Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm Meyer Lemons. The part tangerine tasting lemon that is the shape of an average lemon but a different color and different taste and smell.  See? Here they are below next to some navel oranges and below that you can see the contrast in color next to the yellow border of my dish. They’re closer in color to an orange than a lemon. Here’s a good article about them but, at the risk of sounding like a snob, they’re hardly undiscovered 🙂 And conveniently I have a pound cake pan with a lemon pattern on top. Cute no?

Note: this recipe calls for a few different additions of the lemons-juice, zest etc…get 3 large ones and that will be just enough.

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Meyer Lemon Pound Cake

For the cake:

  • 1 3/4 cups AP flour
  • 1/2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Meyer Lemon juice
  • 1 1/2 tbsp Meter Lemon zest
  • 1 cup granulated sugar plus 2 additional tbsp
  • 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 5 large eggs, at room temperature, beaten

For the syrup:

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup Meyer Lemon juice

For the glaze:

  • 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, sifted
  • 1 tbsp Meyer Lemon juice

Instructions:.

  1. Preheat oven to 315F. Spray a 9×5 loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl combine the flour, baking powder and salt and whisk to combine.  
  3. In a small bowl whisk the sour cream and lemon juice together.
  4. In the bowl of a stand mixture fitted with the paddle attachment combine the lemon zest and sugar. Using your fingers rub them together until the sugar is moist and fragrant and evenly mixed together.  Add the butter to the bowl and beat on medium speed until very pale and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes).  Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Mix in th eggs in 3 additions, beating well after each addition until the mixture is smooth (stop to scrape down the bowl as needed). With the mixer on low alternately add the dry ingredients in 3 additions and the sour cream mixture in 2, starting and ending with the dry.  Once all of the ingredients have been added scrape down the bowl then beat on low for another 30 seconds to combine.  Use a rubber spatula to make sure the batter in the bottom of the bowl is uniform.
  5. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Smooth the top then tap the pan on a hard flat surface to release any air bubbles.
  6. Place a piece of aluminum foil under the cooling rack.
  7. Bake the cake for 55-65 minutes or until a toothpick in the center comes out with just a few moist crumbs. Place the pan on a wire cooling rack, let it cool for 10 minutes then turn it out onto the rack.
  8. While the cake is in the oven make the syrup.  Combine the sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan cook over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring frequently, until the sugar has dissolved.  Bring to a simmer, cook for 2 minutes and then remove from heat and set aside.
  9. Once you’ve turned the cake out of the pan onto the rack brush the top and sides with the syrup.  Reuse any that falls below onto the foil below. Be sure to use all of the syrup. Then let the cake cool completely–about 2 hours.
  10. When the cake is cooled make the glaze by combining the confectioners sugar with the juice in a small bowl and stir to combine.  Drizzle it carefully over the cake covering it completely. Let the glaze set for 15 minutes before serving.

Source: Cook’s Country April/May 2006

I printed this from someone’s blog but didn’t write down who’s it was. If it’s yours please let me know.

 I drizzled a little extra juice that I had left over all over the cake after I poured on the glaze.

And don’t waste the left over pieces that you’ve squeezed-there’s still a ton of flavor in there-it would be a shame to throw out that deliciousness!!

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Note: this cake will keep for 5 days wrapped tightly at room temp for upto 5 days or freeze (unglazed) for up to 1 month.

Here is a photo of the cooling rack with foil underneath-the syrup will drip so it’s nice to catch all of it.

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Sausage, Peppers & Onions in the Slow Cooker

Sometimes you just want a nice big sandwich.  I found the original recipe on Melissa’s great blog http://iwasborntocook.com/ in the Top Posts of 2012 post and I immediately printed it out. I adapted it a bit with the cheese and rolls. Slow cooker on Sunday? Yes.  Sausage, onions and peppers on a roll? Yes. And I added the cheese.  Super easy, super yummy.  Would be great for football-watching days.

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Sausage, Onions & Peppers in the Slow Cooker

  • small amount of oil for browning
  • 3lbs Italian Sausage (I  used 2 lbs hot and 1 lb sweet but use any combo you’d like) cut into 1 inch pieces
  • 3 bell peppers, cut into thin strips (I used 2 red and 1 green)
  • 2 large yellow onions, sliced
  • 5 garlic cloves, crushed
  • 1 28oz can crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp italian seasoning
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 cup dry white wine
  • sandwich rolls (mine were hot dog sized from Hot & Crusty). You’ll need substantial rolls to hold up to the sauce and contents.
  • provolone cheese

Instructions

  1. In a large skillet heat a bit of the oil and brown the sausage on all sides. (This may have to be done in batches) Then place sausage in slow cooker.
  2. Add the rest of the ingredients to the slow cooker.
  3. Cook on low for at least 4 hours.
  4. Half rolls, place cheese on either one or both sides, and toast until the cheese melts.  Spoon sausage mixture onto rolls and enjoy.

