Chicken Tikka Masala
INGREDIENTS
1 Cup Basmati Rice
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Chopped Onion
2 Teaspoons Grated & Peeled Fresh Ginger
1 Crushed Garlic Clove
2 Tablespoons Indian Curry Paste
1 ¼ Pounds Skinless & Boneless Chicken Breast Halves (Cut Into 1 Inch Chunks)
¼ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 Cup Crushed Tomatoes
½ Cup Half & Half
¼ Cup Chopped Fresh Cilantro (A Bit More For Garnish)
Prepare rice.
In a large skillet heat olive oil on medium for a minute. Add onion and cook for about 6 minutes. Stir frequently. Add ginger, garlic and curry paste. Cook 3 minutes longer. Add chicken, salt & pepper and cook about 2 minutes or until no longer pink on the outside. Stir occasionally. Add tomatoes. Cover and cook 3 to 4 minutes longer or until chicken loses its pink color throughout.
Uncover and stir in half & half and cilantro. Spoon rice into 4 shallow bowls. Top with chicken mixture and garnish with extra chopped cilantro. Serves 4
Veal Piccata
INGREDIENTS
¼ Cup Unbleached Flour
½ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Fresh Ground Black Pepper
1 Pound Veal Cutlets
4 Teaspoons Olive Oil
1/3 Cup White Wine
1 Cup Chicken Broth
2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice
2 Tablespoons Capers
1 Tablespoon Butter (NOT Margarine)
1 Tablespoon Chopped Parsley
Place cutlets between two sheets of plastic wrap or waxed paper. With a meat mallet, pound cutlets to ¼ inch thickness. On waxed paper, combine flour, salt and pepper. Coat cutlets with seasoned flour. Shake off the excess.
In a large skillet heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Add half of the cutlets and cook until brown (for about 2 minutes). Turn cutlets and cook 1 minute longer. Using tongs, transfer cutlets to platter and keep warm. Repeat with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil and remaining veal. Transfer to plate with the other cooked veal.
Increase heat to high and add wine to skillet, stirring until browned bits are loosened from the bottom of the skillet. Add the broth and heat to boiling. Boil until sauce has reduced to ½ cup (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in lemon juice, butter, capers and parsley. When butter has melted pour sauce over veal. Serves 4
Chicken Mole
INGREDIENTS
15 Ounces Diced Tomatoes
4 Ounces Chopped Mild Green Chiles
½ Cup Whole Blanched Almonds
½ Cup Coarsely Chopped Onion
1 Peeled Garlic Clove
1 Tablespoon Chili Powder
1 Teaspoon Ground Cumin
1 Teaspoon Ground Coriander
¾ Teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
1 Teaspoon Salt
½ Teaspoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
½ Ounce Chopped Unsweetened Chocolate
¼ Cup Water
2 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Cilantro
3 Pounds Bone-In Skinless Chicken Parts
To prepare mole sauce, in a blender or food processor with a knife blade attached, puree tomatoes, chilies, almonds, onion, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, cinnamon, salt and sugar until smooth.
In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Add chicken and cook until golden brown (about 5 minutes per side). Use tongs to transfer chicken pieces to a large bowl.
Pour mole sauce, chocolate and water to the skillet. Cook while stirring until chocolate melts. Return chicken to skillet and heat until boiling. Reduce heat and cover. Simmer for 30 to 35 minutes or until chicken juices run clear when pierced with tip of a knife. Remove from skillet and serve with rice and/or tortillas. Garnish with cilantro. Serves 6
Salmon Tetrazzini
INGREDIENTS
½ Pound Spaghetti
15 Ounces Cooked Salmon
12 Ounces Cream
½ Cup White Wine
1 Minced Garlic Clove
¼ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
1/8 Teaspoon Salt
¼ Cup Italian Breadcrumbs
½ Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
Cook the spaghetti and drain (do NOT overcook). Coat a 9×13 inch baking dish with olive oil. Place the spaghetti in the baking dish so that it is spread along the bottom. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Remove any skin and bones from the salmon. Place salmon in a medium sauce pan and add the cream and wine along with garlic, black pepper and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese. Cook over medium heat until everything is blended and the cheese has melted and the mixture begins to boil. Pour the mixture evenly over the noodles. Mix the bread crumbs with the remaining Parmesan cheese and sprinkle over the top. Bake for 25 minutes or until the top is crisp and browned around the edges. Remove from oven and serve hot. Serves 4
Naughty Nachos
If I had to pick my last meal on earth it would be Naughty Nachos!
