Archive for the ‘Olive Oil’ Category

Harvest Creamy Corn “Choup”

Harvest Creamy Corn “Choup”
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 5 min
Cook 25 min

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 4 slices bacon, chopped
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1/2 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 1 pound small potatoes, cut into small chunks
  • 4 to 5 large ears corn, kernels scraped from the cobs, or one 10-ounce box frozen corn
  • 1 medium or 2 small zucchini, finely chopped
  • 5 to 6 sprigs thyme
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 tablespoons flour
  • One 32-ounce container (4 cups) chicken broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley
  • Salt and pepper
  • Hot pepper sauce
  • Oyster crackers or popcorn, to pass around the table
  1. In a medium soup pot, heat the EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook until crisp at the edges. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the potatoes, corn, zucchini, thyme, bay leaf and paprika and cook for 4 minutes. Sprinkle the flour into the pot, stir and cook for 1 minute. Gradually stir in the broth and simmer until thickened a bit. Stir in the milk, cream and parsley and simmer until the potatoes are tender, about 8 minutes.
  2. Season the corn choup to taste with salt, pepper and hot pepper sauce and serve with crackers or popcorn to float on top.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Cheesy Zucchini Boats

Cheesy Zucchini Boats
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

4 Servings
Prep 20 min
Cook 40 min

  • 4 zucchini, halved lengthwise
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1/2 red onion, chopped
  • 5 plum tomatoes, chopped
  • 1 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • Salt and pepper
  • 6 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
  1. Preheat the oven to 375°. Using a small spoon, scoop out the zucchini flesh, leaving a 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick shell. Wrap the zucchini flesh in a paper towel and squeeze out any excess liquid; discard the liquid and set aside the flesh. Place the zucchini shells cut side down on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over high heat. Add the zucchini flesh and onion and cook, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the tomatoes and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Push the vegetables to the side of the pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil and the bread crumbs, and toast the bread crumbs for 2 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the nuts and oregano, then combine with the vegetables; season with salt and pepper.
  3. Flip over the zucchini shells and line the bottoms with the mozzarella. Pack in the filling. Sprinkle the parmesan on top. Bake until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a fork, 20 to 25 minutes.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Tuscan-Style Cauliflower

Tuscan-Style Cauliflower
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

6 Servings
Prep 10 min
Cook 40 min

  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • 2 pounds tomatoes—peeled, seeded and chopped, or 4 cups canned tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 1 head cauliflower, broken into 1-inch florets
  • 1/2 cup boiling water
  • Salt and pepper
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
  1. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until softened and golden, then add the tomatoes and cook, stirring, until they begin to break down, about 5 minutes. Stir in the cauliflower and boiling water, lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cauliflower is tender, about 30 minutes.
  2. Season the cauliflower to taste with salt and pepper and scatter the parsley on top.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Smoky Potato Packets

smoky-potato-packets

Recipe & picture courtesy of Family Fun

Serves 8

  • About 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 lbs. new potatoes, sliced thinly (1/4-inch)
  • 2 slices of a sweet Spanish onion, or 4 slices yellow onion, thinly sliced
  • 3/4 tsp. dried rosemary leaves or 1 teaspoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 1/2 tsp. pepper or pinch of cayenne pepper
  1. When the fire is lit but not ready, lay out 8 pieces of foil (about 12 by 8 inches) and brush with olive oil. Shingle an eighth of the potatoes in a circle in the center of each piece of foil. Break the onion slices into rings and scatter evenly over each potato ring. Equally divide the remaining olive oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper over the potatoes.
  2. With the potato rings intact, bring the two large edges of foil to the center, sealing firmly. Fold over the other two short edges to seal. Place on a medium or medium-hot fire for 20 to 25 minutes or until the potatoes are cooked through. (Cooking in foil packets is not an exact science, so remember to check one packet after 20 minutes for doneness and to make sure the bottom isn’t burning. If necessary, finish cooking with another foil sheet under the packets.)

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Bacon-Wrapped Salmon with Broccoli and Mashed Potatoes

bacon-wrapped-salmon-with-broccoli-and-mashed-potatoes
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

Serves 4

  • 2 pounds small red-skinned or yukon gold potatoes
  • Salt
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • A few sprigs thyme
  • One 3-inch piece lemon peel
  • Pepper
  • Four 6-ounce salmon fillets, skinned
  • 4 slices black-pepper bacon
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into spears
  • One 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and grated
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and grated
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 2 pinches crushed red pepper
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons tamari (dark soy sauce)
  1. Position a rack in the upper third of the oven and preheat to 450°. In a large saucepan, add the potatoes and enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, salt the water and cook until tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Drain; return to the pot.
  2. While the potatoes are working, in a saucepan, combine the chicken broth, cream, thyme sprigs and lemon peel and steep over medium-low heat. Pour over the drained potatoes and mash together; season with salt and pepper. Cover to keep warm.
  3. Season the salmon with salt and pepper, then wrap each fillet with the bacon. Arrange the fish on a broiler pan and roast until the bacon is almost crisp and the fish is almost firm, about 12 minutes.
  4. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss together the broccoli, ginger, garlic, EVOO and crushed red pepper; season with salt. Roast in the lower third of the oven until tender, about 12 minutes.
  5. In a small saucepan, bring the maple syrup and tamari to a boil. Baste the salmon liberally with the glaze and cook for 1 minute more. Serve with the mashed potatoes and broccoli.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Pistachio-Crusted Pork Chops

pistachio-crusted-pork-chops
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

