5/28/2007

Curried Couscous Salad with Dried Cranberries

1 (5.8-ounce) box instant couscous
3/4 cup sweetened dried cranberries
1 tablespoon curry powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 orange, juiced
2 to 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
3 to 4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on an angle
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley leaves
1/2 lemon, juiced
3/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
Freshly ground pepper

Stir the couscous, cranberries, curry powder, salt, and sugar together in a heatproof bowl. Bring water (amount will be listed on package directions) to a boil and pour it over the couscous. Add the orange juice. Give it a big stir, cover the bowl tightly and let it stand, giving it a big stir once or twice, until the water is absorbed and the couscous is tender, about 5 minutes.

Fluff up the couscous with a fork. Add the olive oil, scallions, parsley, lemon juice, and walnuts. Stir around until everything is distributed evenly throughout the couscous. Make up to 2 hours ahead of time and keep at room temperature until you're ready to serve. Check the seasonings just before you serve the salad and add salt and pepper, to taste.

Note: To toast the walnuts, spread them out on a baking sheet and bake in a 400 degree F oven until they turn a shade darker, about 8 minutes.

5/14/2007

Salad with Shrimp, Corn, Cilantro and Avocado


I made this the other night for John and he loved it.
1 pound shrimp
1 avocado
5 ears of corn
cilantro
1 beefsteak tomato
Romain lettuce
black pepper
vinaigrette

Boil one pound of shrimp in their shells. Then, rinse in cool water and remove shells. Boil the corn, rinse and remove kernels. Chop tomatoes, toss with lettuce, cilantro, corn, shrimp and black pepper. Dress the salad and serve with avocado on the side.

Salad with Arugula, Cucumbers and Manchego


This is a very simply salad but it was so yummy I had to record it.
Romaine lettuce
Arugula
Cucumbers
Manchego or Parmesan Cheese
Combine and toss with a lemon vinaigrette

Salad of Oranges, Fennel, Red Onion and Mint

2 cups thinly sliced red onion (about 1 large)
3 large navel oranges (about 5 pounds)
3 cups thinly sliced fennel bulb (about 1 pound)
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves
3 tablespoons plain fat-free yogurt
2 tablespoons frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon coriander seeds, toasted and crushed
4 teaspoons extravirgin olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Place thinly sliced red onion in a medium bowl; cover with ice water, and soak 15 minutes. Drain well.

Carefully remove rind and white pithy part of rind from oranges; discard rind and pith. Cut each orange in half vertically; remove white pithy core portion, and discard. Cut oranges crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices, reserving about 1/3 cup juice for dressing.

Layer red onion, thinly sliced fennel, and orange evenly in a bowl or on a platter, and sprinkle with fresh mint leaves. Combine reserved juice, plain fat-free yogurt, juice concentrate, and remaining ingredients in a small bowl, and stir with a whisk to combine. Drizzle evenly over salad; serve immediately.

Skillet Fillets with Cilantro Butter

This dish from Cooking Light magazine is a standard around here, both Jen and I make it frequently and it is so easy. You can substitute any mild white fish such as cod, flounder, or orange roughy for the tilapia.

1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
4 (6-ounce) tilapia fillets
Cooking spray
1 lemon, quartered
2 tablespoons butter, softened
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon salt

Combine first 3 ingredients; sprinkle over both sides of fish. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Coat both sides of fish with cooking spray; place in pan. Cook 3 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness. Place fish on a serving platter; squeeze lemon quarters over fish.

Place butter and remaining ingredients in a small bowl; stir until well blended. Serve with fish.

Baked French Toast

1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
8 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1 cup milk
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash salt
Maple syrup

Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.