Month: September 2011

Categories
Main Dish Pork

Marinated Pork Loin

1 tablespoon sesame oil
1 small onion, grated
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger root or 3/4 teaspoon dry ginger
1 teaspoon grated fresh lemon peel
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup light soy sauce
1 pound whole pork tenderloin
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon firmly packed dark brown sugar
In a small bowl, combine oil, onion, ginger, lemon peel, garlic and soy sauce. Stir to mix well. Set aside. Place pork loin in a glass bowl. Pour soy mixture over pork and turn to coat evenly. Cover and place in refrigerator to marinate overnight. Remove pork from marinade; drain well.
Preheat oven to 375ºF.  In a small bowl, combine wine, honey and brown sugar. Stir to mix well. Pour over pork, coating all sides of roast. Place in a shallow, nonstick pan and cook 25 to 30 minutes, or until internal temperature reaches 155 F to 160ºF.  Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes. Slice and serve. Serve with steamed rice and snow peas.
Microwave Method for Cooking Pork Tenderloin: Season pork with salt-free garlic seasoning. Shield each end of the tenderloin with 1 inch of lightweight foil to prevent burning. Place on microwave-safe baking dish. Microwave for 3 minutes at high. Reduce power to 50 percent and microwave 5 more minutes. Remove foil shields, turn tenderloin over and cook 7 or 8 minutes longer or until meat thermometer reads 165 F. Remove and let sit covered until thermometer reads 170 F.    
4  Servings
Categories
Main Dish Seafood

Mahi Mahi with Asparagus and Cashews

1 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2/3 cup vertically sliced onion
1 1/2 Tbsp. minced peeled fresh ginger
1 Tbsp. grated orange rind8 garlic cloves, minced
4 (6-oz.) mahi mahi fillets
1 Tbsp. grated lemon rind
1 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice
1 Tbsp. low-sodium soy sauce
1 tsp. sherry vinegar or white wine vinegar
1 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. dark sesame oil
1/4 tsp. salt
4 cups (about 1 1/4 pounds) asparagus, 1″ slices
1/4 cup coarsely chopped dry-roasted cashews
2 Tbsp. chopped fresh cilantro
2 cups hot cooked brown rice
Orange rind strips (optional)
NOTE: You can substitute any firm-fleshed, non-oily fillets such as monkfish, tilapia, cod or grouper.
Heat vegetable oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion; sauté 1 minute. Add ginger, orange rind, and garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add fish; cook 3 minutes on each side or until lightly browned, stirring onion mixture in pan constantly to prevent burning. Sprinkle fish with lemon rind and juice.2. Combine soy sauce, vinegar, honey, sesame oil and salt in a medium bowl; add asparagus and cashews, tossing well to coat. Add asparagus mixture to pan; cook 4 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. Sprinkle with cilantro; serve over rice. Garnish with orange rind strips, if desired.
4  Servings
Categories
Beef Main Dish

Lazy day Roast

Vegetable oil spray
1 pound beef chuck roast, all visible fat removed, cut into cubes
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 1/4 cup homemade beef broth or low-sodium beef broth
3 tablespoons no-salt-added tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon rosemary
1/4 cup flour
1 8-ounce package fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 cup chopped onion
2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 carrots, peeled and cubed
Preheat broiler. Lightly spray a broiler pan with vegetable oil spray. Place meat on prepared broiler pan and place in broiler. Allow meat to brown on all sides, turning frequently. Remove from broiler and set aside. Set oven to bake at 300ºF.  In 1 1/2-quart casserole, combine wine, broth, tomato paste, spices and flour. Stir to mix well. Place meat in casserole and add mushrooms and onion. Cover and bake 2 hours, add potatoes and carrots and bake an additional 45 minutes, or until meat and veggies are tender.
8  Servings
Categories
Asian Chicken Main Dish Pasta

