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Lentil Salad

Lentil Salad
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This is a great way to use cooked lentils. It makes a light and healthy main dish salad.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Lentil Salad
Print Recipe
This is a great way to use cooked lentils. It makes a light and healthy main dish salad.
Servings
2
Servings
2
Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Put rinsed lentils and stock in a medium saucepan. Cover and bring to a boil over medium heat. Remove lid and lower heat to simmer and cook stirring occasionally until stock is absorbed. The lentils should be al dente. Drain any remaining broth once they are cooked to this point. Cool.
  2. Combine the onions, peppers, tomatoes, parsley, and string cheese with the cooled lentils in a large bowl.
  3. Put the lemon juice, garlic, balsamic, pepper, and olive oil in a small jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake until well blended.
  4. Pour the dressing over the lentils and vegetables and toss to combine. cover and chill for several hours. Serve
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Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)

Easter is a time for re-birth and new beginnings. Spring is here for the most part and life begins to move outdoors…finally. When I was growing up, Easter was a special time that was steeped in religious as well as food traditions. Lent ended and with it all the fasting, abstaining and giving things up. To say there was a food frenzy may be a bit of an overstatement, but it was definitely a time for enjoying eating.DIGITAL CAMERA

I loved the Calzone.  We sometimes called it Easter Pie and it was baked on Holy Saturday, not to be eaten until after Easter Sunday mass. It was filled with ricotta and sausage, with egg in every delicious bite. My mother and my aunt both made it and I couldn’t wait for Easter morning to have it. If I timed it right, I could have my mom’s and then go upstairs and have my aunt’s, too. They each had their own version, my aunt’s often having ham and hard-boiled eggs in it.

This is my mother’s recipe.  She would make it every Easter. If I was lucky, I’d have it again at Christmas when her side of the family served it as Egg Pie. Whenever it was made, it was one of the most satisfying dishes I’ve ever had.

Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)
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Servings
8
Servings
8
Calzone (a.k.a. Easter Pie)
Print Recipe
Servings
8
Servings
8
Ingredients
Crust
Filling
Servings:
Instructions
  1. To make the Crust: Sift the dry ingredients together cut in shortening or butter, blending well.
  2. Beat the egg and 2 tablespoons of milk together and add to the dough mixture. Blend well. turn onto a floured surface and knead for one minute. Wrap in plastic and chill for 30 minutes or so.
  3. To make the filling: Cook the sausage and drain on paper towel. Allow to cool. Place the ricotta in a large bowl. Add the beaten eggs, cheese, parsley, and cooled sausage. Stir to gently blend.
  4. Divide dough in half. Roll one half out on floured surface. roll to an even thickness that will fit in a 9 inch pie pan with some overlap. Place in glass pie pan that has been lightly greased.
  5. Spoon the filling into the crust. Roll out the second half of the crust and fit it over the top. Crimp edges to seal well. cut several slashes in the crust.
  6. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. Brush top with beaten egg yolk about 15 minutes before pie is done. crust should be golden brown. remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature. Serve for Easter breakfast or any time you'd like.
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Grape Tomato and Ciliegine Mozzarella Bruschetta

Grape Tomato and Ciliegine Mozzarella Bruschetta
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Servings
8 As an appetizer
Servings
8 As an appetizer
Grape Tomato and Ciliegine Mozzarella Bruschetta
Print Recipe
Servings
8 As an appetizer
Servings
8 As an appetizer
Ingredients
Servings: As an appetizer
Instructions
  1. Put the halved tomatoes into a medium size bowl.
  2. Place the olive oil and garlic in a small pan. Heat over very low heat until the garlic just begins to sizzle. This takes less than 5 minutes and needs to be watched carefully. DO NOT LET THE GARLIC BROWN.
  3. Remove the oil and garlic mixture from the heat and allow to cool to room temperature. Pour over the tomatoes.
  4. Add the ciliegine to the tomato mixture and toss gently to combine.
  5. Add the balsamic using the amount that tastes right to you. Gently stir in the basil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least 4 hours.
  6. This is great as a bruschetta on toasted bread. It also makes a wonderful salad
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Mini Gourmet Tomato Bruschetta

