Chicken Tikka Masala Recipe -- an Indian Favorite

Chicken Tikka Masala is one of the most popular Indian recipes in the world, and for good reason.
I like chicken tikka masala with a rich, creamy sauce--plenty to mix in with the rice and scoop up with some warm flatbread. Give this dish a try and let me know what you think--it's one of my favorites.
Ingredients for chicken tikka:

2 lbs boneless, skinless CHICKEN
1 cup plain YOGURT
1 tsp GARLIC (minced)
1 tsp GINGER (minced)
2 Tbsp LEMON JUICE
1 Tbsp CORIANDER POWDER
1 Tbsp GARAM MASALA
1 Tbsp CUMIN
SALT

Ingredients for masala sauce:
1 ONION (chopped well)
2 tsp GARLIC (minced)
2 tsp GINGER (minced)
1 JALAPENO PEPPER (finely chopped, optional)
or ½ tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES (optional)
1 Tbsp TOMATO PASTE
1 28oz can CRUSHED TOMATOES
1 pint HEAVY CREAM
½ cup CILANTRO (chopped)
2 tsp CORIANDER POWDER
½ tsp CHILI POWDER
1 tsp TURMERIC
1 tsp CUMIN
1 tsp GARAM MASALA

Use 2 lbs of skinless, boneless chicken. You can use dark or light meat as you prefer. For this recipe, I like to cut the meat into strips that are easier to handle while marinating and cooking--later I'll cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces to add into the creamy masala. Mix a marinade of plain yogurt, ginger, garlic and lemon juice. Season the chicken strips with garam masala, cumin, coriander, and salt and coat with the marinade. Set in the fridge to marinate for at least a few hours, ideally overnight.

After the chicken has marinated, lightly coat a baking pan with oil. Remove as much of the marinade from the chicken as possible and arrange on the pan. Bake the chicken in a 400 degree F oven for 15-20 minutes or until nearly cooked through--adjusting the cooking time as needed depending on the size of the chicken strips; finish the chicken under the broiler to add a slight char to the outside. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the creamy masala.
In a skillet, on med high heat, heat 2 Tbsp of oil and 1 Tbsp of butter. Add minced ginger and garlic and saute 1 minute. Then add onion--also a fresh hot pepper, or red pepper flakes if you want to add a little heat to the dish. The onion and pepper should be chopped up well for a smoother sauce. Continue sauteing for 5-6 minutes. Add coriander, cumin, turmeric, and chili powder; stir into the onion mixture. Add tomato paste (or don't--it'll be good either way--just a little more or less rich and tomatoey, so adjust according to your personal taste). Add 28oz can of crushed tomatoes.
Add salt to taste and mix ingredients thoroughly. Allow ingredients to come to a bubble, then reduce heat, cover, and let simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
After 15 minutes, stir in garam masala and heavy cream and continue cooking on low heat for 5 minutes. Add chopped cilantro.
Chop the cooked chicken strips into bite-sized pieces and stir into the masala. Remove from heat and serve over rice.
I hope you give this chicken tikka masala recipe a try, I think you'll love it.
Another Indian favorite of mine is Eggplant Curry (Baingan Bharta)

Spaghetti Squash Recipe with Spicy Sausage

Spaghetti squash tastes great with a little Spanish chorizo thrown into the mix.



When buying, choose a firm spaghetti squash that seems heavy for its size. Avoid squash with overly glossy or with greenish rinds--this may indicate the squash is not quite ripe enough. The stem of a spaghetti squash should be dry. Moisture around the stem may mean the squash is not fresh.

Ingredients:
1 SPAGHETTI SQUASH
4-5oz Spanish style CHORIZO (diced)
1 lg ONION (chopped)
4-5 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
1/2 cup PARMESAN or ASIAGO CHEESE (shredded)
1/2 cup CILANTRO (chopped)
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
SALT and PEPPER, to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Slice 1 spaghetti squash lengthwise into halves. Remove seeds and place cut side down in a baking pan. Pour a small amout of water in the pan to keep the squash from sticking. Place in the oven and bake for 45 minutes. The squash is ready when a fork will slide easily into the flesh.
In a skillet, heat oil on medium high heat. Add onions and saute a few minutes (add red pepper flakes for heat, if desired). Add garlic and chorizo and continue sauteing. Add salt and pepper to taste. You don't need a lot of seasoning for this dish--the chorizo will add plenty of flavor. Take a fork and scrape the squash away fromm its skin and into the skillet; the squash will separate easily in spaghetti-like strands...which is why it's called what it's called. The squash is already cooked, so this is more about mixing the ingredients than cooking them. Add cilantro and cheese, mix well, and remove the skillet from the heat. It's a delicious dish, and hearty enough to make a terric main course. Serve with a salad and bread and you'll have a more than enough.
Enjoy!

