Tag Archives: dinner recipes

Chef John’s Creamy Salmon & Dill Soup

by on March 27, 2019 in chef john wilson, Chef of the Month, Recipes

MVIMG_20181206_121745.jpg

Chef John‘s Creamy Salmon & Dill Soup with Orzo is the dish you never knew you needed. This tasty soup is perfect to make for lunch or dinner, and is guaranteed to satisfy! Get the recipe below!

Ingredients

1 yellow onion peeled and small-diced

1 celery stalk small-diced

1 carrot peeled and small-diced

1 lb fresh Salmon filet cubed

½ cup heavy cream

1 ½ cups whole milk

2 cups fish stock

¼ T flour

¼ T canola oil

½ cup Orzo pasta

Water boiled for pasta

¼ cup Parmesan

1 ½ oz fresh Dill

Directions

1.  Cook Orzo pasta in boiling water, strain set aside.

2. Lightly sauté onion, celery, & carrot

3. Add fish stock, milk, and heavy cream. Bring to soft boil while stirring.

4. Combine flour and oil together in separate bowl to form a roux to thicken soup, once roux is made, slowly whisk into soft boiling soup.

5. Whisk in Parmesan, Dill, and cubed salmon pieces.

6. Stir, then once salmon is cooked, lightly blend/puree soup with immersion blender.

7. Add Orzo pasta for texture and garnish to soup.

Connect with our March Chef of the Month: 

Instagram: @chefjohnwilson

5 Perfect Recipes for the Holidays

by on December 13, 2018 in General Chef Talk, Holidays, Recipes

It’s the greatest time of year, and it’s all because of the…presents? The weather? The holiday movie specials on television? No, it’s pretty much all about the food. Picture a toasty evening by the fire, everyone is huddled up listening to the soft snow brushing up against the window, the eggnog has made its way into your belly, and the sleepiness after a good meal is starting to kick in. Best feeling ever.

We have five fantastic recipes from our Chefs of the Month that we’d love to share with you so you can have a great holiday meal too!

1.Chef Yvonne Anderson-Thomas’ Smoked Chicken Legs Recipe

Smoky and savory, this chicken recipe is sure to delight family and friends alike!

smoked chicken

3. Chef Claude’s Sirloin & Mushroom Casserole Recipe

Why not take a risk and try a juicy sirloin for a holiday meal? Chef Claude’s recipe is so delicious that we just can’t stop thinking about it!

sirloin

3. Chef Megan’s Spicy Gorgonzola Sweet Mashed Potatoes

Try a little spin on a classic dish!

Spicy Mash

4. Chef Lauren’s Asian Pear Slaw

A salad is a great, yummy and healthy addition to any meal! Try adding this side salad to your main course!

Asian Pear Slaw Image

5. Chef Julie’s Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

Fall and Winter has us pining for Pumpkin! Chef Julie’s delicious cupcakes will be the perfect sweet treat to any holiday meal!

YBC-pic Pumpkin Pie

Some of the recipes above are traditional and some have a little twist. The holidays are all about joy and love, why not spread a little? Chef style!

 

Chef Jonathan’s Filet Mignon Steak Diane with Roasted Asparagus Hollandaise

by on November 17, 2017 in Chef Jonathan Scinto, Chef of the Month, Recipes, Uncategorized

Steak Diane Filet Mignon.jpgFilet Mignon Steak Diane with Roasted Asparagus Hollandaise 

Servings: 4 people

Ingredients

4 Filet Mignons, approx. 8-10 oz.

5 Shallots, peeled

8 ounces Baby Bella Mushrooms, cleaned

1 1/2 cups Unsalted Butter

3 Garlic Clove, peeled

2 tbsps Worcestershire sauce, to taste

1 tbsp Dijon mustard

1/2 cup brandy

1 cup heavy cream

2 cups EVOO

Small handful of Flat-leaf Parsley

1 Bunch Fresh Asparagus

Micro Greens (Radish, Baby Arugula, Kale, Broccoli)

1 cup Greek yogurt

Coarse Black Pepper

Sea Salt

1 cup grated Parm Cheese

2 Fresh Lemons

2 Egg yolks

1 tsp Cayenne pepper

2 tbsps. Honey

1 tsp Poppy Seeds

Directions

Season the steaks on both sides with salt and pepper. Heat on medium-high 2 tbsp. EVOO and 2 Tbsp. butter in a skillet large enough to accommodate the 4 steaks. Quickly sauté the steaks for up to a minute on each side then remove from the pan and set aside to rest.

Preheat an oven to 425 degrees. Place the asparagus into a mixing bowl, drizzle with the olive oil. Toss to coat the spears, then sprinkle with parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and pepper.

Arrange the asparagus onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake in the preheated oven until just tender, 12 to 15 minutes. Sprinkle with lemon juice just before serving.

