Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post includes Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Showing posts with label French Green Beans and Shallots. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Green Beans and Shallots. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2025
Monday, December 11, 2023
Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with Christmas recipes, and include Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Monday, December 12, 2022
Christmas Recipes - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with Christmas recipes, and include Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Monday, December 13, 2021
Christmas Recipes - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with Christmas recipes, and include Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Monday, December 21, 2020
Christmas Recipes - Double-Post Monday
Besides being Meatless Monday, it's also time for a Double-Post Monday. Today's double post deals with Christmas recipes, and include Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
How does Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Thursday, December 19, 2019
Christmas Recipes - Double-Post Thursday
Besides being Diabetic Thursday, it's also time for a Double-Post Thursday. Today's double post deals with Christmas recipes, and include Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Butternut Squash with Cranberries and Hot Chocolate Cheesecake. Enjoy!
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
TORRISI TURKEY
This is from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “The roast turkey breast that Rich Torrisi and Mario Carbone serve for lunch at their restaurant Parm in New York City is about the moistest, most luxuriously flavorful turkey available on the planet: rich and buttery, deep with rich turkey taste. They wrap a brined breast in plastic wrap and aluminum foil and place it in an intensely humid low-temperature oven that leaves the meat dense with moisture, heavy with flavor. Then they paint a glaze of honey and roasted garlic on the meat and place it in a hot, dry oven to create a crust. The result is turkey that tastes emphatically of turkey. And you can do it at home.”
Time: 4 hours, plus marinating; Yield: 12 servings
This was featured in “Chefs’ Tips for the Thanksgiving Meal”, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014108-torrisi-turkey.
Ingredients
For Brining the Turkey:
1 cup kosher salt
1 cup sugar
2 boneless turkey breasts, 3 to 4 1/2 pounds each
For the Glaze:
8 heads garlic, lightly smashed but intact
4 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon pepper
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
Preparation
To brine the turkey: In a medium saucepan, bring 2 quarts water to a boil with the salt and sugar. Pour into a large pot, and add 2 quarts cold water. Once the brine is cool, submerge the turkey breasts and refrigerate overnight, or up to 24 hours.
To make the glaze: Heat oven to 375 degrees. Toss the garlic heads with the olive oil in a small casserole dish, cover and roast until the garlic is soft, about 1 hour and 10 minutes. Leave covered until cool enough to handle, then squeeze the garlic cloves from their skins into a food processor and purée. Add the honey, salt and pepper. Cover until ready to use.
To cook the turkey: Heat oven to 250 degrees. Remove the breasts from the brine and wrap each one four times in plastic wrap and once in aluminum foil. Insert an oven-safe thermometer into the center of one breast and place both on a wire rack in a roasting pan. Add water to reach to just below the rack. Cook until the internal temperature reaches 135 degrees, 2 to 3 hours. Near the end of cooking time, fill a large bowl halfway with ice water.
Remove the turkey from oven and raise temperature to 425 degrees. Without removing thermometer or wrapping, submerge the turkey in the ice bath for 5 minutes. Remove foil, plastic wrap and turkey skin. Pat dry and brush glaze liberally on all sides of the breasts. Roast until glaze is golden, 15 to 20 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh thyme and serve thinly sliced, hot or cold.
Enjoy!
ROAST TURKEY PAV
This is from Tejal Rao on The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Tejal wrote, “This dish was inspired in equal measures by a cluttered refrigerator on the day after the Thanksgiving, and the pav bhaji of western India — a gloriously spiced mash of vegetables served with buttery, toasted buns. It works beautifully with roast turkey meat, cut into small pieces, though it's ideal for scraps of meat pulled off the turkey carcass after making stock, giving them a second life and infusing them with flavor. Serve the dish with garnishes of cilantro and red onion on the side, allowing people to determine their own ratios, or take control and garnish the whole pan yourself. Either way, don't skip buttering and toasting those rolls.”
Time: 35 minutes; Yield: 4 servings
This was featured in “Here Comes the Best Part of Thanksgiving: Leftovers, and can be viewed online at https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1019055-roast-turkey-pav.
Ingredients
3 tablespoons grapeseed oil
1/2 pound roast turkey meat, chopped finely, or pulled from carcass after making stock
Kosher salt
1 white onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 1/2-inch piece ginger, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
1 beefsteak tomato, chopped
1/3 cup frozen peas (optional)
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1 1/2 teaspoons garam masala
1 lime, cut into 4 wedges
To Assemble:
4 potato rolls
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
Handful of cilantro, chopped
1/4 red onion, finely chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
Preparation
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add pulled turkey and let cook until it becomes light brown and crisp in places, stirring occasionally. Season lightly with salt, then scrape meat, and as much of the browned pieces at the bottom of the pan as you can, into a small bowl.
