Arepas

super simple!

• I just bought Harina PAN white corn flour (pre cooked) I got this at Lee Lee supermart (Dobson & Warner)
• mix the flour with water (about 1:1) until you get a good dough consistency. add the water first, then salt (about 1tsp) and flour last. need until dough forms
• make about 2-3 in sized balls, well compacted (or whatever size arepa you prefer)
• with the palm of your hand rotate the ball into a flatten disc shape (with enough thickness to slice down the middle for your fillings)
• heat a greased griddle to med heat and grill on each side for about 5 or so minutes..when it browns a little (should sound kinda hollow if you tap it) another option would be to pan fry it and that also is delicious!

Next add your ingredients:

I used shredded beef, guacamole, cheese, lettuce, black beans, sour cream and fresh salsa with this tradition Venezuelan dish!

Enjoy!!

Heres another version you can also try (courtesy Bobby Flay):
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 stick (1/4 cup) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1 1/2 cups white arepa flour (precooked cornmeal)
1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon honey
Vegetable or canola oil, for cooking

Bring milk to a simmer in a small saucepan, then remove from heat and stir in butter.

Combine arepa flour, salt, pepper and cotija in a large bowl. Add the hot milk and honey and stir until combined. Let mixture stand until milk is absorbed enough for a soft dough to form, 1 to 2 minutes (dough will continue to stiffen).

Form the dough into 12 balls (about 2 inches in diameter) and flatten between palms into 3 1/2 to 4-inch patties (about 1/3-inch thick).

Heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat until the oil begins to shimmer, fry 4 arepas at a time, until lightly golden brown on both sides and just cooked through about 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels.

Slice the arepas in half crosswise, mound some of the ingredients on the bottom, and top with the other half.

Cheesy Garlic & Onion Chicken Puffs

We had these delicious chicken puffs at Relief Society Meeting this month.. had to have the recipe..thanks to Southern Estates Relief Society :)

*3 cups minced chicken

*3 tbsp chopped onion

*3 cloves garlic, minced

*8 oz cream cheese

*6 tbsp butter

*3 cans crescent roll dough

*Melt the butter and sauté onions and garlic. Add chicken, cook. Add cream cheese. let cool.

*Seperate crescent rolls (2 rolls each chicken puff) pinch together perforations to make one flat piece. place about 1/3-1/2 cup chicken mix on top of dough and wrap dough around; sealing edges.

*Sprinkle top with grated mozzarella and cheddar cheese

*Bake at 350 degrees for 17-20 min

*serve with asparagus..yum! sautéd with butter, onions, and garlic.

* top with chicken gravy: I just did a quick and simple gravy: chicken broth/stock, corn starch and chicken seasoning..boil on pan until thick.

(these can be easily frozen and reheated for later!!)

Lemon Pepper Garlic Chicken

Just tried this for the first time tonight for dinner and 1st times a charm..

Take 3-4 large chicken breasts and cut them in half.

In a ziploc bag, combine: 1/2 c Italian bread crumbs, 1/2 c parmesan cheese, few dashes of paprika, dash of lemon pepper seasoning, couple dashes of parsley flakes. add chicken and coat in bag.

In a baking dish, melt about 1 stick butter, 1-2 tbsp minced garlic, 2-3 Tbsp lemon juice, a few dashes of thyme. mix until combined.

Add the chicken and coat both sides in the juice. sprinkle any leftover dry ingredients on top of chicken. add a pinch of lemon pepper seasoning on top of chicken.

(add some juices at the bottom on top of the chicken when done)

Bake 40min @ 400 degrees F

(I served with rice, black beans, and asparagus...delish!)

Breaded Chicken

This recipe is one that comes along because you don't have one of the ingredients, after you have already prepared everything else; so then you have to compromise:

and then it turns out great!

Ok, so this is breaded chicken, but different :)

Instead of using egg wash, I used:

heavy cream (about 1/2 c)

butter (about 1/2 - 1 tbsp)

sour cream (about 1-2 tbsp)

mayonnaise (about 1-2 tbsp)

(everything is estimated, because I just eyeballed everything)

Mix all your ingredients and add to a shallow dish. Add bread crumbs to a different shallow dish, along with Parmesan cheese, parsley, salt, and pepper.

dip your chicken into the crumbs, then the creamy mix..making sure well coated, then crumbs again. Add to hot oil on pan. Fry until golden brown and flip chicken.

