Lemon-Pesto Chicken

This recipe was inspired by my AeroGarden, as a way to use the profusion of fresh lemon basil I had on hand.  I used all three kinds of basil in the Gourmet Herbs seed kit; approximately 5 parts lemon basil, 2 parts globe basil, and one part sweet basil.



Ingredients:

• 1 c. fresh lemon basil, finely cut (or regular basil, along with the juice and zest of half a lemon)
  
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1 lb. chicken (tenders or boneless breasts)
• 1 lb. fresh spinach
• 2 16 oz. can of mushrooms (pieces and stems)
• 3 tbs. butter
• 3 tbs. flour
• 3 c. milk
• 1-2 Tbsp. oil
• 1/2 tsp. dry or 1 tsp finely cut fresh thyme
• 1/4 tsp. dry or 1/2 tsp finely cut fresh oregano
• 1/4 c. fresh finely cut parsley
• 2 cloves fresh garlic, finely chopped
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 lb. package wide egg noodles

Cauliflower with White Sauce and Cheese

This is a rather simple but very delicious recipe for cauliflower.  Many people dislike cauliflower for its mushy texture and bland taste, but the combination with the white sauce and cheese give it a delicate combination of flavors that go well with almost any main dish.

Ingredients:

• 1 whole cauliflower
• 1 Tbs. butter
• 1 Tbs. flour
• 1 cup milk (approximate)
• 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated
• salt & pepper to taste

Caramelized Onions

Caramelized onions and browned onions are often used as interchangeable terms, and although they are related, they are not precisely the same thing.  Caramelized onions are cooked significantly longer, until the natural sugars in the onions are, well, caramelized.  Caramel is in essence simply browned sugar, and despite the bite onions have, they are very sweet as well, which means they are full of natural sugars.

Many recipes, especially those which will feature the onions directly, such as fajitas, call for caramelized onions; cooking onions this way breaks down the compounds which give onions their bite, and leaves them rich and sweet tasting.  Properly caramelized onions are sufficient as a side dish all by themselves, or feature well with other sauteed vegetables, like mushrooms, peppers, squashes, tomatoes, and more.

Making Fresh Whipped Cream

Is it very simple to make fresh whipped cream; it takes only a minute or two, easy enough anyone can do it, and the taste is far superior to anything you can buy in a can.

Simply take the desired amount of heavy whipping cream — one cup is plenty for most needs — and put it in a mixing bowl. Remember that it will increase in size considerably, so use an appropriately larger bowl.

Quinoa with Peanuts and Sesame Seeds

 This is an absolutely delightful Indian inspired dish, that can be made mild with just a hint of spice, to as hot as you desire, simply by adjusting the amount of green chili you use.  The peanuts, sesame and cumin all accentuate the subtle nuttiness of quinoa, which is itself a remarkable food, considered one of the top superfoods, as it is very close to a complete source of nutrition. 

Making a Simple Rue

The basis to many recipes, especially (but not limited to) anything with a ‘white’ or cream sauce, is a simple rue (or roux). Most simply put, it is flour, to thicken the sauce, which has been sautéed in butter to get rid of the ‘floury’ taste that it would give the food if you added it directly.
When making a rue sauce, the general rule of thumb is 1 tablespoon of flour and 1 tablespoon of butter (or other oil for the calorie-conscious) for every cup of liquid. This makes a fairly thick sauce, just about perfect for brown gravy. Use a higher or lower rue-to-liquid ratio as needed.

Savory Indian Yogurt

This is (currently) one of my favorite recipes. A bit of this mixed with unsweetened oat cereal (generic cheerios work wonderfully) is quite delicious, and very healthy!

Based on the recipe 'Quinoa Yogurt Salad'.

Welcome!

Welcome to my new blog. This is, as you may have guessed, going to focus on cooking and other aspects of 'kitchen art'. I will try to cover a very wide range of topics, to try and help everyone from those just beginning to learn how to cook, to those just wanting to pick up some tips, tricks, or more advanced recipes. Check back often for the latest tidbits!

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