Pesto Sauce

Pesto Sauce
Ingredients

2/3 cup packed, coarsely chopped fresh basil
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons pine nuts
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 clove garlic, peeled

Directions

In a food processor or blender, combine all the ingredients; cover and process until blended. Cover and freeze for up to 3 months

Pizza Fritta

Basic Pizza Dough

Makes approximately 2 14inch pizzas or 10-12 mini (pizza frittas)

Ingredients:

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1 TBS Vegetable Oil
½ tsp sugar
1 cup warm water

Directions:

In a small bowl, dissolve yeast and sugar in the warm water. Let stand about 10 minutes.

In a food processor, combine flour and salt. Pulse until mixed. Add yeast mixture and oil. Pulse until a ball is formed. You may need to drizzle in some more flour or water to get it formed into a ball. Scrape dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead for several minutes until dough is smooth and elastic. Allow dough to rest for 2 to 3 minutes.

Shape into ball and place dough in bowl, and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise for
1-3 hours in a warm, dry place, or on the kitchen table covered with a heavy towel overnight as my mother and grandparents did.

Baked Fresh Cod with Crab Meat Stuffing

Serves 6
Prep time: 15-20 mins
Total time: 45-60 mins

To make it more quick and easy, the filets can be made without the “Sauce”. Just place in a bake dish drizzled with EVOO. Also, instead of “Bread Crumb Topping”, you could just sprinkle the breadcrumbs alone on top of filets.

Ingredients:

6 large Cod filets (flounder or catfish etc…)

Sauce:

½ cup Chicken Broth
The juice of one Lemon (zest lemon first)
1 TBS Lemon Zest
3 TBS Butter, melted
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp Parsley
Salt and pepper

Crab Meat Stuffing:

8oz Crabmeat (fresh, canned or imitation)
2 cups Italian style bread crumbs
2 TBS Parmesan cheese
3 TBS butter, melted
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
½ TBS parsley
2 eggs, beaten
1 TBS Olive Oil
Salt, pepper and paprika

Bread Crumb Topping:

½ cup Italian bread crumbs
1 TBS butter, melted
Lemon zest

Pinch of Parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Combine all the “Sauce” ingredients and pour into a bake dish sprayed with non-stick spray.
Combine all “Bread Crumb Topping” together in a small bowl.

Divide the stuffing into 6 even amounts. Lay out the filets on a cutting board and place the filling in the middle of each filet. Gather the two sides up covering the stuffing, overlapping the ends and use a toothpick or two to hold it closed.

Place stuffed filets ends side down in the bake dish. Brush on (or drizzle) a little EVOO all over the filets, top with Bread Crumb Topping. Bake for approx 30 mins or until bread crumbs are browned and fish is flaky.

Serve over orzo or rice and spoon sauce over and around each filet before serving.

Irish Soda Bread

This was the first Irish Soda Bread that I baked. I researched a lot of recipes and the combo of ingredients caught my interest. The honey gave it a nice golden color and a slight sweetness and the melted butter gave it a nice, smooth consistency. Such a comforting, old-fashioned flavor, it reminded me of being in my Irish born grandmother's kitchen. I skipped the Caraway seeds and didn't have the buttermilk but I Googled the directions on how to make it out of regular milk (easy) and the directions are below... It came out great and everyone loved it! Give this one a try!

Recipe from: MommieCooks.com
http://www.mommiecooks.com/2011/03/14/irish-soda-bread/
Total Time: 1 hour 10 min

Ingredients:

4-3/4 cups Flour
1/2 tsp Salt
1 tsp Baking Soda
1 tsp Caraway Seeds or raisins
3 Tbsp Honey
1 Egg
1-1/2 cups Buttermilk
4 Tbsp Butter, Melted

Directions:

