Potsticker Dipping Sauce
3 T. soy sauce
1 T. rice vinegar
1 tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 tsp. hot chile oil or sesame oil
1 small scallion, thinly sliced
Combine first 4 ingredients; stir until sugar is dissolved. Sprinkle on scallion.
Hoisin Pork with Pineapple
4 T. soy sauce
2 T. peanut butter
1 T. honey
2 tsp. white vinegar
1/8 tsp. garlic powder
2 tsp. sesame oil
20 drops hot sauce
1/8 tsp. black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and set aside.
1 pork tenderloin, cut into 1″ pieces
1/2 pineapple cut into 1″ pieces
1 T. vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. fresh ginger minced
Squeeze Lime, optional
Minced parsley, optional
Heat the oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the pineapple and cook until they start to get a little char on them. Add the pork and cook until cooked through. Pour in the hoisin sauce and ginger and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly. Serve over rice, add a squeeze of lime and sprinkle with parsley, if desired.
The Babs
6 slices bacon
Salted Butter, melted
4 slices Rye bread
8 slices Tillamook® Baby Swiss Cheese
4 oz (1/2 cup) bleu cheese crumbles
1 Braeburn apple, sliced to an even thickness
Preheat a countertop griddle to medium-high heat. Begin by cooking the bacon evenly on both sides to your desired crispiness. At the same time, brush butter onto one side of all slices of bread and put them on the grill, butter side down. Top both slices evenly with your Swiss Cheese, and on one side, spread the bleu cheese crumbles. To help the cheese melt faster, place a pot lid over both slices of bread. When the bacon appears done, remove it from the grill and cut each piece in half. This will help it sit in the sandwich without spreading out past the crust. Put the bacon onto the side with the bleu cheese, then place your sliced apples on top of the bacon. Once the bread appears sufficiently browned, close the sandwich and flip it a few times to melt the cheese into the ingredients. After a minute or so, remove from the griddle, cut, plate, and enjoy.
Fudgy Brownie Hearts with Fresh Raspberry Buttercream
nonstick vegetable oil spray
1/2 c. unsalted butter, diced
3 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1-1/2 c. sugar
3 large eggs
1 tsp. instant espresso powder
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt
3/4 c. flour
powdered sugar, to sprinkle on the finished brownie hearts
1/2 c. unsalted butter, at room temperature
12 oz. raspberries, fresh or frozen
1/2 tsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
3-1/2 c. powdered sugar
pinch of kosher salt
1 to 2 T. milk, if needed to thin out the frosting
Preheat oven to 325°. Fold a long piece of heavy foil into a 13″ wide strip and fit it inside a 9″ x 13″ metal baking pan, leaving foil overhang on the 2 long sides. Spray the foil with nonstick spray. Stir the butter and chocolate in a large heavy saucepan over very low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, and then the eggs, 1 at a time. Whisk in espresso powder, vanilla, and salt. Then sift the flour over the chocolate mixture and stir to blend well. Transfer batter to prepared pan. Bake brownies until slightly puffed and dry-looking and tester inserted into center comes out with some moist batter attached, about 20 minutes. Let cool completely in pan on rack.
Now prepare the fresh raspberry buttercream: Cook the raspberries in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring frequently until the raspberries are broken down into a sauce. Pour the sauce through a fine mesh strainer to remove the seeds, and then pour the raspberry sauce back in the pot. Simmer until the sauce reduces to a 1/4 cup. It will be a very rich red and concentrated sauce. Set aside to cool. With a mixer, cream the butter with a paddle attachment on medium high speed about 2 minutes, until lightened in color and a bit fluffy. Add 2 cups of powdered sugar, the 1/4 cup of cooled raspberry sauce, lemon juice, and salt. Mix until smooth. Add another 1-1/2 cups of powdered sugar and mix until smooth. If you want the frosting less stiff, add some milk, 1 tablespoon at a time. I did not add any milk to mine, and thought it was perfect for piping. Fit a pastry bag with a medium-large round tip (I used a Wilton #12) and fill with fresh raspberry buttercream.
Run a knife around the inside edge of the brownie pan. Use the overhanging foil as an aid and gently lift the brownies from the pan. The pan I used produces a brownie that is 1/2″ thick. Be sure your cookie cutter is taller than 1/2″. Press heart-shaped cookie cutters (the cookie cutters used in my photos measure 3″ wide and 1-1/2″ wide) firmly into the cooled brownie. Use a thin metal spatula to lift the cookie cutter filled with brownie from the foil. Gently press the brownie out of the cookie cutter. Repeat the cutting process until your brownie looks like a big piece of swiss cheese. (And I hope you’re eating up some of those brownie scraps!)
With the pastry bag filled with fresh raspberry buttercream, pipe a line of frosting around the inside edge of one of the brownie hearts. Then fill in the inside of the line with frosting, too. Top with another brownie heart, very gently pressing down to make a sandwich. Repeat until all your brownie hearts are completed. To finish off, sprinkle the brownie hearts with powdered sugar. I like to fill a small hand sieve with powdered sugar and gently tap the side of the sieve to let the powdered sugar rain down.
Creamy Artichoke Bruschetta
2 (8-ounce) packages of reduced fat cream cheese, softened
1 loaf French bread, cut into slices
1 cup mayonnaise with olive oil (fewer calories than regular mayo)
¼ cup light sour cream
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 (14 ounce) can of marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
½ teaspoon garlic salt
1 tablespoon parsley
Preheat oven to 350 F. Place the bread on a foil lined baking sheet and brush or spray with olive oil. Bake the bread for 8-10 minutes until crispy and golden, set aside. In an electric mixer, mix cream cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, chopped artichokes, garlic salt, parsley, and both types of parmesan cheese. Scoop a generous amount of the spread onto each piece of bread and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Broil in the oven on high for 5-7 minutes until cheese is bubbly and slightly browned on top. Watch closely to avoid burning. (This can also be made into a dip and baked at 350 for 15-20 minutes until melty and delicious).
