TACOS!

Recipes from all over the web:

Tortillas

Chipotle glaze

Chipotle mayo

Slaw

Serve tacos with lime wedges and cilantro leaves

CORN TORTILLAS

Ingredients:

2 C Masa Harina

1/2 t salt

1.5 C warm water

Methodology:

Mix all ingredients until a soft dough is formed.  It's ok if it's tacky, but if it's too wet and sticky, add a bit more masa.  Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for an hour.

Roll the dough into golf-ball sized pieces, and press flat between two sides of a plastic ziploc bag (cut open along the sides).

Heat a skillet over medium heat and toast each tortilla on one side for 10 seconds, and then on the other side for approx. 1 minute, or until brown spots form.  Keep warm in a pocket made of tin foil.

CHIPOTLE GLAZE

Ingredients:

2 T rice syrup or honey

1 - 2 T chopped chipotles in adobo

2 t apple cider vinegar

(optional: 1 bunch scallions, cut into 3" lengths, bulbs halved if large)

Methodology:

Mix all ingredients together in a mortar and pestle and pour over meat 15 minutes before it's done cooking.  Add scallions, and toss in glaze.  Roast at 375°F for 15 minutes, flipping and stirring so that glaze thickens on all sides.

CHIPOTLE MAYO

Ingredients:

1/4 C mayonnaise

1/8 C sour cream

1 chipotle in adobo, minced

1 T lime juice

Methodology:

Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Taste, and add salt and additional lime juice to taste.

SLAW

Ingredients:

4 C shredded cabbage

1/2 t kosher salt

1 T lime juice

2 T mayonnaise

1 clove garlic, minced (pr 1/8 t powdered garlic)

Salt and pepper, to taste

Rice syrup, optional

1 carrot, grated

2 - 3 medium scallions, thinly sliced
1/2 bunch cilantro stems, finely minced

1/2 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced, optional

Methodology:

Toss the shredded cabbage with the salt and let sit for 15 minutes, massaging occasionally.  Squeeze well to remove liquid.

Mix the lime juice, mayo, garlic, salt and pepper in a medium bowl.  Add the cabbage, carrot, scallion, cilantro, and jalapeño, and toss to combine.  Taste for seasoning, and add rice syrup if you feel the slaw isn't sweet enough.

MINI CHOCOLATE CAKE

Recipe adapted from Allrecipes

This ratio makes a 4" cake with 2 layers.

Ingredients:

1/2 C flour
4 T sugar
2 T cocoa powder, plus more to dust pan
1/4 t baking soda
1/8 t salt
1/2 t instant coffee granules

1 egg
2 T coconut oil, plus more to grease pan
1/4 C yogurt
1/4 C buttermilk
1/4 t vanilla extract

1 batch of chocolate frosting, see recipe below


Methodology:

Preheat oven to 400°F.  Grease pan with oil and dust with cocoa powder.  Cut a circle from parchment paper to fit the bottom of the pan and grease it as well.

Sift the dry ingredients together.  Whisk the wet ingredients together and pour into the dry ingredients, stirring until just combined.

Pour into prepared pan and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, then turn oven down to 350°F and bake for another 30 minutes, or until done.

Chill completely, cut in half, and fill and cover in frosting.


Chocolate Frosting

1/4 C semi-sweet chocolate chips (or chocolate pieces)
1/4 crème fraîche, room temperature

Melt the chocolate in a double boiler, or in a warm oven.  Cool to room temperature and whisk in the crème fraîche until smooth.  Chill completely, then use to frost the above cake.

BEEF BRISKET WITH MASHED POTATOES

Adapted from Food Wishes

Ingredients:

3 lb beef brisket
4 t kosher salt
2 t ground pepper

2 T butter
3 yellow onions, sliced
1 1/2 c hard apple cider
4 garlic cloves, sliced
1 t kosher salt
1 T fresh rosemary, minced


Methodology:

Season the brisket and let it rest in the fridge overnight.

The following day:
Melt the butter in a large skillet and sweat the onions until they take on light color.  Add the garlic,  rosemary, and salt and cook 30 seconds.  Deglaze with the cider and simmer until reduced by half.

Spread half the onion mixture on the bottom of the roasting pan.  Top with the brisket, and cover the top of the brisket with the remaining onion mixture.  Cover tightly in foil.

Roast at 325°F for 1 1/2 hours, then at 250°F for 3 hours.  Check for doneness (might need another 30 minutes if the brisket is thick).

Place the brisket in a separate dish and pour the onion mixture into a bowl.  Skim off as much tallow as possible, then pour into a blender.  Blend in bursts until the gravy is smooth.

Serve over buttermilk mashed potatoes, with a grated carrot side salad.



Buttermilk Mashed Potatoes:

Adapted from Cook's Illustrated, via

2 lb yukon gold potatoes
4 T butter, melted
2 1/2 c buttermilk, room temperature
1 T minced thyme
1/2 t truffle salt
1/2 t black pepper

Boil the potatoes until tender.  Mix the remaining ingredients in a large serving bowl and rice potatoes into it; mix well.  Taste for seasoning, and serve.

