Onion and Bacon Tart

Ingredients:

6 oz. slab bacon, cut into ¼″ matchsticks
4 tbsp. unsalted butter
2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced lengthwise Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1 ½ cups flour
2 tsp. dry mustard
1 ¼ cups milk
3 eggs, lightly beaten 

Directions:

 

Heat bacon in a 12″ skillet over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until fat renders and bacon is crisp, about 12 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain; pour bacon fat into a 9″ × 11″ baking dish and set aside. Return skillet to medium-high heat, and add butter; add onions, salt, and pepper, and cook, stirring, until lightly caramelized, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
 

Heat oven to 425°. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, mustard, and pepper; add milk and eggs, and stir until smooth. Let batter rest for 10 minutes. Meanwhile, place baking dish with bacon fat in oven and let heat for 10 minutes. Remove baking dish from oven, pour in batter, and spinkle with rendered bacon and caramelized onions; return to oven and bake until puffed and golden brown, about 30 minutes.

Spicy Peanut Noodle Salad

 

Ingredients

8 ounces fresh Chinese noodles (see note)

Dressing

1/2 cup chunky peanut butter
3 tablespoons soy sauce
3 tablespoons fresh ground chili sauce
2 tablespoons juice from 2 limes (or rice wine vinegar)
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seed oil
1 clove garlic, grated
1 tablespoon sugar or honey
3 tablespoons warm water
 

To Assemble

 2 large red, orange, or yellow bell peppers, sliced into thin strips
1 large cucumber, seeded and sliced into fine julienne or small half moons
1 cup mung bean sprouts
1 cup loosely packed fresh basil, mint, or cilantro leaves
8 scallions, finely sliced at a severe bias to create long, thin strips
2 jalapeño peppers, seeds and ribs removed, sliced into fine strips
1 to 2 red thai bird chilis, finely minced (optonal)
1/2 cup roughly crushed roasted peanuts

Directions:

Cook noodles according to package directions. Drain and transfer to a large bowl of ice water. Agitate noodles until thoroughly chilled. Set aside while you make the dressing.

In a large bowl, combine peanut butter, soy sauce, chili sauce, lime juice, sesame seed oil, garlic, sugar or honey, and water. Whisk until homogeneous. Drain noodles thoroughly and add to bowl. Add bell peppers, cucumber, bean sprouts, basil leaves, scallions, jalapeños, and bird chilis (if using). Toss to combine. Serve immediately, topped with roasted peanuts.

Egg Muffins

Ingredients:

15 eggs (for silicone muffin pans, use 12 eggs for metal muffin tins. You can use less egg yolks and more egg white if you prefer.)
1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Optional: 3 green onions diced small.
Optional: chopped veggies such as blanched broccoli, red pepper, zucchini, mushrooms, etc.
Optional: diced Canadian bacon, lean ham, or crumbled cooked turkey sausage

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 F. Use regular or silicone muffin pan, 12 muffin size. If using silicone pan, spray with nonstick spray. If using regular muffin pan, put two paper liners into each slot, then spray liner with nonstick spray.

In the bottom of the muffin cups layer diced meat, if using, vegetables, if using, cheese and green onions. You want the muffin cups to be about 2/3 full, with just enough room to pour a little egg around the other ingredients. Break eggs into large measuring bowl with pour spout, add salt and pepper, and beat well.  Pour egg into each muffin cup until it is 3/4 full.  

Bake 25-35 minutes until muffins have risen and are slightly browned and set.

Muffins will keep more than a week in the refrigerator without freezing. Egg muffins can be frozen and reheated.

Pecan-Crusted Chicken

Ingredients:

1/2 cup all purpose flour
2 eggs, whisked
2 tablespoons dijon mustard
2 cups chopped pecans
4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts (about 1 1/2 pounds total)
salt & freshly ground pepper to taste and season chicken
1/2 cup canola oil for frying


Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Cut the chicken breasts in half cross-wise and season with salt & pepper.

