Category: RECIPES

LEMONY BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS with ONIONS and POTATOES ~ BLOG 366.229

The original recipe called for 3 things I either don’t like the taste of (capers), am allergic to (mustard) or just don’t like to cook with (turkey) so I adapted it my likes. I also combined two of her recipes, both braising recipes for a one pot wonder 😀

LEMONY BRAISED CHICKEN THIGHS with CARROTS, LEEKS, ONIONS & POTATOES adapted from MARY BERG and MARY BERG

2 1/4 pounds bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 teaspoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
2 SMALL Vidalia onions, thinly sliced
1 lemon, thinly sliced and seeds removed
5 to 6 medium yellow potatoes, quartered
1 SMALL bag baby carrots, drained
1 LARGE leek, trimmed and sliced
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 cup dry white wine
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 cup chicken broth
2 tablespoons FRESH chopped thyme
FRESH chopped parsley for serving
FRESH grated Parmesan, for serving (optional)
Candied lemons, for serving (optional)

  • Heat your oven to 325°.
  • Place a enameled cast iron pot over medium-high heat.
  • Pat the chicken thighs dry and season well with salt and pepper.
  • Add the oil into the pan followed by the thighs, skin-side down. Allow to sear 3-4 minutes until golden brown on the first side and the meat easily releases from the pan.
  • Flip and sear on the other side 2-3 minutes JUST until golden then remove from the pan and set aside.
  • Turn the heat down to medium and add the butter along with the onions, lemons and potatoes.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper, cooking until the onions and lemon are slightly softened and golden, 3 to 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the garlic followed by the white wine, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze and pick up any cooked-on bits.
  • Bring the wine to a simmer and cook down 2-4 minutes until slightly reduced.
  • Whisk the mayonnaise and Worcestershire sauce together. Add the broth and whisk until smooth.
  • Stir the broth mixture into the pan, coating everything well. 
  • Nestle the thighs on top, skin-side up, making sure that the skin is NOT submerged.
  • Bring to a boil, cover with the lid, and transfer the pan to the oven for 40 minutes.
  • After 45 minutes of braising, remove the lid and continue to cook 15-20 minutes until the chicken and potatoes are cooked through and the skin is golden and lightly crisp.
  • Remove the pan from the oven, scatter with the thyme and allow the dish to rest for 5 minutes.
  • Top with grated cheese if desired.

 

 

STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS ~ BLOG 366.228

STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS adapted from Mary Berg  Yield: 4 servings

FRESH ground Kosher salt and black pepper
4 banana peppers
1/4 cup FINE breadcrumbs
1 tablespoon Pampered Chef Chile Lime seasoning
2 tablespoons WHOLE milk
2 tablespoons avocado oil, divided
1 yellow onion, FINELY minced
2 garlic cloves, FINELY minced
1 cup MILD ROTEL (drained)
3/4 pound lean ground beef
1 LARGE egg yolk
1-2 cups homemade tomato sauce
1/4 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving
1 tablespoon FINELY chopped FRESH parsley, plus more for serving
2 teaspoon FINELY chopped FRESH oregano

  • Heat your oven to 350°.
  • Bring a medium saucepan of salt seasoned water to a boil over high heat.
  • Add the banana peppers to blanch 2-3 minutes until JUST slightly tender.
  • Drain and slice one side off the pepper to expose the interior and remove the ribs and seeds.
  • Set the peppers aside and finely chop the small piece you cut from each pepper.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs and milk and set aside.
  • Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a skillet over medium heat and add in the onion and chopped pepper.
  • Season with the Chile lime seasoning, salt and pepper, cooking 3-5 minutes until tender and lightly golden.
  • Stir in the garlic and transfer half of the mixture into the bowl with the breadcrumbs and set aside to cool to room temperature.
  • Add the ROTEL into the pan with the remaining onion mixture, bring to a simmer, cover with an off-kilter lid and reduce the heat to low to cook and keep warm.
  • Add the ground beef to the bowl with the breadcrumb mixture along with the egg yolk, cheese, parsley and oregano.
  • Place a small amount of tomato sauce on the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Season well with salt and pepper to taste and mix well to combine.
  • Stuff the meat mixture into the peppers and set into a greased baking dish.
  • Drizzle with the remaining tomato sauce, cover with foil and bake for 25-30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until golden and cooked through.
  • Serve the peppers topped with the sauce and a HUGE sprinkling of the Parmigiano-Reggiano and FRESH chopped parsley.

