Wednesday, July 29, 2009

End of Summer Chili Pot

* 4 Servings

Ingredients:

* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
* 1 pound ground beef, pork or turkey
* 1 red onion, chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, chopped
* 1 zucchini, chopped
* 1 red bell pepper, chopped
* 2 chiles, seeded and chopped
* Salt and pepper
* 3 ears corn, kernels scraped off
* 2 tablespoons chili powder
* 1 tablespoon sweet smoked paprika
* One 12-ounce bottle beer
* One 28-ounce can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
* 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
* Grated peel and juice of 1 lime
* 4 scallions, thinly sliced
* 1 cup shredded gouda, smoked gouda, pepper jack or smoked cheddar cheese

Directions:

1.

In a large, heavy pot, heat the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat until smoking. Add the beef and cook, stirring to break up, until browned, about 8 minutes. Stir in the onion, garlic, zucchini, bell pepper and chiles; season with salt and pepper. Stir in the corn kernels, chili powder and paprika. Cook until the veggies are softened, 6 to 7 minutes.
2.

Stir in the beer and cook until reduced slightly, 2 minutes. Stir in the tomatoes, thyme and lime peel and cook until slightly reduced, 5 minutes. Turn off the heat, then stir in the lime juice. To serve, top the chili with the scallions and cheese.

Crunchy Parmesan Chicken

* 4 Servings
*
* Prep 10 min
*
* Cook 20 min

Ingredients:

* 1 cup cornflakes, lightly crushed
* 3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
* Salt and pepper
* 3 large eggs, beaten
* Four 6-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
* 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
* 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Side dish
Serve with sauteéd bok choy tossed with tomatoes.
Directions:

1.

Preheat the oven to 350°. In a shallow bowl, combine the cornflakes, parmesan and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place the eggs in another shallow bowl. Coat each chicken breast with the cornflake mixture, then the eggs, then again with the cornflake mixture; transfer to a wax-paperlined baking sheet.
2.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook, turning once, until golden, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a clean baking sheet. Bake the chicken until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Serve with the lemon wedges.

Cheeseburger Meatloaf and Mashed Potatoes

Ingredients:

* 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
* 1 red onion, finely chopped
* 2/3 cup ketchup
* 2/3 cup bread crumbs
* 2 large eggs
* 1/2 cup bread-and-butter pickle chips, chopped
* 1-1/2 pounds ground beef
* 8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 1/3-inch cubes
* 2 pounds new red potatoes
* 3/4 cup heavy cream

Frozen assets
Freeze leftovers for up to a month, then reheat in a 350° oven.
Directions:

1.

Preheat the oven to 400°. Lightly oil a rimmed baking sheet. In a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring until slightly softened, about 3 minutes.
2.

In a large bowl, combine the ketchup, bread crumbs, eggs and pickles; mix in the onion. Crumble in the beef, add the cheese and mix together. Transfer to the prepared baking sheet and shape into a 4-by-12-inch loaf. Bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 160°, about 35 minutes.
3.

Meanwhile, halve the potatoes and place them in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by an inch. Bring to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer until tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Drain, return to the pot and mash with the cream.
4.

Let the meatloaf rest for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve with the mashed potatoes.