In 3 separate containers, place the flour, whisked eggs + dijon mustard and chopped pecans.

Take one piece of seasoned chicken and dredge in the flour, dip into the whisked eggs and roll in the chopped pecans to coat. Repeat for all pieces of chicken.

In a hot skillet, heat the oil for frying on medium high heat. When the oil is hot, place the pecan crusted chicken pieces and fry until lightly golden, about 2 minutes on each side. Be careful not to let the chicken fry for too long, since it will burn the pecans. The frying step is to ensure the pecans adhere to the chicken, as it will finish cooking in the oven.

Once you have lightly fried the chicken, place on a lined baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and place a piece of foil to cover until ready to serve.

Pat Summitt's Jalapeno Corn Casserole

Ingredients:

4 cans of corn
1 stick of butter 8

8 ounces of cream cheese
1 jar of jalapeno peppers (or diced green chiles)

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

Put the four cans of corn in a casserole dish, melt the margarine and cream cheese in the microwave. Stir and pour over the corn. Depending on how hot you want the dish, add peppers and juice accordingly. Stir and then put it in the oven for 40-45 minutes.

Grilled Artichokes

Ingredients:

 

2 to 4 large globe artichokes
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tablespoon of chopped fresh herbs such as rosemary, oregano, and thyme
Salt
 

Directions:

 

Place chopped herbs in a small bowl, cover with olive oil. Microwave on high heat for 30 seconds (or heat oil and herbs on the stove top until warm). Let the herbs seep in the warm olive oil while you prepare the artichokes.

Prepare a large pot with an inch of water at the bottom and a steamer rack. Prepare the artichokes. Have lemon wedges ready. If you want a nice presentation, use scissors to snip away the pointy tips of the artichoke leaves. As you trim the artichokes, rub the cut areas with juice from the lemon wedges to prevent the artichokes from turning brown from oxidation. Use a vegetable peeler to cut away the thick outer layer of the artichoke stems. Trim the stems to 2 inches from the base of the artichoke. Cut off and discard the top 1/2 inch of the artichokes. Cut the artichokes in half. Use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the fuzzy chokes and the small inner artichoke leaves. Rub lemon juice all over the inside and exposed cut areas of the artichokes.

Heat the water in the large pot with a steamer rack on high. When it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium high and place the artichoke halves, cut side down on the steam rack. Cover. Steam for 20 minutes (less of more, depending on the size of the artichokes), until you can easily pull off the outer leaves, and you can pierce the heart easily with a knife. The artichokes can be just a tiny bit less cooked than would be typically perfect for steamed artichokes, as you will be cooking them further on the grill.

Prepare your grill for direct, high heat. Use a pastry brush to brush the artichoke all over with the herb infused oil. Sprinkle all over with salt. Place the artichoke halves cut-side-down on the grill grates. Cover, and grill for 5 to 10 minutes, until you have nice grill mark on the cut sides of the artichokes.

To serve, sprinkle the cut sides with more lemon juice. Serve alone or with mayonnaise, remoulade, or aioli.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 eggs, slightly beaten
Juice of 1/2 orange (about 3 tablespoons)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsalted butter (1 stick), plus extra for greasing the pan, at room temperature
3 ripe bananas, mashed
3 tablespoons mini chocolate chips
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Special equipment: 1 1/2-quart glass loaf pan
 

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

Sift together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl. Mix together the vanilla, eggs and orange juice in a measuring cup or small bowl. Cream the sugar and butter in a medium bowl until pale yellow and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add in the egg mixture and beat until creamy. Mix in the bananas until smooth. Pour the flour in 2 batches into the batter and mix on low speed until incorporated. Stir in the chocolate chips with a wooden spoon. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake 1 hour, covering lightly with foil if the top gets too brown. Cool, remove from the pan and slice. Serve dusted with the confectioners' sugar