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Chow Down on Pork 'n' Mango Skewers

YumSugar — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:15:20 -0700

Skewers are quintessential Summer food. They cook quickly on the barbecue, keep the house cool, and bring everyone outside to enjoy the wonderfully warm weather! This recipe for ancho-chile-marinated pork skewered with mangoes is a perfect combination of spicy and sweet. The cilantro sprinkled on top adds freshness and flavor to the already complex dish. To keep the entire dinner finger- and outdoor-friendly, I simply served it with barbecued corn. If you can't find mangoes, other fruits such as pineapples, peaches, or nectarines would be great substitutes. To get started on these succulent and tropical-inspired skewers keep reading.

Sunday BBQ: Sirloin Salad With Cilantro

YumSugar — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 06:00:37 -0700

Lately I've enjoyed vegetables as the focus of my meal in dishes such as Caprese and corn and cotija salad. But I spotted sirloin steak on sale at the supermarket, so this weekend, it's going to be all about the beef.

Since my steak and pineapple salad was so well-received, I'm lighting up the coals for another salad tonight. Warm, sizzling sirloin sliced against the grain, served with smoky onion wedges and a cilantro-jalapeño vinaigrette. What's not to like? Get jazzed for dinner tonight

Make Your Own Salsa

partysugar — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:00:41 -0700

For the first 23 years of my life, I thought salsa was something purchased at the grocery store or enjoyed at a Mexican restaurant. Then one day, I realized I could make it at home using fresh ingredients and everything changed.

The entire experience of eating salsa (with tortilla chips, of course) was enhanced. The juicy sweetness of tomatoes, the spicy heat of jalapeños, the subtle smokiness of chili powder, the crunchy bite of raw onion - it was like tasting salsa for the first time.

Don't be intimidated if you've never made salsa before, it's wildly easy and domestically rewarding. While having a food processor allows you to make salsa in mere minutes, it can also be done the old-fashioned way by finely chopping the ingredients. To check out my favorite salsa recipe read more.

Tomato Salsa
Original Recipe

Ingredients

4 large ripe tomatoes
juice of one lime
2 garlic cloves, peeled
1 jalapeño, seeded (optional) roughly chopped
1/2 small white onion, roughly chopped
1/4 cup cilantro
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

Fill a large pot with water. Bring to a boil. Fill a bowl with ice and water. Place next to the stove.
With a small knife, slice an X into the bottom of each tomato, being careful not to cut all the way through. Drop each tomato into the boiling water and boil until the skin starts to peel off, about 45 seconds to a minute. Remove immediately and place in the ice water bath.
When the tomatoes are cool enough to handle, peel off the skins and discard. Slice the tomatoes into large wedges.
Squeeze the lime juice into a food processor. Add the garlic, jalapeño, onion, cilantro, spices, and tomatoes.
Process until the vegetables are finely chopped and the mixture is chunky. Taste and adjust seasonings to your liking. If you prefer more heat, add another jalapeño or more chili powder. Enjoy with tortilla chips or however you desire!

Makes about 2 cups.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Cilantro-Lime Chicken Fajitas

partysugar — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:45:41 -0700

Say hola to the weekend with this exciting and flavorful dish. Quick-grilling chicken breasts are coated with a mixture of lime juice, cumin, and chile powder. Poblano chiles, bell peppers, and red onions are charred on the grill alongside the chicken.

Bring the chicken and veggies to the table on a large platter and let everyone assemble their own fajitas. Chill some Coronas or shake up a couple of margs and you've got yourself a Mexican fiesta! For the recipe, read more.

Cilantro-Lime Chicken Fajitas
From Bon Appétit

Ingredients

1 1/4 cups coarsely chopped fresh cilantro
3/4 cup olive oil
5 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 1/4 teaspoons ancho chile powder
6 skinless boneless chicken breast halves
3 large poblano chiles, seeded, cut into 3/4-inch-wide strips
3 large yellow bell peppers, cut into 3/4-inch-wide strips
2 red onions, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
12 8-inch flour tortillas
Optional toppings: purchased salsas, guacamole, sour cream, chopped fresh cilantro, sliced green onions, and chopped serrano chiles

Directions

Prepare barbecue (medium heat). Puree first 5 ingredients in processor. Season marinade with salt and pepper.
Place chicken in 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish. Pour 1/3 cup marinade over; turn to coat.
Arrange poblanos, bell peppers, and onions on large rimmed baking sheet. Pour 1/2 cup marinade over; turn to coat. Sprinkle chicken and vegetables with salt and pepper. Reserve remaining marinade.
Grill chicken until cooked through, about 7 minutes per side. Grill vegetables until tender, turning frequently, about 15 minutes for onions and 12 minutes for poblanos and bell peppers. Grill tortillas until charred, about 1 minute per side.
Transfer chicken to work surface; slice crosswise into strips. Fill tortillas with chicken and vegetables; drizzle with reserved marinade. Serve with toppings.

