Sunday, March 28, 2010

Sausage, Fontina and Bell Pepper Strata


Today we started our Biggest Loser Club. Derek, Chantal, Doris, Paula and I each put $25.00 in a pot and weighed in. We are going to do our weigh in on Sundays and have a healthy breakfast. The girls made up a fresh fruit platter and I made this strata as we seemed to need meat, cheese, and eggs to complete the breakfast. It was excellent. I used Chorizo Sausage. You can buy it at Loblaw's in the deli section. It's already sliced. I also let the strara sit overnight in the fridge to marry the flavors. Also, I think I will cut up the bread in cubes instead of slices the next time I make the strata, instead of trying to fit slices in the dish.

Sausage, Fontina and Bell Pepper Strata

Ingredients

6 large eggs
21/2 cups whole milk
2 cups sliced green onions
1/2 cup whipping cream
1/2 cup finely grated Romano cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh oregano
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pound hot Italian sausages, casings removed
1 large red bell pepper, halved, seeded, cut into 1/2-inch wide-strips
1 1-pound loaf rustic French bread, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices
2 cups (loosely packed) coarsely grated Fontina cheese

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13x9x2- inch ceramic or glass baking dish. Whisk first 7 ingredients in large bowl; sprinkle generously with pepper. Set aside.

Place sausage in large nonstick skillet; push to 1 side. Add bell pepper to other side of skillet. Sauteacute; over high heat, breaking up sausage with fork, until sausage is cooked through and bell peppers are brown in spots, about 7 minutes.

Arrange half of bread slices in prepared dish. Pour half of egg mixture over. Sprinkle with half of cheese, then half of sausagepepper mixture. Repeat layering. Let stand 20 minutes, occasionally pressing on bread to submerge. Bake strata until puffed and brown, about 1 hour. Cool slightly.

Friday, March 26, 2010

Hawaiian Lamb Chops

Doris and Chantal came over for dinner this evening. It's the first official meal in the new apt. with guests. I decided to do something really different, Hawaiian Lamb Chops. Doris had mentioned them in passing that someone she used to know make them years ago. She wished she had asked for the recipe. They were delicious. I served them with basmati rice and grilled asparagus and carrots.

Ingredients:
4 shoulder lamb chops 1 inch thick(arm or blade)
1 can (13 1/2 ounce) pineapple chunks drained(reserve syrup)
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup vinegar
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1 tablespoon shortening
3/4 cup brown sugar (packed)
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Preparation:
1 - Place lamb chops in shallow glass dish.
2 - Stir together reserved pineapple syrup, soy sauce, vinegar, and mustard.
3 - Pour over chops.
4 - Cover tightly; refrigerate at least 4 hours, turning chops occasionally.
5 - Drain chops; reserve marinade.
6 - Melt shortening in large skillet.
7 - Brown chops over medium heat.
8 - Add 1/4 cup reserved marinade to chops in skillet.
9 - Cover tightly; cook over low heat 30-45 minutes or until tender.
10 - In small saucepan, mix sugar and cornstarch.
11 - Stir in remaining reserved marinade.
12 - Heat to boiling; stirring constantly.
13 - Reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes.
14 - Add pineapple chunks and heat through.
15 - Serve chops with pineapple sauce.

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