When you drain your chicken..put a cooling rack upside down onto paper towel and add chicken to cooling rack to drain.

These are super yummy and crispy and the chicken is very tender!

Thai inspired Chicken

This meal was a total experiment, but worthy for posting :)

here are your ingredients:

• soy sauce
• oyster sauce
• black vinegar
• white wine vinegar
• olive oil
• dijon mustard
• sesame seed oil
• teriyaki sauce
• garlic
• onion
• heavy cream
• spiracha sauce (hot chili sauce)
• paprika
• brown sugar
• honey
• edemame
• pine nuts (opt)
• black sesame seeds (opt)

Cut white onion and garlic, sauté.

Add cut up chicken (I used 2 large chicken breasts). season with salt, pepper, and paprika (very light)

add water (about 1 cup) and cook covered on med-high heat

in a seperate pan, add equal parts soy sauce, oyster sauce, black vinegar, white wine vinegar, brown sugar (about a tsp), honey (about 1/2 tbsp), spiracha sauce (add anywhere from a tsp on.. depending on your liking to heat), and olive oil. stir until boiling on high heat.

reduce heat, add dijon mustard (about 1 tbsp) and stir until mixed well.

add to chicken and add about 1/4 c heavy cream and a few splashes of teriyaki sauce. Next, add edemame, pine nuts, and black sesame seeds. Stir and simmer covered on med heat until done.

(I didn't use pine nuts this time, but thought it would be a nice addition to the dish)

also.. the black sesame seeds in the chicken could look kinda funny.. (like bugs in your food).. so you could just add it to the cooked rice onto your dish :)

This dish goes well with calrose rice (short grain).. yum!

Chicken Mango Quesadilla

This recipe makes a big difference using fresh homemade tortillas, like I have here.. but those are few and far between, so others will work as well. also, the salsa is homemade, just check out the salsa recipe!

Cut your chicken breast into pieces. On a pan, add olive oil, onion, garlic, and about a tbsp of honey, let sizzle for a minute or so.

add your chicken pieces to the pan. add salt, pepper, chicken seasoning, and chicken broth (about 1/2 c). when halfway done, add a couple pinches of brown sugar...(unusual, but delicious I promise)

Cover chicken on med heat and cook until done. (meanwhile, prepare your salsa and cut up a mango into small pieces).

In a different pan, add oil or pam on med-high heat. Soften about a tbsp of cream cheese. Spread the cream cheese onto a tortilla, then add to the hot pan. Next, add your cheeses (I used a mix of mozzarella and cheddar). Then, add your cooked chicken. Let heat up for a couple minutes, then add mango pieces. cover with another tortilla (or fold tortilla in half). cook until tortilla is crispy on both sides.

Garnish with sour cream and fresh salsa (guacamole is good too!)

Not your grandma's meatloaf...

I know it's amazing, I'm actually posting something! Let's just say I've been VERY busy....

Anyways, here is the B-E-S-T recipe for meatloaf I have ever tasted. My picky kids love it & eat a ton, so does my husband so it is definitely a crowd pleaser and simple which is my other prerequisite for a meal.  This isn't the best picture, but it was the best I could do with 3 hungry boys impatiently waiting to devour these.

{Yummy} MEATLOAF

2 lbs. ground beef 

1 chopped medium onion

2 eggs

1 tsp. chili powder

1 tsp. garlic salt

1 tsp. sage

25 saltine crackers

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Place ground beef in large bowl. In food processor or blender put onion and egg together & chop (it will look a little foamy). Pour over hamburger and mix. Add all ingredients except crackers. Put crackers in food processor and chop until fine, like a dust. Add & mix ingredients well. Put meat mixture into an 8x8 square pan & bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour. 

Or, if you're in a hurry or want to be fun (always describes me) then put the meatloaf into a cupcake pan filling each cupcake equally & bake for 30 minutes. 

TOPPING: (do NOT skip the topping!!!! It totally makes this dish)

1 cup ketchup

1/4 - 1/2 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon mustard

Heat together on stove. Pour liberally over meatloaf when it comes out of the oven.

*I don't like mustard much so I do a little less for my family & add more of the brown sugar. Add a little more or less of any of the 3 ingredients to your taste.

