Autumn Potato Gratin

Cook Time: 35 min

Level: Easy
Yield: 8 servings


Ingredients

4 pounds mixed baby potatoes, such as Red Bliss, Peruvian Purples, and Fingerlings
2 cups heavy cream, plus some to cover
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick)
2 sprigs each fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary
2 garlic cloves, cracked
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup grated Parmesan


Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.


Halve the potatoes and toss them into a large baking dish and season with salt and pepper.


Meanwhile, put the cream, butter, herbs, and garlic in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, to infuse the cream with flavor. Season with salt and pepper.


Pour the hot cream mixture through a strainer over the potatoes, (discard the herbs and garlic), if there is not enough cream to go 3/4 of the way up the potatoes then pour some additional cream on top to make up the difference. Sprinkle the Parmesan evenly over the top. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the potatoes are cooked through and top begins to brown. Cover and keep warm until ready to serve.

From: foodnetwork.com

Vicki's Favorite Chicken with Grapes, Couscous and Roasted Asparagus

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

1 1/2 pound asparagus
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves, stripped from 6 to 7 sprigs
Coarse salt and pepper
2 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour, eyeball it
2 pounds chicken tenders
1/2 cup white wine, eyeball it
2 1/2 cups chicken stock (available on soup aisle in paper boxes), divided
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup grainy, stone-ground mustard
1 1/2 cups, about 1/2 pound, seedless red grapes, halved
2 cups couscous


Directions

Heat oven to 400 degrees F.


Trim tough ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss with about 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons of chopped thyme leaves and salt and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10 to 12 minutes until the asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips.


Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan, and 2 tablespoons butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken with salt and pepper then dredge the tenders in flour and add it to the pan. Cook chicken 7 to 8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 cup stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine with the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat.


Bring remaining 2 cups chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.


Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus.

From: foodnetwork.com

Broiled Lamb Chops with Braised Root Vegetables and Colcannon - Creamy Kale and Potatoes,

Cook Time: 25 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

Braised Root Vegetables:

2 tablespoons butter
1 pound packaged baby carrots
1 rutabaga, peeled and diced
1 onion, diced
Salt and pepper
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
8 loin lamb chops
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Colcannon:

4 medium to large all-purpose potatoes, such as Russet, peeled and cut into chunks
Coarse salt, for boiling water
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
1 head dark curly kale, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
3/4 cup whole milk, eyeball it
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg, fresh or grated
1 teaspoon ground thyme
2 scallions, sliced
A handful of fresh parsley, chopped
Prepared, store bought Irish soda bread or brown bread, warmed, for passing at table
Sweet butter, softened, for the bread


Directions

For braised vegetables: Heat a skillet with a cover over medium to medium high heat. Add butter, carrots, rutabaga and onion. Cook veggies 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add broth or stock, bring to a simmer, and reduce heat and cover. Cook vegetables 15 minutes or until fork tender. Remove from heat and set aside.


Preheat broiler to high for lamb.


Boil potatoes for 15 minutes in salted water. Drain potatoes and return them to the hot pot and mash.


Heat stock or broth to a simmer. Chop kale tops, discarding tough stems. Add kale to broth and cover. Simmer 10 to 12 minutes.


Place chops about 6 to 8 inches from broiler and cook 5 minutes on each side. Remove from broiler and season chops with salt and pepper on both sides. Let chops rest 3 to 5 minutes.


In a large skillet over moderate heat melt butter and add milk. Season with nutmeg and thyme and add scallions to the pan. Remove kale from cooking liquid to the milk and butter mixture using a slotted spoon. Stir in 1/2 cup of cooking liquid. Add mashed potatoes to milk and kale and stir until combined and creamy, 1 or 2 minutes. Stir in parsley and season with salt and pepper, to taste.


Serve the chops along with vegetable colcannon. Warm up store-bought Irish soda bread or brown bread with soft, unsweetened butter. The bread makes a nice starter, side or ending to this meal.

From: foodnetwork.com

Sausage O'Patties

Cook Time: 14 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1 small Idaho potato, peeled
1 small onion, coarsely chopped, about 1/3 cup
3/4 pound ground pork
A few sprigs fresh parsley
1 teaspoon ground thyme, 1/3 palm full
Salt and pepper
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan

Directions

Grate the potato onto a cutting board, salt it, then transfer to a paper towel lined bowl or plate to drain.

