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Category: Complete Meal

Sausage, Caramelized Shallots, Apples, Green Beans & Baby Potatoes

Sausage, Caramelized Shallots, Apples, Green Beans & Baby Potatoes

Yield: 4 Servings

Adapted from: NY Times

In this rustic sheet-pan dinner, apples, green beans and shallots roast slowly alongside pork sausage, becoming fragrant and caramelized in the process. A quick toss with whole-grain mustard and apple cider vinegar adds a savory edge, making the apple and shallot mixture almost reminiscent of chutney. This recipe works equally well with both sweet and hot pork sausage, as well as any crisp apples, though a mix of red and green apples looks particularly nice.

Note: Updated to add potatoes and green beans to make this a complete meal.

  • 6shallots, trimmed on both ends and peeled (about 6 oz)
  • 2crisp apples (preferably one tart, like Granny Smith, and one sweet, like Fuji)
  • 12oz baby potatoes
  • 8oz fresh green beans
  • 1TBS olive oil, plus more as needed
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1lb sweet or hot Italian sausages
  • 3fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 1tsp whole-grain mustard
  • 1-2tsp apple cider vinegar, to taste
  • chopped fresh parsley, for serving 


Prep:

Heat the oven to 425°F.

Cut the shallots lengthwise into ½-inch-thick wedges.

Core the apples and cut into ½-inch-thick wedges.

Trim the green beans.

Place the shallots, apples and potatoes on a sheet pan, drizzle with the 1 TBS olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and toss to coat.

Roast the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes, until the shallots are just starting to brown at the edges.

Meanwhile, place the sausages on a plate. Using a fork, prick a few holes in each sausage. Drizzle the sausages with olive oil and toss to coat.

Add the green beans, rosemary and mustard to the pan with the shallots, apples and potatoes, and toss, spreading everything out into one even layer.

Arrange the sausages on the pan, evenly distributed, and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, flipping the sausages and tossing the apples and shallots with the juices released from the sausages halfway through, until the sausages are browned and cooked to 160°F and the shallots are tender and caramelized.

Transfer the sausages to a serving platter and discard the rosemary sprigs.

Pour the vinegar over the shallots, apples and potatoes, and toss well, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.

Transfer to the serving platter with the sausages, sprinkle with parsley, and serve immediately with Dijon mustard on the side.

Pear-Stuffed Pork Chops

Pear-Stuffed Pork Chops

Yield: 2

Adapted from: Cuisine At Home

For a classic comfort dish, stuffed and roasted pork chops hang out with potatoes, onions, green beans, and tomatoes for a sheet pan meal we’re sure you’ll return to often.

  • 4strips bacon
  • 2bone-in pork chops or boneless cutlets, 1-inch thick
  • ½Bartlett pear, peeled, cored, and diced, or ½ can pears, drained and diced.
  • ¼cup crumbled blue cheese
  • 1TBS diced shallots
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • 12oz baby red or yellow potatoes, halved
  • 6-8oz green beans
  • ½cup chopped red onions
  • 1TBS Dijon mustard
  • as many grape tomatoes as you want

Bacon:
Set broiler shelf to 6 inches from heat and second on middle rack.

Preheat oven to 425°F.
Bake bacon on a baking sheet until crisp, transfer to a paper-towel-lined-plate and reserve 1 oz drippings. Chop 1 strip bacon for filling and remaining strips for topping chops and vegetables.

Prep pork:
Cut a 3-inch-long slit on the side of each chop, inserting the knife blade into, but not through, the other side. Keeping blade parallel to cutting board, carefully sweep it back and forth to enlarge pockets. Arrange chops on a baking sheet.

Filling:
Combine pear, 1 strip chopped bacon, cheese, and shallots.
Divide pear filling among pockets. Brush tops of chops with 1 TBS drippings, season with salt and pepper.

Vegetables:
Toss potatoes, green beans, onions, and Dijon with remaining TBS drippings, season with salt and pepper, then arrange around chops.
Roast chops and vegetables 20 minutes. Remove from oven.

Broil:
Heat broiler to high with rack 6 inches from element.
Add tomatoes and remaining chopped bacon to baking sheet.
Broil chops and vegetables until a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of chops, but not touching bone, registers 145°F, 5–6 minutes. Remove and rest for 5 minutes.
Serve.

Meatloaf with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

Meatloaf with Creamy Mushroom Sauce

with Broccoli (or Green Beans) & Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Yield: 2

Very Simple Meatloaf with a delicious mushroom sauce.

