Shannon's Cookbook

I paired this wonderful salad with cod that had been brushed with extra vinaigrette and baked til flaky. 1 T white wine vinegar 1 T whole grain mustard juice from 1/2 fresh lemon 3 T extra virgin olive oil 1/2 t dried tarragon, rubbed 1/4 cup finely chopped shallot 1/2 lb fresh green beans, trimmed 1 can sliced beets, rinsed and well drained sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Whisk together vinegar, mustard and lemon juice in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in oil. Stir in tarragon and shallots and salt and pepper. Steam green beans til just tender, about 8 minutes. Plunge into ice water. Drain well: pour out onto a paper towel and ensure they are completely dry. Pour into a large bowl and toss with vinaigrette. Carefully stir in beets. Chill til ready to serve. I am not that fond of fresh green beans, but the beets took on such incredible flavor in this salad! Adapted from LHJ magazine

This recipe is adapted from my own recipe box. Rather than cook the potatoes in the dish, I decided to roast them and serve the bouillabaisse and a spicy sour cream atop. olive oil 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into chunks 1 onion, chopped handful baby carrots, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/4 t anise 1/4 t thyme 1/2 cup dry white wine pinch saffron threads salt and ground black pepper 1 small can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes 1 t grated lemon zest Heat olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium high heat. Add the chicken, cooking til well browned on all sides. Stir in onion and carrots and cook another 5-10 minutes or til veggies are tender. Stir in garlic and cook another minute. Stir in spices, wine and saffron and cook til wine reduces. Add salt, pepper, tomatoes and zest. Bring to a boil; cover and  reduce heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes. Herbed Roasted Potatoes 2 potatoes, peeled and quartered vegetable oil herb blend: thyme, tarragon, c...

My friend (and fellow foodie) Katie sent me lots of Goya Sazon and seasoning for yellow rice. It was about darned time I used some of it! Start the rice about 30 minutes before serving and stir it into the slow cooker with the lemon juice. Marinade 3 chicken quarters, skinned 1 small onion, sliced juice from 1/2 fresh lime juice from 1/2 fresh orange 1 T adobo seasoning (I used homemade) 2 garlic cloves, smashed salt and black pepper, to taste Soup vegetable oil 1 onion, chopped 2 garlic cloves 1 T adobo seasoning 1 packet Goya Sazon seasoning with achiote 4 cups chicken broth or stock 1 small can diced tomatoes juice from 1/2 fresh lemon Yellow Rice about 1 t vegetable oil 1 cup white rice 1/4 cup sofrito (I used homemade) 3 cups water 1 packet each: Goya Sazon with achiote and yellow rice seasoning 1/2 cup frozen peas fresh cilantro leaves Pierce chicken all over with a sharp small knife. Add chicken and remaining marinade ingredients to a lar...

Rather than make homemade empanada crust, I bought puff pastry sheets. The puff pastry saves a lot of time and work. And these ended up more like "puffs" rather than the typical empanada shape. They were awesome! So awesome in fact, that instead of saving them for game day we ate them tonight. I cooked the black beans with a couple packets of Goya Sazon with cilantro. 1 pkg puff pastry sheets vegetable oil 1 small onion, minced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 cup frozen corn, thawed 1 1/2 cups cooked black beans 4 oz cream cheese, at room temperature 1 chipotle chile, minced 1 t chili powder 1/2 t ground cumin small handful fresh cilantro leaves, snipped 1 – 1 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese mayo for brushing tops garlic powder Chipotle Sour Cream 1 cup sour cream 1 T canned chipotles in adobo sauce minced fresh cilantro, to taste lime juice to taste salt to taste Thaw pastry sheets according to package. Meanwhile, in a large frying pan ov...

The salsa is an idea I came up with based on the marinade ingredients for the beef. The flavors went wonderfully together! Marinade juice from 1 fresh orange, 1 fresh lemon and 1 fresh lime 1 t Adobo seasoning (I used homemade) 1 t dried mint 1 t vegetable oil 1 1/2 lb Texas broil, trimmed and cut into chunks Pinto Bean and Citrus Salsa 1 1/2 cups cooked pinto beans 1/2 red onion, minced 1 clove garlic, minced 1 fresh orange, peeled and sectioned juice from 1 fresh lime and 1 lemon small handful fresh cilantro Adobo seasoning, to taste dried mint leaves, to taste drizzle olive oil sea salt and black pepper to taste Carnitas 1/2 onion, minced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup beef broth 1 large orange, wedged 1/2 t hot pepper flakes fresh cilantro leaves Whisk together marinade ingredients; pour into a ziploc bag. Add beef chunks and marinade overnight, turning several times. Remove meat from bag and discard marinade. Toss together salsa ingredients i...

