Recipes by their Ingredients

basil leaves

  • Chicken Pot Pie

    Chicken Pot Pie
    Chicken Pot Pie
    (Serves )


    The Pastry
    10 cups all purpose flour
    2½ tsp salt
    10 tblsp Italian Parsley, optional
    5 tsp chopped fresh herbs, a mix of thyme, savory and basil, optional
    2½ cups unsalted butter, chilled, in small cubes
    18-20 tblsp ice water


    The Filling
    3 cups cooked chicken (1 lb), cubed
    3 cups carrots, cubed, par cooked
    3 cups peas
    3 cups potatoes, cubed, par cooked


    The Stock
    11 cups chicken stock, or 11 cups water and 3 tblsp Better Than Bouillon Chicken Bouillon
    1 tsp fine ground black pepper
    1 tsp salt
    ¾ cup corn starch slurry


    NOTES:I like to separate the pot pie process into three stages: The pastry, filling and stock. Each stage can be completed separately, which lets you concentrate on making it as tasty as it can be for your tastes! Do not use bouillon cubes, especially Knorr!
    Take a look at the ingredient list between Knorr and Better Than Bouillon brands, notice where the chicken flavor comes from and how far back in the ingredients list!:


    Knorr Chicken Bouillon cubes:SALT, MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE, PALM OIL, CORN STARCH, HYDROGENATED PALM OIL, SUGAR, XANTHAN GUM, CHICKEN FAT, NATURAL FLAVOR, WATER, TURMERIC (FOR COLOR), DISODIUM INOSINATE, DISODIUM GUANYLATE, MALTODEXTRIN, DEHYDRATED PARSLEY, SPICES, CARAMEL COLOR, TBHQ.

    Better Than Bouillon Chicken Bouillon : ROASTED CHICKEN, SALT, SUGAR, CORN SYRUP SOLIDS, HYDROLYZED SOY PROTEIN, DRIED WHEY (MILK), FLAVORING, FOOD STARCH, DISODIUM INOSINATE AND DISODIUM GUANYLATE, TURMERIC.
     

    The Pastry: Mise en place (is a French culinary phrase which means "putting in place" or "gather". It refers to the setup required before cooking): Make sure your butter is all cubed up and it's sitting in the fridge, herbs are already chopped, if you're using them and you have a cup or bowl of ice water on hand. In a large bowl, mix the flour and salt and herbs together with a whisk, if you are using the herbs.
    Add the butter cubes to the mixture and mix quickly with your fingers, remember the heat of your fingers and hand will warm the butter up very fast, which is why you want to mix quickly until the mixture resembles sand and small pebbles, only tiny beads should remain.
    Add the ice water, up to 14 tblsp at first then add, one at a time a tblsp of the ice water until the dough holds together when you squeeze by your hand. You may not need all the ice water.
    Create a rounded oval shape which is not too thick, cover in plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until needed. I don't like making the dough a ball as when it comes straight out of the fridge will take longer to get it flat with a rolling pin. You want the dough to be very cold when rolling but it will also crack on the edges more so when cold which is why I recommend a much flatter pile of dough. Your finished product should be that you can see small tiny patches of butter interwoven in your pie dough top and bottom.

    The Filling: Using either boneless skinless thighs or chicken breasts, sprinkle salt, pepper and granulated garlic on both sides and grill (ideally) or use a heavy bottoms pan and heat up some vegetable oil and pan fry each side until done, really thick breasts can be butterflied open for more even and quicker cooking. Cube up the chicken and set aside. Keep the cubes the same size as the vegetable cubes.
    Cut the carrots into cubed pieces and boil in water for 2-3 minutes, until the are cooked through but not too soft, set aside.
    Blanch the peas in hot water just until any frozenness disappear, drain and set aside.
    You can skin the potatoes or don't for a more rustic look. Cube up the potatoes and cook in boiling water until cooked 3/4 of the way, about 4 minutes depending on how large you made the cubes, drain and set aside.