Serves 6.

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Chilled Zucchini Soup Two Ways - Beginner and Expert

YumSugar — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:50:49 -0700

I'm a major supporter of soup, and believe in eating it year-round, regardless of the weather. Yet I know how some of you can't bear to steam up sun shades with bowls of hot liquid in the Summer. If you fall into the latter category, chilled zucchini soup, with its creamy body and subtle flavor, is just the thing to talk you off the ledge. Add a quick course to the dinner menu when you blend together zucchini, broth, dill, and shredded cheese - or transform it into more of a substantial meal by topping off bowls with cumin-spiced shrimp and tangy cilantro cream. Decide between the two when you read more

Fast & Easy Dinner: Pork Tenderloin With Onion Marmalade

partysugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 07:50:58 -0700

Just because it's the middle of the week doesn't mean you can't enjoy a hearty and delicious pork dinner. This recipe uses pork tenderloin, a cut of meat that cooks quickly in the oven or on the grill. When topped with a caramelized onion and honey jam, the pork becomes rich and flavorful. Serve on a bed of rice seasoned with orange and cilantro for a meal that is balanced and satisfying. To check out the mouth-watering recipe, read more.

Pork Tenderloin With Onion Marmalade
From Every Day With Rachael Ray

Ingredients

2 pork tenderloins
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
Salt
3 tablespoons butter
2 sweet onions, finely chopped
1 tablespoon ground cumin
Juice and grated peel of 1 orange
2 tablespoons honey
1 cup rice
1/4 cup chopped cilantro

Directions

Preheat the oven to 500°.
Place the pork in a roasting pan, rub with the olive oil and season with salt. Roast for 10 minutes, then turn over and roast for another 10 minutes. Remove the tenderloins from the oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, in a large skillet, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium-low heat, add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, 10 to 15 minutes.
Stir in the cumin and half the orange juice; cook for 5 minutes. Stir in the honey and cook for 5 minutes more. Let cool.
In a medium saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups salted water to a boil, stir in the rice, cover, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from the heat and let rest for 5 minutes. Stir in the remaining 1 tablespoon butter, then the remaining orange juice and the cilantro. Season with salt.
Spoon the rice onto plates and sprinkle with the grated orange peel. Cut the pork diagonally into 1/2-inch slices and place on the rice. Spoon the onion marmalade over the pork and serve extra on the side.

Serves 4.

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The Basics: Pico de Gallo

partysugar — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:00:34 -0700

During the Spring and Summer, you can almost always find the ingredients for pico de gallo in my fridge. This delightful Mexican condiment has a fresh tomato base and is flecked with raw onions and minced jalapeno. Just-squeezed lime juice adds a refreshing tartness. If I have cilantro, sometimes I'll stir that in, too.

To simply enjoy the pure flavor of pico de gallo, serve as a dip with crunchy tortilla chips. Or use the versatile mix in a number of creative ways. Place on top of grilled fish or steak. Stir into a salad of mixed greens or fold with cooked couscous. Toss with shredded chicken and you've got a quick filling for tacos or enchiladas frescos. Place in between soft tortillas with cheese and make quesadillas. Puree in the food processor for salsa.

See? The possibilities are endless. Get this recipe that you'll be making well into next Fall when you read more.

Pico de Gallo
From Emeril Lagasse

Ingredients

1 1/2 pounds plum tomatoes, cored, halved, and seeded (about 2 1/2 cups)
3/4 cup finely chopped white onions
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons minced, seeded jalapeno or serrano chiles (about 2 medium)
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cut the tomatoes into 1/4-inch dice and place in a bowl.
Add the remaining ingredients and stir well to combine. Cover and allow to rest at room temperature for 1 hour for the flavors to blend.

Makes about 3 cups.

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Fast & Easy Dinner: Pineapple and Scallop Skewers

partysugar — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 06:50:59 -0700

Take an exotic escape to a tropical locale with this marvelous meal. Scallops - which are quick-cooking shellfish that are effortless to season - are tossed with a zesty lime cilantro marinade.

