Swiss Chard and Mushrooms with Mustard Sauce

I really like the ways theses greens and earthy mushrooms match with the sweet-sour play of the mustard and sugar in this preparation.  I matched this with a spinach stuffed chicken breast and it worked beautifully.  Enjoy!  

2 Tbsp. Olive oil

4 cups Swiss chard washed, stems thinly sliced, leaves shredded

1 C. Portabella mushrooms, washed, sliced

1/2 cup diced sweet onion

2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced

2 Tbsp. yellow mustard (can substitute Dijon if you prefer)

2 tablespoons of sugar

1 Tbsp. cider vinegar

1/4 C. Chicken stock

Salt and pepper, to taste



Place large pot over medium high heat. Add olive oil and get hot. Add onions and cook for 4-5 minutes until translucent. Add stems of the Swiss chard and mushrooms. Season with a pinch of salt to help mushroom release their liquid, stir and continue to cook until mushrooms are soft, about 10 to 15 minutes. Add garlic and chard leaves, stir; add remains ingredients, stir to incorporate. Lower heat, cover and cook until sauce has thickened and vegetables are soft, about 10 more minutes. Taste, correct seasoning with salt and pepper. Serve and enjoy!

Braised Spanish Pork with Chorizo, Tomoato and Chickpeas

I had some left-over, already cooked, barbecue baby back ribs from the weekend, so I decided to make a Spanish inspired stew served over rice.  This made a tasty, comfort-styled dinner that was terrific for warming us up on this cold autumn evening.  Don't have left-overs, no worries use boneless country pork ribs (please note cook time is 2 1/2 hours if raw).  The recipe below assumes they are in their raw state.  If using cooked left-overs add to stew once thickened and then cook for 5 minutes just to heat up and meld into the dish. I served with a simple leaf lettuce salad tossed with a honey-lemon and thyme dressing. Enjoy!

Serves 4

2 Tbsp. Olive oil
1/2 C. yellow onion, diced
1/2 C. Red Bell pepper, diced
1 large clove garlic, peeled and minced
1 1/2# Pork Rib Meat (boneless country ribs work great for this)
4 oz. ground chorizo sausage
1 C. chopped stewed canned tomatoes with juice
1/2 C. dry white wine
2 Tbsp. flour
1/2 C. Chicken stock
1 Tbsp. paprika
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Nutmeg
1 bay leaf
1 can chickpeas, washed and drained
1/2 C. chopped cilantro
kosher salt, to taste
fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Heat a large heavy-bottomed pot over medium-high heat; add oil and get hot.  Season pork ribs liberally with salt and black pepper, add to pot and sear on all sides until browned, about 6-8 minutes.  Remove ribs and reserve on a plate on the side.  Carefully discard the fat from the pot.  Replace pot on stove and reduce heat to low; add chorizo.  With a kitchen spoon break up sausage and brown; once nicely browned use a slotted spoon and remove sausage, add to rib meat and reserve.
Increase heat to medium-high and add onions and bell pepper.  Stir and cook until vegetables start to wilt, about 5 minutes.  Add garlic; stir and cook until fragrant, about 1-2 minutes.  Add flour and stir to incorporate well.  Let cook, stirring often for about 5 minutes.  Add wine, tomatoes, rib meat, sausage and any juices from the plate to the pot.  Add paprika, cinnamon, and nutmeg, and bay leaf, stir. Then add enough chicken stock to just cover the ribs.  Cover pot and cook until rib meat is tender 2-2 1/2 hours.  Check a few times during the cooking to make sure there is enough liquid, you may need to add some additional stock.

Once meat is very tender, remove with slotted spoon and reserve on the side.  Once cool enough to handle break into fork-sized pieces.  Check the consistency of the liquid in the pot.  If too thin, increase heat and reduce to thicken.  If too thick, add small amounts of stock to get to a stew-like consistency.  Once to your liking, remove and discard bay leaf, add chickpeas and return meat to pot.  Add cilantro and correct seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Stir to incorporate let warm for five more minutes.  Serve over rice and enjoy!

