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Showing posts with label on. Show all posts

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Tostados Served on Fresh Fried Corn Tortillas with Pico de Gallo


I have been watching the reality show "Survivor" since it premiered in 2000 and have never missed an episode.  I do not know, at this point, whether I continue to watch because I love to observe the interaction between the contestants, particularly when it is confrontational, or if it has simply become a habit. Whichever the case, it has become part of my Thursday night ritual to have Mexican food, or a derivative thereof.  The actual new season of Survivor does not start until next Thursday, however, there was a special "look back at Survivors past" episode which aired last night.  Ive come this far, why break with tradition now? 

I admit that I usually use the packaged Ortega tostado shells which are heated in the oven just before eating, when I make tostados. While obviously not resembling anything authentically Mexican, they always worked perfectly fine for my purposes.  However, I recently purchased some fresh corn tortillas, which are similar in appearance to the more common flour tortilla, but made of corn, and thought I would try fry a fresh corn tortilla for tostados.  Wow, what a difference!  I can not believe that I have subjected myself to the comparatively chewy, stale like taste and texture of the boxed hard tostados for all these years.  The freshly fried tostados made from fresh corn tortillas were light and airy but incredibly sturdy and perfectly crunchy with an authentic corn flavor.   It was not at all hard to do or (sometimes more importantly) not even messy!

I heated 1/2 inch of canola oil in a large skillet until the oil was hot but not smoking.  I place the tip of the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil and you will know the oil is hot enough when it bubbles up around the tip of the spoon handle.  Place 1 corn tortilla at a time in the hot oil and fry for about 1 minute per side or until it just starts to turn golden brown.  Place on a paper towel, drain the excess oil and sprinkle with salt.  Place the fried tortilla directly on the rack in a preheat 375 degree oven for about 5 minutes.  Return to paper towels until ready to eat.  This technique will create the most perfectly crispy, crunchy tortilla without a hint of greasiness or sogginess. 

I had some very lovely plump tomatoes and hot chili peppers fresh from the grocery, so I decided to make a mid Winter pico de gallo.  Finely chop a beautiful red ripe juicy tomato and combine in a bowl with finely chopped red onion, 1 finely chopped serrano chili pepper (or other pepper depending on your love of heat), a handful of chopped cilantro, the juice of half of a lime and plenty of salt.  Stir to combine and serve freshly prepared. 

Top the tostado shells with warmed refried beans, seasoned and browned ground beef, home made pico de gallo, freshly shredded crispy lettuce, queso fresco (Mexican crumbling cheese), hot sauce and sour cream.       
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Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Chicken on Roasted Potato

Chicken on Roasted Potato


Ingredients
  • Potatoes 3
  • Oil for fry
  • Chicken mince 300 gm
  • Onion 1
  • Green chilies 3
  • Green olives 5 – 6
  • Parsley ¼ bunch
  • Mint leaves ¼ bunch
  • Red capsicum 1
  • Salt to taste
  • Black pepper ½ tsp
  • Egg half
  • Tomatoes 1
Method
  • Cut potatoes into ¼ inch thick slices, deep fry till golden brown.In chopper put together 300 gm mince, 1 onion, 1 capsicum, 3 green chilies, ¼ bunch mint leaves, few leaves of parsley, salt to taste, ½ tsp black pepper and half egg.Chopperize well.
  • Put fried potato slices in a greased oven proof tray.Spread 1 tbsp of chicken filling on each potato slice. Then bake in a preheated oven on 200 degrees for 8 – 10 minutes.Garnish with 5 – 6 sliced green olives, sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve.
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Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Another Take on Foie Gras

This very interesting lecture is from the Taste3 conference, and features chef Dan Barber talking about a farm in Spain that has developed a more humane way to produce foie gras. Enjoy!

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Thursday, March 13, 2014

Mushroom Ragout on Garlic Toast Maybe I Could Be a Vegetarian

No, I couldnt, but when I eat a meatless dish as delicious as this mushroom ragout (pronounced ragoooo), I realize there are plenty of recipes that are just as tasty and satisfying as my favorite meat dishes. Of course, almost anything is good poured over garlic toast, and youll see a great trick for ultra-fast and easy garlic-scented toast in this video recipe I recently produced for About.com. I did sneak some chicken stock into the sauce, but if you are a vegetarian you can use a vegetable stock and it will be fine.

Whenever I do a video recipe that uses Marsala wine I get lots of emails about what they can substitute. You cant, go get a bottle of Marsala wine. Just regular Marsala, not the sweet dessert Marsala as it is way too sweet to cook with. Ask the person at the wine shop to help you; tell them you are cooking with it and dont want the sweet variety and they will show you the right one. Buy the cheapest one of the selection they give you, and youre all set. Even the least expensive Marsala will be fine for this dish, as long as its the real stuff, and came from a decent shop. Having said all that, if you must use something else a good Sherry wine (NOT the cooking sherry them sell at the supermarket) will fill in adequately.

Click here for the transcript and ingredients.

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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Go bananas on banana bread recipe

There are two things that come to mind when someone mentions banana bread; 1) Bananas and 2 bread. Bread has existed for centuries ever since the Neolithic period. Primitive men of crush grain with rocks and you mixed with water. Then, they spread the mixture on rocks on hot laid.

Bananas, was on the other hand, from Southeast Asia, probably the Malaysian region. Around 2,000 BC, spread it as far as India and Papua New Guinea. The banana has such significant impact in their culture that the entire structure is not wasted. The tribes are used as bridges; the leaves as a food packaging and banana heart (single male banana) are used for medical purposes. But not wheat was common at that time. Didnt so from there are banana bread.

