Good morning gentle readers. Today is my last lunch before I leave you for about three months. While I'm gone, Patricia will be cooking fantastic meals for you; please give her the consideration you have given me while she adjusts to the position. As a special treat, I will be making mussels in a white wine broth. To accompany the mussels I made broccolini, a mixed greens salad featuring dried cranberries, and sautéed chicken for those that don't enjoy shellfish. A nice french bread is perfect for sopping up the sauce. Enjoy.
Mussels in a White Wine Sauce
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter
6 shallots, finely chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups white wine (choose something you would drink)
1 bunch parsley, chopped
6 lbs mussels, scrubbed and debearded
1/2 tsp salt
3 loaves french bread, sliced
Preparation:
1. In a large pot, melt the butter.
2. Add shallots and garlic, saute until things start to smell good.
3. Add wine, parsley, and salt, bring to a boil.
4. Reduce heat to low and simmer until flavors have combined, about 5 minutes.
5. Add mussels, increase heat to high, and cover.
6. Cook until the mussels open, stirring a couple of times to get them even, about 5 minutes.
7. Serve mussels in a bowl with some of the broth and the bread. If you're gluten free, try sweet potato fries as a substitute.
Broccolini
Serves 12
Ingredients:
6 lbs broccolini
everyday seasoning, to taste
Preparation:
1. In a large pot heat a few inches of water and as much broccolini as will reasonably fit in the pot over high heat. Cover.
2. Steam the broccolini until it is a vibrant emerald green and they start to smell yummy.
3. Set aside broccolini and season with everyday seasoning.
4. If there is more broccolini, repeat steps 1-3 with the same water.
Sautéed Chicken
Serves 6
Ingredients:
4 lbs chicken breast tenders
2 Tbs olive oil
2-3 Tbs liquid aminos (I use Brags) or soy sauce.
Preparation:
1. Heat olive oil in a skillet over high heat until it starts to smell like olives but not smoking.
2. Carefully place the chicken into the pan so you don't splash yourself.
3. Cook chicken until it is turning white around the edges when looking down on it and the bottom has some browned bits.
4. Flip chicken and cover with aminos. Cook until no longer pink in middle of the thickest piece.
Mixed Greens Salad Featuring Dried Cranberries
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 large box mixed herb salad
2 large handfuls dried cranberries
1 large handful roasted pumpkin seeds
1 large handful parmesan cheese
2-3 Tbs red wine rosemary dressing
Preparation:
1. Dress the greens so that the leaves are evenly covered but not drowning.
2. Layer toppings over the dressed greens.
Tuesday, January 15, 2013
Monday, January 14, 2013
London Broil with Mushrooms and Grilled Onions, Bell Peppers with Sautéed Greens, Brown Rice, Lemon Mustard Salad
London Broil with Mushrooms and Grilled Onions
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 lbs London broil
1 package sliced cremini mushrooms
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Season meat with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a pan over medium high heat until warm but not smoking.
3. Cook meat until browned on both sides.
4. Set aside meat to rest and heat 2 more Tbs oil int he pan.
5. Saute onions until golden brown and soft.
6. Set aside onions and cube the meat so that people can portion control better.
7. Heat 2 more Tbs oil in the pan and saute mushrooms until they are done on one side, flip, and return meat and onions to the pan.
8. Cook until the mushrooms are done and the meat is reheated.
Bell Peppers with Sautéed Greens
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
3 orange bell peppers, seeded and chopped
4 bags super greens
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Heat 2 Tbs oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Saute peppers until fragrant, set aside.
3. Heat 2 Tbs oil the pot over high heat and saute the greens in batches so that nothing gets over cooked; for each batch use enough oil to coat the bottom to prevent sticking, about 2 Tbs oil, and stir constantly. Remove each batch once everything has changed a darker green.
