Ingredient: fresh parsley, chopped

Chicken & Rice Casserole

The one-dish chicken and rice casserole emerged in the 1950s and 1960s as a popular, economical and convenient meal. The history of this dish is closely tied to the marketing efforts of the Campbell’s Soup Company and the post-World War II desire for easy, time-saving meals. 

Campbells introduced its condensed cream of mushroom and chicken noodle soups in the 1930s. In the 1940s and 1950s, the company’s test kitchens began developing and promoting recipes that used their canned soups as a base, marketing them as time-saving ingredients for busy housewives. The canned soup provided a ready-made, creamy, and flavorful sauce that simplified meal preparation.

These types of casseroles became a staple of North American comfort food, especially popular at communal gatherings like church suppers, potlucks, and family reunions.

Today, the classic Campbell’s chicken and rice casserole remains a well-known recipe, though modern variations often use homemade sauces to avoid processed ingredients. 

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 Chicken & Rice Casserole
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken & rice casserole
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken & rice casserole
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
  2. In a large bowl, mix together rice, soups, onion soup mix, water, garlic, parsley & Worcestershire sauce.
  3. Pour mixture into prepared pan. Press chicken into mixture. Sprinkle with paprika, then cover tightly with foil paper.
  4. Bake 1 1/4 hours. Do NOT open cover during baking time.
  5. Sprinkle with fresh parsley for a garnish.
Recipe Notes
  • Instead of a whole chicken, use whatever pieces you wish either bone-in, skin-on or boneless/skinless, your choice. 

Baked Lobster Tails

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

Food has always been a powerful symbol, especially during rites of passage, such as the start of a new year. It’s hard to know which came first – the belief in the food being lucky, or the tradition of eating it because it was available, and then attaching meaning to it.

New Year’s signifies a new beginning and is a time of renewal and regeneration. Each year people welcome the New Year with a variety of traditions that include fireworks, noisemakers, drinking and making resolutions. New Year’s is celebrated at different times around the globe and in many different ways. However people celebrate, they do so in hopes of ushering in a happy and prosperous new year.

It is a tradition to sing ‘Auld Lang Syne’ on New Year’s Eve. The words to the Scottish song were first published by the poet Robert Burns in 1796. Burns made refinements to the lyrics after hearing it sung by an old man. Guy Lombardo, a Canadian born bandleader, made the song a New Year’s tradition when his orchestra played it each year at the stroke of midnight at the annual New Year’s Eve festivities held at the Roosevelt Grill in New York, and later at the Waldorf Astoria.

People follow certain food traditions for luck on New Year’s Day. What one eats often depends on his or her family heritage. Here are some of the world’s popular culinary traditions for a promising new year. Eating pork and sauerkraut is a German tradition. In the American South, some people eat black-eyed peas and collards, while in Sicily, some people eat lasagna. In Spain and parts of Mexico, it is common to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. In Sweden and Norway, people serve rice pudding with an almond hidden inside. The person who finds the nut will have a year of good fortune.

Not everyone celebrates the New Year on January 1. Koreans celebrate New Year’s during the first three days of January. In China, which follows a lunar calendar, and celebrates the new year in the spring, a parade is led by a silk dragon, which is the Chinese symbol of strength.

People in parts of South America and Mexico wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve to be lucky in love, yellow undies to be lucky with money. The Dutch welcome the new year with fireworks and bonfires of old Christmas trees.

As we welcome the New Year, many of us are looking for ways to start afresh, particularly when it comes to our health and diet. If you’re a seafood enthusiast, the good news is that lobster, a luxurious treat, can be part of your healthy eating plan. Many cultures believe that eating lobsters before midnight on New Year’s Eve is bad luck because they move backwards, therefore setting you up for a year of setbacks. Since Brion & I are having them for a New Year’s Day feast I think we’re safe!

Brion & I would like to wish everyone happiness, health and of course a little good luck in the new year!

