Cincinnati Chili - Chili With A Twist

Cincinnati Chili is an east coast dish that is easy on the budget an a quick meal for the family. Following the Chili recipe from the cooking blog, you add pasta and dices tomatoes to the recipe. That's it! Add your favorite cheese and you have a quick and delicious meal. This is also a great way to avoid throwing out your leftover chili and saving some money.

Ingredients

Chili
Pasta - Try them all. I personally like Spaghetti
Diced tomatoes (Fire Roasted In Garlic)
Green or Sweet Onions (Optional)

Directions.

Prepare the pasta. Drain and keep in the pan. Add the chili and diced tomatoes and reheat for a few minutes until the tomatoes and chili are the same temperature as the pasta. Remove from the stove and serve.

Note: I have sprinkled green onions or a sweet onion on top for flavor. As with any recipe, experiment to your liking.

Chili Is So Good On a Winter Day

We love chili. Easy to make in a slow cooker. So many variations so that each time you make chili, you can change the recipe. We will provide a base along with variations to sample for future batches of chili.

Ingredients

1 pd of Ground Beef, Turkey, or Veggie Crumbles.
1 can of chili beans                  
2 cans of Crushed Tomatoes
2 -4 cans diced tomatoes (Fire Roasted are best)      
1 Red Onion finely chopped
1 Can of Garbanzo Beans Drained
1 Can of Black Beans
1 Can of Corn
1 Chili powder packet or make your own. Chili Powder, Paprika, Garlic Powder to flavor
1-2 Tsp of Slap Your Mamma Seasoning
Cracked Pepper

In a sauté pan, brown the meat or crumbles with the chili powder mix.
Once brown, add the onions to the pan and continue to saute.

In the crock, add all of the other ingredients together with the meat and onions. You can slow cook for 6 hours on low or 2-3 hours on hi. Add the additional seasonings to flavor as you check the slow cooker. To add some heat( as in flavor) you can spice it up with habanero or Louisiana hot sauce to flavor.

Chili recipes can be altered or varied using different meats or adding ingredients with a southern flavor. Okra is a great ingredient to add to chili. You can also add green peppers or sweet multi-colored peppers. Experiment each time you make chili It is such a quick and easy meal to enjoy on a cold day.

Egg Nog Cheesecake For The Holidays

Eggnog Cheesecake is easy to make and oh so good. Even if you have minimal baking experience, you will find this recipe easy to make.

Ingredients

Graham Cracker Pie Crust from the store

or

Make Your Own Pie Crust

1 1/2 cups of finely crushed graham crackers
1/3 cup of sugar
6 tablespoons melted butter

Mix all of the ingredients together and firmly place in a 8-9 inch pie pan. You can chill for an hour or bake for 7 minutes in the oven at 350 degrees. I have found it easier to bake it in 7 mins because the kids are not patient enough to wait an hour.


Cheesecake Filling

3 packages of Cream Cheese
3/4 cup of eggnog
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoons of floor
Pinch of nutmeg
Rum (Optional)
Pure Vanilla (Optional)

Allow the cream cheese to sit at room temperature to soften. In a bowl, add the cream cheese and all of the ingredients. Allow to set for a few minutes and using a blender on a low speed, mix all of the ingredients. You should have a smooth texture within a few minutes. (You will have minimal clumping. You cannot smooth out the mixture to a perfect texture) You can add vanilla or rum. Your decision. I like the pure vanilla. Sum purists prefer the rum.

Baking instructions

Preheat the oven to 425

Cook the pie for 10 minutes.
Reduce the temperature to 250 degrees
Bake the pie an additional 45 minutes.
The pie should be firm and you will have minimal light browning on the top.
Take the pie out and let it cool.

 
 

1. In a medium bowl combine graham cracker crumbs, 2 tablespoons sugar and butter. Press into the bottom of a 9 inch spring form pan.
2. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes. Place on a wire rack to cool.
3. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
4. In a food processor combine cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, flour and eggnog; process until smooth. Blend in eggs, rum and nutmeg. Pour mixture into cooled crust.
5. Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes.
6. Reduce heat to 250 and bake for 45 minutes, or until center of cake is barely firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and immediately loosen cake from rim. Let cake cool completely before removing the rim.

Thanksgiving Day Pizza

Most people shrug at the thought of it. So did I at first. Who in the world would eat Thanksgiving Day pizza? Well, try it and I guarantee you will have the same reaction we did. So good. And, it is simple.

