Tag Archives: lemon recipes

Cilantro and Pistachio Couscous

Looking for that quick reliable side dish? Stop looking and make couscous the dish. I always have some sitting on my pantry shelf. It’s easy and delicious side dish that can be make in advance and served at room temperature . It’s perfect for summer menus. Below is a basic recipe I use, but it’s easy to get creative. For example,  pistachios can be replaced with walnuts, pine nuts or pecans. The cilantro can be replaced with other leafy green fresh herbs such as mint or basil. You can add dried fruits or even fresh corn or berries. I suggest adding to your pantry today and  to your menu this week .

From by the bay wishing you delicious couscous memories!
Maryann

Cilantro and Pistachio Couscous

Serves 6

1 ½ cups couscous

1 ½ cups boiling water

½ cup pistachios, chopped

½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped

1 tablespoons fine sea salt

½ teaspoon ground cumin

½ teaspoon ground coriander

6 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

Olive oil and cilantro leaves to garnish

Directions

In a large bowl place couscous, cover with boiling water and then cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let bowl sit for 10 minutes. Remove wrap and using a fork lift the couscous to make fluffy. Add the remaining ingredients and mix well. This can be served immediately or at room temperature. Just before serving add a drizzle of olive oil.

Lemon Bars

When I think of Mother’s Day, of course my own mother and grandmothers come to mind. Part of their legacy to me is my passion for cooking. I stood at their side just a little girl as an eager student. When I think of making this recipe for lemon bars, I think of my niece, eager at 6 years old , ready to learn to cook. My niece helped me every step of the way. Ashley squeezed the lemons, made the dough, her tiny fingers pressing the shortbread into the bottom of the pan.  I will never forget the look of pride on her face when the lemon bars were done and she served them to the family. Sharing my passion with my young niece was a very special way to celebrate Mother’s Day!

From by the bay wishing you all very special Mother’s Day food memories!
Maryann

blog lemon square

Lemon Bars
makes 9 bars or 18 small bites

Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup confectioner’s sugar, plus more for dusting bars
pinch salt
1 stick  unsalted butter softened, plus more for greasing

Filling:
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup fine sugar
1 tablespoon lemon zest
1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a non stick pan 8 by 8
Make the crust by combining  flour, confectioner’s sugar, salt into a bowl. Add butter and mix with your hands to make pea size crumbs.  Turn into the greased pan and press the dough down into the bottom of the pan covering it all. Place in oven and bake for 20 minutes. Take out and cool.
While crust is baking make filling by using an electric mixer to combine the eggs, sugar, zest, juice, flour and baking soda. Mix until smooth. Pour filling into baked crust and bake for 35 minutes until filling is set. Take out of the oven let cool and cut into 9 bars. Dust with confectioner’s sugar and serve.

Raspberry Citrus Cream

These happy little pots of cream and berries are the perfect springtime dessert! These little pots are a light end to a meal and utilizes the berries that start to become readily available this time of year. You can use blueberries as well for this recipe. It’s like being in Paris for the spring!


From by the bay wishing you very berry food memories!

Maryann


foodgawker berry creme

Raspberry Citrus Cream

Serves 4


Ingredients

½ pint raspberries

2 large eggs

1/3 cup fine sugar

1 tablespoon lemon juice

½ teaspoon lemon zest

½ cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon framboise liquor

Confectionary sugar for top


Directions

Preheat over to 300F. Use four 6 oz. ramekins and divide berries into each. Keep a few berries aside to garnish later. In a bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, lemon zest and juice until well combined.  Next add the cream and framboise liquor and whisk again until smooth. Pour mixture into the ramekins. Take a small roasting pan place ramekins into pan, enough hot water to reach half way up to the ramekins. Bake until set approximately 30 minutes. Serve warm or keep in refrigerator covered until ready to serve. Cream can be eaten cool. When serving shift some confectionary sugar on top and garnish with extra raspberries. 

 

Grilled Spicy Shrimp with Harissa Mayonnaise

Growing up if you asked me my favorite food , there was only one answer: Shrimp –  lots of it fried. i considered myself a fried shrimp connoisseur in those days. Although, i have really expanded my food horizons, shrimp is still one of my favorite foods and I am always looking for new ways to prepare them. I first tried Harissa, a spicy paste, on a buying trip to Paris and I have enjoyed experimenting with it as an ingredient ever since. You can find Harissa as a paste in either a tube or can from food specialty stores. It is from North Africa and it is made primarily of chili peppers and garlic along with cumin and coriander. It’s a great quick way to add heat to a dish. My favorite use is in this shrimp dish. The Harissa mayonnaise is also a great complement to potato fries, with grilled meats or to use on sandwiches.

