Roasted Vegetable Stromboli

Don't be scared...stromboli is just a fancy-pants eye-talian word for hot pocket.  Hot Pocket.  There, let that sink in.  Feel better?

Seriously, these things are easy-peasy to make, super yummy, and popular with the kiddos.  And they are a great way to use up some of that homemade pizza dough (in case you are sick of pizza).  If you don't have homemade dough on hand, or just don't feel like making it, it's cool.  Just buy the frozen version or the bag mix (powder, like a cake mix).  But stay away from the stuff in the can...it doesn't stretch as well. 

Making stromboli is super easy, and can be customized to whatever fillings suit your fancy.  In this version, I used a mix of roasted veggies and a little bit of cheese, but seriously, just throw together whatever you like.  I like to serve them with a little marinara on the side for dipping, but again, it's whatever suits you.

Roasted Vegetable Stromboli

Makes 6 servings

212 cals / 8g fat / 23g carbs / 10g protein

1 pizza dough, thawed if frozen (I use this one)

2 heads broccoli (or about 3 cups florets)

2 zucchini

1 red pepper

1 small red onion

1 TB olive oil

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 cup low-fat shredded mozzarella cheese

2 TB grated parmesan

1.  Pre-heat oven to 400.  Dice the red onion, zucchini, and red pepper, cut the broccoli into bite-sized floret pieces.

2.  Toss veggies with olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Lay in a single layer on a large baking sheet and roast until softened and slightly browned, stirring once about half-way through, 30-45 minutes.  Remove from oven and set aside to cool slightly.

3.  Roll dough out on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle, about 9x15 and about 1/4 inch thick. Spread mozzarella down the center and top with roasted veggies, leaving 2-3 inches of dough on each side.  Close dough up however you want (I tried to do a fancy braid-thing...it didn't turn out so pretty, but pictures are below...you get the idea), pinching any seams to seal, and cutting vents on top if needed.  Sprinkle top with parmesan, transfer to a baking sheet coated with cooking spray or parchment paper and bake until golden brown, about 15-20 minutes.

Crock Pot Ham and Beans (and Meal Plan Moday too!)

I've never been especially boastful or cocky, but I don't think I am out of line when I say that I seriously make the best ham and beans ever.  I mean, I always thought they were gross....at least until I gave it a go.  Now I think they are delicious, and so warm and hearty.  And I want to share them with you, because I am so kind and giving (and fine....maybe a liiiiittttle boastful, but whatever).

But first, meal plan Monday is here.  My plan for this week includes:

 - Shrimp and Grits, Roasted Broccoli

 - Healthified Swedish Meatballs, Egg Noodles, Carrots, Cranberries

 - Chicken Tostadas, Black Bean Salad

 - Cincinnati Chili Spaghetti, Salad

 - White Bean Ragout, Homemade Ciabatta Toasts, Endive Salad

There are 3 new recipes for me on the menu for this week.  Super exciting stuff, when you don't really do much that is exciting.

Now, back to the ham and beans....a few notes:

• I have used both navy beans and great white northern beans.  I like the navy beans for the smaller size, but they take longer to cook and aren't as creamy as the northerns.  I would stick with great white northern beans.
• Some people like to use ham hocks, but I prefer a ham steak (sacrilege, I know), with a smoked neck bone thrown in for flavor.  Smoked neck bones are usually easy to find at the store.  I keep mine in the freezer, and just toss one in the crock pot with the beans.  No need to thaw.
• These go great with cornbread.  I like to try and keep it low-fat, but I like it all.
• Do the overnight soak for the beans.  Don't do the quick-soak method.  I don't trust it.
• I like mine more stew-like than soup-like.  If you want it like soup, just add more broth at the end.
• Don't be chintzy with the salt.  Seasoning is key.

Crock Pot Ham and Beans

Makes 8 servings

195 cals / 2g fat / 42g carbs / 23g protein

1 lb Great White Northern beans, dry

1 1-lb ham steak, bone-in

1 smoked pork neck bone

2 small onions

4 cloves garlic

2 TB fresh thyme leaves

2 TB brown sugar

2 bay leaves

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp ground cloves

3 cups chicken broth

2 cups water

1/2 tsp salt (or more)

Pepper

1.  The night before you are going to make these, pick through your beans and throw out any super shriveled beans or rocks.  Rinse the beans and place them in a large bowl, covering them with about 6 cups of cold water.  Let the beans sit out and soak overnight, 8-12 hours.

2.  The next morning, drain and rinse the beans.  Place them in your crock pot.  Chop the onion, garlic, and thyme leaves, and add those to the beans.  

3.  Cube the ham steak, removing fat where you can, and add the cubed ham, along with the round bone to the beans.  Add the smoked bone, brown sugar, bay leaves, nutmeg, cloves, broth, water, salt and pepper and stir.  Cook on low for at least 8 hours.  Remove the bones and the bay leaves, season if needed, and serve.

No-Fail Homemade Simple Pizza Dough

With "Spooky Pizza Day" (a.k.a. Halloween) quickly approaching, I thought I would share my favorite recipe for homemade pizza dough.  If you haven't tried making your own crust, you really should.  the flavor and the texture is so different from what you can get pre-made.  The dough itself is easy enough to make, but even better is the fact that you can make it ahead of time, and either freeze it for later or keep in the fridge for up to a week.  It makes those last-minute dinners a snap.  Also, I strongly strongly recommend you go with the bread flour (or even 00 if you have it).  The extra gluten is what makes this dough a no-fail one.

