Roasted Swordfish and Potatoes with Caper Aioli
Ingredients
12-14 oz baking potato, cut into eighths
1/2 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon fresh-ground black pepper
2 swordfish steaks, about 1 inch thick (about 1 pound in all)
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
Caper Herb Aioli
½ cup mayonnaise
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1teadpoon fried chives
1teadpoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon drained and chopped capers
1 teaspoon wine vinegar
Directions
Heat the oven to 400°F. In a large roasting pan, toss the potatoes with 1/4 cup of the oil, half the garlic, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Put in the oven for 15 minutes; stir once.
Meanwhile, coat the swordfish with the remaining 1/4 cup oil, garlic, 1/4 teaspoon of each salt and pepper, and the rosemary. Put the fish on a baking sheet and put it in the oven along with the potatoes. Cook, stirring the potatoes once until the fish and potatoes are both done, 10 to 12 minutes for 1-inch-thick steaks.
In a small bowl, combine the mayonnaise with parsley, capers, and vinegar. Serve the roasted swordfish and potatoes with the caper mayonnaise.
Parmesan Asparagus
Ingredients
1bunch asparagus, woody ends removed
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 garlic clove, minced
Salt and pepper to taste
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Wash the asparagus and cut it into 3-inch pieces. Place the oil in a 12-inch baking dish and add the asparagus. Toss. Add garlic, salt, and pepper. Toss again. Place the dish in the oven when you add the swordfish. Cook 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese and serve with the swordfish and potatoes.
I double the recipe and freeze some of the cookies for a later date.
Ingredients
3/4 cup golden raisins
1 1/2 tablespoons warm rum or water
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats (not instant)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Line two large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper.
For the cookies: Toss the raisins in the warm water and let soak for at least 10 minutes then drain.
Whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt together in a medium bowl.
Beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together in a large bowl with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
Beat in the eggs and then the vanilla. Add the flour mixture and beat until just incorporated. Stir in the oats, walnuts, and the drained raisins.
Scoop rounded tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets, about 2-inches apart.
Bake, rotating the position of the pans halfway through, until golden brown around the edges, about 14 minutes. Cool on the pan for 5 minutes then transfer to a rack to cool completely.
Lentil Vegetable Soup
Serves 6 to 8
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 large Yukon gold potato, peeled and diced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
3 celery stalks, peeled and chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced (1 tablespoon)
1 tablespoon coarse salt
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning
1 1/2 cups lentils
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
4 cups water, plus more if needed
Directions
Heat a large soup pot over high heat and swirl in the olive oil. Add the vegetables, garlic, and 1 teaspoon of salt. Reduce the heat to low and saute until the vegetables are lightly caramelized, about 5 minutes. Add broth, water, and seasoning. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, add the lentils. Stir well and cover the pan. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes u til the lentils are soft and creamy. Serve hot in soup bowls.
Spinach and Roasted Red Pepper Quiche
Ingredients
1 prepared 9-inch pie crust
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ a large sweet onion, diced
1 red bell pepper, diced
1 cup cooked spinach
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
3 large eggs
1 cup heavy creak
2 cups shredded gruyere cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Heat the oil in a small skillet and saute the onion and pepper until tender and soft/ Stir in the thyme. Set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl combine the spinach, eggs, and cream.
Spread the pastry on a 9-inch pie plate and crimp the edges.
Spread 1 cup of cheese in the bottom of the crust. Top with the onion and peppers. Pour the egg mixture over the vegetables. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese. Place the pie plate on a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes.
Chicken Fajitas
For 2 servings
Ingredients
1 bone-in chicken breast
1 small red bell pepper, sliced
1 small sweet onion, sliced
1 teaspoon fajita seasoning
2 tablespoon avocado oil
4 – 6 inch tortillas
Shredded cheddar cheese
Sour cream
Directions
Poach the chicken breast in water to cover for about 20 minutes. Cool and slice.
Heat oil in a medium skillet and saute the peppers and onions. Add seasoning and sliced chicken, Cook on low until the chicken is hot.
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F and heat the tortillas until beginning to get crispy about 10 minutes.
Fill tortilla shells with the chicken mixture and add toppings.
Refried Black Beans
Ingredients
2 cups cooked or canned Black Beans
2 tablespoons avocado oil
¼ cup minced red onion
1 tablespoon line juice
1 tablespoon cumin
2 teaspoons mild chile powder
Directions
Mash the beans coarsely and set them aside.
Heat oil in a small skillet and saute the onion over low heat for 5 minutes. Add the beans and seasoning. Cooker low until creamy, about 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to keep the beans from sticking to the pan. Stir in lime juice.
Chunky Guacamole
Makes about 1cup
Ingredients
¼ cup chopped red onion
½ jalapeno pepper, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
½ an avocados pitted, peeled, and chopped
½ tomato chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Salt to taste
Directions
Combine all the ingredients in a small serving bowl. Cover tightly with plastic wrap until serving.
This recipe makes two large loaves of bread that can be used for toast, FrenchToast of sandwiches.
