Snapper Backed in Parchment with Spring Vegetables

RECIPE IS FROM MYRECIPES.COM originally from Southern Living

This method makes French-style cooking easy. Each parcel of fish and veggies steams with its own delicious juices (a technique called en papillote). The package concentrates the flavors, and when opened at the table, it releases a dramatic cloud of aromatic steam.

Yield:
MAKES 4 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 pound fresh asparagus
8 sweet mini peppers
1 small sweet onion, thinly sliced
4 pickled okra pods, halved lengthwise
8 ounces small Yukon gold potatoes, sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 tsp. olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 (17-inch) parchment paper or aluminum foil squares
4 (6- to 8-oz.) fresh snapper fillets, skin on I actually used Tilapia without skin
1 lemon, quartered I also added lemon pepper which gave it a nice spice
4 tablespoons butter

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Snap off tough ends of asparagus, and discard. Toss together asparagus, next 6 ingredients, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, and 1/2 tsp. each salt and black pepper. Divide mixture among parchment paper squares; top each with 1 snapper fillet, skin side up. Sprinkle with remaining salt, and drizzle with remaining oil. Squeeze juice from lemon over fillets; and top each with 1 Tbsp. butter. Bring parchment paper sides up over mixture; fold top, and twist ends to seal. Place packets on a baking sheet.

2. Bake at 400° for 15 to 20 minutes or until a thermometer registers 140° to 145° when inserted through paper into fish. Place packets on plates, and cut open. Serve immediately.

PARCHMENT IS BEST FOR: Fish fillets that are about 1 inch thick, such as snapper, flounder, sole, striped bass, and salmon.

EXPERT ADVICE: Packets must be tightly sealed so they don't come undone while baking. Make small, snug, overlapping folds to seal each bundle, and then twist the tail ends tightly closed.

Healthy Vegan Pad Thai With Shredded Cabbage

Serves 4

Ready in 30 minutes

Recipe from Paint + Tofu

INGREDIENTS:
1 head of green cabbage
1.5 cups edamame
2 cups red cabbage
4 carrots
2 limes

Sauce:
5 tablespoons soy sauce
2.5 tablespoons sriracha hot sauce
3 tablespoons peanut flour (or finely chopped peanuts, or peanut butter)
3 tablespoons sugar (optional – I don’t use it!)
3 tablespoons organic ketchup
2 teaspoon ground ginger
.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Finely shred cabbage with a sharp knife and cut carrots into ribbons with a vegetable peeler (or finely chop carrots). 
2. Cook shredded cabbage in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat for about 7 – 10 minutes until crisp.
3. While cabbage is cooking, mix all ingredients for the sauce together in a separate bowl.
4. Pour sauce over cabbage and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes.
5. Plate and garnish with carrot ribbons, shredded red cabbage, edamame, and slices of lime.

Chicken in Tomato Sauce With Chickpeas and Kale

YIELD: Serves 4  *  ACTIVE TIME: 45 minutes  *  TOTAL TIME: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup breadcrumbs (I didn't use)
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried oregano, divided
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
1 medium garlic clove, minced or grated with a Microplane
4 skinless boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds)
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1 shallot, thinly sliced
Pinch of dried red chili flakes
1 (28-ounce) can whole peeled tomatoes
1 cup homemade chicken stock or store-bought, low-sodium chicken broth
1 (14-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 cups lacinato (Tuscan) kale, stems removed and leaves cut into 2-inch ribbons

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Optional if you are going to use breadcrumbs - Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat until hot. Add the breadcrumbs and toast them, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 teaspoon thyme, and the garlic, and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute longer. Transfer breadcrumbs to plate and set aside.

2.  Season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. In the same skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add chicken and sear on both sides until golden-brown, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and set aside.

3.  Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add shallot and a pinch of salt and cook until softened, about 2 minutes. Add chili flakes and remaining 1 tablespoon each oregano and thyme and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, their liquid and the stock and bring to a simmer, breaking up the tomatoes with a wooden spoon. Simmer until sauce has thicken slightly, about 10 minutes. Add chicken and simmer until cooked through, about 5 minutes.

4.  Stir in chickpeas and kale and cook until chickpeas are warmed through and kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Top with the breadcrumbs and serve immediately.

Recipe from Serious Eats.

