Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce with Peas and Chicken

Dinner 5.15.2013: Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce with Peas and Chicken

Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce with Peas and Chicken

It may seem unusual to combine basil pesto with peas, but it is truly delicious when combined with cream and lemon. This is also a great sauce to combine with leftover roast chicken - like I did.

Basil Pesto (olive oil, 1 garlic clove, handful fresh basil leafs with stems, juice from 1/2 small lemon, kosher salt to taste) - combine ingredients in a small food processor and blend until smooth. Add just enough olive oil for all the ingredients to come together. Set aside.

Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce with Peas
Add pasta to salted, boiling water at the time when adding lemon slices to sauce pan and timing will be spot on.

• olive oil - sweat onions in a heavy sauce pan until translucent
• 1/4 red onion, small dice
• kosher salt
• 3 thin lemon slices - add and cook for another minute
• ~1/2 - 3/4 cup heavy cream - add cream, and gently simmer until slightly thickened
• cup ~1/2 starchy pasta water - add water, continue to gently simmer until slightly reduced; remove lemon slices
• basil pesto - add, stir
• ~3/4 cup frozen peas - add peas, stir, heat for one minute
• 1 pre-cooked chicken breast, shredded - add chicken, heat through. If the sauce seems too thick simply add a little more starchy pasta water.
• kosher salt - adjust seasoning
• 1-2 tbs grated parmesan - turn off heat, add, stir until combined
• grated parmesan - serve over pasta and garnish with parmesan and basil
• basil chiffonad

Enjoy.

Creamy Basil Pesto Sauce with Peas and Chicken

Linguine with Sautéed Carrots and Feta Cheese

Dinner 5.07.2013: Linguine with Sautéed Carrots and Feta Cheese

Linguine with Sautéed Carrots and Feta Cheese

This is such a simple recipe yet incredibly flavorful.

Linguine with Sautéed Carrots and Feta Cheese (olive oil, shaved carrots, kosher salt, little starchy pasta water, butter, lemon juice) - toss with pasta and garnish with feta cheese and green onion.

Marinade for Chicken (olive oil. kosher salt, pepper, lemon juice, minced garlic, little Dijon mustard, fresh thyme)

Spaghetti Bolognese with Cappicola and Mushrooms

Dinner 5.06.2013: Spaghetti Bolognese with Cappicola and Mushrooms

Spaghetti Bolognese with Cappicola and Mushrooms

For this dish I used some left-over simple bolognese sauce which would have otherwise not been enough for 2 people.

Spaghetti Bolognese with Cappicola and Mushrooms (olive oil, sliced mushrooms, onion small dice, kosher salt, pepper, chopped parsley, chopped cappicola, chicken stock, plain tomato sauce, left-over bolognese, garnish with grated parmesan and chopped parsley)

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Vanilla Ice Cream and Banana Caramel

Desert 5.05.2013: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Vanilla Ice Cream and Banana Caramel

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Vanilla Ice Cream and Banana Caramel

Every week I seem to have a couple of bananas that are beyond where they can be eaten. So, instead of letting them attract too many fruit flies or throwing them in the trash - make banana bread! If you bake them in a shallow dish baking time reduces from 55 mins to only 35-40 mins.

Banana Caramel (butter, sliced bananas, brown sugar, pinch kosher salt, heavy cream)

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread with Vanilla Ice Cream

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temp. (1 stick) - Cream butter and sugar (using my KitchenAid mixer with the paddle attachment)
• 1/2 white cup sugar
• 1/4 brown sugar
• 2 eggs - Add one egg at a time. Mix well.
• 2-3 bananas, mashed - Add bananas. Mix well.
• 1 1/2 cups flour - Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture, but don't overmix.
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla - Add Vanilla and chocolate chips, etc.
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips, nuts, etc (optional)

Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes in a greased and floured loaf pan, or ~40 minutes in a shallow baking dish.

Garlic Shrimp with White Beans

Dinner 5.05.2013: Garlic Shrimp with White Beans

Garlic Shrimp with White Beans

This dish is meant to be served with toasted bread, but works surprisingly well over pasta.

Shrimp Marinade (shrimp, olive oil, garlic, paprika, kosher salt, pepper)

White Beans (olive oil, bay leaf, garlic, chopped tomato, kosher salt, pepper, tomato paste, chicken stock, white beans, garnish with chopped parsley)

Garlic Shrimp with White Beans

Garlic Shrimp with White Beans

Quinoa Salad on Greens, Red Lentils Puree, Salmon

Dinner .2013: Quinoa Salad on Greens, Red Lentils Puree, Salmon

Quinoa Salad on Greens, Red Lentils Puree, Salmon

I have been using quinoa a lot more lately and really love it - it is so versatile and I am sure you will love this simple salad as well.

