Chilled Spanish Tomato Soup (Salmorejo)

I will never forget a summer a very long time ago when my husband I lived in the city in a third story walk-up condominium.  With no central air and a window unit that cooled it down to just barely above melting temperature.  We worked all day in stuffy suits and traveled to and from work in crowded buses.  Those were the days we found salvation in a neighborhood restaurant named Chardonnay.   A dark and sleek spot with marble table tops that were  cool to the touch. If felt like plunging into a swimming pool, washing away the heat and grit of the day.

The days of bus commutes, stifling suits, panty hose are long gone.  And there is no Chardonnay (the restaurant that is), but I do have this creamy chilled, no-cook soup to fulfill that need on the hottest of summer days.

This creamy, chilled bread-thickened soup has is origins in the Southern region of Spain near Córdoba, where sun ripened tomatoes are blended with fruity olive oil, onions, garlic and day-old bread.  Traditionally topped with Spanish  Jamón and hard boiled eggs (note I took the liberty of substituting crispy pancetta for the Jamón). I also added a red bell pepper as recommended by a blogger from the region.

How much do I love this soup?  Well I recently entered it into a cooking contest at work and took second place among a group of other Spanish-themed soups.  The winner, ironically was a delicious goat meat stew which technically is African, not Spanish… But I was not about to quibble because it was truly wonderful

Cannot think of a better way to cool off and enjoy the best summer has to offer. Enjoy!

3 tbsp. kosher salt, plus more to taste

8 medium-sized, ripe tomatoes, cored, halved, and seeded

1 small red bell pepper, seeded, coarsely chopped

1 clove garlic, crushed

1 dense baguette (about 10 oz.), cut into large pieces (see Note>)

¹⁄₂ small yellow onion, coarsely chopped

¾-1 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

2 tbsp. sherry vinegar

Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

3 hard-boiled eggs, chopped

1 ¹⁄₂ cups finely chopped pancetta, sautéed until crispy

Freshly chopped chives (optional)

Instructions:

Place salt, tomatoes, pepper, garlic, bread, and onion in a bowl, cover with boiling water, and let sit for 1 hour. Drain vegetables, reserving 1 cup soaking liquid; place in blender. Squeeze water from bread; place about ¾ of the bread in blender with reserved soaking liquid, oil, and vinegar. Purée until smooth. If soup seems to thin, add the extra bread. Add additional olive oil to enrich soup, if desired. Season with salt and pepper, and chill. Pour into chilled serving bowls; top with eggs, pancetta, chives and a drizzle of oil.

Serves 8

Note> Bread can be either fresh or a day old.  Just make sure it is a dense bread so that it can soak up the liquid without falling apart.

 

Slow Cooker Short Ribs with Chipotle Rub & Dark Beer

I know, it’s grill season.  Trust me, we suffered through a winter-like spring here in the Midwest so yes, bring on summer!  Bring on the charcoal and smoking chips!  Put away that slow cooker!

Well….hold on just a minute.

As tempted as I am to stow away the slow cooker in favor of my Weber kettle, I think about this recipe and decide it’s not QUITE time to give the crock pot the summer off. After all, who doesn’t love tender, slow cooked beef on a tortilla with fresh guac and a slushy margarita. THAT…is summer to me.

This recipe was inspired by a not-so-ordinary gift from my son. After visiting a friend in the city, he arrived home with a 3# package of thinly sliced short ribs (the perks of having a friend whose parents own a grocery store)  These are the sort of gifts I love!  And I admit a bit of a challenge, this one.

Never before had I seen short ribs sliced in this manner. On to Google, and discovered this to be a “flanken” cut, often used in Korean cuisine.  Yep, a first for me.

Expert meat people instructed that this cut should be cooked quickly over high heat, but for some reason I chickened out on that whole approach.  I thought back to an Italian-inspired braised short rib ragu recipe I made a while back. So tender with  a concentrated beef flavor. This time, though, I was feeling more Southwest flavors. I had zero time to tend to braising, so into the slow cooker they went along with a smoky, spicy chipotle rub, some onions and a cup of dark Mexican beer.  

Now to tweak the original recipe.  The flanken ribs had great flavor but not enough meat for this purpose, so the first substitute was traditional English cut ribs.  The chipotle rub was amazing…no changes there.

