Wild Rice with Mushrooms, Cranberries, & Candied Almonds

Cran-Orange-Almond Wild Rice

Serves 6

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 c- uncooked wild rice
• 4 cups water OR chicken broth…I prefer the chicken broth
• Pinch of salt
• 2 TBS of olive oil, divided
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 cup ( 8oz) sliced mushrooms. (bella, cremini or button) already in package!
• ½ tsp ground sage
• ½ c dried cranberries
• ¼ c orange juice
• 1 TBS balsamic vinegar
• 1 TBS minced garlic (from jar is great!)
• ½ tsp cayenne pepper
• 2-3 TBS orange zest (I liked at least 3)
• ½ c candies almonds

DIRECTIONS:

1. Combine rice, water or broth & salt into a rice cooker and turn it on!  How easy is that…no timer no nothing.  Or, if no rice cooker follow the directions on the pkg and cook approx. 50 mins.
2. In pan, add 1 TBS of oil and sauté onions until translucent…about 5 mins.  Then add mushrooms, sage and cranberries and cook until mushrooms are soft. About 5-7 mins.  Then put aside.
3. Combine the orange juice, balsamic vinegar, garlic, cayenne pepper and remaining oil in a bowl.   Whisk and add to mushroom mixture and cook on medium heat.  Once heated add the wild rice from the rice cooker to the pan, and stir through.  Add the orange zest to mixture then candied almonds and serve!!!!

***Thank you Tastebook.com for this recipe!! It is delicious!!!***

Pan Seared Scallops with Herb Butter Sauce (serves 2-3 people with 3 scallops each)

              For the scallops:
1 lb. dry large sea scallops
1 Tbs. unsalted butter
1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

                For the sauce: 

3 Tbs. unsalted butter, cut into six  pieces
2 Tbs. finely diced shallot (1 medium shallot)
1/4 cup dry white vermouth or dry white wine
1/4 cup finely chopped mixed fresh herbs, such as flat-leaf parsley and chives
1/4 tsp. finely grated lemon zest
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 to 3 lemon wedges for serving

Tip: Be sure to have all your ingredients prepped for the sauce (shallots diced, herbs chopped) before you begin searing the scallops

---

Remove the tough abductor muscle from the side of each scallop (some scallops are sold with the muscle already removed). If you feel any grit on the scallops, rinse them under cold water. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels; surface moisture impedes browning.

Heat a 10- or 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Add the oil and butter, if using, and heat until quite hot. Pat the scallops dry once more and put them in the pan in a single, uncrowded layer. Season with salt and pepper and let sear undisturbed until one side is browned and crisp, 2 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, turn the scallops and sear until the second side is well browned and the scallops are almost firm to the touch, 2 to 4 minutes. Take the pan off the heat, transfer the scallops to a plate, and set them in a warm spot. Let the pan cool for a minute before you make the sauce.

Return the pan to medium heat. Add a piece of the butter (1/2 Tbs.) and the shallots and sauté until the shallots begin to soften, about 1 minute. Add the vermouth or wine and simmer until reduced by about half, another 1 to 2 minutes. Add the herbs and lemon zest. Reduce the heat to low, add the remaining butter, and whisk constantly until the butter melts into the sauce. Return the scallops and any accumulated juices to the pan. Gently roll the scallops in the sauce to warm them through. Taste for salt and pepper and serve immediately with lemon wedges on the side to squeeze over the scallops.

Served this over herbed rice.

****Thank you Molly Stevens from Fine Cooking for the recipe****

Stuffed Eggplant with Shrimp & Chorizo

Only in Ixtapa

Eggplant Stuffed with Shrimp & Chorizo

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 Med Eggplant Cut in half lengthwise, then make criss-cross markings to allow removal
• ½ med onion, chopped
• 2 TBS chorizo chopped (optional, but gives it a nice kick)
• 1 med sized Portobello mushroom, chopped
• 10-12 medium shrimp – peeled, deveined and chopped
• 1/8 cup chopped fresh basil
• Salt, pepper, garlic seasoning, some red pepper flakes..whatever you want!
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 to 1 cup white wine (good stuff, that you would drink yourself!!)
• 1-2 TBS bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ cup Monterey Jack cheese, grated

