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POBLANO SHIITACOS

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POBLANO SHIITACOS

There’s something about this that makes me want to eat about 50 of them.

 

Makes 5 or 6, but probably 5 delicious fricking tacos

INGREDIENTS

Cilantro Sauce

  • 6 ounces nonfat Greek yogurt
  • 1 large clove garlic, chopped
  • 1 small (or ½ of one large) bunch cilantro, mostly tops but some stems are always ok
  • Juice of ½ lime  
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper to taste

Tacos

  • 2 large poblano chiles
  • Neutral oil and butter
  • 8 ounces shiitake mushroom caps, thinly sliced
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon each garlic powder & cumin
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • 5 corn or flour tortillas, approximately the 5.5 inch size
  • Nonfat Greek yogurt
  • Finely chopped red onion, for garnish
  • Finely crumbled Cotija cheese, for garnish
  • Chopped cilantro, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. Put all sauce ingredients in a processor and mix until smooth - set aside, and/or put into a squeeze bottle
  2. Blacken poblanos - either broil in oven until blackened on all sides, or over an open flame on the stove
  3. Then place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and leave 10 minutes. Peel off the black, remove seeds and slice into thin strips
  4. Heat a non stick pan to medium, add a tablespoon each of oil and butter and then the mushrooms
  5. Cook until beginning to soften, 3 to 4 minutes then add poblanos - continue to cook
  6. Add garlic powder, cumin & Kosher salt - stir well to combine
  7. Heat tortillas until just beginning to get a wee bit crispy, add a layer of yogurt, the mushrooms & poblanos, a good squeeze of cilantro sauce, red onion, some cheese and and a final sprinkle of chopped cilantro.

WATCH ME MAKE THIS...


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Cheesy Breakfast Grits

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Cheesy Breakfast Grits

So so easy and delicious - ok, we complicate slightly but deliciously by adding sausage and a fried egg.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 cups water
  • big pinch Kosher salt
  • 1/2 cup quick cooking grits
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheese (I like Monterey Jack, but use whatever you like or have)
  • 6 ounces pork sausage
  • 2 eggs 
  • 2 greens onions, finely chopped

DIRECTIONS

  1. Boil water and add salt & grits - stir well and turn down to low
  2. Cook about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until thickened
  3. Add butter, milk and cheese, stir until creamy & well combined - cover and keep warm
  4. Cook sausage in a non-stick pan until just no longer pink and keep warm
  5. Cook eggs however you like - over easy, sunny, poached it’s up to you
  6. Put 1/2 the grits into each of 2 bowls and add some sausage, green onions and top with the egg
  7. Boom
chessy breakfast grits.jpg

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Pasta with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

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Pasta with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts

FEATURED ON MY TV EPISODE, "NOT SO HEALTHY DAY"

Even if you hate brussels sprouts, I think you’ll like this.

INGREDIENTS

  • 6 ounces bacon, sliced widthwise
  • 10 whole brussels sprouts, sliced thin
  • 6 ounces pasta - your choice but Iike “Casarecce” for this one
  • 1 clove garlic, crushed
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat a large frying pan, add bacon - cook until just the edge of crispy, take bacon out and drain on paper towels
  2. Leave about 1 ½ tablespoons of grease in the pan discarding the rest and add brussel sprouts -  cook about 6-7 minutes
  3. While it cooks, bring large pot of water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions
  4. Add the bacon back in the brussel sprouts pan - then add garlic until fragrant and mix
  5. When the pasta is ready, drain (keeping about a cup of the water) and add pasta to bacon and brussels sprouts mixture with parmesan
  6. Stir to combine well and if it's too thick, add pasta water about a 1/4 cup at a time until it's where you like it
  7. Season with salt & pepper
  8. Add red pepper flakes - top with a little more parmesan and serve
IMG_6175.JPG

WATCH ME MAKE THIS

FEATURED ON MY TV SHOW 



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Fresh Tomato Sauce

The only way this gets easier is if someone makes it for you.

