Monthly Archives: April 2013

Asparagus with Lemon and Pecorino

Here I go again – trying to eat better.  I go in waves with food.  I’ll eat really well for a week or two but then as soon as I get something not-so-good for me, all I crave is bad food.  I guess that’s why they say “You are what you eat”?  After all, when I’m eating lots of fruits and veggies, I tend to eat better.  But then as soon as I get a french fry or donut, forget it.  I’m a lost cause.  Well, I’m doing better this week, mostly because I spent a wonderful few days last week with my sister, niece and baby nephew in Texas, and ate pretty bad.  We’re talking peanut-butter Snickers minis, leftover Easter candy and bags and bags of Chex Mix.  So I made a conscious effort to start eating better on Monday.  So far so good but it’s only been a few days.  Anyway, this Asparagus with Lemon and Pecorino is a great way to jazz up boring asparagus while also getting a daily dose of veggies.

After boiling the asparagus until bright green and crisp-tender, it’s moved to a pan, sauteed in garlic and topped with lemon rind and pecorino Romano cheese.  The lemon rind provides a fresh brightness while the pecorino adds a slightly sharp tang and melts perfectly.  Since asparagus is one of Spring’s favorite gifts, go out and get some on sale and make this to eat with your favorite meal.

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The ingredients:

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Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add asparagus; cook for 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain.

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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil to pan; swirl to coat. Add asparagus; cook 1 minute.

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Sprinkle evenly with lemon rind, pepper, and salt; toss to coat.

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Sprinkle asparagus with pecorino Romano cheese.

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Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:  None

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Cooking Light Magazine

Spinach, Green Onion and Smoked Gouda Quiche

I like cheese but for the most part, I could take it or leave it.  This comment generally surprises anyone I tell this to who usually comes right back and says “I love cheese!” like I have something wrong with me.  Aside from Cheese Wiz with my soft pretzels or a slice of creamy American on my turkey burger, I didn’t really have a hankering for cheese.  Until smoked Gouda came along.  I can’t remember the first time I was introduced to this wonderful cheese but I do remember my friend Lori and I shielding the cheese table at a charity benefit a few years ago so that no one could get to the smoked Gouda without going through us first.  So it’s no wonder that this Spinach, Green Onion and Smoked Gouda Quiche recipe had me at hello.  I love me some spinach but without the smoked Gouda in this title, I might have otherwise passed it by.

Fresh baby spinach and scallions are sautéed until wilted and added to a mixture of low-fat mix, eggs, and shredded smoked Gouda.  Poured into a homemade, simple crust and baked until golden brown, this quiche is not the pretentious quiche you might have grown up hating.  This quiche is fresh and smoky, light and filling.  The crust itself requires some patience and the final product is pretty boring so next time I might just use a store-bought crust.  Either way, the smoky cheese and creamy texture of this quiche is the real winner and I’ve realized boring quiches needn’t be so boring after all.

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The ingredients:

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To prepare crust, place butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until light and fluffy. Combine milk, salt, and egg yolk in a small bowl; stir well with a whisk. Add milk mixture to butter, 1 tablespoon at a time, beating well after each addition.

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Add flour; beat just until combined. Press mixture into a 4-inch circle on plastic wrap; cover. Chill for 1 hour.

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Unwrap and place chilled dough on a lightly floured surface. Roll dough into a 10-inch circle. Fit dough into a 9-inch pie plate. Freeze 15 minutes. Bake at 350°F for 25 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.

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To prepare filling, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onions; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Add spinach; sauté 2 minutes.

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Combine 1 cup milk and remaining ingredients in a bowl; stir well with a whisk.

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Stir in spinach mixture. Pour filling into crust.

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Bake at 350°F for 35 minutes. Cut into 10 wedges.

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Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:  None

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Cooking Light Magazine

Tortilla Chip Casserole

Didn’t someone once say that casseroles are boring?  I guess casseroles used to primarily consist of some kind of leftover meat, mixed vegetables, maybe a pasta, rice or potato and some kind of creamy condensed soup…yeah…boring.  I wouldn’t want to eat that.  Well, unless I’m really hungry.  This Tortilla Chip Casserole is unlike any other casserole you’ve had.  If you are making this for dinner for guests or family, don’t even bother telling them you made a casserole because you’ll have them dreaming of Taco Bell right away.  Instead, tell them you have made the most flavorful, cheesy knock-your-socks-off dish and leave it at that.

Black beans, chicken and tortilla chips are nestled between layers of a spicy, cheesy milk sauce, and topped with enchilada sauce and cheese before being baked until melted and gooey.  Cumin and coriander are added to the milk sauce giving warmth to the already-bold flavors going on in the dish and cream cheese is also melted in making the sauce thick and rich.  Roasted red peppers, which are tucked away in the middle of the layers, add more flavor but sort of disappear in the end result so leave them in or leave them out, it’s up to you.  The best way I can describe this dish to say it’s like eating your favorite Mexican dip for dinner.  It’s creamy, it’s cheesy, it’s hearty, it has chicken, it has chips, it has spice.  It’s everything wrapped up in one little casserole bow.  Don’t let the lengthy list of ingredients deter you:  this will be the best dish you’ve made in a long time.  And no one will be dreaming of Taco Bell.

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The ingredients:

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Heat oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 6 minutes. Add garlic and flour; cook 2 minutes. ­Gradually add milk and stock, stirring constantly; bring to a boil. Remove from heat; stir in cumin, coriander, salt, pepper, and cream cheese.

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Spread 1/2 cup milk mixture over bottom of a broiler-safe 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Layer beans, 1 1/2 cups chicken, and 2 ounces chips. Top with 1/2 cup milk mixture. Layer 1 1/2 cups chicken, bell pepper, and 2 ounces chips; top with 1 cup milk mixture and enchilada sauce.

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Sprinkle with shredded cheese. Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.

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Sprinkle with green onions, if desired.  (I was in such a hurry to eat this, I completely forgot the green onions!)

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Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:

  • Red enchilada sauce

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Cooking Light Magazine

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