Moro – Wilmington, DE

(http://mororestaurant.net/menu.html)

I thought I had posted previously about Moro, but it looks like I haven't.  My husband and I visited the restaurant in Wilmington, DE to enjoy some of their wonderful food. I have never been disappointed. This time, we were seated in one of the center tables in their upstairs dining room.  It was nice, considering that we could actually sit beside each other in the booth portion of the table.  Now, onto the food!

I started with the Roasted Beets salad with warm hazelnut crusted goat cheese served over baby arugula and mixed in a light orange vinaigrette.  It was served on a rectangular, long plate.  There wasn't much arugula, but the beets were plentiful. The dressing added some sweetness to the dish and the goat cheese was delicious.  The beets added some crunchy texture to the salad.  I would definitely order this again.

As my main dish, I ordered the Small Plate Pumpkin Tortelloni, they don’t have any vegetarian Large Plates on their current menu.  The tortelloni was coated with a fried sage-30 year balsamic vinaigrette, and topped with shaved Ricotta Salata and toasted hazelnuts.  I was really excited about this dish, but ended up slightly disappointed.  The pasta was under-cooked  adding a crunchiness to the dish that I didn't really want.  The vinaigrette was good, but the bits of sage were slightly burnt.  Had the pasta not been underdone, the hazelnuts would have added their own crunch.  However, I do not think that they added any flavor to the dish.  That being said, I did clear my plate (it was small!).

For dessert, we ventured into territory unknown to me – Crème Brulee.  The Oreo Crème Brulee was served with a Butterfinger Biscotti.  We expected the usual white/caramel colored crème brulee with some pieces of Oreo in it.  What we got was a chocolate Crème Brulee – definitely a different experience with me.  I can say that I am not a huge fan of the caramelized top, but the part under the crispy coating was pretty good.  The Butterfinger biscotti was okay, I’m not a huge fan of the hard cookie, but I've been on a Butterfinger kick.  This didn't indulge my taste buds all that much.

All in all, it was a good meal and I do plan on going back to Moro.

Scary Skillet Shepherd’s Pie

Scary Skillet Shepherd’s Pie (slightly adapted from Kraft Recipes, Total Time: 25 minutes, Servings: 6) 

Ingredients

·         1 pkg.  (16 oz.) frozen mixed vegetables (corn, carrots, green beans, peas)

·         1 pkg. Morningstar Farms Burger Crumbles

·         1 can mushroom gravy

·         4 oz. (1/2 of 8-oz. pkg.) 1/3 Less Fat Cream Cheese, cubed

·         1 cup skim milk, divided

·         1 cup water (more if needed)

·         2 cups instant potato flakes

·         ¼ cup  Grated Parmesan Cheese

Directions

1.      Cook vegetables as directed on package. Meanwhile, heat crumbles in large skillet. Stir in gravy; simmer 5 min. or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

2.      Microwave cream cheese and ¼ cup milk in medium microwaveable bowl on HIGH 30 sec.; beat with whisk until blended. Gradually whisk in remaining milk and water. Microwave 2-1/2 min. or until hot, stirring after each minute. Stir in potato flakes and Parmesan until blended. Spoon into resealable plastic bag; cut one corner off bottom of bag. (See comments below)

3.      Remove 12 peas from mixed vegetables; stir remaining vegetables into meat mixture in skillet.

4.      Squeeze potato mixture into 6 mounds on meat mixture to resemble ghosts. Add 2 of the reserved peas to each for the eyes.

A couple of notes on the recipe: you want to make sure that the potatoes are creamy, so you may need to add more water or milk (I find that they are a little dry using the above recipe) AND I found it difficult to use the resealable bag – it’s hot and it leaves part of the potatoes behind!  I find it easier to just shape them onto the crumble/veggie mixture using a spatula.

That said, I loved making this for Halloween!  It’s something a little different that my guests have enjoyed (because of the ghosts).  It’s pretty healthy when using the burger crumbles, mushroom gravy, lower fat cream cheese, and skim milk.  And I like that it has vegetables in there too – protein, veggies, and carbs in one!  I like the taste, creamy and a tad cheesy. The creaminess is really the only consistency. As a meat-eater, my husband is not a fan of this being called a Shepherd’s Pie, but he does like the taste of it, considering it has no meat.  A great way to celebrate the spooky holiday!