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Garlic
1 large bag of Brussel sprouts or a stalk 1/4 C. of EVOO
1 T. minced garlic
salt and pepper to taste
7 pieces of crispy bacon.
Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Toss the sprouts, EVOO, garlic, salt and pepper. Bake the sprouts for 20-25 minutes until charred. Do not over cook or they will be mushy and most people do not like them this way. They should be like biting a nectarine…not hard like an apple and not soft like an overripe peach. Remove from oven and mix with bacon pieces. Serve immediately.
Spicy Salmon & Confetti Lentils
1 C. brown or green lentils
2 C. chicken broth
4 salmon fillets (6-ounces each), about 1 1/2-inches thick
1/2 tsp. salt
2 T. Green Jalapeño Pepper Sauce, divided
2 T. olive oil
1 celery stalk, diced
1 small zucchini, diced
1 small yellow squash, diced
1 carrot, peeled and diced
2 scallions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Heat lentils and chicken broth to boiling in 2-quart saucepan. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 30 minutes or until lentils are tender. Drain lentils; place in bowl. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 450ºF or preheat grill. Brush salmon fillets with salt and 1 T. TABASCO® Green Sauce. Cook 20 minutes, turning once or until fish flakes easily when tested with fork. As salmon is cooking, heat oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add celery, zucchini, yellow squash and carrot. Cook about five minutes or until vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally. Stir vegetables and remaining 1 T. of TABASCO® Green Sauce into cooked lentils. Toss to mix well. To serve, spoon lentils onto platter. Top with salmon fillets. Serve warm or cold.
Beer Boiled Shrimp
2 C. (16oz) Budweiser
2 small onions, sliced
1 clove garlic
1 bay leaf
3 peppercorns
2 celery ribs
2 tsp. salt
1/2 lemon, quartered
2 lb shrimp, cleaned and deveined
Pour beer in large pot; add onion, garlic, bay leaf, peppercorns, celery and salt. Bring to a boil. Simmer 10 minutes. Add lemon and shrimp; simmer 12 minutes. Remove from heat, chill well.
Crispy Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Prosciutto and Mozzarella
4 thin slices prosciutto
2 tsp. coarse-grained mustard
8 large basil leaves
1/2 C. fresh grated mozzarella
4 boneless chicken breast halves with skin
2 T. extra virgin olive oil
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
1/2 C. Merlot
2 C. chicken broth
1 T. unsalted butter
1 T. all-purpose flour
Arrange prosciutto slices on work surface. Spread each slice with mustard. Top each slice with 2 basil leaves and one fourth of the cheese. Starting with short end, roll up each prosciutto slice. Remove small flap of meat from underneath each breast (these are tenders) and reserve for another use. Put chicken breast halves on cutting board skin side up and beginning at thicker end of breast half, horizontally insert a thin sharp knife three fourths of the way through the center of each. Open cut to create a 1″ wide pocket in each half. Fit a prosciutto roll into each pocket and secure with a toothpick. Sprinkle skin with salt and pepper. Heat oil in large skillet over moderately high heat. Add chicken, skin side down, and cook 6 minutes or until skin is crispy. Turn heat down to moderate, cover pan and continue to cook skin side down until chicken is just cooked through, about 6 minutes. Transfer chicken to a platter, arranging them skin side up, and cover loosely. To make sauce, add garlic to skillet and cook over moderate heat for 2 minutes. Add wine and simmer, scraping up brown bits, until reduced to a few T.. Add broth and simmer until reduced by half. Mix butter and flour together well in a small bowl with a fork. Add a little bit of the hot liquid to the bowl and whisk butter flour mixture back into the skillet, along with any juices that accumulate on chicken platter. Bring sauce to a boil and simmer 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Remove tooth pick and slice chicken crosswise. Arrange on plates and spoon some of sauce over each portion.
Cocktail Nixon
40
ml Malibu
30 ml blue curacao
Sprite
Sugar
Lemon slice
Take a lemon and rub it along the outside rim of the glass. Put a small saucer with a sugar on a table. Turn the glass over and dip the outside rim of the glass into the sugar. Mix the ingredients without sprite and pour into a cocktail glass. After that add sprite in the cocktail glass, too. Make a spiral from the lemon and decorate your cocktail.
Gingered Grapefruit Broil
2 grapefruit
1 tablespoon butter, softened
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons yogurt
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon candied ginger
Peel grapefruit and cut into thick slices. Brush with butter; sprinkle slices with brown sugar and ground ginger. Broiled 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 2 to 3 minutes until the brown sugar has melted and the slices are heated through. Top with plain yogurt and sprinkle with candied ginger.
Conchigliette al forno (Baked Shells)
6 ounces portabella mushrooms, cleaned and trimme
d
1 stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon kosher salt
½ cup white wine
One cup of Chicken broth
2 cups finely shredded radicchio
2½ cups heavy cream
½ cup freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
½ cup coarsely shredded fontina
½ cup crumbled Gorgonzola
2 teaspoons mascarpone cheese
6 leaves fresh sage, chopped
1 pound conchigliette rigate (pasta shells)
Preheat the oven to 500 degrees F. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Slice the mushrooms about ¼-inch thick. Heat 6 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet; add the mushrooms and ¼ teaspoon salt. Sauté over medium heat, add half cup of dry white wine stirring frequently, add one cup of chicken broth until they are cooked through, 15 to 20 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, combine the mushrooms, radicchio, cream, cheeses, sage. Parboil the pasta shells for 4 minutes; drain and add to the ingredients in the mixing bowl. Toss to combine. Divide the pasta mixture among 6 to 8 individual, shallow, ceramic gratin dishes (1½ to 2 cup capacity). Dot with the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter and bake until bubbly and brown on top, about 7 to 10 minutes. Garnish with fresh Italian parsley, but do not cook the parsley in the pasta.