Note: my slow cooker is a 5qt and it was just about to the top of the insert so if you have a smaller cooker I’d make less.

Sauteed Spinach with Garlic

MMMMMMM spinach. A lot of people aren’t fans but I am.  This is such an easy, super super fast recipe it’s not even funny.  No kidding-about 5 minutes from start to finish and the spinach at the end is delicious-garlicy, lemony, spinachy. Pefect side dish!!

Note: since it was just me I was cooking for when I made this it’s just one serving-about 1 cup give or take was the ending amount. You can easily multiply it up for more servings.

Spinach

Sauteed Spinach with Garlic

  • 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 6 oz spinach, washed and left damp
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice

 Instructions

  1. Heat 1 tsp of the oil over medium-high heat until shimmering in a heavy bottomed pot large enough to hold all of the spinach. Add the spinach, cover, and cook stirring occasionally until the spinach is completely wilted-just a few minutes. Transfer the spinach to a colander and squeeze out as much liquid as possible using tongs.
  2. Add the remaining oil, garlic and the salt to the pot and cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the spinach and toss to coat. Off the heat stir in the lemon juice season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Healthy Family Cookbook.

Couscous, Kalamata Olive, Tomato and Feta Cheese Stuffed Chicken

I have 4 huge 3 ring binders at home that are filled with recipies that I’ve pulled out of magazines, off of the web, out of cookbooks etc.. for years. This recipe came from the Jan/Feb 2011 Cooking Light Magazine. It was really easy to make, is pretty darn healthy at only 270-/* calories per chicken breast and is SUPER tasty.  The olives, tomatoes and feta make the pretty bland blank canvas of chicken breast really delicious-briny, salty, tomatoey. Yummy!

Sorry-this photo isn’t the best. I was starving by the time it was time to eat.

Chicken

Couscous, Kalamata Olive, Tomato and Feta Cheese Stuffed Chicken

  • 1/3 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
  • 1/4 cup uncooked whole-grain couscous
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, divided
  • 3 tablespoons chopped plum tomato
  • 3 tablespoons kalamata olives, chopped
  • 3 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • 4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves, 1/4 inch thick
  • Cooking spray

Preparation

1. Bring broth to a boil in a small saucepan; remove from heat. Stir in couscous. Cover and let stand 4 minutes. Place couscous in a small bowl that is large enough to hold the couscous and other ingredients through garlic; fluff with a fork. Cool for 10 minutes. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and next 8 ingredients (through and including garlic); toss.

2. If chicken is not at the desired thickness place chicken between 2 sheets of plastic wrap; pound to 1/4-inch thickness. Divide couscous mixture evenly among breast halves; roll up jelly-roll fashion. Secure with wooden picks. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.

3. Preheat oven to 400°.

4. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken to pan; cook for 6 minutes or until browned; turn chicken over. Bake at 400° for 5 minutes or until chicken is done.

Adapted from Cooking Light Jan/Feb 2011.

Cauliflower-Onion Linguine

I pulled this recipe out of the Food Network Magazine back in November of 2010.  It sounded kind of different and good.  I’ll be honest-the dish as a pasta dish didn’t live up to the expectation I had for it HOWEVER as a cauliflower dish it would be absolutely delicious!! So next time I will omit any part of the recipe for pasta and just make cauliflower with panko and onions. I suggest you do the same. After all who doesn’t need a new way to cook cauliflower? Toasty and garlicky panko and french fried onion pieces with crispy cauliflower pieces-what’s not to love? Skip the pasta part.

PAsta

Cauliflower-Onion Linguine

  •  Kosher Salt
  • 12 ozs linguine
  • 4 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup Panko
  • ½ cup fried onions, chopped
  • 4 cups fresh cauliflower florets, roughly chopped
  • ½ to 1 tsp red pepper flakes
  • ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese plus more for topping

 Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta.  When pasta is done reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain it and return it to the pan and toss with 1 tbsp olive oil. Set aside.
  •  Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook about 30 seconds. Add the panko and onion and cook, stirring, until lightly toasted about 3 minutes. Transfer to a plate, wipe pan clean.
  • Heat remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and cook until the edges brown, about 4 minutes. Add the red pepper flakes and toast 30 seconds. Add the reserved pasta water and cook until the liquid is reduced by half and the cauliflower is crisp-tender.
  • Add the pasta, onion mixture and parmesan to the skillet and toss. Season with salt and more parmesan.

