Posts tagged ‘pine nuts’
Recipe of the Week – Watermelon Salad
(From the Salad Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Watermelon Salad
Do you love watermelon but just think it may be time to try it in a different way? This recipe is for those who are looking for a refreshing salad to serve on a hot summer’s eve or maybe an easy lunch on the deck served with some homemade muffins. Either way it is a great way to get the kids eating salads and good enough to serve as a surprise for guests. Quick to make and easy to serve this is one I know is a keeper.
Watermelon Salad
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Salad |
| Meal: | Summer’s Night (Quick Meals Planner) |
| 0.33 | cup | pine nuts, toasted |
| 7 | cup | watermelon,seedless |
| 1 | cup | cheese, feta |
| 0.5 | medium | onion, red |
| 1 | cup | arugula |
| 0.33 | cup | cilantro, chopped |
| 0.25 | cup | oil, olive |
| 2 | Tb | lemon, juice of |
| 0.5 | tsp | pepper, fresh cracked |
| 1 | pinch | salt to taste |
Toast pine nuts, Seed and cut watermelon into bite size pieces. Thinly slice onion, crumble feta and place in bowl with all other ingredients. Mix well, serve very cold.
For those watermelon “freaks” out there try the Watermelon Gazpacho with Crab Salad at emealsforyou.com
Recipe of the Week – Pesto ( hold the pine nuts)
(From the Misc Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Basil Pesto on Pasta
Pesto is a wonderful thing. You can make it with almost any herb or vegetable. You can serve it as an appetizer, a dip or a sauce on pasta or meats and fish. Basically you add cheese, garlic, olive oil and your herb or vegetable and some nuts together in a food processor, process until you get the consistency you wish and voila! you have it; all in about 30 seconds.
We have been making assorted pesto for years; combining sun-dried tomatoes and toasted pecans or spinach and hazelnuts, and of course basil and pine nuts. (see our selections at emealsforyou.com). The problem and reason for this post is that there seems to be a shortage of pine nuts on the market. Usually readily available in the grocery in pound bags, you are lucky to see a couple ounce jar in the Italian specialty aisle for about $5. Don’t let this dissuade you from making pesto. Use toasted walnuts in place of the pine nuts and you will not notice the difference. The texture will be the same and you will get the same “sweetness” that the pine nuts provided. Basil is flourishing in the bright sunshine, plant some or buy some but give pesto a try for a great meal.
Basil Pesto
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 6 |
| Category: | Misc |
| Meal: | other (General) |
| 0.5 | cup | basil leaves, whole |
| 0.75 | cup | pine nuts, toasted |
| 0.75 | cup | cheese, Romano |
| 1.5 | cloves | garlic, chopped |
| 0.75 | cup | oil, olive |
Toast pine nuts lightly. Place basil, pine nuts ( or any other nut you choose), garlic and romano in food processor, process until a paste forms, add oil slowly until you reach the consistency you desire. Should be spreadable, like peanut butter.
Note: Great on sandwiches, may be used on pasta. I spread it on toasted French bread, sprinkle with romano and basil and broiler slightly.
Shown here on pasta.
Recipe of the Week – Roasted Seckel Pears with Goat Cheese
(From the Appetizer Collection at emealsforyou.com)
In line with a recent post Why We Cook – A Rant I wanted to add surprise to the equation. Sometimes it’s fun to add something to the meal that is unexpected, something that appears to be one thing and winds up being a totally unexpected treat. One night in New Jersey I made seckel pears. These are small pears that are only available in the early fall, roasted with goat cheese, black pepper and honey as an appetizer for a group of macho cops, EMT’s and RN’s. The unexpected taste of the tart pears with the smooth goat cheese and sweet honey was a huge hit. The fresh cracked pepper added to the visual. These are similar to the full size pears I make for dessert but the small size makes them ideal as a quick and unexpected appetizer.
Another visual trick is my watermelon salad. Served in a large bowl with other various salads on a buffet, the guest assume that it is a tomato salad. Watching the look on their faces as they popped the watermelon into their mouths was very satisfying. The combination of crisp sweet watermelon with the salty feta cheese, pinenuts and red onion makes a wonderful surprise addition to any meal. Now that watermelon is available all year long; this is not just a summer treat. Once the word got around about the watermelon salad it completely disappeared in a matter of minutes.
So, mix it up a little, try something different and surprise your guest.
