Iron Chef Pembroke Pines: April 2011 - Candied Citrus Peel

I actually don't have pictures of this, because Ann arrived fairly late, and almost everyone had gone. I DID, however, grab a couple and eat them on the way out, and they were so good, that I decided to include the recipe anyway, even without pictures...so I can make it again at my leisure!!

Candied Citrus Peel


Orange, lemon, or grapefruit peel can be candied to make a deliciously fresh, zesty treat. This recipe specifies four oranges, but you can substitute two grapefruit or eight small lemons or limes. The general rule I go by is to use 8.5 ounces of water and 4.5 ounces of sugar per orange, and I count a small lemon as half of an orange, while an orange is half of a grapefruit.

Prep Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 5 hours
Total Time: 6 hours

Ingredients:

* 4 oranges
* 4.25 cups water
* 2.5 cups sugar, plus more for coating

Preparation:

1. Use a knife or a citrus peeler to score the peels of four oranges into quarters. Peel the oranges carefully, trying to keep the peels intact as much as possible. Set the peeled oranges aside and reserve for another use.
2. Using a sharp knife, cut away the bitter white pith from the underside of the peels. The remaining peel should be approximately 1/8” thick. Do not worry if small amounts of white pith remain.
3. Slice the peels into long, thin strips approximately ½” thick.
4. Combine 4.25 cups of water and 2.5 cups of sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir to dissolve the sugar, and heat, uncovered, until the sugar boils for 5 minutes.
5. Add the strips of peel and turn the heat down to low, until the mixture is just at a simmer. Cook, uncovered and simmering, until the syrup reduces to a quarter of its original volume (the syrup will barely cover the tops of the peels). Do not stir during this process, as that might cause the formation of large sugar crystals. The simmering will take approximately 2 hours.
6. Remove the saucepan from the heat and allow it to cool. Once cool, drain the peels in a colander. At this point, turn your oven to 200 degrees.
7. Place about one cup of sugar in a small bowl. Dredge the peels in the sugar until they are coated, and place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add more sugar if necessary.
8. Place the sugar-coated peels in the warm oven and allow them to dry out. This should take approximately one hour, but check them every 20 minutes to ensure that they are not burning or cooking in any way. Alternately, they can be left to sit overnight on a drying rack instead of placed in the oven.
 9. Once peels are completely dry, scrape off any excess sugar clumps. Store them in a dry location and they should keep for weeks. Candied peels can be dipped in melted chocolate and enjoyed plain, or used in cake, cookie, candy, or bread recipes.

Courtesy Ann Merrill

Iron Chef Pembroke Pines - April 2011 - Lemon Chicken Piccata

This is such a bittersweet Iron Chef...because this is the last time Heidi will be our hostess. Her family is moving to North Carolina...and I am so sad to lose one of my first friends from here in South Florida.

Heidi made an amazing dish...easily the best Chicken Piccata I've had outside of Jason's restaurant. I cannot wait to re-create this...

Lemon Chicken Piccata 

Prep Time: 20 Min
Cook Time: 30 Min
Ready In: 50 Min
Yield 4 servings

Ingredients:


* 3 large skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1/2-inch medallions
* salt and pepper to taste
* 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, or as needed
* 1 clove garlic, minced
* 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
* 1/2 lemon, thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
* 2 tablespoons capers, drained and rinsed
* 3 tablespoons butter
* 2 tablespoons minced Italian (flat-leaf) parsley

Directions:


1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees F (95 degrees C). Place a serving platter into the oven to warm.
2. Season the chicken breast pieces with salt and pepper and dredge them in flour. Shake off excess flour. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet; pan-fry the chicken pieces until golden brown on both sides, about 3 minutes per side. Work in batches and do not crowd skillet, adding oil as needed . Place the chicken pieces onto the warmed platter in the oven. When finished with all the chicken, drain most of the oil from the skillet, leaving a thin coating on the surface of the pan.
3. Cook and stir the minced garlic in the skillet until fragrant, about 20 seconds. Pour in the chicken broth. Scrape and dissolve any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Stir in the lemon slices and bring the mixture to a boil. Let cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce reduces to about 2/3 cup, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the lemon juice and capers; simmer until the sauce is reduced and slightly thickened, about 5 minutes more. Drop the butter into the skillet and swirl it into the sauce by tilting the skillet until the butter is melted and incorporated. Add the parsley; remove from heat and set aside.
4. Arrange the chicken medallions on serving plates and spoon sauce over each portion to serve.

courtesy Heidi Tyler, adapted from AllRecipes.com

Iron Chef Pembroke Pines: April 2011 - Lemon Pineapple Extravaganza Cake

What Jason wanted to do was take MY Lemonade Extravaganza Cake, and make it even better...which I thought was a fairly daunting task, since, in my opinion, there is NOTHING better than my Lemonade Extravaganza Cake.

