12 small corn tortillas, torn into small strips
2 Tbsp cooking oil
1 to 2 cups homemade salsa (roja or verde)
1 cup shredded cooked chicken
1 cup grated Pepper Jack cheese
homemade salsa for topping
Put a large cast iron skillet over medium heat, add the cooking oil; when hot add the tortilla strips and cook, flipping often with tongs until they brown slightly and crisp up a bit.
Pour in the salsa (as much or as little as you like) and stir to coat the tortilla pieces well; turn heat down to low.
Top the tortilla strips with chicken and cover with shredded cheese. Loosely cover the skillet, allowing the chicken to warm and the cheese to melt. Remove from heat.
Top with a little more salsa if you wish and serve immediately.
Will make 4 to 6 servings.
You may substitute shredded beef or pork if you like, but using chicken helps keep this dish on the healthier side. Corn tortillas are a healthier choice than plain flour tortillas, but you may also use spinach or sun-dried tomato tortillas for another healthy choice. Add black beans for even more protein and dietary fiber.
Saturday, June 7, 2014
Easy Cooking Tips That Will Change Your Life
It's really not that difficult to become a great chef. When cooking, experimentation is a good thing and will make you meals more interesting. These tips can help you become the cook you've always wanted to be. Use this information to enhance your cooking abilities quickly and efficiently.
It is a good practice to place cut potatoes in a bath of cold water for about half and hour, before frying in order to get crispy fries. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
Garlic is one of those delicious ingredient that has a drawback; its flavor gets onto your hands. An easy way to prevent such scents from adhering to your skin is to rub exposed areas on the stainless steel of your sink. Doing this will remove the scent from your hands, and keep it from spreading to the next food you touch.
Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. Just melt the sauce cubes in a sauce pan when you are ready to prepare dinner. Don't worry, your sauce will taste great even after having been frozen.
If your burgers tend to stick to your grill, it might be hard to cook them while preserving their shape. To avoid this possibility, you can apply a light coat of vegetable oil to the grill before cooking.
You should use airtight containers to store flour, baking mixes or sugar in your kitchen. Airtight containers will keep your foods safe from bugs, and allow them to stay fresh longer because they are not exposed to air. These containers are readily available in the marketplace and will be worth the money invested.
For a good pumpkin cooking method, make sure the pumpkin is upright, you then want to cut it directly down in half, in the middle. Put the halves down on the baking sheets. Lightly sprinkle a bit of water over the pans, then bake the pumpkin for about one hour in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many vegetables and herbs have a smell that has a tendency to remain on cutting boards, despite how many times you wash them. You should mark your cutting board on the side you will be cutting herbs on.
It is very important to make sure your cooking utensils are clean before you start cooking. If food is left behind on the utensils after washing, this may spoil what you are planning to cook. Beyond that, dirty utensils allow bacteria to grow which could make you ill.
Fresh herbs in a meal are delicious. Bunch them together and then use a pair of scissors to snip them. This will prevent them from clumping together and they will be drier than when you chop them.
Start implementing some of these tips, and you'll see a noticeable improvement in your cooking skills. Try each of these tips at least one time. It is a great idea to practice these ideas in order to perfect your cooking techniques. You'll become much better at cooking in a short amount of time when you apply these tips in your kitchen.
It is a good practice to place cut potatoes in a bath of cold water for about half and hour, before frying in order to get crispy fries. A cold water soak helps the potatoes stand up to the rigors of deep fat frying.
Garlic is one of those delicious ingredient that has a drawback; its flavor gets onto your hands. An easy way to prevent such scents from adhering to your skin is to rub exposed areas on the stainless steel of your sink. Doing this will remove the scent from your hands, and keep it from spreading to the next food you touch.
Freeze sauces by pouring leftovers into ice cube trays. Just melt the sauce cubes in a sauce pan when you are ready to prepare dinner. Don't worry, your sauce will taste great even after having been frozen.
If your burgers tend to stick to your grill, it might be hard to cook them while preserving their shape. To avoid this possibility, you can apply a light coat of vegetable oil to the grill before cooking.