Ingredients

Dough (Twice Risen in the Pan)
Turkey
Stuffing
Gravy (Homemade or Jar)
Cracked Pepper
Cracked Sea Salt
Cranberries (Not the gelatin)

First you rise the dough in a pizza baking pan twice. Twice risen dough provides a hardy crust in my opinion. Next, spread the gravy. If you lack real gravy, you can use jarred. Add health portions of the turkey and stuffing. (Do not be afraid to cover the pizza)

Turn the oven on 375. Put the pizza in the oven and cook for about 15mins. Start looking for the crust to brown. When ready, remove from the oven. Add some cracked pepper and sea salt. The last ingredient is the cranberries and you have a quick and delicious use for your leftovers. (Cranberries are an add on if you like them)

You can experiment with this recipe and add other Thanksgiving Day ingredients. Potatoes, yams, etc.

Shrimp and Angel Hair - Oooof fa Delicious

Here is a simple recipe for kids and their dads to make for dinner.

Ingredients:

 

Angel Hair Pasta 1/2 lb.

1lb of Medium Shrimp - Peeled and Veined

2 cloves fresh garlic (Minced)

1 tsp Crushed Sea Salt

1 tsp Crushed Pepper

1 cup White wine or Chicken Broth                                                                 

Utica Crushed Pepper Flakes (Finely Crushed Red Pepper)

1 tsp of Lemon Peel

1/4 Parsley

1/3 cup Asiago Cheese (Parmesan is a good also)

 

Cook the angel hair pasta as directed. Using extra virgin olive oil, cook the shrimp over a medium heat. Add the seasonings and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes. After the shrimp is sautéed, add the broth or wine, then the lemon peel and juice. Cook for another 2-3 minutes. Add another tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil towards the end. Take off the stove and mix with the angel hair pasta. Add the cheese as you would like. (Adding the cheese after all the ingredients are mixed allows for the pasta to cool down a bit and avoid clumping of the cheese) There you have it, an easy meal in 20 minutes that is simply delicious.  

 

 

 

 

50 All-Time Dinner Favorites

 

Eggnog - Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic

It is that time of year again! Eggnog is starting to show up in the dairy case. My kids love eggnog. Last year, we decided to make our own eggnog. There is a huge difference between commercial eggnog and homemade eggnog. Easy to make. You will love the difference.

Non Alcoholic Eggnog

Ingredients
6 Farm Fresh eggs (Yolks separated from the whites)
1 cup sugar
Tsp Vanilla
1 quart Milk
1/3 pint of heavy cream.
Nutmeg


In a bowl, beat six egg yolks and slowly add the sugar til it dissolves.  Next, add the vanilla and milk. In a separate bowl, beat the egg whites with a tsp of sugar until thickened. Next, beat the heavy cream until thickened almost to the consistency of whipped cream. (Do not make it a full whipped cream.) You will want the cream to be thick enough to fold into the mixture. After you mix the whipping cream, chill for about an hour. I like fresh nutmeg to a glass of eggnog, however some people add the nutmeg to the bowl of eggnog. Experiment and see which you like better.

Some variations: If you are worried about salmonella, you can cook the mixture until 160 and chill in the refrigerator for an hour and serve chilled.

Farm Fresh eggs reduce the risk of salmonella versus commercial eggs.

Alcohol - 3-5 ounces of bourbon can be added to prior to chilling to enhance the flavoring and provide an adult beverage for the holidays.

The Cast Iron Skillet - Cooking At It's Best - And How To Season A Pan

Okay, so this is not a recipe. However, consider this a serious recommendation for improving your cooking. Cast iron skillets are the oldest of cookware used in our country. Some date back a hundred years or more. You can commonly find them at an auction or at most department stores.  A cast iron skillet is just that, cast iron. Heavy and durable. They will be a great addition to your kitchen.

So why cast iron? Cast iron skillets have an effect on food known as seasoning. In fact, you have to season a cast iron skillet right after purchase. (VIDEO) Seasoning means you coat the pan with oil. In fact, before you use the the pan for the first time, you will bake the pan at a temperature of 350 degrees in the oven with a thin coat of oil. After that, you clean the pan in warm soap and water (some just use water) and season the pan with a light coat of oil after drying.

The primary reason for seasoning is to prevent rust. It also serves as a coating to prevent sticking to the pan. The unique part of the using cast iron is in my opinion is that your cooking over time  becomes a part of the pans character. I know this might sound crazy, but the pan absorbs the cooking to provide a unique flavor versus conventional cookware.

