Sunday, November 9, 2014

Orzo with, Chicken, Cherry Tomatoes and Artichokes

i thought i'd try something different tonight.

Ingredients:

5 oz. Orzo
1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
4 tbsp olive oil, plus drizzling for the top
1 cup artichoke hearts
3 pints cherry tomatoes, halved
grilled chicken, diced
salt and black pepper to taste
asiago cheese

1. In a large pot, sweat onions with garlic and olive oil until translucent, about 5 minutes.
2. Add artichokes, saute for three minutes.
3. Stir in tomatoes.

4. stir in the diced chicken.
5. salt and pepper.
6. mix in the asiago cheese.

serve hot. 



Croquettes de Fromage

Jackie and i went to lunch on Thursday to BXL Zoute.  we has this as an appetizer.  it was "off the hook " delicious.  i approached the manager and asked for the recipe.  she actually gave the the recipe, hand written!  she told me under no circumstances, "i don't want to see those "balls" in midtown." we both laughed together.  so i will not share the measurements of this recipe with you all but i'll certainly provide you with the ingredients.

Whole milk
Roux
Chicken stock
Emmental cheese
salt
egg and flour
canola oil

make the roux.  add the milk, cheese, and chicken stock.  mix really good with a whisk.  cool in the refrigerator.  make individual balls, about the size of ping pong balls and deep fry in canola oil.



http://bxlrestaurants.com/bxl-zoute.html

i urge you to go to this restaurant.

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Boursin Roasted Chicken

We had this many times.  It's so simple.  Very few ingredients.

Ingredients

    1 tablespoon olive oil
    1 (3 1/2 to 4-pound) whole chicken
    Salt and freshly ground black pepper
    2 (5.2-ounce) packages garlic and fines herbs flavor cheese spread (recommended: Boursin)

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Coat the bottom of a roasting pan or shallow casserole dish with the oil.
Rinse the chicken well under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels. Season the chicken well, inside and out, with salt and pepper. 

Place the chicken in the prepared roasting pan and place 1 whole block of cheese inside the cavity of the chicken. Cut the remaining block of cheese into fourths and pat 1/4 of the cheese spread over the breast portion of the chicken. Allow the remaining 3/4 of the block of cheese to sit out at room temperature while the chicken is roasting.
 
Place the roasting pan in the center of the oven. After about 10 minutes, once the cheese has softened and begun to melt on the top of the chicken, remove the pan from the oven, and using the back of a spoon, spread the Boursin all over the chicken. Return the pan to the oven and roast for 25 minutes, until the chicken is golden brown on top.

Remove the pan from the oven and turn the chicken over so the back is now facing up. A small amount of cheese will probably begin to ooze out of the chicken cavity at this point, so take a bit of it and spread it all over the back side of the chicken. Return the pan to the oven and roast until the back side of the chicken is golden brown, about 25 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven one more time. Reduce the oven temperature to 375 degrees F and turn the chicken over again, so the breast is once again facing up. Continue to cook until the chicken is done, 20 to 30 more minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a knife at one thigh joint and making sure that the juices run clear.

Remove the chicken from the oven and transfer to a platter or cutting board. Set aside, loosely covered with aluminum foil. Carefully remove and discard as much rendered fat from the roasting pan as possible. Add 1/2 cup hot water and the remaining cheese to the roasting pan. Remove any remaining melted cheese from the cavity of the chicken and add to the roasting pan.

Carve the chicken into serving pieces, allowing the juices from the chicken to run onto the platter. Add the juices to the roasting pan and mix well with the Boursin, drippings, and water. Serve the sauce spooned over the carved chicken.



http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/charlottes-boursin-roasted-chicken-recipe.print.html

Cold Weather Potato Chowder With Caraway Cheese

It soup season! go vote...cause you can! I had the pleasure of waking up a little late, went to the central park conservatory, ran few errands, and went to the market.

"In 'Sunday Soup' by Betty Rosbottom"

Ingredients
4 slices (4 ounces) bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup diced celery
1 pound red-skin potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled, cut into 1/2-inch dice
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 cups chicken stock
1 cup whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup (4 ounces) Havarti cheese with caraway seeds, coarsely grated
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon unsalted butter at room temperature
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives for garnish

Sauté bacon in a large, heavy pot set over medium heat until browned and crisp, for 3 to 4 minutes. Using slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain. Pour out and discard all but 2 tablespoons bacon drippings.
Add onion and celery to the bacon drippings in the pot and cook, stirring frequently, until softened, for 4 to 5 minutes. Add diced potatoes and sauté for 2 minutes. Add garlic and sauté, stirring, for 1 minute.

Add chicken stock and milk to pot and bring mixture to a simmer. Cook soup at a simmer until the potatoes are tender, for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not let soup come to a boil. (Soup can be prepared to this point 1 day ahead. Cool, cover, and refrigerate. Reheat over low heat and proceed with recipe.)

When ready to serve, add the cheese, a little at a time, to the hot soup, stirring until melted after each addition. In a small bowl, mix the butter and flour with a fork to make a paste. Whisk this mixture into the soup, a little at a time, and cook until completely blended, for 1 to 2 minutes. Taste soup and season with salt, as needed, and with freshly ground pepper.

To serve, ladle soup into 4 bowls and sprinkle each serving with chopped bacon and chives. 



Sunday, November 2, 2014

Blueberry Cheese Danish

Cheese danishes today.  At mike's request, I added blueberries.

Ingredients

    8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
    1/3 cup sugar
    2 extra-large egg yolks, at room temperature
    2 tablespoons ricotta cheese
    1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
    1 tablespoon grated lemon zest (2 lemons)
    6 oz fresh blueberries
    2 sheets (1 box) frozen puff pastry, defrosted
    1 egg beaten with 1 tablespoon water, for egg wash

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
Place the cream cheese and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment and cream them together on low speed until smooth. With the mixer still on low, add the egg yolks, ricotta, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest and mix until just combined. Don't whip then hand mix the blueberries.

Unfold 1 sheet of puff pastry onto a lightly floured board and roll it slightly with a floured rolling pin until it's a 10 by 10-inch square. Cut the sheet into quarters with a sharp knife. Place a heaping tablespoon of cheese and blueberry filling into the middle of each of the 4 squares. Brush the border of each pastry with egg wash and fold 2 opposite corners to the center, brushing and overlapping the corners of each pastry so they firmly stick together. Brush the top of the pastries with egg wash. Place the pastries on the prepared sheet pan. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry and refrigerate the filled Danish for 15 minutes.



Saturday, November 1, 2014

Roasted Eggpplant

i had this dish at one of the Italian restaurants i eat at regularly.

1 eggplant cut in circles ½ inch wide
Mozzarella cheese
Ricotta cheese
Tomato sauce
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Place the cut slices of eggplant on a broiling sheet.  Cover each piece with olive oil, salt and pepper.
Broil for about 5 – 7 min, turn over and broil again for 5 – 7 min.
Spoon ricotta and sliced mozzarella cheese on top of each slice of eggplant.  Place a second layer on top and repeat the process (mozzarella and ricotta).
Spoon tomato sauce on the top layer and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.

Bake at 350°F for 10 – 15 min.