Cherry Tomato, Feta & Basil Salad

This is quicky and easy tomato salad to make. 

Ingredients

1 clove garlic, minced

3 T. Olive Oil

1 T. Balsamic vinegar

1 t. Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Squeeze of lemon juice, about 1 T

2 C. Cherry Tomatoes, cut in half

Fresh basil, chopped, about 6 leaves

1/4 C. Crumbled Feta cheese

Directions

Combine the first six ingredients in a serving bowl and whisk together. Taste and adjust as needed to your liking. 

Add the tomatoes, basil, and feta cheese; toss to combine. 

Cover and let sit in the refrigerator until ready to serve. This will allow the flavors to meld.

Note: I made this again recently and added peeled/diced cucumber (one small) and about 10 Kalamata olives, sliced.

Peruvian-Style Chicken w/Green Sauce

I first made this back in 2015 for a rotation group dinner (17 people, 11 April 2015). The dinner theme was Peruvian foods. 

I made Peruvian chicken with a delicious green aji sauce; and a rice/lentil side dish.

I've made this chicken dish many, many times now. I double the green sauce to use for other meals.

Peruvian-Style Roast Chicken with Green Sauce

Recipe from: https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/peruvian-style-roast-chicken-with-green-sauce.html

For the Chicken

3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1/4 cup lime juice, from 2 limes
4 large garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 tablespoon kosher salt
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoons sugar
4 pound whole chicken

Combine all of the ingredients except the chicken in a blender or mini food processor, and blend until smooth. Remove the giblets from the inside of the chicken and pat the outside of the chicken dry with paper towels; place in a bowl, breast side up with the legs facing you. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or your fingers, loosen the skin from the flesh over the breasts and legs, being careful not to tear the skin or push all the way through (you want the marinade to stay inside the bird). Spoon about 2/3 of the marinade evenly underneath the skin, and spread the remaining 1/3 evenly over the skin. Marinate the chicken in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight.

Adjust the oven rack to the lower-middle position, and preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil for easy clean-up. Spray a rack (preferably a v-shape) with non-stick cooking spray and place the chicken on top. Tie the legs together with kitchen string. Roast for 20 minutes, until the skin is golden. Turn the heat down to 375 degrees, and continue to roast for about an hour and ten minutes more, or until the juices run clear when you cut between the leg and thigh. (Keep an eye on it -- if it's browning too quickly, cover it loosely with foil.) Tent the chicken with foil and let rest for about 20 minutes. Tilt the chicken over the roasting pan to release the juices, then transfer to a cutting board. Carve the chicken and serve with green sauce.

My notes: 

I used chicken thighs, legs, and a couple of large breasts (cut smaller), 24 pieces. Tony used his grill and followed the directions for roasting. The breasts came out slightly dry, so next time, we’ll stick to legs and thighs. Total cooking time was about 1.5 hours. No resting of the chicken – we dove in and it disappeared quickly.

Green Sauce

  

     

3 jalapeño chili peppers, seeded if desired, roughly chopped

1 cup fresh cilantro leaves
2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
1/2 cup mayonnaise, best quality such as Hellmann's
1/4 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from one lime
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Combine all of the ingredients except the olive oil in a blender or food processor and blend into a smooth sauce. With the motor running, open lid and slowly drizzle in olive oil. It will seem very runny at this point but, don't worry, it will thicken up as it sits. Transfer the sauce to a bowl, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

My notes: 

I now double the recipe, but still only use 2 jalapeño chili peppers. I keep some of the seeds for a medium-low heat. I also remove the ribs of the pepper, as that also has some heat. 

I use two bunches of cilantro. 

I use less mayonnaise. 

I add 2 ounces of queso fresco cheese, as it was listed in a similar recipe.

I combine everything into the blender, including the olive oil.  

Adjust the ingredients once blended, as you may want more heat from the seeds.

This sauce is a keeper!! You  can use this sauce with other foods, such as beef, pork, potatoes; and as a dipping sauce with chips or pita bread.

Here are two other recipes from the dinner:

Peruvian Potatoes with Spicy Cream Sauce (Papas a la Huancaina): http://monicacooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/peruvian-potatoes-with-spicy-cream-sauce.html

Peruvian Rice and Lentils (Tacu Tacu): http://monicacooks.blogspot.com/2015/04/peruvian-rice-lentis-tacu-tacu.html

 

Brazilian Chopped Salad

I had two couples over recently fora Brazilian-themed dinner. Tony did the steaks, a friend made a rice/bean dish; and another made this delicious recipe (https://www.aspicyperspective.com/brazilian-chopped-salad/).

