Truffle Lover's Popcorn

Reposting this one since I've already decided it will be today's afternoon snack:

The Inn at Little Washington serves a popcorn appetizer with freshy shaved truffles that is absolutely fantastic and today I wanted some of it. Since driving there is not an option today, I decided to experiment a bit and see if I could recreate (even a little bit) that amazing flavor. It's not quite the same since I did not use fresh parsley and subbed truffle oil because I refuse to buy any of the $600/lb. truffles they keep locked in the produce department of my grocery store (especially just for popcorn!) but it did satisfy my craving. Here is what I came up with:

Ingredients:

1 bag plain or light butter popcorn

4 tsp. white truffle oil

2 TBSP dried parsley (1/4c fresh, if you have it)

1/4c. grated Parmesan cheese

sea salt, to taste

1. Pop the popcorn in the microwave.

2. In large bowl, toss popcorn with oil, parsley, and parmesan cheese; season to taste.

Easy!

Amazingly Good Alfredo Sauce

This is my new favorite Alfredo sauce:

 

4 TBSP butter

4 TBSP all-purpose flour

1c. heavy cream

1c. chicken broth

1c. Mozzarella cheese, shredded

1/2c. Parmesan and Romano cheese, shredded

3 TBSP Italian flat-leaf parsley, chopped

5 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg

1/4c. white wine

salt and pepper, to taste

1. In a medium-size sauce pan, melt butter over low heat.

2. Add flour. Cook and stir with a whisk until well blended. (2-3 min.)

3. Add cream and broth. Stir to blend.

4. Add remaining ingredients and continue stirring over low heat until cheeses are melted and sauce is a smooth consistency.

*If the sauce starts to get too thick, just thin it back out with a splash of wine or broth.

5. Toss with pasta and serve warm.



Served this last night with Roasted Romas and sauteed zucchini.

Buffalo Chicken Bites

Out of all the appetizers I set out on Super Bowl Sunday, this was probably the most popular.  Nothing fancy or complicated; just good, spicy Game Day food: 

1/2 c. all-purpose flour

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. salt

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts

oil for frying

1 bottle spicy Buffalo wing sauce (we like Frank's)

1.  In a small bowl mix together the flour, paprika, cayenne pepper, and salt.

2.  Place chicken in a large bowl and sprinkle flour mixture over them.  Then toss until they are evenly coated.

3.  Cover bowl and refrigerate for 60 to 90 minutes.

4.  Heat oil in a deep skillet to 375*  The oil should be just enough to cover or almost cover chicken.

5.  Fry coated chicken in hot oil for 10 to 15 minutes, or until browned.  Remove chicken and place on paper towels.

6.  Place chicken on foil covered (for easy clean-up) baking sheet.

7.  Baste with Buffalo sauce.

8.  Bake approximately 15 min., turning and basting again halfway.

 Serve with celery sticks and bleu cheese dressing. 

Dinner with my Valentine

In celebration of Valentine's Day, we went out for dinner last night and the meal was so good, I am still thinking about it today.  Don't you love it when that happens?  This is what we had:

Shrimp tossed in a creamy, spicy,

remoulade sauce

Crab and corn chowder

Beef filet w/lobster tail

Steamed veggies and chickpea salad

Chocolate creme brulee topped with Grand Marnier

and torched to perfection

We came home thinking we would actually be able to try some of the chocolates we had each given each other but we just couldn't do it.  It's now 10am and I am actually still full from last night.

Tofu Tacos

Last night was Taco Night at our house. 

There was a time when that called for lots of beef, cheese,

chips, and rice but this was not the case last night.  

We're making a conscious effort around here to eat more

high protein, plant based meals so instead, at hubby's request,

we had Tofu Tacos with sauteed zucchini and tomatoes on the side. 

If you haven't tried cooking with tofu,

I highly recommend this recipe as a good start.  

While the texture can be different, the flavor is very

much the same (I think it's better) than ground beef. 

The magic of tofu is that it takes on whatever

flavors you give it.  So if you season it like taco meat,

then it will taste like taco meat!

Here's the recipe with my modifications:

1 (16 oz.) pkg. garden herb or Italian seasoned tofu, crumbled

2 TBSP olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 c. chopped onion

2 tsp. chili powder

1/4 tsp. paprika

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

1/4 tsp. ground cumin

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 lime, juiced

1/2 c. tomato sauce

1/2 c. chopped fresh cilantro

10 medium taco shells, heated

2 c. shredded lettuce

2 tomatoes, chopped

1 avocado - peeled, pitted and diced

1 c. shredded Cheddar cheese

1/4 c. salsa

 

1.  Over a medium heat fry the tofu, oil, garlic

and onion in a large skillet for 5 minutes.

 

2.  Add the chili powder, paprika, cayenne, cumin,

salt, lime juice and tomato sauce to the skillet and stir.

Cook for 3 minutes.

 

3.  Stir in the cilantro.

 

4.  Spoon the tofu mixture into taco shells.

Top the mixture with lettuce, tomatoes, avocado,

Cheddar cheese and salsa.

  For us, extra firm tofu is the best choice for getting
that familiar ground beef consistency.