The ancient Greeks were those who came up with the idea of banana bread. Although the banana in the region was not native, they were many references to the fruit. A most remarkable example is loose in the book Historia plantarum, translated as "The History of Plants", a Theophrastus, a Greek naturalist. The Greeks had a reputation for mixing bread with honey and other fruits. Why not bananas?

Modern banana bread was invented in the 1930s. It grew during the deployment of the baking soda quick bread popular. Sodium bicarbonate or baking powder, replacing yeast as a leavening agent and this was due to the fact that bread much faster takes quick rise yeast compared to use, takes the hours.

Experienced another upswing in popularity in the 1960s as home baking quickly to fad banana bread. Apart from the fact that several different variations was also invented by banana bread. Bakeries to produce nuts, chocolate chips and other fruit in the plain banana bread, greater diversity in their menu added. There is also a vegan version substituting the eggs with tofu or soy.

An article about food recipe, must now especially if banana bread is the topic of delicious. To make this delicious snack, you need a 1 cup white flour, half (1/2) Cup wheat flour, one and a half (1 1/2) TSP baking powder, quarter (1 / 4) TSP baking powder, quarter (1 / 4) TSP cinnamon, a eighth (1/8) teaspoon salt one (1) egg one 1 cup mashed banana (3 medium), two-thirds (2/3) cup sugar, quarter (1 / 4) Cup canola oil, a (1) TL lemon zest (optional), half (1 / 2) cup chopped Pecans (optional)

First, grease Loaf pan and set aside. In a mixing bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, cinnamon and salt and a fountain in the Centre to make. Combine the eggs, bananas, sugar, oil, lemon zest in a separate bowl. Mix the two together give and stir up moist. Add nuts if necessary. Spoon batter into the Pan and bake at 350 for about 50 minutes. Check whether it is cooked, poke a toothpick and when it comes to clean, it is done. Sprinkle brown sugar on top.

Bananas are an excellent choice of potassium. Help in cleaning the colon and the small intestine. Although their nutrients are easily reduced once cooked, is the price you have to pay to satisfy your palate.


Mick is that even taught Cook behind banana bread recipe-a site full of delicious banana bread recipes. Banana bread is really easy to bake if make Mick can make it, so you can!

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Wednesday, January 22, 2014

SANDRA’S HOMEMADE DECADENT CHOCOLATE on CHOCOLATE BUTTERCREAM CUPCAKES

You will think youve died and gone 
to heaven when youre eating these 
luscious cupcakes...
Yields: (6 cupcakes)
Prep: 10 Mins. |
Bake
+ Make Frosting: 18 Mins. | Cool Cupcakes: 30 Mins.

INGREDIENTS

*Cupcakes
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened Hershey’s cocoa powder
1 teaspoon instant espresso powder (or instant coffee)
½ teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1/4 cup buttermilk*** (or milk)
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg

**Chocolate Buttercream Frosting
1/4 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 tablespoons buttermilk*** (or milk)
2 cups of confectioners’ sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened Hershey’s cocoa powder
--6 semi-sweet chocolate morsels, for garnish

METHOD

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 6 muffin cups with silver and paper liners.

For the cupcakes, in a large bowl, sift through a sieve the flour, cocoa power, instant espresso coffee, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and table salt, using a spoon to coax through sieve.

In a medium bowl, beat with a hand mixer the buttermilk, butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and egg, just until a marbled texture is achieved. Pour into dry ingredients and gently fold with spatula until ingredients are combined (maintain aeration while doing so for moist-tender cupcakes).

Distribute batter evenly into prepared muffin cups by filling each with a regular ice cream scoop scraped against the side of bowl for even cupcakes. Bake for 18 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cupcakes cooling on rack...
Remove from the oven to cool completely on a baking rack (about 20 minutes), before decorating with frosting.

Meanwhile prepare the frosting in medium bowl, using a hand mixer, beat the butter, vanilla extract, and buttermilk, then add sifting through a sieve atop the confectioners’ sugar, cocoa powder, and beat on low speed (to prevent powder sugar from blowing into the air), and then increase mixer to medium speed until smoothly combined.

Add the frosting to a piping bag placed in a tall glass (for ease), or a large Ziploc, fitted with a large round tip.

To decorate the cupcakes: begin piping in the center of cupcake, and work outwards in a circular motion, and then work back to center making a rise ending in the middle. Finish each by placing a semi-sweet chocolate morsel on top. ~ Enjoy!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

***Tip: I purchased a 12 oz. canister of ‘Cultured Buttermilk Blend’ in the baking section of the market (low fat and low cholesterol), which I mix with water so I always have buttermilk on-hand for cooking, marinating, and baking at all times.

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Thursday, December 19, 2013

Atlantic City Style Butter Roasted Cauliflower Im on Location and Cant Talk Right Now

Hello from New Jersey! I just flew into Atlantic City to cover the annual "Toast to the Coast" Food and Wine extravaganza for my American Foods site on About.com. So, while Im playing jet-setting food journalist, here is a quick, and very delicious cauliflower video recipe I filmed before I left.

The name of the dish really has nothing to do with Atlantic City, except the trip here forced me to edit it on the plane, and since I don’t have any recording equipment with me, this video is sans voice-over. I think it will be a nice break for both of us. This is an unusual, and tremendously tasty, way to enjoy cauliflower. Its almost like discovering a new vegetable.

I will be doing a recap of the trip with film, recipes, and blog posts to match. By the way, a warm welcome to all the new visitors to the site - the cheese video was featured on Youtube, and we got almost 25,000 pageviews yesterday - a new record! Enjoy the clip!

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