Another reason to use cast iron is the fact it is non-toxic. Much of the cookware we purchase today is tested for toxicity for a reason. Chips and deep scratches slowly over time will release the chemical make up of the pan into your food. Especially non-stick cookware. Cast iron is a safer alternative for cooking. For this reason, I highly recommend you give cast iron a try. You will notice the difference.

Giambotta (Ciambotta) for breakfast!

Giambotta is traditionally made with vegetables and eggplant. I love Giambotta and often experiment with the recipe based on cleaning out the refrigerator. This is the great part of cooking with your kids. Recipes are meant to be experimented with so that everyone has fun.

Here is an easy breakfast Ciambotta I made recently I am sure you will enjoy

Olive oil
Garlic

1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

Breakfast sausage (Or sweet or hot as a substitute)

1

red onion, diced

8-12 Mini Sweet peppers, sliced

I small long hot or cherry pepper

3- 4medium potatoes, diced in small cubes

Eggs with 3 tbsps. of heavy cream ready for scrambling

Fresh Asiago or Romano

(Greens Optional)

In a cast iron skillet, heat a small amount of olive oil Cook the sausage as diced or crumbled . Be sure to brown the sausage. Remove the sausage. Eliminate some of the grease but save some oil. Add some garlic and all of the vegetables. Season with cracked pepper and sea salt. (I do like Louisiana Seasoning as well) Add all the remaining vegetables, season with salt and pepper. Cook over a medium heat for 20 minutes and then allow to simmer. Return the sausage to the pan.. Stir well and cover the pan. After five minutes, take off the cover, and the eggs and heavy cream

 

Greens option - Whether leftover Greens Giardino or greens cooked separately with olive oil and garlic. Greens also make a nice edition to a breakfast Ciambatto. 

 

Add the cheese at the end of any Ciambatto.

 

 

Cooking It Up With Dad Will Soon Be A Youtube Series

My sons and I are excited to let our friends and family know that out blog will soon be a youtube channel. We are going to expand the topics to encourage other fathers to get involved in their child's life. We have an open script and will explore ideas outside of cooking. Details are developing and we will keep people posted as we progress. Stay tuned!

Slap Ya Mama Pumpkin Seeds

We love carving pumpkins in the fall. And part of that tradition is to make pumpkin seeds after we carve them. Pumpkin Seeds, believe it or not have many recipes. Traditionally, most people roast them and add salt. However, the sky is the limit. You flavor pumpkin seeds any way you want.

Some people go from the pumpkin to the roasting pan. I like to clean them and boil them for about 5 minutes. It helps with the roasting if you boil them first.

Once you clean them, spread a thin layer on a cooking sheet. Line the sheet with aluminum foil for ease of cooking and removing the seeds. Lightly salt them and add the Slap Yo Mama season mix. (Any Louisiana Seasoning Mix will work) I actually like to put enough seasoning mix so that they are spread over the seeds evenly.

You want to roast the seeds at 250 - 300 degrees for about a half an hour. You can flip them and redo the seasoning mix or just continue to bake them until they are crunchy. Total cooking time is 45mins to an hr.

Let them cool and you have yourself a yummy fall treat.

The Long Hot Pepper - Oh So Good.......

The Italian Long Hot Pepper is a northeast garden tradition. It is a member of the cayenne pepper family. Not generally part of cooking around the nation. The pepper is very common in Upstate New York. Now you might wonder why this is part of a cooking blog that involves children. Well, cooking passes along traditions. My father loved long hot peppers growing up. They would have a distinctive smell when we cooked them. They are a familiar part of my heritage and I am passing it along to my children. So, I am go to provide a basic recipe and some potential uses.

Ingredients

1-2 quarts of Long Hot Peppers
I Red Onion.
3-4 cloves of garlic
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cracked Pepper
Course Salt

Cut the top stems off the long hot peppers. That's it. Cut the red onion up into thin slices. (Or diced)
In a cast iron skillet, coat the pan with Extra Virgin Olive Oil. Heat the oil to a low/med to medium heat. Add the peppers and onions. On top of the peppers, add thinly sliced garlic, cracked pepper, and course ground salt. Cover the pan if you would like. (I cook them with the lid or or off)

The long hot pepper has a thick skin. You will cook the pepper for 5-7 min increments before you turn over the mixture in your pan. You can go a little longer if you like a blackened texture to the pepper. I tend to like them browned up and then I turn them. The pepper will slowly go from firm to flaccid. It takes a while but you will notice a texture change. At the end, I top the peppers with another layer of cracked pepper and coarse salt.

