Pear & Rosemary Cocktail

INGREDIENTS (4 cocktails)

5 pears (medium size)
1/3 fennel
3 sprigs rosemary
1 inch fresh ginger, more or less according to taste
1 stalk lemongrass, chopped and crushed
a pinch nutmeg, ground
2 pinches ground vanilla
1/2 – 1 cup sparkling water or soda (start with 1/2 cup, add more to taste)

INSTRUCTIONS

Run pears, fennel, 2 sprigs rosemary and ginger in a juicer.Pour the juice into a small saucepan over medium heat, add lemongrass, nutmeg and vanilla. Bring to boil, turn down the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes, or until thickened. Allow to cool completely before straining. Pass through a fine sieve. Crush the ice in a high speed blender. Place the thickened juice in a pitcher or (cocktail) shaker, add soda water and stir to combine. Fill the cocktail glasses with ice and pour over the juice and soda mixture. Garnish with sliced pears and fresh rosemary. 

                                                                Enjoy it!

Read More

Cherry Limeade Fruit Dip

iNGREDIENTS

8 oz cream cheese, softened

6 oz lime yogurt (I used lime Chobani Greek yogurt)

1/2 C powdered sugar

2 Tablespoons protein powder

Juice of 1 lime (approx 2 Tablespoons)

1 teaspoon lime zest, (optional)

8 oz Cool Whip

3 Tablespoons cherry jam/preserves or fresh cherries, crushed

instructions

   In the bowl of your mixer combine cream cheese, yogurt, powdered sugar, and proteine powder.  Slowly add lime juice, zest, and Cool Whip until incorporated.

   In a small bowl swirl cherry preserves along the inside walls of the bowl. Add the limeade dip. Chill for at least 30 minutes.

Read More

Grilled Fish

INGREDIENTS

1 fresh fish, cleaned

1 lemon, juiced

6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

Generous sprinkle of Maldon salt

To stuff the belly cavity

fresh bay leaves

fennel fronds

rosemary sprigs

flatleaf parsley

1 lemon, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS

Season fish inside and out with lemon juice, garlic, and olive oil. Finish with salt.

Stuff all herbs and lemon slices inside fish’s belly cavity.

Transfer fish to an oiled grilling basket (as shown in photos) or use skewers to close belly for grilling.

Grill over medium high heat for 5-7 minutes on each side, or until fish is cooked through.

Garnish with additional flatleaf parsley, baby octopus and a squeeze of lemon juice.

Serve immediately and enjoy!

Read More

Roasted Chicken

Ingredients

·         1 chicken (4-5 pound),at room temperature

·         4 carrots

·         6 spring green onions

·         1 head of garlic, cut in half

·         3 lemons, 2 cut in half and remaining half sliced into thin slices

·         4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

·         2 teaspoons grated lemon zest

·         1 bunch fresh thyme sprigs

·         Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

·         ½ cup white wine

·         ½ cup chicken stock or broth

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 425° and position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Mix the butter with lemon zest, salt and pepper.

Pat the chicken dry and rub half of the butter and lemon zest mixture under the skin and the rest over the chicken. Work 4-6 lemon slices under chicken skin and season with salt and pepper.

Generously season cavity of chicken with salt and pepper and stuff with lemon half, ½ head of garlic, 3 onions and thyme sprigs. Truss legs with cooking twine and tuck wings under bird.Arrange remaining vegetables on bottom of roasting pan and set the chicken breast-side-up on top of vegetables in roasting pan. Add ½ cup of white wine.

 Roast for 30 minutes or until the breast is firm and just beginning to brown in spots. Using tongs, turn the chicken breast-down, baste with juices and roast for 20 minutes longer, until the skin is lightly browned.

Using tongs, turn the chicken breast-side-up and baste again. Add a ½ cup of water. Roast for about 20 minutes longer, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the inner thigh registers 155° to 160° and juices are running clear.

