Garlic Feta Burgers

 

Hey, everyone! How was your weekend? We had a wonderful weekend over here. My mom arrived on Friday night and stayed until Sunday after church. And she brought Nutmeg with her, too! I can't tell you how good it feels to be reunited with our little fur baby after two weeks without her. 

The weather in Iowa was absolutely unreal this weekend, too, so we made the most out of it by spending a lot of time outside. Tennis was played, more than one long walk was taken and we grilled out, too! Since we don't have a deck or much outdoor space in our apartment, Joe and I are stuck grilling on our little baby grill (pictured below), which I realize is incredibly lame. But I'm shocked at how well it works. I think it will have to do until we have a larger place to store a grill. 

I made these Garlic Feta Burgers for my mom and Joe on Saturday night and served myself a veggie burger. And we paired it with a fresh salad and steamed green beans. If the calendar didn't say it was March, I could swear that summer is already here. 

Back to the burgers...

Out of the pound of ground beef that I had on hand, I made three burgers. I seasoned the meat with Worcestershire sauce and salt and pepper, then formed it into six small patties. For the filling, I combined chopped garlic, feta cheese and oregano for a little Mediterranean flair. Then the filling was placed in the center of three of the patties and topped with the remaining patties for a salty, juicy filling. Just be sure to seal the edges of the patties completely in order to be sure the cheese doesn't come in contact with the grill.

The burgers were a huge hit with my mom and Joe, and I enjoyed my veggie burger, too. ;) Now let's bring on summer!

Garlic Feta Burgers

Ingredients

*1 lb. ground beef

*1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

*1/2 teaspoon salt

*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

*2 ounces crumbled feta cheese 

*1 clove garlic, minced 

*1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 

*3 hamburger buns

Instructions

*In a bowl, combine the beef, Worcestershire sauce, salt and ground black pepper. Stir until well combined. Form the meat mixture into six thin patties, about 4- to 5-inches in diameter.

*In a small bowl, combine the feta, garlic and oregano. Place some of the feta mixture into the center of three of the patties. Top each of the feta-topped patties with the remaining patties. Seal the edges tightly with your fingertips to completely cover the cheese. Form the patties into well-formed circles.

*Preheat grill to medium high heat. Grill the burgers for eight to ten minutes, flipping once halfway through cooking. 

*Transfer cooked burgers to buns. Serve immediately.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches

You know me. I'm all about simple weeknight meals. In fact, I think everyone I talk to is looking for more easy meals that don't require a bunch of ingredients or a lot of time. This is especially true when it comes to meat. Being a vegetarian, most of my meals are quick to prepare. Roasted veggies, sauteed tofu, loaded up salads - they're all quick and easy. So it's probably no surprise that I have less patience when cooking meat for the hubs on weeknights.

Before we got married, I had never cooked with a slow cooker. After seven months of being married, I'm not sure I could give mine up. Singe Joe is happy to eat meals that are much heartier than my preferred fare, the slow cooker is my savior. It cooks meat to absolute tenderness and does everything for me while I am away at work.

This 'pulled pork' (I'm using the term loosely for the barbecue purists out there) was a big hit tonight. Yes, it uses bottled barbecue sauce, ketchup and a tenderized pork loin. But it's also practically ready to eat the minute you walk in the door. All you have to do is mix together the ingredients for the sauce and shred the pork. It's really that easy.

And what did I have for dinner you might ask? Greek yogurt, Kashi Go Lean Crunch cereal, peanut butter and mixed berries, of course. :)

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork Sandwiches
*1 Hormel Always Tender Pork Loin (27 ounces)
*1 cup beef broth
*3 cups water
*Salt and black pepper
*1 cup bottled barbecue sauce
*1/2 cup ketchup
*1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
*1 tablespoon brown sugar
*Hamburger buns or kaiser rolls

Instructions
*In a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker, combine the pork loin, broth and water. Set the slow cooker on low. Cover and cook for 8 to 10 hours, until the loin shreds easily when pierced easily with a fork.
*Remove the loin from the slow cooker. Discard the liquid. Place the loin in a large bowl and shred with two forks. Add in the barbecue sauce, ketchup, white wine vinegar and brown sugar and stir into the meat until evenly combined. Transfer shredded pork to buns and serve immediately. Store unused pork in an airtight container in the fridge. Makes 4 to 6 servings

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Maple Glazed Grilled Chicken

Before Joe and I got married, one of my greatest stressors was what we were going to do career-wise. I was working (very happily I might add) in my current job in Des Moines and Joe was searching for a job back in Iowa (he was working in Illinois at the time). Knowing how much we both loved our jobs, I was worried about one of us having to sacrifice a career we loved.

Thankfully, Joe's company ended up giving him a work territory in eastern Iowa, meaning we could live halfway in between his territory and my work. And since that meant I would be over an hour from work, my company allowed me to work two days a week from home in order to save money and my sanity.

Initially, it was a little difficult to adjust to working at home. So many distractions, poor internet connection at home, you get the picture. Thankfully, Joe and I discovered that a building right across the street from our apartment rents out office cubicles. I can promise you that once we decided to rent out a space, my work situation improved immensely. It's so nice to be able to have a little work/life separation during the days I work from home, and I feel as if I get so much more accomplished.

Of course on the days I work from home, I have two extra hours on my hands (!!) In the morning, I use my extra hour to get caught up on blog work, do laundry or clean up around the house. And in the evening, I usually spend my extra hour preparing meals that are a little above and beyond what I would normally make on a weeknight.

This week I put my efforts into making this Maple Glazed Grilled Chicken for Joe*, paired with homemade mashed potatoes, which I never make. The sauce that goes atop these chicken breasts is incredibly easy to make and packed with flavor. If you have even more time to spare, I imagine that this sauce would make a great marinade for the chicken a couple hours before putting it on the grill. But, if you're anything like me, planning that far in advance is not going to happen. In that case, using it as a barbecue sauce (as in the recipe below) works out nicely, too.

