Killer Carne Asada

So this is like THE best carne asada recipe I have ever made!  My family ate it up fast with barely any left overs!!!  I was so sad about that part...Thank you Life's Ambrosia for your wonderful site!!!  Please people click on over and check out all the wonderful recipes Des has!!

• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeno, minced
• 1 handful cilantro, chopped fine
• juice of 1 lime
• 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/4 cup olive oil, plus more for frying tortillas
• 1.5 pound flank steak
• 4 – 6 taco shells or tortillas
• lettuce
• diced tomatoes
• cheese
• sliced avocado

1. In a bowl combine garlic, jalapeno, cilantro, lime juice, vinegar, salt, cumin, chili powder and olive oil. Whisk to combine. Place steak in a shallow dish. Pour marinade over steak and marinate for at least 2 hours but not more than 8.
2. When you are ready to cook the steak, preheat oven broiler. Place steak on a baking sheet. Cook steak 8 – 10 minutes. Use tongs to turn over (you don’t want to pierce it with a fork it will release the juices) and cook another 8 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing thinly against the grain.
3. While the steak is resting cook your tortillas. Heat a thin layer of oil in a skillet. Cook tortillas one at a time for 30 seconds on each side and then fold over to form taco shell. Transfer to a paper towel lined plate.
4. To assemble the taco, place a few slices of meat on the taco shell. Top with lettuce, tomato, cheese and avocado. Serve.

Photo from Life's Ambrosia.

My New Juicer!

So when I got paid I decided to finally get myself a Jack LaLanne power juicer!  I have been wanting to juice for a long time now, but never took the plunge...I was always thinking it would not be too tasty.  I haven't tried too many mainly veggie juices yet, but have tried a few fruit combos and added veggies in with them.   Mmmmmmm :)   Man have I been missing out!  I love the fact that I am getting way more fruits and veggies in my diet and raw at that.  Eventually I would like to go on a month long juice fast, but as of now my Obgyn doesn't think it is the best idea...yep, I am pregnant!  Almost 15 weeks now!  In another month I will find out if it will be a boy or a girl.

 So onto one of my favorite juices so far...

Orange Carrot Juice

1/2 lemon, peeled
1 orange, peeled
1/2 mango, seeded and peeled
1 apple, stem removed
2 1/2 carrots, tops and roots removed, halved
1/2 banana (do not juice!)

Place fruits and veggies in your juicer in order listed, juicing each one separately. DO NOT JUICE THE BANANA! It will ruin your juicer. Because of the low juice content it will clog up your machine. After you have juices the carrots, transfer juice to a blender and add the banana. If you would like it more like a slushy add 1 to 1 1/2 cups of ice to blender and blend well. Drink within 15-20 minutes for optimal nutritional benefits. As always, enjoy!

You have to come on over to Fake Ginger's blog and check these out!  I love, love, love Mexican Hot Chocolate so I know these have to be awesome! 

(Photo from Fake Ginger)

My New Kitchen!

Our new home finally closed so that means I have a kitchen again!!!!  Lol, now back to cooking regular meals instead of fast food and easy heat stuff... :)  Got a bunch of new recipes I want to try out too!  So look for something soon :)

36 Summer Meals Fast!

Tired of cooking in a hot kitchen this summer? Well these meals are fast and won't keep you in there long! These recipes aren't formal recipes; they are a general outline and are meant to be tweaked to your taste. With some creative thinking, or maybe a salad or loaf of bread, these meals will be better than any takeout and won't heat up your kitchen. 

1. Make six-minute eggs: simmer gently, run under cold water until cool, then peel. Serve over steamed asparagus.

2. Toss a cup of chopped mixed herbs with a few tablespoons of olive oil in a hot pan. Serve over angel-hair pasta, diluting the sauce if necessary with pasta cooking water.

3. Open a can of white beans and combine with olive oil, salt, small or chopped shrimp, minced garlic and thyme leaves in a pan. Cook, stirring, until the shrimp are done; garnish with more olive oil.

4. Make pesto: put a couple of cups of basil leaves, a garlic clove, salt, pepper and olive oil as necessary in a blender (walnuts and Parmesan are optional). Serve over pasta (dilute with oil or water as necessary) or grilled fish or meat.

