Bacon, potato and egg breakfast casserole

June 5, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

Serves 6 as a main course

4 thick slices of bacon, cut into strips about 1/2 inch wide
1 large yellow onion, peeled and diced
1 yellow bell pepper, cleaned out and diced
4 cloves garlic, crushed
1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
2 tsp salt, divided
8 extra large eggs
1 large cup milk, preferably whole
1 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
3 cus frozen diced potatoes, unthawed

Heat the oven to 350F

Lightly grease a 13 by 9 inch baking with oil.

Put the bacon slices in a large skillet and turn the heat on to medium. Cook the bacon, stirring occasionally until crisp. Add the onion, yellow bell pepper, sun dried tomatoes and 1 tsp of salt and cook over medium heat until all the vegetables are fragrant and soft- about 5 more minutes.
Turn off the heat and let cool slightly.

In a separate bowl beat the eggs thoroughly and whisk in the milk. Whisk in the remaining tsp of salt and the black pepper.
Stir in the cheese, frozen potatoes, bacon and vegetables from the skillet. (Don’t worry, the frozen potatoes cook just fine)

Pour the whole mixture into the prepared baking dish. At this point the casserole can be covered and refrigerated for 24 hours, this saving you oodles of time when entertaining for brunch!

When you are ready to bake the dish, bake for 40 minutes or until the eggs are firm and the top is sightly golden. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean.

Serve immediately with fruit, rolls or toast.

Note,

This recipe calls for frozen potatoes for convenience and it really works. It’s not worth the bother of pre- cooking potatoes.

Appetizers · Asian flavors · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Nuts

Asian lettuce cups with spicy ground turkey filling (CleanCuisine)

June 5, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

This makes 4 to 6 servings

1 tbsp peanut or vegetable oil, you may need more depending on the size of the an you’re using.
3 tbsp minced red onion or shallots
2 tbsp minced garlic
2 tbsp grated fresh ginger root
1 1/2 lbs ground turkey (I prefer the dark meat)
4 tbsp soy or tamari sauce
1 tbsp chile garlic sauce, or more if you like spicy food
1 tsp fish sauce
1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (coriander)
1/3 cup chopped peanuts (dry roasted are nice to use)
1 large head or 2 small heads of Boston or Butter lettuce as long as you can fill it well. (See picture)

Chop the onion and set aside.

Peel the ginger root then grate with the large holed side of a cheese .
Chop the garlic finely.

Heat the oil in a large non stick frying pan, add the onion and saute for about 2 minutes, then add the garlic and ginger and saute for another minute or so.

Add the ground turkey to the frying pan with a bit more oil, if needed, breaking apart the meat and spreading it out in the pan, then add the soy sauce, chile garlic sauce and the fish sauce. Cook until the turkey is brown and crumbling apart and the sauce is slightly reduced, about 5 minutes.

While the turkey cooks, wash, dry and chop the fresh cilantro making 1 cup. Remove the core end from the lettuce, separate the leaves and wash, drying gently in a salad spinner.

Chop the peanuts and put them in a small bowl to serve at the table.

When the turkey is done, add the freshly chopped cilantro and mix well together, cooking for about 2 more minutes.

Serve the turkey filling and lettuce leaves in separate serving bowls alongside the chopped peanuts in the smaller bowl.

Each person takes a lettuce leaf, fills it with the desired amount of filling, tops it with some chopped peanuts then eats the mixture from the lettuce cup.

Sme people like to fold the lettuce over to resemble a taco, but be careful your lettuce id not the breaking sort and you are left with a large pile of filling on the table!

Baking · Do-ahead · Nuts

Apricot, white chocolate and cashew nut slice

June 5, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is a great KIWI recipe. Kids love this and it’s fairly good for you too! (Sorry about the metric ingredients, NZ has been that way for years!)

Makes about 18 bars

For the base

4 oz grams butter, melted
8oz grams graham crackers, crushed
2 cups raw cashew nuts, lightly chopped

For the topping

1 1/2 cups white chocolate morsels or chips
1 cup chopped dried apricots
3 cups long strand coconut
16 fl oz sweetened condensed milk

Grease an 8 by 12 inch slice or Swiss roll tin, line with baking parchment and set aside.

Mix the crushed cookies, chopped nuts and melted butter together and press into the tin.

Mix the chocolate, apricots, coconut and condensed milk together and press over the base.

Bake at 325F for approximately 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly browned on top. Take care not to overcook as the finished slice should be sticky, chewy and slightly moist.
If you find that the slice is browning too quickly cover with a piece of baking paper until finished cooking .

Leave until cold before slicing.

