Zucchini, Yellow Squash & Potato Gratin

A new recipe.. I had a craving for Zucchini & Summer squash, it's healthy & tasty.. So I decided to browse through my recipes in search for a nice recipe that combines both of those ingredients. 
I came across many recipes but this particular one caught my attention because it included potatoes.
I tried it as a side dish for lunch, next to grilled chicken and a crisp green salad. It turned out lovely and delish!!

Ingredients:


1 packet of KDD cream or 1 cup of heavy cream
1/2 cup breadcrumbs 
2 Potatoes, sliced
4 Small Zucchini (Courgette), thinly sliced
1 large summer squash sliced
3 tbsp Butter 
2 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced
1 small onion, sliced
Salt & Black Pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup Mozzarella Cheese


Method:


Prepare the oven by reheating at 400 degrees. Set aside until needed.
On the stove, medium heat, in a large skillet, melt the butter.
Add all the vegetables to the butter, saute & stir.
Add the salt & Pepper according to taste.
Cook the veggies until tender while stirring slowly and carefully.
Add the cream and cook for 5-7 minutes until it thickens.
Once cooked, remove from the stove and place in a Pyrex or a baking dish.
Sprinkle the breadcrumbs on top of the mixture and the Parmesan & Mozzarella cheese.
Bake this dish for 25 minutes to cook, then turn on the broiler for 5 minutes until it gets golden on top.


Enjoy !!

Balsamic Mushrooms

Ingredients:

1 diced red onion
2 cups any type of mushrooms
1 Garlic clove
3 tabelspoons Balsamic vinegar

3 tablespoons pomegranate juice concentrate
olive oil
Thyme
Basil
parsley
a little bit of lemon juice

Method:

Place a pan with olive oil in it on medium to high heat.

Saute the onions for 2 minute or until they're soft and alittle golden.

Add the garlic and saute for 1 more minute.

Add the mushrooms, balsamic, pomegranate juice, lemon juice, thyme, basil and parsley.

Lower the heat and cover the pan.

Cook for 7-12 minutes or until the mushrooms have turned brownish and soft.


Enjoy...

Asparagus and Sesame Shrimp

Serves 4

Ingredients:

1 cup jasmine rice
1/8 teaspoon salt
4 teaspoons olive oil
1&1/2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
2 pounds asparagus, trimmed
1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons seasoned rice vinegar
1 large green onion, chopped
1 pound large shrimp
1/8 teaspoon crushed red pepper


Method:

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare rice as label directs.

2. Meanwhile, in cup, combine salt, 2 teaspoons olive oil, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. In a pan, toss asparagus with oil mixture; roast 10 to 12 minutes, until tender.

3. In small bowl, whisk soy sauce, vinegar, green onion, and remaining 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil; set aside dressing. Shell and devein shrimp.

4. In a skillet, heat 2 teaspoons olive oil over medium-high heat until very hot. Add shrimp; sprinkle with red pepper and cook 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

5. Arrange shrimp, asparagus, and rice on 4 plates; drizzle with dressing.


Tip:

You can substitute long-grain aromatic basmati for the jasmine rice.

Lamb Curry ~ Indian

Ingredients :

1oz butter
1 tablespoon oil
1 pund cubed lamb
1 medium onion, chopped
1 stick cinnamon, broken in 2
6 cardamom pods, crushed
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon chili powder


Method :

- Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the oil.

- When it starts to sizzle fry the lamb until it colors on all sides. Remove with a draining spoon and set aside.

- Add the onion and fry until golden, scraping up any residues.

- Add the garlic and fry for another minute.

- Add the whole spices and cook for about 2 minutes, then add the ground spices.

- Cook until fragrant but be careful not to burn.

- Return lamb to the pan and add 8oz water or stock. Stir well, reduce heat to medium and simmer gently for 10-15 minutes until the sauce has thickened.

- Serve with bread or rice.

Enjoy...

Mushrooms Provencale ~ French

Ingredients:

3 tablespoon Olive oil
1 bunch Parsley chopped
1 pound Mushrooms
1/4 cup Bread crumbs
2 cloves Garlic
1/2 Lemon juiced


Method:

1. Crush the garlic , add the parsley and combine.
2. Heat the oil in a large skillet.
3. Add the mushrooms, salt, and cook for 5-10 minutes over high heat, tossing constantly, until mushrooms lose and reabsorb their moisture.
3. Add the parsley and garlic, stir, add the lemon juice, stir.
4. Toss with breadcrumbs and pepper,

Yummy..

Shrimp & Garlic Spaghetti

Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 whole pack of Spaghetti
1 pound medium shrimps, deveined, shelled and chopped coarsely.
1/4 cup fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chili flakes
2 tablespoons butter
5 cloves of garlic
Salt and ground black pepper to taste

Method:

- Put pasta to boil. Remember to toss in 1/4 cup of salt into boiling water with pasta. 10-12 mins.

