Category: SAUCES, SEASONINGS, DRESSINGS, DIPS, RELISHES, GRAVIES & RUBS

MARINATED ROAST TURKEY BREAST with HONEY CRISP APPLE GRAVY

MARINATED ROAST TURKEY BREAST with HONEY CRISP APPLE GRAVY
1 boneless skinless turkey breast (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup Chardonnay
1/4 cup Bragg’s Liquid aminos
2 tablespoons Ken’s Italian dressing
1 cup water
1 teaspoon Litehouse freeze dried garlic
1 teaspoon Litehouse freeze dried red onion
1 teaspoon orange peel
1 tablespoon Bertolli white balsamic reduction
1 Knorr homestyle chicken gel
2 tablespoons butter, sliced into several slices

  • Whisk together the wine, liquid mains, Italian dressing, garlic, red onion, orange peel, white balsamic reduction and chicken gel.
  • Add water and whisk until well blended.
  • Place turkey breast in a ziplock bag that is in a baking dish.
  • Pour marinade over, seal and refrigerate for 2-8 hours.
  • Preheat oven to 400°
  • Remove turkey breast and place in baking dish.
  • Pour marinade over top.
  • Roast uncovered for 15 minutes per pound.
  • Rest breast in foil while preparing the gravy.

GRAVY

1 Just Beechnut Honey Crisp Apples (baby food)
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour

  • In a small saucepan combine baby food and remaining liquid in roaster.
  • Bring to a boil.
  • Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
  • Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl.
  • Whisk flour into butter to create a roux.
  • Add roux to saucepan, whisking until desired thickness.

NOTE: There is plenty of salt and pepper seasoning within these ingredients so do NOT add more salt and pepper.

BROWN BOX CRACKER MINI MEATLOAVES with BROWN BEER GRAVY aka MEATLOAF with A SERIOUS KICK

I found these awesome crackers a while back and then was pleasantly surprised to find that they were a local mom & pop operation.  Imagine my even bigger surprise when I’m eating these same crackers at my uncle’s house on Christmas Day later that year and find out that Brown Box Crackers was my own cousin’s company! I asked her if we could share this recipe with you and introduce you to her awesome products. I shared this quite a few years ago and unfortunately the crackers are no more as she passed away in 2014 and no one was able to find her recipes.  They probably existed on her hard drive, but alas my uncle never bothered to search and the hard drive is rotting away in storage, probably under water or too wet to be salvaged.  I have made some substitutions to make it similar to her original recipe.

Beth described this recipe perfectly: ” love comfort food, especially when it makes leftovers that taste better the day after. Meatloaf is one of those comfort foods and I like mine with rich, brown gravy…not with that tomato-y, ketchup-y topping some folks use. I want mine with rice and some kind of fresh vegatable to make it a healthy thing. Thank you, Mom, for putting me on the right path to meatloaf.”

MEAT LOAVES
1 pound Lean Hamburger
1 LARGE egg
1/2 teaspoon Black Pepper (or more to taste)
1/2 teaspoon Salt (or more to taste)
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
2 cups Brown Box Cracker Crumbs (I now use a combo of wheat thins, ritz and Keebler garlic butter)
2 medium Onions, chopped
1 Jalapeno, chopped
4-5 Cloves Garlic, chopped

  • Preheat oven to 350º.
  • Process onions, jalapeno and garlic in food processor.
  • Adding just enough water to form a paste.
  • Combine all ingredients except for the cracker crumbs by squeezing though fingers JUST until blended.
  • Once the ingredients are mixed well add the crackers and mix them through.
  • Divide burger mixture into four (4) equal portions and form into mini loaves or form one large loaf.
  • Place in a casserole or large, heavy oven-proofing frying pan.
  • The heavy frying pan is excellent for getting all the “good stuff” for the gravy.
  • Bake approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

BROWN BEER GRAVY
3 tablespoons Drippings or avocado oil
1/2 cup Wondra Flour
1 cup Dark Beer (Shiner Bock is excellent)
1 cup Beef Broth
Salt and Pepper, to taste

  • Heat drippings/oil to bubbling.
  • Add flour and stir constantly to a bubbling caramel roux.
  • Add beer and broth continuing to stir constantly. The roux will smooth and thicken.
  • Add more broth if necessary.

