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Sunday, April 15, 2012
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Spicy Chicken Fajita Tostada Salad
4 oz chicken breast
2 cups cut lettuce
1/4 cup sliced onion
1/4 cup sliced green pepper
2 mushrooms sliced
1/3 cup black beans
1/4 cup salsa
1-2 Tbsp low fat sour cream
1-2 tsp chipotle tabasco sauce
2 tbsp shredded cheese - optional
seasoning - garlic powder, chili powder, cayenne pepper, ground cumin
1 tortilla - (i used josephs, which is a super healthy whole wheat kind)
spray both sides of tortilla with non stick spray, place in oven at 350 until golden brown and crispy (if you have a convection oven it will puff up like a whopee cushion)
flip at the 1/2 way point to brown both sides
while that is baking heat a pan and spray with non stick spray
generously season both sides of chicken with the 4 spices, cook chicken through, then remove from pan and cut into cubes
while chicken is cooling slightly lightly saute the veggies and the beans
place the tortilla down top with lettuce, top with veggies and chicken, top with salsa and sour cream.
If you have made the tortilla cushion you can carefully slice it in half and use half as the base and half as the topping.
Enjoy!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Cucumber Turkey Sandwich
I adore cucumber sandwiches with dill dressings but today I also needed some more protein and being lazy and not wanting to cook up some chicken I decided a turkey sandwich was in order. Fresh dill was on sale at the store so here is what I came up with.
For 1 Sandwich
2 Slices of toasted bread
1/4 english cucumber, sliced thinly using a knife or mandolin
2 heaping tbsp Creamy Dill Spread (below)
3 oz turkey lunchmeat
2 slices of mild white cheese (havarti would be excellent!)
slather both pieces of bread with a heaping tbsp of the spread and place a single layer of cucumber on top of the spread. Place turkey on sandwich close up and enjoy!
You could also add some feta cheese to the spread or add some cheese to the sandwich.
The layering of the sandwich is-
Bread
Spread
Cucumber
Cheese (optional)
Turkey
Cheese (optional)
Cucumber
Spread
Bread
Creamy Dill Spread
1 handful fresh dill, chopped (if using dried stick with 1 tbsp)
1/2 handful fresh parsley (if using dry stick with 1/2-3/4 tbsp)
1 green onion, greens chopped only (no fresh, use a tsp of dried chives)
1/2 cup sour cream (or greek yogurt)
1/4 cup cream cheese softened
1 clove garlic grated into a paste over bowl
1/4 small onion grated into the bowl
2 tbsp parmesean cheese (I used fresh grated)
1 tsp lemon zest
*1 tsp lemon juice (see below)
feta cheese (optional)
salt
pepper
nutmeg
mix the sour cream and cream cheese together until combined
add in chopped herbs and grated veggies
stir in lemon juice, zest and cheese
season with salt and pepper along with just a hint of nutmeg
*use just a little lemon juice as it will thin out the spread a lot, start with a few drops and add up to 1 tsp. you also don't have to use any at all if you would rather not.
For 1 Sandwich
2 Slices of toasted bread
1/4 english cucumber, sliced thinly using a knife or mandolin
2 heaping tbsp Creamy Dill Spread (below)
3 oz turkey lunchmeat
2 slices of mild white cheese (havarti would be excellent!)
slather both pieces of bread with a heaping tbsp of the spread and place a single layer of cucumber on top of the spread. Place turkey on sandwich close up and enjoy!
You could also add some feta cheese to the spread or add some cheese to the sandwich.
The layering of the sandwich is-
Bread
Spread
Cucumber
Cheese (optional)
Turkey
Cheese (optional)
Cucumber
Spread
Bread
Creamy Dill Spread
1 handful fresh dill, chopped (if using dried stick with 1 tbsp)
1/2 handful fresh parsley (if using dry stick with 1/2-3/4 tbsp)
1 green onion, greens chopped only (no fresh, use a tsp of dried chives)
1/2 cup sour cream (or greek yogurt)
1/4 cup cream cheese softened
1 clove garlic grated into a paste over bowl
1/4 small onion grated into the bowl
2 tbsp parmesean cheese (I used fresh grated)
1 tsp lemon zest
*1 tsp lemon juice (see below)
feta cheese (optional)
salt
pepper
nutmeg
mix the sour cream and cream cheese together until combined
add in chopped herbs and grated veggies
stir in lemon juice, zest and cheese
season with salt and pepper along with just a hint of nutmeg
*use just a little lemon juice as it will thin out the spread a lot, start with a few drops and add up to 1 tsp. you also don't have to use any at all if you would rather not.
