Main Dish

Baked Turkey Meatball Sub Sandwich

November 11, 2020 by Christina Shoup 1 Comment

If this isn’t a way to change up the work and school week, I don’t know what is! I recently made these turkey meatballs in the morning to prep ahead for dinner, and, well… let’s say they just didn’t make it that far. We were on day #527 of the pandemic, or something like that, and it was a Wednesday, and it just felt like these dinner meatballs were destined for some garlicky, cheesy, meatball sandwiches for lunch at home.

During normal pre-COVID, pre-sheltering in place times, Wednesday was always the day I’d change up the breakfast or lunch routine for my family. A hot breakfast of waffles and bacon or a special school lunch delivery by mom was just what my crew often needed to get through the school or work week. Being home the past 8+ months has been easier for our family of 5 by keeping some routines and normalcy intact as much as possible. Making sure I keep a Wednesday special breakfast or lunch routine seemed like an easy thing to do, even when I had to check in with Siri to ask what day it was.

For these sub sandwiches I was inspired by many of my favorite meatball recipes, but this is my favorite combination. I elevated the flavor by going all in- not just dried herbs, but fresh, too. Not just minced garlic, but also added garlic powder, which has a nice garlic flavor without the harshness garlic can sometimes have. Toasting the panko brought out a lot of flavor in otherwise bland tasting breadcrumbs. A little red pepper flake goes a long way, too.

Dutch Crunch rolls – there’s nothing more tasty!

Broiled with butter, garlic and mozzarella cheese

Two notable changes with these meatballs – they are made with ground turkey thigh, not ground beef or a combination of meats. Dark turkey meat has SO much more flavor than lean turkey breast it isn’t even fair to compare the two. I do not ever buy lean ground turkey breast, as I cannot think of another food product that lacks flavor like ground turkey breast.

The other difference is – I don’t shallow-fry meatballs. I hate the mess on the stove and it’s just too easy with flavorful results to pop them on a rimmed baking, brush with a little olive oil and bake them in the oven. Splattering oil all over my stove happens only once in awhile in my house and it has to be worth it with no other possible ways to achieve such a lovely crust – potstickers, cast-iron seared steak/pork chop and corn fritters are a few notable ones worth the mess. Simply put, if it is just as tasty oven baked over fried, then that’s an easy choice for me.

These are delicious and will make you and your whole family smile. I hope you enjoy!

Cheers,

Christina

Baked Turkey Meatball Sub on Garlic Bread

These baked meatballs have so much flavor! Both fresh and dried herbs are used to give even more flavor to this dark turkey meat. They are a great meal with marinara sauce and grated parmesan, on top of cooked pasta or piled onto toasted garlic bread for the ultimate sub sandwich- a family favorite! This recipe makes enough for a tasty family dinner for 4 as well as delicious lunch leftovers the following day.

Course Main Course

Keyword sandwich, turkey meatballs

Servings 6 sub sandwiches

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

For the meatballs

¾ cup grated Parmesan cheese
½ cup panko bread crumbs, lightly toasted
½ cup finely chopped onion
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped basil
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp Italian seasoning Penzey's Pizza Seasoning is also a great option
½ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp red pepper flakes
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 lbs dark turkey thigh, ground
olive oil spray or use olive oil and brush

For sub sandwiches

dutch crunch rolls, split in half any sweet or Italian roll will do
butter or olive oil
garlic salt
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup jarred marinara sauce, warmed Rao's is an excellent brand
chopped basil optional
grated Parmesan optional

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400° Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil. Spray or brush with olive oil. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine all ingredients and mix vigorously for 20-30 seconds. The mixture will be soft and sticky.
Using an ice cream scoop (about 1½ tbsp), scoop about 26-28 meatballs. Place on the baking sheet and spray or brush the tops of the meatballs with olive oil. Cook until golden and cooked through, about 20 minutes.
Meanwhile, place cut rolls on a baking sheet. Brush each side with olive oil or butter and sprinkle with garlic seasoning. Sprinkle about a tablespoon of shredded mozzarella cheese on one side of each roll.
When meatballs are finished cooking, pull out of oven and let sit for a few minutes while you toast the rolls. Turn the oven to broil and place sheet tray of rolls on the upper rack, broiling just until the bread is golden and the cheese is bubbling.
Assemble subs by placing about 4 meatballs each on half of the rolls. Top with warmed marinara sauce and chopped basil and Parmesan cheese, if using. Top with other half of rolls and serve immediately.

Grilled Brie, Prosciutto and Fig Panini

October 7, 2020 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

These delicious, and incredibly simple panini have been a household favorite longer than I can remember! Something about the crispy buttery outside, melted pungent brie, herby rosemary and sweet fig spread combo that is so satisfying. My family cheers when I make these!

99% of the time I make these sandwiches exactly as the recipe below states and it’s my favorite. In the past I’ve left out the rosemary, it’s delicious. I’ve made them vegetarian for guests by leaving out the prosciutto, still delicious. And for kids, I’ve swapped out the brie for a more child-friendly white cheddar, and it’s beyond delicious!