The nutritional info is for the entire recipe.

No-Fail Simple Pizza Dough

Makes 2 thinner crust pizzas or 1 thick crust pizza, about 14" each

1015 cals / 13.5g fat / 180g carbs / 32g protein

3/4 cup warm (not hot) water

2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast

1 tsp sugar

2 cups bread flour (plus more for dusting)

1 TB olive oil

1 tsp salt

1.  In the bowl of a stand mixed fitted with a dough hook, combine the water, yeast, and sugar.  Let sit until foamy (about 5-10 mites).  Of just use a regular bowl if you are doing this by hand.

2.  Add the flour, oil, and salt.  Mix until the dough pulls away from the sides and forms a ball.  Turn out onto a lightly floured surface and knead a few times.  Form into a ball and place in an oiled bowl, turning to coat the dough with oil.  Cover with plastic and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1-2 hours, until doubled in size.

3.  Divide dough in half, kneading each half into smooth balls with floured hands.  Roll out to desired thickness, and cook as desired.  Or...cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the fridge or freeze until ready to use.

Kale and Sweet Potato Salad(?)

I never know what to call these things...I mean, it is mostly comprised of greens and there is a dressing, so I lean towards salad, but then it is warm and all cooked together...so sauté?  casserole?  Who knows?

Seriously...does anyone know?  Ugh, first-world problems.

 

Anyways, the idea for this dinner was lifted from my Family Circle magazine (yes, I am 80 years old).  I served it as a main dish for a vegetarian night, but it would be good as a side as well.  

And when you get your kale, please buy the bunches...don't get that bag of pre-chopped stuff, it makes it impossible to remove the tough ribs.

Kale and Sweet Potato Salad with Mustard Seed Dressing

Serves 4

200 cals / 5g fat / 39g carbs / 5g protein

1-2 bunches kale (depends on how much greenery you want)

2 sweet potatoes

1 apple

1 red onion

1 TB plus 1/2 tsp olive oil

2 TB mustard seeds

1/4 cup apple cider vinegar

2 TB sugar

salt and pepper to taste 

1. Combine 1 TB olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and sugar in a small saucepan.  Bring to a simmer, add the mustard seeds.  Simmer for 2 minutes, then set aside, allowing to steep for at least 10 minutes.

2.  Peel and chop the sweet potatoes into 1/2 to 1 inch cubes.  Heat 1/2 tsp olive oil in large sauté pan over medium heat, and cook sweet potatoes until softened, about 20 minutes.

3.  While potatoes are coking, remove the stems and center ribs from the kale leaves, tear or chop into bite-sized pieces.  Quarter and thinly slice the red onion.  Chop the apple into 1/2 inch pieces.  When potatoes are almost done (after 15-20 minutes) add the onion and apple, cooking until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.  Then add the kale and cook until softened and beginning to wilt. And sweet potatoes are totally cooked through, about 5 minutes more.  Toss with the prepared dressing and serve warm or at room temp.

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp, a.k.a. The Best Shrimp You Will Ever Eat

I am a little weird/picky about shrimp.  I mean, I like it, but mostly when it is cold...and a little tougher, you know.....meat-like?  Warm shrimp usually freaks me out texture-wise and so I avoid it.  Except for this dish.

And truth be told, I have never met a soul who doesn't like this shrimp.  Even my pickiest little one (J, of course) will willingly eat this.

It is soooooooo great for a main dish, a side, or as an appetizer at a party.  And quick and easy.  What's not to love?

Sweet and Spicy Shrimp

Makes 6 servings

145 cals / 3g fat / 4g carbs / 24g protein

2 TB olive oil

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 lemon

1/2 cup fresh mint

1-2 tsp cayenne pepper (or to taste, depending on how spicy you like things)

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

2 lbs large shrimp, peeled, deveined, uncooked

1.  In the bowl of a food processor or blender, combine olive oil, brown sugar, zest and juice from one lemon, mint leaves, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.  Pulse until blended.  Rinse and dry shrimp and place in shallow dish or ziploc bag with sauce.  Allow to marinate at least 30 minutes, or overnight.

2.  Remove shrimp from marinade and cook over medium-high heat on the grill, about 2-3 minutes per side.  Or, alternatively, cook under high broiler until shrimp is done, about 3 minutes per side.  Serve warm or at room temp.  Garnish with fresh mint, if desired.

Cold Cucumber Soup

Ugh.  I have so many "summertime" recipe ideas to share and I am quickly running out of summer-time to share them.  But this is one I had to bump up to the top of the list.  

I am a big big fan of cold soups, and this one is probably my favorite.  It is full of garden-fresh goodness, takes all of 5 minutes to make, keeps well in the fridge, and is so so perfect for those steamy summer nights. 

Plus, at 30 cals per serving you can totally justify that milkshake you had B run out to get you at 9pm...or something like that.

Are you a cold soup fan?

Cold Cucumber Soup

Makes 8 servings

30 cals / 0g fat / 4g carbs / 3G protein

3-4 cucumbers

4-6 green onions

2 cloves garlic

1/3 cup fresh herbs plus a little extra for garnish, if desired (I like a mix of mint and parsley.  Cilantro, basil, and tarragon also work well)

1/2 lemon

1 cup vegetable broth

1 cup fat-free Greek yogurt

Salt and Pepper

Olive Oil for garnish, optional

1.  Peel and seed cucumbers.  Roughly chop.  Coarsely chop herbs and green parts of onions.

2.  Add chopped cucumber, green onion, chopped herbs, garlic cloves, juice from 1/2 lemon, and broth to blender or food processor and blend until smooth.  Add yogurt and purée until smooth and creamy.  Add salt and pepper to taste, blending to mix.  Refrigerate until cold, at least one hour and up to 3 days.  

