BLACK BEAN AND CORN SALAD!

This is an excellent recipe to accompany a nice steak or pulled pork.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 3  tablespoons olive oil
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 jar of pickled mild red/yellow  peppers ( they come sliced or whole also come in hot if you prefer)
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
• 2 (15 ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained
• 2 cups of frozen corn
• 1 cup of shredded or cubed feta cheese

Directions: In a bowl mix the black beans, corn and peppers. Add the oil, vinegar, cumin, black pepper, cilantro and salt stir. If the Corn is still frozen no problem it will keep the salad nice and cold. Feel free to taste if you need more oil or vinegar. Add the feta cheese when you are about to serve. ENJOY..Serves 4-5 people.

CHICKEN WITH PEANUTS!

I enjoy making this dish is different and very filling not to mention delicious. ENJOY

INGREDIENTS:

2 whole medium chicken breasts ( 1 1/2 lbs)
1/4 cup hoisin sauce ( find it international section in your favorite supermarket).
1 Tablespoon of conrstarch
1/2 cup dry sherry
2 tablespoons of rice wine vinegar or white vinegar
2 tablespoons sugar
6 ounces packaged capellini or vermicelli
2 tablespoons of peanut oil or cooking oil
1/2 cup of raw peanuts
3/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 clove garlic minced
1/3 cup of chopped green onions for garnish...

 Skin, halve lengthwise and bone chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces. Set aside.
In a small bowl stir together hoisin sauce and cornstarch, stir in dry sherry, vinegar and sugar. Set aside.

Cook capellini or vermicelli in boiling salted water till al dente. Immediately drain in a colander. Rinse with cold water; drain. Set aside.

Preheat a large skillet or wok over high heat; add peanut oil or cooking oil. Add Peanuts and stir fry for 1 minute. Add green pepper and stir fry about 2 minutes or till peanuts are lightly browned. Remove peanuts and green pepper; add more oil, if necessary. Add half of the chicken to the hot skillet or wok; stir fry for 2 minutes. Remove from skillet or wok. Stir fry remaining chicken and the garlic for 2 minutes. Return all chicken to skillet or wok. Stir hoisin sauce mixture into the chicken mixture and cook and stir till the mixture is thickened and bubbly. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.

Stir the peanuts, the chopped green pepper, and the cooked capellini or vermicelli into the chicken mixture in the skillet. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more or until the mixture is heated through. Garnish with green onions and serve immediately. ENJOY!

SAMOSAS!

I am a big fan of Samosas, I have to admit there are some that i have tried that either too dry and the dough too thick and heavy. These are so good that you will bring them out on your next party. I love them with a nice Mango Chutney. ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS!

Box of Puff Pastry ( you can find it in the freezer section at your favorite supermarket)

FILLING
2 cups cooked potatoes, drained and cubed
3 tablespoons of butter
1 cup of diced onion
2 cloves or garlic, minced
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon of cumin, or to taste
1 cup of froze peas, thawed
1/2 teaspoon of your favorite hot sauce, to taste ( optional)
salt , pepper to taste
egg wash for brushing pastries

Prepare the filling, Melt the butter in a medium sized saute pan, add the onions and garlic, cooking for 2-3 minutes until the onions turn translucent. Take care not to burn the garlic. Add the curry powder and cumin and saute for an additional minute. Add the potatoes and turn to coat well in the spices. Cook and break up the potatoes for a few more minutes. You can mash the filling smooth at this time. or leave pieces of potato according to your preference.

Taste the filling for seasoning, adjust with salt and pepper and hot sauce if desired. Remove from the heat and stir in peas, taking care not to break them up too much. Allow to cool until barely warm.

When you are ready to roll the dough, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. and line two half sheet pans with parchment paper.

Working with one sheet at a time, roll the chilled dough to 1/8" thick. Cut circles of dough with a sharp edged round 3" cutter. Place 2 tablespoons onto each round and fold the dough into half moons. Use touch of water to help seal the rounds if needed.

Use a fork to seal the edges of each samosa. Place the parchment lined sheet and brush the egg wash coat. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until deep and golden brown. Serve with Mango Chutney.