SPICED APPLE SALAD ~ BLOG 366.226

ROAST SPICED APPLE SALAD with MAPLE CIDER VINAIGRETTE

APPLES
4 medium Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala or other firm apples, quartered
1/2 – 1 teaspoon QUALITY cinnamon
2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • Preheat oven to 375°.
  • Place apples in a foil-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan; drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon.
  • Roast 20-30 minutes until tender, stirring occasionally.
  • Cool COMPLETELY.

DRESSING
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 tablespoon PURE maple syrup
1 tablespoon Frank’s chili lime sauce
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste

  • In a small bowl, whisk dressing ingredients until blended.

SALAD
4 cups spring mix salad greens (see note)
4-6 plump dried apricots, quartered
4 ounces FRESH goat cheese, crumbled
1/2 cup candied chopped walnuts

  • In a large bowl, combine salad greens and apricots.
  • Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat.
  • Divide mixture among 6-8 plates.
  • Top with goat cheese and roasted apples.
  • Sprinkle with candied walnuts.
  • Serve immediately.

NOTE: I like to use a combination of shredded romaine lettuce, super slaw (broccoli, red cabbage and savoy cabbage), sliced green onions and shredded carrots.

DECONSTRUCTED CABBAGE ROLLS ~ BLOG 366.221

DECONSTRUCTED CABBAGE ROLLS

1 medium onion, chopped
1 LARGE carrot, julienned
1/2 head cabbage, sliced
1 pound ground pork
2-3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1 can diced tomatoes, drained
1 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup beef broth
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

  • In a large skillet brown the ground pork breaking it into small pieces.
  • When just about cooked through, add onions cooking 5-6 minutes more until meat is cooked though and the onions opaque.
  • Add the carrots, garlic, salt and pepper cooking 4-5 minutes more.
  • Whisk together the Worcestershire sauce, broth and tomato sauce.
  • Add the tomato sauce mixture, stirring to coat well.
  • Add the cabbage and tomatoes.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally until cabbage is tender.
  • Serve over rice.

NOTE: If you like the taste of the peppers you normally stuff, then dice a red pepper and add in when you add the carrots.

SUPREME BEEF FLAUTAS ~ BLOG 366.219

Flautas are one of my favorite ways to eat Tex Mex. It’s like your favorite taco and a burrito had a baby. All rolled up and fried to give you a crispy shell outer shell even though they are baked and stuffed with all your favorites and then topped with FRESH pico de Gallo and lime cream.

BEEF FLAUTAS SUPREME Yields 6 flautas

1 LARGE shallot
3/4 pound QUALITY ground beef
1 teaspoon Pampered Chef Tex-Mex or southwest seasoning
1 teaspoon tomato paste
1/3 cup chicken broth

  • Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425.
  • Line a baking sheet with foil and brush with oil or coat with nonstick spray.
  • Wash and dry all produce.
  • Halve, peel, and thinly slice shallot and mince a few of the slices until you have 1-2 tablespoons.
  • Save the minced portion for the PICO DE GALLO.
  • Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.
  • Add sliced shallots, cooking for 2 minutes.
  • Add ground beef and seasoning, cooking 4-6 minutes, breaking up meat into pieces, until beef is browned and shallot is softened.
  • Stir in tomato paste and chicken broth (½ cup for 4 servings).
  • Simmer 2-4 minutes more until mixture is thickened and beef is cooked through. Turn off heat.

6 Flour Tortillas
½ cup Mexican Cheese Blend

  • Drizzle tortillas with 1 tablespoon avocado oil (2 tablespoons for 4 servings).
  • Brush or rub to completely coat.
  • Place tortillas on a clean work surface.
  • Add a heaping ¼ cup filling to one side of each tortilla, then sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon Mexican cheese.
  • Roll tortillas up tightly, starting with filled sides, to create flautas.
  • Place seam sides down, snugly on prepared sheet.
  • Bake on middle rack until golden brown and crispy, 8-12 minutes.