Serve cold.  Garnish with extra chopped herbs and a few dots of olive oil, if desired.

Chicken Schwarma Pitas and the Time I Had to Cut My Pants Off

Once, a long long time ago I was at work.  I was wearing a pair of fitted cropped pants with a hidden side zipper (you know the kind I am talking about?) and had started my day by drinking two large coffees.  So naturally, I had to pee.  I got to the stall and encountered a problem.....my zipper was seriously stuck!  I struggled for a good five minutes trying to get it down, to no avail.  By this time, I reallllly needed to go.  So I ran down the hall to enlist the help of my friends in the lab.  

3 people tried with no success.  One of the men even grabbed a pair of pliers and was trying to get the zipper down (you want akward? Imagine having to pee so bad you have a male co-worker try to wrench your pants off with a pair of pliers).  At this point, I couldn't hold it any longer...it was starting to come out.  I did the only thing I could, I grabbed a pair of scissors, ran to the bathroom, and cut my pants off, emergency room-style.  I had never felt relief so sweet.  

Thankfully one of my friends had her dry cleaning in her car, and just so happened to have a pair of black dress pants in my size (spending the day in dirty pants was much better than spending the day in pants held together with duct tape...thanks Jeri!).

The moral of this story....those hidden side zippers are the worst.  And it never hurts to have a back up pair of pants.  

You know what else?  It never hurts to have yet another simple chicken meal.  I feel like I am going on overkill with these, but we eat a TON of chicken, so variety is great.  I originally got this recipe from one of my lady magazines...but I can't remember which one.  Maybe Woman's Day....maybe Good Housekeeping.  

Either way, these are quick and easy and full of flavor, and they make great lunches the next day.  In the summer I grill the chicken, in the winter I just cook it in a pan with a little cooking spray.  Both ways work just fine. 

Also...look at the nutritional info...go ahead, have 2.  These are incredibly healthy!

Chicken Schwarma Pitas

Makes 8 Servings

190 cals / 4 g fat / 20g carbs / 19g protein

1 - 1 1/2 lb chicken breast, thinly sliced

1/4 cup plus 1/2 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt

6 cloves garlic

1 lemon

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1/4 cup tahini

4 whole wheat pita pockets

cucumber, lettuce, tomato, red onion, feta for garnish (all are optional)

1.  Mince garlic.  Trim fat from chicken.

2. Combine 4 cloves minced garlic with 1/4 cup yogurt, zest from 1 lemon, juice from 1/2 lemon, crushed red pepper, cumin, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.  Coat chicken in sauce and allow to set at room temp for 20-30 min.

3.  While chicken is marinating....chop/cut any veggies you are using for garnish, make tahini sauce:  mix 1/2 cup yogurt with remaining 2 minced cloves of garlic, juice from remaining lemon half, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, and tahini.  Mix well and set aside.  Cut pitas in half and warm, if you want.

4.  Cook chicken on grill (or in pan) until cooked through, about 3-4 min per side.  Slice into thin strips, and serve by filling a pita half with chicken, any of the veggies you want, and a good serving of the sauce.

Jamaican Grilled Chicken and Plantains

This is one of my all time favorite summer meals, originating from the geniuses at Epicurious.

It is quick, easy, and delicious.  And who doesn't need another simple chicken recipe in their arsenal...right?

Also, my sister-in-law is from Jamaica.  And I made this for her once.  And she liked it...so it is at least a little bit authentic.

Jamaican Grilled Chicken and Plantains

Makes 6 Servings

455 cals / 6g fat / 68g carbs / 28g protein

1/4 cup molasses

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

2 TB tomato paste

1/2 small onion

3 cloves garlic

2 tsp fresh thyme leaves

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (this will be spicy, add less if you don't want the heat)

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp salt

6 chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 lbs...mine comes with 3 in the pack and I slice them in half horizontally to get 6)

6 large plantains (make sure they are ripe...slightly soft and blackened peels)

1 TB olive oil

salt and pepper

1.  In a blender, combine the molasses, vinegar, tomato paste, onion, garlic, thyme, cayenne, allspice, and salt.  Process until smooth (I like to leave mine a little chunky, but it works both ways).

2.  Trim the chicken breasts, then season both sides with salt and pepper.  Place in a shallow dish and coat with enough sauce to coat.  You should have 1/2 to 1/3 of the sauce left over.  Let chicken sit at room temp to marinate for 20-30 minutes.

3.  Peel and slice the plantains on a diagonal about 1/2 inch thick.  Brush each side lightly with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper.

4.  Grill chicken and plantains until done.  Chicken will take about 5-8 minutes per side and plantains will take about 3-6 minutes per side.  Serve with extra sauce on the side.

Orzo Pasta Salad

This is my absolute favorite pasta salad.  I make it All.  The.  Time.  Seriously.  Like, I made it for New Years Eve. Who makes a cold pasta salad in the winter??  this girl. That's who. 

It is pretty basic, but I thought I would share so you too could become an obsessive pasta salad maker like myself.

Welcome to the club.

