Roasted Brussel Sprouts w/Bacon

Roasted Brussel Sprouts w/ Bacon


Ingredients

• 1-2 Packages of Brussel sprouts (trimmed and halved)
• 3 Slices of Lemon
• Tablespoon of Olive Oil
• 3 Slices of Bacon
• 1/2 cup of chicken stock - Simmer in a separate pot
• 5-6 whole cloves of garlic
• Salt & Fresh Ground Pepper
• 1 Bay Leaf

Preparation

In a medium size bowl toss well together Brussel Sprouts, Lemon slices, garlic cloves, olive oil, bay leaf, salt & pepper.   

Once combined place in a small baking dish lined with parchment paper and then covered with tin foil.

Roast at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until fork tender.  While roasting cook bacon in a hot pan until crispy.  Set aside on paper towel to drain.  Rough chop.

Remove Brussel Sprouts from oven and in small batches or servings add to pan over medium high heat.  Add bacon, salt & pepper, and chicken stock to pan. Toss a few times in the hot pan.  Once chicken stock begins to bubble remove from heat and serve.  

This recipe is amazing!

Slow Cooked Chicken in White Wine & Lemon

Christmas Eve in NYC! Unfortunately the space is limited so my aspirations for cooking for 30 on Thanksgiving have been put on hold. So I thought the next best thing. Slow cooking a chicken marinated in white win, garlic & lemon! As usual, my wife has this thing against herbs so had to leave those on the side...as far as she knows:)

Ingredients

1 Large whole Chicken

1/2 bottle of white wine (I used Savignon Blanc)

3 large lemons (zest first and put to the side)

1 head of garlic

Olive Oil

S&P

1 large onion

1 Slow Cooker or large pot to cook in oven

Take entire chicken and rinse in cold water. Pat Dry with paper towel. Take 2 tablespoons of olive oil and coat entire chicken including core with olive oil, salt & pepper. Stuff cavity of chicken with one whole large onion and half a lemon. Drop into slow cooker. Top off with 1/2 bottle of wine or enough until liquid just below covering the entire chicken. Squeeze 1-2 entire lemons into wine and drop lemon into cooker. Top off with 4-5 crushed garlic cloves, skin on.

Set timer to low heat for 7-8 hours. Go sit on the couch and watch 3 of your favorite Christmas movies. Christmas Vacation....Die Hard....??

8 hours later.....

Pull chicken from slow cooker and set on a plate. Cover to cool. Chicken will continue to cook so you'll need to work quickly to prevent chicken from drying out.

While chicken is cooling take the remainder of the liquid and pour gently into large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Once boiling reduce heat to medium low. Depending on level of thickness you may need to add some flour and or increase wine content. Strain and serve.

Using a sharp knife remove legs from chicken as well as breasts (white meat). Remove onion from inner cavity of chicken and slice into quarters. Once all the meat has been removed discard the remainder of the chicken. I also prefer discarding the skin since the slow cooker won't create any crispness.

Plate as seen below.

To complete the Christmas Eve dinner accompany chicken with Sauteed Brussel Sprouts

• 1 pack of Brussel Sprouts washed & trimmed
• 1 tablespoon of EVOO
• 1 tablspoon of Lemon zest
• 1 shallot thinly sliced
• 1 minced clove of garlic

Heat garlic & shallots in olive oil. Add in brussel sprouts & cook until golden brown. Add lemon zest and give one final toss. Season to your liking.

And Roasted Potatoes w/Rosemary & Garlic

Voila!!...

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.