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Ground Sirloin
2 Teaspoons Chili Powder
2 Teaspoons Cumin
1 Teaspoon Paprika
1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
½ Teaspoon Salt
8 Ounces Refried Beans
15 Ounces Black Beans
¾ Pound Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
1 Pound Grated Cheddar Cheese
1 Large Chopped Red Onion
½ Cup Chopped Green Onions
2 Chopped Tomatoes
8 Ounces Chopped Black Olives
3 Diced Jalapeño Peppers
16 Ounces Tortilla Chips
Iceberg Lettuce
Sour Cream (optional)
Guacamole (optional)
Salsa (optional)
Brown ground sirloin in a medium skillet. Drain and add chili powder, cumin, paprika, garlic powder and salt. Set aside. Spread the refried beans over the bottom of a platter or shallow heat proof dish. This is to anchor the first layer of tortilla chips. Next, spread a layer of chips over the refried beans, top with layers of cheeses, ground sirloin, black beans, red onion, green onions, diced jalapeño peppers, tomatoes and olives. Repeat until all ingredients are used. Bake in preheated oven at 375° F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven and serve warm. Top with lettuce, guacamole, sour cream and salsa. Serves 6
Victoria’s Crab Cakes
INGREDIENTS
1 Pound Lump Crabmeat
½ Stick Unsalted Butter (Divided – 1 Tablespoon & 3 Tablespoon)
½ Cup Chopped Shallots
1 Teaspoon Sea Salt
2 Large Eggs
1 ½ Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
1 Teaspoon Paprika
½ Teaspoon Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 Teaspoon Tartar Sauce
1 Teaspoon Lemon Zest
¼ Teaspoon Tabasco Sauce
2 Tablespoon Chopped Fresh Parsley
2 Cup Cubed White Bread (About 4 Slices)
2/3 Cup Bread Crumbs
Pick through crab to remove any bits of shell. Try not to break up the lumps of crabmeat as you pick through. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter in a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shallots and a half of teaspoon of salt. Cook until the shallots are translucent (about 2 minutes). Do not brown. Let the shallots cool. Whisk together the eggs, Worcestershire sauce, remaining half teaspoon of salt, paprika, freshly ground black pepper, tartar sauce, lemon zest, Tabasco, parsley and the cooked shallots. Gently fold in the crabmeat and bread cubes, taking care to not break up the lumps of crab meat. The mixture will be very wet. Using your hands, take a scoop of the crab mixture and gently form into a patty form about 2 ¼ inches across and ¾ inches thick. Continue until you’ve made 12 crab cake patties. Line a rimmed tray and a piece of wax paper just large enough to hold the cakes and sprinkle the bottom of the tray with half of the bread crumbs. Set the crab cakes in one layer on the top of the layer of bread crumbs and sprinkle them with the remaining bread crumbs. Cover the crab cakes loosely with another sheet of wax paper and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour.
Heat the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet on medium-high heat. The butter will melt and foam up. When the foam subsides, working in batches, place the crab cakes in the pan. Make sure not to crowd the pan. Cook until golden brown – for about 3 minutes on each side.
Remove from skillet and serve. Makes about 12 crab cakes
Spaghetti With Garlic & Oil
This classic combination of garlic and oil gives this simple pasta its heady flavor. Serve with lots of freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino-Romano cheese.
INGREDIENTS
16 Ounces Spaghetti
¼ Cup Olive Oil
1 Large Finely Chopped Garlic Clove
1/8 Teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper (Optional)
¾ Teaspoon Salt
¼ Teaspoon Course Ground Pepper
2 Tablespoons Chopped Fresh Parsley
In a large stockpot, cook pasta. Do NOT overcook. Drain, but do NOT rinse. Reserve ½ cup cooking water. Meanwhile in a 1 quart saucepan, heat oil over medium heat. Add garlic and cook just until golden, about 1 minute. Add crushed red pepper and cook 30 seconds longer. Remove saucepan from heat. Stir in salt and pepper. In a warm serving bowl, toss pasta with sauce and parsley. Use the cooking water to moisten the pasta if necessary. Serves 6
Easy Add-Ins For Garlic & Oil Sauce
Spaghetti With Garlic & Oil is just the starting point for many delicious possibilities.
