Recipe (Re)creation: Fried Egg and Avocado Pita

This is what I would consider a weekend creation that is easy enough for a weekday and perfect for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.  It's sort of like the all-purpose meal and is the ultimate comfort food.  It was inspired by an avocado that was sitting in our fruit bowl looking perfectly ripe and ready to eat.  It was given to my husband by a coworker whose family has an avocado farm, so I knew this was going to be amazingly fresh and I wanted to put it to good use.  While scouring recipes and ideas, I came across this one on What Gaby's Cooking. I just tweaked the quantities and proportions a bit and it was an instant hit.  The citrusy smashed avocado blends perfectly with the creamy yolk, and the best part is: it can all be sopped up with the pita.  One bite of this takes me straight to my happy place- whether it's the weekend or not.

Ingredients:

• 1 small ripe avocado
• 1/4 of a lemon
• 2 fresh eggs
• 2 pitas
• salt & pepper

Directions:

-In a bowl, mash the avocado until it is fairly smooth.  

-Squeeze with a little bit of lemon and season with salt and pepper.

-Meanwhile, heat up pitas, either in the oven or in a toaster.

-Heat a non-stick skillet over medium low heat.

-Crack an egg into a cup and gently pour into the skillet.  

-Cook until whites are set and the edges of the egg start to brown.

-Repeat with the second egg and set aside.

-Spread each warmed pita with avocado, and top with a fried egg.

-Season with salt and pepper.

*Optional- for an added kick, top with hot sauce or red chili flakes.

Restaurant (Re)creation: Tartine's Kale Caesar

The bread at Tartine Bakery is legendary and sells out within an hour almost every day.  While I LOVE their bread, I am still of the mindset that I would rather buy it than make it.  So buy it I do!  The best part is, you don't have to eat it all in one day one at the risk of having to throw it out once it is no longer fresh.  Their day-old bread is perfect for homemade croutons.  Really any day-old high quality bread will do.  These croutons pair perfectly with most salads, but especially this kale caesar below.  I just got Red Russian Kale delivered in my vegetable box from Albert & Eve and it was the perfect incentive to try out this recipe.  I got it straight from The Tartine Bread Cookbook, and made just one small change.  I used fewer anchovies in the dressing than the recipe calls for, since I'm not a huge anchovy fan, but other than that, it's true to the original.  The recipe is fairly simple, healthy, and the perfect addition to a weekday meal.  Plus, you don't have to wait in long line at Tartine to enjoy this- you can have it in the comfort or your own kitchen.  What could be better?

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

For the croutons:

• 4 slices day-old country bread (or any rustic baguette)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt

For the Caesar dressing:

• 2 lemons
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• 5 olive oil-packed anchovy fillets
• 1 large egg yolk
• Salt
• 2 cups olive oil

For the salad:

• 2 lbs kale, center stem removed
• 2/3 cup shaved aged parmesan

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.  Tear bread into 1 1/2 inch chunks and toss with olive oil and a pinch of salt.

Spread the bread evenly on a baking sheet and bake for about 12 minutes, or until golden brown.  Remove from head and set aside.

To make the dressing, grate the zest from 1 lemon.  Put the garlic, anchovies, and lemon zest in a mortar and pestle and pound to make a thick paste.

Add the egg yolk, a pinch of salt, and a squeeze of lemon juice and stir to combine.  While stirring, pour in 1/2 cup of the oil a little bit at a time.  The mixture should look smooth and creamy.  Continue adding the oil as you stir until the dressing thickens, adding squeezes of lemon periodically.  Add salt and lemon juice to taste and add water (one spoonful at a time) until dressing thins to the consistency of heavy cream.

Combine kale and croutons in a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over the kale and toss.  Top with Parmesan and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Tartine Bakery
600 Guerrero Street
San Francisco, CA
(415) 487-2600
www.tartinebakery.com

Recipe (Re)creation: Gwyneth's Chicken Paillard

I am not a huge fan of chicken.  There are so many chicken recipes that are boring or bland so I'm usually turned off.  However, if I'm going to have chicken, there are three preparations I like: roasted chicken, chicken spiedini, and chicken paillard.  Of the three, chicken paillard is by far the easiest and it  is so juicy and delicious.  I based this recipe on a recipe that Gwyneth Paltrow shared on her blog GOOP.  Its beautiful in its simplicity and the flavors are all clean and pair with one another seamlessly.  I served the chicken over a simple arugula salad with shaved pecorino, sliced cherry tomatoes, olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.  Its a perfect little one-dish wonder and literally takes 5 minutes to cook!

Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 1 tablespoon flour
• Olive oil
• 1/2 lemon
• Salt & pepper 

Directions:

Place the chicken breasts between two sheets of parchment paper or saran wrap.  

Pound the cutlets with a heavy pan until they are about 1/4 inch thick.  

Season both sides of the cutlets with salt, pepper, and a small amount of flour.

Coat the surface of a skillet with olive oil and put on medium to high heat. 

Cook each chicken breast for 2-3 minutes on each side.  

The skin should start to crisp up and brown but the inside should be tender and juicy.  

Serve over a a simple arugula salad (see above).

Simply delicious!