  • 12oz potatoes
  • 2scallions
  • 8oz broccoli florets
  • or
  • 6oz green beans
  • 10oz ground beef
  • ¼cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1tsp garlic powder
  • 4oz button mushrooms
  • 2tsp Better Than Bouillon beef
  • 3TBS sour cream
  • 1TBS cooking oil
  • 2TBS butter
  • salt & pepper


Prep & cook potatoes:
Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Wash and dry produce.
Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Trim and thinly slice scallions, separating whites from greens, mince whites.

Cut broccoli florets into bite-size pieces or trim green beans.

Place potatoes in a large pot with enough salted water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and cook until tender, 15-20 minutes. Reserve ½ cup potato cooking liquid, then drain and return potatoes to pot.


Form meatloaves:
While potatoes cook, in a large bowl, combine beef, panko, scallion whites, ½ tsp garlic powder, and 1 TBS water, season generously with salt and pepper.
Form mixture into two 1-inch-tall loaves.


Roast loaves & vegetable:
Place meatloaves on one side of a lightly oiled baking sheet. Toss broccoli or green beans on empty side with a drizzle of oil, season generously with salt and pepper.
Roast on top rack until meatloaves are cooked through and broccoli (or green beans) are browned and tender, 15-20 minutes.


Make sauce:
While everything roasts, trim and thinly slice mushrooms. Heat a drizzle of oil in a medium pan over medium-high heat. Add mushrooms, season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring, until softened, 2-4 minutes.
Stir in stock concentrate and ½ cup water. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a low simmer. Cook until slightly thickened, 2-3 minutes.
Turn off heat. Stir in 1½ TBS sour cream and 1 TBS butter until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.


Mash potatoes:
Heat pot with drained potatoes over low heat, add 1 TBS butter, 1½ TBS sour cream, and ½ tsp garlic powder.
Mash until smooth and creamy, adding splashes of reserved potato cooking liquid as needed. Season with salt and pepper.


Serve:
If necessary, reheat pan with sauce over low heat, to warm through.
Place a meatloaf on each plate. Divide mashed potatoes, and broccoli or green beans between plates. Spoon sauce over meatloaves. Top with scallion greens and serve.

Italian Chicken Over Lemony Spaghetti

Italian Chicken Over Lemony Spaghetti

Serves: 2

Italian-spiced chicken, tender zucchini, and al dente spaghetti all coated in a creamy, cheesy, lemon-spiked sauce.

  • 1zucchini
  • 1clove garlic, minced
  • 1lemon
  • 6oz spaghetti
  • 26 oz boneless skinless chicken breast
  • 1TBS Italian seasoning
  • 1tsp red pepper flakes
  • 2tsp Better Than Bouillon chicken
  • 2TBS sour cream
  • ¼cup Parmesan cheese
  • 2tsp olive oil
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter


Prep:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Trim and quarter zucchini lengthwise, cut crosswise into ½-inch-thick pieces.
Peel and mince garlic.
Zest and quarter lemon.
Cook pasta:
Once water is boiling, add spaghetti to pot. Cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 7-10 minutes.
Note: Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water, then drain.

Zucchini:
While pasta cooks, heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large, preferably nonstick, pan over medium-high heat. Add zucchini, cook, stirring occasionally, until browned and softened, 4-6 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
Turn off heat, transfer to a plate. Wipe out pan.


Cook chicken:
Meanwhile, pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper.
Once zucchini is done, heat a large drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through (165°F), 3-5 minutes per side.
Turn off heat, transfer to a cutting board to rest.
Once cool enough to handle, slice chicken crosswise.


Make sauce:
Heat a drizzle of olive oil in pot used for spaghetti over medium-high heat.
Add garlic, half the lemon zest, and a pinch of chili flakes. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, 20-30 seconds.
Stir in ½ cup reserved pasta cooking water, BTB chicken, and juice from two lemon wedges.
Simmer until thickened, 1-2 minutes. Turn off heat.


Finish & serve:
Add drained spaghetti, zucchini, sour cream, and 1 TBS butter to pot with sauce, toss to coat.
Add half the Parmesan and season with salt and pepper.
Stir in more reserved pasta cooking water a splash at a time until spaghetti is coated in a creamy sauce.
Divide pasta between bowls. Top with chicken, remaining Parmesan, remaining lemon zest, and a pinch of chili flakes if desired. Serve with any remaining lemon.

Beef Flautas

Beef Flautas

with Pico de Gallo & Lime Crema
Yield: 2 Servings

Surprisingly, Jed likes these. Simple to make and very tasty.