Pasta with Goat Cheese and Basil Oil

Pasta with Goat Cheese and Basil Oil (Total Time: 15 minutes, Servings: 6-8)

Ingredients:

·         12 oz. cooked short pasta (gemelli)

·         2 cups fresh basil leaves + 1 cup additional (optional)

·         ½ cup extra-virgin olive oil

·         4 oz. crumbled goat cheese

·         ½ tsp. kosher salt

·         ¼ tsp. black pepper

Directions:

1.     Cook pasta according to package directions.

2.      In a blender, puree olive oil and 2 cups basil leaves until smooth; pour through fine mesh sieve and discard solids.

3.      Toss pasta with basil oil, goat cheese, additional basil leaves (if using), salt and pepper.

First, I cannot take credit for creating this recipe; however, I cannot remember where I found it and I did not write it down.  That said, here’s my review.

I really enjoyed this dish and it is so simple to make.  I used penne instead of gemelli and it held the sauce.  I did not use the additional 1 cup of basil leaves, in fact, I think that 2 cups of basil is a bit much (maybe because my cups were somewhat tightly packed.  I recommend slightly less, maybe 2 cups lightly packed or 1 ½ cups.  My husband and I found that it needed a little garlic, so I also recommend adding 2 garlic cloves to blender when making the puree.  The goat cheese melts when you mix it in and it almost appears to look like grated parmesan on the noodles!  This recipe is an easy family meal  and pretty health, too.

Butternut Squash Lasagna

 Butternut Squash Lasagna (adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, Total Time: 2 hours, Servings: 8-10)

Ingredients

·         3 pounds butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1/4- to 1/2-inch-thick slices

·         ¼ cup margarine

·         6 cloves garlic, minced

·         ¼ cup all-purpose flour

·         ½ teaspoon salt

·         4 cups skim milk

·         1 Tbsp. snipped fresh rosemary

·         6-9 no-boil lasagna noodles

·         1 cup shredded Italian pizza cheese

·         1 cup half and half

Directions

1.      Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Spray a 15x10x1-inch baking pan with Pam. Place squash in the prepared baking pan. Spread in an even layer. Roast, uncovered, for 25 to 30 minutes or until squash is tender, stirring once. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F.

For sauce:

1.      Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, heat margarine over medium heat. Add garlic; cook and stir for 1 minute. Stir in flour and ½ tsp. salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Stir in squash and rosemary.

2.      Spray a 13x9x2-inch baking dish or 3-quart rectangular casserole with Pam.

3.      To assemble, spread about 1 cup of the sauce in the prepared baking dish.

           A.) If using 9 noodles:

                       1.) Layer three of the noodles in dish. Spread with one-third of the remaining sauce. Sprinkle      

                             with 1/3 cup of the shredded cheese. Repeat layering noodles, sauce, and Parmesan cheese 

                              two more times. Pour half and half evenly over layers in dish. Sprinkle with the remaining 

                              shredded cheese.

            B.) If using 6 noodles:

                       1.) Layer three of the noodles in the dish.  Spread half of the remaining sauce. Sprinkle with half 

                             of the shredded cheese. Repeat layering noodles, sauce, and Parmesan cheese one more 

                              time. Pour half and half evenly over layers in dish. Sprinkle with the remaining shredded 

                              cheese.

4.      Cover dish with foil. Bake for 40 minutes. Uncover and bake about 10 minutes more or until edges are bubbly and top is lightly browned. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

I don’t like cutting whole butternut squash, so I bought the pre-chunked kind.  It worked just fine!  The butternut squash comes out soft, so there isn't much of a texture combination in this dish.  I only used 6 noodles, so my lasagna had a little bit of excess liquid.  However, I liked it and will keep on eating the leftovers.  The changes above take out a lot of the calories and fat from the original recipe.

As for changes, I recommend adding some pepper to the sauce. I think that would go a long way to enhancing the flavor of the dish.  It does fill up your tummy though!  Be careful with the garlic, a few days later, my house still smells of it!

