Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps

Thai Beef Lettuce Wraps

12 oz flank, skirt, or sirloin steak Salt and black pepper to taste 1 Tbsp hot sauce 2 Tbsp fish sauce Juice of lime, plus wedges as garnish 1 jalapeno pepper, thinly sliced ½ red onion, thinly sliced ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro 1 carrot, grated 1 head Bibb lettuce, leaves separated Heat the grill to hot or heat a grill pan over high heat for at least 5 minutes. Season the steak with salt and pepper and toss it onto the grill. Cook for about 4 minutes on each side, until it’s firm but yielding to the touch. Let it rest for 5 minutes. Combine the hot sauce, fish sauce, and juice of 1 lime in a small saucepan over low heat. Slice the steak thinly (if it’s flank or skirt steak, be sure to cut across the grain) and drizzle half of the warm sauce over it. Set out the jalapeno and onion slices, cilantro, carrot, and lettuce, along with the lime wedges and sauce. Use the leaves like tortillas to wrap up the steak slices with the other ingredients. Recipe Found HERE

Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter (Saumon aux Lentilles)

Salmon with Lentils and Mustard-Herb Butter (Saumon aux Lentilles)

Right now I'm in the process of trying to incorporate more protein into my diet and cutting out some of the carbs that are so prevalent. Now, I'm not going super crazy, but I just don't want every meal we make to have a pasta, rice, or bread base. I am also trying to incorporate more fish and vegetables into my diet. I found this recipe on Epicurious and it had awesome reviews. It has a little more butter in it than I prefer, but I'm also trying to get over my fear of butter. It is not the end of the world to cook with butter. Both Spencer and I were a little sceptical about the lentils being good, but they really were delicious. It was a winner and I think will be added to the fish recipes that we both like.

Ultimate Pumpkin Waffle

INGREDIENTS
makes 4 round “Belgian” style pumpkin waffles
Click here for the metric version of the recipe.

• 1/4 cup light brown sugar
• 3 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 3/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ginger
• 1/4 tsp. cloves
• 1/2 tsp. freshly grated nutmeg*
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup whole milk
• 1 cup canned solid-pack pumpkin
• 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and warm

*Grated and lightly packed into the spoon, use 1/2 tsp. Grated and loosely scooped, this is about 1 tsp. of nutmeg. If you have to use pre-grated, dried nutmeg, use 1/4 tsp.

DIRECTIONS

1. Lightly oil the waffle iron with vegetable oil, and set it to the desired temperature.

2. Combine brown sugar and cornstarch in a large bowl. Whisk together to break apart the cornstarch. Add the remaining dry ingredients, and whisk to blend.

3. Separate eggs: yolks go in a medium sized bowl and whites get set aside in a smaller bowl.

4. Add pumpkin and milk to the egg yolks. Whisk to blend and set aside.

5. Whip egg whites with a hand mixer on high until stiff peaks form – about 1 1/2 – 2 minutes. Set aside.

6. Pour melted butter into the yolk/milk/pumpkin mixture. As you pour, whisk to combine.

7. Add the pumpkin mixture to the dry ingredients, and mix them together until just combined. A little lumpiness is fine. That will smooth out when the egg whites are added.

8. Slide the whipped egg whites out of the bowl and onto the mixture you just prepared. Gently fold them in until no white bits are obvious.

9. Once the waffle iron is heated, you’re ready to pour the batter! In my Presto FlipSide waffle maker, cook time is exactly 2 minutes 30 seconds.



*Recipe found here

Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream

Even my sister's super picky kids liked this recipe.

Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream

Ingredients

1 pt. whipping cream
1/2 cup milk
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1 cup Homemade Pumpkin Purée* recipe at bottom
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup coarsely crushed gingersnaps
2 tablespoons bourbon (optional)

Preparation

1. Whisk all ingredients except gingersnaps and bourbon in a bowl to blend. Strain into an ice cream maker and freeze according to manufacturer's directions.
2. Scrape ice cream into a bowl and stir in gingersnaps and bourbon. Freeze, covered, until scoopable, 2 1/2 hours and up to 1 week (gingersnaps soften somewhat after 1 day).

Homemade Pumpkin Puree

Ingredients

1 Sugar Pie pumpkin or other deep orange-fleshed squash, about 2 lbs. (or larger)
1 to 2 tsp. vegetable oil

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°. Cut pumpkin in half, using a large, heavy knife and a mallet to tap knife through flesh. Scoop out and discard seeds. Rub inside of pumpkin with oil. Set pumpkin cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet.
2. Bake until very soft when pierced, at least 45 minutes (up to 75 minutes for a very large squash). Scoop out flesh into a food processor and whirl until smooth. If purée is watery, drain in a fine strainer about 30 minutes.
Make ahead: Chill up to 3 days, or freeze up to 6 months.

