The Executive Cook

Weeknight Cook ~ Weekend Entertainer

tonmarmor

Mediterranean Roasted Cauliflower

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Ingredients
4 cups small separated Cauliflower (about 1 head)
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/4 tsp. Red Pepper Flakes
1/3 cup Pine Nuts
1/3 cup Golden Raisins
Zest of one Lemon
½ tsp. finely minced Rosemary
½ tsp. Lemon Juice

❃❃Serves 2-3❃❃

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Separate the cauliflower into the smallest pieces that the florets will separate into.  They will be larger than if you were making cauliflower rice and should be separated where the cauliflower naturally separates.
Mince rosemary.

Roasting
Spread cauliflower onto baking sheet.  Add olive oil, salt, pepper and red pepper flakes.  Roast for 20 – 30 minutes or until the cauliflower is starting to brown and gets a little crispy.  Add raisins, rosemary, lemon zest and pine nuts.  Roast for an additional 3-5 minutes.  Remove from oven and mix in lemon juice.

Cinnamon Meringues with Pumpkin Cream Topped with Pumpkin Seed Brittle and Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

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Ingredients
Meringues:
3 Egg Whites
¾ cup Sugar
½ tsp. Cinnamon
¼ tsp. Vanilla Extract
Pinch of Salt
Pumpkin Cream:
1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
½ cup Pumpkin
¼ cup Sugar
½ tsp. Pumpkin Pie Spice
Pumpkin Seed Brittle:
1 cup Sugar
½ cup Corn Syrup
¼ cup Water
½ cup Butter
½ tsp. Baking Soda
¾ cup Pumpkin Seeds
Toasted Pumpkin Seeds:
1/3 cup Pumpkin Seeds

❃❃Makes 6❃❃

Preparation
Preheat oven to 200, line a baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray for the meringues.  Line another baking sheet with parchment paper and spray with non-stick cooking spray for the brittle.
Set up a large baggie to pipe meringues or if piping with a tip set up your piping bag with the large star tip.

Meringues
Place egg whites into a stand mixture with the whisk attachment or use a handheld mixer.  Beat on high speed until the egg whites become frothy and then slowly add the sugar.  Add vanilla, salt and cinnamon.  Continue to beat on high until stiff peaks form.
Once egg whites are beaten to stiff peaks add the mixture to the baggy or piping bag and push the mixture down to one corner of the baggy or down to the bottom of the piping bag removing all the air.
Pipe 6 equal size meringues starting in the middle and circling outward.  Double the layer on the last ring to create a well in the middle.
Place into oven and bake for 2 hours.  Once the two hours are up turn the heat off and let the meringues sit in the oven to cool.
Once cooled remove from oven and place in an airtight container for storage. (These can be done at least 3-4 days before assembly.  The mixture can also spooned onto the baking sheet if you are not comfortable with piping.  Just ensure there is a well in the center.)

Pumpkin Seed Brittle
In a deep sided, heavy bottomed pan add the sugar, corn syrup and water.  Heat to 280 degrees stirring every few minutes.  Once the temperature reaches 280 turn heat off and add softened butter stirring until butter is incorporated.  Remove from burner and add baking soda stirring the entire time.  This will bubble up.  Stir in the pumpkin seeds and pour onto the baking sheet spreading the mixture out.  Allow to completely cool and then break into desired pieces.

Pumpkin Cream
In a mixing bowl with the whisk attachment or with a handheld mixer mix together heavy cream, pumpkin, sugar and pumpkin pie spice.  Beat on high until there are stiff peaks that hold onto the bottom of the whish attachment.

Toast Pumpkin Seeds
Add seeds to a dry skillet and toast, stirring occasionally, until the nuts begin to slightly brown.  Immediately remove from the heat onto a separate plate to allow to cool.  Watch these the entire time as they can burn quickly.

Assemble
Place meringues on a plate, evenly distribute the pumpkin cream among the six and then top with broken brittle and toasted pumpkin seeds.

