My Menu Blog

For the potatoes:

• 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 egg yolk

For the meat filling:

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 carrots, peeled and diced small
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 1/2 pounds ground lamb
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen corn kernels
• 1/2 cup fresh or frozen English peas

Directions

Peel the potatoes and cut into 1/2-inch dice. Place in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Once boiling, uncover, decrease the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until tender and easily crushed with tongs, approximately 10 to 15 minutes. Place the half-and-half and butter into a microwave-safe container and heat in the microwave until warmed through, about 35 seconds. Drain the potatoes in a colander and then return to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes and then add the half and half, butter, salt and pepper and continue to mash until smooth. Stir in the yolk until well combined.

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

While the potatoes are cooking, prepare the filling. Place the canola oil into a 12-inch saute pan and set over medium high heat. Once the oil shimmers, add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the lamb, salt and pepper and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes. Sprinkle the meat with the flour and toss to coat, continuing to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire, rosemary, thyme, and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer slowly 10 to 12 minutes or until the sauce is thickened slightly.

Add the corn and peas to the lamb mixture and spread evenly into an 11 by 7-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling up and smooth with a rubber spatula. Place on a parchment lined half sheet pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.

• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 2 lbs boneless pork tenserloins
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tsps minced fresh ginger
• 2 tsps minced garlic
• chives for garnish

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees, spray shallow baking dish with non-stick spray
2. Heat oil in large skillet over medium-high heat
3. Season tenderloins liberally with salt and pepper and brown on all sides in skillet.
4. Transfer to roasting dish and roast 15 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 16o degrees
5. Whisk chicken broth, peanut butter and hoisin sauce together in a small saucepan until smooth.  stir in ginger and garlic. remove from heat.
6. Transfer roasted tenderloin from oven to cutting board and tend with foil and allow to rest 10 minutes.
7. To serve, slice pork into medallions and drizzle with peanut sauce.  Garnish with chives.

1¾ cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3 tbs. lite soy sauce
1 tsp. minced garlic
¼ tsp. red pepper flakes
2 green onions (rinsed)
1 med. red bell pepper (rinsed)
2 cups instant brown rice
1 cup frozen green peas

1. In a large sauté pan, combine broth, soy sauce, garlic, and pepper flakes. Bring to a boil on high for rice.
2. Slice green onions thinly. Cut bell pepper in half, remove seeds and membranes, cut into ¼” pieces. Set both aside.
3. Stir rice into boiling broth and return to boil. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 5 min.
4. Remove from heat; stir in peas, onions and peppers.
5. Cover and let stand 5-7 min. or until water is absorbed.
6. Fluff with fork and serve.

3 lbs. ground turkey
4 cups chopped onions
2 rotisserie chickens, skin and bones removed and meat shredded
3 (15 oz.) cans chopped tomatoes
1 (10¾ oz.) can cream of chicken soup
1 (10¾ oz.)  can cream of mushroom soup
1 cup barbecue sauce
1 cup ketchup
½ cup hot chili sauce
1 tsp. Worchestershire sauce
1 tsp. hot sauce
1 tsp. ground ginger
1 tsp. ground black pepper
2 qts. chicken broth, as needed
2 (15 oz.) cans creamed corn
1 (15 oz.) can whole yellow corn, drained
1 tsp. salt

1. In large stockpot, brown ground turkey, drain off excess fat.
2. Add onions, simmer until transparent, about 5 min.
3. Add shredded chicken meat, chopped tomatoes, the canned condensed soups, barbecue sauce, ketchup, chili sauce, Worchestershire sauce, hot sauce, ginger and pepper.
4. Add 1 qt. chicken broth. Stir well.
5. Bring to simmer then reduce heat to low, partially cover with lid, simmer at least 2 hrs. or up to 6 hrs. stirring occasionally.
6. In the last hour of cooking, add the creamed corn and whole corn. Adjust seasonings to taste.

¾ cup each chopped onion, celery and sweet red pepper
2 galrlic cloves, minced
2 tbs. Butter
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
½ cup egg subsitute
2 cups seasoned stuffing croutons, lightly crushed
6 bonelyess skinless chicken breast halves (6oz. Each)
2 tbs. Cornstarch
1 cup chicken broth
1 tsp. Lemon juice
½ tsp. browning sauce, optional
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
¼ tsp. Salt-free lemon-pepper seasoning, optional

1. Saute onion, celery, red pepper, and garlic in butter until tender.
2. Add spinach, stir until wilted.
3. Cool.
4. Add egg substitute and croutons. Mix well.
5. Flatten chicken to ¼ in. thickness.
6. Top each piece with spinach mix.
7. Roll-up and secure with toothpicks
8. Place in greased baking dish
9. Cover and bake 350° for 40-45 min.
10. In small bowl, combine cornstarch, broth, lemon juice and browning sauce until smooth.
11. Saute mushrooms until tender, gradually stir in broth mixture, bring to a boil, cook and stir for 1-2 min. or until thickened.
12. Serve roll-ups with mushroom sauce.

• 2 cans chick peas, drained
  
• 1/2 cup chicken stock
  
• 1/4 cup tahini paste

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 clove grated garlic. Pulse chop the chick peas in food processor then add to garlic oil and season with salt and pepper. Mash with chicken stock and tahini and reduce heat to low.

1 tbs. olive oil
1 onion, chopped
½ fennel stalk, cut in ¼” slices
2 small Italian eggplants, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 cups chicken broth
1 cup canned whole tomatoes, chopped
2 cans (15 oz. each) cannellini, navy or great northern beans
2 tsp. chopped fresh Italian parsley
½ cup chopped escarole
Ground black pepper to taste
Parmesan cheese to taste
Garlic toast and fennel tops for garnish
One roasted pepper cut into strips

1. In large pot over med. heat, combine oil, onion, fennel, carrots, eggplants and garlic and sauté for 5 min.
2. Add broth, tomatoes and beans. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 min.
3. Add the parsley and escarole.
4. Simmer for 5 more min. and pepper to taste
5. Garnish with garlic toast, fennel top, shaved Parmesan cheese and a twist of red pepper.

1 1/4 cups couscous
1/2 cup water or chicken stock
1 tablespoon butter, optional
1 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup chopped cilantro or parsley

1. Bring water and coconut milk to a boil.
2. In a mixing bowl, place couscous, butter and salt and pepper, pour the boiling liquid over and mix well, let sit for 10 minutes.
3. Stir in chopped cilantro or parsley and serve.

1 tablespoon olive oil
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (8-ounce) boneless, skinless chicken breasts, halved
8 ounces baby spinach
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup low-sodium canned chopped tomatoes with juice
2 cups whole wheat couscous, cooked

1. Heat a large saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and heat.
2. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
3. Add the chicken and cook about 4 minutes per side, or until cooked through and juices run clear. Remove the chicken and set aside.
4. To the same pan, add the spinach and cook just until wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes.
5. Remove from the pan and set aside.
6. Lower the heat to medium and add the balsamic vinegar and chicken broth to the pan and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove any browned bits.
7. Add the tomatoes, bring to a simmer and cook 3 to 5 minutes.
8. Place the couscous in a serving bowl. Top with the spinach, chicken and balsamic-tomato sauce.