My Favorites from 2012

In the 6+ years I've been blogging I've never done a yearly recap/roundup post. I always think it's a good idea but I don't plan ahead and all of a sudden I find myself in early January looking at everyone else's roundup posts and thinking, "why didn't I do that?" Well this year I decided to hell with the fact that, once again, I forgot to plan ahead. So what if it's January, I'm doing a 2012 roundup post anyway.

Without further ado, here are my favorites from 2012. I tried to pick one recipe from each month and only ended up with three ties, which is pretty impressive since my original list had 23 recipes.

January 2012 - Orange and Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
This pork tenderloin was a surprise hit. The secret is the sauce, which doubles as the marinade. Lots of bright, vibrant flavors that are completely addictive.



February 2012 - Chicken and Broccoli Stir-Fry
Since we don't have a good Chinese restaurant near our house I've started making many of my favorite dishes at home. This was spot-on.



March 2012 - Bacon, Egg and Asparagus Salad
This salad was so good it became my spring and summer staple for lunch. I must have made it once or twice a week for months. Thank goodness they sell pine nuts in bulk at the wholesale club or I'd be broke.



April 2012 - Panera Mac and Cheese
I didn't really like Panera until I tried this make-at-home version of their delectable mac and cheese. I was hooked, tried the real thing, and now I'm a convert. I love the ease of this recipe.



May 2012 - Homemade Refried Beans
Try this recipe and I promise you'll never buy a can of refried beans again. Super simple and utterly delicious.



June 2012 Part 1 - Black Bean Patties with Corn Relish and Avocado Cream
I rediscovered my love of beans when I made a commitment to cook healthier meals for my family. These black bean patties go perfectly with the corn relish and avocado cream. Also sneaking in a plug for these fantastic black bean burgers. I make a big batch every few weeks and keep them in the freezer for quick lunches or dinners.



June 2012 Part 2 - Hawaiian Chicken Sandwiches
I can't say enough good things about this recipe. It went around my cooking board over the summer and I fell in love. It's so easy to make yet tastes outstanding. I think I made these once a week for a month. So, so good.



July 2012 Part 1 - Antipasti Pasta Salad
Whenever I make this recipe I can't get enough of it. And neither can my guests. SP and I fight over leftovers. And the best part is it's mostly chopping - all you have to do is cook the pasta.



July 2012 Part 2 - Artichoke and Salami Sandwiches
I discovered this sandwich one day when I had no idea what to make for lunch and needed to use up some ingredients in my fridge. It's since become one of my favorite go-to lunches.



August 2012 Part 1 - Chicken Souvlaki
Another sleeper hit. For a recipe with so few ingredients I was shocked by how delicious it is. I don't cook with dill often enough but this recipe changed that.



August 2012 Part 2 - Antipasto Salad
This recipe is exactly like the antipasto salad my mother-in-law used to get from a local pizza place for parties. Delicious and easy to make at home.



September 2012 - Philly Cheesesteaks
Living outside of Philly, I've eaten quite a few cheesesteaks in my life. Being able to make them at home is a beautiful thing.



October 2012 - Roast Beef and Cheddar Panini
The secret is in the sauce when it comes to these sandwiches. You can't go wrong with caramelized onions, roast beef and cheddar cheese. Yum!

November 2012 - Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders
Another awesome sandwich recipe that's perfect for parties. These are addictive so make sure you have plenty on hand.

December 2012 - Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa
Another simple meal that tastes like a million bucks. I always thought making a tostada would be difficult but these are so easy and delicious.

I'm already excited for 2013. Looking back through the last 12 months of recipes was a lot of fun. Here's to another wonderful year of cooking!

Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce

I'd asked SP to buy frozen egg rolls to serve alongside the Crispy Tofu with Garlic and Broccoli, but that night I forgot to serve them. Oops. Luckily I was making Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans the following week. I like dipping my egg roll into duck sauce but I can't justify buying a big jar of it and we haven't ordered takeout Chinese in forever so I didn't have any leftover packets hanging around. A quick Google search led me to this Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce on AllRecipes.

What a great sauce and so simple to make. It went perfectly with the shrimp and veggie egg rolls, which were surprisingly delicious (gotta love Wegmans).

Sweet and Spicy Dipping Sauce
As seen on AllRecipes.com
Servings: 2

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon chili garlic sauce (Sriracha)

Stir the vinegar and sugar together in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves completely, 7 to 10 minutes; add the salt, reduce heat to low, and simmer until the mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir the chili garlic sauce into the mixture. Allow to cool before serving.

Egg Sandwiches with Goat Cheese, Scallions, and Prosciutto

Have you ever looked at a picture of something and been able to imagine the way it would taste before you actually made it? That's how it was for me and these Egg Sandwiches with Goat Cheese, Scallions, and Prosciutto. As soon as Bridget posted the recipe I couldn't stop thinking about them. I even made a bastardized version with cheddar cheese, salami and 10-grain bread in an attempt to satisfy the craving until I could get my hands on the real deal.

They were worth the wait. SP had zero interest in these, which meant more for me. I think my rolls were too big - I need to find something a bit smaller so the ingredients seem more substantial. The first time I made this I used two eggs, which was too much for the sandwich, but one egg wasn't enough in the filling to bread ratio.

The funkiness of the prosciutto and goat cheese, the slight onion flavor of the scallion and the creamy egg work so well together. Thanks for an awesome recipe, Bridget!

