The Week in Review: September 10-15

It's mid-September, and corn, tomatoes, and zucchini are still in season here.   The peaches are just about done now, and the local apples and squash are in.  I love this time of year at the farmer's market.   This week was our first full week of school, and while we've been getting into the swing of things, there hasn't been much time for blogging.  Still, there has been time for cooking, so here's a list of the menus from this past week:

Monday:

Hearty Baked Rotini; Simple Green Salad; Italian Ice

Tuesday:

Chicken and Asparagus Stir-Fry; Rice; Tropical Fruit Salad*

Wednesday:

Hoisin and Bourbon Glazed-Pork Tenderloin; Mashed Potatoes; Spinach-Apple Salad

Thursday:

Macaroni and Cheese; Garlic-Roasted Tomatoes; Green Bean Salad

Friday:

Creole-Style Baked Cod; Triple-Corn Spoonbread**; Sugar-Snap Peas

Saturday: 

Tuscan-Style Grilled Chicken Sandwich;  Broccoli, Grape, and Pasta Salad

* I made my life easy and used a jar of Dole Tropical Fruit Salad. Serve it chilled.

** If corn is still in season in your area, substitute 2 cups of fresh corn for the can of whole kernel corn in this recipe.

Hearty Baked Rotini

There was a chill in the air this morning that made it almost seem like fall.  I decided it would be the perfect day to break out the cold weather recipes and make something cozy and comforting for dinner.  So I picked out a hearty baked pasta recipe and headed to the store (I hadn't been there in almost 48 hours, which I think is a personal record.)  I forgot how deceiving September mornings can be though, because by the time I picked the girls up from school the temperature was back up to 80 degrees.  Oh well, we can always turn down the air-conditioning and pretend it's fall.

Here's the full menu:

Hearty Baked Rotini

Simple Green Salad

Lemon Italian Ice

At least the Italian ice makes sense for an 80 degree day. :)



Hearty Baked Rotini

1 pound ground beef

1 small onion, chopped

1 small green bell pepper, chopped

1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes

1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste

8 ounces fresh mushrooms, sliced

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon dried basil

1/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon dried oregano

1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper

8 ounces rotini, cooked

2 cups (8 ounces) shredded mozzarella cheese

½ cup Parmesan cheese

1. Cook first 3 ingredients in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring until beef is browned; drain and return to skillet.

2. Stir in tomatoes and next 7 ingredients; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 20 minutes. Stir in rotini and cheese. Spoon into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish and bake at 350° for 35 minutes.

Update:  Overall, this one's a keeper -- everyone really enjoyed it.   I would definitely make it again, maybe on a cold and rainy October day.  For now though, it's back to the grill for awhile.

The Week in Review: September 3-8

Here's a summary of last week's dinner menus. 

Monday: Brown-Sugar Brined Pork Chops with Peach Barbecue Sauce, Potato and Green Bean Salad with Bacon, Cucumbers in Sour Cream

Tuesday: Turkey and Sausage Jambalaya, Roasted Cauliflower, Simple Green Salad with Creamy Buttermilk dressing, Honey-Moist Cornbread

Wednesday: Broccoli Frittata, Bruschetta with Roasted Red Peppers, Honeydew Melon (recipes follow)

Thursday:  California Burgers, Corn on the Cob, Coleslaw with Orange-Ginger Dressing (recipe follows)

Friday: Roasted Shrimp and Orzo, Sliced Tomato Salad, Strawberry-Yogurt Parfaits (recipe follows)

Saturday: Chicken Korma, Rice, Steamed Green Peas

Recipes

Broccoli Frittata

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 cups finely chopped onions

2 cups small broccoli florets

6 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

5 eggs

1 cup half and half

1 teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Butter a 10-inch pie plate or quiche dish (or any low-sided ovenproof casserole dish that will hold 4-3/4 cups liquid.)

2. Heat the oil in a heavy saute pan. Add the onions and cook over medium heat for about 5 minutes, until the onions become transparent. Add the broccoli and saute for 3 minutes longer, stirring the mixture a few times.