Spicy jalapenos add heat, juicy pineapple provides a sweetness, and chunks of avocado yield a creamy coolness. If you don't have an indoor grill pan, roast the skewers in the oven until scallops turn opaque.

This is a great dish to break out of a weeknight recipe rut, so get it now when you read more.

Pineapple and Scallop Skewers
From Better Homes and Gardens

Ingredients

2 tsp. finely shredded lime peel
1/4 cup lime juice
1/4 cup snipped fresh cilantro
2 small green and/or red jalapeño pepper, seeded and finely chopped
2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/3 cup canola oil
16 sea scallops (about 1-1/2 lb.)
12 large fresh pineapple chunks
1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and cut into 8 chunks

Directions

In a small bowl combine lime peel, lime juice, cilantro, jalapeno, sugar, salt, and pepper. Slowly whisk in oil until combined; set aside.
In a large bowl combine scallops, pineapple, and avocado. Toss with 2 tablespoons of the lime juice mixture. Let stand for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Do not marinate longer, or scallops will get tough.
Alternately thread 4 scallops, 3 pineapple chunks and 2 avocado chunks on each of 4 12- to 16-inch skewers.
Grill kabobs on a well-greased grill rack directly over medium-high heat for about 8 minutes or until scallops turn opaque, turning once halfway through grilling. Transfer kabobs to a serving platter and serve with remaining lime juice mixture.

Serves 4.

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Yummy Links: From Carnations to Thomas Keller

partysugar — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:50:36 -0700

Once shunned, the affordable carnation is making a centerpiece comeback. - Hostess With the Mostess
Love cilantro? Check out this new website devoted to the fragrant herb. - Serious Eats
Tips for building the ultimate green kitchen. - Chow
One writer argues that food cannot travel and cuisine is limited to the place where it's made. - Gourmet
Trader Joe's is now selling hard boiled peeled eggs. - The Kitchn
Get excited for Thomas Keller's next big deal, Ad Hoc at Home, a family-friendly cookbook. - Eat Me Daily

Source

Come Party With Me: Indian Dinner - Menu

partysugar — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 09:00:40 -0800

Watching the radiant Slumdog Millionaire cast at the Oscars and the clips from the lush film made me hungry for Indian culture - and Indian food. I've decided to round up an intimate group and host an informal Indian dinner. My girlfriend Emily is bringing the wonderful soundtrack from the film and I'm in charge of the menu.

With fewer people traveling due to the economy, this is a great way to experience an exotic culture in the comfort of your own kitchen. Cooking a meal is more affordable than purchasing a plane ticket, so consider brightening up a Winter's evening with this lively get-together. Jump-start the party with Padma Lakshmi's crispy turkey rolls with mint and date dipping sauce; they should be ready and waiting for guests to arrive.

Shrimp tikka with mango chutney is fragrant, flavorful, sweet, and spicy. For the main course, serve chicken with a fresh, tangy cilantro sauce, white rice, and green lentils with lemon slices and popped mustard seeds. To entice your tastebuds with these dishes, read more.

Crispy Turkey Kathi Rolls With Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce
From Food and Wine

Ingredients

1 1/2 tablespoons canola oil, plus more for frying
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 1/2 teaspoons minced, peeled fresh ginger
1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon Madras curry powder
1/2 teaspoon amchoor*, optional
3/4 pound ground turkey
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons minced basil
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
Salt
Sixteen 6-inch flour tortillas, warmed
Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce, recipe below

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the 1 1/2 tablespoons of canola oil. Add the onion, ginger and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring a few times, until the onion is translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the curry powder and amchoor and cook, stirring, until the spices become fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add the turkey and soy sauce and cook, breaking up the meat, until no trace of pink remains in the turkey, about 10 minutes. Stir in the basil and lemon juice and season with salt.
In a medium saucepan, heat 2 inches of canola oil to 350° over moderately high heat.
Lay a tortilla on a work surface and spoon 2 tablespoons of the turkey filling across the lower third of it. Roll the tortilla around the filling, folding in the sides as you roll. Secure the rolls with 2 toothpicks. Repeat to form the remaining rolls.
Fry the rolls 3 or 4 at a time, turning once, until browned and crisp, about 4 minutes per batch. Drain on paper towels. Remove the toothpicks and serve the rolls with the Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce.

Makes 16 rolls.

Make Ahead: the fried rolls can be kept at room temperature for up to 2 hours. Reheat in the oven before serving.

