1 1/2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined (tails removed)
Coarse salt and ground pepper
6 teaspoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 can (14 1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes in juice
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1/2 pound linguine
1 1/2 cups lightly packed fresh basil leaves, torn into small pieces, plus extra leaves for garnish (optional)
Season shrimp with salt and pepper. In a large skillet, heat 4 teaspoons oil over high. Add shrimp; cook until opaque throughout, turning occasionally, 3 minutes. Transfer to a bowl; set aside.
Make sauce: To the same skillet, add remaining 2 teaspoons oil and garlic; cook over medium heat until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add canned tomatoes and their juice, along with 2 cups water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, stirring occasionally, until tomatoes have softened and are saucy, about 15 minutes. Remove sauce from heat; stir in cherry tomatoes.
Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain; return pasta to pot. Add tomato sauce, shrimp, and basil; season with salt and pepper, and toss. Serve immediately, garnished with basil leaves, if desired.
Shrimp, Tomato, and Basil Pasta
Chopped Salad with Spicy Pork and Buttermilk Dressing
1/2 teaspoon chipotle chile powder
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pork tenderloin (about 1 pound)
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
3 tablespoons light mayonnaise
2 scallions, whites minced and greens thinly sliced, separated
1 garlic clove, crushed through a press
1 head romaine lettuce (1 1/4 pounds), trimmed and chopped
1 pint cherry tomatoes, quartered
1 package (10 ounces) frozen corn kernels, thawed and patted dry
2 ounces pepper Jack cheese, cubed
Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. In a small bowl, combine chile powder, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Place pork on prepared baking sheet; rub with spice mixture.
Broil pork until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part registers 145 degrees, 14 to 16 minutes, turning twice during cooking. Let pork rest 10 minutes, then cut into bite-size chunks.
Make dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together buttermilk, mayonnaise, scallion whites, and garlic; season with salt and pepper.
Add romaine, tomatoes, corn, cheese, scallion greens, and pork to the bowl. Toss to combine, and serve immediately.
Beef Stir-Fry with Snap Peas
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 cup long-grain white rice
1 pound sirloin steak, thinly sliced crosswise, halved if long
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
12 ounces snap peas, strings removed
5 to 6 scallions, white and green parts separated, thinly sliced diagonally
1 tablespoon grated peeled fresh ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice (from about 1 lime)
In a medium saucepan with a lid, bring 2 cups salted water to a boil. Add rice; return to a boil. Stir once, and reduce to a simmer. Cover, and cook until rice is tender, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from heat; let stand, covered, 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.
Ten minutes before rice is done, place steak in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with cornstarch, and season with salt and pepper; toss to coat. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Cook half the steak until browned on one side, 1 to 2 minutes (steak will cook further in step 3); transfer to a plate. Repeat with remaining beef.
Add snap peas, white part of scallions, ginger, red-pepper flakes, and 3/4 cup water to skillet; season with salt and pepper. Cook until snap peas turn bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Return steak to skillet until cooked through, 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat, and mix in green part of scallions and lime juice. Serve with rice.
Spinach and Brie Chicken with Tomato Orzo
Recipe by Everyday-Food
Coarse salt and ground pepper
8 thin chicken cutlets (1 1/2 pounds total)
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 package (10 ounces) frozen leaf spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
4 ounces Brie cheese, cut into 8 slices
1 cup orzo
2 plum tomatoes, cored and chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Set a large saucepan of salted water to boil. Heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. Place chicken on a large rimmed baking sheet lined with aluminum foil. Dividing evenly, spread one side of each cutlet with mustard; top with spinach, then cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Starting at short end, roll chicken up tightly, and arrange, seam side down, on sheet.
Season rolled chicken with salt and pepper. Broil, without turning, until tops are lightly browned and chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook orzo in boiling water until al dente. Drain well; return to pot. Add tomatoes, parsley, butter, and lemon juice. Season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Serve stuffed chicken with orzo.
Chicken Fried Rice
1 cup long-grain white rice
2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (12 ounces total)
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large eggs
2 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced on the diagonal
1 teaspoon grated and peeled fresh ginger
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper, (about 1 small pepper)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1/2 cup homemade or low-sodium store-bought chicken stock
1 cup snow peas, trimmed, sliced on the diagonal into thirds
Cook rice according to package instructions; set aside. Pound breasts with a mallet until 1/4 inch thick. Cut into strips (each 3 inches long and 1/2 inch wide). Season with salt and pepper.
Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Cook chicken until just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
Reduce heat to medium; add remaining tablespoon oil. Add eggs; just as whites begin to set, stir to scramble. Add scallions and ginger; cook 1 minute. Add reserved rice and bell pepper; cook 2 minutes. Stir together soy sauce, sugar, and stock; add to skillet. Add snow peas and reserved chicken; cook until heated through, about 3 minutes
Broiled Soy-Glazed Pork with Rice and Asian Vegetables
1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
8 ounces snow peas, trimmed
2 medium carrots, halved lengthwise and thinly sliced on the diagonal
2 red bell peppers (ribs and seeds removed), thinly sliced
1 bunch scallions, ends trimmed, cut crosswise into 3-inch lengths
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, such as safflower
1/4 cup soy sauce
Coarse salt and ground pepper
1 pork tenderloin (1 to 1 1/4 pounds), halved crosswise
1/4 cup honey
Cook rice according to package instructions; cover, and set aside. Meanwhile, heat broiler, with rack set 4 inches from heat. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss snow peas, carrots, bell peppers, and scallions with oil and 2 tablespoons soy sauce; season with salt and pepper.
Place pork on top of vegetables, and season with salt, pepper, and 1 tablespoon honey. Broil until pork and vegetables begin to char, 6 to 8 minutes. Toss vegetables, and turn pork; drizzle pork with 1 tablespoon honey.
Continue to broil until an instant-read thermometer inserted in thickest part of pork registers 145 degrees and vegetables are charred in spots, 6 to 8 minutes, tossing vegetables once more. Remove from broiler. Cover with aluminum foil, and let rest, 10 minutes.
In a small bowl, make sauce: Stir together remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce and honey. Thinly slice pork, and serve with vegetables, rice, and sauce.
Teriyaki Chicken Wings
4 chicken wings (about 10 ounces), separated at joint
Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
1/4 cup long-grain white rice
1 cup small broccoli florets
Heat broiler with rack 4 inches from heat. Arrange wings on an aluminum-foil-lined rimmed baking sheet (for easy cleanup); season with salt and pepper. Broil, turning once, until lightly browned and tender, about 20 minutes.
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, honey, and vinegar. Reserve 2 tablespoons for dipping.
Remove wings from broiler; brush with remaining sauce. Return to broiler, turning and brushing with sauce twice, until browned and glazed, 2 to 4 minutes. Brush with pan juices before serving.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, bring 1/2 cup water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil; add rice and stir. Cover; reduce heat to low, and simmer 15 minutes. Scatter broccoli over rice; cover, and cook 5 minutes. Remove from heat without removing lid. Set aside to steam, off heat, 10 minutes.
Using a fork, gently fluff rice, mixing with broccoli. Serve wings with broccoli rice and reserved sauce on the side.
