Like so many others, I'm addicted to Food Network. There are three recipes that I have been anxious to try for some time. So for dinner last night, I made them!
First up was Ina Garten's Cheddar Corn Chowder. Ina's "Who wouldn't want that?" motto certainly fit the bill because it was so cold outside and soup was the perfect starter. This recipe did not disappoint! I followed the recipe exactly as printed and it was delicious! The only slight difference was that I garnished with some extra chopped scallions. The soup is full of flavor, thick in consistency, and very filling. You can certainly make it vegetarian by substituting vegetable stock for the chicken stock and leaving off the crumbled bacon. Whichever way you go, I promise you that your house will smell amazing!
The main course was Geoffrey Zakarian's Prosciutto-Wrapped Pork Loin. I saw him make this on "The Kitchen" and it was immediately a dish I wanted to try. The meat is smothered in a mustard-herb rub, wrapped in prosciutto, and then roasted in a pan with garlic, rosemary, and butter. I mean, seriously? Who wouldn't want that?? (Thanks Ina!) And if that wasn't enough, the whole thing gets basted with a maple-orange-brown sugar glaze shortly before it's finished. The meat was moist and juicy, and the flavor was off the chart! And the best part - I was able to prepare it the night before. I made the paste, smeared it on, wrapped the prosciutto, covered it, and refrigerated it overnight. I also made the maple glaze the night before. Talk about easy and time saving!
The final recipe I've been wanting to try is Molly Yeh's All the Alliums Fried Rice. Molly is one of the newer Food Network personalities and I ADORE her. First off, she is a musician and comes from a musical family. She plays percussion, and her father is one of the greatest clarinet players in the world and is Assistant Principal Clarinet in one of my favorite orchestras in the world - the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. But I digress...back to the food. Molly is bubbly, adorable, and TALENTED. Her recipes are unique and I've had success following and learning from them. I make a really good bacon and egg fried rice, but her recipe sounded interesting with all of the alliums - scallions, onions, leeks, and shallots. As soon as I started cooking the alliums, the house smelled amazing and by the time it was done and served, it went fast! I highly recommend this and if you have not seen her show, it's called "Girl Meets Farm". Look it up!
And although I did not make them, I should add that my friend Kristen made Brussels sprouts with bacon and butter which were delicious, and Randy whipped up a Brandy Alexander cocktail which warmed us up from the first sip!
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