Buttery Garlic Chicken
1 (3lb) whole chicken (or boneless chicken breasts)
1/2 C. butter or margarine, softened
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. dried parsley
1/4 tsp. dried rosemary
1/4 tsp. dried thyme
Preheat broiler. Cut chicken into serving pieces. Line broiler pan with foil. Place chicken on prepared pan. Combine butter, garlic, parsley, rosemary and thyme; mix well. Spread top of chicken pieces evenly with a small amount of butter-herb mixture. Broil chicken, turning and coating frequently with remaining butter-herb mixture, until juices run clear when thickest portion of meat is pierced with a knife, about 30 minutes. (15 minutes if using chicken breasts)
White Pizza Grilled Cheese
2 bulbs garlic
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 pinch of salt
8 ounces mascarpone cheese, at room temperature
¼ cup freshly chopped basil leaves
2 tablespoons freshly chopped rosemary
2 tablespoons freshly chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons freshly chopped oregano leaves
1 tablespoon freshly chopped parsley
8 ounces sharp provolone cheese, freshly grated
4 ounces mozzarella cheese, freshly grated
2 ounces parmesan cheese, freshly grated
8 thick slices Italian or sourdough bread
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice off the top of the bulb of garlic and remove any of the outside paper from the bulb. Drizzle the exposed cloves with olive oil. Wrap the bulb in foil and roast for 1 hour, until the cloves are golden and caramely. Let the garlic cool slightly. Squeeze the cloves out in a bowl and add a pinch of salt. Mash the cloves with a fork until they form a paste. Add the mascarpone to the bowl and stir to combine. Add in the basil, rosemary, thyme, oregano and parsley, stirring to combine. Toss together the provolone, mozzarella and parmesan cheeses. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat. Spread the outsides of the bread with softened butter. Spread the insides of the bread with the mascarpone cheese mixture. Place a slice of bread butter-side down in the skillet and add a few handfuls of cheese on top. Follow it with another slide of bread, butter-side up. Cook until the cheese is melty and each side is golden, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Serve the sandwiches with a garnish of extra chopped herbs.
Mock Brazilian Cheese Bread (Pão de Queijo)
1 egg, at room temperature
1/3 cup olive oil
2/3 cup milk
Scant 1 1/2 cups (170 grams) tapioca flour (tapioca starch)
1/2 cup packed (about 100 grams) grated cheese of your choice (I like the combination of cheddar cheese and mozzarella cheese)
1 heaping teaspoon salt
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Grease a mini muffin tin generously. Put all of the ingredients into a blender and pulse until smooth. Use a spatula to scrape down the sides of the blender so that everything gets blended well, it will yield about 2 cups batter. Transfer the batter into the mini muffin tins. Fill up about 3/4 full. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, until all puffy and just lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let cool on a rack for a few minutes. Eat while warm or save to reheat later.
Cake Mix Cookies
1 pkg Betty Crocker SuperMoist Cake Mix (any flavor except fudge marble or carrot)
1/2 C. shortening
1/3 C. margarine or butter, softened
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg
Preheat oven to 375. Mix about half of cake mix with shortening, margarine, vanilla, and egg in large bowl until well mixed. Stir in remaining dry cake mix. Drop dough by rounded tsp.fuls about 2″ apart onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 9-11 minutes (centers will be soft). Cool 1 minute before removing from cookie sheet.
One Pot Garlic Parmesan Pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup milk, or more, as needed
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
8 ounces uncooked fettuccine
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in chicken broth, milk, butter and fettuccine; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, about 18-20 minutes. Stir in Parmesan. If the mixture is too thick, add more milk as needed until desired consistency is reached. Serve immediately, garnished with parsley, if desired.
Hearty Chicken Pot Pie
1 (10.75oz) can condensed chicken broth
1 1/3 C. water, divided
4 medium carrots, thinly sliced (about 1 1/2 cups)
3 medium red potatoes, scrubbed and diced (about 1 1/2 cups)
2 T. olive oil
2 C. quartered medium mushrooms
1 medium onion, coarsely chopped
1 C. frozen peas
1/3 C. all-purpose flour
1 refrigerated unbaked pie crust (for 9″ pie)
2 1/2 C. chopped cooked chicken
Combine broth, 1 C. water, carrots and potatoes in medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer over low heat 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 425. Heat oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add mushrooms and onion; sauté until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth mixture and peas. Whisk remaining 1/3 C. water into the flour until smooth; whisk into vegetable mixture. Increase heat to medium-high; bring to a boil. Spread out pie crust on floured surface. Measure and roll, if necessary, to fit 1-inch larger than top of 2-quart shallow baking dish. Stir chicken into vegetable mixture and transfer to baking dish. Place crust over filling; trim and flute edge. Cut a scalloped round from center with a cookie cutter. Bake until filling is bubbly and crust is browned, about 20 minutes.
Slow Cooker BBQ Ranch Meatloaf
3 lbs. ground beef
1 lb. sausage
½ cup bread crumbs
3 eggs
1 packet dry powdered ranch mix
¼ cup BBQ sauce, plus more for topping after it is cooked
½ medium onion, chopped finely
1 tsp. salt
1 T. garlic
In a large bowl, mix beef, sausage, bread crumbs, eggs, ranch packet, ¼ cup of BBQ sauce, onion, salt and garlic together by hand in large bowl. Add to slow cooker and form into a loaf shape. Add desired amount of BBQ sauce on top of loaf to glaze and cook on LOW for 6 hours. Once cooked and ready to serve, top with more BBQ sauce if needed.
