Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Italian Meatball Sliders

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
3 garlic cloves, minced
3 shallots, finely diced
1/3 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs), toasted
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
8 ounces lean ground pork
2 (4-ounce) links turkey Italian sausage, casings removed
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups lower-sodium marinara sauce
12 slider buns, toasted
12 basil leaves

Preparation

1. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat; swirl to coat. Add garlic and shallots to pan; sauté 3 minutes or until shallots are softened, stirring frequently. Combine shallot mixture, ricotta, and next 8 ingredients (through egg) in a medium bowl. Shape mixture into 12 (1-inch) meatballs; flatten each meatball slightly.
2. Return pan to medium-high heat. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to pan. Add meatballs to pan; cook 6 minutes, turning once. Add marinara sauce; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 8 minutes or until meatballs are done. Top bottom half of each bun with 1 1/2 tablespoons sauce, 1 meatball, 1 basil leaf, and top half of bun. Serve and Enjoy!

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Almond-Cranberry Cornbread

Ingredients

3 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2/3 cup)
2/3 cup yellow cornmeal
2/3 cup almond meal
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
1 1/2 tablespoons sliced almonds
3/4 cup fat-free buttermilk
1/2 cup dried cranberries
2 large egg whites
Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour and next 6 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl.
3. Heat oil in a small skillet over high heat. Add almonds to pan; cook 2 minutes or until lightly toasted, stirring frequently. Strain oil through a fine sieve into flour mixture. Set aside 1 tablespoon almonds. Add remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons almonds to flour mixture. Combine buttermilk, dried cranberries, and egg whites, and add to flour mixture, stirring until well blended.
4. Spoon batter into an 8-inch cast-iron skillet coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle reserved 1 tablespoon toasted almonds over top of batter. Bake bread at 400° for 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack. Serve and Enjoy!

Monday, November 21, 2016

Apple-Cider Brined Turkey Finished with a Savory Herb Gravy

Ingredients

Brine:
8 cups apple cider
2/3 cup kosher salt
2/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon black peppercorns, coarsely crushed
1 tablespoon whole allspice, coarsely crushed
8 (1/8-inch-thick) slices peeled fresh ginger
6 whole cloves
2 bay leaves
1 (12-pound) fresh or frozen turkey, thawed
2 oranges, quartered
6 cups ice
Remaining ingredients:
4 garlic cloves
4 sage leaves
4 thyme sprigs
4 parsley sprigs
1 onion, quartered
1 (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and divided
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

Preparation

To prepare brine, combine first 8 ingredients in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook 5 minutes or until sugar and salt dissolve. Cool completely.
Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for Savory Herb Gravy. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Trim excess fat. Stuff body cavity with orange quarters. Place a turkey-sized oven bag inside a second bag to form a double thickness. Place bags in a large stockpot. Place turkey inside inner bag. Add cider mixture and ice. Secure bags with several twist ties. Refrigerate for 12 to 24 hours, turning occasionally.
Preheat oven to 500º.
Remove turkey from bags, and discard brine, orange quarters, and bags. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey. Tie legs together with kitchen string. Place garlic, sage, thyme, parsley, onion, and broth in the bottom of a roasting pan. Place roasting rack in pan. Arrange turkey, breast side down, on roasting rack. Brush turkey back with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bake at 500º for 30 minutes.
Reduce oven temperature to 350º.
Remove turkey from oven. Carefully turn turkey over (breast side up) using tongs. Brush turkey breast with 1 tablespoon butter; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bake at 350º for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 170º (make sure not to touch bone). (Shield the turkey with foil if it browns too quickly.) Remove turkey from oven; let stand 20 minutes. Reserve pan drippings for Savory Herb Gravy. Discard skin before serving; serve with gravy.