Serving Suggestion:  Slice meat loaf and top onto a mound of rice, cover in gravy and serve with a side of fresh sliced tomato.

NOTE: Use beef broth INSTEAD of water when preparing rice. You will be pleased!

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BAKED WHITE FISH & CHAMPAGNE DRESSING

BAKED WHITE FISH

2 teaspoons peanut oil
1 small bunch green onions, sliced thin
1 teaspoon paprika
2 small kiwis, cleaned and sliced thin
2-4 white fish, cleaned and scaled, 2 pounds each
salt & pepper to taste
3 tablespoons white wine
3 tablespoons CHAMPAGNE DRESSING (recipe below or substitute fish or chicken stock)
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 lemon, sliced

  • This will work with other whole lean fish and cuts or ‘roasts’ of halibut or pink salmon.
  • Adjust the cooking time according to the thickness and density of the fish.
  • Preheat oven to 400°.
  • Spray baking dish well with non-stick spray.
  • Rinse the fish well inside and out, pat dry, season lightly with salt, pepper and paprika and lay side by side in a shallow baking dish.
  • Layer lemon slices loosely over fish and season again.
  • Pour  the stock, dressing and ending with the butter over each filet.
  • Make a loose tent of foil over the tail of the fish and place in the oven.
  • Bake, rotating the pan once halfway through the cooking time, until a skewer easily enters the thickest part of the fish, 25 to 30 minutes.
  • Taste for seasoning and adjust if necessary.

CHAMPAGNE DRESSING
1/3 cup peanut oil
3 tablespoons champagne vinegar
Juice of 1 lemon
3 tablespoons sugar
salt & pepper to taste

  • Whisk together peanut oil, champagne vinegar, lemon juice, sugar, salt & pepper.
  • Chill for several hours.
  • Enjoy!

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CHICKEN AND ONIONS in WHITE WINE CREAM SAUCE

CHICKEN AND ONIONS in WHITE WINE CREAM SAUCE
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 cup Wondra flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/4 cup butter
2 tablespoons avocado oil
1 small white onion, sliced and split into rings
1/3 cup white wine
2 tablespoons dried parsley
3/4 cup whipping cream

  • In a shallow bowl sift together the flour, salt and pepper.
  • Coat chicken with flour mixture and pat firm caking the flour into all the crevices.
  • In a large skillet heat together the butter and avocado oil.
  • Saute’ the onion rings until browned and beginning to caramelize.
  • Add the chicken and cook until brown on both sides and cooked through.
  • Remove the chicken and onions and set aside.
  • Add the wine and cook for 2 minutes until heated through.
  • Add the parsley and whipping cream, cooking over low heat until sauce thickens.
  • Serve over chicken and mashed potatoes.
  • Top with the onions.

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CHICKEN CHILE VERDE

CHICKEN CHILE VERDE

2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken, breasts and/or thighs
1 batch Fire Roasted Salsa Verde
1 large tomato chopped
1/3 cup chopped cilantro
3/4 cup sour cream, divided
3/4-1 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

  • Spray casserole dish with NON-STICK cooking spray
  • Lay chicken pieces in bottom.
  • Generously salt and pepper chicken.
  • Cover with Fire Roasted Salsa Verde
  • Place a generous dollop of sour cream on top of each chicken piece.
  • Cover with grated Monterey Jack cheese.
  • Sprinkle with diced tomatoes and chopped cilantro.
  • Bake 45 minutes at 350°.

Fire Roasted Salsa Verde
My Source for awesome homemade verde sauce is Chris the wonderful cook, griller, photographer and Big Green Egg enthusiast. Check out his blog at NIBBLE ME THIS.  He adapted this from Steven Raichlen’s Planet Barbecue!