In the same pan, without washing it, add the chopped onion and 1 tablespoon oil, and turn the heat down to medium, scraping up any remaining turkey meat and mixing it into the onions. Sauté until the onion is very soft and translucent, about 5 minutes, then add the garlic, ginger, serrano chile and turmeric and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add turkey, tomatoes, peas and 1/3 cup water, and stir well. When almost all of the liquid has evaporated, and the peas, if using, are tender (about 8 minutes), add garam masala and a generous squeeze of lime juice. Mix well and loosen with a splash of water if the pan is starting to get dry. Simmer for 2 minutes. Taste and adjust with salt and more lime, if needed, then turn off the heat.
Open the rolls and lightly butter them. In a separate pan, over medium heat, place the rolls cut-side down and let them sit untouched until they’re evenly golden brown; flip to lightly brown the other side. Transfer rolls to a plate. Garnish the turkey mixture with chopped cilantro and onion, and serve warm with toasted rolls and remaining lime on the side. (Alternately, transfer the turkey into a serving bowl and serve with onion, cilantro and lime in separate bowls on the side.)
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
ROASTED BRUSSELS SPROUTS AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH WITH CRANBERRIES
I’ve always loved brussels sprouts (unlike the first President Bush; sorry!). And onions? Cranberries? Definitely on all of the above.
This recipe comes from Diana Rattray, who writes for The Spruce Eats. Diana wrote, “The combination of ingredients in this dish might make you think fall or winter, but don't wait for a holiday dinner to enjoy these delicious roasted vegetables.
“Change things up a bit by using raisins instead of the cranberries. Toasted walnuts would be great as well. See the tips and variations for more ideas.” Prep Time: 20 minutes; Cook Time: 20 minutes; Total Time: 40 minutes; Yield: 6 to 8 Servings
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
1 pound butternut squash
3 to 4 cups Brussels sprouts
1 medium onion
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup pecan halves
Preparation
Heat the oven to 425° F.
Oil a large rimmed baking sheet (half-sheet pan) or two smaller jelly roll pans.
Peel the butternut squash and, using a spoon, scoop out the seeds and fibers. Cut the squash into 1/2-inch cubes. Put about 4 cups of cubes into a large bowl.
Trim the stem ends off of the Brussels sprouts and removed loose, damaged, and yellow leaves. Cut the sprouts in half lengthwise.
Add them to the bowl with the squash cubes.
Peel the onion and cut it into 1-inch chunks or thick slices. Add to the bowl with the squash and Brussels sprouts.
Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and gently toss or stir to coat them thoroughly with the oil.
Arrange the vegetables on the baking sheet and then sprinkle lightly with kosher salt, pepper, and garlic powder, if using.
Bake in the preheated oven for about 10 minutes and then turn the vegetables. Continue baking for 10 to 15 minutes longer, or until the vegetables are browned around the edges and are tender.
Meanwhile, toast the pecan halves. Heat a large dry skillet over medium heat. Add the pecans and cook, stirring, until the pecans begin to brown and smell aromatic.
Transfer the roasted vegetables to a large bowl. Add the dried cranberries and pecan halves and toss gently to combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Serve immediately.
Tips and Variations
Replace the butternut squash with the same amount of cubed acorn, Hubbard, or buttercup squash.
Feel free to omit the onion.
Replace about 1 cup of the butternut squash with parsnips sliced into strips about 1/2-inch-by-2-inches.
Drizzle the roasted vegetables with 1 to 2 tablespoons of maple syrup; add the pecans and cranberries and toss gently to combine.
Replace the toasted pecans with toasted slivered almonds or walnuts.
Use raisins or golden raisins instead of dried cranberries.
STIR-FRIED VEGETABLES
This came from an old Weight Watchers email several years ago. 1 point/serving (old value). Serves 4. Adding 1 C each of baby corn & water chestnuts changes recipe to 2 points/serving. (*) foods are filling foods.
Ingredients
1 spray cooking spray
2 tsp sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 C sugar snap peas or pea pods, trimmed (*)
2 C carrots, thinly diagonally sliced (*)
2 scallions, chopped (*)
1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
2 Tbsp chopped cilantro (optional)
Directions
Coat wok or large nonstick skillet with cooking spray & set over medium-high heat. Add oil & heat. Add garlic & stir-fry 1 minute. Add sugar snap peas, carrots & scallions; stir-fry 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add soy sauce & cook until vegetables are crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Remove from heat & stir in cilantro. Yields about 1/2 C per serving.