Cranberry Orange Cookies

I love to be home during a snowstorm.  It's exactly the kind of weather that makes me want to just stay in and bake.  So yesterday I decided to make cranberry orange cookies.

The texture is chewy and flavor is a delicious balance of cranberry, orange, and walnut.

1 c. real butter, softenened
1 c. white sugar
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. grated orange zest
2 TBSP orange juice
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
2 c. cranberries, chopped
1/2 c. walnuts, chopped

For the glaze:
1/2 tsp.grated orange zest
3 TBSP orange juice
1 1/2 c. confectioners' sugar


1.Preheat the oven to 375*

2.  In a large bowl, cream together the butter, white sugar
and brown sugar until smooth.

3.  Beat in the egg until well blended.

4.  Mix in 1 teaspoon orange zest and 2 tablespoons orange juice.

5.  Combine the flour, baking soda and salt;
stir into the orange mixture.

6.  Mix in cranberries and if using, walnuts, until evenly distributed.

7.  Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie
sheets.  Cookies should be spaced at least 2 inches apart.

8.  Bake for 12 to 14 minutes in the preheated oven, until the edges
are golden.  Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

9.  In a small bowl, mix together glaze ingredients and drizzle
over the tops of cooled cookies. Let stand until set.

I almost cut the recipe in half but then decided to go through with the

full four dozen.  This may not have been the best decision because

now I'm not so sure I trust myself alone in the kitchen with them.

 Yummy!

 

Old Bay Chicken and Shrimp Pasta

We have one kid who absolutely loves shrimp and would probably eat it every day of his life if I had it readily available all the time.  Then, we have another kid who says he hates seafood of any kind (never mind the fact that he practically inhales my sushi made with smoked salmon and crab - somehow

that's different in his mind).

So, the shrimp lover has been pestering me daily requesting I serve shrimp in the very near future.  Tonight is his lucky night.  Tonight, we are having shrimp but, in the interest of keeping complaints to a
minimum, we are also having chicken.  :)

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut in 1/2-inch strips

4 teaspoons OLD BAY® Seasoning, divided
1 TBSP butter
1/2 lb. shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 c. heavy cream
8 oz. penne pasta, cooked and drained
3 green onions, sliced
Parmesan cheese, taste
red pepper flakes, to taste

1.  Coat chicken with 2 tsp. Old Bay Seasoning.
Melt butter in large non-stick skillet over medium heat.
Add chicken; cook 3 minutes per side, or until done.

2.  Coat shrimp with Old Bay Seasoning, to taste.
 Remove chicken from skillet; add shrimp.
Cook and stir 3 to 4 minutes or until shrimp turn pink
and add chicken back to skillet.

3.  Mix remaining Old Bay with cream.
Add cream mixture, cooked pasta and green onion to skillet.
Bring to a boil. Lower heat; simmer 5 minutes or until sauce thickens
and pasta is heated through.

4.  Top with parmesan cheese and red pepper flakes
and serve immediately.

We love this seasoning!
(I forgot to get a photo of the food before we starting eating!) 

Tuscan Soup

We love hot and spicy soups on cold nights.  So, yesterday evening, as the snow was falling outside, we were all sitting around the dining table enjoying a wonderful, Tuscan soup with spicy pork sausage, cannellini and garbanzo beans, potatoes, spinach, garlic..... it was all just so very good.

Here's the recipe:

6 c. chicken broth

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 links spicy Italian sausage

3 large potatoes, cubed

1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained

1 can garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained

1 bunch fresh spinach, rough chopped

1/4 c. evaporated milk

salt, to taste

ground black pepper, to taste

Parmesan cheese, shredded

1.  Remove skin from sausage and crumble into large pot. 

Add chopped onion, and cook over medium heat. 

Add garlic when meat is almost done.

2.  Add broth, potatoes.  Boil until potato is cooked.  Stir in beans.

3.  Add spinach. Continue boiling until spinach is lightly wilted.

4.  Remove soup from heat, stir in evaporated milk, and season to taste. 

5.  Top with Parmesan cheese and serve immediately. 

 Served with baguette slices and Italian Garlic Butter.

 

Chicken and Waffles

My kids had never heard of chicken and waffles together before so, when I told them this was what we were having for dinner, they looked a little concerned.  My husband had a different reaction.  He will try anything I make and seemed intrigued, as was I, by the flavor combination.

I wasn't sure if I should serve something on the side or if the chicken and waffles were sufficient.  So I did some searching online and this is what I found out:

Chicken and waffles can be served breakfast style with bacon or grits but you can also serve it more like a dinner with greens.  I decided to serve it for dinner with maple syrup poured over the top and bacon on the side and that turned out to be a good choice for us because everyone cleaned their plates!

I used Emeril's recipe for the chicken, using boneless breasts and adding extra spices. Then, I cheated a little by using a waffle mix (we like Krusteaz). Poured the maple syrup over the top just before serving and the combination of sweet and spicy was amazing!

Really Fresh Seafood

I love it when I find a new place to buy fresh, organic ingredients! 

This place is not exactly local but it sounds pretty amazing!

