Swedish meatballs with beet rosti

Since I just bought the American version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I decided on a slightly Scandanavian theme for dinner. For the record, I liked the Swedish version of the movie better!

Easy Swedish Meatballs

1 1/2 pound lean ground beef
1 onion chopped fine
1 box Stovetop stuffing for pork
2 eggs
1 cup water
1 jar beef gravy
1/2 cup sour cream
pepper

Heat oven to 400.
Mix all ingredients, up to gravy, in a bowl. Form into golf ball size balls and place on a foil lined and greased cookie sheet. Makes 36 (or so). Bake 20 minutes.

While meatballs are baking, mix gravy and sour cream until smooth. Heat on low until bubbly.

Serve meatballs over wide egg noodles, top with gravy. You can also dunk the meatballs in the sauce before serving.

Beet Rosti

3 cans beets (not pickled!!) whole or quartered.
3 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped fine
1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp butter

Rinse beets in a colander. Using either a box grater or the grating disk on the food processor grate beets.
Mix beets, salt, pepper and rosemary in a bowl. Add 1/4 of the flour, mix well. Add remaining flour and mix.

In a very large skillet brown butter until it is nutty and fragrant. Add beet mixture and spread into a large pancake. Cook for 8-10 minutes, then flip carefully. If it doesnt flip all together, flip in sections. Cook another 5 minutes. Serve hot.

Chicken with Lemon Gremolata and Lemon Cream pan sauce, Orzo and Sauteed Spinach with Tomatoes

Wow, this was a big hit! My Mother is trying to reduce carbs, so i created this. She skipped the orzo totally. This looks complicated, but took less than 30 minutes, I promise!

Chicken

EVOO
Chicken cutlets, pounded thin (as many as you need)
Zest of 2 lemons
1/2 cup panko
3/4 cup grated Parmesean
3 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon butter
1 egg
1 teaspoon pepper

Melt butter in a shallow dish with pepper. Let cool. Whisk in egg.

Heat large skillet. Add 2 tablespoons EVOO let heat until very hot.

Mix all other ingredients, except for chicken. Dip chicken in butter/egg mixture then coat in breadcrumb mixture. Pan fry cutlets in pan for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove from pan. Before you flip the chicken make sure its ready. How? The coating will stay with the chicken, not on the pan.

Pan Sauce

1 shallot
3 cloves garlic
1 cup white wine
1 cup chicken broth
juice of 1 lemon (maybe 2 if they aren't jucy)
3/4 cups fat free half and half
1 tablespoon butter

Peel the shallot and garlic, cut into large chunks. Place between wax paper and pound into a paste. After removing the chicken from the pan, add the garlic/shallot paste. Cook for 1 minute. Add wine and broth. Let reduce over medium high for 3-4 minutes. Add lemon juice. Let cook for 2 minutes. Add half and half. Cook for 2 more minutes, spoon over chicken and orzo.

Spinach and Toamtoes

1 bag baby spinach
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
EVOO
1 shallot, diced
2 cloves garlic minced

In a large hot skillet heat EVOO, just to coat the bottom of the pan. Brown shallot and garlic for 1 minute. Add spinach. Cook for 3 minutes, turning to coat in the oil. Add tomatoes. Cook for 4 minutes until spinach is wilted and the tomatoes are tender. Add salt and pepper if you wish. I only added pepper.

Green Eggs and Ham

2 tsp olive oil
1 pint egg substitute
3 whole eggs
1/2 onion, diced
2 tsp minced garlic
1 large bag frozen, chopped spinach
1 cup feta, crumbled
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp oregano
1 tsp dill

Ham slices

Hear oven to 350.

Heat olive oil in a large, oven proof skillet. Saute onion and garlic for 5 minutes until soft. While vegis are cooking, beat eggs, egg substitute and herbs together. Add spinach to skillet, cover for 6 minutes to thaw. Remove from heat, sprinkle feta over spinach. Stir in egg mixture. Place fritata in oven for 25 minutes until eggs are set. Cut into wedges. Serve with sliced ham.

Creamy Chicken Vegi Soup

1 tsp olive oil
1 box chicken broth or stock (or 32 oz of homemade)
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup with herbs
3 carrots, sliced into coins
1 onion, diced
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 cups cooked chicken, shredded
2 tsp minced garlic
3 cups spinach, chopped

Heat olive oil in a soup pot over medium. Add garlic and onion, cook until soft. 5 minutes.

Add chicken broth, whisk in canned soup until mixed completely. Add all other ingredients except spinach. Bring to a boil. Add spinach and stir until wilted.

Tuscan Chicken Stew

2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium onion, cut into 1/2 inch wedges
1 can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup red wine or chicken broth
1/2 tsp fennel seed
1 tsp minced basil
1 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp crushed rosemary leaves
1/2 tsp oregano
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 tsp salt
1 6 oz bag fresh spinach

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high. Ass chicken, cook for 10 minutes until no longer pink. Remove chicken. Add onion and fennel seed, cook for 5 minutes. Stir in eans, tomatoes, wine and all spices. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low, simmer 5 minutes. Return chicken to skillet. Stir in spinach, cover. Cok 5 minutes or until spinach is wilted.

Chicken Tikka Masala

2 tbsp butter
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 medium onion, diced
2 tbsp lemon juice
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained
1/3 cup heavy cream
1 tbsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp paprika
1 tsp dried minced garlic
1 tsp garam masala
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground red pepper

Melt butter in a large skillet on medium. Add chicken, onion and lemon juice, cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until no longer pink. DAdd all spices, except for red pepper.

Stir in tomatoes until well mixed. Stir cream into cornstarch and salt until smooth. Gradually stir into skillet. Stir in red pepper to taste. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, simmer 5 minutes or until thickened.

Serve over rice with naan on the side.

Espresso Chocolate Chip Meringues

Ingredients
3 egg whites, at room temperature
Pinch fine sea salt
3/4 cup superfine baker's sugar*
1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons instant espresso powder
2/3 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips
Directions
*Can be found at specialty cooking stores. If you can’t find it, simply place regular granulated sugar in a food processor and grind.
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites and salt until frothy, about 1 minute. With the machine on medium-high speed, gradually add the sugar, about 1 tablespoon at a time. Add the cream of tartar, vanilla extract, and espresso powder. Increase the speed to high and beat until the mixture is thick and holds stiff peaks, about 3 to 5 minutes. Using a spatula, fold in the chocolate chips. Drop 1/4 to 1/2 cup of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake for 30 minutes. Rotate the pan and bake for another 30 minutes. Turn off the oven and allow the meringues to cool completely while still in the oven, about 2 hours.
Store airtight in a plastic container for up to 4 days.