Naan

This recipe it sooooo delicious, we had it last night and Shawn and I already want it again (Brooke you need to try this).  Shawn and I like Greek/Mediterranean food.  It is usually pretty fresh, healthy stuff with lots of flavor.  I found this recipe for Naan and really wanted to try it, but traditionally in Greek Cuisine these are served with lamb and Taziki sauce (for those of you who have had a Gyro, they are the same thing).  While Shawn likes lamb, I haven't conquered my fear of cooking it. I've promise Shawn one year for Christmas I'll make a big roasted lamb, but until then I'll just stick with chicken:)

Here is the Naan recipe.  The dough is really simple, like any yeast dough, but it does take time rolling each one out.  But, I PROMISE, it is totally worth it.  It is like having homemade tortillas, they are pain to make, but sooo worth it.

NAAN
1/2 cup warm water
2 tsp. yeast (make sure to always use good yeast, it makes a difference)
1 tsp. sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup plain yogurt
1 large egg

In a large bowl, stir together the water, yeast and sugar.  Let stand for 5 minutes or until foam so you know the yeast is working.  Stir in flour, salt, canola oil, yogurt, and egg.  Mix together and knead until smooth.  Cover with towel and let rise until doubled in size, about an hour.

Divide dough into 8 pieces and roll out into thin circle.  Cook each Naan in a nice hot skillet drizzled with oil and a dab of butter.  Cook about 2-4 minutes until golden and the surface has blister looking things, then flip is over and cook the other side.


You can serve these many ways, but I decided to mix my Greek Food with Mexican.  So I made some taco spiced chicken (I'll post that recipe someday because it's good), and served it with the Naan, Guacamole (Shawn's homemade, I'll have to post that also someday), lettuce, Colby/jack cheese, and my own Mexican Cilantro Taziki Sauce.  I actually make up my own sauce.  I have a recipe for a lime/cilantro vinaigrette, so I made that and added about 1/2 cup plain yogurt to it to thicken it up.  The base of Taziki sauce is yogurt, so I made it the base of my vinaigrette, and I think it turned out delicious.  Here is the Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette Recipe (from www.ourbestbites.com).

Cilantro-Lime Viaigrette
1/4 cup fresh lime juice (about 2-3 limes)
1/4 cup white wine vinegar or rice vinegar
4 cloves garlic
1/2 tsp. kosher salt
2 tsp. sugar
3/4 cup canola oil (the recipe actually calls for 1 cup, but I decreased it because I knew I wanted to add the yogurt and wanted a thicker texture)
1/2 cup roughly chopped cilantro

Mix all ingredients in blender, except oil.  Blend together and gradually add oil.  This vinaigrette can be served with salad greens, on any type of Mexican dish, or use it ask a marinade.

ENJOY!

Lettuce Wraps

I know that there are lots of PF Change lettuce wrap copy cat recipes out there.  I have tried many of them, and while I have liked all of them, this one is the easiest with lots of good flavor.
10 whole lettuce leafs (iceberg or bib lettuce)
1 lb. ground chicken/turkey/beef (PF Changs uses ground chicken)
1 white onion, chopped
2 T. garlic minced
1 small can water chestnuts, chopped
3 green onions, sliced thin
1/4 cup hoisin sauce (or you can make your own, recipe below)
1 T. soy sauce
2 T. rice wine vinegar
1 T. chili paste (or 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes)  You can decrease this depending on your tastes
1 T. sesame oil

Homemade Hoisin
While I have Hoisin sauce in my fridge because we like cooking Asian Cuisine, most people don't.  So here is a substitute.
5 T. soy sauce
2 T. bean curd paste (Or you can substitute peanut butter because if you don't has Hoisin, you probably don't have bean curd paste :)
1 tsp. garlic powder
1 T. honey
1/2 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp hot sauce
(you can adjust the hot sauce and pepper to your taste.)

Cook the ground meet until brown with the white onion and garlic.  Add soy sauce, vinegar, Hoisin sauce, chili paste, sesame oil, water chestnuts and green onions.  Cook until green onions start to wilt and then serve.

Enjoy!

