20 December 2014 Christmas Morning Brunch Recipes from Spuntino Wine Bar

Christmas Morning Brunch Recipes from Spuntino Wine Bar

December 20, 2014 By

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas Executive Chef, Josh Bernstein, wants to help us to impress friends and family with unique and delicious Christmas morning brunch recipes he serves at both the Clifton, NJ and the Westbury, NY locations.

Egg White Fritatta

Egg White Fritatta

Egg White Frittata

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  • ¼ cup Clarified Butter
  • ½ cup Spanish Onion, diced
  • ½ lb Chicken Sausage, cooked and diced
  • ½ bunch Rainbow Swiss Chard, cleaned and chopped
  • 8 cherry tomatoes, quartered
  • 2 cups Egg whites
  • Sea salt and ground black pepper to taste

Method:

  1. Heat a 10 inch, nonstick sauté pan over medium high heat. 
  2. Add the clarified butter. 
  3. After about 30 seconds, add the onions, sausage, Swiss chard and tomatoes. 
  4. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 
  5. Season to taste with the sea salt and ground black pepper. 
  6. Mix in the egg whites and stir with a rubber spatula. 
  7. Smooth the mixture out and place into a 400° oven for 5-7 minutes.  (The eggs should be fully set and slightly browned on top.) 
  8. Slide the frittata out of the pan onto a round plate.  Cut into 8 wedges.

 

Pane Francese

Pane Francese

Pane Francese alla Spuntino

Serves 4

Ingredients:

Pane Spuntino:

  • ¼ cup Clarified Butter
  • 1 each Crusty Baguette, cut into 1” bias slices
  • 2 cups Buttermilk
  • 8 eggs
  • 4 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Ground Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp Sea Salt
  • 2 Cups Maple Syrup
  • Powdered Sugar for dusting

Warm Berry Compote:

  • 1 lb Strawberries, de-stemmed
  • 1 ls Blueberries
  • ¼ cup Honey
  • 1 tbsp Vanilla Extract
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 tbsp Mint, chiffonade

Method:

Warm Berry Compote:

  1. Cut the strawberries into quarters. 
  2. Combine the strawberries, blueberries, honey, vanilla and sea salt in a sauce pan. 
  3. Slowly bring to a boil over low heat to allow the berries to release their liquid.
  4. Let the mixture cook for 30 minutes to reduce the liquid by at least half. 
  5. Fold in the mint.  Set aside for service.

Pane Spuntino:

  1. In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt. 
  2. Whisk for 1 minute to combine well. 
  3. Dip the baguette slices into the egg mixture.  Allow to sit for one minute to absorb the batter.
  4. Heat the clarified butter in a large non-stick sauté pan. 
  5. Add the battered bread to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes per side. 
  6. Remove baguettes from the pan and dip into the bowl of maple syrup.  Coat on both sides and place into a baking dish. 
  7. Put the pane spuntino into a 450° oven for 4 -5 minutes.  The pane spuntino will puff slightly.
  8. Remove from the oven.  Serve on top of the warm berry compote.  Dust the top with the powdered sugar.

Spuntino’s philosophy, which emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients for their chef-driven made-from-scratch menu, is demonstrated in these dishes.

For more information, visit www.SpuntintoWineBar.com or at Facebook.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Breakfast, Cheese, Chocolate, Eggs, Vegetables Tagged With: , , ,

10 Easy Thanksgiving Sides and Starters

November 15, 2014 By
Yorkshire Puddings

Yorkshire Puddings

Okay, there are so many “lists” out there of yummy-sounding Thanksgiving recipes that it’s difficult to pick which are best for your holiday table.

Below are 10 easy yet delicious, tested recipes that are sure to enhance your traditional turkey day table.

