Melted Tomatoes, Spaghetti, Chicken

Dinner 9.30.2012: Melted Tomatoes, Spaghetti, Chicken

Melted Tomatoes, Spaghetti, Chicken

Melted Tomatoes (olive oil, vine ripened tomatoes cut into wedges, kosher salt, bundle of fresh thyme or dried thyme, minced garlic) - cook on low heat until desired consistency has been reached - stir occasionally and never simmer! Add minced garlic 10 mins before serving. Toss with al-dente spaghetti  and garish with grated parmesan and chopped basil.

Pan-roasted Chicken (little olive oil, kosher salt, TJs Lemon Pepper Seasoning) - season chicken breasts and sear one side in pan with a little olive oil, turn over and roast @ 375F for 12 minutes.

Soy and Garlic Salmon, Lemon Pasta, Sesame Green Beans

Dinner 9.29.2012: Soy and Garlic Salmon, Lemon Pasta, Sesame Green Beans

Soy and Garlic Salmon, Lemon Pasta, Sesame Green Beans

Soy and Garlic Salmon Marinade (soy sauce, lemon juice, sugar minced garlic) marinade salmon fillets for at least 30 mins. Season with kosher salt and TJs Lemon Pepper Seasoning. Sear skin side up in nonstick pan with a little olive oil until nicely browned. Turn them over and finish ~8 min @375F oven. Garnish with lemon slice.

Lemon Pasta (olive oil, lemon juice, little salt, little starchy pasta water, chopped parsley) - mix ingredients and toss with al-dente pasta. Serve immediately.

Sesame Green Beans (blanch beans in salted water, finished in pan with olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, squeeze of lemon juice, finish with sesame seeds)

Bacon, Tomato, Spinach Eggs, Potato Hash

Breakfast 9.29.2012: Bacon, Tomato, Spinach Eggs, Potato Hash

Bacon, Tomato, Spinach Eggs, Potato Hash

Bacon, Tomato, Spinach Eggs (butter, eggs, kosher salt, fried chopped bacon, chopped tomatoes, chopped spinach, grated cheddar cheese)

Potato Hash (potatoes) - I used roasted potatoes from the day before, chopped them and fried them in a little olive oil.

Breaded Pork Chops, Roasted Bacon Potatoes, Cucumber Salad

Dinner 9.27.2012: Breaded Pork Chops, Roasted Bacon Potatoes, Cucumber Salad

Breaded Pork Chops, Roasted Bacon Potatoes, Cucumber Salad

Roasted Bacon Potatoes

• Render 3 slices of bacon in non-stick pan until starting to crisp. Drain on paper towels and let cool. Cut into lardones (slices).
• Simmer baby red potatoes with kosher salt, black pepper corns, bay leaf and fresh or dried thyme until almost cooked through) - drain, let cool, cut into quarters. Start pan-rosting potatoes with a little olive oil, kosher salt and black pepper. When starting to brown finish for 10-20 mins @375F or until done. Toss with bacon slices and chopped parsley.

Breaded Pork Chops (thin pork chops; kosher salt, pepper, flour, egg wash, panko bread crumbs, ; lemon slices; olive oil) - cook breaded pork chops in a little olive oil until nicely browned, turn over and cook second side. Be sure to have enough oil in the pan other wise the breadcrumbs will not brown. Drizzle with a little lemon juice.

Cucumber Salad (thinly sliced cucumbers; mixed greens; olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, honey, red wine vinegar, dried dill, Dijon mustard, minced red onion) - make dressing and toss with cucumber slices. Serve over mixed greens.

Savory Braised Cabbage, Chicken and Macaroni

Dinner 9.24.2012: Savory Braised Cabbage, Chicken and Macaroni

Savory Braised Cabbage, Chicken and Macaroni

Savory Braised Cabbage (olive oil, 2 slices chopped bacon trimmed of fat, 1/2 onion small dice, white wine, 1 small green cabbage sliced, 1 med/small apple diced, kosher salt, sugar, 1 bay leaf, 2 whole allspice, 2 whole cloves, cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon, water, apple cider and/or white balsamic vinegar)

Pan-roasted Chicken (little olive oil, kosher salt, pepper) - season chicken breasts and sear one side in pan with a little olive oil, turn over and roast @ 375F for 12 minutes.

Macaroni - cook macaroni on salted water until al-dente and drain. Fry with a little olive oil, butter, and kosher salt until nicely browned. sprinkle with chopped parsley.

Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado

Appetizer 9.22.2012: Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado

Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado

Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado (cocktail sauce, prepared horseradish, any size shrimp, avocado slices, lemon slices) - adjust cocktail sauce with horseradish and lemon juice. Serve in a pretty glass and enjoy.

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Dinner 2012: Spaghetti and Meatballs

Spaghetti and Meatballs

Yes, another dinner consisting of spaghetti and meatballs, but what can I do if it is just SO GOOD!

Meatballs (olive oil, ground sirloin, Panko bread crumbs, kosher salt, pepper, dried thyme, Dijon mustard, egg) - mix all ingredients with your hands until will blended. Heat the oil in a nonstick pan until shimmering. Form 2-bite meatballs (golf ball size) and cook on all sides until nicely browned and just about cooked through. Remove meatballs.

Tomato Sauce (white wine, marinara sauce, kosher salt, sugar, minced garlic, chopped basil, parmesan cheese) - deglaze 'meatball' pan with white wine and reduce, scraping all caramelized bits. Add marinara sauce, minced garlic and a little water, stir. Add meatballs and gently simmer a few minutes, season sauce to taste with salt and a little sugar. Toss sauce with al-dente spaghetti and top with grated parmesan and chopped basil.