Egg Sandwiches with Goat Cheese, Scallions, and Prosciutto
As seen on The Way the Cookie Crumbles

4 ounces goat cheese, softened
4 scallions, white and green parts, minced
4 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon milk
2 teaspoons olive oil
4 medium rustic rolls, halved crosswise, lightly toasted
4 ounces sliced prosciutto

In a medium bowl, combined the goat cheese and scallions; set aside. In a separate medium bowl, whisk the eggs, salt, and milk until a few large bubbles form.

Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the egg mixture and lower the heat to medium-low. After about a minute, gently stir the eggs. After about another minute, they should be starting to set; use a large spatula to flip sections of egg so the other side can set as well. Turn off the heat but don’t move the pan. Residual heat from the pan will finish cooking the eggs without drying the out while you build the sandwiches.

Spread the cut sides of both halves of each roll with the goat cheese mixture. Top the bottom half with a layer of eggs, then sliced prosciutto. Top with the other half of the roll. Serve immediately.

Recipe Swap: Orange and Cinnamon Stuffed Pancakes

For this installment of Blogger's Choice I was given Catherine's blog, A Seasoned Greeting, a blog I haven't had a chance to really look through properly. Because of when this post was due I had some trouble narrowing down what I wanted to make - did I want to do a pasta dish, seafood or something else since I had time to make whatever I wanted?

In the end I went for breakfast, something a little special since the whole family would be home to enjoy it. These Orange and Cinnamon Stuffed Pancakes sounded delicious and I had all the ingredients on hand.

Like Catherine, I used pancake mix for the pancakes but the cream cheese mixture really elevates them to another level. The subtle orange flavor from the Cointreau and the spice from the cinnamon is perfect. I loved how easy this was to put together and while it was a special breakfast for us on Christmas Eve, this will be something I make on those weekday mornings when I don't want eggs.

Orange and Cinnamon Stuffed Pancakes
As seen on A Seasoned Greeting
Makes enough for one serving

1 tablespoon cream cheese, at room temperature
1 teaspoon powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon Cointreau (or other orange flavored liquor)

In a small bowl combine the cream cheese and powdered sugar. Stir until smooth. Add in cinnamon and Cointreau, mix until well combined and smooth.

Spread cream cheese mixture on warm pancakes or French toast.

Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa

I'm on a Mexican kick right now. For some reason I can't get enough of the flavors and spices. I've been wanting to try a tostada for awhile now, so when Nichole's recipe for Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa popped up in my Google Reader I immediately bookmarked it and put it on the weekly menu.

These were so simple to make and the flavors and textures were incredible. I'm kicking myself for not trying these sooner. I don't know why I thought they'd be so complicated - it's just a crispy tortilla covered in the things I usually stuff inside.

I prepped everything during the day so all I had to do was assemble and bake to melt the cheese and crisp the tortilla further. I cut mine into 4 sections and ate it like a pizza - yum!

Chicken Tostadas with Avocado Salsa
As seen on The Cookaholic Wife, originally from Cooking Light, August 2012

1 cup tomato, chopped
1 avocado, peeled and chopped
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 tablespoon cilantro, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
4 fajita-size tortillas
15 oz. can black beans, rinsed and drained
2 cups shredded chicken
2 cups lettuce, shredded
1/2 cup queso fresco, cheddar or Mexican cheese blend

Combine tomato, avocado, onion and cilantro together in a small bowl. In another small bowl, whisk together lime juice, olive oil, cumin, pepper and salt. Pour over the avocado mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate until ready to use.

Preheat oven to 350.

Add a splash of olive oil to a large skillet over medium heat. Place a tortilla in the skillet for 30-45 seconds, or until puffy and lightly browned. Repeat with remaining tortillas.

Divide black beans, chicken and queso fresco among tortillas. Transfer tortillas to a baking sheet and bake for 5 minutes, or until chicken is warmed through.

Divide the avocado salsa and lettuce among the tortillas and serve immediately.

*This is how I prepare my chicken if I don't have leftover chicken to use: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spread a piece of aluminum foil across a baking sheet, and arrange chicken breasts in a single layer in the center. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, and season as you wish. Fold the aluminum foil over the chicken breasts, and enclose them to form a "packet." Bake the chicken (on the baking sheet) 35-45 minutes, or until it is cooked through.

Oyster Sauce Tofu with Bok Choy

Funny story about this recipe.

SP does the grocery shopping. I put baby bok choy on the shopping list, specifying that I needed 4 of them. I checked the crisper drawer a few days later and discovered he'd purchased 4 bunches of baby bok choy, as in almost 2 POUNDS of baby bok choy. Ha! Thankfully it freezes well so we can enjoy it another time.

As soon as this recipe for Oyster Sauce Chicken with Bok Choy popped up in my Google Reader I knew I had to make it. I also knew I wanted to sub tofu for the chicken. It was a great sub - this was truly delicious and the tofu actually soaked up the flavors of the sauce. I think I'm going to change my cooking method from now on.

As it turns out, 4 baby bok choy and 4 shiitake mushrooms weren't nearly enough for our tastes. I used 2 bunches, or approximately 8-10 baby bok choy. The mushrooms all but disintegrated into the dish so I'm increasing the amount needed in the recipe below. The sauce was delicious - I'm glad I doubled the original recipe so there was enough of it. Yum!

I served this over rice noodles with some egg rolls on the side.

Oyster Sauce Tofu with Bok Choy
Modified from Blissfully Delicious

1 block tofu, pressed and drained
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups vegetable or chicken stock
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons light soy sauce
1 heaping teaspoon Sriracha
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
2 tablespoons Shaohsing rice wine
10 fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced
10 baby bok choy, white parts cut into 1-inch pieces leaving green parts whole
2 large scallions, thinly sliced

Cut the tofu into bite-size pieces. Bring a pot of water to a boil, add salt and tofu. Cook 5 minutes. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels.