And try this delicious vegetarian Mediterranean-Style Spaghetti Squash Recipe

BBQ Beans Recipe --Easy, Vegetarian Side Dish

A BBQ Bean Recipe with a spicy kick. This recipe is tangy and delicious and using a variety of beans gives this dish the illusion of grandeur, but it's just beans, yummy tasty beans.



BBQ Beans Recipe Ingredients:
4 15oz cans BEANS
1 large ONION (coarsely chopped)
1 GREEN PEPPER (coarsely chopped)
4 cloves of GARLIC (chopped)
1/3 cup light BROWN SUGAR
28oz can CRUSHED TOMATOES
14oz can BROTH
1/3 cup APPLE CIDER VINEGAR
1 Tbsp fresh ROSEMARY (minced)
1 tsp WORCESTERSHIRE SAUCE
1/2 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES
1 1/2 tsp dried THYME
1/4 cup stone ground MUSTARD
1 Tbsp SOY SAUCE
1 BAY LEAF
3 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
SALT & PEPPER, to taste

Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium high heat. Add onion, green pepper and sauté about 2 minutes. Add garlic and continue sautéing on med heat until begins to brown (3-5 more minutes).
Add rosemary, thyme and red pepper flakes and stir 1 minute.
Add tomatoes, prepared mustard, brown sugar, soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, stock, vinegar. Mix well. Bring to a bubble.
Stir in beans, bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Reduce heat and simmer on low for 60 minutes, stirring as needed.
Serve as a side--or a main dish--if you want your main dish to be beans.
And that's it. Give this BBQ Beans recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

Wanna try another bean recipe? This Vegetarian Chili Recipe is awesome!


Bean Fun Facts:
-6 to 11 percent of a cooked bean’s weight is protein.
-Beans are one of the best things to eat for improving the stability of blood sugar levels in diabetics.
-Beans are low fat, contain no cholesterol or saturated fat, and are an excellent source of fiber, protein, calcium, iron,
folic acid and potassium.
-North Dakota produces more beans than any other state in the USA.

Hearty Beef Stew Recipe :Classic Meat and Potato Dish

This beef stew recipe is a classic meat and potato dish, a stick to your ribs dish that hits the spot on a cool day (or almost any day). Check out the recipe video and let Chef Buck show you how easy it is to make this hearty dish.



This will make you feel like a manly man if you're a man, and if you're a woman, you'll likely take ownership of your own feelings and not need a bowl of food to direct your inner emotional understanding.

Beef Stew Recipe Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs STEW BEEF
1/4 cup ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
1 GREEN BELL PEPPER (chopped)
1 15oz can DICED TOMATOES
2 lg CARROTS (chopped)
2 POTATOES (chopped)
1 lg ONION (sliced)
3-4 cloves GARLIC (sliced)
1 14oz can BROTH (chicken or beef)
CELERY? whatever
3 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 Tbsp CORIANDER
1 tsp CUMIN
1 BAY LEAF
(0ptional) 1 tsp CHILI POWDER
1 Tbsp BUTTER
SALT and PEPPER, to taste

Chop up your veggies, dude.
In a bowl, season your stew beef with salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup flour and toss the meat until coated.
In a large pot, heat oil on medium high heat and add beef. Sear beef and turn to cook each side. Remove beef from pot and add onions and butter. Melt butter and then add garlic and bell pepper. Saute onions, garlic, and pepper 8-10 minutes. Add cumin and coriander (add chili powder if desired, or mustard powder, cayene pepper, etc.--I tend to go light on the seasonings for a simple flavor). Return meat to the pot and add 1 can of diced tomatoes. Simmer for 5 minutes and then add 1 can of broth (chicken or beef or veg--whatever's handy and floats your boat). Add carrots, celery, and a bay leaf. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
After 30 minutes, add potatoes. Your potatoes should be cut into big, ping-pong-ball sizes so they don't cook down to nothing. Add water as needed, just enough to cover your ingredients in the pot--don't add too much water--we want a nice, thick stew when we're done.
Cover, and continue to simmer for another 45-50 minutes.
Give it a taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
Serve it with a thick slice of buttered bread and enjoy being the King or Queen of the castle.
And that's it, man. Give this hearty beef stew recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

And for another hearty stew, try this Spanish classic: Spicy Chorizo Sausage Stew

Spicey Chorizo Sausage and Potato Stew

Quinoa Curry Recipe -- Thai Curry + Quinoa = Winner

A quinoa curry recipe with a Thai influence. This is a handy (and yummy) quinoa curry recipe to make when you're ready to clean all of the vegetable odds and ends from out of the fridge.



