INA GARTEN'S SALMON CAKES

I don't know how Ina Garten does it but her recipes are always above and beyond amazing. A friend made these for me a few year ago and I immediately fell in love.  I made some very slight adjustments to her recipe. I added the site link in case you want to check it out for yourself and follow it the way she does it. These are really delicious, if you like salmon definitely give them a try!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/salmon-cakes-recipe/index.html

INA GARTEN'S SALMON CAKES

-1/2 LB fresh salmon

-Olive oil

-Salt and Pepper

-4 tbs butter

-1 small red onion, diced

-4 celery stalks, diced

-1 small red bell pepper, diced

-1 small yellow bell pepper, diced

-1/4 cup minced flat leaf parsley

-1/4 tbs hot sauce (I use Franks Red Hot)

-1 tbs capers, drained

-1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

-1 1/2 tsp Old Bay

-1 cup plain bread crumbs

-1/2 cup mayonnaise

-2 tsp. Dijon mustard

-2 large eggs, beaten

PRE HEAT THE OVEN TO 350 DEGREES:

1. Place the salmon down on a baking sheet, skin side down. Brush the fish with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the salmon is cooked. Let the salmon cool.
2. In a medium frying pan, melt 2 tbs of butter and olive oil.  Add the peppers, capers, hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion, old bay, celery, parsley salt and pepper. Cook until the vegetables are tender-about 15-20 minutes. Let the vegetables cool.
3. Flake the salmon into a large bowl, add the breadcrumbs, mayonnaise, mustard and eggs. Add the vegetables and mix well. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Form into 10-12 cakes. Melt the remaining 2 tbs of oil and butter in a frying pan. Fry the salmon cakes and drain on paper towels.
5. Bake them for 15 minutes and serve warm.

SAUSAGE & PEPPER LASAGNA

 I've never seen this made before so I was interested on how it would come out. I invited some family over for a taste test and everyone loved it! Tastes just like a sausage and pepper sandwich with out the sloppy mess. If you think this sounds as interesting as I did, give it a try, it might suprise you.

SAUSAGE & PEPPER LASAGNA

-1 package Lasagna noodles

-1 lb sausage (sweet or hot)

-2 garlic coves, chopped

-olive oil

-Salt and pepper

-2 green bell peppers (cut into strips)

-2 large onions (cut into strips)

-3 cups home made or jarred tomato sauce

-1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

-1/4 cup ricotta cheese

-1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS:

PRE HEAT THE OVEN TO 350 DEGREES

1. In a medium sauce pan, heat 2 tbs of olive oil. Remove the sausage from its casing and brown it in the oil. Remove the browned sausage and set it aside. Drain the oil drippings from the pan.
2. In the same pan, add 2 more tbs of oil and saute the peppers, onion, and garlic together. Season with salt and pepper. (about 10-15 minutes)
3. When the peppers and onion are cooked through, add the sausage back to the pan. Also, add 2 cups of tomato sauce. Stir well and simmer the sauce for 10 minutes.
4. Cook the lasagna noodles in salted water 2 minutes less than the package suggests. Drain and rinse the noodles under cold water. Pat the noodles dry.
5. In a 9 x13 inch baking dish-line the bottom with a little tomato sauce and cover with about 4 lasagna noodles. 
6. Top with half the sausage and pepper mixture. 
7. Mix the ricotta cheese and Parmesan cheese together. Place dollops on top of the sausage and peppers. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Repeat the noodles, sausage and peppers, and cheese layers until you reach the top-ending in lasagna noodles.
8. Pour the remaining sauce and cheese on top. Bake for 35-45 minutes or until the lasagna is cooked all the way through. 
9. Let the lasagna cook for 10 minutes before cutting and serving it. Enjoy!!

WHITE BEAN & TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

WHITE BEAN & TOMATO BRUSCHETTA

-1 large baguette

-1 Garlic clove

-Good olive oil

-1 can small white beans (I use Goya), drained

-2 tbs. red wine vinegar

-2 tbs. balsamic vinegar

-Salt & Pepper

-Red pepper flakes

-4 basil leaves, chopped

-2 garlic cloves, minced

-1/4 red onion, chopped

-6 tomatoes seeded and diced

DIRECTIONS:

Pre heat the oven to 425 degrees

1. Slice the baguette into 1/2 inch pieces. Brush the top with olive oil and set olive oil side down onto a baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until the bread has toasted. 
2. Cut one garlic clove in half long ways. Remove the baguette pieces from the oven and immediately rub the top with the garlic. Continue until all the pieces are done and set aside.
3. In a small bowl, add the beans, 4 tbs olive oil, red wine vinegar, Salt, Pepper, and red oinion. Gently mix ingredients together and set aside.
4. In another small bowl, add the tomatoes, garlic, 4 tbs olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, pepper and basil leaves. Gently mix the ingredients together and set it aside.
5. Serve both toppings with the garlic bread and enjoy!

SPINACH & CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN

SPINACH & CHEESE STUFFED CHICKEN

-4 thinly sliced chicken breast

-1/2 of a 10oz. package of frozen spinach

-1 tbs. ricotta cheese

-1/2 cup mozzarella cheese-shredded

-2 tbs Parmesan cheese

-2 garlic cloves, chopped

-Olive oil

-2 eggs

-4 tbs milk

-1 cup seasoned breadcrumbs

-Salt, Pepper, Garlic powder

-2 tbs four

-1 cup chicken stock

-4 tooth pics

DIRECTIONS:

Pre heat the oven to 350 degrees

1. Thaw and drain the spinach as well as possible. In a medium pan, heat a few tbs of olive oil on low and add the garlic. 
2. Saute the garlic until fragrant and add the spinach. Season with salt and pepper and cook for 5 minutes. 
3. In a small bowl, add the spinach, mozzarella cheese, and ricotta cheese. Stir well and set aside.
4. Season the chicken breast on both sides with salt, pepper and garlic powder. Spread some spinach filling along the chicken breast. Roll the chicken up and secure with a tooth pic.
5. Add the breadcrumbs to a shallow bowl. Add the eggs and milk to another shallow bowl and whisk them together.
6. Dip the rolled chicken breast in the egg wash then the bread crumbs. Repeat until they are all coated.
7. In a medium pan, heat a few tbs of olive oil and fry the chicken breasts until golden on both sides. Add the chicken to a baking dish when done and carefully remove the tooth pics.
8. In the same pan, add the flour to the oil and whisk for 2 minutes on low heat. Whisk in the chicken stock and bring to a BOIL-make sure to scrape all the bits from the bottom of the pan. Reduce the heat to LOW and cook for 5 minutes. Taste the gravy-add salt and pepper if needed.
9. Pour the gravy over the chicken and bake for 30 minutes!

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