So Mother Nature is really playing "hardball" with us this year...was all nice and warm and my daffodils and tulips are starting to bloom and then she sent a bunch of cold rain and now SNOW in the forecast for the weekend (just in time for my son Gabriel's first soccer games...I guess I better keep the longjohns out and ready)!
This first recipe sounded really good...as we are always having extra greens on hand in the fridge and soup is still a good option as long as the weather stays chilly!
Creamy Lettuce Soup (courtesy of food network)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
3/4 pound Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 cup chopped, about 2 ounces, assorted lettuce (butter, red leaf, green leaf)
2 cups (2 ounces) arugula or spinach leaves
1/4 cup cream
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Directions
Garnish: 2 1/2 ounces goat cheese, sliced
In a medium pot warm the olive oil over medium heat. Add the shallots and cook until tender and starting to brown, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes and the stock. Bring the stock to a simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat and continue to simmer, covered, until the potatoes are almost tender, about 20 minutes. Add the arugula and lettuce to the pot and continue simmering, uncovered until the greens are tender, another 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes and greens to a blender. Pour in enough of the stock to cover the vegetables. Add the cream, salt, and pepper.
*Blend the ingredients together until smooth. Be careful to blend slowly at first with a kitchen towel held tight to the top of the blender lid. Blending hot ingredients can cause the lid to blow off. Pour the blended soup back into the pot with the remaining stock. Stir to combine. Cover and keep warm.
Pour the soup into 4 serving bowls. Top each soup with 1/2-ounce sliced goat cheese. Serve immediately.
* When blending hot liquids: Remove liquid from the heat and allow to cool for at least 5 minutes. Transfer liquid to a blender or food processor and fill it no more than halfway. If using a blender, release one corner of the lid. This prevents the vacuum effect that creates heat explosions. Place a towel over the top of the machine, pulse a few times then process on high speed until smooth.
Stuffed Chicken Divan with a Sherry Dijon Sauce
Cooking spray
2 cups (4 ounces) fresh broccoli florets
1/2 cup (2 ounces) grated Gruyere cheese
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
4 (6 to 8-ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup low-fat evaporated milk
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup dry sherry
1 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Preheat the broiler. Mist a shallow rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli and cook until bright green and crisp tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well and run under cold water until cold. Drain well again and squeeze dry in paper towels.
Chop the broccoli and toss in a bowl with the Gruyere and garlic. Insert a paring knife into the thickest part of each chicken breast to make a 3-inch deep pocket. Stuff each chicken breast with equal amounts of the broccoli mixture. Rub both sides of the chicken breasts with oil and thyme and season with salt and pepper.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 5 minutes. Put the chicken in the pan and cook until golden brown and just cooked through, about 6 minutes per side. If the chicken begins to brown too quickly, turn the heat down to medium to finish cooking through. Transfer to the baking dish.
Meanwhile, combine the milk and stock in a small pot, season with salt and pepper and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Stir the sherry and cornstarch until smooth and pour, whisking constantly, into the sauce. Cook until just thickened, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan. Top each chicken breast with 2 tablespoons of sauce and place under the broiler. Broil until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes.
Let the chicken rest for 5 minutes and then cut each breast in half on an angle. Whisk the mustard into the remaining sauce and spread a few tablespoons on each plate. Top with a halved chicken breast.
Simple Squash Soup: (courtesy of Tinica Mather)
1 butternut squash chopped
3-4 big carrots chopped
1 large yellow onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped
1 box of organic chix or veggie broth (i think it's 4 cups)
season to taste with salt, pepper, and Garam Masala seasoning
Coat bottom of soup pot with olive oil, saute onions and garlic until soft, add chopped squash and carrots and cook until just starting to brown, season to taste, add broth and scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of pan, cover pot and simmer until veggies are mushy, put in food processor and blend until smooth. Top with some cream and cilantro just before serving or eat as is with some crusty bread. yum!
Showing posts with label butternut squash. Show all posts
Showing posts with label butternut squash. Show all posts
Friday, March 25, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
For the week of 1-17-11...
I find myself getting more and more excited about what is coming in "the bag" each week...oh the possibilities that await our dinners for the upcoming week. The trouble is, I find myself getting into the same ole rut...same vegetable, same dinner recipe, I am trying to find new and exciting recipes for YOU and for me!