In a smaller bowl, combine the stock, cornstarch, oyster sauce, soy sauce, Sriracha and black pepper. Mix well and set aside.

Heat a wok or non-stick skillet over high heat and, when the wok starts to smoke, add the oil. Add the tofu and ginger. Let settle for 1 minute, and then stir occasionally for 3 minutes. As the tofu starts to turn brown and crispy, add the rice wine and stir-fry for 30 seconds. Add the mushrooms and bok choy stalks and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the reserved sauce and bring to a boil, then stir in the bok choy leaves and cook for another minute. Remove from the heat and stir in half the scallions. Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with the remaining scallions and serve immediately.

Copycat Red Robin Banzai Burger

We bought a club pack of ground beef recently. I'm always looking for quick, make-ahead dinners for Tuesday nights when I get home late from my exercise class so I thought I'd make burgers. I love experimenting with different toppings and for some reason I wanted to try making a Copycat Red Robin Banzai Burger even though I've never had that particular burger.

Since I've never actually tried a Banzai Burger at Red Robin I can't vouch for how this compares but I can say this was delicious. The teriyaki really soaks into the meat and pineapple slices. I marinated my patties for about 4 hours and that was plenty of time. I loved the combination and will definitely make these again (although now I'm on a burger kick and want to try different varieties).

Copycat Red Robin Banzai Burger
As seen on Joy in Cooking

2 lbs ground round
1 bottle Teriyaki sauce (recommend Kikkoman's Teriyaki Takumi Collection - Original )
Sliced fresh pineapple
Sliced cheddar cheese
Shredded Romaine lettuce
1 tomato, thinly sliced
Burger buns
Mayonnaise

Form the beef into patties. In a shallow baking dish, add some of the teriyaki sauce, place the beef patties on top in a single layer, turning to coat all sides with the sauce. (Be sure to reserve some sauce for the pineapple slices). Cover container and refrigerate 4 hours.

Place pineapple slices in a separate container, add enough teriyaki sauce to coat well, cover and chill.

Preheat grill to medium. Cook hamburgers 3 to 5 minutes per side, or to desired doneness. When you flip the burgers, add the pineapple to the grill and cook until grill marks show, turning once. About 1 minute before the burgers are done, place slices of cheese on top of each patty to melt.

To assemble burgers: Spread mayonnaise on the top and bottom of each bun. Place hamburger patty on bottom bun and top with 1-2 tomato slices, and 1-2 grilled pineapple slices. Cover with about 1/3 cup shredded lettuce and place top bun on sandwich.

Panera Soup

Over the last year I've fallen in love with Panera. It all started when Tara posted the recipe for Panera's Stovetop Mac and Cheese. When I made the recipe I hadn't been to a Panera in quite some time and I'd never tried their mac and cheese. After making the recipe I vowed to visit a Panera ASAP so I could compare the make-at-home version with the real-deal. I quickly became enamored with their Napa Almond Chicken Salad sandwich, with a side of mac and cheese. This past summer we took a family road trip and ended up eating at a different Panera every day for 4 days straight.

When I was selected to try their soup as part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program I was intrigued. Admittedly I'm not much of a soup person, but on that same summer road trip my husband sampled quite a few of their soups and always raved about them. I knew he wouldn't steer me wrong.

Certain soups are available every day (French onion, broccoli cheddar, vegetarian creamy tomato and low-fat all-natural chicken noodle), while some are only available certain days (low-fat vegetarian black bean, baked potato, New England clam chowder, cream of chicken and wild rice and low-fat vegetarian garden vegetable with pesto). The day I picked to review the soup my first two choices - baked potato and New England Clam Chowder - were not available. I guess I'll have to go back another day to sample those. I opted for broccoli cheddar, which is one of my all-time favorite soup combos and one my husband had raved about many times.

I selected the You Pick Two with a cup of the broccoli cheddar soup and half a Napa Almond Chicken Salad sandwich.

I was really impressed with the soup. There were big pieces of broccoli, slivers of carrot and a great cheddar flavor that complimented rather than overwhelmed the flavors. It was delicious and I practically licked the cup clean.

I'd have a hard time giving up the mac and cheese or the chicken salad sandwich so perhaps Panera can do a Pick Three so I could also enjoy a cup of soup. Just a thought.

Disclaimer: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker program I was given a gift card to purchase the soup. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Brie and Bacon

Pork tenderloin is so cheap at our supermarket that buying it is a no-brainer. A woman on my cooking board recently made this Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Smoked Gouda and Bacon and highly recommended it, so I figured I'd give it a try, swapping the Gouda for Brie since I had half a wheel leftover from Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately I didn't secure the tenderloin tightly enough and most of the cheese leaked out as it melted, which was a huge bummer. The few pieces with cheese were delicious and it did mix with some of the bacon, but I'd been hoping for more cheesy goodness inside the rolled-up pork. Next time (and there will be a next time) I'll need to be more careful. This was delicious even with the missing cheese. You can't go wrong with bacon.

Pork Tenderloin Stuffed with Brie and Bacon
As seen on Elly Says Opa!

1 (about 1 lb.) pork tenderloin
1/4 lb. bacon, chopped
3 oz. Brie, rind removed, cut into cubes
Fresh or dried parsley, to taste
Fresh or dried sage, to taste
Salt and pepper
Olive oil (optional)

Preheat the oven to 375.

Cook the chopped bacon in a skillet and remove with a slotted spoon. Reserve bacon fat.

