Chicken Cordon Bleu

Brian and I love cooking Julia Child’s recipes. Her recipes are simple and easy to follow with fresh ingredients! One of our favorites is her Chicken Cordon Bleu. We actually just made it for his mom for dinner!

This Chicken Cordon Bleu is delicious with layers of tender chicken, Gruyère cheese, prosciutto, ham, and mornay sauce! It’s a dinner you will dream about!

Seriously stop what you’re doing right now, and grab what you need to make this amazingly delicious chicken cordon bleu!. Not only will this easy chicken recipe make everyone come running for dinner, but it will also leave them wanting seconds or even thirds.

While I love all parts of chicken cordon bleu, I’ll have to say, the mornay sauce is to die for! Mornay sauce is a classic béchamel sauce (one of the five French mother sauces) enriched with cheese and Parmesan. Trust me you will want to make this sauce to spoon over just about anything. And you easily switch out the cheeses to whatever your heart desires! 

Grab a glass of Scout and Cellar Gallivant Chardonnay and let’s go have some fun in the kitchen! Like Julia says ““The more you know, the more you can create. There’s no end to imagination in the kitchen.”

INGREDIENTS

• 2 skinless boneless chicken thighs
• 2 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
• 2 ounces thinly sliced Black Forest Ham
• 4 ounces Gruyère cheese
• Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 1 1/2 cups dry bread crumbs
• Vegetable oil, for frying

Mornay Sauce

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 3 tablespoons flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Salt and Pepper
• 1/4 cup coarsely grated Swiss cheese
• 1/4 cup finely grated parmesan cheese
• Salt and Pepper
• Pinch of nutmeg
• Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
• 2 tablespoons butter (optional)

Instructions

Wash the chicken and pat dry. Place the chicken on a sheet of waxed paper or plastic wrap. Cover them with a second sheet of paper or wrap and, with a flat (not textured) mallet, lightly beat them until flattened to a uniform thinness of less than 1/4 inch. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 315F. 

Grab three bowls… Beat egg into one bowl. Spread the crumbs on a second bowl. 

Spread the flour in the third bowl.

Lay the chicken pieces on a flat work surface skinned side down. Lightly spread the inside of each thigh with a little mustard (don’t use too much or the mustard will overpower the other flavors). 

Stack one slide of prosciutto, then 2 slices of cheese and a slice of ham in the center of each. Roll the thigh, making sure that the filling is completely encased. 

Roll the chicken first in the flour, shake off the excess, and dip each thigh in the egg, allowing the excess to flow back into the bowl. 

Lay it in the crumbs. Roll it, patting the crumbs into all sides. When the piece is coated, lay it on a clean, dry plate and repeat until all the pieces are breaded. Set aside for at least half an hour to allow the breading to set.

Fill a deep Dutch oven or frying pan, with enough oil to come halfway up the sides. Over medium-high heat, bring the oil to 375°F (hot but not smoking). Add the chicken and fry until golden brown, place on a sheet pan and palace in the oven until thighs reach an internal temperature of 165F.

Mornay Sauce

In a small saucepan, heat to just a boil, while stirring, the 2 cups of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Remove from heat and set aside.

Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan, over low heat. Blend in the flour and cook slowly, stirring continuously until “the butter and flour froth together for 2 minutes without coloring,” thus creating a roux. (Julka tip!)

Remove from heat. As soon as it stops bubbling, pour in your hot milk all at once. Immediately start beating with a whisk. Make sure you gather all of the roux from the sides, bottom and edges of the pan.

Return to a low heat and stir until the sauce comes to a boil. Boil and stir for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and beat in salt and pepper to taste.

Beat in the cheese until they have melted and are well blended into the sauce.

Season with nutmeg, cayenne and salt and pepper. Stir in the butter until melted and blended.

Pour over chicken and serve immediately.

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Advertisement

Chicken Enchiladas

These easy chicken enchiladas are stuffed with shredded chicken and cheese, topped with homemade enchilada sauce, and CHEESE! They’re baked until the cheese is deliciously melted, the sauce bubbly and the tortillas are slightly crispy. 