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 Baked Lobster Tails
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword baked lobster tails
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword baked lobster tails
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. Using a clean pair of scissors or kitchen shears, cut along the middle of the top of the shell towards the fins of the tail, making sure to cut in a straight line. Do not cut through the end of the tail.
  2. Using a spoon, separate the meat from the two sides of the shell, then lift the meat up and out from inside the shell.
  3. Press the two sides of the shell together, then lay the meat over the seam where the two shells meet.
  4. If you are having difficulty opening the shell up to lift out the meat, flip the tail over and make cuts along the carapace where the legs meet the bottom part tail. This will help break the rigid structure of the shell and allow it to be more flexible.
  5. While cutting through the shell, you may have also cut into the meat, which is perfectly okay. Make a shallow cut through the middle of the lobster meat so that you can peel down the thin layer of meat over the sides. This gives the lobster tail its signature look.
  6. Preheat the oven to 450 F.
  7. In a small bowl, combine the butter, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika, lemon juice, and parsley, then brush the mixture evenly over the lobster meat.
  8. Place the tails onto a baking sheet, then bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, until the lobster is fully cooked but not rubbery.
  9. Nice to serve with a side of rice & some fresh broccoli with lemon wedges.
Recipe Notes
  • 4-6 ounce (113 gm-170 gm) tail serves 1 person
  • 8-10 ounce (226 gm-283 gm) tail serves 1-2 people
  • 12-14 ounce (340 gm-396 gm) tail serves 2-3 people
  • 18+ ounce (510 gm)  tail serves 4+ people

French Country Pate

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!

Pate, or pâté in French, can be a paste, loaf, or pastry type that is filled with ground meat from pork, beef, poultry, fish or from vegetables such as mushrooms. Pâté is commonly associated with French cuisine. However, variations of this dish exist worldwide.

Paté’s roots can be traced back to country sides of northern and central Europe, where it is believed to have developed as a means of preserving the meat of game that could not be kept fresh. In the 16th century, it became popular with French royalty, and in the 17th century, the first recorded pâtés appeared. At its core, pâté was a humble peasant dish, but over the years, French chefs experimented with the form by incorporating different ingredients, and eventually, baking it in pastry dough, or what we know as pâté en croute.

In France, pâté is considered a delicacy and is often served as an appetizer or snack. It is commonly enjoyed with bread and paired with wine or champagne. This dish has many different varieties, each with its unique flavor profile.

Most pâtés are considerably easier to make than you might think. It can be served hot or cold and is an essential requirement with any cheeseboard, served with a thin slice of crusty bread, toast or crackers, tiny pickles and mustard, or as a perfect dinner starter. 

Traditional country-style pâté is defined by its coarse texture and liberal seasoning, which includes onions, garlic and herbs and spices.

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 French Country Pate
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Keyword French country pate
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Course Finger Food Buffet
Cuisine French
Keyword French country pate
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
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Instructions
  1. In 10-inch skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes or until hot. Add onion; cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until onion begins to soften. Stir in herbs de Provence, garlic, salt and pepper; cook 2 minutes. Stir in wine. Increase heat to high; cook 2 to 3 minutes or until no liquid remains in skillet. Cool completely, about 10 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, mix beef, pork, bread crumbs, pine nuts, parsley, chives and cooled onion mixture until thoroughly combined. Shape into 5-inch-long loaf, packing mixture tightly to hold together. Wrap bacon around loaf to cover, with ends of bacon slices all on bottom of loaf.
  3. Place loaf, bacon seam side down, on rack in roasting pan. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until thermometer inserted in center of loaf reads 160°F.
  4. Remove loaf from oven. Cover loosely with tent of foil; cool completely, about 1 hour. Refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight. Using serrated knife, cut into 17 (1/4-inch) slices; cut each slice in half to serve.
  5. To serve, spread a small amount of mustard on a thin slice of French bread. Top with a slice of pâté and serve with a tiny French pickle on the side.
Recipe Notes
  • Add 1 cup water to the roasting pan before baking to prevent drippings from spattering and burning on the oven floor.

Blueberry & Brie Turkey Wellington

SEASON’S GREETINGS!

Christmas is undoubtedly one of the most special holidays, from the religious significance of the holiday to the cultural impact it has, the delicious food, the festive music, and the classic movies. Christmas provides a magical atmosphere that fills homes with warmth and joy. It’s a time to celebrate and appreciate the blessings in our lives and to spread love and kindness to those around us.

Today, December 25, is my sister Rita’s birthday and though it has been many years since we could all be together at this time as a family, her birth date brings many precious memories. Nostalgia is a very strange thing. It pops up when you least expect it. Taste, smell, music can take you right back to a moment. I have fond memories of her Christmas Eve family birthday ‘parties’. On the eve of Christmas, our family would go to church. After returning home, we were joined by some family friends to have birthday cake and homemade root beer. My parents wanted my sister to always have this special time to honor her birthday apart from the Christmas festivities.

