Summer

No Bake Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Parfaits {Low Carb}

March 28, 2017

No Bake Blueberry Lemon Cheesecake Parfaits, my new go-to quick and easy summer treat! Perfect for a last minute dessert when there is no time for baking. They look elegant enough to serve to guests, but they are ridiculously easy.

No bake desserts are a lifesaver in warm weather months, which is most of the year where I live. Additionally, warm weather means bathing suit season. We are watching what we eat, but I’m not about to deprive myself of a sweet treat. These no bake blueberry lemon cheesecake parfaits are low carb, lower in sugar and at only 2 ounces, they won’t sabotage your diet. It’s a WIN WIN!

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Stove-Top Island Spice Popcorn with Coconut Oil and Turmeric

March 21, 2017

Popcorn. It’s a movie theater staple and it is practically mandatory snacking for movie nights at home. Heck, it’s even dinner sometimes. While I’m not knocking butter and salt, I like to dress mine up a bit more. I open the spice cabinet and put together concoctions that would make Harry Potter’s head spin. Popcorn doesn’t have to be Plain Jane, it can be “Revved Up Rita” and this popcorn definitely turns it up a notch.

We are old school in this house. Popcorn is made on the stove. We get out the big pot, pour the kernels in with a little oil and “shake, shake, shake” while we peer through the glass lid waiting for the magic to happen. Freshly popped corn tastes so much better than the microwave kind. It’s really not a hassle and it takes about 5 minutes longer than the bag. You can use this seasoning on any popcorn, whatever your preferred popping method.

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Loquat Cardamom Jam

March 14, 2017

Loquat jam is sweet and tart, slightly floral and absolutely delicious. Loquats are more commonly referred to as “Japanese plum” and they are high in pectin, which makes them ideal for jams.

Three months after I moved to Florida, I went to visit my aunt and uncle who live here part of the year. My Aunt Ramona made loquat jam and asked if I would like to try it. Of course I replied with a resounding “YES”, as I am never one to refuse food.

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One Pot Chicken Pasta with Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

February 5, 2017

One pot meals are a lifesaver. Whether it is a special occasion or a busy weeknight, getting dinner on the table quickly, with a minimum of dirty dishes is always a win in my book. This one pot chicken and spinach pasta with creamy sun-dried tomato sauce is a crowd pleaser every single time.

I’m going to come right out and say it: I’m not a big Valentine’s Day person. There. Judge me if you must. I do however, enjoy making a nice meal for the one I love. We always stay in for Valentine’s Day and I’ve done the big, fancy dinners that take hours to prepare and minutes to devour. While that’s lovely and all, I spend half the night in the kitchen. This one pot meal is super delicious and did I mention… ONE PAN to wash? Furthermore, I have better things to do on Valentine’s Day, like eat the entire box of candy.

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Crash & Burn Potatoes

January 10, 2017

This post is sponsored by Idaho® Potatoes. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a new way to serve potatoes, this is it! I made these a few days ago with the intention of saving them for dinner that night. I have news for you, they didn’t survive the afternoon. We ate a few and then we ate more. We even ate them cold because they were delicious. Normally, the phrase “crash & burn” has a negative connotation to it, but not in this case. These little spuds are smashed (flattened) and roasted until super crispy then bathed in a spicy cinnamon malt vinegar sauce. Hence, the name Crash & Burn Potatoes.

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Restaurant-Style Bloody Mary

December 27, 2016

The Bloody Mary. It is THE quintessential brunch beverage, yet I only have them at a restaurant. Brunch and Bloody Mary’s go hand in hand. We are going to make a restaurant-style bloody mary at home. I made a killer batch of bloody mary’s last weekend and they were hands-down one of the best I’ve ever had.

First things first, we are making it from scratch. The difference is remarkable when you don’t use a store-bought mix. The drink tastes MUCH fresher and brighter, which if I’m being perfectly honest, can be dangerous. I’m usually a two drink max kind of girl and I had two drinks in no time flat. Consider yourself warned, because they go down Very Easily.

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Picadillo (Cuban-Style Hash)

November 12, 2016

Picadillo is Spanish for “hash” (or “mince”). Essentially, this is a Cuban version of the good old American mélange, eaten on its own or used as a filling for empanadas. Spanish influences, specifically Andalusian, are obvious due to the addition of olives and raisins. Picadillo is often served topped with hard-cooked or fried eggs and is usually accompanied by fried plantains.

