Greek Chicken Pitas

Greek Chicken Pitas

Ingredients

  • Yogurt Sauce
  • 2 cups plain greek yogurt (I used coconut yogurt)

  • 1 cup cucumber diced small

  • 1 to 2 tablespoons fresh dill chopped

  • 1 clove garlic minced

  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice freshly squeezed

  • 1 tablespoons white wine vinegar

  • 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt

  • Pitas
  • Greek Dressing

  • 4 whole boneless skinless chicken breast halves

  • 4 whole pocketless pita breads warmed

  • 2 cups romaine lettuce thinly sliced

  • 1 whole roma tomato diced (seeds removed and discarded)

  • 1/4 cup red onion thinly sliced

  • 1/4 cup kalamata olives pitted and halved

  • 1/4 cup feta cheese crumbled

Directions

  • Yogurt Sauce
  • In a small bowl, combine all of the dressing ingredients and stir.
  • Yogurt dressing may be made up to 2 hours in advance.
  • Cover and refrigerate until serving. The longer it has time for the flavors to meld, the better
  • Pitas
  • Marinate the chicken breast halves in the Greek dressing for 15-20 minutes. Any longer and the lemon juice will start to break down the chicken.
  • Preheat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Remove the chicken from the marinade (discarding the leftover marinade). Grill the marinated chicken breast halves for 4 minutes a side or until fully cooked. Let rest before slicing.
  • Top warm pita bread, top with sliced chicken, lettuce, tomato, red onion, sliced olives, yogurt dressing and feta cheese.
  • Serve immediately!

Wisemiller’s Left Bank

Wisemiller’s Left Bank

Hot ham and brie on a toasted croissant with lettuce, tomato, and mayonnaise. We’ll make this up as we go.

Ingredients

    Directions

      Crock Pot Pork With Mushrooms

      Crock Pot Pork With Mushrooms

      Ingredients

      • 2 lb lean boneless pork sirloin roast, aka pork center rib roast, pork center loin roast

      • kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper

      • Non-stick oil spray

      • 1 cup chicken broth

      • 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce, for gf use gf tamari

      • 1/3 cup balsamic vinegar

      • 3 tbsp agave, or sugar

      • 1 tsp hot sesame oil, aji oil (or use sesame oil + pinch red pepper flakes)

      • 1/2 tsp Chinese five spice, I used McCormick

      • 3 cloves crushed garlic

      • 1 tbsp fresh grated ginger root

      • 8 oz sliced mushrooms

      • baby bok choy or baby spinach

      • For topping
      • 1/4 cup chopped scallions

      • 1/4 cup chopped cilantro

      Directions

      • Season pork on all side with salt and fresh cracked pepper.
      • Heat a skillet on medium-high heat, spray with a little oil and brown the pork on all sides for about 7 – 8 minutes.
      • In the crock pot, combine the broth, soy sauce (or Tamari), balsamic, agave, sesame oil, Chinese five spice, garlic and ginger; add the pork and set the slow cooker to 8 hours on low.
      • Thirty minutes before the timer goes off, remove the pork and set aside to rest a few minutes; add the mushrooms to the crock pot, cover and cook on low for 30 minutes.
      • Meanwhile, shred the pork using two forks.
      • When the mushrooms are tender, remove about 1 cup of the broth and reserve if needed.
      • Add the shredded pork to the crock pot and mix well.
      • If adding baby spinach, add at the end and cover a few minutes until it wilts.

      Notes

      Peach Shortbread Bars

      Peach Shortbread Bars

      Ingredients

      • 1 cup (7 ounces or 200 grams) white sugar

      • 1 teaspoon (5 grams) baking powder

      • 2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons (12 5/8 ounces or 359 grams) cups all-purpose flour (or you can measure 3 cups and remove 2 tablespoons flour)

      • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

      • 1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

      • 1/4 teaspoon (2 grams) salt

      • 1 cup (2 sticks or 8 ounces or 227 grams) cold unsalted butter

      • 1 large egg

      • 2 peaches, pitted and thinly sliced (between 1/8 and 1/4-inch thick)

      Directions

      • Brown your butter: Melt butter in a small/medium saucepan over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Keep your eyes on it; it burns very quickly after it browns and the very second that you turn around to do something else. Set it in the freezer until solid (about 30 minutes).
      • [Don’t have time for all this brown butter madness? Check the head notes to use regular softened butter instead.]
      • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Butter a 9×13 inch pan, or spray it with a nonstick spray. In a medium bowl, stir together sugar, baking powder, flour, salt and spices with a whisk. Use a pastry blender, fork or your fingertips, blend the solidified brown butter and egg into the flour mixture. It will be crumbly. Pat 3/4 of the crumbs into the bottom of the prepared pan, pressing firmly. Tile peach slices over crumb base in a single layer. Scatter remaining crumbs evenly over peaches and bake in preheated oven for 30 minutes, until top is slightly brown and you can see a little color around the edges. Cool completely in pan before cutting into squares.