*For those of you wondering, I made myself roasted kale and roasted sweet potato fries with cumin and ground mustard.

Maple Glazed Grilled Chicken
Loosely adapted from Cooking Light magazine 
Ingredients
*1 large boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut in half width wise to make two thin chicken breasts
*Salt and ground black pepper
*1/4 cup maple syrup
*1/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
*2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced 
*1 tsp. dried oregano
*1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
*2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 
*1/2 tsp. Worcheshire sauce
*2 tablespoons ketchup

Instructions
*Preheat grill to medium high.
*Meanwhile, season chicken breasts with salt and pepper. Set aside.
*In a medium nonstick skillet over medium high heat, combine the maple syrup, chicken broth, garlic, oregano, Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar. Bring to a simmer, stirring frequently with a silicone pastry brush or rubber spatula. Add in the worcheshire sauce and ketchup and continue to cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until the liquid is reduced slightly and the mixture has thickened to resemble thin barbecue sauce. Remove from heat.
*Brush chicken breasts with some of the sauce. Lightly grease the rack of your grill with nonstick cooking spray.
*Place chicken breasts on grill and brush with some more of the sauce. Grill for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip chicken. Brush with some more of the sauce. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes more or until chicken is cooked through and no pink remains. Remove from grill. Serve with mashed potatoes.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Tamale Casserole

 

Being someone who loves to cook, I didn't anticipate the stress that would come from having to prepare a meal for our little family every night. Before Joey and I got married, dinner used to be the meal I used to round out my day. If I had eaten a lot of fruit for breakfast and lunch, I would choose whole grains and veggies for dinner. And if I was low on protein earlier in the day, dinner would be based around something like beans or a veggie burger. 

But now that I live with a guy who likes a good square meal on the table each night, it's not quite so simple. Meal planning must not be in my DNA because I find the task of finding new weeknight recipes that are quick, simple and healthy a bit of a chore. Anyone with me?

Most weekends when I'm looking for recipes for the week ahead I go to Cooking Light magazine. Their recipes are health conscious, easy to prepare and don't require a host of expensive ingredients. And for someone who is watching their grocery budget that's a major bonus.

I made this Tamale Casserole from Cooking Light for dinner a couple weeks ago and it received rave reviews from Joe. Since he loves casseroles, I searched out a healthier casserole recipe that I could easily make vegetarian. Although the recipe calls for putting chicken atop the entire dish, I left off the chicken on about a third of the pan so I could enjoy it, too.

This dish is dense, flavorful and reheats well the next day as leftovers. And if you make the chicken breasts ahead of time, it comes together in no time at all. While the original recipe called for an entire can of enchilada sauce, I cut it back to a half cup since it seemed like an entire can would make the dish soggy. But if enchilada sauce is your thing, feel free to add more than the half cup I call for. 

Do any of you feel the stress when planning meals for your family during the week? What's your solution?

Tamale Casserole

Adapted slightly from Cooking Light 2010

Ingredients

*1 cup shredded Mexican cheese blend

*1/3 cup fat free milk

*1/4 cup egg substitute

*1 teaspoon ground cumin

*1/8 tsp. ground red pepper

*1 (14 3/4-ounce) can cream-style corn

*1 (8.5-ounce) box corn muffin mix (I used Jiffy brand)

*1 (4-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained 

*1/2 cup enchilada sauce

*2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast

*1/2 cup fat-free sour cream (optional, we didn't use it)

Instructions

*Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside. 

*In a bowl, combine 1/4 cup of the cheese, the milk, egg substitute, cumin, red pepper, cream-style corn and corn muffin mix. Bake for 15 minutes or until set. 

*Remove dish from oven. Pierce the surface liberally with a fork. Pour enchilada sauce on top. Top with the shredded chicken breast and the remaining cheese. Bake for 15 minutes more. Remove from oven and cool for 5 minutes. Cut into squares. Makes 8 servings

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Salmon Salad Pizza

Hey everyone! How was your weekend? Joe and I had friends over on Saturday night to watch the Broncos game and eat chili. And as an added surprise, my mom joined us for the weekend. And although the Broncos lost, it helped to have company (and ice cream) around to keep us from feeling the pain of the loss too much.

And since my mom was around this weekend, we took advantage of having her snap a photo of us that wasn't taken with my computer. All ready to head to church...

Almost every week, Joey and I have homemade pizza for a weekday meal. Typically, our pizzas are of the standard variety - pepperoni and green peppers for Joe and mozzarella and basil for me. But on Friday night we dressed things up (a lot) and made a pizza you can't order from a standard take-out joint.

Inspired by our favorite dinner, salads topped with salmon and feta cheese, Salmon Salad Pizza was born. And boy is it mouthwatering. I cringed a bit at the idea of crumbling half a pound of wild Alaskan salmon atop a pizza, but the fact is it's a really economical way to feed high-quality salmon to a group of people. Instead of needing a pound or more, you can give everyone big salmon flavor for much less.

I was a tad bit skeptical about serving this pizza to Joe. Since he's pretty traditional when it comes to pizza, I wasn't sure if he would jump on board with this unique pie. Turns out, he was just as excited about it as I was. Between the two of us, we came pretty close to finishing up this pizza, with just a couple slices leftover for the weekend.

Salmon Salad Pizza
Ingredients
*1/2 lb. filet wild Alaskan salmon
*1 tablespoon olive oil
*3/4 cup baby spinach leaves, stems removed
*Whole wheat pizza dough for one 12-inch pizza (locals - Gateway Market has the best pre-made dough in Des Moines)
*1/3 cup pesto
*1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
*1/2 of a medium tomato, thinly sliced
*1/2 tsp. dried oregano

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease a pizza pan or dust cornmeal on a baking stone and preheat the stone in the oven. Set aside.
*In a nonstick skillet over medium high heat, heat oil. Cook salmon, about 4 minutes per side. Salmon will not be completely cooked through, which is okay. This will prevent the salmon from being dry once it is cooked on the pizza. Flake salmon into bite-sized pieces. Set aside.
*With the heat still on, cook spinach for 1 to 2 minutes in the remaining oil in the pan. Spinach should be slightly wilted. Remove from heat and set aside.
*Press pizza dough into a 12-inch circle and transfer to baking sheet. Spread dough with the pesto sauce and sprinkle with the feta cheese. Layer tomato slices atop the feta, followed by the flaked salmon. Top with the spinach and sprinkle with the dried oregano.
*Bake pizza for 15 to 18 minutes, or until cheese is melted and dough is golden brown and crisp around the edges. Remove from oven and cut into pieces. Makes 8 slices

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken

 
Hi again! How was your weekend? Joey and I spend a bunch of time watching football, like four games worth. Since it's the playoffs and all, we figure we're justified spending hours on the couch for the next few weekends knowing the dreadful stretch of football-less weekends is coming up quickly.

A tried and true Florida Gators fan, I am still basking in the glow of the Denver Broncos-Pittsburgh Steelers game and the glory that is watching Tim Tebow pass for 316 (!!) yards. Call me obsessed and color me blue and orange.

Since we were watching so much football and entirely too absorbed to cook real meals, I did a little dump-and-stir meal for Sunday lunch that actually turned out to taste fantastic. Or so says my husband, who ate it in front of the television. The chicken was fall-apart tender and the potatoes were soft and spicy. Just the way a no-fuss stew should be. 

Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken
Serves 2 to 3
Ingredients
*2 large boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch cubes
*1 standard-size jar of medium salsa
*1 (8- to 9- ounce) cans corn kernels, drained
*1 large baking potato (russet) cut into cubes
*1/2 cup water
*1/2 tsp. salt
*1 tsp. dried oregano
*Shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
*Additional oregano (optional)

Instructions
*In a 4- to 5-quart slow cooker, combine all the above ingredients except for the cheese and additional dried oregano. Cook on low heat for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, or until the chicken pulls apart easily with a fork and the potatoes are tender.
*Spoon mixture into bowls with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with shredded cheese and additional dried oregano, if desired.

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Easy Three Bean Beef Chili

I can hardly believe that 2012 is already here and 2011 is just a memory. While I spent the most of last week and this past weekend sick with a killer cold, we did manage to have a little bit of fun ringing in the new year.

Joey's sister and brother-in-law, Amber and Jake, along with baby Baylen, as well as Joey's brother, Jason and his fiancé, Ali, all made the trip to Grinnell to stay with us for the long weekend. Since I was a slacker with my camera, I'll have to wait for Amber to send some photos my way before posting a recap of our weekend. Today, since I was still feeling pretty under the weather, we spent most of the day laying low and watching football. It's what Nutmeg does best...

Typically, when we have people over, I stress out about preparing meals. It's not the cooking that gets me worked up as much as the combination of cooking and enjoying myself in the process of it all. I'm a bit of a work in process where entertaining is concerned.

Joey, realizing this, said he wanted me to pick easy meals that didn't require much stressing about. And since I wasn't feeling like myself with this cold, I was more than happy to stick with quick and easy. French toast for breakfast, make your own sandwiches and fresh fruit for lunch, and my mom's chili with homemade cornbread for dinner on New Year's Eve.

Although my mom wouldn't brag about her chili, it really is something special. First, because it's thick, hearty and filling. Second, because it's unbelievably easy and comes together in under 30 minutes. It's easily adaptable for vegetarians, too, if you leave out the ground beef.

Of course, you can make this chili in advance and allow the flavors to meld together as the simmer on the stovetop, it's entirely up to you and when your company wants to eat.

Easy Three Bean Beef Chili
Ingredients
*2 lbs. lean ground beef or ground turkey
*1 large (30 oz.) can crushed tomatoes
*1 (15 oz.) can tomato sauce
*1 (30 oz.) can Mrs. Grimes Chili Beans, undrained
*1 (15 oz.) can black beans, undrained
*1 (15 oz.) can white kidney beans or white great northern beans, undrained
*2 to 3 tablespoons chili powder, depending on how hot you like your chili
*Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
*In a large stockpot over medium high heat, brown ground beef or ground turkey. Drain off fat.
*Add remaining ingredients to the stockpot. Stir to combine. Bring to a simmer. Cover to keep warm until ready to serve.

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Dutch Saucijsjes (aka Dutch Pig in the Blanket)

I'd like to take a minute and introduce you to a very special woman, my grandma Dorothy Bomgaars. Dorothy is my mother's mother and happens to be a very good (Dutch) cook. My mom grew up on a farm in Iowa with four brothers, and my grandma was in charge of feeding a family of seven every day. I can't imagine cooking for that many people every day.

And although she will be 91 in March, my grandma is incredibly sharp and tech-savvy. She reads Espresso and Cream faithfully and has a keen eye for the stock markets.

While I was home in northwest Iowa over Christmas break, my mom suggested we invite my grandma and cousin, Angela, over so my grandma could teach us how to make a very special Dutch food - saucijsjes (pronounced suh-sigh-shees). I grew up eating these Dutch treats. Although I no longer eat them, I thought it would be interesting to learn the tried and true method of making them from my grandma. Since, as we all know, grandmothers make things better than the rest of us do.

Although the name might suggest otherwise, sausijsjes are actually quite simple to make. They are slightly time consuming. But since the recipe actually calls for you to freeze the sausijsjes before baking them, you can make a double batch and store the extras in the freezer for a quick dinner or Sunday brunch.

