Asian Grilled Chicken Tacos

There’s just something about making tacos on the grill – and when they’re Asian inspired they’re even more special. Try this version for a great change.

Makes 6 ‘street’ size tacos

INGREDIENTS

• 1/3 cup + 2 tablespoons Sambal chili sauce

• 2 Tablespoons honey

• 1 Tablespoon soy sauce

• 1/3 cup sour cream or non-fat Greek yogurt

• 1/3 cup shredded red cabbage

• 2 chicken thighs

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 6 flour tortillas - ‘street’ taco size

• Chopped cilantro for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Put 1/3 cup of the chili sauce, honey and soy sauce in a medium bowl and mix well - remove about 1/3 to a small bowl and set aside

2. Add chicken to the medium bowl with the marinade, submerge to cover and refrigerate at least an hour to overnight

3. Add remaining 2 tablespoons of the Sambal to the sour cream or yogurt, mix well and set aside.

4. Remove chicken from fridge about 30 minutes before cooking

5. Heat grill or grill pan to medium high, spray with cooking spray and add chicken

6. Cook until well marked on both sides and cooked through - using set aside sauce to brush with

7. Remove from grill, slice the chicken, spread some of the sour cream on a tortilla, add the cabbage and the chicken, and finally a little chopped cilantro.

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Spanish Chorizo Hash

Who says hash has to be corned beef? Cuz I certainly don't!

Makes 2 - 3 servings (kinda depends on you)

INGREDIENTS

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 medium red onion, diced
• 1/2 pound cold leftover cooked potatoes, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
• 4-6 ounces Spanish Chorizo, chopped
• Kosher salt
• Eggs poached, fried, scrambled – again, up to you

DIRECTIONS

1. Add butter to a medium sized pan and cook onion until just softened, about 3 minutes
2. Add potatoes and cook another 5 minutes until just getting crispy
3. Add Chorizo, season with salt & cook stirring often for maybe another 5 - 7 minutes, until crispy all around
4. Serve with eggs

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Simple Lemon Pasta

If you can't make this, no one can.

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 pound pasta, you can choose
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 lemon, zest and juice
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1/3 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese, plus a little more for garnish
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

DIRECTIONS

1. Cook noodles according to package directions
2. About 1/4 way though, heat olive oil a large pan on medium heat and add garlic
3. Just as it get super fragrant, about 30 seconds, and zest and juice of lemon and red pepper flakes
4. Stir well to combine and let simmer about a minute
5. Drain pasta and add to sauce along with cheese and parsley - mix well to combine
6. Plate and top with a little more cheese and parsley

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SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN

With almost no ingredients. I'm always here for you. This is awesome, I say, it beats takeout any day!

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon. cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon canola oil
• 1.5 pounds chicken, breasts or thighs sliced into thin strips
• 2 green onions, white & light green parts only, diced fine
• sesame seeds for garnish

DIRECTIONS

1. Combine first 5 ingredients, mix well and set aside
2. Heat wok or pan well, then add oil and then chicken
3. Stir fry until just done, then add about 1/3 the sauce
4. Mix to combine and let bubble away about a minute so it thickens
5. Serve on rice or noodles garnished with green onions and sesame seeds

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Butter Sauteéd Carrots

Can anything better then these simply cooked carrots?

Makes a pound

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound baby multi-colored carrots, halved lengthwise

• 3 tablespoons butter

• Kosher salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

• 1 tablespoon chives, finely diced

DIRECTIONS

1. Slice carrots lengthwise, trim green at the top, but leaving about ½ of the green at the top

2. Heat a large skillet on medium-high heat, add 2 tablespoons of the butter and the carrots

3. Begin to cook, slowly and season to taste with salt & pepper

4. Turn over every so often to get color on all sides

5. Cook until crisp/tender – and when they’re almost done, add remaining butter and chives - stir well

6. Plate and serve

Kewpie shrimp

INGREDIENTS

• 30 raw shelled Shrimp (size: 21/25)
• 2-3 tablespoons Kewpie mayonnaise (Japanese mayo) 
• Nanami Togarashi (Japanese Mixed pepper seasoning) *
• 1-2 tablespoons EVOO
• Kosher salt
• Fresh black pepper
• wooden skewers, soaked in water

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat grill
2. Pinch tails off, skewer each shrimp so it is straight, see photo  
3. Drizzle EVOO, sprinkle with big pinch Kosher salt
4. Grill 2 minutes maximum, each side, remove from grill
5. Brush on Kewpie mayo to one side, sprinkle with Togarashi 
6. Place back on flaming hot grill for 15 seconds, until a little blacked, or if you have one use a gas torch, that's what I use.
7. eat

* If you don't have this seasoning, you can sub, with a mix of fresh Kosher salt, Paprika and  fresh black pepper.

