Category Archives: MAIN DISH RECIPES

BACON, SWISS CHEESE, AND GREEN ONION QUICHE (Lorraine to those who know her well)

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Like many other wonderful dishes, a good quiche takes time to prepare. But at my house, a homemade quiche is one of the best ways I know to show my dear husband how much I care. (That and Chicken Paprika. BTW also on this site.)

So when Mr. C. recently asked me to make a quiche for dinner, I simply could not refuse. And because I know how much he loves bacon, I decided on this recipe.

Now I know what you’re thinking – “Patti – everyone knows how to make a Quiche Lorraine”. And this might be true. But sometimes I like to include recipes that have been around for a while, because people have a tendency to forget about the classics when only focusing on “new and currently trendy” dishes. But with all the innovative ingredients that are being used in quiches these days, like smoked salmon, sausage, spinach, or prosciutto, to name just a few, there is even more reason to resurrect an old standard. At least by posting this old favorite, I hope to prod my readers into thinking about quiche again. (And I mean “prod” in a good way! As a reminder, not as a poke, jab, or dig!) Because when you think about it, there is no more perfect dish to serve for either breakfast, lunch, or dinner than a quiche. Or if there is, I have yet to discover it! (OK, there is pizza; but not everyone embraces cold pizza for breakfast!)

So do yourself and your family a favor. Build a quiche. And while you’re at it, also make a fruit tart. (For more information about why a tart and a quiche are hand and hand buddies, see my blog post entitled Rustic Peach Tart.)

  • 8-inch pie crust, unbaked and set in pie plate (see recipe below)
  • 8 slices thick, meaty bacon, chopped and cooked until crisp
  • 2 c. grated Swiss, Gruyère, or Emmanthal cheese
  • 1/3 c. sliced green onions
  • ¾ tsp. dry mustard
  • 1 1/3 c. milk (whole milk is best)
  • 4 eggs
  • dash ground nutmeg

Scatter cooked bacon over pie crust. Layer cheese on top of bacon. Add sliced green onions. Whisk together the dry mustard, milk, and eggs. Hint: Place dry mustard in bowl and add just a tiny splash of the milk. Whisk until there are no mustard powder lumps. Then add the remaining milk and eggs, and whisk all together. If you add all the ingredients together at once, you often end up with mustard lumps that, trust me, are very hard to incorporate with the other ingredients.) Pour liquid mixture in pie pan. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake in a pre-heated 325 degree oven until set, about 45 minutes.

Hint: to keep your pie crust edge from getting too brown, cover with aluminum foil. (See picture below.)

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PIE CRUST (makes a double crust)

  • ¼ c. very cold water
  • 2 c. flour
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • heaping 2/3 c. Crisco

Step 1 – Pour cold water into a small bowl.

Step 2 – Measure flour and salt into a mixing bowl.

Step 3 – Take 1/3 cup of the flour back out of the mixing bowl and stir it into the water. Make a paste. Set aside.

Step 4 – Add the Crisco (heaping 2/3 cup) to the flour and salt mixture. Mix together. (I use my KitchenAid mixer.)

Step 5 – Add the water/flour paste to the flour/shortening bowl and mix just until blended. Do not over-mix. Roll out dough and place in pie plate. This recipe makes enough dough for a double crust pie, if using a regular sized pie plate, or one large bottom crust with a little left over for pastry cookies or small tart like the one shown below.

Helpful hint: Use a pastry cloth to roll out your pie crust. It really makes a difference. You can find pastry cloths in almost any kitchen wares shop. Well worth the $10 or so.

 

CARIBBEAN PORK STEW

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We recently were invited to our good friends Tim and Susie’s home for an “after gig” dinner party. And Susie fixed just an amazing Caribbean dinner for us. And the main dish she served was a pork stew. So based on the gist of the recipe Susie gave me that evening, I immediately went on line and found (I’m pretty sure) the recipe she used. (Sometimes I get tired of bugging my friends for their recipes, so I just wing it.)