I love transforming leftover rotisserie chicken into new recipes especially these enchiladas!  You can totally use chicken breast, but grabbing a rotisserie chicken from the supermarket will save you a lot of time. Ultimately, you won’t be able to tell the difference, thanks to the flavor and moisture you’ll add when you toss together the filling.

Seriously the homemade enchilada sauce really makes it outstanding, so don’t skip that step! 

You can assemble the enchiladas a day in advance or freeze for future baking — just be sure to bring it to room temperature before baking. You’ll know it’s done when the sauce is bubbling, the cheese is melted, and the ends of the tortillas are nice and crisp.

As for serving, sprinkle with sliced black olives, chopped  fresh cilantro and a dollop of sour cream are just about all this easy casserole needs.

INGREDIENTS 

Sauce 

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 4 tablespoons chili powder 
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 2 cups chicken stock

Enchiladas

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 rotisserie chicken or 1.5 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, diced into small 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 1 (4-ounce) can diced green chiles
• Salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
• 8 large corn or flour tortillas
• 3 cups Mexican-blend shredded cheese
• Optional Toppings: Black Olives, Chopped Cilantro and Sour cream

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat the oven to 350°F.  

Prepare your enchilada sauce.

Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat.

Add flour and whisk together over the heat for one minute. 

Stir in the remaining seasonings (chili powder through oregano). 

Then gradually add in the stock, whisking constantly to remove lumps. 

Reduce heat and simmer 10-15 minutes until slightly thickened.

Remove pan from heat and set aside.

Prepare the chicken.

In a large sauté pan, heat oil over medium-high heat. 

Add onion and sauté for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

Add diced chicken and green chiles, and season with a generous pinch of salt and pepper.  Sauté the mixture for 6-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the chicken is cooked through.

If using already cooked rotisserie chicken, cook until heated through and covered in spices. 

Remove pan from heat and set aside.

To assemble the enchiladas

Set up an assembly line including: tortillas, enchilada sauce, chicken mixture, and cheese. 

Lay out a tortilla, and spread two tablespoons of sauce over the surface of the tortilla.  

Add a generous spoonful of the chicken mixture in a line down the center of the tortilla, then sprinkle with 1/3 cup cheese. 

Roll up the tortilla and place in a greased 9 x 13-inch baking dish.

Assemble the remaining enchiladas.  

Then spread any remaining sauce evenly over the top of the enchiladas, followed by any extra cheese.

Bake the enchiladas

Bake uncovered for 20 minutes, until the enchiladas are cooked through and the tortillas are slightly crispy on the outside.  

Remove the pan from the oven and serve the enchiladas.

Chicken Marsala

Chicken Marsala with Cauliflower rice

Perfect for weekend OR weeknight cooking, this is one chicken recipe you will make time and time again. This Chicken Marsala recipe is equally as good as what you’ll get at an Italian restaurant so it’s the perfect thing to make on your own, and of course a great dish to serve to guests. It’s a classic dish that does not disappoint!

It’s no wonder it’s one of the most ordered chicken dishes in restaurants! Made with golden, crispy, pan-fried chicken, crispy prosciutto, a mushroom-filled creamy Marsala wine sauce and a good kick of garlic, this Chicken Marsala recipe is next-level!

So let’s talk about wine pairings. You don’t want to go too big with this dish. A big red like a Cabernet will overwhelm not only the chicken, but the subtle sweetness of the Marsala sauce. You’re better off going with a full bodied white like Scout & Cellar Clean-Crafted™ Chardonnay, or Pinot Gris. Not a white wine fan? Go for a light to medium bodied red like Pinot Noir. 

• 

• 

• 

So there you have it, my easy and delicious Chicken Marsala recipe, and the wines that I recommend with it. Crack open a bottle of something awesome, and get cooking. 

INGREDIENTS 

For the chicken:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour, divided
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt and freshly grounded pepper
• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs
• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Marsala sauce:

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, as needed
• 4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced and diced
• 8 ounces mushrooms, quartered
• 3 small shallots chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3/4 cup dry Marsala wine
• 3/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• flat leaf parsley

INSTRUCTIONS

Arrange a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 200°F. 