The long hot has many uses: Here are some ideas:

Greens (As in the recent Greens Giardino)
Italian Sausage Sandwich (Or as we say....sangwich)
Hot and Hamburgers are amazing with long hots on top.
Have a pizza? Add long hots or do what I do, make a pizza with long hots
Potatoes and Hash Browns
Chicken or Sausage Riggies
Egg Sandwich
Scrambled Eggs

One last tip....garden long hots can be very hot. Red ones can be as hot as some of the hottest peppers you have cooked with. You will learn over time how to determine the hotness of the pepper. Also, I will add a mild pepper such as Hungarian peppers to tone down the hotness.

The Italian Long Hot - Make it a part of your tradition.

Greens Giardino Sausage Bread (Part III) Last of the series

Just can't get enough of Greens Giardino? Well here is an additional recipe that is sure to please.

Ingredients

Dough (Freshly made or from the bakery)
Greens Giardino
Hot or Sweet Sausage
Olive Oil
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp oregano
Grated cheese

Directions.

In a skillet, prepare some sausage using just olive oil as a base. Either use the sausage as crumbles of slices. Prepare until cooked and set aside.

Allow the dough to rise. (Twice is preferable)
Spread some flour on a flat surface and begin to need the dough.
Using a rolling pin, create a flat surface as if you making a pizza.

Place the stretched dough on a pizza sheet.

In the center of the vertical row, add the Greens Giardino.
Next, add the sausage.
Bring one side over he greens and sausage and then overlap the other side.
Be sure to over lap the ends to ensure a proper seal.

Massage the bread with Olive prior to placing in the oven.
Preheat the oven to 350

In a small dish, mix the salt pepper and oregano together

When you are ready to put the sausage bread in the oven, sprinkle you toppings on the top of the loaf about 10 mins prior to taking the bread out of the oven. Be sure you the sausage bread is evenly cooked with a light brown baked bread texture throughout.

Let cool and slice to your liking.

The Greens Giardino Sandwich (Part II)

So, you made the Greens Giardino. You have some left over and wonder what to do with them. The best is yet to come. Time for the Greens Giardino Sandwich.

Simple Version

Ingredients

Left over Greens Giardino
Hoagie Rolls (Hard Crust From the Bakery)
Grated Cheese

Directions: Cut the roll in half. Lay the bread flat on a bakers sheet. Add the Greens Giardino with a layer of grated cheese. Preheat the oven on Broil. Keep the rack 1/3 of the way from the top. (Allow some room) Set the timer for 2 minutes. Broil the top of your sandwich. Let cool for five minutes and add a fresh layer of cheese.

Additional Recipe:

Sweet or Hot Sausage Links
Hoagie Rolls
Grated Cheese

Cook the sausage in a skillet. (Cut the sausage in half)
Place the sausage on a roll.
Top with Greens Giardino and Some Cheese
Manga Manga!!! 

Greens Giardino

In the Utica Rome area, greens are very diverse and flavorful. For those reading the blog from another region, greens are a boiled or sautéed green leafy garden green in flavorful dishes. Some have meat while others are traditionally just the greens itself. I am going to provide multiple parts to this recipe so that you can enjoy either variety.

Greens -

Ingredients:

2-3 heads of lettuce greens (romaine and escarole) chopped
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Fresh Minced Garlic
Tsp of Salt
Tsp of Crushed Peppercorns or Pepper
Red Crushed Pepper
Grated Romano
Bread Crumbs (Optional)

Many people in our area use escarole or an escarole mix. I prefer romaine lettuce or a mix of escarole or romaine. You place the chopped greens in a stocked pot. Fill the pot with water so that you can bring the greens to a boil. Boil the greens for 10 mins.

Next, using a skillet, sprinkle an olive oil base and bring to a medium heat. Add the greens and minced garlic. Season as you cook in a skillet for another 10 minutes. (You can add bread crumbs to flavor during the cooking time.)

This is the greens base. You can eat as is, and add the Grated Cheese on top.

_________________________________________________________________________

Adding Peppers - Onions - (Mushrooms Optional)

Ingredients

Cherry Peppers (Fresh)
Mini Sweet Peppers
One Red Onion
Mushrooms  (Optional)
Olive Oil
Garlic (Minced)

Dice all the ingredients. The peppers can also be larger slices based on your own preference. Sautee the ingredients and add them on top of the greens mix. Let them sit for five minutes and mix together with the greens.

__________________________________________________________________________
Adding Sausage - Prosciutto - Deli Meats

Ingredients:

Sausage
Prosciutto (Cook with the Vegetables)
Deli Meats (Cook with the Vegetables)

Sausage crumbles add a nice flavor to greens. You can buy pork sausage without a casing. However, I like to buy sausage and remove from the casings. I feel that sausage in the casings retain the seasonings better.

