Cheese Stuffed Dates

A couple of months ago, some friends had a house warming party.  They served this appetizer.  They went fast!  I recreated them for something to snack on on Christmas day, while we were cooking and waiting for dinner.  I made half with the prosciutto and half without.

1 pound dates
4 ounces goat cheese
4 ounces marscapone cheese
10 fresh basil leaves, torn
Salt and pepper to taste
Prosciutto (optional), cut into 1 1/2 inch strips

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.

Slice the dates length wise and discard the pits.  In a small bowl, combine the cheeses, basil, salt, and pepper.  Stuff the dates with the cheese mixture.  If you choose to make this vegetarian, skip ahead to the baking instructions.  If not, wrap each date with a strip of prosciutto. 

Place the dates on a baking sheet (lined with aluminum foil makes clean up very easy).  Bake for about 8 minutes, or until the cheese is slightly melted and the prosciutto is crispy.  Serve while warm.

Creamy Pasta with Sun Dried Tomatoes and Mint

I was in charge of the veggies and whatnot for Christmas dinner, while my brother cooked all the meats.  I decided to have a vegetarian main dish in the form of a creamy pasta dish. 
 

*Sun dried tomatoes aren't shown in the picture due to a food allergy...No one's getting sick because of my food!


1 bunch of asparagus, ends trimmed
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.  Break the asparagus in about two inch pieces.  Then toss with the olive oil, salt, and pepper.  Roast for about 10-15 minutes, until the asparagus is just beginning to crisp.  You can also put them on a grill pan instead (or if you have a "real" grill, you can just toss them on there).  Remove from heat and set aside.

1 pound whole wheat pasta
4 ounces goat cheese
4 ounces Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon butter
1/2 cup chopped fresh mint, separated
1/8-1/4 cup pasta water

Salt and pepper to taste

Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the cheeses,butter, 1/4 cup mint.  Slowly add pasta water until the desired "creaminess" is achieved (don't add too quickly or sauce will be runny).  Then add salt and pepper to taste.

When pasta is cooked, drain and place in a large serving bowl.  Add the cooked asparagus, and sauce.  Toss well.  Add sun dried tomatoes for extra flavor and top with rest of mint.

Feast of the Seven Fishes!

The title of this post may be slightly off...should really be Feast of the Four Fishes (how's that for alliteration??).  Feast of the Seven Fishes is a southern Italian tradition.  It is mainly celebrated here in the United States by Italian Americans. In theory, seven fish dishes (often heavy in the shellfish department) are served on Christmas eve.  It takes hours and hours to do all the cooking and eating.  Typically, food comes in shifts.  Cook a little, eat a little, cook some more, eat some more.  Since it was just me and my father this year, we did an abridged version of four fishes instead.  (Seven seemed a bit ambitious to eat by ourselves.)  We still ate in shifts.  We cooked two of the fishes and ate them...then while we were making the next dishes, we were making room in our bellies for more.  Good system!  Here are the recipes from the night!  Oh, a pleasant surprise was the calamari.  I had always been intimidated to make it, but wow!  So light and delicious...and easy to make.  *There isn't a picture for the stuffed jumbo shrimp only because we went a little overboard with the stuffing...you couldn't even see the shrimp.
 

Baked Scallops

2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4 tablespoons flat leaf parsley, chopped
6-8 bay scallops
Salt and pepper to taste
4 tablespoons breadcrumbs
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Spray a small baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

In a small bowl, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, parsley, and salt and pepper to taste. Add the scallops and toss to coat. Allow to sit for 5-7 minutes to marinate.

Then place the scallops into the baking dish in one layer. Top with the bread crumbs and cut butter. 

Bake for about 15 minutes, until bubbly and the topping is golden.  *Check the scallops at the 10 minute mark.  If they are drying out, add a couple of tablespoons olive oil to the top and return to the oven to continue cooking.

Fried Calamari

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt and pepper to taste
1 pound cleaned squid (tentacles too!) bodies cut into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick rings

Canola oil (several cups)
Lemon wedges for serving
Marinara sauce for serving

In small bowl, combine the flour, parsley, and salt and pepper.  Toss well.  Set aside.

Cut the squid into 1/2 inch rings. Leave the tentacles intact.

Meanwhile, place enough oil in a large saucepan to reach about 2-3 inches.  Heat over medium-high heat.  Make sure the oil is hot before you start (I had a "sacrificial tentacle" to test when it was hot enough.)  Place the squid in the flour mixture to coat.  Be sure to coat the entire ring (inside part too).  Then in small batches, add the squid to the oil.  Cook for about 1-2 minutes until golden brown (any longer and they get chewy).  Transfer to a plate lined with a paper towel.  Hint: cook the rings together and cook the tentacles together.  They cook at a slightly different speed so it's easier to keep track if you keep them separated.
Serve with lemon wedges and marinara.

