Archive for November, 2009

Potato and Onion Frittata

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It’s been so long since I’ve made a frittata and with an abundance of fresh eggs in the refrigerator last night, I decided this would be the perfect way to use some of them up.  The “eggs for dinner” idea is not new in our house.  In fact, my kids look forward to it.  I usually prepare scrambled eggs, bacon, and sliced fresh melon.  They’ll sometimes help with pouring  batter into the hot waffle iron.  It can be quite a feast.  I confess that I don’t ever serve up these types of hearty breakfasts when it’s actually breakfast.    Sometimes, the smell of homemade corn muffins coming from the oven is just enough to get them all into the kitchen on a Saturday morning.  And, yes it’s just freshly baked corn muffins and not the rest of the buffet mentioned above.

This particular recipe is from Everday Food Great Food Fast, which is a neat little cookbook with full color photos and the recipes are easy to follow.  There’s nothing elaborate in the book and it’s broken up into seasons which really helps in directing us in preparing foods using seasonal produce (those items are at their peak, they cost less and they taste great).  You can purchase the book here.

Potato and Onion Frittata

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, halved and thinly sliced*

1 large red-skinned potato, peeled and thinly sliced*

1/2 tsp dried thyme*

Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

5 large eggs

5 large egg whites

1/2 cup whole flat-leaf parsley

Method

In a medium (10-inch) skillet (I used a well-seasoned Calphalon skillet instead of nonstick), heat 1 tbsp of the oil over medium heat.  Add the onion, potato, and thyme; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine.

Cover the skillet, and cook for 10 minutes; uncover.  Cook, tossing the mixture occasionally, until the onion and potato are tender, about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg whites, parsley leaves, 3/4 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp pepper.

Heat the broiler with a rack set 4 inches from heat.  Add the remaining tbsp oil to the vegetables in the skillet.  Pour the egg mixture into the skillet.

Cook on the stove, over low heat, lifting the mixture a few times around the edges with a spatula to let egg flow underneath.  Continue cooking unil the frittata is almost set in the center, about 10 minutes.

Place the skillet under the broiler; broil until the frittata is set and the top is lightly golden, about 3 minutes.  Run a clean spatula around the edges to loosen, then slide the frittata out onto a serving plate, and cut into wedges.

 

*The original recipe calls for one 8-ounce baking potato, but I had red-skinned.  I cut down on the onions, by using a medium-sized instead of a large onion.  It also calls for rosemary, which I replaced with thyme.

Yield:  4 servings

 

 

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Peppers Stuffed with Italian Sausage

I’ve decided stuffing peppers is quite similar to preparing pasta:  there seem to be endless possibilites with both.  Just like your favorite pasta recipes, stuffing bell peppers (or other varieties of peppers) can be varied according to what you have on hand or what you and your family may be willing to try.   Admittedly, I’m quite a bit more adventurous than the rest of my family members, so this recipe reflects my attempts at trying to “win over” my kids with any type of stuffed pepper.   I told them I was stuffing the peppers with pizza toppings.  At the table they were greeted with mixed results, of course my husband loved the fact that they were filled with sweet, Italian sausage.

During my youth, we saw stuffed peppers on the table at least once a month if not more.  My parents used tradtional fillings and Italian spices and cheeses (I’m sure that this was primarily because my Mom is Italian).  But let me also share that using various flavorings and fillings including cracked wheat (bulgar), quinoa, brown rice or couscous will transform a basic meat-stuffed, cheese-topped  stuffed pepper into something with Spanish, Middle Eastern or Greek  influences (to name a few).  Of course, some of you may leave out the grains and meat altogether to yield a strictly vegetarian outcome.  My point is, peppers are quite versatile and can lend themselves to a delicious main dish or a flavorful, vegetarian side dish.  I confess that I would love to include the latter as something a little more inventive than steaming a vegetable.

You can also look here for a previous post on Stuffed Peppers for additional inspiraton.

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 Peppers Stuffed with Italian Sausage

4 green (or red) bell peppers, cut and seeded (reserving tops)

1 lb sweet Italian sausage (removed from casings)

1/2 cup chopped yellow onion

1 garlic clove, minced

3/4 cup sliced mushrooms

3 tbsp slice Sicilian olives

3 tbsp freshly grated Parmagiano-Reggiano cheese

1/2 tsp dried basil

1 8-ounc can tomato sauce

Kosher salt

1/2 cup freshly grated mozzarella cheese

Method

Par-boil peppers for 5 minutes.  Drain and set aside.

Over medium heat, cook sausage stirring frequently to break up.  Cook until no longer pink.  Drain sausage leaving about 2 tbsp of drippings in pan.  Place drained sausage ino medium-sized mixing bowl.

Add onion to hot pan and saute until soft.  Add garlic and saute for 2 more minutes.  Remove onion-garlic mixture to bowl with sausage.  Add mushrooms and saute until soft and edges are slightly darkened.  Remove from heat and add to mixing bowl, along with next 4 ingredients.  Stir.  Taste for seasoning.  Add salt, if needed.  Fill peppers and add to baking dish.  Top filled peppers with mozarella cheese

Bake in 350 degree oven for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted and lightly golden.