Ingredients

For the Brazilian Chopped Salad:

• 14 ounces hearts of palm
• 12 ounces cherry or grape tomatoes
• 1 fennel bulb
• 1 ripe avocado
• 1/2 small red onion
• 1/4 cup chopped mint

For the Lime Vinaigrette:

• 1/4 cup fresh squeezed lime juice
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon honey or agave
• Salt and pepper

Instructions

For the Vinaigrette:

• For the vinaigrette: Pour all the ingredients in a jar. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper.  Screw the lid on tight and shake to combine.

To Assemble:

• Drain the can of hearts of palm, then chop into 1/4-inch rounds. Cut the tomatoes in half. Cut the stems off the fennel bulb. Then cut the bulb in half and remove the core. Lay the fennel bulb halves flat, and slice into thin "shaved" pieces. Cut the avocado into chunks. Cut the onion half, in half again, then slice into thin strips. Finally, chop the fresh mint.
• Place the shaved fennel on a large platter (or in salad bowl.) Top with tomatoes, hearts of palm, onion, avocado, and mint. Drizzle the salad dressing over the top and toss.

Notes: My friend was kind to leave the chopped mint on the side, as Tony is not a mint lover.

This was a wonderful and flavorful salad. My friend wasn't sure about this because it was her first time eating hearts of palm and fennel. She loved it!

Pearl couscous salad with chickpeas, chorizo, and warm spices

This is a delicious recipe from the America’s Test Kitchen, The Complete Salad Cookbook. I made this recipe (page 360) for a cookbook club in my area. It states it serves 4 to 6 people, but really as a side dish it serves 8 to 10 in my opinion.

Ingredients

 

1 c pearl couscous
6 oz. Spanish chorizo sausages, cut into ½ inch pieces
2 carrots, peeled and chopped
8 t. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
1/4 t. table salt
1-1/3 c. chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 t. smoked paprika
1/2 t. ground cumin
2 c. canned chickpeas, rinsed and patted dry
2/3 c. chopped fresh parsley or cilantro
1/2 c. raisins, chopped dried apricots, chopped dates, or chopped dried figs
4 t. lemon juice, plus lemon wedges for serving

 I made little chorizo meatballs

   

It took 10 minutes of simmering to cook the couscous mixture.

1. Combine couscous, chorizo, carrots, 2 teaspoons oil, and salt in a medium saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until half of grains are golden, about 5 minutes. Stir in broth, paprika, and cumin. Bring to simmer; cover; and simmer over low heat, stirring occasionally, until broth is absorbed, 10 to 15 minutes. Let sit off heat, covered, for 3 minutes.

 Chopped fresh parsley

2. Stir in chickpeas, parsley, raising, lemon juice, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve with lemon wedges. (Salad can be refrigerated in airtight container for up to 2 days.)

 

 

 
My Notes: This was pretty easy to make. For the chorizo (spicy), two links were 6 oz. (after taking the casing off). It was not easy to cut the chorizo, so I took off small pieces and rolled them into bite size balls. The recipe doesn't state if the casing should be removed or not.
 
One can of chickpeas was close to two cups, so I didn’t bother to add any extra. I used parsley; and chopped dates.
 
The recipe states to use a medium saucepan. Next time I will use a larger one. What I used was too small for me to add the remaining ingredients after the, “Let sit off heat, covered for minutes.” So I added the remaining ingredients in the serving bowl and added the couscous mixture into the bowl, and tossed everything together.
 
The recipe was not clear as far as serving: Cold? Room temp? Serve immediately? Since I made this in advance for the dinner, I went ahead and refrigerated it to serve it cold. The recipe does state that the salad can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to two days.
 
This took one hour to make from start to finish. I really liked the flavors of the chorizo, the spices and the hint of the dates. And it was my first time cooking with pearl couscous.

Chimichurri Sauce

Authentic Chimichurri (Uruguay & Argentina)

Authentic Chimichurri from Uruguay & Argentina is the best accompaniment to any barbecued or grilled meats! Also used to serve as a dressing on salads! 

Adapted from: https://cafedelites.com/authentic-chimichurri-uruguay-argentina/#recipe

I made this delicious Chimichurri sauce to go with Tony's Brazilian Picanha steak that he made.  The steak is a specialty at Brazilian stteakhouses (called churrascaria). 

