Sunday, April 25, 2021

Chicken Saltimbocca


Superfast Sunday dinner.

I made the Arborio rice first and kept it warm on the stovetop. The zucchini was sauteed while the chicken was cooked.


About the chicken. I picked up Chicken Cutlets at Fresh Market. I did a google search for a recipe and found a Lidia Bastianich recipe from Food and Wine. Perfect!!

Ingredients-
Four 6-ounce  boneless chicken breast halves
Salt and freshly ground pepper
4 thin slices prosciutto di Parma
All-purpose flour, for dusting 
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dry white wine
1 cup chicken stock or low-sodium broth

Method-
Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Place 2 sage leaves on each breast. Top with a slice of prosciutto, trimming it to fit. Press the prosciutto to help it adhere to the chicken. Dust the chicken with flour, shaking off the excess.

Heat a large skillet. Add the oil and 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 2 of the breasts, prosciutto side up, and cook over high heat until nearly cooked through about 3 minutes. Turn the chicken and cook just until the prosciutto begins to shrink about 1 minute. Transfer the chicken to a plate; repeat with the remaining chicken. Pour off any fat and wipe out the skillet.

Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Add the wine and cook over high heat until reduced by half, 2 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half, 3 minutes. 

Return the chicken to the skillet, prosciutto side up, and simmer over moderate heat until the chicken is cooked through, about 2 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Transfer the chicken to plates, pour the sauce on top, and serve.

It seems that someone else in the house is a fan of this recipe...

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Air Fryer Steak, Smashed Potatoes and Arugula Salad




I purchased this steak, 1.13 pounds at Robert's today. It came to 6 dollars and change. It was the most amazingly tender steak. Just enough for the 2 of us.

I used the Air Fryer to cook it. Seasoned the meat (that was at room temperature)  with just salt and pepper. 7 minutes in a preheated Air Fryer set at 400˚. Flipped it over and set it for an additional 6 minutes. We let it rest for about 10 minutes and the came out perfect!


For sides, I made the Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes. OMG, they are so delicious. Crunchy on the outside and creamy on the inside.

Air Fryer Smashed Potatoes

Ingredients-
1 1/2 lb baby Yukon Gold potatoes 
2 cups chicken stock 
1/4 cup unsalted butter (1/2 stick) – melted
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp dried parsley
1/2 tsp paprika
Kosher sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

Method-
Place the potatoes in a medium-sized pot.
Pour in the broth, enough to cover the potatoes.

Bring to a boil and cook until potatoes are fork-tender.

Drain the potatoes and transfer them to a cutting board.

In a small bowl combine the melted butter, olive oil, parsley & paprika.

Dip the bottom of a small drinking glass in the butter mixture and gently press the potatoes with the bottom of the glass. 
Dip the glass into the butter as needed while smashing the potatoes.

Be careful not to smash them too hard so they break apart.

Just enough to flatten slightly.

Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees.

Spray or lightly coat the air-fryer basket with a little bit of olive oil.

Gently transfer the potatoes in one layer to the basket of the air fryer.

Brush some of the butter mixtures with a basting brush over the tops.

Sprinkle salt & pepper evenly over the potatoes.

Air fry for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Remove the basket & gently flip the potatoes.

Brush with more of the butter mixture. Season again with salt & pepper.

Continue to air-fry for 8 minutes at 400 degrees until crispy and browned.


 

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Air Fryer Fried Chicken Again


Nailed it! This time I tried a different recipe for the Air Fryer Fried Chicken and was very pleased with the result.

The recipe I followed was from Fabulessly Frugal,https://youtu.be/50lBseukzPg.

I did make some changes. 

I did not add the spice mix to the marinade. I marinated in only buttermilk (Milk and Lemon Juice) and the hot sauce.

For the spice mix, I left out the onion powder. But other than that I followed the video. 

It was the double-dipping of the chicken that made the difference here.


And the chicken was crispy and tender and the breading was not too spicy. Loved it!!!

This will be the house Fried Chicken Recipe. Click YouTube Link above for the recipe.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Best Damn Air Fryer Pork


Honestly, that is the name of the recipe. I found it on RecipeTeacher.com. I googled Air Fryer Bone-in Pork Chops and it was the first recipe listed. Not having a whole lot of time to read through the other recipes I dove into this one. I got home at 5:50 and had dinner on the table by 6:35.

First, preheat the air fryer to 400˚ for 5 minutes.

Next, I made the rub. 

2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon paprika
1 ½ teaspoons salt
1 ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
1 teaspoon ground mustard
½ teaspoon onion powder

I rinsed pork chops and pat dry completely with a paper towel.
  1. I rubbed the bone-in pork chops, 2 inches thick with 2 tablespoons olive oil and rubbed on the spice rub.
Into the Air Fryer for 6 minutes. After 6 minutes I flipped the chops and put them back in the air fryer for another 6 minutes. We were at 145˚ at that point.

