Snowy Easter Menu

Snowy Easter Menu

If spring's not yet sprung in your neighborhood, warm up with this hearty Easter feast.


Rosemary Garlic Roast Leg of Lamb

This roast cooks with just a simple rub of rosemary and garlic; coarse salt goes on the second the lamb emerges from the oven.

Yield
8 servings (serving size: 3 ounces)

Ingredients

1 (3-pound) rolled boned leg of lamb, trimmed
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt

Preparation
Preheat oven to 450°.

Secure roast at 1-inch intervals with heavy string. Rub surface of roast with rosemary and garlic. Place roast on the rack of a broiler pan or roasting pan; insert a meat thermometer into thickest portion of roast. Bake at 450° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until thermometer registers 140° (medium-rare) to 155° (medium).

Sprinkle with salt. Place roast on a cutting board; cover loosely with foil. Let stand 10 minutes. (Temperature of roast will increase 5° upon standing.) Remove string before slicing.

Cooking Light December 2002


Golden Onion Strata with Gruyère and Prosciutto

We love the flavor and layered look of this strata, with paper-thin prosciutto providing a mere but welcome hint of salt. It's a perfect make-ahead dish for brunch.

Yield
8 servings

Ingredients

4 cups chopped Vidalia or other sweet onion
1 cup (4 ounces) very thin slices prosciutto or ham, chopped
1/3 cup water
2 1/2 cups fat-free milk
1/4 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
1 (8-ounce) carton egg substitute
8 cups (1/2-inch) cubed French bread (about 9 ounces)
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded Gruyère, Jarlsberg, or Swiss cheese

Preparation

Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and prosciutto, and sauté 5 minutes or until onion begins to brown. Add water; cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer 30 minutes. Uncover and simmer 30 minutes or until liquid almost evaporates. Cool.

Combine the milk, mustard, pepper, and egg substitute in a large bowl, and stir with a whisk until mixture is well-blended. Stir in the onion mixture. Add bread, tossing gently to coat.

Arrange half of the bread mixture in a single layer in an 11 x 7-inch baking dish. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese, and top with remaining bread mixture. Cover strata, and chill 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Uncover strata. Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese; bake an additional 20 minutes or until set.

Cooking Light May 2000


Barley Pilaf with Sautéed Mushrooms

The button mushrooms should be cooked in a cast-iron or heavy skillet instead of a nonstick skillet because you need high heat to get a nice browning. You could also use this hearty side dish as a filling for stuffed cabbage.

Yield
4 servings (serving size: 1 1/4 cups pilaf and about 1/4 cup mushrooms)

Ingredients

1/2 cup dried porcini mushrooms (about 1/2 ounce)
1 cup boiling water
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
3 cups chopped button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup finely chopped onion
2 1/4 cups water
1 cup uncooked pearl barley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 tablespoon butter
4 cups sliced button mushrooms (about 8 ounces)

Preparation

Combine the dried porcini mushrooms and boiling water in a bowl; cover and let stand for 15 minutes. Drain in a sieve over a bowl, reserving mushroom liquid. Finely chop porcini mushrooms; set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add chopped button mushrooms; cook for 5 minutes or until browned, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Add porcini mushrooms, wine, pepper, and garlic; cook 1 minute or until liquid almost evaporates. Remove from heat.

Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large sauce-pan over medium heat. Add onion; cook 3 minutes. Add reserved mushroom liquid, 2 1/4 cups water, porcini mixture, barley, and salt, and bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until barley is tender. Fluff with a fork; stir in parsley.

Carefully melt butter in a cast-iron or heavy skillet over high heat. Add the sliced button mushrooms, and sauté for 5 minutes or until browned. Top the pilaf with sautéed mushrooms.

Cooking Light December 2000


Sour Cream Babka

Russian and Polish immigrants gloried in Easter babkas - enriched yeast breads studded with dried fruits and nuts. For a more traditional babka, omit the amaretto and use dried sour cherries and candied cherries in place of cranberries and raisins.

Yield
28 servings

Ingredients

Dough:

1 cup dried cranberries
1 tablespoon amaretto (almond-flavored liqueur)
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
1 (8-ounce) carton low-fat sour cream
1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
1/4 cup warm water (100° to 110°)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 large egg yolks
1 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 cups all-purpose flour, divided
Cooking spray
1 tablespoon granulated sugar
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup slivered almonds

Icing:
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup evaporated fat-free milk
1/4 teaspoon almond extract

Preparation

To prepare dough, combine cranberries and amaretto in a small bowl; set aside. Heat milk over medium-high heat in a small, heavy saucepan to 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Remove from heat; stir in sour cream. Cool to room temperature.

Dissolve yeast in warm water, and let stand 5 minutes. Place 1/2 cup granulated sugar, eggs, and egg yolks in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at high speed until thick and pale (about 2 minutes). Add milk mixture, yeast mixture, 1 teaspoon almond extract, and salt; beat until well blended.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Add 5 1/2 cups flour to egg mixture; stir until a soft dough forms. Turn dough out onto a floured surface. Knead until smooth and elastic (about 5 minutes); add enough of remaining flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, to prevent dough from sticking to hands (dough will feel tacky).

Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray, turning to coat top. Cover and let rise in a warm place (85°), free from drafts, 1 hour or until doubled in size. (Gently press two fingers into dough. If indentation remains, dough has risen enough.) Punch dough down; cover and let rest 10 minutes.

Coat a 12-cup Bundt pan with cooking spray; dust with 1 tablespoon granulated sugar. Knead cranberry mixture, raisins, and almonds into dough. With floured hands, pat dough into an 8-inch circle. Form a 2-inch hole in center of dough; place dough in prepared pan, allowing center of Bundt pan to emerge through hole in dough. Gently press the dough into pan. Lightly coat top of dough with cooking spray; cover and let rise 45 minutes or until doubled in size.

Preheat oven to 350°.

Uncover dough. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until loaf is browned and sounds hollow when tapped. Cool in pan 5 minutes on a wire rack.

To prepare icing, combine powdered sugar, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/4 teaspoon almond extract, stirring with a whisk. Remove babka from pan, and place on a serving platter. Drizzle with icing; cool completely.

Cooking Light January 2004