From the category archives:

Herbs in Recipes

Flavored Butter For Ninjas of the Grill

by Joi on July 27, 2010

By adding flavored butter to meats, seafood, vegetables, or just about anything you prepare on the grill, you can turn an ordinary meal into an extraordinary meal. Flavored butters are simple to prepare, and they make tasty and elegant accompaniments to your grilled dishes.

Use flavored butters to add a finishing touch to grilled steaks and salmon, to jazz up grilled asparagus or corn-on-the-cob, and to add some pizzazz to your favorite side dishes. When they melt on whatever you’re grilling, their delicious flavors come through, making your meal a masterpiece. They just might call you a grilling ninja!

Since they’re so simple to prepare, you can easily keep a variety of flavored butters at you fingertips. You can store them in the refrigerator for up to two weeks by rolling them into logs and wrapping them in plastic food wrap, parchment or waxed paper. You can also slice the butter into pats and freeze them in resealable plastic food bags for longer storage.

Land O’Lakes would like to share the following outstanding butter recipes, just in time for grilling season: Italian Flavored Butter, Chili Lime Butter, Caramelized Onion Butter and Herb Seasoned Butter.

Italian Flavored Butter

Use Italian Flavored Butter when grilling meats and vegetables, or toss with rice, potatoes or corn-on-the-cob

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1/2 cup

Ingredients:

1/2 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in small mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed until well mixed (1 to 2 minutes). Brush on meats, poultry, fish and vegetables when grilling or toss with hot cooked rice or vegetables.

Chili Lime Butter

Chili Lime Butter turns grilled steak, chicken or vegetables into a southwestern delight

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Yield: 1/4 cup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened
2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro
2 teaspoons sliced green onion
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon chili lime seasoning
1/4 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic
1/8 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in small bowl. Beat at medium speed until well mixed. Brush on meats, poultry, fish and vegetables while grilling or toss with hot cooked rice, pasta or vegetables.

Caramelized Onion Butter

Serve this savory butter with your favorite grilled steak or veggie, or as a spread on artisan bread

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 25 minutes

Yield: 1½ cups

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons LAND O LAKES Butter
2 large (2 cups) onions, coarsely chopped
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened

Preparation:

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat until sizzling; add onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown and caramelized (20 to 25 minutes). Place onions into medium bowl; cool 10 minutes.

Add 1 cup butter to onions; mix well. Toss with hot cooked rice or vegetables, or serve on grilled meat.

Herb Seasoned Butter

Use Herb Seasoned Butter to add fabulous taste to the simplest grilled foods

Preparation time: 10 minutes

Yield: 1 cup

Ingredients:

1 cup LAND O LAKES Butter, softened
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon finely chopped shallots or green onions
1/2 teaspoon finely chopped fresh garlic

Preparation:

Combine all ingredients in small bowl. Beat at medium speed until well mixed. Store refrigerated in container with tight-fitting lid up to 2 weeks. Serve with warm artisan breads, tossed with hot cooked pasta or brush on meats, poultry or fish when grilling.

Additional recipes for flavored butters and much more and can be easily found on the Land O’Lakes website. Also, join the LAND O LAKES Simple Rewards Club to enjoy benefits such as free downloadable gift tags, an online Recipe Box for storing favorite recipes, easy access to LAND O LAKES Recipe Buzz™ Blog, and printable, money-saving coupons for LAND O LAKES products.

About Land O’Lakes

Land O’Lakes, Inc., a Minnesota-based food and agriculture company, is a leading supplier of quality dairy products. In 1921, Land O’Lakes began making butter from sweet—not sour—cream. Ever since that breakthrough, the company has been a leading producer of butter and other pure, wholesome dairy products that deliver simple goodness to consumers. Visit www.landolakes.com for great recipes and meal ideas.

