Reuben Sandwich, modified

Prepared February 16, 2011. Didn't have corn beef, but wanted a reuben.

2 slices Arnold's® rye
1 oz Swiss cheese
1 oz sauerkraut, rinsed and drained
2 T Reuben dressing
2 oz shaved rosemary ham
1 T low-fat margarine

Preheat small skillet on medium-high. Open bread slices like a book, and spread both sides generously with the dressing. Replace top slice back, spread with margarine, and put margarine-side down in a hot skillet. Pile on shaved ham, sliced Swiss cheese, and kraut, top with bread, and spread margarine on top. Grill a few minutes until golden brown, and flip. Finish grilling, pressing down with a spatula lightly to consolidate ingredients.

Standing Rib Roast with Pan Gravy

Recorded February 18, 2011. Prepared for Holiday Dinner, December 2010. The roasting method is straightforward, and is similar to the method used by DrDaddy's mother, Dorothy Magid. Herbs, stock, and wine in the pan were suggested by Emeril Lagasse's and Bobby Flay's recipes.

4-rib choice beef rib roast
1/2 T per lb General Purpose Dry Rub
2 c red wine
2 c beef broth
4 sprigs of thyme
2 sprigs rosemary

Preheat oven to 325 ºF (163 ºC). Remove the roast from the cold two hours before roasting. Season the entire surface well with dry rub. Place the herbs in the bottom of a shallow roasting pan. Arrange the roast, ribs down, on a rack placed over the roasting pan. Place the pan in the middle of the oven and add the wine and stock. Rotate pan every 30 minutes; replace any water lost due to evaporation. Roast about 2 hours, or until a thermometer placed in the center of the meat reaches 120 ºF (49 ºC). for medium-rare. Set roast aside on a cutting board, tented with aluminum foil to rest for 20 minutes. It will rise to about 125 ºF (52 ºC) while resting. 
Jus:
Remove the herbs, and defat the juices from the roasting pan. Add water to bring total volume to 2 cups, add to the roasting pan, and deglaze on the stovetop. Thicken with a bit of corn starch suspended in water before serving on the side.

Hamburger Helper + Helper

Prepared February 15, 2011. This reduces meat (and saturated fat) by half, replacing it with vegetables, seasonings and flavorings.

1 t vegetable oil
1/2 lb lean (85%) ground beef
2 T tomato paste
2 T dry minced onion
1/4 t crushed red pepper
1 t ground cumin
1 clove garlic, minced
1 T beef base
2-3/4 c very hot water
1/3 c frozen corn kernels
1 box Hamburger Helper® Mexican Chili Macaroni flavor

Heat the oil in a 10-inch skillet, and add the beef. Cook, with frequent turning, until well browned. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, cumin, and pepper. Heat for a minute, add the hot water, dry onion, corn kernels,  beef base and the noodles and sauce from the mix. Stir, bring to a slow boil, cover, and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serves 2 or 3.

Beef Steak, Roasted Vegetables, and Toasted Buckwheat Stew

Conceived and prepared February 14, 2011. Based on leftovers from Sunday night's Valentine Day supper.

2 T butter
2 T EVOO
1 c tender-shredded rare grilled boneless beef steak (see Note)
1 c roasted mixed vegetables, coarsely chopped
1 medium white onion, thin blossom cut
2 ribs celery, 1/2 inch cross cut
1 T garlic, minced
2 T tomato paste
2 c prepared kasha (Wolff's® toasted buckwheat)
1 14 oz can beef stock, heated
2 c beef base (hot water plus 2 T McCormick® concentrate) or use another can of stock
2 T tapioca starch in 2 T water

In a 4 qt saucepan, heat the oil and butter until bubbling stops. Add celery, and cook a few minutes. Add onions, and cook until beginning to color. Add the garlic, and clear a spot to add the tomato paste. When bloomed, mix into onions, and stir in the kasha. When heated through, add the vegetables, and then the hot stock and beef base. Bring to a simmer, add the starch suspension, and the shredded beef. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Serves 4 to 6.
Note: 
Prepared from charcoal-grilled boneless eye of the rib. Cut match-stick shreds with a sharp chef's knife across the muscle fibers to produce tender beef.

Stir-fried Vegetables, Hong Kong Egg Noodles, and Fish Cake

Egg Noodles, Mixed Vegetables, and Fish Cake

Recorded January 28, 2011. Prepared several times beforehand.

