Week of June 27, 2016

Sun Grilled Burgers
Mon - Cuban Sandwiches
Tue - Nachos
Wed - Chicken Cacciatore - slow cooker version
Thur - Thai Chicken Skewers and Coconut Rice
Fri - Quiche Lorriane 

Perfect Grilled Burgers: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/perfect-grilled-burgers-recipe/index.html

Cuban Sandwiches

1 lb deli sliced smoked ham

1 lb deli sliced honey ham

4 sandwich rolls, split (something chewy and crusty)

4-8 slices of cheese (I like colby or swiss)

Dill Pickle Slices

Mayo

Stone Ground Mustard

To assemble sandwiches, cut rolls in half, spread mayo on side of rolls and mustard on the other. Put 2-3 pickle slices on one side. Lay cheese slices on one side of rolls (1-2 slices), then a few slices of each type of ham on the cheese.

Nachos
8 oz corn tortilla chips
1 16 oz can black beans
1 7 oz can mexican-style corn
2-3 cups shredded mexican blend cheese
1 cup chunky salsa

• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 cup green onion, chopped
• 1 tomato, diced
• Preheat oven to 375F. Layer chips, beans, corn, salsa and cheese on a baking sheet. Bake 5-10 minutes until warm and the cheese is melted. Top with green onion, tomato, and dollops of sour cream.

chicken cacciatore

Ingredients

4 chicken breast halves or thighs (about 2-3 lbs)

1 tsp each salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 medium onion, thinly sliced

1 bell pepper, thinly sliced

1 tbsp capers

2 carrots, sliced

1/2 pound white mushrooms, thinly sliced

2 garlic cloves, pressed

1/2 cup dry red wine

1/2 cup chicken broth

1 (14 1/2-ounce) can diced tomatoes in juice

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes or more to taste

Directions

Rinse the chicken and pat dry with paper towels. Brown chicken in 2 tbsp oil in an oven safe pot. Remove chicken after skin is browned. Add veggies to pot and cook until onions are soft. Place chicken back and add other ingredients. Bring to boil then set in a 350F oven for 2 hours, or until chicken is fork tender. Serve with pasta or rice.

Slow cooker directions: Place ingredients in Slow Cooker. Cook on High for 6 hours, stirring occasionally and checking fluid level. If the liquid gets too low, add more broth.

QUICHE LORRAINE
Ingredients
6 ounces thick cut bacon, diced
4 large eggs
1 cups half-and-half or cream
4 oz cream cheese, room temperature (or warmed in a bowl in the microwave for 20 seconds)
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup grated Gruyere or Swiss (or any other cheese you'd like)1/2 cup wilted spinach (or kale), if desired
Directions
You'll need a 9 in tart pan or 9 in pie pan with pie crust (see below) for this recipe.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Poke crust with fork ("docking"). Bake until the crust is set, 8 to 12 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Leave the oven on.
In a medium skillet, cook the bacon until crisp, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Discard the fat or reserve for another use.
Arrange the bacon, cheese and spinach evenly over the bottom of the baked crust.
Cream (beat vigorously) cream cheese until soft. Add in the eggs, one at a time into cream cheese until mixed, then whisk in half and half. Pour into the prepared crust. Top with additional cheeese if desired.
Bake until the egg mix is golden, puffed, and set - 30 to 35 minutes.
Remove from the oven and let cool on a wire rack for 15 minutes before serving.Flaky Pie Crust
2 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
8 tbsp butter
8 tbsp Crisco shortening
1 tsp white vinegar
2 tbsp - 1/4 cup water
Using a fork or a pastry blender, mix butter, shortening, salt, and flour together until it looks like small beads. Add vinegar and 2 tbsp water and mix until dough forms. If it is too dry to mix add water, a tbsp at a time until it comes together. Roll into a ball, cover with plastic wrap, and let rest 20 minutes (can be refrigerated for up to 3 days). After resting, roll out into 2 circles for your pi

Week of June 19, 2016

Pork Milanese

Sun - Father's Day - Eating Out
Mon - Penne with Vodka Sauce (Food Network)
Tue - Chicken Taco Your Way (Pampered Chef Recipe)
Wed -Caesar Club Sandwiches
Thur - BBQ Steaks - Emma's (daughter's birthday dinner)
Fri - Pork Milanese

Taco your Way (Pampered Chef)

Chicken Taco Your Way (Pampered Chef Recipe)

I like the Chipotle for this, however I like using my own taco seasoning. You can also use any spice mix (any brand).