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ cup diced yellow onion
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 5 vine-ripe tomatoes, roughly chopped
  • ⅓ cup red wine (any wine you enjoy drinking will do)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 10 fresh basil leaves, chiffonade (stacked, roll like a cigar and then thinly sliced lengthwise)
  • Kosher salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Heat oil in large saucepan over medium heat and add onion - cook about 5 minutes
  2. Add garlic and cook another minute or so - just until fragrant
  3. Add tomatoes, turn heat up and let cook a minute or two
  4. Next add wine and tomato paste, mix then bring sauce to a boil, turn down heat and let simmer about 10 minutes
  5. Add the basil then season with salt and pepper to taste
  6. Serve on everything - pasta (of course), toast, eggs, polenta, pizza, grilled bread, chicken... did I say on everything?
IMG_6134.JPG

WATCH ME MAKE THIS


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Baked Beans

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Baked Beans

What’s not to like?

Makes 6 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ small onion, diced small

  • ½  green pepper, diced small

  • 1 - 28 ounce can baked beans

  • ¼ cup chili sauce (like Heinz, not the spicy version)

  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard

  • ½ tablespoon Worcestershire

  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar

  • 1 tablespoons chipotle peppers, minced

  • ⅓ pound bacon, cooked halfway (not crispy)

  • Big pinch Kosher salt

  • Chopped green onions, for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350

  2. In a large oven proof pot (that has a lid) cook onion, green pepper and bacon until beginning to soften and brown

  3. Add remaining ingredients, stir well, cover and bake about 45 minutes to an hour or until bubbly

  4. Garnish with green onions

  5. Serve hot.

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2 Ingredient Biscuits

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2 Ingredient Biscuits

The Easiest Biscuits EVER

 

Biscuits are too fussy you say…they take too much time you say.

Not anymore, cuz with only 2 ingredients you’ll be making and eating these all the time.

INGREDIENTS

 

  • 1.5 cups self rising flour
  • 3/4 cup heavy cream + a little extra for baking
  • 1/4 teaspoon each Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

 

  1. Preheat oven to 450
  2. Mix all ingredients well in a bowl
  3. Scoop 1 ounce portions onto a parchment lined baking sheet, and flatten slightly
  4. Brush tops lightly with extra cream and bake about 10 minutes or until done

WATCH ME MAKE THIS RECIPE


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Chicken Francaise

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Chicken Francaise

A delicious & simple chicken dish that will have you mentally wandering the Champs-Élysées – or sitting at your kitchen table. In any case you’ll be very happy.

INGREDIENTS

  • ½ cup all-purpose flour

  • ½ teaspoon Kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon fresh ground pepper

  • 1 chicken breast (pound down to ¼ inch thick)

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • ¼ cup dry vermouth or white wine (nothing expensive, but something you’d drink)

  • ½ cup chicken broth

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons cold butter

  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large bowl, combine flour, salt and pepper - mix well

  2. In a separate bowl (large enough for the chicken) beat the eggs

  3. Heat oil in a large non-stick pan

  4. Put the chicken into the flour mixture and push down lightly to coat both sides then shake off any excess),

  5. Dip both sides of the chicken into the beaten eggs and then carefully put into the hot pan - lay it down facing away from you

  6. Cook chicken until lightly golden brown, about 3-4 minutes on each side

  7. Remove the chicken when done and set aside - cover loosely with foil to keep warm

  8. In the same pan, carefully add vermouth, scraping up any bits on the bottom of the pan - simmer about 2 minutes

  9. Add chicken broth, lemon juice and butter

  10. Slowly swirl pan to incorporate the butter

  11. Add parsley then season with salt and pepper to taste

  12. Plate chicken and serve with the sauce over the top

WATCH ME COOK THIS


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Turkey Chili Enchiladas

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Turkey Chili Enchiladas

Makes 8

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pound ground turkey, cooked and crumbled
  • 1 cup chili 
  • ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 cups whipping cream
  • 8 small flour tortillas
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup shredded Monterey jack cheese