Anyway, the recipe below adapted from Cooking Light magazine, Valerie’s Kitchen blog, and brought to life by Susie is so melt in your mouth good as to be worthy of a literary mention, in say, a modern romance novel. And because I have an active imagination and sometimes (sometimes?!?!) can’t help myself, the first couple of paragraphs in this fictitious novel might read something like this:

“Kathryn could not have known on that late summer afternoon how the delicious smell of her Caribbean pork stew would completely turn her life around. As the stew quietly bubbled away in the slow cooker on the counter under her open kitchen window, she was completely unaware that a change in her life was in the wind. And even though the late afternoon was hot, quiet, and heavy with languor, tiny whiffs of the stew’s delicious aroma somehow found their way through her new neighbor Jeffrey’s open den window.

Jeffrey, who had lost his wife to his best friend a couple of years before, had only lived in his new home for a month. He had moved because everything in his old neighborhood had reminded him of how he had been deceived by the two people he had trusted most in life. He had needed to put his former life far behind. He had seen Kathryn come and go from her house and of course had noticed how beautiful she was. He also knew that she had been recently widowed. His realtor had been eager to share that tidbit of information when he was showing Jeffrey the house. But Jeffrey wasn’t looking for love. In fact he had no desire to ever again become involved with a gorgeous woman. But that afternoon, as he sat at his desk putting the final touches on the article he was writing, he sensed that there was something different in the air. He couldn’t quite define what it was that had awakened his senses. But he knew for a fact, that whatever it was, it was emanating from his neighbor’s home.”

So if you too want to awaken the senses of your family and friends, prepare this dish for them. It has a bit of heat to it, but it’s not overpowering. Just delicious. And thanks again Tim and Susie for another wonderful meal at your home and of course, your friendship.

(And lest you worry, I have no intention of becoming a romance novel writer.)

  • 1 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 lbs. lean pork, cut into bite sized pieces (a boneless pork roast is perfect)
  • 1 tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper (lots)
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 lg. red bell peppers, chopped
  • 1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
  • 3 T. hoisin sauce
  • 2 T. lower-sodium GF Tamari or regular soy sauce
  • juice of one large, soft lime
  • 2 T. creamy peanut butter
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • ¼ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1 c. chicken broth
  • basmati rice, cooked according to package directions or follow the recipe below
  • lime wedges

Add oil to a large skillet and place over medium-high heat. Add pork, salt, and pepper and sauté until the cubes are dark brown. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Place browned pork and garlic, red bell pepper, and green onions in an electric slow cooker coated with cooking spray.

Combine hoisin sauce, Tamari, lime juice, peanut butter, cumin, crushed red pepper flakes, and chicken broth in a small bowl. Pour mixture over the pork and stir well to combine.

Cover and cook on HIGH for 1 hour. Reduce heat to LOW, and cook for 90 minutes or until pork is fork tender. (Check after about an hour.)

Serve over rice with lime wedges.

BASMATI RICE

  • 2 c. basmati rice
  • 1 T. unsalted butter
  • 3 1/3 c. water
  • 34/ tsp. kosher salt

Rinse rice in a fine mesh sieve under cold water until water runs clear. Drain well. Melt butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat; add rice and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Scoop into your rice cooker. Add water and salt. Turn rice cooker on “go”. When rice cooker turns off, rice is done. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.

No rice cooker?  Rinse rice in a fine mesh sieve under cold water until water runs clear. Drain well. Melt butter in a 4-quart heavy pot over moderate heat; add rice and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Stir in water and salt and bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to low and cook, covered, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Remove from heat. Let stand for 5 minutes, then fluff with fork.

