Sweet Potato Hash Browns

Sweet Potato Hash Browns

Serves 2-4

2 T. coconut oil

1 medium sweet potato, peeled and coarsely shredded

Heat coconut oil on high in non-stick skillet.  Sprinkle shredded sweet potato in pan, distributing evenly for one large patty (if you prefer 4 smaller patties rather than one large one, that works too!)

Salt

Pepper

Sprinkle with salt and pepper to suit your taste (I go heavy on the pepper!) Fry on high for a minute or two, then reduce heat to medium and continue frying until patty is crisp on bottom and holds together.  Evenly space 2-4 pats of butter across the patty, then flip.  Fry on med-high heat until crisp.  

Remove from pan and serve warm.  

**If you're so inclined, after flipping, sprinkle the patty lightly with brown sugar.  As it cooks, the sugar melts and sort of caramelizes.  This offers a SPLENDID contrast to the pepper!

Lemongrass Carrot Soup

Lemongrass Carrot Soup

serves 2

4-5 carrots, diced
1 T. butter
2 T. coconut oil

Saute in a small soup pot until carrots are tender and browned (pan fried carrots...YUM!).  Add the following ingredients and simmer for 10 minutes:

1 t. coriander
1 t. lemongrass
1 t. galangal
2 t. turmeric
1 T. key lime juice
1 T. chicken soup base
1 c. water

Liquefy in food processor.  Return to soup pan and add:

1 T. key lime juice
1/2-1 c. water (to desired consistency)
1/4 c. heavy cream

This is a good opportunity to remind you that I cook by the dump-n-pour method, so my measurements are almost always estimations.  I do multiple tastings throughout and adjust until I find the balance of flavors I was looking for.  So...I encourage you to start with what's here, but don't be shy about increasing or decreasing an ingredient to suit your taste buds!

This soup a great accompaniment to grilled Saratoga, roasted brussel sprouts, and sweet potato hash browns!

Underground Soup

Underground Soup

serves 8

1 medium beet

1 medium turnip

1 medium onion

3 cloves garlic

2 parsnips

1 small sweet potato

1 medium russet potato

Dice all the vegetables, coat with coconut oil, salt, and pepper.  Roast at 350 degrees about 25-30 minutes, until tender and slightly browned.

Let roasted veggies cool slightly, place in a soup pot and turn to medium high heat.  Add water and soup base, boiling until all vegetables are soft enough to mash.

2 T. chicken or vegetable soup base

~2 c. water

Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree.  Return to soup pot and add:

3 T. raw honey (or to taste)

3 chicken bouillon cubes

Water to preferred taste and consistency (2-4 c.)

Warm homemade bread, fresh arugula, and a mesquite margarita are perfect pairings for a lovely fall evening.  

Bosnian Food Capital of USA: The Lou

The most popular stops for Bosnian food include The Balkan Treat Box: 

And Grbic:  

Learn more about the rise of Bosnian food culture in flyover country here.  

Eric's Mesquite Margarita

  

Eric's Mesquite Margarita

2 shots (3 oz) Sunora Bacanora Blanco

1 shot (1.5 oz) Cointreau 

1/2 medium lime, fresh squeezed

Shake and pour over ice in a Himalayan salt-rimmed glass.

Bacanora is a new-to-me, sippable, agave-based, distilled liquor with a smoky character. If you're curious, you can learn more about the agave plant and Bacanora distillation process here.  

Overachiever's Chili

Overachiever's Chili

 

Meat & Rub:

4.5 lbs. of stew meat - about 1" cubes

1 T. black pepper

1 t. cinnamon

2 t. cocoa

3 T. garlic powder

2 T. dried cilantro

1 t. cumin

1 T. paprika

3 T. chili powder

4 T. salt

Mix all spices in a gallon ziploc bag. Add chunks of raw meat and shake until coated. Marinate in refrigerator overnight.

Tomato Base:

(3) 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes, drained

(1) 11 oz. can chipotles in adobo sauce

Pepper Base:

6 oz. dried mild anaheim peppers

2 oz. dried hot anaheim peppers

1 1/2 large yellow onions, quartered

1/2 c. balsamic vinegar

1/4 c. cider vinegar

1/2 c. brown sugar

8-10 T. minced garlic

2 bottles beer (Killians Red, Murphy's Stout, or Black Butte Porter recommended) 

 

Place all in a large pot. Add enough water to cover all. Boil until soft...45-60 minutes. Cool. Process until liquefied. Strain through a fine sieve. Set liquid aside. Discard pulp and seeds.
 

Other Stuff:

2 large jalepenos

1/2 large yellow onion

1 large red bell pepper

1 large orange bell pepper

1 large yellow bell pepper

2 T. garlic

Dice all veggies then saute in oil or bacon grease on high until very soft and slightly charred.

Remove marinated beef from fridge and chop coarsely in food processor. Brown meat on high in oil or bacon grease.

In chili pot, combine:

Tomato base

Pepper base

Sauted veggies

Browned beef

(3) 15 oz. cans beans, drained (1 white, 1 black, 1 pinto recommended)

Refrigerate overnight. Cook over low heat for 3-5 hours before serving. 

Chipotle-Lime-Avocado Dip

Chipotle-Lime-Avocado Dip

I originally whipped this up to accompany some roasted veggies for Girl's Night Out (asparagus, potatoes, yellow squash, carrots, sweet peppers, onions, sweet potato, and cauliflower), but subsequently found additional uses for it, as I'm sure you will too!

Blend in food processor until smooth:
1 lg. avocado, flesh only
3/4 c. real mayo
2 T. lime juice
2 T. white wine vinegar
3 T. Splenda
2-3 T. diced chipotle peppers (my new favorite is La Costena, pictured)

Chill and serve as a dip for fresh or roasted veggies, salt n pepper kettle chips, or as a garnish for any meat, quesadilla, or omelet!