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Scoop out the flesh of the eggplant, chop, and reserve. Coat shells with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper; and put in oven on top shelf to soften shells
2. Heat 2 TBS olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium high heat. Sauté minced garlic and then add onion and cook for 1-2 mins.  Then add chopped Chorizo and cook another 2-3 mins. Stir in the reserved chopped eggplant and chopped mushroom. Season with salt and pepper. Pour in wine, and cook 5 minutes.  TAKE EGGPLANT SHELLS OUT OF OVEN.
3. Next add chopped shrimp and cook 1-2 mins.  Add breadcrumbs if too moist, a little at a time.
4.  Stuff mixture into eggplant shells, and sprinkle top with Parmesan cheese and then Monterey Cheese and put back in oven
5. Bake in preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until eggplant is tender.
6. Then ENJOY!!!

*****Thank you, once again, All-Recipes for the guidance of this recipe!!!*****

Ginger Glazed Mahi-Mahi

Ixtapa Senior Citizen Commune

Ginger Glazed Mahi-Mahi

Serves 4

Ingredients

3 tablespoons honey

3 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger root

1 clove garlic, crushed or to taste

4 (6 ounce) mahi mahi fillets

salt and pepper to taste

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Directions

In a shallow glass dish, stir together the honey, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, ginger, garlic and olive oil. Season fish fillets with salt and pepper, and place them into the dish. If the fillets have skin on them, place them skin side down. Cover, and refrigerate for 20 minutes to marinate.

Preheat oven to 350

Take marinated filets and put on middle rung.  Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes or until flaky.  Make sure not to over cook

Serve with rice…or potatoes…or whatever your little heart desires…

 

*****Thank you All Recipes for the idea & recipe!!!****

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Serves 8

Total Time: just about an hour…GET ORGANIZED!!!!

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 lb beef tenderloin or flat iron steak or sirloin steak
• Marinade of ¼ c red wine, 3 TBS Worcestershire, 1 TBS minced garlic
• 6 TBS butter
• 1 ½ cup finely chopped onion (about 1 large onion)
• 2- 8oz pkgs of mushrooms. Button or Bella or Cremini or whatever you want, SLICED
• 2 cans of 14.5 oz beef broth
• 2 TBS of Cognac or Brandy or red wine or Worcestershire
• 2 TBS (or more if you like) Paprika
• 1 TBS Nutmeg
• ¼ to ½ cup of Fresh or Dry DILL. THIS IS THE BEST PART OF IT!!
• 1 pint (16 0z) sour cream *** at room temperature***
• 2-3 TBS Dijon mustard (depending on your taste)
• 2-3 tsp sugar
• ¼ cup fresh parsley or dry if you don’t have fresh
• Cornstarch on hand, to thicken when needed
• 1 – 1 ½ packages of 16 oz wide egg noodles

NOW go get ALL ingredients and put on counter. Then chop, slice, mix, measure, take sour cream and leave on counter and have everything ready to go….THEN READ THE RECIPE SLOWLY!!!! Then start!!

DIRECTIONS:

1. Put large pot of water on to cook the egg noodles & follow directions to cook noodles
2. Slice the BEEF in 2” strips (I prefer thin slices)
3. Mix the marinade and put sliced beef into marinade and refrigerate for 15 mins to an hour

• Melt 3 TBS of butter in large skillet over med heat. Make sure not to burn the butter. Add marinated slices of BEEF into the pan, single layer. Do not crowd. You will do this in batches. Cook until browned (lightly) on both sides and then put in bowl and repeat process until done.
• In the same pan add the ONIONS and cook for a few minutes until soft and add to the bowl with the meat.
• In the same pan, add another 3 TBS of butter , increase the heat, and add the SLICED MUSHROOMS. Stirring occasionally, cook for 6-8 mins then add the NUTMEG & PAPRIKA, then the MUSTARD & SUGAR and continue stirring.
• Now add the BEEF BROTH, COGNAC or BRANDY whatever alcohol substitute you have on hand, stir and bring to a boil.
• Now add the room temperature SOUR CREAM and stir to mix

