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Zucchini Lasagna
Quite a while back I had posted a KETO lasagna recipe using zucchini zoodles. Now that we are Keto Conscious I have given myself a little more leeway with what we eat. But…this recipe is really still Keto but assembled in a little different manner, for those who do not own a spiralizer! It was great with a few different ingredients.
Oven Ready in 9 x 13 pan
Zucchini Lasagna
Ingredients
- 3 large zucchinis
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1-pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup onion finely chopped
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 24-ounce jar marinara or Bolognese sauce
- 16 ounces ricotta cheese
- 1 cup chopped spinach
- 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 egg
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- salt and pepper to taste
- cooking spray
- fresh basil garnish
- Trim both ends off the zucchini.
- Use a mandolin to cut the zucchini into 1/8-inch slices. Sprinkle salt over the zucchini slices, then lay them out on a layer of paper towels to drain. Let sit for at least 10 minutes.
- Pat the tops of the zucchini slices with paper towels until dry.
- While the zucchini is resting, prepare the sauce. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking the meat up with a spatula, until beef is browned and cooked through.
- Add the onion and cook for another 3-4 minutes or until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Add the marinara sauce and bring to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes.
- Place the ricotta cheese, chopped spinach, Italian seasoning, egg, parmesan cheese, salt and pepper in a bowl. Mix until well combined.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Coat a 2- or 3-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- Place 1/4 of the sauce in the bottom of the dish. Add 1/3 of the zucchini slices on top. Spread 1/3 of the ricotta mixture over the zucchini then top with 1/3 of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers, ending with the mozzarella cheese.
- Cover and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 20 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley, then let stand for 5-7 minutes. Cut into slices, then serve.
Penne alla Vodka
No doubt you have had this dish at any one of thousands of Italian restaurants around the world. It really is quite simple once you have prepared the sauce. You can use canned tomatoes, but in this case I used 2 larger fresh tomatoes, NOT plum. I simply chopped them up. One thing of note – do NOT use more than 3 – 4 tablespoons of vodka, as it will leave the dish bitter…
Penne alla Vodka
Ingredients
- 28 oz. whole plum tomatoes, undrained OR 2 large fresh tomatoes, chopped
- 3 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
- 1 Tablespoon fresh basil, roughly chopped
- 3-4 Tablespoons vodka
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons cold butter
- Salt/Pepper, to taste
- 1 lb. Penne
- Fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, finely grated
Instructions
Puree the tomatoes in a blender, food mill, or an immersion blender and set aside. You can decide how chunky or uniform you’d like the tomatoes to be. I simply chopped them up!
Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the thinly sliced garlic and the basil. Cook for 1-2 minutes, until fragrant and softened.
Turn off the heat.
Add the vodka to the pan and let it sizzle. Turn the heat back to medium and reduce the vodka until there is about a Tablespoon left.
Add the pureed tomatoes and let it simmer for 45 minutes or so, allowing it to reduce and become quite thick.
During the last 12 minutes or so, cook the penne according to package instructions. For saucier pasta, use ¾ lb. instead of the full pound. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
Add the heavy cream and the red pepper flakes to the sauce.
Add 2 Tablespoons cold butter to the sauce, along with 1/4 cup pasta water. Stir to combine.
Season with salt/pepper if desired.
Add in the drained pasta.
Garnish with roughly chopped parsley and Parmesan cheese and serve!
Classic Cobb Salad + Dressing
Just in case you are wondering about the difference between a Chef’s Salad and a Cobb Salad, here is what I found in Wikipedia –
A Chef Salad and Cobb Salad both have lettuce, cheese and meats such as bacon, chicken breast, and ham, plus hard boiled eggs. But a Cobb salad usually has a mixture of lettuces, and also has avocado and tomatoes. It was named after Robert Cobb who was the owner of the famous Hollywood Brown Derby and created by his chef in 1937.
This is the Pinterest version I was able to locate. Cobb Salad Dressing.
