Scallions | I Can Cook That

Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

I have been in full on grilling mode recently. I can’t seem to get enough of recipes made on the grill! So as the end of summer continues to creep closer, I am trying to get in all of the grilling I can. As much as I would love to grill in the colder months, I’m a wimp and know I just won’t stand out in the cold.

I’ve used indoor counter top grills in the past and really wasn’t thrilled with the cooking results — it didn’t seem to heat up enough to get proper grill marks, all of the juices would flow out of the grill making for a very dry protein, and I’d always under or overcook the meat.

So when I was contacted to test out the T-fal OptiGrill as part of T-fal’s OptiGrill Blogger Bash, I had some reservations about if this grill would really live up to expectations. Well, I was really pleasantly surprised! What sets the OptiGrill apart is its Precision Grilling Technology that adjusts the cooking time and temperature depending on the type of protein and the thickness of whatever you’re cooking.

The T-fal OptiGrill has a cooking level indicator with a color changing display that notifies you when your protein has reached rare, medium, or well-done. It also beeps when your food reaches each of the cooking stages. (Keep in mind that if you want your meat to rest before slicing, it continues to cook. So if you wanted a steak at medium rare and planned to let it rest for 5 minutes, you should probably take it out when the OptiGrill hits the “rare” notification.)

The grill comes pre-programmed with 6 settings that adapt cooking temperature and times for different types of food: burger, poultry, sandwich, pork/sausage, red meat, and fish/seafood. There is also a frozen food function button so that you can cook your protein even when frozen; just push the snowflake button and then one of the 6 pre-programmed buttons. The grill will defrost and cook the protein in one easy step! When cooking fruits and veggies, just use the manual mode, which allows you to determine when the food is done cooking. The OptiGrill also takes into account the thickness of your food using an integrated thickness sensor so that the protein is fully cooked correctly.

The grill is made of brushed stainless steel with die-cast aluminum plates with a non-stick coating. The plates are removable for easy cleaning and are even dishwasher safe. The plates are angled so that drippings can flow into the removable drip tray, which surprisingly doesn’t leave the meat tough, dry, or chewy.

Want to see the grill in action? I decided to test it out with a yummy recipe from Cooking Light that uses both chicken thighs and chicken breasts. Chicken is so easy to overcook leaving a dry meal so I thought it would be a perfect way to test what this grill can really handle. This recipe also includes grilled pineapple so I was able to test out the manual setting as well. I made the marinade from this recipe for Jerk-style Chicken and the salsa from this recipe for Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa.

**I also am giving away one T-fal OptiGrill to one lucky reader, courtesy of T-fal OptiGrill! Details below the recipe.**

Note: I was sent a T-fal OptiGrill to test for this review. T-fal is also offering one I Can Cook That reader the chance to win their own T-Fal OptiGrill. All opinions are my own.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon grated lime rind
1/4 cup fresh lime juice plus 1 tablespoon, divided (about 3 limes)
1 tablespoon ground allspice
1 tablespoon brown sugar (substitute 1 tablespoon molasses to make paleo)
1 tablespoon finely chopped jalapeño pepper
2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1/2 cup chopped onion
6 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 1 pound)
3 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
2 (1-inch) slices fresh pineapple
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/3 cups sliced green onions

Continue reading Jerk Chicken with Grilled Pineapple Salsa

Spicy Flank Steak Tacos with Watermelon Salsa

When I first spotted this recipe in the August issue of Cooking Light, I knew I wanted to make it. I have never used watermelon in a savory recipe before and it sounded like a perfect summer dinner! This recipe comes together in no time (and is really simple to make), making it a great weeknight meal option.

The rub on the steak is only four ingredients: salt, black pepper, white pepper, and red (cayenne) pepper. If you don’t have white pepper you can just substitute in more black pepper. But each pepper does bring it’s own taste to the rub.

Black and white pepper comes from the same pepper plant but white peppercorns have the outer layer removed, leaving the seed inside. White pepper has a more subtle flavor than black pepper. Red pepper, or cayenne pepper, is ground from hot peppers so it has a nice level of heat to it. The three together add a nice spiciness to the steak without being overwhelming.

I altered this recipe a little bit but the general idea is there. If you’re interested in seeing the original version, check it out here.