You should use airtight containers to store flour, baking mixes or sugar in your kitchen. Airtight containers will keep your foods safe from bugs, and allow them to stay fresh longer because they are not exposed to air. These containers are readily available in the marketplace and will be worth the money invested.
For a good pumpkin cooking method, make sure the pumpkin is upright, you then want to cut it directly down in half, in the middle. Put the halves down on the baking sheets. Lightly sprinkle a bit of water over the pans, then bake the pumpkin for about one hour in an oven heated to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Many vegetables and herbs have a smell that has a tendency to remain on cutting boards, despite how many times you wash them. You should mark your cutting board on the side you will be cutting herbs on.
It is very important to make sure your cooking utensils are clean before you start cooking. If food is left behind on the utensils after washing, this may spoil what you are planning to cook. Beyond that, dirty utensils allow bacteria to grow which could make you ill.
Fresh herbs in a meal are delicious. Bunch them together and then use a pair of scissors to snip them. This will prevent them from clumping together and they will be drier than when you chop them.
Start implementing some of these tips, and you'll see a noticeable improvement in your cooking skills. Try each of these tips at least one time. It is a great idea to practice these ideas in order to perfect your cooking techniques. You'll become much better at cooking in a short amount of time when you apply these tips in your kitchen.
Friday, June 6, 2014
Jicama Salsa Recipe
1 cup finely diced jicama
1/2 cup finely diced tomatilla
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
3 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp finely chopped jalapenos (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Stir again before serving.
Serve like any crunchy salsa as a side or even over greens for a simple salad.
Will serve 2 to 4.
1/2 cup finely diced tomatilla
1/2 cup finely diced red onion
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro
3 Tbsp lime juice
1/2 tsp honey
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp finely chopped jalapenos (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a glass bowl and toss to combine. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Stir again before serving.
Serve like any crunchy salsa as a side or even over greens for a simple salad.
Will serve 2 to 4.
Culinary Tips, Straight From The Chef's Mouth
Cooking is something anyone can do. Are you able to purchase ingredients and follow recipe directions? Is cooking equipment available to you? If so, cooking is clearly within your realm of capabilities! If you want to learn how to enhance your culinary abilities, look at these tips to find advice on how to prepare great meals.
Prep work can be done way ahead of time. Having your preparation done ahead of time is very important. However, when you are ready to start cooking and have a deadline for when your meal needs to be finished, it can be a bit stressful. If all of the prep work is completed well before the actual cooking begins, this will help alleviate some stress later.
Texture and taste don't have to suffer when you are trying to lighten up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower makes for a great substitute to help drop the fat and calorie content. The bland cauliflower taste will make it so that you do not notice much difference in the taste, while accentuating the taste of some of the other ingredients. Your mashed potato dish will also look the same if you add cauliflower, allowing it to retain its color and texture while taking the calories out of your potatoes.
Have you ever wanted to cook a meal using fresh basil? Place your basil into a large glass. Then, add water to the glass, immersing the stems in water. Keep it on the kitchen counter and it should stay fresh. If you occasionally change its water, it will sprout roots. By cutting or trimming the basil on occasion, it will grow even further, so you can have fresh basil for quite a while.
The mushrooms will just absorb the water. Instead of this, you should use a clean, wet cloth, and proceed to wipe the mushroom off by using your hands.
Sauteing vegetables in chicken broth is very healthy. The chicken broth will cut down on the fat in your vegetable dishes while enhancing their flavor. This is a great and delicious way to cook vegetables.
When certain recipes call for milk or water, try adding some other liquids that you would see fit to experiment with flavors. When a recipe calls for water, you can try chicken or beef broths. You may even want to try something like juice. To replace milk, yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk can make good substitutes. Changing up the liquids in your recipes can add nutrition, while livening up a standby dish.
When you need to season your food, add your seasoning a little bit at a time instead of all at once. Then the foods absorb the seasonings rather than being caked with them.
Take cooking as seriously as you want to. There are so many ways of preparing food, and you should learn all you can from the people that are best at it. In the meantime, however, you can use some of the cooking tips presented above the next time you are responsible for preparing a family meal.