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Another allrecipes.com favorite.  My kids like meatballs, but it's fun to try something different other than marinara sauce.  I like to use homemade meatballs, but you can always use those frozen pre-made ones.  I always add chopped sweet peppers to any sweet and sour type meals, I don't know why, but I do and it taste good.  Of course my kids pick them out, but I don't care.  I like to make this recipe in my crock pot in the morning, and then at dinner time the house smells wonderful and dinner is ready :)

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 cup dry bread crumbs
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup ketchup
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce

Directions

1. In a large bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, salt and pepper. Roll into meatballs about 1 to 1 1/2 inches in size.
2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meatballs until browned on all sides.
3. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, sugar and soy sauce. Pour over the meatballs, and allow sauce to thicken. Continue to heat until the sauce just starts to bubble.

 

Mushroom Barley Pilaf

Shawn really likes mushrooms, which I think is weird, but anyway I try to find ways to cook with them.  This recipe makes a nice flavorful side dish.  

recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com

• 1/4 cup butter
• 3 cloves garlic, pressed
• 1 small onion, minced
• 2 cups sliced mushrooms
• 1/2 cup dry sherry
• 2 (13.75 ounce) cans chicken broth
• 1 cup pearl barley
• 2 teaspoons dried basil, or to taste
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Melt butter in an oven safe large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Stir in garlic and onion, and cook, stirring occasionally until the onion has softened and turned translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the mushrooms, and cook until the mushrooms have softened and released their liquid, about 5 minutes more. Stir in the sherry, and simmer for 1 minute. Add the chicken broth, barley, and basil; bring to a boil over high heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper, and boil for 5 minutes.
3. Cover the Dutch oven, and place into the preheated oven. Bake until the barley is tender, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Stir in chopped parsley before serving.

ENJOY!

Pita's and Hummus

My sister lives in Israel (Hi Sister!) and this recipe is in honor of her.  I was a little nervous about homemade pita's, but they are delicious and really so easy.  And, hummus is just as simple.  My sister tells me that they use hummus in place of mayo on sandwhiches and I think I just might have to try that, I am sure it adds lots of flavor.

Let's start with the Hummus.  The recipe is so simple, but it does call for one ingredient that you probably don't have in your kitchen and that is Tahini.  Tahini is basically a sesame seed butter.  It is really good and adds tons of flavor, but if you don't want to buy it you can use regular peanut butter, or some sesame oil for the flavor.

1 can garbanzo beans (I reserved a little of the liquid and added later to adjust the thickness)
1-2 cloves of garlic, chopped
4 T. lemon juice (or 1 fresh lemon squeezed)
2 T. Tahini
1 tsp. salt

I just made my hummus really basic, but you can also add 1/3 cup chopped parsley (but I don't really like parsley so I left if out).  You can also blend in an avocado if you like those.  Put all the ingredients in the blender and puree until desired consistency.  To serve drizzle with olive oil on top and enjoy.

My favorite way to eat Hummus is with Pita chips.  NOT the store bought ones, those are gross.  You can use store bought pitas covered with olive oil, garlic pwd, salt, basil, oregano, and anything else you want.  Then toast them in the oven (around 425) for 8 minutes until crispy, but here is my recipe for homemade pita's.

1 T. yeast
1 1/8 cup warm water
1 T. oil
3 cups flour (you can use wheat flour also)
1 tsp. salt
pinch of sugar

Disolve yeast in water.  Stir in the flour and salt.  Stir into a ball and knead until smooth.  Divide into 6 balls and roll out in circle about 1/4 thick.  Cover with towel and let rise 45 minutes.  Flip pita's upside down onto baking sheet and bake at 500 for about 8 minutes or until browned and puffed.  They bread comes out hard, but will soften and flatten as they cool.
Enjoy!!

Homemade Granola Bars

• 
  

  Ingredients

  • 4 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Lightly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

taken from www.allrecipes.com

BBQ Chicken Pasta

BBQ Chicken Pizza is a favorite around our house and that is why when I saw this recipe I had to try it.  I can't even remember where I found this recipe.  While this wasn't my favorite dinner, it was super easy and the kids sure did like it and had seconds the next day for lunch (which is rather unusual, my kids are picky).  It is kind of like a deluxe hamburger helper type meal, you cook it all in a skillet on the stove.  It's definitely worth a try :)

1 T. Olive Oil
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cute into bite-size chunks
1 red onion, diced
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/2 tsp salt
12 ounces penne pasta
2/3 cup barbecue sauce
1/3 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
1/2 cup sharp cheddar

In large (12 inch) skillet heat olive oil and cook chicken and onions.  When chicken is cooked through remove from pan.