Classic Cobb Salad
Ingredients
- 3 strips bacon
- 1 boneless, skinless chicken breast or leftover baked ham, chopped
- 3/4 head iceberg lettuce (or salad greens blend)
- 8 grape tomatoes (I chopped up a Roma tomato)
- 1 avocado
- 2 hard-boiled eggs
- 1 1/2 ounces blue cheese crumbled
- 3 ounces ranch dressing (or blue cheese dressing) OR Cobb Dressing below*
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Lay out bacon strips on a foil-lined baking sheet. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until is crispy. Removed from oven and transfer bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Heat grill or a skillet over medium-high heat). Cook chicken, flipping once, for about 3-4 minute per side. Make sure chicken reaches 165 degrees F internal temp and is no longer pink. Remove to a plate to rest. (Substitute chopped ham in place of chicken).
- Rinse and dry lettuce, then remove outer leaves and core. Cut into bite-sized pieces and place on a platter or shallow serving bowl.
- Rinse and halve tomatoes. Place on top of the lettuce to one side of the bowl. Slice eggs and place next to the tomatoes in a line. Cut avocado in half, remove from skin and then chop or slice. Add next to eggs.
- Slice or dice chicken and place on salad next to avocado. Crumble bacon and place next to the chicken/ham. Crumble blue cheese and place next to bacon.
- Serve with the ORIGINAL dressing!
Cobb Salad Dressing
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp sugar
- 1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tsp salt
- 3/4 tsp black pepper
- 3/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 tsp dry mustard
- 1 tsp garlic minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 3/4 cup salad oil
- Place all ingredients in a blend and blend together until well mixed.
- Refrigerate until ready to use.
Larry’s Meatloaf (My spouse)
Some unknown person is always tinkering with my recipes? This time I made that someone (?) write down what he did. It was incredible and very moist! What can I say??? This was supposed our takeout and movie night vicariously with friends, during COVID-19, but we stayed in and he cooked. With these garlicky green beans the meal was awesome.
LARRY’S MEATLOAF
INGREDIENTS
- 2 pounds of ground beef and pork
- 3 strips of bacon for topping the meatloaf
- ¼ cup of tomato pesto for topping the meat loaf
- 3/4 cup of crushed pork rinds
- ½ medium white onion, finely diced
- 3 garlic cloves, finely diced
- 2 Tbsp fresh sage, finely chopped
- 2 Tbsp fresh basil leaves, chopped
- 1 tsp rosemary, chopped
- 1 tsp thyme
Sauce Ingredients
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon coarse black pepper
- 1 – 6 oz. can tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon BBQ sauce (I use Weber hickory)
- 1 tablespoon liquid smoke
INSTRUCTIONS
- Lightly spray a 5 x 9-inch loaf pan with oil and line with parchment.
- Add 1 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp of water to a small fry pan, add in the onion and garlic and caramelize over low heat. When caramelized, add in the herbs. Set aside.
- Place the meat in large bowl. Set aside.
- Mix the sauce ingredients well and then stir in the caramelized onion mix and the crushed pork rinds.
- Pour mixture over the meat and blend well using your fingers.
- Put into loaf pan and pat down.
- Cut bacon into short pieces and place on top, then add the tomato pesto over the loaf.
- Bake at 350 degrees F, covering lightly with foil after 45 minutes. Meat thermometer should register 165 degrees F. (about 1 hr. to 1 hr. 15 min).
- When meat is done, juices will be clear. Drain any fat and let sit about 10 minutes before slicing.
Honey Dijon Pork Roast
Finally got together with our two new friends from Vermont and since I had a lovely pork loin roast in the freezer, some very fresh cauliflower and four sweet potatoes, it was a no-brainer! Bonus – after thawing the roast I didn’t have to marinade it! Start it off with a crisp Caesar salad…actually this meal would be great for Easter...
Honey Dijon Pork Loin Roast
Servings 8 serves
Instructions
- 3- pound pork loin
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
- salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 tablespoons low-sodium gluten free soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Preheat oven to 375˚F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper and set aside.
- Pat dry pork loin with paper towels.
- In a small mixing bowl combine paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper.
- Lightly spray pork loin with cooking spray. This will make it easier for the spice mix to stick.
- Take the spice mix and rub it all over the pork loin.
- Heat olive oil over medium heat and sear the pork loin until browned on all sides; about 3 to 5 minutes per side.
