Kathy Quadrato Recipes

CREAMY LEMON-PEPPER ORZO WITH GRILLED CHICKEN

Steps:

• Bring a pot of water to a boil; prepare a grill or grill pan for medium heat.
• Whisk together the yogurt, garlic, lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of the oil and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper in a medium bowl until well combined.
• Rub the chicken thighs with the remaining 1 teaspoon oil and sprinkle with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Grill until nicely marked and cooked through, 10 to 12 minutes per side. Transfer to a cutting board and let stand for at least 5 minutes.
• Add the orzo to the boiling water and cook according to the package directions for al dente, stirring in the peas during the last minute of cooking. Drain the orzo and peas, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid. Stir the orzo and peas into the yogurt mixture, along with the goat cheese, 3 tablespoons of the herbs and at least 3/4 cup of the cooking liquid, until well combined. Transfer to a platter.
• Thinly slice the chicken and arrange on top of the orzo. Sprinkle with the lemon zest and the remaining 1 tablespoon herbs.

LINGUINE WITH FIRECRACKER SHRIMP

Steps:

• Mince garlic, grate ginger and place in small bowl with Sherry, oyster sauce, vinegar, chili paste and tomato paste; mix well.
• Rinse peas, and pull out the strings. Wash and trim zucchini and cut into 1/4-inch cubes.
• Put on water for linguine.
• Heat a nonstick skillet to hot; add oil, and reduce heat to medium.
• Stir peas and zucchini into hot oil, and stir fry for about one minute.
• Add the garlic and ginger mixture to the vegetables, and mix well to coat. Remove from heat.
• Cook linguine.
• Wash, trim and slice scallions.
• Return vegetables and sauce to heat, and add shrimp, stirring long enough to heat shrimp through. Season with salt.
• Drain linguine, and stir into sauce, mixing well. Serve sprinkled with scallions.

ZUCCHINI MEATBALLS

Steps:

• For the meatballs: Add the chopped zucchini to salted boiling water for 4 minutes. Drain the excess water from the zucchini. Transfer the zucchini to a baking dish and allow to cool. Squeeze out the excess water from the boiled zucchini.
• In a mixing bowl, add the zucchini, scamorza cheese, Pecorino cheese, fresh mint leaves, eggs, and bread crumbs. Mix well until the ingredients are evenly distributed. With your hands, shape the meatballs into the size of golf balls. Coat the meatballs in the bread crumbs.
• Heat olive oil in a deep frying pan. Gently place the meatballs into the hot oil and let fry until golden and crispy. Transfer to a plate lined with an absorbent paper towel to drain the excess oil. Serve with the tomato salad.
• To make the tomato salad: Add the cherry tomatoes, basil, and salt to a bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and mix together.

EGGPLANT PARMESAN STACKS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Season eggplant with salt. Heat 1 cup oil (about 1/4 inch) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Working in batches, so as to not crowd the skillet, fry eggplant rounds, turning once, until soft and pale golden, 1 to 1 1/2 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.
• Heat remaining 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook 20 seconds (do not let brown). Add tomatoes and 1 teaspoon salt. Cook, stirring frequently, until tomatoes break down and are soft, 10 to 15 minutes. Stir in oregano and basil. (Alternatively, stir oregano and basil into 1 1/4 cups Freezable Tomato Sauce Base.)
• Place 6 slices of eggplant on a rimmed baking sheet. Top each slice with 1 tablespoon sauce and a few pieces of mozzarella, and sprinkle with 2 teaspoons Parmesan. Repeat layering twice.
• Bake until heated through and cheese is bubbling, about 12 minutes. Serve immediately, garnished with oregano and Parmesan shavings.

CREAM CHEESE CLAM DIP

Steps:

• In a blender or food processor, combine the first six ingredients; cover and process until smooth. Serve with crackers and vegetables.

PINEAPPLE BREAD SOUFFLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 6x10 inch baking dish.
• Cream the butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time. Stir in the bread cubes and pineapple until well blended. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the top.
• Bake in preheated oven until bread points on top are golden brown, 45 to 60 minutes. Cool before serving.