I’m still trying to get back on schedule after the holidays. The daily grind, exercising more, and trying to get back to healthy eating is always a challenge at this time of year! However, I still have holiday foods hanging around. For a recent party, I made a spinach artichoke dip. It was delicious, but there was lots left. I don’t think it will freeze well due to the cheese and cream, so I decided to have one last hurrah with it before dumping it. I used it as a sauce for chicken. This is the easiest recipe in the entire world. Put one chicken breast on parchment. Spread 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup spinach artichoke dip on top. Fold it up, bake for 20 min at 400 and enjoy. Spinach artichoke dip is readily available pre-made in the freezer section of the grocery store, or you might have brought some home as leftovers from your favorite restaurant (I did that recently too).

I’m still trying to get back on schedule after the holidays. The daily grind, exercising more, and trying to get back to healthy eating is always a challenge at this time of year! However, I still have holiday foods hanging around. For a recent party, I made a spinach artichoke dip. It was delicious, but … Read more →

I’ve tried to make gnocchi in the past with disastrous results. Another kitchen gadget I got for Christmas is a potato ricer, which apparently is absolutely essential in making gnocchi (all the recipes I’ve tried in the past have made it sound optional). So, with my ricer in hand, I was ready to dive back into gnocchi making. This recipe has been hanging around my recipe notebook for a long, long time and I was thrilled to finally give it a try.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Fried Sage

1 1/4 lbs baking potatoes

1 (1/4 lb) sweet potato

1 egg

1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/3 cup Parmesan

1 1/2 to 2 cups flour

1/3 cup olive oil

1 cup sage leaves

1 tbsp butter

Bake potatoes at 450 for 45 min to an hour until tender (I tried microwaving the potatoes in the past and it just doesn’t work – you have to bake them). Allow to cool, then peel and force through ricer onto a baking sheet. Spread into an even layer and allow to cool (I set mine outside and they cooled quickly). Mix egg, nutmeg, 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp pepper in a small bowl.

Gather potatoes in a mound on the baking sheet, making a well in the middle. Pour the egg mixture into the center and knead. Knead in cheese and 1 1/2 flour. Add more flour if needed and knead until it is smooth but slightly sticky.

Cut dough into 6 pieces. Roll each out into a rope about 1/2 inch thick, on a lightly floured surface. Cut into 1/2 inch pieces.  Boil a large pot of salted water and add half the gnocchi, cooking until it rises to the top, then cook the other half. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a skillet until shimmery, then add the sage, frying until they turn a shade lighter and crisp. Drain on paper towels.

Remove the sage and add the butter to the oil, cooking until it browns. Add cooked gnocchi to the butter and cook a few minutes, tossing. Serve with sage leaves and extra Parmesan cheese.

The gnocchi turned out really, really well. I didn’t do anything other than cut it into pieces (no fussing with marks from a fork). I really loved the flavor of it – the sweet potato gave it a nice taste. It was light and not gummy (unlike my previous attempts). I didn’t get any flavor from the fried sage though, so that was disappointing. I want to try a butternut squash gnocchi next.

I’ve tried to make gnocchi in the past with disastrous results. Another kitchen gadget I got for Christmas is a potato ricer, which apparently is absolutely essential in making gnocchi (all the recipes I’ve tried in the past have made it sound optional). So, with my ricer in hand, I was ready to dive back … Read more →

I got a donut pan for Christmas and I could hardly wait to use it! My family loves donuts, but they’re just not a very healthy breakfast option. Baking donuts with ingredients I could control really appealed to me. I used a recipe I had been saving from Health Magazine since October:

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

1/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

1/4 cup honey

2 tbsp melted butter

1 tbsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 425 and spray the donut pan with cooking spray. Mix buttermilk, eggs, honey, butter and vanilla. Then add dry ingredients. Put the batter in the pan, filling each space about 2/3 of the way. Bake for 7 minutes and let it cool for about 2-3 minutes, then roll each donut in cinnamon and sugar (a half and half mixture). Serve immediately. If you reheat the next day, roll in the cinnamon sugar mix again before serving.Makes about 12 donuts.

This was a huge hit here. The donuts are moist and have a nice texture. The wheat flour gives it a heartiness I really appreciate. I’m going to be tweaking this one, trying some wheat germ or flaxseed in it and then experimenting with adding some apples, so I can have some different varieties in my repertoire. I may have to buy a second donut pan since mine makes only 6!

I got a donut pan for Christmas and I could hardly wait to use it! My family loves donuts, but they’re just not a very healthy breakfast option. Baking donuts with ingredients I could control really appealed to me. I used a recipe I had been saving from Health Magazine since October: 1 cup whole … Read more →

You would swear my husband is Greek. He could happily eat at a Greek restaurant every night I think. He even puts feta cheese on his hamburgers. So he was quite happy to devour my Greek chicken in a packet dish.

