Category Archives: Dinner

Scalloped Potatoes

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups smooth goat cheese
  • 1/2 cup chives, finely chopped
  • 2 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes, finely sliced
  • 2 large onions, thinly sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons butter, cubed
  • Salt and pepper

Directions

In a bowl, mix together the goat cheese with the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Add in the chives. Keep aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Slice the potatoes into 1/8-inch thick slices by using a mandoline or a very sharp knife. Rinse and keep in cold water.

In a large skillet, saute the onions with garlic for about 10 minutes in olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Drain and pat dry the potatoes. In an ovenproof dish, nicely layer the potato slices. Cover with some caramelized onions, and 1/4 of the goat cheese mixture. Repeat the layers and finish with the goat cheese mixture. Season each layer with salt and pepper. Pour the rest of the cream mixture over the potatoes and the butter. Cook in the oven for 1 hour until golden brown.

Brown Sugared Carrots

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds carrots, all a similar size and thickness, peeled and quartered lengthwise, tops reserved for garnish
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon molasses
  • 1/2 to 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1 sprig rosemary

Directions

In a skillet large enough to hold the carrots, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When the oil begins to smoke lightly, add the carrots and season with salt and black pepper. Using a wooden spoon, stir the carrots to coat with the oil and seasonings.

After the carrots have cooked for a few minutes, add the brown sugar and molasses and continue to cook, stirring from time to time. Add a little water so they can become tender without burning the sugar. Continue to cook until tender, about 5 to 8 minutes. Add more water, if needed, but the sauce should be thick enough to coat the carrots and should bubble around the edges of the pan. The carrots should be tender and fairly yielding when pierced with the tip of a knife. Add the butter and the rosemary sprig. Once the butter has melted remove the rosemary sprig and discard. Transfer the carrots to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped carrot tops. Serve immediately or allow to “rest” a little before serving.

Lasagne Alla Bolognese

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • Butter, for the pan
  • 1/2 batch Bolognese Sauce, recipe follows
  • 1 1/2 (9-ounce) boxes no-boil lasagne noodles
  • Besciamella, recipe follows
  • 3/4 cup grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for serving
  • Bolognese Sauce:
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 red onion, medium chop
  • 3 carrots, medium chop
  • 3 celery stalks, medium chop
  • 5 ounces pancetta, cut into small cubes
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 handfuls fresh flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked and chopped
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 pound ground pork
  • 1 pound ground veal
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 3 (28-ounce) cans pelati tomatoes*
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • Besciamella:
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 4 1/2 cups whole milk
  • Pinch freshly grated nutmeg
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Notes

Because you are working with pasta that does not require boiling, you have to make sure that there are no pieces of lasagne sticking out of the sauce because they won’t cook.

When you decide to tap into your reserve of frozen lasagne, keep in mind you need to thaw the frozen lasagne overnight before reheating.

Pelati tomatoes are whole canned tomatoes.

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Butter the lasagne pan well and add a very thin layer of meat sauce.

Add the first layer of lasagne noodles and in order, cover with meat sauce, about 3 ladles besciamella, and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan cheese. Repeat the same process until you reach the top of the dish. Make sure the lasagne noodles are soaking into the sauce.

When done layering the ingredients, top the lasagne with a final ladle of meat sauce and some besciamella, add a few thin slices of butter and finish with some grated Parmesan.

Bake for about 30 minutes.

Heat a broiler. When your fantastic lasagne alla bolognese is cooked, give it a nice crisp top by broiling it for about 5 minutes.

Always serve this dish with extra-virgin olive oil and some grated parmesan, to taste.

Directions

Bolognese Sauce:
Saute the onion, carrots, and celery in about 5 tablespoons olive oil in a large rondeau until soft. Add the pancetta to the soffritto (onion mixture). Cook on a medium-high flame for about 7 to 10 minutes, then add the meat; break it up well with a wooden spoon. Cook’s Note: You can jack up the heat a bit, and keep stirring until all the ground meat is browned. Add the red pepper flakes and the parsley and cook for just 1 minute.

Add the wine now and cook until the alcohol is completely evaporated, scraping up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.

Pulse the tomatoes smooth in a food processor and add them to the meat, season generously with salt and pepper, lower the flame to medium and cook for about 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Finish the sauce by adding the whole milk, stir well and set aside, to cool off.