My comments are in [  ]

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/2 cup finely chopped parsley [packed in the measuring cup]

3-4 cloves garlic , finely chopped or minced  [I used 2 cloves]

2 small red chilies , or 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon finely chopped chili)  [I used a little over 1/2 t. of crushed red pepper flakes]
3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1 level teaspoon coarse salt [I used 1/2 t]
pepper, to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)

INSTRUCTIONS
 
Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to release all of the flavours into the oil before using. Ideally, let it sit for more than 2 hours, if time allows.

Chimichurri can be prepared earlier than needed, and refrigerated for 24 hours, if needed.
 
Use to baste meats (chicken or steaks) while grilling or barbecuing. We don't use it as a marinade, but choose to baste our meats with chimichurri instead. However, you can use it as a marinade if you wish. Also, add a couple of tablespoons over your steak to serve.
 
Serves 8 as a side.

PS: There are some other great recipes at https://cafedelites.com/.

Greek Chickpea Salad

I've made this twice now. It's a great healthy salad, and refreshing on a hot summer day.

This is adapted from https://www.healthygffamily.com/recipe/greek-chickpea-salad/. My comments are in  ( ).

Ingredients:

Serves 4 - 6  (More like 8 to 10 as a side dish)

Salad

• 2 cups cucumber sliced and quartered (we used English Cucumbers) (I used 1 regular, seeded)
• 1 can of chickpeas drained and rinsed
• 1 cup yellow bell pepper diced
• 1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes halved (I had tomato cherubs on hand, in which I took the seeds out)
• 1 cup red onion diced  (I used 1/3 cup finely diced, as 1 cup seemed too much for me)
• 1/2 cup kalamata olives halved
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup fresh parsley chopped

Lemony Vinaigrette (Makes about 1/2 cup)

• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice  (I also added some zest)
• 1 1/2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt or more to taste
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper or more to taste

Lemony Vinaigrette

In a liquid measuring cup or small bowl, whisk all ingredients until well combined. Set aside. Note any extra dressing saves well in the refrigerator for several days in a sealed jar.

Salad

Place all ingredients except parsley in a large bowl. Pour dressing over salad to taste and toss to combine. Stir in parsley and serve.

Cucumber and Tomato Salad

This is something I whipped up for dinner at a friend’s house. I’ve made this several times. I don’t really measure the ingredients, but will make a portion based on the number of people.  
 

2 Cucumbers, peeled, sliced length-wise and large diced
Cherry tomatoes, cut in half
Thinly sliced red onion
Kalamata olives, cut in half
Feta cheese, crumbled

Juice of half of a Lemon
Olive oil, about 1/3rd cup
Splash of red wine vinegar
Dried Italian seasoning
Salt and Pepper to taste

 
In a bowl, add the first five ingredients.
 
In a measuring cup or bowl, add the lemon juice, olive oil, red wine vinegar and salt and pepper. Whisk together.  Taste and adjust if needed.
 
Add the dressing and gently toss to coat.
 
Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate until ready to serve.
 
Serves 8.

Instant Pot Pork Chops

23 January 2022

I had a couple of pork chops on hand, so I wanted to make them in the instant pot with a red sauce.

Most recipes I found called for thick chops. Mine were 1/2 inch thick, so I had to adjust the time for cooking. I checked on a couple of facebook pages and got some suggestions. 

Here’s my recipe:  

 

2 1/2” bone in pork chops

Olive oil for the bottom of the pot

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/3rd cup chopped onions (next time I’ll keep them in larger pieces)

A couple of small red peppers, thick slice

Dash of Italian seasoning

Dash of onion powder

Smoked Paprika, just a little. Next time I’ll add more.

1 can of diced tomatoes and its juices

About 4 T. Rao’s tomato sauce

About 1/2 cup of white wine

Fresh chopped flat leaf parsley

10-12 Italian green olives

1 small can of mushrooms, drained (didn’t have fresh on hand)

Salt and Pepper

 

Season the pork chops with the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and onion powder.

 

With the Sauté setting, add some olive oil and added the two chops to brown. Add the garlic, onions, peppers and salt/pepper (I placed them around the pork chops.  Turn the pork chops to the other side to brown; about 3-4 minutes on each side.

 

Turn off the IP.  Top the pork chops with the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, wine, parsley, olives and mushrooms.

 

Pressure cook for 5 minutes followed by a Natural Release. 

The Natural Release took about 18 minutes. Next time I won’t let the natural release go beyond 13-14 minutes. The chops came out not quite tender, but not tough at all. Or I’ll buy thicker chops.

