baked Broccoli

ou preheat the oven to 425.
Take 4 to 5 pounds of broccoli (I just got two large bunches), cut into florets (but relatively big ones.) Here’s the key that she doesn’t mention in the recipe: dry them THOROUGHLY. That is, if you wash them. I saw an episode of Julia Child cooking with Jacques Pepin once when Pepin revealed he doesn’t wash a chicken before putting it in a hot oven: “The heat kills all the germs,” he said in his French accent. “If bacteria could survive that oven, it deserves to kill me.” By that logic, then, I didn’t wash my broccoli; I wanted it to get crispy and brown. If you’re nervous, though, just wash and dry it obsessively.
Now, it’s easy. Put the broccoli on a cookie sheet. Toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. (She says 5 Tbs olive oil, 1 1/2 tsps kosher salt, 1/2 tsp fresh ground pepper, but I just eyeballed it.) Now add 4 garlic cloves that are peeled and sliced and toss them in too.

Roast in the oven 20 to 25 minutes, until “crisp-tender and the tips of some of the florets are browned.”
I shook the pan around a bit as it went, but not sure that’s necessary.
When it’s done, take it out of the oven–and here’s where it gets really good–zest a lemon over the broccoli, squeeze the lemon juice over the broccoli, add 1.5 Tbs more olive oil, 3 Tbs toasted pine nuts (I left those out), and 1/3 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. She also has you add 2 Tbs julienned fresh basil, but I left that out too.


Recipe and pictures taken from:
http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2008/11/the_best_brocco.html

Pap-Pap's Hot dog sauce

1 pound hamburger                       

 8 oz. tomato sauce                         

1 tsp. cayenne pepper                  

1 tsp. salt                                            

1 tsp. cumin                                       

1 tsp. oregano                                  

2 medium onions (chopped)
16 oz. of water or 4 oz. water +12 oz. beer
1 tsp. dried hot pepper
1 tsp. chili pepper
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 tsp. basil

Brown the hamburger add chopped onion when hamburger is almost done. The add remaining ingredients. Simmer for at least 1 and ½ hours until it thickens up. Adjust hotness if you want but this is what your dad made.

*** Cut spices in half!

Two Timin Pasta Bake

Got this recipe from here.

TWO TIMIN’ PASTA BAKE

1 box penne pasta

1 (15 oz.) jar Alfredo sauce

1 (24oz.) jar Marinara sauce

2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese

1 cup shredded parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to directions and drain.  Mix the sauces together in a large bowl.

Add the mozzarella and stir to combine.  Then toss in the penne and toss to coat.

Pour pasta into 9x13 baking dish and cook on 350 for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly.  Remove from oven and sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese and bake for another 5 minutes. 

Sliced Baked Potato

 Ingredients

6 Medium Size Potatoes
2 - 3 Cloves Garlic, thinly sliced
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
30 g Butter
Maldon Sea Salt
Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 220˚C (425˚F). Put the potato on a chopping board, flat side down. Start from one end of the potato, cut almost all the way through, at about 3 to 4 mm intervals.

Arrange the potatoes in a baking tray and insert the garlic in between the slits. Scatter some butter on top of each potato. Then drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle some sea salt and freshly ground black pepper.

Bake the potatoes for about 40 minutes or until the potatoes turn crispy and the flesh is soft.

*** Recipe from here

CHICKEN BROCCOLI SUPREME

 FRENCH CHICKEN BROCOLLI SUPREME

Ingredients:

  1 – lb. fresh broccoli Break in pieces, and steam for 2 minutes.
 3 cups cooked chicken breasts  – Break up in small pieces
 3 cups Grated Cheddar Cheese divided
 2 tubes Ritz Crackers
 1  stick melted butter

 1 tablespoon poppy seeds

  SAUCE:
 1/3 C. Butter melted
 1/4 C. Cornstarch, dissolved in 1/2 C. COLD Water
 1/3 C. Chicken Broth
1/4 tsp. Salt
 1/4 tsp Pepper
 2 Cups Milk
1 1/2 cups of the above Cheddar Cheese

 Directions:

In greased 13×9 pan, layer the broccoli and chicken, then set aside.
In saucepan over medium heat, combine the melted butter(1/3 C), cornstarch dissolved in water, chicken broth, seasonings, and milk. Stir well, and continue stirring until sauce has thickened. Turn heat down to low, and add 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese. Stir until melted. Pour over the chicken and broccoli. Top with 1- 1/2 cups grated cheddar cheese.