4. Combine peppers and greens and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Lemon Mustard Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
juice of 1 1/2 lemons
2 Tbs honey
3 Tbs stone ground mustard
3-5 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs water
fresh ground pepper
1 large box spring greens
1 avocado, pitted and cubed
1 carton blackberries
2 Tbs mixed seeds
2 Tbs sliced almonds
Preparation:
1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients, adjusting until a fantastic dressing is achieved.
2. Dress the greens so that all of the leaves are covered but not drowning.
3. Layer toppings on the salad so that they don't all fall to the bottom.
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 lbs London broil
1 package sliced cremini mushrooms
1 sweet onion, thinly sliced
olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Season meat with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a pan over medium high heat until warm but not smoking.
3. Cook meat until browned on both sides.
4. Set aside meat to rest and heat 2 more Tbs oil int he pan.
5. Saute onions until golden brown and soft.
6. Set aside onions and cube the meat so that people can portion control better.
7. Heat 2 more Tbs oil in the pan and saute mushrooms until they are done on one side, flip, and return meat and onions to the pan.
8. Cook until the mushrooms are done and the meat is reheated.
Bell Peppers with Sautéed Greens
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 red bell peppers, seeded and chopped
3 orange bell peppers, seeded and chopped
4 bags super greens
olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Heat 2 Tbs oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Saute peppers until fragrant, set aside.
3. Heat 2 Tbs oil the pot over high heat and saute the greens in batches so that nothing gets over cooked; for each batch use enough oil to coat the bottom to prevent sticking, about 2 Tbs oil, and stir constantly. Remove each batch once everything has changed a darker green.
4. Combine peppers and greens and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Lemon Mustard Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
juice of 1 1/2 lemons
2 Tbs honey
3 Tbs stone ground mustard
3-5 Tbs olive oil
2 Tbs water
fresh ground pepper
1 large box spring greens
1 avocado, pitted and cubed
1 carton blackberries
2 Tbs mixed seeds
2 Tbs sliced almonds
Preparation:
1. Whisk together first 6 ingredients, adjusting until a fantastic dressing is achieved.
2. Dress the greens so that all of the leaves are covered but not drowning.
3. Layer toppings on the salad so that they don't all fall to the bottom.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Roasted Leg of Lamb, Mashed Sweet Potatoes, and Tomato Salad
Today I was feeling like something a little special to end the week on, so I decided to roast a leg of lamb. To accompany the main meat dish, I decided to do a slight twist on the traditional mashed potatoes by making them with sweet potatoes instead of the typical russet. To lighten the dish up and help everyone get over the holiday gluttony, I made a mock caprese salad (I just dropped the mozzarella) with cherry tomatoes. Bon apetite.
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 lbs boneless leg of lamb
8 cloves garlic
4 sprigs mint, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cut slits in the meat and stick in the garlic.
3. Cover with salt, pepper, and mint.
4. Roast in a deep baking pan until this interior is 140 degrees F, about 20 minutes per pound.
5. Let rest 10 minutes before carving.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 12
Ingredients:
6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
2-3 cups lactose free milk
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, stem removed and minced
2 Tbs lactose free butter
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Place potatoes into a large pot and fill with water until potatoes are just covered.
2. Boil potatoes until easily pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
3. Drain and return potatoes to pot.
4. Use a potato masher and mash potatoes, add other ingredients and continue mashing until desired consistency and flavor is achieved. The milk makes the potatoes fluffy, but too much makes them soupy, so add milk incrementally.
Tomato Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 cartons cherry tomatoes in various colors to add interest
1 package basil, stemmed and chopped
2-3 Tbs olive oil
2-3 Tbs balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Combine tomatoes and basil.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Toss to combine.
Optional: Add mozzarella cubes for more flavor and fill to this dish.
Roasted Leg of Lamb
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 lbs boneless leg of lamb
8 cloves garlic
4 sprigs mint, chopped
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Cut slits in the meat and stick in the garlic.
