Mushroom Pasta with Burrata and Truffle Oil

I made this amazing mushroom filling for our fancy Xmas day dinner and had a lot leftover. I also had a pack if burrata that was nearing end of life. So I cooked pasta and added a little truffle oil to make one tasty meatless Monday meal!

Ingredients:
1 lb cremini mushrooms, cleaned
2 medium shallots
1 clove garlic
2 TBSP butter
1/4 c parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper
8 oz pasta
4 oz burrata, chopped
Parmigiano, grated
Truffle oil

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package.

Put the mushrooms, shallots and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not puréed; scrape the bowl as needed.

Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are very soft and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t let them brown. Uncover and cook until the pan is mostly dry, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the parsley; season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste.

Add pasta to the mushroom sauce and 1/4 c pasta water, stir to combine added more pasta water as needed. Cook about 1 minutes over medium low heat.

Serve with a little burrat, parmigiano and drizzle of truffle oil.

Serves 2 – 4.

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Champagne Jello Shots

It’s NYE so I thought is would do something fun, and what is more fun than jello and champagne??

Ingredients:
10 oz plus 5oz champagne
1 TBSP sugar
3 envelopes Knox plain gelatin
Turbonado sugar

directions:
Place 10 oz of the champagne and sugar in a sauce pan and then sprinkle gelatin on top. Let gelatin soften for about 2 minutes.

Place saucepan over low heat and stir until gelatin has completely dissolved, about 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and add in remaining 5 oz of champagne and stir to combine.

Pour mixture into a loaf pan and chill for at least an hour.

To release Jello, dip the pan into warm water and use a knife along the sides to gently release the Jello. Use a sharp knife to cut squares. Before serving, dip the tops in the sugar and serve with a festive toothpick.

Butter Lettuce Salad

This salad is perfect for when you want something light to go with the rest of your meal.

Ingredients:
3 TBSP olive oil
1 TBSP Champagne vinegar
1 TBSP minced shallot
2 tsp Dijon mustard
2 small heads of butter lettuce, outer leaves removed
4 thinly sliced radishes
1/4 cup assorted whole fresh herb leaves (such as tarragon, chervil, parsley, and cilantro)

Combine oil, vinegar, shallot and Dijon in a small jar, shake to combine. Toss with the remaining ingredients in a bowl.

Serves 4.

Scallop Crudo 3 Ways

The fishmonger at my local farmers market has the most amazing scallops – fresh and meaty. This week I was inspired by Food & Wine magazine to serve the raw with 3 sauces – magnific!!

Ingredients:
6 scallops sliced thin

Arrange them in 3 circles on two plates and top with sauces.

Wasabi Ginger
2 TBSP canola oil
1 1/2 TBSP lime juice
1 TBSP wasabi paste
1/2 tsp finely grated ginger
Pinch of salt

Whisk together and drizzle over scallops. Sprinkle with a few thinly sliced scallions.

Lemon and Espelette
Drizzle your best olive oil and lemon juice over the scallops, season with sea salt and espelette.

Pecan and ponzu
Drizzle a little ponzu over the scallops, dot with balsamic glaze and sprinkle with tasted finely chopped pecans.

Oatmeal Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

These peanut butter and jelly bars are for my skinny minis, so they are packed full of calorie rich stuff like butter and healthy oats! Perfect mid morning snack.

Ingredients:
1 c flour
1 c quick-cooking oats
2/3 c coconut palm or brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 c chunky all-natural peanut butter
10 TBSP butter, at room temperature,
1 c strawberry jam

Heat the oven to 350°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Coat a 9-by-9-inch metal baking pan with butter, then flour, tapping out any excess flour; set aside.

Combine flour, oats, sugars, salt, and baking soda in a large bowl of a stand mixer. Add the peanut and butter, beat mixture until combined.

