Budget Cooking...Comfort & Gourmet!

Pages

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Niçoise Salad - Julia Child Inspired


I was intrigued by this recipe when I saw Alton Brown feature
Tuna on his show Good Eats.
I perused the internet until I stumbled upon this
Julia Child Inspired Niçoise Salad.
I also watched a few recipe videos on YouTube.
I came to the conclusion that tweaking the recipe is acceptable.
However using the finest quality ingredients would only enhance this recipe.

Purists would use

- Boston-lettuce leaves. I am using Romaine Hearts
- French Green Beans. I am using American Green Beans.
- Kalamata Olives. You can use Black Olives
- Italian Tuna Packed in Olive Oil. I am using 1 Can of Alaskan Pink Salmon. You could also substitute Vacuum Packed Tuna or Chunk Light Tuna packed in soybean oil.
- Shallots. You can used finely minced Garlic if you prefer

INGREDIENTS

2 Romaine Lettuce Hearts, washed and dried
1 large handful of Green Beans, trimmed and blanched
1-1/2 tablespoons minced Shallots
1/2 to 2/3 cup Basic Vinaigrette Click HERE  for recipe
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 or 3 ripe Ripe Tomatoes, cut into wedges (or 10 to 12 cherry tomatoes, halved)
2 or 3 Red Bliss Potatoes, peeled, sliced, and cooked

Two 3-ounce cans Chunk-Light Tuna, preferably oil-packed
or 1 14 oz can of Salmon

4 hard-boiled eggs, peeled and halved
1 freshly opened can of flat Anchovy Fillets (to be rolled later)
1/3 cup small Kalamata olives
2 to 3 tablespoons Capers
3 tablespoons minced fresh Parsley


























DIRECTIONS
1. Drain Fish. Set Aside.
2. Remove Anchovies from can, reserving the oil. Roll each fish and set aside.
3. Arrange the lettuce leaves on a large platter.
4. While the Potatoes and Beans are still slightly warm, toss them shallots, spoonfuls of vinaigrette, and salt and pepper.
5. Baste the tomatoes with a spoonful of vinaigrette.
6. Place the potatoes in the center of the platter and arrange a mound of beans at either end, with tomatoes and small mounds of tuna at strategic intervals.
7. Drizzle Olive Oil from Anchovies over Fish.
8. Place halves of hard-boiled eggs around the edge of the platter, sunny side up, and curl an anchovy on top of each.
9. Spoon more vinaigrette over everything
10. Scatter on olives, capers, and parsley, and serve.



Boil , Cut, Toss


Boil, Shock, Toss


Build






While the presentation of this on a platter or large serving dish is impressive, I would prefer to make individual salads in the future. It was rather messy picking through everything.
Also, I doubled the dressing.
This salad was DELICIOUS! Surprizingly everyone enjoyed it, even the pickiest of eaters in the house. I was shocked because normally the picky eater does not like olives and I was anxious that they would not like the anchovies and capers. I think they enjoyed all the different levels of flavors. Eating this salad was like going on a treasure hunt.


Julia Child Inspired BASIC Vinaigrette

I like this vinaigrette recipe best.
It is not as acidic as other vinaigrette recipes that
I have tried.
The lemon juice adds a refreshing note.

INGREDIENTS

1/2 Tbsp finely minced shallot or scallion
1/2 Tbsp Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp sea salt
1/2 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 Tbsp wine vinegar
1/3 to 1/2 cup olive oil
Freshly ground pepper to taste







DIRECTIONS

Build the dressing
1. Stir the shallots or scallions together with the mustard salt and pepper.
2. Add the lemon juice and vinegar, blend.
3. Add the oil Beat in freshly ground pepper.

Makes about 2/3 cup

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Dirty Rice Updated - (With Step By Step Photos)



This is so delicious! It can be served as a side dish or a main dish.



Chop Veggies




Saute In Oil



Brown Meat and Add Seasoning, Stir



Stir In Cooked Rice, Add Seasoning, Stir




INGREDIENTS

4 Cups of Rice Cooked in Rice Cooker
4 Cups of Water
*optional
you may add 4 bouillon cubes to the water for more flavor
or substitute 4 cups of broth/stock
------------------------------------------
1 - 2 lbs Ground Turkey (or loose crumbled Boca Burger)
2 tbsp Vegetable Oil
2 ribs of celery diced
1 Bell Pepper Minced
1 Onion Minced
2 Garlic Clove Minced

(If you are really trying to stretch the meal, you may certainly use 1/2 minced bell pepper and 1/2 minced onion...the idea is to impart the flavors to the dish)

Emeril's Bayou Blast to taste (I used 2 tbsp divided)Click
HERE for recipe

Emeril's Essence to taste (I used 2 tbsp divided)

*optional
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
- Cayenne Pepper
- Chopped Fresh Parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Prepare Rice and Water in rice cooker.
2. While Rice is cooking, add oil to a separate heavy stock pot.
3. Add minced vegetables
4. Leaving the vegetables in the pot, brown the ground meat.
5. Add half of the seasoning to the meat.
6. After rice is cooked, fluff it and add it to the sauteed vegetables and ground meat.
7. Add the remaining half of the seasoning. Stir well.
Enjoy!

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Spinach and Artichoke Pizza




HUMBLE BEGINNINGS



PREP



CHEESE



FLAVOR BOOSTERS





INGREDIENTS

Pizza Dough Click HERE for Recipe
8 oz Freshly Grated Mozzarella Cheese
Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Baby Spinach Leaves
2-3 freshly pressed Garlic Cloves
1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
*Optional
- 1 tsp Sea Salt
- 1 tsp Crushed Red Pepper Flakes
Recipe Yields Three 10" Pizzas

DIRECTIONS

1. Grate Mozzarella Cheese. Set Aside.
2. Drain Artichoke Hearts. Chop them to desired thickness. Set Aside.
3. Chop Spinach. Set Aside.
4. Mix Together Artichoke Hearts, Spinach, Hearts, Olive Oil, Salt, Pepper, Garlic, and Cheeses.
5. Top Dough with Mixture.
6. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Caprese Salad - Wolfgang Puck Inspired

This is a simple salad that I find delicious!



I saw Wolfgang Puck prepare this on HSN and I just HAD to try it.

HUMBLE BEGINNINGS



PREPARE



ARRANGE



DRESS




INGREDIENTS

Buffalo Mozarella Cheese
Vine Ripened Tomatoes
A bunch of Fresh Basil Leaves
Olive Oil (to drizzle)
Coarse Salt to taste
Fresh Cracked Black Pepper

Optional
*Balsamic Glaze
*thinly sliced Red Onion

DIRECTIONS
1. Wash and pat dry Basil. Set aside.
2. Thinly Slice (1/4" thick) Cheese and Tomato.
3. Arrange on a plate.
4. Drizzle with Olive Oil and Balsalmic Glaze
5. Sprinkle with Salt and Pepper

Enjoy!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Upcoming Recipes

Thank you so much for patiently hanging in there with me.
I have some exciting recipes coming soon.

Niçoise Salad



Caprese Salad



Chicken Fusilli with Veggies



Spinach Artichoke Pizza