Roasted Beet Salad w/Goat Cheese & Toasted Pecans

Ever since I was a kid I've always loved beets. It doesn't matter if they're red, yellow, purple...hot, cold (although not a fan of Borscht!) I've always made sure the beet root was a staple in my diet. I've played around with a bunch of different recipes but this one still tends to come out the best.


Roasted Beet Salad w/Goat Cheese

• Wrap 3-4 large beets in tin foil and roast in your oven at 425 degrees to 90 minutes
• Remove from oven and let cool

While your beets are cooling prepare you vinaigrette

• Juice of a half lemon
• 2-3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar
• S&P
• Extra virgin olive Oil
• 1 thinly sliced shallot

Combine all ingredients and whisk in olive oil until well combined. Set aside.

Once beets are cool, use your fingers to remove outer layer. Slice beets into thirds and cut crosswise into large cubes. Refrigerate for 20 minutes.

While the beets are chilling...toast a handful of pecans and give a rough chop.

To prepare:

Layer a handful or so of the beets on a plate. Top with chopped pecans and crumbled goat cheese. Spoon vinaigrette on top and serve immediately.

Pan Seared Citrus Salmon with Sauteed Haricot Vert & Basmati Rice

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

The dust has finally settled after a long weekend of family and food! Despite the fact I think I actually handled my eating habits fairly well this holiday weekend, Sunday morning kicked off with a walk around the city, a trip to the supermarket, and the typical 3-4 hours of NFL football. So tonight I tried something a little bit different...FISH. Something that is rarely cooked in my NYC apartment due to the everlasting stench that tends to fill the poor circulation of air in which we dwell.

So if you happen to be alergic, this recipe is not for you..but otherwise enjoy!

Pan Seared Wild Salmon w/sauteed Haricot Vert & Basmati Rice

Preperation (2-3 hours before dinnertime in order to marinate properly)

• 1 lb of your choice of Salmon (enough for 2 people)
• 1/4 cup of Orange Juice
• 1/4 cup of Balsamic Vinegar
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 1/4 cup of Olive Oil
• Salt & Pepper

Combine orange Juice, Balsamic Vinegar, Lemon Juice in bowl, S&P in a bowl. Slowly whisk in Olive oil until well combined. Pour entire mixture over salmon filets and cover tightly. Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.

Once marinated pour remaining liquid into a pot and boil over high heat until reduced by half. In a non stick pan over medium heat sear both sides of salmon for approximately 4 minutes per side or until doneness of your liking (I prefer medium rare).

While the fish is cooking in a seperate pan heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over low to medium heat. Slice two cloves of garlic and combine with heated oil. Make sure garlic doesn't burn! Take 2-3 handfuls of Haricot Vert and saute over with the garlic oil. Add a pinch of salt and pepper or flavor to your liking.

Finally prepare your rice. I keep it simple..

• 1 cup of Basmati Rice (or couscous, etc.) to 1 3/4 cup of water.
• Let rice soak in water for appx. 20 minute and then boil.
• Once water is boiling turn off heat and cover with lid.
• Wait 10 minutes and then uncover.
• Fluff rice with a fork and add pine nuts and craisens.

To Serve (See Below)

Grilled Turkey Burgers & Baked Onion Rings

If there is one meal that I have a difficult time turning down it has to be the great american burger. Living in New York I've managed to make it a job seeking out what many Manhattanites consider to be the best. I've tasted them all from the $5 Bistro Burger (w/bacon of course) to the $32 DB Burger (but I've yet to taste the $120 DB Royale!) I've been to J.G's, Bar 6, Shakeshack, Five Guys, Old Town, Pop, & most recently Minetta Tavern. I must say the black label burger is out of this world!

So in honor of my favorite burgers here's my own version of the American classic!

Grilled Turkey Burgers w/healthy onion rings!

1 pound of 93% fat Turkey Meat

2 Tablespoons of Dijon Mustard

Worchester Sauce

2 Tablespoons of canola oil

2 Tablespoons of Part Skim Ricotta Cheese

Salt & Pepper, Paprika, Garlic & Onion Powder

Red Pepper Flakes

Mix all ingredients together with your hands and refrigerate.

Should make about 4 good size patties.

Grill at medium to high heat in a heavy cast iron pan. I prefer Lodge. Make sure to only flip once.

Top w/ any of your favorite cheese, sauteed onions & banana peppers and serve on a toasted english muffin.

Healthy Style Onion Rings

1 large white onion sliced into rings

Tablespoon of olive oil

salt & pepper (pinch of cayenne if you like it spicy)

Mix together with your hands and spread out on a baking pan.

Preheat oven to 400F degrees and bake for 40-45 minutes or until onions are crispy. Turn onions once during cooking process to avoid sticking to pan.

Serve all together and enjoy!

