Squash Casserole

I'm going to share a super family secret recipe with you. You should feel special. I demand you feel special.



I am not sure of the exact origin of this recipe, but it's a special treat every year when we meet up with the family on vacation. Imagine 10 adults, 7 kids, and a big dish of squash casserole. Some of the kids like it, some don't. We are working on the ones that resist. Resistance is futile. I don't like mayo and I don't like casseroles, but I love this. Go figure.

It's a casserole that is mean to be served as a side dish. Pair it with any type of grilled meat. It's a perfect alternative to coleslaw or potato salad.

2.5-3 pounds yellow squash in medium chunks
1 yellow onion chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
-saute above until slightly mushy with salt and pepper and a little butter.

In a bowl mix:
3/4 cup mayo
1/2 cup milk
1 cup Cheddar cheese
2 eggs beaten
-add cooked mixture and blend.

Cook in oven for 30-40 minutes at 350.

Pi day-Crack Pie

In honor of Pi day my dear friend held a pie party. What a fabulous idea for a party. Every family that comes brings a pie, sweet or savory. The scene when we walked in was treacherous even to the non-dieter. Imagine a large dining room table covered with pies. Evil...... but in a good way.

Baking is my true passion I I love a chance to try something new. So when I read about Momofuku's $44 Crack pie a few months back, I stored it in my recipe binder, waiting for the right event. What better event than Pi day.

Is it worth $44? I'd say no, but perhaps $30 on a good day. Those New Yorkers always have money to burn on tasty treats, so I hear. I warn you, the recipe makes 2 pies. I froze the other. Need to diet for a week before eating another slice. It's a slice of heaven. Darn near crack, if I knew what that was like.

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-crackpierec11-2010feb11,0,5228045.story

Zepp's Coconut Lime rice

Props to my friend Zepp for her super tasty Coconut and Lime rice. She makes hers with brown rice, I tried it with short grain white, as that was what I had on hand. I'm sure either would yield a fantastic finished product. You might need to add more water if it seems too dry. We served it with the Thai Basil Chicken listed below.

Coconut Lime Rice
1 cup dry brown basmati rice
1 can light coconut milk
1/2 cup water
2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
1 1/2 lime zest

-Combine rice, milk. water, and lime juice, bring to boil, cover, reduce heat to low and cook 35-45 minutes until liquid is absorbed and rice is cooked. turn off heat, stir in lime zest, let sit 4-5 min. add additiomal juice if you think it needs it.

Thai Basil Chicken

Another adventure in chicken. What has my life been reduced to?



This recipe was remarkably simple but packed a real flavor punch. The One-Two of chiles and Thai basil. I reserved the chilis and basil out for the kids. My daughter loved it so much she asked for seconds. Always the mark of success. She ate hers with Mae Ploy sweet chile sauce and I added sriracha to mine. Served with coconut rice and steamed broccoli to round out the meal.

Ingredients
2-3 Tbs. peanut oil for stir-frying
10-12 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2-3 shallots, thinly sliced (or substitute with 1/2 cup sliced onion) – optional
1 lb. boneless chicken thighs, coarsely chopped, or cut into small bite-size pieces
12-20 Thai chillies (prik kee noo), cut into very thin rounds; or substitute 4-6 jalapeño cut into large slivers with seeds
2-3 tsp. black soy sauce (the semi-sweet kind)
2 Tbs. fish sauce (nam bplah)
1 cup fresh Thai sweet basil (bai horapa) leaves and flower buds
Dash of ground white pepper

Basil Chicken in Wok
-Prepare the ingredients as instructed. Leave the fresh basil leaves whole; the flower buds may also be used. The dried holy basil will soften when soaked in tap water for about 10 to 15 minutes. Pull off and discard the hard stems. Drain.
-Heat a wok until its surface is smoking hot. Swirl in the oil to coat the wok surface. Wait a few seconds for the oil to heat, then stir in the garlic, followed a few seconds later with the shallots or onion. Stir another 15 to 20 seconds before adding the chicken. Stir-fry 1 to 2 minutes, or until most of the chicken has changed color on the outside and is no longer pink.
-Toss in the chillies. Sprinkle black soy sauce over the mixture and stir-fry for another 15 to 20 seconds. Season to taste with fish sauce, then stir in the fresh basil. Toss well. Stir-fry another 1/2 to 1 minute, or until the basil is wilted and the chicken cooked through. Sprinkle with white pepper.

