Cooking Method: Sautéing
Double Decker Tacos
Double Decker Tacos - a taco shell in the center of a flour tortilla, spread with beans and cheese.Then you fill the taco shell with beef, more shredded cheese, shredded lettuce and tomatoes.The refried beans act as the glue in the double decker taco. This is a family tradition in our house.
By - Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Bratwurst and Sauerkraut Skillet
Octoberfest arrived with a visit from my brother-in-law, Russell. He loves saurkraut like both his siblings. I don't mind it, but I could live without it. However, this recipe was outstanding and I even liked it. In fact, I had a second helping! He used 2 kinds of bratwurst.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Avocado, Bacon & Basil Pasta
Avocado, Bacon & Basil Pasta - My 15 year old daughter, Grace, texted me yesterday morning and asked if she could make dinner. She even sent a shopping list. Absolutely! I love everything about this recipe. It was delicious. My other daughter, Zoe, is going to be mad when she reads this from her college dorm with no kitchen... If you are nice, Grace might make it for you when you get home! She also did wonderful mis-en-place (a French term that literally means, "setting in place", used in cooking to describe all the prep and gathering of ingredients)!
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Sausages with Herbed Beans
This is a great weeknight meal. It's very similar to cassoulet, which is a rich, slow-cooked casserole originating in the south of France, containing sausage and other meats. The beauty of this recipe is that unlike cassoulet, it cooks very quickly. I sent my husband, Eric, the shopping list via text message, he actually bought already cooked Portuguese smoke cured sausage seasoned with garlic and paprika. I thought it wouldn't work, but it was really delicious and I will be making this again.
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chardonnay Braised Chicken Thighs with Parsnips
We had some friends over for dinner. They are redoing their kitchen. You know the scenario - the contractor says it will be 3 months, which means 6 to 8! Anyway, I made this chicken dish, which was so easy and everyone seems to like it. I found it in Food & Wine magazine.
- Cook: 40 mins
- Yields: 4 - 6 Servings
Shiitake Mushrooms With Harissa Vinaigrette
I saw this recipe years ago in The Wall Street Journal. I love mushrooms also I happened to have a tube of Harissa, which my husband, Eric, calls "The Ketchup of North Africa". Harissa, the Tunisian chili paste packed with spices and herbs, can add punch to all kinds of dishes. Harissa is available at some speciality foods stores and at Middle Eastern markets. To save time, you can use store-bought harissa and skip straight to the instructions for making the vinaigrette, which is what I did. The other liberty I took with this recipe was to use a combination of Shiitake and Crimini or Baby Bella mushrooms.By the way, mushrooms are packed with vitamins, nutrients and antioxidants. People who eat 2 medium-sized mushrooms daily have a 45% lower risk of cancer compared to those who do not eat mushrooms, according to Pennsylvania State University research, published in Advances in Nutrition.
- Prep: 30 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Peas with Orange and Mint
Peas with Orange and Mint is a great easy side dish that livens up a bag of frozen peas...
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Chicken Liver Pâté with Sage, Apple and Thyme
I made this pâté using chicken livers. I was really the other ingredients that I found appealing. We happen to have a monstrously large sage plant in the back garden. Also, the apple gives it a hint of sweetness. I know most sane people would never dream of making pâté, but it's easy once you get over the whole liver thing!
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: Makes about 2½ cups
Sautéed Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli Rabe, also known as rapini or, “broccoletti” in Rome or “friarelli” in Naples is a common vegetable in the cuisines of southern Italy, especially in Naples. The flavor of rapini has been described as nutty, bitter, and pungent. Rapini is often sautéed with garlic. In Umbria and other Central Italy regions, rapini is sautéed with garlic, chili pepper and guanciale (guanciale is an unsmoked Italian bacon prepared with pig's jowl or cheeks) is a typical side dish for porchetta, grilled pork ribs and sausages and other pork dishes.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Spinach Salad with Limed Pepitas and Dried Cranberries
Spinach Salad with Limed Pepitas and Dried Cranberries is delicious! Pepita (from Mexican Spanish: pepita de calabaza, "little seed of squash") is a Spanish culinary term for the pumpkin seed, the edible seed of a pumpkin or squash. The following recipe is based on Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger's recipe from The Boarder Grill in Los Angeles. Their version of this salad uses pomegranate Seeds and jicama. Also, if you are serving buffet style spinach is a good green to use. It's less delicate than lettuce and doesn't go as limp. I had never "limed" a pepitas before, but now I hooked!
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Yields: 12 Servings