  • 1yellow onion
  • 2TBS Tex-Mex paste
  • 1Roma tomato
  • 10oz ground beef

For southwest spice blend:

  • 2tsp garlic powder
  • ¾tsp cumin
  • ¾tsp chili powder

For assembly & serve:

  • 6flour tortillas
  • ½cup Mexican cheese blend
  • 1lime
  • 4TBS sour cream
  • salt
  • 2tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS olive oil

Prep:

Adjust rack to middle position and preheat oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and brush with oil (or coat with nonstick spray).

Wash and dry produce.

Halve, peel, and thinly slice onion, mince a few slices until you have 1 TBS.

Make spice blend:

Mix garlic powder, cumin and chili powder in a small dish.

Make filling:

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add sliced onion, cook for 3 minutes. Add beef and spice blend, cook, breaking up meat into pieces, until beef is browned, and onion is softened, 4-6 minutes. Stir in Tex-Mex paste and 1⁄3 cup water. Simmer until mixture has thickened and beef is cooked through, 2-4 minutes more. Turn off heat.

Assemble & bake:

Meanwhile, drizzle tortillas with 1 TBS olive oil, brush or rub to coat on both sides. Place tortillas on a clean work surface. Once beef filling is done, add a heaping ¼ cup filling to one side of each tortilla, then sprinkle each with 1 TBS Mexican cheese blend. Roll up tortillas, starting with filled sides, to create flautas. Place, seam sides down, on prepared sheet.

Make sure the flautas are snug on the sheet—this will prevent them from unrolling. Bake on middle rack until golden-brown and crispy, 8-12 minutes.

Make Pico de Gallo:

While flautas bake, finely dice tomato. Zest and quarter lime. In a small bowl, combine tomato, minced onion, half the lime zest, and a squeeze of lime juice. Season with salt.

Finish & serve:

In a separate small bowl, combine sour cream, remaining lime zest, and a squeeze of lime juice. Add water 1 tsp at a time until mixture reaches a drizzling consistency. Season with salt.

Divide flautas between plates.

Top with Pico de Gallo and lime crema. Serve.

Tex-Mex Paste
6          oz can tomato paste,
3          cups water,
3          TBS vinegar,
1          TBS dried onion flakes,
2          tsp salt (or salt substitute),
2          tsp cornstarch,
½         tsp cayenne pepper,
1          tsp sugar,
¼         tsp onion powder,
1          dash garlic powder

Apricot-Sumac Chicken

Apricot-Sumac Chicken

with Roasted Veggies, Lemony Bulgur & Almonds
Yield: 2

Tasty and simple. Sumac has a nice lemony flavor. Bulgur wheat? A lot like brown rice.

  • 1zucchini
  • 1lemon
  • ½cup bulgur wheat
  • 1tsp sumac
  • 1yellow onion
  • 1garlic clove
  • 1tsp chili powder
  • 2tsp better than bouillon chicken (BTB)
  • 25 oz chicken cutlets
  • 1apricot jam
  • ½oz sliced almonds
  • 4tsp cooking oil
  • 1TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450°F. Wash and dry produce.

Trim and halve zucchini lengthwise, slice crosswise into ½-inch-thick half- moons. Halve, peel, and cut onion into ½-inch-thick wedges. Peel and mince or grate garlic. Zest and quarter lemon.

Roast veggies:

Toss zucchini and onion on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, chili powder, salt, and pepper.

Roast on top rack, tossing halfway through, until tender and browned, 14-16 minutes.

Cook bulgur:

While veggies roast, heat a drizzle of oil in a small pot over medium-high heat. Add half the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds.

Stir in bulgur, 1 tsp BTB chicken, 1 cup water, and a big pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce to a low simmer. Cook until water has absorbed, and bulgur is tender, 12-15 minutes.

Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.

HFA

Cook chicken:

Meanwhile, pat chicken dry with paper towels, season all over with salt and pepper.

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium-high heat. Add chicken, cook until browned and cooked through, 3-5 minutes per side. Lower heat if chicken begins to brown too quickly.

Turn off heat, transfer chicken to a plate to rest. Wipe out pan.

Make sauce:

Heat a drizzle of oil in same pan over medium-high heat. Add remaining garlic, cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds.

Stir in jam, 1 tsp BTB chicken, and ½ cup water. Simmer until thickened, 2-3 minutes.

Reduce heat to low. Stir in sumac, 1 TBS butter, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper.

