Chicken with Peach-Jalapeño Salsa

It has been so long since I've posted!  Can you tell I'm back at work and have less time to update our blog???  And since time is short, here's a quick and delicious Food & Wine recipe to use up those fantastic late summer peaches from the farmer's market!

INGREDIENTS
2 large peaches—peeled, pitted and cut into 1/3-inch dice
1 medium jalapeño chile, seeded and minced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
2 teaspoons sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs
3 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
4 large skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 tablespoons peanut oil, for frying

In a bowl, combine the peaches, jalapeño, lime juice and sugar.

In a large bowl, toss together the flour, bread crumbs, cornmeal, salt, thyme and cayenne. Put the chicken in a bowl of cool water. Remove the breast halves one at a time, let the excess water drip off and coat them thoroughly with the seasoned flour mixture.

Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large heavy skillet. Add the chicken, skinned side down, and cook over moderately high heat until golden on the bottom, about 5 minutes. Turn the breasts and add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Cook, turning occasionally, until the chicken is browned and cooked through, about 11 minutes longer. Serve with the peach-jalapeño salsa.

(We ate it with warm garlic naan and greek yogurt on the side.  Mmmmmm)

And so Heath has started daycare in my office building and seems to be doing great!  He has already charmed all the ladies downstairs and is rolling over all the time.

And he gets to hang out with me in my office and I can go visit him throughout the day.  I could not imagine a better situation.  I feel so lucky!

And it's officially football season!  Michael had so much fun watching the University of Tennessee opener last weekend with his little boy.

Heath is already practicing how to throw the football.

And Michael is also enjoying the first weeks at his new job at Wentworth Studio.  It's a bit of an adjustment from the 10+ years he worked at Ossolinski Architects, but he's doing great.

Smokey Bean and Spinach Sliders

Michael and I found this blog, Thug Kitchen, with great vegetarian recipes but written in a certain "flair" (which is unsuitable for children but we find it hilarious).  This recipe for smokey bean and spinach sliders has been a great make-on-sunday-eat-during-the-week meal.

Like usual, I'm just going to cut-and-paste the recipe so please be warned that there are numerous expletives in the following text.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
1 cup chopped onion
3 cups cooked kidney beans or 2-15 ounce can
1/2 cup cooked brown rice (use leftovers)
4 cloves of garlic, chopped all small and shit
1 tablespoon liquid smoke (like I said, it is near the BBQ sauce at the store I swear. You haven’t even looked yet so stop complaining. It is there)
2 teaspoon soy sauce or tamari
1 tablespoon smoked paprika
2 teaspoons oregano
1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
black pepper to taste
1/2 cup whole wheat breadcrumbs (any breadcrumbs you have are fine. Got nothing? Just toast up some bread until it is almost burnt looking and real dry then grate them shits or put them in a food processor to get some tiny fucking crumbs. They help soak up all the liquid so don’t leave this shit out)

Warm the oven to 375 degrees and lightly grease a large baking sheet. You can throw down some foil and then grease it if you are a lazy fuck like me and hate doing dishes.

Add the spinach and onion to a food processor and pulse until they are in tiny-ass pieces. Add the kidney beans, rice, garlic, liquid smoke, soy sauce, and seasonings and pulse until everything is all mixed up. It’s fine if a few larger pieces of the beans hang around but you want this looking like kinda paste-like. Place the bean-spinach mixture into a medium bowl and add in the fucking breadcrumbs. This should be slightly sticky and hold nicely when you form it into a ball. If it is too wet, add more breadcrumbs. Taste it and add more spices and whatever until it tastes good to you. Can’t do that shit with ground beef.

No food processor? It’s all good. Just cut up the spinach and the onion extra tiny and add everything but breadcrumbs to a big bowl. Now pound on that shit until it looks like chunky mash potatoes. Then add the breadcrumbs and do all the other shit I say above.

Divide the mixture into 16 patties if you are making sliders or 8 patties if you are making regular burgers. Whateverthefuck you want to do. Place them on the baking sheet, spray them lightly with oil (slow your roll, I said LIGHTLY) and bake for 15 minutes or until the bottom is a crispy golden brown. Flip the patties and bake for 15 or until both sides look awesome. If you are doing full size burgers you might need to let the sides go 5 extra minutes. Let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Pile them high with red onion, avocado, whatever additional deliciousness you’ve got and chow the fuck down.

