16 October, 2011

Sunday
CPK’s BBQ Chicken Pizza
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/03/cpks-bbq-chicken-pizza/ )
Ingredients
1 whole Recipe For Pizza Crust (mine Makes Two Crusts)
2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1/2 cup Barbecue Sauce
Olive Oil, For Drizzling
Salt For Sprinkling
16 ounces, weight Fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Sliced Thinly
1/2 whole Red Onion, Cut In Half And Sliced Very Thin
Chopped Cilantro, to taste

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Salt chicken breasts on both sides, then place in an ovenproof dish. Pour BBQ sauce over the breasts and turn them over to coat. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Remove from oven and cut into a fine dice. Set aside. Increase oven temperature to 500 degrees. Roll/stretch out one pizza crust. Lay it on a sheet pan drizzled with olive oil. Drizzle a little olive oil on the crust, then sprinkle on a little salt. Spoon a couple of tablespoons of extra BBQ sauce on the crust and spread it evenly. Top sauce with half the sliced mozzarella. Sprinkle on half the diced chicken and thinly sliced red onion. Sprinkle again with a little salt, then bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and toppings are bubbly. Remove from the oven and sprinkle on plenty of chopped cilantro. Cut into squares and serve immediately. Repeat with other crust and other ingredients, or save for another time.

Monday
Cajun Chicken Pasta
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/09/cajun-chicken-pasta/ )
Ingredients
3 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts, Cut Into Cubes
3 teaspoons Cajun Spice Mix, More To Taste
1 pound Fettuccine
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
2 Tablespoons Butter
1 whole Green Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
1 whole Red Bell Pepper, Seeded And Sliced
1/2 whole Large Red Onion, Sliced
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
4 whole Roma Tomatoes, Diced
2 cups Low Sodium Chicken Broth
1/2 cup White Wine
1 cup Heavy Cream
Cayenne Pepper To Taste
Freshly Ground Black Pepper, To Taste
Salt To Taste
Chopped Fresh Parsley, To Taste

Preparation Instructions
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain when pasta is still al dente; do not overcook!
Sprinkle 1 1/2 teaspoons Cajun spice over chicken pieces. Toss around to coat. Heat 1 tablespoon oil and 1 tablespoon butter in a heavy skillet over high heat. Add half the chicken in a single layer; do not stir. Allow chicken to brown on one side, about 1 minute. Flip to the other side and cook an additional minute. Remove with a slotted spoon and place on a clean plate.
Repeat with remaining chicken. Remove chicken, leaving pan on high heat. Add remaining olive oil and butter. When heated, add peppers, onions, and garlic. Sprinkle on remaining Cajun spice, and add salt if needed. Cook over very high heat for 1 minute, stirring gently and trying to get the vegetables as dark/black as possible. Add tomatoes and cook for an additional 30 seconds. Remove all vegetables from the pan. With the pan over high heat, pour in the wine and chicken broth. Cook on high for 3 to 5 minutes, scraping the bottom of the pan to deglaze. Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in cream, stirring/whisking constantly. Cook sauce over medium-low heat for a few minutes, until cream starts to thicken the mixture. Taste and add freshly ground black pepper, cayenne pepper, and/or salt to taste. Sauce should be spicy! Finally, add chicken and vegetables to sauce, making sure to include all the juices that have drained onto the plate. Stir and cook for 1 to 2 minutes, until mixture is bubbly and hot. Add drained fettuccine and toss to combine. Top with chopped fresh parsley and chow down!