*Amchoor, dried mango powder, adds a distinctive tart flavor to foods. It’s available at Indian markets and from kalustyans.com.

Mint-and-Date Dipping Sauce

2 cups mint leaves
3 pitted Medjool dates, finely chopped
1 serrano chile, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons water
Salt

In a blender, combine the mint leaves, dates, serrano chile, lemon juice and water and puree until smooth. Transfer the dipping sauce to a bowl and season with salt. Serve at room temperature. The dipping sauce can be prepared up to 4 hours ahead and kept at room temperature until serving.

Makes about 1 cup.

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Shrimp Tikka With Fresh Mango Chutney
From Gourmet

Ingredients

For shrimp:
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 (1-inch) piece fresh jalapeño, chopped (about 2 teaspoons)
1 (1-inch) piece peeled ginger, chopped
1 large garlic clove, smashed
2 teaspoons ground garam masala
3/4 teaspoons turmeric
1/8 teaspoons grated nutmeg
2 pound large shrimp in shell, peeled, leaving tail fan attached
For chutney:
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 (3/4-pound) unripe mango, chopped
1/3 seedless cucumber, peeled and chopped (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1 to 2 teaspoons minced fresh jalapeño with seeds
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
3 tablespoons thinly sliced mint
3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
10 (12-inch) wooden skewers, soaked in water 30 minutes
lime wedges, for serving

Directions

Marinate shrimp: purée all ingredients for marinating shrimp, except shrimp, with 1/2 tsp salt in a blender until smooth. Pour into a sealable bag, then add shrimp and marinate at cool room temperature, turning bag occasionally, 30 minutes.
Make chutney while shrimp marinate: Toast cumin in a dry small skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Stir together remaining chutney ingredients with 1/4 tsp salt, then sprinkle with toasted cumin.
Make kebabs: prepare grill for direct-heat cooking over hot charcoal (medium-high heat for gas); Thread 4 shrimp onto each skewer, leaving small spaces between them. Put on a tray. Oil grill rack, then grill skewers, covered only if using a gas grill, turning once, until just cooked through, 4 to 6 minutes total. Alternately, shrimp can be cooked in a hot well-oiled large (2-burner) ridged grill pan, turning once, about 8 minutes total. Serve with chutney.

Serves 6.

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Chicken With Cilantro
From Saveur

Ingredients

4 whole cloves
4 cardamom pods
2–3 bay leaves
1⁄2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 tbsp. ground coriander
1 cup plain yogurt
Salt
2 whole boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into large pieces
5 tbsp. vegetable oil
Pinch ground asafetida (can be found at most Indian markets)
2 bunches fresh cilantro, trimmed and chopped, plus additional leaves for garnish
1 tsp. sugar
6 serrano chiles, seeded and halved
2⁄3 cup coconut milk

Directions

Place cloves, cardamom pods, and bay leaves in a spice grinder. Grind to a fine powder, transfer to a large bowl, and stir in cinnamon and coriander.
Mix in yogurt and season with salt. Add chicken; turn to coat evenly. Cover and marinate in refrigerator for 2 hours.
Reserving marinade, remove chicken and shake off excess yogurt. Heat oil in a large nonstick pan over medium heat.
Add asafetida, allow to sizzle for about 5 seconds, then increase heat to high. Add chicken and brown, turning frequently, for about 10 minutes.
Add marinade, cilantro, and sugar to pan. Season to taste with salt and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes.
Add chiles and cook, stirring, until soft, about 3 minutes.
Stir in coconut milk, then reduce heat to low and simmer until sauce thickens, about 10 minutes. Transfer to a platter, garnish with cilantro leaves, and serve with rice.

Serves 4.

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Madhur's Green Lentils With Lemon Slices
From Martha Stewart

Ingredients

1 cup green lentils (about 6 ounces)
3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
1 lemon, peeled, pith removed, and thinly sliced crosswise
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon brown mustard seeds
2 hot dried red chiles
2 cloves garlic, lightly crushed and peeled

Directions

Bring lentils and 3 cups water to a boil in a heavy-bottomed pan. Cook, partially covered, until very tender, 40 to 45 minutes.
Stir in salt and cilantro; remove from heat. Add 8 lemon slices; stir to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl; set aside.
Heat oil in a small saute pan over medium-high heat; add mustard seeds. After a few seconds, seeds should begin to pop; add chiles.
When chiles have darkened, add garlic; stir to combine. Top lentils with mustard seed mixture.

Serves 4.

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