Ingredients

• 1 lb. Chicken, cut into strips
• 1 lb. Green beans, ends snapped off and in bite size pieces
• 1 package sliced mushrooms
• 1 large can or 2 small cans of condensed cream of mushroom soup
• 1 can French’s fried onions

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 375°. Mix together the green beans, mushrooms, soup, and half the fried onions. Arrange the chicken on the bottom of a casserole dish. Pour the green bean mixture over the chicken. Bake the casserole for about 45 minutes, or until the soup is bubbling. Sprinkle the rest of the fired onions on top of the casserole and cook for another 5 minutes, until the onions brown.

Ingredients

• 2 medium onions, peeled
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• salt and freshly ground pepper
• 1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage
• 1/2 cup water
• 4 pounds pork leg or shoulder, at room temperature
• About 1/4 cup fennel spice rub

Preparation

Thinly slice the onions. Heat the olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat until hot. Add the onions and a pinch of salt and pepper. Reduce the heat to medium-low and cook for about 1 minute. Add the sage and cook until the onions cease throwing off water, about 3 minutes. Add the water, cover, and cook until the onions are very tender, about 10 minutes. Uncover and saute until the onions are very soft and the pan is dry again, about 2 minutes. Season well with salt and pepper.

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees. Peel back the pork skin and spread the onions directly on the fat layer. Fold the skin back over the onions and tie closed with kitchen string. Season well all over with the fennel spice.

Arrange the meat on a rack in a roasting pan (or using the Cocorico, see below) and cook until the meat is very tender, 6 to 8 hours. It is ready when it pulls away easily if picked at with a pair of tongs. It is often easiest to cook the meat overnight, or put it in the oven in the morning and let it cook all day. It does not need to be attended.

Michael Chiarello, Napa Style

Ingredients

• 2 lb ground lamb
• 1 finely chopped medium onion
• 1 tbsp finely chopped garlic
• 1 tbsp dried oregano
• 1 tbsp ground rosemary
• 1 tbsp ground fenugreek
• 2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp ground pepper

Preparation

Mix together as for meatloaf. Place in loaf pan and bake at 325 for 1 to 11/2 hours. Drain off fat and let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

Ingredients

Raspberry sauce:

• 3/4 cup lightly packed fresh raspberries (about 3 1/2 ounces)
• 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1/2 cup safflower oil
• 3 to 6 teaspoons water (optional)

Chicken:

• 1 cup chopped hazelnuts (about 4 1/2 ounces)
• 3/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) or plain dried breadcrumbs
• 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 3 teaspoons coarsely ground black pepper, divided
• 1/3 cup honey mustard
• 1/3 cup finely chopped fresh mint leaves
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 4 large skinless boneless chicken breast halves, butterflied
• 4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
• 3 tablespoons peanut oil
• 4 cups baby salad greens
• 1/2 cup fresh raspberries

Preparation

For raspberry sauce: Puree raspberries, white wine vinegar, and sugar in blender until smooth. With blender running, gradually add safflower oil. Add water by teaspoonfuls as needed to thin to desired consistency. Season raspberry sauce to taste with salt and pepper. [JP: This sauce would also work well as a raspberry vinaigrette.]

For chicken: Preheat oven to 375°F. Mix hazelnuts, panko, 1 tablespoon coarse salt, and 2 teaspoons pepper in shallow bowl.

Mix honey mustard, mint leaves, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, remaining 1 teaspoon coarse salt, and remaining 1 teaspoon pepper in bowl. Add chicken; coat, leaving to marinate for a bit.

Dip chicken pieces, 1 at a time, into crumb-nut mixture, coating both sides and pressing to adhere. Transfer coated chicken pieces to baking sheet.

Divide equal amounts of butter and peanut oil between 2 large nonstick skillets (try to use a minimal amount of oil for your skillets); heat over medium-high heat. Add 2 chicken pieces to each skillet; reduce heat to medium and cook until chicken is light brown, about 4 minutes per side. Place chicken on rimmed baking sheet; transfer to oven. Roast chicken until cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Divide salad greens among 4 plates; top with chicken. Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve raspberry sauce alongside.

Bon Appetit, July 2008

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup bulgur
• 1 cup frozen, thawed cooked baby shrimp, well drained (about 4 ounces)
• 2 tablespoons sliced pitted green olives
• 4 large grape tomatoes, sliced
• 1 scallion, trimmed and chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced Italian parsley
• 2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation

Bring 1/2 cup water to boiling in a small pot. Stir in bulgur. Cover, remove from heat and let stand 15 minutes or until water is absorbed and bulgur is chewy, not hard. Spoon into a large salad bowl and set aside to cool. Add shrimp, olives, tomatoes, scallion and parsley to bulgur. Stir well. Combine vinegar, oil and cumin in a small cup. Pour over salad. Toss gently but well. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside 10 minutes for flavors to blend.

Chicago Tribune