Place two-thirds of the mixture into the prepared pan and, using a measuring cup dipped in flour, press it firmly and evenly into the bottom; set the remaining mixture aside. Bake until the edges start to brown, about 15 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven to a wire rack. Dollop the jam over the crust and spread into an even layer, taking care not to disturb the crust. Crumble the reserved oat mixture into pieces about the size of almonds and evenly sprinkle it over the jam. Return the pan to the oven and bake until the jam is bubbling and the topping is golden brown, about 20 to 25 minutes more.

Remove the pan to the wire rack and let it cool completely, about 1 1/2 hours. Cut into 18 squares.

Brussel Sprouts with Cranberries and Pecans

I can’t resist the gorgeous Brussels sprouts at the farmers market. I love shredding them in the food processor for a quick meal. This one is packed with lots of flavor and texture.

Ingredients
1 1/4 lb Brussels sprouts, shredded
2 tsp olive oil, divided
1/2 yellow onion, diced
1/3 c pecans, toasted and chopped
1/3 c dried cranberries
1/3 c grated Pecorino
1/2 tsp ground pepper
Salt to taste

Heat 1 teaspoon of olive oil in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are soft, 4 to 5 minutes.

Add the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil to the skillet, then add the Brussels sprouts. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the Brussels sprouts are tender, but still bright green.
Stir in the pecans, dried cranberries, cheese and pepper. Taste and season with additional salt, if desired.

Serves 4 – 6.

Crispy Kimchi and Pork Dumpling Pancakes

This recipe is from Food & Wine Magazine and it is amazing!! I made a couple modifications; I added more kimchi and green onion, omitted the tofu and upped the amount of pork.

Dipping Sauce:
1/4 c soy sauce
1 TBSP white vinegar
1/2 TBSP gochugaru (Korean chile powder) or crushed red pepper
1 tsp sesame seeds
1 TBSP sugar

DUMPLINGS
10 oz ground pork
6 scallions, minced
1/2 c drained kimchi
3 garlic cloves
1 inch piece peeled ginger
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 TBSP soy sauce
1 tsp kosher salt
30 round wonton wrappers
1 1/2 TBSP cornstarch
3 TBSP canola oil

MAKE THE DIPPING SAUCE Mix all of the ingredients until the sugar dissolves.

MAKE THE DUMPLINGS In a food processor combine kimchi, garlic, and ginger until finely chopped. Mix all of the ingredients except the wrappers, cornstarch and oil. Arrange 4 wrappers on a work surface; keep the rest covered with a damp paper towel. Brush the edges of the wrappers with water and drop 1 TBSP of the filling in the centers. Fold over one side of the wrapper to form a half moon, pressing the edges together. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet and cover with plastic wrap; assemble the remaining dumplings.

In a bowl, stir the cornstarch with 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons of water.

Heat 1 TBSP of the oil in an 8-inch nonstick skillet. Arrange 10 dumplings around the edge of the skillet, overlapping slightly (there should be almost no empty space). Cook over moderate heat until golden on the bottom, about 3 minutes. Drizzle one-third of the slurry over and around the dumplings, cover the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Uncover and cook until the dumplings are cooked through and the slurry forms a thin crust, 4 minutes. Carefully invert the dumpling pancake onto a plate. Repeat to make 2 more pancakes. Serve with the dipping sauce.

Makes 3 large pancakes.

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

I love shaved Brussels sprouts salad! This one had dried blueberries, hazel nuts and crispy Proscuitto – yum!! This salad keeps overnight if you have leftover, perfect for a healthy lunch.

4 TBSP hazelnut or olive oil
1 TBSP sherry vinegar
1 TBSP lemon juice
1/2 c toasted, chopped hazelnuts
1 lb shaved Brussels sprouts
1/4 c dried blueberries

Preheat oven to 400. Place proscuitto on a baking sheet and cook for 15 minutes until crispy. Break into small pieces.

Combine oil, vinegar and lemon juice in a small jar salt and pepper to taste, shake well.

Toss vinaigrette with remaining ingredients in a bowl.

Top with Proscuitto.

Serves 6.

Patricia wellls tarte aux pommes a la creme

My step mom made this for Christmas Dessert – amazing!!

