Thai Peanut Saute (from Noodles & Co)

 
from favfamilyrecipes

Note: This is Favfamily recipes version of the “Indonesian Peanut Saute” from Noodles & Co. Although don't mistake tsp for Tbsp on the Sriracha chili sauce, makes a big difference, trust me! The Peanut Sauce would also be good with lettuce wraps as well. I made this with leftover pork schnitzel the other night and it was delicious as well. Tried mixing veggies, meat, noodles, and sauce altogether before serving and didn't like it. I prefer serving them separate and everyone mixing it themselves. Also, think I would cook the chicken with just the oil and garlic. I can't tell a difference. Definitely doesn't make or break it.

Ingredients

• 1-2 Lbs. chicken, cut into thin strips
• vegetable oil
• 1 Tbsp Sriracha chili sauce
• juice of 1 lime
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 Tbsp. fresh ginger, minced
• 3-4 shakes soy sauce
• salt & pepper (to taste)
• 16 oz. (1 pkg.) linguine noodles
• shoestring carrots
• broccoli florets, chopped
• green onion
• bean sprouts
• peanuts
• 2-3 limes, slices

PEANUT SAUCE:

• 1 c. chicken broth
• 6 Tbsp. (heaping) creamy peanut butter
• 2-4 tsp. Sriracha chili sauce - depending on how hot you like it
• 3 Tbsp. honey
• 6 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 3 Tbsp. fresh minced ginger
• 4-5 cloves garlic, pressed or minced

Instructions

• In a large skillet, saute chicken in oil, Sriracha, lime, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, salt & pepper. While chicken is cooking, prepare the linguine (to al dente) and make the peanut sauce. After the chicken is cooked, remove from the skillet and wrap in foil to keep warm.
• Re-oil the skillet, add vegetables and saute (except for the bean sprouts, add those a few minutes before serving so they are still nice and crunchy and don't get overcooked). Add the chicken and bean sprouts to the skillet, cover, and reduce heat.
• Drain noodles and stir them together with the peanut sauce. Top with veggies & chicken and garnish with peanuts and limes.
• FOR THE PEANUT SAUCE: Combine chicken broth, peanut butter, chili sauce, honey, soy sauce, ginger, and garlic in a small saucepan over medium-low heat until sauce becomes smooth and well blended.

Eggplant Lasagna

from Allrecipes.com

  Best if made a day ahead and allowed to sit in the fridge til baking. I used the ingredients for this, but made it like a lasagna, one pan with one layer of pasta and the other without. Both were good and definitely want to do again. Want to try frying. 

Ingredients

• 4 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder, divided
• 2 cups grated Parmesan cheese, divided
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (maybe more or add fresh over sauce?)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup vegetable oil for frying
• 2 large eggplant, peeled and sliced about 1/8 inch thick.
• 1 (15 ounce) container ricotta cheese (tried doubling and too much, maybe 22.5 oz?)
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
• 1 (28 ounce) jar tomato pasta sauce, divided

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). 
2. In a shallow mixing bowl combine 3 eggs, 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 cup Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, salt and pepper. In a separate, shallow dish or plate, pour the flour.
3. To fry eggplant: Heat oil in a large, deep skillet. Dredge eggplant slices in flour, then in egg mixture and fry slices 2 or 3 at a time in hot oil. Place fried slices on a paper towel lined plate to drain.To roast eggplant: Heat oven to 350 F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper/lightly grease it. Dredge eggplant slices in flour, then in egg mixture and place on cookie sheet. May take 2 cookie sheets. Roast in oven about 20 min. (until bottom is slightly crusty) then flip and roast other side.
4. In a large bowl combine ricotta, 1/2 cup mozzarella, remaining 1 cup Parmesan, remaining 1 tablespoon garlic powder, 1 egg, parsley and spinach; mix well.
5. Spread about 1/3 of the pasta sauce in the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place one layer of roasted/fried eggplant over pasta sauce. Then place a layer of lasagna noodles if desired on top. On top of that spread a 1/2 of spinach mixture evenly. Repeat to form 2 layers of each.Pour remaining pasta sauce on top and finish with sprinkling remaining 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
6. Bake in preheated oven at 375 uncovered for about 40 minutes.

Free-Form Apple Tart

from Sis. Burdges

I love this because it reminds me of German desserts.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 C all-purpose flour
1/2 C cold butter/margarine cut into 10 pieces
3 T ice water
1/2 tsp finely grated fresh lemon peel
4 large Golden Delicious apples (about 1 1/2 lbs) peeled, I used 3
1/4 C granulated sugar
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 T butter/margarine
Confectioners' sugar (optional)

Directions:
1. Have ready a cookie sheet without sides

2. To make pastry in food processor: process flour and butter until coarse and crumbly. With motor running add water, lemon peel, and juice. Process until dough leaves sides of bowl.
To make pastry by hand: put flour in a bowl. Cut butter with pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add water, lemon peel, and juice. Stir until dough holds together.

3. Gather dough into a ball, flatten, wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate 30 min or just until firm enough to roll out.