2 c baby bok choy, rinsed, dried, and angle cut
2 c napa, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 c broccoli crowns, sliced, blanched, and refreshed
1 medium yellow onion, thinly cut through the poles
2 c bean sprouts
1 c sliced mushrooms
1 T minced garlic
1 can bamboo shoots, strips, rinsed well, and drained
1/4 c canola oil, divided
14 oz pkg Hong Kong-style dry egg noodles
3/4 lb prepared breaded fish cake squares (5 or 6 cakes)
2 T soy sauce
1 T dark sesame oil
1/2 T fish sauce
2 T oyster sauce
about 1 c chicken stock
1/4 c julienned green onions (optional)

Fish Cake
Heat 1 T of oil sizzling hot in a large wok. Add the fish cakes, and crisp, with frequent turning, about 1 minute, taking care not to burn. Remove to a plate to cool. Cut into slices.
Noodles
Add the noodles to salted boiling water (about 3 qts) in a large sauce pan. Boil gently for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. When just tender, drain in a colander, and cool with cold water. Drain well and mix in 2 T oil and 1 T soy sauce. Add 2 T oil to the wok, and heat to smoking. Add noodles, fry on one side a few minutes. When golden, turn. Continue until the batch of noodles is nicely browned and crisped. Set aside in a large bowl and cover to keep warm.
Vegetables in Sauce
Stir fry the bok choy, napa, onions, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and garlic until crispy tender. Add the seasonings and stock.
Finished Dish
Bring vegetables to a boil, fold in the noodles, and heat through. Serve in a large bowl, arranging the fish cake slices on top. Garnish with the green onions. Serves 6.

Easier Fresh Fruit Salad

Fresh Fruit Salad (photo by Laura)

Conceived and prepared February 13, 2011 by Laura. When making a fresh fruit salad, you can increase the variety of fruits by selecting from a megamart's salad bar. Rather than buy large containers of individual fruits, select a variety in appropriate quantities from ripe fresh fruit already prepared. Save money, save time, and eat well!

Pictured:

blackberries

blueberries

strawberries

pineapple

cantaloupe

watermelon

cara cara oranges

black cherries

Cut the fruit into smaller pieces as needed (the last two were prepared at home). Combine fruits in a serving bowl, adding 1 t of sugar for each cup of fruit mixture. Fold gently, and set aside for 1/2 hour for the syrup to form and the flavors to meld. Serve lightly chilled.

Breakfast Burrito with Crab

Conceived and prepared February 13, 2011 by Laura as part of our special Valentine's Day breakfast.

2 large flour tortillas
3 large eggs
1 small leek, white and light green parts, julienned
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 T extra virgin olive oil
1 T butter
1/4 c prepared salsa, medium
2 T grated Mexican cheese
4 oz canned or freshly-picked crab meat
2 T chopped cilantro

Lightly sauté the leeks and garlic in olive oil. When leeks are tender, lower heat, add crab meat, warm through, cover, and set aside. Melt butter in an omelet pan over medium heat, and add the well-beaten eggs. As they set, push the curds to the center of the pan and let the uncooked egg spread toward the sides of the pan. Repeat until the eggs are cooked but still soft and moist. Steam the tortillas in the microwave under a damp paper towel. Place a tortilla on a plate, adding half the eggs, the warm crab mixture, the cheese, salsa, and the cilantro, leaving room for the folds. To form a burrito, fold the bottom third up to close off the bottom, and then fold in half, and in half again, perpendicular to the bottom fold. Pair with a fresh fruit salad for a special brunch or light supper.

Rotisserie Chicken and Couscous

Rotisserie Chicken over Couscous
with Braised Cauliflower

Prepared Feb 10, 2011. May sound exotic but it’s QuickEats©. And cheap.

Parts (as needed) carved from a supermarket rotisserie chicken (Costco™ is good)
3 c prepared couscous (see below)
16 oz prepared chicken gravy or homemade

Add the warm couscous as prepared below to a 2-qt glass casserole. Spoon about 1/3 of can of gravy over the couscous. Arrange the roasted chicken pieces on the couscous. Spoon the remaining gravy on top. Cover and microwave at 30% power (1250 watt oven) for 15 to 20 minutes. Serves 4 to 6. Turnip greens make a tasty side.

