Chicken and Mushroom Risotto

Serves 6 - 8

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite size pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
6 tablespoons olive oil
1 shallot, thinly sliced
1 pound shiitake mushrooms, wiped clean, stemmed, and sliced
2 cups Arborio rice
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
3/4 cup red wine (I've used Sangiovese but I'm sure any red will do)
6 cups chicken stock, or canned, low-sodium chicken broth, heated
2 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup finely grated parmigiano-reggiano cheese
1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper, and set aside

2. Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a 14 inch saute pan over medium-high heat. Add the shallot and cook, stirring with a heat-resistant rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, until fragrant and soft, about 1 minute. Add the mushrooms and cook until nicely browned, 3 minutes

3. Move the mushrooms and shallots to the edge of the pan, and add the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add the chicken and cook without stirring until browned on one side, 2 minutes. Add the rice and cook, stirring, until the grains are opaque, about 2 minutes.

4. Add the balsamic vinegar and the wine, and continue cooking, stirring frequently, until nearly all of the liquid has been absorbed, 1 minute. Reduce the heat to medium, stir in 3/4 cup of the hot broth, simmer, and stir until nearly all of the liquid has been absorbed, about 3 minutes. Continue in this manner, adding more broth 3/4 cup at a time, and not adding more until the previous addition is absorbed, until all the broth has been added and the risotto is tender and creamy, 20-25 minutes.

5. Fold in the butter, cheese and thyme. Remove from the heat, adjust the seasoning as necessary, and serve immediately.

Recipe from: Emeril 20-40-60: Fresh Food Fast

Spicy Citrus-Glazed Duck Breasts

No pictures for this one but it's worth the effort!

Ingredients:

For the glaze

1 cup fresh orange juice (from about 4 oranges)
juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup rice vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon honey
1/2 fennel bulb, cored and finely chopped, a few fronds reserved for garnish
2 shallots, halved and thinly sliced
1 jalapeno or serrano chile, seeded and finely chopped
2 whole star anise
2 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the duck

4 8-ounce skin-on boneless duck breasts
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon canola or grapeseed oil

Whisk together all of the glaze ingredients, except for the butter, in a medium bowl and set aside.

Score the duck skin on the diagonal in 1/2 inch intervals, and again in the opposite direction so it is marked with a diamond pattern. Season the meat with the salt.

Heat a large stainless skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the oil and place the duck breasts, skin side down, in the pan. Cook until the skin is browned and crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Turn the duck breasts and cook the second side until browned, 2 to 3 minutes; transfer the duck to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of the fat in the pan.

Add the glaze mixture to the skillet and cook over medium-high heat until the liquid is thick and syrupy, 8 to 10 minutes. Swirl in the remaining butter, then return the duck to the skillet, turning to coat in the glaze. Serve immediately.

Recipe from: Two Dudes, One Pan: Maximum Flavor from a Minimalist Kitchen

Grilled Pork Chops with Broccoli and Beans

Ingredients:

7 oz purple sprouting broccoli (broccolini)
2 x 7oz thick boneless pork chops
1 garlic clove
1 medium fresh chile (for a spicier option use a serrano chile)
1 15 oz can cannellini beans
1 lemon
olive oil
sea salt
black pepper

1. Put a pan over high heat.
2. Trim the woody ends off of your broccoli stems then wash them in cold water and put to one side.
3. Drizzle the pork chops with olive oil, season them with salt and pepper, then rub this seasoning into the meat.
4. Place the pork chops in your screaming hot pan and cook, turning every 2 minutes with tongs, for 10 minutes total until cooked through and juicy in the middle.
5. Peel and finely slice the garlic. Deseed and finely chop the chile. Drain your cannellini beans.
6. Get some water boiling and put another fry pan over medium heat.
7. When your pork chops are done, transfer them to a plate and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
8. Add a lug of olive oil to your hot frying pan along with the chile and garlic. Cook for a minute until soft but not colored.
9. Add the broccoli to the boiling water and cook for 2-3 minutes until al dente. Drain in a colander and leave to steam dry.
10. Add the drained cannellini beans to the pan with the garlic and chile and stir well to coat the beans.
11. Toss the broccoli in a bowl with a lug of olive oil and the juice of half a lemon. Season with salt and pepper.
11. Divide the spicy beans between 2 plates, then top with the broccoli. Pop a pork chop on top of each portion and drizzle over any resting juices from the plate. Enjoy.