 

PORK AND GREENS WITH NOODLES

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This is one of those quick and easy recipes that is perfect for weeknights. (Of course you can also serve it on the weekend, but because of its ease of preparation, I tend to think of it as an “I’m too tired to really cook” kind of weeknight dish.) I mean really, when you analyze the ingredients, you have all the essential elements associated with dinner. You’ve got your meat, your starch, and your veggies. The only difference is that they are all combined in one neat little package. So while your family might feel slighted by only one item present on the dinner table, you can relax knowing you have covered all the bases. And truly, aren’t some nights just all about you! I mean – you’ve fed them right? And something really tasty too. So I say “get over it family and cut the poor cook some slack”!

Of course, if the gilt really becomes too much for you – throw a couple of cookies and a bowl of ice cream at them after dinner. (And no, they don’t have to be a home baked cookies. I am not the food Nazi, and I promise not to report you to Betty Crocker.)

So next time you get the urge to just go home and lock yourself in your room and to heck with feeding your hungry masses, stop at the store on your way home from work. (You know the little darlings have to be fed, so this is your way of feeding the troops, and still getting to bed early.) Pick up a couple thick, lean pork chops, a package of pre-washed greens, and any other ingredients for this dish that you don’t already have on hand. Then beat feet home, change your clothes, pour yourself a libation, and prepare my version of Martha Rose Shulman’s recipe for Stir-Fried Pork and Green with Noodles. Then relax and enjoy your meal. You’ve fulfilled your “food” obligation and in fine style too.  

One thing more – don’t forget the cookies and ice cream while you’re at the store.     

  • 2 T. vegetable oil, divided 
  • ½ lb. lean pork, cut in very thin strips
  • 1 tsp. sesame oil
  • 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1 T. minced fresh ginger
  • pinch crushed red pepper flakes
  • about 1 lb. Swiss chard, beet greens, turnip greens, spinach, or kale stemmed and washed very well  
  • 2 T. low sodium Tamari or soy sauce
  • ¼ c. chicken stock or water  
  • 8 oz. Japanese somen noodles, wide rice vermicelli, or Chinese egg noodles cooked al dente
  • ¼ c. thinly sliced green onions, garnish

Heat a large, heavy skillet or wok over medium-high heat until hot enough to evaporate a drop of water on contact. Add 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil and add the pork; stir fry for about 2 minutes or until the pork is just barely cooked through. Remove from pan and set aside.  

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, sesame oil, garlic, ginger, and crushed red pepper flakes to the pan. Cook for about one minute or until the garlic releases its aroma. Stir in the greens and stir fry until mostly wilted. Add the Tamari and chicken stock. Cook for about a minute. Add the cooked noodles and reserved pork; stir together until heated through. Adjust seasoning, sprinkle with green onions, and serve immediately.

 

CHOPPED SALAD WITH SALAMI AND CHEESE

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Remember when chopped salads were all the rage? Well in our home, chopped salads are STILL very much in fashion. In fact, more so than ever! And with this heatwave we are experiencing, I have practically no desire to cook, much less spend any time over a hot stove! Thus – salad for dinner. Please note, Mr. C. and I lovingly refer to this time of year as “the salad days” of summer. (Not to be confused with the Shakespearean idiomatic expression “Salad Days” referring to a youthful time, accompanied by the inexperience, enthusiasm, idealism, innocence, or indiscretion that one associates with a young person. A more modern use, especially in the United States, refers to a heyday, a period when somebody was at the peak of their abilities—not necessarily in that person’s youth.) Thank you Wikipedia!

Anyway – I can’t really remember which restaurant in Seattle featured this salad oh so long ago. But since the recipe appeared in my first cookbook (1998) without any reference to the contributor, it must be a recipe I copy-catted at home. Sounds like something I would do, right??

So if you too are still fond of eating, but not of cooking at this time of year when the temperature is way hotter than we Western Washington wimps can tolerate, give this recipe a try. It takes very little time to throw together, and we’re talking only one bowl dirtied in the preparation of this dish. And that of course translates to less time in the kitchen after dinner too. (I’ve always told you I’m on your side. And in this case, I’m on Mr. C’s side too since he is the meal cleanup crew in our household.)