Finish & serve:

Return chicken (and any resting juices) to pan with sauce, turn to coat. Transfer chicken to a cutting board, thinly slice crosswise.

Drain any excess water from bulgur, if necessary, fluff with a fork. Stir in lemon zest and a big squeeze of lemon juice, season with salt and pepper. Add half the veggies to pot with bulgur and stir to combine.

Divide bulgur mixture between bowls, top with chicken and remaining veggies. Spoon any remaining sauce from pan over chicken. Garnish with almonds and serve.

Balsamic Fig Chicken

Balsamic Fig Chicken

with Roasted Potatoes & Mixed Greens

Yield: 2 Servings

The fig jam adds a delicious fruity sweetness to the chicken.

  • 24oz potatoes
  • 1lemon
  • 1fig jam
  • 1shallot
  • ¼oz rosemary
  • 25-6 oz chicken cutlets
  • 5tsp balsamic vinegar
  • 2tsp better than bouillon chicken (BTB)
  • 2oz mixed greens
  • 4tsp olive oil
  • 1TBS butter

Roast potatoes:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450°F.

Wash and dry produce.

Dice potatoes into ½-inch pieces. Toss on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Roast on top rack, tossing halfway through, until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes.

Prep:

While potatoes roast, halve, peel, and mince shallot.

Strip 1 tsp rosemary leaves from stems, finely chop leaves.

Halve lemon.

Cook chicken:

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with salt and pepper.

Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a large pan over medium-high heat.

Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through (155°F), 3-5 minutes per side.

Transfer chicken to a cutting board. Lower heat to medium.

Make sauce:

Add shallot, chopped rosemary, and a drizzle of olive oil to same pan. Cook, stirring, until softened, 2-3 minutes.

Stir in vinegar and jam. Simmer until syrupy, 1 minute.

Stir in stock concentrate and ½ cup water. Cook until thick and glossy, 2-3 minutes.

Add a splash of water if sauce seems too thick. Turn off heat.

Stir in 1 TBS butter. Season with salt and pepper.

Make salad:

While sauce simmers, in a medium bowl, toss mixed greens with a squeeze of lemon juice and a drizzle of olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

Finish & serve:

Thinly slice chicken crosswise.

Divide chicken and potatoes between plates.

Drizzle chicken with sauce.

Serve salad on the side

Cranberry Thyme Chicken

Cranberry Thyme Chicken

with Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Carrots & Onion

Yield: 2 Servings

Cranberry thyme chicken with a jammy cranberry glaze. Served with crispy-edged, tender red onion, Brussels Sprouts, and carrots medley.

Prep: 10 Cook: 35

  • 8oz Brussels Sprouts
  • 1lemon
  • 2tsp garlic powder
  • 2tsp onion powder
  • 2tsp paprika
  • 1red onion
  • 6oz carrots
  • 10oz chicken cutlets
  • 1tsp dried thyme
  • 1oz chicken stock concentrate
  • 1TBS cranberry jam
  • 2tsp olive oil
  • 1tsp cooking oil
  • ¼tsp sugar
  • 1TBS butter

Prep:

Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 425°F. Trim and halve Brussels sprouts lengthwise. Halve, peel, and cut onion into ½-inch-thick wedges. Trim, peel, and cut carrots on a diagonal into ½-inch-thick pieces. Quarter lemon.

Roast veggies:

Toss Brussels sprouts, onion, and carrots on a baking sheet with a large drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper. Arrange Brussels sprouts cut side down. Roast on top rack until golden-brown and tender, 20-22 minutes.

Season chicken:

Make chicken seasoning by mixing 2 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, paprika in a small dish.

Pat chicken dry with paper towels and season all over with salt, and pepper, chicken seasoning and ¼ tsp thyme.

Cook chicken:

Heat a drizzle of oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, 6- to 8-minutes per side.

Tip: If chicken is on the thicker side, reduce heat to low, cook 2- to 3-minutes more per side. Turn off heat, transfer chicken to a cutting board to rest. Wash out pan, let cool 1 minute.

Make pan sauce:

Return pan to medium-high heat, add chicken stock concentrate, jam, ½ cup water, ¼ tsp thyme, and ¼ tsp sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce has thickened, 2- to 3-minutes. Turn off heat. Stir in 1 TBS butter and juice from one lemon wedge.

Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add another squeeze of lemon juice if desired.

Finish & serve:

Slice chicken crosswise. Divide chicken and veggies between plates. Drizzle chicken with as much pan sauce as you like. Serve with remaining lemon wedges on the side.