Cauliflower Tator Tots

I'm always looking for ways to substitute vegetables for carbs in our diet.  Being wheat intolerant, I've cut out bread and pasta out of mine (very sad, I know but mother nature can be cruel).  This is a fun preparation that was surprisingly satisfying (no, nothing will take the place of the real thing), but if you are looking for something a little bit healthier, this works nicely.  Enjoy!


1 head cauliflower, broken up into medium florets
1 medium onion, diced fine
1 Tbsp. olive oil
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup Panko breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 425°F


Line a sheet tray or cookie sheet with parchment paper and spray with Pam, reserve.

Put olive oil in a skillet and heat. Add onions and stir frequently until they start to become golden in color. Remove from heat and reserve on the side.

Heat a large pot of salted water and bring to the boil. Carefully put cauliflower into the water and cook until tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and place in a large mixing bowl to cool. Once cauliflower can be handled, either using a potato masher or food processor, mash. To the mashed cauliflower add Parmesan cheese, cooked onions, egg, and Panko breadcrumbs. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Roll out some plastic wrap and lay flat on the counter. Place some of the mixture on the wrap and roll into a 1-inch log. Unwrap then with a knife cut tots. Place tots on your prepared sheet tray and put into the hot oven. Let cook for 20 minutes then remove and carefully turn the tots. Place back in the oven for another 10-15 minutes, tots should be browned and crispy. Remove and serve with ketchup, dill yogurt or ranch dressing. Enjoy!

Butternut Squash, Bacon, and Goat cheese Frittata

Monday's are meatless (mostly) in my house and this week I served up a frittata (fancy name for omelette).  I did use bacon in the dish, but it can be omitted (a shame, but can do it).  This time of year I also like to incorporate the beautiful squashes available that the Fall harvest has for us.  I served this with a baby greens salad tossed in a honey-lemon vinaigrette.  With the addition of the potatoes this was very tasty and satisfying as a (mostly) "Meatless Monday" dinner.  Enjoy!

Serves 4

8 eggs, room temperature and scrambled in a bowl
1/2 sweet onion, skin removed and chopped fine
1 clove garlic, peeled and chopped minced
1/2 C. defrosted frozen chopped spinach (I've used kale or swiss chard to substitute)
4 oz. Bacon, coarsely chopped
4 Tbsp. olive oil
3/4 C. Butternut squash, diced small
1/4 C. Yukon gold potatoes, diced small
4 oz. Goat cheese, rough crumble
1 Tbsp. fresh thyme, finely chopped
salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Crusty Bread to serve with

Preheat oven to 425°F

In a mixing bowl combine squash and potatoes.  Drizzle with 2 Tbsp. olive oil and toss well.  Season with salt and pepper.  Transfer to a baking sheet (I like to use parchment paper on the bottom of the rimmed sheet).  Place sheet in oven and roast vegetables for 20 minutes until browned and cooked through.  When done, remove and reserve on the side.  Now, turn oven to high broil.

While waiting on vegetables to roast, heat a large non-stick pan (with oven safe handle) over medium heat.  (If you don't have an oven safe pan, no worries.  Don't use the broiler, you will cook entire dish on top of your range)  Add remaining olive oil to warm, add bacon and cook to golden brown, about 8 minutes.  With slotted spoon remove browned bacon and reserve on the side.  Add onions to hot pan, stir and sauté until translucent, about 4 minutes.  Add garlic, cook for a minute, stir and add spinach. Add cooked squash-potato mixture and cooked bacon to pan, stir and add scrambled eggs.  Add thyme and season with salt and pepper.  Stir to incorporate.  Let heat for a minute or two to set the bottom.  Dot the top of frittata with goat cheese and place pan under the broiler for 3-4 minutes.  You are looking for frittata to expand and cheese to get golden brown.  Once done, remove and let rest for a couple minutes.  Serve with crusty bread and Enjoy! (this can also be served at room temperature)