Thankfully 4 out of 5 of my crew absolutely loves it just the way I make it. Although I’ve never been much of a short order cook, until my youngest develops some more mature taste buds, I’ll keep the white cheddar handy to make everyone happy!

An assembly line makes these really easy to make ahead, refrigerate and press when you’re ready

Salted butter is nice, but so is a smear of mayonnaise or olive brushed on the outside – all make a lovely golden panini

Grilled Brie, Prosciutto and Fig Panini

A delicious sweet and savory toasted panini that my family has enjoyed for over 10 years. These sandwiches pair perfectly with a bowl of soup or a green salad for lunch or dinner. They also make a great appetizer when cut into fourths and piled on a tray. There's no doubt this one is a hit with family and friends!

Course Appetizer, Main Course

Keyword brie, fig jam, panini, proscuitto

Servings 4 sandwiches

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

8 slices country white bread sourdough is a great option as well
8 slices thinly sliced prosciutto about 4-5 oz
12 slices thinly sliced brie, partially frozen for easier slicing about 4 oz
4 tbsp fig spread
½ tsp fresh rosemary, chopped finely optional
4 tbsp butter, salted or unsalted, room temperature mayonnaise or olive oil are excellent substitutions

Instructions

Preheat panini press or griddle. If using a skillet, wait to heat until sandwiches are assembled.
Make an assembly line with all your ingredients. On a cutting board, make 4 stacks of bread, two slices each. Butter outsides and turn each stack on itself so the butter side is facing inward and dry sides are facing outward. Spread about a tablespoon of fig spread on each of the 4 slices on top and sprinkle with chopped rosemary, if using. Then place 2 slices of prosciutto each folded in half, followed by 3 slices of sliced brie. At this point, the assembled sandwiches will keep for several hours in the refrigerator and can be grilled or pressed when ready to eat.
Place sandwiches, butter side out, in a hot press and cook until golden and brie is melted and gooey. If using a griddle or skillet, flip and cook other side. Transfer to a cutting board and to avoid all the deliciousness from oozing out, wait just a minute before slicing and enjoying.

Salmon Sandwich with Bacon, Pesto Mayo & Apricot Jam

June 24, 2020 by Christina Shoup 1 Comment

This is dish is a Shoup family favorite and was a perfect meal for our Father’s Day dinner. We were enjoying some time in Lake Tahoe last week and this tasty sandwich/burger was an easy one to plan ahead for – nearly all the ingredients can be prepared in advance and the bacon and salmon are the only components that need to be cooked when you’re ready to eat.

Any seasoning works for this, but I enjoy a mesquite grill seasoning with a bit of smoked paprika and brown sugar.

Prepared pesto and mayonnaise mixed together are a nice herbaceous contrast to the sweet apricot jam.

Crisp little gems or peppery arugula are both great choices for this sandwich as well a lightly toasted buttery brioche. Other buns that also work well are pretzel buns and potato rolls.

We don’t usually have sides when we eat this sandwich – but when we do it’s usually a side of sweet potato oven fries or fresh fruit. It’s hard to say how much we love this dish! I hope your family loves it, too.

Cheers,

Christina

Salmon Sandwich with Bacon, Pesto Mayo & Apricot Jam

This sandwich is a house favorite! The salty bacon, sweet jam, smoky mesquite seasonings and peppery lettuce makes for a very satisfying dish. It's a hit with adults and kids alike and a highly requested recipe in our house.

Course Main Course

Keyword salmon, sandwich

Servings 4 sandwiches

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

1⅓ lbs salmon fillets
1 tsp mesquite grill seasoning optional
½ tsp smoked paprika
½ tsp brown sugar
½ tsp kosher salt
1 tbsp olive oil
4 slices cooked bacon
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup pesto
¼ cup apricot jam
1 cup arugula mixed greens and little gems work as well
4 brioche hamburger buns

Instructions

Place salmon on a sheet tray lined in parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with mesquite seasoning, paprika, brown sugar and salt. Roast salmon at 375° until done, about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, mix mayonnaise and pesto. Set aside.
Make an assembly line of pesto mayo, apricot jam, bacon (broken in half) and lettuce.
Separate brioche buns and place on a sheet tray. Toast these in the oven for a few minutes after pulling out the salmon.
When ready to assemble, spread about 1 tablespoon of pesto mayo each on half of the buns and 1 tablespoon of jam each on the other half. Place one portion of salmon on the mayo, followed by the bacon and lettuce. Top with remaining buns spread with apricot jam.

Southwest Grain Bowl with Roasted Poblano Dressing

June 9, 2020 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

Bowls have been popular for some time now, and I’m in no hurry to have them go away. Grain bowls, poke bowls, burrito bowls, breakfast bowls, smoothie bowls – I love them all! The one thing they have in common is that they have a lot of components, that’s both a positive and a negative. They take some time to make each part at home, but when the prep work is finished, you’ve got several meals that can be assembled in no time at all and for a fraction of the price as a purchased bowl.

