Make The Ordinary Extraordinary

Recipes

Written by Elke Probkevitz

Thursday, 17 February 2011 13:15

Wouldnâ€™t it be nice if we had the time to whip up an elaborate dinner every night of the week? Like a magic wand, a tap of the spatula and poof! a gourmet dinner is served. Dinner would never be boring and usual. We could place our order just like we were dining in a fine restaurant, and something new and delicious would be on our plates.

Everyone wants to eat delicious food, but since we donâ€™t have the time, we stick to whatâ€™s easy. What if we could just take what we know and spin it into something just a little more interesting? If you donâ€™t have time to try out every new recipe you see in your gourmet magazines, at least make your dinner regulars a little special. Here are some quick and easy ideas.

Macaroni and cheese. Instead of simply melting cheese on your pasta, do a baked mac and cheese. Make a cheese sauce, mix in cooked pasta, and top with breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese. Bake in the oven till bubbling and golden for a rich, satisfying dinner that kids and adults will enjoy. You can also use different cheese, like goat cheese or Monterey Jack, for a new take on this classic dish.

Shnitzel. Your kids like it, but your husband may appreciate something a little different than the plain old fried chicken breasts. Mix in some finely chopped garlic and chopped fresh herbs into the breadcrumb mixture before coating the chicken. Create a sauce with sautÃ©ed shallots and mushrooms, a little wine, and some non-dairy cream or simmered crushed tomatoes, olive oil, and basil. Itâ€™ll instantly elevate this meal to restaurant quality.

Pizza. Add some special ingredients to elevate this Thursday-night dinner to something unusual. Top with crumbled goat cheese and sun-dried tomatoes or chopped dates. The combination of a little salty and a little sweet is surprisingly delicious. You could also caramelize sliced onions and sautÃ© some Portobello mushrooms or any of your favorite vegetables. Just topping the pizza with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, basil leaves, and a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil will make your pizza taste like it was made in a gourmet pizza shop.

Meatloaf or lasagna. Add some sautÃ©ed spinach into the mix and place in large muffin tins or mini-loaf pans to make individual portions that look fancy and fun at the same time. Serve over a salad for a nice contrast of hot and cold, as well as a pretty plate.

Burgers. Itâ€™s pretty easy to make a burger. Make a patty and grill it or fry it up, and top with your choice of fixinâ€™s. You can add your own touch to the burger with the toppings, or add ingredients right into the burger for an unexpected surprise. Mix in sautÃ©ed onions, spinach, chopped mushrooms, or even pickles or olives. You can also make a burger out of just about anything: turkey, chicken, lamb, salmon, or tuna. Mix and match your favorite ingredients for something new any night of the week.

Hot dogs. Not what you might think of as a gourmet meal, hot dogs seem simple but you can really make them interesting. You can put out a spread of different toppings and let your diners do the choosing. Include the traditional ketchup, mustard, and sauerkraut, but add some unexpected ingredients as well. Hummus, matbuchah (Turkish salad), harissa, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, sautÃ©ed mushrooms and onionsâ€”you name it. Just about anything can go on a hot dog.

Salmon Burgers With Dill Tartar Sauce - Makes 4 burgers

Ingredients:

20 oz. skinless salmon fillet, cut into 1" pieces
6 Tbsp. plus 1/2 cup tartar sauce
3 Tbsp. chopped fresh dill
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
2 tsp. grated lemon zest
4 rolls
red onion slices
spinach leaves

Directions:

Place salmon fillets, 6 tablespoons tartar sauce, 2 tablespoons dill, and salt and pepper in a food processor. Pulse on and off until blended and coarsely chopped. Form four 1/2"-thick patties and chill in fridge for about an hour (can be made up to 6 hours ahead).

Prepare grill pan or frying pan over medium-high flame. Whisk 1/2 cup tartar sauce, 1 tablespoon dill, and lemon zest in medium bowl to blend. Grill rolls until toasted. Transfer to plates and spread bottom halves generously with sauce. Grill patties until fish is cooked through, about 2 minutes per side. Place burgers on roll and top each with onion slices, spinach leaves, and top half of roll.

Want to learn how to cook gourmet, delicious meals right in your own kitchen? Take one-on-one cooking lessons or give a gift to an aspiring cook that you know. For more information, contact Take Home Chef personal chef services by calling 516-508-3663, writing to elke@TakeHomeChef.net, or visiting www.TakeHomeChef.net.