Quinoa Curry Recipe Ingredients:
1/2 cup QUINOA
1 15 oz can COCONUT MILK
1 lg ONION (chopped)
1 inch GINGER (thinly sliced)
2 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
1 Hot Pepper (chopped, as desired)
1 RED BELL PEPPER (sliced)
1/4 cup fresh BASIL (or CILANTRO) (chopped)
2 CARROTS (sliced)
1/2 small CAULIFLOWER (florets)
1 cup CABBAGE (chopped)
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 tsp CORIANDER POWDER
1/2 tsp CUMIN
1/2 tsp CHILI POWDER
1/2 tsp TURMERIC
SALT and PEPPER, to taste
garnish with
finely chopped PEANUTS

In a small pot, bring 1/2 cup quinoa and 1 cup water to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer 13-15 minutes until water is absorbed.
Remove from heat, fluff with fork, and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil on med high heat. Add onion, garlic, and hot pepper and saute for 3-4 minutes. Add Spices and mix well--and if you are a slave to the spice--don't be afraid to add a little more. Add can of coconut and stir thoroughly, mixing completely with the spices and onion. Let coconut milk heat, and then add ginger, carrot, cauliflower, and bell peppers. Continue stirring, adding salt and pepper to taste. Bring ingredients to a bubble, then reduce heat, cover, and allow skillet to simmer for 5 minutes.
After 5 minutes, uncover and add cabbage.
Add quinoa.
Stir and allow another minute or two until veggies are cooked to your liking. Add fresh basil or cilantro and remove from heat.
Garnish with ground peanuts and serve immediately.
...and that's a quinoa curry recipe with a little taste of Thai thrown in for good measure. Give the recipe a go and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

Try a Spanish-style Quinoa Recipe.

Lasagna with Tofu Recipe

The only thing that sounds worse than a tofu lasagna recipe is a gluten-free tofu lasagna recipe; but it's actually pretty tasty, and still gluten-free.



Camera Girl whipped up this dish and it was damned tasty. I'm not ready to start driving the tofu train, but I am enjoying the ride.

Tofu lasagna Recipe Ingredients:
SAUCE:
1 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1/2 tsp RED PEPPER FLAKES (crushed)
1/2 large ONION (chopped)
3 cloves GARLIC (chopped)
15 oz can DICED TOMATOES
8 oz can TOMATO SAUCE
1 CARROT (chopped well)
1 stalk CELERY (chopped well)
2 tsp OREGANO
1/2 tsp BASIL
1 BAY LEAF
SALT & PEPPER, to taste
....or substitute 25 oz jar store-bought marinara sauce, but don't do that :^(

LASAGNA FILLING:
1 pkg gluten-free, rice LASAGNA NOODLES (you do not cook them prior to baking)
2 Tbsp extra-virgin OLIVE OIL
1/2 large ONION (chopped)
6 cloves GARLIC (minced)
16 ounce package EXTRA-FIRM, WATER-PACKED TOFU (not silken tofu)
3 cups fresh SPINACH (chopped)
1/2 cup PARMESAN CHEESE (shredded)
1/2 cup part-skim MOZZARELLA CHEESE (shredded)
2 Tbsp Kalamata OLIVES (finely chopped)
2 tsp dried OREGANO
1/2 tsp dried THYME
SALT & PEPPER, to taste

First thing, start making the sauce (don't buy pre-made sauce!--or do...maybe you're busy, I don't know).
Heat olive oil and red pepper in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute 2 to 4 minutes. Add Carrot and celery and continue sauteing.
Mix in the remaining sauce ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low and simmer 30 minutes or longer, until flavors are blended, stirring routinely.