Spicy Shrimp/Corn & Potato Soup

Enjoy the final days of fresh summer corn in this recipe

Spicy Shrimp/Corn & Potato Soup
• 5 slices bacon saving the grease OR use 1 TBS of oil
• 2 TBS butter
• 1 c chopped green onion
• ½ c chopped celery
• 1 red pepper, chopped
• 1 lg potato peeled and diced
• 1- 7oz can of mild green chilies
• 2 cups milk (I used skim milk & ½ & ½ because that’s what I had)
• 3 TBS flour
• 3 cups of chicken broth
• 2 cups of fresh corn kernels (I used 4 ears of white corn)
• 1 lb of thawed peeled and deveined “small” shrimp
• 1 tsp of cumin
• 1 tsp of Mexican seasoning
• ½ tsp of cayenne pepper
• ¼ c of fresh cilantro
• Salt & pepper to taste
DIRECTIONS:
1. GO GET ALL YOUR INGREDIENTS…and now open, measure, chop, and get everything all done and ready to go…
2. Now, in a large dutch oven or soup pot, take the slices of bacon and cook them. Once cooked remove the bacon, and chop and put aside…but keep the bacon grease in the pot! Now add 2 TBS of butter to the bacon grease (yes, you can leave the whole bacon process out if you wish) and sauté the onions, celery, red pepper for 2-3 minutes until tender.
3. Now add the canned green chilies and cook another minute.
4. Take the milk and put in a bowl & add the 3 TBS of flour and whisk the flour together with the milk and pour on top of the veggies.
5. Then add the Chicken broth, corn, potatoes and seasoning and bring to a boil.
6. Continue cooking for another 20 mins on medium heat, stirring intermittently.
7. As potatoes get soft, add the shrimp and continue to cook another 10 minutes.
8. Add Cilantro and then serve
9. Add cheese Quesadillas to make it a great meal!!! Enjoy!!!
***** thanks to Cooking Light for the recipes***

Lobster Newburg a la Delmonico in NY

INGREDIENTS:

4 lobster tails

1/2 stick unsalted butter

1/4 c dry sherry divided into 1/8c

1/4 c brandy divided into 1/8 c

2 c half & half

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

cayenne to taste

4 large egg yolks, beaten well

1 package Pepperidge Farm Frozen Puff Pastry Shells (6 shells)

DIRECTIONS:

Bake the puff pastry shells according to package directions. Set aside.

Into a large kettle of boiling salted water plunge the lobsters tails, and boil them, covered, for 8 minutes from the time the water returns to a boil or steam them…choice is yours! Transfer the lobsters with tongs to a cutting board and let them cool until they can be handled. Halve the lobsters length-wise along the undersides, remove the meat from the tails, discarding the bodies, and cut it into 1/2″ pieces.

In a heavy saucepan cook the lobster meat in the butter over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes, add 2 tablespoons of the Sherry and 3 tablespoons of the brandy, and cook the mixture, stirring, for 2 minutes. Transfer the lobster meat with a slotted spoon to a bowl. Add the cream to the Sherry mixture and boil the mixture until it is reduced to about 1 cup. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the remaining 1 teaspoon Sherry, the remaining 1 teaspoon brandy, the nutmeg, the cayenne, and salt to taste.

Whisk in the yolks, cook the mixture, whisking constantly, until it registers 140° on a deep-fat thermometer, and cook it, whisking, for 3 minutes more. Stir in the lobster meat and serve the lobster Newburg in, over and around the baked shells.

Grilled Peach-Mustard Pork Chops

Peach-Mustard Pork Chops

Ingredients

• 4 (1 1/2-inch thick) pork chops
• Safflower or corn oil, for brushing
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce, recipe follows

Prepare an outdoor grill with a high heat for both direct and indirect grilling. Position a drip pan under the grate on the cooler side of the grill.

Brush the pork chops on both sides with oil and season with salt and black pepper to taste. Set aside for 15 minutes.

Grill the chops over the heat until brown on both sides, about 4 minutes per side. Move them to the cool side of the grill and brush with some of the Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce. Cook the chops, covered, turning and basting with sauce every 5 minutes, until an instant-read thermometer inserted crosswise into the chops registers 140 degrees F, about 15 minutes more. Let rest for 10 minutes.

To serve: Drizzle the chops with more sauce and serve.

Peach-Mustard BBQ Sauce

3 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons minced onion

2 cloves garlic, minced

3 tablespoons cider vinegar

1/2 cup whole-grain mustard

1/4 cup Dijon mustard

3/4 cup peach jam or preserves

1 tablespoon bourbon

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add the vinegar and boil until almost completely reduced and the mixture looks like wet sand, about 4 minutes. Whisk in both mustards and the jam or preserves. Simmer, whisking, until jam melts, about 1 minute. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the bourbon and salt.

