Monday, June 1, 2009

Surf and Turf Burgers

Amazing burger recipe!!! I just used precooked shrimp from the frozen seafood section, thawed them out and cut them up. I also made 6 burgers instead of 4 and they were plenty big enough.


Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 small shallot, minced
1 teaspoon purchased red curry paste (I found this at Sunflower Market)
1/2 cup mayonnaise or salad dressing or light mayonnaise dressing
1-1/2 pounds lean ground beef
4 ounces peeled and cooked baby shrimp, chopped
2 tablespoons snipped fresh dill (1 tablespoon dried dill works fine)
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 large onion or sesame Kaiser rolls, split
Lettuce (optional)
Sliced tomatoes (optional)
Sweet pickle slices (optional)

Directions

1. To make spicy caramelized Mayo, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook onion in hot oil for 7 minutes or until browned (caramelized), stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Add shallot and curry paste; cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Transfer mixture to a mixing bowl; cover and chill. Stir mayonnaise or salad dressing into chilled onion mixture. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or until ready to serve.

2. Combine ground beef, shrimp, dill, sea salt, and pepper in a large bowl; mix well. Shape mixture into 4 patties about 1 inch thick.

3. Place burger patties on the lightly oiled rack of the grill directly over medium heat. Grill for 18 to 23 minutes or until an instant-read thermometer inserted in centers register 160 degree F, turning burgers once halfway through grilling.

4. Toast rolls on grill, if desired; serve burgers on rolls. Top with some of the Spicy Caramelized Mayo, and, if desired, lettuce, sliced tomatoes, and sweet pickle slices. Makes 4 burgers.

From bhg.com

Skillet Chicken and Vegetables on Cheese Toast

The original recipe didn't have the chicken in it but in order to make this a meal I added the chicken.


Ingredients

8 slices rustic wheat bread (wheat french bread works just fine)
1/2 of an 8-oz. pkg. peeled fresh whole baby carrots, halved lengthwise
1 8-oz. pkg. button mushrooms, halved
4 cloves garlic, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 small red onion, cut in thin wedges
2 Tbsp. olive oil
4 oz. soft goat cheese (chevre)
1 chicken breast, cubed
Basil, fresh or dried


Directions

1. Preheat broiler. Place bread on baking sheet; set aside.

2. In large skillet cook chicken, garlic and basil in hot oil until chicken is no longer pink. Add in carrots, mushrooms, and onion cooking over medium-high heat 2 to 3 minutes, until vegetables just begin to brown. Add 2 tablespoons water; cover and cook over medium heat 5 minute, or until vegetables are crisp-tender stirring once. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

3. Meanwhile, for cheese toast, lightly toast bread 3 inches from boiler heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Spread goat cheese on one side of each slice. Broil 3 inches from heat for 1 to 2 minutes, until cheese is softened.

4. On plates, top cheese toast with chicken and vegetables. Drizzle with additional olive oil; sprinkle with fresh basil. Makes 4 servings.

Original recipe from bhg.com

Pork Chops with Black Bean Salsa

The salsa may sound a little strange when you read the recipe but this was a surprisingly good meal. I had to google the recipe for corn relish...and I'm not sure where that recipe went so when I find it I'll attach it to this recipe.


Ingredients

4 pork loin chops, cut 1-1/4 inches thick
1 teaspoon Jamaican jerk or Cajun seasoning
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2/3 cup corn relish
1/2 of a 15-ounce can black beans, rinsed and drained
1-1/2 teaspoons lime juice
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
Dairy sour cream (optional)


Directions

1. Preheat broiler. Trim fat from meat. Rub seasoning and pepper onto both sides of chops. Place pork chops on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Broil 3 to 4 inches from the heat for 16 to 20 minutes or until done (160 degrees F), turning meat over after half the broiling time.

2. Meanwhile, for salsa, in a bowl combine corn relish, beans, lime juice, and cumin. Serve chops with salsa and, if desired, a spoonful of sour cream.

3. Makes 4 servings

From bhg.com

Chicken Flautas with Black Beans

This one is good for something different than tacos and burritos for mexican food night. Since I'm not a fan of frying things at all (I always make a huge mess and get splattered one too many times) I baked these and they were really good that way. I made guacamole to go along with them as well...which is always better than store bought stuff They also taste great dipped in sour cream and salsa. I also got 8 flautas out of this recipe and used canned chicken instead of cooking a chicken breast.


