Great Ideas

GRAHAM ELLIOT’S GRILLED CHICKEN

The MasterChef judge shares a dish from his Chicago restaurant g.e.b. ‘It’s seasonal and delicious,’ he says

CHICKEN & BUTTERMILK TARRAGON STRING BEANS

Serves 4

¼ cup Greek yogurt

¼ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. Dijon mustard

1 tsp. lemon juice

3 cups green beans, blanched

1 tbsp. chopped tarragon

Salt and pepper

4 (8-oz.) skin on, boneless chicken breasts

1 tbsp. olive oil

2 sprigs fresh thyme

1 clove garlic

1 tbsp. cold, unsalted butter

1. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, buttermilk, mustard and lemon juice. Fold in beans and tarragon and season with salt. Chill beans for at least 1 hour to allow flavors to blend.

2. Preheat oven to 350. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a large, oven-safe saute pan or skillet. Place chicken in pan skin-side down and saute over medium heat until skin begins to crisp, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer skillet to oven and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and add thyme and garlic. Swirl in butter and baste chicken with sauce. Serve with beans.

Giuliana & Bill Rancic’s WINTER SALAD

The new parents-and owners of Chicago eatery RPM Italian-share a recipe that’s ‘easy and seriously delish,’ says Giuliana

ROASTED BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD WITH PISTACHIOS & GOLDEN RAISINS

Makes 4 servings

1½ cups (½-in.) peeled butternut squash cubes

3 tbsp. olive oil, divided

1 tbsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. honey

6 cups spinach

½ cup toasted pistachios, chopped

½ cup golden raisins

Sea salt

Freshly ground black pepper

1. Preheat oven to 400. Combine squash, 1 tbsp. olive oil and ½ tsp. sea salt on an aluminum foil-lined rimmed baking sheet, tossing to coat.

2. Bake 20 to 25 minutes until tender, stirring after 15 minutes. Transfer to wire rack; cool.

3. Whisk lemon juice, honey, remaining olive oil and ½ tsp. each salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.

4. Combine spinach, squash, pistachios and golden raisins in large bowl. Drizzle with dressing and toss.

Pichet Ong’s FRUIT TARTS

The pastry chef and judge on Food Network’s Sugar Dome shares a comfort-food recipe

FRUIT TARTS

Makes 10 tarts

2 cups flour

1 tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 16 pieces

2 egg yolks

3 tbsp. milk

10 tbsp. apricot preserves

10 tbsp. strawberry preserves

1 egg combined with

1 tbsp. water

Confectioners’ sugar

1. In a food processor, combine flour, sugar, salt and butter and pulse until mixture resembles coarse sand. Whisk together egg yolks and milk and, in 2 additions, add to mixture in bowl, pulsing between additions. Continue to process until dough forms a ball. Divide in half, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours.

2. Preheat oven to 350. On a floured surface, roll out each ball of dough into a thin, 9″×12″ rectangle. Cut those into 10 equal rectangular pieces. Top 5 pieces with 2 tbsp. each apricot preserves. Repeat on 5 other pieces using strawberry preserves. Cover each tart with remaining rectangles of dough. Press edges with a fork to seal.

3. Place tarts on parchment-lined baking sheets. Brush tops with egg wash, then cut a 2-in. slit in the top of each. Bake for 25 minutes. When cool, sprinkle with confectioners’ sugar.