Ham and Pea Risotto with Swiss Chard

My approach to cooking is to find inspiration all around me. Cookbooks, magazines, TV shows, what’s in the fridge, what’s on sale, what’s in season, what IS the season, all are sources of inspiration. Now I have a new source of inspiration. The Recipe Dice from Leafcutter Designs. The little glass jar is about the size of my spice jars and fits perfectly in my spice drawer.

Yesterday, I finally had some time off and no commitments other than to do what I want. And I wanted to cook. I opened up the spice drawer and saw the Recipe Dice and thought, “well, let’s give ‘em a roll.” I’m sure they came with suggestions on how to use them, but of course I promptly misplaced them. Simply put, these are dice. One just needs to roll them.

This roll turned up pork, rice, Parmesan cheese, Swiss chard, bell peppers, squash, Brussels sprouts, garlic, rutabaga, lemon, and mint. I checked my fridge to see what I had: A big chunk of ham, various bits of cheeses, Swiss chard…okay this was promising. I check my pantry and find Arborio rice…in my head an idea is coming together. I eliminate a few veggies and dial into what my brain and my stomach are telling me. I’m thinking risotto. With ham. And peas. And lots of cheese, not just Parmesan. I think I need the Swiss chard as a foil for the richness of the risotto. Now, I’m zipping around the kitchen thinking about risotto. I’m also feeling quite pleased with myself for having made several quarts of chicken stock a few weeks earlier and stashed it in the freezer. Yes. This dish was meant to be.

Ham and Pea Risotto with Swiss Chard
by Woo

Two bunches of Swiss chard (I used rainbow chard, so colorful)
3-4 large cloves of garlic, sliced
2 Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes (or two pinches)
Salt
Lemon wedge

Before starting the risotto, prep the chard. Chop, wash, and drain the chard. Set aside. Peel 3-4 large cloves of garlic and slice. In a large skillet add two Tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, the garlic, two big pinches of crushed red pepper flakes. Heat the large skillet containing the olive oil and garlic. When the garlic is just starting to color, add the majority of the chard, salt, layer the remaining chard, salt. Using tongs, turn or stir the chard to cook evenly and quickly sauté. Remove from heat. Set aside. Just before the risotto is finished, reheat briefly, squeeze a little lemon juice over the chard or sprinkle a touch of red wine vinegar.

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
3/4 cup of finely chopped onion
1 heaping cup Arborio rice
1/2 cup dry white wine
6 cups of homemade chicken broth (more or less), simmering
1 cup of diced fully cooked smoked ham
1 cup of sweet baby peas (I used frozen)
Half a small log of goat cheese
3 Tablespoons of cream cheese
2 Tablespoons Parmesan cheese
4 Tablespoons butter
Salt and white pepper to taste

Heat the olive oil in a heavy saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and cook until almost melted in texture and golden. Stirring as needed. This took me about 10 minutes. Add the Arborio rice and stir to coat in the olive oil and get the rice grains slightly toasted about a minute or two. Increase the heat a tad. Add the white wine. Stir constantly. When the wine is half absorbed add a cup of the simmering chicken broth. It should just cover the rice. Stir, stir, stir. When the broth has absorbed into the rice, add another ladle and stir. (Fire the chard. Heat the large skillet containing the olive oil and garlic. When the garlic is just starting to color, add the majority of the chard, salt, layer the remaining chard, salt. Using tongs, turn or stir the chard to cook evenly. Don’t forget to stir the risotto! Remove chard from heat. Set aside. Just before serving squeeze a little lemon juice over the chard or sprinkle a touch of red wine vinegar.) Repeat until the rice is almost ready, add the ham and peas, and one more ladle of broth. Stir. Add the cheeses. Stir until incorporated. Adjust seasoning. Add butter and stir well. Use a little more broth to adjust the consistency. I like a risotto that “relaxes” into the bowl or plate instead of piling up like a hill. Serve the ham and pea risotto with a big tangled mess of the sautéed chard on top. The chard adds texture and a brightness to the rich risotto. Trust me on this pairing. It works.

Cranberry & Ginger Jello Shots

Time for the holidays! Every year for our family turkey dinner I make extra cranberry sauce. After the guests are gone I use it in sorbet, mix it with ginger ale, spread it on scones, use it in leftover turkey sandwiches - but maybe this year, I'll share the extras with my friends and family.

I was thrilled to receive in the mail a tidy package from Leafcutter Designs, containing a small jar of Cocktail Dice. Excitedly, I dumped the dice on the table: Ginger ale, orange slice/twist, tequila, triple sec, shaken, cranberry juice, nutmeg, double old fashioned glass. Hmm...the tag on the jar instructed to strategically remove two dice. Sorry, "shaken" and "double old fashioned glass" - you don't get to play this time!

Cranberry & Ginger Jello Shots
by Sarah Kwan of earthlydelightsblog.com
Makes 8 jello shots

8 3-ounce paper Dixie cups (you could also use mini muffin liners, which would likely yield 11-12 shots)

3 ounces dark chocolate, chopped into evenly small bits

2 Tablespoons ginger beer

2 Tablespoons triple sec, such as Grand Marnier or Cointreau

1 package unflavoured gelatin
1/4 cup spiced cranberry sauce (liquid only), warmed (see recipe below)
1 Tablespoon lime juice
3/8 cup reposado tequila

To garnish:
Candied cranberries (dip fresh cranberries in a mixture of honey and water, toss in granulated sugar, let dry for 1/2 hour)
Twist of orange or lime
Diced candied ginger

Melt the chocolate, and coat the inside of each Dixie cup with a small spoon (I used a lobster spoon for the task), up to about halfway up the cup. (Note: You can see from the photo that I spread the chocolate a little further up on one side of the cup. This step is optional. If using mini muffin liners, coat the inside of the liner fully.) Place cups on a tray and chill in the fridge for at least 1 hour, to harden the chocolate.

