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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken With Cucumbers and Couscous

partysugar — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 06:50:00 -0700

Say good-bye to boring chicken with this creative and healthy recipe. It's a balanced meal complete with a refreshing cucumber and parsley salad and garbanzo bean couscous.

The chicken is seasoned with ground ginger and coriander, and thanks to quick-cooking boneless skinless tenders, it's ready in just five short minutes. Don't be intimidated by the multiple steps in the recipe, it really is simple. To check it out, read more.

Chicken With Cucumber and Couscous
From Everyday Food

Ingredients

1 (1 pound) seedless cucumber
1/2 cup whole flat-leaf parsley leaves
1 to 2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (15.5 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1/3 cup raisins
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 pounds chicken tenders
1/2 cup couscous

Directions

Make salad: Quarter cucumber lengthwise; slice quarters 3/4 inch thick diagonally. In a medium bowl, combine cucumber, parsley, vinegar, and 1 tablespoon oil. Season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. Set aside.
Make couscous: In a small saucepan, combine chickpeas, raisins, 1 teaspoon oil, 1 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper; bring to a boil. Stir in couscous, and cover pot; remove from heat. Set aside (at least 5 minutes) while cooking chicken. Fluff couscous gently with a fork before serving.
Make chicken: In a medium bowl, combine ginger, coriander, 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt, and 1/4 teaspoon ground pepper. Add chicken and toss to coat.
Cook chicken in two batches: Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high; add half the chicken, and cook until browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate; add remaining tablespoon oil to skillet, and repeat with remaining chicken. Serve with cucumber salad and couscous.

Serves 4.

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Move Over Cabbage, Jicama Takes Coleslaw

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:00:41 -0700

Every Fourth of July, I make the ultimate burger. This year I slathered my burger with homemade mustard and ketchup and covered it with a crunchy jicama slaw. If you are not keen on coleslaw as a condiment, it's also a refreshing and crunchy side dish for hot Summer days. A complex slaw, this recipe doesn't exclusively use jicama, but combines radishes, carrots, bell peppers, and cucumbers in a sweet and spicy dressing. Although it's simple, it does take time to prepare - many of the vegetables are grated. It goes fast with one person grating and another chopping, so get someone to help you out (like I did!). To make this colorful and crisp Summer slaw, keep reading.

Happy Hour: Sage Lady

partysugar — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:00:41 -0700

In terms of flavored vodkas, I've always enjoyed Absolut's more creative offerings. So naturally I was excited when I got my hands on a bottle of Absolut's newest flavor - Absolut Mango. The brand crafted several recipes to feature the spirit and I decided to experiment with this innovative cocktail that combines sage, cucumber, and lime juice.

While I've had a cocktail with basil and another with cilantro, I've never had any that uses sage. It adds a woodsy, earthiness to the drink - which is delectable and refreshing. The ingredients meld perfectly to make a cocktail that is slightly sweet, tart, and delightfully fruity. For the recipe, read more.

Sage Lady
From Absolut

Ingredients

3 fresh sage leaves
3 slices of cucumber
1 ounce simple syrup
1 1/2 ounces Absolut Mango Vodka
1/2 ounce Cointreau
3/4 ounce fresh lime juice
dash of peach bitters*

Directions

In a cocktail shaker, muddle cucumber, simple syrup, and sage.
Add the vodka, cointreau, lime juice, and bitters.
Fill with ice and shake.
Strain into a cocktail glass, garnish with a sage leaf, and enjoy!

Makes 1 drink.

*I couldn't find peach bitters, so I substituted angostora.

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The Greeniest Salad: Asparagus, Cucumbers, Scallions

YumSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 16:15:18 -0800

After a weekend of overindulgence, I had a hankering for something fresh from the ground! This simple, yet complex salad of asparagus, cucumber, and scallions with a zippy Dijon dressing quickly satiated my craving. The dressing, asparagus, and green onions can actually be prepared a day in advance provided they are stored separately. The finished salad is not only refreshing but also, a hearty side dish that could easily be a meal for two. To get started on your own lettuce-free, green salad, read more.