Ingredients:

1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1 (1-pound) flank steak, trimmed and halved lengthwise
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
8 green onions, roots trimmed
2 cups finely chopped fresh watermelon
2 tablespoons chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 ounces feta cheese, crumbled (about 1/2 cup)

Continue reading Spicy Flank Steak Tacos with Watermelon Salsa

Peach-Glazed Chicken with Peach-Studded Bulgur

My boyfriend loves peaches so I am always keeping an eye out for any recipe that incorporates peaches into it. This recipe from Cooking Light not only included peaches two ways, but it also used a wheat product I’ve never used before: bulgur.

Bulgur is a fast cooking whole grain that’s been parboiled, dried, and cracked. One cup of bulgur is only 150 calories and includes 8 grams of fiber and almost 6 grams of protein. Sounds like a good addition to any meal!

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups water

3/4 cup uncooked bulgur

2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

2 1/2 tablespoons white wine vinegar, divided

2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme

1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger

2 cups chopped peaches

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, divided

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided

1 ounce goat cheese, crumbled (about 1/4 cup)

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1/2 cup unsalted chicken stock

1/4 cup peach preserves
2 teaspoons whole-grain mustard

Continue reading Peach-Glazed Chicken with Peach-Studded Bulgur

Pappardelle Pasta with Snap Peas

Last Sunday, my boyfriend ran in the ODDyssey Half Marathon. So the Friday before, I wanted to make a pasta dish for him to “carb load,” but I didn’t want to give him our normal protein-heavy meat sauce.

This recipe from Food Network was a perfect choice! It uses fresh veggies and herbs to deliver the flavor instead of meat and tomatoes.

Ingredients:

Kosher salt
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 bunch scallions, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 1 cup of chopped scallions)
1/2 pound sugar snap peas, roughly chopped
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
1 cup roughly chopped fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh chives, thinly sliced (about 3 tablespoons)
1/2 pound dry pappardelle pasta
3/4 cup crumbled ricotta salata
ground pepper, to taste

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Baked Black Beans with Chorizo

You can never have too many party appetizers in your cooking arsenal. I wanted to try something a little different than the apps I’ve been posting recently. This dish is a layered dip with black beans, chorizo, tomatoes, and cheese and would be perfect for watching the game or any other party!

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup diced Spanish chorizo

1 1/2 cups chopped onion

1 jalapeño pepper, sliced

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

5 garlic cloves, minced

3/4 cup fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth

2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained

1 cup chopped seeded tomato

1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions

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Slow Cooker Korean Beef Tacos #CampbellSauces

This post brought to you by Campbell’s Dinner Sauces. Weekend-worthy dinners with only weekday-level effort needed! Learn more at https://www.campbellsauces.com/

This year, my boyfriend and I are hosting a New Year’s Eve party. With a quite a few friends coming from out of town, I need a recipe that is simple to make but can feed a crowd. I also need something that doesn’t dirty up every pot and pan I own right before the party starts, which means I’m whipping out my trusty slow cooker!

Campbell’s has made this process even easier for me with their new Slow Cooker Sauces. I actually mentioned in a previous post how I wanted to try the Sweet Korean BBQ sauce, so here’s my opportunity! I made a test batch this week to see how it tastes.

As a member of the DailyBuzz Brand Ambassador Program, I once again get to work with Campbell’s to try out another one of their delicious sounding sauces. The sauces are currently available in supermarkets, typically in the Gravy or Boxed Dinner Kit aisles. (To learn more about the sauces, check out their interactive Facebook app that gives more information about both the Skillet and the Slow Cooker Sauces.)

Because the sauce is already prepared, getting everything into the slow cooker is a cinch. To stretch the beef a little further, I made these into tacos served with red cabbage, sriracha sour cream, and red bell peppers.

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 bunch green onions (scallions), divided
1 small yellow onion, chopped
3-4 lbs boneless chunk roast
1 package of Campbell’s Sweet Korean BBQ Slow Cooker Sauce
1 (8 oz) container sour cream
1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon sriracha (depending on your spice tolerance)
3 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
1 small head red cabbage, sliced
12 (fajita sized) flour tortillas
toasted sesame seeds, to taste

Continue reading Slow Cooker Korean Beef Tacos #CampbellSauces

Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

I am in a never ending search to find ways to make chicken into a new and different meal. Cooking Light’s September issue had this recipe for Japanese Chicken Meatballs, or Tsukune, that were mentioned as a great “party snack.” I decided to change the recipe size and pair it with grilled baby bok choy and some rice to make this traditional appetizer/snack into an entrée.