Here’s the recipe for making just one. Repeat as necessary for as many portions as you would like to make:
1 boneless skinless chicken breast
1 tsp olive oil
salt and pepper (use more than you think you need)
1/8 tsp onion powder
1 whole canned tomato (from a can of “whole tomatoes)
4 artichoke heart quarters from a can or freezer bag
1/8 tsp Greek seasoning
1/4 cup feta cheese
1/2 tsp lemon juice
spring of parsley and oregano (optional)

Place the chicken breast on your parchment. Drizzle olive oil on top and season with salt and pepper and onion powder. Top with tomato and artichoke. Sprinkle Greek seasoning on top then drizzle with lemon juice. Top with fresh herbs if you have them. Fold parchment and bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Let it rest 3-4 minutes before serving.

You would swear my husband is Greek. He could happily eat at a Greek restaurant every night I think. He even puts feta cheese on his hamburgers. So he was quite happy to devour my Greek chicken in a packet dish. Here’s the recipe for making just one. Repeat as necessary for as many portions … Read more →

One of things that is hardest to manage over the holidays is breakfast. If you have guests, or if you just want something other than a bagel or a bowl of cereal, there just isn’t a lot of time to whip things up in the midst of the madness. I’ve come up with a great solution – the omelet biscuit. Using canned biscuits, eggs and whatever filling makes you happy, these muffin tin liner treats offer a hearty, delicious breakfast with almost no clean up. What could be better?

1 can of regular (not jumbo biscuits)
5 eggs
1/4 cup milk
1/4 tsp thyme
1/8 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper
frozen broccoli or fresh broccoli that’s been cooked
cheddar cheese

Fill your muffin tin with 10 foil lined muffin tin cups. Spray them with cooking spray. Preheat oven to 400. Take one biscuit at a time and smush it so it gets flatter (making it round like you would with a tiny piece of pizza dough). You want it big enough to cover the bottom and some of the sides of the muffin liner, but it does not need to come up to the top – it’s ok if your eggs go over the top of the biscuit. Mix up eggs with milk and herbs and spices. Place two florets of broccoli in each tin and a tablespoon of grated cheese. Pour egg mixture over top. Bake for 15 minutes.

It’s that easy. You can substitute spinach for the broccoli or swap out the cheese with another type. Change out the herbs with anything you have. You could ditch the veggies and add bacon. You could also swap out a couple of the eggs for plain egg whites and add a little extra milk. You can use skim milk, whole milk, cream, or whatever you have in the fridge. It’s a very versatile recipe. You could even use squares of puff pastry in place of the biscuits if you have some leftover. These are great hot or at room temp, so you can easily make them ahead and let them sit out for people to grab.

One of things that is hardest to manage over the holidays is breakfast. If you have guests, or if you just want something other than a bagel or a bowl of cereal, there just isn’t a lot of time to whip things up in the midst of the madness. I’ve come up with a great … Read more →

I can’t get enough of Hawaii. We visited a few years ago and I’m just not over it. So, I created this little “Hawaii in a packet” to console myself. It’s sweet and brings back the flavors of the islands to me. It’s also easy to make with no mess!

4 boneless pork chops
2 tsp olive oil
1/4 tsp garlic powder
4 individual serving containers of tropical fruit (or pineapple)
4 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
salt and pepper

Place one chop in the center of a piece of parchment (see Techniques page for info on using and folding parchment). Rub with 1/2 tsp olive oil. Sprinkle 1/4 of the garlic powder on top. Dump one container of fruit on top. Add 1 tbsp soy sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold parchment. Repeat with other 3 chops. Bake at 400 for 20 minutes. Allow to rest about 5 minutes before opening and enjoying!

I can’t get enough of Hawaii. We visited a few years ago and I’m just not over it. So, I created this little “Hawaii in a packet” to console myself. It’s sweet and brings back the flavors of the islands to me. It’s also easy to make with no mess! 4 boneless pork chops 2 … Read more →

I had such a great response to my post about doing rice noodles in parchment, I decided to take the leap and see if I could do more traditional pastas this way also. The answer? YES! I actually made this dish two ways – the traditional way and the parchment paper method. They are identical in taste, flavor, and texture (except some of the manicotti noodles ripped when I boiled them and when I used the parchment method they did not and turned out perfectly shaped). The difference? No manicotti pan to scrub afterwards.

Line your baking sheet with foil then place your parchment on top (see Technique page for info about how to use and fold the parchment). Soak 8 manicotti shells in your sink, covered in hot water for 20 minutes.  In a large plastic zip bag, mix 1 container of cottage cheese or 1 container of ricotta (or a mix of half and half of each), 1 package of frozen spinach (defrosted and squeezed dry), 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, 1 tsp Italian herb mix, and salt and pepper to taste. Seal the bag and squish it up till it’s mixed. Cut a hole in the corner of the bag and use it to pipe the mix into the shells.

Place 1/8 cup spaghetti sauce at the bottom of each parchment packet in the shape of 2 manicotti. Place 2 stuffed manicotti on top. Top with 1/2 cup sauce. Repeat for other 3 packets. Bake at 400 for 25 minutes. Allow to rest about 3 minutes before cutting open the packets.

It turns out perfectly. It’s moist and delicious and full of flavor. Definitely my new favorite way of making pasta!

I had such a great response to my post about doing rice noodles in parchment, I decided to take the leap and see if I could do more traditional pastas this way also. The answer? YES! I actually made this dish two ways – the traditional way and the parchment paper method. They are identical … Read more →

We went to Alaska this past summer. It was an amazing trip. Mr. NoPot and son caught salmon we’ve been eating. They didn’t catch any halibut, but we did have the opportunity to have fresh halibut while we were there and it was wonderful. I’m back to frozen halibut now from the grocery store, but I have a great little cookbook I picked up in Alaska called Fishes and Dishes, which inspired this recipe.

4 4 oz halibut filets
3 tsp Dijon mustard
1/2 cup light sour cream
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1/4 tsp dried minced onion
1/4 tsp dried dill
4 ounces frozen chopped spinach, squeezed dry
salt and pepper to taste

Place one filet on each piece of parchment (and remember, you can find folding instructions and other tips on the “Technique” page of this blog). In a bowl, mix all the other ingredients. Spoon 1/4 of the sauce on top of each filet. Fold the packet and bake at 400 degrees for 17 minutes. Serve with some wedges of lemon to squeeze.

I love the light creaminess of this sauce and I am also a big fan of spinach. The flavors go so well with the light flaky halibut. I loved this quick, no mess, delicious dish!

We went to Alaska this past summer. It was an amazing trip. Mr. NoPot and son caught salmon we’ve been eating. They didn’t catch any halibut, but we did have the opportunity to have fresh halibut while we were there and it was wonderful. I’m back to frozen halibut now from the grocery store, but … Read more →

We don’t eat a lot of red meat, so turkey is definitely something I use a lot. It’s a nice change from chicken and fish. The key to turkey cutlets is keeping them moist and making sure they don’t get overdone. This recipe gives the turkey an interesting flavor and does it with no mess!

4 turkey cutlets
8 tbsp apricot preserves
4 tsp soy sauce
pepper
dry mustard
4 parsley sprigs (optional)

Place one cutlet in the middle of a piece of parchment. Spread 2 tbsp apricot preserves on top and drizzle with 1 tsp soy sauce. Add a pinch of pepper and a pinch of dry mustard to each packet. Top with a sprig of fresh parsley if you have any. Seal them up and bake at 400 for 15 minute. Allow them rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.

This is one of my favorite turkey cutlet recipes!

We don’t eat a lot of red meat, so turkey is definitely something I use a lot. It’s a nice change from chicken and fish. The key to turkey cutlets is keeping them moist and making sure they don’t get overdone. This recipe gives the turkey an interesting flavor and does it with no mess! … Read more →

I must sound like a spokesperson for the Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook, but I swear I’m not. My latest recipe from this cookbook is Stuffed Chicken Breasts. Chicken cordon bleu is one of those things that was always on the menu 20 years ago. And you always got a really bad version of it banquets. So I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this recipe.

Filling:

1 tbsp butter

1 small onion, minced

1 small garlic clove, minced

4 oz cream cheese, softened

1 tsp minced thyme

2 ounces cheddar, shredded

4 slices deli ham

Chicken:

1 (5-6 oz) chicken skinless boneless chicken breasts

3/4 cup flour

2 eggs

1 tbsp plus 3/4 cup vegetable oil

4 slices white bread, made into coarse crumbs and dried

Melt the butter and add onion and cook 15-20 min. Add garlic and cook 20 seconds.

Mix the cream cheese with a mixer until fluffy, 1 minute. Stir in the onion mixture and add thyme and cheddar and salt and pepper to taste.

Butterfly the chicken and then pound it to 1/4 inch thickness. Place the chicken smooth side down and spread with 1/4 of the cheese mixture. Salt and pepper it. Place 1 slice ham on top. Roll up the cutlet from the tapered end, folding in the edges to form a neat cylinder. Refrigerate for 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 450. Beat egg with 1 tbsp oil. Dip chicken in flour, egg, then breadcrumbs. Place on a wire rack and let it rest 5 min.

Heat 3/4 cup oil in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat until shimmery. Add the chicken, seam side down, and cook 2 min until golden. Turn and cook the other side 2-3 minutes. Transfer seam side down to a baking sheet and baked at 450 about 15 min until the center is 165 degrees.

Wow. It really worked. The chicken had an incredible crunchy outside and a divine creamy center. A couple of things I would do differently: I would use less cream cheese and more of some other cheese. It was a little bland. I would also use less oil for the pan frying aspect of this. Other than that, I highly recommend this recipe!

I must sound like a spokesperson for the Complete America’s Test Kitchen TV Show Cookbook, but I swear I’m not. My latest recipe from this cookbook is Stuffed Chicken Breasts. Chicken cordon bleu is one of those things that was always on the menu 20 years ago. And you always got a really bad version … Read more →