 

I had some leftover grits to serve as a side.

 

Italian Meatballs & Red Sauce

Here’s my recipe, which I adapted from my mother-in-law.

Meatball Ingredients: 

1 lb ground beef 

3 Italian sausages, sweet and hot

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped 

1/3 to 1/2 cup breadcrumbs 

2 eggs 

1/4th of an onion, chopped 

1/3 cup or so of Pecorino Romano cheese, grated 

Fresh parsley, chopped 

Salt and Pepper to season 

Red Sauce (see below) 

Mix all of the ingredients in a large bowl, except for the red sauce. 

Take a small amount, about a tablespoon and make into a patty. Fry in a pan till cook and taste to make sure it’s properly seasoned. Adjust the meatball mixture if needed.

Form into large meatballs (or small when preparing for a large dinner group). 

Place the meatballs onto baking pans that have been lightly sprayed with pam. Brown in the oven (pre-heated to 400 degrees) for about 10-12 minutes. This allows the meatballs to obtain that nice brown crispy texture and to remove excess fat. 

Drain on paper towels, then add the meatballs to the sauce.  Cook for 2-3 hours on low heat, stirring every so often.

Red Sauce: 

1-2 cloves garlic, chopped 

2 T. olive oil 

Dash hot pepper flakes 

2 12-oz cans of crushed tomatoes 

1/4 c. dry red wine - use any good wine. 

Fresh basil 

In a large pot, sauté the garlic in the oil but don't let it burn. 

Add the pepper flakes and then the crushed tomatoes. 

Simmer on low for 2-3 hours, adding the basil the last 15 minutes of cooking. 

The longer this sauce cooks, the better! 

You can use this sauce when making lasagna, manicotti, eggplant parmesan, and for topping pizza. 

If I'm making this for a dinner party, I'll transfer to a large crockpot and keep on low heat before serving.

Artichoke and Spinach Dip

This is a popular recipe and many variations can be found. This is mine: 

1 10-oz package frozen chopped spinach, defrosted, drained very well 

2 cans whole artichoke hearts, drained well and chopped

1 clove garlic, minced 

3 T. chopped onion 

3/4 to 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese 

3/4 to 1 cup mayonnaise 

Dash or two of hot sauce

Pepper to taste 

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and stir to combine well. 

Place in a baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees. 

Serve with crackers. 

Notes: 

You can skip the spinach and just make it strictly an artichoke dip.

I made this recently and added a couple of ingredients (1/3rd cream cheese and a 4 oz. can of green chilies from my Jalapeño artichoke-spinach dip recipe. 

Baked Feta Appetizer

This baked feta appetizer is so easy to make. It was a hit at last night's Thanksgiving dinner (25 November 2021).  I served it right after taking it out of the oven.

 
This is the recipe I used, but see my notes at the bottom:   https://midwestfoodieblog.com/baked-feta-appetizer/
 
Ingredients:
8 oz. block feta (in brine)
1 cup pitted olives, drained
½ cup sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil)
⅓ cup olive oil
3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon dried thyme
½ teaspoon dried rosemary
Kosher salt
Fresh cracked pepper
 
For serving:
 
Fresh chopped parsley
Sliced French bread or crostini
 
Instructions:
 
Heat oven to 350 degrees. 
 
Add feta to a small baking dish (I used an 8”x8”). Add olives and sun-dried tomatoes to the baking dish around the feta.
 
In a small dish combine olive oil, sliced garlic, oregano, thyme, rosemary, and a couple pinches of salt and pepper. 
 
Pour over the block of feta, olives, and sun-dried tomatoes.
 

  

Bake for 20 minutes [uncovered]. Broil for 1-2 minutes.
 
Garnish with fresh chopped parsley and sliced French bread or crostini. 

Here's my recipe for crostini:  https://monicacooks.blogspot.com/2024/06/crostini.html

 

My changes/additions:
 
I prepared this about an hour or so in advance to get the ingredients to room temperature.
I used both green olives (Italian Castelvetrano) and Kalamata olives
I added roasted red peppers
I added a little of the sun-dried tomato oil
I used Italian Seasoning Blend
I didn’t have parsley (wasn’t missed)
I didn’t broil at the end
I sliced up a baguette
 
Next time I won’t slice the garlic so thin. The slices almost disappeared.
I will slice the olives in half.
And I may add some lemon zest slices and cherry tomatoes.
Someone in the comments stated they added chopped dried figs; another mentioned artichoke hearts.