But leave it to Jason to absolutely and solidly prove me wrong.

This cake has a lot of steps...or rather...parts. Luckily, all the parts can be done way in advance. He took two days to completely assemble this cake, making the actual cake, candied lemon slices,  lemon curd, and caramelized pineapples on Day One. Then he chilled everything overnight, and the next day made from-scratch whip cream to fold into the lemon curd, and then assembling the cake right before we left for Iron Chef.

So...you need time...but other than that...nothing is HARD.

Lemon Pineapple Extravaganza Cake

Part One: 

Candied Lemon Slices 

Ingredients:

* 1 large lemon
* 1 cup sugar

Directions:

1. Prepare an ice-water bath; set aside. Using a mandoline or sharp knife, cut lemon into 12 paper-thin slices; discard seeds and ends of rind.
2. Bring a medium saucepan of water to a rolling boil. Remove from heat, and add lemon slices; stir until softened, about 1 minute. Drain, and immediately plunge slices into ice-water bath. Drain.
3. Bring sugar and 1 cup water to a boil in a medium skillet, swirling to dissolve sugar. When liquid is clear and bubbling, reduce heat to medium-low. Add lemon slices, arranging them in one layer with tongs. Simmer (do not let boil) until rinds are translucent, about 1 hour.
4. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with parchment. Let stand until ready to serve.

I was out of parchment paper...so we used foil sprayed with Pam...

Part Two:


Lemon Curd 

Ingredients:

*3 large eggs
*1/3 cup (80 ml) fresh lemon juice (2-3 lemons) (do not use the bottled lemon juice)
*1 tablespoon (4 grams) finely shredded lemon zest
*3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar
*4 tablespoons (56 grams) unsalted butter, at room temperature
*Heavy Whipping Cream
*Confectioners Sugar
* 1 tsp vanilla

Notes: Room temperature lemons provide more juice. After squeezing, strain the juice to remove any pulp. Zest is the yellow, sweet-flavored outer rind of the lemon. A zester or fine grater can be used to remove the rind. Cold lemons are much easier to grate. Grate lemons just before using as the zest will lose moisture if it sits too long.

Directions:

1. In a stainless steel bowl placed over a saucepan of simmering water, whisk together the eggs, sugar, and lemon juice until blended. Cook, stirring constantly (to prevent it from curdling), until the mixture becomes thick (like sour cream or a hollandaise sauce) (160 degrees F or 71 degrees C). This will take approximately 10 minutes.
2. Remove from heat and immediately pour through a fine strainer to remove any lumps. Cut the butter into small pieces and whisk into the mixture until the butter has melted.
3. Add the lemon zest and let cool. The lemon curd will continue to thicken as it cools.
4. Cover immediately with plastic wrap, and make sure the wrap sits directly on top of the curd (so a skin doesn't form) and refrigerate for up to a week. Makes 1 1/2 cups (360 ml).

Note: If you want a lighter lemon curd whip 1/2 cup (120 ml) whipped cream (made from the heavy whipping cream, confectioners sugar, and vanilla...mixed together at high speed in a mixer until stiff peaks form) and fold into the lemon curd (which is what he did the next day). 


Part Three:

Roasted Pineapple Slices

Ingredients:

*1 can sliced pineapple
*6 TBS butter, melted
*1 cup dark brown sugar

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250
2. Place Pineapple Slices in a well-greased baking dish.
3. Mix brown sugar in melted butter. Pour over pineapple slices.
4. Bake until carmelized, about 30-45 minutes.
5. Cool and chill until ready to use.

Your pineapple Slices should look like this...

