Course: Main Dish

Vegetable Dumpling Soup

Soup season is officially here! This satisfying, hearty vegetable dumpling soup truly creates the perfect cozy vibes this winter.

The exact origin of vegetable dumpling soup is difficult to pinpoint, as dumplings and soups have been staples in many cultures for centuries. Dumplings themselves have a long history, with early versions appearing in China when a physician named Zhang Zhongjing created them to help villagers with frostbite.

Vegetable dumpling soup, as we know it today, likely evolved from these early dumpling recipes, with variations appearing in different cuisines around the world. Here are a few notable examples:

  • Wonton Soup: A Chinese classic, wontons are typically filled with pork, shrimp or vegetables and served in a clear broth.
  • Mandu-guk: A Korean soup featuring mandu (dumplings) filled with meat or vegetables, often served in a beef or anchovy broth.
  • Tortellini in Brodo: An Italian dish where tortellini, small ring-shaped pasta filled with meat or cheese, are served in a rich broth.
  • Xiaolongbao: Also known as soup dumplings, these Chinese dumplings are filled with pork and a gelatinous broth that turns into soup when steamed.
  • Matzo Ball Soup: A traditional Jewish soup with matzo balls (dumplings made from matzo meal) served in a chicken broth.

This vegetable dumpling soup has soft, fluffy, biscuit-like dumplings made with a mixture of flour, baking powder, salt & olive oil. The baking powder in these dumplings is what gives them their lift and results in a light and fluffy texture. The dough is cooked in the flavorful simmering soup, resulting in little balls of deliciousness.

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 Vegetable Dumpling Soup
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword vegetable dumpling soup
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SERVINGS
Ingredients
Soup
Dumplings
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword vegetable dumpling soup
Servings
SERVINGS
Ingredients
Soup
Dumplings
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
Soup
  1. Add all ingredients to a stock pot. Cover & simmer until the vegetables are tender, approximately 2 hours. Stir periodically during cooking time.
  2. During the last ½ hour of the cooking time prepare dumpling dough.
Dumplings
  1. In a small mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder & salt with a spatula. Form a well in the middle of the dry mixture & add olive oil & warm water. Mix until dough forms into a sticky ball. Cover with a dish towel & set aside for about 10 minutes.
  2. During the last 10 minutes of the soup’s cooking time carefully drop in dollops of the dumpling dough, about 1 inch (2-cm) in diameter.
  3. Let dumplings simmer for about 10 minutes, or until chewy and cooked through.
  4. Ladle soup into serving bowls & top with dumplings. Serve hot.

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
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Vegetables
Chicken
Couscous
Course Main Dish
Cuisine Moroccan
Keyword roasted chicken & veggie couscous
Servings
Ingredients
Vegetables
Chicken
Couscous
Votes: 1
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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.

Cheesy Kale & Mushroom Strata

In the beginning, there was kale. From it arose the others, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, collard greens, mustard, kohlrabi, rutabaga, turnips and Bok choy.

Kale is an ancient vegetable that has been enjoyed by humans for centuries. It is thought to have originated in Asia Minor and was brought to Europe by traders and travelers. Kale was a popular crop in medieval times and was often grown in monastery gardens.

In the 18th century, kale became even more popular after it was introduced to North America. There are several different types of kale, each with its own unique flavor and texture. Curly kale is the most common type, and it has a slightly bitter taste. Tuscan kale is a bit sweeter and more tender than curly kale, while Russian kale is the most robust and flavorful of all the varieties.

Kale holds its texture well when cooked, and it can be steamed, stir-fried, roasted, or eaten raw. You can blend it into smoothies, roast it to make kale chips, wilt it into soup, mash it with potatoes or turn it into pesto. You may want to remove the middle rib by hand or with kitchen shears because it can be tough, fibrous and taste bitter.

North Americans know kale well, along with being eaten it is often used to adorn the self-service salad bars across the land, displacing other green adornments because of its resistance to wilting. 

Brion & I enjoyed this cheesy kale and mushroom strata with some roasted sausage.

