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Killer App: Blue Cheese and Arugula Crostini

YumSugar — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 03:50:47 -0700

Sometimes a cheese plate is too predictable, and a salad seems boring. In those moments, I like to fix up a platter of these arugula-adorned crostini, which deliver both the richness of blue cheese and some greenery to get your meal going. To balance out the bitter greens and pungent cheese, I slice up a loaf of sweet cranberry-walnut bread, though any fruity and nutty dough will do. This appetizer is super easy to make, so it's perfect for a spontaneous dinner party or a dish that needs to travel. I recommend choosing a very strong cheese that's creamy and easy to spread. Get the other details and check out the recipe.

Sunday BBQ: Ground Lamb Kebabs

YumSugar — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 06:00:25 -0700

Ever since we had a detailed discussion in the office about how much we love lamb, I've been in the mood for it. Because I don't make it all that often, I want it to be something special - yet not too expensive.

That's why I decided on a distinctive recipe for kofta, or ground meat kebabs, that calls for lamb, silky crème fraîche, delicate shallots, and pomegranate molasses for a complex yet delicate flavor.

These go on the grill first, before being simmered for a bit on the stovetop, which helps turn them tender and unctuous. See the recipe after the break

Say Cheese! Baked Brie With Mushrooms

partysugar — Thu, 07 May 2009 10:15:55 -0700

One of the world's most beloved cheeses, brie dates back to the 8th century. It's characterized by a creamy soft center and white edible rind. Although Brie originates in France, it's so popular that countries across the world now produce it. Brie is made from whole or skimmed cow's milk. When perfectly ripe, the interior should ooze. Brie has a short shelf life and mild flavor. The versatile cheese can be eaten alone or spread on crackers and bread. Since it's ideal for melting, baked brie is another desirable method of preparation. To find out how I baked mine with mushrooms, read more.

When I saw this recipe in a recent issue of Bon Appétit, I knew I had to try it. Because it can be made in advance and is vegetarian, it's the perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer. Oh and not to mention: it's wildly delicious!

Baked Brie With Mushrooms
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1/2 ounce dried porcini mushrooms*
2/3 cup dry red wine
2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) butter
6 ounces crimini (baby bella) mushrooms, halved or quartered if large
6 ounces shiitake mushrooms, stemmed, sliced
2 tablespoons minced shallot (about 1 large)
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
1 13- to 14-ounce Brie (about 5 inches in diameter; preferably in wooden box)
1 baguette, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

Directions

Rinse dried porcini to remove any grit. Place porcini and wine in small saucepan. Bring to simmer over low heat; remove from heat. Let soak until soft, about 20 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer porcini to work surface and coarsely chop. Line strainer with damp paper towel; strain wine into small bowl and reserve.
Melt butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add crimini and shiitakes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook until brown, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
Add shallot and stir until soft, about 1 minute.
Add chopped porcini and strained wine. Boil until almost dry, about 1 minute. Stir in thyme. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Cool.
Remove Brie from box, discarding lid and paper. Using sharp knife, cut top rind from Brie; discard. Return Brie to box. (Alternatively, stack two 12-inch rounds of foil and fold up around bottom and sides of Brie, crimping foil at edges, leaving top exposed.) Mound mushroom mixture atop Brie. DO AHEAD: Can be made 8 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Bring to room temperature before continuing.
Preheat oven to 350°F. Place Brie with mushrooms on rimmed baking sheet. Bake until cheese begins to melt and mushrooms are warmed through, about 15 minutes. Transfer Brie in box to plate. Serve hot with baguette slices.

Serves 6-8.

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Definition: Mignonette

YumSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 15:00:32 -0700

Mignonette
A classic condiment for raw oysters served on the half shell, mignonette sauce typically contains vinegar and shallots, and may also include oyster liquor, seasonings, and herbs.

Source

Homemade Cranberry Sauce Is Simply Delicious

partysugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:15:58 -0800

While some people swear by canned cranberry, in my opinion, nothing beats a homemade variation. Making cranberry is incredibly easy. All you have to do is combine the components in a pot and simmer for 20 minutes. From jelly to gelatin, there are many ingredients that can be mixed with the cranberries. In this recipe, plump dried cherries add a sweet tartness to the sauce, while fresh orange juice provides a nice acidity. When I was cooking it, I considered pureeing it in the food processor to make it smooth, but in the end, I decided the chunks of cranberry were necessary for a rich texture. To look at how I made it, read more.

Cranberry Sauce with Dried Cherries
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups cranberries (one 12-ounce bag)
3/4 cup dried cherries
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
zest and juice of 1 orange (about 1/2 cup)
2 teaspoons grated ginger, peeled
3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar

Directions

Combine cranberries, cherries, shallots, vinegar, orange zest and juice, ginger, and brown sugar in a medium saucepan, and cook over medium heat until cranberries pop.
Reduce heat to low; cook, stirring occasionally, until cranberries release their juices, about 15 minutes. If the cranberry sauce becomes too thick, add water until the desired consistency is reached. Transfer to a bowl to cool.

Makes 3 cups.

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Sunday BBQ: Grilled Steaks with Blue Cheese and Chiles

partysugar — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 06:00:15 -0700

If you haven't tried the classically delicious combination of steak and blue cheese, I highly recommend experimenting with this recipe. Don't be afraid, the natural pungency of the blue cheese is neutralized when mixed with cream cheese, jalapeño, shallots, and white wine vinegar.

Start making this dish in the morning to allow the steaks plenty of time to soak up the garlic parsley marinade. To grill this up tonight, get the recipe, and read more.

