Christina's Pork Loin with Creamy Pesto Sauce

from Better Homes and Gardens

1 12- to 16-ounce pork tenderloin
1 teaspoon olive oil
1-1/2 teaspoons fines herbes or dried basil, crushed
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
4 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons purchased pesto

Hot cooked pasta (optional)
Wilted spinach* (optional)

1. Trim fat from pork. Brush pork with olive oil. Sprinkle pork with fines herbes and salt; rub in with your fingers.

2. Prepare grill for indirect grilling. Test for medium-high heat above drip pan. Place pork on grill rack over drip pan. Cover and grill for 30 to 35 minutes or until pork juices run clear (155 degree F). Remove from grill. Cover with foil; let stand for 10 minutes. The temperature of the pork will rise 5 degree F during standing.

3. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in flour and white pepper. Add milk all at once. Cook and stir until slightly thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Remove from heat. Stir in pesto.

4. To serve, slice pork. If desired, serve over hot cooked pasta tossed with spinach. Spoon sauce over pork. Makes 4 servings.

*Note: To wilt the spinach, place it in a colander and drain the hot cooked pasta over the leaves.

Christina's Chicken Gyros with Yogurt-Dill Sauce

from Epicurious

1 cup plain yogurt
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon chopped fresh dill
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 pound skinless boneless chicken breast halves, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 tsp dill
juice of 1 lemon
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 medium onions, thinly sliced

4 pita bread rounds, heated

cucumbers (optional)

Stir yogurt, 2 tablespoons dill, garlic and 1 teaspoon lemon juice in small bowl to blend. Season with salt and pepper.

Place chicken in medium bowl. Sprinkle with oregano, 1 teaspoon dill and salt and pepper. Toss to coat.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; sauté until brown and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Transfer to plate. Add 1 tablespoon oil to skillet. Add onions; sauté until beginning to brown, about 10 minutes. Return chicken and any juices to skillet. Add 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Stir until heated through, about 2 minutes.

Arrange pita rounds on plates. Top pita rounds with chicken mixture. Spoon some yogurt sauce (and cucumber, if desired) over chicken. Serve, passing extra sauce separately.

Christina's Spiced Pecans

from Epicurious

1 egg white, lightly beaten
1 tablespoon water
3 cups pecan halves
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
In a small bowl beat the egg white with the water until stiff. Stir in the pecans, mixing until well moistened.
In a small bowl, mix together sugar, salt, cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg. Sprinkle over the moistened nuts. Spread nuts on prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Be careful not to overcook and burn the nuts.

Christina's Peanut Butter Brownies

from Smitten Kitchen

For brownies
2 sticks (½ pound) unsalted butter, softened
1¾ cups sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2 large eggs plus 1 large yolk
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (9 ounces)
½ teaspoon salt

For ganache
1½ cups semisweet chocolate chips (9 ounces)**
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened

Make brownies: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F with rack in middle. Butter a 13- by 9- by 2-inch baking pan, then line bottom of pan with parchment paper and butter parchment.

Beat together butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until mixture is light and fluffy, then add peanut butter and beat until incorporated. Beat in whole eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla. Reduce mixer sped to low, then mix in flour until just combined.

Mix in chocolate chips (1½ cups) then spread batter in baking pan, smoothing top. (It will be thick, almost like cookie batter.)

Bake until brownies are deep golden, puffed on top and a wooden pick inserted in center come out with some crumbs adhering, 40 to 45 minutes.

Cool completely in pan on a rack, about 1½ hours.

Make ganache: Put chocolate chips (1½ cups) in a heatproof bowl.

Bring cream to a boil in a small saucepan, then pour over chocolate chips and let mixture stand for one minute.

Gently whisk in butter until it is incorporated, chocolate is melted, and a smooth mixture forms.

Spread ganache on cooled brownies and let stand until set, about 15 minutes.

Christina's Citrus Garlic Shrimp Pasta

from All Recipes

1 (16 ounce) package linguini pasta
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup orange juice
1/3 cup lemon juice
3 cloves garlic, peeled
5 teaspoons grated lemon peel
4 teaspoons grated orange peel
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 pound uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
Shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook linguine according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a blender or food processor, combine the next eight ingredients; cover and process until blended. Pour into a large skillet; heat through.

Add the shrimp; cook for 5 minutes or until shrimp turn pink. Drain linguine; toss with shrimp mixture. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and parsley if desired.