Cheesy Tortilla Pie

Cheesy Tortilla Pie (slightly adapted from Kraft Recipes, Total Time: 30 minutes, Servings: 6)

Ingredients

·         1 pkg. Morningstar Farm MealStarters Burger Crumbles

·         1 tsp. garlic powder

·         1 tsp. ground cumin

·         ½ tsp. ground red pepper (cayenne)

·         1 can (16 oz.) refried beans (vegetarian or fat-free)

·         1 burrito-size flour tortilla (11 inch)

·         ½ cup Mexican shredded cheese

Directions

1.      Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat Burger Crumbles in large skillet. Stir in garlic powder, cumin and red pepper. Add beans; cook an additional 5 min., stirring occasionally.

2.      Place tortilla in 9-inch pie pan sprayed with cooking spray, with edge of tortilla coming up side of pan. Fill with the Crumble mixture.

3.      Bake 10 min. or until heated through; top with cheese.

4.      Continue baking 2 min. or until cheese begin to melt.

My husband and I both loved this delicious and low-calorie meal.  It may not seem like it, but it was a complete meal (along with a salad to get in some veggies).  The tortilla crisped nicely and added a little bit of crunch to the crumble/bean mixture (although the bottom was soggy).  I topped it with salsa, my husband used sour cream.  If you  have leftovers, you definitely need to use something liquidy like salsa, guacamole, or sour cream – else it’s too dry.  Great right out of the oven or reheated!  A definite keeper.

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Citrus Cream

Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Citrus Cream (slightly adapted from Kraft Recipes, Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes; Servings: 8)

Ingredients

·         2 lb. sweet potatoes (about 4 large)

·         ½ cup  Part-Skim Ricotta Cheese

·         ½ cup Grated Parmesan Cheese, divided

·         1 tsp. salt

·         3 cups flour

·         1 pkg.  (8 oz.) 1/3 Less Fat or Fat-Free Cream Cheese, cubed

·         1-3/4 cups skim milk

·         2 Tbsp. margarine

·         ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg

·         1 tsp. orange zest

Directions

1.      Heat oven to 400ºF.

2.      Prick potatoes several times with fork; place on foil-covered baking sheet. Bake 45 min. to 1 hour or just until tender. Cool slightly. Scoop potato flesh into large bowl; mash until almost smooth. Layer paper towels on baking sheet; spoon potatoes onto towels to drain. Replace paper towels as necessary until potatoes are stiff but not dry. Spoon into large bowl.

3.      Add ricotta, ¼ cup Parmesan and salt; mix well. Stir in flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until mixture forms soft dough. Place on lightly floured surface; knead in additional flour if necessary until dough is no longer sticky.

4.      Cut dough into 8 equal portions. Roll each portion on floured surface into 3/4-inch-thick rope. Cut into 3/4-inch pieces. Roll each piece into ball, dusting with additional flour if needed. Press each dough ball onto back of fork tines to form ridges on one side, pressing with thumb so that dough piece becomes indented with thumb on other side. Place in single layer on waxed paper-covered baking sheets.

5.      Add half the gnocchi to large pot of boiling water; stir. Cook 4 min. or until gnocchi float to surface. Remove with slotted spoon to colander; drain. Repeat with remaining gnocchi.

6.      Cook cream cheese, milk, margarine, nutmeg and remaining Parmesan in saucepan on low heat 10 to 15 min. or until cream cheese is melted and sauce is well blended, stirring occasionally. Stir in zest.

The gnocchi takes a while to make, but it is very tasty. Soft and chewy, but not too chewy.  I definitely think that it is worth the time it takes to make, but if you don’t like sweet potatoes, I would not recommend it! The sauce is a different story for me (and my husband), we did not like it – because of the orange zest.  It was just a little too far outside of our comfort zone.  I think that when I make this again, I will leave that ingredient out, but add some garlic or Italian seasoning.   The dish as a whole is very filling and I am excited to try it again.  Don’t be scared about adding too much flour – I had to add a lot in order to get the dough from being sticky (and, in the end, it was STILL sticky).