3. Cover with salt, pepper, and mint.
4. Roast in a deep baking pan until this interior is 140 degrees F, about 20 minutes per pound.
5. Let rest 10 minutes before carving.
Mashed Sweet Potatoes
Serves 12
Ingredients:
6 large sweet potatoes, peeled and roughly chopped
2-3 cups lactose free milk
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, stem removed and minced
2 Tbs lactose free butter
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Place potatoes into a large pot and fill with water until potatoes are just covered.
2. Boil potatoes until easily pierced with a fork, about 15 minutes.
3. Drain and return potatoes to pot.
4. Use a potato masher and mash potatoes, add other ingredients and continue mashing until desired consistency and flavor is achieved. The milk makes the potatoes fluffy, but too much makes them soupy, so add milk incrementally.
Tomato Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
4 cartons cherry tomatoes in various colors to add interest
1 package basil, stemmed and chopped
2-3 Tbs olive oil
2-3 Tbs balsamic vinegar
salt and pepper to taste
Preparation:
1. Combine tomatoes and basil.
2. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Toss to combine.
Optional: Add mozzarella cubes for more flavor and fill to this dish.
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Patricia making lunch
Good morning gang. Patricia is, once again, gracing us with her delicious cooking to determine if she really wants to take over my position while I'm gone and if you guys really want her to be my replacement. I will be posting a picture of her lunch when she kindly brings me a plate after all of you have been fed and we will share her recipes here with you. Let us know what you think.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Pasta Salad and Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe
Yesterday while I was shopping I came across a fantastic product: veggie pasta. What the heck is that, you might ask? Veggie pasta is regular pasta with concentrated veggies added to the dough, like tomato, spinach, mushrooms, and more. the picture on the box inspired me to make pasta salad, which I think is a great way to get in all the veggies that make this comfort food into something healthy too. For the gluten free and lactose free constituency I made quinoa pasta and just cut out the feta. To accompany the pasta I made prosciutto wrapped cantaloupe, a delicious blend of salty and sweet.
Pasta Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 12oz boxes of rotini veggie pasta (or other shaped pasta you have lying around)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbs water
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cucumbers, seeded and chopped
2 orange bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 jar julienned roasted red peppers, drained
2 cans of green olives, drained
1 bag of super greens, chopped
1 package of crumbled feta
Preparation:
1. Cook the pasta and drain it according to the directions on the box.
2. In a container with a lid combine vinegar, water, and oil. Place lid on and shake until emulsified.
3. Mix together all ingredients so that everything is evenly coated with vinaigrette. Serve cool or warm.
Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cantaloupes, seeded rind removed and chopped
3 packaged of prosciutto
Toothpicks
Preparation:
1. Wrap mellon in a small amount of prosciutto and skewer with a toothpick to hold meat in place.
2. Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Pasta Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 12oz boxes of rotini veggie pasta (or other shaped pasta you have lying around)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3 Tbs water
1/2 cup olive oil
2 cucumbers, seeded and chopped
2 orange bell peppers, seeded and chopped
1 jar julienned roasted red peppers, drained
2 cans of green olives, drained
1 bag of super greens, chopped
1 package of crumbled feta
Preparation:
1. Cook the pasta and drain it according to the directions on the box.
2. In a container with a lid combine vinegar, water, and oil. Place lid on and shake until emulsified.
3. Mix together all ingredients so that everything is evenly coated with vinaigrette. Serve cool or warm.
Prosciutto Wrapped Cantaloupe
Serves 12
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cantaloupes, seeded rind removed and chopped
3 packaged of prosciutto
Toothpicks
Preparation:
1. Wrap mellon in a small amount of prosciutto and skewer with a toothpick to hold meat in place.
2. Keep in refrigerator until ready to serve.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Simmered Chicken Breast, Sautéed Kale, Caramelized Onions, and Brown Rice
A request has been made for more meat heavy meals, so I made over 6 lbs of chicken. I'm not sure if you knew this, but a serving size of meat is 3 oz, or about the size of a deck of cards. At half a pound per person todays meal is almost three times the recommended serving of meat. To balance this abundance of meat I have paired the chicken with caramelized onions, sautéed kale and brown rice.