Appetizers · Do-ahead · Fish · Gluten Free

Salmon Rilette

June 5, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda1 Comment

A fellow Los Angeles food blogger called “The Pasadena Chef” posted this and it is divine!!
If you are talking fish in NYC there is no better restaurant than Le Bernadin. Chef Eric Ripert is a genius and I came across this recipe for his house starter which is served before every meal.

2 cups dry white wine
1 tbsp minced shallots
1 lb fresh boneless, skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1 inch pieces
3 oz smoked salmon, diced
2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
1/2 cup a good mayonnaise
3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
toasted baguette slices

Combine the white wine and shallots in a saucepan and bring to a boil.

Simmer over medium heat for 2 minutes until the shallots are tender. Add the salmon pieces and poach for just 2 – 3 minutes until they are barely opaque.

Remove the salmon pieces from the wine with a slotted spoon and drain them on a baking sheet lined with kitchen towel. Strain the wine reserving the shallots. Place both salmon and shallots together and put into the fridge to cool.

Combine the cooled salmon pieces, shallots, smoked salmon, chives and some mayonnaise and lemon juice and gently fold together

Use the lemon juice and mayonnaise sparingly, so you have just enough to moisten the mixture. It will need salt inspite of the smoked salmon.

Serve cold with the toasted baguette slices. This is lovely served with champagne or a white burgundy

Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Vegetable sides · Vegetable-related

Easy cheesy zucchini bake

June 5, 2012March 4, 2023 Belinda

I guess I’m going for some of the easier recipes at the moment. This is simple but very effective and even the children will like this. probably something to do with the cheese!

Makes 4 – 6 servings but can easily be doubled or trebled.

2 medium sized zucchini, cut in slices or half moon slices.
2 medium sized yellow squash, cut in slices or half moon slices.
4 tbsp of fresh chopped basil. (You can use less if you’re not a huge fan of basil)
2 – 4 tbsp thinly sliced fresh scallions (spring onions) depending on taste
1/2 to 3/4 tsp dried thyme
3/4 tsp garlic powder or more according to your taste
3/4 cup plus another 3/4 cup grated sharp cheddar, or any mixture of cheeses as long as there is plenty of flavor in the cheese.
1/2 to 3/4 coarsely grated parmesan cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Spray an 8 x 8 (or thereabouts) baking dish with oil or non stick spray
Wash the squashes and cut into slices or half moons. Wash the basil and spin dry or dry gently on paper towels and finely chop. Slice the scallions (spring onions)
Combine the sliced squashes, chopped basil, sliced green onions, dried thyme, garlic powder, both cheeses (remember to hold back the extra cheese for the topping) and stir with the vegetables until they are well coated with the cheese and herbs and well distributed.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Put the mixture in the baking dish and bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes.

When the zucchini dish is nearly cooked through, take the baking dish out of the oven and sprinkle over the remaining grated cheese.
Put the dish back in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and lightly browned and the zucchini melted.
Serve hot.

Chocolate · Dessert · Do-ahead

No-bake strawberry icebox cake

June 5, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda1 Comment

Serves 8 to 12

2 lbs fresh sweet strawberries, washed
3 1/4 cups whipping cream divided,
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp good vanilla essence
1/2 tsp rosewater, optional but lovely
4 sleeves, (about 19 ounces or 24 to 28 whole crackers) Graham crackers
2 oz dark chocolate, finely chopped

Take out a few of the very best looking strawberries and set aside for the topping. Hull the remainder of the strawberries and slice each berry into thin slices.

With a hand mixer, or in the bowl of a stand mixer,whip 3 cups of whipping cream until it just holds. (stiff peaks) Add the confectioners sugar, vanilla essence and rosewater (if using) and whip to combine.
Spread a small spoonful of whipped cream on the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking pan, or similarly-sized platter.
Lay down 6 graham crackers and lightly cover the top of the graham crackers with more whipped cream and then a single layer of strawberries.
Repeat three times until you have 4 layers of graham crackers.
Spread the last of the whipped cream over the top and swirl it lightly with a spoon.
Add a few more strawberries.
To make the ganache, heat the cream until bubbles form around the edges, then pour over the chopped chocolate.
Let it stand for a few minutes then whisk until it’s thick and glossy.
Drizzle this over the layered dessert with a spoon or transfer to a squeeze bottle and use that to drizzle.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or until the crackers have softened completely (I do it over night)
Garnish with additional berries.

Appetizers · Do-ahead · Gluten Free · Meat

Grilled stuffed Portabello Mushrooms stuffed with Italian sausage, spinach and mozzarella

May 27, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

Serves 4. Great for a BBQ. This is from a great food blog.