Scallion Pancakes with Korean Dipping Sauce
For the Korean Dipping Sauce:
¼ c. soy sauce
3 T. water
1 T. rice vinegar
1 t. sugar
1 t. sesame oil
½ t. sesame seeds
¼ t. red pepper flakes
2 T. thinly sliced green onions
1 jalapeno pepper, minced (optional)
For the Scallion Pancakes:
6 green onions, trimmed into 3 inch pieces and halved
¾ c. flour
1 t. sugar
½ t. salt
1 t. black pepper
½ c. ice cold water
2 T. vegetable oil, divided
Combine all the ingredients for the Korean dipping sauce in a bowl. Mix well and refrigerate. In a medium bowl combine the flour, sugar, salt, and pepper for the pancakes. Add the ice water and whisk until smooth. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Take 6-8 green onion pieces and arranged them in a row in the pan. On the other side of the pan do the same thing so you have two rows of green onions. Spoon ¼ cup of batter over each onion pile and gently spread over top of the onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes or each side and gently flip over. Cook on the other side for 3-4 minutes. Remove from skillet and repeat with remaining onions and batter, making 2 more pancakes. Serve immediately with dipping sauce
Taco Quiche
2 pounds ground beef
2 envelopes taco seasoning
4 eggs
3/4 C. milk
1-1/4 C. biscuit/baking mix
Dash pepper
1/2 C. sour cream
2 to 3 C. chopped lettuce
3/4 C. chopped tomato
1/4 C. chopped green pepper
1/4 C. chopped green onions
2 C. (8 ounces) shredded cheddar cheese
In a skillet, brown beef; drain. Add taco seasoning and prepare according to the package directions. Spoon meat into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish. In a bowl, beat eggs and milk. Add biscuit mix and pepper. Mix well. Pour over meat. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool for 5-10 minutes. Spread sour cream over the top; sprinkle with lettuce, tomato, green pepper, onions and cheese. Serve immediately.
Eggs-traordinary Stuffed Toasty Baskets with Lemony Greens
4 T. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
4 slices bacon, chopped
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 small onion, chopped
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 slices soft white sandwich bread
3 T. melted unsalted butter
1 vine-ripe tomato, chopped
4 eggs
Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for sprinkling
1 T. Dijon mustard
juice of 1 lemon
6 C. mixed greens
Preheat the oven to 400. Preheat a small skillet over medium heat, add 1 T. of EVOO and the chopped bacon, and cook for 3 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. Add the garlic, onions, crushed red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Cook until the onions start to turn translucent, about 3 minutes. With a serrated knife, cut the crusts from the bread. With your fingertips or a rolling pin, flatten or roll out each slice of bread as thin as you can get it. Nestle each thin slice of bread into the C. of a nonstick standard 1/2-cup muffin tin, pushing the bread down on the bottom of the tin and pushing it up the sides of the tin. The bread will reach the top of each tin and be slightly above the rim. If the bread breaks or tears, just smoosh it together a little, it will still be fine. Brush the bread with the melted butter. Add the tomatoes to the bacon and onions. Turn the heat up and toss around to evaporate some of the tomato liquid, about 1 minute. Working one at a time, crack the eggs into a small bowl and then carefully transfer to the bread-lined muffin tins. The goal is to not break the yolk. Sprinkle each egg with a little salt and pepper. Top each egg with one quarter of the tomato-onion mixture and then sprinkle each one with a little grated cheese. Place in the hot oven and bake 15 minutes. In a small bowl, combine mustard with the lemon juice, salt and pepper. In a slow, steady stream, whisk in the remaining EVOO. In a salad bowl, toss the lemon dressing with the mixed greens. To serve, use a butter knife to nudge the cooked toast and eggs out from each tin and onto a plate. Serve with lemon-dressed salad.
Uses for Artichoke Hearts
For a lightning-quick Greek-style sauce for pasta, chop 1 jar (6 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts and toss the artichokes with 3/4 pound cooked pasta, along with the artichoke marinade from the jar, 1/4 cup olive oil, and 1 cup crumbled feta cheese.
For a flavored bread that guests can’t resist, make a filling with chopped marinated artichoke hearts. First, sauté 2 finely chopped leeks (white parts only) and 1 minced garlic clove in 1 tablespoon olive oil until soft, about 4 minutes. Add 1/2 package (5 ounces) frozen chopped spinach, and cook until almost dry. Season with 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, and a pinch of nutmeg. Remove from the heat and add 1/4 cup drained, chopped marinated artichoke hearts. Spoon this mixture over 1/2 pound thawed frozen white bread dough patted into a 6 x 8-inch rectangle. Roll up like a jelly roll, starting at a wide side. Pinch the ends closed and place the bread, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet. Cover with a damp towel and let rise in a warm place (85°F) free from drafts until the dough has doubled in bulk, about 1 1/2 hours. Preheat the oven to 400°F, then slash the top of the loaf and brush with ice water. Bake until crisp and golden, about 40 minutes. Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
To give rice salad a distinctly Mediterranean twist, add artichokes. Bring 8 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add 1 cup white rice, reduce the heat to medium, and simmer until the rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir 2 halved and sliced zucchini into the rice. Drain the cooked rice in a colander. In a large bowl, whisk together 1/3 cup V8 juice, 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Stir in 2 large chopped tomatoes, 1 can (15 ounces) drained and chopped artichoke hearts, 1/4 cup chopped, pitted, oil-cured black olives, 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese, and 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley. Add the drained rice mixture and toss to coat. Serve immediately. Or to make ahead, mix together the dressing and salad mixture separately, then combine them right before serving.