  1. Cheesy and Garlicky Pull Apart Bread
  2. Corn and Lima Bean Succotash
  3. Duck Fat and Bacon Fingerling Potatoes
  4. Easy Pimento Cheese Dip
  5. Easy Roasted Brussels Sprouts
  6. Fail-Proof Yorkshire Puddings
  7. Green Goddess Dip
  8. Hasselback Potatoes
  9. Pork Belly Deviled Eggs
  10. Sweet Potato Gnocchi in Sage Brown Butter

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Eggs, Potatoes, Sides, Starters, Vegetables Tagged With: , ,
11 November 2014 Easy Shrimp Etouffee

Easy Shrimp Etouffee

November 11, 2014 By

Shrimp EtouffeeIt’s fall and that means time for comfort food at our home. One of our favorite comforting meals is etouffée, the rich, spicy dish that originated in Louisiana. While it looks a bit complicated, this dish is quite simple: Start with a deeply-colored roux (butter and flour mixture) then add the ‘holy trinity’ – celery, onion and bell pepper, and you’re almost all the way there! While we’ve enjoyed etouffée with crawfish and Andouille sausage, this version with easy-to-find shrimp is sensational. Ingredients:

  • 4 Tbsp. plus 1 Tbsp. butter, divided
  • 4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup diced celery
  • ½ cup diced bell pepper
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 3 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 1 cup bottled clam juice
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup chopped tomatoes
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper
  • 1 Tbsp. Pork Mafia Memphis Mud or Cajun seasoning
  • 1 pound medium shrimps, shelled, deveined and cooked
  • 4 Tbsp. chopped scallions

Pork Mafia SpiceDirections:

  1. Over medium heat, melt four tablespoons of butter in a large cast iron pan then add the flour. Whisk the flour mixture, known as a roux, frequently until it is the color of peanut butter, about 10 minutes.
  2. Add the celery, bell pepper and onion to the roux and cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened, about 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook an additional minute.
  3. Add the clam juice and broth to the vegetable mixture and scrape the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon to loosen up all the brown bits. Add the tomatoes and seasonings and simmer for about 30 minutes.
  4. Add the shrimp to the pan and cook for about 5 minutes. Melt the remaining tablespoon of butter and stir.
  5. Serve the etouffée over white rice and garnish with scallions.

Makes 4 servings.

Filed Under: American, Entrees, Seafood, Starters, Vegetables Tagged With: , , ,
6 September 2014 Roasted Eggplant with Garlic Cumin Yogurt Dressing

Roasted Eggplant with Garlic Cumin Yogurt Dressing

September 6, 2014 By
Scored Eggplants

Scored Eggplants

I love this Roasted Eggplant with Garlic Cumin Yogurt Dressing recipe so much…especially for #MeatlessMonday when I need inspiration.

Last week, my Bracco Farms CSA was beautifully filled with various eggplants. I love eggplants but don’t cook many meals with them besides the old eggplant Parmesan favorite.

While looking at delicious-looking photos of eggplants on Pinterest (are we connected there?), I found this uber simple yet delicious recipe that will now become part of my repertoire.

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium eggplant
  • 2 Tbsp. olive oil for brushing
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • ¼ cup Greek yogurt
  • 1 Tbsp. Extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 garlic clove, finely minced
  • ¼ tsp. ground cumin
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper

Eggplants with Yogurt DipDirections:

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  2. Slice the eggplant lengthways. Using a sharp paring knife, score the cut side of the eggplant in a diagonal crisscross pattern – don’t cut though skin.
  3. Place the eggplant halves, skin side down, on a baking sheet and brush the scored sides with olive oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 35 minutes or until nicely browned.
  4. While the eggplant is roasting, combine the remaining ingredients in a small bowl, adjusting the seasonings to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
  5. Plate the roasted eggplant halves and spoon dipping sauce on them. A drizzle of extra virgin olive oil can also be added, but is optional.

Makes 2 starters or 1 entrée.

(Inspired by this recipe).

