Recipes 49 & 50: Grilled Wahoo in Tomato Sauce & Yukon Gold Potatoes Jacques Pepin-Style

Grilled Wahoo in Tomato Sauce
Recipe courtesy of Bobby Flay 

• 4 wahoo fillets, 6 ounces each (or whatever a good size is)
• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for finishing dish
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 4 anchovies in oil, patted dry and chopped (I used anchovy paste)
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 tablespoon capers, drained
• 1/2 cup pitted kalamata olives
• 1 lemon, zested and juiced
• 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1/4 cup chopped flat-leaf parsley

Heat the grill to high. Brush both sides of the fillets with canola oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste. Grill until slightly charred and almost cooked through, about 3 to 4 minutes per side, (it will continue cooking in the sauce).

While the fish is grilling, heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Add the garlic, anchovies and tomatoes and cook until slightly soft, about 4 minutes. Add the capers, olives, lemon juice, oregano and parsley and cook for 30 seconds. Transfer the fish to the sauce and let cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a serving platter and serve.

Results: Delicious!!  I'd never had wahoo b/c it is ordinarily at least $12.99/lb. but was on sale for $6.99/lb so we got 2 filets and it was what?  WORTH IT!!  Y'all know I don't believe in cherry tomatoes so I used diced fire roasted tomatoes.  This sauce belongs on everything God has ever made!!! AWESOME.

Yukon Gold Potatoes Jacques Pepin-Style
Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray 

• 3 pounds baby Yukon gold potatoes
• Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 2 to 3 tablespoons freshly chopped parsley leaves

Place the potatoes in a deep skillet and add salt and pepper, to taste. Cover potatoes halfway with chicken stock, about 3 cups, add the butter and cover skillet with a lid. Cook the potatoes in the stock until almost tender, about 5 to 8 minutes, depending upon the size of the potatoes. Remove the lid and allow the stock to evaporate, about another 5 minutes. Once the stock has evaporated pop each potato using a ladle or large spoon, creating a small crack in each, but do not smash. Allow the potatoes to brown on each side, another 5 minutes, and re-season with salt and pepper, if necessary or desired. Remove the browned potatoes from the skillet and place onto a serving platter, garnished with the parsley.

Results: Takes forever but worth it! You probably don't even need the butter. Extra delicious!  This meal was every single thing!  You can really never have too many potato recipes, nah mean? Also, go light on the salt b/c there's a good bit of salt in chicken stock.

Altogether?  A GREAT MEAL!!

2011, Recipe 14: Lazy Jerky Turkey Chili

Recipe courtesy of the February 2011 issue of Everyday with Rachael Ray

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 pounds ground turkey or turkey breast
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
• One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, grated or finely chopped
• 2 scotch bonnet chile peppers, finely chopped (for a milder jerk, use 1 chile pepper, seeds and ribs removed; for a very mild jerk, use a red fresno chile pepper)
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme
• 1 scant palmful sweet smoked paprika or sweet paprika
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice (about 1/2 palmful)
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• About 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cups chicken stock
• One 14.5-ounce can diced tomatoes with chiles
• One 12-ounce bottle lager beer (or omit the dark brown sugar and add 1 cup cola instead)
• 1/4 cup worcestershire sauce
• 3 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons cider vinegar
• Scallions, thinly sliced, for garnish
  Heat the oil in a large dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the turkey and cook until browned, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Add the onion, garlic, ginger and chile peppers. Stir in the thyme, paprika, allspice, cloves, nutmeg, salt and pepper. Cook for 10 minutes. Stir in the chicken stock, tomatoes, beer, worcestershire, brown sugar and vinegar; simmer to combine the flavors, about 5 minutes. Serve in bowls and top with the scallions.
  
  Results: Delicious!  I made this for a video one of the first years in my program had to create so I was cooking for 3 instead of 2 this time.  Everyone enjoyed it!  I love scallions.  I also quickly & lightly fried a tortilla, folded it and made it the "bread" in lieu of cornbread.

Mexican Lasagna

Recipe courtesy of Rachael Ray

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 pounds ground chicken breast, available in the packaged meats case
• 2 tablespoons chili powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained
• 1 cup medium heat taco sauce or 1 (14-oz) can stewed or fire roasted tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen corn kernels
• Salt
• 8 (8 inch) spinach flour tortillas, available on dairy aisle of market
• 2 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar or shredded pepper jack
• 2 scallions, finely chopped

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil - twice around the pan. Add chicken and season with chili powder, cumin, and red onion. Brown the meat, 5 minutes. Add taco sauce or stewed or fire roasted tomatoes. Add black beans and corn. Heat the mixture through, 2 to 3 minutes then season with salt, to your taste.

Coat a shallow baking dish with remaining extra-virgin olive oil, about 1 tablespoon oil. Cut the tortillas in half or quarters to make them easy to layer with. Build lasagna in layers of meat and beans, then tortillas, then cheese. Repeat: meat, tortilla, cheese again. Bake lasagna 12 to 15 minutes until cheese is brown and bubbly. Top with the scallions and serve.

Results: This recipe is an oldie but goodie.  I've made it in various forms multiple times over the years.  This time I sauteed bites of boneless skinless chicken breast (didn't love the chicken).  I also used mozzarella and topped it with chopped cilantro.  I also subbed regular tortillas.  I shocked myself for actually being in a place where I would've liked this recipe better without meat.  It was still super yummy!