What makes these little pig in the blankets so special are the nuances in preparation and method. Things I wouldn't have learned unless I had my grandma there as a guide. Since the ultra-flaky pastry is chock full of butter, you have to bake the saucijsjes on a piece of paper sack from a paper grocery bag. The paper absorbs the extra grease and prevents the pastry from getting soggy. And don't even think about skipping the freezing step. It helps the pastry rise and flake when you bake them.

Many of the ingredients we gathered to make the saucijsjes were only available to us because we live in a very Dutch community. At Woudstra Meat Market downtown, you can buy a special meat mixture called 'saucijsje meat', and even the bread-crumbs come from a dutch bread called Rusk, which is crumbled into the meat. I've done my best to adapt the recipe for those of you who don't have access to such specific Dutch ingredients, hoping the results will turn out as delightful for you as they did for us.

Dutch Saucijsjes (aka Dutch Pig in the Blanket)
Ingredients
For the Pastry
*5 cups all-purpose flour
*1 1/2 tsp. salt
*2 tsp. baking powder
*1 Tbsp. sugar
*3 sticks margarine
*1/2 cup shortening/Crisco (my grandma used lard)
*2 eggs, lightly beaten
*1 1/2 cups whole milk

For the Meat Filling
*3 lbs. saucijsje meat (or 1 1/2 lbs. ground beef and 1 1/2 lbs. ground pork)
*2 eggs, lightly beaten
*4 Dutch rusk, finely crumbled (or 2/3 c dry plain bread crumbs)
*1 tsp. dried sage
*3/4 tsp. salt
*1/4 tsp. cracked black pepper

Instructions
*Combine all the ingredients for the meat filling until well combined. FOrm into log-shaped pieces, about 2 inches in length (see second photo). Transfer to a large baking pan. Set aside. You should have around 38 to 40 small meat logs.
*For the dough, in a large bowl combine the flour, salt, baking powder and sugar. Add in the margarine and shortening and blend with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse peas. Add in the egg and milk and stir until well combine. Knead with your hands to form a soft ball of dough.
*Transfer dough to a well-floured countertop and roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness. Cut dough into rectangles big enough to completely cover your meat logs.
*Wrap meat in dough, being careful to seal the seam shut with your fingers by pinching together. Transfer to a baking sheet to freeze, seam side down. Repeat with remaining dough and meat.
*Freeze for at least four hours or up to two months.
*To bake, line a baking pan with a sheet of brown paper grocery sack. Preheat oven to 400°F. Place saucijsjes on baking sheet. Brush with egg whites. Bake for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Makes 40 saucijsjes

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Salad

I got an e-mail from a reader last week asking about how I eat vegetarian even though my hubby doesn't. When we first got married, I was wondering the same thing! Since I do most of the cooking, figuring out how we could still eat healthfully at home within our dietary constraints was up to me.

This salad is a perfect example of how we eat together. My protein source for this dinner salad was tempeh glazed in a super simple sweet and sour sauce. While Joey's protein source was chopped cooked chicken breast cooked in the same method I cooked my tempeh. It's quick swaps like these that make dinnertime in our house easier than it may initially seem.

If you are unfamiliar with tempeh, you can find out more about this vegetarian protein source HERE. It's packed with health benefits, and from a cook's perspective, it's extremely versatile. Crumbled up, it can easily pass for the texture of browned and crumbled ground beef, and it works well as a chicken replacement, as in this recipe.

This salad is a slightly different adaptation of my Autumn Chopped Salad. I know a lot of people have made this recipe after finding it on Pinterest, but mentioned that they wanted it to have a bit more protein. Problem solved!

Sweet and Sour Tempeh Salad
Ingredients
*1/3 cup cubed, raw tempeh
*1 tablespoon low-sodium sweet and sour stir-fry sauce
*1 teaspoon olive oil
*2 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
*1/2 medium pear (firm), chopped into bite-sized pieces
*1 oz. sharp white cheddar cheese, cubed
*1 tablespoon poppyseed dressing
*2 tablespoons light balsamic vinaigrette

Instructions
*Combine the tempeh, sweet and sour sauce, and olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the mixture is bubbly and hot and tempeh is heated through. Remove from heat and set aside.
*In a large salad bowl, combine the lettuce, pear, and cheese. Top with the tempeh.
*In a small cup, combine the poppyseed dressing and balsamic vinaigrette. Pour over the prepared salad. Serve immediately. Makes 1 serving

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Healthier Turkey Meatballs

First off, WOW! I'm trilled that so many of you entered the giveaway. Reading what everyone was thankful for was amazing and really pushed me to think more about what I'm thankful for. The winner of the giveaway is Star Van Gelder. Star, please e-mail me (madisonjanemayberry@gmail.com) and I'll work out the details to get you your knife!

 

One of Joey's all-time favorite meals is spaghetti and meatballs. And although I don't have even an ounce of Italian in me, I do think I make a pretty mean version. Growing up, my favorite meal was when my mom would make what we called porcupine meatballs. They were large meatballs filled with rice and baked in the oven. We actually ate our meatballs with mashed potatoes and steamed veggies instead of atop pasta and it was amazingly delicious.

For the past couple years I've been making meatballs simmered in marinara sauce for optimal flavor and to maintain moisture, which is especially important when you are cooking with something leaner such as ground turkey.