3. Transfer the vegetables to the prepared quiche dish. Scatter the mozzarella over the vegetables.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, salt, and pepper until smooth. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Sprinkle with the Parmesan and parsley.

4. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the frittata has puffed and is nicely browned. Remove and let it rest for 10 minutes before serving. Makes 6 to 8 servings.

NOTE: This can be made 1 day ahead of time, covered, and stored in the refrigerator. When ready to serve, uncover and reheat for 10 minutes in a preheated 375 degree oven.  Vegetables such as leeks, red bell pepper, or fresh spinach can be substituted for or used in addition to the broccoli.

Bruschetta

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

½ teaspoon pepper

6 (3/4-inch thick) slices rustic country bread

Kosher salt to taste

1. Adjust oven rack to approximately 6-inches under broiler and preheat broiler.

2. Mix olive oil, garlic and pepper.  Brush over both sides of bread.  Place bread slices on foil lined baking sheet and broil until golden brown, approximately 2 inches on first side and 1 to 1-1/2 minutes on second side.  Sprinkle with kosher salt to taste.

Note: If desired, toss some roasted red peppers, cut into strips, with a drizzle of white balsamic vinegar and some basil.  Serve with bruschetta.

Coleslaw with Orange-Ginger Dressing

3 Tablespoons cider vinegar

1 tablespoons honey

 Grated zest and juice of half an orange

1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes

½  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

½  tablespoon peeled, grated fresh ginger

¼  cup canola oil

Salt to taste

1 package coleslaw mix

1 red bell pepper, diced

¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

      Combine the vinegar, honey, orange zest, orange juice, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and ginger in a bowl.   Add the oil in a slow, steady stream while whisking constantly until well blended.  Season with salt to taste.      Add coleslaw mix, red bell pepper, and cilantro.  Toss to mix,  check seasoning, and add salt to taste.

Strawberry Yogurt Parfaits

Strawberries

Sugar

Vanilla flavored, low fat, Greek-style yogurt

Granola (without raisins)

Sweeten strawberries to taste with sugar.  Layer in glasses with yogurt and a sprinkling of granola.

Hurry Curry

I was supposed to go to the store this morning, but since I am a highly-skilled procrastinator, by the middle of the afternoon all I had managed to do was make a few pancakes and lay around the house reading a book.  Finally my husband called my attention to the fact that we were under a Severe Weather Warning, that included torrential down-pouring rain, major flash-flooding, high winds and Tornados.   The point he was trying to make was: "Go to the store and buy food.   Go right now."  Unfortunately (or possibly fortunately, depending on how you look at it), I went so quickly that I didn't have time to make a list of what I needed.  They say you should never go to the store without a list and they are right.  You will end up wandering around the bakery department, picking up things like boxes of apple fritters and glazed donuts and wondering, "Do we need this?"  Only you won't be able to remember because you don't have a list, so you'll decide you'd better get it anyway just in case.   And that's exactly what happened.  I bought fritters and Fudge Nuts and ice cream and cookie dough and basically every other thing my children threw into the cart, and in all our hurry to beat the rain, I nearly forgot to buy something for dinner.  Luckily, I finally remembered what I had come there for in the first place, and I grabbed a few things for the following menu:

Chicken Korma
Rice
Steamed Green Peas

Chicken Korma is an Indian dish of sauteed chicken simmered in a creamy coconut curry sauce.  The recipe below was adapted from Jamie's Food Revolution: Rediscover How to Make Simple, Delicious, Affordable Meals by Jamie Oliver.   However, if you're in a really big hurry, like say because there's a tornado coming, or if you've forgotten to make a list, you can simply pick up a jar of Korma sauce at the grocery store. (Patak's makes one, and so does the Target brand, Archer Foods.)

