Hungry Hungarian!

   Yep, you guessed it, we are going Hungarian today. I am making "Leczo" (Lesco/Lecho), a traditional Hungarian dish with tomato, peppers and kielbasa. I could not believe that it wasn't a Polish dish when I first found out the origin of it. What??? It's not Polish??? But... but...we always make it, since I was a child as typical Polish dish! Oh well, I have to give it to the Hungarian people for coming up with a pretty delicious dish! You can make it two ways, original with only peppers, tomatoes and kielbasa or "Polish style" with the addition of zucchini! I personally like our version better and not because I'm Polish, just because it's "fuller", more satisfying and you can make much more of it (lunches for few days!). So without any further ado, here is the recipe:

*  2 red bell peppers (roughly chopped)
*  1 yellow bell peppers (roughly chopped)
*  4-5 ripe tomatoes (chopped)
*  4 zucchinis (chopped)
*  2 cups of chopped smoked kielbasa
*  1 medium onion (chopped)
*  2 tbsp olive oil
*  1 tbsp smoked paprika powder
*  salt and pepper

1. Heat the olive oil and saute chopped onions and kielbasa until lightly browned.
2. Add peppers, tomatoes and zucchini and cook everything for 5 minutes.
3. Add paprika powder, salt and pepper, mix well, bring to boil, reduce the heat and simmer for about 40 minutes until veggies are tender and the dish resembles a stew.

   So good. It's light, but filling and as I mentioned before it makes the perfect lunches for a busy week. Just portion it, put it in the fridge and "to-go" lunch is ready to grab on the way to work!

Enjoy.
Magda.

Tomatoes gone wild!

   My tomato plants went crazy! I can not believe that one plant can produce so many tomatoes! Unfortunately a month full of 100F days managed to dry them out even though they still have lots of fruit on them. As you can imagine we are eating a lot of tomato-based dishes recently and today's post will be no different. We love caprese salad and there is nothing better than using your own tomatoes and basil, which are way more flavorful and make it even better than it already is. The only thing is that you have to serve it with something else to make it a filling dinner. So I decided to make it into a caprese sandwich, with oven roasted, rustic bread and melted mozzarella. Wow, what a delicious dinner that was! Here is the recipe (you can make as much as you want so I won't give you the amount of each ingredient):

*  slices of rustic bread
*  tomato
*  fresh mozzarella cheese
*  fresh basil
*  olive oil
*  salt and pepper

1. Brush slices of bread with olive oil and put into 400F oven for 5 minutes until toasted and crispy
2. On a warm bread, put slices of tomato, sprinkle with salt, pepper and chopped basil. Put slices of mozzarella cheese and return to the oven for 5-7 minutes until the cheese melts.

   If only you could smell it. Bread is super crunchy, then you have a fresh, flavorful tomato and basil, and on the top of all of that is chewy gooey melted cheese. Perfect option for a light dinner or an appetizer for the party.

Enjoy.
Magda

When life gives you lemons...

   ... make lemon chicken! I could not believe how many people read and loved one of my previous posts featuring a chicken dish (Perfect chicken). Just this post alone had over twelve hundred views and it keeps going up (yay)! So I decided to come up with another simple, fast and delicious chicken dinner, that is far from boring. All you need is just a few ingredients and about 40 minutes of time and you can surprise your family or friends with a meal that is exploding with flavor! Lemon and black pepper corn chicken, doesn't it sound interesting? Here is the recipe (serves 4):

*  8 chicken legs
*  3 juicy lemons
*  2 cups white wine
*  2 cups chicken broth
*  1 tbsp black pepper corns
*  1 tbsp fresh mint
*  1-2 tbsp olive oil
*  salt and pepper

1. In a Dutch oven (I love my Dutch oven!!!) heat the olive oil, season chicken legs with salt and pepper and brown on each side.
2. Add wine, chicken broth, zest of two lemons, juice of three lemons, mint and pepper corns. Bring to boil, cover with the lid and transfer into the oven. Bake at 400F for 30 minutes.

   How easy is this? Not only easy, but also super delicious. Fresh, sour and lemony with a little kick from the black pepper. If you are tired of "boring" chicken dishes, give this one a try and I'm sure you will be satisfied!

Enjoy.
Magda.

Not as tough as they say...

   One of the many advantages of me writing this cooking blog (besides all my wonderful fans!) is that I take risks, I keep challenging myself and I always try new recipes. I heard so many opinions about how tricky and difficult the perfect risotto is, and I took it as a challenge onto myself to perfect it! In every cooking competition I've watched they always are super surprised that somebody chose to make a risotto, because it's just the easiest way for a ticket home. I just couldn't take it any more and I decided I am going to conquer this "monster" and prove to myself that it's not rocket science! I was debating between mushroom and asparagus and my choice was an asparagus and lime risotto. Here is the recipe (makes about 6-8 portions):
 
*  3 cups Arborio rice (short grain)
*  7 cups vegetables or chicken stock
*  2 cups  dry white wine
*  2 cups asparagus
*  1 large onion (chopped)
*  1/3 cup Parmessan
*  1 lime
*  2 tbsp olive oil
*  2 tbsp butter
*  salt
*  2 tbsp chopped parsley

1. Cut asparagus into 1 inch pieces, put into boiling water for 3 minutes, and transfer into ice water to stop the cooking process. Drain the water and set aside.
2. In a meantime heat the broth and simmer it to keep it warm.
3. In a large heavy skillet heat the olive oil and saute the onions for 3-4 minutes. Add the rice and cook until lightly roasted for about 3-4 minutes. Add white wine and and cook until completely absorbed.
4. Stir in 1 cup simmering broth. Cook until broth is almost completely absorbed, stirring frequently, then add another cup of simmering broth. Repeat until the rice is slightly firm in center and looks creamy.
5. Add butter, salt, lime zest, lime juice,  and parsley and cook for 2 more minutes stirring constantly. 
6. Add Parmesan and asparagus, mix everything together and serve it!