Healthier Turkey Meatballs
Ingredients
*2 slices whole wheat bread
*1/3 cup skim or low-fat milk
*1 large egg, lightly beaten
*1 1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
*1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1 lb. ground turkey
*1 tablespoon olive oil
*1 (28-ounce) jar tomato-basil marinara sauce or other preferred marinara sauce
*4 to 6 servings whole wheat angel hair pasta, prepared according to package instructions (optional)

Instructions
*In a large bowl, soak the whole wheat bread in the milk. Crumble up the bread with your fingers into small pieces. Add in the egg, Italian seasoning, Parmesan cheese, salt and black pepper. Stir to combine. Add in the turkey and work mixture together with your hands until evenly combined.
*Form turkey mixture into meatballs, about 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Set aside.
*In a very large skillet (that has a lid) heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the meatballs to the oil in the pan. Cook about 3 or 4 minutes, flip, and cook an additional 2 to 3 minutes on the second side. Meatballs should have a crisp golden crust on both sides. Add the marinara sauce to the pan and bring the mixture to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium low, cover and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and no pink remains.
*Serve atop the whole wheat angel hair pasta. Top with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.

Happy Cooking!


Madison

You Should Roast a Chicken

Quite often when Joey and I don't feel like cooking (well, when I don't feel like cooking), we pick up a rotisserie chicken at the store and I made a bunch of steamed and roasted veggies for me to eat and for him to pair with his chicken. As someone who knows how easy it is to roast a chicken, buying a rotisserie chicken always kills me inside because I know I could do it better.

Well this past weekend, I finally got my butt to the store and picked up ingredients for a roasted chicken meal. You know the crazy part? I picked up a whole organic roasted chicken, a pound of green beans, two large russet potatoes and an onion for just NINE dollars. Crazy, right? Anyone who says you can't eat well on very little money, or who says that fast food is cheaper than real food, hasn't spent much time at the grocery store or in the kitchen.

Food prices aside, this meal was incredibly easy to make and would be impressive enough to serve for company, or in our case, on a casual Friday night in. Sure, you need a bit of time, but 90% of the time is hands-off. We actually got a workout in while our chicken was roasting, that's how easy it is.

One word to the wise: unless you feel like cleaning your chicken or making something with the giblets, I would recommend buying a chicken that says it is 'without neck and giblets' for the easiest (and much less gross) chicken roasting experience


Easy Roasted Chicken
Ingredients
*2 medium russet potatoes chopped into large bite-sized pieces
*1 tablespoon olive oil 
*1 medium-sized whole chicken without neck or giblets
*1/4 cup mayonnaise
*Salt and black pepper
*2 cloves garlic, minced
*1/2 medium onion, sliced
*Additional salt and ground black pepper

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. Set aside.
*Place potatoes on the baking sheet and drizzle with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and ground black pepper. Set aside.
*Rinse chicken thoroughly making sure to clean the inside cavity. Dry with paper towels and discard paper towels. Place chicken atop some of the potatoes. Rub chicken with mayonnaise. Sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste. Top chicken with the minced garlic.
*Place chicken in the oven and bake for 65 to 75 minutes, adding the onions halfway through cooking. Chicken's juices should run clear when pierced with a fork, potatoes should be crispy brown and the skin of the chicken should be dark golden brown.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Crunchy Pesto Chicken with Caramelized Onions

Last week I came home with a bunch of great ingredients after a photo shoot at work. Any time I come home with food from a shoot it's inspiration for me to do a little cooking so food doesn't go to waste. And since we almost always have meat at the shoot, I make sure to snag some to take home so I can make a special meal for Joe.

I didn't really have a plan for the meal. Instead, I decided to just go with the flow and see what happened. Cooking without a plan or a deadline was so relaxing and so much fun, and I realized I don't do it nearly as often as I should.

Joey was blown away with the results. He kept raving about how this was the best meal I've ever made, and that the recipe was worthy enough to be on a restaurant menu. It's not as healthy as the recipes that I typically make, but for a fun, impressive dinner dish, this chicken totally comes through.

Crunchy Pesto Chicken with Caramelized Onions
Ingredients
*1 medium red onion, peeled and thinly sliced
*3 tablespoons unsalted butter
*1/4 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
*2 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, cut in half widthwise (to make four thin chicken breasts)
*1/3 cup fresh basil leaves
*1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese with Italian herbs
*1/2 cup olive oil
*1 cup panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
*Additional olive oil for frying
*1 cup shredded cheese (I used a mozzarella-cheddar mix)

Instructions
*In a large skillet over medium heat, melted the butter. Add in the onions, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 15 to 20 minutes, or until onions are caramelized and soft. Remove from heat and set aside.
*Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 13x9-inch baking pan or line with aluminum foil. Set aside.
*With a small food processor, blend together the basil, feta cheese and 1/2 cup olive oil and process until mixture is nearly smooth, about 1 minute. Transfer to a shallow bowl. Place panko in a second shallow bowl.
*Dip chicken breasts in the basil mixture to coat both sides, followed by the panko.
*In a large nonstick stillet, heat a couple tablespoons of olive oil over medium high heat. Place chicken breasts, two at a time, in the hot oil, cooking for 2 minutes per side. Chicken does not need to be cooked through. Transfer seared chicken breasts to the prepared baking pan. Top with some of the caramelized onions, followed by some of the shredded cheese.
*Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cheese is melted and chicken is cooked through and no pink remains.

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Homemade Chicken Nuggets and a Winner

Thank you so much to everyone who entered the coffee maker giveaway! Every time I do a giveaway on Espresso and Cream, I'm blown away by the large number of responses, and I was so entertained reading each of your responses about why you need coffee. Glad to know I'm among a group of passionate coffee drinkers. The winner of the giveaway is Em who said:

Please e-mail me (madisonjanemayberry@gmail.com) with your address and I will get your coffee maker in the mail asap!

And in the kitchen today, I've got yet another chicken recipe for you! We cook a lot of chicken at our house since it's one of Joey's favorite types of meat and I actually don't mind cooking it one bit. Although I've been a vegetarian for almost two years, I still enjoy preparing meat-based recipes. Having a hubby who loves to eat meat doesn't hurt either.

