Tag: Kid Friendly
Chicken Parm with Broccoli Rabe Pesto
- 6-8 chicken tenders
Marinade
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper
Mix the ingredients in a small bowl and marinate the chicken tenders for 4-5 hours.
Breading
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 extra-large eggs
- 1 tablespoon water
- Pinch of salt
- 1 1/4 cups panko breadcrumbs
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving
- 2 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 cup homemade tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded low moisture part skim mozzarella cheese
Combine the flour, salt, and pepper on a dinner plate. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water and a pinch of salt. On a third plate, combine the breadcrumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Coat the chicken tenders on both sides with the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and dredge both sides in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly. Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook 2 or 3 chicken tenders on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken tenders.
Lay the cooked chicken pieces in an ovenproof casserole. Ladle spoons of marinara sauce over all the chicken pieces. Add the shredded mozzarella on top and bake for 5-10 minutes in a 350 degrees oven until cheese is melted. Add some more sauce and keep aside.
Pesto
- 2 cups broccoli rabe leaves only, roughly chopped
- 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- 2 garlic cloves
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
Process the broccoli rabe and spinach leaves till smooth. While the processor is on, drizzle the olive oil into the pesto. Add the salt and keep aside.
1 pound pappardelle, cooked al dente with some pasta water saved.
Once the pasta is cooked, return it to the same pot with ½ cup pasta water. Add ½ cup broccoli rabe pesto and mix well. Adjust seasonings and serve with chicken tenders on top.
Pumpkin Gelato
- 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
- ½ cup evaporated cane juice (sugar)
- ½ vanilla bean, split in half
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ½ cinnamon stick
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 tablespoons corn starch
- 2 tablespoons whole milk to mix in the cornstarch
Ice cream maker
In a medium saucepan, heat the milk, vanilla bean, ground cloves and cinnamon stick on medium heat. Once bubbles begin to form on the edges, add the cornstarch mixed in with 2 tablespoons milk. Cook till the mixture begins to thicken, about 2-3 minutes and forms a custard consistency. Add ½ cup pumpkin puree and mix well. Remove from the heat. Strain and refrigerate overnight or at least 2 hours.
Pour the chilled mixture into an ice cream maker and follow the manufacturers instructions. Freeze the gelato for at least an hour once it is done.
Crispy Tofu with Lemon Grass and Snow Peas
- 1 (12 to 16 ounce) block firm tofu, drained and cut into 1 inch
- 3 tablespoons corn starch
- 1 teaspoon salt
Add the cornstarch and salt into a zip lock bag. Add the tofu and shake the bag until well coated.
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
Heat a non-stick frying pan. Saute the tofu till all sides are golden brown, about a minute or two on each side. Place the tofu on to a lined plate.
- 4 stalks fresh lemon grass, tender part only, minced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 large yellow onion, cut into 1 inch pieces
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons tamari
- 2 tablespoons fish sauce
- 1 tablespoons chili paste
- 2 tablespoons palm sugar (or 1 tablespoon honey)
- Juice of one navel orange
- 1 teaspoon corn starch
Mix the tamari, fish sauce, chili paste, palm sugar, orange juice and corn starch in a small bowl. Keep aside.
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
- 2 cups snow peas
- Juice of a lemon
Heat a wok like saucepan and add the oil. Add the lemon grass and garlic. Saute on high heat for a minute. Add the onion and sauté for another minute.
Add the snow peas and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sauce and bring to a boil. Add the tofu and mix well – gently, making sure not to break the tofu.
Sprinkle the lemon juice and serve.
Turkey Meatballs with Zucchini
- 1 pound ground dark meat turkey
- 1/3 cup prepared pesto
- 1 cup grated zucchini
- 2 eggs, beaten
- ¼ cup breadcrumbs
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 3 cups homemade or store bought tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
- 1 small onion, minced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ pound whole-wheat spaghetti, al dente
In a large mixing bowl, add the turkey meat, pesto, zucchini, eggs, breadcrumbs and salt. Mix well with fingertips and keep aside for an hour.
In the meantime, in a large saucepan, heat the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic. Saute on medium heat for a couple of minutes and add the tomato sauce. Cook on medium heat for 5-6 minutes and turn it down to a simmer.
Form medium sized meatballs and begin adding to the simmering sauce. Once all the meatballs are formed, cook on medium heat for 20 minutes.
Serve on top of al dente spaghetti.
Cauliflower and Yellow Pepper Stir Fry
1 head of cauliflower, cut into florets
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon tamari
Place the florets onto a lined cookie sheet. Drizzle olive oil and tamari. Mix well and broil under a high setting until the florets are golden brown for about 10 minutes.
1 yellow pepper, chopped
1 yellow onion, sliced
4 garlic cloves, chopped
2 tablespoons olive oil
½ cup cilantro, chopped
Sauce
¼ cup ketchup
2 tablespoons sweet garlic chili sauce
2 tablespoons tamari
1 teaspoon hoisin sauce
Mix the ketchup, garlic chili sauce, tamari and hoisin sauce and keep aside.
Heat a large wok like saucepan and add the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic cloves and sauté on medium high heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cauliflower florets and sauté for 4 to 5 minutes. Add the sauce, mix well and cook covered on low heat for 7 to 8 minutes. Take the lid off, check for seasonings and top with cilantro.
Brown Lentils with Tomatoes & Onions
- 1 cup brown lentils
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- ½ cup crushed tomatoes
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 inch ginger, grated
- 1 tablespoon extra light olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon garam masala
Add the lentils into a medium bowl. Add the chicken broth, onion, tomatoes, garlic, ginger, oil, salt, turmeric and cayenne pepper. Bring to a boil and simmer on medium low heat for 30 to 45 minutes – or till the lentils are soft and the consistency is between a soup and a stew. Add the garam masala. Check for seasonings and serve with rice.
Tofu Stir Fry with Mushrooms and Bok Choy
1 pack firm tofu, water drained and cut into ½ inch squares
2 bunches baby bok choy, the whites and greens chopped and separated
1 10 oz cremini mushrooms, sliced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 inch ginger, grated
Sauce
2 tablespoons tamari
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
Mix the tamari, vinegar, honey and chili sauce in a small bowl. Keep aside.
¼ cup chicken or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon corn starch
Mix the corn starch in broth and keep aside.
2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
Heat a large wok like saucepan with the oil. Add the sliced mushrooms on high heat and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the ginger and garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add the white parts of the bok choy and sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tofu and the sauce. Bring to a boil and add the corn starch mixture. Mix well and bring to a boil. Check for seasonings and add the bok choy greens. Serve with brown rice.