In same pan add the water, chicken broth, penne, and salt. Bring to boil and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed, the pasta is tender and the mixture is thick and syrupy.  Stir in the barbecue sauce and sour cream.  Add in reserved chicken and onions, and shredded cheese's.  Stir to combine and until everything is heated through

Serve immediately.  Garnish with additional red onions, shredded cheese, and if you like cilantro I think it would go great as a garnish.  Shawn and I also thought it would be better to use Gouda cheese, rather than mozzarella, since that is what we use on BBQ chicken pizza and love it.

Orange Knots

Can you tell I have been cooking breads and rolls a lot lately??  Another great classic recipe.

2 tsp. yeast
1 tsp. salt

1 1/3 cup milk, scalded

2 T. orange peel

2 beaten eggs

1/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup butter

1/3 cup sugar

Mix yeast, sugar, salt, in bowl.  Add milk and let proof for a few minutes.  Mix in orange peel, orange juice, and softened butter.  Mix in 2 cups flour and beat well.  Add eggs and mix well.  Add remaining ingredients until you get a soft dough.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  Knead dough for 10 minutes until smooth.  Let the dough raise until it is doubled (1 hour).  Punch down and let rest for a few minutes. Roll dough into rectangle and cut into long stripes.  Roll each strip lightly under fingers and loosely tie into a knot.

Arrange on greased baking sheets and tuck ends under.  Cover and let rise until almost double, about one hour.  Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on rack and cover with glaze.

Glaze:

1 tsp. grated orange peel

2 T. orange juice

1 cup powdered sugar ( I added a little more because I like a thicker glaze)

Winter Fruit Salad

This is a really great salad.  The dressing is yummy and sweet and it's loaded with fruit.  It does go soggy pretty fast, so don't make it too far in advance.

Dressing:
1/2 C sugar
1/3 C lemon juice
1 tsp. dijon mustard
2 tsp. chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
2/3 C oil
1 T. poppy seeds


Salad:
I head iceburg lettuce, chopped
4 oz. shredded swiss cheese
1 cup cashews
1 cup craisins
2 apples, chopped
2 pear, chopped

Mix salad ingredients together and pour in dressing.  Mix well and serve.

Rosemary-Lemon No-Knead Bread

This recipe is from a Williams Sonoma cataloge and it is soooo good.  It takes a while to rise (18 hours), but very little effort and NO kneeding.  Baking the dough in the cast iron pot makes the crust so crispy and good.  I love my Le Cruset cast iron pot and use it for everything (roasts, soup, chicken, braising, bread, veggies, etc.).  They are expensive, but well worth it!


3 cups flour
1/4 tsp. active dry yeast
1 3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tsp. lemon zest
cornmeal as needed.


n a large bowl, combine the flour, yeast, salt, rosemary and zest. Add 1 5/8 cups water and stir until blended; the dough will be shaggy and very sticky. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap. Let the dough rest at warm room temperature (about 70°F) until the surface is dotted with bubbles, 12 to 18 hours.

Place the dough on a lightly floured work surface. Sprinkle the dough with a little flour and fold the dough over onto itself once or twice. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let rest for 15 minutes.

Using just enough flour to keep the dough from sticking to the work surface or your fingers, gently and quickly shape the dough into a ball. Generously coat a cotton towel, preferably a flour sack towel (not terry cloth), with cornmeal. Put the dough, seam side down, on the towel and dust with more flour or cornmeal. Cover with another cotton towel and let rise until the dough is more than double in size and does not readily spring back when poked with a finger, about 2 hours.

At least 30 minutes before the dough is ready, put a 2 3/4-quart cast-iron pot in the oven and preheat the oven to 450°F.

Carefully remove the pot from the oven. Slide your hand under the towel and turn the dough over, seam side up, into the pot; it may look like a mess, but that is OK. Shake the pan once or twice if the dough is unevenly distributed; it will straighten out as it bakes. Cover with the lid and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until the loaf is browned, 15 to 30 minutes more.

Transfer the pot to a wire rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Using oven mitts, turn the pot on its side and gently turn the bread; it will release easily. Makes one 1 1/2-lb. loaf.

Homemade Italian Bread

This dough makes a large batch of Italian Bread (three loaves).  It is a pretty classic dough that can be shaped anyway you want.  The key to making a nice crispy crust and chewy inside it the misting you do while it's baking.  (another Allrecipes recipe)

3 cups warm water
1 tsp. white sugar
1 T. active yeast
1 T. salt
7 cups flour

Add sugar and yeast to the warm water and let proof.