DIRECTIONS

  1. Mix first 3 ingredients in bowl, set aside
  2. Pour 1/2 the whipping cream in the bottom of a 9x13-baking dish
  3. Pour chicken broth in bowl and one by one submerge each tortilla
  4. Place approximately 1/8 turkey mixture in the center of each moistened tortilla and roll up
  5. Place all 8 side by side in dish seam down in baking dish, sprinkle with Monterey jack cheese and pour remaining whipping cream over top
  6. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until bubbly and gorgeous

WATCH ME MAKE IT, SEE THE TV EPSIODE


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Chili Cheese Omelet

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Chili Cheese Omelet

Makes 1

INGREDIENTS

  • 15 oz can of chili, heated
  • ½ tablespoon butter
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 slice Kraft American cheese (you can use any kind you like, but this kinda makes it)
  • ¼ cup green onions, chopped for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. Beat the eggs well in a bowl
  2. Melt butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat, and add eggs.
  3. If making a true omelet, allow the eggs to set - add chili to one half, cover with cheese and flip side with no chili over making a half moon - cook to desired doneness (which for me is not too dry)
  4. Put on a plate, add a little more chili and garnish with green onions

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Chili Cheese Waffle

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Chili Cheese Waffle

Makes 2

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 8.5 oz box Jiffy Corn Muffin mix  
  • 1 egg, beaten
  • ¾ cup milk
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon butter, softened
  • 1 15 oz can of chili, heated
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • ¼ cup sour cream

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat waffle iron
  2. Combine muffin mix, egg, milk, oil and sugar in a large bowl - mix well
  3. Spray both sides of waffle iron with non-stick spray, add batter, cook until done
  4. Place on plate, spread lightly with butter, add chili, top with cheddar cheese and sour cream

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Pork Chow Mein

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Pork Chow Mein

Get ready for the Chinese New Year with these great noodles - and the quick little black bean sauce makes this ridiculous.

Serves 2-4

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 tablespoons black bean garlic sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce
  • ½ pound boneless pork (tenderloin or country style ribs work great), thinly sliced 
  • ½ tablespoon of neutral oil*
  • *(unflavored oils such as canola, vegetable or peanut)
  • ¼ pound sugar snap peas sliced diagonally
  • ½ pound shitake mushrooms
  • 4 oz chow mein noodles, cooked
  • green onions, chopped to garnish

 DIRECTIONS

  1. Combine black bean and soy sauce, set aside
  2. Heat sautéed pan on medium-high, add oil and pork and cook cooked until pork is just done, about 4 minutes ­ - remove pork mixture to a bowl
  3. In same pan, heat to high and add a little more oil
  4. Add peas and stir fry until crisp tender, about 3 minutes then add to pork mixture
  5. Return pan to heat again, add more oil and the shitakes, cook until softened, about 5 minutes
  6. Turn heat up to high, add the pork mixture and then the add soy/black bean - stir until heated through
  7. Add chow mein noodles, combine well, plate and garnish with green onions
  8. Serve

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Wings with Curry Sauce

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Wings with Curry Sauce

When it comes to curry, I’m like the little old lady in the Frank’s commercial – I put that shit on everything.

INGREDIENTS

  • 18 chicken wings

  • 3 tablespoons butter

  • 1 tablespoon flour 

  • 2 tablespoons curry powder

  • 1/3 cup coconut milk

  • 1/3 cup milk

  • 1 tablespoon Sambal Chili Paste or Sriracha

  • Kosher salt

  • cilantro or diced green onion for garnish 

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat broiler

  2. Place wings on a foil lined baking sheet and broil until done, 10 - 15 minutes a side

  3. While they're cooking, melt butter in a small pot over medium/low heat

  4. When it’s melted, add flour and curry powder – stir well, mix together about a minute 

  5. Pour in both milks – stirring well with a whisk until it begins to thicken

  6. Add chili sauce, season with salt and stir well – keep warm

  7. Remove wings from oven, put in a large bowl and toss with as much curry sauce as you like

  8. Plate and garnish with cilantro or green onions

  9. Serve

IMG_5657.JPG

 

WATCH ME MAKE THIS


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PASTA 2 WAYS

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PASTA 2 WAYS

Plain pasta for kids is made even better with Finlandia butter.  And for the bigger kids, try this version with Finlandia Classic Creamy Gourmet Cheese & vermouth. 


