Slovenian Goulash

1 pound lean beef
1 pound lean veal (or all beef)
3 tlbs. fat
1 large onion
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. paprika
1 cup strained tomatoes
8 small peeled potatoes

Cut meat in cubes and saute with onion in hot fat, stirring occasionly to brown evenly. Add seasonings and strained tomatoes. Simmer about 1 1/2 hours or until meat is tender. Add potatoes after one hour of cooking; add more strained tomatoes if necessary. Serve hot. 6 servings

French Onion "Soup" Mac and Cheese

Recipe courtesy Brett Greenberg, New York, NY
This recipe will be served at Friday's as one of their new side dishes.


Topping:
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Bechamel Sauce:
4 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
8 ounces Gruyere, grated
3 ounces mozzarella grated

French Onion "Soup":
2 tablespoons butter, plus 1 tablespoon (or nonstick spray)
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 large white onions, thinly sliced
6 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
2 tablespoons honey
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 cup dry sherry
2 cups beef stock
8 sprigs fresh thyme leaves
1 pound pasta, cooked al dente (elbow macaroni, ziti, or fusilli work well)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Topping: Combine bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese in a small bowl and set aside.

Bechamel Sauce: Melt 4 tablespoons of the butter over low heat in a medium saucepan. Add the flour and stir to combine. Stir constantly, for about 3 minutes. Increase heat to medium and whisk in the milk or half-and-half, adding a little at a time and cook until thickened, about 4 to 5 minutes. Lower heat, season with the salt and pepper and add Gruyere and mozzarella cheeses. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth. Set aside.

French Onion "Soup:" Heat 2 tablespoons of the butter and olive oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan. Add onions, cover, and cook 10 to 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove cover, add garlic and honey, and continue to cook uncovered, stirring frequently, until onions are caramelized, about 10 to 15 minutes. Season with salt and a generous amount of pepper. Remove pot from heat and add sherry. Return to heat and stir to remove browned bits from bottom of pan. Reduce sherry by half, then add stock and thyme and cook until almost all liquid is evaporated. Remove from heat.

Grease a 3-quart baking dish or casserole with the last tablespoon of butter or spray with nonstick cooking spray. Combine cooked pasta with onion "soup" mixture and bechamel sauce, and stir well to combine. Transfer pasta to baking dish and sprinkle with bread crumb/Parmesan topping.

Bake until top is golden brown and cheese is bubbly, about 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool slightly before serving.

Not Your Ordinary Mac N Cheese J Alexander's - close to the recipe

6 cups chicken stock
2 cubes chicken base
2 cups (8 ounces) Cavatappi (also called cellentani or double elbows, is macaroni formed in a spiral tube shape with ridges)
3 tablespoons Pomace Olive Oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sugar
3 tablespoons butter -- divided plus extra for greasing pan
2 tablespoons flour
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup half and half
3 slices of thick cut bacon, cooked pressed and sliced in small bite size pieces (reserve the fat)
1/2 onion -- minced and sauteed in bacon fat
2 cloves of garlic pressed and sauteed with onion
1 bay leaf
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco Cholula
2 1/4 cups grated Gruyere cheese divided
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2c Panko

Bring 6 cups chicken stock and 1 1/1 cubes chicken base to rolling boil in medium saucepan. Add macaroni and cook until just tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and put in large bowl, toss with Pomace Olive Oil and lemon. Melt 2 tablespoons butter in large saucepan over medium-low heat. Whisk in flour and cook, whisking constantly, 3 minutes. Gradually whisk in cream. Stir in onion, bay leaf, sugar and Tabasco. Simmer gently, stirring often, 15 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in bacon and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Remove bay leaf. Stir in macaroni. Pour half of mixture into greased, deep 1 1/2-quart baking dish (or 3-4 ramekins) and sprinkle with half of remaining cheese. Top with remaining macaroni and remaining cheese. Melt remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 1/2 cube chicken base in small skillet over medium heat. Add panko and toss to coat. Sprinkle buttered panko and Reggiano Cheese over top of macaroni. Bake at 350: F. until panko is lightly browned, about 30 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. Makes 4 servings.

Moussaka - Eggplant Casserole

Servings: 8


Ingredients:
1 Batch Beshamel Sauce
1 A Little Corn Oil For frying
3 Large Eggplant
2 lb Ground Beef
1/2 Cup Olive Oil
1 Medium Onion Diced
1 Bunch Parsley Diced
1-2 Pinch Pepper To taste
2 lb Potatoes
2-3 Pinch Salt To taste
2 Medium Tomatoes
1/2 Cup White Wine
Directions:

* Prepare the “beshamel” sauce.
* Wrap the eggplants in aluminum foil and bake until they are soft.
* Slice them in thick slices.
* Peel the potatoes, slice them and fry them lightly.
* Brown the onion and the ground meat together in the olive oil.
* Grate the tomatoes and add them in along with the parsley and the salt & pepper.
* Simmer for 15 minutes.
* Layer the potatoes, the ground meat mix and the eggplants (in this order) in a deep pan.
* Cover with the beshamel.
* Bake in a medium oven for 30-40 minutes.