Orzo Pasta Salad

Makes 12 big servings

225 cals / 6g fat / 36g carbs / 8g protein

1 box orzo pasta (about 16 oz dry)

1/3 cup red wine vinegar

3 TB olive oil

3 TB sugar

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 red onion

6-8 plum tomatoes

1-2 red peppers

1-2 seedless cucumbers

1/3 fresh dill (or mint)

8 oz crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese

1.  Cook pasta to al dente according to directions, then rinse with cold water to cool when done.

2.  While pasta is cooking, finely mince the garlic cloves, then whisk garlic, vinegar, oil, sugar, salt, and pepper together in a large bowl.  

3.  Finely dice the onion (hey...if onion taste bothers you, rinse the diced onion with cold water, it will remove a lot of the onion's power), seed and dice the tomatoes and pepper, dice the cucumbers, and chop the dill.  Toss together with the dressing, cooled pasta, and feta.

Citrus Grilled Chicken with Citrus Rice Salad

Another day, another picnic-perfect summer meal.

Consider this for summer al fresco dinners, pot lucks, or picnics.  I am including directions for both the chicken and the rice, but you can easily make one without the other.

I made the salad with leftover grains I had in the pantry (quinoa, brown rice, wheat berries), but it would work with anything you have on hand.

As far as meal plans go for this week, I plan on spending lots of time at the pool (hopefully the weather agrees with me), so I don't have much of a meal plan.  We are having teriyaki steaks with sugar snap peas and rice, these Mediterranean Pizzas, and a big batch of this Quinoa Salad, which has quickly become my latest obsession.  I am keeping my summer meal plans laid back, just the way a summer vacation should be.

Citrus Grilled Chicken with Citrus Rice Salad
Makes 8 Servings
280 cals / 3g fat / /34g carbs / 34g protein

1/2 cup orange juice

1 TB olive oil

1/4 cup lemon juice

2 TB white wine vinegar

2 oranges (3 TB orange zest + the orange segments)

2 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 bunch green onions

1 bunch mint, about 1/4 cup chopped

2 lbs chicken breasts

1 cup shredded carrot

1 red pepper

4 cups cooked rice (or any combination of grains)

1.  Trim all the fat and junk off the chicken and place in a large zip loc bag.

2.  Whisk together the orange juice, olive oil, lemon juice, vinegar, orange zest, salt, and pepper.  Thinly slice the green onions.  Add half the onions to the liquid and stir.  Reserve the rest for the rice.  Pour about half the marinade over the chicken, squeeze out any excess air, and seal tightly.  Allow chicken to marinate 2 - 24 hours.  Then grill chicken until done, about 4 minutes per side (may be longer depending on how thick your chicken is).  Thinly slice.

3.  Chop the mint and thinly slice the red pepper.  Cut the peel and pith from the oranges and cur out the segments.  Combine the remaining green onions, mint, orange segments red pepper, carrots, and rice together in a large bowl.  Add the remaining marinade and stir until well mixed.  Serve chicken over the rice salad, warm, at room temp, or cold.

And here it is, all packed up for a picnic at the zoo....

Curried Chicken Quinoa Salad

Mother Nature is being a serious B to those of us here int he Midwest.  Seriously.  It is the middle of June and it was 58 on Tuesday.  Fifty.  Eight.  Meanwhile it is over 80 in Alaska.  Ughhhhh. I never thought I would be jealous of Alaska weather.  This just isn't right.

On the plus side, it is cool enough to enjoy long mornings at the park with the kids, picnics in the afternoon, and evening bike rides.  As long as you have a jacket.  

Soooo, the next couple recipes I have to share is food I consider perfect picnic or potluck food.  In that you can make it ahead of time, and it is good served warm, room temp, or cold.  

This first one is my favorite.  I got the idea for this dish thanks to a couple of quickly ripening mangos in the fruit bowl, a tub of shredded chicken I the fridge I needed to use up, and L's constant request for tikka masala.  The result was deeeeeelicious.  This might be my favorite quinoa concoction ever.  Which is big.  I ate this right after I made it, warm, and loved it.  But then had it again the next day cold and thought it was even better.  The perfect picnic food!

Curried Chicken Quinoa Salad

Makes 8 servings

195 cals / 5g fat / 27g carbs / 9g protein

1 cup dry quinoa (I used a mix of red and white)

2 cups water

1/3 cup lemon juice (about 1 lemon)

1 TB honey

1 TB olive oil

2 tsp curry powder

1 tsp cumin

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 small red onion

1 bunch mint leaves (~1/4 cup chopped)

1 mango

2 cups cooked chicken breast

1.  Combine quinoa and water in saucepan over medium high heat.  Bring to boil, then cover, reduce heat to medium low and continue to simmer until quinoa is done and water is absorbed.  Set aside to cool.

2.  Mince onion and mint.  Dice mango and chicken.  Set aside.  

3.  In a large bowl, whisk together lemon juice, honey, oil, curry powder, cumin, and salt.  Add quinoa, chicken, mango, onion, and mint, tossing to coat.  

Enjoy!

Amazingly Easy Corn on the Cob, Perfect Every Time

Corn on the cob is one of my favorite things to eat in the summer.  It just tastes like summer to me.  I have tried it all different ways...boiled, baked or grilled.  But this way is by far my favorite.  Mostly because it is easy, fast, and impossible to mess up.  And there are no dishes to clean up.  Bonus!

