Tostadas Meat Mix

Tostadas Mix

Taco Shops in San Diego, charge way too much, when it comes to this type of stringy meat. Cook it yourself in a big batch and your can save it for later. Very simple to do, pop water, seasonings, and meat, and Fudda get about it lol. Two hours later, you're ready for some nice mouth-watering tostada mix. Not only is this for Tostadas, but also for filling in Sopes, Burritos, etc.

3-5 pounds of meat to shred (ask butcher to point out meat)
1 large onion ( 1/2 julienne, 1/2 whole)
2 cups of juliene chiles, a combination of Bell Peppers, Red Onion
1 cup of tomato paste
1-2 basil leaves
3 tablespoons of garlic powder
1-2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
1 teaspoon of chili powder
2 tablespoons of dried oregano
11/2 cup of beef broth
1 teaspoon of cumin
1 1/2 teaspoon of salt
1 1/2 teaspoon of pepper
2 cloves of garli

Boil water and add, 1/2 onion whole, basil leaves (crushed before adding), 1 teaspoon of salt and pepper, and cloves of garlic. Cover and let boil for 90 minutes. Check the tenderness, if meat is still a little pink, place back for 15 mins and check again. It shouldn't take more than 2 hrs to complete. Reserve beef broth. In a Shallow Pot or Dutch oven, sautee onions and peppers, for 8-10 mins in oil. After, tomato paste

In a Dutch oven add rest of ingredients, your a wooden spoon to mix meat, break down with spoon let simmer, then turn off burner and cover for 5-8 mins.

Get all your tostadas, beans, lettuce, salsa, sour cream cheese and shredded cheese, You're ready to dig in.

Chicken Tikka Masala..you!

Chicken Tikka Masala

I have a love for Indian Films, I love Bollywood movies, they're just so cool. The breaking-into song and dance in the middle of a conversation, the colors and outfits, it's all wonderful.

When it comes to Indian food, I eat it and not make it, so I decided to research some recipes and find something that was simple and delicious. I made a couple of tweets to the recipe, so take a load of and watch a fabulous Bollywood movie with this dish

Supplies:

 1 1/2 lb.  boneless chicken, sliced small-medium pieces
2 tablespoons of lemon juice
1/2-2 tablespoons crushed red pepper flakes
2 Tablespoons of paprika
1 teaspoon of ground cumin
1 Tablespoon of Gran Masala curry powder
1 1/2 Tablespoons of Grandulated Garlic or Garlic Powder (not Garlic Salt)
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/3 cup of heavy cream
2 tablespoons of butter
1cup of onion
1 can of diced tomatoes, undrained.
1 tablespoon of corn starch

1. Melt butter and add chicken and onion, cook until it's not pink.  Add onions and spices, except Red Pepper flakes.

2. Add tomatoes and stir in. Then, add corn starch, stir until smooth. Add, cream and red flakes, give it a good stir.

3. Turn off burner and cover lid for 5 mins.

4. Serve dished on top of white basmati rice.

Belgium Waffles...Homemade Whipped Cream...once you go homemade you never go back....

Homemade Waffles with Scratch Whipped Cream

Hi Everyone!
I decided that my family should be able to enjoy Belgium Waffles just like the sell at IHOP or Dennys. But making it from scratch is the best flavors and after making this I won't be ordering this dish from a restaurant any time soon.

Supplies: 

For making Batter

2 cups of flour
1 3/4 cup milk
2 eggs beaten
1/2 cup of  vegetable oil
4 teaspoons of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of salt
2 teaspoons of sugar
1/2 teaspoon of vanilla

It took me forever to get a great recipe for waffles, but after making this it's similar to my pancake mix, except for subtles in the recipes.

1. Mix all dry ingredients in a bowl, then add wet ingredients.
2. Whisk for about a minute or so. Until most lumpiness is gone.
3. Ladel on waffle maker according to size of iron.


For Homemade Whipped Cream

First of all, let me start by saying, this is so easy and fast to do. I'll never go back to buying whipped cream from a bottle/can.

Supplies:
Blender
1 cup of heavy whipping cream
1/4 cup of sugar
This is so simple all you need to add ingredients to blend and hit whip ( lazy way, or you whisk by hand for 10 minutes)

4. To be served on top of hot waffles with diced fruit.
5. Enjoy!

Faux Fruit N Cream Ice Cream?! What's next...

Fresas (strawberries) with Cream, mixture before frozen

So, Here I am, having a tasting for making gelato but instead I make something else or a concoction of fruit...
Have you ever tasted those Mexican Ice Cream Bar of Fruit N Cream with milk... so good, well now you don't have to go out and buy them, in this creation doesn't require constant stirring or rock salt! Beat that! lol

 I headed to the local Farmer's Market and scoped out some ripe strawberries from the Carlsbad field and went back home to the lab...

Supply List:
 - a metal mixing bowl or glass, placed in freezer for 10 mins
1 basket of ripe strawberries, washed, ends chopped, and then diced
1 cup of heavy whipping cream
3 tablespoons of sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
slightly less than 1/4 cup of sweet condensed milk

1. Place bowl in freezer for 10 mins. 
2.  In bowl, mix cream, sugar, vanilla and whipped with a whisk for 10 mins or mixer, until cream is
"whipped" like.
3. Fold in sweet condensed milk and strawberries. Gently stir in.
4.  Freezer for at least an hour to 1 1/2hr, Covered.
5. enjoy.

