Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Holiday Cooking





CHIPOTLE SHRIMP TACO WITH AVOCADO SALSA VERDE

4 servings
Ingredients
Avocado Salsa:
• 1 small onion, quartered
• 1 jalapeno, quartered, seeds optional
• 1 garlic clove, smashed
• 4 medium tomatillos, (about 8 ounces) husked, rinsed, and coarsely chopped
• 1/2 Hass avocado, peeled, seeded, and cut into chunks
• 1 1/4 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1/4 cup loosely packed fresh cilantro leaves, coarsely chopped

Shrimp:
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chipotle or blended chili powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1 pound medium shrimp (about 20), peeled and deveined
• 8 corn tortillas
• 8 sprigs cilantro for garnish
• 2 limes, cut into wedges

Directions
Put the onion, jalapeno, and garlic in a food processor and finely chop. Add the tomatillos, avocado, and salt and pulse until chopped but still chunky. Transfer to a bowl and stir in the cilantro.

Heat a stove top or outdoor grill to medium-high. Mix the olive oil, chipotle or chili powder, and salt in a large bowl. Add the shrimp and toss to coat. Grill the shrimp until translucent, about 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side.

Grill tortillas, until slightly charred and pliable, about 20 seconds per side. (Alternatively, wrap in a damp paper towel and heat in a microwave.)
Spoon sauce on the tortilla, then top with about 2 or 3 shrimp and a sprig of cilantro.
Serve 2 tacos per person, with a lime wedge on the side.
Copyright 2005 Television Food Network, G.P. All rights reserved.


CHICKEN ENCHILADAS
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence


16 enchiladas, 8 servings
Prep: 1 hr
Cook: 15 min

Ingredients
• 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 1 1/2 pounds skinless boneless chicken breast
• Salt and pepper
• 2 teaspoons cumin powder
• 2 teaspoons garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Mexican Spice Blend
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup frozen corn, thawed
• 5 canned whole green chiles, seeded and coarsely chopped
• 4 canned chipotle chiles, seeded and minced
• 1 (28-ounce) can stewed tomatoes
• 1/2 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 16 corn tortillas
• 1 1/2 cups enchilada sauce, canned
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar and Jack cheeses
• Garnish: chopped cilantro leaves, chopped scallions, sour cream, chopped tomatoes

Directions
Coat large sauté pan with oil. Season chicken with salt and pepper. Brown chicken over medium heat, allow 7 minutes each side or until no longer pink. Sprinkle chicken with cumin, garlic powder and Mexican spices before turning. Remove chicken to a platter, allow to cool.
Sauté onion and garlic in chicken drippings until tender. Add corn and chiles. Stir well to combine. Add canned tomatoes, saute 1 minute.

Pull chicken breasts apart by hand into shredded strips. Add shredded chicken to saute pan, combine with vegetables. Dust the mixture with flour to help set.

Microwave tortillas on high for 30 seconds. This softens them and makes them more pliable. Coat the bottom of 2 (13 by 9-inch) pans with a ladle of enchilada sauce. Using a large shallow bowl, dip each tortilla in enchilada sauce to lightly coat. Spoon 1/4 cup chicken mixture in each tortilla. Fold over filling, place 8 enchiladas in each pan with seam side down. Top with remaining enchilada sauce and cheese.

Bake for 15 minutes in a preheated 350 degree F oven until cheese melts. Garnish with cilantro, scallion, sour cream and chopped tomatoes before serving. Serve with Spanish rice and beans.

CHORIZO, BEAN AND CHEESE NACHOS
Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2003


4 servings

Ingredients
• 1 pound Mexican chorizo, removed from casings and crumbled
• 1 tablespoon chopped garlic
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 2 cups cooked pinto beans
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• Water
• Homemade Tortilla Chips, recipe below, or large, restaurant style corn tortilla chips
• 1 1/2 cups grated pepper jack
• 1 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar
• 1 small white onion, sliced into thin rings
• 5 large jalapenos, stemmed, seeded, and chopped, or to taste
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• Chopped fresh cilantro leaves, for garnish

Directions
In a large skillet, cook the chorizo, garlic, and cumin, stirring, over medium-high heat until the sausage is browned and the fat is rendered, about 5 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels.

To the fat in the pan, add the pinto beans, chili powder, salt, and 1 to 1 1/2 cups water (depending on the moisture in the beans). Cook over medium heat until warmed through, smashing with the back of a heavy wooden spoon or potato masher until chunky/smooth. Remove from the heat.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.

On a large, oval ovenproof platter or in a large baking dish, spread 1 layer of chips. Top with a layer of 1/2 of the beans, then 1/2 of the sausage, cheeses, onion rings, and chopped jalapenos. Repeat with another layer of chips, beans, sausage, cheese, onions and jalapenos. Bake until the cheeses are melted and the mixture is hot, 5 to 8 minutes. Remove from the oven.
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and lime juice, with a pinch of salt.
Drizzle over the nachos, garnish with cilantro, and serve immediately.

Homemade Tortilla Chips:
9 corn tortillas, cut into quarters
4 cups corn or vegetable oil
Essence, recipe follows
In a large, heavy saucepan, heat the oil to 360 degrees F.
In batches, add the tortillas to the oil, being careful not to overcrowd, and cook until golden brown, turning once, about 1 minute. Remove and drain on paper towels.
Season lightly with Essence. Serve warm or use to make nachos.
Yield: 3 dozen chips


Essence (Emeril's Creole Seasoning):
• 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
• 2 tablespoons salt
• 2 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
• 1 tablespoon dried leaf oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly and store in an airtight jar or container.
Yield: about 2/3 cup


CHUNKY GUACAMOLE
Recipe courtesy Tyler Florence


4 servings

Prep:15 min
Inactive Prep: 1 hr

Ingredients
• 4 ripe avocados
• 3 limes, juiced
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 serrano chiles, sliced thinly
• 1 big handful fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions
Halve and pit the avocados. Scoop out the flesh with a tablespoon into a mixing bowl. Mash the avocados with a fork, leaving them somewhat chunky. Add the remaining ingredients, and fold everything together to gently mix. Lay a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface of the guacamole so it doesn't brown and refrigerate 1 hour before serving.

Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Tortilla Chips


PHOTO BY: Karen

PREP TIME 30 Min
COOK TIME 5 Min
READY IN 1 Hr

INGREDIENTS
1) 1 Fuji apple - peeled, cored and diced
2) 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
3) 2 kiwis, peeled and sliced
4) 2 bananas, peeled and sliced
5) 1 sweet orange, peeled, segments cut in thirds
6) Hand full of sliced grapes
7) 6 tablespoons butter
8) 6 (10 inch) flour tortillas
9) 3 tablespoons white sugar
10) 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS
1. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 - 6. Cover and chill in the refrigerator approximately 20 minutes.
2. Slice flour tortillas into triangles.
3. Lightly brushed melted butter over the tortillas, sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar and baked at 350 degrees for about 15 min.
4. Watch them closely so they don't burn!
5. Serve the cinnamon chips warm with the chilled fruit salsa.

comer mi buen amigo

Saturday, April 18, 2009

Spicy Collards and Black-eyed Pea Soup


1 onions, diced
1 can diced mild fire roasted green pepper
3-4 cloves garlic, minced
2 ribs celery, diced
2 cups dried black-eyed peas, picked over and rinsed
6 cups water
1 pound collard greens, tough stems removed and greens chopped
1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme (divided)
1 teaspoon oregano (divided)
1 16-ounce can tomatoes
2 cups vegetable broth
1 tablespoon hot sauce
1/4 teaspoon cayenne (to taste)
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 -2 teaspoons salt (to taste)
2 tablespoon tomato paste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper

In large pot sauté the onions for about 5 minutes, until they begin to brown. Add the celery, green pepper, and garlic, and cook, stirring, for 3 more minutes.

Add the black-eyed peas, water, 1 teaspoon of the thyme, and 1/2 teaspoon of oregano and cook until peas are tender, about 45-55 minutes.

Once the peas are tender, add all remaining ingredients and cook for at least 25 minutes to allow flavors to develop. Serve with brown rice with additional hot sauce. (Garnishing with fresh oregano is optional.)


Makes at least 6 servings.
Each provides 242 Calories (kcal); 1g Total Fat; (4% calories from fat); 16g Protein; 45g Carbohydrate; 0mg Cholesterol; 488mg Sodium; 11g Fiber. Weight Watchers Core/4 Flex Points.




Serve with a little cornbread - that will keep ya warm.

Friday, April 17, 2009

Recipe For Happiness



2 Heaping cups of Patience
1 Heart full of Love
2 Hands full of Generosity
1 Head full of Understanding
and a Dash of Laughter

Sprinkle generously with kindness, add plenty of faith and mix well. Spread over a period of a lifetime and serve to everyone you meet.

Friday, April 10, 2009

Easter Dinner


Strawberry and Spinach Salad
4-5 cups fresh spinach leaves
1-2 cups shredded green or red leafy lettuce
about 10 fresh strawberries, sliced
1/2 c. candied walnuts or pecans
(an easy way to make these is to combine a bunch of walnuts or pecans in a bowl.
Add 1 egg white and mix until coated evenly. Add about 1/2 c. sugar, or to
taste,then sprinkle with cinnamon.
Then bake for an hour at 250 degrees on a cookie sheet covered in tin foil.
Stir around every 15 minutes)
1/4-1/2 c. crumbled blue cheese
1/2 c. mandarin oranges (optional)

Toss all ingredients together in a large salad bowl, then serve with raspberry vinaigrette salad dressing.

Ingredients:
• 1/2 cup raspberries, fresh or frozen
• 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
Add all ingredients, except oil to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Slowly add oil until well combined.

WAY TOO MUCH VINIGAR IN THIS RECIPE -
SWITCHOUT TO A TEASPOON OR TWO
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Cream Biscuits
Courtesy of Cook’s Illustration
Makes Eight 2 1/2-Inch Biscuits.

INGREDIENTS
2cups unbleached all-purpose flour , plus extra for the counter
2teaspoons granulated sugar
2teaspoons baking powder
1/2teaspoon table salt
1 1/2cups heavy cream

1. Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 450 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in medium bowl. Stir in the cream with a wooden spoon until dough forms, about 30 seconds. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter and gather into a ball. Knead the dough briefly until smooth, about 30 seconds.
3. Shape the dough into a 3/4-inch-thick circle. Following illustrations below, cut biscuits into rounds or wedges. Place rounds or wedges on parchment-lined baking sheet. (The baking sheet can be wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated for up to 2 hours.) Bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes, rotating baking sheet halfway through baking.
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Roasted Smash Potatoes
Courtesy of RecipeTips.com

Ingredients
- 12 baby red potatoes
- 1/4 cup olive oil - more or less as needed
- kosher salt - to taste
- black pepper - to taste
- 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary - chopped
- 1/2 cup parmigiano-reggiano cheese - shredded
- 2tablespoons fresh parsley – chopped

Directions:
-In a large saucepan, boil potatoes until tender. Drain and allow to cool slightly. -Preheat oven to 400°F.
-Spray a cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray and lay the potatoes out evenly on it.
-With a potato masher or the bottom of a glass, gently press down on each potato to smash it.
-Drizzle each liberally with olive oil, salt, pepper and rosemary.
-Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes or until the edges just start to brown.
Remove from oven and sprinkle on the cheese and parsley.
-Place back in the oven for approximately 5 minutes or until golden and bubbly.
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Basic Roasted Beet Recipe
Ingredients:
6 medium red beets
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
aluminum foil

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Trim the tops off the beets and drizzle with the olive oil. Season the beets with salt and pepper, wrap them in aluminum foil and roast until tender, about 40 minutes. When cool enough to handle, peel the beets.
No pink fingers by peeling them underwater!
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Baked Ham With Pineapple & Brown Sugar Glaze

1/2 Ham (your choice of your favorite cut)
1 Can pineapple slices, drained (reserve liquid)
1 Small jar maraschino cherries (reserve liquid)
1/3 Cup packed brown sugar
Whole cloves

Oven 325

Place ham, cut side down, in baking pan. Score the rind about 1/8 inch deep into 1 1/2 inch diamonds. Insert a clove into the center of each diamond. Arrange pineapple slices over the exposed area by inserting a cherry in the center of each one with a toothpick.

Mix the pineapple liquid with the brown sugar and 2 tablespoons of cherry liquid. Pour over the ham and bake according to your recipe. Baste ham and pineapple about every 30 minutes to coat pineapple and keep it moist.

Remove from oven and let rest for about 30 minutes before slicing. Remove toothpicks, pineapple, cherries and cloves. Pineapple and cherries go well served on the side.
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Steam your asparagus after Ham is finished.
We added left over lamb slices from Passover
And you'll need to contact Kristy to order one of her divine cheese cakes