Chicken Korma

1-3/4 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs

1 large onion

2 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoon butter

1 Tablespoon minced fresh ginger

½ cup Patak’s Korma curry paste (or other mild curry paste)

14-ounce can light coconut milk

2 Tablespoons unsweetened, shredded coconut

¼ cup sliced almonds

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

Salt and pepper to taste

Optional garnishes: plain Greek-style yogurt, sliced almonds, cilantro leaves, lemon wedges

1. Cut the chicken into 1" cubes.  Peel, halve, and thinly slice the onion.

2. Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium- high heat.  Add the chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook until browned on all sides.   Remove chicken from the pan with a slotted spoon and set aside.  Add the butter, onion, and ginger to the pan, and cook, stirring frequently, about 8-10 minutes or until golden.

3. Add the curry paste, coconut milk, half of the almonds, shredded coconut, cilantro, and chicken to the pan.  Stir in about ¾ cup of water.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, covered, for about 30 minutes.  Check and stir occasionally (if it seems to be drying out, add a little extra water).  Before serving, season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serve over hot cooked rice.  If desired, top with a spoonful of plain Greek yogurt, additional sliced almonds, fresh cilantro leaves, and lemon wedges for squeezing over.   Serves 6.

Party All the Time

   Today is the last day of summer vacation.  We could be sad about that, but fortunately we have something to celebrate.  This morning I was informed that today is Eva's first birthday and we need to have a party.  I have been asked to bake an actual cake that contains all of her favorite foods, which  basically include things like organic corn, and seeds, and nuts.   Eva is a hamster, by the way.  She belongs to  my 9 year-old daughter, who is taking this whole thing very seriously.  I've just spent the last 15 minutes googling "cake corn seeds nuts", and so far I've come up with a recipe for make-your-own Squirrel Food Cakes and this recipe, known as Sandra Lee's Infamously Gross Kwanzaa Cake.  It's actually made out of angel food cake filled with apple pie filling and frosted with canned chocolate-cinnamon frosting, and then the whole thing is covered with corn nuts, pumpkin seeds, and popcorn.  Hmmm, I wonder if a hamster would eat such a thing?  Would people?  Probably not.  I think I'll make Eva some cornbread and call it a day.  We can put a candle in it and pretend it's cake.  I'm sure she'll love it.

Today's menu has therefore been planned around cornbread, and here it is:

Turkey and Sausage Jambalaya

Roasted Cauliflower

Simple Green Salad with Creamy Buttermilk Dressing

Honey-Moist Cornbread  

    My grocery store sells turkey medallions which I will cut into pieces and brown with the oil and onion, instead of using the shredded turkey called for in the recipe.  I don't happen to have any shredded turkey handy right now.  I will also substitute lowfat milk for the half-and-half in the cornbread recipe (it still turns out moist as can be.)  And if I run out of time or motivation, I might use a bottled salad dressing.  Or a Jiffy corn muffin mix.  We'll see what happens.

    Now yesterday was Labor Day.  I think it's supposed to be a day of rest, but my husband took it literally, and we spent the day cleaning, re-organizing, assembling, disassembling, and visiting multiple home-improvement stores.  It was overcast and rainy, but my husband still wanted to grill, so we made the following Labor Day Barbecue Menu:

Brown Sugar-Brined Pork Chops with Peach Barbecue Sauce

Potato and Green Bean Salad with Bacon

Cucumbers in Sour Cream

I used little red new potatoes for the salad, because they're prettier and easier to find, and light sour cream for the cucumbers.  The pork chops are wonderful -- the ingredients for the sauce did seem like an odd combination, and I was little worried that it wouldn't turn out, but it was great.  I chopped the peaches into much smaller pieces than the recipe says to because I didn't want the sauce to be too chunky.  I would definitely recommend doing that.

Well, school starts tomorrow and we have to run out to pick up a few last-minute school supplies, as well as a present for Eva.  I wonder what every hamster wants for their birthday?

The Week in Review: August 27-September 2

Here's a recap of last week's dinner menus.  I promised six, so I included the menu I served last Monday night as well (see recipes below).



