Pulled Chicken

3 TBS olive oil
3 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 large onion, quartered & sliced thin
5 cloves garlic, sliced
1 celery stalk cut into 6 pieces
1/2 c. whole baby carrots
1 TBS coarse sea salt

4 c. chicken broth, warmed

Heat oil in large Dutch oven/cast iron pot; add chicken breasts & cook, turning often, until all sides are seared. Add onions, garlic & salt and cook until onions just begin to look transparent.

Pour warmed broth over chicken mixture; heat to boiling. Add celery pieces & carrots. Reduce heat to simmer. Cover & simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 3 hours. Add more broth if necessary to keep meat evenly covered.

Turn off heat; remove chicken one piece at a time. Shred (you should be able to just pull the meat apart) & place in large mixing bowl. Pour enough of the cooking broth over the shredded meat to keep it moist.

Serve with warmed tortillas, shredded Monterey Jack cheese & green sauce.

Note:
For Pulled Barbecued Chicken, add 1/2 c. of your favorite BBQ sauce to the Chicken broth & omit the celery & carrots.

Basic Meatballs (Oven baked)

1.5 lb. extra lean ground beef (sirloin, or other >15% fat)
1/4 c. bread crumbs
1/2 c. grated Parmesan & Romano cheese blend
1/2 tsp basil
1/2 tsp oregano
1/4 tsp marjoram
1/2 tsp parsley flakes
fresh ground pepper
1 egg

Preheat oven to 350. Combine ground meat, bread crumbs, Parmesan/Romano blend, basil, oregano, marjoram, parsley, ground pepper & egg using hands until well blended. Form into 3/4 inch size meatballs; place on large ungreased cookie pan. Bake for 12 - 17 minutes, until no longer pink.

Add to your favorite pasta sauce, soup or freeze for later use.

Key Lime Pie Bars

Crust:
2 c. unbleached flour
1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. butter, softened (10 & 2/3 TBS)

Filling:
1 c. sugar
4 eggs
4 TBS. unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. fresh grated lime peel
1 TBS. fresh lemon juice
3 TBS. key lime juice (fresh or bottled Nellie & Joe's Key West Lime Juice) or substitute regular lime
3 drops green food coloring

powdered sugar

Heat oven to 350.

For crust, combine all "crust" ingredients in medium mixing bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping sides down often, until the mixture resembles fine sand, 1 - 2 minutes. Press evenly on bottom of ungreased 9x13 baking pan. Bake for 14 minutes, or until edges are lightly browned.

Do not wash mixing bowl.

Combine lemon juice, lime juice & food coloring in small bowl to blend colors.

For Filling, in same mixing bowl used for crust, combine all filling ingredients. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed. Increase speed to medium & beat for 2 minutes, scraping sides often. Pour over hot crust. Place pan back in oven & continue to bake for 15 minutes, or until edges are lightly brown.

Remove to cooling rack. Allow to cool for 10 minutes or so. Sprinkle lightly with powdered sugar. Cut into bars. Refrigerate any uneaten bars.

Spiedini (Stuffed Italian Beef Rolls)

1.25 lbs beef sirloin sandwich thins

2 TBS olive oil
1 bunch green onions, thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 TBS dry red wine

1 c. bread crumbs
1/4 c. grated Parmesan & Romano cheese blend
2 TBS parsley
2 tsp dried basil (or 1 tsp fresh basil, chopped)
fresh ground pepper to taste

1 egg, beaten

2 c. shredded 5 cheese Italian blend

6 inch bamboo skewers

Preheat oven to 375. Line baking pan with foil & place rack inside.

Heat olive oil in medium skillet; add onion and garlic & saute until tender. Add wine and continue to saute until wine is evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside.

Take one sandwich thin, dip in beaten egg, and dredge in bread crumbs.

In center of breaded meat, spoon 1 tsp onion mix, spreading evenly lengthwise. Top evenly with 1 TBS of shredded 5 cheese blend. Roll meat up tightly and thread onto bamboo skewers. Repeat with remaining thins, using 3 pieces of meat per skewer, spacing evenly with at least 1/4 inch in between. Place on rack in prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven 40-45 minutes until no longer pink. The spiedini may also be grilled or broiled.