Pour ginger beer and triple sec into a bowl, and sprinkle the gelatin over it to bloom the gelatin.

When the gelatin appears translucent and soaked through, stir in the warmed cranberry sauce, until the gelatin is fully dissolved.

Stir in the lime juice and tequila.

When the gelatin mixture is cooled to about room temperature, pour it into the chocolate cups.

Refrigerate for about 8 hours, then carefully peel away the Dixie cup.

Garnish with candied cranberries, a citrus twist, and diced candied ginger.

Spiced Cranberry Sauce

1 12-ounce bag of fresh cranberries
Juice and zest of 1 orange
Water
1 cup granulated sugar
1 stick cinnamon
Pinch of nutmeg

Pour the orange juice into a measuring glass, and add enough water to measure 1 cup of liquid.

Combine the cranberries, juice and water, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a pot, cover and heat on medium-high, until the liquid boils and the cranberries burst.

Remove from heat and stir in orange zest.

Cran-Rosemary Martini

How do you make concocting cocktails more fun than it already is? Roll the dice, cocktail dice that is - Leafcutter Designs. The best part about it is you get to drink the mistakes until you get it just right - lol.

I rolled the following dice: Vodka, cranberry, lime, “wild", shaken, martini glass - I looked in our herb garden and grabbed a handful of rosemary for the “wild" and viola! - an amazing Cran-Rosemary Martini

Cran-Rosemary Martini
By Lori Churchill

Cranberry juice, unsweetened (I used Knudsen’s Just Cranberry)
Vodka (I always use Tito’s, an award-winning favorite)
Rosemary Light Simple Syrup (recipe below)
2 Limes - for juice and garnish

Rosemary Light Simple Syrup

In a small sauce pan, add 1/2 cup water, 1/4 cup turbinado sugar and 5 sprigs rosemary (each approximately 2 inches long). Bring to a boil for 1 minute, then let stand for 30 minutes. So worth it and AMAZING!

In a cocktail shaker add the following:

1 shot cranberry juice
1 1/2 shots vodka
1 shot Rosemary Light Simple Syrup
1/2 shot lime juice

Add cubed ice to the cocktail shaker and shake until nice and cold. Pour in a martini glass. Garnish with a sprig of rosemary and a twist of lime and enjoy!

Stuffed Eggplant and Kale and Asparagus with Lemongrass and Basil

For the second roll of my Leafcutter Designs Vegetarian Recipe Dice I got eggplant, cumin, onion, rice, tomatoes, corn, cheddar, kale, lemongrass, asparagus, and basil.

Stuffed Eggplant
by Louise

1 medium eggplant (about 1 1/4 pound)

Olive oil
Kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 ear of corn, kernels cut off
1/2 teaspoon cumin
2 Tablespoons white wine
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 cups cooked short grain brown rice seasoned with 1/4 teaspoon cumin
8 grape tomatoes
1/2 cup shredded cheddar

Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice eggplant in half lengthwise. Scoop out center of eggplant (a melon baller works well for this) leaving a half-inch thickness; and discard as many seeds as possible. Drizzle olive oil into eggplant cavities (spread with fingers) and sprinkle with salt. Bake eggplant shells 20 minutes or until lightly browned but still hold their shape. Set aside.

Chop eggplant flesh. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Add chopped eggplant flesh, red onion and corn kernels and sprinkle with salt and cumin. Stir in wine and tomato paste. Sauté about 8 minutes or until vegetables are softened. Set aside.

To assemble eggplants: Spray an ovenproof baking dish with vegetable spray and place the eggplant shells in the dish. Spoon half of brown rice into bottom of each eggplant shell pressing down with the back of the spoon to level the rice. Slice grape tomatoes into 3 slices each, 4 slices if they are on the larger side. Lay the slices of tomato over the rice and sprinkle with salt. Spoon the cooked filling over the grape tomato slices and cover the dish with foil. Bake in the preheated oven 30-35 minutes. Remove the baking dish from the oven and sprinkle each of the eggplant halves with half the cheese. Return the eggplants to the oven and continue baking about 8 minutes or until cheddar is melted.

Kale and Asparagus with Lemongrass and Basil

1 stalk of fresh lemongrass*
1/4 pound thin asparagus
1 Tablespoon canola oil
4 cups washed kale, cut into bite-sized pieces
4 basil leaves, cut into a chiffonade
Kosher salt
Freshly ground pepper

Peel the tough outer layer off the lemongrass. Slice the lemongrass very thinly into circles. Set aside. Cut off the bottom 1” of the asparagus and discard the tough stems. Slice the asparagus stalks into circles about 1/8” thick. Leave the last 1-2” (the bud) intact. Heat the oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. All all ingredients into the pan and toss the pan to coat the vegetables with the oil. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Stir fry the vegetables until the kale is slightly wilted but still green, about 6-8 minutes.