Couscous:

1 c water
1 c chicken stock
2 T low-fat margarine, butter, or olive oil
1/2 t salt
1 c French couscous (Trader Joe's™ is good)

Bring the first four ingredients to a boil in a small sauce pan. Sift in the couscous with stirring. Return to a boil, cover, and turn off heat. After 10 minutes, stir. Cover and steam another 5 minutes. Serve or proceed.

Chicken Bake

First prepared April 9, 2006. Modified from a recipe on a box of commercial stuffing mix.

6 small boneless skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and membranes
paprika

Sauce:

2 T oil
6 oz white mushrooms, sliced
3 T minced shallots
1/4 t garlic powder
1 can Cream of Mushroom soup (Campbell's™)
1 cup milk

In 12-inch skillet, heat oil and lightly saute shallots and mushrooms. Stir in garlic, milk, and the mushroom soup. Heat to a slow boil and simmer a few minutes.

Stuffing:

Box of Stove Top™ stuffing mix (chicken flavor)
1 cup water
1/4 c green onions, sliced
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Combine ingredients well with a fork. Let stand 5 minutes.

Final Preparation:

Place breasts inside a heavy-duty ziploc plastic bag and pound until about 1/4 inch thick. Spread one-sixth of stuffing in a layer and roll up using a sheet of plastic wrap as an aid. Tuck in ends and place seam side down in a 9 x 13-inch glass baking pan sprayed with oil. Spread sauce over chicken evenly. Dust with paprika. Bake 30 to 40 minutes at 400 deg F until cooked through. Serves six. Suggested sides: parsley-butter new potatoes and a bok choy stir-fry.

Ingredient: Mushroom Powder

A tablespoon or two of mushroom powder, added to hot liquid (soup, sauce, stew, stir fry) adds a complex, meaty flavor to a variety of savory foods.

1/2 c dried shiitake, broken into pieces

Dried shiitake mushrooms (black or forest mushrooms) are available in any Asian grocery and many occidental groceries. Break them into pieces and process into a fine powder in a clean coffee grinder. [Hint: Clean your grinder by processing a batch of unpopped corn.] Store tightly sealed in a dark place. Alternatively, mushroom powders can be purchased online.

Grilled and Braised Asian-Style Chicken Wings

Developed January 29, 2011. Developed from Merry Magid's fried and braised Chinese-style wings.

Grilled Chicken Wings — Ready for Braising

4 lb chicken wings, rinsed, trimmed of fat and excess skin; tip-tucked
1 T vegetable oil + 1 T dark sesame oil
1 t garlic powder
3 T soy sauce
3/4 c white wine
1 t sugar
about 2 c water
2 T dow see (fermented black beans), soaked and drained
1 T mushroom powder
1/2 t salt

Brine wings 1/2 hour in 1 qt cold water plus 1/4 c each kosher salt and sugar. Drain well, dry, and grill covered over a hot charcoal fire for about 20 minutes, rotating and turning every few minutes until nicely browned. Transfer the wings to a large dutch oven, and heat over medium heat on the stovetop. As it begins to sizzle, add the canola and sesame oils. When heated add soy sauce and garlic powder, and stir fry until it glazes the chicken.  Add the wine and reduce by half. Add water to half cover the wings, and the remaining ingredients, and mix well. Simmer covered for an hour, basting often. Remove the top, and simmer until sauce is almost syrupy and the wings are tender, about 40 minutes. 
Serve over steamed rice. Serves 4 to 6.

Soba Noodles

Soba Noodles with Kim Chee

Developed January 31, 2011 from an Internet antecedent.

1/2 cup sesame seeds
8 ounces soba noodles
2 T balsamic vinegar
1 T rice wine vinegar
1 t white sugar
2-1/2 T soy sauce
1 clove garlic, minced
1 t dark sesame oil
1/4 c green onions, finely diced
1/4 c cilantro, chopped coarsely

Toast the seeds in a small skillet over medium heat until they are a rich golden color, and set aside to cool on a plate. Meanwhile, bring 3 qts of salted water to a boil. Add the noodles, with stirring, return to a boil and cook for 5 minutes. Drain them, rinse well with cold water, and drain again. Mix together the vinegar, sugar, soy sauce, garlic, sesame oil and green onions in a 2 qt bowl. Add the noodles, and the toasted sesame seeds. Toss well. Let the dish sit for 30 minutes at room temperature before serving. Top with kim chee. Serves six.