Place potato, onion, pork, parsley, thyme, salt and pepper in the food processor and pulse grind to form a sausage mixture. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat with extra-virgin olive oil. When oil is hot, form 8 potato-sausage patties 3 inches wide, 1/2-inch thick, and set into skillet. Cook patties 6 to 7 minutes on each side until they are deeply golden brown in color.

From: foodnetwork.com

Chicken Cutlets with Herbs

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

1/2 loaf baguette bread - day old is fine
4 pieces chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
All-purpose flour, for dredging
1 large egg
Several sprigs fresh thyme, leaves finely chopped
2 to 3 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
A handful fresh chives, finely chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
Olive oil, for sauteing cutlets

Directions

Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Tear bread into pieces and place on baking sheet. Toast bread until deep golden brown, 10 minutes. Transfer to a food processor and coarsely grind into bread crumbs.

While bread toasts pound out chicken breasts to 1/4-inch thick. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Coat chicken with flour, reserve. Beat egg with splash of water in shallow dish.

Transfer bread crumbs to a plate and season with herbs and poultry seasoning.

Heat a thin layer of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Coat chicken in egg then bread crumbs and add to pan. Saute until golden and firm, 3 to 4 minutes on each side.

From: foodnetwork.com

Stovetop Spinach and Artichoke Dip

Cook Time: 8 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 8 min


Ingredients

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
1 tablespoon butter
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 2 teaspoons dried
1/2 small red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup dry white wine
1 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup half-and- half or heavy cream
1 can (15 ounces) artichoke hearts in water, drained and coarsely chopped
2 boxes, 10 ounces each, chopped spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry in kitchen towel
1 1/2 cups shredded Italian 4 cheese blend (provolone, Parmesan, mozzarella and Asiago) available in 10-ounce pouches on the dairy aisle of your market
Salt and pepper
1 round loaf crusty bread: top removed and cubed, bottom hollowed out to use as serving bowl
1 loaf multigrain or whole wheat baguette, sliced at bakery/bread counter in market


Directions

To a medium saucepot preheated over moderate heat, add about 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan in a slow stream. Add butter to oil. When butter melts, add garlic and onions to the pot. Sprinkle in thyme leaves. Saute 2 minutes, add chopped red pepper. Saute mixture a minute more. Sprinkle in flour, stir to coat vegetables. Cook flour 1 minute. Whisk in wine and reduce by half. Whisk in stock and thicken sauce 1 minute. Stir in half-and-half or cream. When sauce returns to a bubble, add artichokes, spinach and cheeses. Keep stirring until cheeses melt and sauce is well combined. Add salt and pepper and adjust seasonings, to your taste.


Pour dip into hollow bread bowl on serving platter and surround with sliced multi or whole grain bread for dipping. Reserve extra dip to warm and refill as necessary. Cut up bread bowl when baguette slices are gone -- the bowl is the best part as it absorbs juices from the dip.

From: foodnetwork.com

From: foodnetwork.com

Southwest Turkey Burgers

Cook Time: 15 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 4 servings


Ingredients

8 slices turkey bacon or turkey bacon with black pepper or applewood smoked bacon
1 1/3 pounds ground turkey breast, the average weight of 1 package
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 large shallot or 1/4 red onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional - parsley may be substituted
1/2 small bell pepper, green, red or yellow, seeded and finely chopped
1 serrano or jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 teaspoons, 2/3 palm full, ground cumin
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne hot sauce, several drops (recommended: Tabasco)
2 teaspoons grill seasoning blend (recommended: Montreal Steak Seasoning by McCormick)
Vegetable oil or olive oil, for drizzling
1/2 pound deli sliced pepper jack cheese
4 crusty kaiser rolls, split
1 cup sweet red pepper relish, found on condiment aisle - pepper jelly may be substituted
Red leaf lettuce



Directions

Chop your garlic and veggies.


Cook bacon in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat until crisp. Wipe excess grease from pan and return skillet to heat.


While bacon cooks, combine turkey meat, garlic, shallot or onion, thyme, cilantro or parsley, bell pepper, serrano or jalapeno pepper, cumin, hot pepper sauce, grill seasoning or salt and pepper. Divide mixture into 4 equal mounds then form meat into patties. Drizzle patties with vegetable oil to coat. Cook in skillet over medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes on each side. Place sliced cheese over the patties in the last 2 minutes of cooking, use 1 or 2 slices for each patty, as you like.


