Salmon baked in foil

  • Preheat oven to 400*F
  • Pat dry salmon. Brush lightly with olive oil on both sides. Salt and pepper both sides.
  • Place salmon in tin foil. Top with salsa (be generous, the salsa will bake down). Add a pinch of dried oregano, thyme, and a splash of lemon juice on top.
  • Fold the sides of foil over the fish and salsa, covering completely, seal the packets closed.
  • Place on baking sheet. Bake 15-20 minutes. Remove foil and serve.

Can use tilapia in place of salmon.

Kale and mushroom stroganoff

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Ingredients

  • 1 ½ cups mushroom broth
  • 8 oz fresh cremini mushrooms, stems trimmed and sliced ¼ inch thick
  • 1 ½ c. medium-dice yellow onion (about 1 medium onion)
  • 1 tsp. paprika
  • 2 tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 1 bunch flat-leaf kale (about 11 ounces), tough stems removed and leaves cut into bite-size pieces
  • 3 medium garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt and pepper
  • ¼ c. red wine
  • 12 oz. dried egg noodles
  • 1/3 c. sour cream
  • 1 tbsp. dijon mustard

Directions

  1. Heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion and paprika and sautee until soft
  2. Raise heat to medium high, add mushrooms and fresh ground pepper, sautee until dry
  3. Add garlic cloves, stir until fragrant, about 30s
  4. Sprinkle 2 tbsp. flour over mixture, stir vigorously until mixed in
  5. Deglaze with wine, scraping up brown bits
  6. Add mushroom broth and simmer until thick, remove from heat
  7. Meanwhile, blanch kale until tender, then cook pasta in same water. Drain.
  8. Retain 1/3 c. pasta water, add to sauce with sour cream and mustard
  9. Serve sauce over noodles

Salmon Pudding

  • 10 red potatoes (~ 2lb)
  • 1 small onion
  • 200-400g salmon (2 pieces of Costco salmon) sliced in half flat (so you have 4 flat pieces), then in 4 pieces
  • 2 eggs
  • 1.5 cups heavy cream or half-and-half
  • salt
  • pepper

1. Slice potatoes evenly (use food processer slicer), cook in boiling water for for 5 minutes, then drain.

2. Slice onion thinly. Sauté onion until soft.

3. In an oiled oven-proof dish, layer in this order: ½ potatoes, ½ onions, salmon, ½ onions, ½ potatoes. Salt and pepper as you go.

4. Pour mixed eggs and heavy cream on top.

5. In oven 400 degrees until potatoes are fully cooked, around 45m.

6. Let cool for 5m before serving.

Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Stew

Adjusted for extra sauce
serves 6-8

  • 5 lb boneless beef chuck-eye roast, cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
  • salt and pepper
  • 3 Tbsp vegetable oil
  • 4 medium onions, chopped fine
  • 1 6 oz can tomato paste
  • 3-4 cups chicken or beef broth
  • 1 cup red wine
  • 4 Tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp fish sauce
  • 1 Tbsp worcestershire sauce
  • 1 lb carrots, peeled and cut into 1 in pieces (1 ½ to 2 inches if cooking longer than 10 hours)
  • 1 lb parsnips, peeled and cut into 1 in pieces (1 ½ to 2 inches if cooking longer than 10 hours)
  • 1 lb red potatoes, peeled and cut into 1 in pieces (1 ½ to 2 inches if cooking longer than 10 hours)
  • 1 ½ tsp thyme
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 2 Tbsp Minute tapioca
  • 1 bag frozen peas, set out to thaw

1. Dry beef with paper towels then season with salt and pepper. Heat 1 Tbsp oil in large skillet over med high heat until just smoking, add half of beef and brown on all sides about 8 min. Transfer to slow cooker and repeat with remaining beef.

2. Add 1 Tbsp oil, onions and ¼ tsp salt to the empty skillet and cook until golden brown about 6 min. Add tomato paste and cook stirring well for 2 minutes. Add broth and soy sauce, bring to simmer and transfer to slow cooker insert.

3. Toss carrots, parsnips, potatoes ½ tsp thyme and remaining 1 Tbsp oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper. Wrap vegetables in a foil packet that will fit in the slow cooker, folding over the seam to trap steam. Stir bay leaves and tapioca into slow cooker with the meat and onion mixture. Set the vegetable packet on top of beef.

4. Set the slow cooker to high and cover. Cook for 6-7 hours. (Or cook on low for 10-11 hours)

5. Transfer vegetable packet to a plate. Open and pour vegetables and juices into the stew. Add remaining 1 tsp thyme and peas. Let stand until the peas are heated through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir fry tofu

  • container extra-firm tofu , cut into 24 triangles
  • tablespoons soy sauce
  • tablespoons sugar
  • 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
  1. Whisk glaze ingredients in small bowl; whisk sauce ingredients in separate small bowl. In third small bowl, mix garlic and ginger with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil. Set bowls aside.
  2. Heat 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. While oil is heating, sprinkle cornstarch evenly into baking dish. Place tofu on top of cornstarch and turn with fingers until evenly coated. When skillet is hot, add tofu in single layer and cook until golden brown, 4 to 6 minutes. Turn tofu with tongs and cook until second side is browned, 4 to 6 minutes more. Add glaze ingredients and cook, stirring, until glaze is thick and tofu is coated, 1 to 2 minutes. 