Where are my fellow chile heads?!
Although I love peppers, I’m not one of those crazy people that shoves whole habaneros in her mouth… funny story about that, actually.
The year was 1993 and I was living in Guadalajara, México. I was a student at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara and a group of us were out strolling the Mercado Libertad, which is a huge multi-level market. It houses everything from food to shoes to flowers. Here we are, a bunch of 20 year old kids walking around with eyes popping out of our heads. This was the first time most of us had been on our own in a foreign country. We happened upon this vendor of chiles. You know where this is going, don’t you?! A girl in our group stated that she could handle really spicy food and was going to buy a few peppers. We tried (in vain) to warn her that these were seriously hot and she shouldn’t pop the entire thing into her mouth. Let’s just that the afternoon took a turn… to the Emergency Room! I guess I shouldn’t have said a “funny” story, just “a story”.

I’m not one to eat a whole habanero, but I do enjoy a little heat. The kind that makes your lips and tongue tingle, not the kind that feels like someone lit a match on them. I seem to have a higher tolerance for heat than some, which means that I may not be the best person to ask if something is spicy. We burn through jars and jars of chile paste like it’s going out of style (I assure you, it is NOT). Most of the spicy food we eat happens to be Asian. Bowls of noodles in fiery broth are my happy place. Food from Latin America is a close second and for good reason: I’m married to a Texan, I used to live in Mexico and we currently live in Florida. I chose this particular recipe to share because I love picadillo. I know, I’m totally selfish. I make big batches of this delicious filling to make empanadas. The saltiness of the olives with the sweetness of the raisins is really good.

My very favorite thing about this book is its inclusion of food from around the globe. I love exploring cultures through food and this book is a peek into how chile peppers really are a global ingredient. It’s fun to try new recipes and flavors, especially when the recipes are so varied and enticing!

Below is a short list of some of the 250 recipes you’ll find in this book. I have my eye on the Spinach and Tomato Dal next… What would be your first choice?
– Middle Eastern Walnut Dip (Middle East)
– Castilian Garlic Soup (Spain)
– Chinese Hot and Sour Mushroom Soup (China)
– Paella (Spain)- Tagine of Chicken with Apricots (N. Africa)
– Cuban style hash (Cuba)
– Original San Antonio Chili (US)
– Indonesian-Style Fried Rice (SE Asia)
– Cape Verde Sausage Stew (Africa)
– Spinach and Tomato Dal (Indian)
– Calabrese-Style Fried Potatoes with Peppers (Italian)
– Thai-Style Grilled Chile Salsa (Thai/SE Asia)
– Kimchi (Korea)
– Mexican-Style Tomato Juice – (Mexico)
– Chile-Spiked Chocolate Pots – (French)

Picadillo (Cuban-Style Hash)

2016-11-09 11:50:18

Serves 4

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Ingredients

1 onion, chopped
1 each - red and green bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1⁄2 habanero pepper, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1⁄4 lbs lean ground beef
1 tsp. dried Mexican oregano
1⁄2 tsp ground cumin
1 piece (2 inches/5 cm long) cinnamon stick
1⁄4 cup dry sherry
1 can (28 oz/796 mL) tomatoes, with juice
1⁄2 cup dark raisins
12 large pimento-stuffed green olives, sliced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

For Garnish

2 hard-cooked eggs, chopped
Finely chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

In skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, red and green bell peppers, habanero pepper and garlic and stir well. Cover, reduce heat to low and cook until vegetables are very soft, about 10 minutes.
Increase heat to medium-high. Add beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5 minutes.
Add oregano, cumin and cinnamon stick and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add sherry and cook, stirring, until almost all of the liquid is evaporated, about 2 minutes.
Add tomatoes and juice, and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until mixture comes to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until slightly thickened, about 20 minutes. Stir in raisins, olives, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook until olives are heated through, about 1 minute.
Transfer to a large deep serving platter. Sprinkle chopped eggs over top. Garnish with parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

Gluten-Free Friendly!

Tips

You can substitute Cubanelle peppers for the red and green bell peppers if you like.
I have used a habanero here because these peppers are common throughout the Caribbean, and I like the slightly fruity flavor they impart to this dish. However, it may be more common to find picadillo made with jalapeño peppers, even though purists suggest that jalapeños are not used in Cuban cooking. Both chiles do a fine job of bringing heat to this dish, so use whatever is easiest or suits your taste. If you’re using jalapeños, you’ll need 1 to 2.
Instead of garnishing the entire dish with chopped eggs, transfer individual servings to warm soup plates or deep bowls and top each with a fried egg. Garnish liberally with parsley.

By Judith Finlayson

Adapted from The Chile Pepper Bible

Pook's Pantry https://www.pookspantry.com/

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You can find Judith on Pinterest, Facebook & Instagram!

