Category Archives: Kid Friendly
Chili Verde
Great recipe for the big game!
- 4 to 5 medium tomatillos, cleaned and cut in half
- 2 ancho chilies, cut in half and deseeded
- 3 garlic cloves, with skin on
- Drizzle of olive oil
- Salt
- 1 cup cilantro, chopped
- 4 to 5 green onions, chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Place all the ingredients onto a lined cookie sheet. Drizzle the olive oil and bit of salt. Roast for about 30 to 40 minutes till the vegetables are soft. Let cool and slide the skin off the ancho chilies. Place in a blender with cilantro and green onions and blend till smooth. Keep aside.
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 1 teaspoon dried Mexican oregano
- 1 pound dark meat ground turkey
- 1 can cannellini beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 to 2 cups chicken broth
- Salt
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
- Squeeze of lime
Heat a large saucepan with the oil. Add the chili powder and oregano. Saute for 30 seconds over medium heat. Add the ground meat and sauté over high heat, separating the meat with a wooden spoon. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes, until the meat is golden brown. Add the beans, tomatillo sauce and 1 cup broth. Bring to a boil, add some salt and simmer on a medium heat covered for 20 minutes. Take the lid off and continue cooking on simmer for another 15 minutes. Add more broth if needed. Check for seasonings and garnish with cilantro and lime. Serve with corn bread.
Manchego and Smoked Paprika Mashed Potatoes
- 4 pounds Yukon gold potatoes, peeled and cut into small squares
- Salt
- 3 garlic cloves
- 4 tablespoons butter
- ¾ to 1 cup half and half
- 2 cups shredded Manchego cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- Pepper
- ½ cup green onion, chopped
Add the cut potatoes to a deep pot and cover with water. Add at least 2 tablespoons salt and the garlic cloves. Place a lid on the potatoes and bring to a boil. Uncover and cook until tender, about 10 to 15 minutes. Drain potatoes and garlic and put them through a food mill and add back to the hot pot. Add butter, half and half and smoked paprika. Check for seasonings, add pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl and let cool all the way. Add the grated cheese and mix well. At this point, the potatoes can be refrigerated and made at least a day in advance. Once ready to bake, take out of fridge at least 30 minutes in advance. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes or till heated through. Garnish with green onions and cilantro.
Tamarind Glazed Turkey
If you are looking for a super flavorful turkey this Thanksgiving- this is the recipe for you. It has a bit of Latin flair to it and it is delicious!!
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1 tablespoon tamarind concentrate
- 2 tablespoons orange zest
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Add the broth, orange juice, tamarind concentrate, orange zest, brown sugar, salt and smoked paprika to a medium saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer for 20 to 25 minutes till it is reduced to 1 cup and thick and syrupy.
Compound Butter
- 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
- Zest of 2 navel oranges
- Pepper
Mix the butter, salt, garlic, zest and pepper in a small bowl until everything is incorporated well.
- 2 to 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 5 to 6 pounds turkey breasts
- 12 carrots
- Salt
- Pepper
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the carrots at the bottom of a roasting pan. Add the chicken stock and place the rack into the pan. Place the turkey on to the rack. Salt and pepper the cavity and stuff with leftover oranges. Spread the compound butter under the skin, spreading it well all over. Salt and pepper the outside generously and spread the glaze all over the bird. Roast till the temperature inside the bird reaches 165 degrees F. Take out and place onto the cutting board and cover with foil. Take the carrots out and pour the juices into a measuring cup. Skim the fat off the top and pour the liquid to the prepared gravy. Taste for seasonings. Slice the turkey and serve with hot gravy.
Make Ahead Gravy
- 4 cups homemade or store bought turkey stock
- 1 large shallot, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, chopped
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- Salt
- Pepper
In a large frying pan, heat the butter and add the shallot and garlic. Saute for a minute over medium heat. Add the flour and turn the heat to medium high heat, stirring constantly. Cook the flour for at least 10 minutes or till it turns chocolate brown. Slowly add the stock, whisking vigorously at the same time. Bring to a boil and check for seasonings. Add salt and pepper accordingly. Once the turkey is done, add the drippings to the gravy and reheat.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Orange Cream & Cranberries
- 1 pound Brussels sprouts, trimmed and cut in half
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Transfer the sprouts on to a lined baking sheet. Drizzle the olive oil and sprinkle salt. Mix well and roast for about 20 minutes till soft and golden brown.
- ¼ cup cream
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Zest of one orange
- Salt
- 1/3 cup dried cranberries
Heat a wide frying pan with the oil. Add the garlic and orange zest. Saute on low heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cream and cook for 4 to 5 minutes on medium heat. Add the Brussels sprouts and cranberries and mix well. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Add salt to taste and serve.
Turkey and Mushroom Meatballs
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 5 ounces Cremini mushrooms, chopped
- 1 pound ground turkey meat
- ½ cup panko bread crumbs soaked in 1/3 cup of milk
- ½ cup burrata cheese, torn into chunks
- ½ cup grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese
- 1 egg, beaten
- Salt
- 4 cups store bought or homemade marinara sauce
Heat a medium frying pan with the olive oil. Add the mushrooms and sauté on a medium high heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the onion, garlic and thyme and a sprinkle of salt. Continue to sauté for another 4 to 5 minutes. Turn heat off and cool completely.
Add the turkey meat to a medium bowl, add the cooled mushroom mixture, both the cheeses, egg, 1 to 2 teaspoons salt and the soaked breadcrumbs. Mix well and keep the mixture aside for about an hour in the fridge for the flavors to marinate.
Heat the marinara sauce in a large saucepan. Form medium sized balls from the turkey meat and gently drop into the simmering tomato sauce. Once all the meat used up, bring the sauce and meatballs to a gentle boil, reduce the heat, cover with lid and cook for 20 minutes. Serve with spaghetti!
Coconut Rice with Shrimp
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, tails taken off
- Salt
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ cup chimichurri sauce
- 1 cup coconut milk
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup rice
- Salt
- 1 cup frozen petit peas, thawed
- Juice of one lemon
- ½ cup cilantro, chopped
Heat a large saucepan with the olive oil. Add the shrimp and sauté for a minute. Take them out on a platter and sprinkle some salt. Cut the shrimp in half and keep aside.
Add the chimichurri sauce into the pan and saute for a minute. Add the coconut milk and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Add the rice and bring to a boil. Lower the heat as holes begin to appear on the surface. Cover the pan and cook for 15 minutes. Add the peas and shrimp on top and cover with lid.
Cook for another 10 minutes or till the shrimp is fully cooked. Mix well and add salt, lemon juice and cilantro. Mix well and serve hot.
Apple Cranberry Bread with Orange Zest
- 1½ cups white whole-wheat flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup extra light olive oil
- ¾ cup turbinado sugar
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups grated apples
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 2 teaspoons fresh orange zest
Heat oven at 350 degrees F. Grease a loaf pan and keep aside.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Keep aside. In a standing mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the oil and sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually add one egg at a time mixing in between. Add the grated apples, cranberries and orange zest and mix well. With a rubber spatula mix in the flour mixture until just incorporated.
Transfer the batter into the loaf pan and bake for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. Cool the bread in the pan for 5 minutes before taking it out. Cool completely before serving.