I feel a little silly sharing this, as it isn't really a recipe.  But when I saw my friend Sean do this, my mind was completely blown.  He learned this method from some vendors at a farmers market.  And now I am passing it on to you.  Perfect and delicious corn on the cob in 4 minutes.  In the microwave.  ::dead::

Seriously. Is this news to you, or am I the only one who didn't know about this?

Amazingly Fast Corn on the Cob

ears of corn, shucked and cleaned

paper towels

1.  Get the paper towels wet then squeeze out the excess water.  They should be damp, but not dripping.  Wrap each ear of corn individually in a damp paper towel.  Microwave for 4 minutes.

That's it.  Now go amaze your friends.

Note:  If your corn is not quite ripe or you are microwaving several ears at once, you may need to add additional time.  Stick a fingernail in a kernel, if it is soft and just slightly crisp you are done.  If it is still crunchy-crisp, add some more time.  For example...yesterday I microwaved 5 not-quite-ripe ears at once.  After 4 minutes, they were still fairly crunchy.  I added 3 minutes, and they were not quite there.  1 more minute and they were perfect.

Entertaining...The Dinner Party Part III: The Main Course

And now, for the main event!

Catch up on Part I (planning) here, and Part II (h'ors d'oeuvres) here.

As I said before, I think it is important to choose a meal that won't keep you glued to the stove the entire night. After all, it is your party and you should be able to enjoy yourself too.

This pasta dish was a no-brainer choice for me. I know I can't shut up about how great it was in the restaurant, but that is because it was in fact that great, and I needed it it my life. Aside from deliciousness, everything can be made ahead of time so there is very little last minute work. And truthfully, the short ribs should be made at least a day ahead because they are better when the flavors have time to meld a little.

This is definitely a time-intensive dish, but if you aren't making your own pasta, it comes together pretty easily. That being said, this isn't something I would recommend for a busy weeknight meal. Save this for a special occasion.

Pappardelle Pasta with Short Rib Ragu and Horseradish Cream
Makes 8 Servings

1 tsp olive oil
4-6 lbs bone-in short ribs
2 onions
8-10 cloves garlic
4 carrots
2 stalks celery
1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
3 cups beef broth
2 cups red wine
3 tsp fresh thyme
2 tsp fresh oregano
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper

1 cup chicken broth
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 to 1/2 cup grated horseradish (I could only find the jarred, I think fresh would have been better...but prepared worked fine)

Pappardelle Pasta (I used this recipe, you could also just purchase dried pasta)

1. Heat oven to 325. Roughly chop onions, garlic, carrots, celery, thyme, and oregano. Set aside.

2. Heat oil in a large oven-safe pot over medium-high (or regular pot, because you can use your crockpot instead of the oven later). Generously season short ribs with salt and pepper and cook a few at a time until they are browned on all sides. Set browned ribs aside.

3. Remove all but 2 TB fat from pot. Add the carrots, celery, onions, and garlic. Sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Stir in the thyme, oregano, and bay leaves. Cook until fragrant, 2-3 minutes more. Stir in tomatoes, broth, and wine, stirring to scrape up any brown bits. Return ribs to pot, arranging to make sure all are submerged in liquid. Bring to boil, cover, and place in oven. Cook until meat is falling from bone, 3 - 3 1/2 hours.

Note: You can also cook ribs in crockpot instead of the oven. Transfer everything to large slow cooker and cook on low until tender and falling from bone, about 6-8 hours.

4. Let ribs and sauce cool. Remove and discard bay leaves. Remove bones and meat from sauce, set aside. Skim as much fat as possible from the sauce. Then using an immersion blender (or a regular blender or food processor) blend liquid and veggies to make a semi-smooth sauce. Tear ribs into 2-3 inch pieces, discarding bones and any extremely fatty sections. Return meat to sauce, and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Cover and store in fridge until ready to serve. Can be made up to 3 days ahead of time.

5. To make horseradish cream: stir together cream, chicken broth, and 1/4 cup horseradish (freshly grated or prepared) in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Bring to boil and reduce heat to medium-low and continue to simmer until reduced by half, about 20 minutes. Taste and add more horseradish if desired. Set aside until ready to serve. Can be made up to 6 hours ahead of time.

6. To serve: heat short ribs over medium heat. Cook pasta to al dente. Top pasta with short rib ragu and a dollop of horseradish cream.

Note:  If you are making fresh pasta, the dough can be rolled and cut up to 4 hours ahead of time.  Let cut pasta sit at room temp, lightly dust with flour and place in single layers between sheets of waxed paper.  Boil pasta as usual, ~3 minutes.

Entertaining...The Dinner Party Part II: H'ors D'ouevres

And I'm back with Part II of my little series. See here for Part I.

As I mentioned earlier, I think it is crucial to have something to nibble on before dinner. Admittedly, there is overkill on my part...I suppose if you think about it, h'ors d'ouevres aren't really necessary, and I usually make too much. But this is my favorite part of the meal. I love snacky and small-type food. In fact, way way back when, my roommate and I would often have "appetizer dinners" because we both loved those snacky things so much. But now I'm a grown up and have to eat entrees too. Sigh.....

Anyways, I wanted to keep these relatively simple since the rest of the meal was a little more involved.

The Salumi platter was all purchased from a local Italian deli.  And the other two could be mostly prepped ahead of time, so there was very little last-minute cooking involved.