Skillet lasagna

INGREDIENTS

  • (14.5-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
  • tablespoon olive oil
  • medium onion, minced
  • Salt
  • medium garlic cloves, minced or pressed through a garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 pound ground beef
  • 10 curly-edged lasagna noodles (about 8 ½ ounces), broken into 2-inch lengths
  • ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded (½ cup)
  • 1/2 ounce Parmesan cheese, grated (¼ cup)
  • Ground black pepper
  • 3/4 cup ricotta cheese (optional)
  • tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Pulse the tomatoes with their juice in a food processor until coarsely ground and no large pieces remain, about 12 pulses.

  2. Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and ½ teaspoon salt and cook, stirring often, until softened, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the ground meat and cook, breaking apart the meat, until lightly browned and no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes.

  3. Scatter the pasta over the meat, then pour the processed tomatoes over the pasta. Cover, increase the heat to medium-high, and cook, stirring often and adjusting the heat to maintain a vigorous simmer, until the pasta is tender, about 20 minutes.

  4. Off the heat, stir in half of the mozzarella and half of the Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Dot heaping tablespoons of the ricotta over the noodles (optional), then sprinkle with the remaining mozzarella and Parmesan. Cover and let stand off the heat until the cheese melts, 2 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle with the basil and serve.

Fish Soup

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeded & diced
  • 2-3 carrots, diced
  • 1-2 celery stalks, diced
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • ¼ tsp dried (crushed) pepper flakes
  • ½ cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes (juices included)
  • ¾ cup vegetable broth
  • 1 lb. firm white fish (such as tilapia), cut into 1-inch pieces
  • ½ lb. medium shrimp, shelled
  • Salt & pepper, to taste

Instructions

 1. Heat the olive oil in a large saucepan set over medium heat.

 2. Add the onion, garlic, red bell pepper and carrot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions and peppers are tender, 7 to 8 minutes.

 3. Add the oregano and chile flakes, and cook for 1 minute. Add the parsley and white wine, and cook for 1 additional minute.

 4. Add the tomatoes and vegetable broth, and bring to a simmer. Cover and low simmer 10-15 minutes.

 5. Add the tilapia pieces and cook, stirring occasionally, until the fish is almost cooked through, about 4 minutes.

 6. Add the shrimp and continue to simmer until the shrimp is barely cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat, season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve.

Beef Chili with Kidney Beans

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Amazing chili that can be made in the crock pot. Cooks Illustrated suggests making the chili at least a day in advance, up to five days, as the flavor gets better with time. We made some adjustments as we don’t like a very meaty chili and I grew up eating chili with potatoes, so we added them.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil or olive oil
  • 2 medium onions, chopped fine (about 2 cups)
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into ½-inch cubes
  • 6 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 2 tablespoons)
  • ¼ cup chili powder
  • 1 tablespoon ground cumin
  • 2 teaspoons ground coriander
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional, makes it spicy)
  • ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional, makes it spicy)
  • 1 pound 85 percent lean ground beef
  • 30 ounces of canned red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
  • 28 ounces of canned diced tomatoes, with juice
  • 28 ounces of canned tomato puree
  • Table salt
  • Red potatoes, peeled and diced (about 8 small)
Directions
  1. Heat oil in large heavy-bottomed stock pot over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, 3 to 4 minutes. Add onions, bell pepper, garlic, chili powder, cumin, coriander, pepper flakes, oregano, and cayenne; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are softened and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. 
  2. Increase heat to medium-high and add half the beef; cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink and just beginning to brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Add remaining beef and cook, breaking up pieces with wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 4 minutes.
  3. Add beans, tomatoes, tomato puree, and ½ teaspoon salt; bring to boil.
  4. Transfer the mixture to a slow cooker. Cook the chili on the high setting for four hours.
  5. After 2 hours, add the diced potatoes, covering with sauce.
  6. Serve hot, though the flavor is best if left overnight.

Optional items for garnish: fresh lime wedges, sour cream, green onions.

Lentil & kale soup

  • 1 large onion , chopped (about 1 ½ cups)
  • 2 medium carrots, chopped ½" slices
  • 3 cups rinsed and chopped kale
  • 3 medium cloves garlic, minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
  • 1 can (14 ½ ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon minced fresh thyme leaves
  • 1 cup lentils (7 ounces), rinsed and picked over
  • 1 teaspoon table salt
  • Ground black pepper
  • ½ cup dry white wine
  • 4 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 1 ½ cups water

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Add olive oil to soup pot over medium high heat. Add onion and carrots; cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables begin to soften, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  2. Stir in lentils, salt, and pepper to taste; cover, reduce heat to medium-low, and cook until vegetables are softened and lentils have darkened, 8 to 10 minutes.
  3. Uncover, increase heat to high, add wine, and bring to simmer. 
  4. Add chicken broth, water, tomatoes, bay leaf; bring to boil, cover partially, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until lentils are tender but still hold their shape, 30 to 35 minutes; discard bay leaf.
  5. Puree 3 cups soup in blender until smooth, then return to pot.
  6. Add kale and simmer in soup for about 5 minutes until tender.

You can serve the soup with a spoon of yogurt to make it creamy. Stir the yogurt into your bowl of soup.