Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Tomatillo Salsa Verde

 

Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 pounds tomatillos

  • 1/2 cup chopped white onion

  • 2 cloves (or more) garlic , optional

  • 1/2 cup cilantro leaves

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice

  • 2 JalapeƱo or serrano peppers , stemmed, seeded and chopped (you can use whole for more heat if you want)

  • Salt to taste

Instructions

  1. Remove husks from tomatillos and rinse well
  2. Cut the tomatillos in half and place cut side down on a foil-lined baking sheet. Add a few garlic cloves in their skin (if using) Place under a broiler for about 5-7 minutes to lightly blacken the skins of the tomatillos.
  3. Place the cooked tomatillos, lime juice, onions, garlic (if using), cilantro, chili peppers in a blender or food processor and pulse until all ingredients are finely chopped and mixed.
  4. Season to taste with salt.
  5. Cool in refrigerator.
  6. Serve with chips or as a salsa accompaniment to Mexican dishes.

Friday, May 14, 2021

Dominican Beans (habichuelas guisadas) in an insta pot


 DOMINICAN BEANS


COOK TIME:1 hr 15 mins

SOAK TIME:8 hrs

TOTAL TIME:9 hrs 15 mins

YIELD:12 SERVINGS


INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb dried red kidney beans
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 6 cloves crushed garlic
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1/4 bunch cilantro sprigs
  • 1 red onion, cut into 8 pieces
  • 1 cubanelle pepper, cut in 4 pieces
  • 2 chicken bouillon cubes, I use Maggi (or veggie for vegetarian)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons adobo seasoning
  • kosher salt, or to taste


INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Put beans in the pressure cooker or Instant Pot and cover them with water so there’s 2 inches over them (10 cups).
  2. Soak overnight, but don’t drain.
  3. Next day, cover and seal the pressure cooker (or Instant Pot) over medium heat, when the pot comes to pressure cook high pressure 20 minutes. Natural release.
  4. While the pressure releases, in a large skillet, heat oil over medium-low heat and add garlic, tomato paste, cilantro, red onion, pepper, bouillon cube and saute about 10 minutes, stirring.
  5. Open the pressure cooker when the steam releases, take 25% of the beans and liquid and transfer to the blender. Puree well then return to the pot.
  6. Add adobo seasoning and salt (about 1 teaspoon), or to taste. 
  7. Add the sauteed vegetables to the beans and bring to a boil over medium heat. (In the Instant Pot use the saute button.)
  8. Boil uncovered over medium-low heat until the texture becomes creamy and the liquid reduces, about 30 minutes stirring often. 
  9. Remove cilantro, pepper and onion and serve over rice. Makes 9 cups.

Monday, February 8, 2021

Braised Chinese Mushrooms with Bok Choy

bok choy
 Ingredients

  • 2½ ounces small dried Chinese Mushrooms (70 grams)
  • 10 ounces Shanghai baby bok choy (280 grams, bottoms trimmed and split in half lengthwise)
  • 2½ tablespoons vegetable oil (divided)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 cloves garlic (finely minced)
  • 1 tablespoon Shaoxing wine
  • ¼ teaspoon dark soy sauce
  • 1½ tablespoons regular soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon oyster sauce (use vegetarian oyster sauce to keep the dish vegan)
  • 1½ teaspoons sugar
  • ⅛ teaspoon sesame oil
  • ⅛ teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch (mixed with 1 tablespoon water)

Instructions

  • Place the dried Chinese mushrooms into a medium bowl, and pour 2-3 cups of hot water over them. Place a plate over the bowl so the mushrooms are completely submerged. Because the mushrooms are small, they should reconstitute quickly. After 15 minutes, cut off the stems of the mushrooms and return them to the water to soak for another 15 minutes.
  • Wash your cut Shanghai bok choy in a large bowl of water so the vegetables are fully submerged. Agitating or stirring the vegetables in the water will release any dirt or sand. Repeat this process another 2 times or as necessary, until the water is clean and there is no sand or dirt at the bottom of the bowl.
  • After your mushrooms are done soaking, transfer to a plate and gently squeeze out the excess water. Set the mushrooms and the soaking
    water aside.
  • Bring 6 cups of water, 1 tablespoon vegetable oil, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil. Blanch the Shanghai bok choy for 40 seconds, stirring occasionally. They should be just wilted and bright green. Scoop out the bok choy into a bowl and pour 2 cups of cool water over them. The water will stop the cooking process, but you don’t want your veggies to be ice cold, so pour the bok choy into a colander right after they’ve been submerged in the cool water. Drain.
  • Next, arrange the bok choy into a circle around a large serving plate, with a space in the middle for the mushrooms.
  • Now, heat your wok over medium high heat. Spread 1½ tablespoons vegetable oil around the perimeter. Add the finely minced garlic and mushrooms, and stir fry for 10 seconds. Stir in the Shaoxing wine.
  • Next, carefully pour the mushroom soaking water into the wok, making sure that you don’t pour any sediment from the bowl into the wok.
  • While the liquid comes up to a simmer, add ¼ teaspoon dark soy sauce, 1½ tablespoons regular soy sauce, 1 tablespoon oyster sauce or vegetarian oyster sauce, 1½ teaspoons sugar, ⅛ teaspoon sesame oil, and ⅛ teaspoon white pepper. Stir until combined, and turn the heat down to simmer for 5 minutes.
  • Next, mix the cornstarch slurry and slowly pour it into the sauce while stirring constantly. After letting the mushrooms cook for an additional minute, taste the sauce. If needed, re-season with more soy sauce, sugar, or oyster sauce to your own preference. Add more hot water if the sauce is too thick or more cornstarch slurry if the sauce is too thin. The sauce should be thick enough to coat a spoon.
  • Transfer the mushrooms and sauce to the center of your cooked Shanghai baby bok choy, and serve this Braised Chinese Mushrooms with Bok Choy immediately for best results!