Stir in 4 cups of flour and beat until smooth.  Cover and let rest for 15 minutes.

Beat in the salt and then add enough remaining flour to make a stiff dough.  Knead until it is smooth and soft.  Turn in a greased bowl, cover, and let double in size.

Once doubled, punch down and divide into three.  Place back in bowl, cover, and let rise.  Once doubled again, punch down and form into three fat footballs (or circles or ovals or rectangles or whatever you want).  Grease heavy cookie sheets (I like to use my baking stone, it gets really nice and hot when I pre-heat it) and sprinkle with corn meal.  Place the bread on the sheets, cover with a towel, and let rise.

Once rise, mist with water and place in a preheated 450 degree oven.  Mist loaves with water (about every 4-5 minutes) and turn occasionally while they bake.  Bread is done when golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped on the bottom.

Favorite Breadsticks

We had the missionaries over for dinner the other night.  They seriously asked for my breadstick recipe (what 19 year old boys ask for a recipe).  This is a tried and true breadstick recipe that I've used for a long time.  I got it from HERE, I love their recipes!!

1 1/2 cup warm water
1 T. sugar
1 T. yeast
1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 1/2 cups flour

Combine yeast, sugar, salt, and water.  Let proof for a few minutes.  Next mix in flour until dough starts to pull away from sides, you might not need all the flour.  Let dough rise until double (about 45 minutes), then roll into big rectangle and spread melted butter and garlic salt over dough.  Use pizza cutter to cut long strips (usually about 12) and drape over your finger and twist.  Place on greased pan and spread with another coat of melted butter and I like to sprinkle on oregano, basil, parsley, parmesan cheese, and anything else that sounds good.  Cover and let rise for another 30 minutes and then cook at 425 for 10-12 minutes.  I also like to make these with cinnamon and sugar for a fun treat.

Honey Of An Oatmeal Bread

Another one of my favorite bread recipes.  This recipe is for a bread machine, but since I don't have one I just make it the normal way I make yeast breads and bake it.  It's really good!

1 cup water
1 T. veg. oil
1/4 cup honey
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup rolled oats
2 1/3 cups bread flour
1 tsp active dry yeast.

Mix ingredients together in bread machine (or I just mix them together like I mix any yeast dough).  Let rise once, punch down, put in greased pan and let rise again.  Bake at 350 for 45 minutes or until golden brown.

Simple Carne Asada

Wow, it's been a while since a post. Here is a fun fresh mexican dinner. Shawn and I actually saw a recipe similar to this on Dinner, Drive-Ins, and Dives, or as Shawn says, "the Triple D". We always watch this like at 11:00 at night and then we fall asleep hungry. I like this recipe because it is really fresh and simple. It is not your standard taco and has a unique flavor with all the onion and cilantro.

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 onion

2 T. lime juice ( or one fresh lime)

Cook beef and onion until cooked through and then turn off heat and add lime juice.

1/2 onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1-2 T. lime juice (about one fresh, but I really didn't measure I just squeezed until it tasted right)

Mix these 3 ingredients together for the cilantro/onion relish.

Warm tortillas and layer with beef, cilantro/onion relish, favorite salsa, and a little cheese. You can serve with a lime slice for a little extra kick.

ENJOY!

Beach Street Lemon Chicken Pasta

This pasta tasted pretty delicious to us and we didn't even add the cheese!  It is light and a little citrusy, but not to much.  Good, good pasta.

1 lb. of whatever pasta you like
2. T olive oil
Zest from one lemon
Juice from one lemon
1/2 c. chopped green onion
1/4 chopped fresh parsley
Salt and Freshly ground pepper
Parmesan Cheese

Marinade:

1/2 cup olive oil
2 cloves garlic
2 Tbl. Cajun seasoning
2 Tbl. Lemon Juice
2 Tbl. minced parsley
1 Tbl. brown sugar (more if yo like it sweeter)
2 Tbls. Soy Sauce
2 Chicken breasts sliced (you could also make this with shrimp)

-Combine marinade and let do its thing for 1-12 hours.
-Cook marinated chicken with marinade sauce
-Cook Pasta in separate pot
-Combine juice of one lemon, zest, olive oil, green onions, and fresh parsley together
-Add hot pasta to parsley mix along with chicken.
-Add cheese, salt and pepper to your liking and serve warm