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Saturday, February 23, 2013

Lemon Quinoa and Toasted Flax Seeds

 
 
 
 
 
Ingredients:
 
1/3 cup toasted flax seeds (see instructions below).
1 cup quinoa cooked in chicken broth. 
1 lemon, juice and zest
2 cups chicken broth
2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 small onion, chopped
1 large garlic clove, chopped
1/4 cup black olives, chopped
3-4 Tbs parsley, fresh, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup grated cheese, optional
 
 
Directions:
 
Note: Toasting Flax Seed:
Preheat oven to 350 Degrees. Place 1/3 cup flax seeds on cookie sheet. Bake for 4-5 mins, stirring.
 
1.  In medium sauce pan add quinoa, juice from lemon and 2 cups of chicken broth, stir.  Cover and cook until all liquid has cooked out.
2.  In large saute pan, heat olive oil on medium heat.
3.  Add onion and garlic, cook until soft.
4.  Add black olives, parsley, lemon zest, salt and pepper, stir.
5.  Add cooked quinoa and toasted flaxseed to saute pan, stir.
6.  Add grated cheese, stir.  (optional)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


Saturday, February 16, 2013

Ricotta Spaghetti


This is just a recipe I threw together.  The measurements are not exact.
 
 

Ingredients:

1 lbs spaghetti, preparred
1 egg
1 lb ricotta cheese
salt and pepper, to taste
drizzle olive oil
1 garlic clove, chopped
4 Tbs onion, chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes (optional, sun dried tomatoes)
1 bag fresh spinach
2 Tbs fresh basil, diced
1/4 cup grated cheese.
 
1.  Heat large pot of water for pasta, cook pasta (Do not over cook)
2.  In small bowl add egg and ricotta cheese.  Season with salt and pepper (fresh basil and grated cheese, optional)
3.  In large skillet add about 3-4 Tbs olive oil and heat on medium.
4.  Add garlic, onion and tomatoes, stir.
5.  Add spinach and basil.  Cook down for few minutes 
6.  Drain pasta, IMPORTANT:  When draining pasta reserve some hot water in pan (about 1/2 cup)
      (The hot water will assure the egg fully cooking)
7.  Toss spaghetti with ricotta mixture IMMEDIATELY.   (Optional, add olive oil for extra flavor)
8.  Toss, spinach mixture with spaghetti, serve.
9.  Top with additioanl grated cheese.

















Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Shrimp Bisque Scampi




Shrimp Bisque Ingredients:

2 Tbs olive oil
1/3 cup parsnips, chopped
1/3 cup celery, chopped
1/3 cup onion, chopped
2 large garlic clove, chopped
2 Tbs red cherry peppers, chopped
salt and pepper, to taste
1/3 cup vermouth, dry
1 stick butter
12 ozs shrimp, peel and deveined
1 small can tomato paste
4 cups half and half, warm
2 Tbs parsely, fresh chopped
1 tsp lemon zest, grated
2 bay leaves

Directions:

1.  Heat oil in large skillet, low/medium heat.
2.  Add parsnips, celery, onion, garlic and cherry peppers.  Season with salt and pepper.  Cook until soft.
3.  Deglaze pan with vermouth, stir
4.  Add butter and shrimp.  Cook until shrimp turns pink
5.  Add contents of skillet to food processor or blender, puree.  Add back to skillet
6.  Add tomato paste, warm half and half, parsley, zest and bay leaves.  Stir
7.  Simmer on low heat
8.  Remove bay leaves before serving



Shrimp Scampi Ingredients for garnish:

3 Tbs olive oil
1/4 cup onion
1 Tbs garlic clove, chopped
1 Tbs red cherry peppers, chopped
1 Tbs black olives, chopped
8 ozs large jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/8 cup vermouth
2 Tbs diced tomatoes
1/4 cup seasoned bread crumbs
1 1/2 Tbs grated cheese
1 Tbs fresh parsely, chopped
3 Tbs lemon juice


Shrimp Scampi Directions:

1.  Heat oil in medium size skillet, low/medium heat
2.  Add onion, garlic, peppers, olives and shrimp.  Saute until shrimp turns pink
3.  Add vermouth, stir
4.  Add tomatoes, bread crumbs, grated cheese and parsely, toss
5.  Top with lemon juice
6.  Serve as garnish in center of Shrimp Bisque







Friday, February 8, 2013

White Bean Lemon Pasta

 
 
 
1 lb spaghetti, cooked al dente, drained
3 Tbs olive oil
2 large garlic cloves, chopped
1 can white beans, with juice
1/2 stick butter, optional
1 can chicken broth
1/4 cup grated cheese, plus extra for topping
salt and pepper, to taste

