Creamy Greek Dressing
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Creamy Greek Dressing

Creamy Greek dressing about (about ⅔ cup)

INGREDIENTS

½ cup olive oil
3 tbsp red or white wine vinegar
2 medium garlic cloves, crushed or minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend using an dressing setting until smooth and creamy.
Red Lentil Pasta Salad with Creamy Greek Dressing
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Red Lentil Pasta Salad with Creamy Greek Dressing

We have recently gone to trying each weekday is a specific dinner topic. Monday is meatless, Tuesday is taco, which brings us to Wednesday salad day. I open the fridge and look there was fresh picked mixed greens from the salad bowel I have growing on the deck and some crunchy lettuce that Lyn likes. this was not going to cut it to boring so I went to the pantry and spotted the half box of red lentil pasta. I quickly googles and got some ideas. this is what I came up with.

INGREDIENTS

4-5 oz of red lentil penne or rotini pasta 
1 medium zucchini (about 1 lb) quartered then cut into 1/2″ pieces
1 pint cherry tomatoes – halved
1 red, orange or yellow bell pepper cut into 1/2 ” pieces (or some of each)
⅔ cup pitted kalamata olives, sliced
1 or 2 mini cucumbers cut in 1/2″ pieces
1 – 7 oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
2 oz thinly sliced red or sweet Vidalia onions
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon dried oregano
salt and pepper (to taste)
1 recipe homemade creamy Greek dressing about (about ⅔ cup)
chopped fresh basil or parsley, for garnish

  1. Preheat the oven to 210 degrees Fahrenheit. Cut the zucchini lengthwise into long quarters and then slice into a ½ pieces. In a large bowl toss zucchini pieces in 1 tablespoon olive oil and dried oregano. Add the bell pepper and mix. Season with salt and pepper and arrange on a baking sheet in one layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes until soft and lightly browned on the edges. Take out of the oven and let cool while you are preparing the salad.
  2. Slice onions, place in a small bowl and cover with cold water. Let the onions soak for at least 15 minutes to get rid of the harsh onion flavor.
  3. Cook the pasta according to instructions on the package. Drain on a colander, run cold water over it and set aside to cool and drain completely.
  4. Make the dressing according to my Homemade Creamy Greek Dressing recipe.
  5. Cut cherry tomatoes and pitted kalamata olives into halves, chop cucumbers into thick quarter slices and roughly chop pickled roasted red peppers.
  6. Assemble the salad. Place the cooked, drained and cooled red lentil pasta in a large mixing bowl. Add rinsed and drained canned chickpeas, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, soaked and drained red onion slices, kalamata olives, pickled red peppers and now cool roasted zucchini.
  7. Pour ⅔ of the Greek dressing in and toss the salad together. If it looks like it could use more dressing, add more to your own preferences.
  8. Garnish with freshly chopped basil or parsley and serve right away at room temperature or chill in the fridge and enjoy later.

Creamy Greek dressing about (about ⅔ cup)

INGREDIENTS

½ cup olive oil
3 tbsp red or white wine vinegar
2 medium garlic cloves, crushed or minced
1 tsp Dijon mustard
2 tbsp lemon juice (about 1 medium lemon)
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp salt
¼ tsp black pepper

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Place all ingredients in a blender.
  2. Blend using an dressing setting until smooth and creamy.
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Spaghetti Ragu

Ok we had leftover ground sirloin and what to do with it was the question. We went from Lasagna, can’t don’t have the cheese or pasta then it was tacos and then Lyn kicked in and she made this delicious meal Spaghetti Ragu!

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Nice desert

It mother’s day and Gail made us a beautiful dessert when we got back from this very nice Italian restaurant Brelundi, Waltham MA.

Fruited Pork Chops
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Fruited Pork Chops

Ingredients

1/2 cup raisins chopped

1/4 cup chopped orange

1/4 cup bread crumbs

4 Pork chops cut with pocket

2 TBS cooking oil

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup water

Sprinkle of nutmeg.

