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Post by DAS (formerly BushAdmirer) on Apr 21, 2009 23:08:12 GMT
Do you have a recipe that can meet all of the tests below? If so please post it here.
In today's world we want it all. When cooking that means the following:
-> Delicious - If flavors aren't on par with what's served at the very top restaurants forget it. We only want to go first class. Nothing less will do.
-> Healthy - We don't want to see recipes calling for a cup of whipping cream, etc. We all want to be young and beautiful. Healthy foods are one important requirement.
-> Easy - Needs to be something we can prepare in half an hour or less. No all day cooking projects. We want the very best but, alas, we're lazy.
-> Cheap - Please don't give us a recipe calling for lobster tails topped with fresh black truffles and Beluga caviar. Don't you know there is a major economic downturn?
-> Obtainable - We only want recipes that require ingredients that we can find at the local super market. Please no recipes requiring ingredients like Zucchini flowers, soft shell crabs, or fresh skate. We want recipes with items we can always obtain at our local market.
Recipes that can pass these test are worth keeping. Do you have any like that?
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Post by beth on Apr 22, 2009 0:43:21 GMT
Very particular, there, Das. I can manage it all except the first. Not that my recipes aren't delicious, but your definition eliminates me. Y'see, I don't think "very top restaurant" food is often as delicious as homemade straight from the kitchen. The only dish I can't seem to make as good or better than my favorite restaurant is tiramisu. Change that first definition and I'm game to try.
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Post by DAS (formerly BushAdmirer) on Apr 22, 2009 1:03:59 GMT
Beth the operative word there is 'Delicious.' That's the only test. I included a reference to top restaurants only as a good indicator of what is 'delicious.'
Doesn't mean that your recipe needs to be glamorous or beautifully presented as in a great restaurant. Just means that it must taste really good (be delicious).
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Post by beth on Apr 22, 2009 3:57:58 GMT
Beth the operative word there is 'Delicious.' That's the only test. I included a reference to top restaurants only as a good indicator of what is 'delicious.' Doesn't mean that your recipe needs to be glamorous or beautifully presented as in a great restaurant. Just means that it must taste really good (be delicious). That makes sense. First chance, I'll browse through my recipes and come up with something. Great idea!
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Post by beth on May 13, 2009 23:44:11 GMT
das, this is not an original recipe, but it is a very good recipe that my family likes. I don't intend to enter it into competition, but this thread seems the best spot for it.
Tomato-Basil Chicken 8 oz uncooked fettuccine 2 teaspoons olive or oil 1 medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup) 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 3 medium tomatoes, chopped (2 1/2 cups) 2 cups chicken or turkey breast cut in med. sized pieces 3 tablespoons chopped fresh or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon red pepper sauce
1. Cook and drain fettuccine as directed on package. Cover to keep warm.
2. Meanwhile, in 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Cook onion and garlic in oil, stirring occasionally, until onion is crisp-tender. Stir in remaining ingredients except fettuccine; reduce heat to medium.
3. Cover; cook about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until mixture is hot and tomatoes are soft. Serve over fettuccine.
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Post by drewsmom595 on May 20, 2009 23:24:17 GMT
Honey Herb Roasted Chicken
1 chicken, cut into pieces 1/4 cup olive oil 1 T sugar 1 T salt 1 T garlic powder 1 T onion powder 1/2 T paprika Fresh thyme leaves, finely chopped (handful) Fresh rosemary leaves, finely chopped (handful) Honey
Mix oil, salt, sugar and spices together and rub over all sides of chicken. Roast chicken in a 350 degree oven for about 45 minutes, brushing with cooking juices occasionally. Remove chicken from oven and brush honey over all sides of the chicken. Return to the oven for 5 more minutes.
The aroma while this cooks is amazing!
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Post by DAS (formerly BushAdmirer) on May 21, 2009 22:02:59 GMT
Those chicken recipes do should great. Will have to try.
Here is a long time favorite recipe of ours that is easy, inexpensive, delicious, and healthy. You can use a very inexpensive cut of pork such as a shoulder roast. Most all of the fat will be rendered out making this a relatively low fat dish.
Mexican Carnitas
Serve this humble dish to your most royal guests on the most auspicious of occasions and most of them will beg you for the recipe. Though it is definitely peasant food, Carnitas is also a Mexican feast. In Mexico a whole pig might be prepared for Carnitas. The goal is chunks of tasty pork that are very moist on the inside with a crusty exterior. This is a great dish for family gatherings. You can put the food on a sideboard and let people serve themselves buffet style. Enjoy!