Filed Under: American, Entrees, Greek, Sides, Starters, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , , ,
18 August 2014 Corn and Lima Bean Succotash

Corn and Lima Bean Succotash

August 18, 2014 By

SuccotashIn New Jersey, we have some of the best corn to be found anywhere. Farm stands and various stores offer sweet Jersey corn from late summer into the fall and I enjoy finding new ways to savor it.

One new way used farm-fresh corn this weekend was by making an easy succotash with lima beans, basil and bacon (can omit bacon if going meatless). The dish can be made the day before serving and simply reheated.

Ingredients:

  • ¼ pound slab bacon, roughly chopped
  • ½ medium Spanish onion, chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 4 ears of corn, kernels cut off
  • 1 large jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped
  • 1 (10-oz) package of frozen baby lima beans, thawed
  • 2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar
  • ¼ cup chopped basil
  • ½ tsp. each salt and pepper

Directions:

  1. In a large frying pan, cook the bacon over medium heat until crisp, about 4 minutes. Keeping the fat in the frying pan, drain the bacon on paper towels and reserve for later use.
  2. To the bacon fat in the frying pan, add the onion and cook over medium heat until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute. Add the corn, jalapeno and lima beans and cook until vegetables are tender, about 7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in vinegar, basil, and salt and pepper. At this point, the succotash can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for a day.
  3. Serve succotash with crispy bacon.

Makes about 3 cups.

Note: To make this dish meatless, simply omit the bacon and sauté the vegetables in 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil.

Filed Under: American, Sides, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , ,
11 August 2014 Make-Ahead Tomato Gazpacho

Make-Ahead Tomato Gazpacho

August 11, 2014 By

GazpachoThis weekend, I hosted a group of wine lovers and was pondering what to serve as a quick amuse-bouche that would scream “SUMMER”. Jersey tomatoes came to mind and I opted to serve a tasty gazpacho with a grilled shrimp sprinkled with Pork Mafia Memphis Mud rub blend. It’s a killer little dish that can be prepared the day before the party.

Ingredients:

  • 6 ripe tomatoes, cut into chunks
  • ½  large English cucumber (seedless) – peeled cut into chunks
  • 1 red bell pepper, cut into chunks
  • 2 garlic cloves, smashed
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/3 cup olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp. sherry vinegar
  • 1 tsp. sea salt
  • ½ tsp. each black pepper and hot sauce
  • Cilantro leaves for garnish (optional)
  • Grilled shrimps for garnish (optional)

Directions:

  1. In a food processor or blender, combine all the ingredients EXCEPT the two garnishes. Process until the mixture is liquefied, about 2 minutes.
  2. Pour the mixture through a sieve into a large measuring cup or any other container that can be refrigerated. Chill until ready to serve, up to a day in advance.
  3. Pour the cold soup in serving dishes and sprinkle with sea salt. Add a cilantro leaf and a shrimp, if using.

Makes about 3 cups of gazpacho.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Soups, Spanish, Starters, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged With: , , ,
14 July 2014 Snacking on Radishes

Snacking on Radishes

July 14, 2014 By

RadishesWhen I was a young kid, my grandma used to pull radishes out of her garden, wash them, place then in a jar full of water and store them in the fridge for snacking when my sister and me visited. Just loved pulling that jar of radishes that had likely once been a peanut butter jar and munch on one or two of the peppery little guys.

Today, I’m not sure how many kids would actually think radishes are a cool snack, but I hold fond memories of them and just this week started that tradition again with beautiful radishes that were included in my Bracco Farms CSA box.

Happy snacking!

Veronique 

Filed Under: American, Vegetables Tagged With: , ,
12 June 2014 Blue Apron – My Experience

Blue Apron – My Experience

June 12, 2014 By
Delivery Box

Delivery Box

A couple weeks ago, I was offered a trial shipment of Blue Apron food through my blogging efforts. As an avid cook, I wasn’t sold on the idea of receiving “pre-packaged” food in the mail, but after reviewing the online program offered by Blue Apron, I decided to give it a go.