      Notes

      Knight Captain Andrew’s Spinach Salad

      Knight Captain Andrew’s Spinach Salad

      Ingredients

      • Pickled onions
      • ¾ cups red wine vinegar (apple cider vinegar Works too)

      • ¼ cup balsalmic vinegar (using a higher ratio of balsalmic is fine too but it is expensive & a 1 to 3 is good for imparting that balsalmic sweetness & flavor)

      • 1/3 cup granulated sugar

      • 1 tablespoon salt

      • 1 red onion, thinly sliced

      • Honey mustard vinaigrette
      • 3 tablespoons olive oil

      • 1 tablespoon balsalmic vinegar

      • Splash lemon juice

      • Honey, mustard, salt, & pepper to taste

      • Salad
      • 1 carrot, normal size

      • 1 yellow onion, medium sized

      • 1 package baby spinach 5 oz

      • 1 package white mushrooms 8 oz (pre sliced is easier & same price at my grocery store)

      • 1 tablespoon olive oil

      • Salt, pepper, & garlic to taste

      • Feta (or grated mozzarella) to garnish

      Directions

      • Pickled Onions
      • Combine vinegar, salt, & sugar in sauce pan & bring to a boil, stirring occasionally
      • Remove from heat & add onions, stir to thoroughly coat.
      • Place contents in jar, seal & refridgerate
      • Honey mustard vinaigrette
      • Combine olive oil, vinegar, & lemon juice whisk vigorously to combine
      • Add mustard (1 teaspoon is a good starting point), honey (1 teaspoon is a good starting point), salt (generous dashing), & pepper (miserly dashing) Whisk vigorously
      • Taste
      • Trust your taste buds and add mustard, honey, salt, & pepper to taste until you’ve got it where you want it. Taste after each addition/stir
      • Tip: if you add too much honey, a couple drops of lemon juice can fix.
      • Refrigerate.
      • Salad
      • Peel exterior skin off carrot, discard skin
      • Keep peeling carrot until it’s gone & you have a pile of thin, carrot ribbons.
      • Peel & thinly slice the onion
      • If needed, slice the mushrooms
      • Add olive oil to a large skillet & bring up to medium heat
      • Sautee onion, mushrooms & garlic (your preference for powdered, minced, or peeled cloves of garlic. I’ve used them all, & all are good) until onions are translucent & mushrooms are softened
      • Season with salt & pepper
      • Add spinach. I hope you used a large skillet because 5 ounces of baby spinach has a lot of volume. GENTLY stir to coat spinach in olive oil & sautee until spinach just STARTS to wilt (1-2 minutes) You want most of that volume to remain without having the gritty raw texture.
      • Remove from heat
      • Toss in a bowl or on a large plate adding carrots and dressing (give the dressing a vigorous whisk just before tossing)
      • Top with pickled onions (note that you have extra pickled onions that are great for sandwiches, salads, & garnishes, you’re welcome)
      • After Grog has been served, garnish your plate with cheese
      • Enjoy

      Notes

      Pineapple Chicken

      Pineapple Chicken

      Ingredients

      • 4-5 boneless skinless chicken thighs

      • ½ cup packed light brown sugar

      • ½ cup ketchup

      • ½ cup light soy sauce

      • ½ cup pineapple juice (canned)

      • 1 tablespoon ginger paste or minced ginger

      • 1 tablespoon garlic paste or minced garlic

      • ½ teaspoon coarse black pepper

      • ½ teaspoon paprika (smoked or sweet)

      • ½ cup sliced green onions (for garnish)

      Directions

      • In a bowl, mix brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce, pineapple juice, ginger, garlic, black pepper, and paprika.
      • Place chicken thighs in a resealable bag or a large dish, pour the marinade over the chicken, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
      • Preheat the grill to medium-high heat. Grill chicken for 6-8 minutes on each side, or until fully cooked.
      • Garnish the chicken with sliced green onions before serving.

      Notes

      Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake

      Caramel Pecan Upside-Down Cake

      Ingredients

      • 1 cup unsalted butter, divided

      • 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar

      • 1/4 cup light corn syrup

      • 1/4 teaspoon salt

      • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans

      • 1 (15.25-ounce) box butter flavored cake mix

      • 3 large eggs

      • 1 cup water

      Directions

      • Preheat the oven to 325°F. Heat a well-seasoned 10.25-inch cast iron skillet over medium-low heat. Add 1/2 cup of the butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, salt, and pecans. Cook, stirring frequently, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Remove from the heat and set aside.
      • Melt the remaining 1/2 cup of butter. Add it to a large bowl with the cake mix, eggs, and water. Beat for about 2 minutes to combine. Pour the mixture evenly over the caramel sauce and pecans in the skillet. Bake for45 to 50 minutes or until the cake is set or a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. (If you’re unsure about your skillet size, it might be a good idea to place the skillet on a rimmed baking sheet or pizza pan to catch any drips that might run over in the oven.)
      • Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes then place and large plate or platter over the skillet and carefully flip it over to turn the cake out onto the plate. (A dish towel works great to assist in this as the pan may still be hot.) Scoop any pecans and sauce remaining in the skillet over the cake. Serve warm.