Mix the flour and salt in a small bowl and set aside.

Pound the chicken thin. Working with 1 chicken breast at a time, place inside a gallon zip-top bag and pound with the flat side of a meat mallet or rolling pin to an even 1/4-inch thickness. 

Set the flattened chicken breast aside and repeat with the remaining breasts.

Return the flattened breasts to the bag and add the flour mixture. Seal the bag and shake to coat.

Heat the oil in a 12-inch straight-sided skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. 

Add the butter, followed by 2 of the chicken breasts. Fry until golden-brown on both sides, 3 to 4 minutes per side. 

Remove the browned chicken to a baking dish or rimmed baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining 2 chicken breasts. 

Cover the chicken with aluminum foil and place in the oven to keep warm.

Keep the heat on medium-high. If there isn’t grease left from frying the chicken, add up to 2 tablespoons more butter to the pan. Lower the heat to medium and add the prosciutto to the drippings in the pan, saute for 1 minute to render out some of the fat

Add the mushrooms and cook until their juices start to release, about 3 minutes.

Add the shallots and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute. 

Add the Marsala and scrape the bottom of the pan to remove any browned pieces. Add the broth and simmer until reduced by half and starting to thicken, about 15 minutes.

Add the cream and return the chicken to the sauce. Cook until the sauce thickens and the chicken is well-coated, 3 to 5 minutes.

Plate the chicken, then top it with the mushrooms and sauce, and garnish with chopped parsley. Viola, fini! 

That was easy huh!? Why go to an Italian restaurant and pay $15-20 when it’s so easy to do at home?

http://www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Dijon Chicken

This chicken with creamy dijon mustard sauce is an easy and fast weeknight meal. The chicken thighs and sauce are all cooked in the same skillet, making clean-up a breeze.

Chicken thighs are easy to use without worrying too much about drying out the meat. They are juicy, flavorful and so versatile they go with absolutely anything! The Dijon adds amazing flavor to this creamy sauce. This is a true weeknight meal, ready in just over a half an hour from start to finish.

The sauce comes together quickly. Sauté diced onions and garlic in butter until softened, and then simmer with a little white wine, thyme, and of course, mustard. Stir in the heavy cream at the end to finish the creamy sauce.

Serve with rice or mashed potatoes. For a low-carb meal, serve the chicken alone or with some roasted or steamed vegetables.

Pour yourself a glass of Scout and Cellar FIDDLENECK CHARDONNAY and you have yourself a restaurant style meal!

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil
• 5 chicken thighs; boneless skin-on
• 1 teaspoon Herbes de Provence- or you can use Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon ghee/unsalted butter
• ½  yellow onion, diced
• 4 garlic cloves thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• ½ cup white wine; I used Chardonnay
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ½ cup milk or heavy cream
• 2 teaspoons honey mustard
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons country mustard or old-style mustard
• 4 sprigs of thyme leaves only
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium heat for 1 minute and add the oil. Heat the oil until shimmering but not smoking.

While the oil heats, season both sides of the chicken with salt, pepper and Herbes de Provence. Cook the chicken, skin-side down until the skin is crispy and golden brown, about 5-6 minutes. Flip the thighs over and cook for another 4 minutes. 

Transfer the chicken, skin-side up, to a paper towel-lined plate and set aside. 

Set the heat to medium-low and add 1 tablespoon of butter to the skillet.

Add onion and sauté about 3-4 minutes or until translucent. Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds, stirring often.

Slowly add the wine to the skillet and stir (scraping to deglaze any tasty brown bits stuck to the skillet).

Add the broth, cream, three mustards and thyme leaves. Season with salt and pepper and stir well.

Nestle the partially cooked chicken (skin-side up) in the skillet with the sauce. Be sure to leave a little space between each thigh for the sauce to seep through.

Cook, uncovered, at 375°F for 30-35 minutes. The chicken is done when the internal temperature registers 165°F on a meat thermometer. The sauce should reduce to about halfway.