Picnic Sandwich

1 package sheet puff pastry; thawed
1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
1½ cups shredded Swiss cheese
4 tablespoons spicy mustard
½ cup sliced olives, green or black
¼ lb each sliced meat; ham, turkey, roast beef and corned beef
1 egg, beaten

Roll one sheet puff pastry gently with as little flour as possible; about 1/4” thick. Fit pastry in a spring form pan. Cut pieces to form the sides. Pinch pastry together with a little water.

Spread one tablespoon of mustard on bottom of pastry. Layer meat, olives, mustard, and cheese ending with meat.

Roll other sheet of pastry as tin as first and cut circle slightly larger than top of pan. Seal edges and brush top with beaten egg. (yes, that is a smiley face)

Bake 400 degrees for 45 minutes or until brown. Use lower third of oven so the bottom crust cooks. Cool before removing from pan and cool completely before cutting.

Burek - Yugo meat meal

Ingredients:

2 sticks (1 cup) butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons for sauteing onions
3 medium-size yellow onions, chopped; or 1 large Bermuda or Vidalia onion, chopped
1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
1 package dry onion soup mix
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 large eggs
1/2 pound phyllo dough, thawed according to package directions
8 ounces mozzarella cheese, shredded

Method:

Place 2 tablespoons butter in a Dutch oven and heat. Add the onions and saute until translucent. Add the beef, pork and the onion soup mix. Cook the meat until thoroughly browned. Season with salt and black pepper. Pour off the fat and set the meat mixture aside to cool. In a large measuring cup with a spout, beat the eggs well; set aside.

Heat the oven to 350 degrees.

Place 4 sheets of phyllo dough in the bottom of a 13- by 9-inch baking pan, brushing each sheet with melted butter. Cover the dough with one-half of the meat mixture and one-third of the mozzarella, if desired. Drizzle some of the beaten egg over the cheese.

Cover the egg with 3 sheets of phyllo dough, brushing each with melted butter. Cover with half of the remaining meat mixture, one-half of the mozzarella, if desired, then drizzle with some of the beaten egg.

Add another layer of 3 sheets of phyllo as before, followed by the remaining meat and cheese, if desired. Drizzle more of the egg on top, but reserve some for the final layer.

Complete the dish with 4 layers of phyllo, each brushed with butter. Pour the remaining egg over the top. Bake, uncovered, for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until nicely browned. Let rest before cutting into squares to serve.

By Mitola

Onion-Stuffed Sirloin with Mushroom Saute

Ingredients
1/2 of a small onion, thinly sliced and separated into rings
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
1/8 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning or pepper
1 8-ounce boneless beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-1/2 inches thick
3/4 cup sliced fresh shiitake or other mushrooms
1 tablespoon margarine or butter
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon instant beef bouillon granules
1 tablespoon dry red or white wine

Directions
1. For stuffing, in a small saucepan cook the onion and garlic in margarine or butter until onion is tender but not brown. Remove from heat. Stir in the lemon-pepper seasoning or pepper. Set aside.
2. Make a pocket in the steak by cutting a deep horizontal slit. Spoon the stuffing into the pocket. If necessary, secure opening of the pocket with a wooden toothpick.
3. To grill, place steak on the rack of an uncovered grill. Grill directly over medium-hot coals to desired doneness, turning once. (Allow 14 to 18 minutes for rare, 18 to 22 minutes for medium, or 24 to 28 minutes for well-done).
4. Or, to broil, place steak on the unheated rack of a broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from the heat to desired doneness, turning once. (Allow 14 to 18 minutes for rare, 19 to 22 minutes for medium, or 23 to 28 minutes for well-done).
5. Meanwhile, for mushroom sauce, in a small saucepan cook the mushrooms in margarine or butter until tender. In a small bowl stir together the cornstarch, Worcestershire sauce, bouillon granules, and 1/2 cup water. Carefully add to the saucepan. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 1 minute more. Stir in wine. To serve, cut steak in half. Transfer steak halves to individual plates. Pour sauce over steak.

Makes 2 servings.

Chicken Saltimbocca

Ingredients
1/4 cup flour
1 lb boneless chicken cutlets
1 tablespoon canola oil
4 slices prosciutto (about 2 1/2 oz)
1/8 teaspoon pepper4 small fresh sage leaves (rinsed)
4 thin slices Swiss cheese
1 cup specialty tomato basil pasta sauce

Steps
1. Preheat large sauté pan on medium-high 2–3 minutes. Place flour in shallow bowl. Dip chicken in flour, coating both sides, then shaking off any excess (wash hands).

2. Place oil in pan; swirl to coat. Add chicken (wash hands); cook 3–4 minutes on one side.

3. Turn chicken; reduce heat to medium. Place one slice of the prosciutto on each cutlet and sprinkle with pepper; add one sage leaf and top with one slice of the cheese. Cover and cook 3–4 more minutes or until internal temperature reaches 165°F.

