Risotto!

Here is a recipe for risotto that I just made two weeks ago with Cornish game hen. I LOVE mushrooms and would put them in everything if I could! I was going to make it again for a dinner party, but not everyone feels the same way about mushrooms, so I am changing it up to Saffron risotto instead. You can make any variation by just substituting the mushrooms for any vegetable you would like. Unlike rice, it is really hard to screw up risotto. Here is the original one I made:

2 Tbsp Extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups chicken stock, or veggie stalk
1 cup arborio rice
1/4 cup chopped shallots or white onion
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 dry white wine
3/4 cup sliced crimini (baby portabello) mushrooms
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat olive oil in heavy sauce pan over medium heat. Add onion and saute until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add mushrooms, garlic and rice. Stir for about a minute. Add white wine and stir until absorbed; about 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of stock and simmer until absorbed, stirring frequently. Add remaining stock 1/2 cup at a time, allowing stock to be absorbed before adding more and stirring frequently. This should take about ten minutes. When stock is absorbed, risotto is done and you can feel free to garnish with some grated Parmesan or what ever cheese you'd like. Serve it as a meal or on the side of a fish or poultry dish.
Enjoy!

Spaghetti Pie

I went to a dinner party a few weeks ago where, for the first time I had Spaghetti Pie (compliments of Megan). Now, it sounds interesting, as Im sure you thought, and probably a little too casserole-down-home-cookin’, but don’t let your nose turn its way up when you haven’t yet tried such a spectacularly comforting, and tasty dish! Its super easy and a definite crowed pleaser (unless your crowed happens to be the judges panel of Top Chef...this may be a little too basic for them, but Im not above it). So the way we made it is a bit healthier than the original Im sure. So here it is folks:
1/2 lb.whole wheat spaghetti
2 eggs
2/3 c. grated cheese (Parmesan or I used Drunken Goat Cheese)
1 cup cottage cheese
1 lb. ground turkey or chicken
1/4 c. sliced onions
1 1/2 c. spaghetti sauce
1 (10 inch) pie pan

Combine cooked spaghetti with cheese and beaten eggs press into pie pan. Evenly spread cottage cheese over pasta.

Brown turkey or chicken with onion, stir in spaghetti sauce. Simmer 15 minutes. Pour meat mixture over pasta and cottage cheese. Cover with foil. Bake in a heated 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Remove foil add a little more shredded cheese for garnish. Slice like a pie and serve!

Orange Ginger Salmon

Here is a recipe I got from an X-boyfriends mom (thats right, I first stole his heart, then I stole his moms recipe! I'm bad). It is a super easy way to do salmon and you can either do this on the grill or in the oven.

4 6oz. fillet pieces of salmon

1/4 cup orange marmalade
1 Tbsp minced ginger
2 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp roasted sesame seeds

Preheat oven to 350F. Pat fish dry with paper towel. Always season your fish with salt! About a 1/2 tsp will do for all 4 pieces.

In small bowl, combine the marmalade, ginger, garlic, soy sauce and sesame seeds; whisk with fork until well incorporated.

Place salmon on foil-lined baking sheet and lightly coat salmon with 1/2 of the sauce. Let bake for aprox. 10 minutes; add the rest of the marinade on top off the fish...do not over cook. Poke salmon with fork and if it bounces back, its done. Remember, most proteins keep cooking even after you remove them from a heat source so if its still a little pink in the middle before you take out of the oven, don't worry.

Feel free to garnish with some sesame seeds and/or cilantro.
Serving suggestions: Coconut jasmine rice and roasted veggies.

Good luck and happy cooking!