Last week we had a bit of a kid-tastic meal when I prepared chicken nuggets for dinner. Of course, the idea of buying packaged chicken nuggets makes my skin crawl so I set out to make my own version with real, white meat chicken and easy-to-identify ingredients.

Since I wanted the chicken nuggets to be light and crunchy, I used Panko bread crumbs, which are a Japanese-style bread crumb that results in a much crunchier coating than traditional Italian-style bread crumbs. These turned out great and we so darn easy to make. Just a few minutes to dip and toss and less than 15 minutes in the oven leaves you with chicken nuggets you can feel good about feeding to your family.

Homemade Chicken Nuggets
*2 large chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
*2 cups Panko (Japanese-style bread crumbs)
*1/2 teaspoon paprika
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1 cup Egg Beaters (liquid egg replacement)
*Ketchup (optional but highly recommended)

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
*In a shallow bowl or large plate, combine the Panko, paprika, salt and black pepper. In a second shallow bowl place the Egg Beaters (you could substitute 3 large eggs beaten together if desired).
*Add chicken pieces to the Egg Beaters in the bowl. Piece by piece, add the egg-coated chicken pieces to the Panko. Toss gently to coat. Transfer coated pieces to the parchment-lined baking sheet.
*Bake chicken nuggets for 10 to 12 minutes, until Panko is browned and chicken is cooked through (165°F internal temperature).
*Serve chicken nuggets with ketchup, if desired. Serves 2.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesean

Typically, I don't set out with the intention of creating gluten-free recipes since I don't follow a gluten-free diet and neither do any of my family members. But as a food editor, I've seen a growing desire from our readers for more gluten-free recipes. Since I'm by no means an expert on the subject of gluten-free eating, it's a bit intimidating to attempt creating recipes that meet the parameters of avoiding all gluten.

In the future, I hope to be able to serve up more gluten-free recipes, since I know a number of Espresso and Cream readers are looking for more recipes of the sort. So when my cousin sent me a few bags of quinoa flour, which is gluten-free, I decided to get to work on playing around with recipes that could be easily adapted from their gluten-packed counterparts.

Chicken Parmesan to the rescue! Although you won't find me eating any chicken these days, Joey absolutely loved this dish. I served it with some veggies and pasta and it was a total hit: easy to prepare for me and super tasty and filling for him. That's a win-win in my book.


Also, if anyone has any good gluten-free text resources (ie: books, informative cookbooks, etc.) about gluten-free recipes and what ingredients contain gluten, please throw them my way. I'm looking for some good resources to add to my collection!

Gluten-Free Chicken Parmesan
Ingredients
*1 tablespoon canola oil 
*1 chicken breast, halved lengthwise into two thinner pieces
*2 heaping tablespoons quinoa flour (you may use all-purpose if you want but it won't be gluten-free)
*1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
*Salt and black pepper
*1/3 cup liquid egg replacement such as Egg Beaters
*2/3 cup pasta sauce (for a list of pasta sauces and other products that are gluten-free and commercially available, I found this site helpful.)
*Additional Parmesan cheese
*1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking pan (I used an 9-inch round cake pan) with aluminum foil. Set aside.
*Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet.
*Meanwhile in a shallow dish combine the quinoa flour, Parmesan cheese, and a dash of salt and black pepper. Pour the liquid egg replacement in a second shallow bowl. Dip the chicken breast halves into the egg mixture to coat on both sides. Transfer to the flour/Parmesan mixture and cover on both sides.
*Add chicken pieces to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes per side. Just enough to brown the chicken but not cook it completely through.
*Transfer chicken to the foil-lined baking pan. Top with the pasta sauce, spreading the sauce evenly atop the chicken. Cook for another 15 to 20 minutes, until pasta sauce is bubbly and chicken is cooked through. Remove from oven and top with additional Parmesan cheese and the dried Italian seasoning.

Happy Cooking!

Madison

Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese

The road warriors are back from Chicago! We traveled across the state of Iowa and over to Illinois for the weekend to stay with my sister-in-law (Joey's sister) Amber and her hubby Jake. They are expecting a baby in a little over four weeks so this will most likely be the last time we see them until the baby arrives. So darn exciting! The other purpose of our trip was to watch Jason, Joey's brother, play football. He's a senior in college so we are going to try and make it to as many games as possible this season.

Before we headed out for the weekend, I found myself with a bag of quinoa pasta on my hands (more on that later). Paired with a block of cheese, it seemed like the perfect excuse to make a slightly healthier version of macaroni and cheese. I'm a sucker for a good homemade version of the cheesy stuff and figured Cooking Light would be the best place to start looking for a recipe.

Of course, they did not disappoint. The original recipe wasn't gluten-free, but making a few small alterations quickly turned things around. I also added in some creamy Dijon mustard and paprika for a bit of tang and dimension and sharp white cheddar cheese for another punch of flavor.

After making the stovetop recipe, I spooned the mixture into four ramekins and covered the ramekins with aluminum foil. When we returned from our trip, dinner was ready to be heated up in the microwave and finished in the oven, just be sure not to top with cracker crumbs and broil until you are ready to eat.

Personally, I find the best way to eat this dish is when paired with a large side of steamed broccoli to balance out all the cheese. What's your favorite mac and cheese add-in?

Updated 9.13 to Note: Reader Jennifer sent me a very kind and insightful e-mail after I originally posted this recipe (which called for gluten-free whole wheat crackers) letting me know that such a thing doesn't exists since it is made with wheat, which contains gluten. She is completely right and I've made changes to the recipe to reflect this. 