Butterfly pork tenderloin and pound slightly to thin it out. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, sage and parsley. Top with the Brie and the cooked bacon.

Starting at one end, roll the pork tenderloin up end to end (or tri-fold it, like you would a letter). Secure with kitchen twine or toothpicks.

Sprinkle salt and pepper on the rolled up tenderloin and roast it in the oven for 50-60 minutes until the internal temperature is 140 degrees. OR Rub the tenderloin with a little olive oil, salt and pepper. Sear it in a hot pan to brown on all sides, and then put it in the oven to finish cooking, 30-40 minutes. OR Sprinkle salt and pepper on the rolled up tenderloin and sear it in the reserved bacon fat to brown on all sides, and then move the skillet to the oven to finish cooking, 30-40 minutes.

After you remove the tenderloin from the oven, put it under a foil tent to rest for about 10 minutes before slicing it.

National Blogging Day of Remembrance

Recipe Swap: Balsamic Parmesan Asparagus

I love asparagus. It's one of my all-time favorite vegetables and I can't get enough of it in early spring when it's in season. The theme for this week's recipe swap was Side Dishes and when I did the swapping and ended up with Katie's Balsamic Parmesan Asparagus I felt like I'd hit the jackpot.

The original recipe says this feeds 8-10 people as a side dish but that must not be for true asparagus lovers like us. My two bunches were a little over 2lbs and the two of us polished it off between dinner and leftovers for lunch the next day. Maybe someday Baby Girl will realize how awesome asparagus tastes and like more than just snapping the ends off and tossing the spears with oil and seasoning.

My spears were so thin I skipped the blanching step altogether, opting to let them roast in the oven. The balsamic drizzle was a delicious finishing touch. Definitely take the recipe's advice and open your windows. Even though it was a brisk night I had the kitchen window and the back slider open for a cross breeze, as well as the ceiling fan on in the living room and the exhaust fan on over the stove. There's nothing like inhaling a big ol' whiff of boiling vinegar - it's not pleasant so don't do it!

Thanks for a delicious recipe, Kate!

Balsamic Parmesan Asparagus
As seen on Kate's Recipe Box, originally from Leite’s Culinaria

1/2 cup balsamic vinegar or a few drops top-notch balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon salt, plus more to taste
2 lbs. asparagus, tough ends snapped off
1/4 cup olive oil, divided
1 cup (about 4oz.) freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese

Preheat the oven to 350.

If using top-notch balsamic vinegar, skip this step. Otherwise, open a window and turn on the exhaust fan. Put the vinegar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat and simmer, swirling the pan occasionally, until the vinegar is reduced by half, anywhere from 7 to 15 minutes, depending on the size of the saucepan. Remove from the heat.

Bring a pot of water to boil. Add 1 tablespoon of the salt and the asparagus and blanch until barely tender, about 1 minute for spears of average thickness, more for thicker spears. Skip this step if you have pencil-thin spears. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Pat the asparagus dry with paper towels. (You can keep the asparagus at room temperature or refrigerate it for up to several hours.)

Place the asparagus in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet. Add salt to taste, drizzle with 2 tablespoons of the oil, and toss to coat. Sprinkle the asparagus with the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Bake until the spears are tender and the cheese is browned and almost bubbling (it won’t actually melt), about 5 minutes.

Transfer asparagus to a platter. Drizzle with the reduced balsamic vinegar or a few drops of the really top notch stuff. Serve immediately.

Click the links below to see side dishes made by my fellow swappers.

Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans

I've been trying to perfect Chinese-style dishes at home since we don't have a good Chinese restaurant nearby. Christine raved about this recipe for Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans so I knew I had to try it.

I used the leftover green beans from Thanksgiving since they were already steamed and needed to be used up anyway. This came together in no time and was delicious, with a nice, mild heat from the Sriracha thanks to the sugar.

Spicy Garlic and Ginger Chicken with Green Beans
As seen on Christine's Kitchen Chronicles

3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
2 teaspoons sugar
3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh grated ginger
1 1/2 tablespoons vegetable, divided
2 teaspoon chili sauce (recommend Sriracha!)
2 teaspoon cornstarch, dissolved in 4 tsp cold water
1 lb chicken breast, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3-4 cups green beans, steamed
Sesame oil
Sesame seeds

Combine the soy sauce, vinegar sugar, garlic, ginger, 1/2 tablespoon of vegetable oil, and chili sauce in a bowl. Whisk to combine and then set aside.

In a large non-stick skillet, add remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable and heat until shimmering. Add the chicken and cook until white and nearly cooked through, about 5 minutes. Add the steamed green beans to the skillet. Pour in sauce mixture and allow to simmer for 2 minutes. Add the cornstarch slurry. Return to a simmer and cool until thickened (it should coat a spoon).

Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve over rice.

Allergy note - I left out the sesame oil and seeds because of Baby Girl's nut allergy (according to the research I've done it isn't safe).

Pumpkin Pie with Chocolate Ganache

My mom was in charge of Thanksgiving dessert. She always makes pumpkin pie but this year I sent her this recipe for Pumpkin Pie with Chocolate Ganache after seeing it on the Rachael Ray Show. Chocolate makes everything better, right?

We all enjoyed the ganache even if it was a little thick. My mom wasn't sure how much to use since the recipe didn't specify so she used it all. I think a thinner layer would have been better but hey, chocolate is good so we all suffered through.

The ganache will harden a bit in the fridge so when I ate a leftover slice I reheated it slightly in the microwave to melt it a bit. Yum!