For grain bowls, the key components are: Grain + Veggie + Protein + Dressing + Topping

My favorite grain to use in a bowl is farro. It’s easy to cook and high in protein, thus making a very satisfying vegetarian meal. Other good options are brown rice and quinoa. Cooking the grains in vegetable or chicken stock imparts more flavor, but water works too, just be sure to adequately salt that cooking water. Tossing the cooked grains in a little oil and vinegar is another way to give this important base some flavor.

Spreading cooked grains out on a sheet pan helps keep them from getting gummy

The veggies I use for this recipe are grilled, a favorite way to cook during the warmer months for corn, peppers, asparagus, zucchini, onions, etc. Roasting is my other favorite way to cook veggies as this method brings out the natural sweetness in broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and carrots. It can also just be a handful of your favorite greens – I’m a big fan of arugula or kale. Tomatoes or thinly sliced radishes also make a nice texture contrast.

Protein can be as simple as grilled or store-bought rotisserie chicken, sauteed shrimp or roasted salmon. I also know that if I use a protein-rich grain such as farro or quinoa, I don’t worry about the need for additional protein – especially since most of my bowls have protein in the form of a crunchy seed or nut on top. Yum!

The dressing for the bowl is key – it can be a simple vinaigrette that is tossed with several of the individual components and then lightly drizzled on top, or it can be a chunky salsa or thick sauce atop everything that winds up getting all mixed together once served. Your bowl, your choice.

Farro bowl with roasted chicken and grilled peppers, onion, asperagus and zucchini

And the best part of the bowl just might be the toppings. You can go wild here. And depending on the overall tone of your bowl, you can change the personality or nutritional content just based on the topping you choose. Adding roasted nuts or seeds, chili crunch, sliced avocado, fresh herbs, spicy sriracha or a crunchy raw vegetable are great ways to round out your bowl.

Farro bowl with arugula, grilled veggies, avocado, pepitas and feta

I have many more favorite bowls I’ll be sharing this summer. One of my teenagers is a big fan of acai smoothie bowls and since those can demand a pretty hefty price tag from the local juice bar- and she doesn’t drive- I’m thankful she taught herself how to make delicious smoothie bowls at home.

Cheers,

Christina

Southwest Grain Bowl with Roasted Poblano Dressing

This southwest grain bowl is perfect for summer when the corn, tomatoes and peppers are in peak season. It's also easily adapted to whatever grain, veggie or hot pepper you have on hand or is in season. The farro is high in protein making this a satisfying vegetarian meal, but roasted or grilled chicken is a great addition as well.

Course Main Course

Keyword grain bowl, poblano dressing

Servings 4

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Dressing

2 tbsp canola oil plus more for brushing
2 poblano peppers
2 ears of corn, shucked
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tsp honey
2 green onions, white part only, thinly sliced green parts reserved for bowl
1/4 cup chopped cilantro
Kosher salt

Grain Bowl

2 ears of corn, shucked
2 medium zucchini
1 red onion
1 sweet bell pepper any color
1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
cilantro leaves garnish
1½ cups farro pearled or unpearled work, cooking times differ
2 cups spinach, arugula, or any mixed greens
¼ cup pepitas, toasted optional
¼ cup goat cheese or feta, crumbled optional

Instructions

For the dressing:

Light a grill and brush the grate with canola oil.
Prepare the corn and poblanos for the dressing as well as the corn, zucchini, red onion and bell peppers used in the bowl by brushing with canola oil and sprinkling with salt and pepper. Grill over moderate heat, until all veggies have grill marks and the corn and poblanos are lightly charred all over.
Transfer to a sheet pan to cool slightly. Peel, seed and chop the poblanos. Cut the corn kernels off the cob. Cut all other veggies into bite-sized pieces and set aside to for the grain bowl.
In a blender or mini food processor, combine 2 tbsp of canola oil, olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, honey, green onion whites, chopped cilantro, poblanos and 1 cup of the corn kernels. Pulse until a chunky dressing forms. Season with salt.

For the grain bowl:

In a medium pot, boil water and cook farro according to the direction on the package. Drain any excess liquid and spread on a sheet pan lined with parchment to cool. This step also prevents the grain from getting gummy and stuck together.
Toast pepitas in a saute pan until lightly golden and begin to pop. Set aside to cool.

To assemble:

Divide farro among 4 bowls. Top with each bowl with grilled vegetables, dressing, pepitas, green onion, and cheese.

Recipe Notes

This dressing was inspired and adapted from Food & Wine magazine.

Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish

June 3, 2020 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

With Memorial Day weekend behind us, the first heat wave has passed quickly followed by unseasonable rain, and school distance learning winding down – all signs point to summer. And even though it often feels like Groundhog day, things are slowly and carefully opening back up and we may feel like there’s some summer fun on the horizon. There’s no doubt about it, this summer won’t have many of the familiar markers of summer- pool parties, overseas travel adventures, and overnight camps, but if we try to incorporate our favorite parts of the season, nobody can take the carefree feeling of summer away from you!