Christina's Chicken Tetrazzinni

source unknown

9 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 1/4 teaspoons salt
1 1/4 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 pound white mushrooms, sliced
1 large onion, finely chopped
5 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
4 cups whole milk, room temperature
1 cup heavy whipping cream, room temperature
1 cup chicken broth
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 ounces linguine
3/4 cup frozen peas
1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1 cup grated Parmesan
1/4 cup dried Italian-style breadcrumbs

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

Spread 1 tablespoon of butter over a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Melt 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil in a deep large nonstick frying pan over medium-high heat. Sprinkle the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Add the chicken to the hot pan and cook until pale golden and just cooked through, about 4 minutes per side. Transfer the chicken to a plate to cool slightly. Coarsely shred the chicken into bite-size pieces and into a large bowl.

Meanwhile, add 1 tablespoon each of butter and oil to the same pan. Add the mushrooms and saute over medium-high heat until the liquid from the mushrooms evaporates and the mushrooms become pale golden, about 12 minutes. Add the onion, garlic, and thyme, and saute until the onion is translucent, about 8 minutes. Add the wine and simmer until it evaporates, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mushroom mixture to the bowl with the chicken.

Melt 3 more tablespoons butter in the same pan over medium-low heat. Add the flour and whisk for 2 minutes. Whisk in the milk, cream, broth, nutmeg, remaining 1 3/4 teaspoons salt, and remaining 3/4 teaspoon pepper. Increase the heat to high. Cover and bring to a boil. Simmer, uncovered, until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10 minutes.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the linguine and cook until it is tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 9 minutes. Drain. Add the linguine, sauce, peas, and parsley to the chicken mixture. Toss until the sauce coats the pasta and the mixture is well blended.

Transfer the pasta mixture to the prepared baking dish. Stir the cheese and breadcrumbs in a small bowl to blend. Sprinkle the cheese mixture over the pasta. Dot with the remaining 3 tablespoons of butter. Bake, uncovered, until golden brown on top and the sauce bubbles, about 25 minutes.

Christina's Orange Poppyseed Cookies

from Simply Recipes by Elise

2/3 cup of sugar
1/2 cup of butter, room temperature
1 egg, room temperature
1 tablespoon of orange zest
1 1/4 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 tablespoon of poppy seeds

Beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.

Add the egg and the orange zest, beat for thirty seconds, scraping down the bowl part way through to ensure even mixing.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly sift it into the butter mixture until just combined. Fold in the poppy seeds.

Place heaping teaspoonfuls on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or Silpat, allowing them space as they will spread as they bake.

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until just turning golden around the edges. Remove from oven. Let sit on the baking sheet for a minute or two to let the cookies solidify a bit, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 1/2 dozen cookies.

Christina's Kale and Roasted Vegetable Soup

from Simply Recipes by Elise

3 medium carrots, peeled and quartered lengthwise
2 large tomatoes, quartered
1 large onion, cut into 8 wedges or 4 or 5 slices
1/2 small butternut squash, peeled, seeded, cut lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick wedges
6 garlic cloves
1 Tbsp olive oil
6 cups or more of vegetable broth
4 cups of finely chopped kale
3 large fresh thyme sprigs
1 bay leaf
1 15 oz can of Great Northern white beans, drained

1 Preheat oven to 400°F (reduce heat by 25°F if using convection oven). Brush rimmed baking sheet with a thin coat of olive oil. Arrange carrots, squash, tomatoes, onion, and garlic on sheet. Drizzle with more olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Roast vegetables until they are brown and tender, stirring occassionally, about 45 minutes.

2 Cut squash and carrots into 1/2 inch pieces; set aside. Peel garlic cloves; place in food processor. Add tomatoes and onion; puree until almost smooth. Pour 1/2 cup broth onto the baking sheet; scrape up any browned bits. Transfer broth and vegetable puree to large pot. Add 5 1/2 cups broth, kale, thyme and bay leaf to pot. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer uncovered until kale is tender, about 30 minutes.

3 Add carrots, beans, and squash to soup. Simmer 8 minutes to blend flavors, adding more broth to thin soup if necessary. Season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme sprigs and bay leaf.

Lorri's Mediterranean Couscous

2 tsp butter

3 medium green onions, chopped (about 1/3 cup)

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 1/2 cups water (or chicken broth)

1/2 tsp chicken bouillon (not super necessary if you use broth)

1 cup uncooked couscous

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1 tbsp chopped basil (or 1/2 tsp dried)

1/4 tsp black pepper

1 medium chopped yellow summer squash (about 1 cup)

1 medium tomato, chopped (3/4 cup)

Melt butter in 2 quart saucepan. Add onions and garlic and cook until onions are tender. Stir in water and bouillon. Heat to boiling. Add squash and remove from heat after it comes back up to boiling.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Cover and let stand about 5 minutes - everything cooks trust me! Fluff lightly with a fork. 

4 servings.

Christina's Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce

from Our Best Bites

3oz semi-sweet, dark or bittersweet chocolate (3 squares of baking chocolate, or about 1/2 C chocolate chips)
1/4 C butter
1 can sweetened condensed milk

Put all ingredients in a pan on medium heat and melt it all together till it's smooth and creamy.