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 Cheesy Kale & Mushroom Strata
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesy kale & mushroom strata
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword cheesy kale & mushroom strata
Servings
Ingredients
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Instructions
  1. The day before, prepare the strata so it can refrigerate over night. Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Tear the bread into 1 1/2-inch pieces and spread them out over a large baking sheet. Bake the bread chunks in the oven for 8-10 minutes, stirring once half-way through, to partially dry the bread.
  2. Meanwhile, slice the mushrooms, then add them to a large skillet with the butter, minced garlic, some salt and pepper. Sauté the mushrooms over medium heat until they release all their moisture and begin to brown (about 5-7 minutes).
  3. Remove the cooked mushrooms from the skillet and add the kale & leeks along with a couple tablespoons of water (this helps the kale wilt). Sauté the leeks & kale with some salt & pepper (2-3 minutes).
  4. Coat the inside of a 12 cup (10 x 10-inch) casserole dish with butter or non-stick spray. Layer half of the dry bread chunks in the bottom of the dish, then top with half of the mushrooms, half of the kale, and half of the Gruyere. Wiggle the ingredients down between the bread chunks a bit, then repeat all the layers a second time.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon and 1/4 tsp each salt & pepper. Pour the egg mixture over the prepared strata, making sure to drizzle over every surface of the strata, rather than just pouring in one spot. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese. Cover the strata and refrigerate for 8-24 hours.
  6. The next day, allow the strata to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Bake the casserole for 50 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160 F. and the top is deeply golden brown.
  7. Let the strata rest for 10 minutes, then slice into six pieces and serve!

Roasted Turkey Breast ‘Porchetta’ Style

HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY!

The second Monday of October has been the day Canada has celebrated Thanksgiving since 1957. You might say it is synonymous with autumn & the harvest season. For us, it’s a time to be thankful for having the privilege of being Canadian and able to live in such a wonderful country.

I, for one, have always loved the changing seasons. That’s not to say that I like freezing cold and slippery roads but that I have come to understand the important role each one plays in the ‘big picture’. When Brion and I initially landscaped our property, careful consideration was given to what plants were planted. Over the years it has developed into a beautiful tapestry of color through our growing season.

Growing up on the farm, Fall was an especially busy time with the grain crops being harvested, garden vegetables being canned, frozen or just stored for use over the coming months. So much needed to be done before winter would set in. As a teenager it all just seemed like a lot of work. Even as hard as my parents worked at making a living from farming, I think they felt a real sense of satisfaction in what they were able to achieve. Now I realize that even without being aware of it the visual beauty of the farmland at harvest was imprinted on me forever.

Our Thanksgiving meal today was inspired by the traditional Italian pork classic ‘porchetta’, a savory and moist boneless pork roast.

Porchetta is one of Italy’s most famous pork dishes. The term ‘porchetta’ traditionally refers to a whole boned and roasted young pig, specifically one which has been flavored with herbs, garlic and seasoning and cooked until the skin turns to golden crackling. The name of the dish stems from the word ‘porco’, meaning pork. It is a staple of numerous village festivals, fairs, markets, and concerts, when the streets of Rome are packed with food trucks selling this flavorful dish that is usually served on its own or as a filling for sandwiches. Italian immigrants brought the dish to North America in the early 20th century, where it is often referred to as Italian pulled pork.

The key elements of the finished dish are juicy meat, soft fat and crispy crust. In modern Umbrian kitchens, porchetta has expanded beyond pork, so that ‘porchetta-style’ has simply come to mean boneless meat, rolled round garlic and herbs, and roasted.

This ‘turchetta’ or roast turkey breast stuffed and rolled in the style of Tuscan porchetta makes a delicious alternative to ‘the same old Thanksgiving bird‘. 

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 Roasted Turkey Breast 'Porchetta Style
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Course Main Dish
Keyword stuffed porchetta-style turkey breast
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Ingredients
Course Main Dish
Keyword stuffed porchetta-style turkey breast
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 1
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 F.
  2. In a large skillet, cook chopped bacon until golden & starting to crisp. Add butter, onion, celery & garlic. Sauté in bacon drippings until tender & golden.
  3. Toss sautéed veggies with crispy bacon, bread cubes, sage, thyme, rosemary, salt, pepper & chicken broth. Set aside while you prepare chicken breast.
  4. On a cutting board, place butterflied turkey breast & pound with a mallet so that the turkey is of even thickness throughout. Season with salt & pepper. Fill with stuffing, leaving a 1-inch border along the sides.
  5. Starting at the end closest to you, roll the turkey into a tight log shape & tie with twine. Season with salt & pepper & drizzle with a touch of olive oil.
  6. Roast for about 40-45 minutes until skin begins to crisp. On a piece of saran weave together a bacon 'mat'. Remove turkey from oven, cut twine & place turkey breast on the bacon mat. Using saran, turn roast over & tuck ends underneath the turkey breast. If necessary, use toothpicks to keep ends in place. Place in a roasting pan with a wire rack on the bottom to help drain away some of the drippings.
  7. Raise oven temperature to 350 F.
  8. Return turkey breast to oven & roast until turkey reaches an internal temperature of 160 F. & the bacon is crispy.
  9. Allow turkey to rest for 10-15 minutes before slicing & serving.

Chicken Madeira

Wine is not just a beverage with dinner, but can also be a key ingredient in dinner. Madeira wines are known for their versatility. Madeira perfectly complements all sorts of ingredients because of its vast range of wines. It not only adds flavors, but also dimension to the dishes. From soups to stews to desserts, it packs quite a punch and has an intense impact on the final product.

Madeira wine evolved on the island of the same name on the coast of Portugal. It presents different characteristics to all other types of fortified wine due to its specific winemaking process, since it is obtained by intentional heating, and characterized by a distinct ‘baked’ bouquet.

Madeira is classified according to several designations, including vintage, grapes used, and sweetness. There are a few variations on the production method, but Madeira must be oxidized and heated (a process called “maderization,” named after the wine). This makes for a fortified wine that can last for centuries.

Madeira has several taste profiles, but most will have flavors of caramel, walnut oil, peach, hazelnut, orange peel, and burnt sugar.

The first thing to check before cooking a Madeira based dish is what kind of wine does the dish require? It is always safe to use an average blended Madeira. Choose the safest- Finest or Rainwater type. These are packed with flavors and aromas and are typically inexpensive.

A good example is Sandeman Madeira Rainwater. It is light in body but full of flavor. It has a light amber color with golden highlights, as well as clean, nutty aromas. Its flavor is nutty and lightly complex, with a clean finish. This Madeira makes a wonderful accompaniment to a variety of foods and is also a fabulous cooking wine that can be used in various traditional dishes. ‘Rainwater Madeira’ was so named in the 18th century because it is as soft as rainwater and the color of straw, glistening after a shower of rain.

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 Chicken Madeira
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken Madeira
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Ingredients
Chicken
Sauce
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword chicken Madeira
Servings
Ingredients
Chicken
Sauce
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Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan melt 2 tablespoons of butter. Add 1 tablespoon of oil then add the mushrooms to the pan. Cook the mushrooms for about 5 minutes until they become soft.
  2. Add the onions to the pan & cook them along with the mushrooms for about 2-3 minutes. Add garlic & parsley to the pan & sauté them for a minute or two. Then, transfer this mixture to a plate.
  3. Slice the chicken breast in lengthwise strips. Season with garlic powder, Italian seasonings, paprika, salt & pepper.
  4. In the saucepan, melt a tablespoon of butter. Add a tablespoon of oil as well & let the butter foam. Add the chicken breast to the pan & cook it on both sides for 3-4 minutes each until golden brown. When it is cooked, transfer it to the plate with the mushrooms.
  5. In the same pan, pour in the Madeira wine & bring it to a boil. When it has reduced to almost half its volume, add the beef stock & boil it for about 10 minutes until only ¼ of the original volume remains.
  6. Add the heavy cream to the pan & simmer it for 2-3 minutes until it thickens. Sprinkle a pinch of salt & pepper into the pan to add flavor & stir.
  7. Return the cooked chicken to the pan along with the mushrooms. Top it with the shredded mozzarella cheese. Place the pan in the oven broiler and broil it for 2-3 minutes until the cheese has completely melted.
  8. Remove the pan from the oven. Place chicken on a serving platter & garnish with some parsley. Nice served with mashed potatoes.

Whole Roasted Cauliflower

Roasting a whole cauliflower is probably nothing new. One imagines that as long as there has been cauliflower, cooks have been roasting whole heads of it in high heat.

Israeli cuisine is diverse and very vegetable forward. So, it’s no great surprise that an Israeli chef figured out a way to make cauliflower even tastier with a presentation that is equally appropriate served for lunch on Wednesday or as a main dish on a holiday or other special occasion.

A whole roasted cauliflower will take a little more time than roasting florets, but it makes an unbeatable visual impression, and is almost absurdly easy to make.

This easy and delicious whole roasted cauliflower is spread with seasonings and grated Parmesan cheese then oven-roasted to perfection. Serve as a side dish with any number of entrees such as roasted pork loin and baked cod or enjoy as a vegetarian meal.

