Roasted Red Potatoes with Onions, Thyme, and Sherry Vinegar

Excellent, made with the peppery steak (previous entry), perfect pairing, only oops was that I only used 1 onion instead of 2; should have done 2, as there was plenty of room left on large baking sheet and the onions are delicious. Went extra 5 min on baking at end, as my potatoes were not super small, and cut them in quarters instead of just halves.

Link to original recipe: https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/red-potatoes-roasted-with-onions-thyme-sherry-vinegar

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

2 small red onions

2 lbs. small red potatoes, cut in halves or quarters (depending on size)

3 T. olive oil

3 T. sherry vinegar

Kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper

3 T. fresh thyme leaves

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425°F with rack in center. Trim root ends of onions, leaving enough core intact to hold onion wedges together. Trim other end of onions, then cut in half vertically, then cut each half into four wedges.

2. In a medium bowl, toss onions and potatoes with the olive oil and sherry vinegar, then season with salt and pepper (to taste).

3. Pour veggie mixture onto a rimmed baking sheet large enough to hold all in a single layer. Transfer to oven and roast for 35 minutes.

4. Turn the potatoes and onions over. Sprinkle the thyme leaves over the veggies and return the pan to the oven for an additional 5 minutes (or until veggies are very tender and onions have browned). Serve and enjoy!

Peppery Flank Steak Tagliata

Excellent 10/10, would happily make again!  

Link to original recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1014601-peppery-flank-steak-tagliata-in-the-oven

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 flank steak (1.5 to 2 lbs; I used one that was 1.42 lbs.)

salt, to taste

1 T. coarsely crushed black peppercorns

leaves from 1 small bunch rosemary

6 garlic cloves, sliced

1/4 c. olive oil

5 oz. baby arugula

shaved Parmesan/Romano cheese mix (used BelGioioso salad mix)

Directions:

1. Lay flank steak on a baking sheet and season both sides with salt. Use half of crushed peppercorns to coat one side, then use remaining half to coat other. Top with the rosemary and garlic clove slices (do this to both sides).

2. Drizzle with the olive oil and use your hands to distribute and work it (and the seasonings) into the meat a bit. Let rest at room temperature for 1 hour.

3. Meanwhile, heat oven to 450°F. Place a cast iron skillet in oven, on the upper rack, while it is heating and let it heat for at least 30 minutes.

4. Once flank steak has rested for an hour, carefully place it in the hot pan and close the oven door. Let it cook/bake for 5 minutes, then flip. Let it cook/bake on other side for around 3 minutes (possibly 4 or 5 if it is on the larger side). 

5. Cut meat on diagonal, against the grain, into thin slices. Arrange the slices on a large platter, then surround with the arugula. Top the arugula with shaved cheese, then drizzle with some olive oil. Serve and enjoy!

Rigatoni with Mushroom Sauce

MMMMM so freaking good. Next time I will try adding 2 T. of the cooking water to help thicken the sauce.

Link to original recipe: https://themodernproper.com/rigatoni-with-mushroom-sauce

Recipe below contains my modifications.

Ingredients:

1 lb. (uncooked) rigatoni

4 T. butter

2 T. olive oil

1 lb. button mushrooms (cremini would also work), sliced 1/4" thick

4 cloves garlic, minced

1 c. Sauvignon Blanc wine

1 c. chicken stock

1/2 c. heavy cream

1/2 c. shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 tsp. Italian seasoning

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

10 leaves fresh basil, chopped

Directions:

1. Cook rigatoni according to package directions.

2. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter and olive oil together. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown (around 5-7 min.)

3. Stir in the garlic and cook for 2 min, then stir in the wine. Bring to simmer and continue simmering until wine has reduced to slightly over half.

4. Stir in the chicken stock, bring back to simmer and keep simmering until reduced by half.

5. Slowly stir in the cream, followed by the Parmesan, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Simmer sauce for 2-3 minutes.

6. Remove from heat. Stir in the basil leaves. Toss sauce with pasta, serve, and enjoy!

Balsamic Boneless Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms

YUM. This was super tasty and easy, 10/10!

Link to original recipe: https://www.budgetbytes.com/balsamic-chicken-and-mushrooms/

Ingredients:

4 T. balsamic vinegar

1 1/2 T. soy sauce

1 T. brown sugar (packed)

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/4 tsp. dried thyme

4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs (around 1.25 lbs total)

salt and pepper, to taste

1 T. olive oil

8 oz. mushrooms, halved

2 T. butter

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine the balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, brown sugar, minced garlic, and thyme. Set aside.

2. Season chicken thighs all over with salt and pepper.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add olive oil, swirl to coat surface. Add the chicken thighs and cook 8 min. on first side, then 5 min. on second side (or until cooked through). Transfer chicken to a clean plate and cover to keep warm.

4. Add mushrooms to skillet and cook until slightly tender and browned (around 5-7 min.)

5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the reserved sauce mixture to skillet and stir, scraping bottom to release any accumulated fond. Bring sauce to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has reduced by half (around 5 minutes).