 

Layered Spinach Salad Quiche

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Ingredients
6 slices Peppered Thick Cut Bacon
Onions:
1 cup sliced Red Onion (approximately ½ onion)
1 tsp. minced Thyme
2 Tbsp. Butter
Mushrooms:
1 cup sliced Mushrooms
1 Tbsp. Butter
1 tsp. Sherry
Bread:
Sliced and soft country bread, sourdough or baguette (enough to cover 9” pie plate)
2 Tbsp. melted Butter
¼ tsp. Onion Powder
¼ tsp. Garlic Powder
Quiche:
10 large Eggs
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
½ cup Milk
2 1/2 cups chopped Spinach
4 slices Swiss Cheese

❃❃Serves 6❃❃

Preparation
Preheat oven to 425, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Line a separate baking sheet with foil.
Chop spinach, slice mushrooms, mince thyme, slice onion, slice bread and melt 2 Tbsp. butter for bread.
Break eggs into a bowl and whisk with milk, salt and pepper.

Bread
Toast bread in the oven for about 10 minutes.  Remove from oven and combine melted butter, garlic powder and onion powder.  Brush the bottom of the pie plate with some of the butter.  Top with bread slices covering the bottom of the pie plate.  Brush the tops of the bread with the remaining butter mixture.

Bacon
Place bacon on the baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven and let drain on paper towels.  Reduce oven temperature to 360 and when bacon cools cut slices into bite size pieces.

Mushrooms
Add 1 Tbsp. butter to a sauté pan and cook mushroom slices over medium high heat until they begin to soften and get some color.  Add the sherry and cook until all the sherry has been absorbed into the mushrooms.  Remove mushrooms from pan onto a plate and let cool.

Onions
In the same sauté pan add 2 Tbsp. butter, onions and thyme.  Sauté on medium to medium high heat until the onions begin to caramelize.  This will take 10 – 20 minutes.  Once caramelized remove from heat.

Quiche
Add the chopped spinach to the milk mixture.
Top the bread with the caramelized onions in an even layer.  Add swiss cheese on top of onions, add bacon in an even layer over cheese, then pour in egg mixture and finally top the quiche with the mushrooms in a circular pattern.
Place quiche onto the baking sheet with foil, place in the oven and bake for 60 – 65 minutes or until the quiche is set.
Remove from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

 

 

Farro, Kale & Butternut Squash Bake

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Ingredients
Farro:
2 ½ cups Chicken Stock
1 cup Farro
Juice ½ Lemon
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Pinch Salt & Pepper
3 cups chopped Kale
Squash:
2 ½ cups small cubed Butternut Squash
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
½ tsp. Salt
¼ tsp. Pepper
Leeks:
1 Leek (approximately 1 cup chopped)
1 Tbsp. Olive Oil
Pinch of Salt & Pepper
White Sauce:
2 Tbsp. Butter
2 Tbsp. Flour
1 ¾ cups Milk
¼ tsp. Nutmeg
1 tsp. Thyme Leaves
1 cup shredded Gruyere

❃❃Serves 6 – 12❃❃

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Peel and cube squash, wash and slice white part of leeks, chop kale, mince thyme and shred cheese.

Squash
Add cubed squash onto the baking sheet and coat with 1 Tbsp. olive oil, ½ tsp. salt and ¼ tsp. pepper.  Toss and make sure all squash is coated, lay in an even layer and roast for ½ hour.  Remove from oven and add to farro mixture.
If baking right away reduce oven to 350 but if baking later turn oven off.

Farro
Add 2 ½ cups chicken stock with 1 cup farro to a pan, boil and then reduce to medium-low and cook, covered, for 20 minutes stirring occasionally.
Once all water is absorbed stir in lemon juice, 1 Tbsp. olive oil, pinch of salt, pinch of pepper and chopped kale.

Leeks
Add 1 Tbsp. olive oil, leeks and a pinch of salt a pepper to a sauté pan.  Cook on medium-high until leeks are softened and begin to brown.  Remove and add to Farro mixture.

