Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

This recipe is very forgiving, and I usually don't measure much and it always turns out amazing.  Also, the cauliflower is awesome even without pasta...

 Roasted Cauliflower Pasta

Ingredients

• 1 head of garlic, cloves separated but not peeled (honestly, I haven't had garlic the last couple times so I just sprinkle a bunch of garlic powder on the cauliflower with the salt and pepper and it's awesome)
• 1 large head of cauliflower, trimmed, cut into florets
• 4½ tablespoons good olive oil, divided
• Kosher salt and black pepper
• ¼ cup minced fresh parsley (optional,but pretty and good)
• 3 Tbsp. toasted pine nuts
• 2 Tbsp. freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 6 oz. linguine (or whatever.)
• parmesan/romano/asiago cheese, shredded

1.) Preheat oven to 450° F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the garlic cloves. Boil for 15 seconds. Fish out the cloves, peel and cut off any brown parts. Cut the largest cloves in half lengthwise. Keep the water simmering.
2.) On a sheet pan, toss the cauliflower with garlic, 3 Tbsp. olive oil, 2 tsp. salt and 1 tsp. pepper. Spread mixture out in a single layer and roast for 20-25 minutes, tossing twice, until the cauliflower is tender and garlic is lightly browned. When the cauliflower is about 5 minutes away from being done, sprinkle some parmesan/romano/asiago cheese on the cauliflower, then season the water with salt and some olive oil. Toss the pasta into the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain and put pasta in large mixing bowl.
3.) Scrape the cauliflower with garlic and pan juices into large mixing bowl with pasta. Add remaining 1½ Tbsp. olive oil, parsley, pine nuts and lemon juice. Sprinkle with more cheese (to taste). Toss everything together.

Jalapeno Jelly

We love this jelly on Ritz crackers, with or without cream cheese!
From Ball Blue Book Guide to Preserving (100th anniversary edition):

Jalapeno Jelly
Not a true jelly, because the pepper puree is in the finished product, but the product is nearly transparent anyway.
3/4 lb. jalapeno peppers
2 c. cider vinegar, divided
6 c. sugar
2 pouches liquid pectin
(optional green food coloring)

    Wash peppers; drain. Remove stems and seeds. Puree peppers and 1 c. vinegar in a food processor or blender.  Combine puree, 1 c. vinegar, and sugar in a large sauce pot.  Bring to a boil; boil 10 minutes, stirring constantly.  Stir in liquid pectin.  Return to a rolling boil.  Boil hard 1 minute, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat. Skim foam if necessary.  Stir in a few drops of food coloring, if desired.  Ladle hot jelly into hot jars, leaving 1/4 inch headspace.  Adjust two piece caps.  Process 15 minutes (10 min. sea level + 5 min. for 1,,001-6,000 ft. altitude) in a boiling water canner.
    Note: When cutting or seeding hot peppers wear rubber gloves to prevent hands from being burned.
    Yield: about 5 half pints.

Cilantro-Lime Pesto

• 1 bunch cilantro leaves (about 1 cup)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons pine nuts (slices, toasted almonds work as well)
• 1/2 tablespoon chopped, fresh garlic
• 1 1/2 teaspoons lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon lime zest (sometimes I don't have this and it's still awesome without it.)
• 1/2 cup shredded parmesan or asiago cheese
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt (add to taste at the end)
• 1/4 cup chicken broth (the less of this you add, the less "saucy" it will be.)

Put all ingredients (except salt) in a food processor or blender and have at it.

This is great on quesadillas where I add any combination of the following:

•  Shredded or grilled chicken
• Black beans
• Corn (canned works great)
• Mexican blend cheese (or sharp cheddar, jack, etc.)
• Sweet onions
• Feta

I found this recipe on Pinterest, and it was freaking delicious.

Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Ingredients

For stir fry sauce:
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice vinegar (mine was seasoned)
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar (I used almost 2 T)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper (I almost used srirracha instead, but I didn't)
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil 

For Cashew Chicken:
• 2 chicken breasts (about 3/4 lb. total), diced (I used more like 1 lb)
• 8 leaves of greenleaf or iceburg lettuce
• 3 tablespoons canola oil (or oil of choice)
• 1 cup onion, diced
  
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon soy sauce
• 1/4 cup cashews, chopped (I estimated this, and probably put in more like 1/2 c)
• Salt and pepper to taste
• basil to garnish

Instructions

1. Mix all ingredients for the stir fry sauce making sure to dissolve brown sugar. Set aside.
2. Heat canola oil in pan over medium to medium high heat. Add diced chicken and brown (about 4-5 minutes). Remove chicken from oil. Add onions, garlic and 1 teaspoon soy sauce to pan; brown. When onions and garlic are brown and tender, add stir fry sauce, browned chicken, and cashews. Saute mixture for a few minutes and remove from heat.  
3. Spoon chicken mixture into individual lettuce leaves. Add your favorite hot sauce, more cashews or basil.

source: shewearsmanyhats.com

Marinated Cucumber Salad (Fresh Pickles)

Ingredients:

2-3 cucumbers, peeled and sliced thin.
1 large sweet onion (Walla Walla, Vidalia, etc.), sliced thin in rings or
1 cup white vinegar (white wine, or distilled)
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup sugar (or Splenda)
1 - 2 T dill weed

Instructions:

Combine cucumbers and onions in large metal bowl.  Combine vinegar, water, and sugar in a saucepan and boil until sugar is dissolved.  Pour over cucumbers and onions.  Stir in dill weed until combined.  Chill until cold, and serve. 

Shrimp Scampi

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds large shrimp (about 16 to 24)
• 1/3 cup clarified butter
• 4 tablespoons minced garlic
• 6 green onions, thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup dry white wine
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice, fresh if possible
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper, to taste

Directions:

Rinse shrimp and set aside. Heat butter in large skillet over medium heat. Cook garlic 1 or 2 minutes or until softened but not browned. Add shrimp, green onions, wine and lemon juice; cook until shrimp are pink and firm, about 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Do not overcook. Add chopped parsley and salt and pepper before serving. Garnish with lemon slices and parsley sprigs if desired. Makes 8 first-course servings.

I removed the shrimp from the pan when they were done, and let the sauce cook down a bit, then poured it over the shrimp.

Carrabba's Style Herb Dip for bread/pasta

Besides their yummy entrees, one of my favorite things about Carrabba's restaurant is their bread, because even though it isn't the best bread ever, it is made so by the herb/olive oil dipping stuff they serve on a little plate along with it. I always order extra. Tonight I whipped up a concoction that is close enough to that herb stuff (it has a proper name, I'm just not urbane enough to know it) to make me happy. So here's what I did. This recipe makes a lot. A little goes a long way.

1 Tbsp. dried Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp. dried basil
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
6 or 7 grinds of black pepper
1 tsp. finely minced fresh garlic
olive oil (extra virgin is best)

Mix all ingredients except olive oil. Stir in enough olive oil to make a medium thick paste. Use some now with bread or on pasta; save the rest, covered, in the refrigerator for later.
-B-