Tuesday, 25. August 2009
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 saute 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.
Saute 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
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
1 bunch fresh parsley
1 bunch fresh cilantro
1 to 2 cloves garlic
1 large red onion, halved and sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound chuck or top round steak (London broil)
3 poblano peppers, seeded and cut into strips
1/4 cup lager beer
8 8-inch flour tortillas
Lime wedges, for serving (optional)
Directions
Combine the parsley and cilantro (leaves and stems), garlic, half of the sliced onion, 1 tablespoon salt, 1 teaspoon pepper, vinegar, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 1/2 cup olive oil in a food processor; blend into a thick and smooth chimichurri sauce. Pierce both sides of the steak with a fork several times; place in a resealable plastic bag and add half of the sauce. Seal the bag and turn to coat the steak; refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Cover and reserve the remaining sauce.
Preheat a grill to medium-high. Remove the steak from the bag (discard the bag of sauce); season with salt and pepper and grill until medium-rare, about 6 minutes per side. Let rest, loosely covered with foil, for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the peppers and the remaining sliced onion half; season with salt and pepper. Saute until the vegetables are softened and caramelized around the edges, about 8 minutes. Add the beer, cover and cook until the peppers are tender, about 5 minutes.
Warm the tortillas on the grill. Thinly slice the steak on the bias; divide among the tortillas along with the peppers and onions. Thin the reserved chimichurri sauce with the remaining 1 tablespoon lemon juice; drizzle over the fajitas. Serve with lime wedges, if desired.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
1 pound whole-wheat linguine
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound French green beans, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 lemon, zested
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Transfer the hot pasta to a large bowl and add the ricotta cheese. Toss to combine.
Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute for 4 minutes. Add 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and continue cooking until tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the pasta with ricotta to the pan with the green beans and toss to combine. Add the tomatoes and gently toss. Transfer to a serving plate and top with lemon zest. Serve.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
8 ounces or 3/4 cup molasses
12 ounces pickling salt
2 quarts bottled water
6 to 8 pound Boston butt
Rub:
1 teaspoon whole cumin seed
1 teaspoon whole fennel seed
1 teaspoon whole coriander
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon paprika
Directions
Combine molasses, pickling salt, and water in 6 quart Lexan. Add Boston butt making sure it is completely submerged in brine, cover, and let sit in refrigerator for a minimum of 8 hours. 12 hours is ideal.
Place cumin seed, fennel seed, and coriander in food grinder and grind fine. Transfer to a small mixing bowl and stir in chili powder, onion powder, and paprika.
Remove Boston butt from brine and pat dry. Sift the rub evenly over the shoulder and then pat onto the meat making sure as much of the rub as possible adheres. More rub will adhere to the meat if you are wearing latex gloves during the application.
Preheat smoker to 210 degrees F. Place butt in smoker and cook for 10 to12 hours, maintaining a temperature of 210 degrees F. Begin checking meat for doneness after 10 hours of cooking time. Use fork to check for doneness. Meat is done when it falls apart easily when pulling with a fork. Once done, remove from pot and set aside to rest for at least 1 hour. Pull meat apart with 2 forks and serve as sandwich with coleslaw and dressing as desired.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
3/4 cup Creamy Parmesan Dressing, recipe follows
1 pound red potatoes, scrubbed and cut lengthwise into 1/4-inch thick slices
6 ounces haricots verts, or small, thin green beans, ends trimmed
1/2 cup olive oil plus 1 tablespoon
4 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons ground black pepper
2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 pound Roma plum tomatoes, cut into 1-inch cubes
1/2 cup halved and seeded black brine-cured olives
1/2 cup halved and seeded green brine-cured olives
1/2 cup mayonnaise, preferably homemade
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon minced red onion
1/2 hard boiled egg, peeled and coarsely sieved
1 teaspoon capers, drained and chopped
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon chopped fresh tarragon
2 heads hearts of romaine lettuce, rinsed and patted dry
2 1/2 pounds yellowfin tuna, trimmed of sinew, cut into 6 equal rectangular portions, about 1 by 1 by 4-inches each
Directions
Make the Creamy Parmesan Dressing and set aside.
Bring 2 medium pots of salted water to a boil. Add the potatoes to 1 pot and blanch until just tender, about 3 1/2 minutes. Drain in a colander.
Add the green beans to the other pot and blanch until tender, 4 minutes. Drain in a colander.
Heat 1/4 cup of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the drained potatoes, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper, and cook, shaking the pan occasionally, until golden brown on both sides, 8 minutes. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil, garlic, and drained green beans. Stir to combine and cook for 1 minute. Add the tomatoes and olives and cook until the tomatoes are warmed through, stirring occasionally, 2 minutes. Remove from the heat. Add the mayonnaise, lemon juice, minced onion, hard-boiled egg, capers, parsley, and tarragon and stir to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Combine the lettuce with the Creamy Parmesan Dressing and toss to coat. Arrange 3 or 4 leaves along the side of 6 large plates. Spoon the vegetables along the other side of the plate. Let sit while cooking the tuna.
Season each tuna portion with 1/2 teaspoon of the remaining salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of the remaining pepper.
Heat the remaining 1/4 cup of oil in 1 large skillet or 2 medium skillets, over medium-high heat. Add the tuna and sear, about 15 seconds per side. Remove from the pan and cut each crosswise into 4 equal pieces. Arrange the tuna slices down the middle of each plate, and serve.
Creamy Parmesan Dressing:
1 large egg
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon chopped garlic
2 anchovy fillets
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce
2 drops hot pepper sauce
Bring a small saucepan of water to a boil. Add the egg and cook for 30 seconds until coddled.
In a small bowl, combine the salt, pepper, garlic, and anchovies. Mash the anchovies with the back of a fork and mix into the other ingredients. Add the egg and whisk well to combine. Add the cheese, lemon juice, and mustard, and whisk well. Add the olive oil in a steady stream, whisking constantly. Add the Worcestershire and pepper sauces, and whisk well. Taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
Cooking spray
4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves, about 5 ounces each
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Salt-free garlic and herb seasoning
4 to 8 slices Brie cheese, about 1/2-inch thick
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 shallots, chopped
2 tablespoons vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
4 cups fresh baby spinach leaves
4 slices bacon, cooked
Directions
Heat a stove-top grill pan or griddle with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat to preheat.
Season both sides of chicken with salt, black pepper, and garlic and herb seasoning. Add chicken to hot pan and cook 3 to 4 minutes per side, until browned and cooked through. Remove from heat. Place 1 to 2 slices of Brie on top of chicken, cover with foil and place back on grill pan for another 1 minute, until cheese melts.
Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and chopped shallots to the pan and saute. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar, honey and salt and pepper, to taste. Add the mixture to the skillet and stir to combine. Pour the warm vinaigrette over the spinach and toss to coat. Crumble the bacon strips over the dressed salad.
Transfer chicken to a serving plate or plate with spinach salad.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Tuesday, 25. August 2009
Ingredients
1 small seedless watermelon
4 cherry tomatoes
4 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
8 tiny baby basil leaves
Directions
8 bamboo skewers
Kosher salt
Cut top and bottom off the watermelon to level it. Sit it upright and cut away the rind. Cut into 1-inch cubes, reserve.
Bring a small pot of water to boil. Have a small bowl of ice water on the side. Carefully drop the cherry tomatoes into the water. Allow to cook for 10 seconds. Put in the ice water. Carefully peel away the skin and cut into halves (note: the tomatoes do not have to be peeled.)
Whisk together the vinegar and oil.
Place a tomato half on top of each watermelon cube with the flat side facing up. Poke a bamboo skewer through the top all the way down to secure the 2 items. Line up the skewers on a serving tray.
Drizzle the vinaigrette over the skewered tomato and watermelon. Sprinkle with salt and place a micro basil leaf on top. Serve.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Wednesday, 19. August 2009
Ingredients
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, 2 turns of the pan
2 1/2 pounds ground turkey (85 percent lean) or ground turkey breast (99 percent lean), 2 packages
4 tablespoons dark chili powder, 2 palm fulls
2 tablespoons grill seasoning blend, any brand, 1 palm full
1 tablespoon cumin, 1/2 palm full
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 to 3 tablespoons hot sauce, medium to extra-spicy
1 large onion, quartered
2 large peppers, any color combination, red, green, purple, yellow or orange, chopped
1/2 bottle beer (the alcohol cooks out), about 1 cup
1 (14-ounce) can tomato sauce
1/2 cup smoky barbecue sauce
2 cups corn kernels, optional
Directions
Heat a pot over medium to medium high heat. Add extra-virgin olive oil, 3 turns of the pan, and the turkey meat. Season the meat with: chili powder, grill seasoning, cumin, Worcestershire and hot sauce. Break up the meat with the back of a wooden spoon into small crumbles.
Chop the onion, reserving 1/4 of it for topping the chili. Brown meat 5 minutes, then add onions and chopped bell peppers and cook 10 minutes more. Add beer and deglaze the pan, scraping up the drippings and cooking off the alcohol. Add tomato sauce and barbecue sauce and bring to a bubble. It using corn kernels add them now. Let chili simmer 10 minutes. Adjust seasonings and heat level to your taste. Remove from heat and serve.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Monday, 17. August 2009
Ingredients
Salad:
1 medium grapefruit
8 thin slices fresh ginger
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cup quinoa
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, plus additional for seasoning
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
2 teaspoons honey
1 small serrano or jalapeno chile, minced (with seeds for maximum heat)
2 scallions (both white and green parts), minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
Freshly ground black pepper
Fish:
1 1/2 pound skinless, center-cut salmon, cut into 2-inch cubes
Wooden skewers, soaked
Directions
Strip the peel from the grapefruit with a vegetable peeler, taking care not to include the bitter white pith. Warm the grapefruit peel, ginger, and olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. As soon as the oil starts to bubble, after about 2 minutes, remove from heat. Set the oil aside to steep for 30 minutes. Strain and reserve the oil.
Meanwhile, rinse the quinoa in a bowl and drain. Put the quinoa in a small saucepan with the water and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Boil over high heat, and then reduce heat to maintain a gentle simmer and cook, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Set aside off the heat, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Transfer the quinoa to a bowl and fluff with a fork. Cool.
Segment the grapefruit over a bowl, reserving the segments and juice separately. Whisk 3 tablespoons of the grapefruit juice with the vinegar, honey, and salt to taste in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in 3 tablespoons of the reserved grapefruit oil, starting with a few drops and then adding the rest in a stream to make a slightly thick dressing. Season with pepper to taste.
Toss quinoa with the dressing, chiles, scallions, and cilantro. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Preheat a stovetop or outdoor grill to high heat. Thread the salmon cubes onto the skewers. Brush with the remaining 1 tablespoon grapefruit oil, and season with salt and pepper. Grill the skewers, turning as each side browns but the salmon is still moist, about 3 minutes.
Toss the grapefruit segment into the salad, divide among 4 plates, and top with the salmon kebobs. Serve warm or at room temperature.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -
Monday, 17. August 2009
Ingredients
1 pound whole-wheat linguine
1/2 cup part-skim ricotta
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 pound French green beans, trimmed and halved lengthwise
1 clove garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup halved cherry tomatoes
1 lemon, zested
Directions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the cooking water. Transfer the hot pasta to a large bowl and add the ricotta cheese. Toss to combine.
Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, warm the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the green beans, garlic, salt, and pepper and saute for 4 minutes. Add 1 cup of the pasta cooking liquid and continue cooking until tender, about 4 more minutes. Add the pasta with ricotta to the pan with the green beans and toss to combine. Add the tomatoes and gently toss. Transfer to a serving plate and top with lemon zest. Serve.
Posted in Recipes by Christina -