Transfer the bird to a cutting board and tent with foil. Remove vegetables from roasting pan. Set the pan over high heat. Add the stock and cook, scraping up any browned bits. Press the lemon to release the juices. Carve the chicken and serve with lemon jus and roasted vegetables.

Read More

Salmon with cilantro and lime

INGREDIENTS

4 (6 to 8-oz.) salmon fillets
1/2 cup cilantro, finely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon finely chopped garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine cilantro, oil, garlic and salt. Set 2 tablespoons aside.
 Pour remainder over fish in bowl. Let stand, covered, 10 minutes. 
 Meanwhile, preheat broiler. Spray broiler rack with nonstick cooking spray. Place salmon on rack. Brush with 1 tablespoon of marinade. Then broil 4 inches from heat for 7 to 8 minutes, or until fish flakes when pierced with a fork. Brush with remaining tablespoon marinade. Transfer to a serving platter. 

Read More

Caramelized Shrimp

4  servings

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fish sauce
• 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil

• 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 pounds extra large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 3 scallions, white and green parts, thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Instructions

1. Combine the fish sauce, dark brown sugar, crushed red pepper flakes and water in a medium bowl and whisk until brown sugar is dissolved.
2. Heat the vegetable oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook a few minutes more. Do not brown.
3. Turn the heat up to medium-high and add the shrimp. Cook, stirring frequently, until the shrimp are just barely pink and still translucent in spots, a few minutes. Add the fish sauce mixture, turn heat down to medium, and simmer until shrimp are cooked through, a few minutes more. (Note: the sauce will be thin.) Off the heat, stir in scallions and cilantro. Serve immediately with jasmine rice.

Read More

One Pan Pizza

INGREDIENTS

For the dough:

• 14 ounces high-gluten flour (bread flour), about 2½ cups
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon instant yeast
• 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons water

For the Pizzas:

• 4 tablespoons olive oil 
• 1½ cups thick pizza sauce
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 12-16 pieces of pepperoni 

Optional but tasty:

• fresh basil leaves for adding before and after baking

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Mix together all of the dough ingredients until it is evenly moist and there are no more pockets of dry ingredients. Cover the bowl or dough bucket tightly and let it rise for at least 8 but up to 24 hours.
2. Pour 2 tablespoons of neutral oil into a 10 to 12 inch cast-iron skillet. Repeat with a second skillet. Swirl to coat the bottoms of the pans. Divide the risen dough into two pieces. Gently form into a ball by pulling the side of the dough and tucking it under, rotating ¼ turn and repeating the tug and tug, rotating another ¼ turn and repeating the tug and tuck, then finally doing it once more to form a loose ball. Lay it smooth side down in the oil, then flip so the whole thing is coated in oil. Use the palm of your hand to gently flatten the dough. It will not spread to the edges yet, but that is okay. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and set out at room temperature -undisturbed- for 2 hours.

To Prepare the Pizzas:

1. Preheat oven as high as it will go, preferably to 550°F. Remove plastic wrap from the pans with the pizza dough in them. The dough should now have spread itself (or nearly spread itself) to the edges of the pan. Simply lift the edges of dough to pull toward the sides of the pan if necessary. This will help loosen any trapped air under the dough as well. If there are any large air bubbles, nudge them down with the back of a knuckle.
2. Spread half of the sauce on each pizza right to the edges of the dough. Divide the cheese and top each pizza evenly to the edge, then distribute the pepperoni over the pizzas. If using it, tear half of your basil leaves and toss over the tops of the pizzas. Reserve half of the basil to add to the pizzas when they're removed from the oven.
3. Put into the hot oven and bake for 12-20 minutes. You can check the underside of the pizza crust for doneness by lifting the edge gently with a flexible spatula. A finished pizza will have a crisp, deep-brown bottom and a bubbly, golden- to deep-golden brown top. I pull my pizzas when the edges have some deeply caramelized edges and some dark brown bubbles on top.
4. Use your flexible spatula to slide under the pizza and edge it out onto a cutting board, tear the remaining basil and scatter over the pizzas. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing into wedges, then let it rest without moving it for another 3 minutes before serving.