Super Quick Hollandaise Sauce: Beat egg yolks, lemon juice, salt, and cayenne pepper together in a microwave-safe bowl until smooth. Slowly stream melted butter into the egg yolk mixture while whisking to incorporate. Heat in microwave for 15 to 20 seconds; whisk.

Poppy Seed Yogurt Sauce: Whisk together yogurt, honey, 2 tbsp. lemon and poppy seeds in a small bowl. Put aside.

To make the sauce for the steaks, heat some olive oil in a separate pan. Slice the shallots and add to the pan, allow to soften briefly before slicing and adding the mushrooms with a tablespoon of butter.

Crush in the garlic. Add the Worcestershire sauce, then the mustard and heat through for a minute. Turn up the heat and tilt the pan away from you. Pour the brandy into the far end and allow it to ignite – be careful that the flame that flares up doesn’t singe your eyebrows!

Once the alcohol has burnt off, swirl the juices around the pan. Add the cream and allow the sauce to thicken before turning down the heat. Set aside.

On a 12” Circular Plate, with a plating spoon give a teardrop of Hollandaise in the center and place the asparagus offset the center, then the steaks on top of the asparagus, drizzle a line in the middle with the mushroom sauce over the steak and spoon on top of the steak the micro greens and yogurt sauce.

Connect with Our November Chef of the Month:

Website: https://chefjonathans.wixsite.com/jonathanscinto

Instagram: @chefjonathans

Facebook: @ChefJonathanS

Chef Ace Champion’s Na’ lands style Shrimp Etouffee Recipe

by on January 21, 2016 in Chef Ace Champion, Chef of the Month

Chef Ace Champion's Na’ lands style Shrimp Etouffee - ChefUniforms.com Jan. 2016 Chef of the Month

Serves 8

Ingredients/Procedures:

6 ounces Salted Butter
4 ribs Celery – Bias cut/Asian cut or small diced
1/2 cup each Red and Green Bell Peppers – Small diced
1/2 cup Red onion – Small diced
4 cloves Garlic – Minced
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp. Flour
1 lb Shrimp 31-40 count – Peeled, deveined, and season to taste
1/4 cup Tomato puree or Tomato Paste
2 tbsp Lemon juice – fresh squeezed
2 tbsp Slap Yo Mama Creole Seasoning – Season to taste or any Cajun seasoning
1 tbsp Louisiana Hot Sauce – To Taste
2 tsp Basil – Dry
2 tsp Thyme – Dry
1 tsp Chili powder – Dry
4 tbsp Parsley – Fresh/Minced
3 Green onions – Small Asian cut, white part removed
1 quart Shrimp stock or Chicken Broth
4 cups Cooked Rice – 1/2 cup per person

 

Chef Ace Champion's Na’ lands style Shrimp Etouffee - ChefUniforms.com Jan. 2016 Chef of the Month

Directions:

1.    For the Stock. Using a medium size pot on medium heat, add the shells of the shrimp and set the shrimp aside in a bowl until ready to cook. Add in about 2 ½ quarts with the thyme, chili powder and basil and any leftover scraps from prepping your veggies. Cook uncover until reduced by half. Set aside until needed. This is your Shrimp Stock.
2.    Melt butter in large, heavy skillet or pot on a medium low heat. Add flour to make a white roux about 2 to 3 minutes on low/medium heat. Add celery, onions, bell pepper and garlic and sauté on low/medium heat for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree and mix well. Cook on the same temperature for an additional 5 minutes.
3.     Add ½ cup of stock to form a paste. Add in the lemon juice and seasonings with remaining stock to the pot. Stir and cook about 15 minutes on medium heat uncovered.
4.    Meanwhile in a medium skillet on medium-high heat, add 3 tablespoons of cooking oil. Allow the oil to get hot. Add drained shrimp to the pan and season with creole seasonings.
5.     Sauté shrimp until just turning pink (About 2 to 3 minutes). Deglaze the pan with a little water or wine and add the shrimp and its drippings back to the pot. Cover and simmer another 15 minutes. Stir in parsley and recover and remove from heat.

Note: If the Etouffee is too thick, thin it out with a little chicken broth or water. If it’s too thin, allow it to continue to cook until thick to your liking. It should have the constancy of a meat sauce.

Presentation:

Using a ladle, divide the Etouffee between 8 bowls.

Using a 4 ounce ice cream scooper, scoop a nice portion of rice directly in the center of the Etouffee.

Garnish with slivered green onions.