Salmon, Provençal

Salmon, Provençal

with Fingerling Potatoes & Cherry Tomatoes

Yield: 4

Adapted from: CKBK

Simple cooking from Southeast France is distinguished by fresh flavors and seasonal ingredients. Feel free to use any herbs you have on hand for this recipe, including dried ones. This dish is also wonderful, served at room temperature for an outdoor buffet or a picnic.

  • 1cup cherry tomatoes, preferably a mix of colors
  • 2TBS plus 2 tsp olive oil
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • 4center-cut salmon fillets (about 6 oz each)
  • 2TBS chopped fresh rosemary
  • 2TBS chopped fresh tarragon
  • 1lb fingerling potatoes
  • 1TBS chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
  • 1TBS fresh lemon juice


Prep:

Set a rack to the top position of the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.

Line a half sheet pan with a Silpat, foil or parchment paper. If using foil or parchment, spray with cooking spray.

In a small bowl, toss together the cherry tomatoes and 1 tsp of the oil, and season with salt and pepper. Brush the salmon with 1 tsp of the oil and season with the rosemary, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Set it aside.

Cut the potatoes in half lengthwise and cut any large ones in half crosswise as well. (You want them to be about the same size.)

In a bowl, toss together the potatoes and the 2 TBS oil.

Start potatoes:
Place, cut side down, on the prepared pan and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 8 minutes, then stir the potatoes.

Roast salmon and tomatoes:
Place the tomatoes and salmon on the pan and continue roasting until the potatoes are fork-tender, the tomatoes just begin to burst, and the salmon is opaque throughout, 10–15 minutes longer.

Finish and serve:
Sprinkle the parsley over the vegetables and pour the lemon juice over the salmon. Serve right away.

Pasta Seafood DiScottio

Pasta Seafood DiScottio

Yield: 2 Servings (can be doubled)
Scott Nowell

Pasta Jay’s in Boulder serves a dish called Seafood DiStefano on their Friday night specials list. Shrimp, crab and scallops, served over linguine with white clam sauce.
This is my version, modified to be a one-pot dish. You can change the seafood items to include some fish, lobster, etc. Be sure to add them in the appropriate order to get them cooked through.
Also note that the ingredients have been adjusted to serve two. Double, triple, etc. as needed. This dish cooks very quick, so it is important to cook the pasta and any optional vegetables first.

21-Apr-20, 22-Aug-20, 30-Oct-24

Pasta:

  • 4-6oz linguine, fettuccine, spaghetti
  • 1medium head of broccoli or other green vegetable (optional)

Aromatics:

  • 1TBS olive oil
  • 1TBS butter
  • ¼cup minced or thinly sliced garlic
  • ¼cup red onion, chopped, minced or sliced
  • 2tsp flour
  • pinch of red pepper flakes

Sauce:

  • ½cup white wine
  • ½cup pasta cooking water
  • 1generous tsp chicken Better Than Bouillon

Seafood/Finish:

  • 110 oz can of baby clams, NOT drained
  • 6peeled and deveined shrimp (16/20 or 21/25)
  • 6sea scallops
  • 6oz lump crab meat
  • ¼cup Parmesan cheese, shredded/grated
  • 1TBS fresh chopped parsley


Pasta:
Add the pasta to one gallon of boiling salted water and cook to barely al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta cooking water. Remove pasta to oiled bowl and set aside. 

Optional Green Vegetable: If adding and a green vegetable like broccoli, cook it to al dente in the pasta water. Drain and remove to the bowl with the pasta. Return pasta pot to medium high heat.

Aromatics: In the pasta pan add 1 TBS olive oil and 1 TBS butter over med high heat until butter melted. Add ¼ cup garlic and ¼ cup red onion and sauté for a minute. Sprinkle over about 2 tsp of flour. Stir to tighten. Add a pinch of red pepper flakes.

Sauce: To the aromatics, add ½ cup white wine, reserved ½ cup of pasta cooking water, generous teaspoon of Chicken Better Than Bouillon and stir to dissolve Better Than Bouillon. Boil for a few minutes until reduced to about ¾ cup. Add the undrained can of baby clams, scallops, shrimp, crab and/or other seafood as desired. Stir and cook for a couple of minutes until the shrimp and scallops are almost cooked.

Finish: Return the cooked pasta and optional green vegetable to the pot. Stir to mix well and coat pasta with sauce. Add the Parmesan and stir. Mix in 1 TBS fresh chopped parsley. Check and adjust seasoning.

Plate, top with additional parsley and Parmesan and serve.