Makes 16 sliders or 8 regular patties

And I know you all want more photos of our little bit of sunshine and smiles!  Here is our sweet little family photo...

And here he is with grandpap and grandma who came up from North Carolina to babysit a couple weeks ago while I went back to work for a few days.

And I just love this smiley little guy trying out his bumbo chair...

And here he is with our friend at his first dim sum brunch!  (He'll like it better when he can start eating the food!)

And our little man LOVES moving his arms to the song Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes!  Here he is playing along with our friend's 3-year-old - just TOO cute!

And lastly, here's our little monkey helping mommy out with the laundry.

It's going to be quite a transition to go back to work in a little over a week.  Thank goodness our daycare is in my office building so he's not too far away but I'm going to miss seeing that face and kissing that bald head all day long.

Steak au Poivre

Happy 3 month birthday to Heath!  The last few months have been like a blink of an eye and we can't believe he's growing up so fast!

He loves to see everything that's going on - especially at the dinner table.  And this was an especially good dinner to watch us eat!  Here's another pretty quick recipe from Food & Wine.

INGREDIENTS
Three 1-pound, bone-in rib eye steaks, cut 3/4 inch thick
Kosher salt
Coarsely crushed black peppercorns
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 shallots, minced
1/3 cup brandy
3/4 cup chicken stock
1/4 cup heavy cream

Season the steaks with salt and black peppercorns and let stand for 45 minutes.

In a cast-iron skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in the oil. Working in batches, cook the steaks over moderately high heat, turning once, until medium-rare, 7 minutes per batch; transfer to a board and let rest.

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of fat from the skillet. Add the shallots and cook over moderate heat, stirring, until softened, 2 minutes. Add the brandy and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the stock and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until slightly reduced, 3 minutes. Stir in the heavy cream and simmer until slightly thickened, 1 minute. Remove from the heat and stir in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Season the sauce with salt.

Slice the steak and transfer to plates or a platter. Spoon the sauce on top and serve.

HEATH UPDATE...
What a difference a month makes:

And he even has a favorite book!

It's such a joy watching him grow.  I can't imagine how big he's going to be in just another 3 months!

Seared Wahoo with Avocado and Salsa Verde

Always in an effort to cook with more sustainable seafood, Michael followed the suggestion of Barton Seaver to substitute wahoo for tuna.  I had never heard of Wahoo but I love the name, it's sustainable, and it tastes great!

Here's a fast and delicious recipe from Food & Wine for a hot, summer night!

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup lightly packed flat-leaf parsley leaves
3 tablespoons drained capers
1 clove garlic, smashed
4 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon anchovy paste
1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon olive oil
4 wahoo steaks, about 1 inch thick (about 2 pounds in all)
1 avocado, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

Put the parsley, capers, garlic, lemon juice, anchovy paste, mustard, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/8 teaspoon of the pepper into a food processor. Pulse to chop, six to eight times. With the machine running, add the 1/2 cup oil in a thin stream to make a coarse puree. Leave the sauce in the food processor and, if necessary, pulse to re-emulsify just before serving.

Heat a grill pan or heavy cast-iron pan over moderately high heat. Rub the wahoo steaks all over with the 1 tablespoon oil. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Cook the fish for 3 minutes. Turn and cook until done to your taste, 3 to 4 minutes longer for medium rare. To serve, top the wahoo steaks with the avocado and drizzle with the sauce.

AND HERE'S SOME HEATH PHOTOS!  He is smiling and babbling all the time now and he is just a joy to wake up to every morning.  He's growing up to be quite the charmer!

Lamb Burger with Green Harissa

Here's a great summer lunch or dinner for those of us that don't have a ton of time to cook.... from Food & Wine, of course!

INGREDIENTS
1 pound ground lamb
1/2 cup cooked white rice
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for grilling
4 hot green chiles, such as serranos or jalapeños, thinly sliced
2 mild green chiles, such as Anaheim or yellow wax chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
2 scallions, coarsely chopped
1 garlic clove, smashed
Warm naan, chopped tomatoes and feta, for serving

Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a medium bowl, combine the ground lamb with the cooked rice, egg and 1/4 cup of the cilantro. Add 1 teaspoon of kosher salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper and gently knead the meat to blend. Using lightly moistened hands, form the meat into 12 patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Brush the patties with olive oil.

