Baked sweet & spicy Salmon

Baked sweet & spicy salmon for 2

8 to 10 oz.          Salmon - skinless

1 cup                  Pineapple cut into chunks

Salt and pepper to taste

Glaze

1/4 cup    Pineapple smashed to a pulp

1 tsp.                  Brown sugar

1 tsp.                  Apple cider vinegar

1/2 tsp.    Chili sesame oil

1 tsp.            Soy Sauce

Set the oven to 400 degrees. 

Place pineapple in small bowl mash, add the reset of the ingredients and whisk until thoroughly mixed. Set aside.

On a baking sheet, cover with foil, spray with cooking oil, then place salmon in the center. Place chunks around the salmon. Then cover with the glaze. Roll the foil so it olds in the juice. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes until flaky, then broil for 3 to 4 minutes. 

Serve with rice and a veggie. Pairs well with white wine. 

Mary's Italian stuffed peppers

Mary's Italian stuffed peppers - serves six. 

6                            Bell peppers, sliced length wise

1 lb.                        Ground turkey (could be replaced with beef)

1/4 cp.                   Onion chopped

1/2 - 24oz Jar        Marinara sauce of your choice

1/2 cup                  Shredded parmesan cheese  

1 1/2 tsp.               Italian seasoning

Salt and pepper to taste     

Set the oven to 400 degrees. On a baking sheet, cover with foil then place the cut peppers. Bell peppers can be an assortment of yellow, green, etc. Set aside.

In a frying pan spray with cooking oil. On medium heat cook the onions until starting to turn translucent, then add the ground turkey and seasonings. Break up the meat with spatula or potato masher as it cooks. Once meet has crumbled add the marinara sauce, saving enough to add a spoonful to the top of each right before it's done baking. Add 1/4 of the cheese, stir until mixed thoroughly. 

Spoon into the peppers. Place in the oven for 20 minutes. Add the marinara sauce to the top of each. Bake another 5 minutes and add the rest of the cheese to the top. And good another 5 minutes.

Serve with garlic bread and a salad. Pairs well with a cabernet sauvignon.

**Note: oven temperatures vary. Check the peppers if they're not soften by 20 minute cook another 5 before adding sauce.  

Easy Beef parmesan

 Beef Parmesan - 4 servings

4 cloves             Garlic chopped

1/2                     Jalapeno chopped (optional)

2 tsp                   Fresh Parsley chopped (or dried) 

1/4 - 1/2 cup       Breadcrumbs

1                         Egg

1 LB                   Ground beef

2 tsp.                  Italian seasoning 

1/2 cup               Marinara sauce (your favorite brand)

1/2 cup               Parmesan cheese grated

Salt and pepper to taste.

Mix the seasonings, garlic, jalapeno, parsley in a bowl. Add the ground beef and thoroughly mix with your hands. Add the egg again mix thoroughly, once done add the breadcrumbs until it sticks together then mix until it can mold into one big ball. Then break into four equal portions and mash into patties. Make sure they're thin as you can make them, so they won't be dry.

Heat the pan to medium, spray with oil or add a tablespoon of oil if you'd like them to be a little bit crispy. 

When they are cooked through spoon some marinara sauce on them and turn them over. Spoon some more on the top. Cook for five minutes and generously sprinkle the cheese over them all and cook until melted. 

A side of corn on the cob or potatoes is yummy! Pairs with a nice full bodied red wine. 

Southwestern Chicken and Rice bowl

 Southwestern chicken and rice bowl - serves 2.

8 oz.        Thin cut chicken breasts cut into cubes.

1 can        Roasted Organic Tomatoes

1/4 cp       Onion chopped.

1               Jalapeno sliced (optional)

1               Red sweet pepper sliced

1 cup        Jasmine raw rice

8 tbsp       Flame Roasted Green Chile

1/2 cp       Frozen corn

1 tbsp       Garlic olive oil

In a large skillet or frying pan add the oil to the pan and heat on medium. Then add chicken, onions, and peppers. Once meat is cook, onions and peppers are tender add tomatoes. Bring the juices to a boil, add the long cooking rice. Add corn, turn to low and simmer 20 minutes stirring occasionally to make sure rice doesn't stick.