Recipe from: Jamie Oliver: 20 minute meals (iPhone app)

Chicken Tikka Masala

Ingredients:

For the Chicken Tikka


1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed
1 cup plain whole milk yogurt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger





For the Masala Sauce


3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 onion, minced (about 1 cup)
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1 serrano chile, ribs and seeds removed, chile minced
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
2 teaspoons sugar
Salt
2/3 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

For the chicken:

Combine the cumin, coriander, cayenne, and salt in a small bowl. Sprinkle both sides of the chicken with the spice mixture, pressing gently so that the mixture adheres. Place the chicken on a plate, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate 30-60 minutes. In a large bowl, whisk together the yogurt, oil and ginger. Set aside.

For the sauce:


Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring frequently, until light golden, 8 to 10 minutes. Add the garlic, ginger, chile, tomato paste, and garam masala; cook, stirring frequently, until fragrant, about 3 minutes. Add the tomatoes, sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cream and return to a simmer. Remove the pan from the heat and cover to keep warm.

While the sauce simmers, adjust an oven rack to the upper-middle position (about 6 inches from the heating element) and heat the broiler. Using tongs, dip the chicken into the yogurt mixture (the chicken should be coated with a thick layer of yogurt) and arrange on a wire rack set in a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet or broiler pan.  Discard the excess yogurt mixture. Broil the chicken until the thickest parts register 160 degrees on an instant-read thermometer and the exterior is lightly charred in spots, 10-18 minutes, flipping the chicken halfway through cooking.

Let the chicken rest 5 minutes, then cut into 1 inch chunks and stir into the warm sauce (do not simmer the chicken in the sauce). Stir in the cilantro, season with salt to taste, and serve.

Recipe from: America's Test Kitchen: Best-Ever Recipes

Gnocchi with Spinach, Ham and Gorgonzola

Ingredients:

Salt and Pepper
1 Pound vacuum-packed gnocchi
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
6 slices deli ham, cut into 1/4" strips
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
3/4 cups crumbled gorgonzola cheese
1 teaspoon lemon juice
2 ounces baby spinach

Bring 4 quarts of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon salt and gnocchi to boiling water and cook until tender and floating, about 4 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, drain gnocchi and transfer gnocchi to paper towel-lined plate.

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium high heat until shimmering. Add gnocchi to skillet and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Stir in ham and cook until it begins to brown, 2 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Add reserved cooking water, pine nuts, cheese, and lemon juice to skillet and stir until cheese starts to melt and sauce becomes creamy. Add spinach and stir until just wilted, 1 to 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve.

Recipe from: America's Test Kitchen: 30-Minute Suppers  (Summer 2010)

Ricotta and Pancetta Stuffed Pork Chops with Marinara Sauce

Ingredients:

For the Pork Chops

4   1 1/2" - to - 2" thick pork chops
2   tablespoons canola or grapeseed oil
1   medium yellow onion, finely chopped
8   1/8"- to- 1/4" thick pancetta slices, chopped into 1/2" squares
1   cup fresh ricotta cheese
1   teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
1   teaspoon kosher salt
2   cups Classic Marinara (recipe to follow)
1   tablespoon finely chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley





For the Classic Marinara


2  28-ounce cans whole tomatoes packed in juice (not puree)
1/3 cup olive oil
20 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon kosher salt
20 whole fresh basil leaves

Classic Marinara


Place the tomatoes and their juices in a large bowl. Using your hands, squeeze and shred the tomatoes into small bits.

Heat the oil and garlic in a soup pot over medium heat just until the garlic begins to toast, 7 to 9 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and then stir in the tomatoes and salt. Cook until slightly thickened and the sauce has darkened, about 45 minutes, then stir in the basil. Taste for seasoning


Ricotta and Pancetta Stuffed Pork Chops


Preheat your oven to 500F. Make a long and deep slit about 1/2 inch from the bone in the meaty edge of each pork chop. Use the tip of your knife to tunnel into the center of the meat, making a pocket for the stuffing. Set the chops aside.