If you don’t cook a lot, I understand the reluctance to keep this many spices on hand.  In that case, look for a good-quality chile/Southwestern seasoning blend like this Mesa Rosa Chipotle Seasoning blend from Urban Accents.  Otherwise, this recipe is incredibly simple. Just slice an onion, brown the seasoned ribs and throw it into the slow cooker with a cup of Negro Modelo.

Low and slow all day, the slow cooker is made for dishes like this.  Tender, with intense beef flavor and complex spices, this meat can go just about anywhere. My creation: served “burrito” style with a flour tortilla, yellow rice, a spoonful of Ann’s Essential Guacamole, sour cream, cilantro, and a squeeze of lime.

The possibilities are truly endless.  Use this amazing flavorful meat as the star of your nacho platter, or on tostada shells or even serve atop some creamy polenta and topped with stewed tomatoes for a comfort food kind of dinner. Check out other recipe notes and tips following the recipe and a bonus: my recipe for Ann’s Essential Guacamole.

Enjoy summer cooking low and slow my friends. This one’s a keeper!

~Slow Cooker Short Ribs with Chipotle Rub and Dark Beer~

3 1/2-4# Beef short ribs, English cut (see recipe notes)

Chipotle Rub

• 1/2 tablespoon ground red chipotle powder
• 1/2 tablespoon garlic powder
• 1/2 tablespoon onion powder
• 1/2 tablespoon ground coriander
• 1 teaspoons paprika (smoked paprika if available)
• 1 tsp Kosher salt
• 1 tsp dark brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano (Mexican oregano if available)
• 1/4 tsp teaspoon cayenne pepper

2 cups sliced white or yellow onion

1 cup dark beer, preferably Negro Modelo

Canola or vegetable oil for browning

For Serving

• Flour or corn tortillas
• Ann’s Essential Guacamole
• Saffron Rice, preferably Vigo Seasoned Yellow Rice, cooked
• Sour Cream
• Fresh chopped cilantro
• Lime wedges

Combine Chipotle Rub ingredients together and store until ready to use.

Place ribs in a large bowl and combine with enough of the seasoning mix to coat, tossing well.  Let stand at room temperature approximately 30 minutes.

Heat a thin film of oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Add ribs and brown on all sides.  Remove to a platter.

Place sliced onions in the bottom of a slow cooker.  Top with browned ribs.  Pour beer over all.  Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours.

Using a slotted spoon, remove ribs and onions to a rimmed cutting board.  Shred meat using forks and place in a bowl.  Strain cooking liquid and skim fat from the top (a good quality fat separator is perfect for this!)

Add some of the degreased cooking liquid to the meat and toss.  Place a large spoonful of yellow rice on a tortilla.  Top with warm shredded beef, guacamole, then sour cream and cilantro.  Squeeze some fresh lime over all and serve.

Serves 6-8

RECIPE NOTES

• If your grocery store does not carry beef short ribs, the next best thing would be a bone-in chuck roast.  In a pinch, a boneless chuck roast will do just fine!
• If early morning browning of the meat is not feasible, you can skip this step but…I would recommend coating the meat in the seasoning mix the night before to kick up the flavor.
• If you don’t have  these spices on hand, grab a good all-purpose seasoning like Urban Accent’s Mesa Rosa Chipotle Seasoning or any other Southwestern-inspired blend. Just keep an eye on salt contents of blends and adjust salt as necessary.

 

Ann’s Essential Guacamole

 

This post is going to be fairly short since it’s a tandem recipe to another one I will be posting later today or tomorrow.  Bottom line though, it that guacamole is something everyone should at least try making from scratch. You’ll realize how easy it is to make and how FAR superior it is to any pre-packaged guac you buy at the grocery store.

Another advantage is that you can make it YOUR way.  You control the ingredients, the creaminess (or not), the amount of spice (or none).  There is really only one ingredient that’s a must: avocados.  The rest of the add-ins are up to you. Here are the ones I love:

And since I like just a hint of spice, I add some Cholula Hot Sauce, starting with about 1/2 tsp and adding a little more, drop by drop, until it’s just right.