NOODLES WITH FINLANDIA CLASSIC CREAMY GOURMET CHEESE

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 oz pasta: spaghetti, fettuccini, linguini – whatever your fav is

  • 1/4 cup butter

  • 4 oz Finlandia Classic Creamy Gourmet Cheese*

  • 1 oz dry vermouth

  • 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan

  • Kosher salt and fresh ground pepper

  • Parsley for garnish

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cook noodles in boiling, salted water, stirring occasionally until done, about 8 minutes

  2. While they cook, melt Finlandia butter* with Finlandia Classic Creamy Gourmet Cheese* in a small pot until mixed, then add parmesan and vermouth- stir until smooth

  3. Season with salt & pepper

  4. Drain noodles and toss with the sauce, and a sprinkle of parsley. Serve.

Plain Butter Noodles
 

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 oz pasta: spaghetti, fettuccini, linguini – whatever your fav is

  • 1/3 cup Finlandia butter*

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

  • Shredded parmesan cheese, to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Cook noodles in boiling, salted water, stirring occasionally until done, about 8 minutes

  2. Drain, return to pot and immediately add butter, salt and pepper

  3. If using Parmesan, add it now

  4. Mix well and serve

*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.


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Finlandia Black Garlic Flatbread

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Finlandia Black Garlic Flatbread

The beauty of this recipe is that it can be adapted to any flatbread, pizza or even sliced loaf of bread – like a baguette. Because once you know how much to spread on, you can do it with anything. 

Serves: 2-4 people
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

INGREDIENTS

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
  2. Spread about a 1/8 inch layer of the Finlandia Black Garlic Creamy Gourmet Cheese on the flatbread
  3. Add a thin layer of the pesto on top of that
  4. Sprinkle a small amount of the red pepper flakes on top, and finish with a light sprinkling of the shredded Parmesan
  5. Bake until beginning to get golden brown – 15-20 minutes
  6. Remove, slice and serve
  7. Repeat

*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.


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Fry Sauce

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Fry Sauce

Meant for dipping and not frying. Serve with fries for dipping…or put on a burger…or on a hotdog…or in a sandwich…or in egg salad…or tuna salad, or on a brisket grilled cheese. Ok, basically everywhere.

Makes 3/4 cup

INGREDIENTS

  • 1/2 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup of ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon Cholula hot sauce (or whatever kind you like)
  • 2 tablespoons dill pickle juice
  • 1 regular size dill pickle, diced very small
  • Kosher salt & fresh ground pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Put all ingredients in a bowl and mix well to combine
  2. Store in fridge a couple weeks

WATCH ME MAKE THIS


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Loose Meat Sandwich

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Loose Meat Sandwich

An old-school, terrible sounding thing – but oh crap is it fricking good!

Makes 4-6

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 yellow onion, diced or thinly sliced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb approx. ground beef (I feel the packages are closer to 1.3 pounds for some reason theses days – but anything close will do)
  • Salt & fresh ground pepper to taste
  • ½ teaspoon each onion powder & garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
  • 4 -6 of your favorite buns, even hot dog buns will work nicely you’ll just need more of them
  • ½ cup French Fried Onions

DIRECTIONS

  1. Soften onions in pan with oil over medium heat about 5 minutes
  2. Put in the ground beef and cook until most of the pink is gone
  3. Add seasonings, stir well to combine and cook a couple minutes
  4. Add broth & Worcestershire and let simmer about 15 minutes or until the broth has just evaporated
  5. Toast buns lightly, add some of the meat, then the crunchy onions, the top bun and… eat.

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Lemon Butter Sauce

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Lemon Butter Sauce

Makes about 1/3 cup
Prep time: 2 minutes
Cook time: 5 minutes
Total time: 7 minutes

Really... do you need to hear anything more than just lemon & butter? 
I think not – though if you did, shallots & parsley are the rest of it. 