While sauce is simmering, heat oil in a large skillet and saute garlic and onion for lasagna filling. Add tofu and spinach to skillet and stir until spinach wilts and the mixture is heated through (2 to 3 minutes). Transfer skillet contents to a bowl and stir in parmesan, olives, seasonings, and 2/3 of the marinara sauce.
Spread half of the remaining sauce on bottom of 9 x 13 baking pan. Place a layer of lasagna noodles over sauce--if using the gluten-free rice lasagna, the noodles will not have to be cooked before using. Spread half of the tofu mixture over noodles. Repeat layers of noodle and tofu mixture. Top with remaining marinara sauce and shredded mozzarella cheese.
Cover dish and bake in a 350 degree F oven for about an hour.
Remove from oven and allow to rest 10 minutes.
Then eat, man.
Give this tofu lasagna recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

Want another great gluten-free recipe? Try a Tangy BBQ Beans Recipe for ultimate bean pleasure.

Perfect Pork Loin Chop Recipe

Cook a delicious, juicy pork loin chop recipe perfect every time.



Use a lot of onion and garlic!--especially garlic (those two ingredients are actually good for you, so why not use a lot?). Also, this dish will go well with whatever beer is on sale.

Pork Loin Chop Recipe Ingredients:
PORK LOIN CHOP
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 lg ONION (sliced)
6-8 cloves GARLIC (rough chopped)
fresh ROSEMARY
SALT and PEPPER, to taste

Season both sides of chop before cooking--and don't be timid with the seasoning--it'll make all the difference! I often use just salt and pepper (black pepper AND cayenne), but experiment with your favorite seasonings, too--every now and then I'll season up chops with ground ginger and saute them with onion and sliced, fresh ginger--it's pretty damn good.
Heat olive oil in a skillet (skillet should be suitable for stovetop and oven)--not smoking hot, but pretty damn hot--we want to sear the pork and seal in the flavor.
Place chops in the skillet; they should sizzle when they hit the pan. Add fresh rosemary sprigs. Cook chops 3-4 minutes on one side and then turn. This is for chops approx. 1" thick--adjust cooking times according to the size of the chop you use. Move chops in pan to mix with oil and rosemary. Add sliced onion and garlic. Cook chop 3-4 minutes on second side, then remove skillet from stovetop and slide skillet into oven preheated to 350 degrees F. Cook another 4-5 minutes and return to stovetop. Remove chops from skillet and set aside to rest.
Continue cooking onion and garlic with rosemary on medium/low heat to desired doneness.
Top chops with onion and garlic and serve.
That's it...super easy and super flavorful--it's a great way to cook up a juicy chop without drying it out, so give this recipe a go and let me know what you think, and bob appetit!

And if you're still in a carnivorous mood, give this Crispy, Baked Chicken Recipe a try.

Sweet Potato w/ Chard Hash Recipe

Chard is similar to beet greens, delicious and nutritious and a lot better for your self-esteem than pie...maybe; so give this chard recipe a try and start feeling better than pie...maybe.



Sweet potatoes are high in fiber and antioxidants and a lot easier on your blood sugar than white potatoes (which is weird since they're called "sweet" potatoes). That's two good reasons to try this dish, plus it's yummy.

Chard Recipe w/ sweet Potato Ingredients:
2 large SWEET POTATOES
1 15 oz can CHICKPEAS, drained (or 1½ cups cooked)
4 cups CHARD (w/ spinach mixed, if desired)
1 15 oz can BROTH
1 15 oz can DICED TOMATOES
1 large ONION (chopped)
6 GARLIC cloves (chopped fine)
1 inch fresh GINGER (minced)
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 tsp PAPRIKA
1 tsp ground CUMIN
1 Tbsp ground CORIANDER
1 tsp ground TURMERIC
1/2 tsp ground CINNAMON
1/2 tsp SALT
1 tsp ground BLACK PEPPER
-- Optional Accompaniments --
COUSCOUS, QUINOA
garnish of CUCUMBER, fresh CILANTRO & LEMON ZEST

Heat olive oil in a large skillet or pot. Saute the onion for a few minutes minutes then add garlic, ginger, and stalk (if using chard), and saute a few minutes more until onions soften.
Stir in paprika, cumin, coriander, turmeric, cinnamon, salt, and black pepper.
Add diced tomatoes and broth.
Bring to a boil, then add sweet potatoes and chickpeas. Simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until the potatoes are tender. Stir in roughly chopped chard leaves for last 10 minutes (if using spinach, add leaves last 2 minutes).
Serve over couscous, quinoa, or all on its lonesome with a garnish of cucumber, chopped cilantro, and lemon zest.
Give this sweet potato chard recipe a try and let me know what you think, and bon appetit!