4. Meanwhile, place pasta sauce in microwave-safe bowl. Cover and microwave on HIGH 3–4 minutes or until hot. Spoon sauce onto serving plates, place chicken on sauce, and serve.

Cumin-Dusted Chicken Breasts with Guacamole Sauce

Sauce:
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup finely chopped parsley
1/4 cup fat-free sour cream
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cumin
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 ripe peeled avocado, seeded and coarsely mashed

Chicken:
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
Cooking spray

To prepare sauce, combine first 8 ingredients; set aside.

Preheat oven to 400°. To prepare chicken, combine sugar, 1 teaspoon cumin, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper; sprinkle evenly over chicken. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add chicken; cook 3 minutes or until browned. Turn chicken over. Place pan in oven; bake at 400° for 10 minutes or until done. Serve chicken with sauce.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 breast half and about 3 tablespoons sauce)

Herb-Marinated Grilled Chicken Paillards with Pan Sauce

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, tenders removed and trimmed of any cartilage
1 lemon, zested and juiced, 1 tablespoon juice reserved
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons olive oil
1 small shallot, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon leaves
3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Salt, for seasoning
Pepper, for seasoning
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon cold butter

One by one, place the chicken breasts between 2 pieces of plastic wrap, or inside of a resealable plastic bag, and pound with a meat mallet or rolling pin or heavy-bottomed pan until about 1/2-inch thick.

In a glass baking dish, combine the zest and all but 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice with 1/4 cup of the olive oil, the shallot, garlic, and a little more than 2 tablespoons of each of the chopped fresh herbs. (Reserve the remaining chopped herbs.) Add the pounded chicken breasts to the herb mixture and turn to coat. Season generously with salt and pepper, cover the dish with plastic wrap, and put in the refrigerator to marinate, at least 20 minutes and up to 1 hour.

Heat the remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan and cook, turning once, until cooked through and golden brown on both sides, about 4 to 5 minutes per side. Cook the breasts 2 at a time if the pan is too small. Transfer to a serving platter and keep warm. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and the white wine to the pan, scraping to loosen any brown bits, and reduce until almost dry. Add the chicken broth and reduce by half, then off the heat add the reserved herbs and cold butter, swirling to melt the butter and thicken the sauce. Pour over the chicken paillards and serve immediately.

Gruyère, Arugula, and Prosciutto-Stuffed Chicken Breasts with Caramelized Shallot Sauce

Ingredients
Chicken:
6 (4-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
6 (1/2-ounce) slices prosciutto
6 (1/2-ounce) slices Gruyère cheese
1 1/2 cups trimmed arugula
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon olive oil

Sauce:
1 cup thinly sliced shallots
2 teaspoons tomato paste
2 cups dry white wine
2 1/4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 teaspoons water
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare the chicken, place each chicken breast half between 2 sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap (I use a large ziploc bag;) pound to 1/4-inch thickness using a meat mallet or rolling pin. Discard plastic wrap. Top each chicken breast half with 1 slice prosciutto, 1 slice cheese, and 1/4 cup arugula, leaving a 1/4-inch border around edges. Fold in half, pinching edges together to seal; sprinkle with salt and pepper.

(The chicken can be prepared up to a day ahead and refrigerated at this point. Stuffing the chicken a day ahead and refrigerating it makes it easier to sauté.)

Dredge chicken in flour, shaking off excess. Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add chicken; cook 5 minutes on each side. Place chicken in a shallow baking pan; bake at 350° for 5 minutes or until done. Keep warm.

To prepare sauce, add shallots to skillet; sauté 4 minutes over medium-high heat or until browned. Add tomato paste; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in wine; bring to a boil over high heat. Cook until reduced to 1 cup (about 6 minutes). Add broth; bring to a boil. Cook until reduced by half (about 8 minutes). Combine water and cornstarch in a small bowl, stirring with a fork until smooth. Add cornstarch mixture to sauce; bring to a boil. Cook 1 minute, stirring constantly.

Yield 6 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and about 1/4 cup sauce)

Bistec Encebollao - Vinegar Steak

Prep: 15 minutes plus 4 hrs refrigerating. Can be made a couple of days in advance (or frozen for later use).
Servings: 3-4

Ingredients

• 2 pounds beef steak, thinly sliced
  
• 1/2 cup olive oil
  
• 2 Tbs minced garlic
• dash dried oregano leaves
• 2 large white onions, sliced in rings
• 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar
• 1 cup beef stock or water
• 1 tsp salt
  

Directions

1. Dump all ingredients in a gallon-size plastic bag and turn so that all the ingredients mix together. Refrigerate at least 4 hours or a couple of days (or freeze for later use).
2. Dump contents of bag in a heavy skillet and bring it to a boil. Lower heat to low, cover and cook for about 40 minutes or so. The meat will be very tender and tasty.

Serve with white rice and tostones (recipe to be posted another time).