Salumi Platter: Grissini, Hot Sopressata, Aged Salami, Prosciutto, Oil-Cured Olives, Spicy Green Olives, Kalmatta Olives, Castelvetrano Olives

Next up was marinated mozzarella, another quick and easy starter:

Marinated Mozzarella
Makes 8 servings
1 8 oz container fresh mozzarella pearls (or cut larger pieces into bite sizes)
1/4 cup olive oil
1/4 cup fresh herbs (I used parsley, basil, oregano, and chives....anything will work)
1 TB lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper

1. Finely chop the herbs and combine with the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Drain the mozzarella and add to the herb mix. Toss to coat. You can make this up to 3 days ahead of time, store in the refrigerator. Serve at room temp.

And finally, the crostini:

Bleu Cheese Crostini with Thyme Roasted Grapes
Makes 8-12 servings

1 loaf French bread (I purchased mine)
1/4 cup olive oil
6 oz bleu cheese
4 oz cream cheese
1 TB olive oil
1 tsp white wine vinegar
~1 1/2 - 2lbs seedless red grapes
2 TB olive oil
1 large bunch thyme
1 TB honey

1. Preheat oven to 350. Discard ends of bread loaf and thinly slice on a slight diagonal. Brush each side lightly with olive oil and place in even layer on baking sheets. Bake until lightly golden, 10-15 minutes. These can be made up to 2 days ahead of time, store at room temp in an airtight container until ready to assemble.

2. Let bleu cheese and cream cheese come to room temperature. Combine cheese, 1 TB olive oil, and white wine vinegar in food processor. Process until smooth. Can be made up to 3 days ahead of time. Store in an airtight container in refrigerator until ready to assemble. (I used a ziploc bag and then just snipped a corner off to squeeze it out onto the toasts when I was assembling the crostini.)

3. Preheat oven to 400. Wash and pat grapes dry. Remove from stems and toss with 2 TB olive oil. Spread sprigs of thyme out over a large baking sheet. Spread grapes over thyme and drizzle with honey. Bake until grapes are just beginning to burst, about 10-15 minutes.

4. To assemble: bring cheese spread to room temp. While grapes are roasting, spread cheese mixture over prepared crostini. Remove grapes from oven and top each crostini with a few grapes. Serve at room temperature.

Entertaining...The Dinner Party Part I: Planning

I love having people over for dinner. I love the thought and planning that goes into choosing a menu (because I am the type of nerd person that loves planning and spreadsheets).  I love having a chance to prepare a dish I wouldn't normally make.  I love seeing how the food actually turns out (I like to try new things....I figure if it sucks, we can always order pizza). And most importantly, I love being able to get together with friends I don't see nearly as much as I would like.

And thus, the first installment in this little series I have planned called "The Dinner Party." I will share my menu, my plan of attack for getting everything made to avoid last minute hassle, and the recipes.

For me, my first step is always deciding on a loose theme for the menu. Having a theme makes it easier to decide on the food and drinks, and makes the meal more cohesive. It can be anything from an ultra casual BBQ or soup lunch to an all out fancy 6-course meal.

In this case, I wanted to recreate the pasta dish and dessert I had in San Franciso, so my "theme" was sort of rustic Italian.

Once I pick my theme, I go through recipes, restaurant menus, and my notes and I plan the menu. Then I make my grocery list, and my plan of attack. I like to choose things that can be prepared ahead of time, so I have more time to visit and enjoy myself.

The menu I decided on for this get together was:

H'ors D'oeuvres:

• Salumi Platter (spicy sopressata, dry aged salami, and prosciutto with assorted olives and grissini) purchased
• Marinated Mozzarella (bocconcini)
• Crostini with Whipped Bleu Cheese and Thyme Roasted Grapes

Meal:

• Pappardelle Pasta with Short Rib Ragu and Horseradish Cream
• Maple Glazed Brussels Sprouts with Bacon

Dessert:

• Butterscotch Budino with Caramel and Sea Salt

Drinks:

• Wine (duh)

For entertaining, I always choose a couple H'ors D'oeuvres, depending on the number of people. I think it is important to have something to snack on and enjoy while hanging out and visiting. Plus it gives people something to do if you are stuck in the kitchen doing last-minute preparations.

Depending on what we are having, I might also make an appetizer or a salad, but in this case the food was heavier and I figured we had enough to eat already, so I skipped it.

Our dinner was on a Saturday night. I was able to prep almost everything ahead of time so I only ended up spending 5 minutes actually cooking once my friends arrived.

The Plan:
Wednesday: grocery shopping

Thursday: buy salumi stuff, wine, and mozzarella at Italian specialty store, make the caramel sauce for the budino

Friday: make marinated mozzarella, bleu cheese spread, crostini, short rib ragu, and budino

Saturday morning: chill wine, get serving dishes and utensils, glasses, etc. set out. Make pasta dough. Cook bacon for sprouts. Clean up a little. Shower.

Saturday afternoon: make whipped cream topping for budino, make horseradish cream, cut pasta

Saturday Evening (before guests arrive): assemble and set out Salumi platter and mozzarella, make roasted grapes, assemble crostini, cook sprouts, set out pots of water to cook pasta, get ragu out, set out budino and top with caramel, set table, pour myself a glass of wine, and enjoy

See, now everything is ready to go. I can chill, visit, eat some snacks, enjoy a little vino. All I need to do for dinner is boil the pasta, heat the ragu, the horseradish cream, and the sprouts and serve. When we are ready for dessert, I just need to top them with whipped cream and a little sprinkle of salt, and finish stuffing my face.