White Sauce
Add 2 Tbsp. butter to a large non-stick sauté pan over medium high heat and melt.  Once melted whisk in flour and allow to cook for a couple of minutes.  Whisk in milk removing any lumps.  Once smooth and it is starting to thicken, on medium heat, add cheese, nutmeg and thyme.

Assembly
Once cheese has melted remove from heat and stir in farro mixture.  Transfer to a baking dish, sprayed with non-stick cooking spray, and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.
If baking later bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until entire casserole is hot.

 

Restaurants

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Our own Backyard
Century House Tavern – Woodstock GA
One of the best restaurants that is honestly farm to table with a dedicated, creative and wonderful chef.  The staff is fun, inviting and knowledgeable.
Rotisserie Shop – Kennesaw GA
Union Hill Grill – Canton GA
The Mill Kitchen – Roswell GA

Atlanta
Cooks and Soldiers
Marcels
Aria
Arnettes Chop Shop
Two Urban Licks
Staplehouse
Gun Show
Salt Yard
Bones
Bistro Niko
Local Three
Rose & Rye
Hals
One Eared Stag
Lure
Paces & Vine
Bistro VG
Miller Union
Soto Soto
Rathbun’s
Kevin Rathbun Steak
Vinny’s
Babette’s Café
Drift Oyster Bar
Seed Kitchen & Bar
Wrecking Bar Brew Pub
Arnettes Chop Shop

Charleston, SC
FIG
Halls
Zero George
Sermet’s Courtyard on Daniel Island
Eli’s Table
SNOB (Slightly North of Broad)
Stars
Anson
Husk
Chez Nous
Fulton Five
Purlieu Charleston
Cannon Green
Taco Boy
Butcher and Bee
The Ordinary
Poes Tavern
Brown Dog Deli
The Fat Hen
Cru Cafe

Charlotte, NC
Kindred
Stagioni
Bardo
Good Food on Montford
Hello, Sailor
Crepe Cellar
Bistro La Bon

Birmingham, AL
Ovenbird Restaurant
Chez Fonfon
Roots & Revelry

Indianapolis, IN
Salt on Mass
St. Elmo Steakhouse
Petite Chou Bistro

New Orleans, LA
Shaya
HerbSaint
La Petite Grocery
Mahony’s

Milwaukee, WI
 Bacchus
Carnevor
Ristorante Bartolotta

Billings, MT
Lilac
Stacked a Montana Grill
Ten

Napa Valley
Press – St. Helena
Goose & Gander – St. Helena
Culinary Institute of America at Greystone – St. Helena
La Toque – Napa
Bottega – Yountville
Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch – St. Helena

Europe
Pied a Terre – London
Nolla – Helsinki
Restaurant Barr – Copenhagen
The Ledbury – London
The Kitchin – Edinburgh

Miami
Grazianos

Wine

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Au Sommet Wines – http://ausommetwine.com/
Au Sommet
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Very Full Bodied
Newest Heidi Barret Project

 

Au Sommet Wines – http://ausommetwine.com/
Coup De Foudre
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Sauvignon Blanc (not pictured)
Label  is a love letter

 

Au Sommet Wines – http://ausommetwine.com/
Vin Perdu
Blended Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa

 

 

Caspar – http://www.casparestate.com/
Caspar Estate Wine
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
This vineyard also produces a non-estate wine named Cultivar as well as their own honey and olive oil.

 

Ehlers – https://www.ehlersestate.com/
1886
Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Very, very Full Bodied
Organic Winery

 

Ehlers – https://www.ehlersestate.com/
Cabernet Sauvignon (used to be 120/80)
Blended Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Organic Winery

 

Ehlers – https://www.ehlersestate.com/
Sylvian Rose
and
Sauvignon Blanc (not pictured)
Napa
Organic Winery

 

Sherwin Family Vineyards – https://www.sherwinfamilyvineyards.com/
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Estate Cabernet Sauvignon American Flag Bottle, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
“Home of the Patriotic Pour”

 

Sherwin Family Vineyards – https://www.sherwinfamilyvineyards.com/
Scraps – Varies every year as this is a blend of the leftover grapes
Napa
“Home of the Patriotic Pour”

 

 