1.    For the Stock. Using a medium size pot on medium heat add the shells of the shrimp and set the shrimp aside in a bowl until ready to cook. Add in about 2 ½ quarts with the thyme, chili powder and basil and any leftover scraps from prepping your veggies. Cook uncover until reduced by half. Set aside until needed. This is your Shrimp Stock.
2.    Melt butter in large, heavy skillet or pot on a medium low heat. Add flour to make a white roux about 2 to 3 minutes on low/medium heat. Add celery, onions, bell pepper and garlic and sauté on low/medium heat for a few minutes. Add the tomato puree and mix well. Cook on the same temperature for an additional 5 minutes.
3.     Add ½ cup of stock to form a paste. Add in the lemon juice and seasonings with remaining stock to the pot. Stir and cook about 15 minutes on medium heat uncovered.
4.    Meanwhile in a medium skillet on medium-high heat add 3 tablespoon of cooking oil. Allow the oil to get hot. Add drained shrimp to the pan and season with creole season
5.     Sauté shrimp until just tuning pink. (About 2 to 3 minutes). Deglaze the pan with a little water or wine and add the shrimp and its drippings back to the pot. Cover and simmer another 15 minutes. Stir in parsley and, recover, and remove from heat.

Note: If the Etouffee is too thick, thin it out with a little chicken broth or water. If it’s too thin, allow it to continue to cook until thick to your liking. It should have the constancy of a meat sauce.

Presentation:

Using a ladle divide the Etouffee between 8 bowls.

Using a 4 ounce ice cream scooper, scoop a nice portion of rice directly in the center of the Etouffee.

Garnish with slivered green onions.

Voila! Bon Apetit!

Chef Ace Champion’s Pork Tenderloin with a Mushroom Port Wine Butter Sauce Recipe

by on January 7, 2016 in Chef Ace Champion, Chef of the Month

Pork Tenderloin with a Mushroom Port Wine Butter Sauce Recipe courtesy Chef Ace Champion - Chefuniforms.com January 2016 Chef of the MonthChef Ace Champion, our January 2016 Chef of the Month was the Grand place winner in the Minnesota Flavor Pitch Recipe Competition with his dish: Marinated Pork Tenderloin seared in Avocado Oil with a Wild Mushroom and Port Wine Butter Reductions Sauce. Below is the recipe instructions and also a video for you to learn from Chef Champion himself!

Ingredients

Marinated Tenderloin

Boneless Tenderloin – 2 lbs – Cleaned and trimmed or already marinated
Rosemary – 1 tablespoon – Fresh
Italian Vinaigrette – 1/2 Cup – Robust Italian Dressing/Wishbone
Fresh Garlic – 3 cloves – Minced
Avocado Oil – 1 tablespoon – Almost any oil will work but I recommend Canola Oil
Creole Seasoning – To taste/about 1 to 2 table – You can also season this roast with salt & pepper. Season as you would a normal roast.

 

Port Wine Sauce

Brandy – 1/4 Cup – Or any kind of dark rum
Portabella Mushrooms – 1 Cup – Sliced or Quartered
Shallot – 1 Large – Diced
Port Wine – 2 Cups – Reduced by 50%
Butter – 8 Ounces – Real Butter
Beef Stock/Broth – 2 Cups – Reduce by 50%
Heavy Whipping Cream – 1/4 Cup
Fresh Parsley – 1 tablespoon – Chopped fine

 

Directions
Tenderloin:

Clean and trim tenderloin.

Season tenderloin with creole seasoning, rosemary, garlic and mix well.

Let it sit for about 15 minutes so the spices can absorb into the meat.

Place the tenderloin and the Italian Vinaigrette in a zip lock bag and close tightly so that no air can escape. This will speed up the marinating process.

Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

In a medium size skillet, add the oil and allow to get hot on a medium to high head.

Note: Before you add the tenderloin into a hot skillet make sure all the tenderloin is semi-dry from the marinate. This will insure a good sear. Add the tenderloin and sear on all sides making sure there is a caramel like glaze covering the whole loin. Remove from heat and finish cooking in the oven at about 300 degrees for about 40 minutes or until the loin is done, (about 145 degrees). Remove from oven and allow the loin to rest. This will keep the juices inside.

Sauce:

Using the same pan you seared the tenderloin in, turn the stove top on a medium heat.

When hot, add the shallot and mushrooms and saute for about 1 minute. You are just looking to (sweet the veggies) which means lightly saute.

De glaze the pan with the brandy by tilting your skillet away from you and add the brandy tilt toward the flame and ignite (flambé), making sure to scrape up all that was left behind from the tenderloin.

Add the wine and reduce by about half, then add the beef stock and reduce by half.

Add your cream and cook for about 2 minutes.

Turn your stove on low and add the butter making so it is stirred consistently and is cooking very slow. This will keep the butter from breaking.

Plating:

Slice the tenderloin in 1-inch medallions and arrange on the plate making sure to overlap each one in a fan like shape. Spoon the hot wine sauce over the loin and sprinkle with parsley.

Bon Apetit!

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