Banana Fosters Pancakes
YUM! So we were talking about bananas fosters the other day at work and I decided that something a little fun would be to do them in pancake form (plus we had bananas that needed to get used). This sauce would be great on pancakes, waffles, crepes, or served over ice cream. Plus its super simple to make!
4 bananas cut into chunks
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 oz dark rum (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla
salt
cinnamon
cloves
Melt the butter in a pan over medium high heat
saute bananas lightly
add the sugars, let meld with butter
add a pinch of salt and cinnamon, and 1/2 that amount of cloves
add the vanilla and the dark rum, light on fire
once the flame has died out serve immediately or refrigerate and reheat before eating.
As for the pancake recipe you can use whatever is your favorite this is mine because it doesn't use buttermilk, and although they are never as good as my moms (cause who can ever make pancakes as good as moms, right?) recipe they are quite tasty.
Whole Wheat Pancakes Although using wheat flour is optional you can substitute the wheat flour for all purpose flour if you'd prefer.
4 bananas cut into chunks
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp brown sugar
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/2 oz dark rum (optional)
1/2 tsp vanilla
salt
cinnamon
cloves
Melt the butter in a pan over medium high heat
saute bananas lightly
add the sugars, let meld with butter
add a pinch of salt and cinnamon, and 1/2 that amount of cloves
add the vanilla and the dark rum, light on fire
once the flame has died out serve immediately or refrigerate and reheat before eating.
As for the pancake recipe you can use whatever is your favorite this is mine because it doesn't use buttermilk, and although they are never as good as my moms (cause who can ever make pancakes as good as moms, right?) recipe they are quite tasty.
Whole Wheat Pancakes Although using wheat flour is optional you can substitute the wheat flour for all purpose flour if you'd prefer.
Croque Madame Waffle
So I got sick of making normal waffles with berries at work so today I made a croque madame sandwich in waffle form. And its a great idea for anyone who wants to use their waffle iron more but are sick of normal waffles!
Basic Waffle Batter- you can use you're favorite or even use the premade box just add water stuff! It doesn't matter because you are going to add things to it!
My Basic Waffle Batter-
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp Flour
1 ½ cups milk
½ cup oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Sift together dry ingredients, mix together wet ingredients, stir together wet and dry until just combined.
Then add 1/2 cup of finely chopped turkey and 1/4 cup shredded cheese per waffle.
To make this more of a croque monsieur substitute finely chopped ham for the turkey.
As for the cheese you could use swiss, gouda, monterey jack blend, yellow or white cheddar, fontina, etc, whatever sounds good to you.
To serve top with a fried egg and some mornay sauce (recipe as follows) and garnish with chopped chives.
White Mornay Sauce
1/2 small onion, cut into 4 pieces
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/4 cup melted butter
2 Tbsp Flour
1 quart milk
2 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
nutmeg
salt
white pepper
2 cups white cheese (blend of italian cheeses works well, asiago, parmesean, mozzarella, etc. Or swiss works will witha small amount of parmesean)
Saute the onion and garlic in melted butter until softened
add the flour and cook the roux for a minute or two
whisk in the milk, add the cloves, nutmeg, bay, salt and pepper
cook for about 20-30 minutes until thick and flavorful.
remove from heat, strain and stir in cheese. thin out with milk if necessary
Basic Waffle Batter- you can use you're favorite or even use the premade box just add water stuff! It doesn't matter because you are going to add things to it!
My Basic Waffle Batter-
1 ½ cups all purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 Tbsp Flour
1 ½ cups milk
½ cup oil
3 eggs, lightly beaten
Sift together dry ingredients, mix together wet ingredients, stir together wet and dry until just combined.
Then add 1/2 cup of finely chopped turkey and 1/4 cup shredded cheese per waffle.
To make this more of a croque monsieur substitute finely chopped ham for the turkey.
As for the cheese you could use swiss, gouda, monterey jack blend, yellow or white cheddar, fontina, etc, whatever sounds good to you.