Hot-as-Heck Chicken on Chinese Noodles With Peanut Sauce

Peanut Sauce:
2 tsp. peeled, chopped fresh ginger
2 tsp. chopped cilantro
2 cloves garlic
2 fresh jalapeno peppers
1/2 c. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. soy sauce
1 heaping cup creamy peanut butter
2 tsp. curry powder, toasted
1/4 c. honey
2 tsp. dark sesame oil
1 tbs. olive oil
4 (6 oz.) chicken breast halves
1/2 c. dry sherry
1 c. sweet hot chili sauce
1/2 lb. dried Chinese egg noodles, cooked al dente and tossed with a dash of vegetable oil
1/2 c. dry-roasted peanuts or cashews
3 to 4 green onions, minced
To prepare the peanut sauce, combine the ginger, cilantro, garlic, jalapenos, vinegar, soy sauce and peanut butter in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the curry powder, honey and sesame oil; process until smooth. Set aside.
Fill a pasta pot or medium stock pot with 8 to 10 cups of salted water and bring to a boil over high heat.
Meanwhile, in a very large sauté pan, heat the oil over high heat until smoking hot. Put the chicken breasts in the pan and brown them well, about 2 minutes on each side. Decrease the heat to medium and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sherry, increase the heat to high, and cook until about half of the sherry remains, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the chili sauce and turn the breasts to coat them well. Decrease the heat to low and slowly simmer while you prepare the noodles.
Put the noodles in the pasta insert and set in the pot of boiling water or in the stock pot and cook for about 2 minutes to heat through. Strain the noodles and place in a large bowl. Toss them with 1/2 cup of the peanut sauce and place on a serving platter. Remove the chicken breasts from the sauce and slice. Place the chicken slices on the noodles and pour some of the remaining sauce over the top. Sprinkle with the roasted peanuts and scallions. Serve hot.
Categories
Beef Main Dish

Honey-Mustard Steak

1 6 oz. package wild and long grain rice, pilaf mix
1 1/2 pounds sirloin tip steaks, 1 inch thick
1/2 cup honey mustard
2 teaspoons freshly ground steak-house seasoning
1 bunch asparagus
Prepare rice pilaf mix according to pkg. directions, cooking about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat gas grill to medium-high or prepare charcoal grill with medium-hot coals.  Brush both sides of sirloin liberally with 1/4 cup of the honey mustard.  Place on grill and cook about 5 minutes, turning to prevent burning.  Remove and set aside.  Trim ends of asparagus; brush lightly with 1 tablespoon of the honey mustard.  Place on grill and cook about 5 minutes, turning to prevent burning.  Remove and set aside.
To serve, cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces.  Stir into pilaf along with remaining 3 tablespoons honey mustard.  Slice sirloin across the grain.  Serve over pilaf.
 6  Servings
Categories
Chicken Homemade Mixes

Homemade Shake & Bake Chicken

1 1/2 c. unseasoned bread crumbs
1/2 c. all purpose flour
2 tsp. celery salt
2 tsp. onion salt
2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. pepper
Mix ingredients together. Store in a covered container. Does not need refrigeration. Makes 2 cups (enough for 8 pieces of chicken).
OVEN FRIED CHICKEN:
1 (2 lb.) cut up frying chicken
Oven frying mix
Rinse chicken in cold water. Dredge chicken pieces in oven frying mix. Spray cookie tin with cooking spray. Place chicken skin side up on cookie tin. Bake in a preheated 375 degree oven for 50 minutes, until chicken is crisp and cooked through. Blot with paper towels and serve immediately. Makes 6 servings.
6  Servings
Categories
Main Dish Pizza