Rachael Ray’s Red White Beans Recipe: Outstanding!

by Joi on July 4, 2010

My husband and I saw Rachael Ray make these beans on a recent episode of 30 Minute Meals and I knew I’d have to take them for a test run. I’m always on the lookout for new bean recipes as well as recipes that utilize the herbs in our herb garden. This one uses a personal favorite herb, rosemary.

Add the fact that I absolutely, positively love myself some Rachael Ray and I knew it’d be a can’t miss.

My husband didn’t know quite what to make of the rosemary in these beans – but I think it’s the best part. He liked them but he said he’d like to try them sometime without the rosemary.

If you have the ingredients on hand, these would make an exceptional side dish for your Fourth of July meal – or any meal, for that matter.

Rachael Ray’s Red White Beans Recipe

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium to large onion, chopped
2 sprigs rosemary, leaves finely chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup tomato paste
1 cup chicken stock
2 (15-ounce) cans cannellini beans, drained

Heat the extra-virgin olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the onions, rosemary and salt and pepper, to taste. Cook the onions until sweet and soft, 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste for 1 minute. Add the stock, then stir in the beans and reduce heat to low. Adjust seasoning and turn out into a serving bowl. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Recipe Credit: Food Network!

Alaska Salmon Recipes: Salmon, Artichoke and Bean Salad, Thai Salmon Cakes, and More!

by Joi on December 9, 2009

Alaska Salmon Artichoke and Bean Salad

ALASKA SALMON, ARTICHOKE AND BEAN SALAD (a 15 minute meal!)

1 jar (14 oz.) marinated, quartered artichoke hearts
1 jar or can (16 oz.) marinated bean salad
1-1/2 teaspoons Dijon-style mustard
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1 can (14.75 oz.) or 2 cans (7.5 oz. each) traditional pack Alaska salmon OR 2 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 oz. each) skinless, boneless salmon, drained and chunked
1 package (10 oz.) ready-to-eat salad greens or spinach leaves

Dressing: Drain liquid from artichokes and beans into a small bowl or pitcher. Blend in mustard and cumin.

Salad: In separate bowl, combine beans, artichokes, salmon and dressing. Portion 2 cups greens onto each of four plates. Top each plate of greens with 1-1/4 cup salmon mixture.

Makes 4 servings. Nutrients per serving: 330 calories, 15g total fat, 3g saturated fat, 37% of calories from fat, 58mg cholesterol, 28g protein, 28g carbohydrate, 9g fiber, 1768mg sodium, 325mg calcium and 2.4g omega-3 fatty acids.

THAI SALMON CAKES WITH HOT AND SOUR SAUCE

2 cans (14.75 oz. each) or 4 cans (7.5 oz. each) traditional pack Alaska Salmon OR 4 cans or pouches (6 to 7.1 oz. each) skinless, boneless salmon
1 Tablespoon peanut or canola oil
¾ cup diced yellow onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 teaspoons seeded and minced jalapeño pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons minced lemon grass
Juice and zest of ½ lime
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 teaspoons sugar
1-1/2 cups finely sliced green onions
¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro
2 eggs
3 Tablespoons cornstarch
Salt and pepper to taste

Drain and chunk Alaska Salmon. Heat oil in small saucepan over medium-low heat. Add yellow onion and cook until soft, about 3-5 minutes. Add garlic, jalapeño pepper and lemon grass; cook an additional 1-2 minutes. Cool. In large bowl, combine lime juice and zest, soy sauce, sugar, green onions and cilantro. Mix well and reserve. In small bowl, whisk eggs. Add cornstarch, salt and pepper; mix. Add egg and cooled onion mixtures to large bowl; fold gently to mix. Add salmon and carefully fold until just combined. Form salmon mixture into 8 cakes (3 oz. each) and chill for at least 30 minutes. Pan fry salmon cakes in oil over medium heat for 2-3 minutes per side, or until heated through. Serve hot with Hot and Sour Sauce.
Makes 4 Servings.