   I promise you it's super easy! I don't know why people are so scared to make it and keep scaring others! I love the addition of  a lime zest and juice, it makes the dish refreshing and light. Wine is an obvious plus! You have to try it, it's delicious!


Good luck.
Magda.

Stroganoff Polish style.

   Stroganoff is a Russian dish, but my fellow Polish citizens wouldn't be themselves if they didn't change the dish a little bit and make it "thier own". You probably think that I am being biased, but I definitely prefer the Polish version of it, and that's what I always make. I don't even think I ever had the original version, I just always thought that this is how it's supposed to be until I did some research and found out that all this time I was living a lie. Well, it's too late now, our version of a Stroganoff will always be the original for me and that's how I am going to present it to you.

*  2 lbs cubed beef
*  1 large onion
*  2 red bell peppers
*  2 cups white mushroom
*  4-5 dill pickles
*  2 tbsp tomato paste
*  2 tbsp sour cream
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  1 tbsp sweet paprika powder
*  salt and pepper

1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil and brown beef on each side.
2. Coarsely chop all the vegetables, add them to the beef and cook for 5 minutes.
3. Add 2 cups of water, tomato paste, paprika, salt, and pepper. Bring to boil, reduce the heat and simmer everything for at least an hour, until the meat is soft and tender. You can adjust the amount of liquid to your liking. I like mine nice and dense.
4. Add the sour cream, bring to boil, turn off and it's ready!

   It's one of those dishes that brings me right back home to my Mom's kitchen. It's a taste of my childhood. I think I have to make it more often. Serve it with a fresh French baguette so that you can dunk it in the broth and you have yourself a delicious "fake" Stroganoff Polish style!

Enjoy.
Magda.

Green, green, green!

   Here is a fun dish. I made a "dull" version of this before playing with different fillings and flavors, but this time I decided to also play with some colors. I took the traditional polish "nalesniki" (call them crepes if you want), gave them a punch of color, and stuffed them with flavorful chicken and mushroom filling. Who knew that you can end up with such a fun and delicious dish. It's almost like being a kid and playing with your food... that's my favorite part of cooking. Check this out:

Nalesniki:

*  2 cups all-purpose flour
*  4 cups skim milk
*  2 eggs
*  1 cup frozen spinach (thawed)
*  1/2 cup fresh basil
*  1/2 tsp salt
*  1/2 tsp sugar
*  pinch of nutmeg
*  cooking spray

1. Blend the spinach and basil with milk into a smooth puree.
2. Whisk all the ingredients together (besides cooking spray, of course) until everything is incorporated and has a nice smooth texture. The denser the batter, the thicker nalesniki will be.
3. Heat the pan, spray with cooking spray, and using a medium size ladle to scoop the batter into the pan, and tip and rotate it to form a thin layer. Cook about 1 minutes on the first side, flip on the other side, and cook 1 more minute.

Filling:

*  1 chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
*  1 large onion (chopped)
*  1 cup mushroom (chopped)
*  1 fresh tomato (chopped)
*  1 tbsp ketchup
*  salt and pepper
*  1 tsp olive oil

1. Saute onions and mushroom with olive oil until soft. Add chicken, tomatoes, ketchup, salt, and pepper. Cook everything together for 5 minutes.
2. Spread a spoonful of a filling on a half of the crepe and roll it up.

   How cool do they look? Very bright, very fresh, and very "interesting". The basil is a great touch and just make the whole dish very special. The filling is a little bit sweet (ketchup), a little bit tangy (tomatoes), and because there is no sauce in it, it's very light as well. Try it, it's such a fun dish.

Good luck.
Magda.

I'm back!

   I can't get my act together after this wonderful vacation. It's so hard to believe that it's over and that we have to return to our "normal" life, but we have lots of pictures and amazing memories to keep us going. It's high time to get back into a kitchen and whip up some low calories goodies (vacation food is not figure friendly!!!). Today I did my own spin on a very traditional dish and made it completely different, but with similar flavors. I'm talking about "fasolka po bretonsku", which I guess can be literally translated to: bean and meat stew from Brittany (go figure). My Mom used to make it a lot and I hated beans, but loved the flavor of the soup at the same time, so I had to come up with my own "edible" version. So I substituted regular beans with green beans that I love, and kept all the other ingredients the same. And even though my tastes changed, and I now like white or kidney beans, I still make this dish with green beans and it's just perfect (and much lighter). Here is the recipe:

*  4-5 cups cut green beans
*  1 large onion (chopped)
*  1 cup chopped Polish kielbasa
*  1/2 cup tomato sauce
*  2 tbsp dry marjoram
*  2 cups chicken broth (or two cubs of bullion)
*  pinch of red paprica
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  salt and pepper

1. In a deep pan saute onions and kielbasa with olive oil until browned.
2. Add water and chicken broth, cut green beans, tomato sauce, and all the remaining ingredients. Bring to boil and cook everything for about 10 minutes until beans are cooked but still a little bit crunchy.