If you have left over filling. It can be frozen up to one month.

PEACH STRUDEL WITH CREAM CHEESE FILLING!

I love strudel, I have to say Apple Strudel is the most known however I thought it should work with any other fruit and I love Peaches so this is my version. The original strudel does not have cream cheese filling so i decided to give a try I always find some strudels are so sweet that it takes away from the taste of the actual fruit with this one, the cream cheese filling gives it a nice sweetness and taste but you hardly know is there. ENJOY.

INGREDIENTS!
1 Box of Puff Pastry ( will make 2 strudels) room temperature ( overnight in refrigerator)
5 sliced peaches fresh peaches
1/2 teaspoon of cinammon
2 Tablespoons of Brown sugar
1 tablespoon of flour
1/2 cup of chopped pecans( toasted)
1/3 cup of raisins (more if you like and need them)
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
pinch of salt

Cream Cheese filling:
1/4 cup of powdered sugar
1 tablespoon of vanilla
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
1 box of regular or light cream cheese ( room temperature)

for a nice caramel color on the strudel!
3 tablespoons of milk
2 tablespoons of sugar 



DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven 375 degrees

With an Electric beater, beat the cream cheese add the vanilla, almond extract and slowly add the powdered sugar. Beat until light and fluffy set aside.

In a bowl mix all ingredients the sliced peaches, cinnamon, sugar, flour, nutmeg, almond extract, lemon juice and pinch of salt set aside for 5 minutes.

On a light floured surfaced take the puff pastry and with rolling pin roll to 9 inches long approximately. Take the cream cheese filling with a spoon and spread throughout the whole puff pastry like you are spreading pasta sauce on pizza dough, then place the peaches in the middle of the dough, leave space so you can roll the top and bottom. On top of the peaches you will sprinkle with the pecans and raisins.  Place one end of the puff pastry on top of the peaches then do the same with the bottom part until it's completely covered use a little bit of milk to glue the dough together, Brush with the milk wash on top and sprinkle with regular sugar. Repeat process with the second puff pastry. Remember to take a knife and cut along the top of the strudel to let steam out while is baking. Bake for 40-42 minutes until is nice golden. Take out and enjoy warm if possible. It freezes well for about a week. ENJOY.

MEAT ROLLS IN PUFF PASTRY ( ROLLOS DE CARNE)

This recipe comes from my grandmother. It's meant to be an appetizer however i come to enjoy it as an entree with a side of Arugula salad. The dish is so rich that you must have something fresh to go with it either a nice guava compote, or mango chutney, or a nice fresh fruit salad. I have to admit the original recipe is without the puff pastry i added it to make it a little bit more fancy. It can be cut into individual bite down pieces as an appetizer or a whole one as the main dish. ENJOY!

 INGREDIENTS!

1lb extra lean ground beef
1lb ground pork
1 cup of raisins ( or nicely cut pitted prunes is also an option and I try to use yellow raisins)
6 slices of bacon
1 cup of green olives with pimentos
salt and pepper for seasoning
1 teaspoon of paprika ( sweet paprika)
1  1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
2 eggs
box of puff pastry thawed over night in refrigerator take out fridge one hour before using ( it will have 2 sheets)

DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a bowl mix the pork, ground beef season it it with the salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika and cumin mix well add the eggs to bind it ( make sure you are able to make a ball with it otherwise add another egg so you are able to manage the meat. Cut the meat in half this will make 2 rolls. Then take one half and with your hand flatten it on top a piece of foil( sprayed with oil)  into a square shape as best as possible. On top of the meat you will put half of the raisins, half of olives and 3 slices of the bacon. Roll into a sausage shape making sure none of the toppings come out. Use the foil to wrap it completely until the ends are nicely secured. Repeat process with the second roll. Place on a foiled cookie pan ( for easy clean up). Place in over for 40-45 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Once the meat is cooled take one of the sheets of puff pastry and roll out on a lightly floured board make sure the puff pastry is large enough so that the meat roll will fit inside. The puff pastry will act as the foil the second time around. Remove the meat rolls from foil ( the meat should be slightly pink but not raw) place on the puff pastry and roll the dough around the meat roll until tightly secured. Repeat same process with the second meat roll and the second sheet of puff pastry.