So stay cool my friends, drink lots of liquids, and enjoy the warm weather while you can. It will all too soon be “soup season”.

  • ½ c. light mayonnaise
  • 1 tsp. Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp. ketchup
  • 2 tsp. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. Worcestershire
  • ¼ tsp. sugar
  • pinch of kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 T. chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 4 c. chopped romaine lettuce
  • ½ c. thinly sliced fresh basil
  • ¼ c. chopped red onion
  • 1 roasted red pepper, thinly sliced
  • ½ – ¾ c. diced salami
  • ½ – ¾ c. diced mozzarella cheese
  • ½ – ¾ c. diced provolone cheese

Whisk the mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, parsley, and garlic together in a medium sized salad bowl. Add the romaine, basil, red onion, red pepper, salami, and cheeses. Stir until all the ingredients are covered with the dressing. Serve immediately.

Note: I usually don’t serve this salad with bread. But if you are being fancy, a nice crusty Italian loaf on the side would taste wonderful with this salad.  A nice red wine wouldn’t hurt either. (And no, wine does not count as drinking lots of liquids!)

 

 

CREAMY SMOKED SALMON PASTA

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As I have grown older, my stomach has started to rebel against certain foods such as those high in fat. And my lower GI tract, which until a few years ago was able to accommodate almost anything I sent its way, has now seemingly turned against me. So, contrary to the popular belief I once held, my brain is no longer in charge of my body. That happy distinction has now shifted to (you guessed it) my lower GI tract!  And just to confirm my long held belief that God has an ironic sense of humor, my taste buds remain unimpaired. So, my mouth still craves a buttery and creamy pasta sauce, while other parts of my body are praying that I can withstand temptation. Sometimes I feel like a royal battle is being staged in my body with no consideration being paid to what I still desire and need. (Perhaps that’s the true definition of growing old!)

Regardless, I have decided that I am going to fight for my rights. I still want to enjoy creamy pasta sauces, but I must respect the fact that my brain GI tract probably knows what’s best for me in the long run. Hence, this recipe.

So if you too love pasta, but are trying to reduce the amount of fat in your diet, may I suggest this recipe the next time a creamy and rich tasting pasta sauce calls your name. With this recipe, you can actually listen next time it happens!

  • 1 T. olive oil
  • 2 lg. finely chopped shallots (about ½ cup)
  • 1 c. dry white wine
  • ¾ c. light sour cream (Tillamook “light” sour cream is really very good)
  • scant 2 T. fresh lemon juice
  • ½ tsp. dill weed, or more to taste
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt  
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • ¾ c. frozen petite peas brought to room temperature
  • 4 oz. smoked salmon, cut into small chunks
  • ½ c. grated Parmesan cheese + more for passing  
  • 12 oz. pasta*, cooked al dente (reserve about a ½ cup of the pasta water)

Heat oil in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add shallots; cook 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add wine and simmer until reduced to about ½ cup, about 6 minutes. Whisk in the sour cream, lemon juice, dill weed, salt, and pepper. Cook for about 1 minute or until the sauce is hot. Stir in the peas, salmon, and Parmesan cheese. Remove from heat and add the hot al dente pasta and about ¼ cup of the hot pasta water. (Add more pasta water as required.) Adjust seasoning and serve immediately. 

*penne, farfalle, orecchiette, conchiglioni (seashell shaped), farfalloni (bow tie shaped), etc.

And remember, you never want your cooked pasta to wait for your sauce to be done. If anything has to wait, be sure it’s the sauce.

CEDAR PLANKED SALMON

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When it comes to BBQing, I am so far behind most of my friends that it is really quite embarrassing. But I have vowed to catch up, or at least become semi-proficient with a long handled spatula and welding gloves! (Actually I would consider myself blessed if I could just became less intimidated by that scary black covered appliance that lives on my deck.) But I’ll tell you, with this recipe now in my repertoire, I am well on my way to becoming at least a passable griller. (It also doesn’t hurt that Mr. C. bought me a beautiful new Webber for my birthday. At least now I have a BBQ with automatic starters for the burners and internal workings that aren’t half rusted away! Ah the joys of living near salt water.)

So if you too are even slightly intimidated by your BBQ, this recipe is ideal. First of all the salmon tastes amazing. And by using a cedar plank, you don’t even have to set the fish directly on the grate. Is that great or what?

No mess to clean up, unless of course you forget to soak your cedar plank before placing it on the BBQ. Then you and the fire department might have a huge mess to clean up. But forewarned is forearmed as the saying goes.

So get that BBQ out of mothballs, shoo any resident critters out and away, and get ready for one of the best ways to enjoy salmon ever invented by someone other than me. (I got this recipe from my dear friend Linda, who got it from her cousin (I think) Lynn, who found it somewhere…………) I modified the recipe slightly, but to whomever it was who gave birth to this recipe originally, I salute you. It is the best grilled salmon recipe I have ever found.

  • 2 T. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 T. unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 1½ T. fresh lemon juice
  • 1 T. Dijon mustard
  • 2 tsp. capers or rough chopped green olives
  • ¼ tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. dried basil
  • 1 tsp. dried dill weed
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne
  • 3 lb. salmon fillet
  • cedar plank(s) – soaked for 1-2 hours 

Sauté the olive oil, butter, garlic, lemon juice, mustard, capers, salt, pepper, basil, dill, and cayenne together for 5 minutes over medium-low heat. Set aside. 

Heat grill to 350 degrees. Set salmon skin side down on soaked cedar plank. Slather the olive oil mixture all over the top of the salmon.

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Place plank(s) on BBQ. Shut lid and depending on thickness, BBQ for 20-30 minutes or until the internal temperature in the thickest part of the fish reaches 135 degrees. Serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. No sauce or aioli required.   

Please Note: Do not use cedar from Home Depot, Lowes, or any lumber yard. The cedar sold for building purposes is treated. Use cedar planks that you either cut yourself or buy from a grocery or kitchen store specifically packaged for the purpose of using with food. Thanks Jim for this very valuable bit of information.

 

ITALIAN CHICKEN GRAVY OVER POLENTA

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I hate to make this confession just as some of you might be perusing my site for the first time. But it’s said that “the truth shall set you free”, so here goes. I often get inspiration for new dishes from leftovers. (Wow – it feels really good to get that off my chest!) So now that I have scared half of you who are reading my blog for the first time, I need to tell you that this recipe is no exception.

So, when trying to figure out how best to serve some left-over Creamy Garlic & Rosemary Polenta (recipe on this site) a couple evenings ago, I decided that it would make a great base for some type of Italian inspired sauce or gravy. But I definitely didn’t want to overpower the taste of the savory polenta. What I wanted was a sauce or gravy that enhanced the flavors in the polenta. So I began to formulate just what it would take to make this happen. I thought for sure that using some of the same ingredients, in this case garlic, rosemary, and chicken stock would make a great beginning. I also felt that chicken breast meat would be perfect for the protein component. So I went on line to research recipes that included these ingredients. What I found was a great recipe from Rachael Ray that, with just a few changes here and there, would work perfectly. So the following recipe is the result.

Now I know what some of you are thinking. Patti, you look in your refrigerator and see leftover possibilities. I look in my refrigerator and often see little Tupperware containers whose contents closely resemble science projects. Well dear readers, over the years I too have created specimens that would make even the most inventive chemist envious. But as I’ve grown older, I have tried harder to use those last bits of this and that in a creative way. Left over taco meat? How about using the seasoned meat in a nice egg scramble for breakfast? Left over chicken? Cut it up and make a chicken Caesar salad. Left over pizza? Cold for breakfast. Duh!