To serve top with a fried egg and some mornay sauce (recipe as follows) and garnish with chopped chives.
White Mornay Sauce
1/2 small onion, cut into 4 pieces
2 cloves garlic, halved
1/4 cup melted butter
2 Tbsp Flour
1 quart milk
2 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
nutmeg
salt
white pepper
2 cups white cheese (blend of italian cheeses works well, asiago, parmesean, mozzarella, etc. Or swiss works will witha small amount of parmesean)
Saute the onion and garlic in melted butter until softened
add the flour and cook the roux for a minute or two
whisk in the milk, add the cloves, nutmeg, bay, salt and pepper
cook for about 20-30 minutes until thick and flavorful.
remove from heat, strain and stir in cheese. thin out with milk if necessary
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
The Ham Sandwich Mac and Cheese
The Ham Sandwich
6 oz Diced Ham
1 medium Onion small dice
4 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp canola oil
2 heaping Tbsp Flour
3-4 cups low fat milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or swiss
1 Tbsp mustard (your favorite, I use dijon)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 box small shells, cooked to directions on box
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter and oil combination
Once softened add in the diced ham and saute until heated through
Add in the mustard
sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for a minute or two
Slowly stir in the milk until thickened and smooth
Stir in the cheese and remove from heat
Add in the cooked shells and serve
Garnish with either sliced green onion or chopped parsley.
6 oz Diced Ham
1 medium Onion small dice
4 cloves garlic minced
2 Tbsp butter
1 Tbsp canola oil
2 heaping Tbsp Flour
3-4 cups low fat milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese or swiss
1 Tbsp mustard (your favorite, I use dijon)
Salt and Pepper to taste
1/2 box small shells, cooked to directions on box
Saute the onion and garlic in the butter and oil combination
Once softened add in the diced ham and saute until heated through
Add in the mustard
sprinkle the flour over the mixture and cook for a minute or two
Slowly stir in the milk until thickened and smooth
Stir in the cheese and remove from heat
Add in the cooked shells and serve
Garnish with either sliced green onion or chopped parsley.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Groumet S'Mores
Ok, so we've all made s'mores at some time in our lives, right? Well one day last season we were talking about s'mores and I figured for one of the luncheons I could make them in a way that would be able to be served in a restaurant. These are super rich and decedent but I love them!
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
4-5 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped or ground hazelnuts (or any type of nut you like)
8 oz semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
6 oz heavy cream
1/4 tsp rum extract (if you don't have rum you can use vanilla or almond)
1/4 tsp instant espresso (optional)
Marshmallow Fluff
Instructions:
If you can't find graham cracker crumbs in the grocery store just buy some graham crackers and crush them up either in a food processor or crush them in a zip top bag
grind up nuts in a food processor or finely chop them
mix together the graham cracker crumbs, nuts, and sugars before adding in the melted butter.
You want it to be fairly moist so that you end up with a nice crust
Press that into small ramekins, large pie tin or mini pie tins
Put into the fridge to let set
while that is setting heat up the heavy cream in a pan until it just starts to bubble along the edge, add in the instant espresso
pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips add in the extract and stir until the chocolate is fully melted
pour a thin layer of chocolate into each ramekin or pie tin
This is a very rich chocolate, you don't have to use a lot, but its up to you how much you put in
Put that in the fridge to set up for about 30-60 mins
You have 2 options for the marshmallow fluff. You can either spread it on top with a knife which can be difficult because its so sticky, but you can either coat your knife with corn starch to spread it easier
Or you can put the fluff into a piping bag (or zip top bag with a tip cut off) and pipe it onto the chocolate.
Either way you do it, just go with whatever works best for you.
Finally to finish this off and give you that s'more feel toast the marshmallow under the broiler until golden brown
Garnish with chopped nuts and shaved chocolate
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
4-5 Tbsp melted butter
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1/4 cup finely chopped or ground hazelnuts (or any type of nut you like)
8 oz semi sweet or milk chocolate chips
6 oz heavy cream
1/4 tsp rum extract (if you don't have rum you can use vanilla or almond)
1/4 tsp instant espresso (optional)
Marshmallow Fluff
Instructions:
If you can't find graham cracker crumbs in the grocery store just buy some graham crackers and crush them up either in a food processor or crush them in a zip top bag
grind up nuts in a food processor or finely chop them
mix together the graham cracker crumbs, nuts, and sugars before adding in the melted butter.