Take a knife and make 3 cuts on top of  puff pastry meat roll to let out steam. Use a little bit of egg wash or milk to brush the top of the pastry. Place back in the over for another 15-25 minutes until the dough is nice and golden. Take out, let it cool for about 5-10 minutes and cut to your liking. ENJOY!
 








 

FROZEN LIME-LEMON PIE!

I love key lime pie however is very hard to find real key limes so sometimes i just make it with regular limes. I wondered how this recipe would turn out if i changed it a little bit and boy is it good.  My recipe involves a mixture of limes and lemon and is absolutely delicious PUCKER UP! ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS!

Graham Cracker crust!
1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs ( 10 crackers)
1/4 cup of sugar
6 Tablespoons ( 3/4th stick) of unsalted butter, melted

Note: if you want to make it easier on yourself feel free to buy an already packaged graham cracker crust at the store makes sure is a 9 inch large crust, is already baked for you.

For the filling:

6 extra large egg yolks, they must be at room temperature
1 1/2-2  cans ( 14ounce) sweetened condensed milk ( use light condensed milk or fat free depends how sweet you want it. Remember you can always add but never take out.
1 tablespoon of lime zest
1 tablespoon lemon zest
3/4 Cup freshly squeezed lime-lemon juice ( about 3 limes-2 lemons) feel free to use just limes if you prefer or  just lemons. I happen to like the combination.

For the decoration:

1 cup (1/2 pint) cold heavy cream
1/4 cup of sugar
1/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
thin line and lemon wedges for decoration!

if you are making the crust then Preheat the oven 350 degrees F

For the crust, combine the graham crackers crumbs, sugar and butter in bowl. Press into 9 inch pyrex pie pan, making sure the sides and the bottom are an even thickness. Bake for 10 minutes until firm and golden. Allow to cool completely.

For the filling, combine the egg yolks with 1/2 cup of the juice and place in a double boiler. Whisk constantly over medium heat until mixture reaches 140 degrees take off heat then add the condensed milk slowly and the zest and rest of the lime-lemon juice taste for sweetness.

Decoration, beat heavy cream oh high speed in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk or use an electric whisk until soft peaks form. Add the vanilla and sugar and beat until firm. Spoon or pipe decoratively onto the pie and decorate with the lime-lemon wedges. Freeze for several hours or overnight.








 

PAN DE JAMON ( Ham Bread)

This bread is for all Venezuelans who are not able to go home during the Christmas Holidays. This bread is very popular around the festivities and is commonly accompanied with HALLACAS. I will not post recipe for hallacas even though is one of my favorite Christmas dishes due to the fact that is a complicated dish to prepare and  in some cases it can take up to 3 days to make but Pan de Jamon can be prepared at any time.

Ingredients

• 1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1 cup warm water (110 degrees F)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 lb sliced ham ( i like honey ham)
• 1 cup raisins
• 1/2 lb of bacon ( cook bacon for 3 minutes in microwave needs to be half cooked to release some of fat, not all of it)
• 1/2 cup of capers ( optional)
• 1/2 cup black or green olives, drained and chopped

Directions

1. In a small mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the flour, egg, butter, sugar and salt; mix well. When the dough has pulled together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead until smooth, about 8 minutes.
3. Lightly oil a large mixing, place the dough in the bowl, and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
4. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). 
5. Deflate the dough, and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll or pat the dough into a 10x14 inch rectangle. Make parallel cuts 3/4 inch wide and 2 inches long on the two long edges of the rectangle. Evenly place the sliced ham, bacon and rest of ingredients over the center of the rectangle. Fold the short ends of the rectangle over the filling. Starting from one of these ends, alternately stretch strips from the two sides across the filling so that the strips overlap diagonally. Transfer the loaf to a lightly greased baking sheet, cover with a damp cloth, and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. For a nice golden color brush with some egg wash.
6. Bake at 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) for 20 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown.