Veal Cutlets with Red Bell Pepper

For this recipe I used veal for scallopini, so no need to bother beating the meat. I also made some modifications, which I will mention as I go along. The listed quantities yield 6 servings, but I halved them for our needs:

• 1 1/2 pounds veal slices (about 1/4 inch thick)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon ground mustard (I replaced with 1 tsp grainy Dijon mustard)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (I didn't use it)
• 6 tablespoons butter, divided
• 2 medium onions, sliced
• 2 medium sweet red peppers, julienned
• 1/2 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced (didn't use )
• 1/2 quart chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch (I omitted it)
• 2 teaspoons water

Place veal in a 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. dish; set aside. 

In a medium bowl, combine the lemon juice, oil, lemon peel, garlic, sugar, salt, paprika, mustard and nutmeg; reserve 2 tablespoons. 

Cheesy Gratin of Brussels Sprouts

This dish is very flexible, it can be made early in the day, refrigerated, then baked before mealtime. If you're not a sprout fan, you can substitute one very large head of cauliflower, cut into bite-size florets. 

My daughter had this with the veal scaloppine and red ruby grapefruit and loved the combination. So, here comes the recipe:

Sauteed Collard Greens with Garlic

I found some great produce (although pricey) in the produce section at the WholeFoods, so I got a little bit of this and that, not having made up my mind as to what I was going to do with them. Of course, the first combination that came to me was meat and greens, so I made a side dish for the veal scaloppine with ruby red grapefruit:

- 2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 6 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1/2 tsp crushed red-pepper flakes
- 2 heads collard greens (about 1 pound each), tough stems and ribs removed, leaves coarsely chopped
- coarse salt
- 1/2 cup water

Heat oil in a large saute pan over medium heat. Cook garlic, stirring often, until golden, about 3 minutes. Stir in red-pepper flakes, and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in collard greens and 1 teaspoon salt.

Reduce heat to medium-low. Add water, and steam, covered, until greens are just tender and water evaporates, about 10 minutes. If greens are ready but there is still water in the pan, raise heat to medium-high, and cook, uncovered, until completely evaporated. Plate and serve.

Enjoy!

Pear Risotto with Prosciutto and Fried Sage Leaves

• Olive oil, or canola oil
• 4 thin slices prosciutto, (2 ounce), 2 sliced crosswise and 2 finely chopped, divided
• 4 fresh sage leaves, plus 1 tsp minced fresh sage, divided
• 6 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp minced shallot
• 1 cup arborio, carnaroli or other medium-grain Italian rice
• 2 cups finely diced peeled ripe Bosc pears, (about 2 pears), divided (I didn't peel them)
• 1/3 cup dry white wine
• 2 tbsp grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more for serving if desired
• 1 tbsp butter
• Freshly ground pepper, to taste

Orange and Lemon Chicken Drumsticks

A very simple and cute recipe, not costly at all, just the right thing at a time when vegetables are not so abundant, but we feel the need for some fresh flavours on the plate.

Ingredients: 

- 6 chicken drumsticks (feel free to use 8, or a whole chicken, cut in pieces)

- 3/4 stick butter

- salt and pepper to taste

For marinating the meat:

- 1 orange

- 1 lemon

- 1 medium onion, very finely sliced

- 1 tablespoon olive oil

- 10 drops Tabasco

Israeli Couscous with Pine Nuts and Parsley

The problem with my kitchen is that I never have enough light, even in the summertime I have to turn on the light to cook. That explains my photos to a degree (I'm not trying to make excuses here), and I confess I'd love to have a kitchen like Roxana's (sigh). Until then, let's make some couscous!

The ingredients are:

- 3 tbsp butter, divided

- 1/2 cup pine nuts

- 1/2 cup shallots, finely chopped

- 1 1/2 cups Israeli couscous

- 1/2 large cinnamon stick

- 1 fresh or dried bay leaf

- 1 3/4 cups chicken broth

- 1/2 tsp salt

- 1/4 cup parsley, minced

- zest of 1/2 lemon

- 1/4 cup raisins (optional)

- black pepper to taste

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium-low heat. Add pine nuts and stir until golden brown, then transfer to a small bowl.

Rosemary Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Strawberry-Prosecco Risotto

Tenderloin:

Rub the tenderloin with oil, salt, pepper, and rosemary. Cover with plastic wrap and let it marinate for an hour or two in the refrigerator.