Note: If the sauce is still too thin when the chicken is ready, remove the skillet from the oven, set the chicken aside and cover it with foil. Reduce the sauce stovetop, over medium-low heat, until it thickens to desired consistency.

Note: If the sauce is reducing too quickly while cooking, add a little more cream, wine & broth halfway through the cooking time.

Enjoy

Honey Orange Glazed Grouper

This Honey Orange Glazed Grouper is a citrusy sweet recipe that I guarantee you’ll have on repeat. A quick and delicious dinner that will be  on the table in no time! Perfect for a healthy lunch, weeknight dinner or a dinner party! To make this easy fish dinner you need less than 30 minutes, isn’t it great?

And it keeps getting better and better! You can use this sauce for just about anything from fish, shrimp, chicken or as a salad dressing. It’s very versatile and delicious!

I love experimenting with new marinades and sauces. And really love using orange marmalade in my homemade salad dressings so I figured it would be great in this recipe. The outcome? Amazingly delicious! You’ll want to drizzle the sauce on all your side dishes too. So I recommend pouring about ¼ cup of the prepaped sauce into a separate bowl and save for the table. 

What to serve with this dish?

Cold Zucchini noodle salad or steamed Broccoli, pan fried Asparagus.

Want a starch? Couscous or rice are also great choices, but anything will do as long as you like it.

Grab a bottle of Scout and Cellar 2019 FIELDHOUSE WHITE BLEND and you have yourself one delicious meal! The taste? Under ripe peach, under ripe apricot and white flowers with refreshing acidity that hangs on so the wine finishes clean; as the wine warms, notes of pear and honey emerge.

TIP:

I covered my broiler pan with foil then sprayed it with non-stick Olive oil spray, which is a real clean up saver.  The honey makes the grouper crispy and crackly and tastes like heaven, but makes cleaning up no fun.  What good is a quick dinner if you are scrubbing the pan all night, right? 

Ingredients 

• 1 pound grouper fillets
• 2  tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon orange marmalade
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed Orange Juice
• ¾  teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon light soy sauce
• ½ teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes
• 2 teaspoon orange zest
• 2 teaspoon dried parsley

Instructions

Preheat broiler.

Combine all ingredients except grouper, mixing well.

Season filets with salt and pepper on both sides.

Place fillets on an oiled broiler pan and brush fillets with honey glaze to cover.

Broil or 4 to 5 minutes, until lightly browned. Flip fillets, brush with honey glaze and broil for an additional 2 minutes, then brush with honey glaze and broil for additional 1-2 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily.

*Don’t have a broiler pan? No worries! You can use a baking sheet. Don’t forget to cover it with foil and oil it for easy clean up!

MOJO PORK

Every Christmas, my family has a smorgasbord of Italian and Spanish dishes. And Mojo pork is always on the table.  This recipe has become my go to for easy slow cooker meals..

This recipe is juicy, succulent with garlic and citrus  and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The pork is SO tender and juicy on the inside, while deliciously crisp and golden on the edges! I love it over yellow rice, in tacos or used to make a Cuban sandwich. And the best part is, you make this in the slow cooker so it cooks all day and will be ready when you get home from work. 

I have to admit, it has taken me many failed attempts and trying a variety of different recipes before finally creating this one and falling in love. It was all worth it! My secret little ingredient is Coca Cola! It really lifts the pork to bolder and better flavors! The orange juice and lime juice combo tenderizes the pork, while the natural sugars in the juices and the coke combined turn what would be just another pulled pork recipe, into heaven in your mouth! The trick to getting crispy edges, after shredding the pork, pop it in the oven on boil for 5-10 minutes until the meat is gold brown and crispy!

• 

• 

• 

Pair this with Scout & Cellar Clean-Crafted™ 2018 L’ORIGINAL SPARKLING ROSÉ. 

Click the link to shop!
https://scoutandcellar.com/?u=whiskawaykitchen

A vibrant raspberry in color with fine, fizzy bubbles and notes of candied cherry, macerated strawberry, blood orange and cantaloupe on a full-bodied frame with a mouth-coating finish.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup lime juice
• 1/4 cup Coke
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
• 7 cloves garlic , peeled and smashed
• 1 medium sweet onion , sliced thin
• 2 bay leaf
• 3 pound pork shoulder roast
• Limes and Cilantro for garnish

Instructions

In a medium bowl, whisk together the oil, orange juice, lime juice, salt, cumin, oregano, red pepper flakes, pepper, and garlic.

Make slits in the pork with a paring knife and rub liberally all over with the oil mixture.

Place pork in the slow cooker, along with the onion and bay leaf. Pour the remaining juices from the bowl over the pork.

Cover and cook on low for 8 hours.

Transfer pork to a cutting board and let cool slightly. Using two forks, shred into thick chunks.

Transfer the pork to a baking sheet lightly sprayed with cooking oil spray (or lined with aluminium foil or parchment paper).

Pour 1 ladle full (about 1 cup) of the liquid from the slow cooker over the pork to season. 

Broil for 5-10 minutes on high heat until the meat becomes golden browned and crispy on the edges.

Season with a little extra salt and pepper if desired. Pour over more of the slow cooker juices once the meat has crisped for added flavor, just before serving!

Serve over rice or as tacos.

PAN FRIED WHITEFISH WITH ARTICHOKES, OLIVES, AND CHERRY TOMATOES

It’s almost summer and what goes with summer. FISH, well at least here in Florida! Light and flavorful pan fried fish always reminds me of summer. 

The sauce is what defines this recipe. Prepare the sauce first and allow it to simmer as you pan fry the fish. And, if you don’t like Black olives or even artichokes, no worries leave them out. Just add one tablespoon sea salt and ¼ cup lemon juice!

A tip, I have learned along the way is to add the SALT later in the dish. So you will notice salt is not on the ingredients list. The artichokes and olives give this dish enough salt, but if you feel you need salt, taste and add a pinch as needed. 

Scout and Cellar Sauvginon Blanc is the perfect pairing for this recipe! Oh and GO BUCS! Definitely need a Bucs wine glass for this dish! LOL

INGREDIENTS

• 4 grouper filets
• 1 white onion, thinly sliced
• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 pint cherry tomatoes
• I can artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
• 1 can (6 ounces) Large Black Olives
• 1 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
• 1 tablespoon ground Black Pepper
• 1 cup chicken broth
• ¼ cup Dry White Wine
• 1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter
• 4 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Parsley Leaves, for garnish
• Parmesan Cheese, for garnish
• DON’T LIKE OLIVES OR ARTICHOKES:
• 1 tablespoon sea salt 
• ¼ cup lemon juice!

INSTRUCTIONS

Heat the olive in a heavy skillet until lightly smoking, then add the onions, sautei for 1 to 2 minutes. 

Add the garlic, Italian seasoning and pepper, stirring to combine. Saute for 2-5 minutes until fragrant. 

Add the chopped artichokes and whole cherry tomatoes. Slowly add the chicken broth and stir. 

Place lid on for 5 minutes, liquid to reduce. 

Once liquid is reduced, add the white wine, stir and place the lid back on. Tomatoes should start to burst. 

Add the olives and stir to mix. Place the lid back on and cook for 5- 1 minutes. 

Add butter, stir and melt on low heat. 

Heat a separate pan, add a drizzle of olive, then add the fillets to the pan. Cook until golden brown, about 4 minutes on each side. 

Place the filets  in the tomato mixture pan and cover with the sauce, cook for 2-4 minutes. 

Serve the fillets topped with the tomato mixture, sprinkled with parmesan cheese and parsley. 

You can serve this on its own or with a side of cauliflower rice/white rice. 

www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Ropa Vieja

One of the things I love about cooking is how the flavors can take you back to a specific time or memory. This recipe reminds me of my family whether it was dinner at La Teresita or the smells of my grandmother’s house. La Teresita is a Spanish restaurant in Tampa. My family have shared many meals together here. Every time we would go to dinner at Le Teresita, my dad would order Ropa Vieja, which means “old clothes” in Spanish. We would laugh as he made a joke that he liked the taste of old clothes then he would shake the bread basket, and ask “Más pan!” It became a family joke!

You’ll love this dish if you’re into big, bold flavors! It is delicious served with black beans, white rice, and sweet plantains. Typically this dish is made with flank steak, which is lean and has long, shreddy fibers, and is how the dish earned the name “old clothes.” It’s the traditional choice, but you can also use chuck roast. 

Brian and I love to use our Le Creuset braiser. So naturally, I used the braiser for this recipe. However you can also make this in a slow cooker. I included instructions for both below. 

I can not think of a better wine to pair with this dish other than Scout and Cellar’s 2018 OSO PARDO TEMPRANILLO. This wine is deep purple-red in color with notes of cherry, blood orange and leather lifted by a hint of violets on a textured frame with a bright finish. I love the story of where this wine comes from, La Mancha, Spain. The winery was founded over 30 years ago, when 28 wine growing families decided to join and work together, creating something larger than any of them could have done on their own. To this day, the estate operates as a cooperative, with over 6,000 acres of vineyard with about 60 viticulturists and vintners. Click the link to learn more and order a bottle.

www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

INGREDIENTS

• 3 pounds flank steak
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 poblano pepper, sliced
• 1/2 large onion, sliced
• 6 cloves garlic minced
• 2 Bay leaves
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon salt or more to taste
• 15 ounces can crushed tomatoes
• ½ cup Spanish green olives, pitted (optional)
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• white rice steamed
• 1 lime quartered
• Chopped cilantro for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS

Pat roast dry with paper towels. Heat oil in a large heatproof pot over high. Cook chuck roast, turning occasionally, until browned on both sides, 5–7 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.

Place a rack in the lower third of the oven; preheat to 250°. Cook onion, bell peppers, and salt (plus 2 Tbsp. oil if using flank steak), stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, 12–14 minutes. 

Add garlic and cook, stirring frequently and scraping bottom of pan, until vegetables are golden brown, 3–5 minutes. 

Stir in wine and cook, stirring occasionally, until evaporated. Stir in paprika, oregano, cumin, black pepper, and cayenne until vegetables are coated; continue to cook, stirring, until spices are fragrant, about 1 minute. 

Add tomatoes and stir. 

Bring to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes.

Nestle the meat into the tomato mixture and tuck in bay leaves on either side. Cover and transfer to the oven. Braise until meat is very tender and shreds easily, 2½–3 hours. Let cool for 15 minutes.

Skim excess fat from sauce; discard bay leaves. Using 2 forks, tear and smash beef into sauce until it’s shredded and covered with sauce. 

Stir in olives and vinegar.

Top with cilantro. Serve with white rice, black beans and sweet plantains.

SLOW COOKER INSTRUCTIONS

Add the wine, vinegar, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and spices to the slow cooker and stir. Add the flank steak and flip it around in the sauce.

Add on top of the meat the onion, bell peppers, olives, and garlic cloves.

Place the lid on the slow cooker and cook on low for 9 hours or high for 5 hours.

www.scoutandcellar.com/whiskawaykitchen

Pear & Pecorino Ravioli with Pancetta and Walnuts

Ravioli stuffed with a fresh pear and cheese filling and sauteed in a buttery sauce with crispy pancetta, this ravioli recipe is a fancy dinner made easy!

The sweetness of the pears complements the salty and creamy cheese filling of these easy ravioli. It’s sweet and savory, my two favorite flavors! 

As you know by now, I love making homemade pasta and that doesn’t stop with the basics like spaghetti and fettuccine – I also enjoy making homemade ravioli. 

First, you will want to make the filling. 

Peel and core the pears. Then using the fine side of a box grater, grate the pears and Pecorino into a bowl and combine. Add ¼ cup of  the mascarpone, 2 Tbsp. of the chopped parsley, salt and pepper and stir to combine. Set to the side. 

If you are making your own pasta, which I highly recommend, follow my Homemade Pasta recipe blog post. 