Mini Gourmet Tomato Bruschetta
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Mini Gourmet Tomato Bruschetta
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. Cut the tomatoes into small bite size pieces and put into a medium sized bowl.
  2. Add the shallots and herbs and toss to mix.
  3. Put vinegar, oil, and agave (sugar) in a jar with a tight fitting lid. Shake to blend completely. Pour over the tomatoes and herbs and toss to blend.
  4. Add salt and pepper to taste. Toss again. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Serve on crostini.
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Chicken and Wild Rice Risotto

DIGITAL CAMERAI love Chicken and Wild Rice Soup. I’ve even shared my recipe for it, a beautiful thing, filled with cream and butter. As you may have noticed, my recipes are taking on a lighter healthier attitude, so I DIGITAL CAMERAdecided to see if I could wave the light and healthy magic wand and come up with something new. The result was a one pot meal that had the flavors of my decadent soup with the added benefit of less fat and a five grain rice blend for extra fiber. Oh, and it is eaten with a fork instead of a spoon.

Risotto is a wonderful dish. It is creamy, a little chewy, and very comforting. Light and healthy it is not…usually. I made a few simple changes and a new light dish was born. I started with a rice blend that I found at World Market. Made by “In Harvest,” brown and wild rice combined with red rice, sprouted brown rice and grano (pearled durum wheat) creating an interesting blend. When making risotto traditionally, the rice cooks in a good bit of butter. I opted to spray the rice blend lightly with butter non-stick cooking spray. It imparted a little flavor but mostly kept the rice from sticking to the pan (this is optional).  All told, I used one tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil to saute the vegetables and the rice. For a recipe that serves four, that’s not too bad.

Wine is used to de-glaze the pan as well as providing another layer of flavor. Whatever risotto I make, my wine of choice is dry vermouth, it’s not just for martinis anymore. DIGITAL CAMERA

Dry Vermouth has an herbacious and off dry flavor that enhances whatever it is added to. I’m currently infatuated with Trader Joe’s brand. It is imported from Italy, comes in a full liter bottle and is very reasonably priced. It’s also good on the rocks with a twist of lemon.

I had some Semi-Homemade Chicken Broth in the freezer that provided the bath that cooked the rice. The broth started as a box of chicken stock enhanced with onion, garlic, and herbs that I used to poach chicken for another dish. I strained the broth and froze it for just this kind of occasion.DIGITAL CAMERA

The chicken came from the freezer as well. Saved from a Beer Butt Chicken, it was the perfect protein addition with no effort on my part. Mama D Tip: Any time you are preparing a whole chicken using any technique, always make at least one extra. It doesn’t take any extra time and your future recipes will thank you.

Risotto is a labor of love and takes time to do it right. This version took about an hour because of the rice blend that I used…even using traditional Arborio takes a while, so factor that into your meal planning. Risotto usually has butter, cheese, and sometimes cream added to up the luscious factor. I opted for a small amount of light onion and chive cream cheese spread to give that creamy mouth feel.

All in all I deemed this recipe a success. It gave me the best of all worlds, creamy, healthy and satisfyingDIGITAL CAMERA

 

Chicken and Wild Rice Risotto
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Chicken and Wild Rice Risotto
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Ingredients
Servings:
Instructions
  1. In a large deep fry pan heat the olive oil. add the onion and cook for three minutes until the onion begins to be translucent. Add the carrot and garlic to the pan and cook for 3 minutes more.
  2. Lightly spray the rice mixture with butter flavor spray and toss to coat. Add the rice and seasonings to the pan and cook stirring often for 3 - 5 minutes. Don't let the rice brown!
  3. Carefully add the vermouth to the pan and allow to completely cook into the rice.
  4. Heat the broth to a simmer in a separate pan or use the microwave. Add the broth to the rice mixture a ladle at a time. Allow the rice to soak up the broth before adding more. continue until all the broth is incorporated. The risotto should have a little bite, almost Al Dente.
  5. Depending on the rice blend you use, you may need more or less than the quart of broth. A little water or stock can be added if needed.
  6. Add the cream cheese to the pan and stir to incorporate and allow the cheese to melt. Serve in shallow bowls.
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