Thursday, June 24, 2010

Vanilla Lime Pineapple Skewers

(From Good Eats)

Ingredients

  • 1 vanilla bean
  • 8 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 1 cup firmly packed
  • 1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Pinch kosher salt
  • 1 whole pineapple
  • 8 (12-inch) metal skewers

Directions

Split open the vanilla pod and scrape out the pulp, and add the pod and the pulp to a small saucepan along with the brown sugar, lime juice, and salt. Whisk together and place the mixture over medium high heat and bring to a boil, stirring just until the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 2 hours before using. Remove the vanilla pod. Once cool, place the syrup in a squeeze bottle or other sealable container. Store in the refrigerator.
Preheat grill on high.
Peel and remove the core from the pineapple. Cut the pineapple into eighths, lengthwise, and remove any prickly brown eyes.
Thread the pieces of pineapple onto the skewers lengthwise. Coat the skewered pineapple on all sides with the syrup. Grill on all sides until golden brown, approximately 4 minutes per side, 12 minutes total, or until the pineapple is tender. Serve with any remaining sauce.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Vegetarian Frittata


Ingredients (serving 6):
  • 6-7 medium uncooked red potatoes, skin on, chopped
  • Half of 1 large yellow or orange pepper, chopped
  • Half of 1 large red pepper, chopped
  • 3/4 package Gimme Lean vegetarian sausage, chopped/crumbled
  • 12 eggs (I usually do half real eggs and half egg substitute), beaten
  • 1 cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • Seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, whatever your heart desires)
Directions:
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease/PAM a large lasagna-style glass/corningware baking dish.
  • Layer potatoes, peppers, and sausage in order, seasoning as desired.
  • Pour beaten eggs over the whole dish (should not completely cover everything, but fairly close).
  • Bake for 45 minutes or until center appears relatively firm when you jiggle the dish. Sprinkle with cheese and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes or until melted/browned.
  • Enjoy!
Variations:
  • You can make this with chicken (pre-cooked), real sausage, or tempeh.
  • I've also made this in a taller casserole-style dish on the stove top instead of baking--basically cooking until the eggs are firm, then broiling for 10 minutes with the cheese on top.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Pavlova

Meringue Ingredients:

3 egg whites
3/4-1 c sugar
1t corn starch
1/4 t vanilla
1t lemon juice

Topping Ingredients:

1/2 pt whipping cream
4 oz strawberries or raspberries
4 oz stoned cherries
4 apricots or greengages, halved
2 ripe peaches

Decorate With:
red currants
1 egg white
2T sugar

Cook 300degrees 1 1/4-1 1/2 h (can be lower).
Draw an 18 cm circle on a nonstick parchment and place on baking sheet.
Whisk whites until stiff. Add in other ingredients gradually.
Spread meringue on the circle and build into a bowl-shaped shell. Bake until firm--sounds hollow when tapped. Allow to cool before removing from paper. Whip cream and cut fruit-don't put onto meringue until just before serving

Monday, June 14, 2010

Low Country Boil

Ingredients:

12 Cups Water
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons Old Bay Seasoning
1 lb new red potatoes
1lb hot smoked sausage links, cut into 2 inch pieces (I used beef smoked sausage)
6 ears corn, husked, cleaned and quartered
2 lbs. large fresh shrimp unpeeled

Directions:

Bring water and Old Bay to a boil in a large stockpot.
Add potatoes and cook for 15 mins.
Add sausage and cook for 5 more minutes.
Add corn and cook for 5 more minutes.
Add shrimp and cook until pink, about 5 minutes.
Drain immediately and serve.