Heat a stainless skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the oil and the onions and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook the onions until soft and sticky, another 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often. Transfer the onions to a plate and set aside. Add the pancetta to the hot skillet and cook until all sides are crisp and browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Turn off the heat and transfer the pancetta to a plate. Set aside to cool, leaving the fat from the pancetta in the pan.

Place the ricotta and thyme in a medium bowl.

Stir the cooled pancetta, caramelized onions, and 1/2 teaspoon of the salt into the ricotta until well blended. Stuff some of the mixture into each pork chop, stuffing the pocket so it is full but not spilling out.

Heat your skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes and season both sides of the pork chops with the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Add the pork chops to the skillet and sear until crispy and golden brown on both sides, 8 to 10 minutes total. Transfer the chops to a plate and drain off the fat in the skillet. Return the chops to the skillet and cover with the marinara sauce. Transfer the entire skillet to the oven and bake until the sauce is bubbly and the chops are completely cooked through, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with the parsley and serve immediately.

Recipe from: Two Dudes One Pan: Maximum Flavor from a Minimalist Kitchen

Shrimp Bisque

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lb medium shrimp in the shell
1 orange
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 leeks, trimmed, halved lengthwise, and rinsed well
1 onion, trimmed, peeled and halved
2 celery stalks, cut into big chunks
2 carrots, peeled and cut into big chunks
3 fresh thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 cup brandy
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
4 cups heavy cream
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Finely chopped fresh chives, for garnish

Peel and devein the shrimp, reserving the shells; stick the shrimp into the fridge until it's time to eat. Use a vegetable peeler to strip off a couple pieces of orange zest and grate the remaining zest. Cover and refrigerate the grated zest for garnish.

Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and melt the butter into it. Add the shrimp shells, leeks, onion, celery, carrots, thyme, bay leaf, strips of orange zest, tomato paste, and cayenne. Cook, stirring every now and then, until the shells are red and the vegetables begin to soften, about 10 minutes.

Take the pot off the heat and carefully pour in the brandy,. Return to medium heat, cook for a minute more, then sprinkle in the flour, give it a stir, and cook for another 2 minutes. now add water to cover, 2 to 3 cups, and deglaze, scraping up all the browned bits at the bottom of the pot with a wooden spoon. Add the cream and bring to a boil. Immediately turn the heat down to low and simmer gently until the soup is reduced and thickened, 30-45 minutes. Strain into a clean pot and season with salt and pepper.

When ready to serve, return the bisque to a simmer, add the shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes,  just to cook the shrimp through. Give the bisque a final taste for seasoning, pour into warmed soup bowls and serve garnished with the reserved orange zest and chives.

Recipe from: Tyler's Ultimate: Brilliant Simple Food to Make Anytime

Pan-fried sirloin steak with simple Chianti butter sauce and olive oil mash

Ingredients:
for the olive oil mash:
14 oz potatoes, peeled and halved
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
olive oil
small handful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
a knob of butter

for the steaks and sauce:


2 x 7oz sirloin steaks
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
olive oil
2 knobs of butter
2 shallots or 1 small red onion

a few sprigs of fresh thyme, leaves picked

1 large wine glass of Chianti
a few sprigs of watercress

Put the potatoes into a large pan of salted water, bring to a boil and simmer until soft. Drain in a colander and allow them to sit for a few minutes to steam away any excess moisture. Return the potatoes to the pan and mash them up, stirring in a large glug of olive oil, the Parmesan and butter. Taste, season and then transfer to a bowl, cover to keep warm.

Heat a frying pan, large enough to cook both steaks at once without them touching. Season the steaks with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil. using a pair of tongs, hold the steaks fatty-edge down in the pan to render and color the fat. When golden, fry the steaks for 8 minutes total for medium-rare, turning them every minute. Remove from the pan to rest.

Turn the heat down and add a knob of butter to the pan. Fry the shallots and thyme for 4 minutes, then add the wine and reduce by half. Pour in the resting juices from the meat, add the 2 remaining knobs of butter and take the pan off the heat. Stir around to emulsify. Taste, season and serve with the steak, potatoes and a few sprigs of watercress.

Wine suggestion: American red - Zinfandel

Recipe from: Cook With Jamie: My Guide to Making You a Better Cook