And if you want to try another green, what about Beet Greens?

Vegetarian Chili Recipe that EVERYONE Will Love

A vegetarian chili recipe for folks who don't like vegetarian chili!



It's pretty damn tasty, and easy to make, too; once you've chopped up the ingredients, you're 90% done. Or at least 85% done. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Vegetarian Chili Recipe Ingredients:
2 15 oz cans CHICK PEAS
2 15 oz cans KIDNEY BEANS
2 BELL PEPPERS (chopped)
1 ONION (chopped)
1 HOT PEPPER (diced)
6 cloves GARLIC (finely chopped)
2 SQUASH (cut into large pieces)
1 ZUCHINNI (cut into large pieces)
2 lg or 4 sm TOMATOES (chopped)
1 28 oz can CRUSHED TOMATOES
3-6 oz TOMATO PASTE
1/2 cup CILANTRO (chopped)
1 heaping Tbsp OREGANO
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
1 Tbsp CUMIN
1/2 tsp CAYENNE PEPPER
2 Tbsp CHILI POWDER
SALT and PEPPER, to taste
WATER as needed...add slowly

Heat olive oil in large pot on medium high heat. Add onions, hot pepper, and garlic and saute 4-5 minutes. Add bell peppers and continue sauteing. Add chili powder, cumin, salt, and cayenne pepper. Mix ingredients well. Add beans and continue cooking. Add zuchinni and squash and oregano. Continue cooking 2-3 minutes and then add fresh tomatoes. Add canned crushed tomatoes. Slowly add water--not too much--as the vegetables will begin to release water as they cook. Cover and bring pot to a boil. Reduce heat and stir in the cilantro. Cover and allow to simmer approx. 45 minutes.
That's it man. If you can make it a day ahead, then you're lucky--chili aways taste best on the day after! But it's good right away, too. Top with shredded cheese, or a dollop of sourcream, or a handful of corn chips--or all three--it's gonna be delicioso!
Give this vegetarian chili recipe a try and I bet you're gonna love it--and it's a healthy chili choice, too.
Bon appetit!

For more vegetarian comfort food, try this Gluten-Free Tofu Lasagna.

Acorn Squash Recipe :Fancy Edition

Acorn Squash is easy to cook, yummy as hell, and looks pretty fancy-pants when you stuff it full of delectable goodies.



Try out the recipe below and let me know what you think. Hope you like it!

Ingredients:
2 ACORN SQUASH (halved, seeds removed)
2 tsp OLIVE OIL
3 cloves GARLIC (minced)
1/2 inch fresh GINGER (minced)
1 CARROT (peeled and chopped)
1 cup GARBANZO BEANS (drained)
1/3 cup RAISINS (or dried currants)
1 tsp ground CUMIN
1/2 tsp ground CINNAMON
[1/4 tsp ground GINGER, if didn't use fresh]
SALT and freshly GROUND PEPPER, to taste
1 cup BROTH
3/4 cup instant COUSCOUS
1/2 cup SLIVERED ALMONDS (toasted)
2-3 GREEN ONIONS (white and green parts, chopped)
1/2 golden delicious APPLE (cored and chopped)

Preheat the oven to 400.
Toast the almonds.
Place the squash halves, cut side down, on a shallow pan with ¼ inch of water. Roast until the squash is easily pierced with a fork, about 30 - 40 minutes.
In a medium saucepan, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the garlic, ginger, and carrots, and cook 5 minutes. Mix in the garbanzo beans and raisins. Season with cumin, cinnamon, salt, and pepper, and continue stirring for another minute.
Add broth, simmer 5 minutes.
Stir in couscous, cover pot, and turn off heat. Allow couscous to absorb liquid for 5 minutes.
Stir in the almonds, green onions, and apple. Spoon the filling into the roasted squash, mounding generously and serve.
You can freeze leftovers (or make extras). Freeze by mashing the squash on the bottom of the container then adding the couscous mixture on top.
And that's, that.
Bon Appétit!

Also, try this TERRIFIC SPAGHETTI SQUASH RECIPE!