Grill the patties over moderate heat, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 6 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine the hot and mild chiles with the scallions, garlic and the remaining 1/4 cup of cilantro and pulse until chopped. Add the 1/4 cup of olive oil and process to a chunky puree. Season the harissa with salt. Wrap the lamb in the warm naan with tomatoes and feta. Spoon some of the green harissa on top and serve.

(MAKE AHEAD The green harissa can be refrigerated overnight.)

HEATH UPDATE!

We are enjoying late spring and summer with our little guy!  Maternity leave is coming to an end and our little man is charming us more and more everyday.  Here he is the last couple weeks...

Can't get enough of those little toes!!!

Here's Heath's first rugby function at the Australian Embassy - isn't that an intimidating face???  (Honestly, it's probably just gas but he looks like such a tough guy with his rugby shirt on!)

And last but not least, here's my favorite bath time photo of Heath in his tiger hooded towel.  Look at that GQ pose - such a cutie!

It's hard to believe that his 2 month birthday is Tuesday!  Time flies...

Pork-and-Green-Chile Stew w/ Side of Black-Bean and Yellow-Rice Salad

Oh my, has it been almost 7 weeks since our sweet Heath came into our world?  Time flies and he continues to bring so much joy into our lives with every little expression on his cute little face!

On a good night, Heath will allow Michael and I to sit down at the table for 10 minutes to eat dinner together (on a normal night, we take turns holding him while the other one eats).  I forgot if we got to both sit down for this particular meal, but I do remember it being really good.  Thank goodness Michael still has the energy to try great new recipes from Food & Wine!

Pork and Green Chile Stew
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds trimmed boneless pork shoulder, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 large sweet onion, such as Vidalia, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
1 pound mild green chiles, such as poblanos and Anaheims—halved lengthwise, cored and thinly sliced
3 serrano chiles, seeded and thinly sliced (keep some seeds for spicier flavor)
6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 cup chopped cilantro, plus more for garnish
Lime wedges, warm corn tortillas and rice, for serving

In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, heat the olive oil until almost smoking. Season the pork cubes with salt and black pepper and add them to the casserole. Cook the pork over high heat, stirring once or twice, until lightly browned in spots, about 5 minutes. Add the onion, green chiles, serrano chiles and garlic. Cover and cook over high heat, stirring once or twice, until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover partially and simmer the stew over moderately low heat until the pork is just tender and the broth is reduced by about half, about 20 minutes.

Stir in the 1/4 cup of cilantro and season with salt and black pepper. Garnish the stew with cilantro and serve with lime wedges, corn tortillas and rice.

MAKE AHEAD The stew can be refrigerated for up to 3 days.

Black Bean and Yellow Rice Salad
INGREDIENTS
3 tablespoons cooking oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
2 3/4 cups water
1 bay leaf
1 2/3 cups drained and rinsed canned black beans (from one 15-ounce can)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
2 tomatoes, diced
1 tablespoon wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 lime, quartered, for serving (optional)

In a medium saucepan, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil over moderately low heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic, turmeric, cumin, 1 teaspoon of the salt, the black pepper, and rice. Cook, stirring frequently, for 2 minutes.

Add the water and bay leaf; bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to low and cook, covered, until all the liquid is absorbed and the rice is done, about 20 minutes. Remove the bay leaf.

In a large glass or stainless-steel bowl, combine the rice, beans, bell pepper, and tomatoes. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and 1/4 teaspoon salt, the vinegar, and parsley. Toss gently to combine. Serve with lime wedges, if using.

And here are some more photos of Heath:

Heath just a couple days shy of 1 month checking out his new stuffed lion

Heath at 5 weeks all dressed up for his Sip 'n' See in Chapel Hill, NC

First Mother's Day feat. Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Gremolata Pesto & Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Beans and Greens

Everyday is Mother's Day when you get to wake up to this face in the morning!

My appreciation for my own mother and for mothers everywhere has grown to a new level the last three weeks.  It's an amazing, rewarding, and sometimes frustrating experience that continues to enrich our lives every minute of everyday.

But even with the decreased free time with our little bundle of joy, Michael still managed to cook me a delicious Mother's Day dinner.  I'm a lucky girl! (Note: The Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Beans and Greens can totally be a mid-week meal! This was a great Pinterest find!)

