Roasted Mushrooms and Potatoes

In celebration of our new toaster oven we needed to try something new. I really like some frozen stuffed chicken breasts from the local grocer and it bothers me to heat the entire oven for two hand size chicken pieces. So we cooked the chicken in the toaster oven and the roasted mushroom and potato salad in the standard oven. They finished cooking at the same time and it was a big hit!

The mushrooms had a lot of flavor, the potatoes were just potatoes. The next time we make it, I'm going to try tossing the potatoes with some garlic. I welcome any other delicious suggestions.

Roasted Mushrooms and Potatoes
Ingredients

• 1 package (10.5 ounces) oyster or cremini mushrooms, trimmed (halved if using cremini)
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 1 pound red new potatoes, quartered
• 1/4 cup packed fresh parsley leaves - I didn't have these on hand, so they were omitted
  
• 2 to 3 teaspoons sherry or red-wine vinegar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss mushrooms with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. On another rimmed baking sheet, toss potatoes with 1 tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast until mushrooms are browned and potatoes are cooked through, about 20 minutes, tossing once and rotating sheets halfway through. Transfer to a bowl and toss with parsley and vinegar.
   

Weekday Meat and Potatoes

I often make the excuse, "...but I don't have time to make a good meal." Some days it's true. Some days it's all I can do to get off of work at 5, walk to the car, drive to a local eatery, order and eat $1.50 tacos (good tacos but store-bought all the same), and get home to leave again because we are asked to be elsewhere by 6:30. I'm sure many of you understand.

The described scenario works on Tuesday night because tacos are cheap. Wednesday night, I don't have that luxury, and I will often think I don't have time to cook something really good. Maybe I don't, but WE do.

I love to cook with my hubby. I love spending time together in the kitchen talking about anything under the sun. I love feeling like we are both experiencing something new. I love knowing that we are accomplishing something together. I love that he keeps me calm when I want to cry because something isn't according to plan, he calls it "Hama Pizazz". Another thing I love is that when we work together we can create an entire delicious meal and not just a really good main dish and a side that looks like an afterthought.

Last night my hubby manned the grill and created a masterpiece of a pork tenderloin. Other than his innate talent, the secret is: get a quality piece of meat and let it's natural flavor come through. Ingredients: pork tenderloin, coarse salt, freshly ground pepper. That's it.

While he was tending to the manly meat duties I was in the kitchen prepping the farmer's market finds of new potatoes and fresh green beans. I did look to some tried and tested recipes to help me along the way. I will share these with you.

Garlic Smashed Potatoes
Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds red new potatoes, scrubbed well and quartered
• 2 tablespoons butter
  
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 1/2 cup milk - it calls for whole but I just used 1% because that's what I have on hand
  

Directions:

1. Set a steamer basket in a large pot. Fill with enough water to come just below basket; bring to a boil. Add potatoes; reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook until tender, 12 to 14 minutes.
   

2. Remove steamer basket and set potatoes aside; discard water from pot. In same pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium. Add garlic; cook until golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes. Add potatoes; mash coarsely. Cook, stirring, 1 minute (a film of starch will form on bottom of pot). Stir in milk and remaining tablespoon butter; heat until warmed through, about 1 minute more. Season with salt and pepper and remove from heat.

Emeril's Green Bean Salad
Ingredients:

• Coarse salt and ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 small garlic cloves, minced
• 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest, plus 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 1/2 pounds thin green beans, trimmed
• 2 small red onions, quartered through root end (leaving root end attached) - I skipped the onions this time because I didn't want to bother but they are a tasty addition

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and prepare a large bowl of ice water. In a bowl, combine 2 tablespoons oil, garlic, lemon zest and juice; set aside. For onions: Heat grill to medium-low.

2. Cook green beans in boiling water until crisp-tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer immediately to ice-water bath. Drain beans well, pat dry, and place in bowl. Drizzle with dressing. If not using onions, season with salt and pepper.
   

3. For onions: Toss onion wedges with remaining tablespoon oil; season with salt and pepper. Grill until lightly charred, 4 to 6 minutes per side. When cool, trim root end off, and thinly slice onions; add to bowl with green beans, and toss to combine.

I apologize for not having pictures to entice your tastebuds but honestly my photography needs some work and photos wouldn't have done it justice, not to mention I was short on time and my mouth was watering.

My hubby and I put this together in about 30 minutes. He's the meat: dark and muscles. I'm the potatoes: starchy white and better with milk. :)

Lemony Smashed Potatoes

To accompany some grilled trout, I threw together some Lemony Smashed Potatoes from Everyday Food. I was skeptical that such a small amount of lemon zest would flavor the potatoes as well as it did. They have a wonderful, fresh flavor and without the butter or cream they are relatively healthy.

photo from marthastewart.com

Ingredients

• 3 pounds small red new potatoes
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon zest
• Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

Set a steamer basket in a saucepan with 1 inch simmering water. Add potatoes, cover, and cook until potatoes are easily pierced with a paring knife, about 25 minutes. Lightly smash potatoes, toss with oil and lemon zest, and season with salt and pepper.

I am a convert to coarse salt and fresh ground pepper. I love it though. They offer so much seasoning flavor with minimal use.