Spinach & Mushroom Quiche
Servings: 6
Ingredients
One 9-inch refrigerated pie crust
4 slices bacon, cut crosswise into 1/4-inch dice
8 ounces sliced fresh mushrooms
1 cup diced red onion
5 ounces fresh baby spinach (about 8 cups), coarsely chopped
6 large eggs
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
2 cups shredded Gruyère cheese, divided
Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch deep dish pie pan with cooking spray. Fit the pastry into the pie pan and flute the edges.
Cook the bacon and drain on paper towels. Retain bacon fat in the skillet.
Scatter the crumbled bacon in the bottom of the prepared pie pan. Scatter 1 cup of the cheese over the bacon.
Add the mushrooms and onions to the bacon fat in the skillet. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 8 minutes. Add spinach; cook, tossing constantly, until wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
Whisk eggs, cream, mustard, thyme, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Fold in the mushroom mixture and 1 cup of cheese.
Spoon into the prepared pie pan. Bake until set and golden brown, about 45 minutes. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Serve with a salad. I made a Caesar salad.
Caesar Salad
2 servings
Ingredients
1/2 head Romaine lettuce, washed and finely chopped
1 cup croutons, see recipe below
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly ground black pepper for garnish
Dressing
1 anchovy, finely chopped or use anchovy paste
3 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons mayonnaise made with olive oil, if available
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
Directions
Add the anchovy, Parmesan cheese, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, garlic, and Worcestershire sauce to a bowl and whisk together.
Gradually whisk in the 1/4 cup of olive oil, whisking until the dressing is emulsified.
Place the chopped lettuce in a bowl and toss it with the dressing, and croutons. Top the salad with extra cheese and freshly ground black pepper.
Croutons
Ingredients
2 cups cubed bread
1 tablespoon olive oil
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a mixing bowl combine the bread cubes and olive oil. Toss well to coat.
Pour the bread cubes onto a baking sheet. Spread them into a single layer. Bake in the oven for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes to prevent burning. Cool completely before storing in an airtight container or ziplock bag.
I find a dish of risotto to be enough for dinner, however, if you would like more add a green salad and some Italian bread.
2-3 servings
Ingredients
1/2 pound shrimp, with shells
Stock
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Shells from 1/2 pound of shrimp
4 cups water
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning
Risotto
4 cups shrimp stock
1/4 cup butter
¼ cup minced shallots
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 cup Arborio rice
1 cup dry white wine
Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper
½ cup diced sun-drained tomatoes
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Chopped parsley
Directions
Make the shrimp stock
Place the ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn the heat to a simmer and cook for 1- minute. Strain the stock and return the liquid to the pot. use the stock to make the risotto.
Bring the stock to a simmer in a medium saucepan; keep at a gentle simmer.
Heat a wide saucepan or deep skillet over medium heat. Add the butter, shallots, and garlic and cook until the shallots have softened about 2 minutes. Pour in the rice and cook, stirring pretty much constantly, for 2 to 3 minutes, so the rice can absorb the oil.
Pour in the wine and stir. Season with salt and white pepper and bring to a simmer. You want the liquid at a steady simmer. Stir often, scraping the bottom of the pan. When most of the wine has been absorbed – ladle in 1 cup of the shrimp stock. Keep at a simmer, stirring until the rice absorbs most of this liquid. Continue the process, adding stock by the cupful, until you’ve added 3 cups of stock.
Add the shrimp and tomatoes with the last cup of stock and simmer until the rice is al dente. Stir in the cream and cheese and heat until the mixture is hot. Spoon into serving bowls and sprinkle with chopped parsley.
Creamy Spinach Quiches
Serves 6-8
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
1 medium onion, diced
10 oz package frozen spinach defrosted and squeezed or the equivalent of fresh spinach
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 ounces cheddar cheese, grated (about 2 cups)
1 Basic Pie Dough, fitted into a 9-inch pie plate
4 large eggs
1 cup heavy cream
Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a skillet, melt the butter over medium. Add the onion, and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 2 minutes. Add the spinach to the skillet; season with salt and pepper, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.
In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, cream, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 /2 teaspoon pepper.
Sprinkle the bottom of the pie dough with half the cheese. Spread the spinach mixture evenly over the cheese. Pour the egg mixture over the spinach. Sprinkle it with the remaining cheese. Place the pie dish on a baking sheet and transfer it to the oven.
Bake the quiche until set, 45 to 50 minutes. Let quiches stand 15 minutes before serving.
Cucumber Radish Salad
Ingredients
1 large cucumber peeled and cut into cubes
6 large radishes, trimmed and quartered
2 scallions, sliced thin
¼ cup dried cherries, chopped
¼ cup toasted walnuts
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
Combine ⅓ cup of your favorite Red wine vinaigrette mixed with 1 teaspoon honey. Mix into the cucumber salad. Ket marinates for about 30 minutes before serving.
Springtime Vegetables and Eggs
6 servings
Cut all the vegetables into ½ inch cubes
ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1 medium baking potato, peeled and diced
1 cup diced red onion
1 large yellow bell pepper, seeded and diced
½ teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried basil1/4 teaspoon drie4d oregano
1 medium zucchini, diced
2 plum tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 cup leftover cooked asparagus {see recipe}
8 eggs, beaten
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
Heat the broiler and move the rack down to the center of the oven.
In a large 12-inch ovenproof skillet or omelet pan, heat the oil.
Add the garlic. potato. Bell pepper android onion. Cook over medium heat until soft, 10=12 minutes. Add the seasonings, zucchini, and asparagus. Cook until heated through.
Pour the beaten eggs over the vegetable and cook over medium until the eggs are set on the bottom. Distribute the cheese evenly over the egg mixture.
Place the pan on the oven shelf under the broiler and cook until the cheese is completly7 melted and the eggs are set on top.
Let the frittata rest for 10 minutes before cutting into serving pieces.
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.
The earliest known reference to French toast is found in the Apicius, a collection of recipes dating to the 1st century, where the dish is described as simply “aliter dulcia” (“another sweet dish”. The recipe says to “Break [slice] fine white bread, crust removed, into rather large pieces which soak in milk [and beaten eggs] fry in oil, cover with honey and serve”.The usual French name is pain perdu.It may also be called pain doré, “golden bread”.
An Austrian and Bavarian term is pafese or pofese, from zuppa pavese, referring to Pavia, Italy.The word “soup” in the dish’s name refers to bread soaked in a liquid, a sop. In Hungary, it is commonly called bundáskenyér (lit. “furry bread”)
French toast was served in railroad dining cars in the early and mid-20th century. Santa Fe was especially known for its French toast.
So, if the French did not invent this breakfast treat, who did? According to some, it was a man named Joseph French. He created the dish in 1724 and advertised it as “French Toast” because he forgot to add the apostrophe to his name.
Still, others say that there are recipes from the early 5th century AD and the dish we now know as French toast existed as early as the Roman Empire/ Romans would soak bread in a milk and egg mixture, then fry it in oil or butter.
Others believe that French toast was created by medieval European cooks who needed to use every bit of food they could find to feed their families. They knew day-old bread could be revived when moistened and heated. They added the eggs for additional moisture and protein.
The phrase “French Toast” first appeared in print in the Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink in 1871. But it is known by a variety of names including German toast, eggy bread, French-fried bread, gypsy toast, Poor Knights of Windsor, Spanish toast, nun’s toast, and pain perdu which means “lost bread” in French.
Broccoli Soup
8 servings
Ingredients
1 tablespoon butter
6 garlic cloves, sliced
4 shallots, sliced
1 large baking potato, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 sprig thyme or 1 teaspoon dried
1 onion, diced
2 bunches broccoli {4 heads}
8 cups chicken broth
Pinch of freshly ground pepper
1/2 cup half-and-half or cream
1/4 cup snipped chives
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Directions
Remove the broccoli florets and divide them in half. Save one half for another recipe and set aside the remaining florets. Dice the stalks into small pieces.
In a large soup pot, over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the garlic, shallots,, onion and thyme. Sweat in the butter until softened.
Add the potatoes and broccoli stems. Stir the mixture several times.
Pour in the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Turn the heat to low, partially cover the pot and simmer the soup for about 90 minutes until all the vegetables are very soft.
Puree the soup in the pot with an immersion blender until very smooth.
Add the broccoli florets and cream and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Cover the pan and simmer over very low heat until the florists are softened for about 10 minutes.
Serve h garnished with chives.t.
Strawberry Tiramisu
Ingredients
30 whole ladyfingers
8 oz mascarpone cheese
2 cups cold heavy whipping cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup powdered sugar
½ cup orange juice
3 cups fresh strawberries, sliced
Directions
In a large mixing bowl beat heavy cream until soft peaks form.
Add in the mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract and beat on medium speed until stiff, set aside.
Separate the ladyfingers.