I, for one, look forward to more farmer’s markets on the weekends as well as making time for the summer mid-week markets that are beginning to open up locally. One of the biggest changes I’m making this summer is to have my three kids (ages 15, 13, and 10) make dinner every Wednesday. I will give them about 3 – 4 of my most trusted cookbooks, and let them pick out the meal, write a grocery list and have it ready for me by the beginning of the week when I do my food shopping. They have to cook and clean up the dishes they use for preparing the meal- but dad and mom are in charge of the dinner dishes – reverse roles.

One of my favorite ways to make dinner during the summer is to marinate some type of protein (usually chicken or pork) early in the day, and when dinner time rolls around, quickly and easily throwing that on the grill with a veggie (usually summer squash, bell peppers, corn or asparagus) and serving with a salad or seasonal fruit. Could not be easier and keeps the heat and the mess outside.

This recipe for Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish is one of my favorite summer dishes. It’s got grilled protein, fruit and veggie(ish) and lots of flavor- all rolled into one dish! It’s based on a recipe from Gourmet Magazine- a beautiful magazine that I wish was still in publication. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Cheers,

Christina

Grilled Pork Chops with Stone-Fruit Relish

This easy summer dish uses peak of the season ingredients and is as beautiful as it is tasty. Boneless, skinless chicken breasts also works well with this flavorful fruit relish. Smoked paprika makes for a deep smokey flavor and if you like more of a kick, use a serrano instead of the jalapeno. This recipe was adapted from Gourmet Magazine.

Course Main Course

Keyword fruit salsa, pork chops

Servings 4 servings

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

Marinade

½ tsp garlic powder
½ tsp smoked paprika
3 tbsp lime juice
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
4 pork chops (¾ – 1" thick) boneless or bone-in

Salsa

1 nectarine, diced peaches or plums also work
1 tsp sugar
1 tbsp lime juice
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
2 scallions, finely chopped use white and green parts
1 tbsp seeded, finely chopped jalapeno pepper use serrano for more kick
3 tbsp chopped basil
2 tbsp chopped mint
2 tbsp red-wine vinegar

Instructions

For the marinade, combine all ingredients into a ziplock bag or a shallow glass baking dish. Add the pork chops and make sure they are well coated. Let sit while you prepare the relish.
For the relish, combine all ingredients in a medium bowl. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
When ready to cook, prepare gas grill by brushing the grates with oil and heating grill to medium.
Remove pork chops from marinade and pat dry with a paper towel. Season with salt and pepper. Grill chops, turning once, until internal temperature reaches 135°, then tent with foil and rest for 5 minutes. Serve with relish.

Sweet and Smokey Baby Back Pork Ribs

May 20, 2020 by Christina Shoup 2 Comments

Let’s talk about barbecue for a moment… I am not a huge meat eater. We eat mostly chicken and fish, as well as the occasional pork products- bacon, pancetta and sausage. We buy beef almost entirely in the form of grass-fed ground beef for the purpose of flavorful chili and quick weeknight tacos, and even then it’s only 1-2 times a month. So, when I asked for a Traeger smoker for my 41st birthday, my husband was understandably curious about this request. What he wasn’t confused about was my love of saucy pulled pork. And fall off the bone ribs. As well as a good everything bagel with smoked salmon. Although these dishes aren’t ones we eat very often, somehow I felt justified asking for a smoker for a birthday gift — and a few years later, I’m sure glad I did. Because when the craving is strong, there’s not much stopping me! Plus, knowing how to confidently throw something on the smoker for a crowd (whenever we can have those again) is pretty badass, no?

An excellent birthday gift a few years back

One of the best things to come off our smoker in awhile were these baby back pork ribs — they were sweet and smokey, simple, mainly hands off, as well as left us with incredible leftovers. I used a common smoking method of 3-2-1… smoke for 3 hours, wrap and grill for 2 hours, and sauce for 1 hour. If you have strong opinions about how much work should be required to get the meat off the bone for the most enjoyable rib experience, this is most definitely not the method for you. I am not a fan of gnawing on bones or eating meat that is remotely chewy. I’d rather put effort into shaking a cocktail or properly buttering every inch of my cornbread. Priorities.

This recipe is very flexible- it’s really a method rather than a required list of ingredients. I only ask you don’t skip the smoked paprika- it’s key to this recipe! Change up the seasonings by adding an element of heat like cayenne to balance the sweet. Swap the yellow mustard for other varieties of vinegary mustards. The liquid is also very flexible. I recently used a diet Dr. Pepper because we are still under a shelter-in-place order in the Bay Area and quickly swinging by the grocery store for one item isn’t as easy as it used to be. The bigger question is- who drinks a Dr. Pepper anymore, let alone a diet one? This unfortunate beverage inevitably came from some team sports potluck that we hosted a while back as evidenced by how deep I found it in our beverage fridge in the outdoor kitchen. All I know is it worked well for these ribs.

And now at the end of May, and heading into summer and grilling season – consider adding this recipe to your weekend plans. You can also find this yummy potato salad on Food Family Friends recipe index- perfect dishes for Memorial Day!