HOT CHOCOLATE CHEESECAKE
Hot Chocolate Cheesecake sound? Yum!
This comes from The Food Network Kitchen, and starts off, “Use your leftover hot chocolate or cocoa mix in both the crust and the filling of this super-rich cheesecake that tastes just like the classic drink.” Total Time: 3 hr 45 min; Prep: 30 min; Inactive: 45 min; Cook: 2hr 30 min; Yield: 12 to 14 servings; Level: Easy
Read more at: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/hot-chocolate-cheesecake.html?oc=linkback
Ingredients
Crust:
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus more butter for the pan
9 graham crackers (about 1 sleeve)
1/4 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
Pinch fine salt
Filling:
Four 8-ounce packages cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup hot chocolate or cocoa mix
1 cup sour cream
6 large eggs, at room temperature
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 marshmallows
Directions
Special equipment: a 9-inch springform pan
For the crust: Position a rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 325 degrees F. Butter the inside of a 9-inch springform pan.
Pulse the graham crackers in a food processor until finely ground. Add the butter, hot chocolate mix and salt, and pulse until the mixture comes together and holds its shape when squeezed. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan, and press it into the bottom to make an even layer. Bake until the crust is just firm, about 10 minutes. Let cool completely. Place the pan on a large piece of foil, and fold the foil up the sides of the pan. (This helps seal the pan, to keep water out while baking.)
For the filling: Wipe out the food processor. Pulse the cream cheese, sugar, hot chocolate mix and sour cream until completely smooth, without any lumps, scraping down the side of the bowl a few times. Add the eggs and vanilla, and pulse until incorporated. Pour the filling into the crust, and set the pan inside a roasting pan. Fill the roasting pan with enough hot water to go halfway up the side of the springform pan (but not above the foil).
Bake the cheesecake until the edge is set but the center jiggles slightly (when you gently shake the pan, the cheesecake should move in a cohesive wave motion), 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Turn the oven off, and open the door for a few seconds to let out some heat. Close the door, and let the cheesecake sit in the oven until cooked completely through, 1 hour more.
Transfer the springform pan to a cooling rack. Run a knife around the edge, and let the cheesecake cool to room temperature. Wrap and refrigerate overnight or up to 2 days.
Before serving, cut the marshmallows on the diagonal, and arrange them, cut-side down, in a neat line all over the top edge of the cheesecake.
Friday, December 8, 2017
Friday Recipes
Here are today's six recipes to help you through the day, including Chicken Paprikash and Pumpkin Spice Scones. Enjoy!
AWESOME SLOW COOKIER POT ROAST PLUS EXTRAS
This was posted on Allrecipes.com by “The Boss of Sauce (TBOS)”. The recipe begins, "This simple pot roast makes its own gravy in the slow cooker. As a single parent to girls, I am always trying to get the food groups into my abbreviated meals. I threw in potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini to add to the original base recipe. They love stew, so this leads them in that direction, but is still a roast. It was a hit. I hope you enjoy it!" Time: 3 hours 15 minutes; makes 16 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 1/4 cups water
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
5 1/2 pounds pot roast
2 potatoes, cut into cubes
2 carrots, sliced and halved
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
Directions
Stir cream of mushroom soup, water, and dry onion soup mix together in a slow cooker. Set pot roast into the soup mixture and spoon liquid over the meat. Add potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini.
Cook on High until the beef is cooked through, 3 to 4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F. You can also cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours.
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Spices lose their flavor over time but few as quickly as paprika, which starts out tasting of pepper and sunshine but deteriorates in but a few months to sawdust and bitterness. For this recipe, get some new at the market: sweet or hot Hungarian paprika is best, but the generic article isn’t terrible and the smoky Spanish varieties known as pimentón de La Vera would not be out of place either, lending a deep, woodsy aroma reminiscent of cooking over an open fire. It’s a dish that pairs beautifully with butter-slicked egg noodles.” Yield: Serves 4 - 6; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, or whole chicken legs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika, sweet or hot, or a combination
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 large ripe tomato, chopped
1 cup chicken broth, homemade or, if not, low-sodium
1 pound egg noodles
3/4 cup sour cream
Preparation
Heat oven to 400. Season the chicken aggressively with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, heavy, oven-safe sauté pan or Dutch oven set over high flame, until the butter is foaming. Sear the chicken in batches, skin-side down, until it is golden and crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the chicken over, and repeat on the other side, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate to rest.
Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the accumulated fat in the pot. Return the pot to the stove, over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a spoon to scrape off any browned bits of chicken skin, until the onion has softened and gone translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir again, cooking it until it has softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the paprika and the flour, and stir well to combine, then cook until the mixture is fragrant and the taste of the flour has been cooked out, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes and broth, whisk until smooth and then nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up. Slide the pan or pot into the oven, and cook until the chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set a large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Cook noodles in the water until they are almost completely tender, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with the remaining butter, then toss again to coat.
Place the chicken on top of the noodles, then add the sour cream to the sauce, stir to combine and ladle it over the whole.
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES
This absolute yumminess comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra). If you haven’t checked out her blog, I highly recommend doing so, along with subscribing to it. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Imagine the sound of me tapping my foot….) Did you ? Great, if you did. If you didn’t, check it out sometime.
Okay, Audra starts off by writing, “Let’s grab a cup of coffee and a scone, what do you say? It’s been a long day, and right now I just want something delicious and a warm cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound lovely? And, since pumpkin season seems to be at it’s peak, how about these tender, melt-in-your-mouth, Pumpkin Spice Scones? Oh these were so good. Everything you want in a scone really. Nothing dense or tough about these babies- just fall baked good perfection.” At the end of the recipe, Audra, added, “This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 scones. Yum!
To view this online at Audra’s blog, click here.
Ingredients
For the Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks
1/2 cup pumpkin pureé
3 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer
1 large egg
For the Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer
dash of cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F. Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a sil-pat. Set aside.
In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices.
Add the butter, and use a pastry blender or your hands to break down the butter chunks until they are no bigger than the size of a pea. (I like to use my hands and work them in.)
Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the pumpkin and creamer. Stir gently until dough just comes together. (It may seem dry)
Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until dough has moistened and is a cohesive ball.
Shape into a 6-7 inch circle, about 2 inches thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges, and arrange on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until scones are just golden on the edges. Allow them to cool slightly while you make the glaze.
For the glaze:
Whisk together the powdered sugar, creamer, and cinnamon until smooth and thick. Drizzle over the scones and enjoy warm or room temperature.
SALTED MAPLE CHESS PIE
This also comes from The Baker Chick.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Single layer Pie Crust*
4 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, cooled
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Flakey sea salt (Like Maldon)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F.
In a large bowl beat the eggs until fluffy and blended. Add in the cream, vanilla, maple syrup and brown sugar, mixing on medium high until smooth. Add butter, cornmeal and vinegar and mix everything until smooth and free of any clumps or streaks.
Roll your pie crust into a 11 inch circle and drape onto your pie plate.crimp or flute the edges with a fork or your fingers.
Pour the filling into the pie shell. Bake at 425F for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 325F and bake for 40 minutes until the edges are set but the middle is still wobbly. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
Allow to cool completely before serving, or chill and serve cold. Serve plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Notes
*If you'd like to add the braided crust like I did, I recommend making 1½ times the regular pie crust recipe. Having a little extra allows you to try a few times and use your favorite braid on the crust. To attach it, brush the edge of your crust with egg wash and then gently press it on. Then brush the whole this with the egg wash and chill for 20 minutes before baking.
**If you like a crisper crust on the bottom, I recommend par baking the crust before adding the filling. Fill with parchment and beans or pie weights and then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment and then add your filling.
SPICY PUMPKIN PIE
Servings: 8
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/154.shtml
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=154
Ingredients
1 (9-inch) pastry shell
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cup pumpkin (canned)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs; beaten
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 cup low-fat milk
1/4 tsp Salt
3 tbsp liquid cal-free sweetener
1 pinch ground cloves
2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
Light vanilla ice cream
Directions
Prick pastry shell with a fork. Bake in 450F oven for 8 min.
Stir together pumpkin, egg, milk, sweetener, sugar and seasonings. Pour into partially baked pie shell.
Bake in 350F oven for 50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool slightly and then refrigerate.
Cut into 8 wedges and serve each with 2 tbsp light vanilla ice cream.
