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Cajun Black Beans and Rice

We came home recently from a wedding down south, inspired by the food we ate. At home, the fridge was basically empty, but the freezer and pantry were not! And we came home to a bumper crop of cherry tomatoes waiting for us on the vine. I whipped up this classic southern dish with what was on hand, and oh boy - was it ever good. 1/2 red onion, diced 1 carrot, peeled and diced 2 stalks celery, diced 1 link Andouille sausage (1/4 lb), diced 1-1/4 cup long grain rice (I used Jasmine) 2 cups chicken broth 1 tsp favorite Cajun seasoning mix 1 can black beans, rinsed and drained 1/2 cup frozen petite peas, defrosted 1/2 lb large shrimp, peeled, deveined and cut in half at the waist 2 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 2 cloves garlic, minced 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, chopped 1/2 cup fresh parsley, minced Sauté the onion, carrot and celery in a dash of olive oil in a wide, shallow skillet (use one that has a tight fitting lid). ...
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Homemade Chicken Soup

I make homemade bone broth regularly from bones of whole chickens I roast, stored in the freezer until soup day - about four chickens. But even store-bought broth will produce a fine result with all the other love and fresh ingredients you put into this soup! It's the perfect homeopathic relief from the sniffles. 2 carrots, peeled and diced 4 stalks celery, diced 1 large onion, peeled and diced 1 shallot, peeled and diced 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 Tbsp fresh sage, minced 2 Tbsp fresh rosemary, minced 2 Tbsp fresh thyme, pulled 1/2 lb kielbasa, diced 4 cooked boneless chicken thighs (I used leftovers from yesterday’s grilling), cubed 1 cup cooked ham, cubed 2 quarts chicken bone broth (ideally homemade) 2 cups fresh kale leaves, diced 1/4 cup pearled barley 2 small Yukon Gold potatoes, diced (I leave skins on) 1 cup frozen petite peas Sauté the carrots, celery, onion, shallots and kielbasa in a few tablespoons olive oil in a large soup pot. Add a dash of salt (about 1/2 tsp) and coo...

Granny Catherine's Sundried Plum Bread

When recently visiting our brother and sister in law's our brother in law asked if I'd be willing to attempt recreating his grandmother's beloved Polish Prune Bread recipe, of which he had a photo in her own handwriting. I was a bit concerned about doing justice to such a family treasure. But I gave it a go. We went to the local market, got all the ingredients and we had a great time.  It was delicious. I know it turned out wonderfully when his sister came over and raved that it was just like Granny made! I just didn't like associating dear Granny with an old prune, so I called it sun-dried plum bread instead! 1-1/2 cup milk 1 cup sugar   Zest of 1 lemon 1/2 cups butter, melted 1-1/2 tsp salt 1 pkg (2-1/4 tsp) active dry yeast   1 Tbsp sugar 1/4 cups flour 1/4 cup water 100-110F 2 eggs 1 egg yoke, white reserved 6-7 cups all purpose flour 1 lb pitted prunes 3 Tbsp sugar 1 lemon (that was used for zest) sliced and pitted Reserved egg white plus 1 Tbsp milk for egg wash I...

Pepper Pistachio Pesto Chicken

If you grow your own basil as I do, you know you need to regularly trim the plant to keep it bushy and  vibrant. That means you need to cook with basil a lot - too bad! Here's a great way to dispatch some of that fragrant basil. 4 bone-in chicken thighs 2 bone-in chicken breasts 1 pint hot and sweet pickled red cherry peppers, halved Pistachio Pesto 1/3 cup shelled, roasted pistachios 3 cloves garlic, peeled and halved 1 cup, packed, fresh basil leaves 1/2 cup olive oil 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, or to taste 1/2 tsp Kosher salt Pat chicken pieces dry on their skin side. Salt generously. Preheat oven to 375F. In a small food processor, prepare the pistachio pesto.   Pulse together the pistachios and the garlic until you have a coarse meal. Add the basil and pulse until the basil is incorporated. Add the oil, red pepper flakes and the salt and blend until well mixed. Heat a cast iron or other oven-going skillet. Add a good dash of olive oil and heat just until smoking. ...

Grilled Chicken Nancy

I love cooking for our soul mate Nancy, who enjoys being cooked for! She raved when she and my brother came over for a summer BBQ recently and said about this recipe "This is a keeper!". So I'm keeping it; right here. 3 chicken breasts, pounded to about 1/2-inch thickness Marinade 1/4 cup olive oil Juice and zest of 1 lemon 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves, minced 3 cloves garlic, finely minced 12 fresh basil leaves, julienned 2 Tbsp soy sauce 1 Tbsp Balsamic vinegar 1 tsp kosher salt Freshly ground back pepper, to taste Fresh basil leaves to garnish Whisk together the marinade ingredients and submerge the chicken in it. Allow to marinate a good hour in the refrigerator, turning often. Heat grill to high. Grill breasts on high turning every 2-3 minutes. About halfway into cooking, I pour on the remaining marinade - this assures it gets cooked through, and generates a good bit of flame-up to brown the edges of the chicken nicely - so use caution with the flames! Cook only until t...

Clam and Corn Chowder

A chowder is always welcome as the season cools. There are as many varieties as time in eternity - here is one with corn and clams. I also add spinach and tomatoes, which are not typical, but I'm making it my own with what I have on hand - and my cherry tomatoes are producing still profusely! 3 Tbsp butter plus 1 Tbsp olive oil 3 stalks celery, diced 1 large carrot, diced 1 medium onion, diced 1 Yukon Gold potato, diced 1/2 inch 1/3 lb cooked ham, diced 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 Tbsp fresh thyme leaves (or 1 tsp dried) 1/4 cup flour 1 quart chicken broth 1/2 cup dry white wine 1 can kernel corn, drained 5 oz fresh baby spinach leaves 1 15-oz can Snow’s minced clams, drained, broth reserved 1 pint cherry tomatoes, sliced in half 1 cup heavy cream Melt the butter in the olive oil in a large Dutch oven or soup pot. Add the celery, carrot, onion, potato and ham and cook until the veggies soften and just begin to brown, about 3-5 minutes. Add the garlic and thyme and cook another 2-3 mi...

Chocolate Dipped Honey Roasted Peanut Butter Cookies

These are perhaps the best cookies I have ever made. What could be better than peanut butter cookies? Peanut butter cookies dipped in chocolate and sprinkled with honey roasted peanuts, that's what! 2 sticks butter (1 cup), room temperature 1 cup chunky peanut butter 1-1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1-1/2 cups brown sugar 3/4 cup white granulated sugar 2 eggs, room temperature Dry Ingredients 2-3/4 cup all purpose flour 3/4 tsp baking soda 1-1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp kosher salt 12 oz bag semi-sweet chocolate chips 1 tsp coconut oil 1 cup honey roasted peanuts, finely chopped Beat the butter and peanut butter together until smooth.  Add the vanilla the sugars and beat together until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Now whisk together the dry ingredients. Add to the sugar mixture and mix together into a stiff even dough. Refrigerate dough for an hour. Preheat oven to 350F. Scoop out or form golf-ball sized balls onto parchment lined cookie sheets. Fl...