Read More

Chicken and Black Beans Salad with Avocado Cilantro Dressing

4 servings
Ingredients:

2 (16 oz total) skinless, boneless chicken breasts
1 tablespoon reduced sodium taco seasoning
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed
1 cup chunks salsa

For the avocado ciliantro buttermilk dressing:

3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk
1 small jalapeno, seeds removed, leave them in if you want it spicy
1/4 cup of fresh cilantro
1 medium haas avocado
1 clove garlic
2 tbsp chopped scallion
juice of 1 lime
1/8 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1/2 tsp kosher salt


For the Salad:

6 cups chopped romaine or red leaf
1/4 cup reduced Mexican cheese blend
1/2 cup avocado cilantro buttermilk dressing

Instructions:

Dressing: Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. For a thinner dressing add more buttermilk, for a thicker dip use less.

Makes 1-1/3 cups.

Place the chicken in the slow cooker and season with taco seasoning and cumin. Pour the beans over the chicken and top with salsa.

Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours, or until the chicken is tender and easily shreds with 2 forks. Shred the chicken and combine with the beans and sauce, keep warm until ready to eat. Makes 3 1/2 cups.

To make the salad, place 1 1/2 cups lettuce on each plate, top with 3/4 cup chicken and bean mixture, 1 tbsp cheese and 2 tablespoons zesty avocado buttermilk dressing.

Read More

Broccoli Soup with Cheese

Serves: 2 big bowls

INGREDIENTS

·         one bunch of fresh broccoli [enough for a few cups of chopped tops]

·         2 cups vegetable [or chicken!] broth

·         ½ cup of sharp cheddar cheese, plus extra for topping [freshly grated]

·         1 heaping cup of regular gouda cheese [freshly grated]

·         1 cup of shredded carrots [or a little extra!]

·         1 small white onion [about ⅔ cup or 1 cup, chopped]

·         2 large cloves of garlic, minced

·         1 cup half and half [or heavy cream], room temperature

·         3 TBSP all purpose flour

·         3 TBSP butter

·         1 bay leaf

·         ¼ tsp garlic powder

·         ⅛ tsp allspice

·         ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg

·         ⅛ tsp dried basil

·         ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper

·         ⅛ tsp salt [will vary based on salt content of your stock/broth]

·         a few cranks of freshly ground black pepper, to taste

INSTRUCTIONS

1.    First the veggies: Chop them! Dice the onions super small, mince the garlic, an shred the carrots if you didn't buy pre-shredded. This can all be done ahead of time and stored in the fridge for later. For the broccoli, chop ⅔ of it into tiny florets [just cut off as much stem as you can and it'll fall apart in the pot] and then take the remaining ⅓ and give it a rough chop so you have a few large pieces to add to the soup. Totally optional!

2.    Add your veggie broth to a pot on medium-high heat, add your ⅔ of your broccoli [about 2 cups of florets] as well as your onion, garlic, carrots, and bay leaf. Simmer on medium, covered, for about 15-20 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

3.    Once the broth is done, start your roux: In a large pot, melt 3 tablespoons of butter on medium heat, whisking constantly. Once melted, slowly add 3 tablespoons of flour as you continue to whisk.

4.    For a thicker soup, use an extra tablespoon of each. I skipped it. Remove from heat and slowly pour in the broth from your veggie mixture [its okay if some of the veggies jump in along side it!] and stir to incorporate.

5.    Next pour in the veggies and slowly stir in 1 cup of room temperature half and half.

6.    Return to the burner on very low heat, uncovered.

7.    Spoon out the bay leaf and season with the above herbs and spices, adding a little extra of whichever you like to taste. I personally adore the pinch of nutmeg in this soup but feel free to leave it out if it's just not your cup of tea! The soup is great both ways! Depending on the saltiness of your broth, you might skip the salt entirely or prefer to add a bit more. Taste and tweak as needed after adding your cheese.