Chole Palak Recipe

Chole Palak is an Indian-style spinach and chickpea dish that’s super flavorful and a breeze to make.  With a few ingredients in the cabinet, this tasty dish is always just a few minutes away.  Thanks for watching and I hope you give it a try.  For more recipe ideas, check out the Chef Buck Playlist:  http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2EFBD7E8FE2BB552

ingredients:

SPINACH  (13 oz can or frozen, or 3 cups chopped fresh)

CHICKPEAS  (15 oz can, rinsed and drained)

TOMATOES  (diced, 14 oz can—or 2 fresh tomatoes)

HOT PEPPER  (1 or 2, minced)

GINGER  (1 Tbsp, minced)

OLIVE OIL  (2-3 Tbsp)

CUMIN SEEDS  (1 tsp)

ASAFOETIDA  (¼ tsp)

CORIANDER  (1 Tbsp)

CHILI POWDER  (1 tsp)

TURMERIC  (½ tsp)

GARAM MASALA  (1 tsp)

SALT (to taste)

directions:

Heat olive oil on medium high heat and add cumin seeds and asafoetida.  The seeds should sizzle when they hit the pan and will brown and crack quickly.  Add the tomatoes, ginger, and peppers.  Mix well and then add the coriander, chili, and turmeric powder.  Mix and allow the tomatoes to cook down 3-4 minutes.  Add the spinach and salt and stir well.  Add ¼ - ½ cup water—I like less water, but add as desired throughout the recipe.  Cover and let cook 3-4 minutes.  Uncover and mix in chickpeas (also called garbanzo beans).  Add another ¼ cup of water, reduce heat to simmer, cover and cook for 5-6 minutes.  At this point the chickpeas will be soft enough to smash easily with a fork, which you don’t have to do, but I prefer the consistency of the dish if I mush about half of them.  Add the garam masala and stir another minute or two, also adding more water if desired.  And then that’s that.  Finito.  When I prepare an Indian meal, I almost always serve this dish; it’s easy, healthy, and delicious, so why not?

Give it a try, let me know what you think, and bon appétit! 

Delicious Sausage Tomato Pie

This looks like a pizza, but it's definitely not a pizza! The crust has a flaky pastry quality and the onions act the part of a pie filling. This is a rich dish, bordering on decadent; it’s super filling and super flavorful. For a meatless alternative, try faux sausage—or no sausage at all—this dish works well just as a Tomato Pie.

Sausage Tomato Pie

ingredients:
3 large ONIONS
2 medium TOMATOES
8-10 oz SAUSAGE
8 oz MOZZARELLA CHEESE (shredded)
5-7 GARLIC CLOVES (finely chopped)
2 cups ALL PURPOSE FLOUR
¾ stick BUTTER (soft)
DIJON MUSTARD
¼ VEGETABLE OIL (plus oil for sautéing)
2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL
2 Tbsp TOMATO SAUCE
2 Tbsp PARSLEY (chopped)
CHILI POWDER, CUMIN, SALT (to taste for sausage seasoning)
DRIED ITALIAN HERBS (thyme, oregano, basil, etc.)

directions:
Heat 2 Tbsp oil in a skillet and add GARLIC. Sauté for 1 minute and add SAUSAGE. Continue cooking, adding CHILI POWDER, CUMIN, and SALT for seasoning. Cook meat to completion and set aside in a bowl. Slice 3 large ONIONS into strips. Add oil to pan and add onions. Cook onions down until soft and caramelized; this may take some time, but the more completely the onions are cooked down, the tastier the final dish will be! Remove onions from heat and set aside.

In a bowl, combine 2 cups ALL PURPOSE FLOUR and ¾ stick softened BUTTER. Mix butter into flour thoroughly. Add ¼ cup VEGETABLE OIL and continue to mix. Add ½ cup Water. Mix until the dough is smooth. Spoon onto ungreased pizza pan and spread (use the spoon!). Spread evenly into the size of a large pizza and leave a raised edge for the crust. Place in pre-heated oven and cook at 375 F for 10 minutes. Remove dough from oven and top with DIJON MUSTARD. Spread a layer of mustard evenly and cover dough completely except for the outer edge—just like spreading mustard on a sandwich. Add cooked onions and spread evenly over the mustard. Top with SEASONED MEAT and MOZZARELLA CHEESE. Top dish with sliced TOMATOES and sprinkle liberally with dried ITALIAN HERBS: oregano, thyme, basil, etc..

In a small bowl, combine 2 Tbsp OLIVE OIL, 2 Tbsp TOMATO SAUCE, and 1-2 Tbsp fresh chopped PARSLEY. Brush mixture over each tomato slice. Return pie to the oven and continue to bake at 375 F for 30-40 minutes until edge of crust is brown.

