Don’t be fooled by the title, this meal is all served in one dish, but there are many more dishes to wash than just one during clean up (sorry!). Moving on … Feel free to substitute any of the herbs and vegetables in this recipe for things you already have on hand. By the way, this heats up in under two minutes in the microwave for delicious leftovers. Recipe fed two with a lunch-sized leftover:
Orzo and Salmon Dinner
Servings 3
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound salmon you can have the skin left on - it will come right off after cooking
- Olive oil for drizzling
- Salt and pepper
- One package fresh asparagus usually about a pound sliced in 1" - 1 1/2" pieces
- 1 cup uncooked orzo prepared as directed on package
- 1 jar marinated baby artichoke hearts drained
- 1 green onion sliced
- 2 Tbsp fresh mint sliced
- 1 ½ Tbsp fresh chives snipped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 410°.
- Place salmon skin side down on baking dish (using non-stick foil helps with clean-up). Drizzle salmon with olive oil, top with salt and pepper.
- Cook until desired doneness - 15-20 minutes depending on thickness.
- Meanwhile, place asparagus pieces in a shallow pan. Add enough water to almost cover and bring to a simmering boil. Cook until al-dente, drain.
- Return to pan and add ice water to stop the cooking process. Once cooled, drain again and set aside.
- Prepare orzo as directed.
- Place artichoke hearts in a microwavable dish, slice in half, and heat 1 - 2 minutes.
- Chop herbs and set aside.
Assembly
- Once salmon is done, shred with a fork and put in a large serving bowl.
- Add cooked asparagus, cooked orzo, artichokes and herbs.
- Combine gently with a rubber spatula and you are ready to serve.
Notes
Place a lemon wedge or two on each plate, pour the Chardonnay and enjoy!
Assemble in this dish in advance, then pour marinade over the skewers 20 minutes before grilling.
Chicken & Herb Skewers
Servings 4
Equipment
- Bamboo Skewers, soaked for 30 minutes
Ingredients
- 4 chicken breast fillets
- 1/4 cup rosemary sprigs
- 1/4 cup oregano sprigs
- 2-3 jalapeños seeded and sliced into small thin strips
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice
- 3 Tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 2 tsp grated ginger
- 1 Tbsp brown sugar
- 8 Bamboo skewers
Instructions
- Cut chicken into thin strips.
- Place herbs and pepper on chicken strip, roll up and thread onto skewer.
- In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and sugar, and pour over skewers.
- Allow chicken to marinate for 20 minutes.
- To cook, place chicken skewers on a hot grill and cook for 5 minutes on each side or until meat is cooked through.
Notes
Serve with salad greens. Serves 4 for dinner or 8 for appetizer.
Let’s face it, the words “meatloaf” and “gourmet” rarely appear in the same sentence, but The Simple Celebration has done it! We have come up with a gourmet meatloaf recipe that calls for chipotle chillis and fresh herbs bringing this comfort food entrée to a whole new level of goodness. Everyone knows the best part of making meatloaf is the leftovers for sandwiches and they will be fabulous!
Some tips on making sure your meatloaf is perfect:
- When incorporating ingredients, use your hands to combine – don’t over mix!
- Forget the loaf pan – line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and form the loaf by hand (leftovers will fit easier on the bread).
- Wrap leftovers in foil and place in a freezer bag for one of those nights when there is no time to cook!
Gourmet Meatloaf
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 tsp fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 tsp fresh thyme chopped
- 2 tsp chipotle chilis in adobe sauce chopped
- 1/2 cup low-fat milk
- 1/2 cup plain breadcrumbs
- 2 eggs beaten
- 3/4 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 2 1¼ pounds ground round
- 1 Tbsp kosher salt
- 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Heat olive oil in a medium skillet. Add onions and sauté for 3-4 minutes.
- Add herbs and chilis and stir for 1 minute.
- Put in a large bowl with the milk and breadcrumbs, stir and let sit for several minutes.
- Add the remaining ingredients and combine using your hands. Don't over mix.
- Place on a rimmed baking sheet, lined with parchment paper.
- Shape into a loaf that measures about 11" by 5".
- At this point you can place meatloaf in the refrigerator and pull out 15 minutes before baking.
- Bake for about 1 hour or until instant thermometer registers 150 degrees.
- Let sit for at least 5 minutes before slicing.
Notes
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Have you ever bought fresh herbs for a recipe and you have some left over, but aren’t sure what to do with them? This recipe is a simple, fresh, and tasty solution to using herbs before they go to waste.
Penne Pasta with Fresh Herbs
Servings 6
Ingredients
- 12 ounces penne pasta plain, spinach, any flavor
- 1/4 cup plus 2 tsp olive oil
- 4 large cloves of garlic minced
- 1 cup minced fresh herbs - any combination such as dill and basil
- kosher salt and fresh ground pepper
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook penne according to package directions and drain. Place in a large pasta bowl.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil over medium heat.
- When warm, add garlic and stir for 2 minutes.
- Finally, add the fresh herbs and stir until slightly wilted, about 30 seconds.
- Pour sauce over pasta and season with salt and pepper.
- Add parmesan cheese and stir.
- Place additional grated parmesan cheese on table to pass around.
Notes
You can add sliced sundried tomatoes or poached chicken to this dish for a little variety.
Serve with a simple salad and a sliced baguette.
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