4 large Portobello mushrooms (get the biggest ones you can find)
12 oz. mild or hot Italian sausage
1-2 T olive oil (for browning sausage and onions and brushing on mushrooms before grilling)
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 tsp. minced fresh garlic
1/2 cup tomato sauce or marinara sauce
pinch red pepper flakes (optional)
8 oz. coarsely chopped spinach leaves
2 T chopped fresh basil
2 T chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
3/4 cup grated mozzarella, plus 1/2 cup for sprinkling on topPreheat gas or charcoal grill to high heat. Heat a small amount of olive oil in heavy frying pan, then crumble Italian sausage into pan and cook about 5 minutes, breaking apart with back of the turner as it cooks. When sausage is well-browned, remove to bowl.

If needed, add a bit more olive oil, then saute onions until they’re starting to soften, about 2 minutes. Add garlic and continue cooking until onions are starting to brown, a few minutes more. Add Italian sausage back into pan, then add red pepper flakes and tomato sauce and simmer 2-3 minutes while you chop the spinach.

Add chopped spinach and let it wilt and cook down, stirring so it’s evenly distributed in the sausage/onion mixture. Turn off heat and stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella, 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese and chopped basil and parsley.

Remove stems from mushrooms caps, being careful not to break them then brush both sides of mushrooms with olive oil. Put mushrooms on grill, inside facing down, and cook about 4 minutes, until mushroom is slightly browned and starting to soften.

Remove mushrooms from the grill. (I put them on a wooden cutting board.) Carefully stuff the inside of each mushroom with sausage/spinach/cheese mixture, then top each mushroom with about 2 T grated mozzarella and parmesan cheese.

Carefully put mushrooms back on grill, stuffing facing up of course! Cover grill and cook about 5 minutes, checking often and removing from grill when mushrooms are cooked through, and cheese is melted and starting to brown, and stuffing mixture is hot. Serve immediately.

Do-ahead · Poultry · Whole30 compliant

Greek chicken with olives and lemons. (Kotopoulo Lemonato)

May 25, 2012September 9, 2022 Belinda

This is one of the best recipes I think I’ve ever tried because it’s packed with flavor, is easy and is fairly quick.

There are two parts to it, however. The lemons have to be made ahead of time, but you can keep them in a glass jar for weeks and weeks, but the minimum time is 3 days that is the only thing you have to know before you start.

Here is the lemon part of it first, because these lemons are incredible and they are the shortcut way of making preserved lemons without any salt, just olive oil and cloves. When you make this, try to treble the lemon recipe and do it with 3 lemons, then you have two marinating in your pantry waiting for another occasion!

1 large lemon. (make sure the lemon’s skins aren’t too think as they can get bitter)
6 cloves
Extra virgin olive oil to cover the lemon

Place the lemon in a small saucepan and cover with cold water. bring to the boil then reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. (Turn the lemons occasionally while cooking, so they get all sides covered.)

Remove from the water and pat dry gently with kitchen towels. Press the cloves gently into the lemon and place in a glass or sturdy plastic container. Cover with the olive oil, seal well with a lid and leave to marinate at room temperature for a minimum of 3 days.
When ready to use for the chicken dish, remove the cloves from the lemon and discard the cloves. Cut the lemon into 8 wedges, retaining all the lemon and juices and use with the following recipe!!
Easy isn’t it!

Chicken with olives and Lemons (Kotopoulo Lemonato) serves 4

The preserved lemon (see above)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp butter
8 large boneless, skinless chicken thighs, preferably organic
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground pepper
6 large shallots, sliced
1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives
1 cup good chicken, turkey or veal stock
1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme

Heat the 1 tbsp oil and butter in a large heavy skillet over medium heat.
Sprinkle the chicken thighs with the salt and pepper on both sides and add to the skillet in 2 batches and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the chicken to a plate and set aside.
Add the sliced shallots to the pan and cook until golden, about 5 – 8 minutes.
Return the chicken to the pan and stir in the drained olives, and stock. Bring to the boil over medium heat then reduce the heat and simmer for 25 minutes.
Add the lemon wedges and any juices and the chopped thyme and simmer , stirring occasionally for another 15 minutes.
Place the chicken in a deep serving dish and spoon the sauce over.
garnish with fresh thyme sprigs and serve with crusty bread and a salad.

Note

This is also lovely served with a rice pilaf made with chopped sauteed leeks, dried dill weed and chicken broth.
Garlic mashed potato is another lovely side dish, so long as you have something that can soak up all those gorgeous juices, that is all that matters!
Heavens, maybe even orzo or a pasta might work. Let me know!!
All my recipes are a work in progress and there is no such thing as the “finished product.
It’s all about tweaking and sharing!