**If your ground beef has more than 7% fat, you may want to use more crackers. I'm sure that ground turkey would be delicious with this recipe as well, but I haven't tried it.

***There are 4 of us in my family & making half of this recipe is perfect for my family, with a few leftover cupcakes even.

Enjoy!

Peruvian Lomo Saltado

Sorry the picture doesn't quite do it justice.. I keep forgetting to take a picture before we've already eaten!

• Start off by cutting your golden potatoes into strip, for french fries and soak in cold water..reserve in fridge(this releases some of the starch)
• Slice your steak into strips and marinade in a ziploc bag: a few dashes of cumin, paprika and soy sauce, with a little bit of salt and pepper. reserve
• take out your potatoes and drain and dry
• cut up a few baby carrots, roma tomaotes, white onion, red onion, green onion, and cilantro.
• heat olive oil in pan on med-high. remove meat and fry until meat is about medium, remove and reserve in bowl.
• add 1 tbsp olive oil, add onions and carrots and fry for 1 minute. add tomatoes and meat . add a few splashes of white wine vinegar and soy sauce. cover and simmer on medium heat.
• fry french fries on med-high for a few seconds, drain, then turn up heat to high and fry again unti golden brown, drain (drain in strainer, not paper towel).
• add french fries to stir fry and cilantro and a few sprinkles of parsley. add salt and pepper to taste!

This one tastes pretty authentic for you Peruvian food lovers! Serve with rice and black beans (recipe to come)

Orange Roasted Chicken in Crock Pot

This meal is so nice for Sundays! you can stick it in the crock pot and it's done when you get home!

Cut up your chicken into pieces.. about 3 pieces per chicken breast.
add to crock pot.
then add your spices: salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme, and savory.
add about a 1/2 c of chicken broth and fresh squeezed orange juice..or you can also add orange slices!
diced onion: about 1/2 of a white onion
then add your glaze:
in a pan, add: 3 tbsp butter, 3tbsp dijon mustard, 3 tbsp honey, about 1 tbsp of apricot jam..or in my case I used pepper jelly (deliciously made by a local vendor), and about 3tbsp fresh squeezed orange juice. let boil for a couple minutes and simmer for a few more.

plug in your crock pot and about 3-4 hours later you have dinner!

opt.. you can also bake this dish: just bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes

Peruvian Pollo Saltado

I was super excited for this recipe I came up with.. I crave it often! we go to Ricon..I think that's what it's called (some Mom & Pop Peruvian restuarant with our friends and it delicious! just wanted to try out my own little version of what they make.. so here you go)


Ingredients:
1-2 tbsps minced garlic
1/4 of red onion cut in wedges
1/4 of white onion cut in wedges
1/4 cup of diced green onions
2 tbsps chopped cilantro
4 potatoes
3 large chicken breasts cut in small slices/pieces/strips..whatever you want
cumin
paprika
soy sauce
black pepper
white wine vinegar
peanut, vegetable oil, or olive oil ( I used olive oil)
red & green bell peppers (opt) or sliced baby carrots (what I used)
1-2 tomatoes

in a ziploc bag.. put chicken (cut up) in with a few tablespoons of soy sauce, a few dashes of cumin and paprika. marinade in fridge for 15 minutes or so. In a wok or deep pan, heat oil, a few tablespoons to coat bottom and cook marinated chicken (work in small batches to cook evenly). reserve cooked chicken in bowl. meanwhile, cut up potatoes into french fries and fry in oil (vegetable oil preferably) until golden brown. drain and set aside.

add about a tablespoon of oil (olive oil) in same pan used for chicken and add garlic until golden brown. add the onions and (opt you can add red/green bell peppers.. I opted out, since I don't like them and just added sliced baby carrots..even better!) stir and fry for a few seconds. add a few splashes of soy sauce and white wine vinegar. add a few pinches of cumin and stir. then add the sliced tomatoes and add a few pinches of paprika, stir. return chicken to pan and toss gently. add chopped cilantro and then the french fries. stir gently and serve with white rice (which I am assuming everyone can make..if not, let me know and I will post..thanks!)

Potatoes that Taste better Than the Chicken!

This is a great Sunday Dinner Meal! If your hubby is a meat and potatoes kind of guy this is a pleaser for sure!