   It's much easier and quicker than the "original" version. You can make it as dense as you want and as spicy or mild as you desire. I like mine dense and mild and that's how I make it... and I'm loving every bite of it.

Good luck.
Magda.

See you in a week!

   The time has come! After months of anticipation the vacation of my dreams is here! You are probably thinking ocean, beach, and palm trees, but no... my dream vacation, ever since I came to the US, was a road trip through the Colorado Plateau admiring all the amazing views, canyons, parks, and deserts! So forgive me that there will be no posts for the next week, but I promise I will make it up to you. I will leave you with a decadent, delicious, and festive dish perfect for any summer celebration. Pasta shells stuffed with spinach and ricotta cheese covered with bechamel sauce and mozzarella! Decadent enough? I used fat-free ingredients so it's not as "guilty" as it sounds, but it's definitely very rich and flavorful. Here is the recipe.

*  box of large shells pasta
*  16 oz reduced-fat ricotta cheese
*  small bag frozen spinach (thawed and drained)
*  1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
*  1 egg
*  1/2 stick butter
*  1/3 cup all-purpose flour
*  3 cups fat-free milk
*  pinch of nutmeg
*  2 cups reduced-fat shredded mozzarella cheese
*  salt and pepper

1. Cook the shell pasta in salted water for about 5 minutes (don't overcook it), drain, wash in a cold water and set aside.
2. In a meantime prepare bechamel sauce: melt butter, add flour and cook for 2-3 minutes. Add milk, nutmeg, salt and pepper and whisk everything together until it forms a smooth and thick sauce. If it's too thick just add some more milk.
3. In a bowl, combine ricotta cheese, drained spinach, egg, dill, salt, and pepper, and mix everything together.
4. Spread 1/3 of a bechamel sauce on a bottom of a baking dish. Stuff each shell with a generous spoon of ricotta stuffing and layer them tightly into a baking dish. Cover everything with remaining bechamel sauce and mozzarella cheese. Cover with a foil and bake at 380F for 45 minutes, then take the foil out and bake for 15 more minutes to brown the top.

   You know it's gonna be good, I don't even have to tell you. Creamy filling with crunchy and browned cheese on the top, it even sounds delicious. And it's so healthy too... come on, it has spinach inside... it has to be healthy, right?

Enjoy.
Magda.

Perfect chicken!

   You probably wonder what makes this chicken dish perfect, don't you? Well three things: it's super tender, super delicious, and it couldn't be easier to make! I'm not sure, but I think this is one of  the first "real" dishes I created. I remember I would make it all the time for my friends whenever they were coming over for dinner. By now I evolved a little (just a bit!) and serve much more versatile dishes, but I still love this one and come back to it once in a while. It's also one of my "safe" dishes, so I make it if I have some new people over and I am not sure what their culinary preferences are. It's very simple, but delicious, and everybody loves it. Six ingredients is all it takes! I used to made it with five... but recently I added a fresh herb (whatever is in season) and bumped it up to six ingredients! It's a real feast, check this out:

*  skinless chicken thighs
*  1 large onions (sliced)
*  3 garlic cloves (chopped)
*  1 tbsp rosemary
*  2 tbsp olive oil
*  salt and pepper

1. Season the chicken with salt and pepper on both sides.
2. In a dutch oven, heat the olive oil and brown chicken for about 5 minutes on each side.
3. Cover with sliced onions, garlic, and rosemary. Add water (or chicken broth) to almost cover the chicken, bring to boil, put the lid on and bake at 350F for 45 minutes.

   I told you it was easy, and it's such a yummy dish. So flavorful, so tender, it just melts in your mouth, and you don't even need teeth, but I definitely don't recommend teethless entertaining, it might scare some of your fellow diners. This dish has a special place in my heart and other than adding different herbs I never change it. It's just perfect as it is!

Smacznego.
Magda.

Three star dish!

   I know it looks like it's tart season in the Morgan house, but it's such a summery dish to me that I wouldn't have it any other way. There is so many delicious vegetables and herbs around nowadays and they are perfect in a tart. You can get as creative as you want, mix and match ingredients, try new unexplored things, and you are almost always guaranteed to get a delicious dish (almost always!). The basic dough recipe is always the same, but I try to keep it exciting and add different herbs each time to make it unique. The most important thing is to make sure it's super crunchy, so you can get a nice contrast with a creamy filling. Here is one of the ideas for a delicious, summer-like leeks and turkey bacon tart:

Crust:
*  1 1/2cup all-purpose flour
*  1 tsp salt
*  1 tsp sugar
*  1 stick cold butter
*  1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
*  2-3 tsp ice water

Filling:
*  10 slices turkey bacon (chopped)
*  3 large leeks (sliced)
*  1 large onion
*  1 tbsp butter
*  1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
*  2 tbsp chopped fresh mint
*  1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
*  salt and pepper

1. In a food processor combine the flour, salt, sugar, and basil. Pulse to combine.
2. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is finely chopped and the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the ice water and run the machine just until the mixture is moist and crumbly, but does not form a ball. Do not over mix. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. In a meantime, crisp the bacon and set aside on the paper towel.
4. In the same pan melt butter add leeks, onions, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper and cook everything for 10 minutes until soft. Add fresh mint, cheese and crisped bacon.
5. Roll the refrigerated crust and transfer into greased pie baking dish. Cover the crust with the leek mixture and bake at 350F for 45 minutes.
6. If you have any remaining crust dough you can go crazy and decorate the top of the tart, like I did.