Lentils & Garlic Bread

Lentil Soup

Garlic Bread

Ok so, in Sunny San Diego, CA, lately it's not so sunny. It's raining, It's pouring..the lentils are coming. lol So, I decided to make something simple yet hearty and have some bread on the side. My recipe for lentils is super simple and easy to make. I love lentils and so do my kiddies, but I'm still trying to win my husband over, little by little I guess.
Supply List:

1 package of Lentils, cleaned and drained in a strainer
1/2 cup-1 cup of Vidalia Onion ( white onion)
2 chopped carrots finely
Optional: 1/2 cup of peas, potatoes
1/2 package of bacon
2 Tablespoons of butter
1 quart of water
1 quart of chicken stock or chicken bouillon
1/2 teaspoon of each: garlic powder, pepper, and salt
stock pot

1. After cleaning lentils, drain,strain, and set aside.
2. In the stock pot, melt butter and saute veggies, until onions are transculent Add bacon (chopped in small bits) give a quick stir, once or twice.
3. Add water chicken stock.
4. Add Lentils and let boil for 1hr 20 mins, check to taste tenderness, if not all the way tender, let boil for 8-10 mins. Turn off heat and let sit for another 10 mins.
5. Enjoy.

Garlic Bread
2 cloves of finely chopped garlic or 2 tablespoons of garlic POWDER (not garlic salt)
1 Tablespoon Of Italian Seasonings
1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper
3 tablespoons of butter
pastry or basting brush
1 loaf of french bread, cut in half
1/2 cup of shredded parmasean
Optional: Pesto sauce

1. In a sauce pan, make some garlic butter. Don't let brown. Turn off heat.
2. Add all seasonings. Give a stir.
3. Sprinkle cheese on loaf and put on cookie sheet.
4. Broil for 2-3 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.  Let stand for a couple minutes then cut into pieces.

Ba-te...Ba-te..Choco-la-te! Oatmeal Cookies

 

Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake)

Good Morning! It's been a real windy day in San Diego, CA. Unusual for our area. So why not cuddle up, with a blanket, a cup of cocoa, and some oatmeal cookies. Too much work? Not at all? I recently was asked by my husband to make oatmeal cookies, but the catch was no bake. I researched for good recipe for these so-called oatmeal cookies. I made a batch adding some my own ingredients to make them taste more oven-baked. They were fabulous!

 Yesterday, my cousin came over and fasinaticed by my facebook posts of all the food I make, he asked if I could show him how to make this no-bake method. Simple, simple, and delicious. You probably have these ingredients already in your pantry. So, all you need a big saucepan.

2 cups of sugar
1 stick of butter
3 cups of quick oats


1 teaspoon of vanilla

1/2 cup of milk

3/4 cup of baking cocoa

chocolate chips or coconut flakes

1. Melt butter in saucepan, add cocoa powder and then add milk. Bring to boil for 1 minute.

2.  Take saucepan off heat and add oats and vanilla.

3. Add any other toppings you'd like. Give them a stir until fully mixed.

4. On parchment paper, spoon out 1 in separate cookies on sheet, wait to kool for 20-30 minutes.

5. Enjoy with your hot cocoa!

One spicy meatball and sauce...

Meatballs in homemade Ragu

Now that's a spicy meatball.... With that said, tonight menu is about that precise meatball. Making meatball and sauce, is super easy, because you kill 2 birds and one sauce.

Homemade Ragu, a thick and chopped sauce used in Spaghetti, Ravoli, or any other kind of pasta. For tonight, I've used Farfalle (aka bow tie pasta)

Supplies for Ragu and Sauce:

2 lbs of ground beef, reserve a quarter cup for sauce
1 bell pepper, chopped (sauce only)
1 onion, chopped finely (save 1/4 for sauce)
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped and divided
1/2 cup of bread crumbs or dry crumbled bread (must be 1 day old hard)
1 1/2 teaspooon pepper
2 Tbsp salt
11/2 crushed red pepper
1/4-1/2 cup of water
1 cup of tomatoes, chopped
1 can of whole peeled tomatoes *smashed by hands*
3 basil leaves or 1 1/2 teaspoon of dried basil
2 TBSP butter
1/2 cup of parmesean cheese shredded (divided) *save for garnish*
2 eggs

1. Start with meatball, mix all dry ingredients first then add onion, cheese, eggs, and then water,  Shape onto 1 inch balls. On baking sheet 15-20 mins on 325F. The meatball will not dry out, because they're water, that's the secret to keep moist meatballs.

2. White that's getting done, in a saucepan, add butter, wait to melt, sauteed onions and bell peppers.  Then on medium heat, add the reserve ground beef, brown.

3.  Add tomatoes, chicken stock, and spices, let shimmer for 5-8 minutes on low. When you're ready to serve, add cheese, stir, and then turn off burner. (otherwise cheese will separate)

4. Check meatballs, you can either drop them into sauce or serve sauce on top. Add garnish.

5. Enjoy!