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.

Friday, October 1, 2010

Cumin-Spiced Chicken with Chunky Tomato Sauce

Bright green cilantro tops this cumin-spiced chicken with an extra dimension of flavor. Round out the meal with Chili-Lime Corn on the Cob.

Prep: 2 minutes; Cook: 15 minutes

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 chicken breast half and about 1/4 cup tomato sauce)


Ingredients
Cooking spray
4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
3/4 teaspoon ground cumin, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 (10-ounce) can mild diced tomatoes and green chiles, undrained
3/4 cup (3 ounces) preshredded reduced-fat Mexican blend cheese
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Preparation
1. Preheat broiler.

2. Heat a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat; coat pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle both sides of chicken evenly with 1/2 teaspoon cumin and salt; cook 6 minutes on each side or until done. Remove chicken from pan; keep warm.

3. Add 1/4 teaspoon cumin and tomatoes to pan; cook 1 minute. Return chicken to pan; spoon tomato mixture evenly over chicken. Sprinkle evenly with cheese; broil 2 minutes or until cheese melts. Top with cilantro.

Nutritional Information
Calories:253 (20% from fat)
Fat:6g (sat 2.9g,mono 0.5g,poly 0.5g)
Protein:45.9g
Carbohydrate:2.7g
Fiber:0.9g
Cholesterol:106mg
Iron:1.6mg
Sodium:693mg
Calcium:188mg

http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1896097

Chicken-Tortilla Pie

The fresh salsa called for here has a natural low-sodium advantage over bottled commercial salsa. A rotisserie chicken with the skin removed can be used for the shredded chicken breast, but keep in mind that this will increase the amount of sodium in the dish.

Prep: 13 minutes; Cook: 10 minutes

Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)


Ingredients
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Fresh Salsa
1 cup spicy black bean dip (such as Guiltless Gourmet)
4 (8-inch) multigrain flour tortillas (such as Tumaro's)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) reduced-fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Cooking spray
Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 450°.

2. Combine chicken and salsa in a medium bowl.

3. Spread 1/4 cup black bean dip over each tortilla. Top each evenly with chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese. Stack tortillas in bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese melts. Remove sides of pan. Cut pie into 4 wedges. Serve immediately.

Nutritional Information
Calories:380 (26% from fat)
Fat:11g (sat 4.3g,mono 4.4g,poly 1.4g)
Protein:39.9g
Carbohydrate:28.7g
Fiber:12.2g
Cholesterol:80mg
Iron:0.8mg
Sodium:660mg
Calcium:215mg


http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1896093

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Toasted Israeli Couscous Salad with Grilled Summer Vegetables

Ingredients
1/2 cup balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
2 cloves garlic, coarsely chopped
1 cup olive oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
2 green zucchini, quartered lengthwise
2 yellow zucchini, quartered lengthwise
6 spears asparagus, trimmed
12 cherry tomatoes
1 red bell pepper, quartered and seeded
1 yellow bell pepper, quartered and seeded
1/4 cup basil chiffonade (stack leaves, roll in a cigar shape and cut crosswise into thin strips)
1/4 cup coarsely chopped flat-leaf parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound Israeli couscous
2 cups vegetable stock, heated
Hot water to cover

Directions
In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, mustard and garlic, slowly add the olive oil and whisk until combined. Season with salt and pepper. Pour 1/2 the marinade over the vegetables and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Preheat the grill. Remove the vegetables from the marinade and grill the vegetables until just cooked through. Cut the zucchini and peppers into 1/2-inch pieces, cut the tomatoes in half. Heat the olive oil over medium-high heat, add the couscous and toast until lightly golden brown. Cover the couscous with the hot stock plus hot water and bring to a boil, cook until al dente and drain well. Place in a large serving bowl, add the grilled vegetables and herbs and toss with the remaining vinaigrette. Serve at room temperature.

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Salmon with Sweet Chile Sauce

Serve with soba noodles tossed with low-sodium soy sauce and dark sesame oil. Add steamed broccoli florets on the side.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 fillet, 1 tablespoon sauce, and 1 teaspoon green onions)
Ingredients

* 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, skinned
* 1 teaspoon ground coriander
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* Cooking spray
* 2 tablespoons honey
* 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
* 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon Sriracha (hot chile sauce, such as Huy Fong)
* 4 teaspoons thinly sliced green onions

Preparation

1. Sprinkle fish evenly with coriander and salt. Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add fish to pan; cook 4 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork or until desired degree of doneness.