One final note before I jump right in. Finding avocados that are just the perfect ripeness is important.  Bright green, rock hard ones just won’t work. On the flip side, mushy and overripe ones will just make your guacamole mushy and sad.  Look for medium-ripe avocados, that yield just a bit, when pressed.

Enjoy!

• 3 medium ripe avocados
• 1 large tomato, seeded and diced
• 1/2 a white or red onion, diced (or you can use about 1/3 cup chopped green onions)
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Juice of 2 small lines (about 1-2 TBS)
• Cholula hot sauce
• Coarse salt and pepper

Remove pit from avocados and scoop insides out into a large bowl along with the lime juice.  Mash with a fork (or a potato masher works), until desired consistency.  I prefer somewhat smooth, but with small pieces of solid avocado in act.  Gently fold in tomatoes, onions and cilantro along with about 1/2 tsp of the hot sauce, a generous pinch of salt and pepper.  Taste for seasonings, adding additional hot sauce, lime juice or salt and pepper if desired.

Place in a glass or plastic container and place a piece of plastic wrap over the surface of the guacamole, pressing down to ensure no air bubbles (this step helps it keep it’s beautiful green color).  Refrigerate for about 1 hour before serving.

 

Pork, Pepper & Pineapple Skewers with Hoisin Glaze

What an evil tease.  This Spring in the Midwest. March was so winter-like, the season was dubbed “sprinter” (spring + winter). April we fared a little better, although I still recall having to wear my parka on occasion so not completely out of the woods.

Now, finally a string of nice days in Chicagoland, so I am officially kicking off grill season!  And what better way to usher in the warmer weather than these beautiful and easy pork, pepper and pineapple skewers.  A family favorite at the Dinner Is Served household.

This classic combo always makes me think tropics..luau..grab an umbrella drink and sing Don Ho tunes.  With lean pork tenderloin, pineapple and colorful peppers, it also wins in the healthy, low-fat category.

Perhaps the best part of these skewers, however is the hoisin glaze which is a ridiculously easy combination of ketchup, hoisin and minced jalapeno peppers.  If you’re a fan of of Moo-Shu pork, you’re already well acquainted with hoisin: a most versatile, thick, soy-based Asian condiment. This serves as both a glaze and a dipping sauce

A few notes before I jump right in to the recipe:

• You can definitely substitute chicken for the pork! My preference would be to use boneless skinless thigh meat. Breast meat works too but will cook more quickly.
• You’ll note I did not add onions to my skewers. They remain a “no go” with the young adult crowd in my house but by all means feel free add some red onion wedges as you please.
• Gluten-free hoisin can be used, making this a 100% gluten-free entree

Happy (FINALLY) Spring to one and all from Dinner Is Served

• 1 pork tenderloin (about 1 1/2#), trimmed and cut into 1 1/2-inch cubes
• 3 large sweet bell peppers, cut into 2-inch pieces
• About 1/2 of a fresh pineapple, cored and cut into 2-inch pieces
• 1 medium red onion cut into wedges (optional)
• Canola oil
• Salt and coarse ground black pepper

Hoisin Glaze and Sauce

• 1/3 cup Hoisin sauce
• 1/3 cup ketchup
• 1 TBS minced jalapeno pepper (or spicy pepper of your choice)
• Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients for the glaze in a small bowl.  Set aside about half for dipping and the other half for glazing.  (can be prepared up to two days ahead and refrigerated)

For skewers, toss the pork in a bowl with salt and pepper to taste.  In a separate bowl, combine peppers with a drizzle of canola oil, tossing to coat.

Thread pork, peppers, pineapple and onion (if using) onto metal or wooden skewers. Sear on a hot grill for a few minutes per side. Then move to medium heat; brush with a little of the glaze and continue to grill (turning and glazing a few more times) until pork is cooked through (about 15-20 minutes in total) and peppers and pineapple are slightly charred.

Serve with jasmine rice and  reserved hoisin sauce for dipping.

Serves 4

* Adapted from Big Flavors of the Hot Sun, Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby, 1994.

 

 

 

A Few of my Favorite Things 4-7-16

Sometimes it’s nice to take a step back from recipes and blogging and just share some recent food finds. Products that I love, or my kiddos love or make my crazed life a little easier.  Today’s finds come from a store with a never ending supply of cool stuff: Trader Joe’s.