Serves 4
Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 25 min

  • 1/2 cup shelled pistachios
  • 1 clove garlic
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • Salt
  • 1/4 cup breadcrumbs
  • Pepper
  • Four 1-inch-thick pork chops
  • 1 large egg, beaten
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°. Using a food processor, finely grind the nuts, garlic, lemon peel and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Transfer to a shallow bowl; whisk in the breadcrumbs.
  2. Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Dip each chop into the egg, then coat with the nut mixture; transfer to a baking sheet.
  3. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the chops and cook until golden, about 2 minutes on each side; return to the baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and bake until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the center registers 140°, about 20 minutes.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Turkey Burgers with Zucchini Relish

grp_edr_turkey_burger_zucchini_sz2
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

Serves 4

  • 2 pounds ground turkey breast
  • 1/3 cup finely chopped flat-leaf parsley (a generous handful)
  • 1 tablespoon grill seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons poultry seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO)
  • 4 slices sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1 small zucchini, finely chopped
  • 1/4 red bell pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1/2 small red onion, finely chopped
  • 2 tablespoons thyme leaves, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • Salt
  • 4 sandwich-size English muffins, preferably sourdough, fork split
  • Softened butter, for spreading
  • 4 red leaf lettuce leaves
  1. In a medium bowl, combine the ground turkey, parsley, grill seasoning, mustard and poultry seasoning. Form 4 patties; using your thumb, make an indentation in the center of each to prevent bulging while cooking.
  2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan, over medium-high heat. Add the patties and cook until the juices run clear, 6 to 7 minutes on each side. During the last few minutes of cooking, top each burger with a cheddar slice, tenting loosely with foil to melt the cheese.
  3. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the zucchini, bell pepper, red onion, thyme, hot sauce and lime juice. Season with salt.
  4. Toast and butter the English muffins. Set a lettuce leaf and burger on each muffin bottom and top with some zucchini relish and a muffin top.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Italian Baked Chicken and Pastina

italian-baked-chicken-and-pastina
Recipe & picture courtesy of Food Network

Cook Time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings

  • 1 cup pastina pasta (or any small pasta)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 cup cubed chicken breast (1-inch cubes)
  • 1/2 cup diced onion (about 1/2 a small onion)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes with juice
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup bread crumbs
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan
  • 1 tablespoon butter, plus more for buttering the baking dish
  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  2. Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until just tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Drain pasta into a large mixing bowl.
  3. Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add the chicken and cook for 3 minutes. Add the onions and garlic, stirring to combine, and cook until the onions are soft and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 minutes more. Put the chicken mixture into the bowl with the cooked pasta. Add the canned tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper. Stir to combine. Place the mixture in a buttered 8 by 8 by 2-inch baking dish. In a small bowl mix together the bread crumbs and the Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle over the top of the pasta mixture. Dot the top with small bits of butter. Bake until the top is golden brown, about 30 minutes.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Garlicky Peppers & Shrimp

garlicky-peppers-shrimp
Recipe & picture courtesy of Better Homes & Gardens

Makes: 4 servings
Start to Finish: 20 minutes

  • 1 9-oz. pkg. refrigerated spinach fettuccine
  • 4 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 small red, green, yellow, or orange sweet peppers, seeded and cut in strips
  • 2 medium onions, cut in thin wedges
  • 4 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. peeled and deveined medium shrimp
  • 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper
  1. Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and return to pan. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil. Keep warm.
  2. Meanwhile, in skillet heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Stir in peppers, onions, and garlic; stir-fry 4 to 6 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add shrimp and cayenne pepper. Cook 2 to 3 minutes more or until shrimp are opaque, stirring occasionally. Serve over pasta.

**Personal Review: No Review Yet**

Seared Scallops and Tenderloin Steaks in Manhattan Sauce

seared-scallops-and-tenderloin-steaks-in-manhattan-sauce
Recipe & picture courtesy of Rachael Ray

Makes 2 servings

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), 1 turn of the pan, plus more for drizzling
  • Four 1-inch-thick beef tenderloin steaks (about 4 to 6 ounces each)
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 8 large diver sea scallops, trimmed
  • 1 large shallot, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup sweet vermouth
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 pound asparagus, trimmed
  • Juice of 1/2 lemon
  • 2 tablespoons chopped or snipped chives
  1. Drizzle some EVOO over the steaks and season with salt and pepper. Get a large nonstick skillet screaming hot and add the meat. Cook the meat over high heat for 3 minutes on each side for medium rare, 4 for medium to medium-well. Remove the meat from the skillet and pull the pan off the heat to cool.
  2. Drizzle some EVOO over the scallops and season them with salt and pepper. Get another large skillet screaming hot and cook the scallops over high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until caramelized.
  3. Bring 2 inches of water to a boil in a medium skillet.
  4. Return the meat pan to medium heat and add the EVOO, 1 turn of the pan. Add the shallot and garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the vermouth and reduce by half, about 30 seconds. Add the butter to the pan to finish the Manhattan sauce.
  5. Add the asparagus to the boiling water and cook for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the asparagus and dress with the lemon juice and a drizzle of EVOO; season with salt and pepper.
  6. Place 2 steaks on each plate and drizzle with the Manhattan sauce. Place 2 scallops on top of each of the steaks and garnish with the chives. Serve the asparagus alongside.

**Personal Review: This came out amazing and I was really surprised by how easy this recipe really is. The end result is mouth watering, the steaks were so tender. I loved the idea of lemon juice on the asparagus, I usually just add butter. Jason was thrilled with this dinner as well, it will continue to be a “special occasion” dinner.**