Sauteed Brussel Sprouts (Optional)


1 package of Brussel Sprouts washed and halved
1 shallot rough chop
Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper
Lemon Zest


Saute all ingredients in a pan until brussel sprouts are slightly tender
finish off with a teaspoon of lemon zest and mix.


Serve immediately.

Naan Heaven!

All I can say is oh my! Akbar's in Manchester

Enough said..

Dorito Surprise??

First came the hamburger....then came the slice of pizza.

Many have laughed when they see it...some have become addicted after they eat it..but low and behold is the infamous Dorito Surprise.

Stolen from the libraries of L.A.P (W).

Preparation as follows:


1 lb of chopped meat (beef or turkey) browned
Chopped head of iceburg lettuce
Pack of halved cherry tomatoes
1 diced onion
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Bag of crumbled Baked Doritos
Fat Free Catalina Dressing
French Dressing


Combine all ingredients in large bowl
mix well together

Grilled Veggie Naan Pizza w/chicken

My wife had this craving for pizza tonight and rather than splurge on the local Ray's (which some will claim is the ORIGINAL!) I decided to expand on a fabulous recipe I found one day on my new Iphone. I must give Whole Foods credit for this one but as usual decided to throw my own twist on it!



Grilled Veggie Naan Pizza w/chicken

Necessity

Double Burner Grill Pan

Ingredients

• 1 Yellow Squash
• 1 Zucchini
• 1 Large Eggplant
• Olive Oil
• S&P
• Herbed crumbled Goat cheese
• Shredded Mozz.
• Tomato or Marinara Sauce (canned works fine)
• Whole Wheat Naan Bread
• Red pepper flakes & Hot sauce (optional)

Slice all veggies lengthwise. Toss with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and S&P in a bowl. Grill all veggies on both sides (get good grill marks!). Cool down veggies. Once cool give a rough chop. Set aside

Grill chicken and let cool. Once cool slice lengthwise to make grilled chicken strips.

To assemble pizza's

Take 1 Naan Bread

• Brush with Olive Oil
• Spread a layer of Marinara Sauce over same side as Olive Oil
• Sprinkle Layer of Mozzerella Cheese
• Layer strips of grilled chicken
• Top with Veggies
• Top with crumbled Goat Cheese
• Lay assembled pizza on grill top and cook until mozzerellla starts to melt.

When bread is crispy yet not burned remove! Cut into small pieces and serve immediately.


Enjoy!

Roasted Potatoes & Garlic

As a current New Yorker, a lifelong Yankee, Rangers & Giant fan there is not much good I can say about Boston. I dread the Red Sox, the Boston winter & oh yes did I mention I can't stand the Red Sox. But my brother Craig & his family are current New Englanders, living in the burbs of Boston that many refer to as the J.P. So for the last few years my wife & I have been doing the dreaded Friday night drive, 3-5 hours North on 95 just to enjoy the ever enjoyable meal that my brother and I put on. I must admit he is a much better cook than I am (some would even call him a chef) but with him at the helm of the kitchen & me as the master of the grill we sure do know how to put on a unforgettable meal. Our last trip there we decided to brave the freezing temperatures and create what we midwesterners call a standard "M&P" home cooking meal. Now anyone can marinate & grill a steak but it's the potatoes that is what really makes the meal. So enough of me ranting..all I can say is this is the best & easiest roasted potatoes & garlic recipe there is.

Depending on the # of guests

Medley of roasting potatoes (red, purple, fingerling, black, yukon gold, etc.)

Good olive oil

Kosher Salt & Course Black Pepper

1 Head of Garlic

To Prepare:

• Slice all potatoes in half
• Toss in tin foil or on a roasting pan
• Break apart an entire head of garlic leave skin on.
• Eyeball a couple tablespoons of good olive oil
• Sprinkle with S&P
• Use your hands and mix all ingredients together
• Roast at 400 degrees in convection oven or grill for 45 minutes or until crispy

Serve immediately.

Chicken Milanese

Chicken Milanese is one of my all time favorite meals. It's all about Italian cooking without the heavy pasta and sauce. As a current New Yorker living blocks from the famous Union Square Farmers Market one can only imagine the vast types of tomatoes and vegetables that you can gather in a single walk. Trust me when I say if it wasn't for my fellow farmers this meal wouldn't be as nearly as complete.

Chicken Milanese

2 large pieces of chicken breast - B.S.S (Boned, split, skinned)

1 egg beaten

cup of breadcrumbs (I prefer Panko for this recipe)

S&P

Salad

Arugula

Cherry Tomatoes - all different colors halved

Good Olive Oil

Good Balsamic Vinegar

Lemon

Pound out two extra large pieces of chicken breast. Dip into beaten egg and then coat in bread crumbs. Make sure you drain off the extra egg! Bake at 375 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Take out of oven, top with Arugula & tomato mixture. Top with freshly squeezed lemon juice, olive oil & some balsamic vinegar.

Serve with a side of roasted potatoes & garlic.