From by the bay wishing you spicy food memories!

Maryann

 foodgawker harissa shrimp

Grilled Spicy Shrimp with Harissa Mayonnaise
Serves 4
1 lb Raw large shrimp, cleaned with tails
4 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoons Harissa Paste

2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Directions

Place all ingredients into a sealed plastic bag and marinate for at least 2 hours. Soak wooden skewers in water for one hour. Heat outdoor grill or grill pan, skewer shrimp and grill shrimp approximately 3-4 minutes per side until pink. Serve with Harissa mayonnaise.

Harissa Mayonnaise

1 cup mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Harissa Paste

1 tablespoon Ketchup

1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Place all ingredients in a bow, and mix well. Serve with grilled shrimp

Lemon Cilantro Coleslaw

blog coleslaw lemon

Lemon Cilantro Coleslaw

Serves 6-8

 

1 head cabbage finely shredded

1 carrot finely shredded
1/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup white vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

1/4 cup fine sugar

1 teaspoon fine sea salt

1/2 cup fresh cilantro and Italian parsley , finely chopped

2 large scallions finely chopped


Directions

In a large bowl place all ingredients and mix well. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill for at least 8 hours. This can be served cold or at room temperature.

Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce

When I was a little girl, my parents would entertain on New Year’s Eve at our home. The celebration only included my parent best friends along with us kids. We would be giddy with excitement as my mother made the preparations. I remember feeling very grown up at six year old being allowed to stay up past my bedtime, although for sure it was not very late. My mom would make an assortment of appetizers and hands down my favorite was the shrimp cocktail. Now when I entertain on New Year’s Eve, I wouldn’t think of not including shrimp cocktail. Today, my mom needs to follow a low sodium and low sugar diet. After reading the ingredients on prepared cocktail sauce, I decided to create my own. My sauce uses the ingredients for a bloody mary – save the vodka, although on New Year’s Eve I have been known to include a splash of vodka in this sauce as well. It’s a perfect twist on my Bloody Mary and it’s also perfect for my mom’s dietary restrictions. We all love it! This will be the best cocktail sauce you have ever had. 

 
From by the bay wishing you a very Happy New Year and may your 2012 be filled with happy food memories!
 
Maryann
blog shrimp cocktail
Bloody Mary Cocktail Sauce
 
Ingredients
3/4 cup organic low sodium ketchup
3 tablespoons grated horseradish
1/4 teaspoon tabasco sauce
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon vodka, optional
 
Directions
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill until ready to use. Serve with shrimp, crab or lobster.

Citrus Pistachio Pound Cake

This buttery pound cake is filled with the taste of fresh citrus for tang and green pistaschios for crunchy texture. This cake looks and taste like the sunhsine in Spring.  Enjoy this dessert and say good bye to winter!! No looking back.From by the bay wishing you tangy citrus food memories!
Maryann

 

Citrus Pistachio Pound Cake
Recipe published in Bon Appetit 2012 from The Tasting Room in Houston Texas
 
Ingredients
Nonstick vegetable oil spray
2 cups all-purpose flour plus more
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature
2 cups sugar
5 large eggs
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 tablespoons fresh orange juice
2 teaspoons finely grated orange zest
1 teaspoon finely grated lime zest
1 cup shelled, unsalted pistachios, coarsely chopped, divided
Directions
Arrange a rack in middle of oven; preheat to 325°. Coat a 9x5x3″ loaf pan with nonstick spray. Dust pan with flour; tap out excess.Whisk 2 cups flour, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Using an electric mixer, beat butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, 2–3 minutes. Add sugar; beat until well incorporated, 1–2 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating to blend between additions. Add juices and zests; beat until well combined (mixture will look curdled), 2–3 minutes. Add dry ingredients; reduce speed to low and beat just until blended. Fold in 3/4 cup pistachios. Pour batter into prepared pan; smooth top. Sprinkle remaining 1/4 cup pistachios over.Bake cake, rotating halfway through, until a tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 1/2 hours. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely in pan. Run a sharp knife around sides to loosen; unmold cake. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Store airtight at room temperature.