Keep It Simple, Sweetheart!

Simplicity is a quality and a choice. It relates to the way we do things and although it sounds simple, it is a very complex thing! I love the expression “Keep it simple sweetheart.” This in many ways relates to my current cooking style. When I bake a cake people often ask me if I made it from “scratch”. Have you ever wondered why we ask that question? Perhaps it is because we want to know if it is something we would like to tackle. Or, do we think it tastes better when we know how it was made?

I have found that simplicity is not lazy, in fact, it is downright clever. There were times, as a wife and mother, that I spent much time in the kitchen over a cookbook while finding my way through very complex recipes. Yes, it was worth the time. However, at this juncture in my life I want to have more time to do more things. And so, I have devised some simple short cuts in my kitchen.

For baking, I see no reason not to use packaged cake mix as a base. It has no more or no less ingredients than the ones I would assemble anyways except it takes about one tenth of the time and effort. From there, I add many ingredients which make it my own creation. For salads, I have discovered salad bars in various stores where I can buy washed, cut, grated and chopped ingredients that I can use for salads, vegetable side dishes and for main dishes as well. In the meat section of the store I can use fajita mix sold all cut and ready to go in order for stir fry, soups and stews.

In honor of Mother's Day I am presenting to you a simple and delicious recipe that is fun to make and great to make for mom or whomever. I love making this for myself and so, this recipe serves two. To make for more, just double or triple the ingredients. Whatever you do, please enjoy!

 

CHICKEN STIR FRY

One whole chicken breast, boned, skinned and cut into strips

(option: I use 4 boned & skinned chicken thighs which I buy at the meat market)

Garlic powder, ground ginger, salt and pepper

Olive oil

1 tsp minced ginger or to taste (option: Japanese pickled ginger)

2 large garlic cloves, minced

¼ cup cilantro, rough chopped

Soy sauce to taste

1 cup trimmed snow peas cut diagonally

2 cups shredded cabbage

2 cups grated carrots

½ bell pepper, cut into strips

1. Cook a pot of brown or white rice.

2. Season chicken with spices and let sit for about 10 or so minutes.

3. Heat a non-stick skillet and then, using a small amount of olive oil, stir fry the cut chicken over medium heat with the ginger, garlic, and cilantro for a few minutes until chicken starts to brown but is not cooked.

4. Add the snow peas, cabbage, carrots and bell pepper and stir fry until all ingredients are tender and chicken is cooked. (Be careful not to overcook).

5. Add small amount of soy sauce right into pan and mix, taste, and adjust seasonings.

6. Serve with rice.

Melting Pot Meals

Today we can celebrate for almost any reason: springtime, Cinco de Mayo, Armed Forces Day, and even Tax Day. All of these occasions are coming up on the calendar and all of these are reasons to gather in fellowship. What a wonderful way for us to remember to take time out to be with family and friends.

In the USA, we have many cultures and so, the name “melting pot” is quite significant. Personally, I like to think of a melting pot as something cooking in a crock pot or something simmering on the stove! What's fellowship without food?! And what's food without trying new and different dishes from all the many cultures that live here in our free country?!

Here are two recipes that absolutely demand to be shared and enjoyed! The Picadillo is a Cuban recipe and the Chicken Curry is from India. Both can be adapted to serve as many as you wish and both can be taken to potluck events. Enjoy!

 

PICADILLO

2 lbs. Ground beef

Olive oil

one onion, chopped

one yellow or green bell pepper, chopped

8 cloves garlic, minced

2 (8oz) cans tomato sauce

one large can whole tomatoes, with liquid

1/8 cup white vinegar

small jar green olives stuffed with pimento, cut in half (not lengthwise)

¼ cup capers, drained

¼ – ½ cup raisins

2 bay leaves

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp ground cloves

salt and pepper

optional: hot sauce, about ¼ tsp

Picadillo...

