Barefoot Contessa Potato Salad

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3 pounds small white potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
1/2 cup chopped fresh dill
Ground black pepper & Kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup chopped red onion

Place the potatoes and 2 tablespoons of salt in a large pot of water. Bring the water to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, until the potatoes are barely tender when pierced with a knife. Drain the potatoes in a colander, then place the colander with the potatoes over the empty pot and cover with a clean, dry kitchen towel. Allow the potatoes to steam for 15 to 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, buttermilk, Dijon mustard, whole grain mustard, dill, 1 teaspoon of salt, and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Set aside.

When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut them in quarters or in half, depending on their size. Place the cut potatoes in a large bowl. While the potatoes are still warm, pour enough dressing over them to moisten. Add the celery and red onion, 2 teaspoons of salt and 1 teaspoon of pepper. Toss well, cover, and refrigerate for a few hours to allow the flavors to blend. Serve cold or at room temperature.

Celery and Parmesan Salad, Ina Garten

1/2 cup good olive oil
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice (3 lemons)
2 tablespoons minced shallots
1 teaspoon celery seed
1/2 teaspoon celery salt
1/2 teaspoon anchovy paste
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
5 cups thinly sliced celery hearts, tender leaves included, sliced on an angle (about 12 stalks)
4-ounce chunk aged Parmesan cheese
2/3 cup toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
Whole flat-leaf parsley leaves

At least 1 hour before you plan to serve the salad, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, 1/4 cup of lemon juice, the shallots, celery seed, celery salt, anchovy paste, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon pepper. Place the celery in a mixing bowl and toss it with the remaining 1 tablespoon of lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. (Even though these ingredients are in the dressing, believe me-this step makes a difference.) Add enough dressing to moisten well. Cover and refrigerate for at least an hour to allow the celery to crisp and the flavors to develop.

When ready to serve, arrange the celery on a platter, shave the Parmesan onto the celery with a vegetable peeler, then sprinkle with walnuts, parsley leaves, salt, and pepper and serve immediately.

chicken salad waldorf

  • 2 lbs chicken cooked and cubed
  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 2 ribs celery minced
  • 1 shallot minced
  • 1 medium apple, diced
  • 1 cup halved red or green grapes optional
  • 1 tsp dijion mustard
  • 1 tbsp tarragon  fresh
  • 1 tsp thyme fresh
  • 1/2 tsp grnd fennel
  • 1/4 tsp pepper
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
  1. Whisk mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard and herbs in a large bowl. Add chicken, apple, grapes, celery and 1/4 cup walnuts. Stir to coat well. Serve topped with the remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.

use unchicken

Cheeseburger Soup — allrecipes.com

268210
1/2 pound fake ground beef
3/4 cup chopped onion
3/4 cup shredded carrots
3/4 cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried parsley
4 tablespoons butter
3 cups veggie broth
4 cups cubed potatoes
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups cubed Cheddar cheese
1 1/2 cups milk
1/4 c sour cream

In a large pot, melt 1 tablespoon butter or margarine over medium heat: cook and stir vegetables and fake meat, sautee until veggies are soft.

Stir in basil and parsley. Add broth and potatoes. Bring to a boil, then simmer until potatoes are tender, about 10-12 minutes.

Melt the remainder of butter and stir in flour. Add the milk, stirring until smooth.
Gradually add milk mixture to the soup, stirring constantly. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to simmer. Stir in cheese. When cheese is melted, add sour cream and heat through. Do not boil.

Hearty Tuna Casserole — Blake

1 lb. egg noodles
2 12-oz-cans tuna; broken up
4 ribs celery; chopped
5 ea. carrots; chopped
1 large onion; chopped
12 oz. mushrooms; chopped
1 qt. milk; warm
½ cup flour
½ cup butter

Cook the noodles.

Sweat the vegetables till cooked through. Sauté the mushrooms till taking on quite a bit of color and deglaze the pan with brandy or your choice of liquid. Cook off the liquid and combine the mushrooms with the vegetables.

In the pan you used to sauté the mushrooms, melt the butter over medium heat and add the flour. Stir to combine thoroughly and add the milk. Bring it to a slow boil and stir it until it thickens.

Stir the tuna and noodles in with the vegetables to combine it thoroughly and then pour the béchamel over it and mix it in.

This is a distressingly simple recipe that is thoroughly satisfying.