I made a large batch of chicken stock the other day, and what better to make than chicken soup? I called mom to find out how she made her famous egg noodles back in the day. Noodles don't get much simpler than this. This amount makes a small batch of noodles. 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 t salt 1 cup flour plus extra for kneading, rolling In a small bowl, beat eggs with salt. Add flour to a large bowl and make a well. Pour in egg mixture all at once. With a wooden spoon, stir til dough ball forms. Drop dough out onto a lightly floured cutting board and knead til smooth. With a rolling pin, roll dough out til almost paper thin. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut into noodles, as small or as large as you like. Let noodles dry several hours. Drop into boiling soup, broth or stock. Simmer til noodles are cooked through; mine took about 15 minutes.

This is a recipe that came in my Allrecipes newsletter that sounded so good, I decided to make it for us for dinner. I seasoned the chicken liberally with homemade Adobo seasoning; feel free to use your favorite. This is my adaptation. 1 1/3 cups white rice, parboiled, rinsed and well drained 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts 2 1/2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese 1 large (26 oz) can cream of chicken soup 1 1/2 cups homemade salsa (I used habanero) 1 can chicken broth Preheat oven to 350°. Spray a 9x13" baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, mix together soup, salsa and broth. Over medium heat, bring to a simmer. Layer rice in bottom of pan and top with chicken. Pour hot soup mixture over the top and end with 2 cups of cheese. Cover and bake 45 minutes; uncover and top with remaining cheese and bake til rice is cooked through and liquid is absorbed. I served this with additional salsa, sour cream and black olives. ...

This vegetarian dish was FULL of flavor, especially with the addition of three kinds of olives. 1 shallot, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 cup canned tomatoes, pureed 1 cup dry red wine 1/2 cup vegetable (or your favorite) broth 1/3 cup each: chopped pitted olives (I used green, black and Kalamata) herb blend, to taste: I used basil, oregano, tarragon and thyme salt and ground black pepper to taste 2 cups ziti, cooked just til al dente 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese, plus extra for serving 1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan In a large frying pan or skillet over medium low heat, saute shallot and garlic for about 5 minutes. Add tomato puree, wine and broth and simmer til mixture is reduced, about 10 minutes. Stir in olives, herbs and salt and pepper to taste. Preheat oven to 350°. Stir sauce into pasta. Stir in 1 1/2 cups mozzarella and parmesan. Pour mixture into a baking dish and top with remaining mozzarella. Bake about 20 minutes, or til hot and bubbli...

I have always wanted to try this, and when I came across an unusual version in Giada's cookbook, I thought it sounded like a perfect meal for tonight. Just enough for two. 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 T flour 1/2 t paprika salt and couple grinds black pepper 1/2 cup beef broth pinch saffron threads 1 T olive oil 1 T butter 2 T minced shallot 1/4 cup dry white wine 1/2 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced Trim any fat from chicken and pound thin. In a small flat container or bowl, mix flour, paprika, and salt and pepper. Dredge chicken in mixture; coat well. Set aside. Mix beef broth and saffron; set aside. Heat oil and butter over medium high heat. Fry chicken til golden brown on both sides; remove and set aside to keep warm. Stir in shallots and saute for a couple minutes. Stir in wine and broth mixture and simmer til the liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and simmer til the sauce thickens sl...

Original from Katie "Fiddle Dee Dee" Scarlett: http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=396016&articleId=281474977576380&nav=Namespace 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts salt and freshly ground black pepper olive oil 2 cloves chopped garlic 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 small (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes basil, oregano, parsley to taste 1 pkg (6 oz) fresh spinach hot cooked pasta freshly grated Parmesan Sprinkle the chicken generously with salt and pepper. Heat a little oil in a large frying pan or skillet over medium high heat. Sear chicken til nice and brown on both sides. Remove and set aside to keep warm. Drizzle in a little more oil and quickly saute garlic for a few seconds. Stir in wine and cook til reduced. Add tomatoes and herbs. Simmer til thickened slightly. Stir in spinach and cook about 5 minutes. Taste and adjust as desired. Add chicken back to pan and coat in the sauce. Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package. I ser...

