Balsamic Vegetable Compote

It's been a while friends.  I wish I had a really good excuse..oh wait, I do.  I have been really, and fortunately so, busy with my photography business.  I really am lucky that people want me to take their pictures. I love it.  I love getting to know people and I love having the opportunity to capture special moments in their lives.  Maybe you can tell by my food pictures as well.  There really isn't anything that doesn't capture my eye.  I believe beauty can be found in all things.  So much so that I have a special project that I am starting in January.  I'll share more later, but you really came here for food.  And I promise, even though I have been busy editing, I have still had time to cook and have come up with some wonderful new recipes to post!  Starting with this one...

I love warm mixtures of vegetables in the winter.  Don't get me wrong, vegetables are good anytime of year, but there is something comforting about vegetables in winter.   I don't know why that is, but I love that we have a great variety available now a days than we used to.

This compote, an idea I got from my fruit compote, would be perfect with almost anything.  The night I made it I served it with salmon, and then had it the next day by its self.  A delicious combination of flavors that you will love.  Promise.

Balsamic Vegetable Compote

2 tbsp. olive oil

1 c. onion, medium dice

2 c. zucchini, medium dice

2 c. eggplant, medium dice

1 c. tomato, medium dice

4 cloves garlic, whole

1 tsp. thyme, rosemary, and oregano (dried-if you want to use fresh, that is perfectly fine but you will need to increase the quantities to 3 tsp. each and put them in at the very end!)

2 tsp. mushroom salt

1/4 c. excellent quality balsamic

freshly ground pepper

Heat the oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat.  Add the garlic and cook until golden brown, about 3-5 minutes.  Remove the cloves and set them aside to cool.

Add the onion to the pan, cook until tender and translucent, 5-7 minutes.  Add the zucchini and eggplant, stir to to coat.  Cover and increase heat to medium high.  Stir often and cook about 10 minutes or until vegetables start to soften and moisture from vegetables has been almost absorbed. 

While the vegetables are cooking, press the cooled garlic.  Add the garlic, tomatoes, spices, salt and pepper.  Cook for about 5 minutes and then add the balsamic and allow to reduce.  Taste and adjust seasonings if needed.  Finish with fresh thyme.

Maple Bacon Scones

The weather is changing...the bitter bite of winter is making its appearance.  That means warms drinks start the day out.  One morning I was going to make a Maple Bacon muffin but I decided to make a scone instead.  First, you have to actually like scones, which for a lot of people, isn't so.  But you can't go wrong when said scone can be lightly dipped in a chai.  Now that, my friends, along with an extra side of bacon, is a perfect morning.

Anyway, I have a few friends who are my testers.  The first one came by and gave them an A+. The second one was delivered three and texted me shortly thereafter to say all three were gone.  And that is was the best bakery item I have ever made.  Even better than my Samoa's and Cake Balls...WHAT?  Anyway, there isn't much more to say when you get those kind of reviews.  

Oh yeah there is.  And that would this....this was my first experiment and I nailed it.  Sometimes even I amaze myself.  And the second, I just wanted to brag a bit, show you the picture and then tell you I'm not even posting the recipe.   But you can buy them from me if you are in Des Moines!  

Bam!

The Perfect Pulled Pork

One thing I really, really enjoy is a good, and I mean GOOD pulled pork.  There are so many options with a big 'ol pot of pulled pork.  But I am also simplistic in that I want to enjoy the flavor of the pork or add sauces later.  I am a master, and I kid you not, at ribs.  Best ribs ever.  Really.  But I have always found pork roasts to be dry and hard to chew.  I want it soft, tender and moist. 

So this is what I did...and frankly, I nailed it.  If you don't have a big smoker, and I don't, this is great because you can get the same result.  

The Perfect Pulled Pork

1 5-7 pound pork shoulder roast

3 tbsp. hickory salt (my favorite is from Williams Sonoma)

1 1/2 tbsp. freshly ground pepper

Make sure the pork roast is room temperature.  This is key.  It allows for even cooking and allows the fat to render slowly.  

Preheat oven to 200 degrees.

Generously coat the pork shoulder with the salt and pepper and rub it evenly.

Place the pork in a stock pot large enough to hold it and put a lid on.  Place the lid on and cook in it in the oven for 8 hours.  Remove and allow to cool. 

NOW...place the pork in the fridge for a day.  Turn the pork roast one or twice during that time to allow juices/fat to redistribute into the pork.

A day later, preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Put the pork back in the oven and cook an additional 4-6 hours depending on the size of your roast.  You'll know it is done when it is falling off the bone.

I promise it will take every bit of restraint you have to not eat every little piece.  Really. 

And what do you do with the pork now?

Well, last night I tested a tamale recipe.  Testers are trying them today, so we'll see!

Chicken and Greens Rolls

One of the favorite things of my week is my delivery of Prudent Produce.  I love getting a variety of organic produce delivered to my door.   Plus, it challenges my menu for the week, forcing me to come up with new, creative ways to enjoy the produce I get!