5. Pan-grill a skirt steak for three or four minutes a side. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, slice and serve over romaine or any other green salad, drizzled with olive oil and lemon.

6. Call it Panini: Grilled cheese with prosciutto, tomatoes, thyme or basil leaves.

7. Stir-fry a pound or so of ground meat or chopped fish mixed with chopped onions and seasoned with cumin or chili powder. Pile into taco shells or soft tacos, along with tomato, lettuce, canned beans, onion, cilantro and sour cream.

8. While pasta cooks, combine a couple cups chopped tomatoes, a teaspoon or more minced garlic, olive oil and 20 to 30 basil leaves. Toss with pasta, salt, pepper and Parmesan.

9. The New York supper: Bagels, cream cheese, smoked salmon. Serve with tomatoes, watercress or arugula, and sliced red onion or shallot.

10. Dredge thinly sliced chicken breasts in flour or cornmeal; cook about two minutes a side in hot olive oil. Place on bread with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.

11. Cut Italian sausage into chunks and brown in a little olive oil; chop onions and bell peppers and add them to the pan. Cook until sausage is browned and peppers and onions tender. Serve in sandwiches.

12. New Joe’s Special, from San Francisco: Brown ground meat with minced garlic and chopped onion. When just about cooked, add chopped spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted. At the last minute, stir in two eggs, along with grated Parmesan and salt and pepper.

13. Quesadilla: Use a combination of cheeses, like Fontana mixed with grated pecorino. Put on half of a large flour tortilla with pickled jalapenos, chopped onion, shallot or scallion, chopped tomatoes and grated radish. Fold tortilla over and brown on both sides in butter or oil, until cheese is melted.

14. Fast chile rellenos: Drain canned whole green chilies. Make a slit in each and insert a piece of cheese. Dredge in flour and fry in a skillet, slit side up, until cheese melts.

15. Cobb-ish salad: Chop bacon and begin to brown it; cut boneless chicken into strips and cook it with bacon. Toss romaine and watercress or arugula with chopped tomatoes, avocado, onion and crumbled blue cheese. Add bacon and chicken. Dress with oil and vinegar.

16. Sauté 10 whole peeled garlic cloves in olive oil. Meanwhile, grate Pecorino, grind lots of black pepper, chop parsley and cook pasta. Toss all together, along with crushed dried chili flakes and salt.

17. Fried rice: Soften vegetables with oil in a skillet. Add cold cooed rice, chopped onion, garlic, ginger, peas and two beaten eggs. Toss until hot and cooked through. Season with soy sauce and sesame oil.

18. Taco salad: Toss together greens, chopped tomato, chopped red onion, sliced avocado, a small can of black beans and kernels from a couple of ears of corn. Toss with crumbled tortilla chips and grated cheese. Dress with olive oil, lime and chopped cilantro leaves.

19. Raita to the rescue: Broil any fish. Serve with a sauce of drained yogurt mixed with chopped cucumber, minced onion and cayenne.

20. Sauté shredded zucchini in olive oil, adding garlic and chopped herbs. Serve over pasta.

21. Not takeout: Stir-fry onions with cut-up broccoli. Add cubed tofu, chicken or shrimp, or sliced beef or pork, along with a tablespoon each minced garlic and ginger. When almost done, add half cup of water, two tablespoons soy sauce and plenty of black pepper. Heat through and serve over fresh Chinese noodles.

22. Put a stick of butter and a handful of pine nuts in a skillet. Cook over medium heat until both are brown. Toss with cooked pasta, grated Parmesan and black pepper.

23. Put a tablespoon of cream and a slice of tomato in each of several small ramekins. Top with an egg, then salt, pepper and grated Parmesan. Bake at 350 degrees until the eggs set. Serve with toast.

24. Brown small pork (or hot dog) chunks in a skillet. Add white beans, garlic, thyme and olive oil. Or add white beans and ketchup.

25. Dip pork cutlets in egg, then dredge heavily in panko; brown quickly on both sides. Serve over lettuce, with fresh lemon, or bottled Japanese curry sauce.