Asparagus, Scallions, Cucumber Salad
Adapted from Bon Appétit

Ingredients

Dressing
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
3/4 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salad
2 pounds medium asparagus, trimmed
2 cups thinly sliced green onions
2 cups 1/4-inch cubes peeled seeded Kirby or English hothouse cucumbers
1 tablespoon chopped fresh Italian parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh chives
2 teaspoons chopped fresh tarragon

Directions

For dressing: Whisk first 5 ingredients in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil.
For salad: Fill large bowl with lightly salted ice water; stir until salt dissolves. Cook asparagus in large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, reserving 3 cups cooking liquid.
Transfer asparagus to bowl of salted ice water to cool.*
Place green onions in another large bowl; pour hot reserved asparagus cooking liquid over onions and let stand until cool, about 30 minutes. Drain asparagus and green onions well. Transfer onions to clean kitchen towel and squeeze dry.*
Combine green onions, cucumbers, and herbs in mixing bowl. Add dressing; toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
Arrange asparagus on platter. Spoon cucumber mixture over and serve.

Serves 6-8.

*Can be a made a day in advance. To store the asparagus and green onions wrap in several layers of dry paper towels and place each in a sealable plastic bag. Refrigerator.

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Monday's Leftovers: Fennel and Orzo Salad With Dill Pesto

YumSugar — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 07:45:18 -0800

I've been trying to figure out what to make with leftover fennel, and I've finally found the perfect recipe. It highlights the sweet, delicate notes of anise in fennel and the grassy, lemony scent of dill. This dish can be easily modified: Add protein with chicken, another textural element with cubes of ricotta salata, and crunch with almond slivers. To put the salad together, read more.

Fennel and Orzo Salad With Dill Pesto
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

8 ounces green beans, trimmed
8 ounces orzo (1 1/4 cups)
2/3 cup (packed) chopped fresh dill
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups 1/3-inch cubes unpeeled English hothouse cucumber (about 8 ounces)
3/4 cup diced fresh fennel bulb

Directions

Cook green beans in large saucepan of boiling salted water until just tender, about 5 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer beans to plate.
Add orzo to same boiling water. Cook until tender, stirring occasionally; drain.
Blend dill, oil, vinegar, and lemon juice in mini processor until almost smooth. Season dressing with salt and pepper.
Cut beans crosswise into 1/2-inch pieces. Place in large bowl. Add orzo, cucumber, and fennel; mix in dressing. Season salad to taste with salt and pepper.

Serves 6.

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Love It or Hate It: Fruit Molds

YumSugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 05:30:55 -0700

The other day I came across an online store that carries cucumber molds. Apparently, cucumbers can now be sliced into cute hearts, stars, and other shapes. Seeing this new Japanese invention reminded me of the square watermelon, another fruit mold designed in Japan to make watermelon easier to stack and store.

While fruit molds are entertaining, I'm not sure I'd ever want pyramid mangoes or heart-shaped cantaloupes in my supermarket; the unnatural shapes would simply be too weird for me to eat! What are your thoughts?

Source and Source

The Amazing Rice: Indian Rice With Red Lentils

partysugar — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 10:30:43 -0700

Like David Chang, I believe this year is all about rice. It's a delicious and ancient staple consumed by more than half the world's population. There are more than 7,000 varieties of rice and countless cultural preparations, so I've decided it's time to race around the world in the comforts of my own kitchen. Naturally I'm inviting you to join me on my rice adventures as I travel the globe experimenting with risotto, sushi, gumbo, and everything in between. To get things started, let's head to India with this rice and lentils with raita. It's healthy, fast, and delicious. Learn how I made it and read more.

Indian Rice and Lentils with Raita
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
5 whole black peppercorns
5 cardamom pods
5 whole cloves
2 dried red chiles
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup jasmine rice or other long-grain rice, rinsed
1 cup red lentils, rinsed
3 1/2 cups hot water
Kosher salt
1 medium cucumber-peeled, seeded and thinly sliced
1 cup plain, nonfat Greek yogurt
2 jalapeños, seeded and very finely chopped
1 small garlic clove, very finely chopped
Freshly ground pepper

Directions

In a medium saucepan, heat the vegetable oil. Add the sliced onions and cook them over high heat, stirring occasionally, until they are golden brown, about 10 minutes. Transfer half of the onions to a plate.

Add the peppercorns, cardamom, cloves, chiles and cinnamon stick to the onions in the saucepan and cook over moderately high heat for 1 minute, stirring.
Stir in the rice, lentils, water and 2 teaspoons of salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to moderately low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, until the water is absorbed and the rice and lentils are tender.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the sliced cucumber with the yogurt, jalapeños and garlic and season with salt and pepper.