Pumpkin Pie with Chocolate Ganache
Recipe from Carla Hall

1 pumpkin pie
1 10-ounce bag good quality bittersweet chocolate chips
1 cup heavy cream
Crushed graham crackers

Place chocolate in a glass bowl. Heat up heavy cream to a boil, do not scald. Pour heavy cream over the chocolate and whisk the mixture very slowly creating a shiny emulsion. If the ganache is too thick, add in hot water to thin out to desired consistency.

Top the pumpkin pie with the ganache (may not use all of it). Sprinkle crushed graham crackers around the edge of the pie.

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast

Just like last year I opted to make a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. I decided to use Ina's Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast recipe, mainly because I love her perfect roast chicken recipe and because I saw her make this the week before Thanksgiving and loved the sound of marinating the meat the night before.

I'm still trying to decide if I prefer roasting a whole turkey or doing a turkey breast. The breast is certainly easier but I kind of like having a whole bird. Something to think about for next year. This year I added in two turkey legs for SP and my stepdad since they prefer dark meat. I upped the amount of the herb marinade so I'd have enough to go around. You could really taste the flavors in the meat so definitely plan to marinate overnight. Delicious!

Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast
Ina Garten

1 whole bone-in turkey breast, 6 1/2 to 7 pounds
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage leaves
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons good olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 cup dry white wine

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Place the turkey breast, skin side up, on a rack in a roasting pan.

In a small bowl, combine the garlic, mustard, herbs, salt, pepper, olive oil, and lemon juice to make a paste. Loosen the skin from the meat gently with your fingers and smear half of the paste directly on the meat. Spread the remaining paste evenly on the skin. Marinate overnight in a pan covered with plastic wrap.

When ready to cook, place the turkey breast on a rack in a roasting pan. Pour the wine into the bottom of the roasting pan.

Roast the turkey for 1 3/4 to 2 hours, until the skin is golden brown and an instant-read thermometer registers 165 degrees F when inserted into the thickest and meatiest areas of the breast. (I test in several places.) If the skin is over-browning, cover the breast loosely with aluminum foil. When the turkey is done, cover with foil and allow it to rest at room temperature for 15 minutes. Slice and serve with the pan juices spooned over the turkey.

Make Ahead - The meat needs to marinate overnight so plan to mix together the marinade the day before.

Baked Brie in Mini Phyllo Cups with Strawberry Jam

I love baked brie. There's a restaurant near my house that serves a slice of baked brie topped with raspberry jam, slivered almonds and a brown sugar glaze. I knew I wanted to try making some sort of baked brie for Thanksgiving but I wanted it to be easier to eat.

There are hundreds of recipes out there so this is basically a method, not a recipe. I had to leave out the almonds because of Baby Girl's nut allergy and since I already had strawberry jam open I used that instead of raspberry. I added a pinch of brown sugar to each cup for that added sweetness. These were delicious and so simple to make.

Baked Brie in Mini Phyllo Cups with Strawberry Jam
Makes 24 cups

2 boxes mini phyllo cups
6oz Brie, rind removed, cut into 24 cubes
Fruit jam of your choice
Brown sugar
Sliced almonds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.

Remove phyllo cups from their packaging and place on a baking sheet. Add one piece of Brie into each phyllo cup. Top the cheese with some of the jam and sprinkle with brown sugar. Top with sliced almonds, if using.

Bake for 5-8 minutes until the cheese is melted and the cups start to brown. Serve warm.

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips

This year I decided we needed some appetizers to nosh on before Thanksgiving dinner. I made a list of a few different recipes and asked SP to pick three. He was most excited about this White Bean Dip with Pita Chips.

This was a huge hit and couldn't have been simpler to make. You could save even more time by using store-bought pita chips but, really, making your own takes next to no time. I made the dip the night before and brought it to room temperature before serving. I also used whole wheat pitas for the chips to make this a bit healthier.

White Bean Dip with Pita Chips
Giada De Laurentiis

1 (15-ounce) can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
2 cloves garlic
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/3 cup olive oil, plus 4 tablespoons
1/4 cup (loosely packed) fresh Italian parsley leaves
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
6 pitas
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Place the beans, garlic, lemon juice, 1/3 cup olive oil, and parsley in the work bowl of a food processor. Pulse until the mixture is coarsely chopped. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Transfer the bean puree to a small bowl.

Cut each pita in half and then into 8 wedges. Arrange the pita wedges on a large baking sheet. Pour the remaining oil over the pitas. Toss and spread out the wedges evenly. Sprinkle with the oregano, salt, and pepper. Bake for 8 to 12 minutes, or until toasted and golden in color.

Serve the pita toasts warm or at room temperature alongside the bean puree.

Make Ahead: Make the dip up to 2 days before and keep refrigerated. Bring to room temperature before serving.

Recipe Swap: Citrus Chicken Fajitas

When I got Katie's blog for this installment of Blogger's Choice I knew I was in trouble. I've starred so many things from her blog I had no idea how to choose which recipe to make.

I waited to make my choice until after I'd decided what else to make this week and then clicked on one of her most popular labels - Mexican. I toyed with the idea of making her Beef Tenderloin Quesadillas with the beef leftover from my dad's birthday dinner, but I didn't think we'd have enough left. These Citrus Fajitas called my name, especially since fajitas used to be my go-to dish at Mexican restaurants.

One bite and I was transported back to a little Mexican restaurant my family ate at often when I was growing up. My favorite dish was Pollo Limon, served with tortillas to make into fajitas. The chicken marinade was very similar, with a bright citrus flavor and mild spiciness from the jalapeno. I served these with guacamole and some shredded Mexican cheese, and Homemade Refried Beans on the side. So, so good. Thanks for an amazing recipe, Katie!