Capellini Pomodoro (Angel Hair Pasta with Tomato Basil Sauce)

2 TBS olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced

2 - 14.5 oz cans petite diced tomatoes with juice

coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
10 large basil leaves, sliced into thin strips

12 oz angel hair pasta, cooked according to package directions

Heat olive oil in medium saucepan, add onions and saute, stirring frequently, until soft and translucent and just starting to caramelize. Stir in the garlic and saute an additional 2 minutes

Stir in the tomatoes & liquid, simmer on medium heat for 25 minutes, stirring frequently, until liquid is reduced & thickened.

Add salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the basil leaves.

Let the sauce sit for a few minutes, then pour over cooked pasta, stirring well to incorporate.

Serve immediately & top with shredded 5 cheese Italian blend.

Blueberry Crumble Coffee Cake

2 TBS butter, softened
1/4 c. all purpose flour
1/4 c. oats
1/4 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 c. butter (1 stick), softened
1/2 c. sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 egg

2 c. all purpose flour (or 1 c. each all purpose & whole wheat)
2 & 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 c. milk

1 & 1/2 c. fresh blueberries

Preheat oven to 350. Thoroughly grease 8x8 inch baking pan.

In small mixing bowl, combine 2 TBS butter, 1/4 c. flour, oats, brown sugar & cinnamon; blend with pastry blender or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

In small bowl, combine 2 c. flour & baking powder. Set aside.

In large mixing bowl, beat 1/2 c. butter & sugar until light. Add egg & vanilla, beating well until combined. Add flour & milk alternately, beating until smooth after each addition.

Spread batter evenly in prepared pan; scatter blueberries evenly. Sprinkle reserved crumb mixture evenly over blueberries & batter.

Bake for 35-40 minutes or until center tests clean.

Sukiyaki Beef

2 TBS olive oil

1.5 sirloin, cut into very thin strips
1 large onion, chopped
3 green onions, sliced thin
1 c. baby carrots, thinly sliced

1 c. beef or vegetable stock
1/3 c. soy sauce
1/3 c. mirin

2 TBS cornstarch
1/4 water

Japanese Rice Noodles, prepared according to package directions.

Heat oil in 4 qt Dutch oven; add beef slices & sear until browned. Add onions & carrots; stir fry 5 minutes. Combine stock, soy sauce & mirin; pour over beef & vegetables. Bring to simmer & cook for 10 minutes. Stir cornstarch into water until smooth, add, stirring well until blended. Simmer 5 minutes, or until thickened. Immediately add cooked rice noodles, stir well to combine & serve.

Great Northern Ham Soup

2 TBS olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 c. diced baby carrots
1 stalk celery, diced

2 c. diced baked ham

7 c. organic chicken broth, warm (or substitute vegetable broth)

2 c. dry Great Northern White Beans, rinsed

1/2 tsp marjoram
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp cracked black pepper

Heat olive oil in 4 qt. saucepan. Add onion, garlic, carrots & celery and saute until onions start to become translucent. Add ham & saute 2 minutes more.

Pour in broth; stir well to combine. Bring to a boil. Stir in beans; add seasonings. Cover, reduce heat & simmer on low for 2 & 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Add more liquid if necessary.

Spiral Ham with Irish Whiskey Glaze

2 TBS Irish Whiskey (Bushmills White Label)

5 TBS light brown sugar
4 TBS Irish Whiskey
1 & 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard

Bake spiral ham (Cook's brand 1/2 Brown Sugar Spiral Ham preferred) according to package directions, covered tightly with foil.

In small ceramic bowl, combine brown sugar, 4 TBS whiskey & mustard; whisk until well blended.

With 1/2 hour left to cook, remove foil from ham, baste liberally with Irish Whiskey (use more than 2 TBS if necessary). Generously spread glaze over ham. Return to oven for remaining 1/2 hour of cooking time.

Remove ham from oven & let stand 10 minutes before serving.

Gingerbread Mini Loaves

3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp freshly grated ginger root
1/8 tsp ground cloves

2 eggs, beaten
2/3 c. dark molasses
2/3 c. canola oil
1/2 c. golden brown sugar, packed
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 4 mini loaf pans.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, cloves & fresh ginger in large mixing bowl. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

Combine egg, molasses, oil, brown sugar, milk & vanilla; stir thoroughly. Pour egg mixture all at once into dry ingredients. Stir just until moistened & most lumps have disappeared.

Divide batter into the prepared pans.

Bake for 25 minutes or until center tests clean. Remove from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. Wrap & store in refrigerator or freeze.

