Tag: side

Christmas Hunch Punch

Leave a comment

Ingredients:

  • 1 quart of Apple juice
  • 1 quart of Cranberry juice
  • 1 quart of Pineapple juice
  • 2 cups of pomegranate juice
  • 1/2 cup of lime juice
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp cloves
  • 1 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 cup of pomegranate aperils
  • 1 large orange, sliced

Combine all ingredients. Stir well. Flavors will be best if mixture is allowed to sit for 12-24 hours.

Add desired spirt, and quantity of choice.

Bacon Brussel Spouts

Leave a comment

Ingredients:

  • 12oz of fresh Brussel spouts, cleaned, and sliced (or quartered, if larger)
  • 1 lb of sliced bacon, cubed
  • 2 lemons, halved
  • 1/2 a bunch of fresh cilantro, chopped

Sauté bacon until slightly brown. Do not drain fat. Add in Brussel Sprouts. Continue, over medium heat, while stirring. Cook until bacon crisps, and sprouts soften. Remove from heat, add in cilantro, and squeeze in lemon juice.

Eggplant Parmigiana

Leave a comment

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb of eggplant, sliced thin
  • 2 eggs, lightly beaten
  • 1/4 of a cup of flour, seasoned with S&P.
  • 3/4 of a cup of unflavored breadcrumbs
  • 3/4 of a cup of grated parmesan or romano cheese
  • 1/4 of a cup of fresh garlic, minced
  • 1 garlic clove, crushed
  • salt, and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 lb of mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • additional mozzarella for topping
  • Oil for frying (Olive oil preferred)
  • basic marinara sauce

Directions:

Combine breadcrumbs, cheese, parsley, garlic, salt, and pepper. First dip eggplant into flour, then egg, and then the breadcrumb mixture. Fry* in heated oil, until a light golden brown. While cooking the eggplant, line an oven save pan with marinara, then stack eggplant, mozzarella, and sauce, one layer at a time. Once complete, bake at 400º for approximately 25 minutes. Topp with additional cheese (grated, and or mozzarella), if desired. Serve hot with your favorite pasta dish.

*Can also bake at 400, instead of frying

Coconut Rice with Green Beans

1 Comment

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of medium grain white rice
  • 2 cups of Coconut Milk
  • 1/2 cup of chicken stock
  • 16 oz of cut green beans
  • 2 teaspoons of onion powder
  • Salt, and Pepper

In a medium sauce pan, warm milk, and stock. Add rice, and par cooked green beans (if frozen). Season with salt, and pepper. Stirring only once, simmer on low, covered for 10 minutes, or until the liquid has cooked off. Serve hot.

Ginger Rice

1 Comment

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of medium grain white rice
  • 2 cups of chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon of fresh ginger, chopped (sub 1 teaspoon of dry ginger)
  • 1/2 onion, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon of parsley
  • Oil, or butter for frying
  • Salt, and Pepper

In a medium sauce pan, sauté onion until caramelized, add rice, ginger, and parsley. Season with salt, and pepper, then add stock. Simmer on low, covered for 10 minutes, or until the liquid has cooked off. Serve hot.

Lemon Vinaigrette

Leave a comment
  • 1/3 of a cup of red wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons of dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon of dried oregano
  • 1 clove of garlic, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper
  • 2/3 of a cup of extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Whisk vinegar, mustard, oregano, garlic, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl (or blender). Slowly stream olive oil into the mixture, and then the lemon juice all while whisking.

Pairs well with an Arugula Salad.

Delicious Italian Sausage Risotto Recipe

Leave a comment

Ingredients:

Over medium heat, melt butter in sauté pan, add onions, and sausage (sliding out of casing, in small clumps). Cook until lightly brown. Add in mushrooms, allow them to brown. Add rice, and then wine, stir. Season with salt and pepper, allow wine to cook off. Add water, and stock, then stir. Lower heat, place lid on pan. Stirring occasional. Add in grated cheese once liquid is almost gone. Season to taste.

Garnish with more grated cheese, and enjoy while hot.

Vegan option:

  • Omit cheese
  • Sub sausage with meatless meat (I understand that Trader Joe’s Beef-less Ground Beef is very good)
  • Sub chicken stock with vegetable stock
  • Sub butter with olive oil.

Risotto dishes often are the start of the show. However, even thought they make for a great entrée, they can also be an incredible side dish!

An easy grocery list for the ingredients can be accessed here.