For a quick and irresistible dip, blend the following ingredients in a food processor or blender:
1 can (14 ounces) water-packed artichoke hearts, drained
1 can (9 ounces) sour cream onion dip
2 garlic cloves
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried dill
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
To dress pork chops, lamb, fish, or chicken with an innovative salsa, finely chop the contents of 1 jar (6 1/2 ounces) marinated artichoke hearts, saving the marinade. Toss the artichokes and their marinade with 1 small minced garlic clove, the juice of 1/2 large lemon, and 1/3 cup pine nuts. Serve over the meat.
For hot sandwiches with a bit more zip, add chopped marinated artichoke hearts. For instance, arrange 3 or 4 thin slices of mozzarella cheese over 2 large slices of country-style bread such as sourdough. Add 1/4 cup drained and finely chopped marinated artichoke hearts and a pinch of freshly ground black pepper. Assemble the sandwich and toast in butter on a griddle.
To make a pizza that vegetarians will love, spread a pizza crust with pesto, then layer with drained and chopped artichoke hearts, chopped jarred roasted red peppers, and a few spoonfuls of drained canned diced tomatoes. Top with 1 to 2 cups shredded fontina or mozzarella cheese and bake at 450°F until the cheese melts and the crust is crisp, 8 to 10 minutes.
Scallops with Asparagus
1 lb. medium asparagus
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 lb. large sea scallops, tough ligament removed from side of each if attached
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup dry white wine
2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into tablespoon pieces
Trim asparagus, then cut stems into 1/4-inch-thick diagonal slices, leaving tips whole. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a 12-inch heavy nonstick skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté asparagus, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a plate, reserving skillet off heat (do not clean). Pat scallops dry and sprinkle with pepper and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet and heat over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of scallops, turning over once, until browned and just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Transfer scallops with tongs to another plate as cooked. Wipe out skillet with paper towels, then add remaining tablespoon oil and heat until hot but not smoking. Sauté remaining scallops, turning over once, until browned and cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total, transferring to plate. (Do not wipe out skillet after second batch.) Carefully add wine and vinegar to skillet (mixture may spatter) and boil, scraping up brown bits, until liquid is reduced to about 2 tablespoons, about 1 minute. Add any scallop juices accumulated on plate and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, until incorporated. Add asparagus and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and cook until heated through, about 1 minute. Serve scallops topped with asparagus and sauce.
Creamed Spinach
5 pounds fresh spinach (or 2 1/2 pounds baby spinach), trimmed and washed, with some water clinging to leaves
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 shallots, minced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 cups whole milk
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg
Working in batches, steam spinach, covered, in a large pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until wilted, 2 to 4 minutes. Drain. Let cool. Squeeze out and reserve liquid. Chop spinach. (You should have 4 1/2 cups.) Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Cook shallots until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add flour, and cook, whisking, until raw flour smell is cooked off, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in milk. Bring to a simmer, and cook for 2 minutes. Season with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Stir in spinach. If mixture is too thick, thin with reserved spinach liquid. Stir in nutmeg. Continue to cook until warmed through. Serve immediately.
Pan Fried Duck Breasts with Red Wine Sauce
2 d
uck breasts
Salt and pepper
1 T. olive oil
1 shallot
1 clove of garlic, crushed
1 T. balsamic vinegar
2 T. redcurrant jelly
1 tsp fresh thyme (or ½ tsp dried)
250ml red wine
Salt and pepper
Small knob of butter
1 bulb of garlic
Drizzle of olive oil
750g potatoes
25g butter
50ml milk, warmed
Salt and pepper
1 T. parsley, finely chopped (optional)
6-8 shallots
1 T. butter
1 tsp sugar
Salt and pepper
Asparagus (or other green veg of your choice)
Small knob of butter
Salt and pepper
Pre-heat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas mark 6. Start by preparing the garlic for the mashed potatoes. Cut the top off the garlic bulb about 1cm down (not the end that has the root). The idea is to expose all the cloves so that they turn golden as they cook and the flavour mellows. Place on a square of aluminum foil large enough to wrap around the garlic and season with a little salt and pepper and then drizzle with the olive oil. Wrap securely in the foil and place in the oven on a medium shelf for approximately 40 minutes. When ready, remove from the oven and leave to cool. While the garlic is roasting make the red wine sauce. Heat the oil in a small pan and gently sauté the onion or shallots for 5 minutes until softened but not coloured. Add the garlic and continue to cook for another minute before adding the balsamic vinegar. Increase the heat and cook until the vinegar has evaporated (a few minutes). Add the redcurrant jelly, thyme, wine and seasoning and leave to simmer gently for 15-20 minutes, stirring from time to time. If you prefer, make the sauce in advance then simply reheat before serving. Peel the potatoes and cut into large chunks then pop in a pot filled with cold salted water. Cover with a tight fitting lid and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for approximately 20 minutes or until they are tender.
While the potatoes are cooking prepare the shallots. Add the shallots to a pan of boiling water and cook for 2 minutes. Drain and leave until cool enough to handle, then remove the skins and set aside. If you have any large shallots cut them in half so that they are all similar in size.
Trim any excess fat from the duck breasts and then score the skin with a roughly 5 or 6 diagonal cuts – be careful that you only score the skin and don’t cut through to the meat. Season the skin side with some salt and pepper. Heat a large frying pan until hot and add the duck breasts, skin side down. Cook over a high heat until the skin is golden brown and crispy then turn and cook for another 30 seconds (watch because there will be a lot of fat in the pan and it will spit!!) Remove from the pan and put in an oven proof dish and place in the oven, skin side up, for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven when ready, transfer to a plate then cover with foil and leave to rest.