Ingredients:

Meatballs:

1 tablespoon dark sesame oil
5 ounces sliced shiitake mushroom caps
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger, divided
2 minced garlic cloves, divided
1 tablespoon dry sherry
1 teaspoon red miso (soybean paste)
1 pounds ground chicken
1/4 cup panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
1 teaspoon cornstarch
Salt and pepper, to taste
2 green onions, thinly sliced
1 large egg white

Sauce:

6 tablespoons mirin (sweet rice wine)
6 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
The juice of 1 lime
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1 serrano chile, thinly sliced

Remaining ingredients:

Cooking spray
1 tablespoon toasted sesame seeds
½ cup long grain rice
1 cup water or chicken broth
1 baby bok choy

Continue reading Tsukune (Japanese Chicken Meatballs)

Braised Baby Back Ribs and Creamy Polenta with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta

I’ve mentioned on here many times, I really stink at getting an entire meal on the table. I can usually handle making the main dish and then I just scramble to throw a salad together and call it a meal. So when Cooking Planit told me about their app, it was like they had made it with me in mind!

The app, available for the iPhone and iPad (android coming soon) can also be accessed online. Your usage is synced up through your login, so you can browse on your computer, iPhone, and iPad seamlessly. (The app is currently on sale for $0.99 for iPhone and $1.99 for iPad)

The overall goal of Cooking Planit is to get a meal, sides included, on the table at the same time. The app includes tons of recipes that come already packaged as meals, but you can also mix and match to suit your tastes.

Once you choose your recipes/meal, you can add it to “My Cookbook” to store for future use. When you’re ready to go food shopping, just add the meal to your grocery list. The app gives you the option of planning for 2, 4, or 6 servings which I absolutely love! The grocery list can be viewed as a list by aisle (produce, dairy & eggs, canned goods, etc.), images (in case you have no idea what a leek looks like), or by recipe so you can see what you need for which recipe. Once you find and purchase your ingredients, just check them off and remove them from the list.

When you’re ready to get cooking, just bring up the recipe and click get started. The app will walk you through the meal, step by step, so that all parts of the recipe will finish at or around the same time. The app even shows you which cooking equipment, kitchen supplies, and appliances you need to make your meal, almost foolproof! It also lets you know how long it will take to make from start to finish. I liked being able to browse the recipes online at work, get the grocery list up on my phone at the supermarket, and then use my laptop at home to view the directions while I cooked. Super easy! The iPhone/iPad app also has voice control, so if you’re elbow deep in cooking, you can give voice commands like “Move On” or “Go Back.” When parts of the recipe need a timer, automatic timers show up at the top of the screen for you. The app will also tell you when to slow down so that all parts of the recipe finish at the same time.

So I decided to try it out and give the results below! I (of course) messed with the recipe slightly so my version is below. I chose “Sunday Supper” but changed it to Baby Back Ribs instead of Short Ribs and used my slow cooker instead of the oven.

Ingredients (serves 2):

Braised Baby Back Ribs

1 carrot, large
1 celery stalk, large
4 sprigs fresh rosemary
4 sprigs fresh thyme
4 cloves garlic
1 yellow onion, small
2 lbs baby back ribs
2 cups beef stock, low sodium
1.5 oz tomato paste
pepper, to taste
5 black peppercorns
1 dried bay leaf
1.5 tablespoons flour
salt, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 bottle Cabernet Sauvignon

Creamy Polenta

1 tablespoon green onions
2 teaspoons fresh parsley
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons butter, unsalted
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup polenta (yellow cornmeal)
2 cups chicken stock, low sodium
salt, to taste
pepper, to taste

Brussels Sprouts & Pancetta

3/4 lbs Brussels sprouts
1 small shallot
3 slices Pancetta
2 teaspoons butter, unsalted
2/3 cup chicken stock, low sodium
pepper, to taste
salt, to taste
1 tablespoon olive oil

Continue reading Braised Baby Back Ribs and Creamy Polenta with Brussels Sprouts and Pancetta

Vegetable Couscous Salad

The weather in Philadelphia decided to take a break from the cold and give us two days of summer! We hit temperatures above 80 degrees so I wanted to prepare a light meal that didn’t involve much time over a stove. This Vegetable Couscous Salad from Cooking Light is perfect for summer dinners. It also travels well, so it would be a great addition to a barbecue, just make it ahead of time and bring it with you!