Prep work can be done way ahead of time. Having your preparation done ahead of time is very important. However, when you are ready to start cooking and have a deadline for when your meal needs to be finished, it can be a bit stressful. If all of the prep work is completed well before the actual cooking begins, this will help alleviate some stress later.
Texture and taste don't have to suffer when you are trying to lighten up your mashed potatoes. Cauliflower makes for a great substitute to help drop the fat and calorie content. The bland cauliflower taste will make it so that you do not notice much difference in the taste, while accentuating the taste of some of the other ingredients. Your mashed potato dish will also look the same if you add cauliflower, allowing it to retain its color and texture while taking the calories out of your potatoes.
Have you ever wanted to cook a meal using fresh basil? Place your basil into a large glass. Then, add water to the glass, immersing the stems in water. Keep it on the kitchen counter and it should stay fresh. If you occasionally change its water, it will sprout roots. By cutting or trimming the basil on occasion, it will grow even further, so you can have fresh basil for quite a while.
The mushrooms will just absorb the water. Instead of this, you should use a clean, wet cloth, and proceed to wipe the mushroom off by using your hands.
Sauteing vegetables in chicken broth is very healthy. The chicken broth will cut down on the fat in your vegetable dishes while enhancing their flavor. This is a great and delicious way to cook vegetables.
When certain recipes call for milk or water, try adding some other liquids that you would see fit to experiment with flavors. When a recipe calls for water, you can try chicken or beef broths. You may even want to try something like juice. To replace milk, yogurt, sour cream and buttermilk can make good substitutes. Changing up the liquids in your recipes can add nutrition, while livening up a standby dish.
When you need to season your food, add your seasoning a little bit at a time instead of all at once. Then the foods absorb the seasonings rather than being caked with them.
Take cooking as seriously as you want to. There are so many ways of preparing food, and you should learn all you can from the people that are best at it. In the meantime, however, you can use some of the cooking tips presented above the next time you are responsible for preparing a family meal.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Corn Jicama Relish Recipe
1/2 cup corn kernels, frozen kind, thawed and drained
1 cup finely diced jicama
1 cup finely diced Roma tomato
1/4 cup finely diced sweet bell pepper
2 Tbsp chopped ripe olives
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp picante, salsa roja, or salsa verde
2 Tbsp olive oil
In a glass bowl, put all the ingredients and mix together to combine well.
Cover bowl and let sit on kitchen counter for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Serve as a condiment with grilled meats and seafood or as a topping for tacos or in wraps.
1 cup finely diced jicama
1 cup finely diced Roma tomato
1/4 cup finely diced sweet bell pepper
2 Tbsp chopped ripe olives
2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 Tbsp picante, salsa roja, or salsa verde
2 Tbsp olive oil
In a glass bowl, put all the ingredients and mix together to combine well.
Cover bowl and let sit on kitchen counter for 1 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
Serve as a condiment with grilled meats and seafood or as a topping for tacos or in wraps.
Prepare Meals Like A Pro With These Simple Cooking Tips
Everybody loves a good dinner. This is even more true when the food is being prepared by someone who knows their way around a kitchen. This article is filled with useful advice on preparing great meals.
Keep your herbs in a place that is both dark and cool. Exposure to heat, light, and humidity can cause them to lose their flavor. As a general rule, most of your ground herbs and spices will stay fresh for about a year if stored correctly. If spices are kept whole, they could stay fresh for up to five years. Store your herbs and spices correctly, so that they will stay fresh and keep their full flavor!
Get a cookbook with easy recipes or a specific theme you find interesting to get you started. Try looking online or to your local library or bookstore. Work your way through a few different recipes, but do not allow yourself to become discouraged during the learning process.
When trying out a new marinade or seasoning, test it on a small piece of meat before you cook the entire meal. Certain foods like hamburgers, meatloaf and meatballs have certain kinds of seasonings. Never prepare the full amount after its initial seasoning. A better way is to form a patty with a little bit of meat, then cook it. You are then able to decide whether to cook the rest of the meat that way, or adjust your seasoning accordingly.
When you are having an important person over for dinner, prepare a meal that you are experienced with. Never prepare an unfamiliar recipe or try to use a different ingredient than you are used to. You will feel less stressed while cooking if you follow this tip.