To a bowl add together your dry ingredients; the flour, salt, and baking soda. Mix well.
Add the caraway seed and combine.
Now add the honey, egg, and buttermilk. Stir it up until a dough just begins to form.
Add in the melted butter and knead dough until all ingredients are combined. Don't over-knead.
Form into a ball and cut a few 1" slits at the top.
Place dough on a baking sheet and place in an oven preheated to 350 degrees for 50 min. to an hour.
Test with a toothpick in the center to assure loaf is cooked completely

------
How to turn milk into Buttermilk

Just under 1 cup of milk
1 tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice
Measuring cup
Directions:
1- Place the white vinegar or lemon juice into a measuring jug.
2- Pour the milk into the same measuring jug until the mixture reaches the
1 cup marking
3- Stir the mixture so that the vinegar or lemon juice is well distributed through
the milk.
4- Allow the mixture to stand, unstirred, for five minutes.
5- Use the amount of buttermilk required by your recipe.

Emeril's Beef Stroganoff

Emeril's Beef Stroganoff from “Emeril’s Potluck"

Ingredients
1 pound bacon, chopped
3 1/2 pounds beef top sirloin, trimmed and sliced into strips about 1 x 3 inches
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
4 cups thinly sliced onions
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup dry red wine
Two 14-ounce cans beef broth
1 teaspoon Emeril's Original Essence
1 pound large white button mushrooms, wiped clean, trimmed, and sliced
1/2 cup finely chopped red onions
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound wide egg noodles
1 cup sour cream
2 cups grated white Cheddar cheese

InstructionsPreheat the oven to 350?F.

Cook the bacon in a large heavy skillet or Dutch oven over high heat until slightly crispy, about 7 minutes. Meanwhile, season the beef with 1 teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Add the beef to the bacon and cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the onions and cook, stirring, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and the flour. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes. Add the red wine and the beef broth. Stir to blend and bring to a boil. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the Essence. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer for 5 minutes. Add the mushrooms, red and green onions and cook, stirring occasionally, for 4 minutes. Remove from the heat.

Combine 4 quarts water, the olive oil, and the remaining 1 teaspoon salt in a large pot. Bring to a boil, add the noodles, and cook until al dente, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain well and transfer to a large mixing bowl. Add the beef sauce and the sour cream and toss to coat evenly. Pour the mixture into a deep 9 x 13-inch baking dish. (This will be a tight fit.) Sprinkle the cheese evenly over the top of the noodle mixture. Place the baking dish on a large baking sheet and bake until bubbly and golden, about 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and serve warm.

Makes 10 to 12 servings

Copyright 2001 - 2011 Emerils.com All Rights Reserved

Cornflake Crusted Tilapia

Ingredients:

1 lb. Tilapia fillets
2 cups of Cornflakes
1 egg, beaten
Vegetable oil
Paprika, salt and peper
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions:

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees
Place Cornflakes in gallon size storage bag and crush them with a rolling pin.
Put Cornflakes into a shallow plate, and beaten egg into another.
Spray a sheet pan with non-stick spray.
Dip fish in egg, coat with Cornflakes, pressing hard to get them to stick, and lay fish on foil. Drizzle with Vegetable oil and top with a sprinkle of Parsley.
Bake for about 20-30 minutes until cooked through and crispy, medium brown

Baked Cheddar, Garlic and Chive Chicken

Ingredients:

1 cup Bread Crumbs
8 oz. Shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup dried Chives
1 tsp Garlic powder
1/2 C. (1 stick) butter, melted
8 thin boneless Chicken cutlets

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Put Cheddar in a food processor and pulse a few times until crumbled, blend with crumbs, Garlic powder and Chives.

Put the melted butter in a pie dish, reserving about 2 TBS. Dip each cutlet into the melted butter and pat the bread mixture on to the chicken on both sides.

Place on a sheet pan sprayed with non-stick spray and drizzle with the remainder of the melted butter.

Bake for 45 mins to 1 hour, it depends on the thickness of the cutlet. Cook until medium golden and edges are crispy.