Herb-Crusted Rack of Lamb with Gremolata Pesto
INGREDIENTS
LAMB AND SAUCE
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
Three 8-bone racks of lamb (1 1/2 pounds each), bones frenched and trimmings reserved (see Note)
1 carrot, chopped
1 stalk of celery, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
6 large garlic cloves, chopped (about 3 tablespoons)
1 medium tomato, chopped
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 quart low-sodium beef broth
1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley, stems reserved
2 tablespoons chopped thyme, stems reserved
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

GREMOLATA PESTO
1/4 cup pine nuts
1 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 garlic cloves, smashed
Finely grated zest of 1 lemon
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper

PREPARE THE LAMB AND SAUCE In a large saucepan, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the reserved lamb trimmings along with the chopped carrot, celery and onion and cook over moderately high heat, stirring, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of the chopped garlic and the chopped tomato and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the red wine and bring to a boil. Add the low-sodium beef broth and the reserved parsley and thyme stems and simmer over moderate heat until reduced to 1 1/4 cups, about 1 hour. Strain the lamb sauce into a small saucepan and spoon off the fat. Season the sauce with salt and pepper and keep warm.

Preheat the oven to 400°. Light a grill or preheat a grill pan. In a small bowl, combine the chopped parsley, chopped thyme and the remaining 2 tablespoons of garlic. Season the lamb racks with salt and freshly ground black pepper and coat with the herb mixture. Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and oil the grill or the grill pan. Grill the lamb over moderately high heat, turning once, until browned all over, about 5 minutes. Transfer the racks to a sturdy baking sheet.

Roast the racks of lamb for about 15 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted in the center of the meat registers 130° to 135° for medium-rare. Let the racks rest for 15 minutes.

MEANWHILE, MAKE THE GREMOLATA PESTO In a medium skillet, toast the pine nuts over moderate heat, stirring, until they are golden, about 5 minutes. Let the toasted pine nuts cool slightly. Transfer the toasted pine nuts to a blender. Add the parsley leaves, garlic and grated lemon zest and pulse to combine. Add the olive oil and process until smooth. Season the gremolata pesto with salt and pepper.

Reheat the sauce. Carve the racks of lamb into chops and serve the chops with the sauce and pesto.

MAKE AHEAD
The sauce and gremolata pesto can be refrigerated overnight.

NOTE
Ask your butcher to french the racks of lamb (meaning scrape the fat and gristle from the bones); also be sure to ask the butcher to reserve all trimmings.

Stuffed Sweet Potatoes with Beans and Greens
INGREDIENTS
4 sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 (4-inch) sprig fresh rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 cups (or 1 can) cooked and drained white beans
6 cups kale, trimmed and sliced into ribbons
Juice of 1/4 lemon
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F.

Scrub the sweet potatoes and prick them in a few places with a fork. Place them on a baking sheet and bake until soft all the way through, about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Start the beans and greens about 15 to 20 minutes before the sweet potatoes are done.

In a wide, deep saucepan with a cover, heat the olive oil over low-moderate heat. Add the shallots and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic, rosemary sprig, and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, for about a minute. Add the beans and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the kale, cover the pan, and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 5 minutes or until the kale is soft. Remove the rosemary sprig, stir in the lemon juice, and season to taste with salt and pepper.

To serve, slice each sweet potato lengthwise and push on the ends to open up the middle. Spoon the beans and greens into the center.

Fish in Crazy Water

How fabulous is the name of this recipe?!?!  It tastes as fab as it sounds.

This is yet another Food & Wine recipe, but Michael is slowly working his way through the Essentials of Classic Italian Cooking book by Marcella Hazan that his mom got him a couple years ago and this recipe is in the cookbook too.  We are really starting to appreciate non-Americanized Italian cuisine and I keep daydreaming about a vacation in Rome and/or Florence (especially since my friend just got back from a fabulous Roman holiday)!

INGREDIENTS
1 1/2 pounds ripe tomatoes—coarsely chopped, juices reserved
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 large garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1/8 teaspoon chopped fresh red chile, or more to taste
Salt
4 cups water
Four 6-ounce red snapper fillets, skin on
4 slices of grilled sourdough bread

In a deep skillet that’s large enough for the fish fillets to lie flat without overlapping, combine the tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, parsley, chile, a large pinch of salt and the water. Cover the skillet and bring the water to a steady simmer over moderate heat; simmer for 45 minutes.