Cheers,

Christina

Sweet and Smokey Pork Baby Back Ribs

These pork ribs are everything I want in a pork rib… fall off the bone tender, smokey and sweet, caramelized and sticky — and it feeds a crowd. This recipe was adapted from the Traeger Everyday Cookbook and uses a simple cooking method of 3 hours of smoke, 2 hours wrapped, and 1 hour with sauce on the grill. Best way to serve- with a side of potato salad, corn bread, and paper towels.

Course Main Course

Keyword pork ribs

Servings 8 people

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

3 racks pork ribs about 8 lbs
¾ cup apple juice, Coke, or Dr. Pepper divided
½ cup yellow mustard
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tbsp smoked paprika
½ cup brown sugar I used smoked brown sugar
sweet mesquite seasoning I used Kirkland brand
⅓ cup honey warmed
BBQ sauce I like Kinders

Instructions

Smoke the ribs- 3 hours

Prepare the ribs by removing and discarding the membrane from the bone-side of the rib.
In a small bowl, combine mustard, ½ cup of the juice or soda, and Worcestershire sauce. Spread on both sides of the ribs, followed by the smoked paprika and enough mesquite seasoning to completely cover the ribs. Set aside on a rimmed baking sheet while you prepare the smoker.
Turn the Traeger to the smoke setting. Leave the lid open and wait for the fire to establish, about 4-5 minutes. Smoke the ribs meat-side up with the lid closed for 3 hours. Transfer the ribs to a clean baking sheet and set the grill to 225°

Grill the wrapped ribs- 2 hours

Place each rack of ribs in a separate piece of foil large enough to wrap completely.
Divide the brown sugar evenly among the racks, followed by the honey. Fold up the sides slightly and add remaining juice or soda. Carefully gather the two long sides of foil at the top and fold down tightly a few times. Fold in the sides a few times to tightly form a sealed packet.
Return foil packets to the grill and cook for 2 hours.

Sauce the ribs- 1 hour

Bring a rimmed baking sheet close to the grill, along with the BBQ sauce and a pastry or silicone brush. Using tongs, carefully open each packet and slide the racks onto the grill, taking care not to spill the liquid or burn yourself with the steam. Remove the foil to the baking sheet and discard.
Brush the meat side of the ribs with BBQ sauce and continue to cook for 30 min- 1 hour. They will likely (and hopefully!) be too tender to flip over to coat the back side of the ribs with sauce. This is just fine.
Remove ribs to a cutting board and after a few minutes of resting, cut between ribs as desired and serve warm or room temperature.

Crispy Pork Carnitas Tacos

May 5, 2020 by Christina Shoup 2 Comments

I’m not sure where my love of Mexican cuisine began, but it is no doubt my favorite cuisine. “Authentic,” not authentic, Tex Mex, Cal-Mex, it’s all my favorite. I’m lucky that my family likes things on the spicy side, so it gives me plenty of room to experiment with recipes using a variety of fresh and dried chilies, salsas and more. I trained them well, I suppose.

Since today is Cinco de mayo and Taco Tuesday, it is no big surprise in my house that we are having my favorite Carnitas Tacos with all the fixings. But, when those two fall during a pandemic and we are all home together, it’s a quiet feast in the backyard, just the 5 of us. The majority of the cooking is very hands-off — it just takes a bit of planning as the pork marinates overnight and the black beans as well as the rice for horchata both benefit from a good long overnight soak.

The menu:

Mezcal con Pepino (search for recipe on website)

Guacamole and Chips

Loaded Guacamole with CA avocados from The Good Fat

Carnitas Tacos

Overnight marinated pork shoulder with citrus and bay leaf

No extra fat needed- this crisps up perfectly under the broiler

Homemade Flour Tortillas

6 inch flour tortillas- perfect for tacos

Drunken Black Beans

My favorite brand of beans- the Midnight Black Beans are a gorgeous deep purple when soaked

Homemade Horchata

Basmati rice soaked overnight with cinnamon stick and vanilla bean

I cannot wait until it’s safe to gather again… I need to make this menu for friends and family! For now, I say cheers to my favorite people and thankful we have this time at home together.

Cheers,

Christina

Carnitas Tacos

These pork carnitas tacos are at the top of my most favorite foods. They are adapted from the famed tacolicious cookbook by Sara Deseran — one of my favorite cookbooks in my growing collection. The majority of this dish is completely hands off and with the crisping happening under the broiler rather than fried, it's full of flavor, not grease. We take the time to make homemade tortillas which takes this meal over the top delicious. It feeds a crowd, or in my house, a meal and some rockin' leftovers.

Course Main Course

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

4-4½ lbs pork shoulder cut into 1½-2 inch chunks; bone reserved
1 large onion, sliced
5 cloves garlic, skins removed and smashed
5 tbsp brown sugar
3 tbsp kosher salt
3 tbsp dried Mexican oregano
2 bay leaves
5 strips orange zest
¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
½-1 tsp dried red chili flake
1 cinnamon stick optional

Instructions

The night before: Combine all ingredients in a large heavy pot with a lid. Toss to coat and place covered pot in the refrigerator overnight.
When ready to cook, preheat the oven to 300°. Give the pork a toss so it is evenly covered with marinade and place covered pot in the oven for 3 hours. Be sure to give the pork a quick stir once or twice over the 3 hours. When the pork is tender and pulls apart easily, remove from oven.
To crisp the pork: Move rack near the top of the oven and turn on broil. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and place a cooling rack in the pan. Spray the rack with nonstick spray. Using tongs, remove the pork pieces from the pot and place on the rack, giving space between pieces if possible. Be sure to remove any large chunks of fat. Keep a close eye on the pork, broil until desired crispiness.
Serve pork with tortillas, cilantro, radish, cilantro, hot sauce and lime wedges.

