Orzo Pasta Salad

Ok so I haven't made this one before I've only eaten it! I got the recipe from my aunt, Erin, who is a VERY good cook! This is so good I could eat all of this by myself! Thanks Erin!

1 box orzo pasta cooked according to package directions.
diced up bell peppers (I usually use one red, one orange and one yellow)
Diced up carrots
diced purple onion
crumbled feta cheese
toasted pine nuts
chopped fresh basil


Dressing:


Juice on one or two lemons
1/2 cup olive oil
pepper
garlic salt


Mix above ingredients together and toss with dressing


*all of the ingredients are estimates. You can add as little or as much of any ingredient. I just keep tasting until I think its right. Some lemons are not juicy so you need more. I usually add the feta, pine nuts, and basil very last.

French Onion Soup

This is a recipe form the show take home chef it's really good if you like French Onion Soup!

Serves 6

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons/30 ml olive oil
6 onions (about 3 pounds/1.4 g total), thinly sliced
4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 large sprigs fresh thyme
1 bay leaf
½ cup/110 ml dry red wine
½ cup/110 ml sherry
8 cups/2 liters good quality beef stock
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
6 3/4-inch-/2-cm-thick slices sourdough bread
6 ounces/175 g Gruyère cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons/about 5 g thinly sliced fresh flat leaf parsley

Method:

To prepare the soup and toast:

Place a heavy based large pot over a moderate heat. Drizzle the olive oil into the hot pot and add the onions.

Cook the onions for 1 hour or until they are golden, stirring often. Once the onions become very soft they will begin to stick to the bottom of the pot and turn a caramel brown color. As this occurs, scrape the browned onions from the bottom of the pot and stir them into the remaining onion mixture.

Add the garlic, thyme and bay leaf to the onions and cook for 5 minutes or until the garlic softens. Add the red wine and sherry and stir to scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 5 minutes or until the liquids reduce by half.

Add the stock and bring the soup to a gentle simmer, skimming any foam that rises to the top, if necessary. Season the soup lightly with salt and pepper. Add just a bit of salt and pepper here, but not too much since the soup will reduce as it simmers and the flavors will become more concentrated.

Allow the soup to simmer uncovered for 25 minutes. Season the soup to taste with salt and pepper. Meanwhile, preheat the broiler on high. Arrange the sourdough bread slices on a baking sheet and broil for 2 minutes or until golden brown on top.

To serve:

Divide the soup among 6 high sided ovenproof serving bowls. Place the bowls of soup on a heavy baking sheet. Place one bread slice, toasted side down, on top of each bowl of soup.

Divide the cheese among the soup bowls and sprinkle with parsley. Place the soup bowls under the broiler for about 3 minutes or until the cheese melts and is golden brown. Remove from the broiler and serve.

Turkey with Herbes de Provence and Citrus

This turkey recipe, courtesy Giada De Laurentis, is awesome, but it is the gravy that is amazing! This is a great alternative to traditional turkey! I don't put the neck or giblets in it grosses me out, but if you'd like to go for it!


1 (14 to 15-pound) turkey, neck and giblets reserved
1 orange, cut into wedges
1 lemon, cut into wedges
1 onion, cut into wedges
6 fresh rosemary sprigs
6 fresh sage sprigs
6 fresh oregano sprigs
7 tablespoons unsalted butter
2 tablespoons herbes de Provence
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
6 cups canned low-salt chicken broth (approximate amount)
1/3 cup all-purpose flour

To make the turkey: Position the rack in the lowest third of the oven and preheat to 400 degrees F.
Rinse the turkey and pat it dry with paper towels. Place the turkey on a rack set inside a large roasting pan. Place the orange and lemon wedges, onion, and 2 sprigs of each fresh herb in the main turkey cavity. Tie the legs together to hold the shape of the turkey. Stir 2 tablespoons of butter, the herbes de Provence, oil, and 1 1/2 teaspoons of each the salt and pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat just until the butter melts. Rub the butter mixture all over the turkey and between the turkey breast meat and skin. Place the turkey neck and giblets in roasting pan. (Recipe can be prepared up to this point 1 day ahead. Cover and refrigerate. Let stand at room temperature 30 minutes before roasting.)

Cover the turkey breast with foil. Roast for 20 minutes. Pour 3 cups of broth into the pan and stir to scrape up any brown bits on the bottom of the pan. Add the remaining sprigs of fresh herbs to the pan. Roast the turkey for 40 minutes. Reduce the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the foil from the turkey; pour 1 more cup of broth into the pan. Continue roasting the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers 165 degrees F to 175 degrees F or until the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a skewer, basting occasionally with pan juices, about 1 hour and 30 minutes longer. Transfer the turkey to a platter and tent with foil. Let stand 30 minutes while preparing the gravy.

To make the gravy: Strain the turkey pan juices from the roasting pan through a sieve and into a 4-cup glass measuring cup; discard the solids. Spoon off the fat from atop the pan juices. Add enough chicken broth, about 1 to 2 cups, to the pan juices to measure 4 cups total. Melt the remaining butter in a heavy large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the broth. Simmer until the gravy thickens slightly, whisking often, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Serve the turkey with the gravy.