Quick Recipes

Butternut Squash and Coconut Soup

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon peanut oil
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 1/2 cups soup stock
1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded and chopped
1 small jalapeno pepper, chopped
1 can coconut milk
1/2 cup chopped lemongrass (my note: can substitute lemon zest)
1/2 cup bottled fish sauce (my note: can substitute soy sauce, to taste)
juice of 1/2 lime
sugar to taste (start with 1 tablespoon)


Directions:
Heat oil in saucepan; add onion and garlic and saute until lightly browned. Add stock, squash and pepper; simmer until squash is cooked, 10-15 minutes. Add coconut milk, lemongrass, fish sauce, and sugar. Simmer (do not boil) 10-12 minutes. Puree and strain through a fine mesh strainer. Add lime juice and adjust to taste with sugar. Four servings




Cashew-Crusted Salmon with Bok Choy

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 salmon fillets
1/3 cup honey mustard
2 tablespoons onion flakes
Freshly ground black pepper
1/2 cup finely chopped dry-roasted cashews
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch bok choy, rinsed well and chopped

Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brush honey mustard all over salmon. Season both sides of salmon with onion flakes and black pepper. Place cashews in a shallow dish, add four of the salmon fillets and turn to coat.
Place all salmon fillets in hot skillet and cook 3 minutes per side, until fork-tender.
Heat remaining olive oil in separate large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and cook 1 minute. Add bok choy and cook 2 minutes, until greens wilt but stalks are still crisp-tender. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper





Poire Belle Helene

Ingredients

Poached pears
Chocolate ice cream
2 cups heavy cream, whipped
Chocolate sauce

To assemble the Poire Belle Helene, place a scoop of chocolate ice cream at the bottom use a sundae glass. Drizzle the chocolate sauce over the ice cream then place a pear on top. Drizzle more chocolate sauce on top of the pear, and top it with whipped cream and another drizzle of sauce.