Directions

Besciamella:
Melt the 1/2 cup butter in a pan over medium heat. Stir in the flour with a wooden spoon. Cook’s Note: This is an important moment, as you have to slowly toast the flour without burning it. This will help you lose the flowery taste.

Warm up the milk and gradually ladle into the pot with the butter-flour mixture, whisking constantly while bringing the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer for about 15 minutes. Season the sauce with freshly grated nutmeg, salt, and pepper.

Cheesy Polenta

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 9 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon salt, plus extra for seasoning
  • 2 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal or polenta
  • 1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan
  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk, at room temperature
  • 10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Bring the water to a boil in a large, heavy pot. Add the salt. Gradually whisk in the cornmeal. Reduce the heat to low and cook, stirring often, until the mixture thickens and the cornmeal is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat. Add the cheese, milk, butter, and parsley. Stir until the butter and cheese have melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the polenta to a bowl and serve.

3 Cheese Mac & Cheese

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients
1 tablespoon salt, plus more for pasta water
1 pound large elbow macaroni
6 tablespoons butter
6 tablespoons all-purpose flour
3 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound white Cheddar, shredded
4 ounces Romano, shredded
4 ounces Asiago, shredded
2 cups bread crumbs (suggested: panko (Japanese) available at most markets)
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.

In large pot filled with water add 3 pinches of salt and the macaroni and place over high heat. Bring to a boil and let cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain. Set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt butter. Sprinkle flour over butter and cook 2 to 3 minutes on medium heat, whisking until a roux or paste forms. Add cold milk and whisk vigorously until dissolved. Cook sauce on medium-low heat until thick and bubbly. Add heavy cream, all cheeses, 1 tablespoon of salt, and 1 tablespoon pepper. Cook until cheeses are fully melted, stirring occasionally.

Add cooked macaroni to cheese mixture and mix thoroughly. Place macaroni mixture in a 13 by 9 baking dish and top with bread crumbs. Place in the oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Top with fresh parsley and serve.

Twice-Baked Potatoes

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 8 baking potatoes, washed
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 2 sticks salted butter
  • 1 cup bacon bits (fry your own!)
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • 1 cup Cheddar or Jack cheese (or a mix of both), plus more for topping
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • 3 green onions, sliced
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the potatoes on a baking sheet. Rub them with the canola oil and bake for 1 hour, making sure they’re sufficiently cooked through.

Slice the butter into pats. Place in a large mixing bowl and add the bacon bits and sour cream. Remove the potatoes from the oven. Lower the heat to 350 degrees F.

With a sharp knife, cut each potato in half lengthwise. Scrape out the insides into the mixing bowl, being careful not to tear the shell. Leave a small rim of potato intact for support. Lay the hollowed out potato shells on a baking sheet.

Smash the potatoes into the butter, bacon and sour cream. Add the cheese, milk, seasoned salt, green onions and black pepper to taste and mix together well. (IMPORTANT: If you plan to freeze the twice-baked potatoes, do NOT add the green onions.)

Fill the potato shells with the filling. I like to fill the shells so they look abundant and heaping. Top each potato with a little more grated cheese and pop ’em in the oven until the potato is warmed through, 15 to 20 minutes.

Whiskey Cream Sauce

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in Dinner, Recipes, Sauce

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Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup diced onions
  • 1/2 cup whiskey
  • 1/2 cup beef stock or broth
  • Dash of salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup heavy cream

Directions

Cook the onions in the 3 tablespoons butter in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes. When the onions are brown, turn off the burner temporarily so you won’t ignite your kitchen. Or yourself.

Pour in the whiskey. As soon as it evaporates, turn the burner on medium-high heat and pour in the beef stock. Add salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste, then allow the mixture to bubble up and reduce by half.

Whisk in the remaining tablespoon of butter, then reduce the heat to low. Whisk in 1/4 cup to 1/2 cup cream, according to your taste. Allow the sauce to simmer and thicken for a few minutes.

Serve with beef, baby!

Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

22 Thursday Dec 2011

Posted by in Breakfast, Dinner, Recipes

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Ingredients

Chicken Fried Steak:

  • 1 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 3/4 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 3 pounds cube steak (tenderized round steak that’s been extra tenderized)
  • Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup canola or vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter

Gravy:

  • 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 to 4 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • Mashed potatoes, for serving

Directions

For the steak: Begin with setting up an assembly line of dishes. Mix the milk with the eggs in one; the flour mixed with the seasoned salt, 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper, paprika and cayenne in another; and the meat in a third. Then have one clean plate at the end to receive the breaded meat.

