Monday, October 11, 2010

Roasted Cauliflower

INGREDIENTS:
1 head cauliflwoer, cut into bite-size florets
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425°. On a baking sheet, toss the EVOO; season with salt and pepper and arrange in an even layer. Roast until tender and browned, 20 to 25 minutes.

Chicken Fried Steak with Gravy

NGREDIENTS:
4 beef round steaks (1 1/2 pounds), patted dry
Salt and pepper
1 cup flour
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 cup chicken broth
3/4 cup milk

DIRECTIONS:
Season the steaks with salt and pepper. Place 3/4 cup flour in a shallow bowl. In another shallow bowl, beat the eggs. Coat the steaks with the flour, then the egg, letting any excess drip off. Coat again with the flour.

In a large, heavy skillet, heat 1/4 cup oil over medium heat. Add 2 steaks and cook, turning once, until golden, 5 to 6 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Wipe out the pan. Repeat with the remaining 1/4 cup oil and 2 steaks.

Pour off the excess oil from the pan. Add the butter and melt over medium heat. Whisk in the remaining 1/4 cup flour for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and milk until thickened, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, then spoon over the steaks.

Banana Walnut Muffins

INGREDIENTS:
3/4 cup sugar
1-1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1-1/3 cups flour 2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 cup golden raisins
1 cup mashed banana (1 to 2 bananas)
1 cup whole milk yogurt
1 large egg
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, or vegetable oil

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with baking liners. In a small bowl, mix 1/4 cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, remaining 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, salt, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, walnuts and raisins.

In a small bowl, beat together the banana, yogurt and egg with a fork. Stir in the butter. Stir the wet ingredients into the flour mixture until just combined.

Fill the lined muffin cups with the batter. Sprinkle the reserved cinnamon-sugar mixture on top. Bake until golden and a toothpick inserted into the centers comes out dry, about 20 minutes.

Lemony Tuna Salad

INGREDIENTS:
1/4 cup mayonnaise
4 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
Salt and pepper
One 6-ounce can solid white tuna, drained
1 cup canned white beans, rinsed
1/2 English cucumber, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/4 cup finely chopped red onion
1 large head romaine lettuce, shredded 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

DIRECTIONS:
In a large bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice and lemon peel; season with salt and pepper. Add the tuna, breaking it apart slightly with a fork, then the beans, cucumber and onion. Season with salt and pepper.

Arrange the romaine on 4 large plates and top with the tuna salad and tomatoes.

Parmesan Encrusted Tilapia with Lemony Green Beans

Ingredients
For the Tilapia
4 skinless tilapia fillets (1 pound total)
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 T dried basil
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 t olive oil For the Green Beans
1/2 lb green beans, ends trimmed
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
2 t freshly grated lemon zest
1 T olive oil
Directions
Preheat the broiler. Cut the tilapia fillets lengthwise into two pieces, then pat dry with a paper towel and season to taste with pepper. In a small bowl, combine basil and Parmesan cheese; set aside. In a large saucepan, bring water for beans to a boil.

Heat olive oil in a 12-inch heavy ovenproof skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking. Sauté the fish for 3 minutes or until brown. Flip the fillets over and remove the skillet from heat. Dust the tilapia with the cheese mixture. Place the skillet under the broiler to finish cooking the fish and slightly brown the cheese, about 3 to 4 minutes.

As the fish cooks, add beans to boiling water. Lower heat and cook for 5 minutes or until bright green (beans should still be crisp). Drain beans and run under cold water. Shake off excess water and set aside.

Mix lemon juice, lemon zest, pepper, and olive oil in a medium bowl. Add green beans and toss to coat; warm for 30 seconds in the microwave. Divide fish fillets and green beans on two plates and serve.

Tomato and Feta Salad

INGREDIENTS:
2 pints cherry tomatoes
1/2 pound feta cheese, crumbled (about 2 cups)
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
Thyme sprigs, for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
In a medium bowl, toss the tomatoes with the feta. Drizzle with the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Season to taste with salt and pepper and toss. Top with the thyme.

Turkey Tortilla Casserole

INGREDIENTS:
2 limes, quartered
1 pound turkey breast cutlets
Salt
1 large onion, finely chopped
One 4-ounce can diced jalapeño chiles, liquid reserved
Two 14.5-ounce cans fire-roasted diced tomatoes
One 1-pound bag tortilla chips, lightly crushed
One 14.5-ounce can chicken broth
1 pound Mexican shredded cheese blend (about 4 cups)
1 cup sour cream, at room temperature

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat a grill pan to medium-high. Squeeze the limes over the turkey cutlets; season with salt. Grill the turkey until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Let cool, then slice into 2-inch-long strips.

Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine the onion, the jalapeños with their liquid and the tomatoes. Add the tortilla chips and turkey and toss well. Transfer the mixture to a greased 9-by-12-inch baking dish. Drizzle with the chicken broth and top with the cheese. Bake until the cheese is golden around the edges, about 40 minutes. Serve with the sour cream.

No Bake Cookies

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups white sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
3 cups quick-cooking oats
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions

In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa. Bring to a boil, and cook for 1 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat, and stir in peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. Let cool until hardened.

One Pot Salsa Beef Skillet

Ingredients
1 lb. extra lean ground beef
2 cups water
1 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1 pkg. (14 oz.) KRAFT Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner Made With 2% Milk Cheese
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup KRAFT Mexican Style 2% Milk Finely Shredded Four Cheese
1 green onion, chopped

Directions:

BROWN meat in large skillet on medium-high heat; drain.

ADD water, salsa and Macaroni; stir. Bring to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover. Simmer 10 min. or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Add corn and Cheese Sauce; stir. Cook 2 min. or until heated through.

TOP with cheese and onions.

Turkey and Black Bean Burritos

1 Tbsp canola oil
1 lb ground turkey breast
1 c canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1 c finely chopped red pepper
1/2 c finely chopped red onion
1/4 c BBQ sauce
4 tsp fresh lime juice
1 tsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
salt (I used garlic salt)
whole wheat flour tortillas
mixed greens
low fat shredded cheddar cheese

Heat oil in skillet until hot. Add turkey and cook 7 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally and breaking up meat.

Add beans, pepper, onion, BBQ sauce, lime juice, chili powder, cumin and salt; cook mixture 5 to 7 minutes or until turkey is cooked through.

Serve on tortilla with greens and cheese.

Arugula Salad with Cannellini Beans

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
3 tablespoons white wine
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
salt and pepper to taste
3 cups arugula
1/4 cup shaved Parmesan cheese (optional)

Directions

Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook the garlic in the hot oil about 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, wine, sage, and thyme; increase the heat to medium-high and simmer 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the cannellini beans and basil. Season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until beans are heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
Arrange the arugula on a serving platter. Spoon the bean mixture over the arugula. Top with the shaved Parmesan cheese if desired.