Tuesday
Chicken Tortilla Soup
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/01/chicken-tortilla-soup/ )
Ingredients
2 whole Boneless, Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1-1/2 teaspoon Cumin
1 teaspoon Chili Powder
1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
1/2 teaspoon Salt
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 cup Diced Onion
1/4 cup Diced Green Bell Pepper
1/4 cup Red Bell Pepper
3 cloves Garlic, Minced
1 can (10 Oz. Can) Rotel Tomatoes And Green Chilies
32 ounces, fluid Low Sodium Chicken Stock
3 Tablespoons Tomato Paste
4 cups Hot Water
2 cans (15 Oz. Can) Black Beans, Drained
3 Tablespoons Cornmeal Or Masa
5 whole Corn Tortillas, Cut Into Uniform Strips Around 2 To 3 Inches
FOR THE GARNISHES:
Sour Cream
Diced Avocado
Diced Red Onion
Salsa Or Pico De Gallo
Grated Monterey Jack Cheese
Cilantro

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Mix cumin, chili pepper, garlic powder, and salt. Drizzle 1 tablespoon olive oil on chicken breasts, then sprinkle a small amount of spice mix on both sides. Set aside the rest of the spice mix. Place chicken breasts on a baking sheet. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until chicken is done. Use two forks to shred chicken. Set aside. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a pot over medium high heat. Add onions, red pepper, green pepper, and minced garlic. Stir and begin cooking, then add the rest of the spice mix. Stir to combine, then add shredded chicken and stir. Pour in Rotel, chicken stock, tomato paste, water, and black beans. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Simmer for 45 minutes, uncovered. Mix cornmeal with a small amount of water. Pour into the soup, then simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Check seasonings, adding more if needed---add more chili powder if it needs more spice, and be sure not to undersalt. Turn off heat and allow to sit for 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Five minutes before serving, gently stir in tortilla strips. Ladle into bowls, then top with sour cream, diced red onion, diced avocado, pico de gallo, and grated cheese, if you have it! (The garnishes really make the soup delicious.)

Wednesday
Korean Beef Stir-Fry
(http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/korean_beef_stir_fry.html )
Ingredients
3 tablespoons mirin, (see Note)
2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon canola oil
8 ounces flank steak, trimmed of fat and very thinly sliced against the grain (see Tip)
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 teaspoons chopped jalapeno pepper, or to taste
1 1/2 teaspoons chopped fresh ginger
4 cups mung bean sprouts
1 6-ounce bag baby spinach
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds, (see Tip), optional

Preparation
1.Combine mirin, soy sauce and cornstarch in a small bowl.
2.Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Spread steak out in the pan and cook until seared on one side, about 1 minute. Add garlic, jalapeno and ginger and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add bean sprouts and spinach (the pan will be very full). Pour the mirin mixture into the pan and stir gently until the sauce thickens and the spinach is wilted, about 3 minutes. Stir in cilantro and sesame oil. Serve topped with sesame seeds (if using). Serve over rice.
Tips & Notes
Note: Mirin is a low-alcohol rice wine essential to Japanese cooking. Look for it in the Asian or gourmet-ingredients section of your supermarket. An equal portion of sherry or white wine with a pinch of sugar may be substituted for mirin. Tips: If you have a little extra time before dinner, put the steak in the freezer for about 20 minutes to help make it easier to slice thinly.
To toast sesame seeds, heat a small dry skillet over low heat. Add sesame seeds and stir constantly until golden and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and let cool.

Thursday
Chicken Muffuletta with Spicy Olive Relish Mayonnaise
(http://www.flcourier.com/lifestyle/food/6638-between-the-bread )
Roasted red peppers (from a jar), drained
1/2 or 1 jalapeño chile, chopped (depending on how spicy you like)
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/2 cup Hellmann’s or Best Foods Real Mayonnaise
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
3/4 cup prepared olive relish
1/4 cup coarsely chopped fresh flat leaf parsley
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
16 1/4-inch slices provolone cheese
1 large round loaf of bread, sliced in half crosswise
Aluminum foil
2 bricks or a cast iron pan and a few heavy cans

