Zuppa di Farro con Zucca Farro Soup with Squash

Sounds healthy, no? From ArdiBarrCrocetti.com. Serves 6.

Ingredients

1 C Rustichella d'Abruzzo whole farro
1 1/2 - 2 lbs butternut squash, cut in 1 inch chunks
2 ribs celery, cut into 1/4 inch dice
2 large carrots, cut into 1/4 inch dice
2-3 shallots, very thinly sliced (approx 3/4 C)
1 28 oz can of tomatoes, chopped or crushed
1/4 C Italian parsley, roughly chopped
1 sprig of rosemary
3-4 C unsalted chicken broth
1/2 C dried cannellini beans or 1 15 oz can, rinsed and drained
1 bay leaf
Peperocino flakes
Fine sea salt
Black pepper
EVOO
Rinds of Parmigiano-Reggiano
Grated parmigiano-reggiano

Directions (for canned beans):

1. Transfer farro to a medium bowl and cover with 2 inches of cold water. Soak for 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a 4 quart saucepan, adding 6 C of cold water. Cover and bring to a rolling boil. Remove the lid, add 1/4 tsp of sea salt. Stir, reduce to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, until farro is barely tender, about 20 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, pour 3 T. of EVOO into a low, 6 quart heavy bottom Dutch oven and heat over a medium flame. Add squash, celery, carrot, shallots, and 1/2 tsp of salt, tossing to coat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables soften and take on a translucent, shiny appearance about 12 min. Do not brown the shallots.

3. Add the tomatoes and their juices, the peperocino, parsley, rosemary and 3 C of chicken broth. Simmer until the vegetables are soft, another 10-15 min. Remove the rosemary sprig and use an immersion blender to puree half the mixture.

4. Add the beans, farro and 1/2 tsp each of salt and pepper. Simmer for 10 more minutes. Salt/pepper to taste. If desired, add additional C of chicken broth.

5. Serve with grated parmigiano on top.

Rosemary and Cheese Biscuits

The truth is that shortly before Christmas the cooking bug in me died. I don't know what happened. Just one day I wasn't interested anymore. I stopped looking at my stock pile of recipes, dreaming of the kitchen, wondering what ingredients to buy next. I just lost interest. That and I was tired. Tired from residency, tired from December, tired about eating.

Which was unfortunate, because my kind sister S. got us this lovely cookbook for Christmas full of beautiful pictures and good things to eat, and I looked at it and just didn't have the gumption to begin.

Until I discovered the recipe for Cheesy Biscuits and then I was reminded of this time I went to Red Lobster (I think the only time I ever went to Red Lobster) in Burlingame or some other such odd place (I can't remember exactly) and there I ate these amazing delicious little cheesy biscuits that I have wanted ever since and finally that little memory alone propelled me back into the kitchen... twice thus far. Yes, they were that good I overcame my cooking lull to make them not once, but twice! And today I have been singing happy little songs all about cheesy biscuits and smooching my Robber and all was well in the world, briefly, when the cheesy biscuits came out of the oven and the smell wafted through the Cubby and the hope of brighter days ahead dawned. All from the cheesy biscuits.

Adapted from The Essential Fingerfood Cookbook by Bay Books, page 56.

Ingredients:

1 C. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

3.5 oz butter, chopped

4 T. sour cream or buttermilk or plain Greek yogurt (the original recipe calls for 1 T. but I have used 4 both times)

2 oz. grated Cheddar cheese

2 oz. grated Parmesan cheese

1 T. chopped fresh rosemary

1 T. chopped fresh chives

Directions:

1. Sift the flour and baking powder together in a bowl. Cut in the butter into the mixture is akin to fine breadcrumbs.

2. Add the cheeses and herbs and stir until thoroughly mixed. Add the fat in 1-2 tablespoons at a time until the mixture is softened. You may have to dump the mixture out onto the counter and knead it together so that it forms a firm ball of dough. Wrap the ball in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes.

3. While refrigerating, preheat the oven to 350 F and lightly grease one baking sheet with butter or oil (or use parchment paper).

4. Press the chilled dough out into a flat round and cut into 8 wedges. Arrange the wedges on the baking sheet and bake until the wedges are puffy and started to crisp around the edges, about 15-20 minutes. Remove from the oven and cool-- the biscuits will deflate a little while cooling but ideally will have crispy cheesy edges with soft warm cheesy insides. Enjoy!

Grilled Butterflied Leg of Lamb

This is another Robber recipe that has been sitting around waiting to be blogged since the Passover. We had a couple over from our ward for Seder and did a smaller version of what we have done at home for a long time. This was the Robber's contribution-- his first experience cooking lamb-- and he did such a good job with it! He grilled the lamb and it was delicious! We save his inspiration here for posterity.

From Simply Recipes:

http://simplyrecipes.com/recipes/grilled_butterflied_leg_of_lamb/

Ingredients:

1 boneless leg of lamb, 5 to 6 lbs, butterflied

1/2 onion, diced

4 cloves garlic, peeled and diced

2 T. fresh chopped rosemary leaves or 1 T. dried

Zest of 1 lemon

1 T. apple cider vinegar

2 T. olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper

Directions:

1. Chop onion, garlic, and rosemary finely and combine with lemon zest, vinegar and olive oil to create marinade. 

2. Sprinkle a generous amount of salt and pepper over the lamb. Place marinade and lamb in 1-gallon freezer bag. Spread marinade over all sides of the meat. Seal the bag and refrigerate 1-2 hrs.

3. Remove lamb from refrigerator and let come to room temp (about 20 min.) Remove lamb from marinade bag and insert a few skewers through the lamb, crosswise. 

4. Prepare grill. If using gas grill, begin by heating grill on high on all burners. Place lamb, fat side down, on the grill. Sear one side for 4 min, then flip the lamb over to sear the other side for another 4 min. Lower the heat to low, goal temp 300-350F. Cover the grill and let cook for an additional 35-45 minutes until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the roast registers a minimum of 130F (for medium rare).

5. Transfer to a cutting board with a well to catch the juices. Cover with aluminum foil and let rest 5-10 min. Remove skewers. Cut across the grain, 1/4-1/2 inch thick slices. (This recipe's authors recommend serving with mint jelly.)

Yield: Serves 8-10. 

Rosemary Chicken Salad

I made chicken salad on Saturday for M.'s baby shower and, loving this new blog, looked to it for some inspiration. What I ended up making was a hybrid between my standard chicken salad and this one-- basically I just made my old salad but used some of her ideas (using one half Greek yogurt instead of straight mayonnaise, a hint of Dijon, rosemary) and was very pleased with the results. I use toasted slivered almonds, cucumber, and celery in my salad and also threw in some green onions this time, for effect. Anyway, everyone liked the salad, so I'll blog this recipe here as a remind to myself that next time I made chicken salad I might make my hybrid again.

From a Hint of Honey:
http://www.ahintofhoney.com/2009/01/rosemary-chicken-salad-sandiwches.html

Ingredients:

1 lb. chicken breast, cooked and diced
1/3 C. green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 C. smoked almonds, chopped (I use toasted slivered almonds)
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
3 T. nonfat Greek yogurt
3 T. mayonnaise
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Whole wheat bread or pita, for serving (I still think eating chicken salad with a cheddar dill scone is amazing.)

Directions:

1. Toss to combine chicken, onions, almonds, and rosemary in a medium bowl. Add yogurt, mayonnaise, and Dijon, stirring to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Yield: Serves 4

Hamburgers by the Robber

The Robber's first Vegetable Tuesday recipe! On Labor Day I made homemade buns and the Robber made his own hamburgers and grilled them and then we feasted on hamburgers all week long!!! The Robber was basically in heaven, which is what I say on every blog post these days but it is true since I have come to be with him. :)

Ingredients:

4 lbs. ground hamburger (80% meat, 20% fat)

1/2 large white onion, diced

5 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp. salt (1/2 tsp. per pound)

1/4 tsp. dried sage

1/4 tsp. dried rosemary

1/4 tsp. garlic salt

Directions:

1. Mix everything up well but not too much (your goal is to get it mixed but touch the meat as little as possible.)

2. Form into 12-ish 1.5" thick patties by grabbing out the amount of meat you could hold in your fist. Press the meat into a patty with your hands. Put your thumb into the middle of the patty to leave a deep thumb print (this will help the patty retain its juices.)

3. Heat gas grill as high as possible, allow to equilibrate for 15-20 minutes to get up to heat. Spray surface with cooking spray to prevent the meat from sticking. BBQ temp should reach approx 500F. Place the burgers on the grill, set timer for 3 min. After 2.5-3 min flip the burgers and grill for 2.5-3 more min, then remove from heat and serve. 3 minutes produces a medium well to done burger. If desired, you can put cheese on for the last 90 seconds or so.