*I eat lemongrass. The first time I was ever served Thai food, the lemongrass was part of the dish. I enjoyed the flavor and the crunch. I’ve since seen recipes where the lemongrass was used to “infuse” a liquid or a dish, then removed. I found that to be very wasteful and it never quite relayed the same burst of lemongrass flavor as including sliced lemongrass. If a cook is uncomfortable with this, by all means use the “infusion” method and remove the lemongrass before serving the kale.

Cajun Cabbage Rolls

The second dish from this fun challenge with Leafcutter Designs threw me for a loop!

The remaining Recipe Dice were eggplant, cabbage, green beans, mushrooms, and onions. My grandmother makes rice dressing using pork and eggplant. I have never done that before and when this came up I thought that I'd give it a shot! So, I took some of our Jalapeno Pork Sausage stuffing and cooked it with some eggplant, mushrooms, and onions just like a rice dressing. Here's what happened:

Cajun Cabbage Rolls
By Luke

1 head cabbage
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Jalapeno Pork Sausage stuffing
1 onion, chopped
1 eggplant, peeled and chopped
2 cups sliced mushrooms
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
1 pound fresh green beans (I used for a side dish)

Start by peeling the cabbage and dropping the leaves into a pot of boiling water to soften them, about 5 minutes. Remove them from the pot and dry with paper towels.

In a large skillet, warm oil and brown meat for 10 minutes, remove from skillet and place in a bowl. Now, brown onions, eggplant and mushrooms until eggplant is softened. Once cooked, remove from skillet, place in bowl and mix well.

Divide the stuffing into portions for about 8-10 rolls. Place stuffing in center of cabbage leaves and roll like a burrito. Use toothpicks to hold leaves together. Position cabbage rolls in a baking dish and top with tomatoes. Cover dish and place in oven at 350°F for 1 hour.

Once done, remove from oven and serve!

The Grapefruit Martini

We have been celebrating the holidays with our great friends for many years. Each year I bring the same thing. Not this year! When I received the Leafcutter Designs Cocktail Dice, I decided to “roll the dice” and see what cocktail I could bring to the party! At first I wasn’t sure how the ingredients would “play” together, but the end result was delightful! Everyone enjoyed the libation and I was thrilled! It isn’t everyday you get to roll the dice and have the perfect result!

The Grapefruit Martini
By Susan R-H

For Each Cocktail You Will Need:

4 ounces of freshly squeezed Ruby Red grapefruit. Your yield will vary on the juice of the grapefruit.
1 1/2 ounces good quality vodka (I chose Grey Goose)
1 1/2 ounces of orange Liquor (I chose Grand Marnier)
1 slice of orange peel

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all of the ingredients and give it a solid 1 minute shake! Strain into a chilled Martini glass and garnish with the orange peel. This was a very delightful cocktail! It is always an adventure when you “Roll the Dice”.

Fresh Spring Rolls with Vegetables and Paprika-Pepper Vinaigrette

I decided to try the vegetarian Recipe Dice from Leafcutter Designs because I love vegetables, and have no problem eating a veggie-centric meal, unlike my husband who is a carnivore at heart. These dice were so fun! When you’re tired of making the same old thing, they give your creativity a boost.

For this recipe, it’s probably easiest to do most of the steps a day ahead of time. That will let the mushrooms soak up a good amount of vinaigrette, and will leave just the assembly of the rolls, which should be done shortly before you plan to serve them. Keep the assembled rolls on top of and covered with damp paper towels then cover that in plastic wrap to keep them from drying out and/or sticking to each other.

The amount of each ingredient needed will depend somewhat on how much of each you put in your spring rolls. The amounts I’ve given are estimates. Mix up anything that’s left over in a bowl with some vinaigrette and you’ve got a great little salad! You’ll also likely have some paprika oil left over, but once you try it you’ll be glad you have extra!

Fresh Spring Rolls with Vegetables and Paprika-Pepper Vinaigrette
by Jennifer Scantlin

For the paprika oil:
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
2 Tablespoons ground paprika

For the vinaigrette:
3 Tablespoons paprika oil (from above)
1 Tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sherry vinegar
1 small clove garlic, minced or put through a garlic press
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon lemon juice

For the couscous:
1/2 cup Israeli couscous
1/2 Tablespoon olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup water

For the marinated mushrooms:
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
8 ounces mushrooms, thinly sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt

To assemble the Spring Rolls:
Prepared Israeli couscous
Prepared vinaigrette
Marinated mushrooms
1/2 zucchini or yellow squash, julienned
2-3 leaves Swiss chard, sliced into thin strips
8 dried spring roll wrappers (they look like very thin and hard tortillas)

Make the paprika oil: Combine the oil and paprika in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring occasionally, until warm, about 5 minutes. Turn off heat and let sit until cool, about one hour. Strain mixture into a bowl or glass through a coffee filter or several layers of cheesecloth.

Make the vinaigrette: Combine all ingredients in a small bowl or jar with lid and whisk or shake well.

Make the couscous: Heat the oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the couscous and stir continuously until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Add the water and salt and bring to a boil. Cover pan with lid and turn heat to low. Cook until couscous is tender, 8-10 minutes. Remove pan from heat, place couscous in a bowl and add a tablespoon of the vinaigrette. Stir to combine and let cool.

Cook mushrooms: Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add mushrooms and cook until beginning to brown, about 3 minutes. Add salt and stir to combine. Place mushrooms in a bowl with the remaining vinaigrette and stir to coat. Let sit at room temperature at least an hour, or place in refrigerator overnight.