Sautee to cook. Add on top of the greens mixture. Add a nice grated romano, parmesan or asiago and mix everything together.

The Mac and Cheese Burrito -cheesetastic!

These delectable, cheesy, gooey burritos are great for party's and for all those mac and cheese lovers out there.

Ingredients:

• Annie's Organic Mac and Cheese (elbows work the best)
• Black Beans (optional)
• Any type of taco meat (ground turkey or chicken if you want to make it healthy) 
• Steak or Chicken (optional)
• 1/2 cup cheese
• Our homeade salsa (optional)

To make the Mac and Cheese follow the directions on the box.

Tortilla Prep - In a 8 -10 inch fry pan, add a teaspoon of oil. Warm the pan to a medium to medium high heat. Drop the tortilla in the fry pan and circulate it rapidly so that the oil spreads evenly. The tortilla will crisp up in a minute. (You will begin to see the burrito arch or have air pockets as it crisps)  

When the Mac and Cheese is done wrap in quesadilla with the other ingredients and you have a great meal. Try our salsa and you will love the flavor. 

  

Kettle Corn - Easy and Fun Snack

Kettle Corn on the stove top is a great snack. My son and I went to Brenda's in Rome and tried their Kettle Corn which is delicious. Inspired, we wanted to see if we could replicate it at home. Kettle Corn while easy, benefits from some tips we learned along the way.

Ingredients

1/4 Cup Sugar
1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil
1/2 cup popcorn


Directions/Tips:

• Heat the oil first. I learned from another recipe a trick that works for adding the sugar. Throw in a few kernels and wait for them to pop. Once they pop, add the sugar. Stir the sugar and immediately add the popcorn.
• Let me tell you after experimenting why this is important. We have put the sugar in the beginning and sometimes it caramelizes too much. You want the sugars to attach to the popcorn without burning or caramelizing.
• Here is another tip. Shake the pan regularly while popping until popping is reduce to a few kernels a few seconds apart. 
• Also, remove the popcorn from the pan to a bowl immediately. Again, it can caramelize and stick together if you leave it in the hot pan.  

Lupini Beans

Lupini beans are an amazing snack. Very nutritious and easy to season. Lupini beans are commonly sold in a brine in jars (like olives and pickles). They can be eaten by making a small tear in the skin with one's teeth and "popping" the seed directly into one's mouth, but can also be eaten with the skin on.  In countries like Portugal, they are very popular in bars as a snack while drinking beer. Some parts of Italy serve Lupini Beans as an appetizer. 

Preparation: 

Lupini Beans need to be rinsed. I use a strainer and run them under cold water for about 3-5 mins.

Garlic Cloves 1-2 Minced

Sea Salt

Cracked Pepper

2 tsps of Olive Oil

Oregano 1 tsp

Parsley Chopped - Optional

Add all the ingredients in a bowl (Tupperware works Great) 

Shake the bowl repeatedly to create a flavorful brine.

Allow the beans to set in the refrigerator for about an hr. The longer they set, the better they taste.

You will love them as a regular snack.

Brown Sugar Bacon - We Have The Meats!!!

The Arby's ad is infectious....so we decided to try making our own.
We found out why Arbys has the meats. It is delicious and easy to make on your own.

Here is what you need:

Bacon - (Nitrate Free Is Better For You)
Brown Sugar
New Orleans Seasoning or Cayenne Pepper (Optional)

In a baking pan, line up the bacon side by side. Add the Brown sugar on top. Preheat the oven to 350. Once ready, bake the bacon for roughly 15-20 minutes. The bacon and sugar will combine. You will have what looks like raw bacon or blackened bacon if you cook it too long. )The blackened bacon is actually pretty good.)

Some variations:

Baking in the oven will cause the grease and sugar to harden. Clean the pan while still warm. I also tried this recipe using a cast iron skillet. You can flip the bacon and the caramelized effect is still the same.

I like the bacon with New Orleans Seasoning. (Or cayenne pepper) The hot and sweet flavor is absolutely delicious. Try it out. It is not too hot and the kids may like it better.

 

Whipped Cream Easy And Fun To Make

Making whipped cream seems hard. But its not! Whipped cream only has these two ingredients : sugar and heavy cream. And, it costs less to make your own whipped cream. It takes 5 mins to make and tastes much better. Here is all you need to do:

Ingredients

1 pint heavy cream
3 tsps of sugar
(Vanilla to flavor - Optional)


Suggestion: Refrigerate the bowl prior to adding the ingredients

In the mixing bowl, poor the heavy cream
With a whisk or a mixer, begin to stir the heavy cream will introducing the sugar.
You will see the texture of whipped cream in 3-5 mins.
Chill for 20 minutes and enjoy.
(You can store in  a container for later use.)