Chai Spice Blend

1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground cardamom
1 tsp ground cloves
3/4 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/4 teaspoon ground 3 peppercorn blend (black, pink & white)

1/4 piece vanilla bean*

Stir all spices together in small bowl until evenly blended. Store in tightly covered container.
*Add vanilla bean to container for Oregon Chai

This spice blend lends itself to limitless possibilities. Steep it in tea. Sprinkle into hot cereals. Substitute when recipes call for cinnamon or "pumpkin pie spice".

Chai Spiced Tea Loaves

1/2 c. water
1 tea bag-English Breakfast Tea

3 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp chai spice blend*
1 tsp baking powder baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda

3/4 c. vanilla low-fat yogurt
1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1 c. packed light brown sugar

5 large eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease and flour 5 mini loaf pans.

In micro-proof measuring cup, heat 1/2 cup water in microwave 2 minutes or until boiling. Steep tea bag in water; set aside to cool.

Combine flour, chai spice, baking powder & baking soda in medium mixing bowl.

Drain tea bag & pour off any excess to reserve 1/3 c. and stir in yogurt.

In large bowl, cream butter until light, about 1 minute. Gradually beat in granulated and brown sugars in 2 batches. Beat 2 minutes or until fluffy. Beat in eggs in 2 batches, until well blended. Add vanilla & beat until combined.

Mix in flour mixture and tea mixture alternately, beginning & ending with flour mixture just until combined.

Spoon batter evenly into prepared pans.

Bake loaves 30 minutes or until tester inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove loaves to cool on wire racks 15 minutes.


*Chai Spice Recipe

Pineapple Upside Down Cake

8 oz pineapple wedges sliced 1/4-1/2 inch thick
2 TBS butter
1/2 c. light brown sugar
1 TBS pineapple juice

1/3 c. butter, softened
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp vanilla

3 TBS pineapple juice & enough warm water to make 2/3 c. liquid

1 1/2 c. flour
2 1/2 tsp baking powder

Preheat oven to 350.

Melt 2 TBS butter in bottom of 9x1 inch round baking pan. Stir in brown sugar & 1 TBS pineapple juice. Arrange pineapple wedges evenly in one layer in bottom of pan. Set aside.

Cream butter on high for 30 seconds. Add sugar and beat on medium until light; add egg and vanilla and continue beating for an additional minute until well mixed. Add dry ingredients and warm liquid alternately, starting & finishing with dry ingredients, beating well after each addition. Spread in prepared pan.

Bake at 350 for 40 minutes. Remove from oven to wire rack; allow to cool for 5 minutes, then immediately invert onto serving plate.

Serve warm.

Malay Red Curry Chicken

2 TBS olive oil
1.5 boneless chicken breasts, diced into 1/2 inch pieces

1 large onion, diced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and diced fine
1 TBS fresh ginger, finely minced

1 c. chicken broth
1-15oz can tomato sauce
1/8 tsp star anise
1 bay leaf

3/4 c. thinly sliced baby carrots
2 medium baking potatoes, peeled, diced

3/4 c. petite green peas
3 TBS Thai red curry paste

Heat olive oil in 4 qt. Dutch oven (or other large, heavy saucepan) over medium heat. Add chicken & cook until no longer pink. Add onions & garlic & saute until the onions just become translucent. Add jalapenos & ginger, saute for one minute more.

Pour in chicken broth, tomato sauce and seasonings. Bring to boil, then reduce to a light simmer. Cook, covered, for 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce is reduced & thickened.

Add carrots and potatoes. Simmer, covered, for an additional 20 minutes, or until vegetables are tender.

Stir in peas & curry paste. Simmer for 10 minutes more.

Serve with hot jasmine rice.

Chipotle Tortilla Soup

2 TBS olive oil
1/2 lb. top sirloin strips, cut into bite size pieces
1 medium onion, chopped
2 gloves garlic, minced

2 jalapeno peppers, seeded & diced

1 can black beans,rinsed & drained
1 c. frozen corn

4 c. organic beef broth (or 4 c. water & good beef boullion/soup base)
1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce
1/4 c. bottled chipotle sauce

tortilla chip strips

shredded cheddar

Heat oil in 4 qt. pan over medium heat. Add beef & saute until seared. Add onion & garlic & saute until onion just becomes translucent. Stir in peppers & continue to saute for an additional 2-3 minutes. Stir in black beans & corn. Mix well. Add vegetable broth, tomato sauce & chipotle sauce; stir well, & bring soup to a simmer; reduce heat to medium low. Cover & simmer for 35 minutes.

