Braised Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Lemon and Greek Olives

Tags

braised, chicken, gluten free, greek, lemon, olives, oregano, thighs

This is one of my new favorite work night meals. The lemon, onion, and olives meld together with the chicken drippings to form a luscious gravy. And it’s even better the next day!

Braised Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Lemon, and Greek Olives (from here)

• 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (remove the excessive fat and skin)
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
• 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 12 garlic cloves
• 2 large yellow onions, thinly sliced
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced, seeds discarded
• 2 tbsp fresh oregano leaves, plus more for garnish
• 1 cup mixed Greek olives, pitted
• Juice of 1 lemon

Preheat the oven to 350°. Season on both sides with salt and pepper.

In a large Dutch oven large enough to hold all the thighs in a single layer, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. When hot, add the chicken, skin-side down, and sear until golden brown. Add the garlic and flip the thighs over. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove and set aside.

Add the onions, lemon slices and oregano. Season with more salt and pepper. Cook, until the onions have wilted and the juices have de-glazed the pan. Place the thighs skin-side up in the onion mixture; add the garlic and the olives. Pour the lemon juice over the chicken and put into the oven. Bake for 45 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs and serve. Serves 6.

 

 

Salisbury Steak For the Refined Palate

Tags

American, beef, food, gravy, main dish, mushrooms, Salisbury, steak, traditional

When I think about salisbury steak, I think TV dinners, the S&S Cafe, and latchkey kids.  I didn’t ever want to eat it. This recipe changed my mind. Adam from the Unorthodox Epicure has a great website full of tasty recipe. They use normal ingredients to produce amazing results. This recipe is proof of that. I made mashed potatoes and asparagus to accompany the steak, slathering the potatoes in the savory gravy. MMMM! Nothing is better than meat and potatoes!

Salisbury Steak (a variation of a recipe from the Unorthodox Epicure) 

The Steak:

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
• 1 tbsp bbq sauce
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp ground mustard
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

In a bowl, Combine ingredients and form into 5 patties. Heat oil in large skillet and fry patties on both sides until nicely browned and almost cooked through. Drain the patties on a paper towel lined plate and set aside.

The Sauce:

• 2 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 tbsp all-purpose
• 1 cup red wine
• 2 cups beef stock
• Dark soy sauce, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

The pan should have a nice glaze of oil from frying the patties. If there is extra, drain it off. Add mushrooms and onion slices, frying for about five minutes. The onion and mushrooms should start to brown a bit. Add the wine and reduce until nearly gone. Add the butter and allow to melt. Add the flour. Stir until all mushrooms and onions are coated. Continue cooking and stirring for about 2 minutes. Add stock and combine, mushing out the lumps as needed. Bring to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until it has thickened slightly. Add soy sauce to taste (I used about 2 or 3 tbsp). Add meat back to pan and allow warm through for a couple of minutes. Turn off heat, cover and allow to sit for about 5 minutes. Serves 5.

Barbeque Beef Ribs

Tags

barbeque, BBQ, beef, food, lemons, main dish, meat, onions, ribs

My grandmother is an excellent cook. One of her best and our favorite dishes is barbeque beef ribs. They are tender, ridiculously flavorful, and are amazing when served with mashed potatoes. Though it is doubtful you will have leftovers, they are even better on the second day.

Barbeque Beef Ribs (from my grandmother’s recipe collection)

• 3 to 4 pounds beef spare ribs, cut into pieces (bone in or out, your preference)
• 1 lemon, sliced
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1/3 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 dashes Tabasco sauce
• 2 cups water

Preheat oven to 450°. Place ribs in glass 9×13 inch pan lined with foil, meaty side up. On each rib, place a slice of lemon and onion. Roast for 30 minutes. Combine sauce ingredients; bring to a boil, then pour over ribs. Continue baking at 350° until tender, about a hour, while basting ribs with sauce every 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings.

Making Sausage

Tags

bratwurst, DIY, homemade, hot, Italian, mild, pork, sausage

Last year for Christmas, my loving hubby gave me several attachments for my Kitchen-Aid mixer. Specifically the grinder and sausage stuffer. I have been wanting to use it but just haven’t had the extra hands to help with such a momentous project (oh the joy of shift work). Black Friday was the perfect opportunity. My parents and I cut and ground 20 lbs of meat then spiced, mixed, and stuffed it into natural hog casings. It took a full 8 hours start to finish and was great fun, though next time I think I will grind the meat and stuff the sausages on separate days. (On a side note, I used my mixer nearly the whole time. It didn’t overheat or have any troubles at all. I was pretty impressed!)

Below are the recipes we used and how the look prior to being stuffed. The Hot Italian smelled the best.

Hot Italian Sausage

5 lbs pork
1 cup cold red wine
1 cup chopped fresh parsley
5 tsp salt
1 tbsp garlic powder or-4 to 5 garlic cloves, minced
1 tbsp fresh ground pepper
3 tsp cayenne
5 tbsp fennel seed
2 tsp crushed chili peppers
5 tbsp paprika

Combine all, mix well & stuff into hog casing.

Bratwurst

5 lbs ground pork, fine grind
4 tsp sugar
1 tbsp ground coriander
1 tbsp ground sage
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 tsp dried rosemary
1 tbsp dry mustard
1 tsp pepper
1 tsp nutmeg
4 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients, mix well & stuff into hog casing.

Sweet Italian Sausage

10 lbs ground pork
4 tbsp salt
1 cups ice water (the original recipe called for 2)
1 tbsp cracked fennel seed
2 tsp coarse black pepper
1 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp caraway seeds
1 tbsp coriander
3 tsp crushed hot peppers

Combine all ingredients, mix well & stuff into hog casing.

The picture below is me rinsing the casings and looking for holes. About 7 had small holes and I set them aside, though we did use nearly all of them. We just cut the pieces smaller to avoid them and continued on with the idea that smaller sausages could be bun length.

After the casings were selected, you grease the stuffer attachment with crisco and gently (but with purpose) thread the casing on. Then run your meat mixture through the attachment and into the casing. At first we were rather slow but with practice we were able to speed up fairly significantly.

As you can see, the sausage was a great success! Can’t wait to taste it!

 

Herb and Citrus Roasted Chicken

Tags

chicken, citrus, easy, gluten free, herb, meat, oven, quick, roasted

Busy fall weekends full of football and pumpkin patches and hiking through the leaves needs a quick main dish that required only a bit of prep for a lot of flavor. This recipes gets you there…

Herb and Citrus Roasted Chicken (from the Comfort of Cooking)

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 4 cloves of garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp sugar
• 2 whole lemons, one juiced and one sliced
• 2 whole oranges, one juiced and one sliced
• 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp paprika
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
• Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 4 lbs of chicken thighs (leave the bones and skin intact)
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tbsp dried rosemary
• Chopped fresh herbs), for garnish

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small bowl whisk together olive oil, garlic, sugar, lemon juice, orange juice, Italian seasoning, paprika, onion powder, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper.

Place chicken in a rimmed 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Place parts skin side up and spread them out evenly in the pan. Pour olive oil mixture all over chicken, turning pieces to coat all sides. (If you marinated the chicken in this mixture, still add it all in). Arrange slices of lemon, orange and onion around and under the chicken. Sprinkle all over generously with thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.

Bake uncovered for about 1 hour, or until chicken is cooked and juices run clear. Remove parts to a serving platter and garnish with additional chopped fresh herbs, if desired. Serves 8.

Mustard Roast Beef with Fall Vegetable Hash

Tags

beef, brussles sprouts, fall, gluten free, gravy, mustard, parsnips, roast, seasonal, turnips, vegetables

I don’t normally post two recipes at the same time but these two go together “like peas and carrots” as Forrest Gump would say. I love the flavor of the beef by itself. Drizzling the gravy over the vegetables takes them to a whole other level. If you want a meal to showcase all the best food things of fall, this is the meal for you!

Mustard Roast Beef (from NOSH)

• 2 tsp mustard seeds
• 1 tsp sea salt flakes
• 1 tsp cracked black pepper
• 1 tbsp thyme leaves
• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus one tablespoon extra
• 4 lb boneless beef rib eye
• 1/4-1/2 cup Dijon mustard
• 1 stick room temperature butter
• kitchen string

Remember to take the beef out of the fridge at least 10 minutes before you sear it or put it in the oven, this will ensure even cooking.

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Place the mustard seeds, salt, pepper and thyme in a mortar and pestle and pound until lightly crushed. Add the oil and pound until combined. In a separate bowl combine butter and Dijon mustard until completely integrated. Combine spice mixture and mustard mixture, set aside.
Brush the beef with the extra oil. Heat a large non-stick frying pan over high and cook the beef for 1-2 minutes each side or until brown. remove from the pan. Secure with kitchen string and rub the mustard mixture over the beef. Place on a rack in a baking dish and roast for 2 hours for medium to medium well. After roasting, cover the meat with foil and rest in a warm place for at least 10 minutes to allow the meat to relax.  After roasting, cover the meat with foil and rest in a warm place for at least 10 minutes to allow the meat to relax. Serves 4-6.

Make a sauce with the pan drippings by placing the roasting pan on the stove top over medium heat. Add beef broth or red wine (I did the wine) and reduce it down to your desired amount.

Fall Vegetable Hash (from Southern Living Sept 2013)

• 4 slices of thick cut bacon
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 mediun onion, chopped
• 1 medium sweet potato, peeled and cubed into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 medium turnip, peeled and cubed into 1/2 inch cubes
• 1 parsnip, peeled and cubed into 1/2 cubes
• 1 lb small fresh Brussles sprouts, quarted
• 2 garlic cloves, sliced

Cook bacon in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat until crispy. Remove the bacon and drain on paper towels. Drain the skillet, reserving 2 tbsp of the drippings. Coarsely chop the bacon.

Add oil to hot drippings in the skillet. Cook onions and sweet potatoes over medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add turnips and cook for another 8 minutes. Combine vinegar and 2 tbsp water. Add Brussles sprouts, garlic, and vinegar mixture to the skillet. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes or until the veggies are tender. Stir in the bacon. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serves 8.

Pork and Pimento Cheese Patty Melt

Tags

cheese, food, main dish, patty melt, pimento, pork, sandwich, Southern

What do you do when you plan on burgers only to realize you don’t have buns?! You make patty melts!

Pork and Pimento Cheese Patty Melts

• 1 lb ground pork
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of pimento cheese
• Butter
• 8 slices of bread

Prepare you grill to medium heat. In a bowl, combine the pork and the cumin. Divide pork mixture into four even balls. Press each one into very thin patties. Grill until cooked through, about 4 minutes per side.

Heat a skillet over medium heat while spreading one side of each piece of bread with desired amount of butter. Place four slices butter side down in the skillet. Top with a pork patty and desired amount of pimento cheese. Top with second slice of bread. Grill the bread on each side until lightly browned and the pimento cheese is melted. Makes 4 patty melts.

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken

Tags

chicken, food, grilled, honey, Labor Day, mustard, summer

Labor Day weekend is upon us. For some, this will be a last summer hooray. Pools will close. Children will (or already have) gone back to school. Parents will start worrying about carpools, Halloween costumes, and endless sports practices. That means dinner needs to be quick and make good leftovers. This recipe is great for that. Eat it the night it’s made. Use it tomorrow in a wrap. Or to top a salad. Or just warm it up and serve it with new sides.

Honey Mustard Grilled Chicken (from AllRecipes)

• 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
• 4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs

Preheat the grill for medium heat. In a shallow bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayonnaise, and Worchestershire sauce. Set aside a small amount of the honey mustard sauce for basting, and dip the chicken into the remaining sauce to coat. Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill chicken over indirect heat for 18 to 20 minutes, turning occasionally, or until juices run clear. Baste occasionally with the reserved sauce during the last 10 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning! Serves 4.

Pork Burgers with Peppers and Onions

Tags

burgers, food, main dish, onions, peppers, pork, sandwich, summer

The Kentucky State Fair is being held in Louisville this week. My husband and I plan to visit on Friday. I am super excited! When I was a kid, my grandparents used to take my siblings and I every year. We would have a group discussion about when we should go- the beef cattle week or the dairy cattle week. (There are many points to consider here. 1) We grow beef cattle. Do we really want to see what we know already? 2) What other animals are there this same week? Pigs? Fowl? Goats? Sheep? Mules and horses? 3) What did we see last year? There are other points but you get the idea.) We would get up really early and make the two hour drive to the fairgrounds. Then we would meander around for hours, looking at all the exhibits. Some of them twice. On the way home, we would discuss the whole experience and each try to pick out our favorite part of the day. This usually occupied us until we got home or we fell asleep.

Food was also a big point of consideration. Under the food tent are so many things that need careful consideration. Which to choose – pork or beef or catfish or mutton from their local producers? Do we leave room for the Erhler’s ice cream later in the afternoon? My grandfather usually picked a rib eye steak sandwich while my grandmother chose a pork burger.  In honor of these precious memories, I decided a pork burger would be a nice change from our usual beef burger. The texture of a pork burger is somewhat different. The meat is more tender and less grainy in texture. The pork is a more subtle flavor that can be easily complimented with spices, such as the cumin I used here.

Pork Burgers with Peppers and Onions (from Martha Stewart)

• 1 pound ground pork
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
• 1 small yellow onion, thinly sliced
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 4 slices Pepper Jack cheese
• 4 toasted buns

Prepare your charcoal grill to medium high heat. In a bowl, combine the pork with the cumin. Form into 4 patties. Make a foil packet to hold the onions, peppers, and the olive oil. Season with salt and pepper. Grill the burgers until the juices run clear, about 5 minutes on each side (maybe a bit longer depending on how hot your grill is). Grill the veggie packet until the veggies are tender. On the toasted buns, add a burger. Top with a slice of cheese and a good amount of the peppers and onions. Use other condiments if desired (I used mayo). Serves 4.

Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops

Tags

food, grilled, lemongrass, meat, pork chops, summer, Vietnamese

Prior to this recipe, I had never used lemongrass. It smelled like Pledge to me. But this recipe drew my attention. It was so simple and tasty. I made sure to leave a bit of the marinade pulp on the chops. It browned and caramelized very nicely and added an extra pop of flavor. MMMM!!! You will love this recipe!

Vietnamese Grilled Lemongrass Pork Chops (adapted from Viet World Kitchen)

• 4 pork chops, bone-in, about 1 inch thick
• 3 tbsp sugar
• 3 tbsp garlic
• 3 tbsp shallot
• 1 1/2 stalks lemongrass, trimmed and roughly chopped
• 1/2 tsp fresh ground black pepper
• 1 1/2 tbsp dark soy sauce
• 2 tbsp fish sauce
• 2 tbsp olive oil

Using a mini food processor, pulse the sugar, garlic, shallot, and lemongrass to a mince-like texture. Add the pepper, soy sauce, fish sauce, and oil, and process to combine well.

Place the pork chops in a large zip-lock bag, and pour the marinade to coat. Squish the marinade around to coat the pork chops evenly. Refrigerate for at least 6 hours, up to 24 hours. Allow the pork chops to rest at room temperature, about 30-45 minutes, before grilling. Grill over medium heat for 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through. Makes 4 servings.