And then after all the fun, B takes over for dish duty. The most important part. ;)

Up next....Part II: H'ors D'oeuvres

Crock Pot BBQ Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Slaw

Once upon a time, long long ago, B and I were on a date. I ordered steak. I think he might have been a little envious of my meal, a little food-possessive, or a little steak-curious. I don't know. But whatever the reason, something possessed him to think it was okay to slowly sneak his fork across the table and pierce one of my freshly cut bites of medium-rare perfection. And what was my reaction? I stabbed his hand. Hard. With my fork. It was an instantaneous reflex. Protect my steak at all costs.

The moral of the story? I take my meat seriously. And also, don't touch my food without asking. I will cut you.

While I wouldn't put BBQ on the same pedestal as steak, it is something I really love to eat. But I don't know how / possess the tools / really care to try to make a proper pulled pork the real way. So pulled pork at home was always just.....mehhhh (pork roast, crock pot, bottle of sauce, and cook, anyone?).

That is until I found this recipe. It totally rocked my crock-pot-pulled-pork world. It is pulled pork perfection. It is still simple enough for non-official BBQ lovers like myself to manage, but tastes authentic. And it smells so so SO good.

I replaced the bun with a healthier (and more filling) baked sweet potato. Top it with some slaw and you have yourself a perfect little dinner.

Slow Cooker BBQ Pulled Pork Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Slaw
Makes 8 servings
310 cals / 9g fat / 29g carbs / 28g protein

2.5-3 lb lean pork roast (such as loin/sirloin)
2 tsp red wine vinegar
3 tsp hickory liquid smoke
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
3/4 cup of your favorite BBQ sauce

1 bag shredded cabbage/cole slaw mix
6 green onions
3 TB lite mayo
3 TB white wine vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt

4 large cooked sweet potatoes (I just cook mine in the microwave to save time)

1. Trim all the fat from the pork and place in crock pot. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt, pepper, vinegar, and liquid smoke. Cook on high for 6-8 hours. Shred pork with 2 forks, stir in BBQ sauce (adjust amount to your preference. I like mine a little drier). Cook an additional 15 min or so.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together mayo, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Thinly slice green onions. Add onions and slaw mix to bowl and toss to coat. Let sit for ~20-30 min before serving.

3. Split baked sweet potatoes in half, top with BBQ pork and slaw, and serve.

Quick Fix: Tropical Beans and Rice

Can you believe I used to hate beans? All of them. I was crazy I tell you. Crazy!

But I always try and make a point of tasting things I don't like because my tastes change as I get older. Some of the things I used to not eat but now love include: spinach, bleu cheese, asparagus, beans, and lobster. Imagine what I would be missing if I hadn't given these things tries! Right now I am working on fish. Ugh.

This is a quick and easy meatless dinner, and a good way to get your veggies in. And you can easily alter it to your own tastes or what you have on hand. These also make a great side for some grilled chicken or a roast pork.

I serve this over cooked brown rice.

Tropical Beans and Rice
Makes 6 servings
155 cals / 1g fat / 36g carbs / 8g protein

2 cans black beans
1 tsp olive oil
2 mangos
1 small red onion
3 cloves garlic
1 red pepper
1 green pepper
1 jalapeño (optional)
2 tsp apple cider vinegar
2 tsp sugar
1 1/2 tsp cumin
1 1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper

1. Get all the veggies cut first: peel and chop the mangos, dice the red onion, mince the garlic, chop the red and green peppers, remove seeds and stem from jalapeño and mince (if using).

2. Heat oil over medium high heat in a large pot and add the onion. Cook until softened, about 5-7 minutes, then add the green and red pepper, garlic, and jalapeño. Continue to cook until peppers are tender crisp, another 5 minutes or so.

3. Drain and rinse the beans and add to the pot. Stir in mango, vinegar, sugar, cumin, salt, and pepper. Add juice from the limes, and continue to cook until beans are warmed through and starting to smush, about 5-10 minutes. If the beans start to look a little dry, add a bit of water. Adjust the spices. Serve over rice.

Beef With Broccoli Stir-Fry

I adore Chinese food, as does B, but we rarely rarely eat it because a) most of it is incredibly bad for you....loaded with calories and fat, and b) I am a total freak about take-out food, and I think take-out Chinese is the worst....the meats and veggies lose all their crispness and get all smushy and the sauces get all gelatinous and gross, and then temperature is all wrong, and the rice loses its stickiness. Ugh. See.....? Total freak.

My solution to this issue is to make my own. That way I can control the fat content and I don't have to deal with all my texture/temperature issues.

This is a quick and relatively easy dinner, perfect for busy weeknights when you are running short on time. When making stir-fries it is important you get all your ingredients cut and ready to go first, before you start cooking, because it comes together so fast. I served this one over brown rice.

Beef with Broccoli Stir-Fry
Makes 6 servings
210 calories / 7g fat / 14g carbs / 25g protein

1 lb lean beef, such as top sirloin or round
4-5 small bunches broccoli (about 4 cups florets)
1 red pepper
3-4 inch chunk ginger root (2 TB minced)
4 cloves garlic
1 bunch green onions
3 1/2 TB cornstarch, divided
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 tsp rice wine vinegar
2 TB brown sugar
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
1 tsp sesame (or canola oil)

1. Trim all the fat from the beef and thinly slice it against the grain, as thin as possible. Toss with 1/2 TB cornstarch to coat. Mince the ginger and the garlic. Thinly slice the green onion. Slice the red pepper into thin strips. Cut the broccoli into florets, discard the stems/stalks.

2. In a small bowl, mix 3 TB cornstarch with chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, black pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes until sugar and cornstarch has dissolved.

3. Heat oil in a large frying pan or wok over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and ginger and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. Stir in the green onions and the beef and cook until beef is browned, about 2-3 minutes. Add the broccoli and red peppers and cook until tender-crisp, about 3 minutes. Stir in the sauce, bringing it to a boil and cooking until the sauce begins to thicken. Serve over rice or noodles.

Back to Basics: Making Pasta

After my gluttony-filled mini vacation to San Francisco, one meal consisting of pappardelle pasta was on my brain (the ultra wide noodles).  But it is impossible to find pappardelle in the store.  And so, I was inspired to try my hand at making my own pasta.

I ordered a cheap pasta roller from amazon (this one).  And did some research.  I consulted with my friend and veteran pasta maker Anne.  And then I consulted the ultimate guide to how I do everything in my life (from how to make pasta to how to apply eyeliner), YouTube.  I found this video to be the most helpful:

http://youtu.be/twG7PCPDPEE


Plus I just love his accent. And his hat.  It makes me feel so authentic.

After several trials, I can now happily relay the following information:

• Although time consuming, making pasta is actually easy and kind of fun....and therapeutic.
• It is nearly impossible to screw pasta up.
• Dough too dry?  Add a little water.
• Dough too moist?  Add a little flour.
• Egg Allergy?  Just use water and oil.
• Don't have semolina flour?  All all-purpose works just great.
• Homemade pasta is seriously the bomb.  
• Listening to the classic Italian station on Pandora just helps.

Here is the recipe I like best:

Pasta Dough

Makes 6 large servings

465 cals / 6g fat / 80g carbs / 20g protein

4 cups all purpose flour

1 cup semolina flour

6 eggs

2 tsp olive oil

1.  Make sure your counter is clean and dry.  Mix the flours on the counter and shape into a large bowl/volcano shape (make the sides high enough to contain the eggs).  Crack the eggs into the well in the center.  Add the olive oil.  Using a fork whip the eggs and oil to blend, then slowly start mixing in some flour from the edges until egg mixture is thickened and slightly dough-ey.  If it is too dry and crumbly, add water by teaspoons until slightly moist and uniform.  If dough is too sticky, add more flour.

2.  Using your hands, continue mixing and kneading the dough until uniform.  Knead by hand for 10-15 minutes.  This is going to be tough.  The dough should be stiff, but not crumbly.  Put your back into it.  Break a sweat.  Knead knead knead. Frustrated? Angry? Take it out here.

3.  Wrap the dough in plastic and place in the fridge to rest for 30-60 minutes.  Do not skip this step.  It will help relax the gluten and make the dough nice and smooth and easier to work with.

4.  Remove dough from fridge and cut into 4 parts.  Work with 1 piece of dough at a time (keep the rest covered).  Sprinkle with flour, shape into a rectangle, and run through pasta roller at the widest setting.  Fold into thirds, pat with more flour to prevent sticking, and run through widest setting again.  Repeat 2-3 more times.  Turn dough to next widest setting and roll dough through, switch to next setting, roll dough through, repeating until dough is at desired thickness (I like setting "6").    

5.  Cut or shape dough into desired shapes.  Boil in salted water until done, about 3 minutes, and serve.

If you want to make the pasta ahead of time, you can dust noodles with flour and place in single layers on waxed paper.  These can sit out for 2-4 hours until you are ready to boil them.  It usually takes me ~45 minutes to roll and cut the pasta dough.

Here it is....homemade pappardelle with simple marinara sauce, some fresh basil, and parmesan.

Parmesan Pea Risotto

Risotto is typically one of my "lack-of-planning" meals. It is simple to make, uses ingredients I almost always have on hand...arborio rice, broth, wine (duh), and totally works your arms with all the stirring involved (bonus). This is a basic recipe, but you can really add in any sort of flavors/add-ins you want.

The other plus? You can still fit this into a WW lifestyle, so says weight watchers since this recipe comes from there.  At only 395 calories for large serving (about a cup and a half), you can enjoy a creamy, filling rice meal without doing damage to your waistline.  Or if you need less of a calorie hit, serve a smaller portion with a big salad on the side.

Parmesan Pea Risotto
Makes 4 servings
395 cals / 8g fat / 66g carbs / 11g protein

2 tsp olive oil
1 small onion
3 cloves garlic
1 1/2 cup arborio rice
1 cup white wine
5 cups chicken broth
1/2 lemon (for juice)
1/3 cup parmesan cheese
2 TB butter
salt and pepper

1. Dice onion and mince garlic. Mix wine and broth together in a microwave safe bowl and heat until just beginning to boil, about 5-6 minutes (or heat in a saucepan). You will want to keep this hot, so keep running it in the microwave or keep it warm on the stove.

2. Heat oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add rice and cook until coated and rice begins to turn clear, 3-5 minutes more. Increase heat to medium-high, add 1 cup of the hot broth/wine and stir occasionally until liquid is completely absorbed. Once absorbed, add 1/2 cup broth and stir until liquid is absorbed. Continue this pattern until rice is soft, but not mushy. This will take about 25-30 minutes.

3. Stir in peas and cook until done, 3-4 minutes. Stir in butter and parmesan, season with salt and pepper and serve.