Tilapia Scampi

(4) 6 oz. filets Tilapia, rinsed and patted dry (any firm white fish could substitute)

½ stick Butter

2 Tbsp. Olive Oil

8 cloves Garlic, peeled and halved

1 Tbsp. minced fresh garlic

1 Tbsp. Flat leaf Parsley, chopped fine

1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon juice

¼ C. Dry White wine

Pinch red chili flake

Salt and fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Warm Crusty Bread



Preheat oven to 400°F



Drizzle rimmed baking sheet with olive oil, place fish on top of oil and reserve in the refrigerator.

Heat medium pan over medium heat.  Add butter and melt.  Add garlic and poach for 5 minutes until garlic becomes fragrant, but be careful not to brown.  Increase heat and add wine, reduce volume by half, then add parsley, lemon juice, chili flake, salt and pepper.  Remove from heat and with slotted spoon remove garlic halves.  Remove fish from refrigerator and pour butter mixture over fish, sprinkle with minced garlic.  Place into oven and cook until fish turn translucent, about 15 minutes.  Remove and let rest for 5 minutes.  Plate, spooning butter sauce over fish.  Serve with bread so you're able to soak up the buttery sauce and enjoy!

Menu 10/14-10/18

Monday-
Butternut Squash, Bacon and Goat Cheese Frittata
Baby Green Salad with Celery Root, Tomato, tossed in a Lemon-Honey Vinaigrette

Tuesday-
Tilapia Scampi
Spaghetti Squash and tomato concasse
Sautéed Swiss Chard, Celery Root and Raisins

Wednesday-
Brined and Grilled Pork Chops with Apple sauce
Oven Roasted Carrots with Thyme and Honey
Oven Roasted Asparagus

Thursday-
Cedar Planked Salmon with Shallot Butter
Sauteed Kale
Delacatta Squash with Shallots and Maple Syrup

Friday-
Aged NY Strips with Roasted Mushrooms
Cabernet Demi-glace
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze
Sweet and Spicy Carrots

Flat Iron Steak with Cocoa-Ancho Chili Rub

We were at a fabulous dinner event at our friend's restaurant, Republic, in downtown Detroit recently and was served this incredible beef.  It was rubbed with cocoa, cinnamon and spices.  I found it complex, sexy and irresistible.  So, I decided to recreate it.  I did not get the recipe from the restaurant chef, but came up with my own take. It got raved reviews, so I thought I'd share.  Enjoy! 

Serves 4


(1) 2# flat iron steak
2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 Tbsp. Canola oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 Tbsp. cocoa powder
1 Tbsp. Ancho chili powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
Kosher salt & Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 400°

Take flat iron steak out of the fridge, rinse under cold water and pat dry. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and reserve off to the side. In a small bowl combine cocoa powder, chili powder, and cinnamon. 

Generously salt and pepper both sides of steak. Sprinkle Cocoa rub and garlic on both sides, drizzle olive oil over beef and gently massage into the beef.  Let sit out for 30 minutes to come up to temperature. If your kitchen does not have a proper ventilation hood, the next step of searing the beef can be done on your outside grill, so as not to smoke up your kitchen. Just make sure you get it very hot. You can cook entirely on the grill if desired.

Turn vent fan on high setting. Place a cast iron pan on the stove over high heat (if you do not have, any thick bottom pan will work. Just makes sure it’s large enough for steak). Once very hot, add a tablespoon of canola oil and let it heat to smoking. 

Carefully add beef, pressing it down into pan surface. Sear for two minutes, turn and sear the other side. Take pan and place into hot oven and cook to medium-rare, about 7-8 minutes. You can always transfer the beef back to the rimmed baking sheet in order to place in the oven if you want. 

Remove steak from the oven, transfer back to rimmed pan and tent with tin foil. Reserve off to the side for 10-15 minutes in order to rest. 

Slice, serve, and enjoy!