Bon appétit!

Cornish Game Hen Dinner

Cornish hen is a classy bird, and a perfect meal for 2 when cooked up with potatoes and carrots.

ingredients:
1 CORNISH HEN (for this recipe I'm using a 1.5 lb. size hen, adjust cooking time for a smaller bird)
2 POTATOES (chopped into 1 inch pieces)
4 CARROTS (chopped into 1/2-1 inch pieces)
1 ONION (large onion, cut into large pieces)
1 GARLIC BULB (chopped)
4-5 sprigs ROSEMARY (finely chopped)
1/4 cup BUTTER (melted--substitute olive oil, if desired)
SALT and PEPPER to taste (this is a great dish to load up with extra seasonings...try cumin, seasoning salt, cayenne pepper, Cajun seasonings, etc.)

directions:
If you're using a frozen hen, allow bird to thaw overnight in the fridge. Wash hen well and cut through the breast and into two halves. Lightly oil a baking dish and place halves. Rub both sides of hen with salt, pepper, garlic, and rosemary. Cover hens with potatoes and carrot and additional seasoning. Top with chopped onion and melted butter and cover dish. Cook in 400 degree F oven for 30 minutes. Remove, mix ingredients, cover and return to oven for 15 minutes more. Remove hen from oven and uncover. Mix ingredients, place hen halves on top of vegetables and return to oven and cook additional 10 minutes. At this point (dish has cooked 55 minutes total) I like to turn on the broiler and broil each side of the hen for 2-3 minutes, making the skin crispy and tasty. Keep an eye on the hens and do not overbroil! Remove from the oven and serve. I like to rub dried oregano between my palms and coat the plate and serve with sliced tomatoes.

Bon Appétit!

Pizza For Lazy Cooks

Movie Night wouldn't be Movie Night without pita pizza.  It's easy to make and easy to clean up and tastes great...so that's perfect, right?

ingredients:
1 15oz can Tomato Sauce
2-3 Tbsp dried Oregano
1 Tbsp Basil
2 tsp Thyme
2 tsp Garlic Powder (more if you love garlic)
Salt and Pepper to taste (also, a little dried jalapeño can give the sauce a nice kick)
--The sauce you make at home will be tastier than the sauce you buy in the jar at the store; you can make it your own, add the herbs you like, as much or as little as you like.

Pita Bread –Any kind of pita will do, we use whole wheat. Rubbing olive oil around the edges of the pita will make a tasty edge (I like it that way!), but it isn’t necessary to do so. One pita makes a nice personal pizza size if you’re a self-disciplined SOB, which I’m not. For two people, we usually make 4 or 5 assorted pita pizzas, cut them in half, and have a mini-buffet.

Toppings?...there’s no end to the possibilities. Pita pizzas are a great way to experiment with topping ideas.

Instructions:
Pour tomato sauce into a bowl and add oregano, thyme, basil, and garlic powder (salt and pepper can be added if desired…but check can to see if tomato sauce is already salted). For sauce with a kick, add some dried jalapeño. Mix ingredients well.

Rub olive oil around the edges of your pita for a tasty crust (optional). Spread sauce over pitas and then add toppings. It’s usually a good idea to start with a little cheese on the bottom and end with more cheese on the top --what goes in between is up to you (leftovers in the fridge often make great pizza toppings! Ever have a meatloaf pizza?).

Bake at 350 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes (this is a good cooking time if you like to pile on the toppings…for faster cooking, bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes…it’s quicker, but quicker isn’t always better)

PIZZA IDEAS:

Chef Buck loves:
Spinach (this topping should go on first, so it doesn’t dry out), Feta cheese, Tomato slices, Mozzarella cheese, and extra herb topping.

Camera Girl loves:
Mozzarella cheese, red peppers, artichokes, and fake sausage.

Artichoke is a great topping (just keep a can in the cabinet). Shrimp makes a nice change-up. And trying different cheeses is always a good idea. Havarti and Ricotta are two cheeses we use often—they can bring a fresh taste to the pepperoni blues.
Keep a jar of pizza sauce in the fridge and some pitas in the freezer and dinner is always only moments away.

Bon appétit!

Maki Sushi

Sushi is one of the healthiest and most entertaining foods you can put on the table…and pretty easy to prepare. One of my favorite sushi dishes is maki sushi (makizushi), or sushi wrapped in dried seaweed (nori).