Christopher Creek Winery – https://www.christophercreek.com/
Christopher Creek Rose & Christopher Creek Zinfandel
Sonoma
Wonderful tastings and wine club

 

 

Martin Estate – https://www.martinestate.com/
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon, Bacchanal Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Martin Estate Port
Napa
Wonderful wines, estate and family
Unique labels with meaning

 

Martin Estate – https://www.martinestate.com/
Rose of Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Unique and beautiful Rose

 

 

Checkerboard Vineyards – http://www.checkerboardvineyards.com/
Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Rich, deep Cab

 

 

Checkerboard Vineyards – http://www.checkerboardvineyards.com/
Estate Rose
Napa

 

 

Orin Swift – http://www.orinswift.com/
Mercury Head
Napa
Rich Cabernet Sauvignon

 

 

Chateau Lafite Rothschild – http://www.lafite.com/fr/
Bordeaux
France
Wonderful, full bodied, rich wine.  Pricey and special occasion wine (20th Anniversary Wine)

 

Cune – https://www.cvne.com/en/wines/
Cune Rioja Reserve
Spain
Very affordable, dry and excellent

 

 

If You See Kay – http://ifyouseekaywines.com/
Red Blend
Italy
Very affordable, everyday drinking wine.  Read the label carefully and out loud.

 

 

Yoa Ming – https://www.yaofamilywines.com/
Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc (not pictured)
Napa
Affordable cabernet that is great with every meal

 

Delille Cellars – http://www.delillecellars.com/
D2 Red Blend, Four Flags Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose (not pictured)
Signature Syrah (not pictured)
Washington
Wonderful, affordable wine.  Rose is one of the best!

 

Chateau Meichtry – https://www.chateaumeichtry.co/
Chateau Meichtry Cabernet Sauvignon
Chateau Meichtry Seyval Blanc
Lineage – Red Blend
Georgia
Beautiful local Georgia winery

 

Wolf Mountain – http://www.wolfmountainvineyards.com/
Coupage – Red Blend, Howling Wolf – Red Blend, Instinct – Red Blend
Georgia
Beautiful winery, great brunch, nice tastings and affordable balanced reds.

 

Caves at Soda Canyon – https://www.thecavesatsodacanyon.com/
Four wineries storing and tasting in this wonderful facility.
Napa

Lobo-Wulff Vineyard
Lobo Cabernet Sauvignon and Lobo Pinot Noir (not pictured)
Waugh Family Wines
Waugh Cellars Rose
Patland Estate Vineyards
Patland Cabernet Sauvignon 
Buancristiani Family Winery – Napa Valley Rosato & O.P.C. Red (not pictured)

 

 

 

 

Z. Alexander Brown – http://www.zalexanderbrown.com/
Uncaged Cabernet Sauvignon
Uncaged Sauvignon Blanc (not Pictured)
Northern California Coast
Wine is made by Zac Brown of the Zac Brown band.  Very affordable, good everyday drinking wine.

 

Pessac – Leognan – https://www.bordeaux.com/us/Our-Terroir/Graves-and-Sauternais/Pessac-Leognan-red
Bordeaux
France
One of the first Bordeaux that we ever tried and it got us hooked.

 

Black Stallion – http://www.blackstallionwinery.com/
Bucephalus – Red Blend (not pictured), Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
Sauvignon Blanc (not pictured), Cabernet Sauvignon
Napa
Wide price range from everyday drinking wines to more expensive reserves.

 

The Usual Suspects – Great, bold Cabernet Sauvignon’s
Frank Family – Absolutely one of my favorite wines!!
Napa
Caymus
Napa
Nickel & Nickel
Napa

Silver Oak & Twomey – https://www.silveroak.com/
Silver Oak Napa & Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon
Twomey – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir (not pictured)
Napa

 

Chaumette Winery – http://chaumette.com/
Anrie Red Blend & Rose (not pictured)
Missouri
I did not know there were so many wineries around St. Louis but we went to this winery for lunch when we were there for a wedding.  The view is unbelievable, the food was even better and the wine is very affordable and worth the trip.  The rose is a great rose.