Here is what I have found for us for the upcoming week ahead:
Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Rabe(courtesy of Giada De Laurentis)
2 bunches broccoli rabe, stems trimmed
1 pound orecchiette pasta (little ears)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound turkey Italian-style sausage, casings removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch dried crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Cook the broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 1 minute. Transfer the broccoli rabe to a large bowl of ice water to cool, saving the cooking water. Bring the reserved cooking water back to a boil.
Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into pieces with a spoon, until browned and juices form, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, when the reserved cooking water is boiling, add the orecchiette and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Strain the broccoli rabe and add it to the pan with the sausage mixture and toss to coat with the juices. Add the pasta to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan and serve immediately.
Penne w/ Butternut Squash, Sausage & Sage:
~ 1 butternut squash, cut into 1" pieces
~ 2 Italian sausages (you can use hot or sweet), casings removed
~ 2 cloves garlic, chopped
~ 3 tbsp of chopped, fresh sage leaves
~ 1 1/4 cups of chicken stock
~ 1/4 cup white wine
~ 8 oz. of penne pasta (half a box or bag)
In a heavy skillet, coat your pan w/ olive oil. Cook butternut squash on high, not moving around too much, until the edges caramelize. About 5 minutes or so. Remove from pan.
Now, add your sausage, and break it up in the pan. After that is browned, about 5 minutes, add your garlic, chopped sage and white wine and simmer for 3 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
Add your chicken stock and butternut squash and simmer 10 minutes, until squash is tender.
While sauce is simmering, boil your pasta in salted water and drain.
Add your cooked pasta to the sauce.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Wilted Spinach
4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large red onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1 bag baby spinach (between 10 ounces and 16 ounces), soaked, well-rinsed and dried
Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, season potatoes with salt and pepper and toss with oil to coat. Place on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove briefly from oven and toss in onions, and return to oven to roast until potatoes are tender, approximately another 20 minutes. Transfer roasted potato mixture to a bowl. Drizzle honey over potatoes, add butter, mixing well, and then gently toss in spinach. The heat from the potatoes will wilt the spinach.
Here is what I have found for us for the upcoming week ahead:
Orecchiette with Turkey Sausage and Broccoli Rabe(courtesy of Giada De Laurentis)
2 bunches broccoli rabe, stems trimmed
1 pound orecchiette pasta (little ears)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound turkey Italian-style sausage, casings removed
3 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch dried crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Cook the broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 1 minute. Transfer the broccoli rabe to a large bowl of ice water to cool, saving the cooking water. Bring the reserved cooking water back to a boil.
Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up into pieces with a spoon, until browned and juices form, about 12 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, when the reserved cooking water is boiling, add the orecchiette and cook until al dente, tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Strain the broccoli rabe and add it to the pan with the sausage mixture and toss to coat with the juices. Add the pasta to the skillet. Stir in the Parmesan and serve immediately.
Penne w/ Butternut Squash, Sausage & Sage:
~ 1 butternut squash, cut into 1" pieces
~ 2 Italian sausages (you can use hot or sweet), casings removed
~ 2 cloves garlic, chopped
~ 3 tbsp of chopped, fresh sage leaves
~ 1 1/4 cups of chicken stock
~ 1/4 cup white wine
~ 8 oz. of penne pasta (half a box or bag)
In a heavy skillet, coat your pan w/ olive oil. Cook butternut squash on high, not moving around too much, until the edges caramelize. About 5 minutes or so. Remove from pan.
Now, add your sausage, and break it up in the pan. After that is browned, about 5 minutes, add your garlic, chopped sage and white wine and simmer for 3 minutes until liquid is evaporated.
Add your chicken stock and butternut squash and simmer 10 minutes, until squash is tender.
While sauce is simmering, boil your pasta in salted water and drain.
Add your cooked pasta to the sauce.
Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Wilted Spinach
4 pounds sweet potatoes, peeled and quartered
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup canola oil
2 large red onions, finely chopped
1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup butter
1 bag baby spinach (between 10 ounces and 16 ounces), soaked, well-rinsed and dried
Directions
Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl, season potatoes with salt and pepper and toss with oil to coat. Place on a baking sheet and roast in the oven for 20 minutes. Remove briefly from oven and toss in onions, and return to oven to roast until potatoes are tender, approximately another 20 minutes. Transfer roasted potato mixture to a bowl. Drizzle honey over potatoes, add butter, mixing well, and then gently toss in spinach. The heat from the potatoes will wilt the spinach.
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