PICO de GALLO
1 LARGE Roma Tomato
4 tablespoons sour cream
2 teaspoons avocado oil
1 LARGE lime, juiced (I serve with an additional lime wedge)
2 green onions, sliced

  • Finely dice tomato.
  • Zest and quarter lime.
  • In a small bowl, combine tomato, minced onion, half the lime zest, and half of the lime juice.
  • Season to taste with salt.

 

  • In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, remaining lime zest, and the other half of the lime juice.
  • Add water 1 teaspoon at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency.
  • Season to taste with salt.
  • Divide flautas between plates.
  • Top with pico de gallo, sliced green onions, lime wedges and lime crema.
  • Serve.

 

PORK TENDERLOIN with SUN DRIED TOMATO CREAM SAUCE ~ BLOG 366.215

SUPER easy as well as moist and tender and a really unique flavor combo on the gravy have made this a family favorite!

PORK TENDERLOIN with SUN DRIED TOMATO CREAM SAUCE

PORK

1 pound pork tenderloin
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1/4 cup butter, cubed

  • Preheat oven to 300°.
  • Line baking sheet with heavy duty foil.
  • Pat pork tenderloin dry.
  • Season well with FRESH ground salt and pepper.
  • Mix honey and garlic together.
  • Rub pork all over with the minced garlic and honey mixture.
  • Heat oil in a large skillet.
  • Brown tenderloin on all sides. DO NOT WASH SKILLET!
  • Dot foil with butter and add roast to the center.
  • Fold foil up and around the roast, crimping the edges.
  • Bake 25-30 minutes.
  • Remove from oven and let stand 10 minutes.
  • Transfer to platter, keeping warm and reserving drippings for the sauce.

SAUCE

1/4 cup favorite white wine
2/3 cup heavy cream
1 shallot, thinly sliced
2 tablespoons of a tart and tangy BBQ sauce
2 teaspoons WONDRA
1/4 cup chicken bone broth
2 cups FRESH baby spinach leaves
1/2 cup oil packed sun dried tomatoes, drained well and chopped small

  • Using the same skillet add the shallots, cooking 1-2 minutes.
  • Add wine to deglaze the pan.
  • Add BBQ sauce and cream.
  • Whisk together the WONDRA and chicken broth until smooth.
  • Add to skillet, whisking constantly.
  • Add pork drippings and bring to a SLOW boil, reduce heat stir constantly 1-2 minutes until desired consistency.
  • Fold in spinach leaves and sun-dried tomatoes, heating through.

CRANBERRY BBQ CHICKEN WINGS ~ BLOG 366.214

CRANBERRY BBQ CHICKEN WINGS

DIP
1 LARGE lemon
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup mayonnaise
2 green onions, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped FRESH parsley

  • Stir together the sour cream and mayonnaise until smooth.
  • Whisk in lemon juice until smooth.
  • Fold in green onions and parsley.
  • Cover and chill until needed.

WINGS
1 can cranberry sauce (whole berry)
1 package Lipton onion soup mix
1 cup Catalina dressing
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
3 pounds chicken wings (tips removed)

  • Stir together the cranberry sauce, soup mix and Catalina dressing in a LARGE bowl.
  • Reserve 1/2 cup of marinade.
  • Add wings to large bowl, tossing to coat wings well in marinade.
  • Cover or transfer to a large ziploc bag.
  • Chill for at least 2 hours!

 

  • Heat oven to 425°.
  • Line baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick baking spray.
  • Spread wings in a single layer on baking sheet.
  • Bake 30-35 minutes until cooked through and juices run clear brushing with reserved marinade during the final 5-10 minutes of baking time.
  • Transfer to platter and serve with dip.

CHRISTMOSAS for CHRISTMAS IN JULY ~ BLOG 366.212

I made up this recipe last Christmas when a friend was visiting for dinner, but never got around to posting it so Christmas in July seemed like the best time. I made them “pitcher” style, but you could make them by the glass if you prefer.

CHRISTMOSAS
2 Granny Smith apples, chopped small
1 cup cranberries
1 cup halved green grapes
1 cup pomegranate seeds
1 cup sparkling grape juice
3 cups champagne or Proseco
Sanding sugar, for rims

  • Wash fruit and toss pieces in a bowl, cover and chill several hours before making drinks.
  • Add chilled fruit to pitcher.
  • Top with sparkling grape juice and champagne, stir and serve in sanding sugar rimmed glasses.