Washington Street Alehouse - Wilmington, DE

http://wsalehouse.com/

I am amazed that I have never written about the Washington Street Alehouse!  It is where my husband and I had our first date…and now we live close enough to walk to it.  The Alehouse is a welcoming place, with a sports bar to the right after you enter, a dining room to the left, and a dining room in the back (oh, and a private room on the second floor).  It is dimly lit, but has large windows in the front dining room that they open on warm days.  I have always had wonderful service from both waitstaff and bartenders.  A very friendly place!

On this particular occasion, my husband and I took my father while he was visiting for the weekend.  We decided to have a late lunch at the Alehouse.  I ordered theVegetarian Chili, which was the soup of the day, and the House salad.  As an appetizer for the table, we started with the Soft Pretzels.  I love their pretzels!  Very soft and warm, and seved with just a touch of salt.  As accompaniments, they have their homemade garlic butter, nacho cheese sauce, and spicy mustard.  All are delicious, but I especially recommend the butter!  I have also had their hummus as an app, and it is amazing!

The House Salad came next, baby greens mixed with grape tomatoes, herb-marinated mushrooms and cucumbers, topped with an apple balsamic vinaigrette.  Overall, I like the salad, the dressing is served on the side and adds a hint of sweetness.  The salad is somewhat deconstructed, so you have to mix the different parts yourself.  I am not a huge fan of the marinade on the mushrooms, but they are fine.  It’s a healthy start!

I finished this meal with the Vegetarian chili.  It was a thick chili, very light brown in color, made with beans, carrots, and celery.  Not spicy, but a good mix of flavors.  Almost like what I think a ham bean soup would taste like, without the ham.  Not the usual chili experience, but good.

I cannot wait until we go there again!

Ulysses Gastropub - Wilmington, DE

http://www.ulyssesgastropub.com/

I have only eaten at Ulysses once before and it was not the best experience.  My main issue with the restaurant is that they do not keep their online menu updated.  For example, this time there was a wonderful pasta dish on the online menu, but in the restaurant, it was nowhere to be seen.  That being said, I am impressed with the quality of the food (much better than the first time I went) and the service (friendly and attentive staff).

Upon entering the restaurant in North Wilmington, you are immediately presented with a large bar and a massive choice of craft beers.  There is a dining room in the back – suitable for a gastropub.  The restaurant is loud, but the atmosphere is inviting.

On this occasion, I ordered the House salad, the Veggie Burger, and finished by sharing the Death by Chocolate with my husband.  The house salad is a mixture of baby greens, dried cranberries, and candied walnuts, topped with a roasted apple vinaigrette.  It is served in a “tilted” bowl (interesting presentation), and is a good start to the meal.  I love the sweet taste of the vinaigrette, and the crunch of the walnuts adds a different texture to the salad.  The Veggie Burger is a homemade jerk spiced brown rice and black bean burger, topped with mozzarella and creamed avocado.  It comes with fries and a side of aioli.  The burger holds together very well, it only fell apart because I put my fork through it!  It has a “meaty” texture (from the rice and beans) and has just a hint of spiciness to it.  The mozzarella is gooey and works well with the burger.  The fries are standard issue steak fries.  I did not care for the aioli, the taste was a little heavy on the mayonnaise and it was very thin.

The finale: Death by Chocolate.  A firm chocolate mousse topped with chocolate shavings and a pile of chocolate sauce on the side (the waiter tried to make a design, but it ran together!).  Creamy, decadent, rich.  An explosion of chocolate in your mouth.

I recommend checking out veggie-friendly Ulysses, just don’t count on the online menu!

Grilled Herbed Ratatouille and Polenta

Grilled Herbed Ratatouille and Polenta (adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, Servings: 4, Total Time: 45 minutes)

Ingredients

·         1 small eggplant

·         1 medium zucchini

·         1 small leek

·         ¼ cup olive oil

·         2 tsp. snipped fresh rosemary

·         ½ tsp. salt

·         ½ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

·         1 14 ½  oz. can Italian-style diced tomatoes, undrained

·         1 cup cornmeal

·         2 cups water

·         1 tsp. snipped fresh rosemary

·         Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1.      Slice the eggplant, zucchini, and leek crosswise into 1/4-inch slices. In a small bowl combine the oil, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Brush the vegetables with the oil mixture.