1. In a large stock pot, heat about 1-2 Tb olive oil and over medium heat, saute onion, garlic, and green pepper until soft. Remove from pot and set aside

2. Add to the pot more oil as needed and brown the ground beef, separating it with a fork.

3. Return the onion mixture to the pot and add all remaining ingredients. Simmer over medium-low heat for one hour. Stir occasionally so it doesn't stick. Adjust seasoning.

4. Serve with rice as a meal and/or corn chips to dip for a party food.

Bombay Chicken Curry

Ingredients:

3 boneless chicken breasts - halved & skinned

Flour to coat

Salt and fresh ground pepper

3 Tb. Olive Oil

2 Tb. Butter

1 can chicken broth (about 14 oz.)

1/2 dry white wine or white grape juice with a squeeze of lemon

1 small yellow onion, chopped

6 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 C fresh parsley chopped

1/4 tsp. ginger powder

1 Tb. curry powder (or to taste)

1 can unsweetened coconut milk (about 13 oz.)

Condiments:

Shredded unsweetened coconut

Chopped peanuts

Choppe green onions

Raisins

Chutney (Major Grey's)

Accompaniment:

Basmati or Jasmine Rice

1. Rinse chicken, pat dry and put into plastic bag with about 1/2 C. flour and salt and pepper. Shake to coat then take out of baggie and shake off excess.

2. Heat the oil and butter in a pan over medium heat. Add chicken and cook for five minutes on each side until lightly browned.

3. Add chicken broth, wine, onion, garlic, parsley, ginger and curry powder. Bring to a low boil then reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered for five minutes. Cover, then simmer for about 10 more minutes.

4. Remove chicken and set aside

5. Stir in coconut milk and reseason. Heat on low and while this is heating up, slice chicken into 1/2” strips. Add back into pan and gently heat.

6. Serve over Basmati or Jasmine rice with Chutney and condiments on the side.

Nothin' Foolish About This!!

Spring has sprung and the snow is finally melting. The creeks are flowing, the buds are budding and the gardens are growing. Some spring veggies are ready to be picked. This is a time of renewal and once again, we honor our sacred holidays, we delight in the spring equinox and we look forward with mixed emotions to April Fool's Day!

Ah, the day of hoaxes and practcal jokes is almost here, so watch out! While not a national holiday, it is indeed celebrated by people in many countries around the world including Great Britain, France, Italy and of course, the USA. It is said that this date, April 1^st, came about by an error someone made when mis-copying official manuscripts in the days of Chaucer.

So you can see that April Fool's Day has been around since the fourteenth century and my guess is that it is here to stay. In getting prepared for the serious business of joking around, many of us plan and plot the most intricate of gags. Why did you know that there are lists of these on the internet? They range from office pranks to fake snakes, electronic idiosyncrosies, and even some booby traps. Go figure!

However, there is nothing foolish about a good meal. Anyone ready for chillen and grillen? Well, we're almost there. Just two more snowstorms to go …. ha ha, just kidding! I ernestly wish you to savor this wonderful time of year and for this, I offer you a succulent fish recipe that can either be grilled or baked depending upon the weather. I also offer you a great side dish for that meal, my southwestern pasta salad. Enjoy!

 

MARINATED SWORDFISH STEAKS

2 pounds swordfish steaks- serves 4-6

Marinade:

3/4 cup soy sauce

2-3 TB lemon juice

3/4 C. orange juice

4 TB Ketchup

3 garlic cloves, chopped

1/3 C. parsley leaves, chopped

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp. pepper

Combine ingredients and marinate the swordfish steaks for 1-2 hours. Heat your grill and put on the fish. While it cooks, baste it occasionally with the marinade. (Option: bake or broil in the oven).

Serve with rice or pasta salad, grilled veggies and French bread.

SOUTHWESTERN PASTA SALAD

Best made 1-2 days ahead

One lb. medium Macaroni Shells, cooked al dente

1/3 C. Cider vinegar

¾ C. Mayonnaise

¼ C. Vegetable Oil

1 C. Celery, chopped

1 bunch (about 6) Green Onions including green tops, chopped

One green pepper, chopped

Pimiento, one small jar (about 4 oz.), drained

3-6 generous dashes Worcestershire

3-6 dashes Tabasco

Salt & Freshly ground Pepper to taste

One can (15oz.) Black Eyed Peas, drained

One can (15oz.) Corn, drained

One small can (3-4 oz.) pitted Black Olives, sliced & drained

One jar (4 oz.) Green Olives with Pimiento, drained

1. Cook & drain pasta. In the meantime, combine the vinegar, oil, and mayo. When pasta is done and drained, put in a large bowl and add the mayonnaise mixture just to moisten the pasta, then set aside while you fix the rest of the salad.

2. Prep all the rest of the ingredients and add to pasta. Mix and adjust seasonings including adding more dressing as needed.

Note: add the dressing incrementally until you find the salad a bit moist but not drenched. Save any extra dressing.

3. Cover in refer for 1-2 days, adjust seasoning and dressing and serve.

ENJOY!!

The Color Green

We always seem to be working up to a celebration of some kind, and why not?! When I was in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, the city was cleaned up and spotless after each night's celebration. On the day after Fat Tuesday, the actual day called Mardi Gras and the last day of the city's feast, New Orleans was transformed once again. Green was the color and it was time to look forward to Saint Patrick's Day.

St. Paddy's Day, as it is affectionately known, is really about Irish culture. However, it is officially a religious day in honor of Saint Patrick and is observed on the day of his death, March 17^th. We wear green to honor the day and we eat, drink and make merry. In fact, it is said that everyone is Irish on St. Paddy's day! Did you know that the Chicago River is dyed green on that day?

Saint Patrick lived in the fifth century and is the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland. He is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. It is said in a legend that he explained the Holy Trinity using the three leaves of an Irish clover, hence, the shamrock. I am sure he would be delighted to see us enjoying our lucky shamrock holiday!

In honor of this holiday I introduce you to my Pistachio Nut Torte which, while not actually Irish, is a beautifully presented green and white dessert!

 

Pistachio Nut Torte

Crust:

2 C flour

4 T sugar

2 sticks butter

1 ¼ C chopped walnuts or pecans

Mix together then press into a 9X13” pan (or a spring form pan). For large size can use a 10X15 pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 - 30 minutes until golden brown. Let cool thoroughly. (This can sit out overnight).

First Layer:

Cream Cheese: 8 oz.

Sugar: 2/3 C

Cool Whip: ½ of a large or about 6 oz

Blend and spread onto cooled crust.

Middle Layer: not cooked, only mixed until thickened

Instant Pistachio Pudding Mix: 2 small packages (UNcooked)

Whole Milk: 2 1/2 C

Mix together until it becomes very thick.

Pour onto first layer & spread.

Refrigerate & let set.

Top Layer:

Spread the other ½ of the Cool Whip (or 6 more oz) on top. Chill. Before serving, sprinkle with a few pistachio nuts.

Have a happy & safe Saint Paddy's day!

Red Beans and Rice-ly Yours

Every year around this time, Mardi Gras is in the air and I begin to get a taste for New Orleans. How fortunate I have been to visit there for three amazing events: Mardi Gras, the Jazz Fest, and for a Christmas holiday. All of these occasions were filled with delicious NOLA cuisine and were filled even more with real Southern hospitality.

For most of the Mardi Gras events we visited the Garden District “Neutral Ground” where the Krewes displayed their incredible floats and from where they tossed all of their colorful beads, dubloons, and charms. The most exciting for us was the Zulu Krewe's amazing beads (coveted by one and all) and their very rare and valuable hand painted coconuts which go to the lucky few.

There is also music, food, arts, and crafts near NOLA's waterfront which is along the Mississippi River in the French Quarter. A fun filled day can end at Liuzza's Bar and Grill where the locals will insist we taste their Jambalaya, Gumbo and Red Beans directly from their plates! Let's celebrate this year's Mardi Gras on Fat Tuesday, February 12th, by sharing some authentic New Orleans dishes.

As they say in New Orleans:

“Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler”

or

Let the Good Times Roll!!