At the heart of a memorable dinner is the main entree, so why not make it just a bit more special by serving it ‘En Croute’.  In the culinary arts, the term en croute (pronounced ‘on Kroot’) indicates a food that has been wrapped in a pastry dough and then baked in the oven. Traditionally the type of pastry used was a simple dough called pate pastry. Today, puff pastry is frequently used for most en croute recipes.

The key to preparing items en croute is that however long it takes to cook the pastry until it is golden brown is how long the item will spend in the oven. Some of the best choices are beef tenderloin, salmon or brie cheese, due to the fact they require less time to cook.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, Beef Wellington or as the French called it, ‘Boeuf en Croute’, became very popular. It was an elegant meal, using a beef tenderloin covered with liver pate and wrapped in pastry. My first introduction to this meal was a much more low-key version. It was simply achieved by making a nicely seasoned meatloaf, wrapping it in a basic pastry and baking it. My mother would serve it with tomato soup sauce. Definitely good but not quite the elegance of the true en croute entrees.

I’ve come to realize, there are two turkey ‘camps’ for most people. Those who love a roast turkey for the holiday dinner and those who like to part with tradition and have something different.

Now, I’m not actually in either turkey camp. Sometimes I love a juicy roasted turkey with all the complimentary side dishes. And other times, I crave something a little different but also mixed with a bit of tradition.

This savory blueberry & brie turkey wellington is a perfect showpiece for a holiday meal. Warm, melted cheese and crumbly bacon combined with fresh herbs, blueberries, topped with mushroom duxelle and covered in airy puff pastry. Served with blueberry chutney takes this meal to the next level!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RITA!

LOVE TO YOU & RICK .. WISHING YOU HEALTH & HAPPINESS!

SEASONINGS GREETINGS TO EVERYONE WHO ENJOYS & FOLLOWS OUR BLOG

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 Blueberry & Brie Turkey Wellington
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine British
Keyword blueberry & brie turkey wellington
Servings
Ingredients
Stuffing
Turkey & Prosciutto
Mushroom Duxelle
Blueberry Chutney
Course Main Dish
Cuisine British
Keyword blueberry & brie turkey wellington
Servings
Ingredients
Stuffing
Turkey & Prosciutto
Mushroom Duxelle
Blueberry Chutney
Votes: 1
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Instructions
Stuffing
  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  2. In a medium skillet over medium-high heat, heat olive oil. Add bacon, shallot & garlic; cook, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Stir in thyme, rosemary, ¼ tsp salt & ¼ tsp pepper. Remove from heat; set aside to cool.
  3. Place the turkey breast on a large cutting board. To butterfly the breast, with a sharp knife, slice into the thickest portion of the breast & cut down the length (the side) of the breast, but not all the way through, about ¾ of the way through. You should be able to unfold the turkey breast like a book.
  4. Place the turkey breast in a large zip lock bag. Using a meat mallet, pound out both sides until they are even in thickness, about ¾-1-inch. Sprinkle turkey with remaining salt & pepper.
  5. Place brie slices on one half of the inside of the turkey breast and the cover with the shallot, thyme mixture, blueberries & bacon. Fold the top over onto the bottom, closing it like a book. Gently transfer the turkey breast to a parchment lined baking sheet.
  6. Place prosciutto slices over the top of the turkey breast. If the prosciutto is thin and tears, that’s ok, just continue to layer the prosciutto over the breast, tucking the prosciutto under the breast as needed.
  7. With either 4 – 5 strands of kitchen twine or wooden toothpicks, tie or ‘pick’ the turkey breast. Don’t tie the breast too tight. Just enough to keep it secure.
  8. Place in the turkey breast in the oven & bake for about 35 minutes. The turkey will be par-cooked & needs to cool for about 10-15 minutes. Once cool enough, cut the twine off (or remove picks) the turkey.
Mushroom Duxelle
  1. While the turkey is cooling, make the mushroom duxelle. In a skillet, add olive oil & cook shallots just until they are soft. Then add the mushrooms & fresh herbs. Let the mushrooms cook until soft & wilted & have released some of their liquid. Stir in the garlic & cook a few minutes longer. Then stir in the breadcrumbs & season with salt & pepper.
Pre-Cooking Turkey
  1. When ready, set the oven temperature to 400 F.
  2. Place one sheet of puff pastry on a flat lightly floured surface. Roll it out a bit lengthwise, about 1-inch. Most puff pastry is about 10×15 inches. I roll the pastry out to about 11×16 or 17. Then do the same with the second piece of puff pastry.
  3. Place one sheet of prepared puff pastry onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Then place the cooled par-cooked turkey breast in the center of the puff pastry. With a sharp knife, cut horizontal slits (about 1 inch apart) on the edge of each side of the pastry dough.
  4. Top the turkey breast with the mushroom duxelle, patting it securely into place. Some of the mushroom mixture will tumble off but just put it back on & continue patting it gently until it sticks. Fold each piece of pastry over the turkey breast in a crisscross manner continuing until the breast is completely covered. Tuck the edges of both sides in & pinch them well. Use any extra bits of pastry to make decorations for the top if you like. I used a small holly leaf cookie cutter to make leaves. Use the egg wash to attach your pastry decorations.
  5. Then brush the remaining egg wash over the puff pastry and sprinkle with a little sea salt if you wish. Place in the oven & cook for 70 minutes. The turkey is done when the pastry is a deep golden brown or meat thermometer reads 165 F. Remove the Wellington from the oven & let stand for 10 minutes before cutting.
Blueberry Chutney
  1. While the turkey is roasting, make the blueberry chutney. In a saucepan, combine all chutney ingredients: mix well. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Boil for 1 minute.
Serving
  1. To serve, slice the turkey Wellington & place it on a platter. Drizzle with a little blueberry chutney & serve. Serve the extra chutney on the side.
Recipe Notes