Assemble the rolls: Have a large, smooth work surface to assemble rolls on. Place some warm water into a large pie plate. Place a spring roll wrapper into the pie plate and submerge in the water with your hands. You will feel the wrapper getting soft. When the entire wrapper is soft, place it flat on your work surface. Place the fillings in the middle of the wrapper and fold the wrapper in half over the filling. Fold in the sides and continue to roll up. Place on a plate lined with damp paper towels and cover with more damp paper towels then plastic wrap. Don’t let the rolls touch one another or they may stick together. Continue with remaining wrappers until all ingredients have been used. Enjoy!

Ti' Punch

This challenge led us to taking our chances and rolling some dice...Cocktail Dice! What a fun idea from Leafcutter Designs!

Each year, my husband and I host a Bottle Exchange party. It's similar to a White Elephant, but with wrapped bottles of wine and spirits. We typically have a signature drink for the party, however, this year we will be changing it up thanks to Leafcutter Designs. Ingredients will be available and a roll of the Cocktail Dice will determine each individual's drink. I love adding this twist to an already amusing evening.

For this drink, my husband and I each took half of the dice and gave them a roll. We ended up with a roll that was perfect to make an islander drink from Martinique called the Ti' Punch, meaning little punch. It's a very simple drink, but it packs a flavorful punch.

This recipe calls for simple syrup, which is very easy to make. I recommend using an unrefined pure cane sugar to make a darker syrup. Trust me, the taste is so much better.

Ti' Punch
By Tonda

Juice of one lime
2 ounces dark rum, we used Neisson Rhum Agricole
1 ounce pure cane simple syrup (start with 1/2 ounce and add more if you need the sweetness) (recipe below)
Maraschino Cherry to garnish
Ice

Simple Syrup

1 Cup water
1 Cup unrefined, pure cane sugar

Add water and sugar to a small saucepan and bring to a boil, stirring until the sugar crystals dissolve. Remove from heat and allow to cool. *This will keep in your refrigerator for about a week.

Squeeze the lime into a double old fashioned glass. Add rum, simple syrup, and a couple of cubes of ice. Stir to combine. Garnish with a lime wedge and maraschino cherry.

Tchin-tchin!

Artichoke with Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan, Sauteéd Kale and Couscous with Carrot

My first roll with the Leafcutter Designs Vegetarian Recipe Dice got me kale, carrots, tomatoes, parsley, couscous, lime, Parmesan, onion, garlic, artichoke, and Brussels sprouts. I used these ingredients to create 3 elements of an entrée.

Artichoke with Brussels Sprouts and Parmesan
by Louise

1 large artichoke
1 rounded cup Brussels sprouts
1/3 cup sliced red onion
3 cloves fresh garlic, smashed and chopped
Kosher salt
Freshly ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons white wine
2 Tablespoons seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Set up a bowl with ice water. Trim and stem artichoke. Using a scissor, trim the tops off the lower leaves of the artichoke. Slice off the top quarter of the choke. Using a tablespoon, scoop out the inner purple leaves of the artichoke and the fuzzy “choke". Boil in salted water approximately 40 minutes until a knife goes through the bottom with slight resistance. Plunge into ice water to stop the cooking process. Place upside down on a rack to drain. Prepare the filling.

Peel leaves off Brussels. Quarter the innermost core of the sprout. Heat oil in a sauté pan over medium/high heat and add Brussels, onions and garlic; sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cook about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally. Deglaze pan with wine. Stir in bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Fill cavity of artichoke with 1/3 to ½ of filling. Spread leaves and stuff with remaining filling. Place artichoke in a small deep baking dish and add enough water to go ¼ way up the artichoke. Bake in 350°F oven for 30 minutes or until a knife inserted into the artichoke gives little to no resistance.

Sauteéd Kale

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, smashed
4 cups washed kale, cut into bite sized pieces
Big pinch salt
Freshly ground pepper

Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat, add garlic, stir and cook until garlic is fragrant. Immediately add washed kale, salt and pepper and toss until coated. Cook 5-7 minutes until crisp-tender. Set aside.

Couscous with Carrot

1 1/4 cups water
Big pinch salt

1 cup Israeli couscous
1 large carrot, peeled and cut into small dice
1 Tablespoon lime juice

Bring the water to a boil with the salt. Add the couscous and carrot and lower heat to a simmer. Cook 20 minutes covered. Stir in lime juice. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Set aside.

Random Chance Pasta

Do you have trouble coming up with a menu plan? Stumped about what to cook? That was my situation, lately. Recipe Dice from Leafcutter Designs came to my rescue!

Designed to be playful and whimsical, I found the dice surprisingly practical. I'm keeping them on the kitchen counter now, and frequently roll the dice to see what combinations might fall, which sparks some kitchen creativity. Here's how one dice roll worked for me. First, I put the dice in a larger jar, so they would have room to jiggle and turn while I shook them well. The twelve dice hit the table in a nice scatter.

Oh, look! I see pasta and chicken, a great start. Onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, thyme. Yes to all those. Black pepper? Sure, a grind or three of pepper is always a good idea. We're on a roll here (oh, dear, a pun). The rules of this game let me put five dice back into the jar to shake again. Shake, shake, shake. Sprinkle them on the table. Oh! Parmesan and rosemary, I got lucky there. Now I have...eggplant, spinach, and asparagus.

So my ingredients are set. I'm allowed to discard two dice, if I wish, leaving 10 ingredients. I can add other ingredients like cooking oil, salt, cream. I could make several dishes - main and sides - or try for an all-in-one. I set the dice for eggplant and spinach to one side, added asparagus to my 'go' pile, and made this wonderful pasta supper.



Random Chance Pasta
by Maurita Plouff 

Good Stuff Recipes

Serves 4

2 Tablespoons olive oil, divided
1 half skinless boneless chicken breast, or 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
1 cup frozen asparagus tips
1 medium onion, sliced
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon fresh thyme
6 ounces heavy cream

8 ounces pasta, any shape you like
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 large ripe tomato, roughly chopped

Heat 1 Tablespoon oil in a large skillet. If you are using raw chicken, slice it thinly crosswise, and saute the chicken , stirring often, until it's just cooked through - 3 to minutes. Remove chicken and set aside. Briefly zap the asparagus tips in the microwave, until they are barely tender, and set aside.

Return the skillet to the heat. Add a bit more oil, then add the onions to the pan, and cook until they begin to be translucent. Add the mushrooms and cook 5 minutes or so, stirring occasionally, until the mushrooms and onions are thoroughly cooked. Add chopped herbs and cream, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low.

Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender, but still firm to the bite. Drain, reserving a bit of the cooking liquid. Return the pasta to the pot.

Add the chicken and mushroom in herbed cream sauce to the pasta, along with the Parmesan cheese, the cooked asparagus tips and the chunks of ripe tomato. Toss well to combine, and to melt the cheese.

Serve with a few grinds of fresh black pepper.

Grilled Chicken Cheesy Pasta

Leafcutter Designs came up with a great product, Recipe Dice! This was a fun challenge. All you do is roll the dice and create a dish with the ingredients on the dice. I love this idea! When I rolled the dice, all sorts of ingredients were in front of me. Then the fun started by starting to figure out what to do with all of these ingredients. I saw chicken, tomato, pasta, garlic, lemon juice, parsley, and Parmesan cheese and thought that this one could be fun, because I love using pasta in my dishes. Here's what happened:

Grilled Chicken Cheesy Pasta
By Luke
Inspired by Cooking Classy - Lemon Ricotta Parmesan Pasta with Spinach and Grilled Chicken

1 package of linguine pasta

2 Tablespoons of butter

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 can of fire roasted tomatoes
2 grilled chicken breast, stripped
2 handfuls of spinach

15 ounces of chicken broth
1 1/2 cups of skim ricotta

1 teaspoon of black pepper

1/2 cup of chopped parsley

1 cup of freshly shredded Parmesan cheese
2 lemons

Start by cooking pasta according to package directions.

Once pasta is cooked you can begin melting the butter in a skillet, add garlic and saute until fragrant. Add fire roasted tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes stirring frequently. Now, throw in the chicken and spinach, cook for 5 minutes. Then add chicken broth and ricotta. Cook until cheese has covered all of the meat. Once you get the desired thickness, throw in the pasta, top with black pepper, parsley, and Parmesan cheese. Cut the lemons in half and squeeze the juice out and stir in to the pasta. Now, sit back and enjoy a very flavorful dish!

Savory Leg of Lamb with Mediterranean Couscous and Artichoke Puree

Don't know what to make for dinner? Just roll those dice! Leafcutter Designs supplied us with these amazing 12 Recipe Dice for this challenge. They also have a vegetarian version, along with cocktail dice, dessert and chai ones.

You roll all 12, and can eliminate up to 5. You can then re-roll the remaining ones to add to your original recipe, create something new or switch things up. What a creative way to make dinner fun! Here's a little more about the company: Leafcutter Designs - Our Story

Savory Leg of Lamb with Mediterranean Couscous and Artichoke Puree
by Holly K of Holly's Table
Adapted from: Roasted leg of lamb recipe adapted from Martha Stewart's Roasted Leg of Lamb

For the lamb:
1 bone-in leg of lamb, trimmed of fell and excess fat (7-8 pounds)
2 Tablespoons course salt
2 teaspoons course black pepper
2 Tablespoons fresh minced garlic
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves
2 Tablespoons chopped fresh oregano leaves, plus more for garnish
2 Tablespoons Dijon-style mustard
2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup red currant jelly, for serving

For the couscous:
1 box of Mediterranean-style couscous
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1 cup peas, cooked and chilled
1/4 cup diced red bell pepper

For the artichoke and garbanzo bean puree:
1 medium sized jar of marinated artichoke hearts, drained, reserve liquid
1 15-ounce can of garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed and skinned
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 lemon, juice and zest
Sea salt and pepper
Crumbled feta cheese for garnish
Finely sliced red pepper for garnish
Pita chips for dipping

For the lamb: After removing the excess fell and fat from the lamb, it's time to make the rub. In a small bowl blend together the salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary, oregano, mustard and oil. Slash the meat all over with 1 inch long and about 1/2 inch deep cuts. Slather the meat on all sides with the rub. Be sure to get into the grooves. Let the lamb rest for 1 hour before roasting. Heat oven to 425°F. Place the lamb into a medium roasting pan outfitted with a rack. Pour the chicken broth into the bottom of pan. Roast the lamb 20 minutes to get an initial crust and seal in the flavors. Reduce the oven temperature to 325°F and continue to cook until internal temperature at the bone reaches 130-135°F (medium-rare). About 50-65 minutes, depending on your oven. Increase oven temperature to broil, and cook another 5 minutes to crisp the meat. Remove from oven and let rest 20 minutes before carving.