INGREDIENTS

  • ¼ cup lemon juice
  • Pinch Kosher salt
  • 1 tablespoon shallot, finely chopped
  • ¼ stick cold Finlandia butter*, cut into cubes
  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley

DIRECTIONS

  1. Warm a small pan over medium-high heat and add lemon juice and shallot
  2. Cook until reduced by approximately ½, then add butter 
  3. Slowly swirl butter into the mixture until thickened, season with salt and add parsley
  4. Stir to mix and serve

*Finlandia Butter can be found at Vons, Albertsons and Safeway. Finlandia Cheeses are also available, in Southern California at Costco and other fine retailers.

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Mexican Lasagna

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Mexican Lasagna

I made this one night with a box of busted lasagna noodles and it was great, not to mention a lot easier than dealing with the whole noodles. Either make it an oven proof pan, or make it then put into an oven safe casserole dish for baking. 

Serves 6

Oil

½ yellow onion, diced small

2 red or green jalapenos, seeded and diced fairly small

1 serrano peppers, and diced small

2 large clove garlic, minced

1/2 lb ground beef

9 ounces beef chorizo

2 tablespoons fajita seasoning, recipe here or 1 pack store-bought fajita seasoning, about 1.3 ounces

15oz can diced tomatoes, drained

6 ounces ‘oven ready’ lasagna noodles, (the no-boil kind) broken into 2 inch-ish pieces

8 ounces shredded pepper jack cheese

Fresh cilantro for garnish

  • Heat oven to 350

  • Heat about a tablespoon of oil on medium high heat, and add onion, jalapeno & serranos - stir and let cook until beginning to soften, about 5 minutes

  • Add the ground beef and chorizo, and cook until almost done, probably 5 minutes

  • Put in garlic, and when fragrant stir through, then add tomatoes and fajita seasoning

  • Mix well, and add about 3/4 of the cheese and the broken noodles

  • Stir thoroughly to combine everything, add top with remaining cheese

  • Cover with a lid or foil, and put in the oven 30 minutes or until bubbly

  • Remove foil, and turn on broiler - cook until the top just starts getting crispy 3-5 minutes

  • Let rest 5-10 minutes, top with cilantro and serve

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Crazy Good Garlic Bread

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Crazy Good Garlic Bread

Makes one loaf – and a damn good one at that

1/2 cup butter, room temperature

6 cloves garlic, finely crushed

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan

1 bunch green onions, white & light green parts only, finely chopped

1 /3 cup chopped curly parsley

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1 loaf French or sourdough bread

  • Preheat oven to 425

  • Put garlic & butter in a large bowl, mix well then add the Parmesan, green onions, parsley and salt - combine everything

  • Cut loaf in half lengthwise and spread mixture on each cut side

  • Place on baking sheet and put in oven about 6 minutes

  • Turn oven to broil, then put loaves back in about 6-8 inches away from the heat until bread is beautifully golden brown and bubbly

  • Slice into 2 inch pieces and serve

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FRESH SPRING ROLLS

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FRESH SPRING ROLLS

Perfect food for when it is 800 degrees outside (San Diego summertime).

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 8 rice wrappers (approx 8 inch diameter)
  • 1 cup poached shrimp, chilled, shells and tails removed, sliced lengthways
  • 1 cup my Black Bean Salmon  recipe, chilled
  • 1 cup shredded Napa Cabbage
  • 1 cup matchstick carrots
  • 1 cup matchstick red pepper
  • 1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • big handful of lettuce leaves

SAUCE

  • hoisin sauce
  • Chili Garlic sauce (Huy Fong brand, the same people that make Sriracha)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Prep everything
  2. Mix Sauce: 3 parts Hoisin to 1 part Chili Garlic sauce, set aside  
  3. Fill large bowl with warm water
  4. One at a time, place 1 rice paper in water for 15 seconds
  5. Place flat on clean kitchen cloth
  6. Layer a strip of each ingredient, on top of each other, then roll it up like a mini buritto  
  7. Repeat until you have used up all the ingredients
  8. Serve with sauce, dip and enjoy! 
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WATCH ME MAKE THIS

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