Summer Salad

Summer salads are great and have a great taste too! My kids and I love a great salad.
Here is a simple recipe that brings out the flavors of the fresh summer greens.

The ingredients you will need are 

• 2 cups garden lettuce (Any Green Leafy Garden Produced Lettuce)
• 1/2 cup red cabbage sliced
• 3 diced roma tomatoes
• 5 tsps Red Wine Vinegar
• 1/2 cup chick peas (Ceci Beans)
• 3 tsps of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 2 tsps of Extra Virgin Olive Oil set aside for the Kale
• 1 cup Kale
• Oregano and basil Dry or Garden Fresh (Optional)

Mix ingredients in large bowl minus the Kale and Olive Oil
Soak the Kale in the olive oil for 10 - 30 minutes.
Olive Oil softens the texture of the Kale for a delicious flavor
Mix the vinegar and olive oil together in a larger bowl once the Kale has softened.
Ready to eat, and DELICIOUS!

Makes about 5 servings.

Pizza Fritta - Monkey Balls FanFreakinTastic..........

Fried Dough meets monkey bread. That simple. Everyone will love this treat.

Ingredients

1-2 doughs
Butter
2-3 tsps. of Cinnamon
Sugar - choice of powdered - brown - regular

In a 12 inch fry pan, coat the bottom of the pan with vegetable oil. About a 1/4 of an inch is all you need. Some people use more oil. I am confident less is better. Heat the oil on medium heat. (Do not heat the oil on med high or high.)

Create tiny 1/2 inch pieces from the dough. Do not try to round them off. Let each piece just rip off and either set aside or place directly into the heated oil. Slowly brown on each side and when finished place in a large Tupperware bowl that you set aside.

As you finish the dough, in a saucepan or the microwave, melt 1/2 a stick of butter. In a cup douse the finished dough in the Tupperware container with the butter. Add the cinnamon and sugar. Seal the container and shake in a circular motion.  Add another 1/2 stick of melted butter and sugar when finished. I like to add another layer of fried dough before I repeat the procedure. This ensures less icing on the bottom and more on the fried dough.

Let cool for 10 minutes and you have happy kids. This snack can last for a couple of days without losing any flavor.

Banana Smoothies - Quick, Easy And Good For You

My son and I made some banana smoothies this weekend. I will provide 2 types for your pleasure. One with dairy - One without. Here is what you need:

Ingredients

1 Cup OJ (2 cups if you are going non-dairy)
1 Cup Milk (Optional)
2-3 Bananas (Not overripe)
1/4 cup sugar (Optional - Not necessary)
1tsp vanilla
Tray of Ice Cubes

Place all of the ingredients in a blender minus the ice cubes. Blend for about 45secs to a minute. Open the top of the blender and add the ice cubes one cube at a time. That simple. And delicious.

*You can add Almond or Rice milk as an alternative to regular milk.

Orange Julius: Orange Delicious

Easy to make.
You kids will have fun with an old favorite.


Ingredients

Orange Juice
Ice
Vanilla Extract
Milk
Sugar
Vanilla Ice Cream (Optional)

In a blender, add 2 cups OJ, 4-6 drops vanilla extract, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 cup of milk, and if you would like 3 scoops of ice cream. Take the top off the blender as you are blending. Now here is the key, add the ice one cube at time. You probably will use 6-8 ice cube. Use enough to have a familiar consistency.  The ice cream is optional, however kids enjoy the consistency and flavor better with ice cream.

Breakfast Burritos - Quick And Easy

Breakfast burritos and quick and easy to make.

Here is what you will need:

1/2 doz eggs
1/3 cup whole milk (Or any slimmer milk is fine)
1/2 cup Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Salsa Recipe - Or canned salsa
Sausage Optional
Bacon Optional
Medium Sized Tortillas


Whip the eggs and add the milk. Next add the salsa and cheddar cheese. Scramble your eggs.
In a separate pan or microwave - warm the tortillas until soft.

In the center of the burrito you add the scrabbled eggs. Roll the burrito and it's that easy.
You can add sausage or bacon to your burrito. Try different variations. Absolutely great for breakfast on the run.

Enjoy!

Carnitas Pork - Sooooo Good!

This is just dad cooking on this recipe. My son is not a fan of Carnitas yet. He will be after we try this tonight.

 

Pork Carnitas - One of my favorites. It will be yours too.

I am making some on my son's birthday weekend.

He will surely love them in burritos and tacos.

In my opinion, one of the best meats regarding flavor.

And thanks to the crock pot, you can make it in 15mins.

 

 

Ingredients

• 1-2 lbs of pork
• 1 onion, coarsely chopped
• 1 tsp Chili powder
• 1 tsp of Cumin
• 2 tbsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 Mandarin oranges - (Throw in the rinds when juiced into the crock pot)
• 1 tsp of olive oil

 

Mix all the ingredients in a crock pot. Slow cook for 6-8 hrs. Occassionally fluff the pork for tenderness to encourage shredding and flavor throughout the day if you can. When finished, completely shred with a fork and let the juices immerse themselves.

 

Final step: Pan Frying

 

 Pan frying is the key to taste. Set your stovetop to medium high and quickly brown the meat. Do not overcook. Make a pancake - fry for a min and flip. You will see the browning to ensure it is correct. You want the pork to be crisp on the ends.

 

Some recipes call for broiling. While healthier, you lose something in my opinion. 

 

Uses: You can use carnitas pork for tacos, nachos, enchiladas, and burritos.

Cuisine: MexicanServes: 10 - 12

 

For a garnish on your tacos - mince onions cilantro and dash with a spritz of lime juice.

Also, make your own taco shells. It is just a thin coat of oil in a pan and a slight browning of a tortilla shell. Roughly 30-45 secs on each side. Delicious!!!!

 

Enjoy

Chicken/Beef/Vegetarian Nachos - You Will Love Them

This week we have shared recipes for salsa, guacamole, and homemade tortilla chips. Now we will combine all of the ingredients to make amazing nachos.

Ingredients

Tortilla Chips (Try our recipe or pick up some from the store)
Salsa (Try our recipe or grab a nice organic recipe at the store)
Cheddar Cheese (Mild and Sharp - I prefer Sharp)
Guacamole (Try our recipe)

1pd of Chicken Breasts
             or
1pd of beef
             or
12oz of Veggie Crumbles found in the freezer case
Chopped Scallions
Sour Cream (Optional)
Jalapenos (Optional)
Refried Beans (Optional)

Taco Seasoning or make your own (Chili Powder - Paprika - Garlic and Onion Powder)

Step one cooking the meat:

Beef - Brown the beef in a skillet. Add the taco seasoning on the top and stir in throughout the cooking process.

Chicken (Shredded) You can boil the chicken and shred it for the skillet or you can cook the chicken and shred it with a carving knife. Either way, you add the season mix with some corn oil. Slow cook the chicken for about 15 minutes in the skillet. Once you think the chicken is almost finished, turn the burner to med/hi and brown up the chicken.

Veggie Crumbles - The veggie crumbles will cook quickly. Add the seasoning mix immediately. It only takes about 3-5 minutes to brown and cook. You will need a about 3 tsp of corn/vegetable oil in the pan to help brown up the crumbles with the seasoning mix.

Once the meat is complete, prepare all of your other ingredients to be used for the final phase of prep.
Set the oven for 350

Using a deep pan or 10x13 cooking dish, spread the nacho chips on the bottom. Add the meat and cheese and bake for about 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted. Take out of the oven and allow to cool for 15min.

Add the salsa, guacamole, and scallions. Top with sour cream if desired. Delicioius!
If you want to add some heat, you can add jalapenos. You have some options. Canned or Bottled are common. Next you can use fresh. Slice them very thin. Finally, you can chop and dice them into the salsa.

Refried Beans are a nice option. Heat a can of refried on the stove. Add a teaspoon of corn oil and chedder cheese to make them creamy.

(Microwave Directions) If you do not want to use the oven, you can make the nachos in the microwave. Follow the same process. We prefer the oven because some the chips and cheese will brown up for a unique flavor. It is up to you and your tastebuds.

Yummy Guac!

Okay, I am 10 years old and I like guacamole. My dad makes a quick and easy recipe. I have made it and I can tell you it is Yummy! You will need:

2-3 avacados
lemons (Or lemon juice)
Cracked Sea Salt (tsp)
Cracked Pepper (tsp)
A garlic Clove

First, using a spoon remove the pit.
In a small bowl, scoop out the avocados.
With a spoon or fork, break down the avocados.

Next, squeeze 1/2 a lemon over the avocados.
My dad tells me the lemons is for flavoring and keeping the avocados fresh and green.

