Chicken roasted with mustard

Chicken Legs Roasted with Mustard
Serves 4

4 chicken legs (thighs included, about 2 1/2 pounds)
2 teaspoons fresh, minced herbs, such as a mixture of sage, thyme and tarragon or marjoram
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
4 tablespoons Dijon mustard or tarragon mustard
1/3 cup panko
2 tablespoons melted butter

1. Heat the oven to 325 degrees.

2. Rinse the chicken legs and pat them dry. Rub them all over with the minced fresh herbs. Season well with salt and pepper. Brush the mustard over the skin side of each leg to coat thinly. Lay the legs in a shallow baking dish, leaving space between them. Sprinkle evenly with the panko or breadcrumbs and drizzle evenly with the melted butter.

3. Roast about an hour or until the meat is very tender and the coating is crisp.

Spicy Kasha Vegetable Salad

Spicy Kasha Vegetable Salad
(printer-friendly version)

Instead of kasha, you can substitute 1 cup of quinoa, bulgur wheat, or any whole grain and cook it in the amount of water appropriate to the grain. Check a grain cooking chart such as the one here.

1 cup buckwheat kasha, medium granulation
2 cups vegetable broth
2 medium tomatoes, chopped fine
1/2 cup green onions, thinly sliced
1/2 cup parsley, chopped
1/2 cup fresh mint, chopped
1/2 yellow bell pepper chopped
1/2 large cucumber peeled, seeded and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 cup cooked chickpeas
1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 tablespoon agave nectar (or pomegranate molasses)
1-3 teaspoon hot pepper paste or sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt (to taste)
1 tablespoon water

Heat 2 cups of vegetable broth (or heat water and add vegetable bouillon). While you’re waiting for it to come to a boil, toast the kasha in a large, dry saucepan for about 3 minutes, or until it releases a nutty aroma. When the broth reaches a boil, add it carefully to the kasha (watch out for spatters!) Cover and turn the heat very low. Cook until kasha is tender and all liquid is absorbed, 5-10 minutes. Remove from heat, fluff, and allow to cool. Kasha can be refrigerated and stored overnight, if necessary.

Add all chopped vegetables and the chickpeas to the kasha. Mix the lemon juice and remaining ingredients well and add them to the kasha, stirring so that the dressing is distributed evenly. Serve mounded in the center of a large platter, with butternut lettuce leaves. To eat, spoon some of the salad into a lettuce leaf and eat like a taco or burrito.

Servings: 8

Salsa Chickpea Lettuce Wrap

Ingredients:

• 10 whole lettuce leaves
• 1 whole green bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 1 whole red bell pepper, seeded and diced
• 12 ounces salsa
• 15 ounces chickpeas, drained and rinsed

Instructions:

Combine chickpeas and salsa in a medium sauce pan. Cook over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until all of the liquid has absorbed and the chickpeas have taken on the salsa’s color, about 8 minutes. For best results, refrigerate over night. Spoon chickpeas into lettuce leaves and top with chopped bell pepper pieces. Serve chickpeas at any temperature. (Makes about 8 wraps)

Experiment: Triple Berry Sorbet

2 cup water
1 1/2 cup sugar
4 cup mixed berries
1/4 cup lemon juice

Orange Currant Scones

4 cups all-purpose white flour
3 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into bits
3 tablespoons freshly grated orange zest (from about 2 navel oranges)
1 1/2 cups dried currants
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons well-shaken buttermilk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup granulated raw sugar (turbinado or Demerara)


preparation

In a bowl of a standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment stir together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add butter and zest and beat until mixture resembles coarse meal. Beat in currants. In a bowl whisk together buttermilk and eggs and add to flour mixture, beating just until a dough forms.

Preheat oven to 350°F. and line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper. On each sheet arrange six 1/2-cup mounds of dough about 1 inch apart. Sprinkle mounds with raw sugar and chill 15 minutes.
Bake scones in upper and lower thirds of oven, switching position of sheets half-way through baking, until light brown, about 20 minutes.

Bacon Thyme Burgers

Serves 4

• 2 pounds boneless beef chuck, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 6 ounces bacon, chopped
• 1 cup finely chopped onion
• 3 tablespoons thinly sliced garlic
• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
• 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 8 slices cheddar cheese
• 4 sesame-seed hamburger rolls, lightly toasted
• 1 1/2 cups shredded iceberg lettuce
• 8 thin slices tomato
• Mayonnaise, for serving
• Ketchup, for serving
• Mustard, for serving
• Pickles, for serving

Directions

1. Place the diced chuck in a large bowl.
2. Set a 10-inch saute pan over medium heat and add the bacon. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crisp and most of the fat has been rendered, 7 to 8 minutes. Add the onions to the pan and cook until they are softened, 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1 minute longer. Add the thyme and toss to combine. Remove the pan from the heat and pour the mixture over the diced chuck. Drizzle with the Worcestershire, and season with the salt and pepper. Toss gently but thoroughly to combine. Cover and set aside to marinate, refrigerated, for 1 hour.
3. Assemble a home grinder according to the manufacturer's instructions, using a medium die for grinding. Grind the meat mixture and then gently form it into 4 patties, being careful not to overwork it. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, about 1 hour.
4. Preheat a grill to medium, and lightly oil the grate.
5. Remove the patties from the refrigerator and place them on the grill. Cook for 7 to 8 minutes. Then turn them over and place 2 slices of the cheddar on each burger. Cook for another 7 to 8 minutes for medium-rare to medium, or until the burgers are cooked to the desired degree of doneness. Place a burger on the bottom of each of the 4 toasted buns. Dress with the lettuce and tomatoes, and add mayo, ketchup, mustard, and pickles as desired. Serve immediately.

Lentil-Barley, Kale with Sauteed Leeks

Ingredients:

1 c green lentils, washed

1/4 c pearled barley, washed

4 c water

2 cloves garlic, crushed

1/4 t turmeric (optional for digestion)

1 bunch kale, chopped, stems removed

1 carrot, slivered, not too thin

salt, pepper

Saute:

1 t to 1 T olive oil

1-2 leek, washed, sliced into rounds and separated

1/2 onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 t oregano

1/4 t basil

salt and pepper

Combine the lentils, barley, garlic, turmeric and water in a medium pot. Bring to boil, reduce to simmer, and cook until barley is tender, about 45-60 minutes.

About 30 minutes after you placed the lentils on, heat a medium saute pan, add the oil, leek, onion, garlic and spices. Cook on medium-low, stirring often, until leeks are beginning to brown and they are tender. This should take around 15 minutes.

When the barley is tender and the leeks are ready, add the kale and carrots, mixing well. Cook for a few minutes until the kale is to your liking. If you like the kale well cooked, do this step when you begin your leeks. I like my kale a little toothsome and green. Add salt and pepper, and if desired, some cayenne or chili flakes.

To serve, heat a pita slice over an open flame (stove) or directly on your electric burner, flipping until little brown flecks appear and the pita is heated. Serve the lentils in a bowl topped with some leeks and your pita bread.