Chai latte

• 1 cinnamon stick
• 4 cloves
• 2 white peppercorns
• 12 cardamom pods, cracked
• 2 teabags black tea
• milk
• sugar

Fill small saucepan with water.  Add spices.  Bring to a vigorous boil.  Turn off heat.  After it stops boiling, add teabags and steep for a while.  Remove spices and teabags.

To prepare a cup of chai, heat half a mug of milk and ladle in tea to fill.  Sweeten to taste.

Penne with vodka cream sauce

• EVOO
• 1/4 small onion, finely chopped, and/or 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• pinch crushed red pepper
• 3 TBS vodka
• 14 oz. can chopped or crushed tomatoes
• salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/4-3/8 c. heavy cream
• 1/4 c. grated parmesan
• 10 basil leaves, torn
• 8 oz. penne, cooked according to package directions

Saute onion and garlic until soft.  Add red pepper and saute briefly.  Deglaze pan with vodka.

Add tomato, salt, and black pepper.  Bring to a simmer.  Simmer ~8 min.

Blend with immersion blender if used chopped rather than crushed tomatoes.

Add cream, parmesan, and basil.  Reheat to almost a simmer.

Combine sauce and pasta.

Notes:
Maybe add more garlic.  Consider substituting white wine for some of the vodka (or in addition to the vodka).  Parmesan amount is a guesstimate; figure out correct amount.

Bay scallops gremolata

(modified from http://www.framedcooks.com/2009/11/bay-scallops-gremolata.html)

• 1 large red potato, finely diced
• EVOO
• 1 lb bay scallops
• zest of 1 small lemon
• juice of 1 small lemon (or a bit less)
• 2 very large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 c. chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper

Saute potatoes in EVOO until golden brown, 10-15 min.  Remove from skillet.

Add more oil to skillet as needed.  Add scallops and cook, stirring constantly, until lightly seared (2-3 min).

Add lemon zest and garlic and cook 1 min more.  Return potatoes to skillet with parsley and stir to blend.  Add lemon juice and season with salt and pepper.

Penne with bacon, pecans, snap peas, and goat cheese

(modified from http://www.framedcooks.com/2012/05/linguine-with-bacon-goat-cheese-and-sugar-snap-peas.html)

• 4-8 slices bacon, cut into 1/2" pieces
• 1/2 c. pecans
• whole wheat penne, 8 oz or 1 box
• 2 c. snap peas, cut in half diagonally
• 2 scallions (green parts), sliced
• couple TBS EVOO
• zest of 1 lemon
• goat cheese crumbles

Cook bacon until crispy.  Remove and drain on paper towels, leaving bacon grease in pan.

Cook pecans in bacon grease until toasted.  Remove and drain on paper towels.  After somewhat cooled, chop medium to fine.

Cook pasta according to package directions.  2-3 minutes before pasta is done, add snap peas and finish cooking.  Drain pasta and peas.

Put pasta and peas in a large bowl.  Add bacon, scallions, EVOO, and lemon zest and toss to combine.  Top each serving with chopped pecans and goat cheese.

Baked chicken with yogurt and parmesan

(from http://www.mykitchenescapades.com/2012/07/parmesan-chicken-bake.html)

• 6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 c. Greek yogurt
• 1/2 c. fresh grated parmesan, plus more for sprinkling
• 1.5 tsp seasoning salt
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9x13" pan.  Lay chicken inside pan.

Mix remaining ingredients and spread evenly over chicken, covering all exposed meat.  Sprinkle with a bit more parmesan.

Bake for 45 minutes.

Quinoa salad with strawberries, pecans, prosciutto, and feta

(modified from http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2013/04/quinoa-salad-with-strawberries-crispy.html)

Dressing:

• 2 scallions, white parts only, finely minced
• 3 TBS olive oil
• 1 TBS lemon juice
• 1 TBS apple cider vinegar
• 1 tsp lemon zest (optional?)
• pinch of salt
• freshly ground black pepper to taste

Salad:

• 1 c. cooked quinoa, preferably chilled
• 4 oz prosciutto (or a bit less), torn into small pieces
• 1 TBS EVOO
• 1 c. pecans, toasted
• 1 c. quartered strawberries
• couple c. baby spinach
• 1 c. crumbled feta

Combine all dressing ingredients and whisk well to combine.  Set aside.

Fry prosciutto in EVOO until crispy.

Toss all salad ingredients except dressing and feta.  Add dressing to taste and toss.  Add feta and toss.

Chai-spiced bread

(modified from http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/chai-spiced-bread/7c2b23e7-aff8-4a67-97bf-2460023ae6e3 )

• 3/4 c. sugar
• 1/2 c. butter or margarine, softened
• 1/2 c. strong tea
• 1/3 c. milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 eggs
• 2 c. flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cardamom
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp cloves
• cinnamon sugar for sprinkling

Heat oven to 400.  Grease a loaf pan (bottom only?).

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy.  Mix in wet ingredients until well combined.  Stir in dry ingredients just until moistened.  Spread in pan and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

Bake until passes toothpick test.  Start checking at 30 minute point.  Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove from pan.