Caponata Gemelli

Recipe courtesy of: Peter Francis Battagglia

Room temp. homemade caponata tossed w/ hot Gemelli pasta, topped with caciocavallo, fresh parsley and fennel fronds, hot red pepper flakes..the caponata is made w/ eggplants, squash, onions, tomato paste, honey, raisins, orange zest, pignoli, peppers, extra virgin olive oil, capers, and red wine vinegar.
.

Leek and Potato Soup

Recipe courtesy of: Nancy Josland Dalsin

Ingredients

...2 leeks, chopped
2 sweet onions, chopped
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup thinly sliced potatoes
2 1/3 cups chicken stock
salt to taste
ground black pepper to taste
1 1/8 cups heavy whipping cream

Directions

Gently sweat the chopped leeks and the chopped onion in butter or margarine until soft, about 8 minutes. Do NOT let them brown.
Add potatoes and stock to the saucepan. Salt and pepper to taste; do not overdo them! Bring to the boil, and simmer very gently for 30 minutes.
Puree in a blender or food processor until very smooth. Gently stir in the cream before serving. Reheat before serving.
*I also boil a separate pot with 3 diced potatoes and 1 diced carrot and add to the soup after pureeing. Optional. Garnish with Chives.

Bell Peppers and Canadian Bacon Omelette

Recipe Courtesy of: Nancy Josland Dalsin

Basic French Omelette
(Makes 1 serving)

...
2 to 3 eggs
2 to 3 tablespoons (30 to 45 mL) water
Salt and pepper, to taste
Filling of choice

Whisk together eggs, water, salt and pepper.

Pour mixture into a lightly buttered, oiled or sprayed 8-inch (20 cm) skillet heated over medium-high temperature.

Pour in egg mixture. The mixture should set at the edges almost immediately. With a spatula, gently push cooked portions toward the centre. Tilt and rotate the skillet to allow the uncooked egg to flow into the empty spaces.

When egg is almost set on the surface but still looks moist, cover one half of the omelette with filling.

Slip spatula under the unfilled side, fold the omelette in half and slide it onto a plate.

POLLO ARRABBIATA

Recipe courtesy of: Peter Francis Battaglia

POLLO ARRABBIATA, chicken tenders sauteed with seasoned flour and hot pepper, over a simmered blend of SavoyCabbage, garlic, olive oil, chile flakes, red pepper, Imported San Marzanos

Pork and LemonGrass Meatballs in Lettuce Cups

Recipe courtesy of: Nancy Josland Dalsin

Ingredients:

1 pound ground pork
...1 lemongrass stalk, bottom 5 inches only, smashed with rolling pin, then minced
1/4 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons fish sauce
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground white pepper

Dipping Sauce and Assembly

1 lemongrass stalk
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/4 cup fish sauce
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 tablespoons coarsely grated carrot
4 teaspoons (packed) golden brown sugar (needs it to balance the sour and salty flavours)
2 teaspoons minced green Thai chile or serrano chile with seeds
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 head of butter lettuce leaves separated
1 small Cucumber, thinly sliced

*Fish Sauce can be found in the Asian foods section of most supermarkets.

Meatballs Directions:

Chill pork in freezer while making lemongrass paste. Combine lemongrass, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and remaining ingredients in processor; pulse until paste forms. Add chilled pork; pulse to blend. Shape into 24 balls (each about 1 tablespoonful0> Place on rimmed baking sheer. Cover; chill at lease 1 or or overnight.

Dipping Sauce and Assembly
Cut bottom 3 inches from lemongrass. Smash with rolling pin, then mince. Measure 1 tablespoon and place in small bowl (reserve the rest for another use). Add lime juice, fish sauce, cilantro, carrot, sugar and chile to bowl; whisk until sugar dissolves.
Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add meatballs; brown until cooked through, turning occasionally, about 15 minutes. Transfer to 1 side of large platter.
Arrange lettuce leaves and cucumber on platter with meatballs. Allow guests to place meatballs in leaves, garnish with cucumber and drizzle dipping sauce over.

Chicken and Sausage Cassoulet

Recipe by: Nancy Josland Dalsin


This chicken and sausage cassoulet recipe is a modern update on the classic white bean cassoulet from Toulouse. This version evokes particularly complex and developed flavors by cooking certain ingredients separately, and then together. The result is an irresistible, hearty stew.

Ingredients:

1 pounds dried white beans, soaked, sorted, and rinsed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 pound lardons (bacon strips)
2 large white onions, peeled, halved, and cut into
1 pound bulk pork sausage
1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pound chicken legs
2 pounds tomatoes, seeded and chopped
1 cup dry white wine
1 quart chicken stock
1 bouquet garni
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon tomato paste
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 carrots, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
4 teaspoons melted butter

Preparation:

Place the beans in a large saucepan and cover them with cold water. Bring the beans to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Cover and cook them until they begin to turn tender, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper to the beans and cook until the liquid has absorbed, about 25 additional minutes. Remove the beans from the heat, drain and discard any additional liquid, and set the beans aside.

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the lardons for 5 minutes, until they turn brown. Transfer them to a plate. Add the onions to the pan and sauté them for 10 minutes, until they turn light golden brown. Transfer them to the plate with the lardons. Brown the sausage and transfer it to a bowl.

Preheat the oven to 350F. Drain all but 4 tablespoons of the fat from the skillet. Add the chicken breast pieces to the fat and brown them over medium-high heat. Transfer the chicken to the bowl with the sausage. Brown the chicken legs in the skillet and transfer them to the bowl.

Combine the lardons, onions, sausage, chicken pieces and legs, tomatoes, wine, chicken stock, bouquet garni, garlic, tomato paste, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper in a large casserole dish. Cover with a lid or foil, and bake the casserole for 25 minutes. Add the carrots to the casserole, cover, and bake for an additional 20 minutes.

Add the reserved white beans to the hot casserole and gently stir the mixture. In a small bowl, toss the bread crumbs, parsley, and thyme with the melted butter. Sprinkle the seasoned bread crumbs over the casserole and bake it, uncovered, for 1 hour. Discard the bouquet garni and serve the cassoulet hot.

French Fried Onion Chicken

Ingredients:
French Fried Onions (like French's)
Boneless skinless chicken cutlets
2 eggs beaten with 3 TBS of water

Directions:
Crush french fried onions in a plastic bag with a rolling pin or heavy can and place in shallow dish.

Coat the Chicken cutlets in egg and press both sides down firmly into crumbs. Place in baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.

Bake at 375-400 degrees for 25 minutes or until chicken is completely cooked, brown and crispy.

Marinated Loin of Pork

Recipe by: Barefoot Contessa

Ingredients:

Grated zest of 1 lemon
3/4 c freshly squeezed lemon juice (4 to 6 lemons)
1/2 c good olive oil, plus some to brush grill with
2 T minced garlic (6 cloves)
1 1/2 T minced fresh rosemary leaves
1 T chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 tsp Dijon mustard
Kosher Salt
3 pork tenderloins
Freshly ground pepper

Directions:

Combine the lemon zest, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, mustard, and 2 tsp salt in a sturdy 1 gallon re-sealable plastic bag. Add the pork tenderloins and turn to coat with the marinade. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag. Marinate the pork in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours but preferably overnight.

When you’re ready to cook heat grill. Brush the grill w/ oil to prevent the pork from sticking. Remove the tenderloins from the marinade and discard the marinade but leave the herbs that cling to the meat. Sprinkle the tenderloins generously w/ salt and pepper. Grill the tenderloins, turning a few times to brown on all sides for 15 to 25 minutes. Transfer the tenderloins to a platter and cover w/ aluminum foil. Allow to rest for 10 minutes. Carve 1/2 thick diagonal slices. The thickest part will be quite pink (it’s just fine!) and the thinnest part will be well done