Meanwhile, finish cooking the shallots. Melt the butter in a pan that has a lid and add the shallots, sugar and seasoning. Cover with the lid and cook over a medium heat for approx. 10 minutes, shaking the pan from time to time, until tender and caramelized.
Boil some water for the asparagus in a pan. Prepare the asparagus by ‘snapping’ off the woody bottoms. (Take one stem of asparagus, hold it at both ends and bend it – it will snap naturally near the bottom.) Once the water is boiling add a good pinch of salt and cook the asparagus for 2-3 minutes (depending on how thick they are) then drain. Return to the pan and add the butter. Cover with a lid and keep warm.
Drain the potatoes when they are ready and mash well with the butter and warmed milk. Squeeze in roughly half of the garlic cloves from the bottom of the bulb and mash into the potatoes. It may seem like a lot of garlic but the flavour will be far less intense than raw garlic and almost sweet. Season with salt and pepper and add the parsley if using.
When ready to serve, spoon some of the mashed potato onto each plate then slice the duck into approx. 6 pieces and arrange on each serving plate on top of the potatoes. Add the vegetables and the top with the red wine sauce and serve immediately.
Spinach Soup with Garlic Thyme Croutons
2 T. olive oil
1 medium onion, coarsely hopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tsp. dried thyme leaves
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp. salt
2 cups peeled and diced red potatoes
4 cups low-sodium chicken stock (or vegetable stock or water)
6 heaping cups fresh spinach leaves (chard or kale is good too!)
juice of half a lemon
salt to taste
freshly grated nutmeg for garnish and olive oil for topping
3 T. olive oil
3 T. unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, sliced
1 T. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
salt to taste
4-6 heaping cups stale bread cubes
To prepare the soup, heat olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add garlic, thyme, red pepper flakes, and salt and sauté for 2 minutes. Add potatoes and sauté for 3 minutes more. Pour in chicken stock and bring to a low simmer. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until potato chunks are cooked through. Reduce heat to low and add spinach leaves. Stir and cook spinach down in the hot broth for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and puree soup with an immersion blender. You can also blend the soup in a regular blender in batches. Just be careful not to overfill the blender when pureeing. Once pureed, squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Stir. To prepare the croutons, place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper, place bread crumbs on the parchment and set aside. Heat oil and butter in a medium saute pan until butter is melted. Add sliced garlic and cook for 3 minutes. Remove garlic from the pan and discard. Remove fat from the heat. Add thyme and red pepper flakes. Stir to combine. Drizzle melted butter mixture over the bread cubes. Sprinkle generously with salt and toss with your hands. Bake for 12-14 minutes or until cubes are golden brown and crisp. To serve, ladle generous bowls of soup. Sprinkle with freshly grated nutmeg, olive oil, and too many croutons.
Savory Bacon Cheese Monkey Bread
1 egg
2 T. milk
1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits
1 pkg. precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 oz. shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium)
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 11×7- or 12×8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth. Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly. Fold in bacon, cheese and onions. Spoon mixture into sprayed dish; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer. Bake at 350°F. for 23 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares.
Chestnut Mushroom Stuffing
1-2
lb. chestnuts, the more the better, boiled and peeled
1 lb. white mushrooms (do not used canned) sliced
6 stalks of celery sliced
2-3 onions sliced finely
2 cloves of garlic chopped very fine or preferably run through a press
Bag of bread croutons or make you own
1 tsp. dried thyme
1 tsp. dried sage
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/4 tsp. salt
Vegetable oil
The method
First wash the chestnuts and add to boiling water. Boil for about 15-20 minutes, take one out to test after 15 minutes. After boiling, allow to cool until you can handle the chestnuts. While their cooling, heat up a heavy pan with about 3 T. oil and place the onions, garlic, mushrooms, celery and spices in the pan. Cook gently while you peel the chestnuts-do not fry, you want soft ingredients. When the vegetable are cooked well, crumble the chestnuts into the pan. Sauté for a few minutes, making sure not to burn the stuffing. Finally, add the croutons and continue sautéing briefly, then add about one cup of boiling water. Mix and check if you need more water then taste and add more spice if necessary. The stuffing will be more dry now so again, be careful not to burn it. Now stuff your turkey with your chestnut mushroom stuffing or serve as is as a delicious side dish with your Thanksgiving dinner. The stuffing refrigerates well so if you actually have some left-which is very unlikely since it’s so good, keep it in the fridge for up to a few days and microwave or heat in the oven as needed.
Garlic Herb Dip
This recipe can be thinned with 2/3 cup milk or buttermilk to make a delicious salad dressing. For a delicious baked chicken, add 2 egg yolks and ¼ cup milk to basic recipe, pour over chicken, then bake until cooked through.
1 C. Sour cream
1/2 C. Real mayonnaise
4 lg. Cloves fresh garlic, minced
4 Full sprigs fresh parsley
Finely chopped
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 Heaping T. finely minced
Onion
1 T. Dill weed
1 tsp. Seasoned salt
3 Drops Tabasco
Combine all ingredients thoroughly, cover and refrigerate overnight or up to four days for more potent flavor. Serve with dippers of your choice. Makes about 1 1/2 cups.
Grilled Beef Hangar Steak with Casaba Chutney and Oven Roasted Cauliflower
Steak Marinade
6 scallions, white and pale green parts only, thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 cup soy sauce
Juice from 2 limes
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 pounds beef hanger steak
Combine all of the ingredients for marinade in non-reactive bowl; blend together for a sweet, sour and salty taste. Place steaks and marinade in a strong resealable plastic bag; allow to marinate for 2 hours. Remove steaks, pat dry, and grill over moderate heat  until medium-rare.