To serve, place 1/4 c. tortilla chip chips in bottom of individual bowls, ladle soup over strips, sprinkle generously with shredded cheddar.

Buckwheat Pancakes

1/2 c. flour
3/4 c. buckwheat flour
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp baking powder

1 egg
1 c. milk
1 TBS oil
1 tsp. vanilla

In large mixing bowl, combine flours, sugar & baking powder; make a well in the center.

Combine milk, oil, vanilla & egg, mixing well until light & frothy. Pour into center of flour mixture. Stir until smooth & most lumps have disappeared. Do not over stir.

Set non-stick griddle or electric fry pan to 350, waiting until fully heated before adding batter. Allow batter to "proof" while the griddle heats up.

Pour 1/4 c. batter onto hot griddle, allowing room to spread. Repeat as room allows. Wait until batter forms bubbles that rise to the surface and burst. Gently flip pancakes and allow to brown to a light golden. Flip onto plate.

Reheat in toaster for a quick mid-week breakfast.

White Wine Rice

3c. water
1/2 c. white wine (Sauvignon Blanc preferred)
1 & 1/2 c. long grain white rice
1/2 c. petite green peas (frozen)
1/2 c. baby carrots, thinly sliced
3 green onions, chopped (or one very small white onion)

1 TBS quality chicken soup base ("Better Than Boullion" preferred)

1/4 c. Parmesan & Romano blend cheese

Combine all ingredients except soup base in 3 qt saucepan. Bring to boil over medium high heat. Stir in soup base. Cover; reduce heat to medium low and simmer 20-25 minutes until all liquid is absorbed. (Watch carefully.) Stir in cheese blend. Serve immediately.

Note: Do not cook over too high a heat. The rice needs to simmer slowly in order to produce a creamy texture.

Coconut Lime Rice

2 cups Basmati or Jasmine rice
2 cups good-quality coconut milk
1 3/4 cups water
2 Tbsp. dry shredded unsweetened coconut (baking type)

1 TBS olive oil

1/2 tsp. salt
2 TBS fresh lime juice

In large saucepan, bring coconut milk & water to a simmer, stir in shredded coconut. Simmer for 5 minutes. Set aside.

Heat oil in large skillet over medium. When hot, add rice, stir to coat, & smooth to form even layer for cooking. Stir often until rice begins to turn from clear to solid white on the ends. Be careful not to scorch or burn it!

Return liquid to heat; quickly stir in rice, salt and lime juice. Gently simmer, covered & undisturbed, until all liquid is absorbed, about 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork & serve.

Carnitas (Mexican Pulled Pork)

3 TBS olive oil
3 lbs boneless Country Style spare ribs, cut in half, fat removed

1 large onion, quartered & sliced thin
5 cloves garlic, sliced
1 TBS coarse sea salt

4 c. warm water
1/2 c. bottled Chipotle sauce

Heat oil in large Dutch oven/cast iron pot; add pork pieces & cook, turning often, until all sides are seared. Add onions, garlic & salt and cook until onions just begin to look transparent.

Combine water & Chipotle sauce; pour over pork mixture. Cover & simmer, stirring occasionally, for at least 3 hours. Add more liquid if necessary to keep meat evenly covered.

Turn off heat; remove pork pieces one at a time. Shred (you should be able to just pull the meat apart) & place in large mixing bowl. Pour 1/2 c. of the cooking broth over the shredded meat.

Serve with warm tortillas.

For Carnitas sandwiches, place meat on crusty rolls & top with slices of Pepper Jack cheese.

Guacamole Azteca

3 ripe avocados*

1/3 red onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 clove garlic, minced**
1 serrano chile, stem and seeds removed, minced
1 TBS fresh cilantro leaves, finely chopped

1 lime, halved

Cut avocados in half, remove seed. Gently scoop avocado from the peel into a large non-metal mixing bowl. Partially mash using solid potato masher or the back of a large spoon.

Gently stir in onion, garlic, serrano & cilantro and mash until desired consistency is reached. Squeeze the juice from the lime over the guacamole & blend well.

Divide into 2 small serving bowls & cover with plastic wrap placed directly on the surface of the guacamole to prevent browning. Refrigerate until ready.

*Avocados are ripe when they give slightly when gently pressed.
**Always use kitchen gloves when working with serranos. In a pinch, use a sandwich bag over you hand to protect yourself, they can be hot!!!