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Category: Recipes
Tonight’s dish is a request/challenge from a friend of mine. He told me this recipe for Chili Verde from Chef John is the best he ever tried and he thought I could ‘massage’ the recipe so it could be made for one. Well, I did some additional research and came up with the tweaked recipe below. Normally, chili verde is made with pork, but tonight I was feeling like chicken so that is what I used. Of course, you could substitute pork into this recipe and it would be great. Next time I will make this recipe with pork, maybe adjusted for sous vide to up the challenge. And since it is National Margarita Day, I paired this meal with a Mexican Mule…
Are you ready for another ‘comfort food’ dish? Tonight, I made spaghetti and meatballs. To fit the bill for comfort food and satisfy my hunger, I wanted the meatballs well seasoned and the sauce flavorful. For the meatballs, I used a mixture of beef and pork spiced with traditional Italian flavors of onion, garlic, parsley, basil and oregano. I then made a green pepper and fire roasted tomato sauce with sweetness from a grated carrot and a spicy hint of smoked paprika. This dish fires on all cylinders for me – tender and flavorful meatballs under a blanket of robust red sauce on a bed of thin spaghetti, accented with fresh parsley and Parmesan cheese. To be honest, I should have made this dish on a…
As promised last week when I made kimchi, I came up with a radical new dish that uses it. I am taking liberties with my earlier Rouladen recipe by marinating some thin beef round steak in bulgogi marinade that will be wrapped around the kimchi and then seared. Served simply with steamed rice, more kimchi, and green onions as a garnish, I want this rouladen to be the star. Are you ready for a German/Korean fusion dish? I am… so let’s get cooking! Save Print Bulgogi Rouladen Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: 15 mins Total time: 35 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients 1 6oz thinly sliced beef round steak, approximately ¼ inch thick 2 tbsp soy sauce 1 tbsp…
I know you all have a friend that reminisces about something from their childhood or neighborhood where they grew up. My friend from Chicago routinely grouses about not being able to enjoy a Chicago-style Italian Beef Sandwich. Being in the Pacific Northwest, he just has not found anything that claims to be Chicago-style Italian Beef compare to what he enjoys back home. So, after a lot of research I decided to take the challenge to silence his fussing and try to satisfy that taste of his hometown. Now I have never been to Chicago so I have no way to compare, but this sandwich was delicious, incredibly delicious, insanely delicious… so I think it was a success. His take on it… a solid thumbs…
Tonight I am making a simple, but tasty Hungarian bean and sausage soup – bableves kolbásszal. Since finding this gyulai kolbalsz at a local international market, I searched for recipes to try with it. This recipe is a mash-up of several I found on Hungarian blogs and web sites. I think the sausage is the star, but do not count out the supporting players, These supporting ingredients bring a wonderful depth of flavor – turnips, parsnips, carrots, onion, parsley, garlic and of course… bacon! Add sour cream and vinegar and this soup has pizazz! Give this hearty and flavorful soup a chance and you’ll be celebrating Hungarian cuisine like me! Save Print Bableves Kolbásszal Prep time: 20 mins Cook time: …
Tonight’s cocktail is based on a sale item I saw at the grocery store earlier today. Yet, to be honest, I was perplexed on what cocktail to make with it. So straight from the Chambord website comes this French Martini recipe. While some may debate the ‘martini’ aspect of this cocktail, I cannot deny the fact that this is a tasty drink. Having pineapple juice in a drink that is not island based or paired with rum is a bonus in my book. So with the sun setting here in the Pacific Northwest, I say it is time to start enjoying our Friday night cocktail, the French Martini. Come on, join me! Save Print French Martini Prep time: 5 mins Total time: …
Tonight I am going way out on a limb. I have never made kimchi before, but I had some napa cabbage to use up so I thought, “what the heck, why not?”. I found several recipes online and from them I settled on the tweaked recipe below. I have to say the process for this ‘easy kimchi’ was fun. And do you know what the best part is… I can say I made it! Now, I wonder what fun things I can make with my kimchi later this week? Save Print Preparing Kimchi Prep time: 120 mins Total time: 2 hours Ingredients 1 lb napa cabbage, cored and cut up into 1 inch slices 3 oz daikon radish, julienned 1…
Do you ever get a hankering for a certain flavor or dish? Tonight, I really wanted a robust yellow curry but did not feel like going out. So… I made it for myself. I increased the variety of vegetables and flavors with two types of peppers, pickled galangal and ginger, and sambal. I paired it with jasmine rice, but I bet it would work just as well with thin rice noodles. The results were delicious, if I say so myself. This dish really satisfied my ‘hankering’ for yellow curry. I can’t wait until I get that hankering again! Save Print Yellow Curry Chicken Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 20 mins Total time: 35 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients…
I know, you can get this soup from a can. Campbell’s Chunky, Progresso, etc… there are plenty of options. Most are tasty and make for a quick meal. Yet, making clam chowder at home is really easy. I challenge you to try this recipe and even tweak it as you desire. I am positive you will enjoy the results. Since this recipe makes enough for two as a perfect first course or appetizer, maybe you can use this dish to get your Valentine’s Day dinner started off on a delicious note! Save Print Clam Chowder Prep time: 15 mins Cook time: 30 mins Total time: 45 mins Serves: 2 Ingredients 6 oz chopped clams 1½ cups golden…
I am sorry I missed posting this cocktail last night, but I was enjoying a show at the 5th Avenue Theater with a friend. I think when you try this twist on that current rage – the Moscow Mule, you will forgive me. In a Mexican Mule, you simply swap the vodka with tequila. Of course, I had to tweak it just a little and I think the results are stellar! Give this cocktail a try… I know you will love it! Save Print Mexican Mule Prep time: 5 mins Total time: 5 mins Serves: 1 Ingredients 1½ oz tequila (make a good tequila like Herradura as pictured) 1 oz lime juice 3 oz of ginger beer ½ oz agave nectar orange…