Gently fluff the rice and lentils with a fork and discard the whole spices. Transfer the rice to a platter, garnish with the reserved onions and serve with the cucumber raita.

Serves 4.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Seared Shrimp With Cucumber Salad

partysugar — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 06:45:37 -0700

Just because it's a weeknight doesn't mean you can't experiment with new flavors and ingredients. If you've never had hearts of palm, consider making this recipe tonight. With a smooth, firm texture and artichoke-like flavor, hearts of palm look like white asparagus but with no tips. While it's difficult to find hearts of palm fresh, the canned variation is readily available and simple to use.

In this delicious dish, the palm hearts are mixed with cooling cucumber. The salad is a base for spicy seared shrimp. To look at the recipe, read more.

Seared Shrimp with Cucumber Salad
From Everyday Food magazine

Ingredients

1/2 cucumber, peeled, quartered lengthwise, and thinly sliced
1/2 small red onion, minced
1 jalapeno chile pepper, ribs and seeds removed, minced
1 can (15 ounces) hearts of palm, drained and thinly sliced
1/4 cup fresh orange juice
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails removed)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
4 teaspoons olive oil

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, toss together cucumber, onion, jalapeno, hearts of palm, orange juice, and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.
Dust shrimp with cumin, coriander, and oregano; season with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over high heat.
Add half the shrimp; cook until browned on both sides and opaque in the center, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate; repeat with remaining 2 teaspoons oil and shrimp.
To serve, spoon shrimp over cucumber salad.

Serves 4.

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Perfect For Summer: Sesame Soy Cucumber Salad

YumSugar — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 08:00:00 -0700

Lately I've been on a huge cucumber kick. They're light and refreshing - perfect for a hot summer day.

I grew up eating this salad at my mother's table, and it's still one of my favorite dishes to start off a light meal. The flavor profile is tart, the texture crunchy, the combination so simple, yet so satisfying.

The best part? The longer you let it sit, the better it tastes. After you've made it once, try altering the ingredients to see what works better for you - cider vinegar or white vinegar, more or less soy sauce, and so forth. My favorite cucumbers to use are the Japanese variety, because they're so crisp and firm. When they aren't available, I substitute Persian cucumbers. To check out my mom's easy recipe, read more.

Sesame Soy Cucumber Salad
From YumSugar's mother

Ingredients

4 Japanese or Persian cucumbers
1 tablespoon kosher salt
3 tablespoons white vinegar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sesame oil

Directions

Wash the cucumbers well.
Chop off the ends of the cucumbers. Peel the cucumbers.
Halve the cucumbers lengthwise.
Use a small spoon or a parer to remove the seeds from each cucumber half. Discard seeds.
Slice crosswise, chopping into pieces shaped like half moons.
Transfer chopped cucumber to a mixing bowl; add salt.
After 10-15 minutes, pour out excess water and dry cucumber pieces with a paper towel.
Add white vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil; stir to combine.

Serves 2.

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Pickles in Under Three Hours

YumSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 08:00:13 -0700

National Pickle Month may be coming to a close, but pickles are delicious in any month. With a bounty of Summer produce and the rising costs of prepared food, more and more people are taking up home canning. Because pickles happen to be one of my favorite snacks, I decided to take a stab at making them. However, I'm an impatient cook, an attribute that isn't conducive to making pickles. When I came across this recipe for quick dill pickles, I knew it was perfect. To see how these spears went from cucumbers to pickles in under three hours, read more.

Quick Pickles
Adapted from Cook's Country

Ingredients

1 pound pickling (Kirby) cucumbers, each sliced into 4 spears
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1 tablespoon dried dill weed
6 garlic cloves, smashed
1 1/2 cups distilled white vinegar
1/2 cup ice

Directions

Toss cucumbers with salt in a colander set over a bowl. Let stand 1 hour. Discard liquid.
Place peppercorns, dill weed, garlic, and 1/2 cup fresh dill in paper coffee filter or several layers of cheese cloth, and tie tightly with kitchen twine. Bring spice bag and vinegar to a boil in medium saucepan.
Reduce heat to low and add cucumbers. Cover and cook until cucumbers turn a dull olive brown, about 5 minutes. Discard spice bag.
Transfer cucumbers and liquid to glass bowl, add ice, and stir until melted. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon fresh dill.
Refrigerate, uncovered, at least 1 hour before serving. Pickles can be refrigerated in a covered container for up to 2 weeks.

Makes 1 jar of pickles.

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