 

“RED BEANS AND RICE-LY YOURS”

reprinted with permission from the author Christopher Blake from his book Easy Elegance

2 lbs. red beans

2 Tbs. bacon fat

1/2 lb. pickled pork, diced (or a commercial jar of pickled ham hocks, diced)

[or substitute with country sausage and a splash of vinegar]

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 medium onion, chopped

1 cup tomato ketchup

1 Tbs. vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp. Tabasco sauce

Sprig of fresh thyme or pinch of dried thyme

1 cup lean ham, diced (or one ham bone)

Pick over beans. Wash and soak them overnight in water to cover. When ready to cook, drain off all the water.

In a heavy pot, heat the bacon fat and brown the diced pickled pork or pickled ham hock. Add the garlic and onion and cook for about 10 minutes. Add the beans, tomato ketchup, vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, Tabasco and thyme.

Cover with fresh cold water, making sure that there is enough water, as the beans must cook thoroughly. After the water has come to a boil, reduce heat and simmer until they are semi-cooked - about 1 hour.

Mash about a cupful of the beans and return to the pot. Add the diced ham or the ham bone and cook slowly for 2 or 3 hours or until the beans are tender and the sauce is thick and creamy.

As they say in New Orleans, red beans need no thickening because they got it in themselves.

Serve with rice and garnish with fried ham, slices of fried country sausage or pork chops. Also serve chopped onions, vinegar and Tabasco sauce on the side. Accompanied by lots of crusty French bread.

Vegetarian Paradise!

My friend Genene, who lives here in Prescott out by Thumb Butte, has a home that is a vegetarian paradise. The whole back yard was filled with huge containers of veggies that have grown all season and were just harvested. She and her husband, David, erected an amazing green house which they have filled with veggies that she says will grow most of the winter. These include green peppers, jalapeno peppers, tomatoes (both cherry and full size), herbs, marigolds, beets, and onions to name a few.

We sat in the green house the other day eating her homemade gluten free organic cookies and drinking black tea with her homemade hazelnut milk. The tastes were full and, well, delicious is all I can say – I mean, really, how does one describe all of those tastes? We enjoyed visiting while basking in the fall sunshine of her greenhouse.

Inside of her amazing kitchen are beautiful glass jars filled with beans, nuts, and flours (including garbanzo flour) and bowls full of freshly harvested winter squash and tomatoes. One cannot visit her home or chat with her without being inspired to eat consciously and organically. I saw all the colorful squash and was immediately inspired to make one of my favorite vegetarian dishes offered to you today and I do hope you enjoy!

 

ACORN SQUASH STUFFED WITH TEMPEH

One Acorn Squash, organic

One 8oz. package of tempeh, crumbled (from health food store)
2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 yellow onion, peeled and sliced into half moons
1.5 Cups cooked wild rice (buy it all cooked at TJ's)
1 Tablespoon honey
salt and pepper to taste

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Cut the acorn squash in half. Remove the seeds and pulp. Place squash cut side down in a heavy baking dish. Add one inch of water to the pan and cover with foil. Bake for 40 minutes.

3. Break Tempeh into 4 or 5 pieces and drop into pot of boiling broth, gently simmer for about five minutes, drain (you can save broth for steaming veggies at another time) and cool. Set aside in large mixing bowl.

4. Add oil to a sauté pan over medium heat. Cook onions, stirring occasionally, for ten minutes until or until they begin to caramelize.

5. Add the tempeh and honey into the pan. Cook for five minutes. Remove from heat and pour the mixture into a large bowl.

6. Remove the baking dish from the oven. Scoop out half of the flesh of each piece of squash and add it to the bowl. Add the wild rice. Mix until incorporated. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

7. Fill the squash halves with the tempeh mixture and bake uncovered for 20 minutes. Serve immediately.

Hi Everyone!
I was a little behind in posting blogs even though these were all published in Coffee Talk News.
The most current is called Easy Going Veggie Soup and is delish.
Hope you enjoy!
Best,
Kay