Work with one piece of meat at a time. Sprinkle both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then place it in the flour mixture. Turn to coat. Place the meat into the milk/egg mixture, turning to coat. Finally, place it back in the flour and turn to coat (dry mixture/wet mixture/dry mixture). Place the breaded meat on the clean plate, then repeat with the remaining meat.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butter. Drop in a few sprinkles of flour to make sure it’s sufficiently hot. When the butter sizzles immediately, you know it’s ready. (It should not brown right away, if it does, the fire is too hot.) Cook the meat, 3 pieces at a time, until the edges start to look golden brown, about 2 minutes each side. Remove the meat to a paper towel-lined plate and keep them warm by covering lightly with another plate or a sheet of foil. Repeat until all the meat is cooked.

After all the meat is fried, pour off the grease into a heatproof bowl. Without cleaning the skillet, return it to the stove over medium-low heat. Add 1/4 cup of the grease back to the skillet and allow it to heat up.

For the gravy: When the grease is hot, sprinkle the flour evenly over the grease. Using a whisk, mix the flour with the grease, creating a golden-brown paste. Add more flour if it looks overly greasy; add a little more grease if it becomes too pasty/clumpy. Keep cooking until the roux reaches a deep golden brown color.

Pour in the milk, whisking constantly. Add the seasoned salt and black pepper to taste and cook, whisking, until the gravy is smooth and thick, 5 to 10 minutes. Be prepared to add more milk if it becomes overly thick. Be sure to taste to make sure gravy is sufficiently seasoned.

Serve the meat next to a big side of mashed potatoes. Pour gravy over the whole shebang!

Macaroni and Cheese

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 4 cups dried macaroni
  • 1 whole egg
  • 1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) butter
  • 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 heaping teaspoons dry mustard (more if desired)
  • 1 pound sharp Cheddar, grated, plus more for baking
  • Salt
  • Seasoned salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • Optional spices: cayenne pepper, paprika, thyme

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Cook the macaroni until still slightly firm. Drain and set aside.

In a small bowl, beat the egg. In a large pot, melt the butter and sprinkle in the flour. Whisk together over medium-low heat. Cook for a couple of minutes, whisking constantly. Don’t let it burn. Pour in the milk, add the mustard and whisk until smooth. Cook until very thick, about 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to low.

Take 1/4 cup of the sauce and slowly pour it into the beaten egg, whisking constantly to avoid cooking the eggs. Whisk together until smooth. Pour the egg into the sauce, whisking constantly. Stir until smooth. Add in the cheese and stir to melt. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt and the pepper. Add any additional spices if desired. Taste the sauce and add more salt and seasoned salt as needed! DO NOT UNDERSALT.

Pour in the drained, cooked macaroni and stir to combine. Serve immediately (while it’s still very creamy) or pour into a buttered baking dish, top with extra cheese and bake until bubbly and golden on top, 20 to 25 minutes.

Sliders

22 Thursday Dec 2011

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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 4 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 6 dashes Worcestershire sauce (less if you prefer)
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 8 whole dinner (or slider) rolls, split

Directions

Preheat the grill to medium heat.

Mix the ground beef, heavy cream, Worcestershire and the salt and some pepper in a bowl. Use your hands to thoroughly mix the ingredients. Form 1/4 cup of the meat mixture into patties, making 16 patties total. Make an indentation with your thumb to keep the patties from plumping too much when they cook.

Grill the sliders until just cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Remove from the grill and pile on a platter.

Toast the halved buns on the grill. Place the sliders between the buns and serve immediately.

Macaroni and Cheese and Sliders Bar:

  • 1 pound thick-cut peppered bacon
  • 3 yellow onions, halved and sliced
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 8 ounces gorgonzola
  • Cooked sliders and/or macaroni and cheese, for serving
Fry the bacon in a skillet over medium-high heat until slightly crisp, about 8 minutes. Remove from the pan and cut into bite-size pieces.

In a separate pan, cook the onions in the butter over a low heat until caramelized, 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Use a fork to crumble the gorgonzola.
Put the bacon, caramelized onions and crumbled gorgonzola into separate bowls. Serve as delicious toppings for both sliders and macaroni cheese.