HOT AND SOUR SAUCE

2 Tablespoons sugar
2 Tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
2 Tablespoons chili sauce (sambal or roasted)
1 Tablespoon fresh chopped cilantro

Dissolve sugar in vinegar. Add chili and cilantro; mix together. Makes ½ cup.

Nutrients per serving (with ½ dipping sauce): 444 calories, 19g total fat, 5g saturated fat, 39% calories from fat, 238mg cholesterol, 47g protein, 20g carbohydrate, 2g fiber, 1919mg sodium, 498mg calcium and 3.6g omega-3 fatty acids.

ALASKA SALMON WITH HORSERADISH, WALNUTS AND HERBS

2 Alaska Salmon fillets (4 to 6 oz. each)
Olive oil
3 Tablespoons horseradish sauce
1/3 cup finely chopped walnuts
1 Tablespoon each chopped fresh chives, parsley and tarragon
1 Tablespoon softened butter
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 450.

Spray a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray. Rinse any ice glaze from frozen Alaska Salmon under cold water; pat dry with paper towel. Brush both sides of fish with olive oil and place in the pan. Roast, uncovered, for 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl combine horseradish sauce, walnuts, herbs and butter. Season with salt and pepper. Remove fish from oven and spread mixture evenly over salmon fillets.

Return fish to oven and roast an additional 8 to 10 minutes for frozen fillets or 5 to 6 minutes for fresh/thawed fish. Cook just until fish is opaque throughout.

Serves 2.

Recipe and Photo Credit: http://www.alaskaseafood.org/

***** To read why we all need to eat more salmon, check out the recent post on my Self Help Blog! One of the benefits may surprise (and delight) you.

Avoiding the Dreaded Spaghetti Sauce Slide

by Joi on January 26, 2009

Basil is Love.

Click HERE for a little video featuring Curtis Stone. He takes the stand against adding oil to pasta as it cooks. I remember seeing a Good Eats episode where Alton Brown preached the same sermon. The boys are right, too. Sauce will adhere to pasta better when there’s a little stickiness to it. Oil and butter take that away, leaving you with sauce that tries desperately to hitch a ride to your mouth, but keeps sliding off!

Watch how Curtis serves it in the video, too. I’ve never taken his approach with cheese, but I assure you I will next time. I love the idea of parsley as well.

In Olive Oil’s defense, I do have to say that it’s quite healthy (eating a Mediterranean type diet is great for your heart and waistline) and should be invited to dinner frequently. A nice change of pace from serving spaghetti sauce with pasta is to simply boil your pasta as directed, then splash a litte olive oil over it after you’ve drained the water. Use your tongs to incorporate the olive oil throughout, making sure each strand is covered.

Coarsely chop fresh herbs and sprinkle generously. I like a combination of parsley, basil (love, love, love basil), and chives. Purists would slap me silly for not including oregano, but it detracts from my favorite child, basil. If chicken’s involved with the meal in any way, I add Rosemary. She is AMAZING with chicken. Truth be told, she’s another favored child.

Just experiment with the herbage and I won’t be the least bit mad at you if you prefer oregano to basil.

Another way to work olive oil into the meal is in the bread basket – or at least near it. Every now and again, when serving an Italian meal, I’ll bake, grill, or broil my bread unbuttered. Then, I take a great looking plate or platter and pour Extra Virgin Olive Oil into it. Then I grab my beloved pepper mill and ground fresh pepper into the oil – covering front to back, side to side.

We dip our pieces of bread into the oil then shove them into our faces.

Oddly enough, I’ve experimented with adding ground herbs to the oil as well, but still prefer the basic, simple pepper approach. I’ve never tried an Italian blend Olive Oil before, but it might just be sensational. I’m pretty sure I’d still prefer the pepper and regular Olive Oil, though. Strange, I just noticed that I keep capitalizing Olive Oil. I have no idea, whatsoever, why I do that. I guess I watched too much Popeye growing up (confession: I still do.). Part of my brain must think it’s an alias for Olive Oyl.