Quinoa Salad on Greens (quinoa cooked in slated water, quartered cherry tomatoes, radishes, chopped parsley) - toss with dressing. Can be made ahead of time. Served over bite-size mixed greens.

Quinoa Salad Dressing (olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, white balsamic vinegar, honey, Dijon mustard, fresh or dried oregano)

Red Lentils Puree (olive oil, red split lentils, kosher salt)

Salmon (olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, lemon juice, fresh thyme, minced garlic)

Smoked Ham and Cheese Eggs

Breakfast 5.04.2013: Smoked Ham and Cheese Eggs

Smoked Ham and Cheese Eggs

Smoked Ham and Cheese Eggs (butter, eggs, smoked ham, cheddar cheese, chopped parsley)

Semolina Pizza - Smoked Ham with Artichokes and Prosciutto with Mushrooms

Dinner 5.02.2013: Semolina Pizza - Smoked Ham with Artichokes and Prosciutto with Mushrooms

Smoked Ham with Artichokes

Smoked Ham with Artichokes (brush edges with olive oil, marinara with sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, smoked ham, sliced black olives, marinated artichokes, thinly sliced red onion) - after baking top with fresh or dried oregano and grated parmesan. Serve with green salad.

Prosciutto with Mushrooms (brush edges with olive oil, marinara with sun-dried tomatoes, mozzarella, prosciutto, sliced black olives, sautéed mushrooms, thinly sliced red onion) - after baking top with fresh or dried oregano and grated parmesan. Serve with green salad.

Prosciutto with Mushrooms

Semolina Pizza Dough - makes 4 pizzas

• Combine yeast with water and let stand for 5 minutes until starting to foam.
• 1.5 cups 100F water + little more if dough is too dry
• 1 packet yeast
• Combine flours, salt, and sugar.
• 2 cups unbleached flour
• 2 cups Semolina flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• Add oil to yeast-water and slowly add to flour mixture.
• 0.5 cups olive oil
• I use my Breville bench mixer with the dough hook attachment. 
• Once all ingredients are combined knead on low speed for 8-10 minutes.

• I use 1/2 of the dough immediately and the other 1/2 I **retard after kneading.
• Lightly brush the inside of a bowl with a little olive oil, cover with a clean, wet dish cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size (1-2 hours). This dough will not be as light as dough made from regular flour alone. It will be heavier with a super nice bite to it.
• When dough has doubled in size, punch down center, fold in sides and let rest for another 5-10 minutes.
• Divide dough into two pieces.  Roll out it our using a little flour or semolina and a rolling pin flipping a few times. Add your toppings and bake your pizza in a pre-heated 500F for 10-12 minutes.
• Forget the silly baking stones and use a metal cookie sheet which will give you the best crust ever.

**'Retarding' dough simply means you are putting it in the fridge to stop it from rising similarly to shocking blanched vegetables in ice water to stop them from cooking further. You can keep the dough in an air-tight container the fridge for up to 7 days and when you are ready to use it simply bring it to room temperature and let it continue rising.

This dough also makes a nice focaccia.

Spaghetti Bolognese and Sautéed Squash

Dinner 5.01.2013: Spaghetti Bolognese and Sautéed Squash

Spaghetti Bolognese and Sautéed Squash

I like to buy one pound of top sirloin and grind the meat myself using the large dye of my KitchenAid meat grinder. It makes the meat nice and fluffy and you avoid all kinds of bacteria that may come with pre-ground meats. I also had a little piece of pork loin that I threw in for good measure.

Spaghetti Bolognese (olive oil, top sirloin and little piece of pork loin 'home' ground, kosher salt, pepper, sprigs of fresh thyme, chicken stock, small can of fire roasted tomatoes, little marinara sauce, minced garlic)

Sautéed Squash (olive oil, roll-cut squash, kosher salt, pepper, squeeze of lemon, chopped parsley)

Spaghetti Bolognese and Sautéed Squash

Pork Loin Marsala with Mushrooms, Asparagus and a little Blue Cheese

Dinner 4.30.2013: Pork Loin Marsala with Mushrooms, Asparagus and a little Blue Cheese

Pork Loin Marsala with Mushrooms, Asparagus and a little Blue Cheese

I wonder why I have not thought about adding some asparagus to pork or chicken marsala any sooner. I made the dish!

Pork Loin Marsala with Mushrooms, Asparagus and a little Blue Cheese
(olive oil, bits-size pork loin, kosher salt, pepper, mushrooms, asparagus, parsley, marsala, chicken stock, heavy cream, beurre mania, little blue cheese, return pork and vegetables to heat through)

Pork Loin Marsala with Mushrooms, Asparagus and a little Blue Cheese

Mahi-Mahi with Cherry Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Dinner 4.29.2013: Mahi-Mahi with Cherry Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

Mahi-Mahi with Cherry Tomatoes, Olives and Capers

This is so incredibly simple it will be an instant favorite go-to summer dish.