Dinner Menus: Week of August 27

Monday: Tuscan Tuna Salad, Warm Dinner Rolls, Oven-Baked Peaches

Tuesday: Mexican Stuffed Shells, Corn off the Cob, Green Salad with Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette

Wednesday: Grilled New York Strip Steaks with Corn and Tomato Relish; Horseradish Potato Salad; Grilled Asparagus

Thursday:  Assorted Subs; Potato Chips; Crudite and Dip; Cantaloupe

Friday: Sauteed Chicken Breasts with Asparagus, Lemons, and Capers; Herbed Rice; Honey Glazed Carrots

Saturday: Buffalo Chicken Sliders; Coleslaw; Watermelon



Tuscan Tuna Salad:

2 Tablespoons plus 1/4 cup olive oil
4 ounces French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
2 large garlic cloves, crushed with side of chef's knife
1/2 pound green beans, trimmed
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 Tablespoons capers, drained and chopped
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 can (12 ounces) solid white tuna in water, drained and broken into large pieces
1 can (16 ounces) cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 bag mixed salad greens
1 small red onion, thinly sliced

1. In a large non-stick skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons oil over medium heat.  Add bread cubes and garlic, stirring occasionally, until bread is lightly browned.  Remove skillet from heat; discard  garlic.

2. In medium saucepan, bring 1 inch of water to a boil.  Add green beans; return to boil, then reduce heat to low, and simmer 5-10 minutes or until tender-crisp.   Drain and rinse under cold water to cool slightly.

3. In large salad bowl, whisk vinegar, capers, sugar, mustard, salt, pepper, and 1/4 cup oil until blended.  Add tuna, cannellini beans, tomatoes, salad greens, tomatoes, red onion, green beans, and croutons; toss to serve.  Makes 4 main-dish servings.

Oven Baked Peaches:

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar, divided
3 Tablespoons butter, divided
6 medium peaches, peeled and halved; or 2 (16-ounce) cans peach halves, drained
1/2 cup orange juice

1. Sprinkle half of sugar in bottom of 12x8-inch baking dish and dot with 2 Tablespoons butter.  Top with peaches.  Pour orange juice over peaches and sprinkle with remaining sugar.  Dot with remaining butter.  Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.  Serves 6.

Family Fun Day

I have no time to cook today.  Let me rephrase that in a way that is somewhat more truthful.  I have no wish to cook today.  I have a wish to go to the park with my family and walk along the nature trails and take a ride in a paddle boat.  After all, today is the first day of September and we have to make the most of these summer days while we can.  So that is what we're going to do.   Then later, I have some serious baking to do.  You know how sometimes you get an e-mail from someone over at the church asking if you would like to donate a baked good for an event this Sunday that you will also be working at, and you get so excited about the opportunity to bake something for someone, that you immediately volunteer to bake not one, but three, possibly four items, because you have five hundred thousand recipes for baked goods that you've been dying to try, but never have because then you would eat them -- all of them?  I know.  I have issues.  Anyway,  that's what happened to me.

So, I could just pick something up for dinner, but I already did that on Thursday and if I do it again so soon I will feel guilty.  So, here is what needs to happen: I need to pick something up, but do so in a way that will seem like I actually cooked something.  Enter: the store-bought rotisserie chicken.  And here's what we're going to do with it:

Buffalo Chicken Sliders

Coleslaw

Watermelon

To make my life easy, I will just buy some coleslaw dressing and a package of coleslaw mix, and I will buy the watermelon already cut.  I don't actually have a formal recipe for the Sliders for you, but here is a list of ingredients, and the basic assembly method:

Rotisserie chicken, shredded
Buffalo wing sauce
finely chopped celery
cucumber slices
Blue cheese dressing (or Ranch for the kids, if they don't like blue cheese)
slider buns

Heat the chicken and celery with a little of the wing sauce (start out sparingly -- you can always add more, but you can't take it out once it's in there.)  Spread a little blue cheese dressing on the slider buns.  Top with the chicken mixture and some cucumber slices. 

And that's all there is to it.  Maybe we'll have a fire later and make some s'mores.  We've been experimenting with s'mores lately -- using different kinds of chocolate bars in place of the standard Hershey bar.  So far we have tried Ghirardelli Caramel Squares and Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  Both  were really good, but I still think you can't beat the Hershey Bar.  Anyway, it's time to get moving --have a great day!