Potatoes that Taste Better than the Chicken

*12 Tbsp. Butter

*12 tbsp. oil

*4 lbs potatoes, peeled and cut into 2-inch pieces. (Yukon gold are recommended but I can never find them)

*1 whole 5-6lb chicken, wings removed (I never remove them because some people like the dark meat and I feel it keeps it moister)

8 tsp rosemary

8 tsp thyme

10 tsp minced garlic

1. pre heat oven to 450

2. Butter a medium roasting pan with 6 tbsp. butter and 6 tbsp oil. Place potatoes in a single layer in roasting pan. (mine always takes more room) Season Chicken inside and out with salt and pepper. Place Rosemary, Thyme, and garlic inside cavity of chicken. Using kitchen twine ( or kite string in my case!) tie legs together to enclose. Rub chicken with remaining oil and butter. Place chicken on top of potatoes.

3. Transfer roasting pan to oven and roast for 40 minutes. Turn Chicken onto its other side and continue roasting another 40 minutes. Add 4 Tbsp water to pan, continue roasting until juices run clear and the internal temp reaches 165 degrees, 20 -40 min more. ( I NEVER have rotated my bird. I would rather have just the bottom be a little soggy than chance 2 sides being that way. I just cook for the 80 min. and then add water and cook more. I would plan on a little extra time just in case. The first time the oven I used took longer.)

Pineapple Chicken

5-6 Chicken Breast
Wheat Hamburger Buns
1 Fresh Pineapple
1 Bottle Lawry's Teriyaki with pineapple juice (by the bbq sauce in store)

Marinate Chicken in Ziploc with Marinade all day.
Grill
Serve on Wheat bun with slice of Fresh Pineapple

Lettuce Wraps with Thai Peanut Sauce!

These are soooo good! I think they rival pei wei or PF Changs. If your kiddos LOVE peanut butter they will like this. Gav wasn't sure until I told him it had peanut butter dip. This is one of his favorites!

*4-6 Chicken Breast Minced ( I just dice in small pieces. ** It is easier to cut chicken when still a little frozen. I set it out and wait and hour and then chop. Then make sure it has enough time to thaw all the way)

*¾ Red Onion, chopped finely

*4 cups Shredded Green Cabbage ( I just buy the bag already chopped)

* 2 cups shredded Carrots ( I buy already shredded bags at the store)

*2tbsp minced or powdered Ginger

*8 tsp minced Garlic

Soy Sauce

Lettuce Cups, washed and chilled ( Cut Iceberg head in half and piece cups apart. I do it while they are a little wet and put in zip locks with paper towels)

Cooked Rice, 2 cups

Saute Onion in hot oil until tender. Add chicken and saute until no longer pink. Add rest of the ingredients except soy sauce and saute about 2-3 min. until tender. Sprinkle with soy sauce as desired for flavor. ( I just make sure it changes the color of the chicken. Not to much some people don’t like soy)

Don’t let the cabbage get soggy!

Peanut Sauce~ I make this first and set out

* ¼ C. Creamy Peanut Butter

*1 Cup Sugar

* 3 Tbsp soy sauce

* 4-6 tsp minced Garlic~ I add 6 I like Garlic

* 3 Tbsp water

* 2 Tbsp oil

*** for a little kick I set out Thai Chili paste and put it on top to the peanut sauce in my wrap***

spoon mixture into lettuce cup and spoon a little sauce on top. Fold up and eat! I love with peanut sauce a little soy and a little Thai chili paste! But create your own.

Baked Chicken Nuggets

3 Skinless, boneleess chicken breasts 1 Cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs
1/2 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese 1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. dreid thyme 1 Tbsp. dried basil
A capful of vinegar & milk to desired liking

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a wire cooling rack (lightly covered with cooking spray) on a cookie sheet.
2. Cut chiken breasts into 1 1/2 inch size pieces. In a medium bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, cheese, salt, thyme, and basil. Mix well, pour into a large ziploc or bread bag. Put the vinegar and milk in a bowl or dish for dipping.
3. Dip the chicken pieces into the melted butter, then drop into the bag with the breadcrumb mixture (Iusually do about 8 pieces at a time). Place the well coated chicken pieces on the wire cooling rack (or just onto a lightly greased cookie sheet) in a single layer. Bake 15 min and then broil for 5 min.

Picture to be added later