Roasted Seckel Pears with Goat Cheese
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 8 |
| Category: | Appetizer |
| Meal: | N/A |
| 16 | medium | seckel pears |
| 3 | oz | cheese, goat |
| 2 | Tb | honey |
| 0.5 | tsp | pepper, fresh ground |
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut pears in half, scoop out the seeds with a teaspoon. Place cut side down on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. Place in oven for 6 -8 minutes, until the pears are tender. Remove to a serving platter, cut side up, spoon a dollop of goat cheese in the center, dust with fresh cracked black pepper and drizzle with honey.
Recipe of the Week – Pine Nut Baklava
(From The Dessert Collection at emealsforyou.com)
Pine Nut Baklava
I know this is weird for those of you who look upon cooking as a chore but every once in a while I get the urge to put together a full dinner party. This differs from most of the meals I prepare in that I make several different complete courses. My wife thinks I usually overdo it but then again she likes the food I serve so the complaints are muted.
A group of the neighbors have been getting together to let our dogs run and enjoy some wine and conversation. As we did or rather Debbie did the picnic thing for Memorial Day (see Best Ribs Ever) I thought it was time to do the full blown dinner party thing. Here is the menu for those who want to know what I will be serving along with the Baklava recipe. It may not seem like it, but I picked these recipes as they are both easy, can be made before the guests arrive and won’t destroy the budget. Here is the recipe for the Baklava which will be part of one of the desserts. Yes I did say part ; so if you are like my wife… right about now you too are thinking I may be a little over the top with this dinner.
A quick note on Meal Planning. Notice that I have the menu pretty much set, the recipes printed and the shopping list printed a full two weeks out from the event. This will allow me to find what I need and also watch for sales on the ingredients; saving money and relieving stress.
Neighborhood Saturday Night Dinner
Drinks
Martinis and Wine
Appetizers
Baked Garlic
TJ’s Special Dipping Sauce
Salad
Warmed goat cheese medallion served on Mixed Greens with French Vinaigrette
Main Course
Bistro Chicken
Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
Haricot Vert
Bread
French Rolls
Dessert
Deconstructed Hazelnut Cheesecake
Roasted Pears with Blue Cheese Fondant and Pine Nut Baklava
Pine Nut Baklava
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 10 |
| Category: | Dessert |
| Meal: | Other (General) |
| 2 | cup | pine nuts, toasted |
| 0.5 | cup | butter, unsalted |
| 1 | cup | honey |
| 0.25 | tsp | cinnamon. ground |
| 9 | sheets | filo |
| 1 | tsp | sugar, powdered |
| 0.5 | cup | pine nuts, toasted |
| 0.5 | cup | simple syrup |
Chop the toasted pine nuts and combine with half the butter, honey, and cinnamon in a bowl. Lay 2 pieces of the filo dough on a flat surface, melt remaining butter and brush the filo with the butter, dust with powdered sugar and 2 Tb of the nut mixture. Repeat with the remaining filo, capping with the last piece of filo. Cut the filled filo to fit an oven-proof pan. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 1 hour.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place the simple syrup in a pan and reduce by half. Pour half of this on top of filo and spread evenly. Bake for 30 -40 minutes , until lightly browned. Pour remaining simply syrup over the top and allow to cool. Cut into serving pieces.
The recipes for this meal and much more can be found at emealsforyou.com
Recipe of the Week – Watermelon Salad
Watermelon Salad
(from the Salad Collection at emealsforyou.com)
This is a carryover from last year; but it’s still a winner. We were putting some chicken breasts on the grill and my wife wanted something “different” to go with it. As the spring heat turns into summer heat; cold, refreshing salads add color and a special touch to any meal.
The charm of watermelon salad is its versatility. Pair it with lunch meats, a can of tuna or even just some crispy crackers and you have a quick, delicious lunch… low in calories and good for you. Serve it as a dinner salad and watch the surprised looks you get. Having problems getting your kids to eat salad; come on what kid doesn’t like watermelon.
Well I have to go now… the photo made me think this is just what I need for tonight’s dinner.
Watermelon Salad
| Complexity: | Easy |
| Serves: | 4 |
| Category: | Salad |
| Meal: | Summer’s Night (Quick Meals Planner) |
| 0.165 | cup | pine nuts, toasted |
| 3.5 | cup | watermelon |
| 0.5 | cup | cheese, feta |
| 0.25 | medium | onion, red |
| 0.5 | cup | arugula |
| 0.165 | cup | cilantro, chopped |
| 0.125 | cup | oil, olive |
| 1 | Tb | lemon, juice of |
| 0.25 | tsp | pepper, fresh cracked |
| 0.5 | pinch | salt to taste |
Toast pine nuts, Seed and cut watermelon into bite size pieces. Thinly slice onion, crumble feta and place in bowl with all other ingredients. Mix well, serve very cold.
This and many more salad ideas may be found at emealsforyou.com
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