Category: PROTEINS

CAJUN HONEY BUTTER OR LEMON PEPPER SALMON & SHRIMP

CAJUN HONEY BUTTER OR LEMON PEPPER SALMON & SHRIMP
Sweet and savory pan-seared salmon topped with sautéed shrimp in cajun butter sauce. Salmon New Orleans is an unforgettable meal.

4-6 ounce salmon fillets
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, de-veined
8 tablespoons butter, divided
2 tablespoons honey

LEMON PEPPER & SEA SALT seasoning
FRESH ground sea salt
LEMON pepper
Sweet Hungarian Paprika

OR

CAJUN seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon onion salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
heaping ½ teaspoon dried oregano
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

  • In a small bowl whisk together all Cajun OR Lemon Pepper seasoning ingredients and set aside.
  • Season the salmon with fresh ground salt and pepper to taste.
  • Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add honey and whisk to combine (mixture should be bubbly).
  • Add salmon fillets to pan and cook for 5-6 minutes, then flip and cook another 5-6 minutes until salmon is cooked through, flaky, and browned.
  • Transfer salmon pieces to a platter and cover to keep warm.
  • Add remaining butter to the pan over medium-high heat. Once butter is melted, stir in cajun seasoning.
  • Add shrimp to pan and saute’ until opaque, about 3-4 minutes.
  • Serve salmon topped with shrimp pieces.
  • Drizzle any extra pan sauce over the top and garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
  • Serve immediately.

COFFEE POT ROAST ala SLOW COOKER

COFFEE POT ROAST ala SLOW COOKER – serves 4
2 pounds boneless chuck roast, quartered**
2 Medium onions, halved and wedged
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup brewed coffee
1/4 cup Bragg’s liquid amino acids
8-10 small gold potatoes, scrubbed and pricked with a fork
3 LARGE carrots, rustic large cuts

1/4 cup cornstarch
6 tablespoons cold water

  • Place half the onions in the bottom of the slow cooker.
  • Top with the garlic followed by half the beef. Repeat the layers.
  • Whisk together the coffee and liquid aminos.
  • Pour over beef.
  • Cover and cook on low until meat is tender, about 8 hours.
  • At 6 hours add the carrot pieces.

  • Whisk together the cornstarch and water until smooth. Add to cooking juices, stirring to blend.
  • Cover and cook on HIGH (about 30 minutes) until gravy is thickened.

NOTES:
**The original recipe was for slow cooking, but I prefer the oven unless I’m going to be gone all day. If I use the oven I DO NOT quarter it. If using the oven adjust the roasting time to 2-3 hours of covered and undisturbed roasting with the potatoes and carrots.

The original recipe had you slicing the onions thin. BUT, if you halve it root to tip and then wedge it you not only get thin pieces, you also get MORE flavor when you cut the onion in this direction.

The original recipe did NOT call for browning the meat, but I find you get a juicier roast with more flavor if you do so when roasting in the oven.

MIMOSA ROASTED CHICKEN with CHAMPAGNE GRAVY

The original recipe from Taste of Home called for a whole roasting chicken, but I’ve adapted it a more user friendly way of not only roasting, but also serving and eating. This chicken becomes a rich, buttery and juicy bite that is only complemented by each bite of fluffy mashed potatoes and fragrant champagne gravy.

MIMOSA ROASTED CHICKEN
2 medium navel oranges
4 large carrots, peeled and split lengthwise
2-3 leg and thigh quarter skin-on chickens
4 tablespoons butter, melted
FRESH ground pink Himalayan salt and black pepper, to taste
4-5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Litehouse freeze dried basil
1 tablespoon Litehouse freeze dried red jalapeno, chopped small
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon FRESH thyme, finely chopped
2 cups pink moscato wine or Brut champagne
2 medium sweet Vidalia onions, cut into wedges
1/2 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup orange juice

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Arrange carrot pieces in a single layer on bottom of roaster to form your “rack”.
  • Cut one orange into slices.
  • Cut second orange into wedges.
  • Combine the melted butter, garlic, onion powder, thyme, basil and red jalapeno. Set side to allow the freeze dried herbs time to reconstitute.
  • Gently use your fingers to loosen the skin of the chicken.
  • Place orange slices under the skin.
  • Generously sprinkle the chicken with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Rub melted butter mixture over skin of chicken pieces and place on top of carrots.
  • Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
  • Combine Moscato and orange juice. Toss with orange wedges,  onion wedges and potatoes. Pour into roaster around chicken.
  • Return to oven for 45 minutes more or until thermometer reads 175°.**(see note) Baste occasionally with pan juices. Cover and let stand 10 minutes before serving.