Rosemary Chicken with Corn Quinoa

Ready in 40 minutes. Serves 4 or 5.

Chicken Ingredients:
4 skinned and boned chicken breasts (2 lb.)
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon minced fresh rosemary
2 tablespoons olive oil

Preparation:
Sprinkle chicken with salt, pepper, and rosemary. Cook in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 6 minutes on each side or until done. Serve with quinoa.

Fresh Corn Quinoa Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups uncooked red quinoa
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
4 cups water
4 shallots or 2 small onions, quartered
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups fresh corn kernels
6 cups shredded greens (such as chard)
1/2 cup torn basil
1/4 cup torn mint
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Preparation:
Bring quinoa, salt, and water to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium, and simmer 8 to 10 minutes or until tender; drain. Cover and let stand 15 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté shallots in hot olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat 3 minutes or until tender. Add garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add corn kernels and shredded greens; cook 2 minutes or just until wilted. Add quinoa, basil, mint, and fresh lemon juice.

Recipe from Southern Living's September 2013 issue. See it here.

Apple and Cabbage Oven Baked Chicken

Picture credit from The Healthy Foodie.
Serves 2.   Ready-in 1.5 hours

I N G R E D I E N T S
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 small onion, thinly sliced
½ small Savoy cabbage, shredded
1 Red Delicious apple, thinly sliced
1 Golden Delicious apple, thinly sliced
½ cup all natural unsweetened apple juice
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
2-3 sprigs fresh rosemary, finely chopped
½ tsp salt
½ tsp black pepper

I N S T R U C T I O N S
Preheat oven to 375F

Prepare ahead

Thinly slice the onion and apples and shred the cabbage as finely as possible. The use of a mandolin is strongly recommended here.
In an oven safe dish (mine was about 7" x 7") add about 1/3 of the shredded cabbage, followed by ½ the onion and ½ the apples.
Continue layering by adding another 1/3 of the cabbage, the rest of the onions, the rest of the apple slices and finally, the rest of the cabbage. Set aside.
Place your chicken breasts on top of the cabbage and add another sprig of rosemary, if desired.

In a small mixing bowl, add apple juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, rosemary, salt and pepper and mix until well combined. Pour over chicken and cabbage mixture.
Cover with aluminum foil and cook in the oven for about an hour, until chicken is cooked through.
Remove the chicken breasts and slice them on a diagonal
Divide cabbage/apple mixture between 2 serving plates and place sliced chicken breasts on top.
Serve immediately.

N O T E S
*  Recipe from The Healthy Foodie.
*  I put my oven safe dish over a cookie sheet in the oven and covered with tinfoil and this led to a very slow cook. Recommend not using cookie sheet, and removing tinfoil for a few minutes.
*  Double-recipe quantity = 6 servings. Delic left overs, maybe make triple next time & freeze individual meal-sized portions.

Moroccan Nectarine and Plum Chicken Tagine

Prep time: 15, Cook Time: 40,
Ready in: 55 minutes, Servings: 4

Ingredients: 
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 lb chicken thighs
1 tbsp olive oil
2 onions, sliced
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tsp ginger, grated
4 nectarines, stoned and sliced
4 plums, stoned and sliced
1/2 cup water
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 pinch saffron
salt and pepper to taste
2 tbsp lemon juice
1/4 cup kalamata olives, chopped (instead of olives,  I put chickpeas)
1 tbsp harissa
1 tbsp honey
1/4 cup parsley, chopped
1/4 cup cilantro, chopped

Directions:
1. Heat the oil in a medium pan over medium heat.  Brown the chicken on all sides, then remove to a plate.

2. Heat the second tbsp of oil and cook the onions until just starting to brown. Add in the garlic and ginger and cook for 30 seconds or until fragrant.

3. Add in the nectarines, plums, water, paprika, cayenne, cumin, turmeric, cinnamon, saffron, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for fifteen minutes.

4. Add in the chicken, harissa, lemon, honey, and olives.  Simmer, covered, for 25 minutes.

5. Mix in the parsley and cilantro and serve.

Comments: Recipe from Joanne Eats Well With Others. Ingredients about $13 for 4 servings. 

