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Seasonal Side: Chard with Green Olives, Currants and Goat Cheese

YumSugar — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 04:18:31 -0800

I used to dislike chard; I thought it was too bitter and potent for an everyday meal. However, I've recently learned that when prepared correctly it can be wonderfully delicious. In this seasonal side, the sometimes overbearing chard melds with tangy green olives, plump currants, and creamy goat cheese in order to create a very refined dish. Sound delicious? Get the recipe, just read more.

Chard with Green Olives, Currants and Goat Cheese
From Eating Well

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound chard, stems and leaves separated, chopped (see Note)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/4 cup chopped pitted green olives
1/4 cup currants
1/2 cup crumbled goat cheese (2 ounces)

Heat oil in a Dutch oven (or heavy stock pot) over medium heat.
Add chard stems, salt and pepper and cook, stirring often, until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
Stir in chard leaves and cook, stirring constantly, until wilted, about 2 minutes.
Stir in olives and currants.
Dot goat cheese over the top, cover and cook until the chard is tender and the cheese is melted, about 2 minutes more.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 97 calories; 5 g fat (2 g sat, 3 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrate; 4 g protein; 2 g fiber; 360 mg sodium; 504 mg potassium.

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Chocolate-Covered Strawberries Are Great, But Why Not Chocolate-Infused Strawberries?

YumSugar — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 12:18:31 -0800

A lot of you agreed that we didn't really need a grape-apple hybrid. However, what do you think of a strawberry-chocolate hybrid? Tokyo-based Fresh Functional Food Composite (FCOM) is using infusion technology to create white-chocolate strawberries and chocolate currants. They first freeze dry the fruit, thus removing any water, and infuse it with chocolate. The company has also previously tested out the technology by infusing apples with red wine.

It all sounds pretty crazy to me - can't I just have strawberries and chocolate? - yet I know I'd give it a try if I saw them on the shelves.

If you're skeptical about the whole thing I should also mention that the company is considering using the technology to infuse food with various nutrients and vitamins.

Now the real question is, will these ever hit the American market?

Source

Showcase Fresh Red Currants in a Stunning Granita

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 14:00:48 -0700

On a recent trip to the grocery store, I caught sight of something new to the produce aisle: red currants. I'd never seen fresh red currants, and I was enamored by the dainty clusters of berries, each reminded me of a brilliant garnet cabochon. Needless to say, I brought a carton home - despite having no idea what to do with them.After some preliminary tasting and research, it became clear that although it's possible to eat red currants out of hand, reducing them in sugar helps round out their piquancy. Ultimately, I blended their slightly tannic flavor with raspberries in a granita creating the perfect ending to an Indian Summer day. Learn one great application for red currants when you read more

Photo Gallery: Red Currant and Raspberry Granita

YumSugar — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:14:01 -0700

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Chicken With Pear and Leek Sauce

partysugar — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 11:00:23 -0700

Wow your family midweek with this delicious chicken dinner. Flavorful chicken thighs are topped off with a scrumptious leek and pear pan-sauce. Currant jelly is the secret ingredient that gives the quick sauce a smooth texture and rich taste.

If you dislike chicken thighs, feel free to use chicken tenders or breasts, but note that the cooking time will differ. To check out this tasty recipe that highlights some of Fall's fabulous bounty, read more.

Chicken with Pear & Leek Sauce
From Eating Well

Ingredients

1 large leek, white and light green parts only, thinly sliced
4 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
4 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs (about 1 1/2 pounds), trimmed*
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1 large firm ripe pear, peeled and diced
3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth, divided
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons currant jelly
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted**

Directions

Place sliced leek in a colander; rinse and drain well.
Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Season chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook until golden brown and no longer pink in the center, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil to keep warm.
Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 2 teaspoons oil to the pan. Add the leek and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown and soften, about 2 minutes.
Add pear and 1/4 cup broth; simmer until the pear is soft and the broth is evaporated, about 2 minutes.
Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 1/2 cup broth and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add currant jelly to the pan and cook, stirring, until melted.
Stir in the cornstarch mixture, the remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring, and cook until thickened, about 1 minute. Return the chicken and any accumulated juices to the pan and turn to coat with sauce. Serve sprinkled with walnuts.

Serves 4.

NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 333 calories; 18 g fat (3 g sat, 7 g mono); 76 mg cholesterol; 20 g carbohydrate; 23 g protein; 3 g fiber; 530 mg sodium; 288 mg potassium.

*You’ll need about 1 1/2 pounds untrimmed boneless, skinless chicken thighs to serve four people. For recipes that call for one large thigh per person, buy them at the butcher counter; prepackaged thighs vary dramatically in size. Ask for four 6-ounce boneless, skinless thighs. To trim them well, use kitchen shears to snip the fat away from the meat. After trimming, you’ll have four 4-ounce portions.

**Toast walnuts in a small dry skillet over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until fragrant and lightly browned, 2 to 4 minutes.

