Florentine Style Porterhouse Asparagus Atkins Recipes

FLORENTINES (ITALY)

Steps:

• Position a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
• Pulse the almonds in a food processor until finely chopped, but not pasty. Stir together the nuts, flour, zest and salt in a large bowl.
• Put the sugar, cream, corn syrup and butter in a small saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a rolling boil and sugar is completely dissolved. Continue to boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla, then pour mixture into almond mixture and stir just to combine. Set aside until cool enough to handle, 30 minutes.
• Scoop rounded teaspoons (for 3-inch cookies) or rounded tablespoons (for 6-inch cookies) of batter and roll into balls. Place on prepared baking sheet, leaving about 3 to 4 inches between each cookie since they spread.
• Bake 1 pan at a time, until the cookies are thin and an even golden brown color throughout, rotating pans halfway through baking time, about 10 to 11 minutes. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool. Repeat with remaining batter. Serve.
• Optional chocolate topping: Put the chocolate in a medium heatproof bowl. Bring a saucepan filled with 1 inch or so of water to a very low simmer; set the bowl over, but not touching, the water. Stir the chocolate occasionally until melted and smooth. (Alternatively, put the chocolate in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Melt at 50 percent power in the microwave until soft, about 1 minute. Stir, and continue heat until completely melted, about 1 to 2 minutes more.)
• For sandwiches: Drop about 1/2 teaspoon chocolate onto on the flat side of half of the cookies and press together with remaining halves. Return to rack and let chocolate set.
• For chocolate decor: Drizzle melted chocolate over Florentines as desired. Set aside at room temperature until chocolate is set.

STEAK FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Rub the garlic cloves over the meat and the bone of the steaks. Sprinkle the steaks with salt and pepper. Place in the refrigerator and allow seasoning to permeate the meat, for about 1 hour. Remove from the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before grilling, allowing the meat to come to room temperature.
• Place a grill pan over high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Grill the steaks until cooked to desired doneness, turning once, about 5 minutes per side for rare, 7 minutes per side for medium-rare. The key to getting those great grill marks is to place the steak down and not move them. After you flip them, do not shift the steaks.
• Allow the steaks to rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing, otherwise all the juices will be run all over your cutting board. Run your knife along the bone and carve the meat off the bone. Slice the meat into 1-inch slices. Transfer the slices to a platter. Squeeze the lemon over the steaks. Drizzle with the oil and serve immediately with Grilled Vegetables.
• Place a grill pan over medium-high heat or prepare the barbecue (medium-high heat). Brush the vegetables with 1/4 cup of the oil to coat lightly. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and pepper. Working in batches, grill the vegetables until tender and lightly charred all over, about 8 to 10 minutes for the bell peppers; 7 minutes for the yellow squash, zucchini, eggplant, and mushrooms; 4 minutes for the asparagus and green onions. Arrange the vegetables on a platter. The key to getting those great grill marks is to not shift the vegetables too frequently once they've been placed on the hot grill.
• Meanwhile, whisk the remaining 2 tablespoons of oil, balsamic vinegar, garlic, parsley, basil, and rosemary in a small bowl to blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Drizzle the herb mixture over the vegetables. Serve the vegetables, warm or at room temperature.

BISTECCA ALLA FIORENTINA (TUSCAN PORTERHOUSE)

Steps:

• Press chopped rosemary onto both sides of porterhouse steak; set onto a plate and allow to marinate at room temperature for 1 hour.
• Start an outdoor grill using hardwood charcoal, such as hickory. When coals are white and glowing, arrange for high heat.
• Gently brush or rub olive oil onto steak, then season to taste with sea salt and pepper.
• Place steak onto grill, and cook until a dark, golden brown (not burnt) crust forms, 5 to 10 minutes depending on thickness of meat. Turn over, and continue cooking until golden on the other side, 5 to 10 minutes more. When finished, place steak onto a platter, and allow to rest for 10 minutes.
• To serve, remove the two pieces of meat from the bone, and replace the bone onto the serving platter. Trim any unwanted fat from the round (tenderloin) steak, slice into 6 equal pieces at an angle to the grain, and fan out on one side of the bone. Slice the rectangular (loin) steak into 1/4-inch slices at an angle to the grain. Fan out on the other side of the bone. Finish by garnishing the platter with lemon wedges and a sprinkle of additional sea salt.