Christina's Creamed Spinach with Bacon

from Simply Recipes by Elise

1 pound fresh spinach, about 2 large bunches

3 to 4 strips of bacon, uncooked, finely chopped

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

1 medium onion, finely chopped

A pinch of nutmeg

Salt and pepper to taste

2 Tbsp butter

2 Tbsp flour

1 cup whole milk

Cut off the thick stems of the spinach and discard. Clean the spinach by filling up your sink with water and soaking the spinach to loosen any sand or dirt. Drain the spinach and then repeat soaking and draining.

Blanch the spinach in a pot of boiling water until the spinach is wilted, about 1 to 2 minutes. Drain and rinse in cold water to stop the spinach from cooking further. Squeeze the spinach to remove all the moisture possible. Chop the spinach and set aside.

Heat a large skillet on medium high. Add the chopped bacon and sauté until the bacon begins to render some of its fat. Add the chopped onion and garlic. Sauté until moisture is gone.

Make the béchamel sauce. Melt butter in a small saucepan on medium/low heat until it just starts to bubble. Add the flour and cook, stirring until smooth, about 2 minutes. Slowly add the milk, whisking continuously, cooking until thick.

Combine spinach, bacon and onion mixture, and béchamel sauce into one pan. Add nutmeg, salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a simmer, remove from heat and serve.

Christina's Clam Chowder

from Aubrey Bowman Bardsley

1 c onion, chopped
1 ½ c celery, diced
2 ½ c potatoes, diced
6 oz clams, minced
¾ c flour
¾ c butter, melted
1 quart milk
1 ½ t salt
2 T red wine vinegar

Put vegetables in saucepan. Drain juice from clams into vegetables, saving clams for later. Add enough water to barely cover vegetables. Cover & cook until tender. In separate saucepan, make a roux of butter & flour. Add milk, stirring constantly until thick. Add salt, vinegar, and clams to sauce. Pour sauce over vegetables & simmer (do not boil).

Makes 8 servings.

Christina's Garlic Roasted Vegetables

from Picky Palate

1 lb bag of carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
1 onion, thinly sliced and separated
1 lb bag celery washed and cut into 1 inch pieces
2 bell peppers of choice, I used a red and yellow, seeded and julienned or cut into strips
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon Lawry's Garlic Salt
¼ teaspoon Kosher Salt
¼ teaspoon Fresh ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Place all vegetables onto a large baking sheet with edges. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle garlic salt, salt and pepper or vegetables and gently rub ingredients together so vegetables are well coated. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until vegetables are fork tender.

Lorri's Spareribs

source unknown

Boil spareribs (I cut them up into individual pieces first) in ¼ cup vinegar and water to cover for 15 minutes, then drain.

Sauce:

¾ c. red wine vinegar

1 cup catsup

2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

1 cup brown sugar

2 cloves garlic

1/2 tsp ground cloves

1/2 tsp cayenne pepper

2 tbsp dry mustard.

Line cookie tray with two layers of foil.

Pour sauce over warm spareribs, mixing so each piece is coated with sauce. Bake in oven 350 for 1 hour. Turn once at 30 minute point. I usually serve this with rice.

Lorri's Stale Bread Soup (Ribollita con Verdure)

from Rachael Ray

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, plus some for drizzling
4 thick slices pancetta (not smoked) or bacon (smoked), chopped
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, leaves finely chopped
4 to 6 cloves garlic, chopped
1 medium to large onion, finely chopped
2 medium carrots, diced
1 medium, skinny zucchini, cut into thin slices
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup dry red wine, a couple of glugs
1 (15-ounce) can petite diced or chunky style crushed tomatoes
6 cups beef stock, available in boxes on soup aisle (recommended: Kitchen Basics brand)
4 cups, about 1/2 pound, chopped or torn stale bread
2 (15-ounce), small white beans (recommended: Goya brand, smaller than cannellini beans)
4 cups chopped kale or chard
1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, to pass at table

Heat a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add oil and the the pancetta or bacon and render 4 minutes. Add rosemary, the garlic, 3/4 of the onions, carrots and zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Saute the veggies 7 to 8 minutes, then add wine and deglaze the pot. Stir in the tomatoes and stock and bring up the heat. When soup boils, reduce to a simmer and stir in bread and beans. Pile the greens into the pot and wilt them into the soup. Simmer the ribollita 5 to 10 minutes, stirring soup as it simmers until it thickens to a dense stew-like consistency. A wooden spoon should be able to stand upright in the pot. Turn off heat, adjust seasonings and ladle into shallow bowls. Top with grated cheese, an additional drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil, and a spoonful of reserved finely chopped raw onions.