8.    Once the soup has warmed back up, stir in the grated cheeses [slowly and in small batches] and remove from heat immediately.

9.    That extra broccoli you left on the side? Blanch in boiling water, steam in your microwave, or basically cook it however you'd like, then stir that green goodness into your completed soup for great texture and an extra burst of broccoli.

10.  Garnish with a little extra grated cheddar and a sprinkle of parsley and even a pinch of spicy red pepper flakes if you'd like! Anything goes!

Enjoy it!

Read More

Grilled Chicken Pesto Wraps

Ingredients for 6 servings:

·         2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, divided

·         1 garlic clove, minced

·         1 teaspoon dried basil

·         1 lb raw boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces (I used kitchen shears – it’s faster than using a knife!)

·         2 tablespoons pine nuts

·         ¾ cup fresh basil leaves

·         2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

·         1 teaspoon water

·         1 teaspoon lemon juice

·         1 garlic clove

·         Pinch of nutmeg

·         Salt & pepper to taste

·         ½ cup shredded 2% reduced fat Mozzarella cheese

·         6 light original Flatouts

·         1 plum tomato, diced

InstrucTIONS:

1.    In a large skillet, bring one tablespoon of the oil over medium high heat. Add the minced garlic clove and dried basil and stir into oil. Cook for about a minute until garlic is fragrant. Add the chicken to the pan and stir to coat chicken with the oil and herbs. Cook for 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked completely through. Remove chicken along with any excess oil to a medium-sized mixing bowl and set aside.

2.    Bring a small dry skillet over medium heat and add the pine nuts. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring occasionally until nuts are golden brown.

3.    Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, toasted pine nuts, fresh basil leaves, Parmesan cheese, water, lemon juice, whole garlic clove, nutmeg, salt and pepper to the bowl of your food processor and process until minced together into a pesto paste. Add the pesto to the reserved mixing bowl with the chicken. Add the Mozzarella cheese and mix all ingredients together until well combined (see photo above).

4.    Lay a flatout wrap on a clean surface and spoon 1/6 of the chicken pesto mixture (about 2.5 ounces by weight) onto the center of each flatout and spread the mixture lengthwise, leaving about an inch at each end. Sprinkle about 1/6 of the diced tomatoes over the chicken. Fold in the 1” ends of the flatout over the filling and then fold in the long ends to cover it.

5.    Lightly mist the large skillet with cooking spray and bring over medium-low heat. Place the wraps fold-side down onto the skillet (I did them in batches of two) and mists the tops with cooking spray as well. Cook for 3-4 minutes or until bottom is golden. Flip the wraps and continue to cook another 3-4 minutes until golden on the other side. Cut in half and serve.

Read More

Glazed Lemon Sugar Cookies

Serves: 2½ dozen

Ingredients

For the Cookies:

·         1/2 cup butter

·         1 cup sugar

·         ½ tsp vanilla

·         1 egg

·         1 Tbsp. lemon zest

·         1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

·         1½ cups flour

·         ¼ tsp baking powder

·         ⅛ tsp baking soda

·         ¼ tsp salt

Garnish:

·         1/2 cup powdered sugar for rolling

For the Glaze:

·         1½ tablespoons water

·         ¾ cup - 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

For the Lemon Cookie Dough:

1.    Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in vanilla, egg, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Slowly add flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir well to combine. Use a cookie scoop or roll dough in 1″ balls, then roll in powdered sugar. Place on lightly greased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 9-11 minutes, or till set and crackly. After a couple minutes, remove to cooling racks to cool completely.

For the Glaze:

2.    In a small bowl, heat water in microwave for 30 seconds. Slowly add powdered sugar until a thick consistency forms. Drizzle over cookies.

Read More