge for breakfast and put it over an egg and everything bagel. Yummers.

Grilled Steak with Balsamic-Basil Tomato Salsa

Ingredients:

Steaks (whatever kind you want)

3 tomatoes, halved

3 tablespoons olive oil, divided

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1 green onion, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, minced

salt and pepper

Directions:

Preheat grill to medium-high heat.

Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil over tomatoes and season with salt and pepper.   Grill about 3-4 minutes per side. 

Grill steaks about 4-5 minutes per side until done (Internal temp of 140º for medium steaks).  Time will depend on thickness.

Chop the grilled tomatoes and place in a medium bowl.  Add 2 tablespoons oil, vinegar, basil, parsley, and garlic; toss to combine.   Serve over the grilled steaks or anything you want.

Parmesan Baked Tomatoes and Herbed Salmon in Foil

 

Our garden currently has a lot of ripe tomatoes, so I decided to make an easy baked side dish to go with our salmon.  I liked this recipe because I was also able to use my fresh herbs.  I was never a fan of tomatoes as a kid, but I'm slowly learning to enjoy them.  I like them better cooked than raw.  The Parmesan breadcrumbs gave it a tasty little crunch on top.  The salmon was also very good.

Parmesan Baked Tomatoes

Ingredients:

2-3 large ripe tomatoes, halved

salt and pepper

3 tablespoons cup bread crumbs (I used Panko)

2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese

1 clove garlic, minced

1-2 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped (I used parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme)

1-2 teaspoons olive oil or melted butter

Directions:

In a small bowl, combine the bread crumbs, Parmesan, garlic, herbs, and oil.

Place tomatoes on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper.  Top with breadcrumb mixture.  Bake at 400º F for 10 minutes until crumbs are lightly browned.

***

Herbed Salmon in Foil

Ingredients:

2 Salmon filets

salt and pepper

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 cloves garlic, minced

~1 tablespoon fresh herbs, chopped (I used parsley, basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme)

2 teaspoons lemon juice

Directions:

Place salmon in the center of a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet.

In a bowl, combine the melted butter, garlic, and herbs.   Season the salmon with salt and pepper and pour the herb mixture evenly all over the salmon.  Sprinkle lemon juice over the top.

Wrap the salmon in the foil and bake at 400º for about 12-15 minutes until salmon is cooked to an internal temperature of 145º (time depends on size of salmon).  Unwrap salmon and then broil for a couple minutes until the top is slightly browned.