"I Didn't Hate It" Shortbread Bites

“I Didn't Hate It” Bites

 

This little treasure is named after the rather tepid review I received from a party guest.  This was, perhaps, high praise considering the source.  After all, this same guest, while enjoying dinner at an exclusive LA restaurant, was approached by the owner himself - none other than Wolfgang Puck - and asked his opinion of the new dessert he was sampling.  His response?  "Tastes like fruity pebbles!"  Though my friend considered this a compliment, the consternation on Mr. Puck's face indicated that he did NOT. 

 

Given that my other 11 guest were quite pleased by the complementary flavors in this concoction of mine, I am publishing it anyway!

Base: Mary Stiger's Sugar Cookies
Cream together:
1/2 c. butter, softened
1/2 c. sugar
1/4 c. vinegar
1/4 t. baking soda

Blend in:
3/4 c. flour

Drop tiny rounds (scant 1/2") of dough onto baking sheet.  Flatten with the bottom of a glass that has been moistened and dipped in sugar.  Bake at 350 degrees for 8-9 minutes.  Cool.


Spread: Lemon-Infused Goat Cheese
Cream together
4 oz. goat cheese
Juice of 1/2 lemon
2 T. Splenda

Spread on 16 of the cooled cookies


Topping: Basil & Strawberries
Layer on top of goat cheese:
Fresh Basil leaf
Strawberry slices

Banana Slush Punch

Banana Slush Punch

(24) 8 oz. servings

 

 

SIMPLE SYRUP - In a medium pot, bring to boil:
3 c. water
3 c. sugar

Let cool.

BANANA MUSH - In food processor, blend together:
4 ripe bananas
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/2 c. orange juice

In a gallon ziplock bag, combine and freeze:
Simple syrup (above)
Banana mush (above)
(1) 46 oz. can pineapple juice

Remove from freezer 3 hours before serving.  When ready to serve, add partially thawed slush and 3 qts. Sprite (or Sprite Zero for a lower-sugar option) to punch bowl.

If you're so inclined, feel free to add a shot of Malibu to each serving!

Pot Pie w/ Leeks & Wild Shrooms

Pot Pie w/ Leeks & Wild Shrooms

 

Layer the following in a 9x13 casserole dish:

Layer 1:
1 c. frozen corn
1.c. frozen green beans

Layer 2: tender sautéed vegetables
2 T. butter
2 T. oil
1 c. finely diced carrots
2 large leeks, sliced
2 bunches green onions, diced

Layer 3: sautéed shrooms
4 T. butter
4 T. oil
5-6 c. wild mushrooms - any combination of portabello, porcini, shitake, etc.)

Layer 4:
2 chicken breasts, fried in butter and oil until nearly done, then shredded or diced

Layer 5: cream sauce
1/2 c. butter, melted in saucepan, then whisk in
4-5 T. flour
4 chicken bouillon cubes
1 qt. heavy cream
1 T. cracked pepper
1 t. sage
1 t. tarragon

Layer 6: crust
Use your favorite pie crust

Brush with melted butter.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until crust is flaky and golden brown.

Herbed Greens w/ Grapeseed Dressing

Herbed Greens w/ Grapeseed Dressing

Serves 6

2 heads Butter lettuce

1 head Red leaf lettuce
1-2 handfuls Sweet pea shoots

3-4 T. Fresh dill
3-4 T. Fresh tarragon

Grapeseed Dressing:

1/4 c. apple cider vinegar

3-4 T. key lime juice

1 t. cracked pepper

1 T. spicy brown mustard

3/4 c. grapeseed oil

Gently pat greens dry.  I sprinkle my greens with a light dusting of Sweet N Low.  It's a little trick I learned from my Grandma, so if you have no objections to synthetic sweeteners, give it a try.

Just before serving, toss greens with dressing.

Jumbo Gumbo

Jumbo Gumbo

This ginormous pot of gumbo will feed a hungry crowd of about 15-20 and a less ravenous group of about 25-30.  The version below is thick and only moderately spicy but I offer suggestions for intensifying the heat at the end of the post, and unless you are averse to spice, I strongly recommend using the full dose!

 

Dice and saute in a large pot:

3/4 c. very hot oil

3 large yellow onions

3 bell peppers (any color will do - I used 1 each of green, red, orange)

4 stalks celery

2 carrots

6 cloves garlic

 

Cook until tender, about 20-30 minutes.

 

While the veggies are tenderizing, make a roux.  In a Dutch oven over medium high heat, combine:

1 c. high quality oil

1 c. flour

 

Stir frequently with a wooden spoon until mixture reaches the consistency and color of peanut butter.  Set aside.

 

When the veggies are tender, add and blend:

3/4 c. liquid smoke
5 T. paprika

4 T. Cajun spice (I used Luzianne)

2 capfuls of Zatarains Crab & Shrimp boil

5 c. broth (I used homemade turkey broth b/c it's what I had on hand)

4 cans diced fire-roasted tomatoes

2 large cans tomato sauce

2 bottles of dark beer (I used New Belgium Abbey, but a hearty milk stout or porter would be awesome too!)

4 heaping T. beef base

4 c. uncooked brown rice

 

Cover tightly and leave over medium-low heat for about 30 minutes, until rice is tender.

 

About 10 minutes before serving, add:

2 lbs. sliced smoked sausage and/or andouille

2 lbs. fresh, raw shrimp (20-count)

 

Serving Suggestions: pairs perfectly with Cornbread Everybody Likes and this Asparagus Salad.

 

**To upgrade to the level of heat a valid Cajun dish requires, I suggest adding another 3-5 T. of Cajun spice, and another 1-2 capfuls of Shrimp N Crab boil.