Thyme for                         Cooking

Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Grilled Lamb Chops Dijon
Grilled Potato, Onion and Gruyère Packets
Roasted Asparagus with Balsamic/Soy Glaze  
Cooking time:  40 cooking time for menu
Cooking schedule: see below for "menu" instructions

Spinach and Strawberry Salad                                      Time: 15 minutes

Fresh spinach - 1 package, 6 - 8 oz (200gr)  enough for 2
1  - 1 1/2 cup strawberries
Vinaigrette

Wash spinach if necessary, tear and put into a large salad bowl.  Slice strawberries if large, or cut in half and add to spinach.  Add vinaigrette and gently toss.  Add some freshly ground pepper and serve.

Vinaigrette 

2 tbs white or regular Balsamic vinegar
2 tsp sugar
4 tbs olive oil, the good stuff
1 tbs sesame seeds
1/8 tsp dry mustard

Put all ingredients in a small bowl and whisk well.

Lamb Chops Dijon                                                         Time - 20 minutes

4 - 6 center-cut lamb chops - depending on size
1 tbs oil
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp rosemary
2 tbs Dijon mustard

Mix oil, garlic powder, rosemary and mustard and brush on both sides of chops.  Set aside for 15 minutes.  Cook on barbecue grill for 2 - 5 minutes a side depending on thickness and desired degree of doneness (I don't know if that is a word - but you get the idea).  We do ours on a hot grill 2 minutes per side for medium rare.  When you think they might be close take one off, cut into center and peak.  You can always put them back on to cook more - you cannot undo...  When done to your liking remove from heat and serve.  Or you can sauté in non-stick skillet for about the same amount of time - or until done.

Potato and Onion Packets with Gruyère                         Time: 30-45 minutes

2 medium potatoes
1 medium sweet or red onion
1 piece Gruyère cheese - about 4 oz (125gr)
olive oil
1/2 tsp rosemary, dried
aluminum foil - heavy duty (or use a double sheet)

Thinly slice potatoes, onions (cut in half first) and cheese - about 1/16 inch.  Lightly oil 2 square (as long as the package is wide) sheets of aluminum foil.  Place 2 slices of potato side by side, place an onion slice halfway on the potatoes in the middle and 1 slice of cheese on the onion slice.  Overlap 2 more potato slices, onion and cheese - repeating until you have used 1 potato and half the onion and cheese - or until you think you have enough.  You should end up with 2 rows of vegetables - 2 potato slices wide and about 5 inches long.  Sprinkle rosemary over the top.  Fold foil over, the 2 long sides first then the short (don't worry about a tight wrap - we want steam to escape) and put on barbecue grill for 25 - 30 minutes - Do NOT turn over.  When done, potatoes and onions should be cooked through and the cheese will have melted and formed a golden crust under the potatoes. To serve carefully slip spatula under cheese - trying not to tear the foil and to maintain the shape of the potato/onion packet.  Lay on plates and enjoy!

Note: Can be baked at 400F for 30 minutes - just put packets on rack in middle of oven...you won't get the nice, crispy cheese, though.  Mon mari loves this - 2 reasons:  He actually loves the potatoes and there are no pans to wash (he is in charge of cleanup).

Baked Asparagus Balsamic    Time: 20 min. for green, 30 for white longer if they are huge!

16oz (500gr) asparagus
olive oil
1 tbs good olive oil
2 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Balsamic vinegar

Snap off ends of asparagus.  If white use vegetable peeler and peel bottom half of stalk.  Put a drizzle of oil on a baking sheet - one with a lip all around.  I use a pizza pan.  Roll the asparagus in oil (use your fingers!).  Put in the oven at 400F (200C), tips facing the oven door.  Bake for 15 - 25 minutes. In small bowl whisk olive oil, soy sauce and vinegar.  When asparagus is done, put on a serving dish, drizzle with olive oil mixture and serve.
                                                                                                       top of page

Cooking Schedule: 40 minutes
Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes
Turn oven on
Turn on/light barbecue grill if using
Thinly slice onions
Thinly slice potatoes
Thinly slice cheese
Cut and oil foil
Arrange potatoes, onions and cheese on foil
Finish packets and start to cook
Trim asparagus
Oil asparagus and start to bake
Wash and dry spinach
Trim and slice strawberries
Mix garlic, oil, rosemary and mustard

Brush mustard mix on chops, set aside
Mind the potatoes
Mix oil, vinegar and soy for asparagus
Make vinaigrette for salad
Move potatoes away from heat, still on grill, let rest
Toss salad and serve
Relax and enjoy
Remove potatoes
Start to cook chops
Remove asparagus and toss with sauce
Turn chops
Remove potato/onion from packets
Put potato/onion on plates
Remove chops
Serve everything ... Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Cooking for Two?  Or more? 
Our Weekly Menu Planner Service gives you healthy, gourmet dinners, carefully planned to eliminate waste and insure a wide variety of seasonal, wholesome foods each week. 

All text and images are copyright © 2005 - 2007 Kathleen Lerum Zeller.
All rights reserved unless otherwise indicated

 

Easy Recipes
         Great Dinners
                    We do the planning; You do a bit of cooking

Menu for the week of May 25, 2007

Saturday's Recipes