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Tag: lemon zest

Garam Masala and Cilantro Roast Turkey Breast

This was voted the best turkey we have ever made. I cooked this delicious turkey breast the same way I have been for the last few years. I like to make a compound butter for under the skin; I like to add bacon on top and I like to stuff the cavity with some citrus. I made the compound butter with garlic, lemon zest, garam masala and cilantro to keep with the Indian theme. It made the turkey super flavorful and delicious!

  • 1 8-9 pound turkey breast
  • ½ stick butter, room temperature
  • 2 large garlic cloves, grated
  • Zest of two lemons, save the lemons for the cavity
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1-2 teaspoons garam masala
  • ½ cup cilantro, chopped
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • 3 to 4 bacon strips
  • 1 cup baby carrots
  • 1 large onion, cut into quarters
  • 4 to 5 garlic cloves, skins on
  • 1 to 2 cups homemade turkey stock

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (preferably convection)

Mix the butter with the garlic, lemon zest, salt, garam masala and cilantro. Loosen the skin of the turkey breast and carefully spread the butter under the skin. Salt and pepper inside and outside of the turkey breast. Stuff the cavity with the lemon pieces. Place the bacon strips on top of the turkey breast and place on the stand.
Add the carrots, onion and garlic to the bottom of the roasting pan. Add the stock. Place the stand into the roasting pan. Let turkey sit for 2 to 3 hours before roasting in oven.
Roast in the oven till the internal temperature is 160 degrees F. Half way through the roasting process, take the bacon (when bacon is well done) off and continue cooking. Take out of oven onto a cutting board and cover with aluminum foil for 20 minutes. In the meantime strain the juices out of the roasting pan. Separate the fat and add the juices to the gravy pan.
Slice the turkey and serve with hot gravy.

Wild Blueberry and Lemon Tea Bread

Wild Blueberry and Lemon Cake

  • 1½ all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg powder
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • 1 cup evaporated cane juice (sugar)
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 large eggs
  • Juice of one lemon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup frozen wild blueberries

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a loaf pan.
Mix the flour, salt, baking powder, cinnamon powder, nutmeg powder and lemon zest in a medium bowl. Whisk briefly and set aside.
In a mixer, add the sugar and olive oil. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes. Add one egg at a time, mixing in between. Add the lemon juice, vanilla extract and milk. Mix for 2 to 3 minutes till all ingredients are incorporated. Add the blueberries and mix. Add the dry ingredients and mix with the egg mixture, incorporating well. Add to the loaf pan and bake in the oven for approximately an hour or till the center comes out clean. Let cool and serve.

Latin Style Roast Chicken

Latin Roast Chicken1

  • One 4 to 5 pound whole chicken
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • Zest and Juice of a Navel orange (save the oranges)
  • Zest of 1 Lemon (save the lemon)
  • 3 garlic cloves, mined
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 2 teaspoons Mexican rub (or smoked paprika)
  • Salt

Mix the butter, zests, juice, garlic, salt and the rub in a small bowl. In the meantime, place the chicken in a roasting pan on a roasting rack. Spread the butter mixture on top and under the skin. Sprinkle with more salt and pepper inside the cavity as well as outside.

  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 yellow onions, sliced

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Pour the chicken broth at the bottom of the roasting pan. Add the sliced onion. Place the juiced orange and lemon into the cavity. Tie the chicken legs together and tuck the wings in. Roast the chicken until the dark meat registers 160 degrees F. Take the chicken out and cover with aluminum foil.

  • 1 cup orange juice
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon all purpose flour

Take the onions out and keep aside to serve with the chicken. Take the liquid out and get rid of excess fat. Heat the roasting pan on the stovetop and add the olive oil and the flour. Stir and cook the flour on medium heat for a minute and add liquid and orange juice. Bring to a boil and let the liquid thicken. Check for seasonings and serve on top of the sliced chicken and the onions.

Latin Roast Chicken

Braised Short Ribs with Citrus Gremolata

 

I would highly recommend this dish for the holidays. I served it with polenta and it was an amazing dinner. Oh, and don’t forget a copious amount of red wine…

  • 4 pounds short ribs, excess fat removed
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • Pepper
  • 1 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped

Place the short ribs in a large glass dish and sprinkle the salt, pepper, thyme and rosemary. Refrigerate overnight. Take out an hour before cooking.