KALE, SAUSAGE & CANNELLINI SOUP

Adapted from Cup of Jo (the combination), AllRecipes (sausage),  and Epicurious (the beans).

Ingredients:

Beans: (or substitute with 1 30oz and 1 15oz can cooked beans)
1 lb dry cannellini beans
2 bay leaves
1 piece of kombu
1 1/2 t salt
1 head garlic, cut in half

Sausage: (or substitute with 1 lb. sweet Italian sausage)
1 lb. ground pork
1 T red wine vinegar
1 t salt
1/2 t fennel seeds
1/4 t brown sugar
1 t black pepper
1 t dried parsley
1 t dried basil
1 t garlic powder
1 t onion powder
3/4 t paprika
pinch dried oregano
pinch dried thyme
pinch red pepper flakes

2 t olive oil
1 bunch kale, de-stemmed and chopped*
1 lemon, zested and juiced
Grated parmesan cheese

4 garlic cloves


Methodology:

Beans:
Sort and rinse the beans, and bring them to boil, covered by ~2" of cold water.  Remove from heat, cover and soak for 1 hour.  Add the remaining ingredients and bring to boil, then uncover and simmer, until the beans are creamy, about 1 - 1 1/2 hours, adding more water if necessary.

Sausage:
Crush the fennel seeds, salt and sugar with a mortar and pestle. Add remaining herbs and spices and mix well.  Combine all sausage ingredients in a large bowl and knead until the spices are uniformly distributed.

Brown the sausage in the olive oil, in two batches if necessary.  Add the beans, kale and enough water (6c?) and bring to boil.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  Add lemon zest and half of juice, and taste for seasoning.  Serve, topped with parmesan cheese** and fried garlic, recipe below.


*Consider replacing the kale with collard greens next time.
**Consider topping with croutons.

Fried Garlic

4 cloves garlic

1/4 c olive oil

Thinly slice the garlic vertically and gently cook in the oil until the garlic begins turning golden.  Take garlic pieces out one by one, if necessary, so all pieces are golden.

BACON-WRAPPED HAKE

Serves 2, goes well with quinoa and broccolini

Ingredients:

1 piece of hake*, approximately 13 oz.
Herbes de Provence
Salt
3 pieces of bacon or pancetta


Methodology:

Heat the oven to 400°F.

Season the fish with herbes de Provence and salt, if necessary, keeping in mind that the bacon will add considerable saltiness.  Wrap the fish in bacon slices, trying to keep the ends of the bacon on the underside of the fish.

Heat a skillet over high for a few minutes.  Place the bacon-wrapped fish in the skillet, cover with a spatter screen, and cook for 2 minutes.

Remove the skillet from the heat and place in the oven for 10 minutes.

Heat the broiler and broil the fish until the bacon is crispy.  Remove and serve.

---------
*This method also works well with chicken breasts; simply extend the oven cooking time until the breast is cooked through, checking with a knife for doneness.

SEVILLE ORANGE MARMALADE

Recipe adapted from The Wednesday Chef

Makes approx. 6 half-pint jars

Ingredients:

6 Seville oranges, well scrubbed.  Weigh in grams and note the weight.
Approx. 980 g granulated sugar, or the same weight as the oranges
2 vanilla beans, cut in half lengthwise and seeds scraped
1 Meyer lemon, juiced


Methodology:

Cut the oranges in half, and juice through a mesh strainer into a large, non-reactive pot.  Remove the pips from the strainer and tie up in a cheesecloth bundle.  Place the bundle in the juice-filled pot.  Scrape out the remaining fruit pulp from the strainer and add to the pot.

Cut each orange half into thirds, and then cut those strips width-wise as thin or thick as you'd like.  Place these in the pot as well.  Top with water in the same weight as the oranges, or approx. 1 liter.  Leave to soak overnight, or up to 24 hours.

Bring the pot to a boil and simmer gently with the lid on for around 1 - 1 1/2 hours, or until the peel is soft and nearly translucent, stirring occasionally.  Remove the cheesecloth bundle and squeeze well to remove any remaining juice.

Pour the sugar and lemon juice into the pot and simmer, lid off, until the marmalade reaches 218°F.  Mix in the vanilla seeds, then cut the pods into 3 or 4 segments each and add them into the pot.  Stir well.  Pour into sterilized jars, making sure each jar has a piece of vanilla bean, and tighten the lids.  Turn upside-down and leave to seal on the counter for 12 hours.  Once sealed, clean off the jars, label and store. 


To sterilize jars:

Wash with hot water and soap.  Rinse and allow to dry.  Place upright on a baking sheet in a 275°F oven for 20 minutes.  Meanwhile, boil the lids for 5 minutes.

OKONOMIYAKI

From the back of a package of Otafuku Okonomiyaki flour

Ingredients:

1 c (4 oz) okonomiyaki flour
3/4 c (6.5 oz) water
2 eggs
10.5 oz shredded cabbage
2 stalks green onion, thinly sliced
Optional: 9 slices of bacon or prosciutto
Oil for frying

Topping: okonomiyaki sauce, mayo and katsuobushi (bonito flakes)


Methodology:

Whisk together the flour and water until it forms a smooth batter.  Whisk in the eggs until well combined.