First up is a wine that we absolutely fell in love with for Easter. In fact after just one sipped my husband remarked “Go buy a case of this!”  When I told him it was just $7.99/bottle, he said “Buy TWO cases!”  Indeed, I am very tempted to do this since wines at TJ’s tend to come and go (ie. Chariot).

This chenin blanc from the Loire Valley is all sorts of floral and crisp with honey and pear tones. It was a perfect pair with our Easter ham. And the label remarks that it also pairs well with spicy or Indian food, which is quite a feat!  Perfect for patio sipping this summer so yes, if you spot it at Trader Joe’s or anywhere else get it while it’s hot!

Of course Trader Joe’s is well known for their convenience foods and this Asparagus Risotto is a shining example of how they do convenience so well. In fact I will go out on a limb here and state it’s darned near as good as risotto made from scratch (which we all know is a labor of total culinary love).

This risotto has that perfect “bite” to the texture, yet creamy. I love the asparagus too, fresh and crisp, which is not what you would expect in a frozen meal. Cooks up in minutes in the microwave and makes a perfect meatless, meal. Or a nice side dish served with just about anything. And coincidentally, pairs very nicely with the Vouvray😉

Something that does not probably pair well with any wine but is nevertheless over-the-top addicting: TJ’s Sriracha Potato Chips. Something I got for the teens and of course ended up practically licking the crumbs from the inside of the bag, they were so good.

I know some feel that Sriracha has overstayed its welcome in our world, along with kale, quinoa and chia seeds. Fine, well let me just state that I hope these chips never go away.  Or maybe they should go away because I need to stay away from chips. Ahhhh the torture!

Bottom line though is that these potato chips have just the right amount of smoky heat to please the palate. The lattice cut keeps them crisp and ready for dipping although I prefer them as is. Preferably by the handful or bag full.

Last but not least let me please put in a plug for Trader Joe’s Mango Green Tea. We’ve been big fans of their Mango Lemonade and Mango Black Tea, so not a surprise, the mango green tea is fantastic as well!

LOVE that this has just 12g of sugar per serving (compare to 26g of sugar in Arizona “Mucho Mango” Tea).   Since I am not keen on soda, this is a great alternative for the family and the teens love it.

More favorite things to come but for now, the paying job calls.  Until next time, my friends.  Eat well!

Ann

 

Celebrating 600+ Likes and a Giveaway!

I am celebrating breaking  600 “likes” on my Facebook page today. As a thank you to all who support me, I am doing a little giveaway here and also on my Facebook page.  The winner gets to choose between a $20 gift card for Penzeys Spices OR my most favorite grill accessory: Steve Raichlen’s Beer Can Chicken Rack.

To enter just leave a comment here or on my Facebook page and let me know which prize you would choose and why. Deadline for entering is next Monday, April 4th at 5:00pm

And last but not least share Dinner Is Served with friends and family.  Next stop: 700!!

Ann

Dinner Is Served

Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Garlic and Rosemary

Things that cause amateur food bloggers to fall off the wagon:

• Full time job
• Being a parent
• Being a wrestling (or fill-in-the-blank sport) parent
• winter/dark at 5:00/NO GOOD NATURAL LIGHT FOR PHOTOS!

Indeed a perfect storm of all the above have caused me to take a brief hiatus from blogging. But trust all is well, and slowly but surely I am getting back into the swing of things in the kitchen. Dusting off my faithful slow cooker and ready to share with you this  slow cooker pot roast recipe that I more or less pulled out of my hat last week.

A few years back, I was introduced  to Three Envelope Slow Cooker Pot Roast which is quite possibly THE easiest slow cooker recipe in the history of slow cookery.  My Classic Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Garlic and Rosemary is a version of that roast. In place of the “three envelopes” I’ve chosen just one envelope of Knorr Au Jus Gravy, enhanced with a little tomato paste. I then piled on the vegetables because, well,  who wants to come home after a busy day and fuss with more food prep!?

Because this is a “classic” pot roast, I stuck to the basics: carrots, onions, parsnips and potatoes. The vegetables take on a wonderful flavor after cooking low and slow all day long.

Flavor enhancements are a must! I like to rub my chuck roast with a simple savory rub comprised of salt, pepper, granulated onion and garlic. All pantry staples!