Nutritional Information Per Serving; Calories: 173; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1-1/2 Fat, 1 Dairy, 1/2 Fruit
AWESOME SLOW COOKIER POT ROAST PLUS EXTRAS
This was posted on Allrecipes.com by “The Boss of Sauce (TBOS)”. The recipe begins, "This simple pot roast makes its own gravy in the slow cooker. As a single parent to girls, I am always trying to get the food groups into my abbreviated meals. I threw in potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini to add to the original base recipe. They love stew, so this leads them in that direction, but is still a roast. It was a hit. I hope you enjoy it!" Time: 3 hours 15 minutes; makes 16 servings.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
2 (10.75 ounce) cans condensed cream of mushroom soup
1 1/4 cups water
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
5 1/2 pounds pot roast
2 potatoes, cut into cubes
2 carrots, sliced and halved
1 yellow squash, sliced
1 zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced
Directions
Stir cream of mushroom soup, water, and dry onion soup mix together in a slow cooker. Set pot roast into the soup mixture and spoon liquid over the meat. Add potatoes, carrots, yellow squash, and zucchini.
Cook on High until the beef is cooked through, 3 to 4 hours. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F. You can also cook on Low for 5 to 6 hours.
CHICKEN PAPRIKASH
This comes from Sam Sifton in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Sam wrote, “Spices lose their flavor over time but few as quickly as paprika, which starts out tasting of pepper and sunshine but deteriorates in but a few months to sawdust and bitterness. For this recipe, get some new at the market: sweet or hot Hungarian paprika is best, but the generic article isn’t terrible and the smoky Spanish varieties known as pimentón de La Vera would not be out of place either, lending a deep, woodsy aroma reminiscent of cooking over an open fire. It’s a dish that pairs beautifully with butter-slicked egg noodles.” Yield: Serves 4 - 6; Time: 1 hour.
This was featured in “The Fresher the Spice, the Better the Chicken Paprikash” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
3 to 4 pounds chicken thighs and drumsticks, or whole chicken legs
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon neutral oil, like canola
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 large yellow or Spanish onion, peeled and diced
3 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
3 tablespoons Hungarian paprika, sweet or hot, or a combination
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup canned crushed tomatoes or 1 large ripe tomato, chopped
1 cup chicken broth, homemade or, if not, low-sodium
1 pound egg noodles
3/4 cup sour cream
Preparation
Heat oven to 400. Season the chicken aggressively with salt and pepper. Heat the oil and 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large, heavy, oven-safe sauté pan or Dutch oven set over high flame, until the butter is foaming. Sear the chicken in batches, skin-side down, until it is golden and crisp, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Then turn the chicken over, and repeat on the other side, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Remove chicken to a plate to rest.
Pour off all but a tablespoon or 2 of the accumulated fat in the pot. Return the pot to the stove, over medium heat, and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently with a spoon to scrape off any browned bits of chicken skin, until the onion has softened and gone translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the garlic, and stir again, cooking it until it has softened, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the paprika and the flour, and stir well to combine, then cook until the mixture is fragrant and the taste of the flour has been cooked out, approximately 4 to 5 minutes.
Add tomatoes and broth, whisk until smooth and then nestle the chicken back in the pan, skin-side up. Slide the pan or pot into the oven, and cook until the chicken has cooked through and the sauce has thickened slightly, approximately 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, set a large pot of heavily salted water to boil over high heat. Cook noodles in the water until they are almost completely tender, approximately 7 to 8 minutes. Drain the noodles, and toss them in a bowl with the remaining butter, then toss again to coat.
Place the chicken on top of the noodles, then add the sour cream to the sauce, stir to combine and ladle it over the whole.
FRENCH GREEN BEANS AND SHALLOTS
This is from Jacques Pepin, also in The New York Times cooking e-newsletter. Jacques wrote, “These are perfect green beans: simple flavors combined into an elegant dish that goes with almost anything. Mr. Pepin suggests a roast chicken, but they would pair equally well with a celebratory roast.” Yield: 4 servings; Time: 21 minutes.
This was featured in “The Chicken Dinner, Both Humble and Noble” and can be viewed online here.
Ingredients
4 cups water
1 pound very small, firm green beans, cleaned
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons peeled and chopped shallots
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Preparation
Bring the water to a boil. Add the beans and cover the pot. Continue cooking the beans, covered, for 3 to 5 minutes until tender but firm. Drain and rinse under cold water.
At serving time, heat the butter in a skillet, add the shallots and saute for about 1 minute, until the shallots start to brown.
Add the beans, salt and pepper, and saute briefly. Sprinkle with lemon juice and serve with the chicken.