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 Whole Roasted Cauliflower
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Keyword whole roasted cauliflower
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine Middle Eastern
Keyword whole roasted cauliflower
Servings
Ingredients
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F. Lightly grease a cast iron skillet.
  2. Remove all the outer leaves of the cauliflower & rinse it inside and out. Pat it dry & set it down onto a tea towel to drain off water from the inside, while you prepare the seasoning.
  3. In a small bowl, combine the seasoning, olive oil, minced garlic, & parmesan cheese. Mix well to combine.
  4. Turn the head of cauliflower upside down & carefully cut off most of the thick stem. Make sure not to cut off the area where the florets' stems attach.
  5. Spread the seasoning mix all over the cauliflower starting with the underside. Make sure to get the seasoning on the inside, between the stems to season the inside of the cauliflower. Turn it over & cover the outside of the cauliflower head with seasoning.
  6. Place seasoned cauliflower onto the prepared cast iron pan, stem side down & cover the pan & cauliflower with a sheet of aluminum foil tightly.
  7. Place into the oven and let it cook about 30 minutes.
  8. Take the aluminum foil off, raise the heat of the oven to 400 F. & place the pan with cauliflower back into the oven.
  9. Bake uncovered for another 30 minutes. You can test if the cauliflower is done by inserting the fork and feel how easily it goes in.

Loaded Taco Cabbage Steaks

The concept of ‘loaded cabbage steaks’ is an interesting twist on traditional cabbage dishes and are a tasty alternative to traditional tacos.

Sometimes it’s hard to get excited about cabbage but I think this recipe will change your mind a little bit. Roasting the cabbage provides a subtly sweet flavor. Cabbage is very affordable, mildly flavored and easy to prepare. This recipe involves roasting thick slices of green cabbage with olive oil, salt, and taco seasonings. You can top them with either ground meat or black beans, shredded cheese, diced avocado, sliced cherry tomatoes, and chopped cilantro. Lime crema adds a zesty finish. 

It’s time to elevate cabbage from a humble vegetable side dish to the main attraction with these loaded cabbage steaks!

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 Loaded Taco Cabbage Steaks
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword loaded cabbage steaks
Servings
Ingredients
Taco Seasoning
Cabbage Steaks
Ground Meat
Taco Toppings
Lime Crema
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword loaded cabbage steaks
Servings
Ingredients
Taco Seasoning
Cabbage Steaks
Ground Meat
Taco Toppings
Lime Crema
Votes: 1
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Instructions
Taco Seasoning
  1. In a small dish, combine all ingredients & mix well.
Lime Crema
  1. Whisk together the ingredients using milk to thin out the sauce to your desired consistency. Set aside.
Cabbage Steaks
  1. Preheat oven to 425 F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Keep your cabbage core INTACT, slice your cabbage in half first then into thick slices – ending up with 6-7 slices. Place them on your baking tray & brush both sides of each slice with olive oil. Season with 1/2 of the prepared 'taco seasoning' Roast for 30-35 minutes or until golden.
Ground Meat or Beans
  1. In a large skillet, heat the oil & sauté onion for 2 minutes. Add in the ground meat, using a wooden spoon break everything up until no longer pink & cooked through. Season with remaining taco seasoning. Divide the meat between the roasted cabbage slices then top with the cheese & pop back into the oven until melted – about 5 minutes.
  2. If you're using the beans, simply top the cooked cabbage steaks equally with some beans, covering the cabbage & then top with the shredded cheese. Pop back into the oven until the cheese has melted – 5 minutes.
  3. Remove cabbage steaks from oven & top with tomatoes, avocado & arugula. Drizzle with lime crema & serve hot.

Oktoberfest Roasted Half Chicken – Wiesn Hendl

CELEBRATING OKTOBERFEST (SEPT 21-OCT 6 /2024)

The first Oktoberfest took place in 1810 as part of the celebrations of the wedding between Crown Prince Ludwig, the later King Ludwig I. of Bavaria, and Therese of Sachsen-Hildburghausen.

On October 17 the five-day celebrations ended with a public horse race at a meadow between Munich and Sendling.

Due to the great success of this great conclusion of the ‘October Fest’ the formerly nameless meadow below the Sendling hill became the name ‘Theresens Wiese’ (Therese’s Meadow) in honor of the bride.

After 1815 this name was simplified as ‘Theresienwiese’. As it initially only served the Oktoberfest, besides some agricultural cultivation, the name of the event and its location merged.