4. Meanwhile cut each apple in half from top to bottom. Remove core and cut stem and bud ends. Turn halves cut sides down and slice thinly.

5. Heat oven to 425 F. On lightly floured surface roll dough into a 13-inch round (or on parchment paper to make transfer easier). Edges can be uneven. Transfer to ungreased cookie sheet.

6. Leaving a 2 inch border, arrange apples in concentric circles from outside toward the middle. Sprinkle with mixture of sugar and nutmeg mixed together. Then dot with butter. Fold edges of pastry over apples.

7. Bake 15 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 375 F and bake 35 minutes longer or until apples are tender and pastry is golden. Slide tart onto wire rack to cool. Before serving dust with confectioners' sugar.

Makes 6 servings.

from Martha Stewart

Lemon Green Beans

I snapped the ends off of ours and just used lemon juice as I didn't have a fresh lemon on hand. Still good and just a little different than the normal butter.

• 

• • 
    
  Prep Time 10 minutes
• Total Time 25 minutes
• Yield Serves 4

Ingredients

• 1 lemon
• Salt
• 1 pound trimmed green beans
• 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Grate the zest of 1/2 lemon, and squeeze 1 1/2 tablespoons lemon juice.
2. In a saucepan of boiling salted water, cook beans until tender, about 10 minutes. Drain, and return to pan. Remove from heat. Toss with oil, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and lemon juice. Serve sprinkled with lemon zest.

Tomato Feta Summer Couscous Salad

 from Mels Kitchen Cafe

This is good made with Quinoa as well and much more filling if making for a main dish. Has a sharper flavor due to the onions, feta, and vinegar. But grape/cherry tomatoes do a great job of softening and sweetening it. Great for a summer lunch. Can make a day ahead as well.

*Serves 8 as a side

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups whole wheat couscous, uncooked
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
6 green onions, white and green parts chopped
1/3 cup thinly sliced fresh basil or 1 tablespoon dried basil
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
Zest of 1 lemon
1 cup reduced fat feta cheese

DIRECTIONS:
In a medium saucepan, bring the broth to a boil. Stir in the couscous. Cover the pan, remove from the heat and let stand for five minutes. Transfer the couscous to a large bowl and fluff with a fork. Let the couscous cool to room temperature.
In a small bowl or liquid measuring cup, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, red pepper, slat, paprika, and pepper. Set aside.
Add the chopped green onions, basil, tomatoes, lemon zest and feta cheese to the cooled couscous and toss. Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and stir or toss until combined. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls

Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls from Beantown Baker

These were great to have in the height of blueberry season. Sweet with a hint of fruit. Next time I would try to use a little more filling with more sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top before rolling them up. 

Ingredients

Dough

Any recipe will work, I use my mom's recipe, as it is amazing and my favorite.

 

Blueberry Filling

• 1 pint blueberries
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 2-3 teaspoons lemon juice
• 3/4 cup water

Additional Blueberries for Sprinkling

• 1 pint blueberries
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• 4 Tbsp cinnamon
• 2 Tbsp flour
• 1 batch Cream Cheese Frosting

Instructions

For the Blueberry Filling

In a small saucepan, combine 1 pint of the blueberries, sugar and cornstarch. Stir in lemon juice and water. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring often, until mixture begins to thicken slight. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Spread half of the blueberry filling onto the dough once you have rolled it out. (Easiest to do half at a time). Sprinkle half of the additional blueberries for sprinkling on top. Roll the dough toward you. Pinch the seam to seal it. Grease foil cake or pie pans. Cut rolls 3/4 to 1 inch thick and lay in greased pans. Repeat with other half of dough and blueberry filling.

Cover the rolls and let sit for 30 minutes to an hour.

Bake at 350 for 15 to 18 minutes.

Generously drizzle frosting over warm rolls after they come out of the oven. Enjoy.

New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

from I Am Baker who got from How Sweet It Is who got it from the New York Times





They are good. Really, really good. There is a reason the New York Times picked them as their favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe. Now going to be my go to chocolate chip cookie recipe!

The New York Times Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups minus 2 tablespoons (8 1/2 ounces) cake
flour

1 2/3 cups (8 1/2 ounces) bread flour

*I only used all bread and all purpose flour in mine.

1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1 1/2 teaspoons coarse salt (kosher salt, also makes a difference)

2 1/2 sticks (1 1/4 cups) unsalted butter

1 1/4 cups (10 ounces) light brown sugar

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons (8 ounces) granulated
sugar

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 1/4 pounds chocolate chips

*I used semi sweet.

Directions:

1. Sift flours, baking soda, baking powder and salt
   into a bowl and set aside.
2. Using a mixer with a paddle attachment, cream
   butter and sugars until light and fluffy – about 5 minutes. Add eggs. Stir in vanilla. Reduce to low speed and add dry ingredients slowly, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips. 
3. Refrigerate dough for 24-36 hours. (This is key for chewiness, at least long enough for dough to harden)
4. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes