Bruschetta

Recorded Sept, 2014. Thin slices of crusty bread are brought to new purpose with heat, olive oil, and garlic.

100 g of baguette or similar loaf, cut into 1 cm crosswise slices.
20 ml olive oil, divided
2 ml granulated garlic
2 ml salt

Heat half the oil in a heavy 25 cm skillet over medium-high until it shimmers. Using tongs, dip each slice into oil on both sides and arrange in skillet. Sprinkle salt and garlic on top. When toasting progresses, flip each piece, adding more oil and seasoning. Continue grilling and turning until well colored on both sides. Serves two. Use in spicy stews, soups, dinner salads, vegetable compotes, or as a place to spread tomato salsas, hummus, olive salad, or to top soups or dinner salads.

Lemonade for One, Pronto

Quick path to a refreshing drink. Freshly-squeezed juice is best, but bottled juice is convenient. Keep simple syrup on hand in the refrigerator for use in summer drinks.

1 oz (30 ml) lemon juice (about half a large lemon)
2 oz (60 ml) simple syrup
8 oz (250 ml) cold tap water 
ice cubes

Fill a large glass half full with ice cubes. To increase the yield of juice, heat the lemon in the microwave oven for about 20 seconds. When cool, cut in half through the equator. Alternatively, roll the lemon back and forth vigorously on a firm surface. Squeeze the juice into the glass, add the syrup, water, and enough additional ice to fill the glass, and stir. Serves one. Easily doubles, or make another for yourself.

Fish Steamed in Ground Bean Sauce, Scallions, and Ginger, Chinese style

First prepared in Seattle, 1968, from a recipe book published by a Victoria, BC grocery. Steaming is a traditional method in Chinese cuisine. Its many virtues include fuel economy, protection from drying and over-cooking, speed, and conserving nutrients. Any Asian grocery stocks (in jars or cans) ground (brown) bean sauce. It is salty and savory but not spicy.

12 oz fish filets (flounder, tilapia, catfish, pollock, cod, or similar fish)
1/4 c (60 ml) ground (brown) bean sauce
4 to 6 scallions (green onions), cut in half lengthwise
2 t ginger root, peeled and finely diced

Arrange the fish in a single layer in a dish with deep sides to capture the flavorsome juices formed during cooking. Spread the bean sauce, and distribute the scallions and ginger artfully. Steam for 15 to 25 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets. Serve with steamed rice, topping each serving with the pan liquor and the aromatic vegetables. Serves four, as part of a family-style meal.

Roasted Cauliflower in Tahini

Developed July, 2014. Roasting brings out the natural sweetness and eliminates the cabbage smell. The robust flavor of the dish best complements hearty entrees.

2 to 3 c fresh cauliflower florets, cut into bite-size pieces
2 to 3 T olive oil
2 t soy sauce
2 t dark sesame oil
1 t salt
1 t sugar
2 T tahini

Preheat a toaster oven to 425 degrees F (220 C). Gently combine all the ingredients, except the tahini, in an 8x8 inch (20x20 cm) metal roasting pan. Cover tightly with aluminum foil, and roast 15 minutes. Remove from oven, cautiously remove the foil, stir to mix, and return to oven uncovered for an additional 10 minutes. Transfer to a serving bowl and toss with the tahini, and adjust seasoning.

Quick and Easy Tortellini in Basil Pesto

Prepared May, 2014. In a recent tasting study, America’s Test Kitchen decided that a shelf-stable product by the leading Italian pasta maker got highest marks. Marrying this product with a prepared pesto sauce yields a delicious meal quickly.

3 oz (85 g) Three-Cheese Tortellini (Barilla™ is recommended)
2 oz (56 g) basil pesto sauce (Kirkland™)
grated Parmesan cheese as desired

Bring a quart (liter) of salted water to a rapid boil in a sauce pan. Stir in the tortellini, lower the heat to a fast simmer, and cook uncovered 11 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain the pasta in a collander, letting the hot water fill a serving bowl to heat it. move the colander, dump the water carefully, add the pesto to warm briefly, and then the drained pasta. Toss gently, plate and top with cheese. Serves one, but scales up to 4 servings easily.

Steamed Littleneck Clams

Developed May, 2014.  The availability of fresh littlenecks from nearby Virginia waters inspired this recipe. "Littleneck" derives from the name of the estuary where they were farmed, not because these clams have 'little necks'. Clams have no necks. 

about 20 littleneck clams
1/2 c water
1/2 c dry white wine
1/2 c parsley, whole
1 t salt
2 T olive oil
1 t minced garlic

Rinse the clams briefly under running cold water, checking for grit. Discard any open clams that don’t close when squeezed. Prepare the steaming liquid by heating all the ingredients except the clams to boiling in a 10-inch skillet. Cook at a slow boil until half the volume remains. Discard the parsley and add the clams. Raise the heat to boiling and cover. Steam over medium heat for 5 minutes. Discard any unopened clams. Add the stock and clams to another dish, or serve in bowls as an appetizer, topped with a drizzle of olive oil with warm crusty bread to sop up the delicious stock.

Crispy Toaster-Oven Frites

Developed November, 2013. The method combines tapioca starch and coarse semolina flour to produce a crispy fry in the toaster oven from scratch. Almost as good as bistro frites. Almost.

1 medium russet potato (about 6 oz), cut into 1/4 inch square strips
1 T vegetable oil
2 t tapioca starch
2 T semolina flour (coarse grind)
1/2 t salt
1/2 t onion powder

Choose a long, clear russet potato. To prepare raw fries, cut off a small slice from both ends, and then trim a small slab with a chef’s knife off one side. Turn the potato onto that cut surface to steady it, and trim off the next face, and then the next two in turn. Cutting in the long direction, slice the potato into 1/4 inch (6 mm) thick slabs, and then into 1/4 inch wide strips. Rinse, drain, and thoroughly blot dry before use. Transfer the potatoes to a non-stick 8X8-inch (20x20 cm) metal baking pan, add the other ingredients and toss well to coat evenly. Preheat a toaster oven to 425 degrees F (220 C). Bake 15 minutes, turn the potatoes over, and bake another 10 minutes until cooked through and crisp. Serves one or two. Can be easily doubled. Variations: Top a hamburger sandwich with a few crispy fries to add crunch and flavor, or add to a breakfast wrap, serve as a hot appetizer with a side of spicy mayonnaise or remoulade.

Breakfast Quesadillas

Developed March 12, 2014. Ready in less than 15 minutes, a warm breakfast dish or as party appetizers. 

3 oz sweet peppers, coarsely chopped 
2 t olive or vegetable oil 
2 oz red onion, coarsely chopped 
2 oz ham, shredded 
2 oz shredded quesadilla cheese
pinch crushed red pepper 
4 6-inch flour tortillas, softened briefly in the microwave 
tomato salsa

Heat a dry non-stick skillet over medium high, and add the sweet peppers. Toast with frequent turning until lightly browned and fragrant. Add the oil and the onions. When softened, stir in the ham and hot pepper, and warm through. Set aside in a bowl. Wipe out the pan. As it reheats, spoon one-quarter of the warm filling in the center of a tortilla and top with a tablespoon of cheese. With the back of a large knife, push the filling past the midline, and fold over the tortilla. Press to compact. Bake each foldover in the dry hot skillet until toasted, turn, and finish baking. Cut into points and serve with tomato salsa on the side. Serves two.

Arroz con Leche (Mexican Rice Pudding)

Developed March 12, 2014. Every Hispanic family has its own recipe for this basic comfort food beloved around the planet, a milk pudding thickened with rice. Here, fragrant with orange zest and cinnamon, the natural sugars of golden raisins and milk provide most of the sweetness. Makes a nourishing breakfast dish for lighter appetites, offering a sound balance of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. As a bonus, no eggs!

