Monday, June 13, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
For the cakes-
Step 1: Prepare three round 9″ pans by lining the bottoms of each with 9″ circles of wax paper.
Step 2: Grease the wax paper with Pam and then sprinkle with flour.
Step 3: Mix the cake mix, lime jello, oil, eggs, orange juice and water together for 2 to 3 minutes at medium speed.
Step 4: Pour an equal amount of the batter into each of the three lined cake pans.
Step 5: Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
For the glaze-
Step 6: While the cakes are baking, knead two key limes against a hard surface to loosen the juice inside of them.
Step 7: Cut each of the key limes in half.
Step 8: Squeeze 1/4 cup of fresh key lime juice into a small bowl.
Step 9: Pour 1/4 cup of bottled lime juice into the bowl of fresh lime juice.
Step 10: Mix in 4 tbsp. of confectioners sugar.
For the icing-
Step 11: Mix the margarine and cream cheese together.
Step 12: Mix in the remainder of the box of confectioners sugar.
Step 13: Add the vanilla, and mix until it’s smooth.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Beef Enchiladas
Beef enchiladas with chipotle-pasilla chili gravy
For the pasilla-chipotle chili gravy:
1 or 2 dried chipotle chiles (depending on how hot you want it), seeds and stems removed
4 dried pasilla chiles, seeds and stems removed
1/4 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Pinch of ground allspice
3 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
For the enchiladas:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced and divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of lard or vegetable oil
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
Method:
In a dry skillet heated on high, toast the pasilla and chipotle chiles on each side for about 10 seconds or just until they start to puff. Fill the skillet with enough water to cover chiles. Leave the heat on until water begins to boil and then turn off the heat and let the chiles soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Once hydrated, discard the soaking water and rinse the chiles. Place in a blender.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, in heat up the vegetable oil and while occasionally stirring cook the onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds. Place cooked onion and garlic into the blender, along with the cumin, oregano, allspice and the broth. Blend until smooth.
In a pot, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil on low heat, whisking in the flour until well incorporated. Pour in the sauce and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and black pepper to taste and adjust other seasonings as needed.
Meanwhile, in a skillet on medium heat (I use the same one that I used for the onions and garlic) add the ground beef, half of the diced onions and garlic. While stirring occasionally, cook the meat until browned, about 10 minutes. (If you like, you can drain the extra fat once the meet is browned.) Stir in the cumin and cook for 2 more minutes. Taste and add salt and black pepper to taste and adjust seasonings. Stir into the meat 1/4 cup of the chili gravy.
To make the enchiladas, first preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking dish. In a skillet, heat up the lard or oil on medium-low heat. One at a time, heat up the tortillas in the hot oil until soft and pliant. Lay each tortilla on a plate or clean cooking surface and add about 2 tablespoons of beef and some of the cheese. Roll the tortilla and place in greased baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour sauce over enchiladas and top with remaining grated cheese and diced onions. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbling.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
For the pasilla-chipotle chili gravy:
1 or 2 dried chipotle chiles (depending on how hot you want it), seeds and stems removed
4 dried pasilla chiles, seeds and stems removed
1/4 medium yellow onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, chopped
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon oregano
Pinch of ground allspice
3 cups beef broth
2 tablespoons lard or vegetable oil
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
For the enchiladas:
1 pound ground beef
1/2 medium yellow onion, diced and divided
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 tablespoon of lard or vegetable oil
12 corn tortillas
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (8 ounces)
Method:
In a dry skillet heated on high, toast the pasilla and chipotle chiles on each side for about 10 seconds or just until they start to puff. Fill the skillet with enough water to cover chiles. Leave the heat on until water begins to boil and then turn off the heat and let the chiles soak until soft, about 30 minutes. Once hydrated, discard the soaking water and rinse the chiles. Place in a blender.
In a large pot or Dutch oven, in heat up the vegetable oil and while occasionally stirring cook the onions until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 30 more seconds. Place cooked onion and garlic into the blender, along with the cumin, oregano, allspice and the broth. Blend until smooth.
In a pot, heat the 2 tablespoons of oil on low heat, whisking in the flour until well incorporated. Pour in the sauce and simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add salt and black pepper to taste and adjust other seasonings as needed.
Meanwhile, in a skillet on medium heat (I use the same one that I used for the onions and garlic) add the ground beef, half of the diced onions and garlic. While stirring occasionally, cook the meat until browned, about 10 minutes. (If you like, you can drain the extra fat once the meet is browned.) Stir in the cumin and cook for 2 more minutes. Taste and add salt and black pepper to taste and adjust seasonings. Stir into the meat 1/4 cup of the chili gravy.