Citrus Chicken Fajitas
As seen on So Tasty, So Yummy

Juice of half a lemon
Juice of one lime
Juice of one orange
2 tablespoons canola oil
2 tablespoons tequila
1 tablespoon minced jalapeno
1/4 teaspoon cumin
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
1 tablespoon olive oil
Tortillas, shredded cheese, sour cream, guacamole for serving

Combine all ingredients except the chicken in a large Ziploc bag. Add the chicken to the bag, seal and shake to combine. Allow the chicken to marinate for 2 to 4 hours.

Toss the bell pepper and onions with the olive oil, set aside.

Grill the chicken breasts over medium high heat until cooked through. Add the peppers and onions for the last 5 minutes of cooking. Slice the chicken. Serve with warm tortillas, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.

California Club Chicken Burgers

I love a good chicken burger and I've had my eye on Elly's California Club Chicken Burgers for quite awhile now. Anything topped with guacamole is sure to be a winner in my book.

I made these for a Tuesday night dinner after my exercise class. I cooked the burgers, bacon and made the guacamole ahead of time so all we had to do was assemble the sandwiches that night. I had leftover slider rolls from when I made the Ham and Swiss Sliders recently so I made these into 8 mini burgers instead of 4 regular-size burgers.

California Club Chicken Burgers
Elly Says Opa!

1 lb. ground chicken
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1 clove garlic, finely minced or pressed
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
Ground pepper
4 thick cut slices of bacon, cooked and cut in half
1/2 cup guacamole or 1 sliced avocado
4 toasted buns

Lightly mix together the chicken, cumin, oregano, garlic, salt and pepper. Form the mixture into 4 patties. Grill, pan-fry, or broil the patties until cooked through. Top with 1 slice (2 pieces) of the cooked bacon and guacamole, and serve on toasted buns.

Radisson Hotels Giveaway: 50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Rooms

This giveaway is now closed. The winner was comment #121 - branny - with "New York City!" Congratulations! Check your email and be sure to respond within 48 hours to claim your FREE night's stay.

This year Radisson is celebrating its 50th anniversary with a 50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Rooms promotion. In honor of the brand’s 50th Anniversary, they’re giving away one free night’s stay at any North American Radisson Hotel once a day for 50 days by inviting their favorite bloggers to host a give away. Today it's my turn. Are you feeling lucky?

Every morning at 10 am (EST) from now until December 3, 2012 a new blogger will be revealed through Radisson's Facebook page. If you don't win my giveaway be sure to check the Radisson Facebook page to enter on as many of those blogs as you’d like.

Radisson Hotel Giveaway Rules

The winner will receive a room voucher valid for one free night, standard room, double occupancy at any North American Radisson Blu or Radisson hotel of the winner’s choice. The vouchers expires one year after issue date. The full terms and conditions are located on the room night voucher.

The Giveaway
One lucky U.S. reader have a chance to win one FREE night at any North American Raddison hotel. Here’s how you can enter:

1. Leave a comment below telling me where you'd like to use your FREE room voucher for 1 entry.

2. Like A Taste of Home Cooking on Facebook for 1 entry. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did so.

3. Follow A Taste of Home Cooking on Twitter for 1 entry. Leave a separate comment letting me know you did so.

4. Share via Twitter using this tweet:
I entered to win a free room through the 50 Years, 50 Days, 50 Rooms giveaway via @radisson & @tasteofhomecook! #Radisson50 http://tinyurl.com/cg8peld

RULES: Maximum of four entries per person. The giveaway starts today and ends on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 at 11:59pm. Open to U.S. residents only. Be sure a valid email address is included with your comment(s). Winner will be chosen randomly and contacted via email. If the winner doesn’t respond in 48 hours, a new winner will be chosen. Good luck!

Disclosure - For hosting this giveaway I received a free stay at a Radisson hotel.

Crispy Tofu with Garlic and Broccoli

It's been awhile since I made a tofu dish and I wanted something a little different. I printed out a bunch of tofu recipes from my friend Mary Ellen's blog awhile back and this Crispy Tofu with Garlic and Broccoli in a Soy-Hoisin Sauce sounded perfect.

This was another dish that tasted just like something I'd get at a Chinese restaurant. I had to substitute oyster sauce for the hoisin because I forgot to ask SP to get it at the store. SP thought the dish tasted a little fishy because of it but I loved it. The sweetness from the brown sugar and the kick from the red pepper flake was perfect. The sauce thickened nicely with some cornstarch and I was using the tofu to soak up every last drop.

This was my first time using rice noodles and I loved how easy they were to prepare. Boil water, turn off the heat, add the noodles and soak for 10 minutes. Awesome. They were chewy and delicious, a great alternative to rice.

Thanks again, Mary Ellen!

Crispy Tofu with Garlic and Broccoli
As seen on Mary Ellen’s Cooking Creations

1 block firm tofu, pressed and drained and cut into cubes
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1/2 white onion, chopped
1/4 cup cooking sherry or brandy
2 small heads broccoli, chopped into florets
1 teaspoon (or to taste) red pepper flakes
2 cups chicken broth
1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons brown sugar
2 tablespoons Hoisin or oyster sauce
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 green onions, chopped
1-7oz package Asian noodles, cooked according to directions

Heat 2-3 tablespoons olive oil over medium heat in a large non-stick pan. Add tofu and cook until browned on all sides, about 12-15 minutes. Once cooked, remove tofu and let drain on a plate covered with a paper towel.