Line half of the ladyfingers in a single layer, in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
Brush the ladyfingers with half of the orange juice.
Spread half of the mascarpone mixture over the ladyfingers and layer with half of the sliced strawberries.
Repeat the steps again.
Place in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Cut into 8 squares for serving.
Ingredients
1 garlic clove grated
1 tablespoon olive oil
l1 tablespoon butter
¼ cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup finely chopped celery
3 mini red sweet peppers, finely chopped
10 oz raw shrimp (about 18), peeled and chopped
6 oz firm white fish such as sea bass, chopped
8 oz lump crab meat
1 teaspoon seafood seasoning (Old Bay)
1 cup whole milk Ricotta cheese
1 cup shredded Mozzarella
1/2 cup grated Parmesan, plus extra for the top
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
24 large pasta shells
White Sauce
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup of water
2 tablespoons flour
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
3/4 teaspoon seafood seasoning
Directions
Cook the jumbo shells in boiling salted water for two minutes less than the package instructions. Drain in a colander and run cold water over them for a minute or two. Place the shells on kitchen towels while you make the filling.
Preheat the oven to 350°F.Butter a large baking dish
In a skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Add in garlic, onion, celery, and mini peppers, and cook until the vegetables are softened; about 3 minutes. Add in shrimp and sea bass and season with Old Bay seasoning. Cook until the shrimp become pink and the sea bass is cooked; about 3-5 minutes. Remove from the skillet and let cool.
In a large bowl, combine the ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella, egg, and fresh ground black pepper. Stir in cooled shrimp mixture and crab meat.
In the same skillet, you cooked the shrimp in, bring the cream and milk to a low boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes, add the seafood seasoning. Remove the skillet from the heat and whisk in the flour and parmesan cheese. Return to a simmer, and cook until the sauce thickens about 5 minutes.
Fill each pasta shell with 2 tablespoons of the seafood filling and place them in the baking dish.
Pour the sauce over the filled pasta shells in the baking dish. Sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese. Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes.
Serve with a green mixed salad.
Alfredo Sauce
Ingredients
2 cups heavy cream
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan Cheese
Salt & Black Pepper
Directions:
Heat together the cream and butter over medium heat until bubbling.
Season with salt and pepper.
Add the cheese and mix well over medium heat until the sauce thickens. Keep warm.
Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
4 servings
Ingredients
8 oz fettuccine
1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp
2 green onions, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 recipe of Alfredo Sauce
Directions
Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain pasta in a colander.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil; swirl to coat. Add shrimp, green onion, and garlic; sauté for 4 minutes or until shrimp are done.
Reduce heat to medium and add the alfredo sauce. Cook 1 minute and add drained pasta. Stir gently and cook until the pasta is coated and warmed.
Sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Fillet of Fish Francese
2 servings
Ingredients
¼ cup olive oil
12 ozs white fish filets cut in half (I used triggerfish)
1/4 cup of flour
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 egg
2 tablespoons of heavy cream
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Directions
Pour flour mixed with salt, pepper, and garlic powder in a shallow dish. Whisk egg, cream, lemon juice, and Parmesan cheese in another shallow bowl..
Heat oil in a large skillet.
Dredge the fillets in the flour, make sure you coat both sides and then dip the fish in the egg mixture, and make sure it’s evenly covered.
Repeat with all of the fillets and add to your skillet. Cook each side for 3-4 minutes; you want the bottom of the filet to get lightly brown,
Squash Saute
2 servings
Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/2 medium onion, diced
2 plump garlic cloves, minced
2 medium yellow summer squash, diced
1 small red pepper, diced
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Directions
Heat the olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium heat, and add the onion. Stir often and cook until tender, five to eight minutes, then add the garlic, summer squash, red pepper, and about ½ teaspoon of salt. Turn the heat to medium-high and cook, stirring, until the squash is translucent and the red pepper tender, about 10 minutes. Add freshly ground pepper, taste and adjust salt. Stir in the parsley, and remove from the heat. Serve with the fish.
Air-Fryer Baked Sweet Potato
You may bake the potato in a regular oven at 400 degrees F for 45-50 minutes.
2 servings
Ingredients
1 large sweet potato
1/2 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
Directions
Wash the sweet potato and then poke air holes in the potato with a fork.
Sprinkle them with the olive oil, pepper & salt, then rub evenly on the potato.
Once the potato is coated place it into the basket.
Cook potato at 390 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until fork-tender.
Cut in half and top with a pat of butter.