Did you know you can get fresh seafood online?  Apparently, there is a business in the San Francisco Bay Area called I Love Blue Sea that serves local sushi restaurants but also offers a way for home cooks to order seafood online.   :)

What I'm liking is the fact that they only ship fresh caught, sustainable seafood that is certified by the Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch Program.  This makes me happy because I refuse to buy chemically enhanced seafood.   

It may be time to make my Fabulous Crab Cakes again!

P.S.  Also found out wine.com has a large organic selection.

Collard Greens

Last night's dinner was amazing!  We had Emeril's honey brined pork chops with a Creole mustard reduction sauce, spicy black-eyed peas leftover from New Year's Day, Southern-style collard greens, and buttermilk cornbread.  The flavor combination was crazy good!

I've used the same recipe for collard greens for a few years now and the result is always fantastic.  Even my boys who used to turn their noses up at greens now like these so much they actually go back for seconds!   It must be the bacon in there.  Everything's better with bacon, right?  :)

Here's the recipe:

1 TBSP olive oil

3 slices bacon

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. black pepper

3 c. chicken broth

red pepper flakes, to taste

1 lb. fresh collard greens, cut into 2-inch pieces

1.  Heat oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon, and cook until crisp.

Remove bacon from pan, crumble and return to the pan.

2.  Add onion, and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.

Add garlic, and cook until just fragrant.

3.  Add collard greens, and fry until they start to wilt.

4.  Pour in chicken broth, and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

5.  Reduce heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes, or until greens are tender.



Gingerbread Pear Cake

We love gingerbread and since I didn't feel up to going through with
 the whole business of cutting and decorating gingerbread people,
I decided to get the holiday baking started with a
*semi-homemade* gingerbread cake.

This couldn't be any easier and the flavor combination of gingerbread,
pears, and pecans is just fabulous!

2 tablespoons real butter, melted
1/4 cup dark corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 (16 ounce) cans pear slices, well drained
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1 (14.5 ounce) package gingerbread cake mix

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. Mix the melted butter, corn syrup, and brown sugar in a 9-inch round cake pan.

3. Arrange pear slices over sugar mixture.

4. Sprinkle pecans around the pears.

5. .Prepare the cake mix according to package directions,
and pour over the pears and pecans in the cake pan.
6. Bake approximately 50 minutes.

7. Cool slightly before turning out onto a serving dish.

Easy, no-fuss holiday dessert!

Barbeque Pork Sandwiches

My husband frequently says, "We have the best leftovers!"

It's a good thing too because leftovers is exactly what we're having for dinner tonight.

Specifically, we are having pulled pork barbeque sandwiches

and pasta salad.  We have had these sandwiches several times over

the  years and they are always amazing. 

Also, the preparation is ridiculously easy. 

2.5 lb. pork butt roast

salt and pepper

1 1/2c. beef broth

1/4c. brewed coffee, black

1 bottle bbq sauce

kaiser buns

1.  Cut roast in half and season with salt and pepper, to taste.

2.  Add all ingredients to slow cooker and cook on Low for about

6 hours, or until done.

3.  Remove pork to a cutting board and dump the liquid

(you don't need it anymore).

4.  Shred the pork (I just use two regular forks for this)

and return to the slow cooker.

5.  Add a bottle of bbq sauce (we like Stubb's Original) and mix together.

6.  Pile onto toasted kaiser buns and serve immediately.



I Forgot.....

We're having my fabulous Red Beans and Rice for dinner tonight.

The total cooking time for this meal is 2 1/2 - 3 hours.  It's 4:00pm

right now and, about thirty minutes ago, I realized I had completely

forgotten to soak the kidney beans.  This led to a semi-frantic,

"forgot to soak beans" Google search.  A surprising number of

people have encountered this problem and it turns out it's

no big deal. 

If you ever forget to soak your beans, this is what you do:

1.  Don't panic.

2.  Place beans in a large pot and cover with water.

3.  Bring to a boil for 2-3 min.

4.  Cover and remove from heat.

5.  Allow to sit, covered, for 1 hour.

6.  Drain beans and get on with your recipe as planned.

I may just do it this way from now on.

Roasted Romas

My son came in the kitchen today and asked his usual,

"What's for dinner?"  to which I responded by telling him I would be
serving steaks with a red wine and mushroom sauce,
creamed spinach, and roasted roma tomatoes. 
Then he said something that absolutely stunned me. 
He said, "I love tomatoes!"

This is the same kid for whom I used to hide vegetables in his

food just so he would eat them.  Amazing how things change.  :)

The steak recipe can be found on my other blog, here

About the tomatoes, this is a super easy and pretty side dish

that adds a nice splash of color to the dinner plate.

Here's the recipe:

4 Roma tomatoes, cut in half, lengthwise

olive oil, to taste

6 garlic cloves, minced

1/8c. fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper, to taste

1.  Preheat oven to 400*

2.  Place tomato halves in prepared baking dish.

Drizzle with olive oil.

3.  Sprinkle with garlic, basil, salt, and pepper.

4.  Bake 35-45 minutes, until tomatoes have softened.

5.  Serve immediately.

Every time I make these, my husband comments on

how much he loves them!