- Transfer pork loin to previously prepared baking sheet, fat-layer side up; set aside.
- In a bowl, combine garlic, honey, soy sauce, mustard and oil; whisk until well combined. If too thick, add a bit more oil or soy sauce.
- Brush remaining honey mixture over the pork loin.
- Roast for 45 minutes or until internal temperature of the pork loin reaches 145˚F
Salmon Loaf
Ok…here’s another salmon recipe just because we got a fresh supply of canned wild sockeye salmon from our Canadian visitors. Wild sockeye from the west coast is quite different from Atlantic salmon in colour and taste.
And since our friend is both gluten and lactose intolerant, this recipe from Pinterest was a great choice. We served it with some fresh steamed Brussel sprouts and a great yellow rice. Hope you will give it a try!
Salmon Loaf
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil (coconut or macadamia oil are also great)
- 1 large onion, finely diced
- 1 large celery stick, finely diced
- 1 large carrot, peeled and finely grated (or 2 smaller carrots)
- 2/3 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 large clove of garlic, finely diced
- 600 g of canned salmon (3 x 213 g / 7.5 oz cans, drained with larger bones removed)
- 3 eggs
- 3 tablespoons almond flour
- Zest of 1/2 lemon
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 175 C/ 350 F.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and add the onion and celery. Sauté for 2 minutes, stirring once, and then add the grated carrots. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring a few times. Add a couple of tablespoons of water when it feels like the oil has dried up. Finally add the garlic and cook together for another minute or two.
In the meantime, drain the salmon and remove any visible large bones. Don’t worry too much about the smaller bones or the skin as it will blend in just fine. Add the fish to a mixing bowl and flake with a fork or your fingers.
Add the cooked vegetables to the salmon. Grate some lemon zest, add the eggs and almond flour and mix everything together with a fork. Make sure the egg is well incorporated.
Grease a medium loaf tin with a little coconut oil (make sure to brush all sides with oil). Transfer the loaf mixture to the tin and press down until well compacted and even on the top. I like to bang the tin against the bench a couple of times to get rid of any air pockets inside the mix. Then place in the oven, middle shelf, uncovered, for 30 minutes.
Crustless Quiche with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese
Have a friend visiting who is Gluten Free and Lactose Intolerant, except for goat cheese! Since we had smoked salmon on hand, Pinterest was the perfect place to look for dinner! It never fails me. This is a great recipe with lots of flavour. Serve it up with a nice green salad. It would also be great for a brunch.
Crustless Quiche with Smoked Salmon and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 1 white or yellow onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8- 10 eggs depending on size
- ¾ cup full-fat milk (or coconut milk)
- 6 ounces wild caught smoked salmon, chopped
- 4 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
- ¼ cup roughly chopped fresh dill, (divided)
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- Capers, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 300ºF. Grease a 8 x 10 Pyrex baking dish very well with olive oil. Set aside.
- In a medium-sized heavy bottom pan heat the olive oil over a medium high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the onion slices and stir to coat the onions with the oil. Spread the onions out evenly over the pan and let cook, stirring occasionally. Reduce the heat to medium or medium low if the onions begin to brown too quickly. Don’t stir too often, let them brown. Continue to cook until the onions are caramelized and lightly golden brown. About 15-20 minutes.
- Arrange the onions in a single even layer in the greased sheet pan.
- In a large-bowl beat the eggs. Add the milk and a small amount of each the smoked salmon and goat cheese and all but 1 tablespoon of the fresh dill. Season with black pepper and just a little pinch of sea salt. Combine.
- Pour the mixture over the onions in the prepared sheet pan. Arrange the remaining smoked salmon and goat cheese evenly on top and place in the center of the oven.
- Bake until the eggs are set, about 30 minutes. Check if it needs more time. Let cool 5 minutes before cutting and serving. Serve with the remaining fresh dill as well as capers.
A Little Taste of Brazil!!
One of the most desired cuts of beef in Brazil is called (picanha) . It is also very common in higher end restaurants in Yucatan these days. What is it?