Uncover the skillet and boil the liquid until it has reduced by half. Add the fish, skin side up, and cook for 2 minutes. Using two spatulas, gently turn the fillets. Season the fish with salt and simmer until just cooked through.

Put the grilled bread in shallow bowls and arrange the snapper fillets on top. Spoon the broth all around and serve.

BABY MERSCHAT UPDATE...

Mom and M-C arrived last weekend, my last day of work was last Wednesday, official due date was last Thursday, Daddy flies into town today... and still no baby yet!  We've been doing a lot of walking so we hope he comes soon!

Here are some photos of springtime in DC.  I look okay sitting down...

But I look much larger standing up!

Let's hope this baby comes soon!!!

Chicken Goulash with Biscuit Dumplings

For a cool spring evening, this is a quick and delicious meal that his the spot.  Another Grace Parisi success in Food & Wine.

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs, cut into 2-inch pieces
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
5 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 1/2 cups chicken stock or low-sodium broth
1 cup sour cream
1 large white onion, finely chopped
1 red bell pepper, finely diced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons hot Hungarian paprika
3/4 teaspoon caraway seeds
1 teaspoon thyme leaves

Preheat the oven to 425°. Season the chicken with salt and pepper and dust lightly with flour. In a deep skillet, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in the olive oil. Add the chicken and cook over high heat, turning once, until browned on both sides, 7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate.

Meanwhile, in a food processor, pulse the 1 1/2 cups of flour with the baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Pulse in the remaining 4 tablespoons of butter until the mixture resembles coarse meal. Whisk 1/2 cup of the stock with 1/2 cup of the sour cream and drizzle over the dry ingredients; pulse until a dough forms.

Add the onion, bell pepper and garlic to the skillet and cook over high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened, 3 minutes. Return the chicken to the skillet. Stir in the paprika and caraway and cook for 30 seconds. Add the remaining 2 cups of chicken stock and 1/2 cup of sour cream and stir until smooth. Add the thyme and bring to a boil.

Scoop twelve 3-tablespoon-size mounds of biscuit dough over the chicken. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake for about 20 minutes, until the sauce is bubbling and the biscuits are cooked. Turn on the broiler and broil for about 2 minutes, until the biscuits are golden. Serve the goulash in bowls, spooning the biscuits on top.

AND FOR DESSERT...

... I used our favorite moist chocolate cupcake with vanilla buttercream recipe to make a layer cake with strawberries.  It was so good and so easy!  Just split the batter into two greased 8 or 9 inch cake pans instead of putting them in muffin tins.  Then spread the buttercream and chopped strawberries in the middle layer and on top.  It really quenched my chocolate craving!

And I figured we deserved it since we finished the baby's corner... I hope he likes it!

It won't be long now... the doctor said I could go into labor at any time.  We can't wait to meet the little guy!!!

Spicy Root and Lentil Casserole

This was a fabulous pinterest find from the BBC Good Food blog!  London isn't know for great food, but they sure have good taste in curry.  It's not authentic Indian curry, but it's quick, easy and pretty darn good for London curry!  Healthy too!

And it warms your stomach when it looks like this outside:

And I look like this inside:

As far as we know, Baby Merschat love curry too!  Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS
2 tbsp sunflower or vegetable oil
1 onion , chopped
2 garlic cloves , crushed
700g potatoes , peeled and cut into chunks
4 carrots , thickly sliced
2 parsnips , thickly sliced
2 tbsp curry paste or powder
1 litre/1¾ pints vegetable stock
100g red lentils
a small bunch of fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
low-fat yogurt and naan bread, to serve

Heat the oil in a large pan and cook the onion and garlic over a medium heat for 3-4 minutes until softened, stirring occasionally. Tip in the potatoes, carrots and parsnips, turn up the heat and cook for 6-7 minutes, stirring, until the vegetables are golden.

Stir in the curry paste or powder, pour in the stock and then bring to the boil. Reduce the heat, add the lentils, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes until the lentils and vegetables are tender and the sauce has thickened.

Stir in most of the coriander, season and heat for a minute or so. Top with yogurt and the rest of the coriander. Serve with naan bread.

Curried-Chicken and Vegetable Pan Roast

With all this winter weather, this is a cozy delicious dinner to make this weekend.  So yummy with naan and yogurt... mmmm... Food & Wine again, of course...