Casaba Chutney
1 cup firm-ripe casaba melon, diced fine
1/3 cup seedless cucumber, peeled and diced small
1/4 cup red onion, diced small
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/8 cup roughly chopped cilantro
2 teaspoons minced, roasted and peeled jalapeño pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
Combine all ingredients, except salt and pepper, in glass or stainless steel bowl; toss gently. Season with salt and pepper; set aside at room temperature until ready to serve.
Oven-Roasted Cauliflower
1/2 head cauliflower, broken into florets and sliced into 1/2- inch planks
1/2 cup sliced red onion
2 fresh thyme sprigs
3 unpeeled garlic cloves
3 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 425° F. Toss together onion, thyme, garlic and olive oil; season with salt and black pepper. Roast, tossing occasionally, until tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese; roast until cauliflower and cheese is caramelized.
After grilling steaks, allow to rest for about 5 minutes. Slice diagonally against the grain; Â fan steak into center of large serving plate. Mound 2 tablespoons of chutney onto steak; Â garnish with roasted cauliflower.
Garlic Squares
1 C. fresh Garlic, coarsely chopped
1 C. Onions, thinly sliced
¼ C. plus 2 T. Butter
2 C. Flour
2 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
2 T. chopped Parsley
1 tsp. Dill
1 C. Milk
½ C. sharp Cheddar Cheese, grated
Preheat oven to 450. Gently sauté garlic and onions in 2 T. butter about 10 minutes until tender, but not brown. Sift flour, baking powder and salt into mixing bowl. Cut in ¼ C. butter until mixture is crumbly like cornmeal. Add herbs and milk; stir until just evenly moist. Pour into a well greased 8×8 pan. Spread garlic and onion on top, then cover with cheese. Bake 25-30 minutes. Cool slightly and cut into squares.
Rustic Chicken with Garlic Gravy
2 T. cooking oil
6-8 chicken thighs, skin on (could use any skin-on chicken pieces)
Salt and freshly-ground black pepper
20-22 cloves of garlic (2 full heads), separated and peeled
2 T. flour
3/4 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken broth
1 1/4 tsp. fresh thyme leaves (or about 3/4 tsp. dried leaves)
2 T. butter
Heat the oven to 400° F with rack in center of oven. In a oven-safe Dutch oven or big, oven-safe skillet with a lid, heat the oil over medium high heat. Dry the chicken pieces well by patting them with a paper towel. Sprinkle the chicken pieces with a bit of salt and the pepper. Cook the chicken until well browned, turning regularly, for about 8 minutes in all then remove chicken to a plate. Reduce the heat to medium, add the garlic, and cook, stirring regularly, until it is starting to brown, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the garlic and stir until combined. Return the chicken to the pot, cover, and bake for 15 minutes in the pre-heated 400° oven. (If you pot or skillet doesn’t have a lid, you can tightly cover the top with tin-foil instead.) Remove the pot from the oven and put it on a burner. Be careful not to touch the hot pot! Remove the chicken pieces from the pot to a clean plate. Over medium-high heat, whisk in the wine and simmer for 1 minute. Whisk in the broth, thyme and a bit more salt and pepper, then reduce heat and simmer, stirring regularly, until sauce thickens. Turn the heat off and stir in the butter. Taste sauce and add more salt and pepper, if it needs it. Add the chicken back to the pot to re-warm with the sauce. Serve spooned over mashed potatoes, rice or pasta.
Baked gnocchi with bacon, tomato and mozzarella
500g store-bought gnocchi
250g bacon, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 400g tin chopped tomatoes
1 tablespoon tomato paste
handful cherry tomatoes, halved
1 teaspoon sugar
2-3 tablespoons cream/yoghurt
large handful fresh parsley, chopped
salt & pepper to taste
100g mozzarella, sliced
Pre-heat the oven to 200°c. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. In the meantime, make the sauce. In a large, hot frying pan, fry the bacon until starting to crisp with most of the fat rendered. Pour off most of the fat then add the garlic and smoked paprika and fry for 30 seconds. Add all of the tomatoes and the sugar and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cream/yoghurt, parsley and seasoning. Cook the gnocchi in the salted water until it starts floating to the top. Remove with a slotted spoon and add to the sauce. Transfer the gnocchi and sauce to an oven-proof dish and top with the sliced mozzarella. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes until the mozzarella is melted and golden. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Greek Chicken with Feta
One 3oz block feta cheese
1 T. olive oil
2 bone-in chicken legs with thighs skinned
1 medium-size yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1/2 of a 14.5oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
1 T. tomato paste
Pinch of Greek oregano
Place the feta in a bowl with cold water to cover and set aside (this leaches out some of the salt). Heat the olive oil in a medium-size skillet and brown the chicken on both sides. While the chicken is browning, spray the inside of the crock with nonstick cooking spray and lay the onion and garlic in the bottom. Place the browned chicken on top, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and add the tomatoes in juice, tomato paste, and oregano. Cover and cook on LOW 6-8 hours, until the chicken is tender and cooked through. Remove the feta from the water, cut in slices, and arrange the slices over the top of the chicken. Cover and cook for 15 minutes to melt the cheese. Serve immediately.