    The Stock: Using home made stock is best (See my Chicken Stock recipe). Next best thing is making your stock with Better Than Bouillon Chicken Bouillon or the Roasted Chicken Bouillon (I think they also make a low sodium chicken bouillon). If your using the Bouillon method, it's easiest to mix all three tblsp with as little warm or hot water as you can and once you integrate the Bouillon making sure it's dissolved, add more water until you get to 11 cups. Once you have the mixture, chicken stock, you can add a tsp of salt and 1 tsp of fine ground black pepper. If your not using the herbs in the dough, you should add a tsp thyme to the stock now. Bring to a simmer over medium/low heat, stir, once hot taste for slat and pepper content and adjust accordingly. Get your corn starch slurry together by measuring our ¾ cup of corn starch and adding just enough cold water until it can be stirred, mix well, once the stock is simmering and your happy that it tastes chickeny and is seasoned well, add some hot stock into your "slurry" until you can pour easily pour the mixed slurry back into the stock, but first turn down the heat to stop the simmering and stirring simultaneously as the stock meets with the slurry and will react by thickening your chicken stock, once you've added three quarters of your slurry, turn the heat back to a simmer, this is when the magic happens, stir the chicken stock it should be getting thicker, now adjust the stock with more slurry until you have a very thick base for your chicken pot pie.
    Stir in all the vegetables and the chicken, taste! Adjust the seasoning if necessary. Let cool, as it cools it will thicken even more. You can stop at this point and make the pot pies the next day if you wish.

    Putting it all together: Pre-heat the oven to 400° F. Take the dough from the refrigerator and using a rolling pin roll out the dough between ⅛ to ¼
    If you like a bottom crust: form a sheet onto a pie plate or baking dish pushing the sheet to conform to the inner curves of the pie plate or baking dish and trim off the excess dough that overhangs the edges using a butter knife. Add the pot pie filling into the pastry lined baking apparatus very close to the top leaving a ¼ of space. Add a top pastry sheet over your fillings and using a knife slice an X into the center of the pie to allow steam to escape. If your making a huge 13x8 baking dish you can cut three X's into the top to help the steam escape. Line a baking sheet with foil and place the pie on it, place in the center of the oven for 20-30 minutes or until the insides are bubbling hot and the crust id golden. You may need to check at 15 minutes to make sure the edges are not browning too much, if they are take a couple of strips of foil and wrap around the crusts edges.
    If you like a only a top crust: fill the baking dish with pot pie filling and leave a ¼ inch gap to the top. Add a sheet of pastry dough over the top and using a butter knife trim the edges off, place on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 30-30 minutes. Be aware that the edges can burn, check at 15 minutes and use some foil strips to cover the edges if it happens.

    You can also par bake a top crust by measuring how large the top needs to be to fit on your baking pan, bowl or whatever you are using. Cut it to size and place on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees until tan in color, not golden. Then use these pre cooked tops to put over your bowl of hot pot pie filling you heated on the stove top and then only bake for 5 minutes until the pie top heats up and gets a more golden color, 10 minutes tops. Remember if you forget to cut an X into the pre-baked tops, if the filling bubbles over it will all be over the sides of the crust!

  • Focaccia w/Roasted Garlic Herbs & Tomato

    Focaccia
    Focaccia
    (Serves 4-6)


    Focaccia Dough
    4 cups flour (high protein flour - (11-13)
    1 tsp Kosher salt
    1 pk of dry active yeast
    2 tsp brown sugar
    1+1/3 cups warm water
    1 tblsp extra virgin olive oil

    Topping(s)
    12 cloves of Roasted Garlic
    1/3 cup cherry tomatoes, with color varieties, cut in half
    1 tsp fresh thyme, finely minced
    1 tsp fresh rosemary
    1 tsp fresh basil, finely minced
    1 tsp fresh oregano, finely minced
    2 tblsp extra virgin olive oil
    1/3 tsp salt, kosher

    1 tblsp extra virgin olive oil (for the sheet pan), optional

    NOTES: You can use many different toppings for this Focaccia, prosciutto, olives, thinly sliced potatoes, onions, caramelized onions, artichoke hearts, or simply salt, the list goes on and on! My favorite has to be rosemary and potatoes!
     

    In a very hot skillet blister the halved cherry tomatoes, tossing them around for about 1 minute. Turn off the heat and mix in the fresh herbs and roasted garlic cloves, remove into a small bowl, then mix in the olive oil and salt and set aside for brushing over the top right before the dough is ready to bake.

    Mix the yeast and sugar with the warm water (read what temperature the water should be, on the yeast packet instructions). Let the yeast bloom (get foamy) @ 5-10 minutes. Mix the yeasty mix with the flour and olive oil.
    Knead for 5-10 minutes until the dough is slightly elastic, then let rest in a warm area, covered, until the dough doubles in size (about 30-45 minutes).

    Pre-heat your oven to 425°. F.
    Prepare a regular cookie sheet with sides with some olive oil or place a sheet of parchment paper down. Roll out the dough, place in the cookie sheet and dimple the dough using your finger, every inch or so up, down, across the dough, creating little dimples.

