Roasted Bone Marrow

Submitted by RandallPMcMurphy
Serves 2

Ingredients

a few veal or beef marrow bones parsley
shallots lemon
extra virgin olive oil coarse sea salt
pepper bread

Directions

  1. Soak bones overnight in salt water (1 tbsp salt to 1 qt water) in the fridge to get out the impurities & blood & such. 
  2. Preheat the oven to 450°F.
  3. Put the marrow standing up in a roasting pan or other oven-safe vessel.
  4. Roast for about 15 minutes.
  5. In the meantime, make a nice salad with sliced shallots, some parsley, lemon juice, and oil to taste.  Toast some bread.
  6. Serve with a spoonful of sea salt that the diner can sprinkle on themselves.

Basic Tomato Sauce

Submitted by Ruth
Serves 2

Ingredients

5 truss tomatoes, skinned, diced, & crushed 2 tbsp tomato paste
large handful of oregano large handful marjoram
small handful parsley small handful basil
small package pine nuts ½ c. button mushrooms, diced
1 medium onion, quartered salt
pepper 1 c. vegetable stock or broth

Directions

  1. Slit the skins on the tomatoes & put them in boiling water for a minute to get the skins off.  Once skinned, put them in the blender to crush them.  Add tomato paste to thicken it.  Set aside.
  2. In a food processor, pulse the onion, herbs, & pine nuts until neatly smooth.
  3. In a nonstick pan, cook the mushrooms & onion/herb mixture with a bit of vegetable stock until translucent, then add the tomatoes.  Cook for about 1 hour on a very low simmer until reduced by about ¼.

Chef’s Note: When serving I add a chicken breast with all fat removed, thinly sliced & dry grilled, & some heart healthy bacon dry grilled.

The Califunky Hot Brown

Submitted by randilicious
Serves 2

Ingredients

5 tbsp canola oil 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ c. milk 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 tbsp sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 egg, beaten
½ tbsp pepper ½ tbsp oregano
1 tsp paprika 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 c. mushrooms, sliced 8 stalks asparagus
1 tomato, thinly sliced 4 slices of bread, toasted
1 avocado leftover turkey slices and/or ¼ lb. pork roast thinly sliced

Directions

  1. To prepare sauce, in a large skillet combine 3 tbsp canola oil & flour little by little & mix to create a roux.  Stir in flour to absorb the oil.  Slowly whisk in the milk, & add Parmesan cheese & cheddar cheese.  Stir in the egg to thicken the sauce, but do not allow to boil.  Season with pepper, paprika, & Old Bay seasoning & remove from heat.
  2. In a separate skillet, heat 2 tbsp canola oil.  Saute mushrooms in the oil until soft.
  3. In the same skillet, saute the asparagus.
  4. Preheat the oven broiler.  For each serving, put 2 slices of toast on a broiler-safe dish.  Cover toast with layer of slices of turkey/pork roast & mushrooms.  Smother each serving with sauce.
  5. Place dish in broiler until the top of the sauce in speckled brown & bubbly.  Remove from broiler, add tomatoes, & cross cross 4 stalks of asparagus (per serving) over top, & serve.
  6. For each serving, slice up half an avocado & add as garnish.

Chef’s Note: The Kentucky Hot Brown retains a special place in my heart, as I was born in Kentucky.  Of course, I had to add in more of a California flavor (and a dash of my Maryland side too) to make it healthier.