2.      Preheat an open indoor electric grill on high setting, if available. Arrange half the vegetables on the grill rack. Grill 6 to 8 minutes until vegetables are crisp-tender and grill marks appear, turning once. Remove vegetables from grill rack or pan; set aside. Repeat with remaining vegetables.

3.      Meanwhile, mix cornmeal, water, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small saucepan.  Mix until combined.  Add more water to get the polenta to your desired texture.  Allow to heat through.

4.      In a medium saucepan, heat the tomatoes until boiling. Add the grilled vegetables. Simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or to desired consistency, stirring occasionally.

5.      To serve, place a spoonful of polenta into a bowl; spoon the vegetable mixture over the polenta.

The original recipe called for ½ of an eggplant, 1 small zucchini, and 1 fennel bulb.  I chose to use the whole eggplant and a medium zucchini because the more the merrier!  Actually, it seemed that only that amount of vegetables wouldn’t be enough for the full meal.  I subbed a leek for the fennel bulb (1. Because there were no small fennel bulbs at the grocery store, and 2. Because I don’t like the licorice taste).  I found the meal to be lacking on taste, even with added rosemary to the polenta – just a bit bland.  I did add some Italian pizza cheese and that went a long way!  The recipe does not have much protein, but is high in fiber and low(er) on calories than other meals.  However, I do not think that I would make this particular recipe again. 

Apple and Cheddar Penne Pie

Apple and Cheddar Penne Pie (slightly adapted from Better Homes & Gardens, Servings: 8, Total Time: 75-80 minutes)

Ingredients

·         1 Tbsp. margarine, melted

·         1/3 cup breadcrumbs

·         3 tsp. fresh thyme

·         12 oz. dried penne pasta

·         2 cups chopped and peeled cooking apples

·         ½ cup chopped sweet onion, such as Vidalia or Walla Walla

·         3 Tbsp. margarine

·         3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

·         ½ tsp. salt

·         ¼ tsp. ground black pepper

·         2 cups skim milk

·         ½ cup apple cider

·         6 oz. fat-free cream cheese, softened and cut up

·         1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese (6 ounces)

Directions

1.      Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a casserole dish with PAM.

2.      Mix 1 Tbsp. melted margarine with breadcrumbs and 1 tsp. of the thyme; set aside.

3.      Cook pasta 2 minutes less than directed by package directions; drain. Return pasta to pan; set aside.

4.      Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt 3 Tbsp. margarine over medium heat.  Cook apples and onion for 5 to 8 minutes or until tender. Add flour, salt, and pepper to saucepan. Cook and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in milk and apple cider. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat to low. Add cheeses and the remaining 2 tsp. thyme; stir until cheese melts.

5.      Add sauce mixture to pasta; stir to combine. Spoon pasta mixture into prepared pan. Sprinkle with reserved breadcrumb mixture.

6.      Bake, uncovered, about 40 minutes or until edges are bubbly. If desired, top with fresh thyme sprigs.

Ok, so definitely not the healthiest thing that I have ever made, but oh so tasty!  I decided to use a casserole dish instead of a pie pan and did not use butter and breadcrumbs to coat the sides (as the original recipe calls for) – I don’t think that I missed out on anything except extra calories!  The original recipe calls for butter, whole milk, and regular cream cheese, switching to margarine skim milk, and fat free cream cheese saves some calories and fat while keeping the taste.  Even though I didn’t use reduced fat cheddar, that is another way to reduce calories without skimping on taste.  With the changes that I made, there are less calories and fat, but it is still a very satisfying, creamy dish. 

Now on to taste!  The pasta has a sweet hint because of the apple and sweet onion – a nice contrast to the creamy cheese sauce.  I used regular breadcrumbs instead of panko and I like that it added a little crunch to the top of the casserole.  I honestly think that the only further change I would make is to switch to reduced fat cheddar cheese and possibly add some more thyme and maybe 2.5 or 3 cups of apple.  It’s nice to use apples during harvest season – and this a great way to capitalize on fall produce!