1/2 c (100 g) medium-grain (Morelos) rice  (350 cal)
9 oz (250 g) water
1/4 t salt
1 whole piece stick cinnamon
3 pieces of orange zest (cut with a vegetable peeler)
2-1/4 c (500 g) whole or 2% milk (do not use skim), (550 cal), divided
1/3 c golden raisins (165 cal)
2 T (25 g) sugar  (100 cal)
1 t vanilla extract 
ground cinnamon (garnish)

In a medium saucepan, bring the rice, water, cinnamon stick, orange zest, and salt to a slow boil. Cook, with frequent stirring, until water is almost completely absorbed. Remove  zest, and stir in milk (reserving 1/2 cup), raisins, and sugar. Return to a gentle boil, and, with frequent stirring to prevent burning, cook for about 12 minutes until the pudding is quite thick. Remove cinnamon, cover, and let cool 30 minutes off heat. Stir in the reserved milk and the vanilla extract. Serve warm, dusted with cinnamon as a garnish. Serves 8. About 150 calories for a 4-ounce serving.

Walnut-Crusted Maple French Toast

Walnut-Crusted French Toast

Developed January, 2014. Delicious flavor, custardy interior, crisp exterior and more nuts!

1 egg
1/3 c half and half
2 t maple syrup
pinch of salt
2 slices hearty white bread (Arnold’s™ Country White is good)
4 t ground roasted walnuts, almonds, or pistachios
1 t vegetable oil
1 t butter

In a shallow bowl, beat the egg well, and stir in syrup, cream, and salt until well-mixed. Cut each slice in half. Heat the oil in a 10-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat until shimmering, then add the butter. When bubbling has stopped, soak each piece of bread thoroughly on both sides in the egg mixture, and add to the pan. After the bread has been added, spread a teaspoon of ground nuts on the top of each piece, and press with the back of fork so they will stick to the egg. Fry about 3 minutes until lightly browned and then lower heat, flip, and fry another 2 minutes until lightly toasted. Serves one or two. Easily doubled using a griddle or large skillet.

Asian Dipping Sauce II

Developed February, 2014. Complements steamed buns, dumplings, shu mei, pot stickers, and similar dim sum items.

1/4 c soy sauce (Kikkoman™ is good)
1/4 c water
1/4 t fish sauce
1 t sugar
1 t rice vinegar
1 t Chinese rice wine
1 t dark sesame oil

Pour ingredients through a funnel into a small bottle with a tight-fitting cap. Stir and shake well until sugar is dissolved and oil is incorporated. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator. Lasts many months. Shake well before use.

Red Bliss Potato Salad with Crispy Bacon

Developed January, 2014. Modified from an Emeril Lagasse recipe. Pairs nicely with kielbasa or roast pork.

1 lb red bliss potatoes, about 1-1/2 inches diameter
1/4 c olive oil
1/2 c red onion, short shreds
1/4 c red bell pepper, diced
1 T minced garlic
3 to 4 T red wine vinegar, to taste
3 slices toaster-oven bacon, chopped
salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 c chopped fresh parsley

Clean the potatoes, transfer to a saucepan, cover with water by 1 inch, add a tablespoon of salt and bring to a gentle boil. Cook until the potatoes are easily pierced by a paring knife, about 15 minutes. Drain and cool on a clean towel. While the potatoes are cooking, heat the olive oil in saute pan, add the pepper and onion and salt lightly. When softened and lightly colored, add the garlic and sauté another 30 seconds. Take off heat. When potatoes are cool enough to handle, quarter them and place in a serving bowl. Toss with the vegetables and oil, season to taste with vinegar, salt and pepper. Toss with the bacon and parsley. Serve warm.

Baked Oatmeal

Recorded January 4, 2014. Adapted by Laura from an online recipe. Prepared many times. A Family Favorite. Can be prepared the night before and reheated for breakfast.

