Asparagus, Roasted Red Pepper, and Arugula Salad

Asparagus, Roasted Red Pepper, and Arugula Salad
From Simply Salads by Jennifer Chandler

This tasty salad makes an elegant presentation for a dinner party first course.  Arrange on a platter for a wonderful buffet offering.

For the White Balsamic Vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
6 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

For salad:

1 bunch (about 1 pound) asparagus, tough woody ends snapped off and discarded
1 package (5 ounces) Baby Arugula salad blend
1 roasted red bell pepper, thinly sliced (about 1/2 cup)
1/3 cup Kalamata olives, pitted and finely chopped
1/2 small red onion, finely chopped

For the White Balsamic and Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette:

In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar and mustard.  Slowly add the oil in a steady stream, whisking to emulsify.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

For the salad:

Bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add asparagus and cook until vibrant green and crisp tender, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. Drain the asparagus and immerse in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process. Drain again and set aside

On each plate, place a bed of arugula. Layer the asparagus on top.  Arrange the peppers on top of the asparagus. Generously drizzle with the vinaigrette to taste.  Garnish with the olives and red onion.

Makes 4 appetizer salads

 

 

 

Potatoes Au Gratin

This dish looks so elegant on the table that no one will believe how easy it was to make. I often serve it at dinner parties with steaks or roasts.

Potatoes Au Gratin
Adapted from Simply Suppers by Jennifer Chandler

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus extra to grease the baking dish and the foil
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup heavy cream
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/8 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
5 medium baking potatoes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon French’s Dijon or Spicy Brown Mustard
1/4 cup grated Gruyere cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a 9- x 13-inch baking dish with butter and set aside.

In a large saucepot combine the milk, cream, butter, garlic, and nutmeg. Peel the potatoes and cut into slices about 1/8-inch thick. Add the potato slices to the milk mixture to prevent discoloration.

Over medium-high heat, bring the milk mixture to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are slightly tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the potatoes to the prepared baking dish, arranging the top layer of the potatoes in an overlapping pattern, if desired. Add the Dijon and mustard and stir to combine. Pour the milk mixture over the potatoes. Sprinkle the Gruyere cheese evenly over the top. Cover the dish with a buttered piece of aluminum foil, buttered side down.

Bake until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until the potatoes are golden brown, about 20 minutes.

Serves 6 to 8.

Cooking Tip: The difference between freshly grated nutmeg and commercially ground is night and day. To grate whole nutmeg, use a special nutmeg grater or scrape the seed over the finest rasps of your box grater. I buy my whole nutmeg at the grocery in a specially designed jar with a grinder built into the lid.

Sweet Mustard Balsamic Vinaigrette

 

Some of the best recipes always start as a mistake.

I know it’s happened to you before … you go to make a recipe and realize halfway through that you don’t have that key ingredient. Then you start fumbling through your pantry to find a substitute.

Well … that’s how my family’s favorite salad dressing was discovered!

My go-to salad dressing used to be a grainy mustard vinaigrette.  The three ingredients were staples I always had on hand … that is until one fateful Sunday afternoon when I went to whip up a dressing for my family’s lunch.

Seems someone (couldn’t have been me!) had used up the grainy mustard and had not added it to the grocery list! As I was lamenting over what to use instead, my Dad said, “Why not use French’s mustard?”  I’m sure I had a funny look on my face.  Yellow mustard for a vinaigrette? Yes, it’s delicious on just about everything, but would it taste good with balsamic vinegar?

So, being adventurous, I gave it a try.  And you know what …. it was delicious!

Since the flavor of the yellow mustard was a little more mild than the grainy mustard, my kids actually preferred it!

A few weeks later my Dad said he was making our new vinaigrette and decided to add apricot preserves to the mixture. Again, I am sure I had a funny look on my face.  Jam in salad dressing?!  Well, of course I tried it … and was pleasantly surprised to discover … I loved it.

The preserves add a sweetness that really rounds out the tangy flavors of the vinegar and mustard.

I always now tell people … if you have a well-stocked kitchen with good quality staples, you will always be able to make a flavorful dish with what’s on hand.  Even if it’s an unlikely combination of ingredients!

Enjoy!

Sweet Mustard Balsamic Vinaigrette

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon apricot preserves
1 tablespoon French’s Yellow Mustard
4 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper

In a small bowl whisk together the vinegar, apricot preserves and yellow mustard. Slowly add the oil in a steady stream, whisking until emulsified.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Serves 4 to 6.