Delivery Ingredients

Delivery Ingredients

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Apron endeavors to make cooking fun and easy by providing clients all the ingredients they need to make a delicious meal in exactly the right proportions. The name Blue Apron comes from the apron originally worn by apprentice chefs in France – a symbol of lifelong learning in cooking.

Detailed Recipe

Detailed Recipe

The fresh, seasonal ingredients are sourced from artisanal purveyors with emphasis on sustainable practices. Clients receive carefully-packaged ingredients (many not found in standard supermarkets) in a refrigerated box for ensured freshness. Clients choose their delivery days and can skip weeks where food delivery isn’t needed. Meals are based upon dietary preferences.

What I find super is that even novice (or pre-novice) cooks can achieve complete meals with little efforts. The week’s step-by-step recipes come with the food delivery and can also be accessed online. The original recipes help cooks create complete meals with 500-700 calories per serving that typically take less than 30 minutes to prepare. The pre-portioned ingredients help save time for clients and also help reduce waste.

Pan Fried Orange Shrimp

Pan Fried Orange Shrimp

Prices for the service start at $9.99 per person per meal which might appear steep at first glance but isn’t once the first tasty meal is on the table. The first dish I prepared using my Blue Apron delivery was the  

To get started with the program, please click here. It’s a great way to learn how to cook healthy meals for the family without the worry of recipe testing.

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: Asian, Entrees, Other Neat Things, Seafood, Vegetables Tagged With: , ,
22 April 2014 Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Top Pie

Strawberry Rhubarb Crumb Top Pie

April 22, 2014 By

Rhubarb PieEver since my grandma cut stalks of rhubarb from her garden, peeled them, sprinkled some sugar on them and fed them to my sister and me as kids, I’ve had this love for the spring vegetable.

FruitsThis pie truly covers all bases, slight tartness from the rhubarb, sweetness from the strawberries, flaky crust and great texture from the crumb top. Don’t be intimidated to try this pie because of the pie crust, the following recipe calls for a crust made in the food processor that’s a breeze to make….or, just get a store-bought crust!

Sugared Fruit

Sugared Fruit

Crumb Top Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 6 Tbsp. cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

Pie Ingredients:

  • 9” Pie crust, unbaked
  • 2 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
  • 4 cups rhubarb, cut into ¾” pieces
  • 2 cups strawberries, halved (or quartered if large)
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
  • ¼ tsp. salt

Crumb Top Directions:

  1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, light brown sugar, granulated sugar and salt.
  2. Using your fingertips, incorporate the butter with the flour until large clumps form. Chill, covered, until ready to use.
Crumb Top

Crumb Top

Pie Directions:

  1. Place pie crust in a 9” pie plate and refrigerate for one hour.
  2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  3. In a large bowl, toss the rhubarb and strawberries with the sugar, cornstarch and salt. Let sit for 15 minutes then pour into pie crust. Sprinkle crumb top mixture over the berries/rhubarb.
  4. Place pie on a foil-lined rimmed baking sheet and place in oven. Reduce heat to 375 degrees and bake until topping is browned and crust is lightly browned, about 1 1/2 hours. (If topping or crust begins to brown too quickly, tent with foil.) Cool before serving.

8 servings.

Adapted from this recipe.

Filed Under: American, Desserts, Fruits, Vegetables Tagged With: , , , , ,
7 April 2014 Caprese Salad for #MeatlessMonday

Caprese Salad for #MeatlessMonday

April 7, 2014 By

CapreseI know it’s not technically a “recipe” but wanted to share my fresh and delicious caprese salad made with yellow cherry and kumato tomatoes. Just think the yellow and greenish/purple looks beautiful and I had super fresh Mozzarella so paired perfectly with a drizzle of Greek olive oil and reduced balsamic vinegar. 

Just a simple, fresh and delicious entry for #MeatlessMonday!

Cheers,

Veronique

Filed Under: American, Cheese, Entrees, Italian, Starters, Vegetables, Vegetarian Tagged With:
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