Ceasar Club Sandwiches

4 ciabatta sandwich rolls

Caesar Salad Dressing

8 slices mozzarella cheese

medium tomato, cut into 8 thin slices

8 Slices Deli turkey

8 Slices salami and/or Prosciutto or other cured meat

1/4 tsp each salt and pepper

1-2 cups clean baby Spinach

Cut each roll in half horizontally. Spread dressing on inside of both halves. Layer each sandwich with cheese, meat, tomato and spinach. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. When grill is heated, place sandwiches(s) on grill. 

White Cheddar Mac and Cheese

2 1/2 cups dry elbow macaroni

3 tbsp butter

3 tbsp flour

3 cups milk

3 cup EACH sharp white cheddar, shredded 

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

Salt and Pepper to taste

Fresh black pepper

Topping (optional): 3 tbsp butter,1 cup bread crumbs. if you desire a crispy topping. Melt the butter in a saute pan and toss the bread crumbs to coat. If adding a topping, preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Boil the pasta to al dente, according to package. The water, like all pasta water, should be salted before hand until it tastes like salt water.

While the pasta is cooking, in a separate pot, melt the butter on a med-high heat. Whisk in the flour, turn down the heat to low, and keep it moving for about 2-5 minutes, until it smells nutty. Make sure it's free of lumps. Turn the heat back up to high and stir in the milk, simmer, stirring constantly, until it starts to bubble. Turn down heat to medium. Stir in cream cheese, until incorporated  Stir in 1/3 of the cheese at a time, waiting for each patch to melt. Season with salt and pepper and nutmeg. Fold the macaroni into the mix. Taste, add more salt and pepper if needed. May serve now

OR  if desired, bake to get a crispy crust: pour into a 2-quart casserole dish. top with extra cheese and/or topping. Bake for 10-30 minutes, until hot and bubbly. Remove from oven and rest for five minutes before serving. (baked option showed above).

Kale and Grain Salad

Pork Milanese
2 lbs boneless thin sliced pork loin or chops
3/4 plus 1/4 cup  milk
1 egg
Oil to coat the bottom of the pan (veg or canola)
1 lemon (zest and juice)
flour coating:
1 cup AP flour
1 tbsp seasoning salt (such as Johnny's)
1 tsp onion powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp garlic salt
breading coating
1 cup bread crumbs (I use Progresso Italian)
1/4 cup Kraft Parmesan cheese
1 tbsp lemon zest
.
To bread the meat you will need: 2 bowls, 2 paper plates, 1 non-stick cooling rack covered with parchment paper, a fork. Set up the assembly line: bowl with  milk, paper plate with flour coating, bowl with 1 egg and 1/4 cup milk beaten together, paper plate with crumb coating, and last the cooling rack. One piece at a time, dip in milk, place on the flour and coat. Dip in the egg mix. the place on the crumb mix and coat. Lay on the cooling rack until all chops are breaded.
To cook the chops, heat the oil in a large skillet on med-high heat. Add peices one at a time, being careful not to splatter yourself. Cover, and cook for 5-10 minutes or until the bottom side is golden brown and top is starting to turn from pink to white. Turn and cook until done. Middle of meat should reach 160F. Let rest 5 minutes on the cooling rack (without parchment) to drain oil. Squeeze fresh lemon juice on top when serving.
Serving with Kale and Quinoa Salad and Spaghetti with olive oil (prepared according to box, dressed with olive oil after draining).

June 5, 2016

Mon - Bacon Linguine Toss (Pampered Chef)
Tue - Beef Enchiladas

BLT

Wed - Pork Chops
Thur - Easy Pasta Primevara
Fri - Beer Can Chicken
Sat -Grilled Chicken Salad 

Burgundy Beef
    1 tablespoon butter 

1 boneless beef sirloin steak, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch pieces 
1 can (10 1/2 ounces) Campbell's® Mushroom Gravy 
1 1/2 cups frozen whole baby carrots 
1/2 cup frozen whole small white onions 
1/4 cup tomato paste 
1/4 cup Burgundy wine or other dry red wine 
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder 
1/2 of a 12-ounce package medium egg noodles (about 4 cups), cooked and drained 
Chopped fresh parsley 

Heat the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook until well browned, stirring often.  Pour off any fat. Stir the gravy, carrots, onions, tomato paste, wine and garlic powder in the skillet and heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and cook for 10 minutes or until the beef is cooked through.  Serve the beef mixture over the noodles.  Sprinkle with the parsley.