Christina's Pizza Rolls

source unkown

pizza dough
5 oz cream cheese
1 lb shredded mozarella cheese
pizza toppings

Spread cream cheese on rolled out dough. Add your choice of pizza toppings, then cover with cheese. Roll up like a cinnamon roll and cut each about 1 inch (if you do it thicker they are doughy). Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake 425 for 15 minutes. Dip in Pizza Sauce, parmesan cheese, or ranch.

Christina's Easy Bistro Chicken

source unknown

2 tsp. oil
3 cups sliced fresh mushrooms
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can (15 oz.) stewed tomatoes, drained
1/4 cup Italian Dressing
3 Tbsp. tomato paste
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
1 cup Mozzarella Cheese
2 slices bacon, crumbled

Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat. Add mushrooms and onions; cook 5 min., stirring occasionally. Stir in tomatoes, dressing and tomato paste.

Add chicken; cover. Reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer 12 min. or until chicken is cooked through.

Sprinkle with cheese and bacon; simmer, uncovered, 5 min. or until cheese is melted.

Christina's Pollo Paplanta

from What I Made for Dinner

6 chicken thighs (about 2 pounds)

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1/3 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

2 tablespoons cider vinegar, Japanese rice vinegar, or other mild-flavored vinegar

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 cups fresh orange juice

1 vanilla bean, split

A few sprigs of cilantro, for garnish

Cooked rice or tortillas for serving (optional).

1. Season chicken with the salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken pieces skin side down, and brown until golden on both sides, turning once, 3 to 5 minutes on each side.

2. When chicken is browned, pour off any excess fat from skillet and return to medium heat. Sprinkle cayenne and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper over chicken, turning pieces to coat evenly. Taste a pinch of the skin, and add more cayenne if additional heat is desired. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add vinegar, butter and orange juice. Scrape in pulp of vanilla bean and add bean. Stir liquid to blend.

3. Cook chicken skin side up, uncovered, basting occasionally with sauce, until sauce is reduced to a syrupy glaze, 20 to 25 minutes. If interior of chicken needs further cooking (it should be 170 degrees when tested in center with an instant-read thermometer), cover and cook over medium-low heat for an additional 5 to 10 minutes, or as needed. Garnish with cilantro. Serve hot, with rice or tortillas, if desired.

Lorri's Slow Cooker Salsa Chicken

Between commuting and actually working, I am gone for 12 hours a day. This recipe is great because it only takes 15 minutes to prep in the morning and or family of two can have great meals several days in a row. Plus it uses all of those food storage canned goods!

12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs, 2 pounds (breasts work too)
salt and pepper
vegetable oil

1 cup salsa, we like the hot variety
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
(sometimes I use one a of kidney beans and 1 can black beans)
2 (11 oz ) cans whole kernel corn, drained
2 tbsp fresh cilantro

1. Heat some vegetable oil in a pan. Sprinkle chicken with salt and brown in hot oil. About 2 minutes on each side.
2. Mix salsa, beans, and corn in the slow cooker. Top with chicken.
3. Cook for 7-9 hours on low.
4. Enjoy over rice and garnish with cilantro.

I also shred all the chicken we didn't eat the first night and make burritos with the leftovers for the next couple of nights.

Lorri's Rolled Meatloaf

1 1/2 pounds ground beef, pork and veal mix from the butcher's counter (meatloaf mix)
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup Italian bread crumbs
1 egg
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 small white onion, grated
2 tablespoons golden or dark raisins, chopped
3 tablespoons pine nuts(or cashews), chopped
3 tablespoons grated cheese, Parmigiano or Romano (optional)
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
1 cup baby spinach (its easiest if you roughly chop it)
6 slices prosciutto di Parma or deli sliced ham for those on a budget ☺
6 slices deli sliced provolone
Extra-virgin olive oil, for drizzling

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.
Mix meat and next 10 ingredients as if you were making meatloaf. Flatten meat out on a waxed paper lined cookie sheet into a thin layer: 1/2-inch thick, 12 inches long by 6 to 8 inches wide. The easiest way to do this is to use cookie sheets. Cover the first with wax paper and put the meat on that. Then cover the meat with waxed paper and use the other cookie sheet to smash the meat down. Great method!
Cover meat with spinach, prosciutto and cheese then roll the meat, using the waxed paper to help roll up into a large log, , working across the 6 to 8-inch side, resulting in a 12-inch long log. Drizzle the log with extra-virgin olive oil to coat lightly. Don’t drizzle too much. This just keeps the raisins from burning and looking absolutely disgusting. However, too much oil means a greasy meatloaf.
Roast meatroll 20 minutes. Cut into 1-inch slices, 3 pieces per portion, and serve. Make pasta while meat is in the oven.