Chop and Put aside:
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/4 cup sun dried tomatoes, diced
2 Tbs red cherry peppers, diced
1/4 cup black olives, chopped
1 lemon, zest and juiced
1/3 cup sunflower seeds

Directions:
1.  Boil water for pasta.  Cook pasta.  Drain
2.  While water is boiling for pasta, heat a large skillet (medium heat) with olive oil.
3.  Add garlic and saute for few minutes.
4.  Add beans, with juice and butter, stir.
5.  Add chicken broth and grated cheese, stir.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste. 
6.  Add contents to blend or food processor and puree.  Mash or hand blender works well also.  Lower temperature and simmer
6.  Prep parsley, basil, sun dried tomatoes, cherry peppers, olives and zest.  Set aside.
7.  When pasta is done, drain and add to large skillet with bean puree, toss.  Season, if needed.
8.  Add prepared ingredients and toss.
9.  Squeeze lemon juice on top, toss.
10. Serve with grated cheese and a sprinkle of sunflower seeds, optional.

Note:  This recipe is so versatile.  You can add your favorite ingredients.  I also use artichoke hearts.  Yum!!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Kozy Chicken and Broccoli



Ingredients:
olive oil, for sauteing
8 chicken thighs
1 cup celery, thinly diced
1 cup onion, thinly diced
3 garlic cloves, large, chopped
1/8 cup white cooking wine, for deglazing
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
3 cups broccoli, fresh, chopped
1 (14.5 ounce) can chicken broth
1 large container of Kozy Shack "original" Rice Pudding
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:
1.  In large skillet over medium heat add oil and chicken, cover and cook until done.  Remove from
     pan.  Keep warm.
2.  To skillet add celery, onion and garlic.  Saute until soft.
3.  Add cooking wine to deglaze pan.
4.  Add mushrooms and broccoli, cook until soft.  Add a bit of water, if needed to prevent burning.
5.  In microwavable bowl whisk together broth, rice pudding and cheese.  Heat in microwave for 2
     minutes.
6.  Add chicken back to pan and contents of bowl, stir to blend.
7.  Add salt and pepper, to taste
8.  Simmer until completely hot, stirring.   Serve

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Goat Cheese Crepe Ravioli


Crepes Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1 cup beef broth (from 32 oz carton) remaining broth will be used in sauce
1 cup water
3 eggs, beaten
1/2 tsp salt
cooking spray

Crepe Instructions:
1.  Whisk all ingredients in large mixing bowl
2.  Heat small round non stick pan on low/med heat, sprayed with cooking spray between each crepe
3.  Ladle enough batter to bottom of pan, tilting pan so batter thinly covers bottom of pan
4.  Crepe is finished when it can easily be removed from pan.  To remove gently flip pan over a piece of wax paper so crepe releases from pan.  Seperate each crepe between a clean piece of wax paper.
5.  Cover and put aside
Makes approximately 10 crepes

Goat Cheese Filling:
1/2 cup goat cheese
1/2 cup ricotta cheese
1 egg
1 Tbs fresh chopped parsely
salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions for Goat Cheese mixture:
1.  Mix all ingredients in bowl, refrigerate until ready to use.

Sauce Ingredients:
olive oil for sauteing
2 Tbs butter
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 onion, chopped
3/4 cups raisins or chopped dates
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 tsp fresh rosemary
beef broth, remaining from the 32 oz carton
1/4 cup white cooking wine
2 Tbs flour
8 ozs mushrooms, sliced

Sauce Instructions:
1.  Add oil and butter to large saute pan, heat on med
2.  Add garlic and onion, saute until soft
3.  Add raisins, parsely and rosemary, saute for additional few mins
4.  Add contents of saute pan to small food processor or blender and puree.  Add broth to loosen, if needed.
5.  Add wine to saute pan to deglaze, stir.
6.  Add puree back to saute pan, stir to incorporate
7.  Whisk in flour
8.  Add mushroom, stir
9.  Reduce heat to low and simmer while assembling crepes.

To assemble Crepe Ravioli:  Approximately 10 crepes
1.  With a knife, divide filling in half in bowl.  Each half of filling will make 5 crepes, total of 10
2.  Fill center of each crepe with approx. 1 Tbs of filling. 
3.  Fold one side of crepe over filling, fold opposite side over filling.  Now fold over both ends to center creating a little pillow.
4.  Place folded side down into large, greased baking dish.
5.  Pour sauce over top of crepe ravioli, moving each ravioli gently so sauce gets underneath each ravioli
6.  Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for approx. 30 mins.