Keema puffs (curried minced turkey and peas in puff pastry)

For the filling: First, using a large wok, heat 2-3 Tbsp neutral vegetable oil on medium heat. Add 1 1/3 lb minced turkey, increase heat to medium-high, and brown the meat. In the meantime, mince 1 large (or 2 medium) onion, 3 large cloves garlic, and 1 inch peeled ginger; I did this using a… Continue reading Keema puffs (curried minced turkey and peas in puff pastry)

Apple, leek, and gruyere frittata

This was a lighter version, using 4 egg whites and 4 whole eggs. We generally followed this recipe but made ingredient and method modifications: http://www.geniuskitchen.com/recipe/apple-and-leek-frittata-114432 First, we preheated the oven to 425. Second, we used a large (9-10”) cast iron pan. Third, we added ¾ cup shredded gruyere cheese at two steps: (1) we sprinkled… Continue reading Apple, leek, and gruyere frittata

Quick spaghetti bolognese

We tried this recipe: https://www.recipetineats.com/spaghetti-bolognese/ We used 1 lb minced bison instead of minced beef. To reduce sodium, we omitted the beef bouillon cubes. At the end of seasoning, we added a splash each of fruit-flavored white balsamic and traditional balsamic vinegar; we also added a dash of crushed red pepper. We recommend increasing the… Continue reading Quick spaghetti bolognese

Classic tapioca pudding

We tried this recipe: https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/106859/classic-tapioca-pudding/ (beware of pop-up ads). Here is a summary: First, combine 3 cups milk, ½ cup white sugar (we used vanilla-infused), ½ cup minute tapioca, and ¼ tsp salt in a medium sized thick-walled pot. Cook on medium heat, whisking constantly. When it comes to a boil, reduce heat to low… Continue reading Classic tapioca pudding

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