   Isn't it cute? Perfect for the 4th of July. Not only good looking, but also yummy and nutritious. The crust is crunchy and fragrant (thanks to basil) and the filling is creamy and cheesy.

   Who wouldn't like a mixture of onions and bacon? Well, if you are vegetarian or don't like leeks I guess you wouldn't like it, but cheese? I'm sure everybody loves cheese! Try it, I'm sure you will enjoy it.

Good luck.
Magda

Quick Quiche!

   Here is another one of the simple dishes that I make once in a while for a quick and delicious dinner. It takes only few ingredients mixed together, covered with cheese, and baked to perfection. It can be made with any ingredients you want or have on hand and always tastes good. I am talking about quiche, a French pastry crust dish filled with an eggs/cream/cheese mixture. Not only will you end up with a delicious dinner, but also you can show off in front of your friends that you can make French dishes! Here is my favorite combination of ingredients (makes 2 quiches)

*  2 store bought quiche crusts
*  1 cup cooked broccoli
*  1 cup sliced baby portobello mushrooms
*  1 1/2 cup shredded crab meat
*  8 eggs
*  1 1/2 cup fat-free milk
*  2 cups reduced-fat shredded mozzarella
*  1/2 tsp curry powder
*  1/2 tsp salt
*  1 tbsp butter

1. Whisk eggs, milk, and spices together. Add shredded mozzarella cheese, divide in half, and set aside.
2. Saute sliced mushroom with butter for 5 minutes until softened, mix with cooked broccoli and transfer into one of the crusts, and cover with half of the egg mixture.
3. Fill the other crust with shredded crab meat and cover with the egg/milk mix.
4. Bake both quiches at 380F for about 45 minutes. Let it cool for 15 minutes before serving so everything can set.

   I think the broccoli/mushroom quiche is my favorite. Portobello mushrooms are so meaty and flavorful, and broccoli is fresh and crunchy. But that doesn't mean the the crab quiche isn't good.

   It's actually Justin's favorite, so we didn't have to fight for last piece, because each of us wanted a different one. Is that a perfect marriage or what? You can probably fill it with anything and when you cover it with eggs and cheese... it will taste good no matter what.

Enjoy.
Magda.

Chop chop!

   Yep, pork chops again! First, because they are delicious, second, because you can't eat chicken all the time, and third, because they are on sale very often. And I do not miss a good sale, no matter what it is, if I can get it for less money, I'm on it! I usually have a menu planed before I go to the grocery store, but if I see something on sale, which I didn't plan on... I'm changing everything around. The more money I save on food... the more perfumes I can buy! To keep things exciting, I always try to come up with different flavor combinations and different side dishes, so we won't get bored with it. This time I came up with very clean and simple dish with only a few ingredients, but lots of flavor. Check out this mint and thyme pork chops with apples. Here is the recipe:

*  4 medium cut pork chops
*  1 large onion (sliced)
*  1 large apple (quartered and sliced)
*  1/2 cup chopped fresh mint
*  1 tbsp fresh lemon thyme
*  1 cup chicken broth
*  2 tbsp vegetable oil
*  salt and pepper

1. Season pork chops with salt and pepper on both sides
2. In a dutch oven heat the oil and brown the chops on both sides. Cover with sliced onion, apple, and herbs, add a chicken broth and bring to a boil.
3. Cover the dish with a lid and bake everything in 350F for about 90 minutes.

   It's a very tender and very aromatic dish. When you open the lid the smell of mint and thyme transfers into the entire kitchen and makes you even more hungry than before! The apples and onions soften and make a great sauce that doesn't need any cream or butter. Serve it with some mashed potatoes and a fresh salad and you have a great and satisfying dish!

Enjoy.
Magda.

Jiggle, jiggle, jiggle... yeah!!!

   Summer is definitely here! It's so hot outside and all you want to do is relax in a cool place with either a cold cocktail or a bowl of ice cream in your hand! Well, that can be dangerous... too many cocktails can give you a headache, and too many ice cream bowls can give you wide hips! Both are not good, especially during the summer. But don't worry I got you covered. Skip the ice cream (easier said than done!) and substitute them with delicious, fruity, and cold jello. If you think that's jello is not exciting and not worthy of your attention, wait until you see how pretty it can be if you are willing to give it some time. It's not much work and most of it's just waiting for each layer to set, but you end up with super cute and super healthy (70 calories each!!!) desserts. It doesn't get any better than that! Here is what you do to get four desserts:

*  3 sugar-free jellos (red, yellow, and green)
*  1 cup blueberries
*  1/2 sliced mango
*  lime zest

1. Prepare first jello according to the box instructions. Divide into four and pour into glasses. Add 1/4 cup of blueberries to each of them and refrigerate for about 1-2 hours until the jello sets.
2. Prepare the second jello, cool a little and pour onto the previous, set layer. Add slices of mango and refrigerate for another 1-2 hours.
3. Prepare the third jello, cool down, pour over previous two layers, add some lime zest, refrigerate until it sets, and it's ready to enjoy.

   You can use any flavor/color/fruit you want to, I just happened to have blueberries and mango on hand. Try to avoid kiwi and pineapple, because their enzymes interfere with the jello and it won't set properly. If you want something that tastes great and is not a diet buster this is your thing. It's such a guilt-free and calorie-free desert that all you can say after eating it is: "...look at this body... I'm sexy and I know it!"

Enjoy.
Magda.

Quick fixin!

   I think it's time for one of my famous super quick dinners that take less than 5 minutes to make, but are filling and delicious. Perfect for the middle of the week, when you get home late from work and you don't really feel like whipping up home made ravioli with four home made cheeses in it! So, the star of today's episode is a pita bread pocket stuffed with herby, crunchy, and delicious tuna "concoction" (sounds much better than a tuna salad).  I think the pita sandwiches (sandwiches in general) are Justin's favorite, not only because they are quick and easy, but also because there is not too many dishes left to clean! And since he is the one who cleans all the pots, pans, plates and millions of used utensils, he always encourages me to make "something easy", especially when we both had a busy day. So here you go, this is a super easy recipe for a crunchy tuna salad inside of a pita bread:

*  2 cans tuna in water
*  1/2 cup fat-free mayo
*  1 cup sweet relish
*  1/2 cup chopped radishes
*  2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
*  2 tbsp chopped fresh dill
*  salt and pepper

*  4-6 pitas

1. Mix all the ingredients (besides the pitas!) in a bowl and season with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Cut pita bread in half and stuff each half with a generous spoon of tuna filling.
3. Decorate the pockets with lettuce and radishes and it's ready to eat.

   If you don't have radishes, or if you are not the fan of them you can substitute them with chopped celery stalks. Just make sure you have something crunchy inside, it makes the dish much more "exciting". Relish makes the salad a little bit sweet and dill gives it a summery kick! I usually slice some more radishes and eat them on a side as I would potato chips... it's much healthier and much prettier.

Good luck.
Magda.

Accidentally in love.

   Let me explain the title of this post. "Accidentally" - this post wasn't planned and the dish wasn't supposed to be photographed or featured on the blog. "In love" - this totally improvised chicken dish turned out to be so delicious and amazing that I felt in love immediately and would never keep it away from you. I came home from work planning to make a salad for dinner, but the day was so long and crazy that last thing I wanted to do is to eat like a goat. I needed some warm, comforty, and meaty dish that would make the world a better place. So I fired up the stove and started tossing in all of my favorite ingredients hoping that the outcome would at least be edible, but what I got exceeded all of my expectations! All I remember is me tasting the dish every five seconds, yelling how effing good it was, and telling Justin to bring my camera because it had to be documented and talked about. So here I present you with coconut/peanut butter/cilantro chicken served with couscous. Here is the recipe:

*  1 chicken breast (cubed)
*  1 can coconut milk
*  1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
*  1 large onion
*  1 tbsp grated ginger
*  1 cup chopped cilantro
*  lime juice (from 2 limes)
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  1 tsp sesame oil
*  salt

1. In a skillet, heat olive oil and sesame oil, add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes.
2. Add ginger and cubed chicken, season with salt and cook for 5-6 minutes until chicken is no longer pink, then add lime juice and cook for 1-2 more minutes.
3. In a bowl, whisk together coconut milk and peanut butter until combined, add it to chicken together with cilantro and cook everything for about 10 more minutes.
4. Serve it over couscous and you will be in heaven.

   Such a delicious dish. Sesame oil and peanut butter are super naughty, coconut  milk is sweet and silky, and cilantro finishes everything with a punch of exotic flavor. Super recommended dish!

Good luck.
Magda.

This is how we do it!

   For those of you who think that there is nothing more boring and unattractive than potatoes and that you can't serve them at a fancy dinner, you couldn't be more mistaken. I love to experiment and try new things as a side dish, especially when I have a company over, but lets be honest, there is nothing better than a bowl of hot buttery potatoes sprinkled with fresh dill. Justin can tell you that it doesn't get any more Polish than that. Everywhere you go there are potatoes, you just can't escape them in Poland. So if you want to impress your friends with transforming such an ordinary ingredient into an extraordinary side dish, follow me. There is nothing cooler than a combination of small, colorful potatoes that look like a piece of art on the plate. You couldn't need fewer ingredients than that:

*  2 pounds of small colorful potatoes (yellow, red, and purple)
*  1 tbsp butter (melted)
*  2 tbsp fresh chopped dill
*  salt

1. Wash and gently scrub the potatoes, don't peel.
2. Boil potatoes in salty water for about 15-20 minutes, until they are fork tender.
3. Drain them, add butter and fresh dill, toss everything together and look how cute they are:

   OK! For all of you that see what I see... this was not my intention! By the time I realized how my "neat" presentation looks like, we already ate all the potatoes and there was no way I could retake the picture... so just look past that, if that's possible. I personally can't stop laughing. BUT, despite the unfortunate layout, the potatoes are super delicious. The touch of butter makes everything taste much better and the dill adds this incredible "Polish" aroma.

 Enjoy.
Magda.

Ballsy Dinner!