Directions
Combine red peppers, jalapeño, garlic, mayonnaise and vinegar in a food processor and process until smooth. Scrape the mixture into a medium bowl and fold in the olive relish and parsley. Set aside. Heat the grill to high or the grill pan over high heat. Brush chicken breasts with oil on both sides and sprinkle with salt and pepper, if desired. Grill for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Remove from the grill, let rest 5 minutes then slice into 1/4-inch slices on the bias. Spread some of mayonnaise mixture on the bottom half of the bread, add half of the cheese, half of the chicken and repeat with the remaining ingredients (mayonnaise mixture, cheese and chicken in that order). Spread the cut-side of the top of the loaf with more mayonnaise mixture and place, mayonnaise-side down, on chicken. Wrap tightly in foil, place on baking sheet and place bricks or a heavy cast iron pan on top. Refrig­erate for at least 1 hour (to allow the flavors to meld) or overnight.

Friday
Spicy Pasta Salad with Smoked Gouda, Tomatoes, and Basil
(http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2011/06/spicy-pasta-salad-with-smoked-gouda-tomatoes-and-basil/ )
Ingredients
12 ounces, weight Mostaccioli
1/2 cup Mayonnaise
1/4 cup Whole Milk
4 Tablespoons White Vinegar
1-1/2 teaspoon Adobo Sauce From Chipotle Peppers (or One Minced Chipotle Pepper)
1/2 teaspoon Salt
Ground Black Pepper To Taste
10 ounces, weight Grape Tomatoes, Halved Lengthwise
1/2 pound Smoked Gouda Cheese, Cut Into Small Cubes
24 whole Basil Leaves (chiffonade)

Preparation Instructions
Cook pasta until done. Drain and rinse in cold water until no longer hot. Set aside.
Mix mayonnaise, milk, vinegar, salt, pepper, and adobo in a small bowl.
In a large bowl, stir together pasta, dressing, halved tomatoes, and cubed Gouda. Taste for seasonings, adding more salt and pepper if needed, and even an extra teaspoons or two of vinegar if necessary. Stir in basil at the end. Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving.

Saturday
Pork Vindaloo
(http://www.goanfoodrecipes.com/2009/01/fiery-goan-pork-vindaloo.html )
Main Ingredient:
1 Kg Pork
2 Big Onions
Salt as per taste

Pork Vindaloo Masala Ingredients:
15 Kashmiri Chillies,
4 - 6 Garlic flakes,
1" Ginger
2 Teaspoons of Jeera,
1 and a 1/2" turmeric (haldi),
1" piece of Cinnamon
3 - 6 Peppers
3 - 6 Cloves
vinegar

Procedure:
First you need to wash the Pork pieces well, and then chop them up into 1/2" bits.
Once you dice the bits you need to dry the pieces of pork. You can dry them up using a cloth as well to absorb all the water.
Then add some salt this should help dry the pieces even more.
Now keep that aside and lets get the masala ready, grind the chillies into a powder, then add some vinegar not too much into it.
Add all the ingredients of the vindaloo masala shown above and then grind all of it in the blender.
Once you have your masala ready you can add your masala to the pork pieces and mix it up well. Make sure all the pieces of meat are evenly mixed with the masala. Add a little vinegar to the meat, mix it up and store it overnight in the fridge.
Now you can chop the large onions to add to the Pork Vindaloo.
Before you can add the onions to the dish you need to blend them in the mixer.
Add the blended onions, here its got a specific colour because we used the same liquidiser that was used for the vindaloo masala.
Its time to transfer all the ingredients on to the stove, no need to add any water yet.
Now you need to add a few peppercorns, a little cinnamon and a few cloves to the dish as you fry the meat.
After a little while of frying add some water and let it cook on a slow flame.
Let the vindaloo simmer on a low fire as the meat soaks in the masala and gets cooked.
You know the Vindaloo is ready when it turns the fiery red colour and the aroma will attract your neighbours :) Remember, the Vindaloo always tastes better the next day as the meat gets properly marinated, its not really a very spicy dish but on the tangy side. The longer you store it the better it tastes just like a pickle! Pork Vindaloo reminds me of Christmas all over again!