Crispy Chicken Sandwich

April 30, 2020 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

As a typical kid who grew up in the 80s, we ate our fair share of fast food- namely Taco Bell and Burger King. A popular item at the King was a chicken sandwich (because we thought we were being healthier by eating the FRIED and BREADED chicken sandwich over the burger). It was such a simple item on the menu- soft bread roll, breaded chicken, mayo, romaine. If we were feeling fancy we got the “deluxe” which had sliced tomato and a slice of American cheese.

My mom would often make her version of the Burger King Sandwich which was so dang good it landed in our family recipe book, and below is my version of that version. 🙂 The components are the same: soft French roll, chicken cut or pounded thin and smeared with Dijon mustard, coated in breadcrumbs, and baked in the oven. Toast the roll, smear a good amount of mayo and top with crisp romaine lettuce. That. Is. It.

My version: brine the chicken breasts for a few hours (I only do this half the time), pat dry, spread Dijon mustard on both sides and coat in toasted panko breadcrumbs. Spray a baking rack with non-stock spray and bake on a parchment lined baking sheet at 400 degrees until cooked through and crispy- about 25-30 min.

Meanwhile, make your house sauce of mayo, sriracha, lime juice and a touch of salt. Split your rolls in half and spread a little butter or mayo on each side and sprinkle garlic salt. Toast the rolls till lightly golden. Assemble the sandwich with house sauce, chicken and romaine lettuce. Wait for your kids to devour your fast food.

Cheers,

Christina

Crispy Baked Chicken Sandwiches

This baked chicken sandwich is just as satisfying as the fried version, but without all the grease and mess! It's inspired by the childhood favorite of so many of us – the original chicken sandwich from Burger King. Although my kids don't know this fast food favorite of the 80s and 90s… they sure love Mom's fast food. Keep it simple with a smear of Best Foods mayo or play with a few ingredients and make your own House Sauce. It doubles as a great fry sauce for a side of baked sweet potato fries!

Course Main Course

Servings 4

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tbsp Dijon mustard
2 cups panko breadcrumbs
4 tbsp melted butter divided
¼ tsp garlic powder
¼ tsp Italian seasoning optional
salt and pepper
4 soft French rolls
¼ tsp garlic salt
romaine lettuce
mayonnaise or house sauce

Instructions

Preheat oven to 325°
Combine 2 tbsp melted butter, garlic powder, italian seasoning and panko on a rimmed cookie sheet. Toast in the oven until lightly golden.
After toasting bread crumbs, remove and set aside. Raise the oven temperature to 400°.
Spray a cooling rack with nonstick spray and place it on a rimmed baking sheet.
On a cutting board, place chicken between two pieces of parchment paper and pound thinly. Season each side with salt and pepper. Brush one side with mustard and place mustard side down onto breadcrumbs. Gently press to adhere.
Turn chicken over and brush with mustard. Again, gently press the chicken into the bread crumbs to make sure it is fully coated. Cook chicken until fully cooked though and outside is crispy, about 25 minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare rolls. Open each roll and place on a cookie sheet. Brush each side with remaining 2 tbsp of melted butter. Sprinkle with garlic salt. When the chicken has just a few minutes remaining, place the rolls in the oven to lightly toast. Alternatively, broil the rolls after removing the chicken from the oven.
After chicken is cooked, place on a clean cutting board and cut lengthwise so they fit into the roll. Smear mayo or house sauce onto roll, then place chicken and lettuce.

Recipe Notes

One of our favorite parts of this sandwich is the house sauce – it’s different each time, but almost always includes a combo of mayo, sriracha, honey, lime juice and a touch of salt.

Summer Tomato Pie

July 14, 2019 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

Tomato Pie- the best kind of pie there is!

It’s late July and the local farmer’s markets in the Bay Area are overflowing with summer’s bounty. I don’t usually have a go to list from week to week (depends what is on the meal plan!), but one staple from June until at least late September are tomatoes. Only three out of my five family members even like tomatoes but that doesn’t stop me from making all things tomato. And as it turns out- it doesn’t stop five out of five from eating dishes with tomatoes in them. Funny how that works! So many ways to use them: fresh cream of tomato soup, tomato salsa, gazpacho, tomato sauce… but my all time favorite way to eat ripe summer tomatoes is in Tomato Pie. This is my childhood in a pie shell.

Recently a farmer selling me tomatoes asked what I was planning on doing with the tomatoes and because July 4th was just days away- Tomato Pie was definitely on the holiday menu! It’s a summer staple.