Yield:  4 servings

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Coffee Marinated Flank Steak

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I’m a sucker for a terrific marinade.  I love that they always go together so quickly and then they get popped into the refrigerator while I move through my day.  All of the credit for this amazing marinade (with perfectly tasty results) goes to the Food Network.  My husband enjoyed this one quite a bit and marveled at how tender the meat was.  Well, “marvel” might not be it exactly, but he did comment that it was tender and he doesn’t hand out the compliments readily.  I loved this recipe so much that it may go into regular rotation. 

Coffee Marinated Flank Steak

Ingredients

3 tbsp strong coffee

1 tbsp Balsamic vinegar

1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

1 tbsp brown sugar

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tsp whole black peppercorns, crushed

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1 lb flank steak

 

Method

Whisk all ingredients together, except flank steak.  Place flank steak into zipper top bag and marinate in refrigerator for 1 hour. 

Set oven temperature to 450 degrees.  Remove flank steak from marinade and place inside roasting pan.*  Broil steak for 6 minutes and then turn over.  Broil on other side for 8 minutes.  Let steak rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

Kitchen Note:  Ovens vary widely.  Through trial and error (i.e., a less than perfect flank steak) I’ve learned that the timing referenced above works.  You may need to broil for 1 or 2 minutes longer on the first side.

*I use an Emile Henry roasting pan tobroil flank and skirt steaks and it is perfect for roasting whole chickens too.   Purchase one here.

 

 

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Scalloped Red Potatoes with Leeks

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Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

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Ready to go into the oven.

Potatoes are extremely versatile.  That being said, you almost can’t go wrong with adding in a potato side dish to an evening meal.  I added leeks to my scalloped potatoes because I love their mellow flavor and I like  bit of green peaking out of the layers of potatoes.  In the past, I’ve used a layer or two of slice zucchini which look beautiful particularly if the zucchini rounds are the same size as the slices of potato.  You can experiment by using other varieties of potatoes.

Scalloped Potatoes with Leeks

Ingredients

2 1/2 lbs red potatoes, sliced

2 tbsp unsalted butter

2 leeks, white and light green parts, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup flour

1 1/2 tsp dried thyme

pinch of nutmeg

3/4 tsp Kosher salt

freshly ground black pepper

3 cups milk (I used 1%)

1 1/4 cups swiss cheese, shredded

 

Method

Prepared shallow, 2-quart baking dish with cooking spray.  In a 4-quart Dutch oven, add potatoes, water just to cover potatoes, and salt.  Bring to a boil and and cook for 5 minutes.  Drain potatoes and return to Dutch oven to dry out.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, add butter.  Once melted, add leeks and garlic.  Stir until softened but no color (about 4 to 5 minutes).  Stir in flour and next 4 ingredients.    Add milk and cook over medium heat until sauce begins to thicken and bubbles gently.  Stir in 3/4 cup of shredded cheese.  Remove from heat.  Pour cheese sauce over potatoes and gently fold until potatoes are coated with cheese sauce.  Transfer potatoes to prepared baking dish.  Sprinkle remaining cheese.

Bake in 325 oven for 35 minutes until edges are bubbling and cheese has turned golden. 

Yield:  12 servings

Kitchen Note:  Parmesan cheese may also be added before baking.  Or, replace Swiss with Gruyere.  These potatoes reheat beautifully the next day in the microwave.

 

 

 

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All-time Family Favorite: Rice Krispie Treats

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Don’t Rice Krispie Treats remind you of class parties in elementary school?  It seems that some wonderful Mom was always bringing in Rice Krispie Treats for all of the class to enjoy.  I think Jello Jigglers ran a close second, but who didn’t love a plate of those sticky, marshmallowy  squares arriving for some party.   I think there’s also something wonderful about a recipe, however simple it may be, that evokes those childhood school memories and gives you some time in the kitchen with your kids.  It makes me think that they’ll look back on these times with fondness.

Here’s two things I love about this class recipe:  first, only 3 ingredients and second, everyone seems to love them.  So, for just a few dollars and a short prep time you’ve got a great dessert or an after-school snack. 

Since it is the day before Halloween we decided to get into the spooky spirit with our Rice Krispie Treats.  We topped ours with semi-sweet chocolate, which I melted in the microwave in 30-second intervals.  I stirred it a couple times and then placed it insde a small zipper top bag, snipped the corner off (don’t make the opening too big) and drizzled it over the top.  My kids loved sprinkling on orange and black sprinkles from Wilton.  Each square was then topped off with a black witch silhouette from Martha Stewart Crafts.    When you have very young children  it is helpful to plan a cooking project with quick prep time and almost immediate gratification, since there’s no baking time.  We had a great time measuring out the cereal and even my youngest carefully stirred the marshmallows and butter.  I’d even go so far as to say it was easier making these then when we sit down to make our Christmas cookies each December.

If you need a little refresher on how to make the Rice Krispie Treats then click here.  My kids are already looking forward to making them again!

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