To make you’ll need:

---A sushi roller (available at many supermarkets, most health food stores and every Asian market. You can get one around $2 to $4)
---6 to 7 nori (dried seaweed sheets)
---2 cups of rice (do not use long grain rice! Japanese sushi rice can be used, but I prefer short-grain brown rice.)
---1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (or rice vinegar)
---salt (to taste, I use very little)
---an assortment of sliced vegetables, fish, etc. Feel free to experiment with your choices. I generally use a mix of the following: Avocado, cucumber, carrot, green onions, red peppers, salmon (I buy 3oz pre-packaged smoked salmon for convenience, since I use so little), shrimp, crab, cream cheese, and asparagus (lightly steamed). Mix and match and find combos you enjoy. I find that I almost always use avocado.
---sushi can be served with soy sauce, wasabi, or pickled ginger slices. I like to sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over my finished sushi—it adds a great taste and looks nice, too.

Directions:
Prepare rice according to directions. Remove from stove and add vinegar. Gently mix and set aside to cool. Slice desired ingredients for filling. For a full dinner for two, I generally use 6-7 nori. Place nori shiny side down on your sushi roller. When rice is cool, spread desired amount over nori. I like heaps of rice in my maki sushi, approx. ¾ to1 cup. Spread so that the rice covers the nori leaving ¼ inch on the two sides and on the end closest to you. Leave 1 inch open on the far end of the seaweed sheet. Pull the nori flush with the back end of the roller. Lay the sliced fillings across the rice and, holding the ingredients in check with your fingers, use the roller to roll the seaweed over the ingredients and then press gently along the top and sides. The seaweed should form a nice wrap around the ingredients. Pull the seaweed roll to the back of the roller and roll forward once more until the nori is shaped entirely around the fillings. Use a sharp knife to slice into sushi, and wipe the knife frequently for a cleaner cut. I usually get 6-7 pieces per roll.

After I plate my sushi, I sprinkle lightly with toasted sesame seeds (optional) and serve with wasabi, soy sauce, plum sauce, and pickled ginger slices.

It’s an amazingly easy dish to prepare and a great way to impress a date or get yourself out of the doghouse (if you’re at that stage in your relationship). It kicks ass at parties and your friends will think you are more hip than you probably are --but only if you USE CHOPSTICKS!!!

Kick Ass Jalapeno Poppers

Chef Buck cooks up some kick-ass Jalapeno Poppers.

Jalapeno Poppers Recipe
---ingredients:
6-8 jalapeno peppers
4oz cream cheese
2 onions (chopped)
Herbs (cilantro, dill, cilantro, etc) to taste (minced)
1-2 tsp Cumin
Salt (to taste)
¼ cup Bread Crumbs
2-3 Tbsp Olive Oil

Remove cream cheese from fridge to soften (about 30 min. early). Slice off pepper tops and de-seed (a hand peeler makes this easy). Mix cream cheese, herbs, cumin, and salt together. Stuff peppers with cream cheese mixture. Dab the ends of the peppers into the bread crumbs to help seal the cream cheese inside. Heat olive oil in skillet to med heat. Add chopped onions (also add chopped red bell peppers if desired). Gently add stuffed jalapenos to the skillet. Stir onions and turn the peppers gently to cook on all sides. Some cream cheese may leak out, but it only makes the dish taste better. Cook 10-15 minutes until peppers are sautéed to liking.

Yucca with Chef Buck

Chef Buck cooks up a damn tasty root!

Yucca w/ garlic and onion recipe:

1 yucca root (approx. 16 0z.)
2 med onions (diced)
5-10 cloves garlic (diced)
Red pepper (or Cajun seasoning) (to taste)
2-3 Tbsp. Cumin
3-4 Tbsp. olive oil
----optional ingredients----
2 Tbsp lemon juice
Salt (to taste)

Cut and peel yucca. Slice into halves lengthwise and place in pot. Cover with water (pinch of salt) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes or until root can be pierced easily with a fork. Do not overcook! Root should not be mushy. Drain and cool with water. Remove fibrous stem from center of root and cut into 1 inch chunks.
Heat olive oil in skillet. Add garlic and onion and let simmer. Add yucca. Add red pepper, cumin, and salt (optional). Mix and allow simmering 5 minutes. Stir as needed. Add more oil if needed. Remove from heat and add lemon juice (optional).

Yucca is an excellent substitute for potato. It goes great with stuffed peppers and a crisp green salad :^)

Bon Appetite!