 Adapted from Food Network Magazine November 2010.

Sauteed Green Beans

Green Beans are so versatile aren’t they? Sauteeing them is easy and they stay crisp and delicious.  I made this as a side to my Cauliflower and Onion Linguine but it would also go great with chicken, beef or just about anything else.

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Sauteed Green Beans

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb fresh green beans, trimmed and cut on the bias into 2 inch lengths
  • Kosher salt and pepper
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • ¼ cup water
  • 1 tsp fresh lemon juice
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

 Instructions

  1. Heat 2 tsp of oil in a 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Add the beans and ¼ tsp salt and cook until spotty brown, 4 to 6 minutes.
  2. Clear the center of the skillet and add the remaining tsp oil and garlic.  Cook, mashing the mixture into the pan, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir into the beans.
  3. Add the water, cover, and cook until the beans are bright green and still crisp, about 2 minutes.  Uncover, increase the heat to high and cook until the water evaporates and the beans are crisp-tender and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes. 
  4. Remove pan from the heat, add lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste and serve.
  5. Sprinkle with parmesan cheese if desired.

 From America’s Test Kitchen: Healthy Family Cookbook http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8302722-the-america-s-test-kitchen-healthy-family-cookbook

And sprinkled with parmesan.

GreenBeans

Oven Fries

I came across this recipe in the America’s Test Kitchen cookbook that I ordered from Amazon recently (brand new but technically ‘used’. $7).  Anyway I felt like having fries with the Tuscan Onion Soup that I was making. These came out pretty good really.  Soaking the potatoes did make a huge difference.  It was my own fault that they came out a bit darker than I intended them to-I will take them out of the oven earlier next time.

Fries

Oven Fries

Ingredients

  • 3 russet potatoes (about 8oz each), scrubbed and cut into 10-12 even wedges
  • ¼ cup plus 1 tsp canola oil
  • Sea Salt and pepper
  • Ketchup for serving
  • Mayonnaise for serving
  • Freshly-grated parmesan for serving

 Instructions

  1.  Adjust oven rack to lowest position and heat to 475 degrees.
  2.  Place cut potatoes into a bowl and cover them with hot water and let soak for 10 minutes.  Meanwhile coat a large non-warping baking sheet with ¼ cup of the oil and sprinkle evenly with ½ tsp both salt and pepper.
  3.  Drain potatoes and pat them thoroughly dry with paper towels. Toss the potatoes with the remaining oil and arrange them in a single layer on the baking sheet. Cover it tightly with foil and bake for 5 minutes then remove the foil and continue to bake for 15 to 20 minutes-rotate the pan after 10 minutes-until the underside of them are spotty brown.
  4. Flip each potato over with tongs, keep them in a single layer, and continue to bake for 7-10 minutes longer.  Drain briefly on paper towels then season with salt and pepper to taste.
  5. Remember-they will continue cooking for a bit after you remove them from the oven. I forgot this and they got significantly more well done than I intended-but they were still delicious!! I served them with katsup, mayonnaise and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

 Notes from ATK; you may either leave the peel on or peel the potatoes. To cut the potatoes into even wedges first cut it in half evenly length wise, then cut that half in half evenly and so on. The soaking of the potatoes is vital to remove excess starch and so the potatoes can absorb some water to avoid being dried out while cooking.

 From America’s Test Kitchen: Healthy Family Cookbook http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/8302722-the-america-s-test-kitchen-healthy-family-cookbook

 

 

Zuppa di Cipolle di Toscano (Tuscan Onion Soup)

Ah onions. I love onions. And soup. I love soup. Onion soup is a marriage of 2 of my favorite things.  This onion soup is so so so good. It’s similar to French Onion Soup but the addition of pancetta and parmesan (YUMMMYYYY!!!) give it that nice Tuscan flare and therefore, better than the French one.  It’s so easy to make, it reheats well, freezes well and can be eaten for lunch, dinner, as an appetizer or whatever. So versatile. This recipe is a keeper!!  If you look closely at the photo below you’ll see the broth, onions, parmsan cheese and just a bit of the crust of a garlic toasted bread that’s on the bottom of the bowl. Yes, really.