You want it to be fairly moist so that you end up with a nice crust
Press that into small ramekins, large pie tin or mini pie tins
Put into the fridge to let set
while that is setting heat up the heavy cream in a pan until it just starts to bubble along the edge, add in the instant espresso
pour the heavy cream over the chocolate chips add in the extract and stir until the chocolate is fully melted
pour a thin layer of chocolate into each ramekin or pie tin
This is a very rich chocolate, you don't have to use a lot, but its up to you how much you put in
Put that in the fridge to set up for about 30-60 mins
You have 2 options for the marshmallow fluff. You can either spread it on top with a knife which can be difficult because its so sticky, but you can either coat your knife with corn starch to spread it easier
Or you can put the fluff into a piping bag (or zip top bag with a tip cut off) and pipe it onto the chocolate.
Either way you do it, just go with whatever works best for you.
Finally to finish this off and give you that s'more feel toast the marshmallow under the broiler until golden brown
Garnish with chopped nuts and shaved chocolate
Beer and Cheese Chowder
So for whatever reason lately I've been obsessed with soups, strange cause the weather is getting warmer and you're less likely to want a thick and hearty or even just super hot thin soup. But I'm loving them either way! This is one of my favorites that I used to make at the Cheeky Monk in Denver. And I still make it from time to time cause its just delicious! You can't go wrong, beer and cheese together with sweet and regular potatoes! yum!
1 1/2 bottles of beer (I use New Castle Brown Ale, but you can use whatever you prefer, remember this flavor will be concentrated so use something you like! Lagers work great so do Ales)
1 large carrot diced
2-3 ribs of celery diced
1 large onion diced
2 large cloves garlic
1 sweet potato peeled and diced
1 russet potato peeled and diced
1 can vegetable or chicken stock/broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4-1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp hot sauce (optional)
2 Tbsp cajun seasoning (optional)
2 cups of cheddar cheese or blend
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
dice up all the veggies to approx the same size. You want 1 part celery, 1 part carrot, 2 parts onion.
Saute all the veggies lightly, season with salt and pepper
deglaze the pan with the beer
let bubble away covered until veggies are softened about 20 mins
using either an immersion blender, food processor or blender blend until mostly smooth adding stock/broth to help blend if necessary
once blended return to the pot and add the rest of the stock/broth
bring to a bubble and add the cheese, hot sauce and cajun seasoning
once the cheese has melted add the sour cream and milk
if too thick thin our with more stock/broth
if too thin allow to cook down until thickened.
Garnish with a small dollop of sour cream and fresh chopped parsley
1 1/2 bottles of beer (I use New Castle Brown Ale, but you can use whatever you prefer, remember this flavor will be concentrated so use something you like! Lagers work great so do Ales)
1 large carrot diced
2-3 ribs of celery diced
1 large onion diced
2 large cloves garlic
1 sweet potato peeled and diced
1 russet potato peeled and diced
1 can vegetable or chicken stock/broth
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4-1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp hot sauce (optional)
2 Tbsp cajun seasoning (optional)
2 cups of cheddar cheese or blend
salt and pepper to taste
Instructions:
dice up all the veggies to approx the same size. You want 1 part celery, 1 part carrot, 2 parts onion.
Saute all the veggies lightly, season with salt and pepper
deglaze the pan with the beer
let bubble away covered until veggies are softened about 20 mins
using either an immersion blender, food processor or blender blend until mostly smooth adding stock/broth to help blend if necessary
once blended return to the pot and add the rest of the stock/broth
bring to a bubble and add the cheese, hot sauce and cajun seasoning
once the cheese has melted add the sour cream and milk
if too thick thin our with more stock/broth
if too thin allow to cook down until thickened.
Garnish with a small dollop of sour cream and fresh chopped parsley
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Portobello Mushroom Chicken Sandwich
I may be the self proclaimed queen of sandwiches! I LOVE them! And this one is no different. There are 2 different ways to make it, one as a sub and one as a more classic sandwich. I love both, Nick's fav is the sub.