6. Add the butter to skillet and stir to combine into the sauce. Return the chicken to the skillet, turning to coat in the sauce. Cook for 2 minutes to reheat the chicken. Serve and enjoy!

Panang Curry with Mushrooms

Yet another from the drafts archive with no photos. So many recipes now that I'll have to revisit to get pix!

Very yummy recipe, will go 9.5/10 (I really like it, but can't rank it same as my fave curry!) Original recipe has asparagus in it...which I was going to use, but by the time I got around to trying this, the asparagus I'd bought was no longer good when I pulled it out of the fridge :( Thankfully, I'd bought extra mushrooms and subbed those instead, and will keep it that way for next time, too--so very good!  I don't think the asparagus would have improved it anyway.

Link to original recipe: https://www.finecooking.com/recipe/panang-curry-with-chicken-asparagus-and-mushrooms

Ingredients:

~2 T. peanut oil, divided

1 can (13.5-14 oz) coconut milk, stirred/shaken

1/4 c. Panang curry paste (yes, this is the correct amount; use less if you don't like it medium spicy)

1 c. homemade chicken stock

heaping 2 T. light brown sugar (or palm sugar)

2 tsp. fish sauce

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs, cut in bite-size pieces

1 tsp. fresh lime zest

6 oz. (package weight) oyster mushrooms, trimmed of bottoms and cut into large bite-size pieces

8 oz. thick sliced button mushrooms

6 fresh basil leaves (optional)

chopped peanuts for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Cook the chicken in the wok with 1 T of the peanut oil, set aside on a plate.

2. Add in rest of peanut oil, cook mushrooms. Add them to the chicken on plate (do not leave any oil in pot).

3. Add 1/2 c. of the coconut milk to the wok. Boil down for 2-3 min, then add rest of coconut milk, along with chicken stock, fish sauce, lime zest.  Stir and cook for 1 min.

4. Add the chicken mushroom mix back to wok, along with the basil leaves.  Cook for additional 2 minutes.  Serve and enjoy!

Grilled Steak Fajitas

Another recipe from my drafts archive for which I do not have pix. As with the others, will update with pix when I remake.

Easy-peasy and quite tasty, a 10/10! 

Link to original recipe: https://www.isabeleats.com/steak-fajita-marinade/

Ingredients:

1/4 c. olive oil

1/4 c. orange juice

2 T. fresh lime juice

3 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. ground cumin

2 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. dried oregano

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 1/4 lb. skirt steak (weight after trimmed of excess fat)

1 yellow (or other color) bell pepper, sliced in thin strips

1 large red onion, sliced in half and then in thin half-rounds

flour tortillas, for serving

optional: Gordo's Mexican cheese dip, melted (to add as topping in fajitas)

Directions:

1. Combine all ingredients from olive oil through smoked paprika in a large, non-reactive bowl.  Add skirt steak and turn in the marinade to coat all over.  Push down into marinade, then cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours (up to 8; I went around 3).  

2. Prepare the grill.  Meanwhile, transfer steak to a plate, leaving marinade in bowl.  Add the bell pepper and red onion to the marinade and stir/toss until combined.

3. Heat a large skillet over medium heat.  Pour all bowl contents into the skillet.  Cook, stirring frequently, until veggies have softened to desired doneness.

4. Grill steak to desired doneness.  Slice up, serve and enjoy!

Spaghetti with Parmesan-Asiago Chicken Sauce

I'm still working on getting all my older drafts published. This one is from July of 2020, and I cannot find the pix to go with it, so that will have to wait for a remake at some point.

I was craving pasta and had some chicken to cook, couldn't find a recipe that appealed to me, so once again, I tried creating one.  And it turned out great! I'll go 9.5/10...I'll try tweaking it slightly next time I make it and see if I can get it to perfection level :) It's pretty darn tasty as I made it, though!

Ingredients:

~8 oz. thin spaghetti

1 1/4 lb. boneless, skinless chicken thighs (probably closer to 1 lb. after trimming fat), cut into to small/bite-size pieces

1 T. herbes de Provence

1 tsp. kosher salt

3/4 tsp. coarse ground black pepper

2 T. butter

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 c. Chardonnay

~2/3 c. chicken stock (or broth; I used a combo, but will use only stock next time)

~2 T. pasta cooking water (I will up this amount next time)

3 T. heavy cream

1/3 c. shredded Parmesan

~3 T. shredded Asiago

Directions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  When draining, reserve some of the pasta water for use later in the sauce making.

2. In a large bowl, combine chicken, herbes de Provence, salt, and pepper.  

3. In a large skillet over medium to medium-high heat, melt the butter.  Once butter has melted, add chicken to the pan.  Cook, stirring occasionally.  When chicken has cooked for a few minutes, add the minced garlic to the pan.  Continue cooking until chicken is starting to brown a bit.

4. Deglaze pan with Chardonnay and let cook for 1-2 minutes, then stir in the chicken stock and reserved pasta cooking water.  Cook for additional 2 minutes, then stir in heavy cream.  Cook for another 1-2 minutes.

5. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and Asiago.  Add the cooked spaghetti to pan and stir to combine/coat pasta.  Serve up and enjoy!