2. Combine honey, juice, soy sauce, and Sriracha; drizzle over fish. Sprinkle with green onions.
Nutritional Information

Calories: 262 (36% from fat)
Fat: 10.5g (sat 2.5g,mono 4.6g,poly 2.5g)
Protein: 31.2g
Carbohydrate:9.5g
Fiber: 0.1g
Cholesterol: 80mg
Iron: 0.6mg
Sodium: 460mg
Calcium:18mg

Jackie Mills, MS, RD, Cooking Light, DECEMBER 2008

Honey-Pecan Chicken Thighs

Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients

* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
* 8 skinned and boned chicken thighs
* 3/4 cup honey, divided
* 3/4 cup Dijon mustard, divided
* 2 garlic cloves, minced
* 1 cup finely chopped pecans
* 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
* Garnish: Italian parsley sprigs

Preparation

Combine first 4 ingredients; sprinkle evenly over chicken in a shallow dish. Stir together 1/2 cup honey, 1/2 cup mustard, and garlic; pour over chicken. Cover and chill 2 hours.

Remove chicken from marinade, discarding marinade. Dredge chicken in pecans; place on a lightly greased rack in an aluminum foil-lined broiler pan.

Bake at 375° for 40 minutes or until chicken is done.

Stir together remaining 1/4 cup honey, remaining 1/4 cup mustard, and curry powder; serve sauce with chicken. Garnish if desired.

Southern Living, MAY 2002

Berry Scones with Orange Honey Butter

Ingredients
Orange Honey Butter:

* 1 quart heavy cream
* Zest of 1 orange
* 1/2 cup honey
* Pinch salt

Berry Buttermilk Scones:

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 tablespoons sugar, plus more for sprinkling scones
* 1 tablespoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 3/4 stick cold unsalted butter, cubed
* 1 1/2 cups fresh mixed berries (e.g. blueberries, raspberries, blackberries), washed and dried
* 3/4 cup buttermilk, (leftover from orange butter), plus more to brush scones

Directions

You can do this the old fashioned way and add ingredients to a mason jar, cover with the lid and shake vigorously for 10 minutes, or you can use the food processor.

In a food processor bowl add all the ingredients and turn on high. The liquid will slosh, whip and then separate after about 4 minutes. When the mixture separates, (these are the butter solids and buttermilk), stop processing and strain out the buttermilk - there will be just under a cup. Reserve the buttermilk to make the scones. Strain out the butter and squeeze dry. Work the butter a couple of times to bring it together to form a nice ball. Refrigerate butter until ready to use.

For the scones:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a food processor bowl add flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add cold butter cubes and pulse until you have the texture of coarse bread crumbs. Transfer to a large mixing bowl, then add 3/4 cup of buttermilk and stir to combine. As it comes together add berries and fold dough to incorporate berries but not break them up too much.

Drop spoonfuls of dough onto a parchment lined sheet pan. Using a pastry brush, paint the tops of each scone lightly with buttermilk and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake until golden brown, and nice and puffy, about 17 to 20 minutes. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire rack.

Serve warm with the Orange Honey Butter.

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Honey Vinaigrette

Use leftover vinaigrette as a marinade for chicken or to dress a salad later in the week.

Yield: about 2/3 cup (serving size: 1 tablespoon)

Ingredients
1/4 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 tablespoons white balsamic or white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon honey
1 tablespoon minced shallots
2 teaspoons minced fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Preparation
Combine all ingredients, stirring well with a whisk. Cover and chill at least 30 minutes.

Note: Store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Asian Vinaigrette

Yield: 1 cup


Ingredients
1/4 cup minced red onion
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons grated fresh ginger
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
1/4 cup peanut oil
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 1/2 tablespoons dark sesame oil
Preparation
Combine all ingredients in a jar; cover tightly. Shake vigorously.

Sun-Dried Tomato Vinaigrette

Yield: 1 3/4 cups (serving size: 2 tablespoons)

Ingredients
1 cup sun-dried tomatoes, packed without oil (about 2 ounces)
2 cups boiling water
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup no-salt-added tomato juice
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 garlic clove, peeled

Preparation
Combine sun-dried tomatoes and 2 cups boiling water in a bowl; let stand 20 minutes. Drain.
Place sun-dried tomatoes, 3/4 cup water, and next 7 ingredients (3/4 cup water through garlic) in a food processor or blender; process until smooth.

Brown Sugar-Cider Vinaigrette

Yield: Makes about 1 cup

Ingredients
2/3 cup canola oil
1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
2 green onions, minced
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation
1. Whisk together all ingredients until blended.