*Recipe from Sunset Magazine

Pumpkin Soup

Sorry for the lack of posts. My cooking has been a little lack luster for the past couple of months. I'm hoping to have some great new recipes soon. In the mean time, I'll post some recipes we have made and really enjoyed. They are very fallish, and I love fall food.

Pumpkin Soup with Pumpkin Seed-Mint Pesto

Ingredients

SOUP
1 large onion, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh ginger
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 large garlic cloves, chopped
2 teaspoons ground coriander
4 1/2 cups peeled, 1-in. chunks pumpkin or other orange-fleshed squash (from a 2 1/2-lb. squash)
4 1/2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
PESTO
1 small garlic clove
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves, plus slivered leaves
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 cup salted roasted pumpkin seeds

Preparation

1. Make soup: Sauté onion and ginger in oil in a medium pot over medium-high heat until golden, 5 minutes. Add garlic and coriander and cook until softened, 1 minute, then add pumpkin, broth, salt, and pepper. Simmer, covered, until pumpkin is very tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Purée in batches in a blender until very smooth.
2. Make pesto: Pound garlic, whole mint leaves, salt, and 1 tbsp. oil in a mortar into a coarse paste (or use a food processor). Add remaining oil and pumpkin seeds and pound until coarsely crushed.
3. Drop small spoonfuls of pesto over bowls of soup, garnish with slivered mint, and serve remaining pesto on the side.
Note: Nutritional analysis is per 1 1/2-cup serving.

*Recipe from Sunset Magazine

Indian Butter Chicken

Love this recipe. I think it is a little more of a fall/winter meal, but it is still delicious.

Ingredients

1 onion (1/2 lb.), peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons fresh ginger, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 fresh jalapeño, seeded, and chopped
1 tablespoon olive or canola oil
2 teaspoons garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon cardamom
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 can (6 oz.) tomato paste
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup half and half or heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon crushed bay leaves
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 3/4-inch chunks
1/2 teaspoon coarse-ground black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup (1/8 lb.) butter
2 cups basmati rice, uncooked
Lime wedges
Fresh cilantro, chopped

Cook rice according to package instructions.

In a large saute pan, combine onion, ginger, chili, and oil. Stir often over medium-high heat until onion is lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic, garam masala, chili powder, cardamom, and coriander. Saute for an additional 2 minutes.

Scrape mixture into a blender or food processor; add tomato paste and chicken broth. Whirl until very smooth. Pour mixture back into pan, add half and half or cream and crushed bay leaves, and bring to a gentle boil over high heat (mixture is inclined to spatter). Reduce heat and simmer, stirring often, until reduced to 3 cups, about 5-7 minutes. Pour sauce into a bowl. Rinse and dry pan.

Pat the chicken dry. Mix chicken with salt and pepper. Set pan over high heat; add 1 tablespoon butter and the chicken. Stir until chicken is no longer pink on the surface, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sauce and simmer over medium heat, stirring often, until chicken is no longer pink in the center (cut to test), 3 to 4 minutes. Cut remaining 3 tablespoons butter into chunks and stir into sauce until melted.

Spoon chicken and sauce onto rice. Squeeze lime juice over portions and garnish with cilantro.

*recipe found here

Okonomiyaki (Japanese Pizza) Recipe

I'm still hunting for good recipes to use up the veggies I get in my CSA basket. I've really been enjoying trying out new recipes and have been impressed with most of them. I met a lady while I was picking up my veggies that gave me the name of a website that is great for CSA veggie recipes. I especially liked this recipe because it was low on prep and cook time.

You can find a pictures and more info about this recipe at this website.

Ingredients
2 cups cabbage, finely shredded
1 cup leeks, well washed and chopped (see head notes)
2/3 cup whole wheat pastry flour (or apf flour)
a couple pinches of fine grain sea salt
2 eggs, beaten
1+ tablespoon olive oil

Garnish: toasted slivered almonds, chives/ herbs

Combine the cabbage, leeks, flour, and salt in a bowl. Toss until everything is coated with a dusting of flour. Stir in the eggs and mix until everything is evenly coated.

Heat a large skillet over medium heat and add a generous splash of olive oil. Scoop the cabbage mixture into the pan, and using a metal spatula press it into a round pancake shape, flat as you can get it. Cook for 4-5 minutes, or until the bottom is golden. To flip the okonomiyaki, slide it out of the skillet onto a plate. Place another plate on top and flip both (together) over. If you need a bit more oil in your skillet, add it now, before sliding the okonomiyaki back into the skillet. Again press down a bit with a spatula and cook until golden on this side - another 3 -5 minutes.

When you are finished cooking, sprinkle with toasted almonds and chives, and slide it onto a cutting board to cut into wedges. Enjoy immediately.

Serves 1 - 2.