26. Brown bratwursts with cut-up apples. Serve with coleslaw.

27. Peel and thinly slice raw beets; cook in butter until soft. Take out of pan and quickly cook some shrimp in same pan. Deglaze pan with sherry vinegar, adding sauce to beets and shrimp. Garnish with dill.

28. Pasta with fresh tomatoes: Cook chopped fresh tomatoes in butter or oil with garlic until tender, while pasta cooks. Combine and serve with grated Parmesan.

29. Rich vegetable soup: Cook asparagus tips and peeled stalks or most any other green vegetable in chicken stock with a little tarragon until tender; reserve a few tips and purée the rest with a little butter (cream or yogurt, too, if you like) adding enough stock to thin the purée. Garnish with the reserved tips. Serve hot or cold.

30. Near instant mezze: Combine hummus on a plate with yogurt laced with chopped cucumbers and a bit of garlic, plus tomato, feta, white beans with olive oil and pita bread.

31. Liverwurst on good sourdough rye with scallions, tomato and wholegrain mustard.

32. Combine crab meat with mayo, Dijon mustard, chives and tarragon. Serve in a sandwich, with potato chips.

33. Cut the top off four big tomatoes; scoop out the interiors and mix them with toasted stale baguette or pita, olive oil, salt, pepper and herbs (basil, tarragon, and/or parsley). Stuff into tomatoes and serve with salad.

34. Pasta frittata: Turn cooked pasta and a little garlic into an oiled or buttered skillet. Brown, pressing to create a cake. Flip, and then top with three or four beaten eggs and loads of Parmesan. Brown other side and serve.

35. Veggie burger: Drain and pour a 14-ounce can of beans into a food processor with an onion, half a cup rolled oats, a tablespoon chili powder or other spice mix, an egg, salt and pepper. Process until mushy, then shape into burgers, adding a little liquid or oats as necessary. Cook in oil about three minutes a side and serve.

36. So-called Fettuccine Alfredo: Heat several tablespoons of butter and about half a cup of cream in a large skillet just until the cream starts to simmer. Add slightly undercooked fresh pasta to the skillet, along with plenty of grated Parmesan. Cook over low heat, tossing, until pasta is tender and hot.

Coconut Scented Rice with Toasted Almonds & Mint

Looks so yummy, I love coconut rice! Sounds great to have with a nice stir fry of veggies!  Gotta eat it soon :)

1 cup brown rice, rinsed
2 cups organic coconut milk
1/4 cup shredded coconut, optional
1/4 cup almonds chopped finely
3 sprigs of fresh mint, finely chopped

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Place rice, coconut milk and shredded coconut in a saucepan. Stir briefly.

2. Place saucepan over high heat and bring to a boil. Cover with a tight fitting lid then lower heat to a simmer. Cook rice for about 25 minutes. After that, check the rice periodically to see if it is tender.

3. While the rice is cooking, place the slivered almonds on a sheet pan and bake for 5-7 minutes or until toasty brown and fragrant.

4. When the rice is cooked to your desired tenderness, fluff it with a fork and sprinkle in about 1/2 the almonds. Add the rest of the almonds to the top of the rice, to serve along with the mint.



Recipe and photo found at Energise For Life.

Creamy Broccoli Soup

1 medium head broccoli, cut into florets and steamed just until tender
2 stalks celery, chopped
1/2 small yellow onion, chopped (optional)
1 clove garlic, minced
1″ piece fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
juice of half a lemon
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
pinch sea salt
1/2 cup warm water + more till desired consistency
2 tbsp olive oil
half an avocado, diced

garnish
2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
1/4 avocado, diced
pinch cayenne

1. Combine the broccoli, celery, garlic, ginger, onion (if using), lemon juice, oregano, salt, pepper, water and half avocado in a blender and puree until smooth. Add more water as needed until soup reaches desired consistency (I added about 1 1/2 cups total). Drizzle in olive oil and stir until smooth.
Ladle into bowls and sprinkle with pumpkin seeds, avocado, and cayenne. Serve immediately and enjoy!  




Recipe and photo from Cate's World Kitchen.