Baked Sesame Ginger Chicken

Ingredients

• 6 chicken drumsticks or thighs
• Sesame oil
• 2 heaping Tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 heaping teaspoons toasted sesame seeds
• 1 heaping teaspoon powdered (or fresh grated) ginger
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 cloves garlic, finely minced
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 420 degrees.
2. Dry chicken thoroughly with a clean cloth and place in a medium sized bowl. Drizzle with sesame oil and toss to coat.
3. Combine all remaining ingredients in a small bowl and mix thoroughly.
4. Sprinkle sugar mixture over chicken and toss so that chicken is thoroughly coated.
5. Place chicken on a baking sheet, skin side up, and bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the top is brown and crispy and the chicken is no longer pink inside.
6. Get ready to lick your fingers!

Recipe from The Endless Meal

BBQ Chicken Salad Over Rice

Serves 3 * Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients:

1 cup basmati rice
2 chicken breasts
Salt & pepper
2 ears corn, shucked (or 1 cup corn kernels)
1/2 cup black beans, drained & rinsed
1 tomato, cut
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup BBQ sauce (plus more for chicken)
lime & splash of olive oil (optional)

Directions:
1. Soak rice in water for approximately 20 minutes, then cook according to package instructions (usually 1 cup dry requires 1 and 3/4 cup water and boiled for 15 minutes).

2. Meanwhile, season both sides of the chicken breasts with salt & pepper, then grill over medium-high heat for 8 minutes a side, or until no longer pink in the center. Add corn to the grill at the same time, and rotate every couple of minutes to evenly char on all sides. Remove chicken and corn to a plate and let cool slightly. Shred or cut chicken into cubes, then mix with enough BBQ sauce to coat. Slice kernels off the cob.

3. In a bowl, combine & mix the grilled corn, shredded BBQ chicken, black beans, tomato and shredded cheese. On plates first layer rice, and chicken salad over the rice. Garnish with chopped cilantro.

Alternatively if you want to serve the salad separate from the chicken, then use juice from an entire lime and a splash of olive oil as the dressing.

Original Recipe from Iowa Girl Eats.

Beef Chili

Beef chili with a perfect medium to hot spice level.

Serves 4 -5 hungry men. NOTE FROM HUNGRY MEN: Try putting less beef and more veggies next time. 

Ingredients:
* 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes, chopped
* 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
* 1 carrot, sliced I put in a lot more than just one. Also, Jonathan likes it when they're softer. I recommend boiling the carrot before putting in the pot for it to come out softer. 
* 1 onion, chopped
* 2 stalks celery, chopped
* 1 dried red pepper, crushed
* 1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper (or 1 whole green pepper)
* 1/4 cup chopped red bell pepper (or 1 whole red pepper)
* 1/3 jalapeno pepper, minced
* 1/3 cup bottled steak sauce
* 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
* 1 (1.25 ounce) package chili seasoning mix
* 1 teaspoon ground cumin
* 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro
* 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

Directions:
* In a large pot over medium-low heat, combine tomatoes, tomato paste, carrot, onion, celery, pepper flakes, bell peppers, jalapeno pepper and steak sauce.

* While tomato mixture is simmering, in a large skillet over medium heat, cook beef until brown; drain. Stir chili seasoning into ground beef.

* Stir seasoned beef into tomato mixture. Mix in cumin and continue to simmer until vegetables are tender and flavors are well blended.

* Stir in beans, cilantro and parsley. Total cook time approx 1.5 hours throughout all directions. Heat through and serve.

Used ingredients and quantities based on Award Winning Chili recipe posted on allrecipes.com. This recipe also calls for 1/4 cup white wine and 5 slices bacon which I omitted.

Southern Living's Chicken Pot Pie

Hands-on: 31 minutes; Total Time: 1.5 hours.
Yield: Makes 6 to 8 servings. (Served four hungry diners in my case. We each had two helpings.)