2 portobello mushroom caps per sandwich
1 4-6 oz chicken breast per sandwich
2 Tbsp Light Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
1 Tbsp chopped sun dried tomatoes
1-2 slices of swiss or white american cheese per sandwich
1 sandwich thin or sub roll per sandwich
salt and pepper to taste
Mix together the sun dried tomatoes and the dressing set aside
cook the chicken breast through lightly seasoning with salt and pepper
scrape out the inside gills of the mushroom with a spoon and cook in a pan 3-4 mins each side lightly seasoning with salt and pepper
assemble the sandwich bottom bun, mushroom gill side up, top with cheese, then with the chicken breast and with another slice of cheese if desired, top with dressing mixture, top with the 2nd mushroom gill side down and finally finish with the top bun.
If you decide to do this in a sub roll you are going to need to slice up the mushroom then saute and either slice up or shred the chicken. With this one put the dressing mix down in the roll first then top with shredded or chopped chicken, and then cheese. If desired melt the cheese under the broiler for a few minutes.
2 portobello mushroom caps per sandwich
1 4-6 oz chicken breast per sandwich
2 Tbsp Light Honey Mustard Salad Dressing
1 Tbsp chopped sun dried tomatoes
1-2 slices of swiss or white american cheese per sandwich
1 sandwich thin or sub roll per sandwich
salt and pepper to taste
Mix together the sun dried tomatoes and the dressing set aside
cook the chicken breast through lightly seasoning with salt and pepper
scrape out the inside gills of the mushroom with a spoon and cook in a pan 3-4 mins each side lightly seasoning with salt and pepper
assemble the sandwich bottom bun, mushroom gill side up, top with cheese, then with the chicken breast and with another slice of cheese if desired, top with dressing mixture, top with the 2nd mushroom gill side down and finally finish with the top bun.
If you decide to do this in a sub roll you are going to need to slice up the mushroom then saute and either slice up or shred the chicken. With this one put the dressing mix down in the roll first then top with shredded or chopped chicken, and then cheese. If desired melt the cheese under the broiler for a few minutes.
Carnitas
Normally I make shredded chicken enchiladas, BUT I bought some pork and didn't feel like having bbq pulled pork so I decided this would be a nice change. You can serve this a few different ways by shredding it and throwing it into tacos or a burrito or even on its own just as an entree with rice and beans on the side. As for me I'm making this into enchiladas cause they are my fav!
Pork Carnitas
3 whole garlic cloves
1 can condensed milk
1 can cola
Water to fill if necessary
Pork shoulder cut into parts with bone
2 cinnamon sticks
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1 t cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
Optional
Instead of cola - Dr Pepper, or Ginger Ale
1 onion
1/2 bell peppers
1 chile pepper (optional, Anaheim or poblano)
Sear pork in a hot skillet
Layer in pork and all veg into the crock pot
Sprinkle in cumin and add cinnamon sticks
Pour condensed milk and cola on top
Fill to top with water
Let cook for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high
In a pot or in the oven for 3-4 hours keeping an eye on it.
To make enchiladas put a small amount of pork into a tortilla with some cheese, roll up and place in a casserole dish seam side down.
for a sauce you can either use a canned sauce or make your own with a can of diced tomatoes, some hot sauce, sauteed onion, and jalapeno. cook until flavors combined and spoon over filled tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 until cheese is bubbly!
serve with rice and beans if desired! YUM
Pork Carnitas
3 whole garlic cloves
1 can condensed milk
1 can cola
Water to fill if necessary
Pork shoulder cut into parts with bone
2 cinnamon sticks
1 T cumin
1 T chili powder
1 t cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
Optional
Instead of cola - Dr Pepper, or Ginger Ale
1 onion
1/2 bell peppers
1 chile pepper (optional, Anaheim or poblano)
Sear pork in a hot skillet
Layer in pork and all veg into the crock pot
Sprinkle in cumin and add cinnamon sticks
Pour condensed milk and cola on top
Fill to top with water
Let cook for 8 hours on low or 4-5 hours on high
In a pot or in the oven for 3-4 hours keeping an eye on it.
To make enchiladas put a small amount of pork into a tortilla with some cheese, roll up and place in a casserole dish seam side down.
for a sauce you can either use a canned sauce or make your own with a can of diced tomatoes, some hot sauce, sauteed onion, and jalapeno. cook until flavors combined and spoon over filled tortillas, sprinkle with cheese and bake at 350 until cheese is bubbly!
serve with rice and beans if desired! YUM
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