NOTE: This recipe has several steps, but it’s worth the effort. The stuffing as well as the mushroom duxelle can be prepared a day in advance and held in the refrigerator. Prepare chutney, cool & refrigerate until ready to use.

Cheddar Bay Biscuit Shrimp & Lobster Pot Pie

The Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Shrimp & Lobster Pot Pie was first introduced as a limited-time menu item by the restaurant chain in May 2013. The pot pie was part of its ‘Seaside Mix & Match’ promotion. This marked the first time the iconic biscuits were used as a topping for a main dish in the restaurant’s history. The dish featured a creamy sauce with shrimp, lobster, peas, and carrots, topped with the biscuit dough, then baked until golden brown.

The specific Red Lobster menu item was a unique, promotional creation designed to leverage the immense popularity of their free, unlimited biscuits. It has inspired numerous copycat recipes and variations that circulate online, allowing fans to recreate the dish at home using the store-bought Red Lobster biscuit mix.

The biscuits are made with a blend of medium cheddar cheese, garlic, and herbs, finished with a melted butter topping. This rich, savory flavor profile makes them highly addictive and distinct from typical bread or rolls. Being a ‘drop biscuit,’ it gives them a light, fluffy, and airy texture, as opposed to the denser, rolled biscuits. This unique consistency makes them melt-in-your-mouth delicious when served warm.

This copycat recipe checks all the boxes for Brion & I so I had to try it.

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 Cheddar Bay Biscuit Shrimp & Lobster Pot Pie
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword cheddar bay biscuit shrimp & lobster pot pie
Servings
RAMEKINS
Ingredients
Pot Pie Filling
Cheddar Bay Biscuit Topping
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword cheddar bay biscuit shrimp & lobster pot pie
Servings
RAMEKINS
Ingredients
Pot Pie Filling
Cheddar Bay Biscuit Topping
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Instructions
Pot Pie Filling
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F.
  2. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. Add garlic, onion, & celery. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Stir in flour & cook 1 minute, forming a roux.
  3. Slowly whisk in seafood broth & cream. Stir until smooth & slightly thickened, 5–7 minutes. Season with Old Bay, salt & pepper.
  4. Add shrimp & cook 2–3 minutes until pink. Stir in lobster parsley. Remove from heat.
Biscuits
  1. In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, garlic powder & salt. Cut in the grated cold butter until crumbly. Stir in cheddar & herbs. Add milk & mix until just combined. The dough will be sticky.
Assembly
  1. Spoon seafood mixture into 4-12 oz. ramekins or a baking dish. Drop biscuit dough over the top, spreading gently. Bake 20–25 minutes, until biscuits are golden & cooked through. Let rest 5–10 minutes before serving.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf

Chicken parmesan, also known as chicken parmigiana, originated from Italian immigrants in the US in the 1950s. The original version made with eggplant was adapted to use chicken breast instead.