To make the enchiladas, first preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease a large baking dish. In a skillet, heat up the lard or oil on medium-low heat. One at a time, heat up the tortillas in the hot oil until soft and pliant. Lay each tortilla on a plate or clean cooking surface and add about 2 tablespoons of beef and some of the cheese. Roll the tortilla and place in greased baking dish. Repeat with remaining tortillas. Pour sauce over enchiladas and top with remaining grated cheese and diced onions. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese is lightly browned and bubbling.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Quinoa Primavara
ngredients
1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 cups thinly sliced or bite sized pieces assorted uncooked vegetables
3 tablespoons grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
Directions
Rinse quinoa thoroughly; drain. Bring quinoa and broth to boil in a 2-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until broth is absorbed. While quinoa is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in butter for about one minute, stirring frequently, until golden. Stir in vegetables. Cook about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir cream cheese and basil into cooked quinoa. Toss vegetables with quinoa mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
Let's Dish
If you've never tried quinoa, you really should. I'm always looking for new quinoa recipes, and this is one of my favorites. Technically, quinoa is not a grain, but it does remind me of cous cous. The great thing about quinoa, as opposed to other grains, is that it's very high in protein. It's also gluten-free. You can use any kind of vegetables in this dish. I like onion, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, and I'll add peppers sometimes too. I just give all the veggies a coarse shop in my food processor, but you could even throw in a mix of frozen veggies to save time. Although I'd typically serve this as a side dish, I'll happily eat it as a meal on it's own.
1 1/2 cups uncooked quinoa
3 cups chicken or vegetable broth
4 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried
1 tablespoon butter
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
5 cups thinly sliced or bite sized pieces assorted uncooked vegetables
3 tablespoons grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
Directions
Rinse quinoa thoroughly; drain. Bring quinoa and broth to boil in a 2-quart saucepan; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 20-25 minutes or until broth is absorbed. While quinoa is cooking, melt butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic in butter for about one minute, stirring frequently, until golden. Stir in vegetables. Cook about 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir cream cheese and basil into cooked quinoa. Toss vegetables with quinoa mixture and sprinkle with cheese.
Let's Dish
If you've never tried quinoa, you really should. I'm always looking for new quinoa recipes, and this is one of my favorites. Technically, quinoa is not a grain, but it does remind me of cous cous. The great thing about quinoa, as opposed to other grains, is that it's very high in protein. It's also gluten-free. You can use any kind of vegetables in this dish. I like onion, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots, and I'll add peppers sometimes too. I just give all the veggies a coarse shop in my food processor, but you could even throw in a mix of frozen veggies to save time. Although I'd typically serve this as a side dish, I'll happily eat it as a meal on it's own.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Dal
Dal Makhani
Ingredients:
1 cup dry lentils
1 (14 ounce) can crushed tomatoes
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 cup water
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
1/3 cup heavy cream
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro
Directions:
-In a large saucepan, add lentils and enough water to cover by two inches. Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Allow to simmer for 10 minutes, until lentils are open and tender. Drain and return to pot.
-Using a wooden spoon, stir lentils around pot, using spoon to mash some against the side of the pot. Add tomatoes, ginger, garlic, cayenne, water, butter, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat for about an hour, or until thickened. Periodically check to make sure the water has not cooked out. If so, add a bit more and cover pot for remaining cooking time.
-Stir in cream, garnish with cilantro and serve immediately.
biscuts
Cream Biscuits with Cheddar Cheese
Ingredients:
2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup cheddar cheese, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
Directions:
Preheat oven to 425ยบ and place oven rack in the upper-middle position. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. Stir in the cheese. Pour in 1 1/4 cups of the cream and stir with a wooden spoon for about 30 seconds, or until a dough forms. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured work surface, leaving behind any dry pieces of flour in the bowl. In tablespoon increments, add up to the remaining 1/4 cup of cream to the dry bits left in the bowl, stirring with a wooden spoon after each addition. Once the bits are moistened, add them to the rest of the dough. Knead by hand for about 30 seconds, just until the dough is smooth.
To make biscuit rounds, pat the dough into a 1-inch thick circle. Using a biscuit cutter, cut the biscuits and place on the baking sheet. Push together the remaining dough and cut more biscuits. You should have 8, but that will depend on the size of your biscuit cutter. Alternately, press the dough evenly into an 8-inch cake pan. Turn out onto a lightly floured work surface and cut into 8 wedges using a sharp knife or bench scraper. Bake the biscuits, immediately after cutting, for 18 minutes. Serve immediately.
Adapted from Baking Illustrated
Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
http://www.cooklikeachampionblog.com/
Cashew Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cornstarch
6 tablespoons water or chicken broth
2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
1 teaspoon Siracha (optional)
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup roasted, unsalted cashews
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, chopped into bite-size pieces
salt and pepper, to taste
Half a bell pepper, cut into strips
3-4 green onions, thinly sliced
Rice, for serving
Directions:
Cook rice according to package directions. In a small bowl, combine cornstarch and water/chicken broth and whisk until smooth. Stir in hoisin, vinegar and Siracha and set aside.
Add oil to wok or large skillet and set over medium-low heat. Add garlic and cashews and stir until garlic is golden and fragrant. Season chicken with salt and pepper, then add to wok. Cook until chicken is no longer pink, then add pepper strips and cornstarch mixture. Continue cooking, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes or until sauce has thickened. Stir in all but 2 tablespoons of the green onions. Serve with rice and top with remaining green onions and additional cashews, if desired.
Serves 3
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