Boil a 3 to 4 pound pork shoulder roast for 2 to 3 hours or until fork tender. Add water to cover along with 4 cloves garlic, 1 onion, 1 teaspoon each dried oregano, cumin, and salt to the pot.Use a large covered stock pot. An inexpensive cut of fresh pork such as a shoulder roast works just fine for Carnitas.
Drain the roast and sprinkle with garlic salt. Bake in a medium hot oven until crusty. This should take an hour or two depending upon the size of the roast. If the roast is a big one break it into several pieced before putting into the oven.
Shred the meat with a fork until you have a platter full of meat chunks or shreds an inch or so in diameter. Remove any fat. Cover and keep on a warmer until ready to serve.
Prepare some or all of the following in separate small bowls and place on the table for guests to serve themselves: • Tomato, chopped • Green Onions or Scallions, chopped • Black Olives, pitted and sliced • Sour Cream (Mexican sour cream (creme fraiche in Europe) is best if you can find it) • Guacamole (mashed avocado with a little chopped onion, a sprinkling of salt, and a spoon of olive oil) • Lettuce, shredded (optional) • Picanté Sauce (Mexican hot sauce from the store or make your own by pulsing a can of tomatoes in the blender with one Japapeno pepper and half an onion, then cook until the onion and Jalepeno are tender). • Cheese, shredded (sharp English cheddar or whatever you have available)
Buy flour tortillas, the freshest (softest) you can find (or make your own and heat them in oven or microwave wrapped in a clean wet dish towel. Heat no more than 6 at a time to steam them. Serve wrapped in the hot steaming towel so that they come to the table steaming hot. Instruct your guests to build their own soft tacos by folding the pork and accompanying toppings into the flour tortilla. Use your hands and enjoy.
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Post by beth on May 25, 2009 21:30:25 GMT
Both these sound so good (Karen and das). We always have a large family get-together at our house on July 4th. That is the traditional fireworks holiday here (also labor day but less so). We live 2 blocks up and across the street from a city park where the major fireworks are set off, so everyone wants to be here to celebrate and eat and spread out quilts on the lawn and watch the entertainment. Anyway, the pork recipe sounds like something that would go over well without all the mess and aggravation of grilling burgers and brats - or maybe, combine the two. Roasted ears of corn might also be good with that. Thanks.
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Post by DAS (formerly BushAdmirer) on Jul 18, 2009 22:22:29 GMT
A good Rissotto is hard to beat. Inexpensive and delicious. The Italians really know how to make a great dish with a little rice and some flavorings. It is important that you use the proper type of rice. Carnaroli is best but Arborio will do (you can easily find and order online if your local market doesn't carry). Here is a video showing just how easy it is to make a great Rissotto. When finished it should not be dry. The best Rissotto has the consistency of wet mud.
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Post by beth on Jul 30, 2009 21:23:28 GMT
Baked Fruit 1 tbsp butter, cut into 1/2" chunks 2 tbsp almond oil 3/4 c brown sugar 2/3 c all purpose flour 1/2 c crushed amaretti (about 10 cookies) 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp salt 2 lbs apricots (abt. 20) pitted and quartered 1 1/2 lbs dark cherries, pitted 2 tbsp granulated sugar 1 1/2 tbsp quick cooking tapioca 1/2 tbsp almond extract 1. Heat oven to 375 and lightly butter rectangular baking dish. 2. Mix butter, oil, brown sugar, flour, amaretti, cinnamon and salt with pastry blender until crumbly. 3. Toss apricots and cherries with sugar, tapioca and almond extract. Put fruit in prepared pan and cover with amaretti mixture. Set pan on rimmed cookie sheet to catch any juices that might bubble over. Bake until top is browned and juices have thickened around the edges - about 35 minutes. Serve warm or at room temp with a scoop of ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream.
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Post by DAS (formerly BushAdmirer) on Aug 9, 2009 17:52:16 GMT
It's hard to think of anything more delicious, healthy, and inexpensive that a great loaf of crusty fresh baked bread. I've been a hobbyist bread baker for years and have a collection of ten or twenty cookbooks on the subject. A new book that I recently acquired has changed the whole process rather dramatically. It's a great book with some great ideas that really do work. The title is Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. You can read about it here. www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/Artisan-Bread-In-Five-Minutes-A-Day.aspx
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