April 2011: "In Defense of Food" Menu and Recipes

Menu: A BREAKFAST AND BRUNCH OF CHAMPIONS

First course:
Steel cut oatmeal with stewed apples

Second course:
Apple and cheddar frittata and green salad with homemade ranch dressing

Dessert:
Homemade granola with vanilla yogurt and fresh fruit

RECIPES:

Stewed apples (serves 6)
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 Fuji or Gala apples, peeled, halved, cored and thinly sliced
Coarse salt
1 ½ cups unsweetened apple juice
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg

Directions:
In a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium high heat. Add apples and pinch of salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until apples are light gold, 4-5 minutes. Add apple juice, lemon juice, cinnamon, and pinch of nutmeg. Cook until liquid is reduced by half and apples are just tender, 3-5 minutes. Off heat, stir in 1 tablespoon butter.


Apple and Cheddar Frittata (serves 8)
Ingredients:
8 large eggs plus 2 large egg whites
4 ounces white cheddar cheese, coarsely grated (1 cup)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 tablespoon butter
2 Gala apples, peeled, cored, and sliced lengthwise into 1/8 inch thick pieces

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with rack set in top third. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, and half the cheese; season with salt and pepper. In a medium cast-iron or nonstick ovenproof skillet, heat butter over medium. Add egg mixture; while it cooks, 1 to 2 minutes until edge is set, arrange apples on top in a circular pattern, starting from the outside edge, and sprinkle with remaining cheese.
2. Transfer skillet to oven. Bake until frittata is set in the center and cheese is browned, about 20 minutes. Using a rubber spatula, release frittata onto a cutting board; let rest 5 minutes. Cut into wedges, and serve


Green Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing (serves 4)
Ingredients:
1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon white-wine vinegar
½ teaspoon honey
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 small head green leaf lettuce, torn into bite-size pieces
2 medium carrots, shaved into ribbons with a vegetable peeler

Directions:
In a medium bowl, combine yogurt, mustard, vinegar, and honey; season with salt and pepper. Add lettuce and carrots, toss to combine, and serve immediately.


Homemade Granola
Ingredients:
8 cups oatmeal
¾ cup brown sugar
1 ½ cup bran
1 ½ cup wheat germ
1 cup coconut
1 cup chopped almonds
1 cup raisins/craisins (added after baking)

1 cup honey
2 teaspoons vanilla
¼ cup oil

Directions:
1. Combine oatmeal, brown sugar, bran, wheat germ, coconut and almonds in a large bowl.
2. In a small saucepan, heat honey, vanilla and oil over medium heat, until bubbly.
3. Add honey, oil and vanilla mixture to oatmeal mixture, and stir to combine. Spread on a baking sheet covered with foil, and drizzle with additional honey if desired.
4. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool. Remove from baking sheet, breaking into pieces, and adding raisins if desired.