   Looking at the title (Ballsy dinner) you probably think we ate some crazy things, like grilled lizards or stuffed roasted spiders, but it's nothing like that! How about balls of meat stuffed with balls of cheese? What can be more ballsy than that? Lizards don't even come close, although that's something to think about for the future! And if you think that meatballs are nothing special and not good enough, wait until you try them with the sweet and sour pineapple sauce I made! There is nothing better than that! Here is the recipe for about 15 meatballs:

Balls:

*  2 lbs ground lean chicken
*  2 cloves garlic (smashed)
*  seasoned salt
*  2 tbsp fresh mint (chopped)
*  1/3 cup breadcrumbs
*  15 bocconcini (small mozzarella cheese balls)

1. Combine the meat with breadcrumbs, garlic, salt, and mint. Mix everything together.
2. To form each ball, take a handful of meat and wrap it around a piece of mozzarella. Coat balls gently with some olive oil, arrange on a greased baking sheet, and bake at 400F for 15-20 minutes until cooked through and evenly browned.

Sauce:

*  1 can (20oz) sliced pineapple
*  1 small onion (chopped)
*  1 tsp ketchup
*  1 tbsp soy sauce
*  1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
*  1 tbsp light brown sugar
*  1 tbsp fresh mint
*  1 tsp fresh thyme
*  black pepper

1. Puree half of the pineapple and finely chop the other half.
2. In a pan, combine all the ingredients together with a pineapple juice and 1 cup of water. Cook everything for  10-15 minutes until sauce thickens. Simple, isn't it?

   The cheese inside is gooey, chewy, and super delicious. The mint is fresh and summery and the sauce... man, that sauce is just amazing. Sweet, sour, tangy, and a little bit spicy from the pepper. You can serve the meatballs with pasta if you want, but they are so rich that I just decided to serve them with some salad.

Enjoy.
Magda.

Summer bake.

   Today's post will be about one of my favorite types of food: casseroles. Not only they are super easy, can be made out of any ingredient available in your fridge and pantry, but also they are perfect for a busy week, because you make them once and eat them for a few days. Oh, and for me they are super comforty too... and that's important! This time I used a lot of veggies and some turkey, but don't worry, just so you don't think that it's way too healthy for you, I soaked them in delicious and rich white sauce (made with fat-free milk so we don't clog our arteries). The key to this dish is to use tones of herbs. First, because it's summer and it's the right think to do, and second, because they make the dish taste like heaven! Here is the recipe:

*  4 large potatoes
*  4 baby zucchinis
*  4 tomatoes
*  1 lb ground turkey
*  1 large onion (chopped)
*  4 tbsp flour
*  2 cups fat-free milk
*  1 tbsp olive oil
*  1 cup chopped herbs (parsley, mint, basil)
*  salt and pepper
*  pinch of nutmeg

1.  Using a mandoline slicer, thinly slice potatoes, tomatoes, and zucchini. I like the slices to be not too thin, so they have some bite to them.
2. Saute chopped onion and turkey with olive oil, salt, and pepper. When meat is cooked add flour, cook for 1-2 minutes then add milk and nutmeg, mix well, and cook everything for 4-5 minutes until sauce thickens. If the sauce is too thick you can dilute it with more milk or water.
3. In a large, deep, greased baking dish layer potatoes, zucchini, meat, herbs, and tomatoes. Repeat the same layers once again lightly salting each layer. On the very top layer slices of potatoes, spray with cooking spray, salt, and pepper.
4. Cover with foil and to prevent sticking, spray foil with cooking spray. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes covered with foil, then remove the foil and bake for 15 more minutes to brown the top. 

   It's kind of like a pasta-less lasagna. The veggies are super tender,the meat is very saucy, and the herbs are super fragrant. You can easily get 6-8 portions out of the recipe (depending on how hungry you are).

   You can probably replace the white sauce with marinara, but it just so happens I am a big fan of bechamel based sauces, so that's what I made. And to all my vegetarian friends, you know the drill... leave the meat out, and you got yourself a delicious dinner as well. 


Enjoy.
Magda.

Seafood junkie!

   I love seafood. All kinds of fish, shrimp, muscles (love, love muscles), scallops, octopus.... not enough space to mention all the delicious creatures living in the sea that I love! If I have an option in a restaurant, I order seafood. I always have some in the freezer in case of emergency cravings and if we get Chinese take out... you guessed, it's usually shrimp for me! If you are not crazy about shrimp or fish come over to my house and I will make you change your mind. If you don't want to come over, I will show you how to make the best shrimp pasta ever. The rule of a thumb is to have butter, white wine, garlic, and herbs. Add a little bit of lemon juice and you have a simple and delicious dish. Here is the recipe that makes 4 portions:

*  1 lb shrimp (shelled and deveined)
*  1 lb angel hair pasta
*  1 stick of butter (I know, just indulge this one time!)
*  4 cloves of garlic (mashed)
*  1 cup white wine
*  1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
*  1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
*  lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
*  lemon juice (from 1/2 lemon)
*  salt and pepper

1. Cook pasta to be a little bit al dente.
2. In a meantime in a large skillet melt butter, add mashed garlic, herbs, lemon zest, lemon juice, and cook everything together for 1-2 minutes.
3. Add shrimp, wine, salt, and pepper, and cook for 5 minutes until shrimp is cooked (pink and curly). Add cooked pasta, toss everything together and let it cook for 2-3 minutes so the pasta can soak some of the juices.

   Oh, I just noticed I grabbed a chipped wine glass... there goes my perfect picture! Well, but let's focus on the dish. So simple and so incredibly delicious. You can taste the butter, the garlic, and the wine, and then you bite into a juicy tender shrimp. The herbs give the dish an amazing aroma and make it so much better. I am telling you this is the best shrimp dish ever. Trust me, I'm a doctor!!!