Cod with Orange Juice, Chives, and Spinach

1 cod fillet (or other white fish like tilapia)
1 orange, juiced, seeds removed
1/4 cup chives, chopped
1/2 cup balsamic marinade (I used ones you can find at Whole Foods, a substitute can just be olive oil and balsamic vinegar)
1 cup fresh spinach, loosely chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

In a large saute pan, heat the olive oil, juice, and chives over medium heat.  Cook for five minutes.  Add the cod (whole fillet is fine).  The cod breaks apart as you cook it.  Cook for 3-5 minutes and then add the marinade.  Stir well.  Add the spinach and salt and pepper. Continue to cook for another 3-5 minutes.  Serve while hot. (Actually does well reheated for lunch the next day!)


Baked Stuffed Shrimp
Adopted from Whole Foods

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, divided

8 jumbo raw shrimp, deveined, shelled, tail left on (if you have a dad standing right there...make him do this part)  :-)
2  large cloves garlic, finely minced
1 cup fresh mushrooms, finely minced (used a food processor...easy smeasy!)
1 cup bread crumbs (I used whole wheat)
1/4 cup chopped parsley
1/4 cup chopped chives
1/2 cup butter, melted
Salt and pepper
1/8 teaspoon chili pepper
Serve with lemon wedges

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray a baking dish with non-stick spray.

Butterfly the shrimp so they lay flat. Place in the baking dish.

In a small saute pan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and mushrooms mushrooms and cook for 5-7 minutes until the liquid is released.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine the bread crumbs, parsley, chives, butter, salt and pepper to taste, and chili powder.

When the mushrooms are done cooking, remove from heat and add the bread crumb mixture.  Combine well.  Then top the shrimp with the mixture (again we got a little zealous with how much we added...but it was so yummy!!).

Bake for 15 minutes until the shrimp are pink and the topping is lightly browned.  Serve with lemon wedges.

Coconut Macaroons

One of my favorite indulgences would have to be coconut macaroons.  So much sweetness, great texture...and my personal trainer yells at me, but oh so yummy.  I made these for a Toys for Tots bake sale yesterday.  This was our second bake sale for them and we raised about $1000 for their cause! 

1 cup all purpose flour
1 bag shredded coconut
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 ounces sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Line and grease a baking sheet with aluminum foil.

In a large bowl combine all the ingredients.  Drop the dough about one inch apart (they don't spread).

Bake for 12-15 minutes until lightly toasted.

Roasted Sweet Potato with Rosemary & Garlic

Sweet potatoes was on sale the other day at the market and I think I went a little overboard.  I brought home about 10 pounds of sweet potatoes...for one person.  I have gotten a little bored with just roasting it with a little salt and pepper.  This is a slight twist to keep my taste buds happy.

2 small sweet potatoes, peeled
2 tablespoons orange juice
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 teaspoon rosemary (fresh or dried)
2 large garlic cloves, sliced very thinly

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.  Lightly oil a baking dish/pan. 

Cut the sweet potatoes in half length wise.  Make cuts in the potato in diagonals (forming a diamond shape).  Place smooth side down on the baking dish.

In a small bowl, combine the orange juice, oil, salt, and pepper. Brush the sweet potatoes with the juice mixture.  Sprinkle with rosemary over top.  Then top with the garlic.

Bake for 20-24 minutes, until sweet potatoes are soft when tested with a fork.

Scrambled Egg with Parmesan & Herbs

Tonight was definitely a breakfast for dinner kind of night.  This dish only took about five minutes total to make, so dinner was fast on my table (a plus after a long day).

1 tablespoon butter (or margarine)
2 tablespoons shredded Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon dried dill
1 teaspoon turmeric powder
1 egg

In a small bowl, scramble the egg with a fork.  Add the dill and turmeric.

Melt the butter in a small saute pan over medium heat.  Once the cheese melts, about two minutes, add the egg mixture.  Cook for three minutes, until the egg is cooked. 

Spiced Apple with Caramel Drizzle

I made these cupcakes last week and haven't had a chance to put them up yet. I will be posting often over the next few days to keep up with the Feast of the Seven Fishes (love those Italian traditions...always centered around food).  Tonight's dessert includes handmade cannolis with ricotta, so be sure to check back often!

Cupcakes:

2 apples, peeled, cored, and chopped small

2 cups all purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/8 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/4 cup apple juice

1/4 cup apple sauce

1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.  Roast the chopped apples on a baking sheet about 15 minutes, until soft. Set apples aside to cool.  Lower the oven to 350 degrees and line a cupcake tin.

In a small bowl, combine the flour, sugar, spices, salt, and baking soda. Set aside. In a large bowl, add the eggs, oil, juice, apple sauce, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture in batches to the egg mixture. Mix until smooth.  Fold in the baked apples. 

Fill the liners until about 2/3 of the way full and bake for 18 minutes. These tend to cook quickly, so if your oven is hot, be sure to keep an eye on them.

Frosting:

8 ounces softened cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups confectioners sugar

Combine all ingredients, adding the sugar until the desired consistency is achieved.  Top the cooled cupcakes. *Optional* Drizzle caramel on top of the cupcakes for extra sweetness.