As I have said before, sometimes Matt makes the oddest meal requests. Use your favorite seasoning here. My recommendation would be to use either a no salt or low salt variety, as some pickles are salty enough on their own. 1 quart sliced dill pickles (I used Vlasic hamburger dills, my fave) 1/2 cup buttermilk 1 t hot sauce 2 t Adobo seasoning, divided 1/4 cup cornmeal 1/4 cup flour oil for frying In a colander, drain pickles well. (Feel free to reserve the pickle juice for another use. My dad likes it in a bloody mary). In a medium bowl, mix buttermilk, hot sauce and 1 t seasoning. Toss in pickles and stir to coat. Drain and discard buttermilk mixture. In a large container with a tight fitting lid, mix together cornmeal, flour and seasoning. Add pickle slices carefully. Shake lightly to distribute mixture. Cover container tightly and toss mixture til pickles are well coated.   Ensure none of the pickles are stuck together. Refrigerate at least 15 minutes....

True Italian is one cuisine I rarely make. I picked up Giada's cookbook the other day at the library in hopes of finding dishes that Matt and I both could enjoy. This is my adaptation of her recipe, which was far more complicated. Unexpectedly, I found this dish absolutely delicious. We both had seconds! 2 T butter, divided 1 T olive oil 1 small onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 small pkg sliced fresh mushrooms about 2 cups shredded chicken salt and ground black pepper 2 T flour 1/4 cup white wine 1 cup half and half, at room temperature 1 cup chicken stock or broth 2 t dried parsley leaves 1/2 t ground nutmeg 12 oz hot cooked spaghetti 1/2 cup frozen peas 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan 1/4 cup breadcrumbs (I used homemade) 1 T melted butter Melt 1 T butter and olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the onion and cook til softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook a few seconds, til fragrant. Stir in mushrooms an...

We love this recipe because we both go crazy for Andouille anything! For the grits, I simply cooked them according to the package, substituting chicken broth for the water and stirring in a little butter and shredded sharp white cheddar at the end. And I probably should have let them sit longer, but I was hun-gree! 3 T butter, divided 8 oz andouille sausage, sliced 1/2 onion, thinly sliced 1/2 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 1 clove garlic, minced 1/4 cup flour 1 t Cajun seasoning (I used homemade) 1 1/4 - 1 1/2 cups chicken broth hot cooked grits Heat a large frying pan or skillet over medium heat. Add 1 T butter and melt. Add sausage, cooking til just browned. Stir in onion and pepper and cook til softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook another minute or so. With a slotted spoon remove mixture from the pan; set aside to keep warm. Increase heat to medium high and add remaining butter. In a small bowl, mix flour and seasoning. Whisk into pan and cook for a min...

This job is made easier (even for those of us with arthritis) by the use of bone shears. They came in my new knife set and are priceless for cutting through bone. I added a large packet of apple wood chips to the grill as well, but this is optional. This chicken was AMAZING. Marinade 1/4 cup chopped shallots 3 T fresh lemon juice 2 T balsamic vinegar 2 T honey 1 T Dijon mustard 1 T olive oil 2 t light soy sauce 1 t fresh rosemary, minced 1 t grated lemon rind 1 t dried thyme, rubbed 1 t freshly ground black pepper 1/2 t ground sage 6 garlic cloves, smashed pinch salt 1 whole chicken Whisk together the marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Taste and adjust as desired. Add to a large (gallon size) ziploc bag. Set aside. With sharp bone or kitchen shears, trim chicken of excess fat; remove giblets and neck and remove the wings at the first joint. Split chicken in half lengthwise. Remove and discard skin (if desired. I only removed the excess); pierce chi...

I have had this recipe bookmarked for quite a while, and decided today was the day to give it a try! Other than using all beef in place half lamb, I followed this recipe quite closely. I didn't have enough rosemary, so I used savory instead. I also saw a trick that Alton Brown does of weighing down the loaf after baking and during the rest period. The flavor was absolutely incredible! The texture wasn't quite "there"; I think I needed to do a second grind of the beef. I made two small loaves so that one could be frozen. 1/2 onion, chopped 2 lbs ground beef 1 1/2 T minced garlic 1 t dried oregano 1 t ground cumin 1 t dried marjoram leaves 1 t dried rosemary leaves 1 t dried thyme leaves 1 t ground black pepper 1/4 t sea salt (or to your taste) Mince the onion in a blender or food processor. Drain onions in a double layer of paper towel for a couple hours. Squeeze out any liquid and discard paper towel. Using a hand grinder, blender or food...