How

Mix Raisins, Nutmeg orange and bread crumbs together and stuff in pocket

Brown each side in cooking oil

pour juice and water over chops

Simmer on low for 45 minutes to 1 hour until done..

Collard Greens cooking from the gut
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Collard Greens cooking from the gut

got some collard greens, something Im not used to cooking and Lyn said julienne it

So a splash or garlic infused olive oil, a diced apple, hand full of unsalted peanuts, dash of honey and cooked down salt and pepper to taste. Got to say was good.

Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe
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Turkey Shepherd’s Pie Recipe

Got some ground turkey from a ButcherBox super sale and decide to use some and try a Shepherd’s Pie for the first time. Lyn usually made this using Lamb. I suppose you could use any ground meat. I had made a huge batch of mashed potatoes yesterday and used leftover for this. When very young my son insisted that everything be separate on the plate he had some rule about mixing foods. he also hated fat but loved pepperoni and Asian style ribs you known the red ones, which could be very fatty. Anyway I found a recipe and it had one of those handy how many you’re cooking for scalers so this is for TWO. I made some turkey burger patties for lunch today.

Ingredients for 2 servings

Meat Filling:

  • 0.67 tablespoons olive oil
  • 0.33 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 0.33 lb. 90% lean ground turkey, beef or ground lamb
  • 0.67 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
  • 0.33 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
  • 0.33 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 0.17 teaspoon salt
  • 0.17 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 0.33 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 0.67 garlic cloves -minced
  • 0.67 tablespoons all purpose flour
  • 0.67 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 0.33 cup beef broth
  • 0.33 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots Note: Did not have frozen carrots so I saluted with the onions
  • 0.17 cup frozen corn kernels

Potato Topping:

  • *Note: I used 2% milk and added the cheese
  • 0.5 – 0.67 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 2.67 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 stick
  • 0.11 cup half & half *
  • 0.17 teaspoon garlic powder Note: I usually add 1-2 cloves when boiling potatoes so left powder out.
  • 0.17 teaspoon salt
  • 0.08 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 0.08 cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

Make the Meat Filling.

  • Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the ground turkey to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally.
  • Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute.
  • Add the flour and tomato paste. Stir until well incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain.
  • Add the broth, frozen peas and carrots, and frozen corn. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Make the potato topping.

  • Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.
  • Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return the potatoes to the hot pot. Let the potatoes rest in the hot pot for 1 minute to evaporate any remaining liquid.
  • Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes and stir until all the ingredients are mixed together.
  • Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.

Assemble the casserole.

  • Pour the meat mixture into a 9×9 (or 7×11) inch baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer.
  • If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn’t bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.** Cool for 15 minutes before serving.
sneak peak before covering and baking
sprinkled paprika on top
Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin
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Apricot Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Ingredients

  • 1 – 1 1/2 pound pork tenderloin
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons dry white wine Pinot Grigio used
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 1/2 cup chicken stock
  • 1/2 cup apricot preserves
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

Instructions

  • Separate tenderloins, pat dry with paper towels and season with salt, freshly cracked black pepper on all sides and ends.
  • Melt butter and add the olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat and sear the tenderloin on all sides and ends.
  • Pour the white wine (Pinot Grigio used), thyme and chicken stock into the skillet and bake at 400° for 10 minutes. 
  • In a small bowl whisk the apricot preserves and Dijon mustard together. Brush over the top, sides and ends of the tenderloins and continue baking another 10-15 minutes or until the tenderloins are done as you like:145° medium rare, 150° medium, 155-160° well done/no pink
  • Remove from the oven, allow the pork to rest for 5 minutes, then slice and serve.
Got giant butternut squash from Misfits
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Got giant butternut squash from Misfits

What do you do with a giant butternut squash? I peeled, chopped in chunks and had 6+ cups of squash. I usually make Butternut squash and apple soup but I had no green apples so I used some honey crisp apples. I think my hand slipped and I went heavy on the soup spice so it came our pretty hot and spicy