Rigatoni alla Pastora (Shepherd style)

Not mine but too good not to record. Transcribed from Lidia Bastianich's PBS-TV broadcast January, 2011. Simple, fast, and delicious. The sausage brings most of the flavor. Fresh herbs pick up the rest.

1 lb sweet or hot Italian sausage, removed from casing, and crumbled
1/4 c extra-virgin olive oil [Lidia used 1/2 c]
1/2 t crushed red pepper (peperoncino) Omit with hot sausage
1 lb rigatoni
1/2 t kosher salt
2 c whole-milk ricotta
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 c loosely-packed fresh basil leaves torn into shreds (or 1/2 c parsley and cilantro, mixed)

Sauce: Heat a heavy large saucepan over medium-high, add the oil and then the peperoncino for a few seconds. Add the crumbled sausage, and cook well with occasional turning, for about 10 minutes until well-browned and crispy. Variation: Add 1/2 c sliced sweet red pepper and 1 c sliced mushrooms to the sausage as it is cooking.
Pasta: As the sausage is browning, bring a pot of salted water to a boil, and add the pasta. Cook until just tender, about 11 minutes. Stir about 1/2 c of the pasta water into the cooked sausage to form a sauce. Transfer pasta with a slotted spoon to the sauce and continue cooking. Stir in the ricotta and Parmesan, and toss well, adding more pasta water as needed. Heat through. Scatter the herbs on top, drizzle on a bit more oil, and heap into warm bowls.

Seafood Risotto

Devised and prepared January 27, 2011.The prep is long-winded but straight-forward. The result is well worth the effort.

6 oz cremini mushrooms, thickly sliced
1 leek, white part only, finely sliced
1/3 c shallots, finely sliced
1 T garlic, finely minced
6 oz asparagus, roll cut into half-inch pieces
1/2 c baby peas, defrosted
4 T EVOO
3/4 c dry white wine
4 c hot seafood stock (or chicken stock) plus 2 c hot water
1-1/2 c arborio rice
4 oz pkg salad shrimps
4 oz pkg  bay scallops
1 lb pkg mussels in sauce, defrosted
6 oz frozen seafood assortment (squid, octopus, mussels, shrimp)
1/4 c grated Parmesan cheese
1/4 c parsley, coarsely chopped
1/4 c cilantro, coarsely chopped
zest and juice of half a lemon
salt and pepper to taste
Brine: 1/4 c kosher salt, 1/4 c sugar dissolved in 1 qt cold water

Prepare brine and soak frozen shrimp, scallops, and seafood mix for 30 minutes, or until is thoroughly defrosted, stirring occasionally. Drain thawed seafood, and discard the brine. Heat the diluted stock almost to a boil, and off heat, stir in the drained seafood, and set aside. [This will lightly cook and tenderize the seafood.]
In a heavy 12-inch skillet over medium heat, saute the mushrooms in 1 T oil for a few minutes, add the leeks, shallots, and garlic, and a bit more oil, salt and pepper. After a few minutes, add the asparagus, and continue cooking. Stir in the peas, and cook a few minutes more until heated through. Remove vegetables to a plate, and set aside.
Wipe out the skillet, and add 2 T more oil. When hot, stir in the rice and cook over medium heat until translucent and lightly colored. Stir frequently and avoid burning. Add the wine and continue cooking until absorbed. Drain the seafood from the stock, and reheat the stock. Lower the heat, and add enough hot stock to cover the rice. When it's largely absorbed, ladle in more hot stock. Stir frequently, and continue slowly adding stock until most is absorbed. This takes about 20 minutes. Stir in the mussels and cooked seafood, and heat through gently. Stir in herbs, lemon, and the cheese. Correct seasoning. Serves six.

Pigeon Peas and Rice

Transcribed January 25, 2011 from this handwritten note kindly written down for me by Dixie Sawin's mother several years ago. Trinidad and Tobago origin.

