Month: June 2016

Crispy Garlic Parmesan Green Beans!

Summer sides kill winter sides!! A few fresh, healthy vegetables tossed in a beautiful olive oil, sprinkled with garlic, salt and pepper, and grilled to perfection definitely beat winter sweet potato casseroles any day. Of course now I’m totally craving a yummy sweet potato casserole with a toasted marshmallow topping! See how that works? Ha!

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My number one vegetable side is probably brussels sprouts, followed by asparagus, then zucchini and squash…I always forget about green beans. No offense to green beans, until I see them smiling up at me from their bin I always forget! So here is my favorite way to prepare them!

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Garlic Parmesan Green Beans
Ingredients:
2 cups fresh green beans
1/4 olive oil
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
salt/pepper
1/4 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

Rinse, dry and snap off stringy ends of green beans.
Put beans on an aluminum foil covered cookie sheet
Drizzle with olive oil and toss to coat.
Shake and push to a single layer.
Sprinkle with chopped garlic.
Salt/pepper to taste.
Cook at 425 degree oven for 10 minutes. Flip and cook another 3-5 minutes until they are brown and crispy.
Remove from oven and sprinkle with fresh grated parmesan cheese.

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Enjoy!
Ciao!

The Best Ever Mexican Lasagna!

Truth. I have tried many different “Mexican Lasagnas” throughout the years. Mostly using leftovers. They ended up being a delicious undressed taco with layers, but honestly never blew my socks off!

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So this time I had an idea. Why not add some yummy Brown Sugar Sriracha Glazed Bacon and see what happens. What happened was like the best thing ever! So instead of a very good cumin, chili powder seasoned garlic onion ground beef layer-kind of boring- we have crunchy bites of sweet and spicy glazed bacon throughout the meat later! Yikes! So good!

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Like most lasagnas, the leftovers the next night were even better!

Here is the recipe…

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Mexican Lasagna
Makes one 9X13 lasagna

Ingredients:
2 tbsp. olive oil for meat and 2 tbsp. for casserole dish
1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. Brown Sugar Sriracha Glazed Bacon (see recipe below)
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small onion, chopped
1 tbsp. cumin
2 tbsp. chili powder
red pepper flakes- for added heat
salt/pepper to taste
1 15 oz. can refried beans
1 cup corn kernels, frozen and steamed, canned, or fresh cut off the cob
1 cup Salsa Mojo Verde /your favorite taco sauce
1 14 oz. can stewed tomatoes
10 flour tortillas
2 cups shredded chihuahua cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
cilantro, garnish

For the Brown Sugar Sriracha Glazed Bacon
Ingredients:
1/2 lb. thick sliced bacon
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
2 tbsp. sriracha sauce

Directions:
Heat olive oil in a medium pan.

Toss onions and garlic with oil and cook for 3 minutes.

Add ground beef and cook until no longer pink, drain any excess fat.

Place meat in a mixing bowl.

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Meanwhile, to cook the Brown Sugar Sriracha Glazed Bacon…
Preheat oven 350 degrees.

Place bacon strips in a single layer on an aluminum foil covered cookie sheet.

Sprinkle dark brown sugar.

In a top to bottom motion, squeeze a small stream of Sriracha sauce in zig zags.

Bake 13-18 mins. until glazed and crispy. (Remember, the sugars on the bacon will “crisp up” as they cool. Don’t think it will be crunchy when you remove it from the oven. I know it’s hard to wait, but don’t burn your mouth it will be very hot!!)

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When cool, chop bacon into 1/4 inch pieces and mix into ground beef bowl.

Combine refried beans and corn in a separate bowl.

Combine stewed tomatoes, salt/pepper, and red pepper flakes in a bowl.

Combine cheese in a bowl.

Cut tortilla shells, 2 cuts into triangles.

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Layer lasgna-starting by coating casserole dish with olive oil, then covering by overlapping tortillas until covered.

Next, add a cheese layer, meat, tomatoes, beans and corn, salsa mojo verde or taco sauce, followed by another layer of tortilla shells.

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End with tortillas and cheese on top.

Bake 15-25 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

Sprinkle with chopped cilantro.

Enjoy!
Ciao!

Lemon Herb Garlic Shrimp!

Everytime I prepare this shrimp dish I have people begging me for the recipe and I feel so guilty because it is so easy!

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The lemon herb garlic shrimp skewers are perfect for a summer night when served with a cold salad, or don’t skewer the shrimp and toss them with your favorite long pasta like angel hair.

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The technique in the recipe is the fastest – coating the shrimp with olive oil, rolling in herbs, grilling shrimp, and squeezing lemon. If there is time, the herbs can be infused in the garlic before covering the shrimp. This creates a stronger herb flavor. Either are delicious, it just depends how much time you have!

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Lemon Herb Garlic Shrimp!

Ingredients:
1 lb. medium shrimp, cleaned and deveined
1 lemon, sliced into wedges
3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 thyme springs, leaves removed and finely chopped
1 tbsp. Basil, finely chopped
1 tbsp. Rosemary, finely chopped
(Cayenne pepper optional to add heat)
Salt/Pepper to taste
Wood skewers

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Directions:
In a small bowl mix herbs and garlic and cover a plate.
Skewer shrimp.
Drizzle with olive oil and either brush or use clean fingers to coat.
Dip into herbs on a plate.
Set skewers on a parchment covered cookie sheet or prepare to grill.
Grill a few minutes per side until shrimp turn pink.
Broil in oven until shrimp turn pink, turning once.
Squeeze half of a lemon over cooked skewers and serve!

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Enjoy!
Ciao!

Whiskey Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sliders!


Summer food is the best! Grilling anything definitely feels like summer. Dishes paired with cold salads make refreshing dinners on the deck! The issue ends up being prep time. I end up making fast meals because we are swimming or playing outside too long.

For the whiskey brown sugar chicken, I used the slow cooker. A home chef’s (busy mom’s) secret weapon for these sorts of dishes, the slow cooker is perfect for fall-off-the-bone meats with infused flavors, not to mention I feel safe leaving the house while it is cooking away!

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You think I am the Parmesan Princess? Well, I am the sweet and savory queen! Seriously, I cannot get enough- so it is no surprise that every ingredient is perfectly paired with its counterpart. The whiskey is paired with the sweet brown sugar. The alcohol cooks off and you are left with the hint of almost a smoky flavor. Garlic and sweet tomato paste; worcestershire sauce and spicy dijon mustard, etc. Topped with sliced sweet beets, artichoke hearts and a slice of savory aged gouda cheese. The cheese’s flavors of toasted caramel and hints of salt totally make these sliders!

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Whiskey Brown Sugar Pulled Chicken Sliders
Ingredients:
3/4 cup whiskey
1 tbsp. tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1 tbsp. worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp. spicy dijon mustard
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 lbs. bone-in, skinless chicken thighs
1/2 lb. Beemster Classic Aged Gouda Cheese
8 oz. artichoke hearts
8 oz. sliced beets
slider buns

 

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Directions:
Pour whiskey into slow cooker.
Whisk in tomato paste, garlic, worcestershire, dijon mustard, and brown sugar until well mixed and sugar is semi-dissolved.
Add chicken to slow cooker. Chicken should not be completely submerged in liquid but wading in it.
Cook on high 6-8 hours, until chicken is cooked through and falls off the bone.
Remove thighs from slow cooker, let cool for 15-20 minutes, and shred.
Add shredded chicken back into liquid and stir well.
Slice artichoke hearts, and beets.
Scoop chicken onto a bun, add one layer of gouda cheese, and top with artichokes and beets.

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Enjoy!
Ciao!