Month: October 2011

Categories
Italian Main Dish Pasta

Red Pesto and Vegetable Penne

1/4 cup olive oil
1 eggplant, cubed
1 red pepper, deseeded and chopped
1 orange bell pepper, deseeded and chopped
12 ounces dry penne pasta
3 tablespoons red pesto sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
fresh ground black pepper
8 ounces feta cheese basil leaves (to garnish)
Heat the olive oil in a large pan, add the eggplant and peppers, and sauté over a moderate heat for 10 minutes until the eggplant is golden and the peppers softened and browned at the edges.  While the vegetables are sautéing, cook the penne in a large pan of boiling water for 8 minutes or until al dente. Drain, return to the pan and add the red pesto, stirring until the penne is coated. Add the rice vinegar to the eggplant and pepper mix, and season with black pepper. Spoon the penne on to warm plates and pile the vegetables on top. Crumble over the feta cheese and serve garnished with basil leaves.
4  Servings
Categories
Mexican Sandwiches Wraps

Red Pepper Quesadillas

Eight 8-in. flour tortillas
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese (4 oz)
1 cup frozen chopped red bell peppers, thawed
1/4 cup sliced scallions
1/4 cup chopped cilantro (optional)
4 tsp vegetable oil
Note: Next time you make bean soup, serve these Mexican “grilled cheese” sandwiches on the side.
Sprinkle 4 tortillas with 1/2 cup of the cheese, the red peppers, scallions and cilantro. Top with remaining 1/2 cup cheese and tortillas.  Heat 1 tsp oil in each of two nonstick skillets over medium heat. Cook a quesadilla in each about 2 minutes per side, turning once, until tortillas are crisp and cheese is melted; repeat with remaining quesadillas. Cut in wedges
4  Servings
Categories
Main Dish Pasta Vegetarian

Ravioli in Mushroom-Walnut Cream Sauce

12 oz ravioli or tortellini, cooked according to package directions
2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
8 oz mushrooms, sliced
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté mushrooms and walnuts until mushrooms are golden brown. Add heavy cream stir frequently for 5 minutes, until sauce has slightly thickened. When cream stops simmering, turn heat to warm. Add pepper and Parmesan cheese; stir until sauce is smooth. Do not boil.   Drain pasta and place on a serving plate. Pour sauce over pasta.   Garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.
4  Servings
Categories
Casseroles Main Dish Vegetables Vegetarian

Ratatouille

1 1/2 cups eggplants, peeled and diced
1/2 cup onions, thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 green bell pepper, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 1/2 cups zucchini, sliced
1 (16 oz.) can tomatoes, stewed
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 (7 3/4 oz.) can mushrooms
dash pepper
Place eggplant, onion, garlic and oil in a 2 quart casserole.  Cook in microwave oven 5 minutes.  Cut peppers into 1/2 strips.  Mix peppers and zucchini with eggplant mixture.  Add seasonings to tomatoes.  Mix with vegetables.  Cook in microwave oven 8-10 minutes.  Let stand 5 minutes. 

*You can use vegetable soup in place of tomatoes and cut corn off the cob and add to the casserole.
 4  Servings
Categories
Main Dish Pasta

Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce

For a new way to enjoy pumpkin this season, try these pumpkin ravioli with a rich yet mellow Gorganzola sauce. You can assemble the ravioli a day ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. The ravioli will float when they are perfectly cooked. Pour a chilled chardonnay.
1 1/4 cups canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons dry breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh sage
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
30 round wonton wrappers
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Cooking spray
1 cup fat-free milk
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
3 tablespoons chopped hazelnuts, toasted
Spoon pumpkin onto several layers of heavy-duty paper towels, and spread to 1/2-inch thickness. Cover with additional paper towels; let stand 5 minutes. Scrape into a medium bowl using a rubber spatula. Stir in breadcrumbs, Parmesan, salt, minced sage, pepper, and nutmeg. Working with 1 wonton wrapper at a time (cover remaining wrappers with a damp towel to keep from drying), spoon 2 teaspoons pumpkin mixture into the center of wrapper. Brush edges of wrapper with water and fold in half, pressing edges firmly with fingers to form a half-moon. Place on a large baking sheet sprinkled with cornstarch. Repeat procedure with remaining wonton wrappers and pumpkin mixture.
Fill a large Dutch oven with water; bring to a simmer. Add half of ravioli to pan (cover remaining ravioli with a damp towel to keep from drying). Cook 4 minutes or until done (do not boil), stirring gently. Remove ravioli with a slotted spoon; lightly coat with cooking spray, and keep warm. Repeat procedure with remaining ravioli.
Combine milk and flour in a saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Bring to a boil; cook for 1 minute or until thick, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add butter, stirring until butter melts. Gently stir in Gorgonzola. Place 5 ravioli in each of 6 shallow bowls, and drizzle each serving with 3 tablespoons Gorgonzola mixture. Sprinkle each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons hazelnuts. Serve immediately.
6  Servings
Categories
Casseroles Main Dish Potatoes Seafood

