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Delicious and healthy recipes, cooking tips, international cuisine, and anything related to food and the culinary arts...

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Made Artichoke Soup Again...

I made artichoke soup again today making a few adjustments to the recipe. Last time I made artichoke soup with a yellow onion. Today I chose to use a red onion instead. I also used half-n-half that was organic, pasture raised instead of the regular one I usually buy and I added a little more of it than before. It seemed to make the artichoke soup even better. Can't wait to dive into this soup. It's just what I needed on this hot and stuffy summer day.

Want to know how I make my artichoke soup? Just click on the link below to find out.

Artichoke Soup Recipe

 

Monday, June 17, 2013

Making Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken teriyaki is one of the easiest dishes that you can create in your own kitchen. All you really need is some fresh chicken breast, sea salt, roasted sesame seeds and a high quality teriyaki sauce. You can add a few herbs and spices to the chicken breast as well but just sea salt will do the trick. Feel free to add other ingredients to the dish as well like crimini mushrooms, onions or scallions, snow peas, broccoli, string beans or other veggies of your choice. They will only add to the flavor of the dish. 

I always add onions and roasted sesame seeds to my chicken teriyaki dish that I prepare time and again. Sometimes I add snow peas or crimini mushrooms, which are a favorite of mine as I am a mushroom lover. 

Making chicken teriyaki couldn't be easier as chicken breast cooks very quickly. I'd say about 3 minutes on each side is just about perfect. Be sure to keep an eye on the chicken to make sure it is not pink anywhere. As soon as there is no trace of pink on the chicken pieces turn off the heat. If you over cook it the chicken will be too dry and may even taste rubbery. 

There are two ways to make chicken teriayki. One is to slice up the chicken breast before cooking it and another is to just prepare the chicken breast whole without cutting it. I do it both ways so it's really up to you how you want to prepare it. Before cooking the chicken breast always smell it to make sure it is not spoiled. We all assume that things we buy in the supermarket whose expiration date has not yet expired are fresh. But just because the stamped date hasn't yet expired doesn't mean what you buy is necessarily fresh and unspoiled, especially when it comes to meat.  After making sure the chicken breast is good, wash it and pat dry with a paper towel. Also cut off any fat from it as no point to consume it. You are welcome to leave it of course but I prefer to get rid of it. 

Once you've washed the chicken breast and patted it dry, cut it into slices of your choice, place into a bowl and sprinkle with sea salt (and other spices if you prefer). Sea salt alone will do as you will use teriyaki sauce, which is flavorful itself, so no other spices or herbs needed, but you are welcome to add any other herbs you like. Take a bit of teriyaki sauce, I'd say a few tablespoons at least, and pour it over the chicken breast slices, turning them over in the bowl to make sure each piece is coated in the sauce. Let sit for a few minutes or so to let the teriyaki sauce penetrate the chicken breast slices. Then heat a skillet with some canola oil (or whichever oil you use for cooking) and fry the chicken breast until it is no longer pink. Then sprinkle with roasted sesame seeds and enjoy. 

When it is time to serve the chicken teriyaki you can pair it with some steamed or boiled basmati rice (or rice of your choice) and your choice of veggies like snow peas, broccoli, string beans, or mushrooms. Be sure to prepare the veggies before hand. Enjoy!


Chicken Teriyaki with Snow Peas and Basmati Rice

Chicken Teriyaki with Crimini Mushrooms

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Freshly Baked Pastry with Farmer Cheese, Apple Filling

I hate cakes, mousses, puddings, and other such desserts. When it comes to danishes, pies, tarts, turnovers and such baked treats, I am a fan. I love eating them for breakfast with a cup of coffee or a cup of chamomile tea. And I enjoy eating them for supper as well with a chilled cup of kefir or a glass of goat milk.

I have always wanted to try baking pastries but have never done it before. This time around I decided to give it a try. I have yet to master rolling the dough into a perfect shape but  I am sure with practice I will get there. The taste is more important anyway.

Making and baking the pastry was easy to make and it tasted delicious. I made the pastry similar to a turnover using the same filling that I use to make blintzes - farmer cheese, apple, and cinnamon. I also drizzled some clover honey on top of the pastry when it was done baking. The baking took about 30 minutes though I think the roll pastry took just a little bit longer to be done.

I made the pastry in two different shape varieties. One was a long rectangular shaped pastry with thin pieces of dough on the top and the bottom. Another was a roll. This one had thicker dough and was much smaller in size than the rectangular one. Both had the same farmer cheese, apple, cinnamon filling. I have to say that I prefer the rectangular pastry more because I am not a fan of too much dough. Pastries taste that much better when the dough is thin. Same goes for pizzas in my opinion.

Rectangular-shaped pastry with farmer cheese, apple,
cinnamon filling

Pastry roll with farmer cheese, apple, cinnamon filling

If you are interested in baking this delicious pastry treat click here.