INGREDIENTS
2 pounds butternut squash in 1-inch cubes (from one 2 1/2-pound squash)
1 1/2 pounds brussels sprouts, halved
2 large red onions, cut into thin wedges
1 cup canola oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1 cup plain fat-free Greek yogurt, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
2 large garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon Madras curry powder
4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken thighs
Warm naan, for serving

Preheat the oven to 450° and position racks in the upper and middle thirds. In a very large bowl, toss the butternut squash with the brussels sprouts, onion wedges and 1/2 cup of the canola oil; season with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables on 2 large, sturdy rimmed baking sheets.

In the same bowl, combine the cup of yogurt with the ginger, garlic, curry powder and the remaining 1/2 cup of oil and season with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and toss until thoroughly coated. Arrange the chicken on top of the vegetables. Roast for about 40 minutes, rotating the pans halfway through, until the vegetables are nearly tender and the chicken is nearly cooked through. Pour off any accumulated liquid in the pans and roast for about 20 minutes longer, until the vegetables are tender and the chicken is lightly browned. Transfer the chicken and vegetables to a platter and serve with warm naan and yogurt.

MAKE AHEAD: The chicken and vegetables can be refrigerated overnight. Reheat gently before serving.

Bucatini all’Amatriciana

Here's a delicious, easy mid-week meal courtesy of Food & Wine!  Pair with a salad and have it for leftovers the next day.  It's really yummy!

INGREDIENTS
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
1/4 pound pancetta, cut into 1/2-by- 1/4-inch strips (we used the pre-cut package at Trader Joe's)
1 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
1 1/2 tablespoons dry white wine
One 14.5-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes with their juices, crushed
Salt
Freshly ground pepper
10 ounces bucatini
Freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese

In a large, deep skillet, heat the oil. Add the onion and cook over moderately low heat until very soft, 7 minutes. Add the pancetta and cook until translucent, 3 minutes.

Add the vinegar, wine, tomatoes and 2 tablespoons of water and simmer until thick, 30 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

In a pot of salted boiling water, cook the bucatini until al dente; reserve 2 tablespoons of the cooking water. Drain the pasta, add it to the sauce along with the reserved cooking water and cook over moderate heat, stirring, for 1 minute. Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in 3 tablespoons of cheese. Serve right away, passing more cheese at the table.

Roasted Pork Chops with Cipollini Onions, White Beans, and Escarole

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

This has been one of our go-to weekend recipes for a while but we haven't posted it.  Fortunately with the storm, I now have plenty of time to catch up on posting recipes!

This recipe comes to us from Esquire, Michael's favorite men's magazine, and they do actually have pretty good recipes every once in a while.  Probably the hardest part about this recipe is finding cipollini onions and escarole at the super market at the same time!  But when you do (like we did this weekend), it's time to make this delicious meal!

INGREDIENTS
4 shoulder or loin pork chops, 1½ inch thick
salt and pepper
8 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tbsp butter
8 cipollini onions, peeled
2 tbsp sugar
¼ cup red-wine vinegar
1 sprig rosemary
1 cup chicken stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup cooked white beans
2 cups packed shredded escarole
1 lemon

For the marinade:
2 sprigs rosemary
3 cloves garlic, crushed
6 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil

To marinate, combine pork chops with rosemary, garlic, and olive oil in a ziplock bag and let sit in the refrigerator for up to three days. On the day you're cooking, remove and bring to room temperature.

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Remove pork from marinade and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 tbsp oil and, once hot, add the pork chops. Let cook for three minutes, then flip and cook for three minutes more. Place pan directly into the oven and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, turning once. The pork is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees F. Remove from oven and let rest.

Heat a heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Combine butter with 2 tbsp oil and, when hot, add the onions, season with salt and pepper, and brown all over, using tongs to flip. Sprinkle with sugar, deglaze with red-wine vinegar, and cook until liquid is evaporated. Add rosemary and chicken stock. Return to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes or until onions are soft. Remove the onions and set aside, reserving the liquid to dress the pork chop.

Heat a second sauté pan over medium heat. Add 2 tbsp oil and, when hot, add garlic and sauté one minute. Add the white beans and sauté five minutes more. Add escarole and sauté two minutes more, until escarole is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and top with lemon juice and remaining oil.

To serve, top pork chops with white-bean-escarole sauté and onions and drizzle with onion jus.