And again, confession time. If I know darned well that I am never going to use that last bit of whatever, I throw it away immediately! I force myself to ignore my mother’s voice in my head that says “honey, you know there are starving children around the world who would do almost anything to eat those last 2 tablespoons of creamed peas!” Sure they would, mom. Especially after the peas would have to have been flown half way around the world to reach the starving children in the first place! (Where do mothers come up with this stuff?)

So, as a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother – I am formally giving you permission to leave your guilt behind and throw away any leftover food that you know in your heart of hearts will never pass anyone’s lips. (And no, good intentions don’t count towards sainthood or mother of the year status when you really know the food is not going to be eaten and you save it anyway.)

But if you do have a leftover that is reasonably likely to be eaten, do save it. Just give a little thought when you decide how best to serve it to your family. Change it up a bit so that no one guesses that you are serving them leftovers. Your family will be happy, and better yet, your mother will be ecstatic!

  • ½ c. small pieces dried porcini mushrooms, about ½-oz.
  • 2 c. chicken stock
  • 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces   
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • 4 T. flour, divided   
  • 2 T. extra virgin olive oil   
  • 1 T. unsalted butter
  • ½ onion, finely chopped
  • 1 garlic clove, minced   
  • 6 sage leaves, chopped
  • ½ tsp. fresh thyme leaves
  • ½ tsp. chopped fresh rosemary
  • ¼ c. dry white wine
  • 2 T. chopped fresh Italian parsley, garnish
  • Place the dried mushroom pieces and stock in a small pan over medium heat. Simmer gently until the mushroom pieces are soft, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat. Set aside.  Sprinkle the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and 2 tablespoons of the flour. Heat the olive oil in a pan over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and brown on all sides. (Add a little more oil if necessary.) Remove cooked chicken to a plate; set aside.  Add the butter to the pan. When the butter foams, add the onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, sage, thyme, and rosemary; cook for about a minute. Stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons flour and cook for about a minute before adding the wine. Whisk in the rehydrated mushrooms and stock, being very careful not to include any grit that may have collected at the bottom of the pan. Bring to a simmer, add the cooked chicken, adjust seasoning, and cook until thick, about 3-4 minutes. OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
    Best served over polenta sprinkled lightly with fresh parsley.

CURRIED CHICKEN AND ROMAINE SALAD

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So what do you do when you have one half of a cooked chicken breast, and one raw chicken breast in your refrigerator? Well you know you can’t serve the raw chicken breast as is, so that means you have to cook it. But then, how are you going to serve the chicken once both pieces are staring at you wondering what’s to become of them? Well – since you are currently on a salad binge, you make up a recipe for chicken salad. Or at least that’s what I did last evening.

While I love a good chicken salad with grapes as one of the ingredients, I didn’t happen to have any in the fridge yesterday. And because I was too lazy to put on my lipstick and drive the arduous 3½ miles to our local grocery store, I decided to explore other avenues for flavor enhancement. That’s when I remembered one of my favorite chicken casserole recipes that features curry powder in the sauce. So I thought, why not add some curry powder to my salad dressing? I didn’t want to add too much so I started out with just ¼ teaspoon. That didn’t taste like quite enough, so I added another eighth of a teaspoon. Perfect! So that’s why I wrote the ingredient amount below as a heaping ¼ teaspoon.

Whenever I serve something to Mr. C. for the first time, I usually preface my remarks about the recipe with “if this new concoction is horrible, we can always go out for pizza”. But last evening, because I had already sampled the salad (adjusting seasoning you see) I didn’t even bother to offer an out. I knew he would love the salad. And I was right!

So if you too are ever faced with what to do with leftover chicken, and the chicken itself is not offering up any inspiration, may I suggest this salad as a quick and easy solution. Because if I do say so myself, it’s just darned delicious.

And although the chicken breasts couldn’t communicate their approval of how they were being served last evening, I’m sure had they been able, they would have been proud to be such an integral part of this new main dish salad. (And yes, I am as guilty of anthropomorphism as the next gal!) After all, I still believe in Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny. So how could you expect me not to presume to know what chicken breasts are thinking?  Duh!