FLORENTINES

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C/gas 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment.Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup in a small saucepan over a low heat, stirring frequently. Remove from the heat and whisk in the flour then add the cherries, flaked almonds, pistachios and orange zest.
• Scoop 10 flat tbsp of the mixture onto the baking sheets, leaving room for them to spread. You will need to do these in batches. Bake for 10 mins until golden. Leave to cool for 2 mins until firm enough to lift onto a wire rack. Cool completely. Repeat with the remaining mixture.
• Melt the chocolate in a bowl over a simmering saucepan of water or in the microwave in 30 second bursts. Turn the florentines over on the wire rack. Spoon chocolate onto the base of each florentine and gently spread to the edges. When the chocolate is firm enough to hold its shape, use a fork to draw wavy lines across the chocolate. Leave to set and then store in an airtight container.

ASPARAGUS FLORENTINE

Steps:

• Snap off tough ends of asparagus.
• Wash stalks well.
• Cook asparagus in boiling salted water until almost tender;drain.
• Wrap 1 slice of Prosciutto around a few stalks of asparagus and fasten with a toothpick.
• Butter the bottom of a baking dish and lay the bundles of asparagus in the dish.
• Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
• Bake at 375 for about 10 minutes.

FLORENTINE-STYLE PORTERHOUSE STEAKS

Steps:

• Pat steaks dry and rub each all over with 1 teaspoon salt.
• To cook steaks using a charcoal grill:
• Open vents on bottom of grill and on lid. Light a heaping chimneyful of charcoal and pour lit charcoal on 2 opposite sides of bottom of grill, leaving middle clear. Charcoal fire is medium-hot when you can hold your hand 5 inches above rack over coals for 3 to 4 seconds.
• Sear steaks on lightly oiled grill rack over coals, uncovered, until grill marks appear (rotating 90 degrees once on each side for crosshatch marks), about 5 minutes per side. Move steaks to area with no coals underneath and grill, covered, turning over occasionally, until thermometer inserted horizontally 2 inches into meat (do not touch bone) registers about 110°F in larger section of meat and about 125°F in smaller (fillet) section for medium-rare, 12 to 15 minutes.
• To cook steaks using a gas grill:
• Preheat all burners on high, covered, 10 minutes. Sear steaks on lightly oiled grill rack, covered, until grill marks appear (rotating 90 degrees once on each side for crosshatch marks), about 5 minutes per side. Turn off 1 burner (middle burner if there are 3) and put steaks above shut-off burner. Reduce heat on remaining burner(s) to moderate and grill steaks, covered, turning occasionally, until thermometer inserted horizontally 2 inches into meat (do not touch bone) registers about 110°F in larger section of meat and about 125°F in smaller (fillet) section for medium-rare, 10 to 15 minutes.
• To serve steaks:
• Transfer steaks to a cutting board and let stand, uncovered, 10 minutes. (Internal temperature will rise to at least 135°F while steaks stand.) Cut each section of meat off bone, then slice each piece crosswise against the grain and arrange slices on a platter. Sprinkle lightly with salt and drizzle with oil.

FLORENTINE STYLE PORTERHOUSE & ASPARAGUS (ATKINS)

Steps:

• Porterhouse:.
• 1. Rub steak with 1 teaspoon of the oil, then rub steak all over with cut sides of garlic; discard garlic. Rub steak again with 1 rosemary sprig and 1 thyme sprig; discard herbs. Season steak on both sides with salt and pepper; set aside.
• 2. Prepare a high-heat grill or set a grill pan or large cast-iron skillet over high heat. When very hot, add steak and grill or sear until done to taste, 4 to 5 minutes per side for medium-rare.
• 3. Transfer steak to a cutting board and let stand 5 minutes. With a sharp knife, cut around bone so that you have 2 pieces of meat. Trim off any fat. Thinly slice steak and transfer to a platter. Surround with the remaining 2 rosemary sprigs and 2 thyme sprigs. Drizzle steak with remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil and serve.
• Asparagus:.
• 1. Heat oven to 400°F Line a jelly roll pan with aluminum foil. Rinse asparagus, and snap off tough ends. Lightly pat dry.
• 2. Spread asparagus out in pan. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Mix with your hands to distribute seasoning. Pat into a single layer.
• 3. Bake until asparagus are tender and lightly crisped; about 15 minutes. Shake pan once or twice during baking time.