Good luck.
Magda.

Enjoying the summer!

   My garden is going crazy... my dill is 8 foot tall, my basil is wider than me (I know, it's hard to believe), and my favorite baby, mint, is out of control. I kind of make sure it has all the care it needs, because I use it all the time and I need a lot of it. I use it in savory dishes, I use it in deserts, I eat it by itself... but most of all, I make Mojitos!!! I'm crazy about them, I had all the different variations, all the different flavors...and I love them all. Normally when you think about Mojito, you think about mint, rum, and sugar. Well, today I will show you a different version without all the squeezing, crushing, and without rum! Yeah, it's still a Mojito, it's just Vodka Mojito!!! Here is what you need:

*  1 1/2 cups water
*  1 cup white sugar
*  1/2 cup brown sugar
*  2 handfuls of mint
*  1 cup vodka
*  lime juice (from 3 limes)
*  1 1/2 cup club soda (sparkling water)
*  ice

1. Prepare simple syrup: in a small saucepan combine the sugars, water, and mint leaves. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat, and simmer for 1-2 minutes until the sugar dissolves. Remove the pan from the heat and allow the syrup to cool for 20 minutes. Remove the leaves.
2. In a pitcher combine simple syrup, vodka, lime juice, and club soda. Add few slices of lime and few leaves of fresh mint, pour into ice-filled glasses and enjoy!!!

   How simple, but how delicious is it? There is no better flavor than mint... so fresh, so summery, and so aromatic. If you don't have brown sugar you can use regular sugar, but I like the touch of molasses and the color it gives to the drink. Glass of Mojito, a gossip magazine in my hand (or a laptop in Justin's case), a comfortable reclining chair in the back yard, the dog next to us... is that a perfect summer Sunday or what?

Enjoy.
Magda

Cheesy Comfy Friday!

   I love Fridays! Not only because it's the beginning of the weekend, but also because it means that we are having rich, delicious, and comforty food for dinner!!! Oh, how I love Friday dinners! So yesterday, half way through my work day, I already started to plan what I'm gonna make that would satisfy my need for comfort. I definitely did not want to go to the store, so it had to be something that could be made out of things I had at home. And that's how we ended up with cheddar and dill scones with a peppery chicken gravy! Here is the recipe for scones:

*  2 cups all-purpose flour
*  1 tbsp baking powder
*  1 tsp salt
*  1/4 cup fresh chopped dill
*  1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
*  1 stick of cold butter cut into pieces
*  2 eggs
*  1/2 cup fat-free buttermilk

1. In a food processor combine flour, baking powder, salt, dill, and butter. Pulse until everything is combined and butter is in a small chunks. Transfer to a large bowl.
2. In a separate bowl whisk eggs and buttermilk together and pour it into a flour mixture.
3. Mix everything together until combined and using your hands knead the dough
4. Transfer it onto a flour covered surface and divide it into two equal parts. Roll the dough into 1 inch tall circles and cut them into 6 pieces (like how you would slice pizza). Transfer onto greased baking sheet and bake at 400F for 25 minutes.

   The scones are super fluffy and cheesy... if you want comfort, that's your dish! I am probably going to make them for breakfasts for the entire next week! They are very good on their own and they don't really need anything else, but this time I decided to serve them with a black pepper chicken gravy. Here is the recipe:

*  1 chicken breast (cooked and shredded)
*  1 small onion (chopped)
*  2 tbsp all-purpose flour
*  1 cup fat-free milk
*  1 cup water
*  1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
*  1 tsp black pepper
*  1/4 cup chopped parsley
*  salt
*  olive oil

1. Saute onions with olive oil, add flour and cook for 1-2 minutes. Add milk, water, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, mix everything together and cook for 5 minutes until thickens.
2. Add shredded chicken and parsley, pour over the scone, and it's ready to enjoy!

   It's kind of like biscuits and gravy. The thing is that I'm not really crazy about biscuits, but I love scones (go figure!), so I definitely enjoyed that dish! If you don't like gravy, don't worry... just try the scones, they are awesome.

Enjoy.
Magda.

Shroomy tart!

   Man, who would have thought that this week will be so busy... well, actually I knew exactly how busy it would be... this one and all that follow. But craziness at work, long days, and late "home comings" will not stop me from cooking, photographing, and posting, so don't you worry! It may delay some stuff, maybe make some things a little "simpler", but definitely won't stop me from doing it. So today I made something mushroomy, herby and oniony (I don't understand why all those three words got highlighted as a mistake? Somebody is trying to tell me they don't exist?). Well they do exist in my dictionary! Here is the recipe for a caramelized red onions and mushroom tart:

Crust:

*  1 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
*  1/2 tsp salt
*  1 tsp sugar
*  3 tbsp cold butter, cut into small pieces
*  1/2 cup fat-free cream cheese
*  3 tbsp ice water
*  1/3 cup chopped parsley
*  2-3 tbsp fresh chopped rosemary

Filling:

*  3 red onions, thinly sliced
*  1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
*  2 cups chopped mushroom
*  salt and pepper
*  olive oil

1. In a food processor combine the flour, herbs, salt, and sugar. Pulse to combine.
2. Add the butter and pulse until the butter is finely chopped and the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the cheese and the ice water and run the machine just until the mixture is moist and crumbly, but does not form a ball. Do not over mix. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
3. Roll the crust and transfer into a greased tart dish.
4. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add sliced onions, Worcestershire sauce, sprinkle with salt, and cook for 15-20 minutes until onions are caramelized. Remove from the pan and set aside.
5. Into the same pan add chopped mushroom, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and cook for about 5-6 minutes.
6. Cover the crust with layer on caramelized onions, top with mushroom and bake at 400F for 25-30 minutes.

