The 60-Second Food Schmooze

Busy weeknight? Try my quick and easy chicken cacciatore stuffed peppers. I had leftover rice from my take-out Chinese, so at the supermarket I bought jarred red pasta sauce, several whole green peppers and a rotisserie chicken. Cut the tops off the fresh peppers and remove the seeds. Mix together the cooked rice, pasta sauce and diced chicken, then stuff the peppers with the mixture. I baked mine in a 350° oven for about 30  minutes, and it worked. Out came a bubbling pan of hearty chicken cacciatore stuffed peppers for a busy weeknight.

Photo: Liji Jinaraj/Flickr, creative commons

How does one of the most skilled chefs in the world cook scallops? Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto steams his scallops in a little sake or white wine. This gives them amazing flavor and a texture like velvet. I tried it and they were fabulous. A bare simmer in a steamer basket and add chopped scallions to the liquid. Steam for about 5 or 6 minutes. Some jasmine rice on the side and you have one delicious dinner.

Photo: Pixabay.com

The post A New, Fantastic Way to Cook Scallops appeared first on Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze.

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How does one of the most skilled chefs in the world cook scallops? Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto steams his scallops in a little sake or white wine. This gives them amazing flavor and a texture like velvet. I tried it and they were fabulous. A bare simmer in a steamer basket and add chopped scallions to the liquid. Steam for about 5 or 6 minutes. Some jasmine rice on the side and you have one delicious dinner.

Photo: Pixabay.com

Do you have a favorite sausage? Then we have an idea for an easy dinner.  You know that tube of polenta on the supermarket shelf? Pull the meat out of the sausage casings and brown it in a skillet. Layer the bottom of a baking dish with jarred red sauce, then thick slices of the polenta, and lots of grated pecorino romano cheese. Repeat with a second layer and more sauce and cheese, and bake it in the oven for 30-45 minutes. Italian winter comfort food for weeknights or for company.

Photo: urbanfoodie33/Flickr, creative commons

The post Tube Polenta Bake with Sausage, Red Sauce & Cheese appeared first on Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze.

Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have a favorite sausage? Then we have an idea for an easy dinner.  You know that tube of polenta on the supermarket shelf? Pull the meat out of the sausage casings and brown it in a skillet. Layer the bottom of a baking dish with jarred red sauce, then thick slices of the polenta, and lots of grated pecorino romano cheese. Repeat with a second layer and more sauce and cheese, and bake it in the oven for 30-45 minutes. Italian winter comfort food for weeknights or for company.

Photo: urbanfoodie33/Flickr, creative commons

Want a cure for the winter blues? Nutritionists and depression researchers think certain foods lift your mood, especially in darker winters. These foods include salmon, red and blue berries, egg yolks and milk products, turkey and other lean proteins—and, important— foods with low to no sugar. I know…but wait for it…chocolate every day is great, as long as it’s the darkest kind. I start every day with a little 88 percent chocolate, which is very low in sugar and lifts my spirits,  the way sunshine does. Otherwise, you can always fly someplace warm; it’s just a lot more expensive.

The post Eat a Mood Lifter appeared first on Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze.

Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Want a cure for the winter blues? Nutritionists and depression researchers think certain foods lift your mood, especially in darker winters. These foods include salmon, red and blue berries, egg yolks and milk products, turkey and other lean proteins—and, important— foods with low to no sugar. I know…but wait for it…chocolate every day is great, as long as it’s the darkest kind. I start every day with a little 88 percent chocolate, which is very low in sugar and lifts my spirits,  the way sunshine does. Otherwise, you can always fly someplace warm; it’s just a lot more expensive.

Chefs have secrets, even making deeply delicious slow cooker beef stew. All you do to create big flavor is brown your meat in a skillet on the stovetop first with a little oil. Sear the roast or chunks until lightly browned. Do the same with sliced onions. When it’s done, add a little wine to scrape up the crispy bits in the pan and toss it all into the slow cooker with root vegetables. That one step will give you crazy good beef stew, meltingly tender. Use brisket, bottom round or chuck.

Photo: Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife/Flickr, creative commons

The post One-Step Secret to Awesome Slow Cooker Beef Stew appeared first on Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze.

Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chefs have secrets, even making deeply delicious slow cooker beef stew. All you do to create big flavor is brown your meat in a skillet on the stovetop first with a little oil. Sear the roast or chunks until lightly browned. Do the same with sliced onions. When it’s done, add a little wine to scrape up the crispy bits in the pan and toss it all into the slow cooker with root vegetables. That one step will give you crazy good beef stew, meltingly tender. Use brisket, bottom round or chuck.

Photo: Kitchen Life of a Navy Wife/Flickr, creative commons

Want a super-fast recipe for Parmesan potatoes? Throw unpeeled red potatoes, cut in quarters, into a big pot of water and boil until the potatoes are fork-tender, about 12 minutes. Drain them, put them back in the same empty pot, add 3/4 cup of olive oil, salt, pepper and a cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. Anyone can make this easy, irresistible recipe. And wow, do kids like it.

Photo: Martin Burns/Flickr, creative commons

The post Smashed Cheesy Red Potatoes appeared first on Faith Middleton's Food Schmooze.

Support the show: https://foodschmooze.org/donate/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.