Sunday, January 31, 2021

Chia Seed Pudding

 Tasty treat and healthy too! 

VANILLA 

1 can coconut milk 
1/3 cup chia seeds 
2 TBS Maple syrup 
1 tsp vanilla 

Mix together in a quart size mason jar.  Stir and/or shake until well combined.  Refrigerate overnight. 


CHOCOLATE  

1 can coconut milk 
1/3 cup chia seeds 
2 TBS Cocoa powder 
3 TBS Maple syrup 
1 tsp vanilla 

Mix together in a quart size mason jar.  Stir and/or shake until well combined.  Refrigerate overnight. 

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Fresh Salsa / Pico de Gallo

 Delicious with homegrown tomatoes, but store bought tomatoes in the winter will do... 

4 red tomatoes on the vine 
1/2 red onion 
1/4 cup chopped cilantro 
1/2 lime 
1/2 to 1 tsp salt (to taste) 

Slice tomatoes and onion.  You can then dice them with a knife, but having a chopper makes this SO easy!  Drain liquid from tomatoes.  Put in bowl and add chopped cilantro and salt.  Hand squeeze 1/2 lime into the mixture.  Stir and sample.  Add more lime or salt to taste.  

Friday, January 22, 2021

Real Nacho Cheese Sauce

 Nacho cheese sauce in the jar sure is tasty but who really knows what is in it? This is a real food version that is quite tasty.  

1 cup whipping cream 
1 TBS cornstarch 
1 cup grated monterey jack 
1 cup grated pepper jack 
1/4 tsp paprika 
1/4 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder 
1/4 tsp salt 

Pour a little bit of the whipping cream into a small cup.  Whisk in 1 TBS of cornstarch and set aside.  
Pour remaining cream into a pot and heat for 2-3 minutes.  Add cheese & spices to cream and whisk while continuing to heat.  Slowly pour the cornstarch/cream mixture into the cheese sauce, whisking the whole time.  Continue to stir until cheese sauce is thickened. 

Serve with tortilla chips.  

Wednesday, January 20, 2021

Legit Mexican Refried Beans

 For many years, I had as new year's resolution to learn how to cook dry beans.  I don't know what it was but it seemed so hard to me!  Well, guess what.  Instantpot makes it super easy!  My husband LOVES the refried beans at mexican restaurants, so I wanted to recreate that.  (I agree with him, they are way better than canned!)  

1 tbs olive oil 
1/3 cup chopped onion 
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced 
4 cloves garlic 
2 cups dry pinto beans, rinsed well and picked through 
1-1/2 TBS chicken better than bouillon (can use chicken stock instead) 
7 cups water 
2 bay leaves 
2-1/2 tsp salt 
1 tsp cumin 
1 tsp oregano 
dash cayenne pepper (up to 1/4 tsp, depending on your spiciness level) 

Saute onion and jalapeno until softened in Instantpot, 3-4 minutes.  Add garlic and saute 30-60 seconds more.  Add a bit of water and stir, scraping up any bits on the bottom.  Add the remaining ingredients, and cook on high for 45 minutes.  Let naturally release 25 minutes. 

Remove lid, strain liquid out into a bowl to reserve.  Blend with a stick blender, adding a little reserved liquid until it is the texture you prefer, about a cup or so.    


Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Creamed Corn with Crusty Parmeson

Favorite creamed corn!  We used to only do this for thanksgiving, then wondered why limit yourself?   

2-1/2 cups frozen corn (20 oz) 
1 cup cream 
1 cup whole milk 
2 TBS sugar (can sub monkfruit for sugar free) 
1 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp cayenne pepper 
2 TBS butter 
2 TBS cornstarch 
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan (not kraft)  

In a saucepan, mix together corn, cream, milk, sugar, salt and cayenne.  Heat on medium on the stove until it comes to a simmer.  (This takes a while since the corn is frozen.)  Simmer 5 minutes.  

Pour into an 8x8 glass pan.  (At this point, you can cover and put in the refrigerator if you are serving later.) 
Sprinkle parmesan on top, evenly coating.  Broil on high 2-3 minutes, until bubbly and cheese is browned a bit.  Serve immediately. 

(If you refrigerated it, then heat for 10-12 minutes at 350 degress, then add the cheese and broil.)    

Double for a  9x13 pan.  


Sunday, September 27, 2020

Red Lentil Daal in the Instant Pot

I never really liked lentils. Possibly because I never had them cooked well.  This is really a really delicious version of Indian Dal!  Also, I really don't know if you spell it dal, daal, or dahl, but I'm not sure there is a correct translation to English.  

1 TBS butter
1 onion, finely diced
2 cup red lentils
4 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp coriander
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper 
6 cups chicken broth 

Set Instant Pot to sauté, then add butter & onions.  Saute until softened and turning golden, about 3-4 minutes.  

Meanwhile, mix the spices.  Add to the pan and saute for another minute or so, until fragrant. 

Add lentils, stir.  Add broth. 

Put lid on the instant pot and set on pressure cook high 12 minutes.  Natural release at least 10 minutes (Longer release = creamier). 

Add salt & pepper to taste. 

Serve on rice or quinoa, or alone  

Thursday, September 10, 2020

Mexican Pizzas

Nice gluten-free version of pizza!  

24 Corn tortillas  (or so) 

Olive oil 

1 can of refried beans 

1/2 lb ground beef 

Taco seasoning 

8 oz shredded cheddar or mexican blend 

Toppers: 
salsa
Sour cream 
Tomatoes, chopped 
Avocado, chopped 
Green onion, chopped 
Olives, chopped 
Shredded iceberg lettuce 

Preheat the oven to 425.  

Spray or drizzle oil on a skillet.  Heat the tortillas one each side, for about 30-60 seconds.  

Place tortillas on a baking sheet.  Spread a thin layer of refried beans on the tortilla.  

Sprinkle about 1-2 TBS of ground beef.  Sprinkle taco seasoning.  

Sprinkle about 2-3 TBS of cheese on top.  Top with another tortilla. 

Bake at 425 for 10-15 minutes or until top tortilla is crispy and cheese is melted.  

Serve with any of the toppers.