- Add 4 to 6 coarsely chopped anchovy filets in oil, drained (or 1 to 1 ½ teaspoon anchovy paste), and 2 tablespoons capers, drained to cooked garlic-oil mixture. Reduce heat and stir until anchovies & break up. Cook for about 30 seconds.
- Add ½ cup Gaeta, Kalamata or green Sicilian olives, pitted and chopped to cooked garlic-oil mixture. Reduce heat and stir until olives are heated through. Cook for about 1 minute.
- Add 2 to 3 ounces crumbled & firm goat cheese to tossed pasta. Toss again.
- Add 1/3 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes to pasta with garlic-oil mixture and parsley. Toss.
- Substitute 2 to 4 tablespoons chopped fresh basil, oregano, chives or tarragon for parsley.
INGREDIENTS
2 Limes
4 Cups Shredded Green or Purple Cabbage
½ Cup Sour Cream
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 ¼ Pounds Tilapia Fillets
¼ Teaspoon Ground Chipotle Chile
¼ Teaspoon Smoked Paprika
¼ Teaspoon Salt 8 Corn Tortillas
1 Cup Salsa
Avocado Slices (Optional)
Grate 2 teaspoons lime peel and squeeze ¼ cup lime juice. Set aside. In a large bowl, combine cabbage and lime juice. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir lime peel and smoked paprika into sour cream and set aside. In a large skillet heat oil on medium-high until hot. On a sheet of waxed paper, sprinkle tilapia fillets with chipotle and salt to season both sides. Add fish to skillet and cook 5 to 6 minutes or until it turns opaque throughout, turning over once. Meanwhile, warm the tortillas. To serve cut fillets into 8 pieces. Place 2 pieces tilapia in each tortilla, top with cabbage, lime/paprika sour cream and salsa. Top with avocado slices if you wish. Serves 4
Egg Drop Soup
Egg drop soup is a traditional Chinese soup that literally means “egg flower soup.” The basic recipe is very simple.
INGREDIENTS
4 Cups Chicken Stock
2 Lightly Beaten Eggs
2 Minced Green Onions
¼ Teaspoon White Pepper
½ Teaspoon Sea Salt
1/8 Teaspoon Sesame Oil
In a saucepan, bring chicken stock to a boil. Add the salt, pepper and sesame oil. Cook for about a minute. Very slowly pour in the beaten eggs in a steady stream. Gently stir the eggs in a clockwise direction until shreds form. Serve in individual bowls garnished with minced green onions. Serves 4
Corned Beef & Cabbage
INGREDIENTS
1 ¾ Pounds Onions – Divided
2 ½ Pounds Carrots – Divided
6 Pounds Corned Beef Brisket
1 Cup Malt Vinegar
8 Ounces Stout Beer
1 Tablespoon Mustard Seed
1 Tablespoon Coriander Seed
½ Tablespoon Black Peppercorns
½ Tablespoon Dill Seed
½ Tablespoon Whole Allspice
2 Bay Leaves
3 Pounds Cabbage
2 ½ Pounds Small Red Potatoes
½ Cup Coarse Grain Mustard
½ Cup Dijon Mustard
Divide onions and carrots and chop enough to fill 1 cup of each, reserving the rest. In a heavy duty 4 gallon pot, place the corned beef, chopped onions, carrots, malt vinegar, stout beer, mustard seeds, coriander seeds, black peppercorns, dill seeds, whole allspice and bay leaves. Add enough water to cover the corned beef and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, cover and simmer for about 3 hours or until meat if fork tender. While the corned beef is cooking, cut the reserved onions into eight wedges and the carrots into 2 inch chunks. Slice each head of cabbage into 8 wedges. Add onions, carrots and red potatoes to the cooked corned beef, with the cabbage on top. Cover and return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes and cabbage are fork tender.
To serve, cut corned beef against the grain into thin slices and accompany with the cooked vegetables. Dijon mustard and coarse grained mustard complement the corned beef as optional condiments. Serves 12
