GARLIC BAKED POTATOES WITH HERBED SOUR CREAM, SMOKED TURKEY LEG AND GREEN BEAN SALAD & ZUCCHINI GRATIN

What a lousy start for the New Year!

I have that bug that is rapidly creeping across the nation, even though I did have my Black Eye Peas for luck, Collard Greens for money & Golden Corn Bread for coins!
Missed the family Christmas gathering and that was a real bummer. Hopefully the rest of 2011 will be much better and that all of you had a great start on the New Year!

Here are a few recipes to get you started this New Year.

GARLIC BAKED POTATOES WITH HERBED SOUR CREAM

These potatoes are fantastic! Very easy, and so tasty.

INGREDIENTS:

16 ounces red new potatoes
3 to 5 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Herbed Sour Cream, recipe follows

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Using a wooden spoon as a cradle, place each potato in the spoon and make several parallel slits into each potato top making sure not to slice completely through. Place 3 garlic slices between slits at the crown of each potato. Toss in a medium bowl with butter and olive oil. Place on a baking sheet and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Bake until tops are crispy and potatoes are cooked through, about 1 hour. Transfer to a platter and top with Herbed Sour Cream.

HERBED SOUR CREAM:

1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley leaves
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Combine ingredients in a small bowl. Season, to taste, and refrigerate until use.


SMOKED TURKEY LEG AND GREEN BEAN SALAD

Made this salad for my grandson & wife and it tastes good, smells good and is easy to make. All gone before I got a picture.

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound string beans, ends trimmed, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small red onion, sliced in half moons
3 cloves garlic, minced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 red bell pepper, seeded and julienned
6 sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil, chopped
Meat from 1 (1-pound) smoked turkey leg, skin removed and meat roughly chopped, 10 ounces
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted

DIRECTIONS:

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over medium heat and add the string beans. Blanch until bright green, about 3 minutes, then transfer to an ice bath. Warm the butter and the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and garlic, a pinch of salt and pepper, and cook until they are softened but have no color. Add the bell pepper to the skillet and continue to saute another 2 minutes. Strain the string beans and pat dry. Add the beans, tomatoes, turkey and lemon juice and stir until all ingredients are evenly incorporated and warm. Transfer to a serving bowl, top with toasted pine nuts and serve
Recipes courtesy Sunny Anderson

ZUCCHINI GRATIN

OMGGGGGGG...this is SOOOO good!!!

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons butter
1 medium onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
6 zucchini, sliced into half moons 1/4-inch thick
2 plum tomatoes, chopped and seeded
1 tablespoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/4 cup grated sharp white Cheddar
/4 cup grated Parmesan

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Butter an 8 by 8-inch casserole dish.
In a large heavy bottomed saute pan over medium heat, melt butter. Saute onion and garlic until translucent. Add zucchini and tomatoes, about 7 minutes Add thyme, and flour. Season with salt and pepper. Add mixture to the buttered casserole dish.
In a medium size bowl, add brown sugar, eggs, and half-and-half. Season with salt and pepper. Pour the milk mixture over the zucchini and sprinkle with both of the cheeses. Bake for 30 minutes
Recipe from The Neeleys