Risotto with Parmesan Cheese and Parsley

Thought tonight would be a good night to get back to basics!  So here is a recipe from the Cooking Journal.  This recipes shopping list is under the 'Fresh Flavors' section!  Very good and not hard at all!

4 cups meat or vegetable broth (your choice)
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ onion, chopped fine
½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
1½ cups Arborio rice
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

1) Have meat/vegetable broth warm and near the risotto pan.
2) Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in pan when warm add chopped onion.

3) Cook until translucent then add the rice and stir until everything is coated well.
4) Add ½ cup broth at a time to the rice moist and keep it from sticking to the pan. Keep stirring with
    wooden spoon, until you have used up all of the broth.
5) The rice is done when the rice is firm but tender. Add grated Parmesan cheese and parsley, stir to
     incorporate. Adjust salt and pepper and serve at once.

Make it work:
This meal does take a little longer,
because the risotto needs more stove top time.
Add chicken if you are looking for a protein source. 

Lemon Linguini

1 box linguini
1/3 cup olive oil
1/3 cup green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
2 lemons, freshly zested and all of the juice squeezed
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
salt & pepper to taste

Method:

Cook linguini according to the directions on the box.  Mix the remaining ingredients together in a bowl you plan on serving with.  Once the linguini is finished pour into the serving bowl and adjust seasonings then serve.  Add more Parmesan at the table!

Spring Flavored T-Bone Steak

1 tablespoon crushed peppercorns
2 large garlic clove minced
2 tablespoons olive oil, to drizzle
2 tablespoons Salt or to taste
1 Lemon
4 T-bone steaks

Method:

1) Light the grill, Hot at first to lock in flavor then turn the temp down to medium.
2) Make a rub with the peppercorns, garlic, and salt.
3) Rub on steaks and grill until desired temp.
4) Drizzle a little olive oil and a squeeze of lemon on
     each piece and serve.

Pretty Lemon Chicken

1 whole chicken cleaned
3 tablespoons olive oil
1 bunch of parsley
2 tablespoons grated lemon rind
½ teaspoons black peppercorns, crushed
Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350.
2) Make olive oil rub; olive oil, lemon rind and salt and pepper.
3) Clean out whole chicken, salt and pepper and stuff with bunch of parsley.
4) Rub chicken with olive oil lemon rub and place in preheated oven for about an hour, or until internal temp
    reaches 180.
5) Discard parsley from cavity and serve at once!

                  Above: Pretty lemon chicken with seasonal corn on the cob and rosemary red potatoes!

Swordfish with Garlic and Parsley

3 tablespoons olive oil

4 cloves garlic, minced

½ cup parsley

4 swordfish steaks

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

1)Preheat oven to 350. Put olive oil in skillet that can be transferred to oven, cook garlic until light brown.

2) Put in swordfish, a little salt, and bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until done. Sprinkle with parsley and serve.

Make It Work:

This dish would taste wonderful

with rice and a garlic salad from

the salads and such section (only

If you have time of course).

Fresh Lemon Crock Pot Turkey Thighs

4 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove of garlic

1 grated lemon rind

2 large Turkey thighs (bone in)

1 can of mushrooms (optional)

Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

Put Turkey thighs in crock pot and place all ingredients in over top of thighs. Do NOT add water,

it will make juice of its own along with the olive oil. This is wonderful; the turkey just falls off the

bone.

Make it work:

You can also use Turkey Breasts in place of the turkey thighs. If I have left over white wine in the house I poor a little (¼ cup) in as well.

Baked Tilapia with Fresh Lemon Pepper

1½ tablespoons grated lemon rind

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed

½ teaspoon salt

2 cloves garlic, minced

4 Tilapia fillets (frozen would work fine:

             Just make sure you pat them dry first)

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 425.
2) Combine first five ingredients. Marinate both sides of each fillet.
3) Place in oven safe pan and bake for 10 minutes or until fish looks opaque.
4) Serve with the leftover lemon cut into wedges and decorate the top of each piece of fish with more lemon rind if desired.

Make It Work

For easy clean-up top the pan with foil and a

piece of parchment paper, this helps the

fish slide right out of the pan.

Here is another Idea: Tilapia, fresh green beans and a side of wild rice!

Risotto with Parmesan Cheese and Parsley

Ingredients:

4 cups meat or vegetable broth (your choice)

2 tablespoons olive oil

½ onion, chopped fine

½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

2 tablespoons parsley, chopped

1½ cups Arborio rice

Salt and Pepper to taste

Method:

1) Have meat/vegetable broth warm and near the risotto pan.
2) Put 2 tablespoons olive oil in pan when warm add chopped onion, cook until translucent then add the rice  and stir until everything is coated well.
3) Add ½ cup broth at a time to the rice and keep stirring with wooden spoon. Keep doing this until you have used up all of the broth.
4) The rice is done when the rice is firm but tender. Add grated parmesan cheese and parsley; stir to
incorporate. Adjust salt and pepper and serve at once.

Make it work:

This meal does take a little longer, because

the risotto needs more stovetop time.

Fresh Turkey Burgers with Lemon

1½ tablespoons olive oil

¼ cup chopped parsley

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ pepper

½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

½ cup bread crumbs

1 lb ground turkey

1 egg

Zest of one lemon rind

Method:

1. Heat oil in skillet to medium-high heat
2. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and make into patties.
3. Put into skillet and cook until inside temperature reads 165.
4. Serve on buns or focaccia bread with a squeeze of lemon juice over the turkey burger and top with mayo.

Make It Work

These burgers would taste wonderful with a fruit salad, even canned fruit would do. Our children like canned mandarin oranges, canned mango, and canned pineapple. Also, this would make great meatballs minus the lemon rind.

Baked Tilapia with Fresh Lemon Pepper

Ingredients:

                                                   1½ tablespoons grated lemon rind

                                                       2 tablespoons olive oil

                                                     ½ teaspoon black peppercorns, crushed

                                                     ½ teaspoon salt

                                                       2 cloves garlic, minced

                                                       4 Tilapia fillets (frozen would work fine: Just make

                                                                                   sure you pat them dry first)

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 425.
2) Combine first five ingredients. Marinate both sides of each fillet, a few minutes is fine.

3) Place in oven safe pan and bake for 10 minutes or until fish looks opaque.

4) Serve with the leftover lemon cut into wedges and decorate the top of each piece of fish

     with more lemon rind if desired.

Make It Work :

For easy clean-up top the pan with foil and a piece

of parchment paper, this helps the fish slide right

out of the pan.