Ellie's Meal of the Week
2010 Recipe Archive

Below, find the weekly recipe for Ellie's 2010 Meal of the Week! From asparagus through apples, each week Ellie provides a new recipe to try. Each uses the freshest in-season produce available.Purchase the ingredients together and get a discount on the works! Cross one "to-do" off your list each week and let Ellie provide a fresh, healthy meal for your family!

All-American Loaded Burgers
Ingredients:

• 1 c. dry bread crumbs
• 1/2 c. finely chopped onion
• 1/2 c. Italian salad dressing
• 2 eggs, lightly beaten
• 2 lb. ground beef
• 6 kaiser rolls, split
• 1 head leaf lettuce
• 2 tomatoes, sliced
• Cheese slices
• Other burger toppings

In a large bowl, combine the bread crumbs, onion, salad dressing, and eggs. Crumble beef over mixture and mix well. Shape into 6 patties. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat to desired doneness. Serve on rolls w/ lettuce, tomato, onion, and other toppings. Serves: 6

Chicken w/ Grapes, Couscous, and Roasted Asparagus
Ingredients:

• 2 bunches asparagus
• 5 T. extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO), divided
• 3 T. chopped fresh thyme leaves
• Coarse salt & pepper
• 2 T. butter
• 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
• 2 lb. chicken tenders
• 1/2 c. white wine
• 2 1/2 c. chicken stock
• 1 c. heavy cream
• 1/4 c. grainy, stone-ground mustard
• 1/2 lb. seedless red grapes, halved
• 2 c. couscous

Heat oven to 400 degrees F. Trim touch ends of asparagus and save for soup. Place asparagus in a large bowl and toss w/ about 3 tablespoons EVOO, 2 T. chopped thyme, salt, and pepper. Spread the asparagus out on a cookie sheet and roast 10-12 minutes until asparagus is tender and crispy at the tips.
            Heat a large skillet over medium to medium high heat; add 2 T. EVOO and 2 T. butter to the pan. Place flour in a shallow dish. Season chicken w/ salt and pepper, then dredge the tneders in flour and add to the pan. Cook 7-8 minutes until browned. Add wine and scrape up browned bits as wine cooks down and bubbles, 30 seconds. Add 1/2 c. stock to skillet. Combine cream and mustard and add to stock. Add grapes to the pan and turn chicken and grapes to coat and combine w/ the sauce. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat.
            Bring remaining 2 c. chicken stock and remaining tablespoon of fresh thyme to a boil in a small pot. Add couscous. Put a tight fitting lid on the pot and remove from heat. Let stand 5 minutes, then fluff with a fork.            Serve tenders and grapes on couscous alongside asparagus.

Seared Scallops and Spring Vegetables
Ingredients:

• 2 T. olive oil
• 12 large sea scallops, patted dry
• 1 bunch asparagus, cut into 1 in. pieces
• 1 c. grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 c. sliced red onion
• 2 c. baby spinach

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil over medium-high heat. Season the scallops with salt and pepper, add to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Add the asparagus, cherry tomatoes and red onion and cook for 2 minutes. Turn the scallops, then cook until the tomatoes are shriveled and the scallops are cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the spinach, then cover and let stand until the spinach is wilted, about 1 minute.

Pasta w/ Chicken, Squash, and Asparagus
Ingredients:

• 1 package (16 oz.) spiral pasta
• 2 c. whipping cream
• 1/2 c. milk
• 1 T. butter
• 2 c. shredded Mexican cheese
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 5 T. olive oil, divided
• 1 ea. zucchini & yellow squash, julienned
• 1 bunch asparagus, cut in 1-in. pieces
• Salt & Pepper
• 1 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, julienned
• 1/4 tsp. each, dried basil, marjoram, and rosemary
• 1/8 tsp. rubbed sage

Asparagus and Mushroom Puff Pastry Pie
Ingredients:

• 1/2. c. butter
• 2 bunches asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1 in. pieces
• 6 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lb. fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 1 c. prepared Hollandaise sauce (we sell the mix for this!)
• 2 c. diced, cooked chicken
• One 17.25 oz. package frozen puff pastry, thawed

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add the asparagus, and cook for about 10 minutes.  Stir in the mushrooms and garlic; cook and stir until the mushrooms are tender.  Add diced chicken and set aside.  Prepare the hollandaise sauce according to package directions.  Stir into the asparagus mixture.  Lay one sheet of puff pastry out flat in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan, letting any extra dough go up the sides.  Spread the asparagus mixture evenly over the dough.  Top with the other sheet of pastry and pinch the edges together to seal.  Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the oven until pastry is golden brown.  Cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving. Yield: 4 servings.

Chicken and Asparagus Skillet Supper
Ingredients:

• 8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
• 3 slices bacon, coarsely chopped
• 1/2 c. chicken broth
• 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
• 1 yellow squash, halved crosswise and cut in 1/2-in. strips
• 4 green onions, cut in 2-inch pieces

Cheesy Chicken & Rice Bake w/ Horseradish Asparagus
Ingredients:

• 2 bunches asparagus, ends trimmed
• 1 1/2 c. sour cream
• 1 tsp. garlic salt
• 1 1/2 T. Horseradish
• 1 1/2 T. butter
• 3/4 c. bread crumbs
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 1/3 c. water
• 3/4 c. long-grain white rice, uncooked
• 1/4 c. chopped onion
• 1 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
• 1 c. shredded cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper, to taste

Mix soup, water, rice, onion powder and black pepper in 2 qt. shallow baking dish. Top w/ chicken. Sprinkle chicken w/ additional pepper. Cover. Bake at 375 for 45 minutes or until chicken is no longer pink and rice is done. Uncover. When chicken has about 15 minutes left to cook, steam asparagus until crisp-tender. Mix sour cream, garlic salt, and horseradish in bowl. Melt butter and stir in bread crumbs. When asparagus is crisp-tender, transfer to a 9x13 pan. Top with sour cream mixture, and sprinkle with bread crumbs.  Turn oven to broil. Sprinkle cheese over chicken and return to oven, uncovered. Broil asparagus and chicken until bread crumbs and cheese are lightly browned. Yield: 4 servings.