And finally to top it off, fresh rosemary and chopped fresh garlic. If rosemary is a deal breaker for you, fresh thyme makes an excellent substitute.

Last but not least, check out my Time Saving Tips at the end of the recipe, with “make ahead” suggestions and product recommendations. Enjoy and happy cooking!

1 2 ½-3 pound boneless chuck roast

1 tsp Kosher salt

½ tsp each: pepper, granulated onion and granulated garlic

1 tsp olive oil

1 packet Knorr Au Jus Gravy

1 ½ cups water

1 tsp tomato paste

1 cup sliced sweet onion, about 1/2 of a large

1 # red skinned potatoes (about 4 large), scrubbed and cut into 1 ½-inch pieces

2 cups peeled and coarsely chopped carrots

1  to 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped parsnips, about one medium

1 TBS chopped fresh garlic

5-6 sprigs fresh rosemary

1 bay leaf

1 TBS cornstarch

1 TBS red wine or water

Chopped fresh chives (optional)

Combine salt, pepper and granulated onion and garlic in a small bowl to blend. Pat chuck roast dry with a paper towel and sprinkle spice blend all over roast.  In a large skillet, heat olive oil until shimmering.  Brown roast on both sides until well browned, about five minutes per side.

While roast is browning, combine au jus mix and water, whisking to combine.  Add tomato paste and whisk.

Place onions, a few rosemary sprigs and bay leaf on the bottom of a slow cooker. Place browned roast on top.  Scatter carrots, potatoes and parsnips around roast.  Pour au jus gravy mix on and around roast. Scatter chopped garlic on top and place remaining rosemary sprigs on top.

Cook on low for at least 8 hours or up to 9 ½ hours.

Using a large slotted spoon or strainer, carefully remove roast and vegetables to a platter (make sure all rosemary stalks and bay leaf are removed). Tent with foil to keep warm.  Strain and de-grease liquid and transfer to a small sauce pan. Bring to a boil over medium heat.  Whisk cornstarch and wine in a small bowl, then whisk into gravy.  Continue to simmer until slightly thickened, about five minutes.  Add additional salt and pepper to the gravy if necessary.

Break apart roast using a fork.  Sprinkle chives over all and serve with hot gravy.

Serves 4-5

• Onions, garlic, carrots and parsnips can all be chopped the night before. Just store in a zipper bag in the fridge
• Peeled baby carrots can be used in place of whole carrots
• The seasoning mix and gravy can both be mixed the night before. Store seasonings at room temperature and refrigerate the gravy.
• Tired of throwing away unused tomato paste from a can? Try Savory Spice Shop’s Tomato Powder. Just dilute with water to whip up a little paste or sauce.  Keeps well in the fridge for months, so you can have quick tomato paste on hand whenever you need it!
• While you’re checking out the Savory Spice Shop site, try a bottle of their Onion & Garlic Tableside Sprinkle. You can use 1 tsp of the blend in place of the granulated onion and garlic in this recipe. It’s salt free, so also a great way to add a dash of flavor for those on sodium restricted diets!

Holiday Hot Crab Dip

I wanted to end 2015 with a treasured family recipe and can’t think of a better one than this Hot Crab Dip which was a specialty of my late mother-in-law, Jean.  Christmas was the holiday she pulled out all the stops with a house filled with family and friends. Her appetizer buffet was always a bounty of sweet and savory treats.

We were blessed to have that time with her, and I continue to be blessed this holiday season. Although not as grand in scale, my Christmas Day was filled with the love of family:And of course great food! Of all of Jean’s recipes, her hot crab dip remains one of my favorites. So rich and creamy. And always served from the copper chaffing dish she passed down to me (pictured above in upper right hand corner).  And always served with one of my most guilty pleasures in life: Fritos Corn Chips.Really?

Yes, really.  Trust me this is one of those culinary matches made in heaven. And though Fritos may not fall under anyone’s definition of “fine dining” Jean’s hot crab dip will never be served with anything but!

This recipe is pretty straightforward, so I am not going to bother with photos of the ingredients or a lengthy discussion of cooking techniques (mainly because there are none involved!)  My only comment to you is an insistence that you use real crab meat, preferably chilled, fresh lump crab meat. I’ve had crab dip on occasion made with imitation crab meat, which to me is just a cheap, rubbery substitute.