Macaroni With Four Cheeses

First off, I'll admit my darling husband made this, and not me. It's so wonderfully sinful that it cannot go unmentioned. We both like to cook and often have slightly different ways to reach our destination. He makes a different Mac and Cheese than me, but they are both wonderful. I add the cheese to the sauce, he does not. I once read in a fortune cookie that mac and cheese makes for a happy marriage. Ok, that's not true, but it should be!



4 quarts water
1 tbsp salt
1 lb dried pasta

6 tbsp (3/4 stick) unsalted butter
1/2 cup flour
4 cups milk
2 cups evaporated milk
salt
pepper
pinch nutmeg
1 1/2 cups Gruyere or Swiss
1 1/2 cups Emmethaler or Jack
1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar
1 cup Parmesan

1. Boil pasta as directed by package with 1 tbsp salt in water.
2. Preheat over to 350 degrees and grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.
3. In a heavy saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly for approximately 5 minutes. Add milk and evaporated milk to pan and whisk until smooth. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Continue whisking until sauce has thickened over medium heat, approximately 5 more minutes. Add to cooked pasta directly into baking dish.
4. In a bowl, combine 4 cheeses, then sprinkles evenly over pasta. Bake until cheese melts, about 25 minutes. Serve immediately.

Balsamic-Rosted Chicken

Ever on the quest for a new way to make chicken, as I have mentioned before, I was intrigued with the use of vinegar in this recipe. I love roast chicken, I just do. One of those oft-mentioned comfort foods, I suppose. I have been having a hormonal week, so "going home" with food was just the ticket. The recipe was simple and straight forward, and made a beautifully dark roast. The cookbook is called Foster's Market Cookbook and includes the best ever recipe for yeasty rolls. Yum.



1 Chicken (3.5-4 lbs)
6 sprigs fresh sage
1 lemon, cut in half
1 yellow onion, cut in half
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1/2 white wine (I used vermouth)
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp chopped fresh rosemary
salt and pepper

1. Pre heat oven to 400 degrees
2. Gently loosed skin on clean whole chicken around the breast and thigh area. Place several sprigs of sage between skin and meat.
3. Place the chicken breast side up in a large roasting pan and squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken. Place the lemon halves, along with the onion halves into the cavity of the chicken.
4. Pour vinegar and wine over chicken. Rub the breast with olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Turn the chicken over, breast side down.
5. Roast chicken for 30 minutes, basting occasionally. Turn the chicken breast side up and cook an additional 50-55 minutes, while basting.
6. Let chicken rest 10 minutes and carve.

Quinoa Salad

Just a quicky post, here. Been a bit busy with Valentine's happenings and the like. My current favorite salad deserves a mention. I've been trying to eat healthier, which includes limiting meat to a meal a day. This salad satisfies the basic urge for protein and can be jazzed up in many ways. Fantastic paired with a main dish item, but even better just on it's own.

Quinoa Salad
-1 cup dry Quinoa, cooked per package instructions
-2 tbsp olive oil (preferably the good stuff)
-juice from one lemon
1/2 cup Italian parsley
1/3 cup feta, crumbled
1/2 cup chopped hazelnuts
salt and pepper to taste

While quinoa is still warm, mix in oil and lemon juice, salt and pepper.
Add other ingredients and toss.
Serve at room temp or right out of the fridge.

This is a very adaptable recipe. If you had them around, tomatoes would make a fine addition. You can also substitute almond or walnuts for the hazelnuts.