Add the garlic and onions to the pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add cooking sherry, cook 1-2 minutes. Add broccoli and red pepper flakes; saute 3-4 minutes. Add chicken broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Hoison. Bring to a simmer for 5 minutes.

Mix a splash of water with the cornstarch in a small bowl until dissolved. Pour the mixture into the pan and stir. Return the tofu to the pan along with half of the green onions. Let simmer for a few minutes.

Serve over noodles and top with the rest of the green onions.

Recipe Swap - Mini Monte Cristos

Disclaimer - I'm a slacker. Due to Hurricane Sandy I pushed the Game Day Recipe Swap back a week, giving participants three full weeks to make their assigned recipe and I still couldn't get it together. I don't have a good defense but thankfully I have a good friend named Jaida who writes the blog Sweet Beginnings. She graciously stepped in to make my recipe when I frantically texted her and asked for help. Thanks hon!

Below is her review and photo. I really need to find some time to make these - they sound amazing and SP loves Monte Cristo sandwiches.

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It’s no secret to any of my readers that I have a possibly unhealthy love for all things sandwich, so when Sarah asked me if I could step in and make this recipe, from The Jey of Cooking, for the swap, there was no hesitation is saying yes! In fact, I went to the store and got the ingredients that very day, and had them while watching football. Very fitting, since the theme for this round of the swap was Game Day Food!

I’m not usually big on frying anything (although I will go all out on the fried foods when I’m at a bar!), but these don’t taste fried or give that heavy, I just ate a ton of fried crap, feeling that sometimes happens. Nope, it was just pure, bite-sized deliciousness, dipped in pancake batter, pan-fried, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and dipped in raspberry jam. That’s right folks...raspberry jam. But, don't let the small size fool you...these little puppies will fill you up. I ate three and I was down for the count. Until later, when I had another. Then later another. You get the picture.

I texted Sarah immediately to tell her how delicious they were, accompanied by a picture. Obviously I was excited...and thankful she asked for my help! Now, football season is in full-force so you need to add these to your menu for the next game. Trust me…you, your friends, your boyfriend/husband/significant other, will be so glad you did!!

Mini Monte Cristos
As seen on The Jey of Cooking

6 slices bread
Mustard
6 slices ham, thinly sliced
6 slices turkey, thinly sliced
6 sliced Swiss cheese, thinly sliced
1 cup buttermilk pancake mix
2 eggs
1 can evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Vegetable oil, for frying
Raspberry jam, for serving
Powdered sugar, for topping

Trim the crust off each slice of bread and flatten with a rolling pin. Spread the tops with mustard. Top with 1 slice of ham, 1 slice of turkey and 1 slice of Swiss cheese, to fit.

Roll bread tightly into a log shape (you can use plastic wrap to assist in the rolling, if desired). Wrap very tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Mix the pancake mix and eggs together until well combined, then add the evaporated mil, salt and cinnamon. Mix well.

In a deep saucepan, heat 1 1/2 inches of oil over medium heat, to 375 degrees F. Unwrap each roll and secure with 3-4 toothpicks. Slice each roll into 3-4 pieces, leaving the toothpicks intact.

Dip each piece into the prepared batter, then place into the heated oil. (To test the temperature of your oil, drop a small amount of batter into the saucepan. Adjust the temperature as necessary so that your batter drop becomes golden brown within 20-30 seconds.) Fry 3-4 at a time, so you don't overcrowd the pot and drop the temp of the oil, for 1-2 minutes per side, turning once, until golden brown.

Remove the bites to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry jam, for dipping.

Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders

I love sandwiches but for some reason I rarely make them for dinner. I'm not sure why - they're generally easy to put together and, in the case of these Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders, can be quite filling and delicious.

If you belong to Pinterest or read food blogs I'm sure you've seen various iterations of these floating around. I picked this recipe after seeing it on my friend Melissa's blog, I Was Born to Cook. I liked the idea of using regular dinner rolls (mine were actually potato rolls) instead of Hawaiian rolls, which I've never seen in my supermarket. I also liked the addition of the brown sugar for a mild sweetness to offset the tang from the Dijon.

Like Melissa said in her post, these would be perfect to serve while watching any type of sporting event. Their small size are perfect for parties and even Baby Girl gobbled hers up. You could also sub turkey (like Melissa did) for the ham with equally delicious results. I can't wait to make these again. Easy and delicious is a win in my book.

I served these with crispy potato wedges made using this recipe for oven fries. Yum!

Sweet Ham and Swiss Sliders
From Heather Likes Food

12 dinner rolls, cut in half
24 slices Honey Ham
16 slices Swiss cheese
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 1/2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
8 tablespoons butter, melted
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1/4 cup brown sugar

Preheat oven to 400°

In a 9x13 glass baking dish, place bottom half of dinner rolls and top with 2 slices of ham and 1 slice of Swiss cheese. Spread about 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise on each top-half of roll and place on top of ham and cheese. You want the rolls to be snug together.

In a small bowl combine the mustard, melted butter, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, poppy seeds, and brown sugar. Mix until combined and evenly pour over the assembled rolls. You will not need all the sauce. Cover with foil and refrigerate for up to 20 minutes.

Bake covered with foil for 10 minutes, remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the tops are browned, and cheese is melted. Serve hot or warm.

Beef and Broccoli

I've attempted homemade Chinese food many times and while the dishes are generally pretty tasty they always seem to be lacking something. The photo that accompanied Sally's Beef and Broccoli post had me hooked. Beef and Broccoli was my go-to dish at Chinese restaurants when I was a kid. I would go to a local spot with my grandmother once a week and I always ordered it, usually with extra sauce. It was thick and rich and so, so good I can almost taste it as I'm typing this post.