There are a few but critical easy steps to ensure a delicious tomato pie!

Step 1:

Roll out dough into a 9″ pie dish and prick all over with fork. This can be store bought- Trader Joe’s has a decent one or my favorite is an egg and butter based Pâte Brisé that is very easy to work with.

Step 2: Blind bake

Line pie dough with parchment paper and fill with dry beans or pie weights. Bake at 375 for about 20 minutes.

Step 3

While the crust is baking, slice tomatoes and give them a gentle squeeze to remove some juices. Place tomatoes on a baking rack and salt both sides.

Step 4:

Remove parchment paper and beans and bake for another 5 minutes, or until golden. Let sit while the crust is baking and you prepare the topping.

Successful blindbaking- golden and no puffed up spots!

Step 5:

Lay the drained tomatoes in the pie shell, overlapping as needed. Fill in gaps with cherry tomato halves.

Step 6:

Sprinkle fresh basil and chive over the tomatoes.

Fresh herbs are best, but dried basil would work, too

Step 7:

Gently dollop cheese/mayo mixture on top of seasoned tomatoes and press lightly.

Sharp cheddar, mayo, scallion and a few seasonings for a delicious topping

Step 8:

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.

Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing. Best served warm or room temperature.

I hope you love this as much as I do!

Cheers

~Christina

Tomato Pie

This savory pie is the best of summer. Ripe, in season tomatoes seasoned with fresh herbs sit in a flaky crust with a cheesy topping. What's not to love?

Course Main Course, Side Dish, vegetarian

Keyword herbs, pie, savory pie, tomato

Servings 8 servings

Author Christina Shoup

Ingredients

1 9" pie crust baked
3-4 medium tomatoes thickly sliced
handful cherry tomatoes sliced in half
2 tbsp fresh basil julienned
1/4 cup chives minced
2 cups sharp cheddar shredded
1/4 cup mayo
2 scallions thinly sliced
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper

Instructions

Roll out pie dough into 9" pie dish and prick all over with fork. Line pie dough with parchment paper and fill with dry beans or pie weights. Bake at 375° for about 20 minutes. Remove parchment paper and beans and bake for another 5 minutes, or until golden.
While crust is baking, slice tomatoes and give them a gentle squeeze to remove some juices. Place tomatoes on a baking rack and salt both sides. Let sit while you prepare the topping.
For the topping: Combine cheese, mayo, scallions, garlic powder, and cayenne in a small bowl. Set aside.
Lay the drained tomatoes in the pie shell, overlapping as needed. Fill in gaps with cherry tomato halves. Sprinkle herbs evenly over tomatoes.
Gently dollop cheese/mayo mixture on top of seasoned tomatoes and press lightly.
Bake at 375° for 20-30 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Let sit for 10 minutes before slicing. Best served warm or room temperature.

Food helps soothe the soul

January 22, 2018 by Christina Shoup Leave a Comment

Beautiful Santa Barbara coastline with charred hills just above Montecito

For my close friends and family, you know the past few weeks have brought lots of sadness and anxiety with the disaster that has unfolded in Montecito. For those that don’t know me personally but read my blog know that my last post focused on the fabulous trip we just took to Montecito and the Santa Barbara area and all the tasty food we enjoyed on that visit. For many people not in CA, Montecito is familiar because it’s where Oprah and Ellen live- for me it’s where three of my favorite people on the planet live and love. The devastation that has occurred there is mind boggling. Families have been forever changed. The tight-knit community who was still so raw from the fires in December have had to endure hours, days and now weeks of trauma and uncertainty. As I write this, the main freeway that runs through this darling little town has only just opened in the past 24 hours but residents still remain shut off from their homes and neighborhood and will continue to be for more than a week. All I can say is that the feeling of helplessness is a terrible feeling and all I have wanted to do the past two weeks is scoop up these three, transport them to my town and nurture and comfort them with every warm and tasty dish I know how to make. If praying is your kind of thing, please continue to include the town of Montecito in your prayers. There is still much uncertainty and a massive clean up effort to continue.

For now, we focus on feeding the souls of our friends and family whenever possible. Below are some recipes that I have made in the past week or are on my meal calendar for the week ahead. I hope you find something to try and enjoy.

As always, thanks for reading and happy meal planning!

~Christina

Salted Butter and Chocolate Chunk Shortbread

I’m not sure what to say about these other than they are absolutely delicious and dangerous to have in my kitchen- I made them a few days ago and they disappeared in no time. They are buttery, chocolatey and have the best crunch from the turbinado sugar. I am planning on making a few batches of these this week for my husband to bring to work. Just a mid-week treat of cookies to get them through the week!

Classic Italian-American Stuffed Shells

I made this dish this past week and split it between two foil pans- one for my kids and grandma to have while Eric and I were out for the night and one for the freezer to take to a friend who just had a new baby. It’s flavorful, comfort food at its best! This recipe is your standard spinach ricotta filling but with an extra step or two to soak up the moisture of the spinach and ricotta. If you have a few extra minutes, it’s worth the additional steps. I used a jar of Rao’s Homemade Sauce- it’s a great weeknight solution and a quality brand that is almost always on sale at Safeway. Or try Marcella Hazan’s Tomato Sauce. It’s the best sauce I think I’ve ever had and super easy- 3 ingredients and 45 minutes of simmer time.