Simmered Chicken Breast
Makes 6 lbs
Ingredients:
6 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 Tbs olive oil
3 Tbs sweet and spicy marinade
2 Tbs liquid aminos
pepper to taste
1 Tbs cornstarch disolved in 1/4 cup cold water
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Add chicken, marinade, and liquid aminos to the pot, stir frequently until there is no visible pink on the chicken.
3. Turn to low and cook until the largest piece is no longer pink in the middle.
4. Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken pieces from liquid.
5. Boil liquid stirring constantly until desired amount of sauce is reached, pepper to taste.
6. Add cornstarch slurry and stir over heat until sauce thickens, pour over chicken.
Sautéed Kale
Serves 12
Ingredients:
5 lbs chopped kale
olive oil
everyday seasoning (can be found at Trader Joe's)
Preparation:
1. Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Add kale until pot is 3/4 full so there is still room to stir. Stir constantly.
3. When kale has become a more vibrant green and cooked down a bit, add a few grinds of everyday seasoning and set aside covered in tinfoil to keep warm.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 until all of the kale is used, serve warm.
Caramelized Onions
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
4 sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs butter
Preparation:
1. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until butter has all melted.
2. Add onion and stir occasionally until onions are glassy.
3. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until the onions turn a lovely caramel color and have become nice and sweet.
Makes 6 lbs
Ingredients:
6 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
2 Tbs olive oil
3 Tbs sweet and spicy marinade
2 Tbs liquid aminos
pepper to taste
1 Tbs cornstarch disolved in 1/4 cup cold water
Preparation:
1. Heat oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Add chicken, marinade, and liquid aminos to the pot, stir frequently until there is no visible pink on the chicken.
3. Turn to low and cook until the largest piece is no longer pink in the middle.
4. Use a slotted spoon to remove chicken pieces from liquid.
5. Boil liquid stirring constantly until desired amount of sauce is reached, pepper to taste.
6. Add cornstarch slurry and stir over heat until sauce thickens, pour over chicken.
Sautéed Kale
Serves 12
Ingredients:
5 lbs chopped kale
olive oil
everyday seasoning (can be found at Trader Joe's)
Preparation:
1. Heat 2 Tbs of olive oil in a large pot over high heat.
2. Add kale until pot is 3/4 full so there is still room to stir. Stir constantly.
3. When kale has become a more vibrant green and cooked down a bit, add a few grinds of everyday seasoning and set aside covered in tinfoil to keep warm.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 until all of the kale is used, serve warm.
Caramelized Onions
Makes about 2 cups
Ingredients:
4 sweet onions, peeled and thinly sliced
2 Tbs olive oil
1 Tbs butter
Preparation:
1. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium heat until butter has all melted.
2. Add onion and stir occasionally until onions are glassy.
3. Reduce heat to low and stir occasionally until the onions turn a lovely caramel color and have become nice and sweet.
Monday, January 7, 2013
Roasted Root Veggies, Dandelion Blueberry Salad, Scrambled Eggs with Sun-Dried Tomatoes Roasted Garlic and Sautéed Leeks
This morning I had a case of the Mondays; though I hate this phrase, it feels apt to describe how I felt this morning. Getting out of bed was such a chore that I didn't have time to go shopping and so this lunch is more eclectic than usual because I had to make do with what I had in my fridge. The result turned out pleasantly delicious, but it means that portion control is even more important so that everyone gets to taste everything. If I were to make the eggs again, I would double or triple what I made, but I stretched the meal with the leeks, sun-dried tomatoes, and roasted garlic. Enjoy.