Ingredients:

Dressing:

1/3 cup water
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 (.6 ounce envelope Italian dressing mix) or Italian spice blend

Salad:

1 1/2 cups water
1 cup uncooked couscous
2 cups chopped red bell pepper (I used two peppers)
2 cups chopped tomato (I used two beefsteak tomatoes)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled feta cheese
1/2 cup finely chopped green onions
1/4 cup chopped pitted kalamata olives
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

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Matzo Ball Soup

One of my favorite parts of learning to cook is having the chance to learn about cultures through different foods. I love paging through cookbooks that contain recipes I’ve never tried and learning something about the history and tradition behind these recipes. In preparation for Passover, I was sent a copy of The New Jewish Table, written by Todd Gray and Ellen Kassoff Gray of Washington D.C.’s Equinox Restaurant. The cookbook takes traditional Jewish recipes and turns them into beautiful modern dishes.

The cookbook is filled with a ton of re-imagined comfort foods, and is broken into seasons to make the most of seasonally available product. The last few pages of the book also has suggested menus for Jewish holidays. I hope to cook through the Passover menu over the coming days because it all sounds so delicious (besides the gefilte fish, sorry haha.)

The Grays’ have filled the cookbook with personal stories and notes throughout that give a family feel and a background to their traditions which is a really nice touch. Each recipe is also labeled by type of recipe to make it easy to keep kosher: dairy, meat, parve, or mixed. Todd Gray’s childhood traditions are also present throughout the cookbook and include a few nods to traditional Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. (I particularly liked these recipes because, well, what is more comforting that food from the Pennsylvania Dutch?)

This cookbook almost reads like a memory book and is filled with wonderful stories, photographs, and obviously recipes. The New Jewish Table would be great for someone who is interested in learning about Jewish traditions through food and those who have grown up with these traditions and are looking for a fresh update to their family favorites.

I decided to make the recipe on the cover, called “Not Exactly Aunt Lil’s Matzo Ball Soup.” The recipe is a more polished version of Ellen Kassoff Gray’s Great Aunt’s soup. It has noodles in it, but to make it for Passover, this version below has omitted them. Todd Gray’s spin on this traditional recipe turns a comforting dish into a truly beautiful dish. I altered the dish very slightly, but my version is below. To see the original recipe, be sure to pick up a copy of this cookbook.

This recipe falls into the “meat” category. It is also appropriate for Passover.

Ingredients:

Caramelized Shallots:

2 cups chopped shallots
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 teaspoon salt

Matzo Balls:

3 large eggs
2 tablespoons margarine, melted
1/4 cup club soda
1 cup matzo meal
1/2 cup chopped Caramelized Onions (above)
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Soup:

One 3-pound whole chicken, cut into 8 pieces (ask your butcher to do this for you)
1 large yellow onion, quarterd
2 celery ribs, chopped
2 small carrots, chopped
1 medium turnip, chopped
6 garlic cloves, crushed
1 bunch parsley, washed and blotted dry
2 bay leaves
4 sprigs fresh thyme
12 black peppercorns
1 tablespoon salt

Garnish:

2 cups finely diced carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup finely diced turnips
1/2 cup sliced scallions, both green and white parts

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Sesame Salmon with Green Onions and Lemon

I’ve been eating pretty crummy lately, a lot of take out and not a lot of thought about what I am eating. So it’s about time I tried a new salmon recipe. The latest Cooking Light has a recipe for Sesame Salmon that caught my eye. I made a few changes to the recipe (some intentional, some not) but kept the overall gist of the recipe in tact. Salmon is one of my favorite weeknight meals and this one is no different. The recipe takes about 20 minutes from start to finish, great for a busy night.

