New Bentos

This entry I posted a couple of new Bentos that I made in the last couple of weeks.

In this one there is a Taco Salad on the right that I made to look like a little birds nest. In keeping with the bird type theme, there's egg salad. Also a Baby Bell cheese and a Japanese treat.
In the second lunch I've made heart shaped falafel and set them in a bed of garlic humus. Then I made tiny chocolate cupcakes and a Laughing Cow Cheese and little Onion Crackers.

Hungarian Cooking

Hungarian Cooking Lesson

Today is a lesson that I’ve been cooking up for a while now. My mother is Hungarian, so I decided to give everyone some lessons in Hungarian food. If it isn’t red, it isn’t Hungarian food. That’s a slight exaggeration, but it’s mostly due to the Hungarian Paprika we use. Note: Hungarian Paprika isn’t the same as regular paprika. Hungarian paprika has a slightly sweet and spicy flavor where as regular paprika is basically food coloring.

When cooking these dishes please remember to taste them and adjust the spices as you see fit. These recipes aren’t set in stone, but a creative process. I will add pictures as I cook these recipes again.

Chicken Paprikash

1 Can Small Chopped Tomatoes
½ Can Tomato Paste
1 cup sour cream
4 Pieces Chicken Breast
1 Green Pepper
1 Large Onion
1 Can Chicken Stock
3 Tablespoons Hungarian Paprika
3 Garlic Cloves Minced
1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper
1 cup Dry White Wine

• On medium heat, pan fry chicken in chicken stock and a little white wine and garlic, until mostly cooked. Add Cayenne pepper and paprika.
• Add drained can of tomatoes, onions and garlic and sauté until onions are translucent and tomatoes begin to break down.
• Add green pepper and lightly cook.
• Continue to add Chicken stock and wine.
• Add in ½ can tomato paste and mix well with juices.
• Lower heat and add one cup of sour cream.
• Sprinkle with paprika to serve.

Dill Pickle Soup

2 Cups Dill Pickle Juice
¼ Cup Finely Sliced Pickles
½ cup Flour
3½ cup Water
1 Large Potato Eyes Removed
4 Cups Chicken Broth
1 cup Skim Milk
3 Cloves of Garlic Minced
2 Tbs Dried Dill
1 Large Onion Finely Chopped
1 Cup White Wine
3 Tbs Olive Oil
3 Tbs Dried Dill Weed

• Sautee Onions and garlic in olive oil until translucent.
• Add White Wine and Simmer for 5 minutes
• Mix ½ Cup of Water and Flour in a bowl and then add mixture to the Onions
• Add the rest of the water and the pickle juice
• Wisk if needed
• Stir in Milk
• Add shredded pickles and a little more wine
• Season to Taste

Hungarian Goulash

2 lbs of Beef Stew Meat

1 Sliced Green Pepper
1 Medium Sliced Onion
1 Can Small Diced Tomatoes
½ Can Tomato Paste
1 cup Red Wine
2 Cups Beef Stock
3 Cloves Garlic Minced
Olive oil
Paprika
Cayenne Pepper (optional)

• In a medium pan warm a little olive oil, red wine and add the stew meat. Cook until brown on the outside.
• Add Garlic and cook for a few minutes
• Add chopped veggies, beef stock, tomatoes with juice, and more wine.
• Bring to a boil and then reduce heat simmering for 30 minutes.
• Mix in tomato paste into liquid.
• Simmer for 20 minutes.

Golabki/Stuffed Cabbage

1 lb Ground Beef or Turkey
2 Cups Cooked Rice
1 Can Tomato Paste
2 Cups Chicken Stock
3 Cups Water
2 Tbs Garlic
2 Tbs Paprika
2 Onions Chopped
1 Head of Cabbage with Large Leafs
2 Tbs Salt

• Cooked ground meat and onions, add garlic.
• Boil some water add 2 Tbs of Salt, rip off the cabbage leafs individually and cook them in the boiling water.
• Stuff each cabbage leaf with the meat/rice mixture. (You may need to tie string around them or hold them together with toothpicks.)
• Heat the stock, a few cups of water, paprika, garlic and the tomato paste.
• Gently place the cabbage packets in the soup.
• Simmer for at least 30 minutes.
• Serve with tomato soup sauce over them.