Melt the butter (1stick), and add the poppy seeds, and stir well. Crush Ritz crackers in large zip-lock bag with a rolling pin. Don’t crush too small. Add crumbs to the melted butter. Sprinkle crumbs over the top of the grated cheese.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, or until hot & bubbly.

This recipe came from:

Get off your Butt and Bake

Chicken Chili

(Barefoot Contessa- http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/chicken-chili-recipe/index.html)

Ingredients

• 4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 onions)
• 1/8 cup good olive oil, plus extra for chicken
• 1/8 cup minced garlic (2 cloves)
• 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• 2 yellow bell peppers, cored, seeded, and large-diced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more for chicken
• 2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled plum tomatoes in puree, undrained
• 1/4 cup minced fresh basil leaves
• 4 split chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
• Freshly ground black pepper

For serving:

• Chopped onions, corn chips, grated cheddar, sour cream

Directions

Cook the onions in the oil over medium-low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until translucent. Add the garlic and cook for 1 more minute. Add the bell peppers, chili powder, cumin, red pepper flakes, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute. Crush the tomatoes by hand or in batches in a food processor fitted with a steel blade (pulse 6 to 8 times). Add to the pot with the basil. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Rub the chicken breasts with olive oil and place them on a baking sheet. Sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Roast the chicken for 35 to 40 minutes, until just cooked. Let cool slightly. Separate the meat from the bones and skin and cut it into 3/4-inch chunks. Add to the chili and simmer, uncovered, for another 20 minutes. Serve with the toppings, or refrigerate and reheat gently before serving.

Chicken Soup

From Betty Crocker

http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chicken-noodle-soup/3a0de78e-235c-434b-99e1-4322b008a6a4

Chicken and Broth

1

cut-up whole chicken (3 to 3 1/2 lb)

4 1/2

cups cold water

1

teaspoon salt

1/2

teaspoon pepper

1

medium celery stalk (with leaves), cut-up

1

carrot, cut up

1

small onion, cut up

1

parsley sprig

Soup

2

medium carrots, sliced (1 cup)

2

medium celery stalks, sliced (1 cup)

1

small onion, chopped (1/4 cup)

1

tablespoon chicken bouillon granules

1

cup uncooked medium egg noodles (2 oz)

Chopped fresh parsley

• 1 Remove excess fat from chicken. In Dutch oven or stock pot, place chicken, giblets (except liver) and neck. Add remaining chicken and broth ingredients; heat to boiling. Skim foam from broth; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer about 45 minutes or until juice of chicken is no longer pink when centers of thickest pieces are cut.
• 2 Remove chicken from broth. Cool chicken about 10 minutes or just until cool enough to handle. Strain broth through cheesecloth-lined strainer; discard vegetables. Remove skin and bones from chicken. Cut chicken into 1/2-inch pieces. Skim and discard fat from broth. Use immediately, or cover and refrigerate broth and chicken in separate containers up to 24 hours or freeze for future use.
• 3 Add enough water to broth to measure 5 cups. In Dutch oven, heat broth, sliced carrots, sliced celery, chopped onion and bouillon granules to boiling. Reduce heat to low; cover and simmer about 15 minutes or until carrots are tender.
• 4 Stir in noodles and chicken. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat to low; simmer uncovered 7 to 10 minutes or until noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Sprinkle with parsley.