RECIPE FEATURED ON "NEW OUTDOOR KITCHEN DAY" EPISODE OF SAM THE COOKING GUY SHOW

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Crispy rice pancake & eggs

Sometimes you gotta go with what you've got - and when it turns out, it's wonderful. I made it for breakfast, if you love Loco Moco this is a close cousin.

INGREDIENTS

• egg
• 1 cup cooked white rice, chilled
• 10 crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 1/2 small red onion, diced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce  
• Pinch kosher salt
• Few grinds black pepper
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch

DIRECTIONS

1. In small pot on medium heat, add chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce and season
2. mix cornstarch with few tablespoon of cold water to make paste, then add to broth, cook 5 minutes
3. preheat hot skillet, add oil, mushrooms and onion, cook 2 minutes
4. add rice to skillet, mix, then flatten forming a pancake, cook 1-2 minutes each side
5. cook egg over easy
6. layer pancake, egg, season add gravy

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MAPLE CARROTS

1 pound small-ish, multi color carrots (with green leafy tops if possible) scrubbed

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoon maple syrup

1/3 cup water

Pinch Kosher salt

Freshly ground black pepper

Parsley for garnish

• Cut carrots lengthwise

• Melt butter & oil in a large deep skillet, and cook carrots on high 3-4 minutes until sizzling

• Add water and maple syrup, stir well and cook until still crisp tender

• Serve, garnished with parsley

LEFTOVER PHILLY CHEESESTEAK SLIDER

Next time you are cooking steak, cook and extra one or keep any leftovers and make this the next day. Love this. Love this! It only takes 10-15 minutes

Makes 2 sliders

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 green peppers, sliced
• 1/2 yellow onion, sliced semi circles
• 3 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 lb pre-cooked chilled steak, sliced very thinly (I used ribeye... use whatever you have)
• 4 Crimini mushrooms, sliced
• 2 teaspoons soy sauce
• 4 Provolone cheese slices 
• 2 crusty rolls, oiled or buttered

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat large skillet medium/high heat, add teaspoon oil, green peppers and onions, cook 5 minutes until softened
2. In separate skillet, add teaspoon oil, cook mushrooms 2 minutes
3. Add in cooked onions, peppers and soy, cook 1 minute
4. Grill your roll until golden
5. In separate skillet on high heat, add teaspoon oil, reheat steak 1 minute
6. Layer cheese slices on top of steak, cook 30 seconds
7. Build: roll, veggies, steak/cheese, veggies and eat!

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PUMPKIN MAC AND CHEESE

This nice and easy switch up from the norm, will have the whole family coming back for more. With the added bonus, of the nutritional benefits, pumpkin is rich in Vit A & K and packed with fibre.

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound pasta - elbow, curly, penne – it’s up to you
• 1/2 medium yellow onion, diced
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 7 tablespoons butter, divided (means you"ll just use it at different times)
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
• 1 cup white cheddar, shredded
• 1 ½ cups canned pumpkin puree - be sure it's not pumpkin pie filling
• 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon cayenne
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup panko bread crumbs

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling, salted water - about 1 minute less than directions
3. While the pasta cooks, melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium sized pot, add onions and garlic and cook over medium heat until softened - about 5 minutes
4. Add 4 more tablespoons of the butter and when it melts sprinkle flour over the top then whisk in to make a thick & relatively lump-free paste
5. Stir in the milk until smooth and slightly thickened – then add in the Dijon, both cheeses, pumpkin, cayenne & salt & pepper
6. Stir well until you have a rich, thick & beautiful sauce - then add drained pasta and combine well - place into an oven proof dish
7. Melt the remaining butter in a non-stick pan, add breadcrumbs and mix well to coat - add to the top of the macaroni
8. Put in the oven and bake 30 minutes or until golden brown & serve

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