Raw Vegetable Salad And Big Blue Dipper Recipes

BIG BLUE BURGERS

Steps:

• Combine first 4 ingredients and divide meat into 4 equal amounts. When forming each patty, nestle a pile of blue cheese crumbles into the center of the meat, and gently form patty around cheese.
• Brush or drizzle burgers with extra-virgin olive oil and grill on indoor electric grill preheated to high for 7 to 8 minutes on each side. On an outdoor grill, cook 6 minutes on each side 6 inches from hot coals or over medium high gas flame with the grill lid closed. For preparation with no additional oil, broil 4 inches from broiler 7 minutes on each side.
• Serve burgers on split rolls with lettuce, tomato, and blue cheese dressing.

SICILIAN CHUNK VEGETABLE SALAD

Steps:

• Steam green beans over pasta water if preparing the above recipe, or simmer beans in 1-inch of boiling water for 3 minutes. Drain green beans, run under cold water to cool off and chop them into thirds. Combine all salad ingredients in a bowl and toss. Dress salad with vinegar, oil, salt and pepper and serve.

"BIG NIGHT" APPETITE

Steps:

• Place water on to boil for pasta. Gather ingredients.
• Heat Dutch oven or deep skillet with lid over high heat, add EVOO, 2 turns of the pan, then add meats and brown and crumble the meat. Meanwhile, peel and finely chop onion, slice or grate garlic and strip and chop rosemary (2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons once chopped). Add onions to meat and stir, then season with salt and pepper. Add garlic and rosemary, partially cover and cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomato paste and stir, then add red vermouth or wine and let it absorb. Add tomatoes and passata and reduce heat to low. Partially cover and simmer 15 minutes.
• Salt water and cook pasta a minute less than package directions, reserving 1/2 cup starchy cooking water. Toss drained pasta with three-quarters of the sauce and a couple handfuls of pecorino and the pasta water to combine, add a fat drizzle of EVOO, optional. Serve in shallow bowls or on platter topped with remaining meat sauce. Serve with Bruschetta with Ricotta and Walnuts and Escarole and Fennel Salad.
• Toast nuts on small pan in hot oven or in a skillet over moderate heat until browned and fragrant. Cool a bit, then grind in food processor.
• Strip the thyme and chop, about 3 tablespoons. Zest about 2 teaspoons of lemon zest and halve the lemon.
• In a small bowl combine the cheese, walnuts, 1 clove of grated or pasted garlic, lemon zest, juice of half the lemon (reserve the other half for another use) most of the thyme, salt and pepper, and a fat drizzle of EVOO (about 2 tablespoons). Transfer to serving bowl and top with remaining thyme.
• Char bread under hot broiler on high or over open flame on stove. Rub with cut clove of garlic, then drizzle bread with EVOO and sprinkle with flaky salt.
• Coarsely chop escarole. Very thinly slice or mandoline-slice fennel and red onion. Thinly slice celery on bias. Place salad in bowl and dress with lemon juice and EVOO, pecorino, salt and pepper.

RAW VEGGIES WITH CHIPOTLE RANCH DRESSING

Steps:

• In a food processor or blender, combine the mayonnaise, sour cream, parsley, dill, chives, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, vinegar, paprika, salt, cayenne, hot sauce, chipotle peppers and garlic. Add the buttermilk to the desired consistency and blend. Chill for a couple of hours before serving, thinning with more buttermilk if needed.
• Serve the carrots, celery and cucumbers with the dip.