If you don’t want to make your own pasta dough, you can also use store bought wonton wrappers to cut down on time.

Roll pasta dough into long strips.  I used a pasta machine attachment on my stand mixer to make it easier.

Press a ravioli cutter stamp or circle cookie cutter into the flour and then press down firmly to cut out raviolis or wonton wrapper. Place on a prepared lightly floured cookie sheet. 

This is a ravioli cutter, I purchased from Williams Sonoma.

Scoop about 2 tsp. of the filling into the center of the ravioli. Place another ravioli round on top. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, moisten the exposed pasta around the filling. Starting in the center, gently press and shape the dough around each mound, working out to the sides and forcing out any air. 

Repeat this process until all ravioli is made.  Place in the refrigerator for at least one hour.

In a large pot of boiling water, add ravioli and once they float to the top, cook another couple of minutes, save about ¼ cup of the water and drain the rest. You will want to use the reserved pasta water to help thicken the sauce later.

For the sauce, melt the butter and sauté the shallots and garlic. I love shallots, while similar in taste to an onion, I think they have a bit more “refined” flavor and are more delicate, and softer. 

Once the shallots and garlic are slightly brown, add in the chopped pancetta. Pancetta is an Italian salami made of pork belly meat that is salt cured. You can find pancetta in the deli at most local grocery stores, like Publix. If you can not find Pancetta, bacon will work too. Cook the pancetta until crispy. 

Add the stuffed ravioli to the same pan, and coat with the buttery sauce for about 2-3 minutes. Slowly add the reserved pasta water, a tablespoon at a time into the pan, this will thicken the sauce slightly. Continue to sauté the ravioli for about 2 more minutes, you want to heat the ravioli all the way through. Lastly, stir in the chopped parsley. 

Place the cooked ravioli on a plate, spoon the buttery sauce over the top and sprinkle with toasted chopped walnuts. Yum! 

INGREDIENTS 

• 1 lb. Bartlett pears, peeled and cored
• 8 oz. Pecorino Toscano cheese
• 1/4 cup mascarpone cheese
• 3 Tbs. chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
• 1 lb. fresh pasta
• 4 Tbs. unsalted butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup chopped pancetta
• 2 shallots, diced
• 3 Tbs. chopped toasted walnuts

DIRECTIONS

Using the fine side of a box grater, grate the pears and Pecorino into a bowl. Add the mascarpone, 2 Tbsp. of the parsley, salt and pepper and stir to combine.

Kitchen Aid Pasta Roller: Using the roller attachment, roll the pasta into a thin sheet and cut into 12-inch-long pieces.

Hand method: Roll out the pasta and cut into 12-inch-long pieces. 

Press a ravioli cutter stamp or circle cookie cutter into the flour and then press down firmly to cut out raviolis. Place on a prepared floured tray.

Scoop about 2 tsp. of the filling into the center of the ravioli. Place another ravioli round on top. Using a pastry brush dipped in water, moisten the exposed pasta around the filling. Starting in the center, gently press and shape the dough around each mound, working out to the sides and forcing out any air.

Transfer the ravioli to a lightly floured baking sheet and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before cooking.

Bring a large pot two-thirds full of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add half of the ravioli and cook until they float and are al dente (tender but firm to the bite), 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer the ravioli to paper towels to drain. Repeat to cook the remaining ravioli. Reserve 1/4 cup of the cooking water.

In a large, deep sauté pan over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Sauté the chopped shallots and garlic for 2-3 minutes. In the same pan, add the pancetta and cook until crispy. Season with salt and pepper. Add the ravioli and gently stir to coat with the butter. Add the reserved cooking water as needed to create a sauce. Stir in the remaining 1 Tbs. parsley.

Transfer the ravioli to a warmed serving bowl, sprinkle with the walnuts and serve.

 Inspired by Lidia Bastianich

Eggplant Parmesan

Eggplant Parmesan is one of my favorite Italian comfort foods.
The one thing to keep in mind when cooking eggplant, is eggplants hold onto moisture, like a sponge. So if you’re not careful you can end up with a mushy mess.