1/3 c butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs
3/4 c brown sugar
1-1/2 t baking powder
2 eating apples, cored, peeled, and coarsely chopped
1/3 c raisins
1/4 c pecans or walnuts, coarsely chopped
1-1/2 t vanilla
2 t cinnamon
1/4 t salt
2 c milk
3 c rolled oats

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (177 C). In a large bowl, beat eggs well. Stir in the sugar, baking powder, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk in the butter, then the milk, stir in the oats, followed by the fruits and nuts, mixing well after each addition. Spread the mixture in a well-greased 9x13 inch glass baking dish (1-1/2 liter), and bake for 35 to 45 minutes until set in the middle. Serve warm, topped with a plump pillow of low-fat vanilla yogurt or with warm cream or milk. Keeps well, tightly wrapped, in the refrigerator. Variation Substitute fresh blueberries for raisins, or fresh peaches for apples. Serves 8.

Chopped Chicken Liver

This dish has been prepared in DrDaddy’s family for four generations for special holidays. Use schmaltz (rendered chicken fat) to conform with Kosher law. This recipe was transcribed Jan 1, 2014 based on phone conversations with sister Phyllis Pliskow, describing how mother Dorothy Magid and grandmother Rose Raphael Samuels prepared it.

1 lb chicken livers, trimmed of membranes and fat, rinsed, and patted dry
7 c yellow onions, peeled, halved and sliced longitudinally through the poles
2 sticks butter (or 1 c rendered chicken fat)
5 hard-boiled eggs, shelled and cooled

Seasonings

Lawry’s™ Seasoned Salt
freshly-ground black pepper
granulated garlic
paprika

In a large skillet over medium heat melt 1 stick butter or 1/2 c schmaltz. Add 5 cups onions to the hot fat. Season well and slowly cook until nicely caramelized, about 1 hour. Set aside to cool. While the onions are caramelizing, in another skillet, melt the other stick of butter or schmaltz, add 2 cups of onions, and fry slowly until soft and lightly colored. Add the prepared livers, season well, and fry slowly until cooked but not hard. Discard the onions used to flavor the chicken livers. Set livers aside to cool. Set up a meat grinder, and process some of the caramelized onions through the grinder into a large bowl, then process some of the livers, and then an egg. Repeat until all the ingredients have been ground except reserve one egg for garnish. Fold the liver, onion, egg together gently, and correct the seasoning. Press flat and top with the reserved chopped egg as a garnish. Chill before serving with crackers or bread.

Nut Butter Sandwich on French Toast

 Created January 2, 2014. Another tasty way to eat more nuts.

1 oz peanut butter
1 oz ground toasted walnuts
1/2 T maple syrup
1 t vegetable oil
1 large slice Easy French Toast, cut in half

Add the peanut butter and walnuts to a small bowl, and soften in the microwave. Stir in the syrup, and heat until bubbling in the microwave, about 1 minute. Carefully set aside to cool; the filling will be hot. In a nonstick skillet, reheat the French toast in vegetable oil until crisp on both sides. Spread the nut mixture between the French toast slices. Serve with knife and fork. Serves one but is easily doubled.

Toaster Oven Roast Potatoes

Toaster Oven Roast Potatoes with Rosemary

Developed April 3, 2013. Good companion to pork and beef.

5 to 6 small russet or red skin potatoes
3 to 4 T olive oil
2 t coarse salt
1/2 t freshly ground black pepper
1/4 t granulated garlic

Put the potatoes in a small sauce pan, cover with an inch of cold water, add a teaspoon of salt and bring to a gentle boil. Slowly boil for 10 to 12 minutes, until the point of a sharp knife barely enters. Drain thoroughly and transfer to a kitchen towel to dry and cool. Preheat a toaster oven to 350 degrees F (177 C). When cool enough to handle, cut the potatoes lengthwise and, if russets, peel off the skins. Arrange in baking pan with the cut sides down. Drizzle on half the oil, season well with salt, pepper, and garlic. Turn each piece with tongs until well coated. Turn flat side down and roast for 15 minutes. Turn each piece, and return to the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes until nicely browned and tender on all sides. Serves 2 to 3. Variation: Include 2 teaspoons of finely minced fresh rosemary with the other seasonings.