Oyster stew — allrecipes.com

1/2 cup butter
1 cup minced celery
3 tablespoons minced shallots
1 quart half-and-half cream
2 (12 ounce) containers fresh shucked oysters, undrained
salt and ground black pepper to taste
Pinch of cayenne
dash of worstershire sauce
parsley, minced

Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat, and cook the celery and shallots until shallots are tender.

Pour half-and-half into a large pot over medium-high heat. Mix in the butter, celery, and shallot mixture. Stir continuously. When the mixture is almost boiling, pour the oysters and their liquid into the pot. Season with salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir continuously until the oysters curl at the ends. When the oysters curl the stew is finished cooking; turn off the heat and serve.

Vegan Corned Beef and Cabbage


This dish is not only delicious, but it’s remarkably low in fat and calories. Don’t wait for a special occasion to serve it! From http://fatfreevegan.com/

2 medium onions, cut into wedges
1/2 head cabbage, finely chopped or shredded (I used red cabbage this time)
4 carrots, cut into 2-inch lengths and quartered
2 ribs celery, thickly sliced
4 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon thyme
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon mild horseradish
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
6-8 ounces vegetarian “beef” or seitan or reconstituted TVP chunks (I used Lightlife Strips)
2 tablespoons whole wheat flour
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon red wine or cooking sherry (really adds great flavor)

Saute the onion in a large, non-stick pot until it starts to brown. Add the remaining vegetables, the broth, and the seasonings. Cover and cook over medium heat for 15 minutes. Add the “beef,” cover, and cook for 15 more minutes, until vegetables are soft.

Use a slotted spoon to remove the vegetables and “beef” to a serving plate and keep warm. Return the broth to the heat. In a small cup, combine the flour, water, and wine. Gradually stir the flour mixture into the simmering broth. Cook and stir, scraping the bottom of the pan, until the broth has thickened, about 10 minutes. Pour the gravy over the “beef” and vegetables to serve. Makes 4 servings.

Note: I added potatoes with other veggies along with parsley.

Barley Soup


6 c. water
4-6 tsp veggie stock base
1/2 c. pearl Barley
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
2 celery stalks, chopped
2-4 sm potatoes, peeled and chopped
1/2 medium sweet onion, minced
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2-1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/3 c. parsley, chopped
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp dill

Heat the water in a stock pot over medium heat. Add the soup base and stir to dissolve. Add barley, carrots, celery, potatoes, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaf and dill. Bring all to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes until the barley is cooked. Serves 4-6

Shaved Celery and Sardines on Blue Cheese Toast – Washington Post

This dish, based on an appetizer at Prune restaurant in New York City, plays with the classic pairing of blue cheese and celery, and adds sardines to make it a meal.

3 ribs celery
1 clove garlic, minced
Freshly squeezed juice of 1/2 lemon (2 tablespoons)
1 teaspoon best-quality extra-virgin olive oil
Kosher or sea salt
1 ounce Cambozola or other mild blue cheese, at room temperature (see headnote)
4 diagonally cut baguette slices, toasted (may substitute 2 larger slices of a bread of your choice)
2 ounces olive-oil-packed sardines, drained

Trim the celery by shaving off the thick skin and strings with a vegetable peeler. Cut crosswise into very thin slices, preferably using a small mandoline.

Combine the celery, garlic, lemon juice, oil and salt to taste in a small bowl, making sure the celery is well coated.

Divide the cheese into four equal pieces and spread on the baguette slices. Top with the dressed celery. Place equal portions of the sardines on each baguette slice, and eat.

White Bean Soup with Asparagus and Peas – Cheryl Strasser

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6 c veggie broth

1.5 c farfalle pasta

¼ lb. asparagus, cut on the bias in 1.5� lenghts

½ c. peas

1 tbsp finely chopped parsley

½ tsp finely chopped mint

1.5 tsp. Thyme and oregano

½ tsp grated lemon zest
1.5 tsp lemon juice
1 15 oz can cannellini or great northern beans
¼ onion

½ stalk celery

1 carrot

1 small bay leaf

1 sprig thyme and parsley

Pour broth into a large soup pot. Add onion, celery, carrot, bay leaf, thyme and parsely. Bring to a boil add pasta and cook until almost al dente, about 10 min. Add the asparagus and bean and cook until the asparagus is crisp tender, about 3 min. Add the peas, herbs, lemon zest and juice. Simmer 2-3 min longer until the pasta and veggies are tender. Season with salt and pepper.

4-6 servings