March 20, 2011

Sunday
Chicken Salad Pita with Baba Ghanoush
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/chicken-salad-pita-with-baba-ghanoush-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
3 teaspoons dried mint, crumbled
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 cloves garlic, finely minced
Kosher salt
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
4 chicken scallopine (4 to 5 ounces each)
1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 unpeeled kirby cucumber, chopped
Freshly ground pepper
4 pocketless pitas
1/2 cup baba ghanoush (eggplant spread, sold near hummus in the refrigerated section)
2 cups chopped romaine lettuce

Directions
Whisk the vinegar, mint, red pepper flakes, 1 clove garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a shallow dish. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons olive oil. Add the chicken and marinate about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix the tomatoes, cucumber and the remaining 1 clove garlic in a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill the chicken until cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and slice into 1/2-inch-thick strips. Toss with the vegetables.
Brush the pitas with the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil and season with salt. Grill, turning once, until marked. Place a pita on each plate and spread with baba ghanoush. Top with lettuce and chicken salad and drizzle with any juices from the bowl.

Monday
Green Bean and Egg Salad with Goat Cheese Dressing
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/green-bean-and-egg-salad-with-goat-cheese-dressing-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
1 small red onion, halved
3 ounces soft goat cheese
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon horseradish, drained
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
1 pound small red-skinned potatoes, sliced
4 large eggs
8 ounces green beans, trimmed
8 cups mixed salad greens, torn
1 large ripe tomato, halved and thinly sliced

Directions
Thinly slice half the onion; soak in cold water. Mince 1 tablespoon of the remaining onion half; process with the goat cheese, buttermilk, vinegar, olive oil, horseradish, mustard, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste in a blender until smooth. Add 1 tablespoon water if needed.
Put the potatoes in a pot of salted water; bring to a simmer and cook until tender, about 18 minutes. Drain and pat dry. Meanwhile, put the eggs in another pot of salted water; boil for 8 to 10 minutes, then remove to a bowl of cold water. Add the green beans to the same pot of boiling water; cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain, run under cold water and pat dry. Peel and slice the eggs.
Drain the red onion slices. Toss in a bowl with the salad greens, green beans and half of the dressing. Top with the potatoes, tomato and hard-boiled egg slices. Drizzle with the remaining dressing.

Tuesday
Spinach-Orzo Salad with Shrimp
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/spinach-orzo-salad-with-shrimp-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
Kosher salt
1/2 cup orzo
4 cups spinach, thinly sliced
10 medium radishes, quartered
1 small cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
1/2 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced
1/4 cup pitted oil-cured olives, chopped
1/2 cup packed fresh mint, chopped
1/2 cup packed fresh parsley, chopped
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Freshly ground pepper
1 pound medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese

Directions
Preheat the broiler. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the orzo and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain, rinse with cold water and shake dry.
Meanwhile, toss the spinach, radishes, cucumber, onion, olives, mint, parsley and 1/3 cup each lemon juice and olive oil in a large bowl. Add the orzo and season with salt and pepper.
Toss the shrimp with the remaining 2 tablespoons each lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl. Arrange on a foil-lined broiler pan and broil until slightly pink, 1 to 2 minutes. Turn and broil until just cooked through, 2 to 3 more minutes.
Divide the salad among plates. Top with the shrimp, sprinkle with the feta and season with pepper.

Wednesday
Smoked Trout and Potato Salad
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/smoked-trout-and-potato-salad-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1 pound red-skinned potatoes, cut into 1-inch chunks
Kosher salt
1/4 cup creme fraeche or sour cream
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons grainy mustard
3 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1/2 small English cucumber, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced
Freshly ground pepper
1 large bunch watercress, stems trimmed
12 ounces smoked trout, skin removed
Pumpernickel bread and/or pickled beets, for serving (optional)

Directions
Soak the onion slices in a bowl of ice water. Cover the potatoes with water in a pot; add a pinch of salt, cover and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook, uncovered, until tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and let cool slightly; pat dry.
Meanwhile, whisk the creme fraeche, vinegar, olive oil and mustard in a large bowl to make a smooth dressing. Stir in the dill. Drain the onion, pat dry and add to the dressing. Add the potatoes and cucumber, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat.
Divide the watercress among 4 plates and add some potato salad to each. Flake the trout with your fingers and scatter on top. Serve with pumpernickel bread and/or pickled beets, if desired.

Thursday
Slow-Cooker Brisket
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/slow-cooker-brisket-sandwiches-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 5-to-6-pound first-cut or flat-cut brisket, cut into 3 pieces
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
4 cloves garlic, smashed and peeled
1 12-ounce bottle stout beer
4 stalks celery, cut into large pieces
2/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1/3 cup dijon mustard
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon paprika

Directions
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the brisket with salt and pepper, then brown on all sides, about 10 minutes, adding the garlic in the last 2 minutes. Transfer the meat and garlic to a 5-to-6-quart slow cooker. Pour the beer into the skillet and simmer 30 seconds, scraping up the browned bits from the pan; add the beer mixture to the slow cooker.
Nestle the celery around the meat and add the brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, mustard, soy sauce, bay leaves and paprika. Stir, then cover and cook on low 8 hours or on high 6 hours. Transfer the meat to a cutting board and let rest 10 minutes, then thinly slice.