Finally, keep in mind this is very rich, so a little goes a long way. Last night I doubled the recipe for 8 people and we still had some leftover!

And with this, I bid adieu to 2015.  Being able to share my passion for good food is a great gift that is impossible without your support and words of praise.  Hoping that 2016 brings much health and happiness to all of you and of course many many memorable meals and time spent with the ones you love!

Ann Baker

Dinner Is Served

December, 2015

• 1-8 ounce package of cream cheese
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tsp grated onion
• 1 tsp yellow mustard
• 1 tsp sugar
• Dash seasoned salt (see Note>)
• 5-6 oz. fresh crab meat
• 3 TBS white wine or sherry

Melt the cream cheese over low heat until creamy.  Add remaining ingredients, adding wine or sherry one tablespoon at a time until desired consistency. Stir until just heated through and well combined. Serve hot with corn chips. Can be made ahead of time and reheated over very low heat.

Serves 4

Note> I’m a big fan of Penzey’s 4S Seasoned Salt Blend which has a nice delicate balance of flavor. Available at Penzey’s stores or online.

 

 

Hummus with Parsley Oil and Pine Nuts

As we pass the halfway point in the month of wining and dining excesses (which shall heretofore be referred to as “the holidays), I thought it would be nice to take a little break and enjoy a little hummus. Time to step away from the peppermint bark, the fudge and fruitcake, eggnog lattes and gingerbread martinis.  Besides who doesn’t love hummus?  Especially THIS hummus!This is a recipe I perfected long before hummus and pita chips became mass produced and ultimately, ubiquitous. Back in my personal chef days, I was a virtual one-woman assembly line, quadrupling this recipe and cranking out homemade pita chips like no one’s business. So popular was my hummus that upon introducing myself to another mom at a little league game, she exclaimed “Your name sounds so familiar.  You…you make something don’t you?”  I asked her if she was referring to hummus and she replied with an enthusiastic “YES!!! Yes, you’re the hummus person!”

I guess there are worst things to be famous for, right?

I have been asked what makes my hummus so good.  The parsley infused oil and toasted pine nuts are an obvious. They make it pretty. Different.  But beyond the obvious, there are a few pointers that I can offer from my vast experience of hummus-making:

1. Use fresh ingredientsI know this tip sounds beyond obvious, but it deserves mention as we’re often tempted to cut corners. With this recipe, “fresh” means real lemons (not bottled lemon juice, fresh garlic (not from a jar), good quality olive oil, etc.

2. Smash that garlic! This will bring out the full essence of the garlic and, it is kind of fun watching your going from this:

To this:

3. Last but not least, process it WELL. Just when you think it’s smooth enough, process it some more. Not creamy enough?  Add a little extra water. Not zingy enough?  Add a little extra lemon juice.  Not rich enough?  Add some extra olive oil.   Process, taste, then process some more.  Your goal is a perfectly smooth, perfectly balanced final product:

Everything here can be prepped well in advance then assembled at the last minute, making it perfect for holiday parties and gatherings.  And someday you too can join Hummus “royalty.”

š Hummus with Parsley Infused Oil  ›and Pine Nuts

• 4 large cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 tsp. salt
• 2 1-lb. 3 oz. cans chick peas, drained and rinsed
• 2/3 cup well stirred tahini* (See Note>)
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice, or more to taste
• 1/2 cup olive oil, or to taste
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley leaves
• 2 Tbs. pine nuts

On a cutting board mince and mash the garlic and salt to a paste using a chef knife.  In a food processor, puree the chick peas with the garlic paste, tahini, lemon juice, 1/4 cup of the oil, and 1/2 cup water, scraping down the sides, until the hummus is smooth.  Add salt to taste.  Add additional water, olive oil and/or lemon juice, if necessary, to thin the hummus to desired consistency. Transfer to a bowl.

In the food processor, cleaned, puree the remaining 1/4 cup oil with the parsley until the oil is bright green and the parsley is minced; transfer the oil to a small jar. Or alternatively, mince the fresh parsley on a cutting board.  Add to the oil to combine.

Toast the pine nuts in a skillet over medium-low heat, stirring frequently until fragrant and lightly browned (keep a close eye on the pine nuts as they can go from lightly browned to burned in a matter of minutes!)