Crust:
1 c flour
7 TBSP butter
2 tsp sugar
1/8 tsp salt
3 TBSP cold water

Preheat oven to 375.

Process course meal. For into a ball and refrigerate 1 hour. Roll out to fill a 10 inch tart pan. Press into shell, top with parchment and pie weight and bake about 10 – 15 minutes until starting to brown.

Tart
3 large egg yolks
1/2 tsp almond extract
3/4 c creme fraiche
3 TBSP, 2 TBSP to sprinkle on top
1 parbaked crust
5 apples, peeled and cut into 8 slices

Preheat oven to 375.

Whisk together eggs, extract, creme and 3 TBSP sugar.

Place the cut apples just inside the rim of the pan in a circle slightly overlapping into 2 or 3 concentric circles. Pour creme over the apples and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake for 45 minutes until filling is set and apples Are nicely browned and puffy.

Serves 8.

Phyllo Wrapped Tenderloin

For Christmas dinner I got super fancy! This recipe was adapted from fine cooking I made quite a few changes. I used top sirloin steaks and pate. It was amazing! Don’t worry if the phyllo gives you issues, it will look beautiful in the end.

Ingredients:
1 lb cremini mushrooms, cleaned
2 medium shallots
1 clove garlic
2 TBSP butter
1/4 c parsley, chopped
Salt and pepper

For the croustades:
6 top sirloin steaks , 6 oz. each and about 1-3/4 inches thick
Salt
1 TBSP unsalted butter
1 TBSP vegetable oil
8 oz pate
1-lb. package phyllo dough, thawed in the refrigerator overnight
1/2 c butter, melted; more if needed
1/4 c thinly sliced fresh chives

For the filling:
Trim the mushroom stems close to the caps. Put the mushrooms, shallots and garlic in a food processor and pulse until finely chopped but not puréed; scrape the bowl as needed.

Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms are very soft and fragrant, 3 to 5 minutes. Don’t let them brown. Uncover and cook until the pan is mostly dry, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the parsley; season with 1/2 tsp salt and pepper to taste. T

For the croustades:
Season the filets mignons generously on all sides with salt. Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until very hot and sizzling.

Put three of the filets in the pan and sear on one side until well browned, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn and brown the other side. Then quickly sear along the sides, using tongs to turn, about another 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat with the remaining filets. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

To assemble: Mash pate with a fork in a small bowl until spreadable. Remove at least 24 sheets of phyllo from the package and cut them into
10-inch squares. Cover them with -plastic wrap and a damp dishtowel while you work to keep them from drying out. Lay a single phyllo sheet on a clean, dry surface. With a pastry brush, lightly paint an even coat of the melted butter over the entire surface of the square. Sprinkle with about 1/2 tsp. of the chives. Set a second sheet at a 90-degree angle over the first. Brush butter over it as well and sprinkle with another 1/2 tsp. chives.

Make four layers, omitting the chives from the last layer, with the corners of the phyllo pointing in different directions, starlike. Blot one filet dry with a paper towel, set it in the center of the star, and sprinkle it with salt. Spread about 2 Tbs. of the Boursin on the filet and top that with 2 generous Tbs. of the mushroom filling.

Pick a starting point and work your way around the filet, gathering the edges of the phyllo star together, beggar’s purse style. Lightly pinch together the gathered phyllo close to the surface of the meat to hold it in place. Pull the corners open slightly as if making a paper flower. Brush the whole exposed surface lightly with more butter, being sure that the bottom is buttered as well. Transfer to a heavy baking sheet. Repeat this “packaging’” for the remaining filets. If you’re working ahead, chill the filets uncovered on the baking sheet until ready to bake, up to 8 hours.

To bake: Take the croustades out of the refrigerator about 20 minutes before you’re ready to bake them. Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and heat the oven to 400°F. Bake the croustades, rotating the baking sheet after 10 minutes to ensure evening browning, until an instant-read thermometer inserted through the side of each packet and into the center of the filet reads 130°F for medium rare, 17 to 22 min. Serve immediately.

Serves 6.