3 c boiled rice
1 c canned pigeon peas (also called gandules)
1 c mixed vegetables (peas, carrots, corn, green beans)
1-1/2 c onions, tomatoes, celery, cilantro, green onions, bell peppers, coarsely chopped together
2 T ketchup
3 T soy sauce
1 t each: garlic powder, parsley flakes, and crushed red pepper
salt and black pepper to taste
1 to 2 T butter (optional)

Heat 2 T oil in a large pot. Add pigeon peas, onions, tomatoes, cilantro, green onions, bell peppers, and ketchup. Saute about 3 minutes. Add boiled rice and mixed vegetables, mixing well. Add garlic powder, parsley flakes, and crushed pepper. Stir and continue to cook another 5 minutes. Add soy sauce. Stir well, coating rice and vegetables. Season with salt, pepper, and butter.

Roasted Tomatoes

Prepared January 20, 2011. By slicing the tomatoes through their poles, they are kept intact and hold their juice.

8 small ripe tomatoes, cut through the poles
1 T olive oil
2 T grated Parmesan cheese
Kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper

Preheat toaster oven to 425 degrees F. Arrange tomato halves cut side up in an 8-inch roasting pan. Season well, sprinkle on the cheese, and drizzle on the oil. Roast 10 minutes, rotate pan 180 degrees (π radians), and continue for another 8 to 10 minutes, until tomatoes are nicely colored and bubbling. Serves 4. Makes a good side dish for onion-braised spare ribs or other rich entrée.

Nutty Fruity Pancake Stacks

A pair almost ready to flip

about 1-1/2 c buttermilk pancake batter
1/4 c fresh or frozen blueberries
1 oz slivered toasted pecans
3 oz almond butter, softened briefly in the microwave

berry sauce

Heat a griddle to about 325 degrees F. Water drops should bounce and sizzle. Oil lightly. For 2 servings, make 6 pancakes, the largest about 4 inches across, the others somewhat smaller. Add a few berries and nuts to each pancake as it bakes. When batter on top becomes dull, flip to finish. Remove to a plate until all the cakes have been prepared. On a serving plate, place a large cake. Spoon on a tablespoon or two of almond butter, place a smaller cake on top, add a second dollop almond butter. Finish with the smallest cake, and top with a big spoonful of black cherry (or other berry) sauce. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Braised Cabbage

Recorded January 3, 2007 (at long last). A Family Favorite for decades.

1 medium head of cabbage, quartered, cored, and cut into 1 inch pieces
1/3 c low-fat soft margarine
salt, pepper, paprika to taste

Put cabbage in a 12-inch skillet, cover half way with water and salt lightly. Cover and bring to a moderate boil. Boil 8 minutes and drain thoroughly. Return drained cabbage to medium heat, let excess water cook off, stir in margarine and seasonings. Braise uncovered slowly about 10 minutes until tender, turning occasionally. Good as a side dish to many dishes. Can be added to vegetable soups or used in vegetarian burritos or mixed with buttered egg noodles. Serves 6.

Toasted Pecans

Recorded January 17, 2011

1/2 c pecan halves
1 t vegetable oil
1/2 t sugar (in shaker)
pinch of salt

Spread the nuts in a small nonstick skillet in a single layer; add the oil. Heat over medium heat, shaking often, until aromatic and light tan in color, about 6 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar and salt, and heat with shaking until the nuts are glazed. Take care not to burn. Turn out on a plate and let cool thoroughly. Good for snacking as is, or sliver them and add to pancakes and waffles or sprinkle on fried fish or salads as a garnish. Adds crunch, flavor, and nourishment.

Ultimate French Toast

Developed January, 2011. By separating the eggs, the coating turns crispy, and the bread inside becomes custardy, rich, and somewhat sweet.

2 eggs, separated
4 thick slices of challah or good-quality sandwich white
3/4 c milk
1/2 t sugar
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 T butter, melted and cooled
1 T butter for grilling

In a flat soup bowl, beat the yolks until smooth. Slowly stir in the milk, sugar, and vanilla. Whisk smooth. In another soup bowl, whisk the whites until frothy. Stir in 1 T of the milk mixture. Whisk in the melted butter.
Prepare the bread by drying in a toaster oven at 275 degrees F. for 10 minutes. Heat a griddle or non-stick skillet to 350 degrees F. Add butter. One at a time, soak both sides of the bread in the milk mixture until almost saturated, drain, coat both sides with egg white, and place on griddle in sizzling butter. Repeat for the remaining slices. Grill for about 4 minutes, turn, and finish for 3 minutes more. Serve with warm maple syrup, cinnamon-sugar, or a fruit sauce. Serves 2 ~ 4.