Roasted Alternate Root Veggies
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 fennel bulbs, chopped
2 celery roots, peeled and chopped
1 lbs golden beets, peeled and chopped
2 cans quartered artichoke hearts
olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line three baking sheets with tinfoil and place one type of root veggie on each baking sheet so that they can be roasted separately.
3. Drizzle the root veggies with olive oil, about 2 Tbs per baking sheet, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Fresh ground tastes better.
4. Roast veggies, stirring about every 15 minutes, until they can be easily pierced with a fork, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on size of pieces.
5. Combine all of the roasted root veggies and the artichoke hearts, place back into oven for a few minutes so that the artichoke hearts heat up.
Dandelion Blueberry Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 bunches of dandelion greens, chopped
2 packages of blueberries
1 carton of heirloom cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quarters
1 handful sliced almonds
red wine vinaigrette
Preparation:
1. Dress the greens so that they have a light coating of vinaigrette.
2. Layer the topping over the greens so that they don't fall to the bottom.
Scrambled Eggs with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, and Sautéed Leeks
Serves 6 for just the eggs, with sides serves 12
Ingredients:
12 eggs
1/2 cup lactose free milk
2 leeks thinly sliced
4 heads roasted garlic
1 jar julienned sun-dried tomatoes
2 Tbs olive oil
Preparation:
1. In a large frying pan, heat 2 Tbs olive oil over high heat.
2. Saute leeks stirring constantly until they turn a more vibrant green and start to smell good. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk until a uniform yellow color with no variation.
4. Return empty pan to stove over medium heat, pour eggs into the pan.
5. Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove cooked eggs and allow still liquid eggs to get access to the bottom, continue doing this until eggs are no longer liquid, light and fluffy is the goal. Scrambled eggs are overcooked when they exude water, so cook eggs until just before they release water.
6. Serve eggs with leeks, sun-dried tomato, and a clove or two of roasted garlic.
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 fennel bulbs, chopped
2 celery roots, peeled and chopped
1 lbs golden beets, peeled and chopped
2 cans quartered artichoke hearts
olive oil
salt and pepper
Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Line three baking sheets with tinfoil and place one type of root veggie on each baking sheet so that they can be roasted separately.
3. Drizzle the root veggies with olive oil, about 2 Tbs per baking sheet, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Fresh ground tastes better.
4. Roast veggies, stirring about every 15 minutes, until they can be easily pierced with a fork, about 30 to 45 minutes depending on size of pieces.
5. Combine all of the roasted root veggies and the artichoke hearts, place back into oven for a few minutes so that the artichoke hearts heat up.
Dandelion Blueberry Salad
Serves 12
Ingredients:
3 bunches of dandelion greens, chopped
2 packages of blueberries
1 carton of heirloom cherry tomatoes, cut in half or quarters
1 handful sliced almonds
red wine vinaigrette
Preparation:
1. Dress the greens so that they have a light coating of vinaigrette.
2. Layer the topping over the greens so that they don't fall to the bottom.
Scrambled Eggs with Sun-Dried Tomatoes, Roasted Garlic, and Sautéed Leeks
Serves 6 for just the eggs, with sides serves 12
Ingredients:
12 eggs
1/2 cup lactose free milk
2 leeks thinly sliced
4 heads roasted garlic
1 jar julienned sun-dried tomatoes
2 Tbs olive oil
Preparation:
1. In a large frying pan, heat 2 Tbs olive oil over high heat.
2. Saute leeks stirring constantly until they turn a more vibrant green and start to smell good. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk eggs and milk until a uniform yellow color with no variation.
4. Return empty pan to stove over medium heat, pour eggs into the pan.
5. Scrape the bottom of the pan to remove cooked eggs and allow still liquid eggs to get access to the bottom, continue doing this until eggs are no longer liquid, light and fluffy is the goal. Scrambled eggs are overcooked when they exude water, so cook eggs until just before they release water.
6. Serve eggs with leeks, sun-dried tomato, and a clove or two of roasted garlic.
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