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Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two

Feb 8th, 2010
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Beef Tenderloin

Beef Tenderloin for Valentines day

This is a winner for Valentines Day. The beef tenderloin is flavorful and melt in your mouth tender. The sauce is spicy and rich. Perfect for a romantic dinner for two.

Beef Tenderloin with Green Peppercorn-Brandy Sauce for Two

Ingredients:

* 2 (8 oz. ea) beef tenderloins
* salt and pepper
* 1 tablespoon butter
* 3 tablespoons chopped shallots
* 1 Tbl. green peppercorns
* 1 cup beef broth
* 1 tablespoon whole grain Dijon mustard
* 2 tablespoons heavy cream
* 2 tablespoons brandy
* 2 tablespoons chopped chives for garnish

Directions:

  1. Salt and pepper beef on both sides. Heat butter in medium skillet on medium heat.
  2. Add beef; cook 5 min; turn, cook another 5 min. Remove to platter; tent with foil to keep warm.
  3. In same skillet, add shallots and peppercorns. Cook 2 min. or until soft. Add broth, mustard, cream and brandy.
  4. Cook 5 min. or until reduced to 1/2.
  5. Place beef on serving plates. Top with sauce, garnish with chopped chives.


Posted in: Meats, Valentine's Day.
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Top 10 Grilling Tips -Video

Feb 6th, 2010
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In this video Cajun Cooking TV offers 10 tips for outdoor grilling.


Posted in: Cajun, Grilling, Meats, Video.
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Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops

Feb 3rd, 2010
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Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops

Photo by Jasonlam

These Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops are a nice entree for a romantic meal. Lean the chop against a pile of stuffing and drizzle with the sauce for a nice tall presentation.

Apricot Stuffed Pork Chops

Stuffing:

  • 4 oz. dried apricots, diced
  • 1/4 cup brandy or red wine
  • 1/3 cup hot water
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, melted
  • 2 teaspoons fennel seed
  • 1/2 teaspoon white pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
  • 2 eggs
  • 8 ounces stuffing croutons
  • Chicken broth- as needed for moisture

Chops:

  • 8 4-ounce pork chops
  • 1/4 cup apricot preserves
  • 1/4 cup chicken broth
  1. Soak dried diced apricots in the brandy or red wine for at least 15 minutes or up to 24 hours.
  2. Combine marinated apricots with the remaining stuffing ingredients. Moisten with chicken broth as needed.
  3. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  4. Make a slit in the chops by slicing halfway up the thickness of the chop.
  5. Stuff each chop with 1/3 cup of the stuffing mixture. Spoon the remaining stuffing into a baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
  6. Combine the apricot preserves with 1/4 cup of chicken broth in a 9X13 inch baking dish. Spread the sauce evenly over the bottom of the baking dish and place the chops on top.
  7. Cover both dishes with aluminum foil and place in the oven. Bake for 20 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 20 minutes.
  8. Check doneness with a meat thermometer. Pork is done when the internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

More Valentines Day Recipes

Posted in: Meats, Valentine's Day.
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Strawberry Cream Meringues

Feb 2nd, 2010
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What can I say? Dessert is my favorite part of the meal. I especially enjoy light, sweet and luscious desserts like this one. It has been a while since I made this, but now I am craving it again. This is a real contender for Valentine’s day.

Make the meringues in a heart shape for a romantic dessert. (Mine shown are not.) The whipped cream and strawberries on a meringue shell is a light and luscious dessert that satisfies the sweet tooth with a minimum of sugar.

Don’t put the cream into the meringue shells until you are ready to serve these, the meringue will begin to melt from the moisture if they have to sit at all.

Valentine Meringue Hearts

Meringue Shells

Photo by WorththeWisk

Meringues:

3 Egg whites

1 teaspoon Vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon Cream of tartar

1 dash Salt

1 cup Sugar

Whipped Cream Topping

1 cup whipping cream

3 to 6 Tablespoons powdered sugar, to taste

1 pint Strawberries, sliced -reserve a few for garnish

Mint leaves for garnish- optional

Directions:

Strawberry Cream Meringue

Photo by Angusf

Cut a heart pattern from a 4-1/2 inch square of paper. Cover baking sheet with brown paper. (You can bake on the brown paper so make sure it is clean.) Grocery store bags without writing on them are okay. Draw 6 hearts on the brown paper using your pattern as a guide.

Beat egg whites with vanilla, cream of tartar and salt until frothy. Add sugar, a little at a time, and continue beating until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Rub a bit between your fingers to feel that no sugar remains undissolved.

Spread meringue over the heart shapes, 1/4 inch thick. Make into the heart shape using a spoon to push and form into correct shape. Pipe rim 3/4 inch high with pastry tube or build a rim with a spoon.

Bake in preheated 275-degree oven for 1 hour. Turn off oven and let meringues dry in oven for 1 more hour. DO NOT open oven door during this time.

Store meringue shells in a dry place until ready to fill. Do not refrigerate.

Add the powdered sugar to the whipping cream and beat the cream until soft peaks form. Taste the cream for sweetness, you want a barely sweet whipped cream.

Mix in the strawberries, reserving a few for garnish.

Assemble:

When you are ready to serve, place a large scoop of the strawberry cream onto the meringue shell. Garnish with reserved strawberries and a little mint if desired.

More Valentines Day Recipes


Posted in: Uncategorized, Valentine's Day, desserts.
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Countdown to Valentine’s Day: Penne Vodka

Feb 1st, 2010
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Everyday between now and Valentine’s day, I will be posting romantic recipes suitable for that special Valentine’s day meal.

Cooking is an act of love, and there is nothing more romantic than sitting down to a lovingly prepared meal. Consider skipping the crowded restaurant this year and share an intimate supper for two at home.

Recipe after the jump…


Penne Vodka

Penne VodkaWhile not really southern, this pasta dish is definitely worth trying. The sauce is a rich pink color due to the tomatoes and cream making it a natural for valentine’s day. The flavors are rich and a little unexpected.

This recipe will make enough for 2 couples (serves 4). If you plan a romantic evening where more than two’s a crowd, reserve half the sauce to freeze for another meal before the addition of basil, and only cook 1/2 to 2/3 pound of pasta.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil,
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 1 cup vodka
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 large can crushed tomatoes (32 ounces)
  • Coarse salt and pepper
  • 16 ounces pasta, such as penne rigate
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 20 leaves fresh basil, shredded or torn

Directions:

Heat a large skillet over moderate heat. Add oil, butter, garlic, and shallots. Gently saute shallots for 3 to 5 minutes to develop their sweetness.

Add vodka to the pan. Simmer until the vodka is reduced by half, this will take 2 or 3 minutes.

Add chicken stock, tomatoes. Bring sauce to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Season with salt and pepper.

While sauce simmers, cook pasta in salted boiling water until cooked to al dente (with a bite to it). While pasta cooks, prepare your salad or other side dishes.

Stir cream into sauce. When sauce returns to a bubble, remove it from heat, do not allow it to boil.

Drain pasta. Toss hot pasta with sauce and basil leaves. Serve pasta with crusty bread and a nice salad.
More Valentines Day Recipes


Posted in: Pasta.
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Fresh Strawberries – Upside Down Strawberry Meringue Pie

Jan 28th, 2010
by admin.
1 comment
Strawberries

Strawberries, photo by JCMar

Strawberry season is beginning here in Florida.  We had a bad cold snap, as did everyone, this year; but it seems that the majority of the strawberries managed ok. Soon you will see fresh Florida strawberries in your produce aisle. This recipe is an excellent light airy pie that uses those fresh strawberries to perfection.

More after the jump…

This strawberry meringue pie is built with the meringue on the bottom and whipped cream on top, hence “upside-down”. The meringue and whipped cream together make this a light airy pie that is sumptuous in flavor and texture. This pie is best made with fresh strawberries, but frozen could be used with an alternate garnish.

Upside Down Strawberry Meringue Pie Recipe


Posted in: Uncategorized, desserts.
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Sweet Potatoes Normandy

Jan 27th, 2010
by admin.
2 comments
Freshly Dug Sweet Potatoes

Freshly Dug Sweet Potatoes, photo by amandadevries

Sweet potatoes get a bad rap because of the ooey gooey sugar and marshmallow packed casseroles that should be classified as desert. But make no mistake, sweet potatoes are one of the best nutrition bargains around. Classified as a super food for their vitamin and mineral content as well as significant antioxidant compounds. Lets put these super foods on the table year round.
More after the jump…

Sweet potatoes normandy is a casserole of sweet potatoes and apples, mildly sweetened with a little brown sugar and spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and moistened with orange juice.

Sweet potatoes Normandy Recipe

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How to Make Meat Loaf- Farm Style Meat Loaf Recipe

Apr 12th, 2009
by admin.
5 comments

meatloafHow to make a meatloaf? Many recipes call for a trio of meats – beef, pork and veal. This all beef meat loaf is quick to mix up on a busy night. Using Italian Style bread crumbs adds herbal flavors without a lot of measuring or chopping. I mix all the ingredients in the baking dish to save cleanup on an extra bowl. This is a basic farm style recipe, a good one for beginners and experienced cooks alike.

Read more…How to Make Meat Loaf- Farm Style Meat Loaf Recipe

 

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How to Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes- Every Time

Apr 12th, 2009
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800px-mashedpotatoesMashed potatoes have long been a staple on the American dinner table. In recent years, chefs have been flavoring this basic recipe to create culinary masterpieces that are easily reproduced in the home. Here are some tips and a basic recipe to get you started on the road to perfect mashed potatoes.

Read More. . .How To Make Perfect Mashed Potatoes- Every Time

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