The dish has become a ubiquitous mainstay in Italian American cuisine. Variations exist, but the core ingredients remain the same: chicken breast, breadcrumbs, Italian seasonings, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese.

Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf combines the best of both worlds—the comforting appeal of meatloaf with the irresistible flavors of Chicken Parmesan.

Meatloaf is elemental. It’s enduring, served without undue fuss or expensive implements …. comfort food without a doubt. I think an easy meatloaf recipe is something every home ‘chef’ should have in their arsenal. This particular one consists of seasoned coarsely chopped chicken thighs nestled under a zesty tomato sauce and cheese topping. I find chicken thighs make such a nice tasting option as opposed to regular ground chicken.

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 Chicken Parmesan Meatloaf
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword chicken parmesan meatloaf
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Topping
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Canadian
Keyword chicken parmesan meatloaf
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Topping
Votes: 1
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Line a 8 x 4-inch loaf pan with foil & spray with cooking spray.
  2. In a saucepan, sauté onion & garlic in olive oil until softened. Cool completely.
  3. In a large bowl, mix all meatloaf ingredients just until combined. Place mixture in loaf pan. Using a fork flatten then top with marinara sauce.
  4. Bake 45 minutes.
  5. Combine topping ingredients. Top meatloaf with mozzarella & bread crumb topping. Bake an additional 15 minutes or until center reaches 165 F.
  6. Cool 10 minutes before slicing.

Lebanese Couscous w/ Shrimp & Tomatoes

This flavorful dish not only makes a fabulous midweek meal for four but can be easily multiplied to accommodate more. The quick cooking couscous turns this simple recipe into a one pot wonder with a fusion of flavors.

Shrimp and tomato couscous starts with ‘shrimp stock’. It’s a great way to make sure you get the most out of your shrimp by extracting all the flavor from the shells which then acts as a nice flavor base for your couscous.

Couscous has become one of my favorite pantry staples. It’s quick, convenient, versatile and makes a good alternative to traditional rice or pasta.

There are actually three different kinds of couscous:

Pearl (Israeli) couscous, which resembles tiny pasta shaped like pearls.

Lebanese couscous, also called Moghrabieh, is sold fresh or dried and is the largest in size, similar to a pea. It’s often boiled, drained, and then mixed with oils and spices or added to meats as a tasty starch in hearty stews and braises.

Then, there is the smallest size couscous made of fine granules of durum wheat. This one is associated more with Moroccan cooking.

Couscous used to be hand rolled into tiny pasta. It is now available in instant- cook packages or bulk, where couscous has already been pre-cooked by steaming and then dried. This leaves us with the simple task of re-hydrating in broth.

I guess in some ways this meal kind of mimic’s paella. One thing for sure is that its hearty & very flavorful!

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 Lebanese Couscous w/Shrimp & Tomatoes
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Keyword Lebanese couscous w/ shrimp & tomatoes
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Cuisine Middle Eastern
Keyword Lebanese couscous w/ shrimp & tomatoes
Servings
Ingredients
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Instructions
  1. In a medium stockpot, combine the shrimp shells, clam juice, broth, bay leaves & peppercorns. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for four to five minutes, until the shrimp shells are nice & pink. Pour through a fine-mesh strainer set over a bowl; discard the solids in the strainer.
  2. Season the shrimp with salt & pepper. In a large pot over medium-high (you could re-use the stockpot here), heat one tablespoon of the oil. Add half the shrimp & cook without stirring until well browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a large plate. Repeat with another 1 tablespoon oil and the remaining shrimp.
  3. Return the pot to medium-high. Add 1 tablespoon of the remaining oil. Add the onion, carrot, garlic & 1/2 tsp of salt then cook until softened, 3 to 5 minutes.
  4. Add the tomatoes & couscous. Stir in 2 cups of the shrimp broth. Bring to a simmer and then reduce to medium and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in another cup or so of the broth, return to a simmer and cook, stirring, until most of the liquid is again absorbed, about 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the remaining cup of broth and cook, stirring constantly, until the couscous is tender.
  5. Turn off heat, stir in the shrimp & juices, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, lemon juice & parsley. Cover & let stand until the shrimp are opaque throughout, 5 to 7 minutes. Taste & season with salt & pepper. Garnish with some grated parmesan cheese or sliced green onion if desired.

