Picadillo (Cuban minced beef stew)

We tried this NYT recipe, and it was delicious: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1016814-picadillo Our modifications: first, we used 1 lb minced bison instead of 1 ½ lb minced beef. Second, we used 1 oz Matador slim jim (halved vertically and then diced) instead of 2 oz chorizo. Third, to accommodate the reduced amount of protein, we reduced the… Continue reading Picadillo (Cuban minced beef stew)

Broccoli cheddar spinach frittata

Details here: https://cookieandkate.com/2017/broccoli-cheddar-spinach-frittata/ Our modifications: first, we used a shallot in lieu of a small onion, and we cut it into thin slices along the grain. Second, instead of steaming the broccoli in the cast iron pan, we microwave them in a covered glass casserole dish with ¼ cup (not ½ cup) water for about… Continue reading Broccoli cheddar spinach frittata

Oven-roasted breakfast potatoes

We followed this recipe: https://www.tasteslovely.com/perfect-roasted-potatoes/ We used three small-medium Idaho potatoes, and we scrubbed the skin. Our modification: we added a dash (about ½ tsp) each cumin powder and paprika to the cubed potatoes before roasting them. The tips on preheating the baking sheet and using parchment paper were key. (Mar. 2018)

Box brownies with Mexican flavors

We started with a 20 oz box of Ghirardelli dark chocolate brownie mix. We added 1 tsp ground cinnamon and ¼ tsp cayenne pepper to the dry ingredients, stirring to make sure the cinnamon and cayenne were evenly distributed throughout the mixture. Then, following the instructions, we added the wet ingredients (1 egg, ¼ cup… Continue reading Box brownies with Mexican flavors

Rotisserie chicken noodle soup, version 1

This was a great pantry soup based on leftover Peruvian rotisserie chicken. We generally followed this recipe: https://toriavey.com/toris-kitchen/rotisserie-chicken-rice-soup/ Our modifications: first, because we had only half a rotisserie chicken, we used a combination of 8 cups unsalted chicken broth, 4 cups seasoned chicken broth, and 2 cups water instead of 16 cups water. Second, we… Continue reading Rotisserie chicken noodle soup, version 1

Roasted parsnips and baby fingerling potatoes

We tried this recipe: https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/roasted-baby-potatoes-with-thyme-and-rosemary-237107 We cut skin-on baby fingerings in vertical halves and peeled and cut two parsnips to make them similar in size and shape to the halved fingerlings. We toss them in olive oil, a little salt and pepper, and a few sprinkles (about ½ tsp) dried Greek oregano. We placed the… Continue reading Roasted parsnips and baby fingerling potatoes

Egyptian chicken broth with lemon and garlic (khoulaset feraak bel lamoon wal tom)

We tried this recipe from Mimi Sheraton’s cookbook, The Whole World Loves Chicken Soup: Recipes and Lore to Comfort Body and Soul https://www.amazon.com/dp/0446676497/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_yvBPAbMQA4ZT4Ms. Sheraton adapted this recipe from Nagwa E. Khalil’s cookbook, Egyptian Cuisine. First, cut a 3.5 to 4 lb chicken into large pieces, trying to avoid cutting through bone (we cut into chicken… Continue reading Egyptian chicken broth with lemon and garlic (khoulaset feraak bel lamoon wal tom)

Chicken sautéed with Meyer lemon

We tried this recipe: https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/12312-sauteed-chicken-with-meyer-lemon We made minor modifications: first, we substituted the leeks with one large shallot. Second, we increased the amount of pickled Meyer lemon to 1 ½ (instead of 1). We still found this dish lacked acid; we may add some standard lemon juice or apple cider vinegar at the end to… Continue reading Chicken sautéed with Meyer lemon

Chicken stewed with tomato and garlic

Details here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/chicken-with-tomatoes-and-garlic/ We generally followed this recipe except: first, we used 2 bone-in, skin-on chicken breasts (each cut into three pieces) and 6 drumsticks. Second, we added a shallot (rough cut) and sautéed it with the chicken in butter and oil. Third, for fresh herbs, we used one large sprig each thyme and rosemary… Continue reading Chicken stewed with tomato and garlic