Monday, September 10, 2018

Pesto Pizza

Pizza Crust:
3 c flour
1 1/2 c water
2 tbs sugar
1 tsp salt
1 tbs yeast

Toppings:
Pesto
Sliced tomatoes (depends on the size-- 4-5 large ones; 8-9 small tomatoes)
Artichoke hearts, chopped
Onion, diced
Olive oil

Proof the yeast and sugar in warm water for 5 minutes or so.  Add flour and salt, mix with a wooden spoon (feel free to spray Pam on the spoon first).  Knead it a lot, set aside for an hour to rise.

Saute artichoke hearts and onion in olive oil until soft. 

Roll it out to pizza shape.  Spread pesto on pizza dough.  Top with tomato slices and then sauted vegetables.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 450.



From Let Food Heal

Wednesday, August 1, 2018

Teriyaki Chicken Salad Sandwiches

2 chicken breasts
Teriyaki baste and glaze (by Kikkoman)
2 stalks celery
1/3 c sliced green onions, chopped
1/4 c sliced almonds, toasted
1 mango, cut into smaller cubes (or 1 small can of mandarin oranges)
1/3-1/2 c mayonnaise
Salt and Pepper to taste
Croissants
Lettuce leaves


Marinate chicken for at least 4 hours.  Grill for about 7 minutes per side.  While chicken is grilling, combine celery and green onions in a small mixing bowl.  When chicken is done, allow to stand for about 10 minutes and then cut into bite-sized pieces.  Toss with celery and onions and then add mayonnaise and mix thoroughly.  Add 2-3 (or more!) tablespoons of the teriyaki sauce to taste.  Refrigerate for several hours.

Right before serving add mango and nuts.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  You might want to add more mayo or teriyaki sauce.  Serve on a lettuce leaf in a croissant (or pita).


From Our Best Bites

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Thai Mango Red Curry

Coconut Mango Sauce:
1 can coconut milk (light or regular is fine)
1/2 c chicken broth
1 large mango, peeled and pit removed
1 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs cornstarch

Chicken Curry:
1 Tbs olive oil
1/2 c finely chopped onion
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbs fresh ginger
1 1/2 to 2 lbs chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1 Tbs red curry paste
1 Tbs curry powder
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of pepper
zest from 1 lime
Fresh cilantro garnish

Rice


For the sauce, blend all the ingredients together.

Then, in a large skillet, heat the oil and saute the onion, garlic, and ginger until the onion is soft.  Pat the chicken pieces dry and add to the skillet.  Cook, stirring often, until they are white on all sides, but isn't cooked all the way through, 1-2 minutes.  Add the curry paste, curry powder, salt, and pepper and cook, stirring constantly, until the mixture is fragrant, 1-2 minutes.  Add the sauce and stir well.  Bring to a simmer, stirring often to make sure the curry paste and powder are full dissolved.  Simmer for 10-12 minutes, watching to make sure it doesn't burn.  Stir in the lime zest and sprinkle with cilantro.  Serve over rice.


From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Magical Layered Brownies

Brownies:
1/2 c butter
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 c sugar
4 large eggs
1/4 tsp salt
1 c flour
1 tsp vanilla extract

Browned Butter Frosting:
1/2 c butter
2 c powdered sugar
1/4 heavy cream
1 tsp vanilla extract

Glaze:
3 Tbs butter
4 oz. bittersweet or semisweet chocolate, chopped


Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Lightly grease a 9 X 13 inch aluminum pan with non-stick cooking spray and cut parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan.  Lightly grease the parchment paper.  Set the pan aside.

For the brownies, in a small saucepan, melt the butter and chocolate, stirring until smooth.  Set aside to cool slightly.  In a large bowl, combine the sugar, eggs, and salt.  Mix for 3-4 minutes, until the mixture has lightened in color and is very thick.  Fold in the warm (not hot!) chocolate/butter mixture.  Stir in the flour and vanilla.  Mix until well combined.  Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing evenly.

Bake for 25-30 minutes until the sides pull away from the pan just slightly.  Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack (about 1.5 hours).


For the browned butter frosting, place the stick of butter in a small saucepan and set it over low heat.  It's best to NOT use a non-stick or otherwise dark coated pan for this step, as you need to be able to see what color the butter is.  Let it melt over low heat and turn a caramel brown color, about 15 minutes.  Watch carefully and stir constantly.  Once it has browned, remove from heat.  Pour into a medium bowl.  Immediately add the powdered sugar, heavy cream, and vanilla.  Mix well with an electric mixer until frosting is smooth and thick.

Spread frosting over the cooled brownies.


For the glaze, melt the butter and chocolate together in the microwave or on the stovetop until it is smooth.  Pour the warm glaze over the frosted brownies.  Tip the pan from side to side to even out the glaze over the frosting (or carefully spread with a knife/spatula).  Chill the brownies until the glaze is set, 1-2 hours.  The brownies taste best cold.


From Mel's Kitchen Cafe

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Panzanella

French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 Tbs olive oil
1 cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1 yellow pepper, diced
4-5 large tomatoes, diced
1 small red onion, diced
1 1/2 c fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/3 c chopped fresh basil

Vinaigrette
1/2 c EVOO
2 Tbs balsamic vinegar
2 Tbs red wine vinegar
1 tsp Dijon mustard
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper


OPTIONAL: preheat oven to 350.  Toss bread cubes with olive oil and lay in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Bake for 10 minutes, remove from oven and cool to room temperature. 

Combine everything from cucumber to basil in a large bowl.

Place vinaigrette ingredients in a mason jar with a lid and shake vigorously to combine.  Pour over vegetables and add bread cubes.  Combine gently.  Refrigerate for 15-20 minutes before serving, stirring periodically.



From Our Best Bites Cookbook

Monday, May 7, 2018

Cadbury Egg Cookies

1/2 c Butter-flavored Crisco
1/2 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1 c white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 1/2 c flour
6 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder
1 10 oz. bag Cadbury mini-eggs

Preheat oven to 350.  Smash up the Cadbury eggs in a ziploc bag.  (Let your kid do it!)  Cream the butter, Crisco and sugars together.  Add in eggs one at a time and the vanilla.  In a separate bowl whisk the dry ingredients together.  Add to the butter mixture and combine, then mix in the candies.  (If you want these to look pretty, hold out a few eggs from being smashed and then press them into the top at the end.)  Drop onto a cookie sheet and cook for 8-10 minutes (9 worked great).


From Our Best Bites

Instant Pot Chicken Breasts

6 chicken breasts, fresh or frozen
3/4 c water
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 Tbs chili powder
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper


Add all ingredients to your pressure cooker, lock the lid and set the valve to closed.  Set the timer for 10 minutes.  When finished cooking, let the pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.  Release the rest of the pressure using "quick release."  Use two forks to shred the chicken, use in anything you want!


From Jennifer Banz

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