NOTE: **Cover loosely with foil if chicken is browning too quickly

GRAVY
Chicken Broth
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons Wondra flour

  • Pour pan juices and loosened browned bits into a measuring cut.
  • Skim off fat, reserving 1 tablespoon.
  • Add enough chicken broth to measure 1 cup.
  • In a small sauce pan melt butter and reserved 1 tablespoon fat.
  • Whisk in flour and until smooth and golden.
  • Gradually whisk in broth mixture.
  • Bring to a GENTLE boil, reduce heat and cook 2-3 minutes until thickened to desired consistency.
  • Serve immediately.

ROAST TURKEY & WILD RICE SOUP

Winter seemed never ending this year!  So what did we do? We made MORE soup!  While we were on a trip to the coast I had the most amazing soup at McMeniman’s Sand Trap at their Gearhart Hotel.  So, I came home and set to recreating it.  The re-creation is so close I feel like I’m back in front of the fire enjoying their soup and a cocktail!

ROAST TURKEY & WILD RICE SOUP
1 tablespoon butter
1 small Viadalia onion, diced
2 stalks celery, diced
3 large carrots, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried parsley
5 cups chicken broth
1 cup wild rice
2-3 cups shredded turkey or rotisserie chicken pieces

  • Melt butter in dutch oven over medium high heat.
  • Add onions, carrots, celery, salt and pepper. Saute’ 5 minutes.
  • Add garlic. Saute’ another 5 minutes.
  • Add thyme, parsley, vinegar, broth and rice.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil. Reduce heat and simmer 30 minutes.
  • Add turkey and simmer uncovered 30 minutes more until rice is tender.
  • Adjust seasonings to taste.

CREAM OF POTATO HAM SOUP

CREAM OF POTATO HAM SOUP
1 pound YUKON gold potatoes
1 cup chicken broth
1 ½ cup water
1 teaspoon FRESH ground Pink Himalayan salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground tri-color peppercorns
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
3 tablespoons butter
1 large shallot, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons Wondra flour
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
2 cups small diced ham steak
Grated sharp cheddar cheese for garnish

  • Bring water and chicken broth to a boil in a dutch oven.
  • Add potatoes and cook JUST until fork tender.
  • Remove potatoes and save 2 cups of the broth. Set aside.
  • When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, dice one third of the potatoes.
  • Toss the diced potatoes with a pinch of salt and set aside.
  • Mash two-thirds of the potatoes with 1 cup of the steaming broth, whisking until smooth.**
  • Melt butter in large sauce pan.
  • Add shallot, sauteing until soft.
  • Add the garlic, sauteing until fragrant.
  • Sprinkle in flour, stirring to blend until golden.
  • Slowly whisk in the whole milk, heavy cream and remaining 1 cup of broth.
  • Stir in Cream of Sherry and thyme.  Simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens.
  • Stir in potato puree.
  • Season to taste.
  • Add ham pieces, cooking a few minutes until ham is heated through.
  • Top with grated cheese.
  • Serve immediately.

**NOTE: DO NOT use a food processor.  Your potatoes will become gummy.

LEMON LIME PEPPER CHICKEN

This recipe was originally posted February 2010, but as I’ve gone through my blog I am trying to update and redo the pictures to make the recipe look more like its appetizing self! So Voila’ here is an updated photo that I hope grabs your attention more!

Do you watch comedies on TV? We do and this recipe was inspired by Everybody Loves Raymond. Debra’s lemon chicken always being made fun of made me want to make a REALLY GOOD lemon chicken full of flavor. This recipe is it! This picture below is from 2014 and I have eliminated the pictures from 2010 as they were atrocious.

4-6 boneless, skinless chicken breast
Wondra
1 lemon
1 lime
sea salt and white pepper to taste
1 teaspoon red chile pepper flakes
1/4 cup Cream Sherry or 1 tablespoon sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons Avocado oil
1 small Vidalia onion, sliced thin
1 clove garlic, minced

  • In a large skillet melt butter, add oil and bring to medium high heat.
  • Add onions and garlic until fragrant.
  • Dredge chicken breast in flour.
  • Move onions to outside ring of the pan.
  • Add chicken pieces salt & peppering as you brown them (about 5 minutes per side)
  • While chicken is browning, roll lemon and lime on the counter to loosen pulp and juice.
  • Plate chicken and keep warm.
  • Add cream sherry to deglaze pan, scrapping up the bits at the bottom.
  • Dissolve the sugar into the lemon and lime juice. Add red pepper flakes.
  • Pour over onions and cook a few minutes more until juice forms a glaze.
  • Pour over plated chicken and serve immediately.