Onion

Zuppa di Cipolle di Toscano: Tuscan Onion Soup

Ingredients

  • 6 tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 1/4 lb. pancetta diced
  • 5 large yellow onions peeled and thinly sliced (mandolin 3/16”)
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 5 1/2 cups hot beef broth fresh or low-sodium canned
  • 1/2 cup dry red wine
  • 2 rolls cut in half length-wise
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
  • Fine sea salt to taste
  • Grinding coarse black pepper

Directions

  1. In a large soup pot heat 4 tablespoons of the oil over medium high heat, add the pancetta and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the onions, cover the pot and cook slowly for about 15 minutes, stirring often. When the onions are limp add the lemon juice and allow it to evaporate.
  2. Pour in the broth and wine. Stir the mixture. Cover the pot and simmer for 30 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep the soup warm while you fry the bread.
  3. Heat the remaining olive oil in a sauté pan, add minced garlic and brown the bread on both sides. Place a slice in each of 4 individual soup bowls. Pour the soup over the bread and divide and sprinkle the cheese over the top.

Adapted from Maryann Esposito via PBS Food.

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Stuffed peppers is one of my Husband’s favorites so when I came across the recipe for Classic Stuffed Bell Peppers  I decided to make them. I guess I’ve never made stuffed peppers before.  Anyway-while there were a few different steps to this recipe it was easy overall and the end product was really, really good.  I did end up with stuffing left over so I could have made probably 2 more peppers with it.

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Stuffed Bell Peppers

4 medium red, yellow or orange bell peppers (about 6 oz each). 1/2 inch trimmed off of the top, cores and seeds removed.

1/2 cup long-grain white rice

1.5 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped fine (about 1 cup)

12 ozs lean ground beef

3 medium garlic cloves, minced

1 14.5oz can diced tomatoes, drained, 1/4 cup liquid reserved

6ozs Monterey Jack cheese, freshly grated (not pre-grated bagged)

1/4 cup ketchup

Directions:

Adjust oven rack to middle position and pre-heat to 350.

Bring 4 quarts water to a boil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over high heat. Add 1 tbsp salt and bell peppers. Cook until peppers just begin to soften-about 3 minutes (make sure the peppers are covered with water). Using a slotted spoon remove peppers, draining any excess water back into the pot, and place on paper towels.

Return water in the pot to a boil, add rice and boil it until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain rice and place it in a large bowl.

Heat oil in a 12 inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown-about 5 minutes.  Add the beef and cook, breaking beef into small pieces with spoon, until no longer pink.  Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant. Add the mixture to the bowl with the rice, stir in tomatoes, 1 cup cheese and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Stir together ketchup and reserved tomato juice in a small bowl.

Place peppers cut-sides up in a 9in. square baking dish.  Using a small spoon fill each pepper evenly with the beef and rice mixture, pressing it down inside the peppers so that you can get the most possible filling inside.  Spoon 2 tablespoons ketchup mixture into the top of each filled pepper and then sprinkle each with 1 tbsp cheese. 

Bake until cheese is browned and filling is heated through 25-30 minutes. Serve immediately.

Slightly adapted from America’s Test Kitchen Cookbook http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24464.Here_in_America_s_Test_Kitchen

 

Brickle Drop Cookies

Over the holidays I had a surpise appendectomy while on vacation in Mexico so I can’t cook anything that requires lifting etc…and I need to lay around on the couch to recover. I’ve also been craving cookies since the surgery. One of my favorite candy of all time is the Heath Bar.  While I was grocery shopping on Saturday I saw a bag of the bits in the baking aisle and decided to make the recipe for the Brickle Drop Cookies on the back of the bag. And the cookies are absolutely delicious!!!

Cookie 

My dog was happy too-he got to lick the beaters as there’s no chocolate in the cookies. Happy Tim 🙂

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Brickle Drop Cookies

1  cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp cream of tartar

1 8oz package Heath Bits-O-Brickle Toffee Bits (one bag)

Pre-heat oven to 350.   Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl beat butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla and salt until blended. Add eggs and beat well.

Stir together flour, baking soda and cream of tartar.  Add gradually to the butter mixture, beating until blended. Stir in the toffee bits.

Scoop heaping teaspoons of batter onto the cookie sheet, leaving about 1 inch between cookies. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until slightly browned.  Allow to cook slightly on the cookie sheet then eat them. 

Store cookies in an airtight container.

Makes about 6 dozen cookies.

I froze half of the batter for these cookies so that I only made about 30. I wrapped the dough twice in plastic wrap, taped the recipe to the top and put into a ziplock bag.

Slightly adapted from Heath Brickle Bag recipe.

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