  • ½ c. light mayonnaise (I use Best Foods “Light” mayonnaise)
  • 1 T. fresh lemon juice (don’t even think about using that bottled “stuff”)
  • pinch seasoned salt
  • freshly ground black pepper
  • heaping ¼ tsp. curry powder
  • 2 c. chopped, cooked chicken breast meat*
  • 1 lg. stalk celery, chopped
  • 2 green onions, finely minced
  • ½ c. slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1 lg. heart of romaine lettuce, chopped into bite size pieces

Whisk together the mayonnaise, lemon juice, seasoned salt, black pepper, and curry powder. Stir in the chicken, celery, green onions, and toasted almonds until well combined. Add the lettuce and stir until all the lettuce pieces are coated with the dressing. Serve immediately. Serves 2-3.

*If you don’t have any cooked chicken on hand, cut 1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast in half lengthwise, sprinkle lightly with seasoned salt and pepper, and fry in a small amount of olive oil just until done. Allow to cool, then cut into bite size pieces.

CHEESEBURGER SALAD WITH BACON AND AVOCADO

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If you have been following my blog, you already know that I am not a gourmet. I am however, a gourmand.* (Not always proud of that classification, but if the shoe fits, etc. etc.) And as a true and faithful gourmand, some of the food I am passionate about is as common as a cheeseburger. But as I get a little older, some of the foods I used to eat with nary a concern for calories or nutritional content, have turned against me in the form of digestive problems and additional weight. (Simply not fair!)

So, in trying to still be able to wholeheartedly enjoy my favorite foods, I have been working on recipes that mimic certain foods, but are healthy, less caloric, and easy to prepare. And since a good bacon, avocado, and cheese hamburger is still one of the foods that make life worth living for both of us, I decided to try putting all the ingredients associated with our favorite burger into salad form. And by golly, both Mr. C and I felt totally satisfied after eating one of these salads last evening. We absolutely did not miss the bun, or the mayonnaise sauce in the least. The salad had way more veggies than a real burger, but regardless, the flavor of a good burger came through in every bite. And of course, this new recipe fulfilled my desire to provide you all with more recipes containing ground beef.

So give this recipe a try. It’s a very nice change of pace from a taco salad, while still being a snap to prepare.

*Gourmand – a lover of good food who often eats too much.

  • 4 slices thick lean bacon, chopped
  • 1 lb. very lean ground beef
  • ½ red onion, very thinly sliced, divided
  • ¼ c. ketchup
  • 2 tsp. yellow mustard
  • 2 tsp. Montreal Seasoning
  • 1 lg. heart romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 2 Roma tomatoes, diced
  • 1-2 lg. dill pickles, diced
  • 1 Hass avocado, cubed
  • ½ c. grated sharp cheddar cheese

Fry bacon until crisp in a large skillet. Remove cooked bacon to paper towels to drain. Set aside. Pour off as much bacon grease as possible from pan. Brown the ground beef in the same skillet over medium heat. Add half of the sliced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add the ketchup, mustard, and Montreal Seasoning; stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning.

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To assemble: Place lettuce on 2 large dinner plates. Add some of the meat mixture (I usually have extra meat when I make this salad). Then top with tomato, pickle, remaining red onion, avocado, cheese, and the cooked bacon. Serve immediately. No additional dressing required.

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TÖLTÖTT KÁPOSZTA (HUNGARIAN MEAT AND RICE STUFFED CABBAGE ROLLS)

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There are several ingredients seemingly indigenous to Hungarian cuisine that are among my favorites. I love the flavor of paprika, adore sour cream and dill, and think caraway is fabulous. So when I can prepare a dish that contains all of these favorites, I know I am going to be in culinary heaven.

So when I decided I wanted to update my 40 year old recipe for stuffed cabbage rolls, I kept each of these ingredients in mind as I concocted my new version of this Hungarian classic.