For the couscous: Cook one box of Mediterranean-style couscous according to box directions. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, add the parsley, peas and bell pepper. Mix in the couscous.

For the artichoke puree: In a food processor, blend the artichoke hearts, garbanzo beans, red pepper flakes, lemon juice and zest until well blended. If needed, add some of the marinade from the artichoke hearts. Note for the garbanzo beans: For a smoother texture, make sure the skins are removed from the beans. Add salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a small serving dish and garnish with the feta and bell pepper.

Serve lamb with a couple of spoonfuls of red currant jelly, a side of the couscous, artichoke puree and chips for dipping.

Mint Chocolate Chai

It was fun to receive the Chai Dice from Leafcutter Designs this month. While staying with my sister, we spent time in the kitchen rolling the dice and making various combinations, and this one was our favourite.

Mint Chocolate Chai
Recipe created by Nancy Follwell

1/2 cup black loose leaf tea
2 cups water, cold
2 Tablespoons honey
4 fresh mint leaves
1 stick cinnamon

Milk, to taste

Vanilla bean
2 teaspoon cocoa powder

Simmer the black tea with the water, honey, mint, and cinnamon. Pour into tea cups and add a small amount of milk. Garnish with a vanilla bean and sprinkle with cocoa powder. Serves 2.

Smoky Lentils with Mushrooms and Spinach

Leafcutter Designs, a unique creative design studio in Berkeley, CA, has a ton of nifty gifts and art products. When they offered to sponsor 37 Cooks for a challenge, I was really excited. Who doesn’t need a little added inspiration in their cooking regimen? Their Recipe Dice come as a set of twelve dice made of solid wood, and feature more than 60 seasonal vegetables, hearty grains, juicy meats, flavorful spices, and succulent herbs. With a simple roll of the dice, these cool cubes will provide endless suggested menu combinations, and will be a terrific addition to your creative kitchen. Perfect for gift-giving, make your favorite foodie’s day with this jar of fun. In addition to a vegetarian version, they offer Cocktail and Chai Dice, too!

My roll for this recipe included: Lentils, chicken, mushrooms, spinach, smoked paprika, cumin, and chili flakes. I’d never cooked lentils before, so this was a new, inspired dish for me. And it turned out to be a delicious one, too! A hearty side dish, these lentils are great drained and mixed with your favorite fresh greens and protein for a cool salad entrée.

Smoky Lentils with Mushrooms and Spinach
by Gary Gee
Serves 8

2 cups green lentils
2 Tablespoons olive oil
1 cup sliced yellow onion
1/2 cup sliced celery
Pinch brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 pound smoked chicken (such as this from Teet’s Food Store)
4 ounces mushrooms, sliced
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
Coarse salt
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups chicken stock
4 cups water
1 cup packed fresh spinach leaves, rinsed and drained
Fresh parsley, for garnish

Rinse lentils with cool water; drain and set aside.

In a large stock pot, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onions, celery, and pinch of sugar and cook until aromatic and slightly brown, about one minute. Add garlic, smoked chicken, mushrooms, paprika, cumin, Aleppo, pinches of salt and pepper, and cook, stirring, until all ingredients are coated and fragrant. Add stock and water, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid is well-infused, about 20 minutes.

Add lentils, return to a simmer, and cook with lid ajar for 20-30 minutes, or until slightly tender. Add spinach, and continue cooking until lentils are tender, about 10 minutes more. Correct seasoning, adding more salt and pepper as desired. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Pork Cutlet with Wilted Kale and Farfalle with Roasted Vegetables

What a great idea! I wish I had invented “Recipe Dice." Leafcutter Designs has come out with several types of inspirational dice to help get your creative juices flowing when it comes to cooking, cocktail making or Chai (though I’m not familiar with “Chai” so if you know what Chai is…you’re at least one up on me!) The three sets you can choose from are Cocktail Dice, Chai Dice, and Recipe Dice. The idea is that you roll the dice and make something out of the ingredients that you roll. It’s harder than you think. Once you get over the fear of rolling the dice and getting some really odd combination of ingredients, it’s a lot of fun and super inspiring. I chose the Recipe Dice, and the meal ideas are seemingly limitless.

When I opened my little box containing the newest 37 Cooks challenge, I was very excited. I played with the dice a bit, trying to coax them into a meal I thought I could create with little to no anxiety. But, with every toss of the dice, with every attempt to manipulate the ingredients list, I felt guilty for not playing the game the way it was intended. So I left the dice in their cute little spice jar on my kitchen counter for a couple of weeks, knowing full well I had to face them eventually. Every time I walked into the kitchen I would see them there, staring back at me. Goading me into trying to create something new and different. I decided enough was enough. I re-read the instructions, rolled the dice, then, according to the directions, I picked five ingredients that I wanted to change, and re-rolled those five. I decided to stick with what fate handed me (no fudging with the ingredients to make them fit). The dice I rolled included pork, rutabaga, Parmesan cheese, summer squash, asparagus, black pepper, kale, oregano, pasta, artichoke, lemon, and bell pepper…E-I-E-I-O! It was as if the dinner gods spoke to me. I couldn’t believe it, but I managed to whittle out a dinner with all of the ingredients that tasted really good. And it forced me to use ingredients together that I would ordinarily have never considered combining. Spoiler alert! Everyone I know is getting a set of these dice for Christmas! That’s just how I roll!