Ingredients

6 10-inch flour tortillas
1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. cooking oil
2 cups shredded cooked chicken
1 cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup bottled salsa
1/2 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend (2 ozs.)
2 Tbsp. snipped fresh cilantro
Cooking oil for frying
3 cups shredded lettuce
Purchased guacamole (optional)
Bottled salsa (optional)
Dairy sour cream (optional)
Cilantro leaves (optional)


Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Wrap tortillas tightly in foil. Heat in oven about 10 minutes or until heated through.

2. Meanwhile, for filling, in a large saucepan, cook onion and garlic in the 1 teaspoon hot oil until tender. Stir in chicken, black beans, 1/2 cup bottled salsa, the cheese, and 2 tablespoons cilantro.

3. For each flauta, spoon about 1/2 cup filling across each warm tortilla about 1-1/2 inches from one edge. Roll up tortillas as tightly as possible. Secure with wooden toothpicks.

4. In a very large, deep skillet, heat 1-1/2 inches of cooking oil to 365 degrees F. Fry flautas, two at a time, for 2 to 3 minutes or until crisp and golden brown, turning once. Drain on paper towels. Keep fried flautas warm in a 300 degrees F oven while frying remaining flautas.

5. To serve, remove toothpicks. Halve flautas crosswise. If desired, serve with guacamole, salsa, sour cream, and cilantro.

6. Baked Flautas: Prepare filling and shape flautas as directed. Place flautas on a large baking sheet and brush with 1 tablespoon cooking oil. Bake in a 350 degrees F oven for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden brown and heated through. Serve as directed.

7. Make-Ahead Directions: Prepare filling and shape flautas as directed. Cover; chill for up to 24 hours. Fry or bake as directed. Makes 6 flautas.

From bhg.com

Beef Salad with Potato Crisps

I really like this one...I used apricot preserves, olive oil, red wine vinegar, beef, carrots, green onions and cheddar cheese and it tasted delicious. It claims to only be 2 servings but it's really 4. But to make sure there are enough potato crisps (since they're the best part) I would use at least 2 potatoes.


Ingredients

1 medium potato
Nonstick spray coating
Garlic salt, onion salt, or salt
3 tablespoons chutney, snipped; apricot preserves; or orange marmalade
2 tablespoons olive oil or salad oil
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or cider vinegar
1 tablespoon water
1/8 teaspoon pepper
3 cups torn mixed greens
6 ounces sliced cooked beef or pork, cut into 1/2-inch-wide strips (about 1 cup)
2 medium carrots, cut into julienne strips (1 cup), or 1 cup jicima cut into julienne strips
2 green onions, sliced (1/4 cup), or 2 tablespoons chopped onion
1/4 cup shredded cheddar, Colby, or Cojack cheese (1 ounce)


Directions

1. For potato crisps, cut potato into 1/8-inch-thick slices. Spray a baking sheet with non-stick coating. Arrange potato slices in a single layer on baking sheet and lightly sprinkle them with garlic salt, onion salt or salt. Bake in a 450 degree F 20 minutes or until crisp and golden brown. Remove from baking sheet. Cool 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, for dressing, in a small mixing bowl stir together the chutney, apricot preserves, or orange marmalade; olive oil or salad oil; red wine vinegar, balsamic vinegar, or cider vinegar; water; and pepper. Let stand at room temperature at least 20 minutes.

3. Divide mixed greens evenly among 2 individual plates. Arrange the potato crisps, beef or pork strips, carrot or jicama strips, onion, and cheese on top. Stir dressing; drizzle over salads. Makes 2 servings.

From bhg.com

Apple Butter Banana Bread

Another great recipe from bhg.com!!! This one's good when you use some of the leftover apple butter to spread on the bread! Yum!

Ingredients

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 slightly beaten eggs
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup mashed ripe banana (2 small)
1/2 cup apple butter
1/4 cup canola or cooking oil


Directions

1. Grease and flour the bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Make a well in center of the flour mixture; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, sugar, banana, apple butter, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Spoon batter into prepared pan.

3. Bake in a 350 degree oven about 45 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing. Makes: 1 loaf (16 servings)