Zesty Italian-Style Salad Dressing

Developed June, 2007. Similar to a popular bottled dressing, but homemade.

3 oz vegetable oil
1 T red wine vinegar
1 T apple cider vinegar
1 oz water
1/4 t minced garlic
1/4 t dry Italian herbs
1/4 t fresh ground pepper
1/2 t salt
1/4 t paprika
1 t dried minced onion
1/8 t dry mustard powder
1/8 t red pepper flakes

Combine all the ingredients except the oil in a 8 oz bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake well to combine and let stand 5 minutes. Add the oil, and shake vigorously to combine before using. Store cold. Yields about 8 servings.

Easy French Toast

Recorded December 23, 2013. First prepared by Laura. No muss, no fuss, and delicious.

4 slices white bread (Arnold’s Country White™ is good)
2 eggs
1/4 c milk, half and half, or cream
1 t sugar
2 t brandy (optional)
1/8 t ground cinnamon
dash of ground nutmeg
1/2 t vanilla
pinch salt
2 T butter or oil

Beat the eggs well in a shallow bowl, and stir in the cream, sugar, vanilla, and spices until dissolved. Heat a non-stick 12-inch skillet or griddle to about 325 F. Add the butter.  Soak each slice of bread in egg batter on both sides until saturated, drain, and add to the hot butter or oil. Repeat for the remaining slices. Fry each slice about 3 minutes until lightly browned, turn over, and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Top with a sprinkling of sugar, fruit preserves, or maple syrup. Serves two.

Fruit Smoothie

Prepared many times over the years. A Family Favorite. Makes a nourishing and tasty quick breakfast or a wholesome in-between-meals snack.

2 c low-fat vanilla yogurt
1 large very ripe banana cut into large pieces
1/3 lb (150 g) each fresh or fresh-frozen ripe pineapple, cantaloupe, and berries (strawberries, blueberries, cherries, or blackberries)
fruit juice to adjust thickness (apple cider or orange juice)
sugar to taste

Add the yogurt to the jar of a blender. Partly defrost each of the fruits by rinsing briefly under cold running water in a colander. Drain each fruit well and add with the banana pieces to the blender jar. Mix by hand with a spatula with the power off. Cover, blend with pulses at successively faster speeds, using the spatula to ensure thorough mixing. Finish by blending on top speed for 1 minute. The volume will increase as air is incorporated. Blend in fruit juice to adjust thickness for pouring. Taste for sweetness, blending in sugar in small amounts, aiming for a balance between sweet and tart.

Crispy Twice-Baked Pancakes Glazed in Maple Walnut Sauce

Developed December, 2013. This breakfast or brunch dish uses leftover pancakes filled with a nut butter between the cakes. This boosts the flavor and balances the carbohydrates with healthy fat and quality protein. Nut eaters live longer.

2 or 3 pancakes
1 T softened butter or low-fat margarine, divided
2 T nut butter (peanut, sunflower seeds, almond, tahini), divided
2 T maple syrup, divided
1 T ground roasted walnuts

Heat a non-stick griddle or large skillet over medium heat. When hot, add half the butter. When the foaming stops, add the pancakes. Spread the remainder of the butter on the top of the cakes. When the first side is hot and crisp, about 2 to 3 minutes, flip the cakes and crisp the second side. Remove to a plate. Add half the maple syrup and nuts to the hot griddle and return the cakes. Turn to coat. Place a cake on the plate, spread 1 tablespoon of nut butter, add another cake, and then the rest of the nut butter. Pour the remaining syrup over. Garnish with ground walnuts. Serves one.