Beet and Goat cheese Napoleans

May 15, 2013September 23, 2022 Belinda1 Comment

I love beets and goat cheese and this is so tasty, easy and light.

Serves 4
5 large beets, roasted then peeled and cut across into 1/4″ slices
1 cup rice vinegar
1 cup sugar
9 oz goat cheese, softened
4 tsp minced fresh chives
4 tsp minced fresh parsley
1/2 tsp minced fresh thyme
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1/4 tsp grated orange zest
1 small shallot, minced
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
3 tbsp hazelnut oil
Kosher salt to taste
3 tbsp chopped hazelnuts

Using a 2 5/8″ cookie cutter cut out 20 of the beet slices. (reserve scraps for another use, like borscht or a salad)

In a 12″ skillet put the rice vinegar and sugar and bring to the boil. Reduce the heat to medium low and working in batches, cook beet slices, turning once, for about 2 minutes.
Transfer the slices to a paper towel-lined baking sheet. Pat dry and let chill.
Stir the goat cheese together with the chives, parsley, thyme and pepper in a bowl. Set aside.
Bring the orange juice to a boil in a 1 qt saucepan over medium high heat. Cook until reduced to 1/3 cup, 4 – 5 minutes and let cool
Transfer the orange juice to a bowl and add the remaining thyme, balsamic vinegar, zest and shallots.
While whisking, drizzle in the olive oil and hazelnut oil. Whisk until smooth.
Season vinaigrette with salt and pepper and let chill.

To serve;
Put 1 beet slice on a work surface, spread about 1 tbsp cheese mixture over it. Top the cheese with another beet slice, pressing down so the cheese oozes to the edge.
Repeat to create a stack with 4 layers of cheese between 5 beet slices.
Make 4 stacks in all.
Slice each stack carefully into 4 wedges.
Drizzle some vinaigrette over each plate, garnish with chopped nuts.
You can serve with a little mixed greens if you like

Do-ahead · Meat

Easy Crockpot Carnitas

April 15, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

I just love using my slow cooker and am always amazed at the moist, falling off the bone meat it produces.

Cook time – 8 hours
Serves 10 to 12 people

4 – 5lbs pork shoulder
5 large cloves garlic
1 tbsp Kosher salt
1 tsp roasted ground cumin
1 tsp chile powder
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp chipotle hot sauce (optional)
juice of 2 large limes
1/2 cup orange juice (freshly squeezed, preferably)
12 oz beer
1/2 cup salsa (Not too chunky)

Place the pork shoulder in the slow cooker. Roughly chop the garlic and place in the slow cooker. You can also rub it into the meat to get as much flavor as possible)

Sprinkle the meat with salt, cumin, chile powder, black pepper, oregano, cinnamon and cayenne pepper. Rub the seasonings onto the pork.

Add lime juice, orange juice, beer and salsa. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Shred meat with two forks directly in the slow cooker (or take out, shred and replace in the sauce)
It should fall apart easily.

Preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place the shredded meat on the cooking sheet and pour a few spoonfuls of the sauce over the top.
Broil for 5 to 10 minutes or until you get browned edges on the pork.
Serve on tortillas with fresh cilantro, avocado and lime juice

Accompaniments · Do-ahead

Moroccan Spice Rub

April 15, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

Makes over 6 tbsp

This is terrific on lamb instead of the usual Dijon mustard, rosemary and garlic.
Also try it on chicken or chicken pieces, pork tenderloin and just about anything else. Fire up that grill and use it liberally.
Store it in an airtight container and use within 2 -3 weeks as the flavors will eventually deteriorate over time.

2 tbsp ground cumin (I roast my cumin and grind it so it is more pungent)
4 tsp ground turmeric
2 tsp paprika, not smoked
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp oregano
1 tsp garlic powder
1&1/2 tsp salt
fresh ground pepper, a few good grinds
1 tsp Chile flakes, more or less depending on your heat tolerance

Combine and store in an airtight container for up to a few weeks if not using right away.

Depending on how much meat you have really depends on how much rub you use.

Accompaniments · Do-ahead · Gluten Free

Easiest blender Hollandaise sauce

March 23, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is so easy and divine to sprinkle over asparagus or use for Eggs Benedict or many other things!

Prep time 5 mins

3 large egg yolks
a dash of nutmeg
a dash of cayenne
1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 sticks of salted butter

Put all the ingredients except the butter, in a blender.
In a microwave safe dish or a small saucepan, melt the butter till bubbling.
Immediately start the blender and begin to add the warm butter in a very thin stream through the feed chute.
The slower you add it, the better it will emulsify.

A couple of important notes;

Don’t add salt, the butter has plenty in it.
If you want a thinner consistency, you can play with it by adding a few drops of water until the desired consistency.

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegetable-related

Tomato and potato gratin

March 18, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

Simple, rustic and delicious!

