Posts

Arugula and Fennel Salad

Image
Ingredients: 3 tbsp olive oil 3 tbsp lemon juice 1 tsp honey 1/2 tsp salt 1 medium bulb fennel 1 small cucumber 2 cups arugula 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts 1/2 cup crumbled feta 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves Instructions: Thinly slice 1 bulb fennel and 1 small cucumber. Julienne cut 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves In a medium bowl, whisk together 3 tbsp olive oil, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 1 tsp honey, and 1/2 tsp salt Add fennel and cucumber. Toss to coat and let sit for 10 min Put 2 cups arugula into a large salad bowl. Add marinated fennel and cucumber with the dressing and toss to combine Garnish with toasted pine nuts, crumbled feta, and basil leaves Yield: One family-sized salad for sides Source: The Mediterranean Table by Sonora Press Description: This is the fifth recipe that I've posted from the Mediterranean Table. In my last entry I mentioned that there was one that I had in stock but hadn't written about, and this was that. I have to say that "posted" and not "made...

Huevos Rancheros

Image
Ingredients: 1 onion 1 bell pepper 2 tomatoes, or half of a 28 oz can of diced tomatoes 2 cloves of garlic 1 jalapeno pepper 1 14 oz can black beans 1 avocado 1 lime 1 tbsp chipotle peppers in adobo 4 eggs Salt and pepper to taste Cilantro for garnish Cooking oil for frying Instructions: Dice 1 onion, 1 bell pepper, 1 jalapeno, and 2 cloves garlic. Drain and rinse 1 can black beans. Chop cilantro for garnish. Cut 1 avocado into slices and 1 lime into quarters Add a drizzle of cooking oil to a large skillet and bring to med-high heat Fry diced onion and bell pepper until onion becomes semitranslucent, about 5 min Add diced garlic and jalapeno and fry until fragrant, about 1 min Stir in 14 oz diced tomato and1 tbsp chilies in adobo sauce Add 1/2 cup water or juice from canned tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper to taste and let simmer for 5 min Stir in black beans Make 4 indentations in the salsa and crack and egg into each Cover and cook for 5 min Garnish with cilantro, avocado slices...

Little Brother Beef Enchiladas

Image
Ingredients: 1 yellow onion 1/3 cup cheddar cheese 2 lb ground beef 2 tbsp tomato paste 3 tbsp smoked paprika 2 tbsp ground cumin 1 tsp chili flakes 1 beef stock cube, can substitute with 1 tsp powder, or 1 cup stock 1/2 tsp garlic powder 1 pack of large tortillas Salt & pepper to taste Olive oil for cooking Cherry tomatoes, for garnish Fresh coriander, for garnish Green onions, for garnish Instructions: Preheat oven to 400 F Set a kettle of water to boil Dice1 yellow onion, grate 1/3 cup cheddar cheese In a large pan, add a bit of olive oil and bring to med heat Once heated, add chopped onion with a generous pinch of salt Cook for five min, or until onion is translucent While onion is cooking, dissolve 1 beef stock cube, or 1 tsp bouillon powder with 200 ml boiled water Add 2 tbsp tomato paste to beef stock, stirring to combine To the pan, add 2 lb ground beef, 2 tbsp ground cumin, 3 tbsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp garlic powder, and 1 tsp chili flakes Mix well, bring element to high...

Sloppy Josephs

Image
Ingredients: 8 oz tomato sauce 1/2 cup ketchup or bbq sauce 1 tbsp brown sugar 1 tbsp vinegar 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce 1 onion 1 lb ground meat 8 hamburger buns Instructions: In a bowl, mix together 8 oz tomato sauce, 1/2 cup ketchup/bbq sauce, 1 tbsp brown sugar, 1 tbsp vinegar, and 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce Add some cooking oil to a frying pan and set to med-high heat Dice 1 onion and add to heated pan Simmer until onion is semitranslucent, then add 1 lb ground meat Break meat apart with spatula and cook, stirring occasionally until it has fully browned Pour sauce over meat, stirring until combined Turn heat to low Cover and let simmer for 20 min Divide meat mixture over 8 hamburger buns Yield: 8 Sloppy Josephs Source: Accessible Chef Tips: Original recipe calls for ketchup. I used bbq sauce, although Lee-Anne has been encouraging me to try using ketchup as a base when called for, even if I dislike the condiment. Just couldn't bring myself to do it. Description: I got this r...

Provencel Ratatouille (100th Post!)

Image
Ingredients: 6 tbsp olive oil (can substitute with alternative cooking oils) 2 med onions 2 cloves garlic 2 med eggplants 3 med zucchini 2 red bell peppers 1 green bell pepper 1 14 oz canned diced tomatoes 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 8 oz breadcrumbs 1 tbsp parsley 1 tbsp basil 1 tbsp chives 6 oz soft goat cheese Pasta, polenta, or crusty bread (for pairing, optional) Instructions: Preheat oven to 375 F Dice 2 med onions, mince 2 cloves garlic, cut 2 med eggplants in half lengthwise, then cut into 3/4 inch rounds, deseed 2 red bell peppers and 1 green bell pepper and cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces, drain 1 14 oz can of diced tomatoes Heat 5 tbsp of olive oil or cooking oil in a large skillet over med heat Add onions and garlic and saute until onions become semitranslucent and garlic is fragrant Add eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 min Add drained diced tomatoes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper. Let simmer 15 min While vegetables are simmering, sti...

Games Club Cheese & Bacon Pinwheels

Image
  Ingredients: 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed) 2 rashers (6 strips) bacon 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1/4 cup grated parmesan 1 tbsp Dijon mustard 1 egg 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional) Instructions: In a pan, fry 2 rashers (6 strips) of bacon until crispy, flipping partway through Place fried bacon on a paper towel lined plate Preheat oven to 400 F Grate 1 cup cheddar cheese and 1/4 parmesan Unfold puff pastry on lightly floured surface. If using a brick-shaped pastry, divide in 2 and roll each piece flat Spread Dijon mustard over pastry Spread 1 cup grated cheddar and 1/4 cup grated parmesan over mustard Crumble fried bacon and spread evenly over cheese Roll pastry tightly into a log, 2 if you divided it earlier Cut into 1/2 inch rounds Place rounds onto prepared baking sheet, cut side up In a small bowl, beat an egg and brush onto the tops of the rounds Bake 15-20 min Let rolls cool and garnish with parsley if desired Yield: About 20 pinwheels Source:  https://easyswe...

Baking Cart Nutter Butter Truffles

Image
Ingredients: 1 batch of peanut butter cookies (1 baking sheet, or about 12 cookies) ½ bag chocolate chips (of a 270 g bag) Peanuts, for garnish ½ brick cream cheese Instructions: Put 1 tray of peanut butter cookies into large ziplock bag Close bag and crush cookies Pour cookie crumbs into mixing bowl In a small bowl, microwave ½ brick cream cheese for 30 sec Add cream cheese to cookie crumbs and mix together In rounded tablespoons, scoop onto baking sheet in balls Freeze for a few minutes Pour peanuts into ziplock bag and crush  into crumbs Melt ½ bag chocolate chips in microwave for 1 min Stir chocolate chips, then roll cookie balls in melted chocolate Sprinkle peanut crumbs on top Freeze Yield: 20 truffles Source: WALES member baking cart recipes Description: Before the pandemic, one of the WALES members used to run a baking cart. She would make an item per week and sell what she could at the agency's main office every Friday. Whatever wasn't purchased would be frozen and av...