Roasted Chicken & Veggie Couscous

Couscous is a beloved and popular dish internationally. Although we know it has been around for centuries, its definite origins are unclear. Like pasta, many believe couscous was created in China, while others believe it originated in East Africa. More likely, however, couscous originated in Northern Africa. There is archaeological evidence that dates back to the early 9th century that consists of the kitchen utensil needed to prepare the dish from North Africa.

Over time, the North African staple became popular around Africa, in Andalusia, and the Mediterranean. Economic growth and the development of wheat farming aided in the acceleration and distribution of couscous. With increased migration from North Africa to multiple European destinations, couscous was popularized all around Europe and became very popular internationally, particularly in France.

In Morocco, couscous is a time-honored dish, typically served on Fridays and meant to be eaten with a group of people, either family or friends, or both.

In this recipe, chicken is roasted with assorted veggies, then served atop a mound of light, fluffy steamed couscous.

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 Roasted Chicken & Veggie Couscous
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Moroccan
Keyword roasted chicken & veggie couscous
Servings
Ingredients
Vegetables
Chicken
Couscous
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Moroccan
Keyword roasted chicken & veggie couscous
Servings
Ingredients
Vegetables
Chicken
Couscous
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Chicken
  1. Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a sheet pan with foil.
  2. In a small dish combine all chicken spices. Drizzle chicken quarters with oil & sprinkle seasoning combo evenly over all. Place chicken on sheet pan & roast slowly for about 1 1/2 hours.
Vegetables
  1. In a zip-lock bag, place all prepared veggies. Add olive oil & close bag. Carefully toss veggies. When chicken has been roasting for about 3/4 of an hour, remove from oven & add the veggies to the sheet pan & sprinkle with salt & pepper. Continue to roast until chicken is cooked & veggies are tender crisp. While chicken & veggies are roasting, prepare couscous.
Couscous
  1. Heat the 1/2 tsp of olive oil in a saucepan on medium. Add green onion, cumin, ginger & garlic. Cook & stir for about 3 minutes until green onion is softened.
  2. Add honey. Heat & stir for about 30 seconds until green onion is coated. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Add couscous & the teaspoon of olive oil. Stir. Cover. Remove from heat. Allow to stand for 5 minutes without lifting lid. Fluff with a fork.
  3. Stir in parsley along with salt & pepper to taste.
Serving
  1. In a large serving dish, place couscous on the bottom. Top with roasted veggies & chicken quarters. Drizzle with sweet chili sauce if you prefer.
Recipe Notes
  • If you wish, you could turn the heat up a bit when you add the veggies to the chicken.

1770 House Meatloaf w/ Garlic Sauce

The other day I came across a recipe for meatloaf that certainly seemed like something ‘special’. Years ago, every family had a meatloaf recipe that was so dearly loved, it achieved iconic status. Today, I’m not so sure that is the case anymore. Nevertheless, this recipe was called ‘1770 House Meatloaf’ which made me curious as to what the history was behind it. Most every review raved about it being pure comfort food and much more than just meatloaf.

From my research on this meatloaf I found that the 1770 House is an East Hampton Inn and Restaurant famous for this dish. East Hampton Village on Long Island, New York is a beautiful village. It’s been that way for years with a glorious pond right as you come into town where swans swim in summer and skaters take to the ice in winter.

The 1770 House has welcomed guests with hospitality and comfort, a tradition that continues to attract guests from around the world to the intimate Inn, steps from the heart of East Hampton Village. The venerable home, today a boutique hotel and restaurant, seamlessly integrates historic elegance with luxurious, modern amenities and first-class dining.

This glorious colonial house has two restaurants—a more formal fine dining room on the ground level and, down a flight of stairs, a cozy ‘tavern’ with its roaring fireplace and comfort food menu.  And always, on this seasonally changing menu, there is Chef Kevin Penner’s remarkable meatloaf with its even more remarkable garlic sauce.  

This familiar dish is simple enough that it can be prepared as a weekday meal, but that has been elevated by adding a few key ingredients. The celery and thyme infuse the mix with intense flavor, and the garlic sauce works perfectly. The outcome is a delicious dish with moist texture: not your average meatloaf.

So there you have it …. meatloaf with first-class dining status!