Sunday, November 22, 2020

Best Fudgy Chocolate Brownie Cookies

Ingredients

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 cup white granulated sugar

1/2 cup melted butter

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 egg

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 1/3 cups all purpose flour (or plain flour)

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/3 cup semi sweet chocolate chips, (add more if desired)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Line 2 cookie sheets or baking trays with parchment paper (baking paper).

In a medium-sized bowl, mix together the cocoa powder, white sugar, butter and vegetable oil. Beat in egg and vanilla until fully incorporated.

Add the flour, baking powder, and salt; stir the dry ingredients first before mixing them through the wet ingredients until a dough forms (do not over beat). Fold in the chocolate chips.

Scoop out 1-2 tablespoonful of dough with a cookie scoop (or small ice cream scoop), and place onto prepared baking sheets. Press them down as thick or thin as you want your cookies to come out. 

Bake in hot preheated oven for 10-12 minutes. The cookies will come out soft from the oven but will harden up as they cool. (Be careful not to over bake as they will dry out.)

Allow to cool on the cookie sheet for 10 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool.

Friday, November 13, 2020

EASY GARLIC LEMON THYME CHICKEN




 INGREDIENTS

 1/4 cup olive oil

 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

 4 garlic cloves, grated/minced

 1 tablespoon dried thyme

 1 teaspoon salt

 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper

 3 pounds bone-in chicken pieces

INSTRUCTIONS

Combine olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper in a large zip-top plastic bag.* Add chicken pieces; seal bag and turn to coat. Place in refrigerator and marinate for at least 30 minutes up to 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 450-degrees F.

Arrange chicken, skin side down, in a single layer in an oven-proof skillet, baking dish or pan. Pour marinade over chicken.

Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, turn chicken to skin side up and continue baking for another 15 minutes or until chicken is done.



Cloud Bread

 Ingredients

  • 3 egg whites
  • 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of corn starch
  • 2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon of sugar


How to:

  1. preheat oven to 350
  2. lightly whisk egg whites till they get slightly frothy
  3. slowly fold in sugar
  4. slowly fold in corn starch
  5. beat till stiff peaks appear
  6. add food color if desired
  7. bake for 25 min

Monday, October 19, 2020

Lasagna Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Source: https://themodernproper.com/print/lasagna-stuffed-zucchini-boats-1 1/1


Ingredients:

  • 1 lb Ground chicken
  • 1 Red bell pepper, diced
  • 1 Jar marinara sauce
  • 8 oz Ricotta cheese
  • 1 1/2 Cupsfresh spinach, chopped
  • 4 Cloves garlic
  • 1 Egg
  • 2 tbsp Flat leaf parsley, minced, divided
  • 1/2 tsp Salt
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper
  • 4 Medium zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise, centers
  • scooped out
  • 8 oz Fresh mozzarella,sliced
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • Red pepper flakes, optional

How to:

  1. Heat your oven to 375° F.
  2. In a large skillet, brown the ground chicken until no pink remains. Stir in 3/4 of the pasta
  3. sauce and bell pepper. Let simmer 10 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside.
  4. In a small bowl, gently mix the ricotta cheese, spinach, garlic, egg, 1 tablespoon of parsley, salt
  5. and pepper until thoroughly incorporated.
  6. Slice zucchini lengthwise and carefully scoop out the center with a spoon to create a shell or
  7. boat. Place zucchini skin side down in a baking dish.
  8. Fill each zucchini with equal amounts of the chicken mixture. en dollop the ricotta mixture
  9. on top of the chicken. Place a few thin sliced of fresh mozzarella on each zucchini half. Spread
  10. the remaining pasta sauce over the zucchini boats and top with 1/2 of the parmesan cheese.
  11. Bake 35 minutes or until zucchini is tender and cheese is bubbly.
  12. Sprinkle with remaining tablespoon of parsley and parmesan cheese.