Ingredients

  • 2 Tbsp. Unsalted butter (We keep butter in the freezer since we don’t use it all the time)
  • 1 ½ cups roughly chopped sweet onions
  •  1 Tbsp. minced garlic
  • 6 cups peeled and roughly diced butternut squash (I like to buy the squash with a long neck this part has no seeds and usually can get enough for what I need. The bottom I save for roasted later.)
  • 3 cups peeled and roughly diced honey crisp apples (about 3 apples)
  • 2 tsp. Toasted Spice Rub, recipe below. ( I make a lot and store with my spices for future use.) This is where I messed up went with TBS not tsp. Cleared the sinuses.
  • About 30 to 32 ounces low sodium, low-fat chicken broth or you can use vegetable broth.
  • 2 cups of water to add to the broth.
  • Salt and pepper to taste (Don’t add until you taste finished soup a lot of times it really does not need)

How:

Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat, and cook until it turns nut brown, just about the time it stops foaming. Add the sweet onions and cook until slightly softened, about 2-4 minutes. Add the garlic until you smell it 10-20 seconds

Now add the squash and apples, raise temp to high, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables begin to caramelize, about 5-8 minutes. Stir in the Toasted Spice Rub and cook briefly to toast it, about 1 minute.

Add the broth-water mixture, bring to a simmer, and partially cover (use a wooden spoon across the pot rest the cover on that. Adjust the heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook until the squash and apples are tender, about 40 minutes.

In about 3 or 4 batches transfer to a blender and blend until smooth. Return to a pot, reheat and season with salt and pepper if desired.

Toasted Spice Rub

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup fennel seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. coriander seeds
  • 1 Tbsp. black peppercorns ( I have made with a mixture of pepper corns not bad)
  • 1 1/82 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
  • 1/4 cup chili powder
  • 2 Tbsp. kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. ground Cinnamon

In a small heavy pan over medium heat, combine the fennel seeds, coriander seeds, and peppercorns. When the fennel turns light brown, work quickly. Learned this during my Chinese wok cooking stage, turn on the exhaust fan; add the red pepper flakes, and toss, toss, toss, always under the fan. Having trouble breathing? I said under the exhaust fan silly, I did bold it!” Immediately empty the spice mixture onto a plate to cool. I have a small coffee grinder for grinding spices; grind only the fennel, coriander, pepper, and chili flakes. Pour into a bowl and toss with the remaining chili powder, cinnamon and salt. You can use a blender and blend until the spices are evenly ground.  Either way works for me.

Snowy Day Turkey Chili
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Snowy Day Turkey Chili

I usually make Halftime White Turkey Chili and today the day after a 65 degree day I had to go out and snow plow the 8 inches. Got to love new England. I had just received a Buthcer Box shipment

If you want to check it out and we can both save some money click here http://rwrd.io/3dmnaju?c

Anyway I did not have everything so I kind of adlibbed.

Ingredients

  •  1 1/2 tablespoon olive oil, divided
  • 2 pounds ground turkey breast — mine was frozen so I cut it in chuncks
  • 1 green bell pepper, cored, seeded and chopped
  • 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 2 Tbsp. ground cumin
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 jar of salsa
  • Lyn had some left over diced tomatoes maybe 1 1/2 cups
  • maybe 1/8 cup hot sauce
  • 2-3 TBS of low fod taco season
  • 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • 3 cups cooked Great Northern beans, drained

How

Heat 1/2 tablespoon of the oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Add turkey and cook, stirring often, until browned. Transfer to a bowl and return pot to heat. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, bell pepper and onion and cook until softened and golden brown. Return turkey to pot and add coriander, cumin, oregano and salt. Stir well to combine. Add bay leaf, tomatoes mixed and broth, reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 45 to 50 minutes. Gently stir in beans and cook for 30 minutes more.

Came out pretty good but I feel the turkey would have been more tender if was fully defrosted.

Hey Lyn how was the Chili? She said very good.

Made the corn muffins earlier at Lyn’s request that’s what inspired me.