- In the meantime, in a par or skillet, brown the garlic

- Toss in shrimps and chili flakes. As soon as the shrimps turn pink, remove.

- Using same skillet, toss in butter, return chilli/shrimps into it and cook thoroughly

- Toss in parsley and mix nicely

- Toss in pasta and mix until everything is distributed nicely. Serve hot!

Asparagus with Parmesan

Serves 4


Ingredients:

1 bunch of fresh asparagus
1 tablespoon butter
2 tabelspoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon garlic pepper seasoning (found at the Sultan Center)
2 tabelspoons shredded parmesan cheese
non-stick cooking spray (also found at TSC)


Method:

- coat the grill with non-stick cooking spray. Preheat the grill to medium high, break the asparagus's tough ends and set them aside.

- Blend the melted butter, olive oil and garlic pepperin a small bowl.

- place the asparagus directly on the grill (parallel to grid) after brushing them with half the butter mixture.

- Grill the asparagus covered 6 to 8 minutes or until the asparagus is lightly charred and tender., carefully turn once.

- Remove to a serving platter. Drizzle with the remaining butter mixture, toss to coat and sprinkle with parmesan cheese.


Enjoy...

Veal Picatta

Serves 4


Ingredients:

1 to 1&1/4 pound thin veal scallops
flour
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons butter, divided
6 to 8 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon fresh chopped rosemary, or about 1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary
2 tablespoons fresh chopped parsley
2 tablespoons water


Method:

- Heat olive oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter in skillet over medium heat. Sprinkle veal with salt and pepper; dust lightly with flour. Sauté veal quickly, turning once. Remove veal from pan when browned.

- Add remaining 1 tablespoon butter; sauté mushrooms until tender and browned. Add the veal back to pan along with garlic, lemon juice and zest, herbs, and wine. Turn to coat; cover skillet and simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes.

- Arrange veal on a platter; spoon mushrooms and pan drippings over the veal.


Enjoy...

Butter Chicken ~ Indian Cuisine

Ingredients:

150ml natural yogurt
50g ground almonds
1&1/2 teaspoons chili powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed bay leaves
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon garam masala
4 green cardamom pods
1 teaspoon ginger pulp
1 teaspoon garlic pulp
400g can tomatoes
1&1/4 teaspoon salt
1kg chicken, skinned, boned and cubed
75g butter
1 tablespoon corn oil
2 medium onions, sliced
2 tablespoon fresh coriander, chopped
4 tablespoon cream


Method:

- Place the yogurt, ground almonds, all the dry spices, ginger, garlic, tomatoes and salt in a mixing bowl and blend together thoroughly.

- Put the chicken into a large mixing bowl and pour over the yogurt mixture.
Set aside.

- Melt together the butter and oil in a medium pot, wok or frying pan. Add the onions and fry for about 3 minutes. Add the chicken mixture and stir-fry for about 7 to 10 minutes.

- Stir in about half of the coriander and mix well. Pour over the cream and stir in well. Bring to the boil.

- When serving, garnish the indian butter chicken with the remaining chopped coriander.


Enjoy...

Chicken and butter-lemon sauce with capers

Ingredients:

4 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, patted dry
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon capers, drained
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley



Method:

1. Cover the chicken breasts with a piece of plastic wrap and, using a meat pounder, flatten each breast to an even 1/4-inch thickness. Sprinkle the chicken on both sides with salt and pepper. Put the flour in a shallow bowl. Dredge each piece of chicken in the flour and shake off any excess.

2. In a large sauté pan, heat the oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter over medium-high heat. When the foaming subsides, add the chicken and cook until golden brown on one side, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn the chicken and brown the other side, 1 to 2 minutes. When done, remove the chicken from the pan, sprinkle with a little more salt and pepper, and set aside.

3. Remove the pan from the heat and whisk in the lemon juice and capers, scraping up any brown bits and pieces left from the chicken. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter.

4. Return the chicken to the pan, turn the heat to medium, and heat for 1 minute. Garnish with parsley and serve immediately.


..you can serve it with either couscous, rice, steamed veggies or a side asparagus or all the above.


Enjoy..

Veal medallions with pine nuts & herbs

Ingredients:

2(11 ounces) veal rib chops, boned and trimmed salt and pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and chopped
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
1 tablespoon capers (found at Sultan Center)
1 shallot, minced
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano
1/2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon butter

Method:

Season veal with salt & pepper. Brown in 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet. Simmer for 10 minutes. Remove from skillet and keep in warm oven. Saute tomatoes, pine nuts, capers, shallots, garlic, and herbs in remaining olive oil for 10 minutes.
Add lemon juice. Simmer for 4 minutes. Whisk in the butter. Pour the sauce over the veal.
garnish with additional pine nuts (optional)

Can be served with fettucine Alfredo (optional)

Enjoy....