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 1770 House Meatloaf w/ Garlic Sauce
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Course Main Dish
Keyword 1770 House meatloaf w/ garlic sauce
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Garlic Sauce
Course Main Dish
Keyword 1770 House meatloaf w/ garlic sauce
Servings
Ingredients
Meatloaf
Garlic Sauce
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Meatloaf
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 F.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a large (12-inch) sauté pan over medium heat. Add the onion & celery and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the onion is translucent but not browned. Set aside to cool slightly.
  3. Place the beef, veal, pork, parsley, thyme, chives, eggs, milk, salt & pepper in a large mixing bowl. Put the panko in a food processor fitted with the steel blade and process until the panko is finely ground.
  4. Add the onion mixture & the panko to the meat mixture. With clean hands, gently toss the mixture together, making sure it's combined but not compacted.
  5. Place a piece of parchment paper on a sheet pan. Pat the meat into a flat rectangle and then press the sides in until it forms a cylinder down the middle of the pan (this will ensure no air pockets). Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a thermometer inserted in the middle reads 155 F. to 160 F. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 10 minutes. Slice and serve hot with the Garlic Sauce.
Garlic Sauce
  1. Combine the oil & garlic in a small saucepan & bring to a boil. Lower the heat & simmer for 10 -15 minutes, until lightly browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic or it will be bitter. Remove the garlic from the oil and set aside.
  2. Combine the chicken stock, butter & cooked garlic in a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Lower the heat & cook at a full boil for 35 - 40 minutes, until slightly thickened. Mash the garlic with a fork, whisk in 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper & taste for seasonings. Spoon the warm sauce over the meatloaf.
Recipe Notes
  • Since there are just two of us, I made the full recipe then divided the mixture into 3 portions. I baked all 3 & used one for our supper meal today,  froze the second one for a future meal & with the third, I sliced it for 'meatloaf' sandwiches. Doesn't get better than that!

Fruity Roast Chicken w/ Couscous

I’m not sure how far back I came to really enjoy using fig balsamic dressing as a marinade for various roasted meats. This dressing marinade adds a bold, zesty flavor to almost anything. Bursting with fig juice, balsamic vinegar, and herbs and spices. So, it only makes good sense that I take the idea further and test the possibilities of using fig preserves with savory meals.

Most people think of fig jam or preserves as what you find in the middle of a fig newton…basically dried figs and sugar, but a good preserve is a combination of sweet figs with a nice balance of balsamic acidity and the mustard heat lends itself to a whole lot of dishes far beyond a simple cheese plate.  

The flavor of the preserves is more complex and less sweet than most fruit spreads, so it gives you enough of a contrast with salty items without tasting too sugary.

This is the very definition of a winning weeknight chicken dish: quick, sweet and savory, a little something different. The herbs enhance the savory quality of the dish and provide a touch of earthiness to balance the sweet. 

Print Recipe
 Fruity Roast Chicken w/ Couscous
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Course Main Dish
Keyword baked chicken w/ fig preserves
Servings
Ingredients
Chicken
Spicy Fruit Filling
Couscous
Course Main Dish
Keyword baked chicken w/ fig preserves
Servings
Ingredients
Chicken
Spicy Fruit Filling
Couscous
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Fruit Filling
  1. Combine apricots, raisins, apple & orange juice in a small bowl. Season with spices; mix well. Set aside to marinate.
Chicken
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Place chicken thighs in a heavy freezer bag. Gently pound until about 1/4-inch thick. On a sheet of plastic wrap lay out thighs to form a 'solid' piece. Sprinkle chopped fresh herbs over meat (if using). Mound the filling on flattened thighs then using the plastic wrap, roll up, tucking in the ends.
  3. Line a baking sheet with foil & lightly spray center area. Transfer chicken roll to foil & top with fig preserves. Pull foil up around meat to form a catch 'basin' for meat & fruit juices (leave top open).
  4. Roast about 25 minutes until meat is cooked. When you remove it from the oven reserve fruit & meat juices to use over your couscous if you wish. While the meat is cooking, prepare the couscous.
Couscous
  1. Heat first amount of oil in a medium saucepan. Add next 4 ingredients. Cook & stir for about 3 minutes until green onion is softened. Add honey. Heat & stir for about 30 seconds until green onion is coated.
  2. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Add couscous & second amount of olive oil; simmer covered for about 10 minutes. Fluff with fork & stir in remaining 3 ingredients.
  3. Place couscous on a serving plate topped with sliced chicken thigh roll. Serve.