Short Ribs of Beef with Zinfandel and Balsamic Vinegar
1 8oz can tomato sauce
2/3 C red wine, preferably Zinfandel
1 large shallot, finely chopped
2 1/2 T. balsamic vinegar
1 T. dijon mustard
4 drops hot sauce, such as Tobasco
1/2 tsp. salt
3 lb. beef short ribs, cut into serving pieces of 3-4 ribs
Combine the tomato sauce, wine, shallot, vinegar, mustard, hot sauce, and salt in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Arrange the rib portions in the slow cooker and pour the sauce over them; if you have a round cooker, stack the ribs. Cover and cook on LOW 7-8 hours, until the meat is tender and starts to separate from the bone. Transfer the ribs to a platter and set aside. Cool the sauce until the fat congeals on the surface, then remove and discard the fat. When ready to serve, return the ribs to the sauce and reheat in a 300 degree oven until hot. Serve immediately.
Chile con Queso
1/2 onion diced (about 1/2 cup)
4 cloves of garlic minced
3 Serrano peppers diced
3 jalapeno peppers diced
2 T. of butter
2 T. of flour
1 C. of milk
6 cups of shredded cheese, can use any combination of Longhorn cheddar and Monterrey Jack
1/2 C. of cilantro, chopped
2 plum tomatoes, peeled and diced (about 1 cup, can use canned if tomatoes aren’t in season)
1/2 C. of sour cream
Salt to taste
Melt the butter in a saucepan on medium-low heat, and then cook the onions and peppers for about five minutes or until onions are translucent. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Whisk the flour into the butter, vegetable mix and cook for about 30 seconds. Add the milk to the pot, and cook on medium, whisking constantly until sauce is thick, about five minutes. Stir in the cilantro and tomatoes. Turn heat down to low, and a 1/4-C. at a time, slowly add the shredded cheese stirring into the white sauce until completely melted. Repeat. Stir in the sour cream. Add salt to taste.
Chicken Cordon Bleu Nuggets
Cooking Spray
2 large eggs
1 C breadcrumbs
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 C flour
Salt and pepper
6 deli slices ham, cut lengthwise into 4 strips each
6 deli slices swiss cheese, cut lengthwise into 4 strips each
1 large skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into 24 chunks
Preheat the oven to 350°. Spray 2 baking sheets with cooking spray. In a bowl, beat the eggs with a splash of water. On a plate, combine the breadcrumbs and thyme. On another plate, combine the flour with a pinch each of salt and pepper. Lay 12 ham strips on a work surface. Top each with a cheese strip. Place a chicken chunk toward the end of each strip and roll up to enclose the chicken. Working with 1 chicken nugget at a time, lightly coat with the flour, then the egg, then the breadcrumbs. Transfer seam side down to the prepared baking sheets. Lightly spray the nuggets with cooking spray and bake until crisp, about 20 minutes.
Crispy Zucchini Fritters
About 1 pound of roughly grated zucchini
1 small onion, grated
1-2 cloves garlic, finely minced
2 eggs, beaten
⅓ cup all purpose flour
⅓ cup cornmeal
⅓ cup dry breadcrumbs
1 teaspoon salt
about 10 grinds black pepper
2-3 tablespoon finely chopped fresh herbs
about 1 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 tablespoons sesame seeds
vegetable oil for frying
Combine the zucchini, onion, garlic and eggs. Thoroughly mix in the flour, cornmeal, bread crumbs, salt and pepper, and herbs. Stir in enough buttermilk to achieve a fairly thick batter – a bit thicker than a pancake batter. Let this mixture sit for about 30 minutes, and if liquid separates out at all, stir in a couple more tablespoons of flour. Add the baking powder and sesame seeds, and allow to rest for another 5 minutes. Heat ½ inch of vegetable oil in a 12 to 14-inch-wide saute pan. When the oil is hot, use a large spoon to carefully lower about ¼ cup of the batter into the pan, and spread it out slightly. It should begin to sizzle at the edges immediately; do not allow them to touch. Fry for 3 minutes, until they are well browned on the bottom, and you should be able to easily turn them with a pair of tongs – if not, let them cook another minute, and then turn. Fry on the other side until crispy and deep golden brown. Remove to clean newspaper, or paper towels to drain, sprinkle lightly with coarse salt. Repeat until all of the batter is used up.
Lemon-Garlic Chicken (Mustards Grill Napa Valley Cookbook)
Vinaigrette
2 heads garlic
4 lemons, peeled, including all pith and membrane, and seeded
2 T. champagne vinegar ( I was out of this so I used rice vinegar)
2 T. mixed fresh herbs such as parsley, thyme, tarragon, basil, and savory
1/2 tsp. salt
ground black pepper
6 T. extra virgin olive oil (or more if needed)
The chicken
1 T. minced fresh rosemary
1 T. minced fresh thyme
2 tsp. minced fresh oregano or marjoram
1/4 tsp. fresh sage
2 T. kosher salt
1-1/2 tsp. cracked black peppercorns
1-1/2 tsp. minced shallots
1 T. minced garlic
3 lb. chicken parts
Pull the heads of garlic apart and peel cloves. Put the cloves and the lemon in a small saucepan with enough water to float them. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until the garlic is very tender. Drain and puree in a blender or food processor. Measure out about 1/2 C. puree for the vinaigrette and set the rest aside for something else alter in the week. Whisk together the 1/2 C. puree with vinegar, herbs salt and pepper until salt is dissolved. Slowly whisk in olive oil until fully emulsified. Note: I had to add extra oil and vinegar (and even a T. of water) because my vinaigrette was much too thick. Combine the rosemary, thyme, oregano, sage, salt, pepper, shallots and garlic and mix well. Rub the mixture onto the chicken and allow it to marinate in the fridge for 6 to 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 500 degrees. Heat olive oil in a saute pan over medium heat until hot. Add chicken parts skin side down and cook until nicely browned, then turn and sear the other side. The total browning time should take about 8 minutes in all. Place chicken in a roasting pan and bake in oven for approximately 20 minutes, or until the chicken juices run clear when pierced with a knife.