Perfect Guacamole
Guacamole, a dip made from avocados, is originally from Mexico. The name is derived from two Aztec Nahuatl words – ahuacatl (avocado) and molli (sauce). The trick to perfect guacamole is using good, ripe avocados. Check for ripeness by gently pressing the outside of the avocado. If there is no give, the avocado is not ripe yet and will not taste good. If there is a little give, the avocado is ripe. If there is a lot of give, the avocado may be past ripe and not good. In this case, taste test first before using. Continue reading “Perfect Guacamole”
Nuts and Bolts
An oldie I think !! Probably a variation on a theme. — posted by katew
Shrimp Lo Mein
williams sonoma — posted by chef 998002
Ceviche
Still on vacation visiting friends here and here. Not much time to cook, too busy lollygagging. In the meantime, here’s another favorite from the archives, ceviche, one of the best possible things one can prepare with a fillet of fresh red snapper. ~Elise The first time I made ceviche, I was amazed. I could actually see the lemon and lime juice turning the color of the fish from translucent pink to opaque white. The acid from the limes and lemons change the structure of the proteins in the fish, essentially “cooking” the fish without using heat. I love ceviche rolled up in a freshly cooked, still warm corn tortilla with lettuce and salsa. Continue reading “Ceviche”
Nif’s Homemade Grainy Mustard (Great Gift Idea!)
I played around with a few recipes unitl I came up with my own. I am giving some of the jars away as Christmas gifts with 2 different kinds of pretzels. Enjoy! — posted by Nif
Flank Steak Stir-Fry with Asparagus and Red Pepper
Recently I got a call from my friend Elizabeth who said, “You’ve got to try my mother’s flank steak; it’s soooo good!” I begged the recipe from Maria (Elizabeth’s mother) and tried it out last night. It was terrific. Very tasty, everyone ate it right up. Best thing about it? It’s fast and easy. Maria adapted her recipe from one in a Williams Sonoma cookbook (details below). Continue reading “Flank Steak Stir-Fry with Asparagus and Red Pepper”
Vegetarian 15 Bean Soup
I wasn’t willing to trust the bean soup seasoning packet to be vegetarian so this is the seasonings I came up with. I’m a "pinch here, pinch there" cook so you may need to adjust the seasonings to your taste. When cooking the beans, make sure they are tender before adding any acidic ingredients like tomatoes or lemon juice. — posted by WindLass
Pacific Black Cod Escabeche
Escabeche is a dish of Spanish origin in which fish is marinated in an acidic marinade. Somewhat similar to ceviche, but the fish is cooked a bit first. Because of the acidity of the marinade, the dish lends itself to fatty fish, especially mackerel. When I first had this version of escabeche, prepared by Chef Sean Bernal in the Bahamas (see Matt’s account), it was with a wahoo fish, and all I could think of was how good it would taste with mackerel. Unfortunately for me I haven’t been able to find any fresh mackerel (or herring, or sardines for that matter) in Sacramento. The fishmonger at Whole Foods recommended pacific black cod (also known as sablefish) as a substitute because it is fairly oily (and packed with omega 3s). The fish may seem a little delicate for the task, but you know what? When I prepared it, it firmed up beautifully overnight. I also tried it with tuna, but the tuna ended up being too steaky for the dish, it didn’t flake like the black cod. Because of the acidity, you can’t eat too much of the escabeche at once. It does work great though, for quick fish tacos. Just take a basic cheese taco and add a bit of the fish, peppers and onions. Normally you wouldn’t use melted cheddar in a fish taco, but because the cheese cuts through the acidity, it works. Continue reading “Pacific Black Cod Escabeche”
Italian Chicken Meatloaf
This is a nice change from ordinary meatloaf. — posted by Nasseh
Sweet Cream Biscuits
Another good holiday biscuit variation from Creative cooking/Christmas Dinners and Special Occasions. — posted by AmyZoe