As people from Munich like merging syllables just as they like to merge names, sometime later, they would simply go to ‘Wiesn’. Hence, in Munich you literally say, ‘I’m going out to the meadow’ (naus auf d’Wiesn), when you visit the Oktoberfest.

To many Munich locals the focus of the world-famous Oktoberfest isn’t the beer at all, but rather the huge number of rides, rollercoasters, ghost trains, and other funfair attractions that line the festival’s many avenues.

Certainly, of equal importance to the beer is the food, and most beloved of all is the recipe for the famous Oktoberfest Chicken.

‘Wiesnhendl’ means Wiesn chicken which is not a breed in itself. The name actually only indicates the ultimate fate of the chicken – for example to be eaten at the Wiesn.

Not every chicken can be a Wiesn chicken, as it must be born in the second week of August in order to reach the necessary weight for butchering. Only chickens whose star sign is Leo end up at Oktoberfest!  I understand, it’s reasonable to estimate that around 700,000 chickens will meet their golden-brown fate at the Wiesn.

The chicken makes a good choice: it’s easy to prepare in large quantities, can be served in seconds (chicken on the plate, moist towelette on the side) and the diner generally eats it with their fingers, saving on loads of washing up.

The chicken also contains a fairly generous proportion of fat, which helps to extend diners’ beer consumption time by slowing down the absorption of alcohol by the body. Another trick the hosts have is brushing the chicken skin with a salty brine solution to make the skin extra-crisp – as well as making guests extra-thirsty. So, everyone wins.

‘Hendl’, the Bavarian word for chicken, is non-gendered so can refer to a rooster or a hen. The right size and weight to feed two hungry people should be around 1300 grams (about 2.86 lbs.).

Another thing to keep in mind is that you can’t have Oktoberfest without pretzels. Large and soft, they’re the perfect accompaniment to chicken and beer.

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 Oktoberfest Roasted Half Chicken - Wiesn Hendl
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine German
Keyword Wiesenhendl - roasted half chicken
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Ingredients
Chicken
Spiced Butter/Oil
Course Main Dish
Cuisine German
Keyword Wiesenhendl - roasted half chicken
Servings
Ingredients
Chicken
Spiced Butter/Oil
Votes: 1
Rating: 5
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Instructions
  1. Preheat oven to 375 F.
  2. Wash chicken & pat dry with a paper towel. Stuff the cavity with thyme, parsley, garlic & lemon.
  3. Melt the butter, mix in the olive oil & the spices. Place the chicken breast side up onto the rack of a roasting pan. Brush it with the spiced butter/olive oil.
  4. Place in the oven & brush with spiced butter/olive oil again in about 20 minutes. (If the chicken is browning too quickly, tent it with aluminum oil.)
  5. In 40 minutes check the temperature with a meat thermometer. Brush with more spiced butter/olive oil.
  6. Continue cooking until the internal temperature reaches 165 F. If you want crisper skin, turn the heat up or broil for the final few minutes (keep an eye on it).
  7. Place the cooked chicken onto a cutting board with a lip of a cutting board inside a baking sheet (to contain the juices). Allow to rest 5-10 minutes. Cut across lengthwise with a heavy knife, pressing down firmly. Remove the herbs and lemon and serve.

Stuffed Roasted Romas

Anyone growing a vegetable garden will now be reaping the benefits of all your hard work. Have you ever stopped and thought about how many summer vegetables are fantastic for hollowing out and stuffing? Any vegetable with a fairly sturdy shape can become an edible vessel for dinner. All we need to do is scoop out the middle and fill the inside with a stuffing of our choice. A little time in the oven until everything is heated through and dinner is ready!

When my siblings and I were growing up, my mother had many unique ways of teaching us how to take responsibility. On one side of her huge farm vegetable garden, she designated a ‘strip’ each for the three of us older siblings. The strips were each about 4 feet (1.22 m) wide and the length of her garden. The deal was that we could grow whatever we choose to, but it was ours to weed and care for all summer. At the end of the season, it was fun to see who had the most success. One of my sisters absolutely loved to grow pumpkins as they grew fast and large. I can’t really remember my mother stuffing a lot of vegetables but the idea of stuffing ‘things’ always appeals to me.

It’s hard to beat a summer tomato. They’re plump and juicy and filled with sweet and savory notes. You can certainly eat tomatoes in the wintertime, but this is one of those vegetables that showcases its best aromas and flavors in the summertime.

Aside from the visual presentation of a stuffed tomato, there’s the matter of flavor. I think the real beauty of a stuffed tomato is what you put inside it. And to be honest, the sky’s the limit. Any manner of meats, cheeses, carbs, and veggies can make for  great choices. The blended flavors make for some pretty tasty meals.

Whether it’s stuffed cabbage, stuffed zucchini or these stuffed tomatoes, food just tastes better when it comes in an edible package!

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 Stuffed Roasted Romas
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine European
Keyword stuffed tomatoes & roasted potatoes
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine European
Keyword stuffed tomatoes & roasted potatoes
Servings
Ingredients
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Instructions
  1. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil & add ground meat, breaking up the meat with a spatula. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until meat is browned. Drain off any excess grease then add the onion, Italian seasoning & salt to the pan. Cook 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add the garlic & cook for 30 more seconds.
  2. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly butter an 8-inch baking dish.
  3. Turn tomatoes blossom side down to give you a flat bottom. Trim a thin slice off the 'top'. Hollow out the insides of the tomatoes with a knife or grapefruit spoon. Chop pulp finely to be used in filling.
  4. Stir the rice, most of the cheeses (save a bit to top tomatoes with) & tomato pulp into meat mixture. Season to taste with salt & pepper.
  5. Mound the filling mixture evenly into tomato shells. Place remaining filling in the baking dish. Nestle the stuffed tomatoes into it so they will stay upright during baking time.
  6. Bake tomatoes about 15-20 minutes then top with remaining grated cheese. Bake for another couple of minutes until cheese is melted.
  7. Place a bed of arugula on serving plate & top with loose baked ground meat mixture. Place the roasted Romas on top & serve hot.

Chicken Thighs w/ Grapes & Caramelized Onions

September is the bridge between summer and fall. The beginning of the fall season is just around the corner so it’s time to transition meals between the summer and fall. Turn the oven back on to embrace the changing season. For many, this means baking, but there’s also sautéing and slow roasting, braising and boiling. 

It’s National Chicken Month which gives Canadians from coast to coast another reason to celebrate their favorite protein. It’s the time to cook and eat all sorts of chicken dishes in salute of all the hard-working Canadian farm families that raise the chicken we love.

This recipe for skillet chicken with grapes and caramelized onions is an easy recipe that makes a perfect pair for a crisp green salad, quinoa, or fresh bread. Quinoa is still very much a small niche crop in Canada. The search for seed to produce quinoa varieties that can reliably flourish in Canada continues, and it is entrepreneurs as well as research scientists who are leading these efforts. Quinoa is a cool-season crop and is particularly sensitive to heat, which limits the areas of potential commercial production in Canada.

Its popularity skyrocketed in 2006/7 when restaurants began featuring this ancient grain on their menus, and it quickly won over people’s taste buds with its unique flavor and texture profile.

Serving quinoa with this chicken meal really makes it special.

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 Skillet Chicken w/ Grapes & Caramelized Onions
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Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword shillet chicken w/ grapes & caramelized onions
Servings
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
Chicken
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword shillet chicken w/ grapes & caramelized onions
Servings
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
Chicken
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Rating: 5
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Instructions
Caramelized Onions
  1. Heat butter over medium low heat in a heavy ovenproof skillet. Add the onions cook for 20 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. When the onions are a deep golden color, remove from the pan and set aside.
Chicken Thighs
  1. Preheat oven to 350 F.
  2. Combine the flour, salt, chili powder, thyme, allspice, & black pepper. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour mixture, shaking off the excess.
  3. In the same pan as the onions, heat the oil over medium high heat. Add each piece of chicken & fry for a few minutes until golden brown; flip & cook for a few more minutes. Transfer to a plate (it will not be fully cooked at this point, just browned – it will finish cooking in the oven).
  4. Turn the heat down & let the oil cool off a little bit. Add the wine – this will definitely bubble & sizzle! Add the broth & simmer until the mixture is thickened slightly. Add the onions & chicken to the pan. Bake for about 20 minutes.
  5. Remove from the oven, add the grapes, baste with the sauce & bake for another 5-10 minutes. Garnish with parsley and serve.
Recipe Notes
  • To make without using wine:
  • Use 3/4 cup chicken broth (instead of the 1/3 cup wine & 1/4 cup broth). Add remaining flour (leftover from dredging chicken).
  • Make a roux with excess oil in skillet & dredging flour.
  • Add chicken broth & cook until a sauce forms.
  • Add the onions & chicken to the pan & bake as directed above.