Archive for October, 2008

Holiday Rice Salad Recipe

Monday, October 27th, 2008
Holiday Rice Salad
Serves 25

Ingredients:

2 c Wild Rice
6 c Brown Rice
4 large Braeburn Apples, 1 Inch Chunks
2 large Red Bell Peppers
2 c Dried Cranberries
2 c Pecan Pieces
1 c Red Onion, Chopped
½ c Chopped Parsley
¾ c Balsamic Vinegar
1 c Olive Oil
5 tsp Kosher Salt
3 tsp Black Pepper
2 tbsp Lemon Zest
3 tbsp Lemon Juice

Directions:
1. Bring wild rice to boil with 6 cups water, cover and simmer 45 min.
2. Bringbrown rice and 12 cups water to boil, cover and simmer 30 min.
3. Chill cooked rice uncovered in refrigerator 1 hour.
4. While rice is cooking andchilling, chop apples and vegetables. Whisk last 6 ingredients, set aside.
5. Toss rice with fruit, vegetables and pecans.
6. Toss with 1/2 of the whisked dressing.
7. Just before serving drizzle with remaining dressing.

Recipe copied from Dream Dinner’s Easy Entertaining Guide.

Stephanie Allen's October Cooking Tips

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

Stephanie Allen has updated her blog with a new series of tips for some October menu items. Here are a few of them:

Diablo Chicken
Garlic, cayenne and lime, perfect for spicing up chicken. The cheesy rice that came with it was delicious too. I cooked 6 chicken breasts for my husband, our 15 year old son and I, we had 2 chicken breasts left over. I chopped them up and mixed them with the left over rice. In the morning I made 2 delicious wraps for Vern and I to take to work, adding the chicken and rice to some chopped green onions and red bell peppers, I spread it over a whole wheat tort ilia and topped with non fat sour cream and salsa before rolling up into a log and wrapping with foil.

Asian Pork Loin
This was another Dream Dinners for my crock pot. I cooked it from frozen with the sauce and 1 cup of orange juice. 8 – 10 hour on low and it was ready to be shredded with two forks and served with chopped napa cabbage and green onions. We had Asian noodles and sliced cucumbers. The left overs turned into an Asian Soup with sweet and sour sauce.

Salmon and Crab Pinwheels
This is a quick, easy and elegant dinner. I lightened ours up by using 1/2 the Alfredo sauce and adding 1/2 cup white wine and then I kicked it up with 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes. This wasan easy dinner to cook for just Vern and I, pulling only 2 pinwheels out of the bag and spooning 2 big spoon-fulls of sauce it made great dinner for 2. I clipped some fresh sage from my herb garden, snipped it onto the salmon and grated some fresh lemon zest right as it was done cooking. We ate it all!

Visit stephanieallen.wordpress.com for more tips.

On a side note, her blog reminded me that October is Best of the Best month at Dream Dinners. Two of my favorite dishes are on the menu (and in my freezer) – Chicken Mirabella and Canadian Bacon Stuffed French Bread. Note that the Chicken Mirabella doesn’t come with pasta included anymore.

October 2008 Dream Dinners Side Dish Recipes

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008
Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
Brought to you by Liberty Mutual in honor of National Fire Safety Month
Serve with Firehouse Three Cheese Pasta and Meatballs
Brought to you by Liberty Mutual in honor of National Fire Safety Month

Salad Ingredients:
1 large head romaine lettuce leaves separated
1 egg lightly beaten
2 garlic cloves, crushed
3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
½ cup extra virgin olive oil
4 anchovy fillets, drained and chopped
½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
¾ cup Garlic croutons (recipe follows)

Salad Directions:
1. Rinse the lettuce and dry. Refrigerate wrapped in paper towels for several hours to crisp the leaves.
2. Whisk the raw egg, garlic, lemon juice, add oil slowly whisking to blend and pour
into the bottom of a large salad bowl.
3. Add the lettuce and anchovies, and toss thoroughly with the dressing.
4. Add the cheese and toss again.
5. Sprinkle with the croutons and serve immediately.
Pass the peppermill.

Garlic Croutons

Crouton Ingredients:
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
3 cups stale bread cubes (about ½ inch)
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon dried parsley
3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Crouton Directions:
1. Heat the butter and oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the bread cubes and cook, tossing constantly with a wooden spoon, for 3 to 4 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium-low.
2. Add the garlic and parsley.
Continue to cook the croutons, tossing frequently, until golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
Remove to a bowl and toss with the Parmesan.
Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

Recipe copied from www.dreamdinners.com.