Thursday, November 17, 2016

Broiled Salmon and Asparagus Finished with Creme Fraiche

Ingredients

2 bunches asparagus (about 2 lbs. total)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
About 3/4 tsp. kosher salt, divided
About 1/2 tsp. pepper, divided
4 skinned salmon fillets (5 to 6 oz. each)
1/2 cup crème fraîche
1 tablespoon each whole-grain mustard and chopped fresh chives

Preparation

1. Preheat broiler with oven rack about 4 in. from heat.
2. Snap off bottom of an asparagus spear to see where it breaks easily. Line up remaining spears and slice off bottoms at the same spot. Put trimmed asparagus on a 12- by 17-in. rimmed baking sheet, sprinkle with oil and 1/4 tsp. each salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Arrange asparagus in a single layer on baking sheet.
3. Season salmon with remaining 1/2 tsp. salt and 1/4 tsp. pepper, then set on top of asparagus in a single layer.
4. Broil salmon and asparagus until salmon is no longer translucent but still moist in center and asparagus is browned in spots, 8 to 12 minutes. If asparagus isn't done, lift salmon to a platter and return asparagus to oven for a few more minutes.
5. Meanwhile, whisk together crème fraîche, mustard, chives, and salt and pepper to taste in a small bowl.
6. Serve salmon and asparagus with crème fraîche sauce.

Note: This method cooks salmon throughout perfectly and even. Serves 4 and is perfect for a family dinner. -Enjoy!

Monday, November 14, 2016

Heart Healthy Chocolate-Cherry Cookies

Ingredients

1.5 ounces all-purpose flour (about 1/3 cup)
1.5 ounces whole-wheat flour (about 1/3 cup)
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup dried cherries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 350°.
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 3 ingredients (through salt) in a large bowl; stir with a whisk.
3. Melt butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat; add brown sugar, stirring until smooth. Add sugar mixture to flour mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add cherries, vanilla, and egg; beat until combined. Fold in chocolate. Drop dough by tablespoonfuls 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes. Cool on pans 3 minutes or until almost firm. Remove cookies from pans; cool on wire racks.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Braised Chicken with Honey-Lemon Leeks

Ingredients

4 teaspoons olive oil, divided
8 bone-in, skinless chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon grated lemon rind
4 cups thinly sliced leeks (about 3 large)
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 teaspoons honey
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives (optional)

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium heat. Add 2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Sprinkle chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Massage lemon rind into chicken. Place chicken in pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm.
3. Add remaining 2 teaspoons oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add leek and remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 15 minutes or until leek begins to brown, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Remove pan from heat; stir in lemon juice and honey. Return chicken to pan. Mound leeks on top of chicken thighs. Bake chicken at 400° for 15 minutes or until a thermometer registers 165°. Top with fresh parsley or chives, if desired. Serve and Enjoy!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Gluten-Free Bittersweet Chocolate Scones

Ingredients

2.6 ounces white rice flour (about 1/2 cup)
2.3 ounces brown rice flour (about 1/2 cup)
2.1 ounces sweet white sorghum flour (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon nonfat buttermilk, divided
1 large egg
White rice flour, for dusting

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, 1/2 cup sugar, and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate.
3. Combine 1/2 cup buttermilk and egg in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist.
4. Turn dough out onto a surface lightly dusted with white rice flour. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle; cut into 10 wedges. Place wedges on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush 1 tablespoon buttermilk over surface of dough; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.
5. Bake at 400° for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove scones from baking sheet to a wire rack. Serve warm or at room temp with your favorite cup of coffee. Enjoy!

Thursday, November 3, 2016

Chicken and Sausage Penne with Broccoli Rabe

Ingredients

2 quarts water
8 ounces uncooked multigrain penne pasta
1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed and coarsely chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 (3-ounce) smoked chicken sausages, each diagonally cut into 8 pieces
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 ounces pecorino Romano cheese, grated (about 1/2 cup)

Preparation

1. Bring 2 quarts water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add pasta; cook 7 minutes. Add broccoli rabe; cook 2 minutes. Drain pasta mixture, reserving 2/3 cup cooking liquid; keep pasta warm.
2. Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add sausage to pan; cook 6 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Add 2/3 cup reserved pasta water, pasta mixture, pepper, and salt to pan; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until slightly reduced. Stir in juice, and sprinkle with cheese. Serve and Enjoy!

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins

Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 cup finely chopped carrot
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup ketchup, divided
1 1/2 pounds ground turkey
1 cup finely crushed fat-free saltine crackers (about 20)
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 large eggs
Cooking spray

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°.
Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chopped onion, chopped carrot, dried oregano, and minced garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Cool.
Combine onion mixture, 1/2 cup ketchup, and the remaining ingredients except cooking spray in a large bowl.
Spoon the meat mixture into 12 muffin cups coated with cooking spray. Top each with 2 teaspoons ketchup. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes or until a thermometer registers 160°. Let stand for 5 minutes. Serve and Enjoy!