Salmon Cakes with Lemon Yogurt Sauce

Salmon:

- 1 lb skinless salmon fillet

- olive oil, for drizzling

- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Patties:

• 1 large egg, beaten
• 1/3 cup (1/2-ounce) chopped fresh chives
• Panko crumbs
• 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons mayonnaise, plus more, as needed
• 1 tablespoon capers, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature

Raw Broccoli Salad - Salata de broccoli crud

For this salad the quantities are entirely up to you. I made it for an office party an it was an absolute hit, I could not believe my eyes! Each and every person asked me about the recipe, it was such a success! I used these ingredients:

Cantitatile necesare pentru salata aceasta depind de gustul fiecaruia. Eu am facut-o pentru o petrecere la birou si a avut un succes neasteptat, toata lumea a dorit sa stie reteta! Astea sunt ingredientele:

- 3 heads raw broccoli, very finely chopped (remove the stem completely) - 3 capatzani broccoli, foarte fin tocate

- 1 large red onion, also very finely chopped - o ceapa rosie mare, de asemenea fin tocata

- 1/2 lb Canadian bacon - 200 gr sunca

- mayonnaise (I used homemade mayo - 1 egg yolk, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, vegetable oil, salt and pepper to taste, lemon juice) - maioneza (eu am facut-o in casa - 1 galbenus de ou, 1 lingurita mustar de Dijon, ulei, sare si piper dupa gust, suc de lamaie)

- sour cream - smantana

- salt and pepper to taste - sare si piper dupa gust

Put the raw broccoli in a large bowl

Puneti broccoli-ul crud intr-un castron mare

Asparagus, Corn and Bacon Quiche

I haven't posted anything in a week, I know, but work is taking up all of my time. I'll try to redeem myself with this very tasty and quick quiche, for which you'll need:

- 1 lb asparagus, woody ends trimmed

- 4 oz bacon, finely sliced (optional)

- 1 medium onion, finely chopped

- 1/2 cup frozen corn, thawed

- one handful of sun-dried tomatoes, sliced (optional)

- 2 eggs

- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream

- 2 oz grated Parmesan cheese

- salt and pepper to taste

- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed and rolled out for a 10-inch tart form

First and foremost, fry the bacon in a non-stick pan. When it's done, take out the bacon on a plate, leaving the fat in the pan, because the asparagus will go in there immediately

Braised Cabbage with Fried Sausage

This is another traditional recipe that my daughter cannot get enough of, and which is very easy to make. Instead of the normal green cabbage, which here seems to be very tough, I used some Savoy cabbage. The sausage is not mandatory, this might very well be a vegetarian side dish.

You'll need:

- 1 medium green (or Savoy) cabbage

- 1 cup white wine (optional, can be replaced with water)

- 2 tablespoons tomato paste

- salt, pepper to taste

- sweet paprika, caraway, thyme, bay leaf to taste

- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

Cut the cabbage in half and core each of the halves. Preheat the oven to 400F

Ratatouille

The ingredients:

It's better to use fresh tomatoes, but I did not have any available and I didn't like the ones at the store, so I decided for the canned version.

Potato, Olives and Vegetable Salad - Salata orientala

This is one of the things I prepared for my daughter's birthday party on Sunday. It stands a lot of variations, entirely up to what's in your fridge or what you feel like having. Quantities are also up to you, can be juggled with based on your preferences.

I started by chopping a bunch of scallions and put them in a large bowl

Then I peeled, cubed and added about 1 lb potatoes in salted boiling water

Zucchini and Feta Cheese Pie - Budinca de dovlecei cu branza Feta

I've got this recipe from Dora_m and let me tell you, it's outrageously easy to make! I used the following:

Am reteta de la Dora_m si este nemaipomenit de usor de facut! Am folosit urmatoarele:

- 4 peeled zucchini (about 1 lb) - 4 dovlecei curatati de coaja (cam 1/2 kg)

- 3/4 lb Feta cheese - 300 gr branza Feta

- 2 eggs - 2 oua

- 5 tablespoons rice - 5 linguri orez

- 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour - 3 linguri faina

- coriander, dill, salt and pepper to taste - coriandru, marar, sare si piper dupa gust

- 3 garlic cloves (optional)- 3 catei de usturoi (optional)

- 100 ml (1/3 cup) olive oil - 100 ml ulei de masline

For topping: - pentru topping

- 1/2 cup kefir (can be replaced with a mix of yogurt and sour cream) - 1/2 cana kefir

- 1 egg - 1 ou

- olive oil - ulei de masline

Eggplant Mushrooms Vegetable Spread - Zacusca de ciuperci

As part of my periodical "empty the refrigerator" campaign, today I proceeded to the "before New Year's Eve" session and got out the following: 

- 3 medium eggplants

- 3 bell peppers

- 3 10oz boxes of pre-cleaned sliced mushrooms

- 2 large yellow onions

- 4 large garlic cloves

To these I added vegetable oil, 2 bay leaves, salt, freshly ground black pepper, hot paprika or chile pepper (if desired), 1 tablespoon tomato paste, about 1 1/2 cups tomato sauce 

Ca parte a campaniei mele periodice de golit frigiderul, in cadrul sesiunii de azi "inaintea Anului Nou", am scos urmatoarele:
- 3 vinete medii
- 3 ardei grasi
- 3 cutii a aproximativ 300 gr de ciuperci, gata curatate si feliate
- 2 cepe mari
- 4 catei maaaari de usturoi
La astea am adaugat ulei, 2 foi de dafin, sare, piper negru proaspat macinat, paprica de ardei iute (daca doriti), 1 lingura pasta de tomate, cam 1 cana si jumatate de sos de rosii.