Homemade Pizza With Self-Rising Crust

For the Crust:
2-1/2 cups unbleached flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon dry yeast
3/4 cup water
3 tablespoons canola oil
For the Sauce:
8 ounce can of “no salt added” tomato sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon Italian Seasoning OR 1/2 teaspoon basil & 1/4 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon olive oil for flavoring (optional)
Toppings:
2 cups part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
1/2 lb ground turkey or ground beef
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
First prepare the crust.  In a medium sized bowl combine the flour, baking powder, salt and yeast.  Stir it up to distribute the salt and yeast evenly.  Add the water and oil.  You may need a spoonful or two more of water if the day is dry. Mix the dough with a wooden spoon until it forms a big ball in the middle of the bowl.  It will be a little stiffer than biscuit dough.  Knead the dough about 10 or 12 times and then form it into a ball.  Place the ball in the center of 16-inch pizza pan or a 9 by 13-inch rectangular pan.  Use your hands and a rolling pin to press the dough into the pan.  I find a rolling pin most effective in this effort.  The dough will be a medium thickness.  Allow it to rest while you prepare the meat and the sauce.
In a large cereal bowl combine the tomato sauce, Italian Seasoning (or basil and oregano), garlic powder, sugar, onion powder and oil.  Mix it well and spread it on the pizza crust.  If desired, you may substitute canned or prepared spaghetti sauce for this sauce.  
Cook the ground turkey or beef in a medium-sized skillet.  Break the meat up into small bit with a fork as you cook it.  Cook the meat until it is evenly brown without a speck of pink remaining.  Drain off the fat.  Add 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder to the cooked meat.  Stir briefly and remove from heat.  Now scatter the meat overtop of the pizza crust and the sauce.  Arrange it evenly. Top the sauce and the meat with 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese and a light sprinkling of Parmesan Cheese.  If desired, you may add other toppings of your choice.
Bake the prepared pizza at 400° for about 15 to 20 minutes.  Carefully remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for a few minutes.  It’s Use a pizza cutter to make 12 slices.  Each serving is 2 slices. 
Categories
Chicken Main Dish

Hawaiian Chicken

Loved this one.  Makes a lot of sauce.  Serve with steamed rice.
6 chicken breasts, boneless, skinless, cubed
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup carrots, sliced
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup red and yellow bell pepper, diced
1 8 oz. can pineapple, chunks drained with juice reserved
In large skillet, heat 2 tbsp. oil over medium high heat.  Add garlic and chicken pieces and cook about 5 minutes until browned.  Add in carrots and cook for 2 more minutes.  In a separate bowl, combine cornstarch, cider vinegar, ketchup, chicken broth, brown sugar and reserved pineapple juice.  Pour sauce mixture over chicken and bring to a simmer.  Add in peppers and pineapple, return to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes longer, stirring to blend well.
6  Servings
Categories
Breakfast Potatoes

Hash brown Strata

Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups frozen loose-pack diced hash brown potatoes with onion and peppers
1 cup cut broccoli florets
1/3 cup finely chopped turkey bacon or turkey ham (about 2 ounces)
1/3 cup evaporated fat-free milk
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 8-ounce cartons refrigerated or frozen egg product, thawed
1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (2 ounces)
1 tablespoon snipped fresh basil or 1/2 teaspoon dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon black pepper   
Fresh basil sprigs (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly coat a 2-quart square baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Arrange hash brown potatoes and broccoli in bottom of baking dish; top with turkey bacon or ham. Set aside. 
Stir milk gradually into flour in a medium bowl. Stir in egg product, half of the cheese, the snipped or dried basil, and black pepper. Pour egg mixture over vegetables. 
Bake in preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Let stand for 5 minutes. If desired, garnish with fresh basil sprigs.
Makes 6 main-dish servings.  
Categories
Ham Main Dish

Ham Muffins

1/2 pound ham, cooked
1/2 pound American cheese
1/2 green bell pepper, seeds, stem and pith removed
3/4 cup cracker crumbs, fine
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
Grind ham, cheese and green pepper together.  Add cracker crumbs, eggs and milk.  Mix well.  Bake in greased muffin pans or individual cups in moderate oven (350°F) for 30 minutes.  Makes 12 medium sized muffins.  Serve with mushroom sauce.
12  Servings