APPLE PIE PORK CHOPS ~ BLOG 366.208

APPLE PIE PORK CHOPS Yield 4-6 servings
4-6 1 inch THICK boneless pork chops
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
6 ounce package Stove Top Stuffing mix, prepared per package
21 ounce can Comstock apple pie filling
1-2 ounces avocado oil

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • In a large skillet heat oil over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  • Season pork chops all over and add to oil, browning 3-4 minutes per side.
  • Lightly grease 9×13 baking dish.
  • Spread pie filling evenly over the bottom of the baking dish.
  • Layer pork chops over the pie filling.
  • Layer the stuffing mix over the pork chops.
  • Cover and bake for 35 minutes.
  • Uncover and bake 10 minutes longer.

NOTE: Changing the fruit flavor can give you a new and more complex flavor profile. I really like these with cherry, apricot, peach or pineapple also.

CAJUN CABBAGE ~ BLOG 366.207

Spicy and cheesy as well as hearty. Also a perfect dish for a cold winter’s eve, church socials, potlucks or even summer suppers. The cabbage stays somewhat crisp and makes this almost like a warm salad.

CAJUN CABBAGE

1 pound QUALITY ground beef
1 tablespoon avocado oil
1 medium red pepper, chopped
1 medium Vidalia onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, FINELY minced
1 can ORIGINAL Rotel tomatoes
8 ounces tomato sauce
1/2 cup long grain rice (uncooked)
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper, to taste
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped basil
1 tablespoon FRESH chopped oregano
1/4 +/- cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon FRANK’s original hot sauce
1 small head cabbage, chopped
1 – 1 1/2 cups shredded Colby cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Heat skillet over medium high heat.
  • Add ground beef and season to taste with FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper.
  • Drain beef well.
  • Add oil to skillet.
  • When oil is heated add onion and pepper, sautéing until onion is translucent.
  • Add garlic, sautéing a minute more.
  • Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, hot sauce, basil, oregano, cayenne and rice, stirring to combine.
  • Spread into an ungreased baking dish.
  • Toss cabbage pieces and cheese together.
  • Top with chopped cabbage and cheese.
  • Cover and bake 1 hour + or until rice is tender.

PAN FRIED ARTICHOKE CAKES & SUN-DRIED TOMATO DIPPING SAUCE ~ BLOG 366.205

I adapted this recipe for Pan Fried Artichoke Cakes from Buffalo Wyoming’s Piezano menu. They are composed of a colorful mixture of marinated artichoke hearts, caramelized red onions, fire roasted bell peppers, scallions, panko, Parmesan, and seasonings that are then pan sautéed until golden brown and sun-dried tomato lemon aioli sauce making them as colorful as they are tasty!

DIPPING SAUCE
1/2 cup Duke’s mayonnaise
1 medium clove garlic, FINELY minced
1 tablespoon FRESH lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon FINELY grated lemon zest
2 tablespoons FINELY diced sun dried tomatoes
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper

  • Mix the all the sauce ingredients together in a small bowl, add salt and pepper to taste.
  • Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

ARTICHOKE CAKES yields 10 cakes
2 15-ounce jars of marinated artichoke hearts, drained, rinsed, and FINELY chopped
1 1/2 cups panko breadcrumbs
FIRE ROASTED red bell pepper, FINELY diced
1 rib of celery, FINELY chopped
1/4 cup FINELY diced red onion
2 green onions, sliced thin
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
FRESH ground sea salt and black pepper
1/4 teaspoon teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 LARGE eggs, lightly beaten

  • Combine all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl, mixing thoroughly.

1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon avocado oil


  • Place the flour in a large shallow dish.
  • 
Divide the artichoke mixture into 4 equal size balls.
  • Squeeze the balls to release any excess moisture.
  • Form the balls into patties about 2 1/2 inches in diameter.
  • Lightly dredge in the flour.
  • Place the patties on a plate, cover and freeze for 1/2 hour to help them stay together and to allow the flavors to meld. 

  • Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  • 
Add the patties to the pan and cook until well browned, about 3 to 4 minutes per side. 

  • Serve the cakes with the dipping sauce.