 

BRAISED SHORT RIBS ala TAMY with Creamy Mashed Yukons & Sesame Snow Peas

BRAISED SHORT RIBS ala TAMY adapted from ANTON & MICHEL with CREAMY MASHED YUKONS & SESAME SNOW PEAS

RIBS
3 pounds beef short ribs, about 10 ribs
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 large shallot, sliced
10 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 inch piece ginger, peeled and sliced into 1/4-inch slices
12 ounces Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar (or flavor of your choice)
1 cup hoisin sauce

  • Season the ribs generously with salt and pepper.
  • Heat the oil in a heavy Dutch oven over high heat.
  • Brown the ribs on all sides, in batches if necessary.
  • Remove the ribs and pour off all but a couple tablespoons of the rendered fat.
  • Return the pot to the stove, lower the heat to medium and saute the garlic and ginger for about 3 minutes.
  • Add the ribs back to the pot.
  • Add the beer and the vinegar.
  • Stir well, cover and simmer for 2 1/2 hours.
  • Preheat the oven to 300°.
  • Pour the hoisin sauce over the ribs, move the pot to the oven, and cook, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
  • Remove ribs and ginger from sauce.
  • Discard ginger.
  • Strain fat from the top of the pot so that you’re left with just the good stuff.
  • Serve with Creamy Mashed Yukons and Sesame Snow Peas – recipes below.

MASHED POTATOES
3 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled
4 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup half-and-half
FRESH ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 bunch chives, chopped

  • Boil potatoes until fork tender.
  • Heat the butter and half-and-half over medium heat until hot, but not boiling.
  • Drain the potatoes, return them to the pot and mash with a hand masher or use a ricer.
  • Add hot liquid to potatoes and whip with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
  • Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.
  • Add chives and mix before serving.

SESAME SNOW PEAS
1 pound snow peas
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Salt and pepper

  • Rinse the peas and trim off the ends.
  • In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, add the oils and heat.
  • Add snow peas and saute until bright green, about 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
  • Sprinkle with the sesame seeds and toss.

CREAM OF TOMATO CHICKEN with RICE

CREAM OF TOMATO CHICKEN with RICE
3 cups chicken broth
2 cups tomato puree
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 Large shallot, finally chopped
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped basil
1 teaspoon celery salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
1/2 cup long grain rice
Bacon Crumbles (optional)
Parmesan cheese (optional)

  • Bring broth and shallot to a SLOW boil.
  • Add tomato puree, brown sugar, rice, celery salt, garlic powder and basil.
  • Simmer 25 minutes until rice is tender.
  • Stir in buttermilk and chicken pieces until well blended.
  • Season to taste and simmer 10 minutes more.
  • Serve in a toasted bread bowl or with toasted croutons.
  • Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and crumbled bacon if desired.

COWBOY GOULASH

COWBOY GOULASH
1/2 pound ground beef
1/2 pound ground pork
1 large carrot, small chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped
1 small onion, chopped
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon avocado oil
4 cups beef broth
1 can original Rotes tomatoes
1 small can green chiles, drained well
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
sour cream

  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add beef and brown.
  • Drain off grease.
  • Add carrot, onion, garlic and bell pepper sautéing until soft.
  • Season with salt and pepper.
  • Add broth and hot sauce.
  • Cover and bring to a FULL simmer for 20 minutes.
  • Add Worcestershire sauce, tomatoes and green chiles.
  • Return to a simmer for another 20 minutes.
  • Serve with warm tortillas or corn bread and a dollop of sour cream.  Sometimes we serve it over pasta, rice or mashed potatoes.

 

SWEET GARLICKY PORK CHOPS

Honey or sugar based marinades are a WONDERFUL way to bring out the rich flavors of pork especially when they are coupled with citrus juices, Asian flavored oils and vinegars.

SWEET GARLICKY PORK CHOPS
4 1 inch thick pork chops
4 LARGE cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 tablespoons sugar
1/3 cup Bragg’s Amino Acids
Juice of 1 LARGE tangerine
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons sesame oil
3/4 tablespoon Hidden Valley Ranch seasoning
2 teaspoons FRESH ground sea salt
1 teaspoon FRESH ground black pepper
1 tablespoon PURE maple syrup
2 tablespoons apricot pineapple jam

  • Whisk all ingredients together.
  • Reserve 4 tablespoons for later.
  • Pour over pork chops and marinate, turning frequently, for 2-4 hours before grilling.

Another great grilled pork chop recipe is for these grilled chops with Raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.

