Florentine Salad Recipes

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375°. In a large bowl, combine 1 cup cheese, 1 cup crushed croutons, spinach and 1/2 cup salad dressing. Cut a pocket in the thickest part of each chicken breast; fill with cheese mixture., Place remaining dressing and crushed croutons in separate shallow bowls. Dip chicken in dressing, then roll in croutons., Transfer to a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, 30 minutes. Sprinkle with remaining cheese; bake 10-15 minutes longer or until a thermometer reads 170°.

Steps:

• Rub the garlic cloves over the meat and the bone of the steaks. Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator and allow seasoning to permeate the meat, for about 1 hour. Remove from the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before grilling, allowing the meat to come to room temperature.
• Place a grill pan over high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill the steaks until cooked to desired doneness, turning once, about 5 minutes per side for rare, 7 minutes per side for medium-rare. The key to getting those great grill marks is to place the steak down and not move them. After you flip them, do not shift the steaks.
• Allow the steaks to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing, otherwise all the juices will be run all over your cutting board. Run your knife along the bone and carve the meat off the bone. Slice the meat into 1-inch slices. Transfer the slices to a platter. Squeeze the lemon over the steaks. Drizzle with the oil and serve immediately with Grilled Vegetables.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush the vegetables with 1/4 cup of the oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions. Arrange the vegetables on a platter. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herb mixture over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables, warm or at room temperature.

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook orzo in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until cooked through but firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water.
• Mix orzo, spinach, chicken, tomatoes, pine nuts, sun-dried tomatoes, and capers in a large bowl.
• Whisk balsamic vinegar, olive oil, sugar, parsley, basil, garlic, oregano, salt, and pepper together in a bowl; drizzle over salad. Toss to coat. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over salad.

Steps:

• Position the rack in the center of the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Line a heavy large baking sheet with parchment paper. Stir the almonds, flour and zest in a medium bowl. Stir the sugar, butter, cream, and honey in a heavy medium saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves. Bring the mixture to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the almond mixture. Cool the batter for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Using 2 teaspoons of batter for each cookie, spoon 8 mounds of the batter onto the prepared baking sheet, spacing evenly apart (the cookies will spread). Flatten the batter slightly with your finger.
• Bake the cookies until they are lacy and golden brown, about 10 minutes. Gently slide the parchment paper with the cookies onto a rack and cool completely. Transfer the cookies to paper towels. Repeat with the remaining batter, lining the baking sheets with clean parchment for each batch. (The cookies can be made up to this point 2 months ahead. Cool completely, then store airtight in the freezer. Defrost before continuing.)
• Stir the chocolate in a bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water until the chocolate melts. Spread the melted chocolate over the bottom of 1 cookie. Top with a second cookie, bottom side down, pressing lightly to adhere. Repeat with the remaining cookies and chocolate.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F and place a sheet pan in the oven.
• Dry the fish on both sides with paper towels. Combine the flour, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper on a dinner plate. In a low, shallow bowl, whisk the eggs with 1 tablespoon water. Put the bread crumbs on another plate. Dredge the fish on both sides in the seasoned flour and dust off the excess. Dip both sides into the egg mixture and, finally, dredge both sides in the bread crumbs.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large (12-inch) saute pan and cook 2 fillets at a time over medium to medium-high heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Transfer the fish in one layer to the sheet pan in the oven. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the fillets, transferring them to the sheet pan as they're done. Toss the arugula with enough Lemon Vinaigrette to moisten. Place one fillet on each plate and pile the arugula salad on top. Heat the capers in the saute pan for 30 seconds and sprinkle over the fish and salad. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan, a squeeze of lemon juice, and the fleur de sel. Serve hot.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain and cool under cold running water. Drain thoroughly.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine pesto sauce and lemon juice.
• Add linguine; toss well.
• Add spinach, tomato, and onion; toss until coated well.
• Spoon onto individual plates or a large platter. Sprinkle w/ pine nuts and top w/ grated parmesan cheese.
• Serve immediately.

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine all salad ingredients in a bowl and toss.
• Drain pasta thoroughly and cool. Add to salad ingredients and toss.
• Whisk lemon juice and zest, mustard, honey, garlic, chives, basil, oil, and salt and pepper.
• Toss dressing with salad, top with shaved parmesan, and serve.

Steps:

• Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl and stir to mix.
• Toss together with pasta, chicken and spinach.
• Allow to rest for at least two hours before service.

Steps:

• Dissolve Jell-O in boiling water. Chill until almost set. Add all other ingredients. Pour into a lightly greased mold or pan. Chill until set. Cut into squares and serve on lettuce leaves.

Steps:

• Split all ingredients in half (have them ready at hand) and make half a batch at a time.
• Pour the lemon juice and garlic powder in the Kitchen-aide mixing bowl and, with the wire whip attachement, blend on setting #2 until the powder is completely dissolved, (about 5 minutes).
• Add the onions (and any juice), cayenne pepper, sugar, and salt. Blend on setting #2 for at least 20 minutes. Gradually add the oil as it is blending and continue to mix for the full 20 minutes (30 is better).
• In a large container, mix the two batches of dressing together. Stir continually as you bottle the dressing in smaller containers.
• Refrigerate until use -- always serve very cold on chilled salads.