Part Four: 
 
Lemonade Extravaganza Cake


Ingredients for Cake:


* 1 pkg. lemon cake mix
* 1 small (4 serving) Jell-O Lemon Flavor
* 1-1/4 cup water
* 3/4 cup oil
* 4 eggs

Ingredients for Topping:

* 2 cups powdered sugar
* 1/3 cup lemon juice
 

Directions:

1. Mix all cake ingredients and pour into two 8x8 round cake pans greased with cooking spray.
2. Bake at 350°F for about 30-45 minutes or until done.
3. Remove from oven and pierce holes all over with a fork.
4. Mix powdered sugar and lemon juice and pour over the top. Spread evenly.
5. Chill until cold (a couple hours).
6. Chill remaining cake until eaten.

Notes: This cake can be served at any temperature, but chilled, it gives it an extra cool and refreshing "lemonade" feeling. Its our favorite way to eat it on those hot summer nights.

Part Five:

Assembly
 
1. Remove one cake from pan and place on plate.
2. Top with lemon curd/whipped cream mixture
3. Top with carmelized pineapples
4. Top with 2nd cake layer
5. Top with another layer of curd/whipped cream
6. Top with candied lemon slices and additional pineapple, if desired.
7. Chill until ready to eat.

courtesy Jason Johnson

Iron Chef Pembroke Pines: April 2011 - Lemon Snowdrop Cookies

I actually made two things for Iron Chef...one was a total flop.

I mean...it was so bad I won't include pictures, recipes, and I will never, ever, EVER make it again.

I will, however, create my own, and infinitely BETTER, recipe for it to try another time.

The other thing I made were these cookies...and they were okay. Half my kids loved them, the other half didn't.

They remind me of Mexican Wedding cookies...but with lemon. And they are awfully pretty to look at...

Lemon Snow Drop Cookies
 

Ingredients


* 1 cup butter
* 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
* 1 teaspoon lemon extract
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 tablespoons cornstarch
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup water
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 2 teaspoons lemon zest
* 3 tablespoons lemon juice
* 3 drops yellow food coloring


Directions 


1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (205 degree C).
2. Cream 1 cup butter or margarine and 1/2 cup sifted confectioners' sugar. Add 2 cups flour, lemon extract, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; mix well.
3. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool.
(now...I should tell you that mine baked up in perfect balls...making them hard to make into sandwich cookies...so I smushed them slightly with a spatula when they came out of the oven, so they would be flatter).
4. Put together with filling. Roll in confectioners' sugar.

 To Make Filling: Mix 1/2 cup sugar, 2 Tablespoons cornstarch, and dash of salt. Add 1/2 cup water, 2 Tablespoons butter or margarine, 2 teaspoons grated lemon rind, 3 Tablespoons lemon juice, and 3 drops of yellow food coloring. Bring to rolling boil, stirring constantly; boil and stir 1 minutes. Cool. Frost flat side of one cookie and put together with another cookie, sandwich-like. Roll in confectioners' sugar.

courtesy Shannan Johnson

Iron Chef Pembroke Pines: April 2011 - Angel's Lemon Cheese Squares

This was the creamiest, yummiest, lemon bar ever. It was like little danish squares. It was beautiful, and I cannot WAIT to make these myself...

Angel's Lemon Cheese Squares
 

• 1 yellow or lemon cake mix
• 1/3 c vegetable oil
• 1 egg 

1. Mix 1-2 min til crumbly, reserve 1 cup for topping,
2. Press the rest into a 9x13 pan and bake til golden 14min at 350
 3. In same bowl (so no need to rinse) mix :

• 1 8oz block cream cheese
• 1/3c sugar
• 2tbsp fresh lemon juice

4. When well combined, spread over baked crust.
5. Scatter reserved topping and bake an additional 14 min until golden brown and filling sets
6. Let cool 30min... then cut into bars.

courtesy Angel Anderson

Salsa Stoup and Quesadillas with Avocado Smash

I was folding clothes the other day, and simultaneously flipping through channels, and I stumbled on an old episode of 30-Minute Meals with Rachel Ray and the Food Network. She was making her version of Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese...

She called it Salsa Stoup and Quesadillas with Avocado Smash.

Well, I am still on my soup kick, so I thought I'd give it a try. Not only that...but my kids LOVE salsa and quesadillas, so I figured this recipe would be a no-brainer in the "child eat-ability" category.

And, it's vegetarian...so a great way to get those veggies in my kids diet.

Rachel Ray calls this "Stoup"...because it's thicker than a soup, but not quit a stew. She's always making up funny stuff like that.

