Tag Archives: Simple

Italian Sliced Fennel Salad

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Sometimes when I’m posting something ridiculously easy to make here, I think – does this even constitute a real recipe? But this is a classic Italian side dish and I had never tried it. Now, I cannot get enough of it. It is so simple and yet so delicious and healthy. No wonder Italians make it all the time.  So it makes me happy to share it with my family. While this recipe just uses fennel, I’ve been told from one of my Italian friends that her mother used to add raw mushrooms sliced extra thin to the dish – and I’ve read that others add sliced onions. It’s a great side dish and now a staple on my table or when we bring a side dish to a barbecue or other outdoor Summer event.

Traditional Italian Sliced Fennel

Ingredients:

 

  • 1-2 Fennel Bulbs
  • Fruity Olive Oil
  • Juice of 1/2 Lemon
  • Fresh shaved parmesan cheese 
  • Salt and Pepper

 

1. Cut the green stalks and the hard bottom off of the fennel bulbs. 

2. Rinse the fennel bulbs well to remove any dirt or sand.

3. Slice thin.

4. Spread out onto a large plate.

5. Drizzle olive oil , lemon juice and salt and pepper on top. 

6. Then, shave the parmesan cheese on top. Done.

Hollandaise Sauce : Recipe

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Hollandaise is a great sophisticated sauce that can be surprisingly easy to make. If you have a blender or even just a whisk it is incredibly easy! Even Julia Child made this recipe with a blender. Rich, tangy and luscious hollandaise can be poured over simple steamed vegetables like asparagus or broccoli or a simple poached fish like salmon. This basic recipe can be expanded easily by substituting white wine vinegar for the lemon juice and adding tarragon (which then turns the sauce into a “bearnaise” sauce recipe).

 

Simple Blender Hollandaise Ingredients

Egg Yolks, Melted Butter, Lemon Juice and spices. So easy!

  • 3-4 Egg Yolks (best if eggs are at room temperature)
  • Dash Hot Sauce
  • 1 stick (which is 4 ounces or 1/2 Cup) Melted Butter
  • 1-2 Tablespoons Fresh Lemon Juice 
  • Salt and Pepper (most chefs use White Pepper)

 

Break egg yolks in a bowl first, just in case some of the whites or some shell accidentally fall in. Melt the butter in a microwave proof dish (like a glass Pyrex) in 10 second increments until melted. 

 

Put all except the butter in the blender. 

 

The Eye of the Hollandaise Storm in the blender.

The Eye of the Hollandaise Storm in the blender.

Slowly add the melted butter through the hole at the top of the blender until fully blended and thickened. Done!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hollandaise over Eggs for brunch.

Hollandaise over Eggs for brunch.

Pour over poached eggs on ham and toasted english muffins or Udi’s GF bagels (as we made for our son last week) for a great Eggs Benedict breakfast. Or, even just fried eggs on toast with this sauce, upgrades any simple breakfast easily.

 

 

Pork Chops with Cocoa Spice Rub

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When I managed restaurants, most of the kitchen staff were from Oaxaca, a beautiful part of Mexico where indigenous colors and culture abound. Sometimes they would make their own (off menu) food on the line to eat and share. One of my favorites was a meat rub Chucho would mix from dried spices and ingredients and sprinkle over cut meat that he’d fry in a pan and serve with corn tortillas. While the Oaxacan mix is usually paprika,  cinnamon, (unsweetened) cocoa powder, cumin, salt, oregano, black pepper and cayenne, below is another variation. But you can have fun experimenting with any mix you like, and, it’s as easy as mixing the ingredients in a bowl and storing in your cupboard! This spice mix also makes a great gift bottled and tied with a simple ribbon. This rub also can be used on steak, fish or shrimp.

Spice Rubs make any dinner easy.

Spice Rubs make any dinner easy.

  • 2 Tablespoons Unsweetened Cocoa
  • 1 Tablespoon Powdered Cumin
  • 1 Tablespoon Garlic Powder
  • 1 Tablespoon any Chili Powder (my favorite is Ancho Chili).
  • 1 Tablespoon Brown Sugar (this allows the meat to carmelize)
  • 1 teaspoon each Salt and Black Pepper

 

Rub on both side Pork Chops (or a Pork Tenderloin would also work).

 

Fry in Pan in oil or BBQ for 3-4 minutes per side (depending on thickness. 1 minute longer per side if really thick, 1 minute less if thin). I prefer to Pan Fry so the spices stay on the meat and do not fall through into the grill grates. 

Dinner Pork Easy Mexican Spice Rub Cumin Garlic Oaxacan Oaxaca Gluten Free 

Greek Chicken Pitas

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My husband’s Greek friend Jamie made these when we ate over. A simple and fun dinner that the kids’ enjoy! Now we have made them countless times for our family and friends. It’s hard to believe that the chicken is not marinated. Plus a little chicken goes a LONG way and there’s really no need to “measure” anything. My friends have added this now to their regular “what to make for dinner” roster.

 

  • 4 – 6 Boneless, Skinless Chicken breasts
  • 2 Tablespoons of Dried Oregano Flakes
  • Tablespoon or Two of Oil for the chicken (and more for the bread)
  • Teaspoon Salt and Teaspoon Pepper
  • 8-10 pieces Middle Eastern Flat Bread or Nan Bread (not Pitas). Or, if gluten free, Corn Tortillas
  • 1 Red Onion sliced or chopped
  • 4 Tomatoes chopped
  • 1 Cucumber, cut into cubes
  • Store-bought Olive Tapanade
  • Store-bought Hummus
  • Store-bought Tzatziki
  • Tabasco

 

Put chicken in a bowl and mix in the Oregano, Salt and Pepper and Oil so herbs cover all of the chicken evenly.

 

On a plate, drizzle and  spread oil around on one side of each piece of bread. (Stack them as you go on a plate.)

 

Heat BBQ or pan. Heat the bread a few minutes on each side. (Use tongs to flip and place back on the plate.). Heating the bread really makes it softer and fresher although it is optional.

 

BBQ or Pan Fry the chicken about 4 minutes per side. Let sit before cutting into cubes.

 

Serve everything family style and instruct everyone to build their own “easy Gyro”. I build mine by spreading the Hummus on the bread first, then putting the chicken on, then topping with vegetables. Tzatziki and Tabasco. And, a little Chicken really goes a long way. Yummy!

chicken dinner recipe easy family budget middle eastern simplest gyros