Ingredients

• 1/2  cup  butter
• 2  medium leeks, sliced
• 1/2  cup  all-purpose flour
• 1  (14.5-oz.) can chicken broth
• 3  cups  chopped cooked chicken
• 1 1/2  cups  frozen cubed hash browns with onions and peppers (I bought both ingredients separately)
• 1  cup  matchstick carrots
• 1/3  cup  chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• 1/2  teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
• 1  (17.3-oz.) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed (refrigerated Pillsbury pie crust was a less expensive equally good substitute)
• 1  large egg

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat; add leeks, and sauté 3 minutes. Sprinkle with flour; cook, stirring constantly, 3 minutes. Whisk in chicken broth; bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Remove from heat; stir in chicken and next 5 ingredients.
2. Roll each pastry sheet into a 12- x 10-inch rectangle on a lightly floured surface. Fit 1 sheet into a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate; spoon chicken mixture into pastry. Place remaining pastry sheet over filling in opposite direction of bottom sheet; fold edges under, and press with tines of a fork, sealing to bottom crust. Whisk together egg and 1 Tbsp. water, and brush over top of pie.
3. Bake at 375° on lower oven rack 55 to 60 minutes or until browned. Let stand 15 minutes.

Comments: While chicken pot-pie is a wonderful comfort food, I discovered I would choose Shepard's Pie over Chick Pot Pie... 

Discovered recipe in Southern Living's February 2011 edition. See original recipe here.

Calzone Cupakes

I love everything in cupcake form, which is why I immediately jumped on the Cupcake Calzone recipe the moment it was spotted. Created by the Cupcake Project, below is my slightly modified version:

Yield: 12 calzone cupcakes

1. Prepare your favorite dough.
Cupcake project recommended Pizza Dough, however, I found I preferred the longer dough setting on my breadmaker.

• 3/4 C water
• 1 tbsp garlic olive oil (I used regular extra virgin olive oil.)
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 1/2 C flour (if making whole wheat, use 1/2 cup whole wheat flower and 2 cups white flower)
  
• 1 3/4 tsp yeast

Put all ingredients in a bread machine on the dough cycle according to the instructions for your model.


2. Prepare your favorite calzone filling.

• 1/2 large zucchini, roughly chopped
• 1/2 large onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• juice of 1 lime

Mix everything together.

3. Prepare the calzone cupcakes.

• Filling (from above)
• 2 C shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 C crumbled feta cheese

1. Preheat oven to 450 F.
2. Roll out the pizza dough about 1/4" thick and line the bottom and sides of the indentations in a cupcake tin.
3. Put a thin layer of shredded mozzarella cheese on top of each piece of dough.
4. Fill the cupcake with the filling.
5. Top with another thin layer of mozzarella cheese and some crumbled feta.
6. Top each cupcake with another piece of pizza dough and press firmly around the edges of the cupcake to seal it (as shown below). If necessary, use a butter knife to cut off any excess dough.
7. Bake for 14 minutes. Don't turn off your oven yet. You'll need it for the next step.

4. "Frost" the calzone cupcakes.

• Hot unfrosted calzone cupcakes (from above).
• 1 C pasta or pizza sauce
• 12 slices of mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 C shredded mozzarella cheese (optional)
• 12 cherry tomatoes
• Transfer the hot calzone cupcakes to a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
• Spoon a small amount of sauce on top of each cupcake.
• Use a cookie cutter or the rim of a glass to cut the mozzarella into circles that cover the top of the cupcake (as shown below) and place the cheese on top of the sauce.
• If desired, top the cheese circles with a small amount of the shredded cheese. This makes the top of the cupcake look a bit bumpier - like it has sprinkles.
• Put the cookie sheet of cupcakes back into the oven for one minute or until the cheese is just melted.
• Remove from the oven, top with cherry tomatoes, and serve warm.

Paula Deen's Shepherd's Pie

Servings: 8 to 10 lots lots lots; Prep Time: 30 mins; Cook Time: 1 hr; Ready in: 1.5 hrs

Ingredients
1 small onion try only half - jonathan doesn't like a lot or any onions
1 1/2 pounds ground beef
2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce
1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables or niblet corn, prepared
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 to 10 medium red new potatoes
1 1/2 cups milk
12 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup sour cream
2 cups instant biscuit mix
any spices you would like to add...


Directions
BEEF LAYER: Saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add ground beef. After beef is browned, add tomato sauce; Mix in vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste.
POTATO LAYER: Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Whip potatoes with electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and sour cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.
BISCUIT LAYER: Combine biscuit mix and 1 cup milk. The mix should be thinner than normal biscuit mix but not runny.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, or any similar casserole dish. Layer half way up with the mashed potatoes. Next, spread a layer of mixed vegetables or niblet corn on top of potatoes. Then add a layer of the meat. Pour biscuit mix over meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown.

Recipe compliments of Paula Deen, see original recipe here.