Have you found yourself regretting disposing of moldy fruits? Should you save the moldy fruit and cut away the bad parts? The truth is that a rotten spot often signifies that the whole fruit is bad. Mold grows inward to places that you can't even see and can make you sick so throw moldy fruit in the garbage.
People use apples for cooking many things during the holiday season, but the apples must be stored properly. Apples will be ruined if they are stored in a warm place, make sure you store them in the fridge or in a cool place. Sort your apples carefully before storing them, as one bad apple will end up spoiling the rest.
It is possible to lower the fat and calorie content of mashed potatoes without impacting the taste or texture by replacing some of the potato content with cauliflower. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. You'll still be able to enjoy mashed potatoes, but with less fat and calories!
There is nothing that compares to sitting down to a delicious meal, where the first bite has your mouth watering. Perhaps you are under the impression that it takes a lot of training to be a skilled cook, but that is not the case. This can be achieved by anyone. This article should enhance your ideas for your next foray into the kitchen.
Keep your herbs in a place that is both dark and cool. Exposure to heat, light, and humidity can cause them to lose their flavor. As a general rule, most of your ground herbs and spices will stay fresh for about a year if stored correctly. If spices are kept whole, they could stay fresh for up to five years. Store your herbs and spices correctly, so that they will stay fresh and keep their full flavor!
Get a cookbook with easy recipes or a specific theme you find interesting to get you started. Try looking online or to your local library or bookstore. Work your way through a few different recipes, but do not allow yourself to become discouraged during the learning process.
When trying out a new marinade or seasoning, test it on a small piece of meat before you cook the entire meal. Certain foods like hamburgers, meatloaf and meatballs have certain kinds of seasonings. Never prepare the full amount after its initial seasoning. A better way is to form a patty with a little bit of meat, then cook it. You are then able to decide whether to cook the rest of the meat that way, or adjust your seasoning accordingly.
When you are having an important person over for dinner, prepare a meal that you are experienced with. Never prepare an unfamiliar recipe or try to use a different ingredient than you are used to. You will feel less stressed while cooking if you follow this tip.
Have you found yourself regretting disposing of moldy fruits? Should you save the moldy fruit and cut away the bad parts? The truth is that a rotten spot often signifies that the whole fruit is bad. Mold grows inward to places that you can't even see and can make you sick so throw moldy fruit in the garbage.
People use apples for cooking many things during the holiday season, but the apples must be stored properly. Apples will be ruined if they are stored in a warm place, make sure you store them in the fridge or in a cool place. Sort your apples carefully before storing them, as one bad apple will end up spoiling the rest.
It is possible to lower the fat and calorie content of mashed potatoes without impacting the taste or texture by replacing some of the potato content with cauliflower. You will not even taste the cauliflower in with the potatoes, because it is so bland. You'll still be able to enjoy mashed potatoes, but with less fat and calories!
There is nothing that compares to sitting down to a delicious meal, where the first bite has your mouth watering. Perhaps you are under the impression that it takes a lot of training to be a skilled cook, but that is not the case. This can be achieved by anyone. This article should enhance your ideas for your next foray into the kitchen.
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Tomato Avocado Salsa Recipe
6 Roma tomatoes, finely diced
1 small sweet onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, grated
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 ripe avocado, finely diced
Toss all the ingredients into a large glass bowl, combining well.
Taste and add more salt if needed, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes, at room temperature, then toss again and serve immediately.
Serve with homemade tortilla chips.
Will make about 2 to 3 cups of salsa, depending on the size of the tomatoes. This does not keep well because of the avocado, so enjoy it while it's fresh.
1 small sweet onion, finely diced
1 garlic clove, grated
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 Tbsp finely chopped cilantro
1 lime, zested and juiced
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1 ripe avocado, finely diced
Toss all the ingredients into a large glass bowl, combining well.
Taste and add more salt if needed, then cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 15 minutes, at room temperature, then toss again and serve immediately.
Serve with homemade tortilla chips.
Will make about 2 to 3 cups of salsa, depending on the size of the tomatoes. This does not keep well because of the avocado, so enjoy it while it's fresh.
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