Grilled Steaks with Blue Cheese and Chiles
From Bon Appetit magazine

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
3 teaspoons minced fresh parsley, divided
2 garlic cloves, minced
6 1-inch-thick beef tenderloin steaks (about 6 ounces each)
2 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
1/4 cup finely crumbled blue cheese (about 1 ounce)
2 tablespoons finely chopped seeded red or green jalapeño chiles
1 shallot, finely chopped
3/4 teaspoon white wine vinegar

Directions

Combine olive oil, 2 teaspoons parsley, and garlic in 8x8x2-inch glass dish. Sprinkle steaks with salt and pepper. Add steaks to dish and turn to coat. Marinate steaks 30 minutes or cover and chill up to 1 day.
Mix cream cheese, blue cheese, chiles, shallot, vinegar, and remaining 1 teaspoon parsley in medium bowl. Season blue cheese topping to taste with salt and pepper.
Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Place steaks on grill rack (some marinade should still cling to meat). Cook 5 minutes. Turn steaks over.
Divide blue cheese topping among steaks. Grill until topping softens and steaks are medium-rare, about 5 minutes longer.

Serves 6.

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Sunday Dinner: Quail with Grapes and Grappa

partysugar — Sun, 27 Jan 2008 01:51:31 -0800

Lately I've been experimenting with quail. I love to order it at restaurants, but have little experience making it in my home kitchen. Sundays are a wonderful day for kitchen experiments, so I am going to give this recipe a whirl. The quail is seared, roasted, and covered in a tasty sauce. Proscuitto, grapes, shallots, and grappa - an Italian brandy - make the sauce incredibly flavorful. For the recipe, read more.

Quail with Grapes and Grappa
From Cooking Light magazine

1 1/2 cups seedless green grapes
8 (4-ounce) quail, skinned
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
8 (1-inch) rosemary sprigs
8 (1-inch) thyme sprigs
2 teaspoons olive oil
1 1/4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth, divided
1/4 cup finely chopped prosciutto (about 1 ounce)
3 tablespoons grappa (Italian brandy) or cognac
1 1/2 tablespoons minced shallots
Whole rosemary sprigs (optional)
Whole thyme sprigs (optional)

Cut 1/2 cup grapes in half lengthwise.
Sprinkle quail with salt and pepper. Place 1 (1-inch) rosemary sprig and 1 (1-inch) thyme sprig into cavity of each quail.
Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add quail; cook 3 minutes on each side or until browned.
Arrange quail, breast sides up, in pan; add 1/2 cup broth. Partially cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook 25 minutes or until done. Place quail on a platter; cover loosely with foil.
Add 1/4 cup broth, prosciutto, grappa, and shallots to pan; cook over medium-high heat 1 1/2 minutes or until shallots are tender, scraping pan to loosen browned bits.
Stir in 1/2 cup broth and whole and halved grapes; cook 2 minutes or until grapes are thoroughly heated.
Pour grape mixture over quail; garnish with whole rosemary and thyme sprigs, if desired.

Serves 4.

Nutritional Information: CALORIES 355(29% from fat); FAT 11.6g (sat 3.1g,mono 4.4g,poly 2.6g); PROTEIN 43.1g; CHOLESTEROL 133mg; CALCIUM 34mg; SODIUM 636mg; FIBER 0.7g; IRON 8.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 11.8g

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Monday's Meal: Easy Butternut Squash with Sage

YumSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 08:13:33 -0700

Yesterday, we welcomed the fall season with a simple stuffed squash. It's a festive recipe, but one that doesn't leave much for leftovers. If you do have any leftover, you can try warming it up and serving with pasta. However, since most of us won't have anything left to work with, I thought I'd find another fall recipe for us to try tonight. This meal for Butternut Squash with Shallots and Sage looks fantastic and definitely sounds like an easy Monday meal. To get the recipe, read more

Serve this dish with your choice of grain (couscous, rice, pasta, etc.) and a side salad to round it out.

Butternut Squash with Shallots and Sage
From Gourmet October 2005
Image Source

2 tablespoons olive oil
3 shallots, halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices (3/4 cup)
1 (1 3/4-lb) butternut squash, peeled, halved lengthwise, seeded, and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (4 cups)
1/2 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or water
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh sage
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Makes 4 servings.

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then cook shallots and squash, stirring, until shallots are softened, about 5 minutes.
Add broth, brown sugar, sage, and salt, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until squash is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vinegar, pepper, and salt to taste.

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You Won't Miss the Turkey With This Savory Squash Pudding

YumSugar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:27 -0800

Planning an almost meatless feast or vegetarian meal this Thanksgiving? If you were fretting about a main course that can compete with the bird as the star of the supper, you can stop worrying; I've found one for you!

I'm not sure if any entrée can ever be all things to all people, but this savory bread pudding is as close as it gets. It's wholesome, with kale, butternut squash, and shallots, yet at the same time hearty and satisfying. Want to impress herbivores and carnivores alike? Keep reading.

Killer Apps: Clams Casino

partysugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:38 -0800

Although appetizers aren't the first thing that come to mind when one thinks of Thanksgiving dinner, I like to give my family something to nibble on while they wait for the big meal. Usually I serve a luxurious bite like crab cakes or baked brie with mushrooms. This year, I'm offering a classic seafood crowd-pleaser, clams casino.

Even my mom, who's not into clams, enjoys these savory, finger-licking-good, bacon-and-shallot-topped clams. They can be assembled in the morning and baked later, making them ideal for an event like Thanksgiving. These delicious clams are also an excellent addition to a cocktail party menu, so bookmark the recipe now