Ham and Split Pea Soup

This is the easiest soup to make and full of flavor. My entire family loves it. I make it as written, but always double the recipe and we either eat it for a few meals or put it in smaller containers and freeze it. The only thing you need to do if eating it for leftovers is to thin it a bit with water or stock before heating it up. I used leftover ham (Cook’s Illustrated Holiday Ham with Cherry Port Sauce) I had in the freezer from the holidays. We have this with a side of kale salad. Yum!

Chickpea, Barley and Kale Soup

Everyone needs to have an easy super healthy soup like this one in their repertoire. And, everyone needs to have a friend like my friend Patricia! She brought me this soup about a year ago when I wasn’t feeling awesome and I loved it so much that I promptly requested the recipe. I’ve made it many times since and it’s a hit with my family. The only changes I usually make are to use vegetable or chicken stock instead of the water and bullion cubes and I also double the amount of kale, carrots and celery- can never have enough veggies! My kids love to sprinkle Tajin seasoning salt on the top so I am sure to keep the salt to taste at a minimum. A garlic toast to dip is the perfect side.

Slow Roasted Salmon with Pesto

Recently, we were visiting my mom and she offered us the yummiest baked salmon for lunch. It is so simple using prepared pesto and it cooks beginning in a COLD oven so you don’t even need to take time to preheat! We ate it cold, as my mom usually does, and it was delicious. I cannot think of a healthier option to have in your fridge during the week for a quick lunch. Bonus- cold salmon means you can take it to work and not stink up the company kitchen! I cannot think of anyone who might have done this while teaching about 10 years ago- but, you only do that once before learning your lesson.

My mom’s “recipe” in a text message. We are fancy like that.

“Hi Sweetie! Cannot find the exact recipe but here’s what I do: olive oil in the bottom of a shallow casserole, put Costco prepared Pesto on top of salmon after I season with a little salt and pepper. Spread about 2 Tbsp. depending on size of filet. Set oven to 400°. Place casserole on middle rack in cold oven and after temp reaches 400° I turn off the oven and let it sit in the oven for another 5 or 10 minutes. It all depends on the size of the fillet. You can check for desired firmness and also for the milky white liquid to disappear.”

If you need an exact recipe: Pioneer Woman puts salmon filet in a cold oven, then turns on the heat to 400 degrees and cooks for 25 minutes. Both preparations couldn’t be more simple! I hope you enjoy.
Crispy Dijon Chicken Sandwiches

When I was growing up we loved going to Burger King and instead of getting a burger we often got their “healthier” (ha!) chicken sandwiches on a roll. They were so simple but so delicious. And, because they were several dollars a sandwich and my parents had 4 teenagers at once with big appetites, it added up. My mom recreated it at home for much cheaper and included it in our family collection of recipes. Using organic chicken- which I would- would definitely not make this more affordable, but certainly worth making for my family to satisfy my fond childhood memory.

The only tip I would give is to put your pan in the oven to get really hot and when your chicken is ready to go in the oven, pull your pan out, grease it with olive oil (my mom would use more butter) and quickly place your prepared chicken on the hot pan and put it back in the oven. I tried this with breaded eggplant recently and it produced the most crispy coating- I am certain it would work great with this recipe.

PS- the recipe below would be for boneless, skinless chicken. Using “thin cut” chicken breasts would be a good idea as well. I recently saw this organic option at the store.

Shrimp Tacos with Pickled Red Onion

This is hardly a recipe either, but one of the easiest dinners that I can quickly make and always have the ingredients on hand is shrimp tacos. I keep a bag of frozen shrimp in the freezer (Trader Joe’s), tortillas in the refrigerator, and a packet of taco seasoning (Trader Joe’s brand is a great one) in the pantry. I toss 1 lb of defrosted shrimp in half a packet of taco seasoning, put a little oil in a hot pan and saute the shrimp for about 3 minutes and then turn over and saute for another minute or two. A few pieces of cooked shrimp, a little shredded lettuce topped with a mixture of Greek yogurt and sriracha sauce wrapped with a corn or flour tortilla is pretty delicious.

If we are feeling fancy on a particular Taco Tuesday evening, I’ll do a quick batch of pickled red onions to sit while I’m sauteing the shrimp and heating up some frozen corn and a can of black beans as a side. My kids eat these pickled onions right out of the jar. I follow the recipe exactly with the exception of the vinegar- I prefer using red wine vinegar but almost any vinegar besides the big jug of white distilled vinegar would work great. Apparently it has too strong of a flavor for the best pickled red onion. It’s a super quick- dinner on the table- in 20 minutes.

PS: Thaw frozen shrimp quickly in a colander placed in the sink with cold water running over it for a few minutes. Be sure to take a shorter shower that day to make up for the wasted water- sorry. It’s the only way and I have no good use for shrimp water so it goes down the drain.