Easter Dinner Menu

Here is my Easter Dinner Menu for 2016:

Appetizers
 - Red Onion and Goat Cheese Tart

 - Deviled Eggs

Dinner
 - Brown Sugar and Butter Glazed Ham

 - Spinach and Pine Nuts Stuffed Leg of Lamb

 - Scalloped Potatoes

 - Crock-pot Candied Carrots

 - Asparagus
 - Tomato Pie

 - Easter Bread

Dessert
 - Carrot Cake Thumbprint Cookies

 - Malted Speckled Egg Cake

 - Peeps Smores  

 - Cherry Blossom Pie *

 - Green Tea and Red Bean Ice Cream Pie *

*These are extra desserts I would like my family to taste test for me for an upcoming pie contest.

Everything was Fantastic! ! !

Happy Easter!

Savory-turkey-tart

This tart was delicious and I am definitely making this again.  It tasted like a chicken pot pie a little bit and the crust was just amazing.  A wonderful spring time dish.
I loved the kale in the filling and thought twice about not using the extra dough like they say, but I went along with it and it was fine.
I would recommend this recipe from onegirlsrant.com:
 http://onegirlsrant.com/savory-turkey-tart/

Rose`and Rhubarb Pork Tenderloin

This turned out great!  Here is the original recipe : 

http://heartbeetkitchen.com/2014/cookingtips/grilled-basil-pork-rhubarb-rose-sauce/

I made a much simpler "weeknight" version on the stove top and finished it in the oven.  First I browned a salt and peppered pork tenderloin in an ovenproof skillet with a little olive oil. Then I removed the pork and set aside.  In the same pan with any drippings, I added minced garlic and cooked for about 1 minute.  Then deglaze the pan with 1/2 Cup or up to 1 cup of rose`wine.  Next added the Rhubarb and basil.

The Rhubarb was hard to find. The supermarket didn't have any yet even though it's the first week of Spring. But luckily enough I found some frozen!

Then season with salt and pepper and add the pork back into the pan.

Place pan in 450 preheated oven for 15 minutes.

Slice it up.

And serve! Super easy and delicious!

Salmon - Potato Cakes

I found this recipe from Better Homes and Gardens while searching for St. Patrick's day recipes. It sounded great, but I don't really like pre-made mashed potatoes, so I made a few changes.  

http://www.bhg.com/recipe/salads/salmon-potato-cakes/

I cut the recipe in half and it made 4 cakes. 

I used 2 salmon filets

2 russet potatoes, chopped and boiled 

1 tsp. Wise green onion flavored dip mix

1/4 cup unseasoned breadcrumbs  (seasoned with salt, pepper, and parsley)

1 TBSP fresh dill

1 tsp fresh lemon juice 

1/4 tsp lemon zest

1 tsp Worcestershire Sauce 

 Then I cooked mine in a mix of canola oil and a little butter.

They were great!

Corned Beef Grilled Cheese Sandwich

This sandwich really was the best thing you can make with leftover corned beef,  that is if you have any left.
I sautéed an onion in 1 TBSP canola oil and 1/2 TBSP Salted Butter.
Set onions aside and in the same pan melt 1/2 TBSP Salted Butter.
Add 1 slice marbled Rye and Pumpernickel bread.
Top with warmed corned beef  (I heated my leftover corned beef in the microwave and it came out fine), shredded cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, and 2nd slice marbled bread.
Add another 1/2 TBSP Salted Butter to pan before flipping sandwich over.

Guinness-Glazed Halibut

To celebrate for St. Patrick's Day I made this delicious Guinness-Glazed Halibut.  The fish was really good, it's been a while since I had Halibut. 

 (Last time was years ago when the fish monger convinced me to try the "Halibut Cheeks", and it was probably one of the worst things I have ever made)

This Halibut was much better. The fish was so white and beautiful and when cooked it flaked apart just like salmon would.  It was very mild in flavor so the Guinness and Honey reduction gave a nice flavor to the fish.

Here is the recipe that inspired me by Food & Wine:
http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/guinness-glazed-halibut

I served mine with roasted carrots and pretzel bites.

Stuffed Peppers

This recipe was handed down to me by my mother, I believe it was a neighbor's recipe, but my Mom would cook this for us growing up.

First step is to cook white rice. I like the "boil in the bag" rice. 1 pouch. Then I spread it out on a cookie sheet to let cool.

Then I mix ground turkey (or you could use beef), 2 tsp. minced garlic,  1/4 cup fresh grated parmigiano cheese (I used Grana Padano), 1 tsp. Oregano, 1 tsp. Salt, and 1/2 tsp. Pepper.

Add the cooled rice.

Stuff mixture into peppers.

I used an extra pepper turned upside-down for support.

Fill pot with Tomato Juice just until covering.

Drizzle Olive oil over top of tomatoes and juice.  Cover and Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 1 hour.