Ingredients
1 1⁄2 cups milk
1 cup warm water (must be between 110-115 degrees)
4 ½ teaspoons instant yeast
3 eggs
1⁄2 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1⁄2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup raisins
8 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon or more if you prefer a stronger taste.
Directions
Soak the raisins in hot water while you prepare the dough.
Combine all the ingredients except the raisins in an electric mixer with the paddle attachment. Switch to the dough hook, sprinkle in the drained raisins.
Knead the dough until smooth.
Place in a large, buttered, mixing bowl and turn to grease the surface of the dough.
Cover with a warm, damp cloth and let rise until doubled. about 1 1/2 hours.
Divide the dough in half and form it into logs. Place the logs into two greased 9” by 5” bread pans. Let rise, covered, until the dough crowns over the top of the pan.
Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes or until loaves are lightly browned and sound hollow when tapped.
Remove from the oven and let cool in the pans for 20 minutes.
Remove the bread from the pans and cool completely on a rack.
Last week I shared the ratatouille recipe that I made with the freshest end-of-the-summer vegetables. The recipe is versatile and I was able to create a number of dishes from the recipe. The first was an appetizer with brie, the second a delicious pizza and the third was a hearty pasta dish.
Here is the link to the ratatouille recipe.
Pizza
Ingredients
1 lb of your favorite pizza dough
16 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced
2 cups leftover ratatouille
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Preheat the oven to 459 degrees F.
Oil a large pizza pan and place the dough on the pan. Using your fingers push the dough to the edges of the pan.
Distribute the cheese slices over the dough. Spread the ratatouille over the cheese. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Place the pan in the oven and cook until lightly brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Let rest 5 minutes before cutting into serving pieces.
Pasta
Ingredients
5 Spicy Italian sausage links, casing removed
2 cups leftover ratatouille
2 cups canned Iranian tomatoes chopped
1 lb short pasta
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
Place the sausage in a large deep skillet. Brown the meat breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it browns. add the ratatouille and tomatoes. Heat on low for 39 minutes.
Cook the pasta al dente according to the package instructions. Do not drain. Using a spider or slotted spoon, remove the cooked pasta from the skillet. Stir well and let the pasta cook in the sauce, Mix well and add the grated cheese. Serve in pasta bowls.
America is a melting pot that was formed by the hard-working people who migrated here from lands as far east as China and Japan, as far north as Russia and Europe. They utilized American supplies and prepared them in ways that they had prepared them in their homeland. True American food is a collection of these culinary traditions passed down from generation to generation”.Each culture brought its cooking methods, food, and spices to America. They farmed the soil, hunted game, and incorporated their ways into the food of America.
Gullah cuisine originated in the Gullah-Geechee community. These West African Slave Descendants farmed the rice plantations of the Lowcountry back in the 1700s. The Southern region now embraces its traditional food customs. Gullah Recipes are based on rice, simmered vegetables, and fresh seafood. Specifically, oysters, shrimp, grits, and okra are commonly incorporated. These beloved, cultural dishes boast a rich history and even richer flavors.
Crab cakes are popular in the Lowcountry, as blue crabs are abundant off the Carolina coast. While there’s nothing highly unusual about the way crab cakes are done here—the name is really to distinguish them from Maryland crab cakes, which are (presumably) sourced from the Chesapeake Bay and tend to use Old Bay seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, and mustard in their preparation—the typical way of doing these in Charleston is with lots and lots of fresh lump crab meat (and very little filler), some mayo, herbs like parsley, dill, or tarragon, and often a dash of hot sauce or cayenne for a little kick; then they’re almost always pan-fried/seared.
Shrimp, crab, peas, rice, okra, and greens – these are some of the nuts and bolts of Gullah dishes. Descendants of enslaved West Africans, the Gullah people have been preparing their recipes for centuries, with many of the dishes, rooted in a culture that is thousands of years old.
The cuisine of the Gullah, who still maintains a presence in South Carolina’s Lowcountry and sea islands, relies upon the gifts of land and sea. The ingredients are locally sourced in season in keeping with the ways of old. Okra soup, purloins (seasoned dishes of rice and meat), seafood soups, red rice, garlic crabs, and “Reezy Peezy,” a simple mainstay made from stewed field peas, are some of the delicious dishes that can be enjoyed today, thanks to the culinary traditions kept alive by this remarkable culture.
Though most Gullah cooking happens in the privacy of family kitchens, there is a small treasure trove of establishments where you can sample these special foods. Restaurants with dedicated Gullah menus are rare, so it’s likely you’ll find Gullah dishes mingled in with Southern or soul food fare. Click here to learn about these distinctions. Most Gullah-owned restaurants are modest and no-frills, but that’s part of the experience. Fancy is fine, but if you want a true taste of South Carolina’s culinary heritage, seek out these restaurants and eat the Gullah way.
Version One
I made this version because it is different from my usual recipe. It is delicious.
Charleston Grill
Ingredients
Crab Cakes
1 pound crab meat
1 egg white
1/2 lemon, zested and juiced
1 tablespoon chopped chives
1 tablespoon thyme leaves
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup fresh breadcrumbs or panko
Salt and freshly ground white pepper
Butter or olive oil, to cook
Sauce
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 shrimp, peeled and deveined, cut into thin strips
10 red pear tomatoes
10 yellow pear tomatoes
2 limes, juiced
2 shallots, finely chopped
2 tablespoons fresh dill.
Directions
Crab Cakes
Mix together the mayo, salt, pepper, egg white, zest, juice, chives, and thyme. Fold in the crab meat. Add pano crums. Add just enough for the mixture to hold together.
Form mixture into patties and refrigerate for several hours, if possible.
Saute in butter or oil until crisp and golden on both sides.
Sauce
I made half the amount of sauce because it seemed to be too much for us.
1. Heat shallots in oil, then add shrimp and cook.
2. Add remaining ingredients and heat through.
3. Serve warm over crab cakes.
Version Two
Charleston Crab Cakes
Ingredients
1/2 cup minced red onions
1/3 cup minced red bell pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh tarragon
1/3 cup mayonnaise
1lb lump or jumbo lump crabmeat (picked over for shells and drained of any liquid)
3/4 cup panko crumbs
2 teaspoons salt or to taste
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
Directions
Place onions, bell pepper, tarragon, and mayonnaise in a mixing bowl and combine. Gently fold in the crabmeat. Add the panko and season with salt, white pepper, and cayenne pepper to taste. Let the mixture rest for 5 minutes. The panko will absorb some of the moisture and the mixture will stay together.
Layout a large piece of plastic wrap on a clean counter surface. Place half of the crab mixture on it and use a spatula or a spoon to form it into a tube about 1 3/4 inches in diameter. Bring the wrap-up over the crab and roll the crab mixture up. Twist the ends to close. Pierce any air pockets with a toothpick or skewer. Twist the ends even tighter to compress the crab mixture. Tuck under the ends of the wrap and place the tube on a plate. Repeat with the second half of the crab cake mixture. Place the tubes in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour or overnight.
When ready to cook, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the tubes of crabmeat into 1 1/4-inch-thick cake.s. Gently remove the plastic wrap, leaving the cakes in nice cylinders.
Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a heavy-bottomed frying pan (non-stick works well here) over medium-high heat until very hot, but not smoking. Gently place 4 of the crab cakes in the pan and sear for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown. Gently turn the cakes over and sear the other side until golden brown. Place them on a baking sheet and into the oven to keep warm. Wipe the pan, add the remaining olive oil and repeat this process for the other 4 crab cakes. (If you have a big enough pan, you can cook 6 or 8 of them at the same time and skip the warming oven, but the cakes need room to sear properly and be turned so be careful not to crowd the pan).
Ingredients
2 zucchini (6 to 8 inches long), ends trimmed
4 small eggplant,
1 red bell pepper, cored, seeded
1 yellow bell pepper, cored, seeded
1green bell pepper, seeded
1 red onion,l
2 tablespoons minced garlic (6 cloves)
1½ teaspoons dried oregano
½ cup extra Virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 large Roma tomatoes
¼ cup julienned fresh basil leaves
Directions
Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.
Cut the zucchini, onion, tomatoes, eggplant, and bell peppers into ½-inch cubes
Place the zucchini, eggplant, bell peppers, onion, ¼ cup olive oil,,1 tablespoon salt, and 1½ teaspoons black pepper in a large bowl and toss to combine. Pour the vegetables onto a large sheet pan. Roast for 30minutes.
Heat the teaming oil in a Dutch Oven. Add the roasted vegetables and remaining ingredients to the pan. Simmer for one hour. Refrigerate overnight to develop the flavors.
Serve at room temperature with crusty bread and Brie cheese.
Steaks Au PoivRE
I SERVED BAKED POTATO AND GREEN BEANS WITH THE STEAK.
Ingredients
2 beef tenderloin steaks, 6 oz each
1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
1 tablespoon black peppercorn
1 1/2 tablespoons green peppercorns
1 teaspoon olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 small shallot, minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1/4 cup red wine
1 tablespoon heavy cream
Directions
Place the peppercorns in a plastic bag and coarsely crush the peppercorns with a mallet
Pat the filets dry with paper towels. Place the steaks between two pieces of plastic wrap and pound to an even ½- inch thick.
Sprinkle the filets with salt and then press the crushed pepper evenly on both sides. Allow resting at room temperature for 15 minutes.
Heat 1 tablespoon butter and the oil in a medium saute pan over medium-high.. Place the steaks in the pan and lower the heat to medium. Saute the steaks for 4 minutes on 1 side and then for 3 minutes on the other side, for medium-rare. Remove the steaks to a serving platter and cover tightly with aluminum foil.
Add 1 tablespoon of butter to the saute pan. Add the shallots and cook over medium heat for 2 minutes. Add the wine and stir. Add the cream and stir. Return the steaks to the pan and the pan and coat the steaks in the sauce.