Cook’s Note: The bourbon is stirred in at the end–uncooked–to give a genuine jolt to the sauce. This Southern blend goes great with pork but is also a good finisher for chicken, duck, or veal.

Yield: about 1 1/4 cups

Adapted From Food Network Kitchens Get Grilling, Meredith, 2005

Rack of Lamb on the Bar-B-Que

Rack of Lamb in Mustard Crust

* 2 racks of lamb (at least 7-8 ribs)
* Coarse salt & pepper
* 3 cups dried bread crumbs
* ¼ c minced fresh parsley
* 1 TBS chopped fresh rosemary
* 3 minced garlic cloves (or 2 TBS from the jar)
* 1 TBS paprika
* 1 tsp dried oregano
* 2TBS parmesan cheese
* 1-1 ½ cups grainy or Dijon-style mustard
* EVOO in a spray bottle

1. Set up grill for indirect grilling (light 2 of the 3 sides and preheat, leaving the middle one off)
2. Generously season the lamb racks on all sides with salt & pepper
3. Place bread crumbs, parsley, rosemary, garlic, paprika & oregano in a baking dish and stir to mix.  Spread the mustard ALL OVER the meaty parts of the racks, using a spatula.  Then, dredge the lamb into the crumb mixture to coat on all sides with the crumb mixture.  Make sure the meat is evenly covered and sprinkle some of the crumbs and pat them with your fingers.
4. SPRAY the lamb on all sides with the EVOO
5. When ready to cook, place the racks in the center or over the burner that is NOT on “meat side up” for 25-35 mins (for medium rare) and if using a meat thermometer, it should register about 145 degrees.  Tent the ribs with aluminum foil to keep them from burning.
6. When done, transfer to a cutting board and let it rest for 3-4 mins then cut and serve.

Scarselletti Family Spaghetti Sauce

Scarselletti Spaghetti Sauce

Feeds 6-8 hungry people

 

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 -28 oz can diced peeled tomatoes & ½ can water
• 1 -28 oz can tomato puree & ½ can water
• 1 6 oz can tomato paste & ½ can of water
• 1 onion to float to absorb grease
• bacon grease if you have it on hand, otherwise Olive Oil

• 3-4 lb bone in loin of pork cut up into large pieces
• 1 lb of both hot sausage & mild sausage cut into pieces
• 1 lb pepperoni cut into pieces
• ½ lb ground beef (not lean because you want the fat for taste)
• ½ lb ground pork (to mix with beef for the meatballs)

• parsley, chopped and put aside
• 2 garlic cloves, minced & put aside
• garlic powder
• kosher salt
• 1 cup fresh Parmesan cheese ( grated and put aside)
• 1 cup basil (fresh would be great) chopped and put aside
• 1 egg, scrambled

 

DIRECTIONS:

1.     Open all the cans of tomato products and put in a large pot or dutch oven.  For each can, add ½ of the can with water and swish around then add to pot.

2.     Add seasonings…garlic, garlic powder, ¼ c of basil, parsley…do this to taste and remember, you can ALWAYS add. Salt & pepper

3.     Take all the meats and brown them on all sides and then add to the sauce.  I use bacon grease but olive oil is just fine.

4.     Take a whole peeled onion and put it in the pot just to float around

5.     When everything is in the pot, turn it down to a low heat, cover and let the meat do its magic!!!! I let it cook for at least 4-5 hours.

MEATBALLS:

1.     Take the ground beef & ground pork and put into bowl

2.     Season with some garlic powder, minced garlic, parsley, S & P, ¼ c Parmesan cheese & egg and mix thoroughly. ( I taste and season accordingly…and NO you will not die eating the raw meat mixture.

3.     Now, take some olive oil and rub on your hands and then take about a tablespoon of the meat mixture and roll it into a ball, and put aside.  Repeat this until you have finished with the meat mixture.

4.     Now, put 1-2 TBS of EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) into a pan and put the meatballs in and just brown them then put aside.  When you are about an hour out for dinner, put the meatballs in the slow simmering sauce and cook.  Do not put them in too soon as they will over cook.

5.     When you are ready to cook the pasta that goes with the sauce, take all the meat out, put on a platter, and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm…

6.     Then, put the meat on the table, mix the pasta with the sauce and voila.  And make sure you have gravy boats to put extra sauce on the table.  They will be lapping it up, I promise!!!