      Notes

      Bread Pan-Fried Cod

      Bread Pan-Fried Cod

      Ingredients

      • ½ cup mayonnaise

      • ½ teaspoon white vinegar

      • ¼ teaspoon lemon juice

      • ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard

      • ¼ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

      • 2 tablespoons dill pickle relish

      • 2 teaspoons fresh dill, chopped

      • ⅜ teaspoons black pepper, divided

      • ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt

      • 1 pound cod (cut into four 4-ounce pieces)

      • 4 ounces panko breadcrumbs (or other fine breadcrumbs)

      • 2 teaspoons celery salt

      • ½ teaspoon paprika

      • ¼ teaspoon cayenne

      • ½ cup flour

      • 1 egg

      • ½ cup vegetable oil

      Directions

      • Make the tartar sauce by combining mayonnaise, vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, relish, chopped fresh dill, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, and salt in a bowl. Mix thoroughly and refrigerate until ready to serve.
      • To make the breading, combine panko breadcrumbs, celery salt, paprika, cayenne, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper.
      • Crack an egg into a bowl and beat.
      • Set up a breading station with four bowls in this order: bowl holding cod, bowl holding flour, bowl holding beaten egg, and bowl of breading.
      • Working with one piece of cod at a time, dredge the cod in flour, then coat the cod in egg, and finally thoroughly coat the cod in the seasoned breadcrumbs. Repeat until all of the cod is breaded.
      • Heat a 10 or 12-inch nonstick pan on medium heat and add the vegetable oil. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the cod spaced evenly in the pan. Pan fry for 5 minutes. Rotate each piece of cod 180 degrees ½ way through to evenly brown the top.
      • After 5 minutes flip the cod, and set heat to medium-low. Pan fry for another 5 minutes, once again rotating the cod ½ way through to evenly brown the bottom.
      • Serve immediately with a side of tartar sauce.

      Notes

      Pluot and Almond Tart

      Pluot and Almond Tart

      Ingredients

      • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

      • 1/2 cup granulated sugar

      • 1/4 teaspoon salt

      • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces

      • 1 large egg yolk

      • 2 tablespoons ice water

      • 1/2 cup almond flour

      • 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for almond filling)

      • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

      • 1 large egg

      • 1/2 teaspoon almond extract

      • 4-5 ripe plumcots, pitted and sliced

      • 2 tablespoons apricot jam (optional, for glaze)

      • 1 tablespoon water (if using apricot jam)

      Directions

      • In a medium bowl, combine 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Add 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into small pieces. Use a pastry cutter or your fingers to blend the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.
      • In a small bowl, whisk together 1 large egg yolk and 2 tablespoons ice water. Add this to the flour mixture and knead until a dough forms. Form the dough into a disk, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
      • While the dough chills, prepare the almond filling. In a medium bowl, cream together 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened. Mix in 1/2 cup almond flour, 1 large egg, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract until well combined.
      • Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). On a lightly floured surface, roll out the chilled dough to fit a 9-inch tart pan. Press the dough into the pan and trim any excess. Spread the almond filling evenly over the bottom of the tart shell.
      • Arrange 4-5 ripe plumcots, pitted and sliced, in a circular pattern over the almond filling. Bake the tart in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is set.
      • (Optional) To make a glaze, heat 2 tablespoons apricot jam and 1 tablespoon water in a small saucepan until smooth. Brush the glaze over the warm tart.
      • Allow the tart to cool before serving.

      Notes

      Crockpot BBQ Chicken

      Crockpot BBQ Chicken

      Ingredients

      • 4-6 pieces boneless skinless chicken breasts (it’s okay if they’re frozen)

      • 1 bottle BBQ sauce, I use the small bottle of Sweet Baby Ray’s

      • 1/4 c vinegar

      • 1 tsp. red pepper flakes

      • 1/4 c brown sugar

      • 1 tsp. garlic powder

      • hamburger buns

      • coleslaw if desired

      Directions

      • Mix all ingredients except the chicken in the crockpot. Place the chicken in the sauce and stir to cover.
      • Cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. When it’s done, shred with two forks. You can eat this on its own, on hamburger buns with coleslaw, over rice, on top of a bbq chicken salad, whatever you can think of.

      Notes