So the best method to make eggplant parmesan is to pull the moisture out of the eggplant prior to frying it.

How do we pull moisture out of the eggplant?

You sprinkle salt on the eggplant slice and let them sit for 45 minutes to one hour.The salt pulls out the moisture from the eggplant. 

It also helps to cut the bitterness of the vegetable and makes it “sweat”. You will notice little drops of moisture on the surface of the disks. Removing the moisture from the eggplant will prevent it from releasing it during cooking. 

After the 45 minutes, all you have to do is just pat them dry and dust off the excess salt and then you’ll be ready to start making your eggplant parmesan! I guarantee you will have a much crispier and less soggy eggplant parmesan dish! 

Now of course, you can bake or roast the eggplant for eggplant Parmesan, and they are tasty but frying the eggplant gives the dish a deep caramelized flavor that can not be mimicked by baking. 

I like my eggplant a tad thick so I slice mine about ¼ thick, using a sharp knife. Grab two shallow dishes, crack two eggs in one dish and whisk. I like to add some seasoning, like granulated garlic and black pepper, to my whisked eggs but that is totally up to you. Pour 1 ½ cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs in the other dish. I love cheese and feel you can never have too much so I sprinkle ¼ cup of grated Parmesan into the breadcrumbs and whisk until combined. 

Take each slice, dip it into the egg mixture, roll in the bread crumbs and shake off any excess. Place the breaded eggplant slices on a plate or large baking sheet and repeat until all eggplant slices have been coated. 

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil into the skillet. I always use my cast iron skillet but any skillet will work. I have become a big fan of cast iron in the last year. Check out my Tips & Tricks page for why. 

Once the skillet is hot, slowly slide two-three breaded eggplant slices into the oil. Cook for 1-2 minutes on each side, they should be a nice golden brown. The first batch will take longer than the rest as the oil heats up. You will want to keep a close eye on them and watch out for oil splatters. 

Line a large sheet pan with foil, this will make for an easy clean up. Add a layer of eggplant slices then dollop 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on top of the eggplant slices. The idea isn’t to smother the layers with sauce. On top of the eggplant slices, sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. The more cheese the better, in my opinion. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and brown on top. I use the broiler for 5 minutes to get the cheese nice and brown – you don’t have to, but if you do, watch it carefully!

There is nothing better than the smell of fresh basil. It reminds me of my grandparents’ backyard when I was a child. My grandfather, Papa, always had a basil plant in his backyard. Here’s a great tip for cutting basil. Stack the basil leaves on top of each other and roll up like a cigar. Then make thin slices from one end of the basil cigar to the other. Sprinkle on top of your eggplant parmesan and serve. 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 large eggplant, sliced into 1/4″ thick slices
• 2 tbsp kosher salt
• 1 1/2 cup Italian seasoned breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 2 eggs
• 4 tbsp vegetable oil, for lightly pan-frying
• 2 cups marinara sauce, homemade or store-bought
• 2 cups whole milk mozzarella shredded
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese shredded
• Handful of fresh basil leaves sliced, for garnish (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

Salt both sides of your eggplant slices and place them in a large colander in the sink. Let the liquid drain for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

When your eggplant slices have finished draining liquid, brush off the excess salt.

In 2 shallow plates, add breadcrumbs to one and whisk eggs and in the other. Dip both sides of the eggplant slice into egg mixture then cover with breadcrumbs, shaking off the excess. Place on a plate or large baking sheet and repeat until all eggplant slices have been coated.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp. of vegetable oil into the skillet. Once the skillet is hot, add two-three eggplant slices at a time to the skillet and cook on both sides until golden brown, remove and set on a large plate lined with paper towels. Repeat until you’ve pan-fried them all.

On a large sheet pan, add a layer of eggplant slices then using dollop 2 tablespoons of marinara sauce on top of the eggplant slices. The idea isn’t to smother the layers with sauce. On top of the eggplant slices, sprinkle a generous amount of mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. 

Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and brown on top. I use the broiler for 5 minutes to get the cheese nice and brown. 

Serve hot and top with sliced basil.