Gluten-Free Mac and Cheese
Recipe adapted from Cooking Light  

Ingredients
*1 1/4 cups quinoa (or other gluten-free pasta) elbow macaroni pasta
*1 cup 1% milk
*2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
*1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
*1/4 teaspoon paprika 
*3/4 cup shredded sharp white cheddar cheese
*1/2 cup shredded gruyere cheese 
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1/8 teaspoon black pepper
*Crushed gluten-free crackers (optional)

Instructions
*Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
*Combine milk and flour in a medium saucepan, stirring with a whisk. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes or until mixture is thickened, stirring constantly. Add in the mustard, paprika, shredded cheddar cheese, salt and black pepper. Stir until the cheese is melted and mixture is smooth. Remove from heat.
*Add pasta to the cheese mixture and stir gently until evenly coated. Spoon pasta mixture into four ramekins. Top with crushed crackers, if desired.
*Preheat broiler. Broil mac and cheese for 1 minute. Remove from heat and serve immediately.

Happy cooking!

Madison

Lemon Brown Sugar Chicken

Note: If you haven't gotten around to bidding on the amazing gift basket we are auctioning off, you can do so HERE. The proceeds go toward a great cause and the basket is amazing!

No, your eyes aren't fooling you. This is a picture, and a recipe for, chicken. But before you jump to conclusions, I should tell you that this chicken wasn't for me, but for my husband. You see, Joey has no intention of going vegetarian, so we've fallen into a pretty nice routine when it comes to our 'flexitrian' lifestyle. I plan meals that are either vegetarian by nature or could easily be vegetarian, then think about how I will add in the meat-based protein for Joey.

This week, our meals are planned out something like this:
Monday: Ate at Texas Road House since we were in Des Moines for an appointment. They have great steamed veggies (ask for them without the butter) and baked potatoes (ask for it with the butter and sour cream on the side)
Tuesday: Dinner-sized salads with crumbled feta cheese, chopped almonds, steamed broccoli and tossed with a mix of balsamic and poppy seed dressing. Topped with beer-poached salmon.
Wednesday: Fajita night! Whole wheat tortillas, sauteed onions, peppers and mushrooms. Baked, sliced chicken breast simmered in taco seasoning. Chopped lettuce and tomatoes. Salsa.
Thursday: Burgers! Veggie burger for her and beef burger for him. Whole wheat buns and cheddar cheese. Steamed broccoli. Sun Chips for him.
Friday: Grub Plate: which will most likely consist of throwing together all the items we have in our fridge that didn't get eaten during the week: a bit of sliced cheese, some crackers, sliced veggies and small salads with the last of our lettuce

This recipe for Lemon Brown Sugar Chicken, courtesy of Jenna over at Eat Live Run, was a big hit last week and sure to be a staple when I'm preparing chicken in the future. Joey's a huge fan of Chinese food, particularly orange chicken, and said this tastes remarkably similar. The major differences between this and purchased orange chicken being that it's much healthier and a whole lot cheaper to make. It's a win-win, if you ask me!

Lemon Brown Sugar Chicken
Recipe from Eat Live Run 

Ingredients
*1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
*Juice of one large lemon
*1 tablespoon lemon zest
*1 cup flour
*2 teaspoons paprika
*1 teaspoon sea salt
*1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil
*2 tablespoons brown sugar

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 350°F.
*Using a meat mallet (or ice cream scoop), pound the chicken breasts thin. Set aside.
*Combine the flour, paprika and salt in a large shallow bowl and stir to combine. Dip the chicken breasts into the flour mixture to evenly coat.
*Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the chicken breasts, cooking two minutes per side. You are just browning the outsides, not cooking completely through. Remove from pan and set aside.
*Pour the lemon juice into the pan and stir to de-glaze the pan. Put chicken breast in a casserole dish and pour lemon juice mixture on top. Sprinkle with brown sugar and lemon zest. Bake for 30 minutes or until temperature reaches 165°F.

Happy Cooking!
Madison

His and Hers Greek Salad

Last night I finally made it to the grocery store with Joey and made my first meal in our new kitchen! I'll admit, the idea of having to plan meals every night and think about what I was going to buy at the grocery store in a more thoughtful manner instead of just winging it concerned me a bit. And no one prepared me for how much milk men go through in a single week!

I never really anticipated being the type to meal plan for the week, but I realized yesterday that planning ahead would keep me much more sane and keep some variety in our mealtimes.

Monday night's dinner was on the light and fresh side since it was a scorching 99°F yesterday with no relief in sight for the next few days. While Joey washed the cars, I made this His and Hers Greek Salad. Named because Joey's (his) was topped with baked seasoned chicken breast and mine (hers) was sans-chicken. And easy, fresh way to find compromise between our two eating styles.

His and Hers Greek Salad (for two)
Ingredients
*1 chicken breast, cut in half lengthwise into two thinner pieces
*2 teaspoons olive oil
*1/4 teaspoons Italian seasoning mix
*Salt and black pepper
*3 to 4 cups chopped Romaine lettuce
*1/2 medium cucumber, chopped
*2 tomatoes, chopped
*1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
*4 tablespoons Greek-style salad dressing

Instructions
*Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking pan with aluminum foil. Place chicken breast on foil and drizzle with the olive oil, Italian seasoning mix, salt and black pepper. Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
*Meanwhile, in a large bowl, combine the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese. Toss with the dressing and divide between two bowls.
*Top one (or two) of the bowls with the chicken breast and serve.

Happy cooking!

Madison

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers for One (or more)

Thank you, truly, for all your sweet comments, Tweets, and e-mails about my meltdown! I'm so blessed to be able to share this little space on the web with you all and Espresso and Cream is a blessing to me even on my less than wonderful days.

Lately, I've been trying to make an effort to reduce food waste at my house. More often than not, I find myself bringing home new groceries only to throw away produce that didn't get eaten the previous week. And boy do I hate that.

Working on reducing food waste has helped me create more interesting meals on the weeknights, throwing together a random assortment of fruits, veggies and grains, and also results in Joey looking into my fridge and telling me there's nothing to eat.