Pile cooked cheeseburgers into buns. Spread sweet relish or jelly on bun tops and set red leaf lettuce into place, using the relish or jelly as glue. Top cheeseburgers with 2 slices of cooked, crisp bacon or turkey bacon and lettluce. Then serve with tortilla chips, tossed salad and/or spicy o-nuts.

From: foodnetwork.com

Rachael's Chimichurri Chicken Bites

Cook Time: 10 min
Level: Easy
Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

* 1 rounded tablespoon sweet paprika
* 3/4 cup flat-leaf parsley leaves, a couple of handfuls
* 3 tablespoons fresh oregano leaves
* 3 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
* 2 bay leaves, crumbled
* 1/2 small white onion, coarsely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic
* 1 teaspoon cayenne
* 1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
* 1/4 cup red wine vinegar, 3 splashes
* 1 teaspoon coarse salt
* 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 pounds chicken tenders

Directions

Preheat a grill pan over high heat.

In a food processor combine paprika, parsley, oregano, thyme, bay
leaves, onion, garlic and cayenne. Finely chop the mixture by pulsing.

Heat oil in a small pan over medium low heat. When oil is warm, stir
herb and garlic mixture into oil and heat 3 to 5 minutes, then remove
from heat. The oil will become infused with the flavor of the herbs
and garlic. Transfer to a bowl and stir in vinegar and salt. Taste to
adjust seasonings.

Cut chicken tenders into thirds and place in a shallow dish. Wash hands.

Spoon half of your chimichurri over the chicken and coat completely
and evenly. Using tongs, transfer the bites to the hot grill and cook
2 or 3 minutes on each side. Transfer bites to a serving plate. Serve
with party picks and reserved chimichurri sauce for dipping.

From: foodnetwork.com

Parmigiano and Herb Chicken Breast Tenders

Cook Time: 20 min
Level: Intermediate
Yield: 4 BIG servings

Ingredients

* Olive oil, for frying
* 1 1/2 pounds chicken breast tenders
* Salt and pepper
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 large eggs, beaten with 1/4 cup water

Breading:

* 2 cups Italian style bread crumbs
* 1 cup shredded Parmesan
* 6 sprigs or stems fresh thyme leaves, stripped and chopped, 2 to
3 tablespoons
* 6 sprigs fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped, 3 tablespoons
* 2 handfuls chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves
* 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
* Simple tomato sauce, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place a nonstick cookie sheet in oven
with a tin foil liner.

Heat 1/2-inch oil in a large nonstick skillet or frying pan over
medium to medium high heat.

Season chicken tenders with salt and pepper. Wash hands. Place flour
in a shallow dish. Beat eggs with water in a second dish along side
the flour. In a third dish, combine the breading ingredients. Coat
chicken in flour, then egg, then bread and cheese mixture. To keep
your hands clean, ask for plastic gloves at the butcher counter. To
ease your clean up, try using disposable tin pie tins for the flour,
egg and bread crumbs.

Cook chicken until deeply golden on each side, 3 to 4 minutes.
Transfer to cookie sheet in preheated oven and finish off for another
5 minutes cooking time. Cook chicken 5 or 6 tenders at a time in a
single layer, adding additional oil if necessary. If the chicken
begins to brown too quickly lower heat slightly. Serve chicken hot or
cold with green salad or, complete as a Parmigiano.

Simple Tomato Sauce for Chicken Parmigiano:

* 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
* 1 small white onion, finely chopped
* 3 cloves garlic, minced
* 1 (14 ounce) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
* 1 (28 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
* 1 cup chicken broth or stock
* A handful fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces
* Coarse salt
* 1 1/2 cups shredded provolone
* 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
* 1 pound spaghetti, cooked to al dente

Set water on to boil for pasta and prepare according to package
directions for al dente. Before coating chicken, add oil, onions and
garlic to a saucepan to cook medium low heat. Stir occasionally for 10
minutes while you are working on the chicken. Add both cans of
tomatoes and a cup of chicken broth and bring sauce to a bubble.
Reduce heat to a simmer until ready to serve. Stir in torn basil and
season sauce with salt, to your taste.

Place a little of the sauce on the chicken tenders, top with the
shredded provolone and Parmigiano. Place in oven or broiler to melt
the cheese and then serve. Coat the hot, cooked pasta lightly with
sauce then serve.

Enjoy!

From: foodnetwork.com