   It may sound impossible but the tart is super rich and super light at the same time. To make it even lighter and healthier, I usually serve it with a side of greens (mostly to silence my guilt). I'm sure all my vegetarian (and not only) friends would love it.

Good luck.
Magda.

Sushi Sous Chef!

   Let me tell you a story about my husband, or actually a story about how awesome my mother-in-law is. Once upon a time, when my husband was a young and wild bachelor, his mom told him that he has to learn how to make at least one "real" dish, so he can cook it for his future wife (God bless her heart for that!). She took him to the Sur La Table (a kitchen store) and told him that she is not leaving until he chooses all necessary items to make something from the scratch. How lucky am I that he chose a sushi kit? She got him books, a bamboo rolling mat, spoons, sushi molds... you name it, he got it! And from that moment sushi became his signature dish. First time he made it for me (a couple of weeks after we met) I was so impressed that I was ready to marry him there and then (but don't tell him that!). So every time we have home made sushi, I take my executive chef hat off, hand it to Justin, and become a sous chef for the night! You can put any combination of fish and veggies inside of the rolls, but this is what we did this time:

*  2 cups sushi rice
*  3-4 tbsp seasoned rice vinegar
*  pinch of salt
*  10 sheets seaweed
*  smoked salmon
*  cucumber
*  avocado
*  fat-free cream cheese
*  crab legs

For serving:
*  soy sauce
*  wasabi paste
*  pickled ginger

1. Using a rice cooker, cook the rice according to the instructions. Pour rice vinegar over cooked rice, mix together, and let it cool.
2. Place one sheet of seaweed on a bamboo rolling mat, cover the seaweed with prepared sushi rice (don't stuff too much on) and leave an inch of the seaweed bare at the top.
3. Cut fish and veggies into long, thin pieces and place ingredients length-ways in the center of the rice (use any combination you like, make it your own creation)
4. Using the mat, roll the rice around the filling and press lightly to seal. Cut into small pieces and serve with wasabi, ginger, soy sauce, and some beer!

   We love sushi and we could probably eat it all the time. It's not easy, it's not quick either, but it's so worth it. Unfortunately, I can't take any credit for it! All I did is cut the ingredients and took the pictures, everything else was done by my top chef  husband!

Good luck.
Magda

Yummy yams.

   Who doesn't like potato chips? I very rarely eat them, but it doesn't mean I don't like them, it's just because it's not worth all the calories and the guilt that follows. I am a salty-snack-kind-of-girl, so I knew I better come up with a healthy version of it if I don't want to pay a fortune for the angioplasty! So I did. Not only did I switch the cooking method (baking rather than frying), but I also used yams instead of regular potatoes. They are much tastier, prettier, and better for you. Try it for yourself.

*  2 yams
*  cooking spray
*  finely chopped rosemary
*  cumin
*  salt

1. Wash unpeeled yams and pat them dry
2. Using a mandoline slicer cut yams into very thin slices, arrange them in a single layer on a baking sheet, spray with a cooking spray, sprinkle with rosemary, cumin, and salt
3. Bake at 380F for 15-20 minutes until crisp

   They are definitely different than the store bought chips, maybe not as crunchy, but much more flavorful and healthier. The sweetness of the yams goes great with the warmth of cumin and fragrant piney rosemary. The perfect snack for a marathon of your favorite TV show!

Have fun.
Magda.

Curious George!

   Are you curious what I was curious about? Well, some time ago I was looking for canned tuna and suddenly I saw a can of "Pink Salmon". My first thought was: "Ugh! That's disgusting!", but each time I saw it, I was more and more curious about it. Few years later (!) my curiosity took over, and I finally bought one. When I opened the can, I knew right away that you can't really eat it by itself, and that it's going to take a lot of "dressing up" to make it appetizing. So I mixed it with lots of herbs and veggies and made colorful and delicious salmon cakes. Here is the recipe for 10 cakes:

Salmon cakes:

*  2 cans pink salmon
*  1 red bell pepper (finely chopped)
*  1/4 red onion (finely chopped)
*  2 tbsp chopped fresh thyme
*  1/4 cup chopped parsley
*  2 eggs (beaten)
*  1/4 cup bread crumbs
*  seasoned salt
*  pepper
*  olive oil

Sauce:

*  1 cup fat-free yogurt
*  1/2 cup pickle relish
*  1/4 cup crushed black olives
*  1 tbsp lemon juice
*  salt and pepper

1. Crush drained salmon and mix it with red onion, bell pepper, thyme an parsley.
2. Add eggs, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper, mix everything until combined, and form patties (the size of medium burger)
3. In a non-stick pan, heat a little bit of olive oil, and saute salmon cakes for about 3-4 minutes on each side.
4. Mix all the ingredients of the sauce, season with salt and pepper to your liking and keep in the fridge until served.

   Who would have thought that you can get such a delicious dish using a not so sexy ingredient? Onions and peppers give it a nice crunch and herbs are flavorful and fresh. If you are a fish lover and looking for some alternatives, this is the dish for you.

Enjoy.
Magda.