Weekend Recipe 12.18.10

A combination suited for a quite & cozy weekend .

Serve with a glass of wine and a good book.

Croque Monsieur with Fresh Spinach 

 Ingredients

2 tablespoons butter, plus some for eggs

2 tablespoons flour

1 1/2 cups whole milk

Salt and pepper

Nutmeg, freshly grated to taste

2 cups lightly packed small farm/organic spinach leaves, stemmed and coarsely chopped

8 slices prosciutto cotto or other mild ham

1/2 pound Gruyère cheese, shredded

4 hand-cut slices good quality white bread, 3/4-inch thick
4 large organic eggs

Preparation

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Heat a small skillet over medium heat and melt butter. Whisk in flour, cook for 1 minute then whisk in milk. Season sauce with salt, pepper and nutmeg, and thicken to coat back of spoon. Wilt spinach into sauce and remove from heat.

Arrange bread slices on a baking sheet and distribute the spinach and sauce evenly over the bread. Top each slice of bread with 2 folded slices of ham and a small mound of cheese. Bake to golden on top. Cook eggs any style, top each slice of bread with an egg and serve.



Beet & le'Orange Salad

Directions

Boil 1 pound beets in salted water until tender, 30 to 40 minutes.

Drain, then peel and slice into wedges.

Toss in a serving bowl with 1/4 cup olive oil, 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar, 2 tablespoons chopped chives or scallions, and salt and pepper.

Add 1 bunch arugula and 2 segmented blood oranges and toss.

ENJOY!

Recipe for the day 12.15.10

Sesame Garlic Spinach

A simple yet delicous and healthy side dish to add to your repertoire!

Ingredients

1 Package of whole fresh spinach

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

1 tablespoon white sesame seeds

1 tablespoon Soy Sauce

1 tablespoon Rice Vinegar

2 cloves garlic minced

Servings : 2

Cooktime : 10 minutes

Directions

1. heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in medium sauce pan, toast sesame seeds in oil untill light golden brown. They will cook quickly , do not forget about these guys. Set aside.

2. Wash spinach and dry with paper towel.

3. Heat remainder of olive oil in pan used for sesame seeds. Add garlic and let simmer for 30 seconds. 

4. Add entire amount of spinach and stir. Add rice vinegar and soy sauce and continue to simmer untill spinach is overly wilted, Do not over cook. 

5. Mix toasted sesame seeds in with spinach and serve.

This is a hit with kids and those who dont like vegetables!

Salmon Of The Day:11.18.10

SPICY SALMON W/CARMELIZED ONIONS

Ingredients

1 1/2 teaspoons ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon olive oil 2 (

6 ounce) salmon fillets

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 1/2 tablespoons minced onion

Directions

Combine the black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, brown sugar, onion powder, and salt in a small bowl. Stir in 1 tablespoon of olive oil to make a paste. Spread the paste all over the salmon fillets, and set aside to marinate at room temperature 30 minutes.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a small pan over medium heat. Stir in the onion, and cook until tender and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Heat a separate non-stick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the salmon fillets in the hot skillet until golden brown on each side, and no longer translucent in the center, about 4 minutes per side. Pour the browned onions and olive oil over the salmon fillets to serve