Roll of the Dice Pork Cutlet with Wilted Kale and Farfalle with Roasted Vegetables
by Maryjo

Pork Cutlet:
1 pork tenderloin, silver skin removed, cut into 6 equal pieces (each package comes with 2 tenderloins, so I put one in the freezer and used the other for this recipe)
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 eggs
2 Tablespoons water
2 cups Panko bread crumbs
1 ounce Parmesan cheese, shredded
2 teaspoons table salt
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
6 Tablespoons vegetable oil

Preheat your oven to 200ºF. Remove the silver skin from the pork tenderloin and cut the tenderloin into 6 equal 2 1/2 to 3-inch disks. Working with one piece of pork at a time, place each pork disk between two sheets of plastic wrap and pound them flat until it’s about 1/4-inch in thickness.

Combine the flour with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper in a shallow dish. In another dish, beat the eggs and water lightly together until combined. In a third dish, combine the Panko bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and the garlic powder. 

Heat two Tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Dredge one of the pork cutlets in the flour, shaking off excess flour. Dip into the egg and water mixture. Then coat the cutlet in the Panko and cheese mixture, pressing the cutlet into the bread crumbs to make sure they stick, and place in the hot skillet. If your skillet is large enough, you can cook two cutlets in the skillet at one time. While the first two are cooking, start working on the next two cutlets. Cook for two to three minutes per side. When golden and crispy, place on baking sheet and keep warm in the oven until all 6 cutlets are cooked. Add 2 more Tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet and cook the next two cutlets. Once again, place the cooked cutlets in the oven with the others. Finally, add the remaining two Tablespoons of vegetable oil to the skillet and cook the last two cutlets. Serve hot with sliced lemon.

Wilted Kale:
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 medium yellow onion, sliced into long thin strips
1 bunch kale, cleaned, stems removed, and chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tablespoons lemon juice (about 1/2 lemon)
1/4 teaspoon salt

In a large skillet, heat the vegetable oil on medium high. When the oil is hot (it should be shimmering), add the onions. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the kale, garlic and red pepper flakes and stir until the kale is wilted, about 2 minutes. Take off the heat and add the lemon juice and salt. Toss to coat and serve hot.

Farfalle with Roasted Vegetables:
2 medium rutabaga, peeled and diced into 1 1/2-inch chunks
3 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 pound farfalle pasta (bowtie pasta), cooked according to directions on box
4 ounces asparagus, cleaned and cut into 1 1/2 to 2-inch pieces
1 red bell pepper, seeded and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 yellow squash, cleaned and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 zucchini squash, cleaned and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
3 ounces artichoke hearts
1 Tablespoon fresh oregano, chopped
Zest and juice from two large lemons
1 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup olive oil

Preheat oven to 400ºF. Coat the rutabaga in 1 Tablespoon of the vegetable oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. Place on baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes (turning half way through). 

Cook the farfalle pasta according to the directions on the box, drain, and set aside in a large bowl. 

Combine asparagus, bell pepper, yellow squash, and zucchini squash in large bowl with remaining 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 teaspoon black pepper. After the rutabaga has roasted for 20 minutes, add these vegetables to the sheet pan with the rutabaga and continue to roast for another 20 minutes. When done, add the roasted vegetables to the pasta. Add artichoke hearts (I used the canned artichoke hearts in a brine) and the chopped oregano. Stir to combine. 

In a separate bowl, prepare the dressing by combining the lemon zest, lemon juice, vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, and olive oil. Mix well and then pour the dressing over the pasta and roasted vegetables. Stir to combine and serve warm or at room temperature.

The “Tom Collins”

I came home from work Friday and decided to roll the dice. The Leafcutter Designs Cocktail Dice that is! I couldn’t believe my luck. TWO “Wild” dice!! That means I get to go “Wild” with my cocktail idea. When one of the dice revealed a Collins glass, I decided to go old school. Really? Old school? Well…How about the New Old School! When I was a server in college, so many restaurants made their “signature” Tom Collins using a generic pre-made sour mix and average gin. Maybe the straw elevated the cocktail? I am not too sure about that, but I know I served plenty. I figured I could remain loyal to the basics, but add my spin to this iconic cocktail. Are you ready for the Tom Collins of the next generation? I know my guests were all smiles Saturday night! I guess it could have been the gin…

The “Tom Collins”
By Susan R-H

Simple Syrup ingredients:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
The peel of one lemon, I used a potato peeler. Be careful not to include the pith.
One handful of fresh basil leaves and that can be subjective, so if you adore basil (like me) use a big handful.

For each cocktail you will need:
1 1/2 ounces good quality gin, I chose Bombay Sapphire
1 ounce fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/2 ounce basil lemon simple syrup, more or less depending on your sweetness desire
2 ounces carbonated water, I used Perrier

Method:
First, make the basil lemon simple syrup. Combine the sugar, water, lemon peel and basil in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from the heat and let the simple syrup cool completely. Strain and set aside. You will need to adjust the simple syrup recipe measurements based on the number of cocktails you plan to serve. It is always equal parts of sugar and water.

When it is party time, fill Collins glasses with crushed ice. Add the gin, lemon juice, basil lemon simple syrup and carbonated water. Stir and garnish with a thin slice of lemon wrapped around a basil leaf. Add a straw if you are feeling nostalgic. 