Serves 2 as a main course and 4 as a side

5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
6 cups thinly sliced onions, (about 1&1/2 lbs)
1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves, divided
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1&1/4 lbs yukon gold potatoes, peeled if you want
1/2 cup heavy cream
2&1/4 lbs ripe tomatoes
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded basil
4 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and ground pepper

Heat a large saute pan or Dutch oven over high heat for 2 minutes
Add 3 tbsp olive oil, then the onions, 1 tsp thyme, 1 tsp salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Cook for 6 minutes, stirring often then turn down the heat to medium.
Add the butter and cook for 15 minutes, stirring and scraping with a wooden spoon until the onions start to caramelize. Turn the heat down to low and continue to cook the onions for another 10 mins or so, stirring often until the onions are a deep caramel color. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside.

Preheat the oven to 350 F

Use a mandolin to slice the potatoes into 1/8 inch rounds. Toss them with the cream, 1tsp thyme, 1 tsp salt and ground pepper.
Cut the tomatoes into 1/4 inch slices and arrange on a plate and season them with salt and pepper.

Place half the caramelized onions evenly on the bottom of a 9 x 9 inch gratin or baking dish.
Arrange one layer of potatoes on top of the onion layer and sprinkle with 1/3 of the cheese and half the garlic.

Arrange a layer of tomatoes on top of this, then sprinkle 1/2 of the basil, 1/2 tsp thyme, salt and pepper, and drizzle 1 tbsp cream from the potatoes

Scatter the rest of the caramelized onions over this mixture, arrange another layer of potatoes, then top with 1/2 of the remaining cheese and remaining garlic.

Arrange another layer of tomatoes (attractively) over the potatoes. Pour remaining cream from the potatoes over the tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, remaining thyme and basil.

Press the vegetables down with your fingers. The cream should come up through the layers and coat the vegetables evenly.
Sprinkle with any remaining cheese.

Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and bake for about 2 hours or until the potatoes are tender when pierced.

Remove the dish from the oven, uncover it, turn the oven up to 450 F and put it back in for about 25 to 30 minutes more until the juices have thickened and the tope is browned and bubbly

Accompaniments · Appetizers · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegetable-related

Caprese Dip

March 18, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

Utterly decadent!!

8 oz cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup plain Greek yoghurt
1&1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1/3 cup diced fresh basil
3 cloves fresh garlic, minced
3/4 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Preheat the oven to 350F
In a large bowl, combine the cream cheese, yoghurt, 1 cup of the Mozzarella, basil, garlic , salt and pepper and mix thoroughly.
Fold in the tomatoes.
Using a spatula, spread the mixture evenly across the bottom of a glass pie plate or nice baking dish.
Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes and serve immediately with crackers, toasts or crunchy Italian ciabatta

Baking · Do-ahead

Espresso chocolate chip cookies

February 14, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

Oliver made these yesterday to take to work. They really were great and the espresso just enriched the cookies without a strong coffee flavor.

Makes about 36 small cookies.

8 oz (2 sticks) good European butter, at room temperature
2/3 cup confectioners (powdered) sugar
1/2 tsp good quality Vanilla Extract
1 tbsp espresso powder plus 1 tbsp boiling water
2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup chocolate chips, again, good quality ones

Firstly, add the boiling water to the espresso powder and set aside until tepid.
In a stand mixer, beat the butter and confectioners sugar together on medium speed for about 3 minutes.
Beat in the vanilla and tepid coffee mixture, then reduce the speed to low and add the flour, mixing only until it disappears into the dough. Don’t over mix.
Fold in the chocolate chips with a large spoon or spatula.
gather the dough and place in between two sheets of parchment paper. Roll the dough into a rectangle shape that’s 1/4 inch thick.
Refrigerate the dough, flat, for at least 2 hours. You can put it onto a cookie sheet to keep it flat so it doesn’t break or bend.
After the dough is firm, preheat the oven to 325 F. Cup the dough into 1 1/2 inch squares or circles.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes until they turn golden brown around the edges.

Baking · Do-ahead · Nuts

Walnut and olive mini breads

February 11, 2013September 9, 2022 Belinda

These are irresistible!!

Makes about 45

For the Dough:

3+1/2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra if needed
Pinch of salt

2 & 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 cup corn or olive oil

4&1/2 oz unsalted butter, softened at room temperature (it should be really soft to touch)

2 tbsp apple cider or red wine vinegar

1 cup plain yoghurt

1 cup finely (but not too finely) chopped walnuts (you should feel the bite)

1 cup pitted sliced black olives (Kalamata)

To Glaze

1 egg yolk, beaten

Preheat the oven to 375 F . Lightly grease the bottom of a large baking sheet.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the oil, butter, vinegar and plain yoghurt. Stir to mix. Add the walnuts and olives and stir to combine.

In a medium bowl combine the flours, salt and baking powder. Stir to mix.Add the flour mixture to the walnut/olive mixture. if the dough is sticky, gradually add more flour and knead the dough until it is tender and pleasant to the touch but not too tight or sticky.

Taking a little at a time, shape into balls about the size of a big whole walnut.

Arrange the balls on the prepared baking sheet. Brush their tops with the beaten egg yolk.

Bake until golden, about 40 minutes.

Bring to room temperature before serving.

The inside of these mini breads should appear moist, it’s normal!