Cole slaw
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dinner-impossible/cole-slaw-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
6 cups shredded cabbage
1 cup shredded carrot
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup white wine vinegar
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/4 cup sugar
Salt and pepper

Directions
In a large bowl, combine cabbage and carrots. In a smaller bowl, make dressing by combining mayonnaise, vinegar, celery seed, sugar, salt and pepper. Toss dressing into cabbage mixture and let chill. Serve in a family style bowl.

Turnip greens
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/neelys/ginas-turnip-greens-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 1/2 pounds turnip greens, washed, stemmed, and chopped
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 cup chicken stock

Directions
Heat olive oil in Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add shallot, garlic and red pepper flakes and saute until tender and fragrant. Add the washed and cleaned turnip greens. Mix together. Cook until they have wilted down, about 3 minutes. Add pepper to taste.
In a small bowl, whisk the Dijon mustard with the chicken stock. Add to the wilted greens and cook until the liquid has all but evaporated.

Friday
Whole-Grain Pasta with Chickpeas and Escarole
(http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/whole-grain-pasta-with-chickpeas-and-escarole-recipe/index.html )
Ingredients
2 cups whole-grain penne
1 head escarole, roughly chopped
4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more to taste
1/4 cup capers, drained and patted dry (optional)
5 cloves garlic, sliced
1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 28-ounce can whole peeled tomatoes, crushed slightly,
liquid reserved
1 15.5-ounce can chickpeas, drained, rinsed and patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 bay leaves
1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus more for garnish

Directions
Cook the pasta according to the package directions; add the escarole during the last 2 minutes, cover and do not stir. Remove the escarole with tongs; set aside. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid. Meanwhile, if you're using capers, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the capers and fry until crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a paper-towel-lined plate.
Add the remaining 3 tablespoons oil to the skillet. Cook the garlic, parsley and red pepper flakes until the garlic toasts slightly, 1 minute. Add the tomatoes, chickpeas, a pinch of salt and the bay leaves. Cook until the tomatoes and chickpeas brown, about 6 minutes. Add the escarole and reserved tomato juice and cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 4 more minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaves.
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce; season with salt and pepper. (If the sauce is thick, add some reserved pasta water.) Stir in the cheese and top with fried capers, if using, and more cheese.

Saturday
BAIDA ROTI - COOKING WITH OLIVE OIL
(http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com )
INGREDIENTS
For roti
Whole wheat or all purpose flour 1 1/2 cup
Salt to taste
Olive oil + shallow frying 1 tablespoon
Baking powder a pinch
Egg 1
For filling
Ground Meat like beef, pork or turkey, 1 cup
Olive oil 2 tablespoon
Onion , grated 1 medium
Green chilli, chopped 2
Garam masala powder 1/4 teaspoon
Fresh coriander leaves, chopped 2 tablespoon
Egg, whisked 8
Salt to taste

METHOD
Sift refined flour into a bowl. Add salt, one tablespoon olive oil, baking powder and egg. Mix well and knead into a soft dough adding water as required. Divide the dough into eight equal portions and roll into round balls. Keep the dough covered with a damp cloth. Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a pan. Add onion and sauté till light brown. Add mutton mince, green chillies and salt. Cover and cook on medium heat for twenty minutes or till the meat is cooked and completely dry. Add garam masala powder and coriander leaves and mix well. Roll out each dough ball into a thin square chapatti/tortilla. Place a tablespoon or two of mince in the centre and pour two tablespoons of beaten egg over it. Fold in sides to make a square packet. Heat a non-stick pan and place the chapatti packet on it. Pour some more beaten egg over and drizzle oil. Slowly turn over and pour a little more of the beaten egg so that the dough-mince packet is covered with egg on all sides. Gently fry on low heat till all the sides are golden and crisp. Cut into half. Serve hot with green chutney.

GREEN CHUTNEY
(http://www.sanjeevkapoor.com/GREEN-CHUTNEY.aspx )
INGREDIENTS
Fresh coriander leaves, roughly chopped 1 cup
Fresh mint leaves, roughly chopped 1/2 cup
Green chillies, chopped 2-3
Salt (kala namak) to taste
Sugar 1/4 teaspoon
Lemon juice 1 teaspoon

METHOD
Grind together coriander leaves, mint leaves and green chillies to a smooth paste using a little water if required. Add black salt and sugar and blend once again. Transfer the chutney into a bowl and mix in the lemon juice.