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Sunday Dinner: Roast Lamb for One

YumSugar — Sun, 11 Nov 2007 01:27:18 -0800

If you've always wanted to participate in a fantastic Sunday Dinner roast, but have never wanted to cook all that food for just one person, then you're in luck. Today I've found a recipe for a Roast Lamb for One. This delectable lamb shank is a perfect blend of rosemary, lemon, olive oil and pepper and is paired with a slight red currant gravy. Grab a glass of vino and indulge in a feast for one, read more

Roast Lamb for One
From Nigella Lawson via Food Network

1 lamb shank
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 garlic clove, bruised
1/2 lemon, juiced and zested
2 tablespoons red port
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red currant jelly

Put everything, other than jelly, together into a freezer bag, tie securely, and leave in the refrigerator to marinate overnight.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
Take the lamb in its package out of the fridge to come to room temperature.
Put the lamb shank along with its marinade into a roasting tin and cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, depending on the size of the shank. Turn the shank over halfway through cooking. By the time it is done it should look bursting with bronze color; remove from the pan and let stand 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
While it is resting, put the roasting tin on the stove and stir in a little water and 1/2 teaspoon red currant jelly to make a light gravy. Slice lamb and drizzle with gravy.

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Yummy Link: Chestnut and Quinoa Crepes

YumSugar — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 03:58:31 -0700

Sometimes you make the most amazing creations late at night. This time it's chestnut and quinoa crepes dolloped with red currants. - La Tartine Gourmande

What's Yummy This Week - YumSugar Weekly Recap

YumSugar — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:30:54 -0700

Score major brownie points by baking peanut butter chocolate chunk bars.
Were you paying attention when Vegas Top Cheffers cooked for Penn and Teller?
Kick off the new season with a simple Autumn lunch.
Speaking of Fall, we've got 10 dishes you must make this time of year.
Compose a gorgeous granita with fresh red currants and just three other ingredients.
Get in on the Oktoberfest fun with 10 top German dishes.
Can you guess the chef about town?

Fruitcake: Love It or Hate It?

partysugar — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 04:00:23 -0800

In recent years, fruitcake has become one of the most hated holiday traditions. The bread-like cakes, which date back to the seventh century, are packed with candied citrus, nuts, currants, etc. and kept moist with brandy. In 19th-century England, a family's fruitcake recipe was a treasured heirloom. Today the fruitcake, with its fake fruit and neon-colored candy, is ridiculed and all but banished from the holiday table. Still, I'm wondering, is there anyone out there who enjoys fruitcake?

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Stuffed Chard Lamb is Delicious for Dinner

YumSugar — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 16:15:18 -0700

Whenever I take a trip to the store, a couple of items that aren't on my grocery list make their way into my cart. When I spotted a California-raised lamb shoulder at the meat counter, I couldn't stop myself from sliding it into the shopping cart.

I was eager to experiment with lamb because of a recent disappointing experience with imported Australian lamb. Ironically, I found an Australian recipe that I decided to try. If I made it with a local piece of meat, the dish might taste better.

And taste better it did! The lamb is filled with a rich stuffing of eggplant, onions, bell pepper, wine-soaked dried currants, and toasted pine nuts. The bold flavor of the lamb balances out the sweetness of the stuffing and the bitterness of the chard resulting in a dish that is succulent and scrumptious. To try this rewarding lamb dish, read more.

Roasted Stuffed Lamb With Swiss Chard
Gourmet Traveller

Ingredients

Currant and pine nut stuffing
1/3 cup dried currants
1/3 cup Merlot
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, coarsely chopped
1 clove garlic, thinly sliced
4 anchovies, finely chopped
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1 small eggplant, peeled and chopped
1 red bell pepper
2 tsp brown sugar, or to taste
1 tsp fresh or 2 tsp dried Greek oregano
1 lemon, finely grated rind only
For the lamb:
1 1/2 pounds boneless lamb shoulder, butterflied
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
1 bunch Swiss Chard
1/2 tsp nutmeg, or to taste
1 tsp fresh Greek Oregano
1/2 cup Merlot wine

Directions

For stuffing, combine currants and wine in a bowl.
Chop eggplant, garlic, onions and red bell pepper.
Heat oil in a large frying pan, add onion, garlic, anchovy, and nuts and sauté for 5 minutes over medium heat or until soft and nuts start to brown. Add eggplant and bell pepper, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes or until soft.
Season to taste with sugar, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Add, wine-soaked currants, oregano and lemon rind and cook for another 10 minutes or until liquid is absorbed. Cool.
Preheat oven to 390°F. Place lamb skin-side down on a bench, spread over stuffing, roll up tightly, rather than use twine to secure the lamb, I used these stretch hot cooking bands! Combine 2 teaspoons of olive oil, salt, nutmeg, Greek oregano season to taste and rub over lamb. Place lamb in the baking dish and pour 1/2 cup merlot in the bottom of the pan.
Roast for 20 minutes, then reduce heat to 375°F and roast for 1 hour for medium. Cover with foil and rest for 10 minutes.
Heat remaining oil in a large frying pan over medium heat, add garlic and cook for 1 minute or until golden. Add chard and cook for 5 minutes or until tender, then add leaves and cook for another 5 minutes or until wilted. Slice lamb thinly and serve on a bed of chard topped with any extra stuffing.

Serves 6.

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