Wednesday's nights dinner was a product of project no-food-left-behind. With one sweet pepper on its last leg, a small spear of cheese and a half-empty bottle or marinara sauce waiting to be used up, I knew I needed to come up with something fast.

And while I was wary of these peppers as I sat down to dinner (I'm not usually a stuffed pepper or tomato person), I was immediately sucked in upon first bite. The flavors were spot-on and the hefty dose of protein from the tofu and quinoa was just what I needed after a long run that morning. Bonus: these could easily be adapted for more people, and non vegetarians, too, by doubling or tripling the recipe and swapping ground beef or turkey in for the tofu. Take your pick!

Vegetarian Stuffed Peppers for One (or more)

Ingredients
*1 red, yellow or orange sweet pepper, top cut off and seeded 
*1 (3.5-ounce) block of pre-baked tofu (I get mine at Trader Joe's) or 1/2 cup ground beef, if making for someone who prefers a non-vegetarian meal (cough cough Joey)
*1/3 cup cooked quinoa or brown rice
*3 Tablespoons marinara sauce
*1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
*1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
*1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
*2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
*In a small saucepan, bring two cups of water to boiling. Add the sweet pepper and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from water and dry the inside with a paper towel.
*Preheat oven to 400°F. In a small bowl, combine the tofu, cooked quinoa or rice, marinara sauce, salt, balsamic vinegar, black pepper, and shredded cheddar cheese. Spoon into the center of the pepper. Top with the grated Parmesan cheese.
*Place on a baking sheet and bake in the oven to 10 to 15 minutes, until cheese is melted and filling is hot. Serve immediately, or cool, cover with plastic wrap and re-heat in the microwave when ready to eat for 2 to 3 minutes.

Happy Cooking!
Madison

Unda-Style Avocado Quesadillas

 

Thank you all so much for your enthusiastic response to the 'healthified' recipe project! Between your comments and e-mails, I now have a full list of recipes to choose from. My plan is to slowly work through the recipes over the next couple months, but bear with me if I'm a little slow at getting to your recipe or suggestion. Things are a little crazy over here.

While I'm 100% over the moon about getting married, I've started to realize that it takes significantly more work to prepare dinner in a mixed veg-carnivore home. Because it takes a little more planning, and because we don't have a single, combined kitchen right now, Joey and I have defaulted to going out to eat on the weekends more times than I'd like to admit.

I'm not entirely sure what that has to do with these Unda-Style Avocado Quesadillas, inspired heavily by 101 Cookbooks. I guess it's just the fact that I'm now constantly thinking about how I would make the meals I eat into something Joey could get excited about, too. 

Take, for example, these quesadillas. Unda-style is a term used for when you cook an egg on one side of your flatbread, quesadilla, crepe...you name it. Basically it's code for pure flavor nirvana. I guess you could say it's the vegetarian's quivalent to an egg atop a juicy burger. 

My man-adaptation for this recipe would probably include a little bit of shredded chicken in between the layers of tortilla and egg, or perhaps a bit of ground beef tossed with some cumin and coriander for an extra kick of flavor. And if I were feeling ambitious, some flaked white fish would make a light and fresh addition. 

For me, they were perfect on their own. No addition of meat necessary. 

Those of you who are married or dating: Did you find it difficult to combine your eating style with your significant others'?

Unda-Style Avocado Quesadillas 

Ingredients

*1 large egg + 1 egg white

*Salt and freshly cracked black pepper

*1 whole wheat tortilla

*1/4 cup crumbled Cotija or feta cheese

*1/2 avocado, mashed

*1/3 cup marinara sauce or salsa 

Instructions

*In a small bowl, beat together the egg and egg white until very well combined. Sprinkle with salt and stir to combine. 

*Heat a small amount of butter or oil in a small nonstick skillet over medium high heat. Add egg to skillet and cook 2 minutes, until egg is set on the bottom but still soft on top. Place the whole wheat tortilla atop the soft egg in pan. Flip the egg and tortilla so the tortilla is on the bottom. 

*Fill with crumbled cheese and mashed avocado on one half of the egg. Fold in half. Continue to cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to plate.

*Top with the marinara sauce or salsa and additional salt and black pepper, if desired. 

Happy Cooking!

Madison 

Brown Butter Angel Hair Pasta

Note: In light of the recent tragedies in Japan, I am thinking of putting together a virtual bake sale with the proceeds going to disaster relief. If this is something you would be interested in participating in, please send me an e-mail (madisonjanemayberry@gmail.com) so I can gauge interest. 

Daylight savings time and a hectic week are really cramping my photo schedule. So instead of bathing my recipes in morning light, I'm photographing my recipe under artificial light in my pajamas at 5:45 in the morning. It's a glamorous life, indeed.

But if you can manage to look past the bad lighting, this recipe is a true gem. Ever since reader Colleen said her favorite comfort food was spaghetti with Parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, I had the idea for this pasta on my mind. Pasta, dressed with a delicate, savory browned butter sauce. Peppered with notes of sage and salty Parmesan cheese.

Health food? No. A divine indulgence? You better believe it.

Brown Butter Angel Hair Pasta
Be careful not to over brown the butter. A couple more minutes after the butter is melted should be enough to give you the flavor and color you're looking for. 

Ingredients 
*2 oz (1 serving) angel hair pasta
*3 Tbsp. salted butter
*Kosher salt
*1/8 tsp. rubbed sage
*Grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions
*Prepare pasta according to package directions. Drain and keep warm.
*In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-low heat. Once melted, continue to cook, swirling frequently, until butter begins to brown and turns a light amber color, about 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in salt to taste, the sage and 1/2 tsp. Parmesan cheese. Stir to combine.
*Pour butter sauce over pasta and sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and kosher salt, if desired.

Happy cooking!

Madison