Moist and the rub was delicious. If you don't like spice you can use any number for combinations.

Really a nice treat for a Tuesday night. Really glad I found the site  -RecipeTeacher.com

Sunday, April 11, 2021

12 Years Ago Tonight

12 years ago tonight I was sitting in front of the computer with a glass of wine missing my mom. I had done a lot of Easter baking. I had used all of her recipes.

I started this little blog to fill a void.

A lot has happened during the past 12 years. 

Too many goodbyes but some wonderful hellos.

I came across I photo of my Mom with her first grandchild today. Priceless.




Sunday, April 4, 2021

Table for Two Please.



Another Holiday dinner with just the two of us. Is this the new normal?

I must say is that this was quite a delicious Easter dinner. The lamb was cooked spot on!! The sauce was delicious, how could it not be with whiskey in it! 

The flavors were perfect together. The parmesan asparagus and the smashed potatoes. It all went together perfectly. I was quite pleased with myself for putting this together.

Lamb Chops with Whiskey Sauce

Ingredients:
5 lamb chops
salt and pepper
Thyme
2 Tbsp butter

Whiskey Sauce:
1 shallot, minced 
1 tsp chopped thyme
1/2 teaspoon flour
5 tablespoons Scotch whiskey (or another type)
3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
salt and pepper

Method:

Pat lamb dry with paper towels. M
assage the chopped thyme, 1/2 teaspoon of the salt, and pepper into the meat. Set the lamb chops aside at room temperature for 5 minutes.  


Melt 2 tablespoons of the butter in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lamb chops and cook until a rich, brown crust forms on the bottom, 4 to 6 minutes (if you're using thicker lamb chops, this could take up to 10 minutes).

Flip the lamb chops and continue to cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat registers 145°F, 4 to 6 minutes more.

Transfer the lamb chops to a plate and cover with aluminum foil. 

Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of the rendered fat.
Add the shallot and Thyme and cook until softened, 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in the flour until incorporated.

Off the heat, slowly stir in 1/4 cup whiskey, scraping up any browned bits, and let sit until bubbling subsides about 1 minute. Carefully return skillet to medium heat and simmer until whiskey has almost completely evaporated for 2 to 3 minutes.  Stir in the broth and continue to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened slightly and reduced to 1/3 cup, 3 to 5 minutes.


Whisk in the remaining tablespoon whiskey, parsley, butter, lemon juice, and any accumulated lamb juice.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Return the Lamb Chops to the pan and cover with the sauce.




Parmesan-Crusted Asparagus

Ingredients-
1 pound asparagus, trimmed
Salt and pepper
11/2 oz Parmesan cheese (3/4 cup)
1/3 cup panko breadcrumbs
1/2 tbsp unsalted butter melted and cooled
pinch cayenne
1 large egg yolk
1/2 tsp honey

Method:
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 450˚. Line rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with vegetable oil spray. Using a fork, poke holes up and sown asparagus spears. Toss asparagus with 1/4 tsp salt and let stand for 30 minutes in a single layer on a large paper towel-lined platter.


Combine 1/2 cup Parmesan, panko, butter, 1/8 tsp salt, pinch pepper, and cayenne in a bowl. Transfer half of the panko mixture to a shallow dish and reserve the remaining mixture. Using an electric mixer whip egg white and honey together on medium-low speed until foamy, about 1 minute. Increase speed to medium-high and whip until soft peaks form, 2 to 3 minutes. Scrape egg white mixture into a medium baking dish, then gently toss asparagus in the mixture. Working with one spear at a time, dredge half of the asparagus spears in panko and transfer to a prepared baking sheet. Refill shallow dish with reserved panko mixture and repeat with reaming asparagus.


Bake asparagus until just beginning to brown, 6 to 8 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan and continue to bake until cheese is melted and bread crumbs are golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes longer.

Saturday, April 3, 2021

There Is A Package At Our Door


Yeah!!! A delivery of Pat's King of Steak Subs!!!
This is what is for dinner!!!



 Gotta love the Cheese Wiz!!

Friday, April 2, 2021

Bacon!!! On Good Friday!!! Good Grief!!!





International Cooking Club Meal. Honestly, it was not until I was frying up the bacon in this recipe that I realized that I was frying up bacon on Good Friday!!!

Seriously!!!

I could not make this stuff up!!!

Anyway, this was this month's selection for Shrimp Tacos and a Mexican martini.

Let's just sum this up quickly. Loved the Shrimp Taco filling but not a fan of the soft taco. Next time using the hard Taco.

The Martini... Well, let's just say I am not a tequila lover.