Ingredients:

4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets
Cooking spray
4 tablespoons sesame seeds
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups sliced green onions (about 2 bunches)
5 thin lemon slices, halved
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 cup baby arugula

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Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade

I realized I have never posted a recipe for crab cakes. That is ridiculous! So today’s the day. I found this recipe for Crab Cakes with Spicy Remoulade in one of my Cooking Light recipes and altered it a bit for what I happened to have in my pantry.

Crab cakes:

1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed
2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons canola mayonnaise
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 green onions, finely chopped
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1 cup bread crumbs, divided
2 tablespoons canola oil, divided

Remoulade:

1/4 cup canola mayonnaise
2 teaspoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
1 teaspoon chopped fresh parsley
1 1/2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
3/4 teaspoon capers, chopped
3/4 teaspoon champagne vinegar
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper

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Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

It’s funny how you can go years, even decades, thinking that you don’t like a certain food only to find you can’t get enough of it when you’re older. Fish tacos is one of those foods for me. They pack a ton of flavor but are a healthier option than other proteins (as long as the fish isn’t fried, that is). I also love how quickly you can cook them up, perfect for a weeknight dinner! Cooking Light always has the best taco recipes so I naturally went in search of a fish taco recipe there. I found this recipe in the myrecipes.com new cookbook: Myrecipes’ America’s Favorite Food Cookbook, which you can win by entering below!

Ingredients

Crema:

1/4 cup thinly sliced green onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons fat-free mayonnaise
3 tablespoons reduced-fat sour cream
1 teaspoon grated lime rind (I just used the zest of one lime)
1 1/2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (I used the juice of one lime)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, minced

Tacos:

1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 pounds red snapper fillets
Cooking spray
8 (6-inch) corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cabbage (or romaine lettuce)

Continue reading Fish Tacos with Lime-Cilantro Crema

Halibut with Coconut-Red Curry

I am very vocal about my love of Cooking Light and myrecipes.com in general. I think it is a fantastic resource to find delicious recipes of all kinds and sort them easily and helpfully. I was recently sent a copy of myrecipes’ America’s Favorite Food: 200 Top-Rated Recipes from the Country’s Best Magazines which is a collection of recipes from All You, Coastal Living, Cooking Light, Health, Real Simple, Southern Living, and Sunset magazines.

What makes this cookbook different than any I’ve ever seen, is that it incorporates a Scan-It/Cook-It technology. Once you download the free Digimarc Discover app onto your smartphone, you are able to scan photos and info boxes in the cookbook which opens up how-to videos, shopping lists, and related recipes. Brilliant!

When I scanned the photo of the recipe I was making (Halibut with Coconut-Red Curry Sauce), it opened a how-to video to see how to prepare the dish, which is a wonderful tool for beginner cooks. The recipe also includes a side bar with substitutes and even tips on how to cook fish without smelling up the whole house.

This is the perfect cookbook for all levels of home cooks and I’m happy to be able to giveaway a copy of this cookbook! Check out the widget below to enter…

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
4 (6-ounce) halibut fillets
1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger (or a punch of ground ginger)
1 cup light coconut milk
1 tablespoon sugar (or 1 teaspoon stevia)
1 tablespoon fish sauce
3/4 teaspoon red curry paste
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil
2 teaspoons fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)

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Couscous with Dried Cranberries and Pine Nuts

I need more sides in my life. Couscous is a great weekday choice because it’s so quick to make, maybe 20 minutes in total. This recipe is from the Fresh & Healthy DASH Diet Cooking Cookbook which I absolutely love. The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet was developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute a encourages increasing whole grains, nuts, fruits, vegetables, low-fat dairy and lean proteins and minimizing processed gains, high-fat meats and dairy, sugars and sodium… which is basically more just eating healthy versus a diet.

This couscous recipe is made with vegetable broth to give it some flavor with bites of pine nuts, dried cranberries, and scallions.

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons canola oil
1/4 cup pine nuts
2 cups reduced-sodium vegetable stock
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup couscous (whole wheat if you can find it)
1/3 cup dried cranberries
2 scallions, coarsely chopped

Continue reading Couscous with Dried Cranberries and Pine Nuts