Thursday, May 30, 2013

I was inspired! Bon Appetit - Tomato Cheddar Pie and Rosemary Grilled Chicken

Early in May the Weekend Cooking series over at Beth Fish Reads had a feature on Bon Appetit. That was inspiring....so much so that we recently made a menu of Bon Appetit's Tomato Cheddar Pie and Rosemary Grilled Chicken. Let's look at the meal with photos first then I will share two lovely and easy recipes with you...at the end.



This prep part is quick and easy.



The wafting aromas of rosemary and charcoal made you instantly ravenous. There is nothing like chicken sizzling away on a charcoal grill.



The tomato cheddar pie looks like a little pizza. You can pick up slices as you would a pizza too. It's messy that way but we don't stand on ceremony here :-)



Here is a link and lovely photo (courtesy of the folks at Bon Appetit) for the recipe for Grilled Rosemary Chicken

And below is the recipe for a summery side dish or light lunch:

Tomato and Cheddar Pie

Ingredients

Crust
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons(3/4 stick) chilled unsalted butter, cut into 1/2" cubes
3/4 cup buttermilk

Filling
2 pounds large ripe tomatoes, cored and cut into 1/4" slices
2 ½ cupscoarsely grated extra-sharp cheddar (8-9 ounces)
¼ cup finely grated Parmesan (1/2 ounce)
1 scallion, trimmed, chopped
½ cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
3/4teaspoon kosher salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 1/2tablespoons cornmeal

Use a 9"-diameter glass or ceramic pie dish

Preparation

For the Crust (* If you are in a hurry use the pre-made crust available in your dairy cases at the market)

Whisk first 4 ingredients in a medium bowl. Using your fingertips, rub in butter until coarse meal forms and some small lumps remain. Stir in buttermilk and knead gently with your hands until dough forms. Wrap dough in plastic and chill for 1 hour.

For the Filling
Lay tomatoes in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with 2 layers of paper towels. Place another 2 layers of paper towels on top of tomatoes. Let stand for 30 minutes to drain.

Preheat oven to 425°. Roll out dough between 2 sheets of plastic wrap to an 11" round. Remove top layer of plastic wrap. Invert dough onto pie dish. Carefully peel off plastic wrap.

Toss both cheeses in a medium bowl until evenly incorporated. Reserve 1/4 cup of cheese mixture. Whisk scallion, mayonnaise, dill, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Sprinkle cornmeal evenly over bottom of crust, then top with 1/2 cup cheese mixture. Arrange 1/3 of tomatoes over cheese, overlapping as needed. Spread half of mayonnaise mixture (about 1/3 cup) over. Repeat layering with 1 cup of cheese mixture, 1/2 of remaining tomato slices, and remaining mayonnaise mixture. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese mixture over, then remaining tomato slices. Sprinkle with reserved 1/4 cup cheese mixture. Fold overhanging crust up and over edges of tomato slices.

Bake pie until crust is golden and cheese is golden brown, 35-40 minutes (check crust halfway and tent with foil if it's getting too dark). It is recommended you allow the pie to sit and cool for at least 1 hour before slicing and serving. There wasn’t any question about this – that baby was cut and served after 20 minutes tops! It may not come out in perfect slices if you don’t cool completely but, who cares!

Adding my review to Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking Series and Cream Puffs in Venice for her roundup of Magazine Monday. These recipes are from Bon Appetit, August 2011 issue.



Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

This past weekend - Family Time!

How was your weekend...the last one, Memorial day weekend? When I am in line at a store and hear people bitching about some little thing that wasn't in stock (or whatever is griping them) I find it sad they don't remember it isn't just a long weekend or an extra day off. It's a time to honor our men and women who have died while serving our country, a day memorialized since the time of the US Civil War. Thank you.

Anyway, as it was a long weekend, we had the pleasure of seeing our son. We had a great time with Tristan even though it was a short visit. It's just never enough time but let me tell you, we packed quite a bit into the short period. Had a blast! Saturday we drove to the Otter Creek shooting range. This is where Wakulla County Sheriff's Office trains.

Here we are, Tristan spotting for me while I took a few shots with the AR 15.



Some father and son time here..............



A few photos of the guys using a Springfield 40 cal, Glocks and the rifle. Check out the shibas looking into Tristan's backpack. Nosy critters...




The pater familias...



We made cookies which I will share with you later. The recipe I mean...cause the cookies are now gone. :-)




Kobe was sad to see Tristan leave.............his paws are so white they blend with his snout. Funny.



I don't have photos of the wonderful BBQ meal we had at Hamaknockers in Crawfordville but if you are ever in the area, I have to recommend you stopping there and ordering the brisket or pulled pork. Fantastic food and has ruined me for any other BBQ place available locally.