1 pound tomatillos, husks removed
1 Serrano pepper
1 jalapeno pepper
1 Anaheim pepper
1 large onion, peeled and sliced into thirds
3 cloves garlic, peeled and skewered together with a toothpick
½ cup cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon bacon fat
3 ounces chicken stock
½ teaspoon sugar
Salt and pepper to taste

  • Get your grill cooking at about 450f.
  • Place the peppers and tomatillos on and sear them until all sides are blackened.
  • This should take a few minutes per side. Remove and place them into a plastic bag for 5 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, grill the onion and garlic until browned (about 4 minutes a side for the onion, 1-2 for the garlic) and remove from heat.
  • Skin, seed, and dice the peppers.
  • Skin and quarter the tomatillos. Don’t be super picky about getting all the charred skin off, you want a little in there for flavor.
  • Quarter the grilled onions.
  • Place them all in a food processor and pulse them until you get a salsa like texture.
  • Heat the bacon fat over medium high heat and then add the tomatillo mixture for 3-5 minutes. You’ll get some thick “pops” as the thick liquid heats but keep stirring.
  • Mix in the chicken stock and bring to a simmer. Cook for 5 minutes, letting the flavors get happy together.
  • Season with salt and pepper to your taste.

WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE for SPINACH SALAD

WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE
1 egg
1/3 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
2 cups water
1/2 pound bacon
salt and pepper to taste

  • Cook bacon until crisp. Leave drippings in pan and allow to cool.
  • Drain on paper towels and crumble when cool.  Set aside.
  • In a medium bowl lightly beat the egg.
  • Add the vinegar, sugar, water, flour, salt and pepper.  Blend well.  Add to the bacon drippings.
  • Mix until well blended.
  • Cook over a low heat, STIRRING CONSTANTLY!  Bring to a rolling boil taking off the heat when you reach your desired consistency.
  • When cool, add the crumbled bacon.
  • Enjoy!

CRAZY AUNT LOUISE’S BLUEBERRY LEMON SAUCE CAKE

This is another recipe from crazy aunt Louise – loved that lady! We all remember the Corn Flake Wreaths she made us for Christmas, but she always made this Blueberry Lemon Sauce Cake for 4th of July. She was a serious creature of habit. Thanksgiving always brought her cheesy garlic grits, but I’m still working on perfecting that one – maybe I’ll have it ready for the next Thanksgiving. I make this in an 8×8 baking dish, but it easily doubles for a 9×13. My sauce turned out quite pale today so I added a little yellow food coloring. LOL I say a little, but from the looks of that picture I added a little too much.

BLUEBERRY LEMON SAUCE CAKE
CAKE
4 tablespoons butter, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
Juice of 1 small lemon
scant 1 cup flour
scant 1 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 Jumbo egg
1/4 cup milk
1+ cup fresh or frozen blueberries

  • Preheat oven to 350˚.
  • Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  • In a mixing bowl cream together the butter, sugar, vanilla and lemon juice until well blended.
  • Add egg and beat until light and fluffy.
  • Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk and blend until smooth.  Batter will be thicker, like a coffee cake consistency.
  • Fold in blueberries.

SAUCE
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup water
2 tablespoons butter
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
Juice of 2 lemons

  • Over a medium-high heat whisk together the water and cornstarch in a saucepan until smooth.
  • Add the butter and allow to melt.
  • Add the sugars and salt, stirring until dissolved.
  • Add lemon juice and rind.
  • Bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until desired sauce consistency.

ZESTY BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING

Mason jar dressings are all the rage on the internet right now.  With being a scratch cook, I have made my own for years now.  The only similarity is the mason jar LOL.

ZESTY BUTTERMILK RANCH DRESSING

1 cup sour cream
⅓ cup Duke’s mayonnaise
2 tablespoons fresh dill, minced or 1 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon fresh thyme, minced or 1 teaspoon dried
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced or 2 teaspoons dried
Juice of 1 large lemon juice
Fresh ground Himalayan Salt, to taste
Fresh ground black pepper, to taste
¼ cup buttermilk

  • Add ALL the ingredients into a mason jar or shaker.
  • Screw the lid on tightly and shake vigorously.
  • The dressing will keep in the fridge for 2 weeks.
  • Pour over your favorite salad ingredients and enjoy!

    NOTE: If using dried herbs, make the dressing several hours before you need it so the flavors can absorb into the dressing.