This was a terrific challenge for the 37 Cooks and I believe the Leafcutter Designs Cocktail Dice make a wonderful holiday gift for any of your adventurous family members or friends!

Quick Pasta Dinner

My sweetie would eat pasta everyday of the week if I let him. Sometimes it just makes sense to do it. I work, just like y'all do and there are some days that I just don't want to cook. I will always have a simple pasta dish at the ready for those days. This is one of them. I rolled the dice and gotta say I love the recipe ideas!!!

If you do anything, get these Recipe Dice and have some fun. They are a fantastic way to break the ice with children, guests, and family. We had and will continue to have fun with them. Be sure to visit Leafcutter Designs on Facebook. 

Quick Pasta Dinner
by Traci Bump
Pasta Sauce adapted from Allrecipes Quick Pasta Sauce

1 package Buitoni ravioli, boiled per instructions on package and set aside

1 16-ounce can of Marzano Italian tomato sauce
1 8-ounce can can of petite diced tomatoes

1 medium onion, chopped

2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon dried rosemary

1 cup of fresh spinach, chopped
3 links of Italian sausage cooked and set aside
Parmesan cheese for garnish

In a large sauce pan combine tomato sauce and diced tomatoes. Add onion and simmer to allow the onions to soften. Add the basil and rosemary. When this has simmered down a bit and become denser add spinach. It will wilt quickly. Add in your cooked sausage and warm through. You can either add in your ravioli or re-warm it in the microwave. Serve it with some garlic bread and you have a simple yet filling dinner on your plate.

Tequila Splash

This cocktail dice set from Leafcutter Designs was so much fun! I had a great roll the very first time - it had so many ingredients that I already love, so I made my very own drink, Tequila Splash! I think these dice would be a perfect gift for someone special, and you're sure to impress your friends and family with your bartender skills. I hope you enjoy this easy, refreshing drink recipe!

Tequila Splash
By Rachael Tanis

1 part tequila
1 part triple sec (or other orange liquor)
2 parts cranberry juice
2-3 mint leaves
Splash of ginger ale
Orange twist or slice, for garnish

1. Add the tequila, triple sec, and cranberry juice to a shaker filled with ice.
2. Shake, shake, shake!
3. Pour into a double old fashioned glass, over ice.
4. Rub the mint leaves between your fingers to bruise them a bit (this brings out the flavor more!) and add to your drink.
5. Add a splash of ginger ale. Add more if you like an extra "zing".
6. Garnish with an orange twist or slice.
7. Cheers, drink and repeat (optional)!

Tip: I always make mine a double! ;)

Frittata Loaf

I am an eggoholic. Self-proclaimed and verifiable. When we got the recipe dice from Leafcutter Designs, I was worried. I made Bill roll them. I was gonna blame him for anything odd that happened. Well, it didn't. I got eggs and some other ingredients. The first thing he said was "you need to make that omelet thing you do". "I don't do an omelet thing", I said. He said "the loaf thingy". I said "oh, heck yes!!!"

I would love to introduce you to a go-to dinner, lunch or breakfast that is simple and terrific. Please know that you can use ANYTHING you want in this recipe. This is just a guideline.

Frittata Loaf
By Traci
My own design

6 large eggs
1 cup Fontina cheese, shredded
1 cup Swiss cheese shredded
1/2 cup chopped green onion
1/2 cup chopped mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced asparagus
Salt and pepper to taste

Yep, that simple. Oven to an easy 300°F. Prep a small loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray.

I combine the eggs until well mixed. Salt and pepper at this point. Add all the other ingredients. It will be thick, but that's what you want. The egg is a just filler for all the other good stuff in the frittata. Pour into the prepared pan. Bake until it is not wiggly in the middle, about 25 minutes. Each oven will be different.

Take out of the pan and let set for a few minutes. Slice and serve. I love serving with some sliced tomatoes and additional green onions. Add a hunk of French bread and you are set!!!

Let me know how you make yours.......I would love to know!! And if you'd like a little fun with a recipe, I highly recommend grabbling some of these recipe dice from Leafcutter Designs.

Rum Punch

I love Leafcutter Designs Cocktail Dice. They are so versatile and fun. As soon as they arrived, I rolled and went with the first try! Don’t take it too seriously, use ingredients that you have. Mix and match as you see fit. You can create delicious libations with just one roll.

When I rolled my dice, I immediately thought of all the rum punch that is flowing freely on the islands of the Caribbean. Spiced rum and fruity ingredients make for a delicious, refreshing beverage. Even though I did not have any lemon lime soda, I did not fret. I substituted pineapple juice because I had some in the pantry. So, if you are longing for the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, make this tasty punch. The fresh nutmeg is traditional to Caribbean rum punch and the pomegranate juice adds a little twist. Just roll with it!

Rum Punch
By Tracy Hersh
Makes 2

2 ounces light rum
2 ounces dark rum
1 ounce triple sec or other orange liquor
6 ounces pineapple juice
6 ounces pomegranate juice

Garnish:
Nutmeg
Orange wedge
Star anise (optional)

In a small pitcher or 2-cup measuring cup, stir together rums, triple sec, and juices. Fill 2 highball glasses with ice and pour.

Garnish each glass with freshly grated nutmeg, orange slice and star anise. Add a straw and enjoy.