Cucumber Salad

21 Jul

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I found Jessica Seinfeld’s web site

Go for it

She makes simple delicious dishes

My daughter told me about this and I had to try it.

I did add a couple of things because thats what I do.

Two big handfuls of herb spring mix

One handful arugula

One large sliced thin English cucumber

Two thin sliced scallions

One teaspoon capers with the brine

8 ounces mozzarella cheese

One sliced thin jalapeño pepper

12 large sliced basil leaves. Only use fresh.

3 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons lemon juice

Top with 1/2 teaspoon sea salt

Layer everything together

This is a very refreshing light salad

Thank you Jessica this was great now I can make a tomato salad all by itself.

 

 

Pineapple Mango Salsa

20 Jul

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Salsas are the best.

They can make a simple meal just a little special.

1/2 sliced grilled pineapple or if you are in a pinch use one can of drained pineapple

about 2 to 3 cups

This is salsa nothing has to be exact measurements

One cut  and peeled mango

3 scallions

2 cloves garlic

15 cherry tomatoes

1/3 cup cilantro

1/4 cup parsley

1 tablespoon lemon juice, lime juice OR orange juice. Only use one.

One seeded jalapeño pepper. Be careful the jalapeños have been very hot so start with a half and add more if you want.

2 tablespoons fresh mint. If you use dry mint use 1/2 teaspoon but the fresh gives it a much better flavor

Salt to taste

Put the garlic and 1/4 teaspoon salt in the food processor then add everything else and pulse to a chunky consistency.

I found out that if I rough chop everything it processes much  more evenly

I served this with pork cutlets but wouldn’t hesitate to serve it with fish or chips.

You can also add black beans after you process everything.

 

 

Lemon Cauliflower Rice

17 Jul

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This is a vegetable and salad all in one.

One large head of cauliflower

4 tablespoons oil plus two more tablespoons for the cauliflower

One extra large onion  cut into 1/2 inch pieces

3 cloves minced garlic

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt maybe more depending on the size of the cauliflower

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

The zest of 1/2 lemon

the juice of 1/2 lemon

lemon slices for garnish

3 tablespoons fresh parsley, use only fresh. If you don’t have fresh leave it out.

8 caper berries with the brine

If you don’t have caper berries use 2 tablespoons capers

2 scallions for garnish

Clean and cut up the cauliflower and put it into the food processor

Pulse till the cauliflower is all crumbles like rice

DO NOT OVER PULSE

Better too big than mush because you want some texture.

In a large skilled add the oil, onions and garlic.

Cook slowly till the onions caramelize

Add the sugar

Add two more tablespoons oil and add the cauliflower and lemon zest

Raise the heat to medium high and stir fry the onions and cauliflower together

This only takes maybe five minutes before the cauliflower cooks.

Add the salt and pepper and taste to see if it needs more salt

Take off the heat and add the lemon juice, chopped parsley and capers.

Garnish with lemon slices, scallions and more parsley.

This can be served hot, warm or at cold.

I squeeze the lemon slices over my portion because I love lemon.

The combination of the sweet onions and lemon is delicious.

 

 

 

Janet’s Chicken Cutlets

13 Jul

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My sister Janet makes chicken cutlets to die for.

She gets boneless, skinless chicken breasts and cuts them the size of the palm of your hand.

I am convinced she caresses and kisses each one.

They are all the same exact size which I think is a amazing.

5 pounds of chicken cutlets makes about 25 cutlets

Get a good heavy frying pan and fill it with about 1/2 inch of canola oil.

5 eggs, whip them well

Add one teaspoon garlic salt

Set it aside

4 cups of seasoned Italian bread crumbs

1/2 cup fresh chopped parsley

Mix together

Heat the oil till it is almost smoking but not.

Dip the cutlet in the eggs and then the bread crumb mixture

Slowly put it in the frying pan and fry.

Try not to touch them until you see the edges turn brown.

Then flip over.

It is important to check the heat of the oil to make sure it doesn’t get too hot or too cool.

Using a gas stove really can keep the heat regulated.

Thats it.

If you have any left over , they make delicious parmesan.

My kids eat them as soon as they see them with ketchup and hot sauce.

I love them on a salad or in a sandwich.

You will not regret making a platter full.

Best leftover ever.

 

 

Ninja Turtle Cookies

11 Jul

Betty Crocker has done it again.

She makes a non dairy cookie mix.

My grandson went crazy over this plain sugar cookie.

Just follow the directions on the box.

From start to finish including baking it took maybe 3o minutes .

These cookies are so cute.

Enjoy.

Scallion Pancakes

10 Jul

I have always loved scallion pancakes but never made them.

Last week I made them twice.

Don’t get excited. They are easy but time consuming.

Plus I had to make a double batch and could have used a triple batch.

This is a recipe for a single batch which make six pancakes.

2 cups all purpose flour

1 cup boiling water

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sesame seed oil for painting and more for frying

2 cups diced green scallions

Canola oil for frying

Take out your food processor

Add the flour, salt and boiling water

Pulse till the dough forms a ball

If too wet add more flour

Take the ball out of the bowl and wrap in plastic wrap

Refrigerate till cool

Cut into 6 equal pieces

I use my pasta machine to get the dough thin

Start with #1 and progress to #3

You should have a 8 to 9 inch piece of dough

Paint with a thin layer of sesame oil and fold in half

Repeat this 2 times

After that paint with the sesame oil again and add 1/6 of the scallions

Now this is a little different

Take one end of the pancake and roll it so it looks like a finger then roll the dough around like a cinnamon bun.

Flatten with your hand and using your rollin pin, roll till it is about 6 inches in diameter

Repeat with the remaining dough

Heat a skillet with three tablespoons canola oil and one teaspoon sesame oil

When the oil is hot add the pancake and cook till it is brown on one side then flip over for another minute

Drain on a paper towel

Continue cooking the rest of the pancakes

Put the pancakes on a moist paper towel and microwave for 12 to 20 seconds to heat them up

I used them to make gyro

I grilled lamb and shredded it

Smeared tsatziki sauce on the pancake, placed a good handful of meat, one grape leaf and a ton of lemon salad with feta cheese.

OMG I will make this over and over again.

 

 

 

 

Linguine with Clam Sauce

26 Jun

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Whenever I sit at the beach I am starving and thinking about food.

Nothing is better than beach food.

My friend Joan was talking and her favorite meal is linguine with clam sauce so I had to come home and make it.

My Mom always made this for us so I didn’t think too much about cooking it.

1 1/2 pounds of fresh linguine

One stick of butter

One cup canola oil

6 cloves minced garlic

One cup chicken stock

Two pints fresh chopped clams about 32 ounces.

4 tablespoons rough chopped parsley

Salt to taste because sometimes the clams are salty and sometimes they are not.

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper [optional]

Melt the oil and butter in a saucepan

Add the garlic just until you smell that delicious aroma

Add the clams with all their juices and chicken stock

Let this come to a boil and then simmer for at least 15 to 20 minutes

Bring a large pot with water and one tablespoon salt to a boil

Cook the pasta to your liking.

I like mine slightly undercook and chewy.

Drain the pasta and in the same big pot return the pasta and add the clam sauce.

Let it cook on the stove for two minutes for all the sauce to coat the pasta on medium heat

Take off the heat and add the fresh parsley and plate.

If one would like grated cheese by all means let them have it.

This is a fast delicious meal.

You can make the sauce ahead of time , refrigerate it and then just heat it up.

 

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