July 2014 – Buen provecho…2022

Alton Brown’s Best Green Bean Casserole Ever (Food Network)

I know we all have our favorite green bean casserole from when our mothers used to make them on special occasions. Recently called upon to bring a veggie dish to a party, I scanned my recipe collection and chose to use Alton’s. It was great… try it and let me know..

Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Ingredients

For the topping:
2 medium onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon kosher salt
Nonstick cooking spray

For beans and sauce:
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1 pound fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and halved
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 ounces mushrooms, trimmed and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (I subbed one large portobello)
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground nutmeg
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup half-and-half

Directions

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F.

Combine the onions, flour, panko and salt in a large mixing bowl and toss to combine. Coat a sheet pan with nonstick cooking spray and evenly spread the onions on the pan. Place the pan on the middle rack of the oven and bake until golden brown, approximately 30 minutes. Toss the onions 2 to 3 times during cooking. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside until ready to use. Turn the oven down to 400 degrees F.

While the onions are cooking, prepare the beans. Bring a gallon of water and 2 tablespoons of salt to a boil in an 8-quart saucepan. Add the beans and blanch for 5 minutes. Drain in a colander and immediately plunge the beans into a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking. Drain and set aside.

Melt the butter in a 12-inch cast iron skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the mushrooms, 1 teaspoon salt and pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms begin to give up some of their liquid, approximately 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and nutmeg and continue to cook for another 1 to 2 minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the mixture and stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute. Add the broth and simmer for 1 minute. Decrease the heat to medium-low and add the half-and-half. Cook until the mixture thickens, stirring occasionally, approximately 6 to 8 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in 1/4 of the onions and all of the green beans. Top with the remaining onions. Place into the oven and bake until bubbly, approximately 15 minutes. Remove and serve immediately.

Peach Cranberry Chutney

AND…we are back in our new house after five weeks in the north. Finally got the computer up and running!Had the opportunity to sample my nephew’s chutney while in Canada. It was awesome served with pork tenderloin! Thanks David!

Peach Cranberry Chutney (David Rogers)

9 cups chopped peaches
4 cups brown sugar
4 cups white vinegar
4 cups chopped red or white onions
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 tbsp. grated fresh ginger
3 tbsp. mustard seed (coarsely ground if possible)
3 tsp. cinnamon
2-1/4 tsp. ground cumin
2-1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. fenugreek seed
3/4 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 tsp. cayenne (more if you like it hot) I doubled the cayenne

Combine all ingredients in a large heavy bottomed saucepan and bring to a full boil.
Reduce heat to a moderate boil and cook until the mixture reaches a jam consistency.
Stir often to prevent scorching.
Should take 40 minutes or so.
Ladle into hot Mason jars, leaving 1/2 an inch of head space and seal.
Process in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.
Remove and let stand until the lids pop down.
Check seals after 24 hours and refrigerate any unsealed jars.

Enjoy

Roasted Corn and Sweet Pepper Toss

Summertime in southern Ontario means sweet corn is plentiful. Try something a little different and use it in a fresh salad, as my daughter did. It is an awesome side salad and worth the effort.

6 cobs of corn (or used a good quality canned corn)
1 T olive oil
2 red peppers
2 orange peppers
1/2 teaspoon lime zest
2 T fresh lime juice
3 T cider vinegar
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1 clove of garlic minced
pinch of sugar
salt and pepper
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1’2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped cilantro
4 cups arugula leaves

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

Remove husks from the corn and brush the cobs with oil. Place on a parchment paper lined cooking sheet. Cut the peppers into quarters and add to the corn. Roast for 45 minutes or until corn and peppers are golden. Leave to cool.

Scrape the kernels from the corn into a large bowl. Chop the peppers into bite sized pieces and add to the corn.

Whisk together the lime juice and zest, vinegar, paprika, garlic sugar and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with olive oil, whisking constantly. Pour the dressing over the corn and peppers and toss to coat. Add green onion and cilantro and toss again. Place arugula on a platter and pour corn mixture on top. Chill for 30 minutes.

NOTE: If you are an arugula lover, I would add chopped arugula to the salad and toss it all together.

Serves 6 to 8 people.

Arugula and Basil Salad

Just tried this from the LCBO Food and Drink Magazine for summer. Simple and very tasty…

Arugula & Basil Salad with Nectarine

Dressing
Juice and zest of one lime
1 teaspoon grated ginger
1/2 tsp. Sesame oil
1/4 cup salad oil (not olive)
Salt and pepper

Salad
8 cups baby arugula
2 ripe nectarines cut into thin wedges
1 cup loosely packed basil leaves in thin strips
2 teaspoons toasted sesame seeds

Prepare dressing and let stand. Add arugula and basil. Toss with the toasted sesame seeds and nectarines.

You could likely substitute firm peaches OR mango.