  • Preheat grill to medium high heat.
  • Oil the grate.
  • Arrange chops on grill sear 5-7 minutes per side.
  • Heat reserve marinade in a small sauce pan.
  • Brush chops on both sides with the hot marinade as you remove them from the grill and place them on the platter.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTES:

  • If you prefer a thinner chop, be sure and adjust the cooking times!  Thinner chops take considerably LESS cooking time, usually only 2 minutes per side!
  • This recipe is best with FRESH green vegetables like asparagus or broccolini, slaws or salads.  I also like to grill orange slices slathered in the sauce to go with the whole meal.

CAJUN BARRAMUNDI & REMOULADE

While we don’t really miss Texas, there are parts and places we do miss.  One of our favorite seafood restaurants was RAZZOOS CAJUN CAFE – this we miss A LOT! I especially miss their stuffed fish!

This recipe makes us feel like we’re back there in the fun atmosphere sipping cocktails BAYOU BREEZES were my favorite,  Throw in some Mardi Gras beads and Zydeco music and it just feels like we’re back there enjoying their southern hospitality.

CAJUN BARRAMUNDI
2 skin on Barramundi fillets of similar size
2 sprigs Dill, minced
1 tablespoon GHEE*
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning
Fresh ground salt and pepper, to taste
1 teaspoon paprika
Lemon wedges

  • Over medium high heat melt butter and GHEE.
  • Score the skin side of the fillets.
  • Pat dry and generously season both sides with salt, pepper, paprika and Cajun seasoning.
  • Add fillets to sizzling butter skin side down.
  • Cook 4-5 minutes until skin begins to brown and crisp.
  • Flip fillets and cook another 3-4 minutes or until beginning to crisp and are cooked through.
  • Plate and sprinkle dill over fish fillets.
  • Serve with remoulade sauce.

NOTE*: I like the extra flavor from a well made GHEE, but butter or avocado oil could easily be substituted.

REMOULADE SAUCE
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chili sauce
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 green onion, minced
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1 teaspoon creamy horseradish
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon Tony Chachere’s creole seasoning

  • Mix everything together.
  • Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.
  • Enjoy.

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF is a recipe I adapted from Kevin Penner’s 1770 House Meatloaf recipe after watching an episode of Ina Garten‘s Barefoot Contessa.  I debated on what to name this dish after my changes.  I flip flopped between Greenhouse and Farm style before finally landing on farm style.  All of the different meats and FRESH herbs and vegetables influenced my final decision for naming it Farm Style.  Honestly, I may yet rename it as I think more.

It is similar, yet completely different from my normal meatloaf recipe that I’ve been using for eons!  We instantly fell in love with the earthiness of this meatloaf and the savory herb sauce was perfect with mashed potatoes too!   Hubby normally loves ketchup or BBQ sauce with meatloaf, but with this flavorful sauce he bypassed it completely!

The key to this recipe is using QUALITY ingredients! Preferably grass fed meats and very FRESH organic ingredients.

FARM STYLE MEATLOAF
1/3 pound ground veal or lamb
1/3 pound ground pork
1/3 pound ground beef
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH chives
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH thyme leaves
1 teaspoon chopped, FRESH Italian parsley
1 LARGE egg
scant 1/2 cup finely ground Panko crumbs
scant 1/4 cup whole milk
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Avocado oil
1 stalk of celery, finely diced
1 LARGE shallot, finely diced

  • Preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Place the veal, pork, beef, chives, thyme, parsley, eggs, Panko crumbs, milk, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl. Set aside.
  • Heat a medium saute pan over medium-high heat and film it with avocado oil.
  • Add the celery and shallot to the pan, stirring, until softened.
  • Remove the celery and shallot from the pan and let cool.
  • When the mixture is cool, add it to the mixing bowl with the other ingredients.
  • Using gloved hands, mix the ingredients until well combined and everything is evenly distributed.
  • Place a LARGE piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan.
  • Place the meat on the sheet pan and pat it and punch it down to remove any air pockets shaping the meat into a loaf about 6 inches long x 2 inches high.
  • Place the sheet pan in the oven and bake 40 to 50 minutes or until a meat cooked through (155-160°).
  • Remove the meatloaf from the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes.

SAUCE
2/3 cup chicken or beef stock
1 tablespoon Marsala wine
3 cloves roasted garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped chives
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped thyme leaves
1/2 teaspoon FRESH chopped Italian parsley
1 tablespoon butter, room temperature
1 teaspoon cornstarch (optional)

  • Combine the broth, Marsala wine, roasted garlic and butter over medium-high heat and simmer for about 10 to 15 minutes, or until lightly thickened.
  • Add the chopped thyme, chives and parsley.
  • Quickly whisk in the cornstarch if needed to thicken as necessary.
  • Slice the meatloaf into serving portions and spoon the hot sauce over the meatloaf and mashed potatoes.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: You can use a loaf pan if you prefer, but we like the firm crispy edges produced using this method.