  • 2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
  • 1 cup carrots, chopped
  • 2 medium onions, chopped
  • 2 ribs celery, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 sprigs fresh thyme
  • 2 sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 1 fresh bay leaf
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 2 cups red wine
  • Salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Heat a heavy saucepan with the olive oil until smoking. Brown the ribs on both sides for 4 to 5 minutes each in two to three batches. Keep aside. Add the carrots, onions, celery and garlic. Saute on medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes. Add the tomato paste and sauté for minute. Add the flour and sauté for another minute. Add the thyme, rosemary and bay leaf. Add the chicken broth and red wine and bring to a boil. Add the ribs back into the liquid and transfer to the oven. Bake for 2 to 3 hours or till the meat is falling off the bone.
Take out of oven and take the ribs out onto a platter. Strain the braising liquid and squeeze all the moisture out of the solids. Discard the solids and return the liquid to the saucepan. Reduce to desired consistency- there should be about a cup and a half to two cups of liquid remaining. Check for seasonings and return the ribs back into the liquid. Top with gremolata and serve.

Citrus Gremolata

  • 1 tablespoon thyme, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon rosemary, chopped
  • 1/3 cup parsley, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, chopped
  • Zest of one lemon
  • Zest of two clementines or half a navel orange

Mix all the ingredients in a small bowl, cover and keep aside.

Greek Style Oven Fries with Oregano and Lemon Zest
  • 6 to 8 medium yellow skinned potatoes, cut into wedges
  • 1 large foil lined cookie sheet
  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons salt

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F convection for 400 degree F regular.

Add the potatoes to a large saucepan filled with water. Bring to a boil. Turn heat off, drain the water and return to the pan and let the potatoes dry.

Transfer to the lined cookie sheet. Add the olive oil and salt. Mix well and roast in oven for 45 minutes to an hour till the wedges are golden brown and crispy.

Topping

  • Zest of one lemon
  • 1 tablespoons fresh oregano, minced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • Salt

Transfer the hot potatoes into a large bowl. Add the lemon zest, oregano and garlic and toss well. Add more salt if needed. Serve immediately!

 

Grilled Shrimp with Dill and Tzatziki Sauce

This is my nod to our delicious trip to Greece a couple of summers ago. All the flavors I loved and enjoyed are in this delicious dish. Perfect dish for a summer evening with a glass of Rose!!

  • 1 pound fresh shrimp, cleaned and deveined
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
  • Zest of one lemon, save the lemon for juicing a bit later
  • 3 garlic cloves, grated
  • Salt

Marinate the shrimp with the olive, dill, oregano, lemon zest, garlic and salt for at least 2 to 3 hours. Half an hour before grilling, juice the lemon into the shrimp. Skewer the shrimp and grill until just done.

Tzatziki Sauce

  • ½ cup Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup grated cucumber, excess water squeezed out (between your palm)
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, chopped

Mix all the ingredients together, taste for seasonings and let it sit for half an hour.

Serve with freshly grilled pita and shrimp.

Orange Pumpkin Trifle

This is a delicious dessert to make for the holidays!

Orange Curd (Recipe from Food and Wine)

  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 large egg yolks
  • ½ cup sugar
  • ¼ cup fresh orange juice
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
  • 1 stick cold unsalted butter, cut into tablespoons

In a small heavy saucepan, whisk together the eggs and egg yolks. Whisk in the sugar, then whisk in the citrus juices and zests. Add the butter and whisk constantly over moderately low heat until the mixture thickens, about 8 minutes; do not let it boil. Immediately strain the curd into a bowl. Press plastic wrap directly on the surface of the curd and cut 6 small steam vents in the plastic. Refrigerate the curd overnight.

Pumpkin Bread

  • 1¼ cup white whole wheat flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • ½ teaspoon powdered cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup turbinado sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • ½ cup extra light olive oil
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin puree

Sift the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt into a medium bowl, set aside. Lightly brush a 9X5X3 inches loaf pan with butter. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add one egg at a time mixing in between. Add 1 cup pumpkin puree and mix for about 5 minutes. Remove the bowl from the mixer. With a rubber spatula, mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated. Fold the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes before taking it out. Cool completely before serving.
Slice the bread into ½ inch slices.

  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 cup mascarpone cheese
  • 3 tablespoons powdered sugar

Whip the cream, mascarpone cheese and sugar with an electric beater till the stiff peaks are formed while being careful not to over whip.

  • Segments of 3 large navel oranges plus a few more for garnish
  • ½ cup fresh orange juice

Assemble the trifle by starting with lining the bottom of the bowl with one part of the cake slices (divide the cake slices into three parts). Drizzle the layer with some orange juice. Divide the orange curd into three parts and spread one part onto the cake. Divide the orange segments into three piles and add the first pile onto the curd. Repeat twice more and top with the whipped cream. Garnish with a few orange slices. Chill in the fridge, preferably overnight.

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