Sunday, May 26, 2013

Potluck for IHCC: Penne with sausage, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes

Are you off for Memorial Day weekend? We have a glorious 3 day weekend and we are very fortunate to have our son home for part of it. He serves in the Army and I am very, very proud of him.

This dish below was a contender for the table during his short stay. We have had lasagna, BBQ and grilled fish so far. We also have had fun at the Wakulla County gun range and I was able to get a few photos I will share next post.


Meanwhile, let me tell you about this good recipe from Giada with healthy ingredients.



IHCC is featuring the Potluck theme at their site. Since one of my favorite chefs in their cooking club has been Giada, this is the feature I chose this week.

Penne with sausage, artichokes, and sun-dried tomatoes

3/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes
mild Italian sausage
16 oz. artichoke hearts
2 cloves garlic
1 3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup white wine
1/8 tsp salt
14 oz. penne
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1/3 cup freshly chopped basil
1/4 cup parsley
8 oz. shredded mozzarella
1/8 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp olive oil

Directions

Heat oil. Add sausage and cook until brown, breaking up meat into bite sized pieces. This takes under 10 minutes. Remove sausage, set aside.

Add artichokes and garlic to skillet and saute over medium heat until garlic is tender. Now add broth, wine, and sun-dried tomatoes. Boil until sauce reduces - 8 min.

Start your pasta water and cook the penne while all this is going on. Once the pasta is cooked, drain and place in a bowl. To the pasta, add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley and the artichoke mixture. Toss until sauce is absorbed by pasta. Stir in mozzarella. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

Sharing this with IHCC. Hope you enjoy this one as much as I do.

IHCC

Saturday, May 25, 2013

Nobilo New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for weekend wine review

Another excellent New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc for under $15 a bottle. Light, citrusy with lots of lemon and lime. Perfection with grilled grouper.



We are enjoying the cold whites with a variety of seafood this time of year. So far, haven't found a New Zealand wine I didn't like. Buy this one, you won't be sorry!

Cheers, my friends!

Monday, May 20, 2013

Roasted Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta

I suppose if you searched this site for recipes I proclaim to be super easy and delicious you would come up with quite a few. Truth is, I go for easy prep most of the time as our schedules are hectic. I am glad to have a job, happy it pays for good recreational pursuits as well as good food and wine. But getting home well after 5 and making time for dog walks and dinner prep means I opt for minimum fuss (most of the time).

So, in spite of previous proclamations on meals you must try – THIS is it! From Martha Stewart's magazine Living..........




This one is amazingly easy, moist, extremely flavorful and makes a gorgeous presentation. In my humble opinion, of course.

This looked so good once it was pulled from the oven that I forgot about the feta cheese. We plated the food, poured the wine and tucked into our meal. Since it was such a nice evening we sat outside on the patio and enjoyed good bread, conversation and, of course, Martha’s chicken. That’s when I remembered the feta…too late but no matter.


Roasted Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes, Olives, and Feta
·
· 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 pounds)
· 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
· 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved lengthwise
· 1/2 cup pitted Spanish olives
· 6 medium shallots, halved lengthwise and peeled (about 6 ounces)
· 3 sprigs fresh thyme
· Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
· Fresh mint leaves, for garnish
· Feta cheese, crumbled, for garnish

All ingredients tossed together




Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine chicken, oil, tomatoes, olives, shallots, and thyme in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper and toss. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet and spread chicken mixture, skin side up, in a single layer. Roast until a thermometer inserted into thickest parts of the thighs (do not touch bones) reaches 165 degrees, 35 to 40 minutes.

2. Transfer chicken to a platter and loosely cover with foil. Return vegetables to oven and roast until golden brown in places, about 10 minutes more. Transfer vegetables and accumulated juices to platter with chicken, and season with salt and pepper. Garnish with mint and feta.



This reheats well too. Leftovers are always welcome..........



Adding my review to Beth Fish Reads for her Weekend Cooking Series and Cream Puffs in Venice for her roundup of Magazine Monday.



Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

Saturday, May 18, 2013

New`Zealand Sauvignon Blancs - Mini Wine Review

Fault Line Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough 2012

This is a crisp wine, flavors of a summer fruit salad without being too sweet. Goes well with grilled fish such as mahi mahi, cobia and swordfish as well as grilled chicken.




Monkey Bay Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough
Very similar to the Fault Line but with more of a citrus aftertaste. Not too sweet, just enough to compliment the food.




You can’t go wrong with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc so I would take either of these wines paired with a seafood dinner or a risotto. Pressed to pick one I would go with the Fault Line. Just a slight edge. Reasonably priced at under $15 a bottle.

Cheers!

It's been a good run...........