First I grilled the eggplants and the bell peppers. My recommendation to you is to use the oven and broil them, otherwise you may have to deal with the nice smoke alarm ;)
By the time I got the camera, the eggplants were grilled, their skin cleaned off, and the flesh put to drain, so I'll show you just the bell peppers, 2 on the grill, the third done already

Coaceti vinetele si ardeii, curatati-i, lasati vinetele la scurs

Pilaf sarbesc - Serbian pilaf

Reteta asta este pentru Sandi, stie ea de ce ;)

This recipe is for my friend Sandi, she knows why ;)

Sa incepem cu ingredientele care ne trebuiesc:
- 2 cepe medii, tocate marunt
- 1 ardei gras, taiat cubulete mici
- 2 tije telina, taiate marunt
- 3 rosii potrivite, taiate cubulete
- 1 morcov mare, ras
- 1 mana patrunjel proaspat, tocat
- 1 cana orez
- sare, piper dupa gust

This is what we'll need for this simple and very tasty recipe
-  2 medium onions, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 3 medium tomatoes, finely diced
- 1 large carrot, grated
- 1 handful of fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 cup rice
- salt, pepper to taste

Risotto cu sparanghel, menta si lamaie, reteta lui Jamie Oliver - Asparagus, mint and lemon risotto (recipe by Jamie Oliver)

Ingredientele, in toata splendoarea lor:

The ingredients:

Menta trebuia sa fie proaspata, insa in casa am avut doar uscata, iar supa de legume, un litru, era pe foc. Sa nu-mi ziceti de parmezanul gata ras, stiu si eu, de-asta au avut la magazinul de jos

The recipe calls for fresh mint, but I only had dried. The vegetable stock, 1 quart and 2 tablespoons (one liter), was simmering in another pot. Don't blame me for the already grated Parmesan, that's what I found at the grocery store downstairs.

Am taiat ceapa si telina

Chop the onion and celery stalks

Conopida cu rosii si masline verzi - Roasted cauliflower with tomatoes and green olives

Am scos din frigider si nu numai: - the ingredients:

- o conopida - one cauliflower
- rosii cherry cam 200gr (se pot folosi orice rosii) - about 1/2 lbs cherry tomatoes (any tomatoes are usable for this recipe)
- masline verzi fara samburi cam 100 gr (ale mele au fost cu ierburi) - about 1/4 lbs pitted green olives
- doua cepe curatzate si taiate pestisori - 2 cleaned sliced onions
- 4 catzei de usturoi ciopartzitzi marunt - 4 finely chopped garlic cloves
- sare, piper negru - salt, black pepper
- piper Aleppe (aici m-au pierdut, am scos goagalu si am aflat ca piperul ala se poate inlocui cu boia iute, ceea ce am si facut) - Aleppe pepper, can be replaced with hot paprika
- 5-6 linguri ulei de masline - 5-6 tbsp olive oil
- o lingura oregano proaspat (sau uscat in cazul meu) - 1 tbsp fresh chopped oregano (can be replaced with dried oregano)
- o lingura de patrunjel verde maruntit (eu am pus uscat) - 1 tbsp fresh parsley (or dried)

am curatzat conopida de cotoare si-am facut-o bucatzele mici, dupa care am spalat-o. Pe urma am amestecat-o cu vreo 2 linguri de ulei de masline, cam jumatate de linguritza de sare si niste piper negru proaspat macinat:

clean the cauliflower, split it into small bunches and wash it, then combine it with 2 tbsp olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and freshly ground black pepper

pe urma am varsat totul intr-o tava asa

put it on a baking sheet

si-am bagat la cuptorul preincins la 230 C pt cam jumatate de ora, pana ce conopida a prins culoare si s-a inmuiat putin

then place the baking sheet in the pre-heated oven (450 F) until the cauliflower browns a bit

intre timp am taiat ceapa pestisori, maslinele felii, rosiile cubuletze si am tocat usturoiul

in the meantime slice the onion, garlic and the olives and chop the tomatoes

Am pus intr-o cratitza cam 2 linguri de ulei de masline la incins, peste care am pus ceapa pestisori si am lasat cca 5 minute pana s-a mai inmuiat putintel ceapa

am turnat peste ceapa maslinele si oreganoul

in a pot heat about 2 tbsp of olive oil, add the sliced onion and let it soften for about 5 minutes, then add the olives and the oregano

 dupa care am pus usturoiul, rosiile, patrunjelul, boiaua si le-am mai lasat nitzel sa se cunoasca

then add the garlic, tomatoes, parsley and paprika and stir for a couple of minutes

am adaugat conopida coapta peste amestec

add the roasted cauliflower

 am mai invartit lingura in cratitza

stir a little bit

si gata!

and it's done! I served it with grilled trout