Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Blackberry Sage Lemonade (Melting Pot)


Blackberry Sage Lemonade
Recipe from wineharlots.com

5 Blackberries
4-5 Sage leaves
1 Lemon wedge
1 oz blackberry syrup (we blended blackberries, sugar, and a little water together)
Lemonade
Ice

Muddle blackberries, sage leaves and lemon in mixing glass. Fill mixing glass with ice. Add blackberry syrup. Fill with lemonade. Pour into mixing tin, then back into pint glass and garnish.

Garnish

2 Blackberries speared
2 Sage leaves on top of drink
1 Lemon wedge on top

Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara (Olive Garden)


Chicken and Shrimp Carbonara
Recipe from food.com

Chicken and Shrimp

1/2 Cup olive oil
1/2 Cup hot water
1/2 Tbsp italian seasoning
1/2 Tbsp garlic, chopped
1 lbs chicken strips
1/2 lb shrimp (or use 1 1/2 lbs chicken)

Whisk olive oil together with hot water, seasoning and chopped garlic. Add the chicken and shrimp. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Sauce

1/2 Cup butter
3/4 tsp garlic, chopped
1 1/2 Tbsp flour
1/2 Cup parmesan cheese, grated
2 Cups heavy cream
2 Cups milk
1/8 Cup bacon, cooked and crumbled
1/4 tsp black pepper

Melt butter in a large sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic and bacon bits. Saute for 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add flour, parmesan, heavy cream, milk, bacon, pepper and salt.
Use a whisk to whip all ingredients together. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer.

Noodles

2 (7 oz) boxes pasta (spaghetti, linguine, etc.)
1/8 tsp salt

Cook noodles until al dente.

Topping

1 1/2 Tbsp romano cheese, grated
1 1/2 Tbsp parmesan cheese, grated
1 Cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/4 Cup panko
3/4 tsp garlic, chopped
3/4 tsp butter, melted
1 Tbsp parsley, chopped
3/4 Cup roated red peppers, cut into small strips
1/8 Cup bacon bits

Set roasted red peppers and bacon bits to the side. Combine romano, parmesan, mozzarella, panko, chopped garlic, melted butter and chopped parsley in a mixing bowl. Stir until well blended. Set aside.

Preheat large skillet. Add chicken and shrimp to pan. Add red peppers and bacon bits. Cook for 3 more minutes or until cooked on both sides and internal temperatures reach 165 for chicken and 155 for shrimp.

Stir chicken and shrimp and sauce together until well blended.

Place hot, precooked pasta on a larger serving platter. Top with chicken and shrimp sauce. Evenly distribute topping over top of chicken and shrimp. Place in broiler until top is golden brown. Serve immediately.

Chicken Piccata

Chicken Piccata
Recipe from Macie

2-4 chicken breasts (cut in half & tenderized) or 4-6 chicken tenders
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1/4 c. capers
1/4 c. black olives, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 small tomatoes, sliced in wedges
1 Tbsp. chicken bouillon
1/4 c. balsamic vinegar

Saute chicken in oil in a large pan. Remove chicken. In the same pan, saute onions and peppers in the oil. Add chicken, tomatoes, olives, garlic, bouillon, vinegar and capers. Simmer until balsamic vinegar thickens (about 12-15 minutes). Serve over rice.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Balsamic Glazed Steak and Pasta


Balsamic Glazed Steak and Pasta
Recipe from tastyplanner.com
Adapted by Tyson

Steaks

2-3 Thin cut steaks
2 Tbsp olive oil
Salt
Course ground pepper

Pasta

1 Lb bow tie (or any) pasta
1 box Beef Broth (or use beef bouillon cubes in the water)

Balsamic Sauce

1/4 Cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 Cup olive oil
2 Tbsp Dijon mustard (yellow mustard works fine)
1 Tbsp parsley, roughly chopped (or 1 tsp dried)
2 Cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp rosemary
1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp sugar

Toppings

1 Sliced green onion
Feta cheese

Sprinkle steaks with salt (liberally) and pepper. Put 2 Tbsp olive oil into a frying pan and heat the pan on high until steaks are hot enough to sear. Place steaks in frying pan until seared on both sides (doesn't take long so be careful) and cook until cooked the way you like. If steaks are a little thicker you could put them in the oven. Slice steaks into thin strips.