Add the cabbage and green onion, stirring until they're fully incorporated.

Place a medium skillet over medium-low heat, and lightly oil.  Add 1/3 of the pancake mixture to the pan, pressing down to form a 1/2" thick patty.  Top with 3 slices of bacon or prosciutto.  Cook for 3-4 minutes, or until the bottom browns.

Flip the pancake and cook another 3-4 minutes, or until the meat is fully cooked.

Flip again and cook an additional 2-3 minutes.

Repeat twice more with the remaining pancake batter.

Remove from skillet, top with okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and katsuobushi.   Serve immediately.

ROASTED VEGETABLES WITH QUINOA AND HALLOUMI

Adapted from Eat Your Way to Managing Diabetes
Serves 2 with leftovers for lunch

Ingredients:

1 small zucchini, cut into 1/4" rounds

1 red bell pepper, cut into 3/4" squares

1/2 red onion, sliced

A large handful cherry tomatoes

1 1/2 T olive oil, divided

1/2 package halloumi, in 1/4" slices

1/2 t za'atar

Optional: lemon wedge

Methodology:

Heat the oven to 375°F.  Spread the vegetables out on a large baking sheet and toss with 1 T of the oil.  Season well with the za'atar, and salt and pepper, and roast for 25 minutes, tossing halfway through.

Start the quinoa:

Quinoa recipe

Once the vegetables and quinoa are finished, heat the remaining 1/2 T oil in a small skillet and fry the halloumi slices until golden on both sides.

Serve the quinoa with the roasted vegetables and halloumi on top.  Dust with additional za'atar, if necessary.  Optionally: squeeze a lemon wedge over the dish before serving.

OATMEAL BANANA PANCAKES

Adapted from Modern Honey

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c rolled oats
2 T flax meal
1 banana
1 c milk or kefir
3 eggs
3 T butter, melted
2 T maple syrup
1-2 t baking powder
1/2 t kosher salt
1 t vanilla


Methodology:

Blend everything in a high-speed blender until fairly smooth.  Pour 2-3 T servings into a hot, buttered skillet and cook over low heat until the cakes begin to bubble, then flip and cook briefly on the second side.

Serve topped with yogurt, toasted nuts and maple syrup.

BELLY OIL

To make a full small bottle:

1/2 camellia oil
1/4 evening primrose oil
3/16 rose hip seed oil
1/16 jojoba oil
lavender essential oil remaining in the bottle
10 drops neroli e.o.
3 drops orange e.o.

BERGAMOT OLIVE OIL CAKE with RHUBARB COMPOTE

A 2/3-volume recipe adapted from food52.com's Maialino's Olive Oil Cake

(volume adapted to fit in a standard loaf pan)

Ingredients:

Loaf        9" round

167 g       250 g       flour

233 g       350 g       sugar

1 t           1 1/2 t      kosher salt

1/4 t        1/4 t         baking soda

1/2 t        1/2 t         baking powder

142 g        285 g       olive oil*
2              3              eggs

203 g        305 g       milk

1 t            1 1/2t       citrus zest

40 g          60 g         bergamot (or orange) juice, ~ 1/2 fruit

40 g          60 g         limoncello

Methodology:

Heat the oven to 350°F.  Grease a standard loaf pan and fashion a sling out of parchment paper to cover the bottom and sides.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, salt, soda and powder together.  Transfer to a small bowl.  In the large bowl, whisk the eggs and olive oil together to emulsify.  Add the milk, zest, juice and liquor.  Stir in the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.  Run a knife around the edges of the pan and lift the cake out by the parchment sling and cool.  Serve sliced with fruit compote or ice cream.

*The first time I made this, it seemed almost ludicrously (albeit deliciously) oily.  I have since successfully reduced the oil to 142 g (which is 2/3 of 1 c of oil, rather than the original 190 g, which is 2/3 of 1 1/3 c oil).  The cake is still very moist.


CITRUS GLAZE:

1/2 t organic blood orange zest
2 T blood orange or bergamot juice
1 T limoncello
1/4 c powdered sugar, sifted

Mix all ingredients and pour slowly over the cake.

ROASTED RHUBARB COMPOTE:

Adapted from Serious Eats

Ingredients:

2 lb rhubarb, ends trimmed and cut into 2" segments*

1/2 c red or white wine

2 t vanilla

1/2 c sugar

Methodology:

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Place the fruit pieces into a 9" square glass baking dish.  Pour over the wine and vanilla, and sprinkle with the sugar.

Roast until very tender, about 30 minutes.  Don't stir, as this will break up the fruit.

Set aside until cooled to room temperature, then serve over the above cake or ice cream.  Store the fruit and syrup together in a jar in the fridge.

*or a mixture of rhubarb and whole strawberries, equalling 2 lbs.