This recipe has been reprinted courtesy of The Chile Pepper Bible: From Sweet & Mild to Fiery & Everything in Between by Judith Finlayson © 2016 www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with publisher permission. Available where books are sold. I received one copy compliments of the publisher. No other compensation was received. Links to the book are affiliate links.

If you’d like a chance to win a copy The Chile Pepper Bible of your own, make sure to enter the giveaway below! Thanks to the publishers Robert Rose for providing a copy for the giveaway. It is open to US and Canadian residents!

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Baked Eggs in Mini Bell Pepper Cups

October 25, 2016

Eggs baked in mini bell pepper cups are the perfect brunch item. Make a few variations and your guests can help themselves, leaving you to enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.

I had bell peppers on my list. Not these sweet little things, but the grown up kind. When I laid eyes on these, somehow the big guys lost their appeal. I’m a sucker for cute little things.

As soon as I got them home, I started thinking about what I could do with them. The obvious was mini stuffed peppers or filling them with dip and sticking a few veggies in them. Then I went a completely different direction… I love the idea of these for a brunch. With the holidays right around the corner, these would be a perfect bite for Christmas morning or the day after Thanksgiving when any major cooking is off the table. The evening before, slice the lids from your peppers and wrap them up for the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, crack an egg into each pepper and slide into the oven. How’s that for easy and minimal cleanup?!

These are also perfectly portable, just toss a couple in a container and off to work or school you go! I’d much rather eat this than a dry granola bar. Looking for a light meatless supper? It’s got you covered there too! They are also a good size for little hands, no silverware necessary.

Back to brunch: I love the idea of a platter filled with a dozen of these, with different spices or seasonings, on a bountiful table for everyone to help themselves. (READ: I’m not waiting on you!)

Small servings work especially well for someone like me who is perfectly content to make a meal of several appetizers. I like to taste a few different things instead of having one entree! This allows me to have one baked egg and also a few other treats, which is really my goal in life… to try everything I can get my hands on.
Be creative! Try different combinations, different herbs, etc. Scallions, tarragon, chives and dill are great herbs for eggs. Curry powder, hot sauce, HP sauce (from UK) and of course hollandaise, if you’re feeling fancy, are delicious on eggs. Another option is putting a little cheese or bacon in the bottom of the cup, or whisking it all together and making an omelet baked in the pepper cup. Whatever your favorite egg combination, make it delicious!

Baked Eggs in Mini Bell Pepper Cups

2016-10-24 14:34:33

Yields 4

Individual Baked Eggs in Mini Bell Pepper Cups

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Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

18 min

Total Time

23 min

Prep Time

5 min

Cook Time

18 min

Total Time

23 min

Ingredients

4 Mini Bell Peppers
4 Medium Eggs
seasonings of your choice

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Slice top off pepper and set aside. Remove seeds and membrane from pepper. Crack 1 medium egg each into mini bell pepper.
Set on a baking sheet or in a glass baking dish and bake for 16 - 18 minutes, until whites are set, but yolks are still a bit runny.
Season with salt and pepper, curry powder, herbs, hot sauce, etc. Whatever tickles your fancy!

Notes

Small or medium eggs work best in mini bell pepper cups. Large eggs will overflow!

By Cheryl Bennett

Pook's Pantry https://www.pookspantry.com/

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Food Friends

September 20, 2016

Greetings, All! I am away in Idaho this week with my friends from Idaho Potato! In lieu of posting a new recipe, I wanted to share some awesome recipes from my super talented friends.

I do hope you will check out their recipes, as I happen to think they are pretty great! Besides being amazing in the kitchen, they are good humans and I am lucky to know them. I can’t wait to tell you all about Idaho and the fun things happening there right now! I’m updating and sharing pics on social media every day, so if you want to see what we’re up to, check out my Facebook page, Instagram account or Twitter feed for the latest shenanigans.

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Citrus Sunshine Cooler

September 13, 2016

I love tea. Warm temperatures call for pitchers of iced tea or sun tea sitting on the porch letting Mother Nature do the work for you. Cooler weather brings spicy teas infused with cinnamon and cardamom or my favorite English Breakfast. Recently, I wrote a post for a new grocery store in town and I discovered they have a bulk tea section. I zeroed in on this particular tea, full of dried citrus and hibiscus. I brought it home and opened the bag. The smell of that tea was absolutely intoxicating. I knew it would be lovely as is, but that’s not really my style. So I started poking around in the fridge and freezer to see what I had stashed away.

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