Grilled Asparagus Quiche Recipe

Servings: 6

• 1 pound asparagus
• Olive oil spray
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1/4 cup leeks, thinly sliced
• 1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced 1/4" thick
• 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, part skim milk
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese
• 12 medium eggs
• 2 cups milk, 1% low fat
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 teaspoon fines herbs*

Preheat oven to 325º degrees F. Bend each asparagus spear until it breaks, throwing out the end section. Spray with olive oil spray and grill until crisp tender. Cut the asparagus into 1/2 inch pieces on the angle. Sauté leeks and mushrooms until soft in butter until they are golden, add asparagus.
Spray a 9" × 13" pan with olive oil spray. Spread mozzarella and cheddar cheese on bottom of pan and top with vegetables. Whisk together eggs, milk, salt, pepper and fines herbs. Pour over cheese and vegetables. Bake about 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.

Per Serving : 259 Calories; 16g Fat (56.1% calories from fat); 20g Protein; 8g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 442mg Cholesterol; 438mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Vegetable; 1/2 Non-Fat Milk; 1 1/2 Fat.

*combination of French chervil, parsley, chives and French tarragon

Food purchased from Leon's Gourmet Grocer

Chocolate Cherry Cake

Servings: 12

If you prefer milk chocolate use 1/2 cup cocoa and milk chocolate chips

2 cups Heart Smart Bisquick

1 cup almond flour

3/4 cup Dutch-process cocoa powder

2 teaspoons instant coffee granules

1 cup turbinado sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup buttermilk

1 can cherries in light syrup

1/2 cup chocolate chip, mini semi-sweet

Mix Bisquick, almond flour, cocoa, instant coffee and sugar together.

Beat eggs, buttermilk and liquid for cherries together and mix into dry ingredients. Fold in cherries.

Place in a bundt pan and bake in a 350 degree oven for 40 min. Let cool 20 min before talking it out of pan.

Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 278 Calories; 11g Fat (32.1% calories from fat); 7g Protein; 44g Carbohydrate; 3g Dietary Fiber; 36mg Cholesterol; 208mg Sodium. Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 1 Fat; 1 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.

Food purchased at Leon's Gourmet Grocer

Recipe: Apricot Roasted Chicken Thighs

Servings: 6

8 each chicken thighs without skin, boneless, cut in cubes (Smart Chicken)

6 ounces apricot preserves, fruit sweetened

8 each prunes, pitted and cut in half

1/4 cup olive oil

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1/2 teaspoon ground sage

1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes

8 each dried apricot halves, julienned

6 sage, julienned

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Toss all of the ingredients together with the chicken until the chicken is evenly coated with the sauce. Arrange the chicken pieces in the pan, spaced evenly apart.

Roast until the chicken is thoroughly cooked, about 20 to 30 minutes.

Per Serving  303 Calories; 13g Fat (37.4% calories from fat); 19g Protein; 30g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 76mg Cholesterol; 170mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 0 Grain(Starch); 2 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fruit; 2 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates.

Ingredients found at: Leon's Gourmet Grocer

Open Harvest Winter Cooking Classes: Learn to Cook Local Foods!

I'm excited about my winter cooking classes, offered through Open Harvest Natural Foods Grocery. Here's what one student had to say about my classes: “The best part of the class was eating, and hands-on experience. I like that the food isn’t too rich. The emphasis on healthy, fresh food is great!”

The excitement continues as I bring Open Harvest’s local, all-natural meats to the kitchen and shares my gastronomic techniques to bring out meat’s fullest flavors. Recipes and samples are included in all classes. Students may sign up for individual sessions or any combination of classes.

Each class is $20 for members and $30 for non-members. All Open Harvest winter cooking classes are held 6 to 8 pm at Grace Lutheran Church at 2225 Washington. To register, come in to Open Harvest at 1618 South Street or call 475-9069. Pre-registration is required.  

You may attend just one class or come to all three:

      

Courage in the Kitchen with Chef Judy a la Carte, Session 1 BEEF: Monday, February 28

There are many delicious ways to prepare beef in your kitchen.  Dry heat methods include grilling, broiling, sauteing, roasting, stir frying, and deep frying. Wet heat includes braising, pot roasting, stewing, steaming, poaching, and slow cooking.  Chef Judy will bring meat from local ranches and demonstrate some of these techniques.

Courage in the Kitchen with Chef Judy a la Carte, Session 2 PORK: Monday, March 14

Join Chef Judy in the kitchen as she shares recipes and the best methods of how to prepare pork chops, tenderloin, and sausages using fresh pork from local Nebraska farms.

Courage in the Kitchen with Chef Judy a la Carte, Session 3 LAMB: Monday March 28

Learn to make lamb kebabs and other tender, tasty entrees with local lamb. Chef Judy will also share techniques for cooking lamb for Easter dinner.

Electrolux Oven

I love working with the Electrolux oven, available at Schaefer's. I especially love the Perfect Turkey setting. It works for any kind of meat you want to roast. I simply place one side of the probe into the oven and one side into the meat. The oven gives the exact temperature and will even alert you when the meat is done. Y ou can use it for turkey, chicken, roast beef, pork and more. It's very straightforward and easy to operate.