My sauce wasn't as thick and richly dark as the dish from my childhood, but this was spot-on in terms of flavor. I doubled the sauce recipe below since I love extra sauce and I wish I'd done it when I made the dish - the sauce really made it perfect. I also needed more sauce for the marinade - the original recipe didn't coat all the beef. This is a real winner.

Beef and Broccoli
As seen on Bewitching Kitchen, adapted from Simply Recipes

1 pound flank steak or sirloin, sliced thinly across the grain
1 pound broccoli florets
2 tablespoons grape seed oil
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, cut in slices
1 clove garlic, very finely minced
1 tablespoon cornstarch, dissolved in 2 tablespoons water

For the beef marinade
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Freshly ground black pepper

For the sauce
4 tablespoons oyster sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine (or dry sherry)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth (or water)

Start by marinating the beef: mix all ingredients in a bowl, add the pieces of beef and stir to coat the slices. Let it stand for 10 minutes, while you prepare the sauce and blanch the broccoli.

Make the sauce by mixing the oyster sauce, rice wine (or sherry), soy sauce, and chicken stock (or water) in a small bowl. Reserve. Place the broccoli in boiling salted water for 2 minutes. Drain very well and reserve.

Heat a large frying pan or wok over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and instantly evaporates upon contact. Add the cooking oil and swirl to coat. Add the yellow bell pepper and cook it for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly, until it begins to soften. Remove and reserve. Make sure the pan is again very hot, and add the slices of beef, spreading them out all over the surface of the wok or pan in a single layer (preferably not touching). Let the beef fry undisturbed for 1 minute. Flip the beef slices over, add the garlic and reserved bell pepper to the pan and fry for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute until the beef is cooked through.

Pour in the sauce, add the blanched broccoli and bring to a boil. Pour in the dissolved cornstarch and cook, stirring, until the sauce boils and thickens, 30 seconds. Serve over rice.

Italian Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup

I'm sorry for the lack of posts lately. We were very fortunate that Hurricane Sandy only caused us to lose power for a few days. As I'm sure you know, many people are still without power, lost their homes or businesses. It was a catastrophic storm for this area, especially my beloved Jersey Shore, a place we've taken Baby Girl many times in her short life.

I've still been cooking, but I've mostly been making meals I've already blogged about. And now there's a new wrinkle in my blogging - the end of daylight savings time. It gets dark around 5pm now and at that point I haven't even started dinner. I'll likely be photographing leftovers the next day until spring returns.

This Italian Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup is from my dear friend Melissa. As I've mentioned before, she only blogs about truly fantastic meals so I knew this soup would be a hit. This was actually my first time buying or cooking kale and I was surprised that we liked it. Kale is incredibly good for you, so that's an added bonus.

My sausage didn't have fennel but Melissa told me to just add dried oregano, which brightened up the flavor immensely. I also added some salt, which she left out of the original ingredient list but which I found necessary to bring out the fullness of the soup.

Italian Sausage, Potato and Kale Soup
As seen on Alosha's Kitchen

4 thick slices applewood smoked bacon, chopped
1 pound bulk Italian sausage (with fennel)
1 teaspoon dried oregano (if sausage doesn't have fennel)
1 large sweet onion, diced
4 large cloves garlic, minced
2 large Russet potatoes, peeled and cut into small chunks
1 quart chicken stock
1 cup half and half
1 cup water
1 bunch lacinato kale, chopped
Fresh ground black pepper
Kosher salt
Crushed red pepper flakes

Heat large, heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat. Add bacon and fry until most of the fat is rendered and the pork is somewhat crisp. Drain the bacon on paper towels and pour off most of the fat from the pot, leaving the bottom just coated. Add the bacon back to the pot along with the Italian sausage. Cook the sausage for 4 or 5 minutes, breaking it into chunks with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink.

Add the onions and garlic and continue to cook until the onion is soft, about 5 minutes. Add the potatoes and stir to combine. Pour in the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Cook until the potatoes are soft, about 10 minutes (test one with a fork). Pour in half and half and water and stir to heat through. Toss in the kale and stir until slightly wilted.

Season with fresh ground black pepper and salt, adding crushed red pepper flakes, as desired.

Looking for help - peanut and tree nut allergy

Tomorrow I'll be bringing you a delicious soup recipe but today I have a question for my dear readers. Yesterday Baby Girl was officially diagnosed with an allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. I've suspected she had an allergy since she was around 18 months and I first gave her some peanut butter on a slice of toast. She took one bite and refused to eat anymore and then I noticed a red rash around her mouth. After a call to her pediatrician I tried again in a few weeks with the same results. Since then I've avoided giving her nuts of any kind but we didn't read labels or carry any medication. I finally decided we needed answers after SP inadvertently gave her a bite of his almond croissant when we were out in CA a few weeks ago and she had a similar, albeit milder, reaction to the almonds.

I'll admit, I'm sad for her. I know food allergies are much more common these days. Heck, her daycare is nut-free due to other children with the same allergy. I can't help but feel responsible (is it something I did/didn't do while pregnant with her? should we have fed her differently in her early days?) and I'm also sad that she will never experience the joy of a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup or eating peanut butter straight from a jar. Most importantly, while her reactions to date have been very mild, every exposure can be life-threatening, which scares the beejesus out of me. Her allergist has called in a prescription for an epi-pen and we're to carry the pens and Benadryl with us at all times.

Here's where you come in - if any of my readers have any tips or tricks, websites, children's books, books for parents/caregivers or any other advice I would greatly appreciate it. Feel free to leave me a comment here or email me. Thank you!