Add the Salt, Pepper, and Garlic. (The garlic should be minced or finely sliced and chopped)
With a spoon, mix all the ingredients. Keep the guacamole choppy, do not try to puree it.

There you have it...best chilled before eating.

Also, you can add our salsa into the guacamole.

My next blog, we take all of he recipes and make Nachos.
See you then.

Fresh Tortilla Chips Are Fun To Make

After making my salsa recipe, you will need some chips to make nachos.

My dad taught me how to make fresh chips.
Once you eat homemade chips....mmmmm you will love em.


So, you get a pan and fill it with oil (Corn or Vegetable is Fine)
Just fill the fry pan, it does not have to be too deep.

Next, using a knife and cut triangles out of the Tortillas.
I found a great picture to show you how.




You will place them in the fry pan.
When one side is rigid, quickly flip the chips over.
Follow the same routine for all the chips.

Place the chips on paper towels.
Grind fresh sea salt over the chips.

Wait a few minutes and they are ready to eat.
Great for nachos.

Fresh Homemade Salsa

Fresh Salsa is easy to make. It only takes a few minutes.


Ingredients

2-3 Tomatoes
3-4 Scallions
Fresh Cilantro
Sea Salt
Cracked Pepper

Spicing things up? Use the following:
One Serrano or Jalapeno for a kick.


Preparation

Dice the tomatoes
Slice the scallions
Separate the leaves from the stems of the Cilantro. (Use plenty of Cilantro)

In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients.
Add the Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt.
Be sure to stir in the salt as it creates a brine for the tomatoes.

Grab some chips. You are ready to go.

Great Smoothie Ideas

These Ideas ARE REALLY EASY TO MAKE


Standard Smoothie Ingredients

Ice
Milk or Soy Milk
Orange Juice


Then add you favorite fruit

Bananas
Strawberries
Blueberries
Rasberries
etc.


Then Blend in Blender.



IN TEN MINUTES YOU WILL HAVE A DELICIOUS SMOOTHIE!

Fun Ways To Make Butter.

Making butter is fun. Here is a couple of ways my dad taught me how to make butter.

The Heavy Cream Carton Method - If you shake  
This method is probably the hardest method of the two.

First, buy a pint of heavy cream
Next, shake the pint for 10 to 20 min.(or until you feel a ball of butter in the pint)
Then, put in fridge before usage.(optional)
 

Mixer Method: You can use a whisk, blender, or food processor with this recipe.

You pour the heavy cream into a bowl or processor. You will have to mix up the cream for 10 minutes or longer. The butter will begin to separate. You can add salt or keep it healthy and no salt.
My dad likes to save the buttermilk and use it on our get well pancakes. :)

Manga Manga Da Meataballs

I grew up on Meatballs.

These meatballs are an old Italian recipe that are really fun to make.

INGREDIENTS

1lb Hamburger (Or Turkey Burger)
1lb ground pork (Seasoned in the meat dept or buy Hot or Mild Saugsage)

1 cup Bread Crumbs
Pinch of Salt
Pinch of Pepper
Italian Seasonings: Basil Oregano or Parsley or All 3
Minced Garlic 9 2 Tsp. (My dad and I cut up 2 fresh cloves)
Asiago Cheese
2 eggs

Put everything in a Bowl together.
With your hands or a fork, blend all of the ingredients together. Next, roll balls of meat in your hand.. There are a couple of ways you can cook the meatballs:

Stovetop: You can fry your meatballs on the stove top
Oven Method: You can bake your meatballs in the oven for 30 mins at 350 degrees.
(My grandmother use to cook the meatballs in her sauce. This would flavor the sauce.)


I hope you can post some pictures of you're masterpieces!! Chow!!!

Get Well Pancakes

This is my first recipe: Get well pancakes :)

Since this is my first recipe I'm going to start of with some easy get well pancakes, these pancakes are perfect for hospital patients or for someone you know that had a loved one that passed.
INGREDIENTS:

One Cup Flour
1 Egg
1/3 cup Milk (Depending on consistency - small versus thick pancakes)
1tsp of Baking Powder
1/4 cup sugar
1tsp of Vanilla
Chocolate syrup/chocolate chips (both work fine)

In a mixing bowl combine ingredients listed above mix with egg beater (or electric mixer) until smooth (no bumps)


Preheat the stove to medium. (Or a griddle) Then, pour (2-3) pancakes on whatever your using to make the pancakes. When halfway done (finished side on top) dab two eyes(dots/choc. chips) one dot or choc. chip for the nose and three dots or choc. chips for the mouth. This is sure to put a smile on somebodies face!