Stuffed Zucchini

4 medium to large zucchini, halved lengthwise, seeds removed
2 cups cooked white rice
1 lb ground beef
1/2 medium sweet onion
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 14.5 cans fire roasted diced tomatoes, with their juices OR 1 can tomatoes and 1 10oz can Rotel
1/2 tsp pepper
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup Parmesan, grated (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 400
2. In a medium skillet, brown the ground beef, onion and garlic. Drain the meat.
3. In a medium saucepan, bring the tomatoes to a boil, then reduce and simmer for 5 minutes. Remove from heat.
4. In a large bowl, combine the ground beef, rice, tomatoes, salt and pepper, mix until blended.
5. Place the zucchini skin side down on a cookie sheet. Evenly divide the beef mixture among the zucchini halves. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 40 minutes.
6. Remove the foil and sprinkle the cheese on top. Return the pan to the oven, uncovered, for about 5 minutes until the cheese melts.

Tom Ka Gai

By Darlene Schmdt

Ingredients:

• 6 cups good-quality chicken stock (Serves 2 as the main entree, or 4-6 as an appetizer)
• 1-2 chicken breasts, sliced, OR 1-2 cups roasted chicken or turkey
• 1 lemongrass stalk, OR 3 Tbsp. frozen prepared lemongrass
• 4 kaffir limes leaves (fresh or frozen)
• 1 cup shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1 thumb-size piece galangal or ginger, grated
• 1-3 fresh red chilies, minced (to taste), OR substitute 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. dried crushed chili
• 1/2 to 1 can good-quality coconut milk
• 2 Tbsp. lime juice
• 2+ Tbsp. fish sauce
• 1 tsp. brown sugar (optional, according to taste)
• handful fresh coriander leaves
• handful fresh basil leaves
• 3 spring (green) onions, sliced
• optional: other vegetables, like sliced bell pepper or cherry tomatoes
• optional: *wheat or rice noodles, if serving as the main course (see tip below)

Preparation:

1. Slice and mince the lower portion of the lemongrass stalk. Retain the upper stalk for the soup pot.
2. Place chicken broth in a large soup pot over medium-high heat. If you have leftover chicken or turkey bones, add those too. Bring to a boil.
3. Add fresh chicken (or leftover chicken or turkey) and mushrooms. Also add the prepared lemongrass (including upper stalk pieces), plus kaffir lime leaves and fresh chili. Boil 5-8 minutes, or until chicken is cooked.
4. Turn heat down to medium. Add the galangal or ginger, 1/2 can coconut milk, the fish sauce, and extra vegetables (if using). Stir well. Simmer gently 1-2 minutes.
5. Turn heat down to minimum. Add lime juice and stir.
6. Do a taste test. Look for a balance between spicy, sour, salty, and sweet flavors. Start with salty, adding more fish sauce if not salty or flavorful enough (1 Tbsp. at a time). If too sour, add the sugar plus a little more if you need it. If too spicy, or if you'd like it creamier, add more coconut milk. If not spicy enough, add more chili.
7. Ladle soup into serving bowls. Sprinkle a little fresh coriander, basil, and spring onion over each bowl. For an extra kick of flavor, add a dollop of either store-bought or my own homemade Nam Prik Pao Chili Sauce Recipe. ENJOY!

Baked cod with butter and lemon

1 lb cod fish fillet
1/4 cup butter or 1/4 cup margarine, melted
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon white pepper
paprika


1
If fish fillets are large, cut into serving pieces.
2
Mix butter and lemon juice.
3
In another bowl, mix flour, salt and white pepper.
4
Dip fish into butter mixture; coat fish with flour mixture.
5
Place fish in ungreased square baking dish, 8x8x2 inches.
6
Pour remaining butter mixture over fish; sprinkle with paprika.
7
Cook uncovered in 350 degree oven until fish flakes easily with fork, 25-30 minutes. Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon slices if desired.

Read more: <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/lemon-baked-cod-135272?oc=linkback">http://www.food.com/recipe/lemon-baked-cod-135272?oc=linkback</a>

Tomato and cucumber salad

• From allrecipes.com, altered

2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cup cucmbers, diced

1/2 red onion, diced

1/2 c cilantro, chopped

1/2 c basil, chopped

2 Tb garlic, chopped

2 Tb white wine vinegar

salt & pepper to taste

In a bowl, mix together all ingredients. Serve chilled.

Squash with Bacon

Marlys Waldo original

Bacon
Shallots, chopped
Yellow squash, especially patty pan, cut into 1 inch pieces
Cherry/Grape tomatos

1. Put bacon in a medium pan and cook until done to your liking
2. Put bacon on a plate lined with a paper towel and pour out bacon grease into a container
3. Put shallots in the pan and cook until soft
4. Add sqash and cook until nearly done
5. Add tomatoes and cook until soft
6. Add bacon, chopped

Mediterranean Ling Cod

2 Tbs olive oil

1/2 c shallots, sliced

4 canned anchovies

zest of one orange

orange peeled and segmented

1 28 oz can diced tomatoes, undrained

2 cups squash/zucchini, cut into 1 inch cubes

1 tea salt

1/4 tea pepper

2 lbs ling cod

3 cups cooked  rice

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet and add shallots. Cook until soft and add anchovies. Cook until anchovies melt. Add zest, orange segments, tomatoes, squash/zucchini, salt & pepper. Cook until zucchini are soft. Add cod and cover with vegetables. Cook until cod is done, 10 minutes or so. Serve cod and vegetables on rice. 

Kale & Carrot Salad with Candied Walnuts

Adapted from a recipe in Every Day with Rachael Ray July/August 2013

1/4 c olive oil
6 Tb white wine vinegar
2 tsp honey
1 tsp dijon mustard
10 cups stemmed and torn kale
1 carrot, shredded
1 c store-bought candied walnuts (or make your own!)

In a large bowl, whisk oil, vinegar, honey and mustard. Add kale and carrot, toss and season. Let stand 10 minutes, toss again, then sprinkle with nuts.

Lentil Soup

Marlys Waldo and Clarissa Helton original recipe

leftover ham bone with some leftover meat attached
1/2 large onion, whole
1 large carrot, peeled and left whole
2 Tb vegetable oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 large carrots, peeled, halved lengthwise, and cut into 1/4 inch half moons
5 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tb tomato paste
1 1/2 cups RED lentils, picked over and rinsed
1/2 tea dried thyme
1 Tb red-wine vinegar
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Grated parmesan, optional

1. Put ham bone in 5 QT soup pot, cover with water (approx. 6 cups). Add one large carrot whole or cut in two and 1/2 an onion, whole, to the pot. Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer until the meat falls off the bone (approx. 1 hour). Remove and discard carrot and onion, pull the ham off the bone and discard bone.

2. In another stock pot, add 2 Tb oil and saute onion and carrots. cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minutes. 

3. Add red lentils, thyme, and 5 1/2 cups of ham-bone broth. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer. Cover, cook until lentils are tender, 30-45 minutes. Add reserved ham pieces to the pot and turn off heat. 

4. Stir in vinegar, 1 1/2 tea salt or to taste and 1/4 tea pepper. Top with a couple pinches of parmesan, if desired. Serve at once.