Bring beef broth to a boil and add pasta. Cook until al dente. Strain.

Add in all sauce ingredients except parsley (if using fresh) into a small sauce pan. Heat sauce up to a very light boil (whisk constantly), turn heat down until everything is mixed and homogenous.

Once noodles are cooked, Place some noodles on a plate/bowl and add steak slices on top. Drizzle sauce on top. Add green onions and feta cheese.

Monday, November 14, 2011

Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden)

Chicken Gnocchi Soup (Olive Garden)
Recipe from CopyKat.com

4 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Cup onions, diced
2 Cloves garlic, minced
1/2 Cup celery (2 stalks), sliced
4 Tbsp flour
1 Quart half and half
1 14-oz Can chicken broth
1 Cup carrots (2 carrots), shredded
1/2 tsp Thyme
1/2 tsp parsley
1 Cup shredded cooked chicken
1 lb gnocchi cooked
1 Cup fresh spinach, coarsely chopped
Fresh ground Parmesan cheese (optional)

Saute onions, garlic, and celery with butter and oil over medium heat until softened and translucent. Add flour and let thicken for 1 or more minutes. Add half and half 1/4 at a time. Add chicken broth, carrots, thyme, parsley, and chicken. Combine. Then add gnocchi. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add spinach just before serving. Top with Parmesan.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Papa's Tri Tip Roast

Papa's Tri Tip Roast
Recipe from Papa Fin

Tri Tip Roast
Lawry's Seasoning Salt
Garlic Granules (or Garlic Powder)
Black Pepper (not fine ground)

Cover tri tip with Lawry's seasoning salt, massage into roast. Then cover with garlic granules, massage in. Cover with black pepper, massage in.

Let marinate in fridge for 24 hours.

Cover a rimmed baking sheet with tin foil and put roast on sheet. Set oven to broil, rack on an upper rack. Stick roast in the oven for 5-10 minutes on each side or until roast is seared on the edges. (If using a thinner roast or other steak then it may be done after this depending on how cooked you like your steak.) Then stick the roast on a lower rack (continue to broil) for another 5-10 minutes on both sides (just watch it and take it out when steak is cooked how you like it).

Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes

Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes
Recipe from FineCooking.com
*You can boil and flatten potatoes up to 8 hours ahead. Let them cool completely then store in the fridge.

Red Potatoes (12 - 15)
Rosemary
Salt
Pepper
Olive Oil (1/4-1/2 Cup)

Put potatoes in a large saucepan (preferably one layer) and add at least one inch of water on the bottom. Add salt to the water. Bring the water to a boil, then reduce to simmer. Cook potatoes until they are completely cooked and is easily pierced with a metal or wood skewer. make sure they are cooked but not overcooked. The total cooking time will be 30-35 minutes.

While the potatoes are cooking, set up a double layer of clean dishtowels on countertop. As the potatoes finish cooking, remove them individually and let them drain and sit for just a minute or two on the dishtowels.

Fold another dishtowel into quarters or grab something (like the bottom of a cup) to flatten potatoes. Use dishtowel as a cover and gently push down on one potato with the palm of your hand to flatten it to a thickness of about 1/2 inch. Continue with all potatoes. Don't worry if some break apart a bit; you can still use them.

Cover a large rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Transfer the flattened potatoes carefully to the baking sheet and let them cook completely at room temperature. (If cooking ahead of time, cover lightly and then put potatoes in the fridge).

Remove the pan of potatoes from the refrigerator, if prepared ahead. Heat the oven to 450. Sprinkle the potatoes with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Then drizzle olive oil on top. Roast the potatoes until they are prispy and deep brown around the edges, about 30 minutes turning once gently witha spatula or tongss halfway through cooking. Serve hot.