Mahi-Mahi
(olive oil, kosher salt, pepper)

Cherry Tomatoes, Olives and Capers
(olive oil, halved cherry tomatoes, sliced black and/or green olives - nice olives, and not the cheap canned type, kosher salt, little pepper, sprig fresh thyme, capers, lemon juice, minced garlic optional)

Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwiches

Dinner 4.26.2013: Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwich

Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwiches

Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwiches (banana bread, vanilla ice cream, chopped strawberries, mint)

Chicken Breast with Great Northern Beans and Cappicola

Dinner 4.18.2013: Chicken Breast with Great Northern Beans and Cappicola

Chicken Breast with Great Northern Beans and Cappicola

This dish was so savory and hearty - perfect if one has one a can of white beans, a little tomato, some kind of Italian ham and chicken. Yum!

Pan Roasted Chicken Breast (chicken breast, kosher salt, pepper, dried thyme, olive oil)

Great Northern Beans and Cappicola (olive oil, onion, kosher salt, white wine, fresh thyme, great northern beans, cherry tomatoes, cappicola, chicken stock, minced garlic, little beurre manie)

Chicken Breast with Great Northern Beans and Cappicola

Ground Beef Tacos with Corn Salsa

Dinner 4.18.2013: Ground Beef Tacos with Corn Salsa

Ground Beef Tacos with Corn Salsa

I used to buy those packets of taco seasoning, but one time I got one that was just super salty and spicy - virtually inedible. You only need a few spices to make our own and it you will never buy one of the seasoning mixes again.

Corn Salsa (canned corn, cherry tomatoes, red onion, olive oil, kosher salt, pepper, lime juice, cilantro, avocado)

Ground Beef (olive oil, onion, ground sirloin, kosher salt, chili powder, cumin, paprika, minced garlic, chicken stock, marinara sauce)

Black Beans (olive oil, chopped onion, kosher salt, chopped tomato, canned black beans, cumin, chopped cilantro)

Thai Vegetable Curry with Steamed Salmon

Dinner 4.17.2013: Thai Vegetable Curry with Steamed Salmon

Thai Vegetable Curry with Stemed Salmon

Thai Vegetable Curry with Stemed Salmon (olive oil, carrot, sweet potato, kosher salt, light coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, grated ginger, cauliflower, bok choy, zucchini, tomato, lime zest and juice)

Salmon (kosher salt, ground cumin, lemon slices)

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Cumin Marinated Shrimp

Dinner 4.16.2013: Quinoa Tabbouleh with Cumin Marinated Shrimp

Quinoa Tabbouleh with Cumin Marinated Shrimp

Pasta with Tomato-Turkey Sausage and Roasted Vegetables

Dinner 4.13.2013: Pasta with Tomato-Turkey Sausage and Roasted Vegetables

Pasta with Tomato-Turkey Sausage' Roasted Vegetables

I like to grind my own meat using my KitchenAid meat grinder attachment; just a little piece of mind knowing that most ground turkey may be contaminated with fecal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

Turkey Sausage (ground turkey, kosher salt, pepper, paprika, fennel seed, minced garlic)

Tomato-Turkey Sauce (olive oil, chopped onion, turkey sausage mix, chicken stock, small can fire-roasted tomatoes, little marinara sauce, sprig fresh thyme, little sugar, minced garlic) - garnish with copped parsley and grated parmesan

Roasted Vegetables (olive oil, broccoli, squash, red onion, kosher salt, peppers, chopped parsley, squeeze of lemon)

Linguine in a Light Pesto-cream Sauce with Asparagus and Peas Topped with Trout.

Dinner 4.09.2013: Linguine in a Light Pesto-cream Sauce with Asparagus and Peas Topped with Trout

Linguine in a Light Pesto-cream Sauce with Asparagus and Peas
topped with Trout.

Linguine in a Light Pesto-cream Sauce with Asparagus and Peas
topped with Trout.

Baked Trout with Parsley-Lemon Sauce and Roasted Cauliflower with Red Onion, Lemon and Parsley

Dinner 4.08.2013: Baked Trout with Parsley-Lemon Sauce and Roasted Cauliflower with Red Onion, Lemon and Parsley

Baked Trout with Parsley-Lemon Sauce and Roasted Cauliflower
with Red Onion, Lemon and Parsley

Breaded Chicken with Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Spaghetti

Dinner 4.07.2013: Breaded Chicken with Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Spaghetti

Breaded Chicken with Olive and Sun-dried Tomato Spaghetti