That was the case for me last week...I had leeks, collard greens, and swiss chard to name a few.  It's easy to cook the greens down and have them accompany a dish, but I wanted them to be the star.  Add a little protein in the way of chicken and bacon, and, really, you couldn't go wrong!

So here is a new, unique way to eat your greens!

Chicken & Greens Rolls

6 slices bacon, cut into 1/2' pieces

2 leeks, sliced into rounds

1 bunch swiss chard, roughly chopped, cutting at the end of leaving and reserving stems (should you choose to.  I use them when I make vegetable broth)

1 bunch collard greens, roughly chopped, green removed from vein

4 chicken breasts

2 tbsp. olive oil

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large saute pan, cook bacon over medium heat.  When it is golden brown, about 5-7 minutes, remove the bacon but not the grease, from the pan.  Add leeks, and cook until they soften, about 5 minutes.  Then add the remaining greens and reduce heat to low, stirring every few minutes, until the greens are cooked down and soft, about 15-20 minutes.  

While the greens are cooking, pound the chicken breasts so they are thin and evenly thick.  Generously salt and pepper.

When the greens are done, add back in the bacon and mix well.  Scoop green mixture onto each chicken breast and spread evenly.  Roll the chicken and then secure with toothpicks.

In a large fry pan over medium high heat, add the olive oil and sear chicken until golden brown, about 2 minutes per side.  

Put pan in oven and bake between 15-25 minutes until the chicken is done.  

Allow to rest for a few minutes and then slice and serve.  Drizzle with a splash of balsamic if you are so inclined!

Bon Appetit!

Honey Mustard Pork

My last order of pork chops from a local pork producer were beautiful.  They were thick cut and fatty, which makes them easy to bake without getting overdone.  The best thing about pork is that it can be accompanied by a variety of sauces and still taste great.  One such sauce is honey mustard.  Especially honey mustard that is roasted on to create more of a crust, so to speak, on the outside of the pork chop.  Give this recipe a try soon.  You won't be disappointed.  I promise.

Honey Mustard Pork Chops

4 center cut pork chops, 2" thick

1/4 c. honey

2 tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 tbsp. olive oil

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400 degrees.  When I cook pork, unless it is ground, I always have it at room temperature, especially a thick cut chop.  This allows it to cook more evenly so you don't have edges that are done and centers that are not.

In a bowl, combine honey, mustard and olive oil.  Pat pork chops dry using a paper towel and then generously coat each side of the chop with honey mustard.

Place a cooling rack inside of a sheet pan and then put the pork chops, spaced evenly, on the cooling rack.

Place in the oven and cook for 15 minutes.  Turn the pork and cook an additional 10-15 minutes until done.  You can check with a thermometer if you are not sure.  The temperature should read 145 degrees.  I usually pull the pork out when the temperature is at 135-140, allow it rest for about 5-10 minutes, then check the temperature again.  Allowing it to rest will finish the cooking and seal in the juices.

Twice Baked Sweet Potato

How can you go wrong with a sweet potato?  They are almost the perfect food.  

Someone at the gym has an infatuation with some twice baked sweet potatoes in the ready to eat foods at our local grocery store and when he found out what the ingredients were he wasn't

too happy that he'd have to give up this "out of this world" sweet potato.

Of course I knew I needed to adapt it.  He said I nailed it...and that it was even better.  Can't beat that praise, especially when it's healthier!

Brian's Twice Baked Sweet Potato

1 lb. baked sweet potato flesh

2 ounces raw honey

6 oz. mascarpone, room temperature

1/8 tsp. ground clove

1/4 tsp. fresh ground nutmeg

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

pinch salt

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mash sweet potato with a fork in a large bowl.  Add the honey and mascarpone and mix with a hand mixer until well blended.  Add the spices and then fold into mixture.

Put the mixture in ramekins, sprinkle lightly with additional cinnamon, and bake for about 20 minutes. 

Salmon Bites

The other day I was taking some photos for a local CrossFitter friend who has developed a line of clothing call BroFit Box Apparel.  Even though they decided to target men, which is obvious by the name, they thought they better add a few ladies items as well.  So a couple of ladies from my box came by one afternoon to do a few photos.  

One of them happened to mention that they wouldn't be opposed to taste testing anything I had going on in the kitchen.  Luckily for her I happened to know she loves brie so I whipped these little tasty treats together.  

That morning I had roasted some of my grape tomatoes to have on hand for salads, sauces, eggs, etc. and I knew they would go perfect.

 This is a quick and easy dish and is a perfect afternoon snack!

Salmon Bites

1 can wild caught salmon, drained

1/2 round brie, room temperature

salt and pepper

splash of fresh lemon juice

1 cucumber, peeled and then sliced in rounds about 1/2 " thick

roasted grape tomatoes

Put brie in a medium bowl.  Smash up using a fork and then add in the salmon.  Mix well, continuing to smash the mixture with a fork if necessary.   Generously salt and pepper to taste and then add a splash of lemon.

Place the brie mixture by tablespoon full onto each cucumber round and then top with one roasted grape tomato. Garnish with fresh ground pepper.

Delicious!

And yes, she loved them!

*Why I eat cheese, in moderation*