CARAMELIZED LEMON & GREEN CHILE VERDE WHITEFISH

CARAMELIZED LEMON & GREEN CHILE VERDE WHITEFISH
4 white fish (cod, snapper etc…) 6 ounce fillets
1 large bunch green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons coconut oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 lemon, sliced about 1/8-1/4 inch thick
2 teaspoons sugar divided
2 tablespoons green chile verde sauce
fresh ground salt and pepper to taste

  • Melt coconut oil and butter in skillet over medium high heat.
  • Saute onions a few minutes until tender.
  • Add lemons around the edge of the pan.
  • Sprinkle lemons with 1 teaspoon of the sugar.
  • Generously salt and pepper the fish fillets and place in the center of the pan.
  • Cook 3-4 minutes (depending on thickness) until opaque and then turn.
  • Turn the lemons and sprinkle with remaining sugar.
  • Add chile verde sauce over the lemons.
  • Add lid to the pan and cook another 3-4 minutes.

STICKY GLAZED PORK CHOPS

WHY IT WORKS: LET’S SEE, it’s sticky, it’s sweet, it’s savory, it’s glazed, it’s juicy and IT’S YUMMY! Oh AND the glaze works on pork, chicken, beef and veggies too! It’s also quick and easy, but looks like it was super involved.

STICKY GLAZED ANYTHING
Protein of choice for 2 or veggie combo (I used broccoli and carrots with pork chops)
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 large green onion, sliced thin on an angle
4 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
1 tablespoon Bragg’s amino acids
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons avocado oil
salt and pepper to taste
sesame seeds

  • Heat avocado oil over medium high heat in cast iron skillet.
  • Season your protein. If using vegetables, season and saute’ just until beginning to soften.
  • Generously season your protein of choice.
  • Sear your choice of meat 3-4 minutes per side, set aside and keep warm.
  • Add sweet chili sauce, Bragg’s amino acids, honey and 1 tablespoon of water to pan, whisking combine.
  • Bring to a SLOW boil and then immediately reduce to a simmer.
  • Add protein or veggies back in and coat well with sauce.
  • Turn frequently and cook until glazed well and sauce has thickened.
  • Top with green onions and sesame seeds.

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PAN SEARED COD with SOUR CREAM SAUCE

WHY IT WORKS: The crushed red pepper in the crust gives you a bit of a bite while the sour cream sauce tempers it smoothly.

PAN SEARED COD with SOUR CREAM SAUCE
1 cod fillet per person
1 lemon, juiced
1/2 small shallot, finely minced
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2-4 tablespoons rice flour
salt and pepper, to taste
2 tablespoons sour cream
2 tablespoons Avocado oil

  • Whisk together the sour cream, shallots and salt and pepper to taste. Add lemon juice as desired.
  • Heat oil over medium high heat.
  • Add flour, salt and pepper to a plate.
  • Pat dry the cod fillets.
  • Dredge cod fillets in flour and add to sizzling oil.
  • Cook 4 minutes on the first side and then flip for another 2 minutes until lightly browned and cooked through.
  • Serve over rice or with potatoes.

 

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CRAB AND CORN CAKES WITH LIME SOUR CREAM

WHY IT WORKS: Classic crab cakes, but with a TEX-MEX flair by adding the corn, hot sauce, red pepper and cilantro with the lime sour cream to the mix.

CRAB AND CORN CAKES WITH LIME OUR CREAM
1 pound crab meat, picked and cleaned
1 1/3 cups Panko bread crumbs
3/4 cup fresh corn kernels (about 2 cobs)**
2 large eggs PLUS 1 egg yolk
1/4 cup FRESH chopped cilantro
FRESH ground salt and pepper
1 large lime, juiced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon Frank’s Original hot sauce
Shredded lettuce
Shredded carrots

  • In a large mixing bowl combine the crab, Panko crumbs, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper.
  • Gently add the eggs.
  • With gloved hands mix and form 8 tight patties about 3/4 inch thick.
  • Place patties on plate – place in freezer for 5 minutes.
  • Toss together the lettuce, shredded carrots and cilantro. Divide between plates.
  • In a small mixing bowl, juice the lime and fold in the cilantro and sour cream.
  • Add hot sauce, whisking until you have a pourable sauce.
  • Season to taste with salt and pepper.
  • Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
  • Add 4 crab cakes at a time, flipping once until both sides are golden brown.
  • Serve over shredded lettuce mixture with sauce and lime wedge.

NOTE: If you like, canned corn works, but I prefer the small white shoepeg corn. It is a much more tender corn.

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