Add a roll or a tortilla to go along with it.  

Crockpot Chicken Ragu - Serves 6

Chicken Ragu served over pappardelle.

Marinade for 24 hours.

1 1/2 to 2 lbs.         Chicken cut into cubes.

1 1/2 bottle             Red wine.

4                             Garlic cloves mashed.

2                             Bay leaves

1 tsp.                      Rosemary

1 tsp.                      Sage

1/2 tsp.                   Salt

1/2 tsp.                   Pepper

Place chicken cubes in a bowl, season with salt and pepper. Cover with red wine and add the herbs. Leave to marinate in the fridge for 24 hours. 

Ragu

1 - 2 Tbsp.              Olive oil

4 oz                        Pancetta diced.

1 1/2                       Onion diced.

3 lg. or 2 sm.          Carrots diced.

2                             Celery sticks diced.

4                             Garlic cloves sliced.

1/2 cup                   Tomato puree

2 14.5 oz cans        Diced fire roasted tomatoes. 

salt and pepper to taste.

1 1/2 Tbsp.             Trader Joe's Italian Style Soffritto (Optional)

After 24 hours, drain the chicken from the marinade, save the marinade and set aside. 

Heat olive oil in a large fry pan add pancetta, onion, carrot, and celery and sauté on medium heat stirring occasionally until the onions are starting to look translucent. 

Add the vegetables and pancetta to the crockpot. Add the tomatoes, puree, garlic, and 1/2 the marinade. Set the rest of the marinade aside. 

Add a little more oil to the pan brown the meat. Once it's browned add to the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour and turn to low for 5 to 6 hours. Add more marinade if needed until it is as thick as you'd like it. 

Cook the pappardelle in salted boiling water per directions on package. Drain and serve with the ragu, sprinkle some grated parmesan cheese over the top. 

Pairs well with red wine.

This recipe was inspired by this Pappardells alla Lepre recipe - Hare Ragu. 

https://www.greatitalianchefs.com/recipes/pappardelle-alla-lepre-recipe

Chicken and Anaheim pepper Verde

 Chicken and Anaheim pepper Verde - serves two.

1           Lime squeezed.

2           Anaheim Peppers chopped.

1/2        Onion chopped.

2 tsp     Cilantro. 

2           Chicken thin breasts cubed.

1/2 cup Hatch green Chili's.

1 cup    Broth (more if needed)

1 tsp     Cumin.

1 tsp     Chili powder.

1 tsp     Crushed Chili's.

3/4        Black pepper.

Salt to taste 

Place the peppers, onion, lime juice, and cilantro. Cook until tender. Add half the broth.  Brown chicken in another pan. When chicken is almost done add to the pot. Add seasoning, chilis, and add the rest of the broth bring to a boil. Boil about 5 minutes turn down to simmer on medium low while rice cooks. 

Serve over rice or on tortilla's pairs well with margaritas.

Turkey, Cabbage, and Veggie soup

 Turkey, Cabbage, and Veggie soup makes 16 - 2cup servings

1 lb 4 oz         Ground turkey 93% lean

4                     Klondike potatoes Cubed.

1 bunch          Green onions chopped.

3 - 32 oz         Chicken broth boxes

2 large            Celery stalks sliced.

2                     Garlic cloves chopped.

1/2 cup           Chopped onion chopped.

4-5                  Carrots sliced.

1 head            Cabbage chopped.

4 tsp.               Italian style soffritto seasoning blend. (Trader Joe's)

Salt and pepper to taste

Brown the turkey in a large 8-quart pot. Use a masher to break up into small pieces. Then add all veggies, except cabbage, and 2 of the boxes of broth. Add seasoning, you can substitute other Italian brand seasoning or use your own blend. Bring to boil on medium, then cook for 30 minutes. Stir in half the cabbage cook for 5 minutes. Add the rest of the broth and stir in the other half of the cabbage. Bring to boil, then turn to medium low and cook until potatoes and carrots are tender. 

This will give you leftovers for lunch or dinner during the week. 

Pairs well with a Sauvignon blanc wine.