While I was at it, I also wanted my cabbage rolls to be low in fat and reasonably easy to prepare. And to be made with fairly inexpensive ingredients. I also wanted a dish that even people like my husband, who are not as fond of cruciferous vegetables as I am, to be able to enjoy the dish and even look forward to eating it again.

So this recipe is my take on Töltött káposzta. And for all of you out there who have lovely Hungarian grandmothers who would be deeply offended by my use of sour cream in the sauce rather than as just a garnishment, who would not be caught dead not including sauerkraut or smoked pork shank in their version, I humbly offer my apologies. But as in all things, it’s really just all about me. And of course, what can you expect from a person who has only French and German blood running through her veins? Remember: not everyone is lucky or smart enough to be born with a Hungarian grandmother. (Next time around, I will be smart enough to get my request in early for an Italian mother and a Hungarian father. Or visa/versa would be fine too.)

If you need more apology than the aforesaid, please ask your grandmother to contact me personally! Speaking of which, don’t hesitate to “leave a reply” if you like a recipe or want to share some insight into the recipe with me. If your comment is not too derogatory, I will gladly add your comment to the blog for all the world to see. Thanks and I hope you enjoy this recipe. Oh, and also – Happy Spring! Yea sunshine!

  • 1 small head green cabbage
  • ¼ c. long grain rice
  • 1 c. water 
  • 1 T. vegetable oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves of garlic, minced
  • ½ tsp. marjoram
  • ½ tsp. caraway seeds
  • ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • freshly ground black pepper  
  • 3 T. sweet Hungarian paprika, divided (and yes, use real Hungarian paprika)
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 lb. ground pork*
  • 1 lb. ground beef*
  • 1 small can (14-oz.) chopped skinless tomatoes plus juice (canned Italian tomatoes are the best)
  • 1 c. sour cream, plus more for passing at the table
  • fresh dill weed, garnish, opt.

Remove core from cabbage with a paring knife. Place whole head in a large pot filled with boiling, salted water. Reduce heat and simmer the cabbage until leaves are softened enough to pull off individually. Then using a pair of tongs, gently remove the leaves as they become tender and set aside to drain/cool. (Don’t worry if you tear a leaf. It will mend during the baking process. Well, it won’t really mend, but once anyone takes a bite, believe me, no one will notice any tiny presentation imperfections!) Save the cabbage water for use later on in the recipe.    

Meanwhile place the rice and 1 cup of water in a small covered pan and bring to a boil.  Stir, reduce heat, and cook for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, remove lid, and set aside to cool. (If you have leftover rice, by all means use it.)  

While the cabbage leaves cool, place the oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and gently sauté for about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Remove pan from heat and set aside to cool. When cooled, add the marjoram, caraway seeds, salt, pepper, 1 tablespoon of the Hungarian paprika, and the eggs. Mix thoroughly. Add the partially cooked rice, ground meat, and combine just until the spice/onion mixture is evenly distributed throughout the meat. (Clean hands are your best tool for this process. Note: take your rings off first!) Place a handful of the meat mixture inside each cabbage leaf and wrap up like a burrito. Place folded side down in a lightly greased deep sided casserole or baking dish.

In the empty frying pan (I hate to make more dishes dirty than necessary), whisk together the tomatoes, remaining 2 tablespoons of paprika, 1 cup sour cream, salt and pepper to taste, and 1 cup of the reserved cabbage cooking water. Pour over the cabbage rolls and tightly cover the pan with foil. Bake in a pre-heated 350 degree oven for 90 minutes. Remove the foil and bake an additional 45-60 minutes or until the sauce is almost gone. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 5 minutes before serving with a nice rustic bread, baked Yukon gold potatoes or garlic mashed potatoes, and additional sour cream and fresh dill as garnishes.

*If you want to use another pound of ground beef instead of ground pork – go for it. You could also substitute ground chicken or turkey with wonderful results.