PUMPKIN SPICE SCONES
This absolute yumminess comes from The Baker Chick (otherwise known as Audra). If you haven’t checked out her blog, I highly recommend doing so, along with subscribing to it. Go ahead, I’ll wait. (Imagine the sound of me tapping my foot….) Did you ? Great, if you did. If you didn’t, check it out sometime.
Okay, Audra starts off by writing, “Let’s grab a cup of coffee and a scone, what do you say? It’s been a long day, and right now I just want something delicious and a warm cup of coffee. Doesn’t that sound lovely? And, since pumpkin season seems to be at it’s peak, how about these tender, melt-in-your-mouth, Pumpkin Spice Scones? Oh these were so good. Everything you want in a scone really. Nothing dense or tough about these babies- just fall baked good perfection.” At the end of the recipe, Audra, added, “This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.”
Prep Time: 15 minutes; Cook Time: 15 minutes; Total Time: 30 minutes; Yield: 8 scones. Yum!
To view this online at Audra’s blog, click here.
Ingredients
For the Scones:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
6 tablespoons cold butter, cut into chunks
1/2 cup pumpkin pureé
3 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer
1 large egg
For the Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice Creamer
dash of cinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F. Prep a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a sil-pat. Set aside.
In a large bowl stir together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices.
Add the butter, and use a pastry blender or your hands to break down the butter chunks until they are no bigger than the size of a pea. (I like to use my hands and work them in.)
Make a well in the center of the bowl and add the pumpkin and creamer. Stir gently until dough just comes together. (It may seem dry)
Turn dough onto a well-floured surface and knead until dough has moistened and is a cohesive ball.
Shape into a 6-7 inch circle, about 2 inches thick. Cut into 8 equal wedges, and arrange on the cookie sheet.
Bake for 14-16 minutes, or until scones are just golden on the edges. Allow them to cool slightly while you make the glaze.
For the glaze:
Whisk together the powdered sugar, creamer, and cinnamon until smooth and thick. Drizzle over the scones and enjoy warm or room temperature.
SALTED MAPLE CHESS PIE
This also comes from The Baker Chick.
To view this online, click here.
Ingredients
Single layer Pie Crust*
4 eggs, room temperature
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup maple syrup
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick) melted butter, cooled
2 tablespoons cornmeal
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Flakey sea salt (Like Maldon)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425F.
In a large bowl beat the eggs until fluffy and blended. Add in the cream, vanilla, maple syrup and brown sugar, mixing on medium high until smooth. Add butter, cornmeal and vinegar and mix everything until smooth and free of any clumps or streaks.
Roll your pie crust into a 11 inch circle and drape onto your pie plate.crimp or flute the edges with a fork or your fingers.
Pour the filling into the pie shell. Bake at 425F for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 325F and bake for 40 minutes until the edges are set but the middle is still wobbly. Sprinkle generously with flaky sea salt.
Allow to cool completely before serving, or chill and serve cold. Serve plain or with lightly sweetened whipped cream.
Notes
*If you'd like to add the braided crust like I did, I recommend making 1½ times the regular pie crust recipe. Having a little extra allows you to try a few times and use your favorite braid on the crust. To attach it, brush the edge of your crust with egg wash and then gently press it on. Then brush the whole this with the egg wash and chill for 20 minutes before baking.
**If you like a crisper crust on the bottom, I recommend par baking the crust before adding the filling. Fill with parchment and beans or pie weights and then bake for 10 minutes. Remove the parchment and then add your filling.
SPICY PUMPKIN PIE
Servings: 8
View recipe: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/html/154.shtml
Print Friendly: http://diabeticgourmet.com/recipes/bin/print.cgi?ID=154
Ingredients
1 (9-inch) pastry shell
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1-1/2 cup pumpkin (canned)
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 eggs; beaten
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1 cup low-fat milk
1/4 tsp Salt
3 tbsp liquid cal-free sweetener
1 pinch ground cloves
2 tbsp brown sugar, packed
Light vanilla ice cream
Directions
Prick pastry shell with a fork. Bake in 450F oven for 8 min.
Stir together pumpkin, egg, milk, sweetener, sugar and seasonings. Pour into partially baked pie shell.
Bake in 350F oven for 50 minutes or until center is almost set. Cool slightly and then refrigerate.
Cut into 8 wedges and serve each with 2 tbsp light vanilla ice cream.
Nutritional Information Per Serving; Calories: 173; Protein: 5 g; Fat: 9 g; Carbohydrates: 20 g; Exchanges: 1/2 Starch/Bread, 1-1/2 Fat, 1 Dairy, 1/2 Fruit
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