5 Quickie Dinners made with Tortillas

Making dinner during the week can be difficult. Working takes up enough time, but what if you want to work out or meet with friends. Here are a few ideas for dinners that are quick and easy and are made of ingredients you can easily have on hand.

Chicken Enchiladas

• 1 Brick cream cheese (I use 1/3 fat)
• 1 cup salsa
• 1 can pinto beans, drained
• 8 fajita sized tortillas (I use the whole wheat)
• 1 cup shredded taco cheese
• 1 small onion
• 1 can chopped tomatoes, drained
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• Two cooked Chicken breasts chopped into small pieces * For vegetarian just add another can of drained pinto beans instead
• Cayenne pepper and powdered garlic to taste

Melt the cream cheese and salsa on medium heat. Stir till blended, then add the cooked chicken, drained pinto beans, cayenne pepper, garlic, tomatoes and stir until blended. Fill the tortillas, roll into tubes, and lay side by side in an oven safe/lightly oiled pan. Chop up the onions. Pour sauce over rolled enchiladas. Sprinkle on chopped onions and shredded cheese over the top. Bake at 375 for 30 minutes.

Mexican Pizzas

• 1 Bag tortillas
• 1 can refried beans
• Shredded Cheese
• Salsa
• Chopped Onions

Toast one tortilla spread refried beans and salsa on top. Layer with next tortilla spread onions and green peppers, salsa and then toss shredded cheese. Toast in toaster oven or in oven for 10 minutes at 400 degrees.

Quesadillas

• Tortillas
• Shredded Cheese
• Chopped Onions
• Chopped Green Peppers
• Baby Spinach
• Oil

Toast one tortilla. Layer cheese, and chopped vegetables between two tortillas. In a lightly greased pan toast until light brown and cheese is melted.

Taco Salad

• 1 Can pinto beans
• Salad
• Shredded Cheese
• Salsa
• Tortillas

Make a salad with all of your favorite veggies. Toast a tortilla in a toaster or in the oven. Toss shredded cheese, drained pinto beans, salsa, and crumbled tortilla over the top.

Wraps

• Turkey Swiss, Baby Spinach, and mustard
• Turkey, Mexican Shredded Cheese, Onions, Green Pepper, and Salsa
• Hummus, Green Peppers, Onions and tomatoes

Quickie Tips

• Keep chopped up onions and green pepper on hand for speedy use
• Buy pre-chopped salads/lettuce
• Keep cans of pinto beans and chopped tomatoes on hand

Grocery List

• 1 Bag of Tortillas
• 2 Bags of Shredded Mexican Cheese
• 1 can of Enchilada Sauce
• 2 Can of Tomatoes
• 2 Can of Pinto Beans
• 1 Jar of Salsa
• Baby Spinach
• Lettuce
• Onions
• Green Peppers
• 1 Can of Refried Beans
• Turkey Lunchmeat
• Humus

Easiest BBQ bring along ever

In the spirit of Labor Day I will tell you the easiest recipe for pasta salad that is a great, cheap, dish to bring to a BBQ or potluck.

• One box of spiral pasta (macaroni or ziti will do also)
• One bottle of full fat Italian Dressing (Personally I like Kraft - don't skimp on the calories, it'll be worth it, and besides it's still way lighter than a heavy mayo dressing salad)
• One Green Pepper Chopped
  
• About 8 Large Celery Stalks Chopped
• One can Chopped Tomatoes (Feel free to mix and match any of these veggies)
  
• Half a container of Parmesan Cheese
  

Cook the pasta, drain in cook water. Chop the veggies, mix with the cool pasta.

Wait until you are about to leave and then mix in the bottle of dressing and the cheese. If you do it too early, the pasta will absorb the moisture and the salad will be too dry.