Roasted Broccoli, Garlic Linguine, Chicken

Dinner 2012: Roasted Broccoli, Garlic Linguine, Chicken

Roasted Broccoli, Garlic Linguine, Chicken

Roasted Broccoli (olive oil, broccoli crowns, kosher salt, pepper, parmesan cheese) - in a bowl toss broccoli with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Roast 30 mins at 425F turning broccoli occasionally. Return to roasted broccoli to bowl, sprinkle with parmesan and toss.

Garlic Linguine (pasta, starchy pasta water, kosher salt, pepper, garlic flavored olive oil or olive oil and minced garlic, chopped parsley) - cook pasta al dente, drain, toss with olive oil, garlic, a little salt and chopped parsley. Add a little starchy pasta water if too dry. Serve immediately.

Pan Roasted Chicken (little olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, grated Toscana cheese) - season chicken breasts with salt ant pepper and sear one side in pan with a little olive oil, turn over, sprinkle with a little cheese and roast @ 375F for 12 minutes.

BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw and Sweet Potato Fries

Dinner 2012: BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw and Sweet Potato Fries

BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw and Sweet Potato Fries

Creamy Coleslaw (shredded carrots and cabbage, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, sugar, white balsamic vinegar, poppy seeds) -  mix well and let marinade for at least one hour.

Sweet Potato Fries (sweet potatoes pont neuf, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, minced garlic, chopped parsley) - toss potatoes with olive oil, salt and pepper, spread out on a cookie sheet covered with baking paper and roast @ 475F for 30 mins. Move fries every 10 mins. When done sprinkle with garlic and parsley.

BBQ Chicken (little olive oil, kosher salt) - season chicken breasts and sear one side in pan with a little olive oil, turn over and roast @ 375F for 12 minutes. Brush chicken with BBQ sauce and add a little sauce to pan to warm.

BBQ Chicken, Coleslaw and Sweet Potato Fries

Creamy Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese

Dinner 2012: Creamy Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese

Creamy Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese

Creamy Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese

• kosher salt
• 1 med/large head cauliflower - cut into even, bit-size pieces and blanch in salted water for 4 mins. Drain.
• olive oil - saute in a little olive oil until starting to brown. Set aside.

Cheese Sauce

• 2 T butter - melt in heavy-bottom sauce pan until bubbling
• 2+ T flour - add, stir with wooden spoon, cook for 1 min. Should resemble thick paste.
• 2.5+ C 2% milk, cold - whisk in. Bring to boil stirring constantly. Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 mins stirring occasionally adding more milk if too thick. Turn off heat.
• 2 C jack cheese, grated - add cheese and stir until melted.
• 2 T Dijon mustard - add mustard, stir.
• 1/2 C Cream Fraice - add and stir
• Kosher salt - season to taste

• 8oz dry pasta - short tube shaped. Cook until al-dente in salted water. Drain and briefly rinse under cold water to remove some starch and stop cooking process.

While cooking cheese sauce cook pasta. Toss pasta with sauteed cauliflower and cheese sauce, transfer into a over-safe dish, sprinkle with (pank0) bread crumbs and bake at 375F for 30-40 mins.

Pan Roasted Chicken (little olive oil, kosher salt, TJs All Purpose Seasoning) - season chicken breasts and sear one side in pan with a little olive oil, turn over and roast @ 375F for 12 minutes.

Creamy Cauliflower Mac 'n Cheese

Quick Spaghetti Bolognese

Dinner 2012: Quick Spaghetti Bolognese

Quick Spaghetti Bolognese

This is a quick and simple tomato bolognese that is just as tasty as one that has simmered on the stove all day.

Quick Spaghetti Bolognese (olive oil, ground sirloin, kosher salt, dried thyme, plain marinara sauce, little water, sugar, minced garlic) - Toss with al-dente spaghetti and top with grated parmesan and chopped parlsey.

Quick Spaghetti Bolognese

Braised Pork and Slaw Sandwiches

Dinner 2012: Braised Pork and Slaw Sandwiches

Braised Pork and Slaw Sandwiches

Braised Pork (olive oil, kosher salt, pork shoulder, sliced fennel, sliced onion, bay leaf, TJs AllPurpose seasoning, water, Belgian Ale beer) - after searing braise pork @ 325F for about 3 hours or until tender.

Creamy Coleslaw (shredded carrots, cabbage and red onion, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, kosher salt, sugar, white balsamic vinegar, poppy seeds)

Serve on fresh rolls with garlic aioli mustard, arugula, and BBQ sauce. Yum!

Cashew Stirfry with Chicken

Dinner 2012: Cashew Stirfry with Chicken

Cashew Stirfry with Chicken

Chicken Marinade (2 chicken breast cut into bite- size pieces, little olive oil, kosher salt, minced ginger) - marinade chicken for at least 30 mins and saute in a little olive oil until just cooked. Set aside.

Rice - cook as per package instructions.

Sauce (.75 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, 1.5 tablespoons soy sauce, 1.5 teaspoons cornstarch, 1 teaspoon sugar)

Cashew Stirfry (blanched green and yellow beans, sliced red peppers, sliced mushrooms, cashews, minced ginger, minced garlic) - saute beans, peppers and mushrooms in a little olive oil and kosher salt until starting to get tender. Add ginger and garlic. Add sauce, stir until thick. Add chicken to heat throught. Sprinkle with chopped cashews and serve with rice.

Cashew Stirfry with Chicken