Hummus, oil and pine nuts can be made 3 days in advance.  Cover and chill hummus and oil.  Cover nuts and keep at room temperature.

To serve, let dip and oil come to room temperature (about 30 minutes).  Place dip in a shallow serving dish.  Drizzle with parsley oil and sprinkle with toasted pine nuts.  Serve with Toasted Pita Thins, fresh veggies or tortilla chips.

Yield> About 4 cups of hummus

Note> Tahini, or sesame seed paste, is a staple of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean cooking. It is often located in the ethnic section of most grocery stores, although sometimes locating it can be tricky. Sometimes I’ve located it in the same aisle as peanut butter!  It will separate in the jar, so be sure to give it a good stir before adding to the hummus. You can store an open jar of hummus in your fridge for several weeks.

Savory Slow Cooker Turkey Breast

Pretty sure I have mentioned on more than one occasion that I have a small kitchen, with about 5 ft. of usable but non-continuous counter space. It’s something that to be honest, I use to complain about. A lot.  But as with many struggles in life, you grow to accept the limitations, and these days instead of complaining, I just find creative ways of dealing with it.

That said, Thanksgiving has always proven to be a challenge. Definitely “think outside the box” time. And more than ever the appliance for which I am most thankful is my slow cooker.

In the past, I’ve put mine to use for preparing and serving mashed potatoes. ( Highly recommend this recipe from Cooking Classy! )  I’ve also put my smaller cooker to use to keep gravy warm.

This year with a larger-than-average group assembling at my house and most of them white-meat lovers, I’ve decided to cook an extra turkey breast in..you guessed it: the slow cooker!

You’ll definitely want to boost the flavor a bit and for that, I love this garlic and rosemary paste.

Just spread a little underneath the skin and again on top of the breast after browning. It adds just the right amount of savory touch.

Really that’s all there is too it.  Just simmer away in some chicken stock for about 5-6 hours. You can make slice the breast ahead of time and re-heat. Added bonus too: the reserved liquid makes a fantastic gravy (instructions follow recipe).

Of course you can make a slow cooker turkey breast any day of the year! But especially on Thanksgiving, if you are also blessed with a small kitchen, large crowd and need a little extra turkey to serve, this recipe is a lifesaver.

• 1 bone-in or boneless (rolled and tied) fresh turkey breast (about 5#)
• 6 cloves garlic
• 1 TBS fresh minced rosemary
• 1/2 tsp Kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp paprika
• 4 TBS olive oil, divided
• 1 cup roughly chopped celery
• 1 cup roughly chopped onion
• 3/4 cups chicken or turkey stock

Puree the garlic, rosemary, salt, pepper & paprika in a mini food processor. Add 2 TBS of the olive oil ad process until a paste forms (this can also be done with a mortar and pestle).

Rinse the breast under cold water and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels.

Using your fingers, loosen the skin on the turkey breast and spread about half of the paste onto the meat, distributing evenly. Pull skin back over meat (use toothpicks to secure skin if necessary). Sprinkle with a little extra salt and pepper.

Heat the remaining 2 TBS olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear turkey breast on all sides until golden.

Place celery and onions in the bottom of the slow cooker. Place turkey on top of vegetables, breast side up. Spread remaining paste over top of breast, distributing evenly.  Pour in chicken broth.  Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours, until internal temperature reaches 160 degrees.

Remove breast from slow cooker and let rest for about 10 minutes before slicing.

Serves 6

~~~~~~~~For Gravy~~~~~~~~

Strain the solids from the slow cooker and skim off any fat. You should have about 1-2 cups of stock,  Add additional chicken or turkey stock to bring to 4 cups. Bring to a simmer over low heat for about 5 minutes. Keep warm.

In a second saucepan, melt 2 TBS unsalted butter over medium heat. Whisk in 2 TBS all-purpose flour and continue to cook, stirring constantly, for about 5 minutes or until mixture is golden.  Slowly whisk in reserved stock, whisking constantly, until smooth.

Reduce heat to low and simmer gravy, stirring occasionally, until it has thickened. If desired, add in a few drops of Kitchen Bouquet® in for a deep rich brown color.  Season to taste, adding additional salt and black pepper if desired.