Beef Enchiladas

1 lb ground beef, browned and drained

1 (7 oz) can El Pato Salsa de Chile Fresco sauce

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

10 - 12 corn tortillas (taco size)

10 - 16 oz Shredded Cheese

Mix sauces and spices in a bowl, and set aside. Warm the tortillas in the microwave for 30-60 seconds until flexible.

Spray a 9x13 rectangular baking pan with oil. To assemble the enchiladas, place tortilla in the pan, fill with a spoonful of beef, sauce mixture, and a sprinkling of cheese. Roll the tortilla up with the open side down. Repeat until pan is full. I usually do 12 total - 8 down lengthwise, an two sets of two on the side of the pan. Spread the rest of the sauce mix over the top. Sprinkle with cheese.

Heat in 350F degree oven for about 30 minutes, until the cheese is melted and the middle is hot.

NOTE: the sauce is spicy, taste before mixing. If you prefer less spicy you can substitute more tomato sauce or use canned enchilada sauce instead.

The Pampered Chef ® Bacon, Linguini & Tomato Toss Recipe

12 slices bacon, divided   4 cups (1 L) chicken broth   2 cans (14.5 oz each)  Italian-style diced tomatoes (3½ cups/875 mL)   1 medium onion    4 garlic cloves, pressed   1/2 tsp (2 mL) crushed red pepper flakes (optional)   12 oz (350 g) uncooked linguini pasta   1/4 tsp (1 mL) salt   1 cup (250 mL) loosely packed fresh parsley, divided   4 oz (125 g) cream cheese   1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated  Halved grape tomatoes (optional)

Slice bacon crosswise into 1/4-in. (6-mm) strips using Santoku Knife. Place into (12-in./30-cm) Skillet; cook over medium-high heat 8-9 minutes or until crisp. Remove bacon from Skillet; drain on paper towels. Drain Skillet, leaving 1 tbsp (15 mL) drippings in Skillet. Meanwhile, place broth and diced tomatoes in Large Micro-Cooker®. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 6-8 minutes or until hot; carefully remove from microwave. On clean Cutting Board, finely chop onion usingFood Chopper. Return Skillet to heat; add garlic pressed with Garlic Press and pepper flakes, if desired. Cook 10-20 seconds or until fragrant. Add onion; cook 2-3 minutes or until onion is tender. Carefully add broth mixture, pasta, half of the bacon and salt. Simmer, covered, 9-10 minutes or until pasta is almost cooked but still firm, stirring occasionally. Finely chop parsley using Chef's Knife; reserve 1 tbsp (15 mL) for garnish. Cut cream cheese into cubes. Grate Parmesan cheese using Rotary Grater. Cut grape tomatoes in half, if using. Remove Skillet from heat. Stir in remaining parsley, cream cheese and grape tomatoes, if desired. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes or until pasta is tender and sauce is thickened. Serve with remaining bacon, Parmesan cheese and reserved parsley.

EASY Primevera

12 ounces fusilli (corkscrew) or bow tie pasta

1/2 pound broccoli florets and/or squash/zucchini

2 carrots, julienned

1 bell pepper, cut into thin strips

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

4 cloves of garlic, pressed

1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

1 jar (15 oz) of your favorite Alfredo or Parmesan cheese sauce (I use Bertolli)

salt and pepper

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook as the label directs. Add the squash and/or broccoli, carrots and bell pepper to the boiling water during the last 2 minutes of cooking. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, then drain the pasta and vegetables and return to the pot.

Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until just fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, red pepper flakes and 1 teaspoon salt; cook until the tomatoes begin to wilt, about 2 minutes. Stir in 1/4 cup of the reserved cooking water. Pour the tomato mixture over the pasta and vegetables. 

WARM option: Add the entire jar of cheese sauce and toss to combine. Season with salt and fresh ground pepper as needed. COOL option: allow pasta and veggies to cool. Toss with 1/2 the cheese sauce OR extra virgin olive oil and grated cheese.