Potato Surimi Casserole

1 package au gratin potatoes
1/2 cup milk
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
6 eggs, large
1 (8 oz.) can corn, creamed
1/2 pound Surimi seafood, chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 scallion tops, chopped
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Heat oven to 450ºF.  Prepare potatoes in 8x8x2″ baking dish.  Follow package directions for milk and butter.  Bake for only 15 minutes.  Let stand for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in bowl, combine eggs, corn, surimi, flour, scallions, salt, nutmeg and cayenne.  Pour over potatoes. Reduce oven temperature to 350ºF.  Bake until set, 45 minutes.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Cut into 6 squares.
6  Servings
Categories
Beef Main Dish

Pot Roast Style Steak with Tomatoes

1 1/2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound sirloin or lean steak of choice, all visible fat removed, cut into serving-size pieces
2 cloves garlic, crushed or minced
2 Italian plum tomatoes, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
Black pepper to taste
Pinch of salt
Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat and sear the steaks until desired doneness, about 10 minutes for rare. Transfer the meat to a serving platter and cover with foil or a lid to keep warm. Set aside. Add the garlic to the skillet and sauté over low heat until golden, about 2 minutes, being careful not to burn it. Add the rest of the ingredients except the meat. Cook over medium heat until the tomatoes are tender but still have texture, about 5 minutes. Return the meat to the skillet, along with any juices, and cook gently for a few minutes to combine flavors. Transfer meat and sauce to the platter and serve immediately. 
Cook’s Tip: Keep in mind that the meat will continue to cook slightly both when covered on the platter and when returned to the sauce. If you like your steak on the pink side, you might want to undercook it a bit to ensure desired doneness.     
Categories
Chicken Main Dish Pork

Pork, Chicken and Potato Stew in Peanut Sauce

1-1/2 pounds pork shoulder, cut into 1/3-inch cubes
5-1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
8 small purple Peruvian or red potatoes (about 1 pound), quartered
1 large onion, chopped
6 large garlic cloves, minced
4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
2 boxes (10 ounces each) frozen corn, thawed
1-1/2 tablespoons adobo sauce from canned chipotle in adobo
1/2 cup reduced-fat peanut butter
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro or flat-leaf parsley, for garnish
Rinse pork and pat dry; season with salt and pepper. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a heavy 5-quart pot over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Add pork, in 3 batches, and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 6 minutes per batch (adding oil, 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed). Transfer, as cooked, with a slotted spoon to a bowl, leaving fat in pot.  Rinse chicken and pat dry; season with salt and pepper. Add 1-1/2 tablespoons oil to fat in pot and heat over moderately high heat. Add chicken and cook, turning, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to bowl with pork. Add potatoes, onion and garlic to pot; cook over moderately high heat until onion is softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in broth, corn, adobo sauce and peanut butter. Return pork and chicken to pot with any drippings and push into liquid. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, meat is cooked through and potatoes are fork-tender, 35 minutes; salt and pepper to taste.
To serve, ladle stew into bowls and garnish with cilantro, if desired. 
6  Servings
Categories
Asian Main Dish Pork Rice

Pork Fried Rice

2 cups pork tenderloin, cooked, diced
2 cups rice, cooked
1/2 cup carrots, shredded
1/4 cup scallion tops, sliced
1/4 cup frozen peas
2 eggs
dash soy sauce
dash sesame oil
dash ginger
1 teaspoon garlic, crushed
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large skillet.  add 2 cups each of diced pork and rice, carrots, peas and scallions.  Stir fry until hot.  Add 2 beaten eggs and remaining ingredients. Stir until eggs are set.
4  Servings
Categories
Casseroles Main Dish Pork

Pork Chops with Stuffing

4 pork chops, boneless, trimmed
2 cups stuffing cubes, or Stove Top Stuffing
1 3/4 cups water
1/2 stick margarine, or butter, cut up
1/4 cup honey mustard
Sprinkle dried stuffing into a casserole dish, add water and place cut up butter or margarine over top.  Place pork chops over stuffing.  Spread honey mustard over pork chops.  Bake at 350º F. for approx 30 minutes.
4  Servings