    Now, using the tomato/herb/garlic/olive oil mix, spread evenly across the top of your dimpled dough. Place in the oven for 20 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

  • Meatballs, Roberts

    Meatballs, Roberts
    Meatballs, Roberts
    (Serves)


    2 lbs ground beef
    1 lb ground veal
    1 lb ground pork
    2 eggs, beaten
    ½ Italian parsley, chopped fine
    6 fresh basil leaves, minced
    1 cup Pecorino Romano cheese
    1 tblsp black pepper, ground
    1½ tbslp salt
    6 cloves garlic, minced
    1½ cups day old Italian bread


    NOTES:
     

    Pre-heat oven to 350°

    Mix thoroughly all the ingredients.

    Roll small size meatballs, 1½ inches in diameter, careful not to pack them too tight.

    While it does take time to roll 100 meatballs, you will now have quality meatballs for months! Put on some nice meatball rolling music!
    On a large baking sheet place the meatballs close, but not touching, you could probably fit close to 100 on a normal baking sheet.

    Bake for 15 minutes.

    If you are going to add the meatballs to a pot of red sauce you can remove the meatballs from the oven 5 minutes earlier as they will finish cooking in the sauce.

    Serve with pasta with parmesan cheese (Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese) or on a roll with mozzerella cheese, or simply grab one with your fork and walk around eating it. Yum!

  • Red Sauce

    Red Sauce
    Red Sauce
    (Serves 4)


    10-12 Roma or Plum tomatoes, or, 1 can of crushed plum tomatoes, @24-28oz
    ½ red or white onion, minced fine
    cracked black pepper, to taste
    2 cloves of garlic, crushed and minced
    ¼ cup red wine, I prefer a Merlot, Cabernet or Shiraz
    2 tblsp olive oil
    salt, to taste
    2 tblsp fresh basil leaves, minced
    ¾ tblsp fresh oregano leaves, minced, preferably Greek
    1 ½ tblsp fresh marjoram leaves, minced, minced ½ tblsp fresh thyme leaves, minced
    1 tsp fresh rosemary leaves, minced
    1 tsp red pepper flakes
    1 tblsp Parmigiana Reggiano cheese, grated

    NOTES: Save the rind of your Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and use it, instead of the 1 tblsp fresh grated cheese, just remember to remove it from the sauce before you serve it!
    If you're using fresh whole tomatoes, here's what you do:
    • Cut the core out the stem area of each tomato [How to Link]
    • Score the bottom of the tomato with a sharp knife in the shape of an X [How to Link]
    • In a pot of boiling water, drop the tomatoes in for 15-45 seconds
    • You will know when they are ready to come out because the skin will split where you scored them
    • Remove from the hot water and place in an ice bath, which is a large bowl or sink filled with ice and cold water
    • After 30 seconds or so, peel the skin from the tomatoes, throw the peels away
    • Now chop the tomatoes into small ¼ inch chunks, like a large salsa cut
    • Hold tomatoes in a non-reactive bowl, like a glass bowl

    If you are using the canned crushed tomatoes, here's what you do: open the can.

    Lets get this sauce cooking! In a large skillet or pot, on medium heat, add &frac; your olive oil, let it warm up, then add your chopped onions, simmer until they are translucent, about 5-8 minutes, add the other 1 tblsp olive oil, let warm then add the minced garlic, stir and cook for about 1 minute.

    Do not let your garlic get browned! At this point add in your tomato product, juice and all.

    Now pour in the ¼ cup of wine over the sauteed onions and garlic. Give it a stir and add in your fresh spices, basil, oregano, thyme, red pepper flakes, rosemary and marjoram. Stir well. Add in your rind of Parmigiano Reggiano or your fresh grated cheese. Stir and let simmer on low heat until the tomatoes break down and are virtually mush. About 20 minutes or so.

    Have a taste. Need salt? Yup, add in a small amount at first, perhaps a tsp. Taste again. adjust salt if necessary. Add some fresh cracked black pepper if you desire.

    If you used the cheese rind, remove it now and serve over fresh hot pasta or use with a delicious lasagna!
    Enjoy!

  • Zucchini Fritters

    Zucchini Fritters
    Zucchini Fritters
    (Makes 15 or so)


    2 medium zucchinis, grated
    2 eggs
    1 onion, grated
    ¾ cup almond flour
    1 tsp garlic
    1 tsp black pepper
    1 tsp basil
    pinch of salt


    NOTES:
     

    Pre-heat the oven to 400°F.
    After grating the zucchini, squeeze out the excess water, combine all ingredients.
    On a lightly greased sheet pan add 1 tblsp of the mixture with some space inbetween each tblsp of mixture.
    Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the tops and sides have started to brown.