OH!! And by the way...I did not double the actual stoup recipe, but I DID double the amount of quesadillas I made. Just in case you were wondering. So this recipe is the original...if you're cooking for a crowd, then you might want to double the quesadillas as well...but leave the stoup...this makes PLENTY...

Salsa Stoup and Quesadillas

• 2 TBS extra virgin olive oil, plus some for brushing on tortillas 
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 ribs celery, chopped with greens
• 3 cloves garlic, chopped
• Salt and pepper
• 1 28-ounce can stewed tomatoes
• 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
• 2 cups vegetable broth or stock
• 3 TBS chopped cilantro
• 6 flour tortillas, 6-8inches
• 1 cup shredded cheddar
• 3 scallions, chopped
• 4 ounce brick Pepper Jack OR Chipolte cheese, shredded, about 1 cup
• Sour cream, to pass at the table

1. Preheat oven to 300.

2. Heat a medium soup pot over medium-high heat. Add 2 TBS olive oil, jalapenos, bell pepper, onions, celery, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and the saute veggies 5 minutes. Add stewed tomatoes, crushed tomatoes, and stock, and bring soup to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and stir in cilantro.

Yummy...

3. Paint 1 side of tortillas with extra virgin olive oil and place them next to each other, oiled side down, on a large cookie sheet. Mix cheddar with scallions and divide the cheese between the tortillas evenly.

This is totally a kid-friendly-in-the-kitchen recipe...

 Top with another tortilla and top each of those with equal amounts of Pepper Jack cheese. Set the last tortillas on top and brush tops with extra virgin olive oil. Cook for 10 minutes in the oven to melt cheese and crisp tortillas. Cool quesadillas 5 minutes to set and then cut each quesadilla into 6 pieces.

Pre-baked quesadillas...

Avocado Smash

• 1 avocado
• 2 TBS chopped cilantro leaves
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced
• 1 lime, juiced
• 1 cup sour cream
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 plum tomato, finely chopped

1. Remove avocado flesh to a bowl. Add cilantro and scallions. Pop the lime in the microwave for a few seconds, and squeeze the juice into the mix. Add sour cream, and season with salt and pepper. With a fork or spoon, smash up the mixture, leaving chunks for a good consistency.

2. Chop and seed the plum tomato and fold into the avocado mixture.

Cool and refreshing...

Serve bowls of stoup with 3 wedges of quesadilla along side each bowlful. Pass the Avocado Smash and the plain sour cream for topping stoup or quesadillas.

courtesy Rachel Ray's 30-Minute Meals

Quick Italian Spinach Pie

Yummy egg-y cheesy goodness...

I made this delish quiche tonight, and I thought I'd share it because it was very good and wonderfully easy...perfect for a night when you have a lot going on and don't have the time (or energy) to come up with something fancy.

The recipe is off kraftfoods.com ...my favorite go-to site for the super-easy-use-what-you've-already-got-in-your-pantry recipes.

Quick Italian Spinach Pie

• 1 16-oz. container 2% cottage cheese (I used nonfat...because it's what I have...and it turned out great. So save yourself some fat and calories if you prefer to go nonfat as well)
• 1 pkg. (10 oz. frozen chopped spinach
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella or shredded Italian cheese
• 4 eggs, lightly beaten (I almost used Egg Beaters, but went with real eggs at the last minute...but next time I'll try it with the egg substitute. And if you use a vegetarian egg substitute, this dish would be Veggie-friendly)
• 1 jar (7 oz.) roasted red peppers, well drained, chopped (my jar was 12 ounces...but I like roasted red peppers, so I added the whole thing)
• 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp, dried oregano (I used the Italian Seasoning blend because it was in front and I didn't feel like digging to the back to look for oregano...see? I wanted EASY tonight...)

1. Preheat Oven to 350. Mix all ingredients until well blended.

What it looks like...pre-baked...

2. Pour into a greased 9-inch pie pan.
3. Bake 40 minutes or until center is set.

THAT'S IT!!!!

Talk about CRAZY easy, right? It's quick, cheap, and really good...and my kids gobbled it up, because they LOVE eggs. They're not too crazy about cottage cheese, but since they couldn't TASTE the cheese through the egg-y spinach-y cheesy goodness, I felt no need to inform them.

My messy slice...

Dinner. It's served.

Now go eat.

courtesy www.kraftfoods.com