Picanha is a cut of beef called sirloin cap in the United States or the rump cap in the United Kingdom, that is popular in Portugal and Brazil. In the United States, it is little known, but referred to as the rump cover, rump cap, or culotte.
In a Brazilian restaurant it is often served on large skewers…
I chose to roast it whole.
There are THREE steps to the recipe, which involves marinating overnight in the refrigerator (see below) with a citrus-herb salt rub.
Simple Roasted Picanha Recipe
Step One – Citrus-Herb Salt Rub
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley
- Zest of one small lemon, approximately 2 teaspoons
- 1 teaspoon minced fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
Score the fatty blanket on the picanha by making criss-crossing cuts into the fatty blanket covering one side of the picanha. Fat behaves differently than meat when cooked. It loses more liquid and therefore shrinks more. By scoring the fat, you can prevent the piece from curling and dis-forming while it grills.
Rub the salt mixture into the cross cuts of the fat. Refrigerate overnight.
Step Two – Preheat oven to 400 degrees, letting the picana come to room temperature.
Prepare the chimichurri sauce by mixing the following ingredients…
Chimichurri Sauce
- 1/2 cup chopped parsley
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons chili pepper flakes (less for milder flavor)
- 2 teaspoons minced oregano leaves
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 cup olive oil
Step Three – Sear and Roast the picana as follows
Heat a large oven-safe skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Pour in a few tablespoons of olive oil.
Sear the beef until browned on both sides,approximately 2 minutes per side.Transfer the skillet to the oven with the fatty side of the piranha facing up.
Cook the roast for 35 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 128-130° for medium-rare. Remove the roast from the oven, cover with foil and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing. The temperature will rise 10 degrees while resting!!
Slice against the grain for tender cuts.
Here is my recent attempt to duplicate that restaurant experience in our oven…in case there is too much snow to fire up the Barbie, mates. Sliced after resting with chimichurri sauce.
Ham and Bean Soup
For those of you serving ham for Christmas here is an easy recipe for leftovers…LOL
Easy Ham and Bean Soup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 carrots, small dice
- 1 small onion, small dice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 4 (14.5 ounce) cans white beans (in Mexico I used a large can of charros)
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 cups diced smoked ham
- 2 dried bay leaves
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1/4 cup minced parsley
Instructions
Add olive oil to 5-quart soup pot and set over medium high heat.
When the oil is hot add in the carrots and onions. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the onions just start to soften and turn translucent.
Add in the garlic and thyme leaves and stir to combine.
To the pot add all the beans with the juice from their cans, chicken stock, diced ham and bay leaves. Stir to combine.
Simmer the soup for 10-15 minutes or until it’s slightly thickened.
Taste and season with desired amount of kosher salt and black pepper.
Stir in parsley and serve hot. I put a dollop of sour cream on top when we had it…
Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Bake
Too many Argentinian chorizos…My best friend, Pinterest, shared this recipe! Fortunately I had some chicken thighs, cherry tomatoes and black olives…
Spanish Chicken and Chorizo Traybake
Spanish Chicken & Chorizo Traybake
Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Grain Free, Paleo, Specific Carbohydrate Diet Legal, Whole30
Ingredients
- 1 yellow bell pepper deseeded and cut into chunks
- 1 red bell pepper deseeded and cut into chunks
- 1 red onion cut into wedges
- 1 white onion cut into wedges
- 6 boneless skinless chicken thighs (or 4 chicken breasts)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 2/3 cup chopped chorizo
- 1/2 cup black olives
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley
- Preheat the oven to 200 degrees Celsius (390F)
- In a large pyrex baking dish add the chopped bell peppers, onions, cherry, chorizo, tomatoes and olive.
- In a bowl whisk together the olive oil, crushed garlic, paprika, oregano, vinegar, salt and pepper. Pour 2/3 of the sauce over the veggies and toss with your hands to ensure everything is well coated. Place the chicken pieces on top of the veggies and brush with the remaining sauce.
- Bake in the oven for 30 minutes, remove from the oven half way through cooking and spoon some of the sauce from the bottom of the dish over the chicken and veggies before returning back to the oven to bake.
- Check the chicken to ensure it’s no longer pink. Sprinkle the veggies with chopped parsley before serving.
