Learning to Cook

I have always been surrounded by wonderful cooks and bakers. While this has been delightful for my taste buds, I always wondered if I would ever be able to cook like them. When I lived in Brazil, I was forced to learn how to cook because the ingredients at my disposal were so different. The experience was, at first, frustrating. But, once I began to experiment, the world of cooking opened up to me. My recipe box is now brimming, and I thought others might be interested in trying some of the recipes I have found. I haven’t tried them all yet, but I plan to in the future! I hope you enjoy, and please feel free to add your own suggestions/comments.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Curried Squash & Chicken Soup


Red Thai curry paste adds heat and depth of flavor to this simple soup. If you like, omit the chicken and spinach to make an even simpler first-course soup.

2 servings, 1 3/4 cups each
Active Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes

Ingredients
1 10-ounce package frozen pureed winter squash
1/2 cup lite coconut milk, (see Tips for Two)
1/2 cup water
8 ounces boneless, skinless chicken breast, thinly sliced
1 6-ounce bag baby spinach
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 teaspoons brown sugar
1/2-1 teaspoon Thai red curry paste, (see Note)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation
Heat squash, coconut milk and water in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash defrosts, about 10 minutes. Add chicken, reduce heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 minutes. Stir in spinach, lime juice, sugar, curry paste to taste and salt and continue cooking until the chicken is cooked through, about 3 minutes longer.

Tips & Notes
Tips for Two: Refrigerate coconut milk for up to 4 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Drizzle on sliced fresh fruit; use as some of the liquid for cooking rice.
Note: Red curry paste is a blend of chile peppers, garlic, lemongrass and galangal (a root with a flavor similar to ginger). Look for it in jars or cans in the Asian section of the supermarket or specialty stores.

Nutrition
Per serving: 274 calories; 7 g fat (4 g sat, 1 g mono); 63 mg cholesterol; 22 g carbohydrates; 28 g protein; 6 g fiber; 453 mg sodium; 1288 mg potassium.

Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin A (310% daily value), Vitamin C (70% dv), Folate (49% dv), Potassium (37% dv).

Exchanges: 1 starch, 2 vegetable, 3 very lean meat, 1 fat

From: http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/curried_squash_chicken_soup.html

Monday, October 12, 2009

Apple-&-Leek-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin

Active Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
4 servings

Ingredients
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus 1 teaspoon, divided
1 cup chopped leek, white and light green parts only, rinsed
1 sweet apple, such as Braeburn, Honeycrisp or Macoun, peeled and chopped
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme, plus 1 sprig, divided
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
3/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
1-1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin, trimmed
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1/2 cup applejack or apple brandy
2 cups apple cider
2 teaspoons cornstarch
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

Preparation

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F.
  2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add leek and cook, stirring, until beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add apple, chopped thyme, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apple is beginning to soften, about 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a bowl to cool. Rinse out the pan.
  3. To butterfly the tenderloin, lay it on a large cutting board. Holding the knife blade flat and parallel to the board, make a lengthwise cut through the center of the meat, stopping short of the opposite edge so that the tenderloin remains in one piece. Open as you would a book.
  4. Cover with plastic wrap. With a meat mallet, rolling pin or heavy pan, pound the pork to an even 1/4-inch thickness.
  5. Spread the apple mixture in the center of the pork, leaving a 1-inch border all around.
  6. Starting at a long side, roll up the pork to enclose the filling. To keep the stuffing from falling out during roasting, fold in about 1 inch of the two short ends. Tie kitchen string firmly lengthwise around the roast to secure the two ends. Then tie it crosswise with string at 2-inch intervals. Lightly brush the roast with 1teaspoon oil and sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.
  7. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil in the skillet over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and brown the roast on all sides, about 4 minutes total. Transfer the roast to a rimmed baking sheet (set the pan aside). Place in the oven and roast until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part registers 145°F, about 15 minutes. Let rest on a clean cutting board for 5 minutes.
  8. Meanwhile, prepare the sauce. Crush garlic with the flat side of a knife. Return the pan to medium-high heat. Add applejack (or apple brandy), thyme sprig and the garlic; bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute. Whisk cider and cornstarch and add to the pan. Return to a boil and cook, stirring occasionally, until thickened and reduced by just over half (to about 3/4 cup), 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat; discard the garlic and thyme. Whisk in mustard and any juice from the baking sheet. Slice the pork and serve with the sauce.

    Nutrition
    Per serving: 366 calories; 11 g fat (2 g sat, 7 g mono); 74 mg cholesterol; 27 g carbohydrates; 24 g protein; 1 g fiber; 561 mg sodium; 534 mg potassium.

    2 Carbohydrate Serving

    Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 fruit, 3 lean meat, 1 fat