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Sunday Dinner: Black-Eyed Peas With Pork and Greens

YumSugar — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 06:30:06 -0800

Pork chops may be filling and healthful, but because they're a leaner cut, they aren't always full of flavor.

To keep your taste buds dancing, incorporate the other white meat into a classic Southern staple that's got major sass: the Hoppin' John.

A medley of black-eyed peas, brown rice, kale, and pork come together with the help of tomato, broth, vinegar, and paprika. Enjoy a dish that's got a little bit of everything when you keep reading.

Sunday Dinner: Whole-Wheat Flatbreads With Lamb & Yogurt

YumSugar — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 06:30:25 -0800

Ever since I made pasta with lamb and tomato ragu, I haven't been able to stop singing the praises of ground lamb. If you love ordering lamb at restaurants but have never made it at home, ground lamb is the perfect starting point, since it requires no special handling.

Prepare the quick, from-scratch recipe for wheat pitas below or, in a pinch, use store bought pitas or tortillas. The textural contrast of the grainy bread with Greek yogurt and ground meat is incredibly satisfying. For the fun, hands-on recipe, read on.

Sunday Dinner: Sirloin Stew With Dill Noodles

YumSugar — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:30:02 -0800

Earlier this month, Party and I were enticed by one reader's rendition of beef stroganoff. If you, too, found yourself salivating over her creation, here's another dish that you need to bookmark! Unlike the classic course, which has sour cream and mushrooms, the ground beef in this recipe becomes a stew with the help of a roux, beef broth, and Worcestershire. Pile it on top of herbed egg noodles, serve with a salad, and you've got a speedy (and guest-worthy!) dinner. Curious? Then read more.

Sunday Dinner: Halibut With Leeks, Mushrooms, and Clams

YumSugar — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:30:20 -0700

There's no better way to really catch Fall fever than to prepare a steamy seafood dish that also incorporates the season's top produce picks.

For dinner tonight, sauté aromatic leeks and unconventional hen of the woods mushrooms in butter, add broth, and simmer halibut and clams in liquid until just barely cooked.

The resulting meal, which is delicate both in texture and flavor, makes for an enjoyable end to the weekend. Ready to cook it? Then read more.

Sunday Dinner: Drunken Noodles

YumSugar — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 06:30:52 -0700

For this week's Sunday night chicken dinner, I can't wait to apply the mainstream meat to a home-cooked Southeast Asian meal.

I love preparing ethnic foods at home, and this spicy noodle stir-fry, with its complex flavors, comes together in mere minutes, thanks to quick-cooking (and inexpensive) ground chicken.

Craving Thai takeout, sans the grease? For the recipe, read more.

Sunday Dinner: Chicken Cacciatore

YumSugar — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:30:23 -0700

Chicken breasts and thighs have always been a staple in my household, but lately I've been doing some serious wallet-watching, and I've discovered that the best bang for your buck lies with the purchase of whole chickens.

So today, I'll pick up a couple chickens to make a classic poultry dish, chicken cacciatore, which uses every piece of the bird. Cacciatore means "hunter" in Italian, and protein prepared in this style is simmered in a sauce of mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and herbs until succulent. Dying to try out the flavors for yourself? Then read more.

Sunday Dinner: Cassoulet-Style Chicken Thighs

YumSugar — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 06:00:43 -0700

Filled with anticipation of the workweek, Sunday night can easily fall short of a relaxing evening. So, to keep my thoughts at bay, I'm going to prepare the ultimate in comfort food: cassoulet, a pork and bean casserole that hails from southern France.

Traditional cassoulet can be heavy and time-intensive, but I've found one that's luscious yet light - and takes less than an hour to prepare. Rather than using duck confit and pork sausage, the recipe employs boneless, skinless chicken thighs and turkey kielbasa. Interested yet? Check it out when you read more

Sunday Dinner: Mustard-Glazed Chicken Breasts

YumSugar — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 06:00:40 -0700

As the days shorten and the weather grows chillier, I've decided to give my barbecue grill a much-needed rest (for now). Instead, I'll be taking Sunday's dinners back into the kitchen, where, I'll turn my attention to America's favorite dinner meat: chicken.

Convenient, healthy, affordable, and delectable, this staple protein comes through time and time again. Today, I'm searing all-purpose breasts in a hot skillet, then cooking them in the oven for a golden brown and crispy skin. I'll serve the chicken with a zippy mustard sauce. Craving chicken yet? Then read more.

Sunday Dinner: Mussel Gratin

YumSugar — Sun, 17 May 2009 06:00:27 -0700

You may have noticed that mussels are having a bit of a moment. If tasting the sheer flavor of the sea isn't reason enough for you to eat these briny bivalves, also remember that they're both incredibly affordable and a surefire sustainable seafood option.

Mussels are often served in a white wine broth or flavored with chorizo, but I love the unusual idea of them starring in a gratin. You'll learn how to execute this creative preparation when you read more.

Mussel Gratin
From Gourmet

Ingredients

4 pounds mussels (preferably cultivated), cleaned and steamed, then shucked
2 pounds plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise, seeded, and halves cut into sixths
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
1/2 cup crème fraîche
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (1 oz)
2 large garlic cloves, 1 minced and 1 halved
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
15 (1/3-inch-thick) slices from a baguette
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Preheat oven to 450°F.
Toss together mussels, tomatoes, basil, crème fraîche, cheese, minced garlic, salt, and pepper in an oiled 3-quart (about 13- by 9 1/2- by 2-inch) baking dish.
Rub 1 cut side of each bread slice with halved garlic and arrange bread, garlic side up, over mussel mixture in baking dish. Brush tops of bread with oil.
Bake gratin in middle of oven until bread is golden brown on top, about 15 minutes.
Serve mussels spooned over garlic toasts.

Serves 6 as a main course.

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Sunday Dinner: Sesame Chicken With Soba Noodles

YumSugar — Sun, 10 May 2009 06:00:04 -0700

The economy may be down in the dumps, but don't let that hold you back this Mother's Day. Rather than spending big bucks to dine out, have the whole gang - including your mom and the kids - celebrate the occasion by making dinner a budget-friendly activity that the entire family can enjoy.

This quick, healthy meal, which includes fiber-rich soba noodles and crunchy vegetables, packs a flavor punch with soy sauce, sesame seeds, and ginger. To bring the family together with an affordable yet enticing pan-Asian platter, read more.

Sesame Chicken With Soba Noodles
From Real Simple

Ingredients

1 8-ounce package soba noodles
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts
3 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 tablespoons sesame seeds, toasted*
1 tablespoon finely grated ginger
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 7-ounce package mixed greens
3 carrots, cut into matchstick-size strips or shredded
1/4 sweet onion, thinly sliced

Directions

Cook the soba noodles according to the package directions and rinse under cold water.
Heat the soy sauce and brown sugar in a large skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, add the chicken and sauté until cooked through, about 1 1/2 minutes per side. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with the remaining chicken. Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the chicken and toss to coat.
In a small bowl, whisk together the ginger, vinegar, and oil.
Divide the greens, carrots, and onion among individual plates. Top with the soba noodles and chicken. Serve with the vinaigrette.

Serves 4.

*Note: To toast sesame seeds, cook them in a dry skillet over moderate heat, stirring constantly, until golden, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer them immediately to a cool plate.

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