Homemade Chili

Created on 11/14/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 onion, chopped
  • 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans (and or white beans)
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 can or half a frozen bag of corn
  • 1 cup of diced celery
  • 1 cup of diced green bell pepper
  • 1 ½ cups water, or as needed (Optional)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon chili powder, or more to taste
  • 1 pinch garlic powder or fresh garlic cloves
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional toppings: jalapeno, diced fresh tomato, cilantro, avocado, sour cream, shredded cheese, Fritos, raw diced onion, bread, quesadilla

Instructions:

Step One: Place ground beef and onion in a large saucepan over medium heat; cook and stir until meat is browned and onion is tender, about 5 to 7 minutes

Step Two: Stir in tomato sauce, kidney beans, and stewed tomatoes with juice. If you prefer a thinner consistency, you can add water. Season with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and let simmer for 15 minutes

Notes: Swap out beef for turkey for a healthier option.

Velveting Meat (Chinese Stir Fry)

Created on 11/14/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound beef flank steak or chuck steak (sliced against the grain)
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • Water 1/4 cup per pound
  • 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
  • 2 teaspoons oyster sauce or soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons Shaoxing Wine (Optional)

Instructions:

Step One: Add baking soda and water to the sliced beef and massage with hands until most of the liquid is absorbed. Let stand 1-2 hours

Step Two: Add oil, oyster sauce/soy sauce, Shaoxing wine (optional), and cornstarch to the meat. Set aside to marinate for 15-30 minutes, and then your beef is ready to use

Notes: This method can be used for any protein (shrimp, chicken, beef). Leave the marinade on the protein over night if you can.

Mandi Greek Salad Dressing

Created on 11/2/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 large clove of garlic
  • 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:

Step One: Pour all ingredients into a blender and blend for 30 seconds until well combined

Notes: Store covered in the fridge for 2 weeks

Gumbo

Created on 11/7/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • ¾ cup bacon drippings
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped celery
  • 1 large onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 large green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced
  • 3 quarts water
  • 6 cubes beef bouillon
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • salt to taste
  • 2 tablespoons hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco), or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon Cajun seasoning blend (such as Tony Chachere’s), or to taste
  • 4 bay leaves
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes
  • 1 (6 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 4 teaspoons file powder, divided
  • 2 tablespoons bacon drippings
  • 2 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
  • 1 pound lump crabmeat
  • 3 pounds uncooked medium shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

Instructions:

Step One: Make the roux: Whisk together flour and 3/4 cup bacon drippings in a large, heavy saucepan over medium-low heat until smooth. Cook roux, whisking constantly, until it turns a rich mahogany brown color. This can take 20 to 30 minutes; watch heat carefully and whisk constantly or roux will burn. Remove from heat; continue whisking until mixture stops cooking

Step Two: Place celery, onion, green bell pepper, and garlic into the work bowl of a food processor, and pulse until all vegetables are very finely chopped

Step Three: Stir vegetables into roux, and mix in sliced sausage. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly, until vegetables are tender, 10 to 15 minutes. Remove from heat and set aside

Step Four: Combine water and beef bouillon cubes in a large Dutch oven or soup pot and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Stir until bouillon cubes dissolve, then whisk roux mixture into the boiling water

Step Five: Reduce heat to a simmer and mix in sugar, salt, hot pepper sauce, Cajun seasoning, bay leaves, thyme, stewed tomatoes, and tomato sauce. Simmer soup over low heat for 1 hour; mix in 2 teaspoons of file gumbo powder at the 45-minute mark

Step Six: Mix in crabmeat, shrimp, and Worcestershire sauce, and simmer until flavors have blended, 45 more minutes. Stir in 2 more teaspoons of file gumbo powder just before serving

Green Juice

Created on 9/16/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 bunch kale (about 5 oz)
  • 1 inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
  • 1 Granny smith apple (or any large apple)
  • 5 celery stalks, ends trimmed
  • ½ large English cucumber
  • Handful fresh parsley (about 1 oz)

Instructions:

Step One: Wash and prep the vegetables. I like to cut them in large chunks

Step Two: If you used a juicer, simply pour the green juice into glasses and enjoy immediately. If you used a blender, the juice will be thicker. You can pour it through a fine mesh sieve, and using the back of a spoon, press the pulp into the sieve to extract as much liquid as possible. Pour the strained juice into glasses and enjoy

Notes: This drink is packed with vitamins like Vitamin K and Vitamin C, fiber, and minerals, including a bit of iron.

Lemon Ginger Turmeric Wellness Shots

Created on 9/16/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 small orange (add 1-2 more oranges for added sweetness / omit and add another lemon for less sweetness!)
  • 2 small lemons (add 1-2 more lemons for more acidity / reduce by half and add another orange for less acidity!)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh turmeric (peeling optional)
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh ginger (peeling optional)
  • 1/8 tsp fresh black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp oil (such as extra virgin, optional / to help improve turmeric absorption)

Instructions:

Step One: To a juicer, add orange, lemon, turmeric, and ginger (depending on the juicer, you may need to peel the orange and lemon – our Hurom does recommend peeling before juicing, so that’s what we did)

Notes: Turmeric contains a compound called curcumin, which boasts amazing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. And it’s been used in Ayurvedic medicine for thousands of years for conditions such as breathing problems, joint pain, fatigue, digestive issues, and more.

Ginger is a natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that’s known to aid digestion and relieve nausea.

Lemon is naturally detoxifying and alkalizing in the body, aids in healthy bowel movements, and boasts plenty of vitamin C, which boosts the immune system.

Carrot Orange Juice

Created on 9/16/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup orange juice
  • 3 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 small nectarine (pit removed)
  • 1 small apple (cored and quartered)
  • 1 Tbsp fresh ginger (peeled)
  • 4-6 whole carrots (peeled/tops removed)
  • 3-4 sprigs fresh mint (optional)
  • 1-2 cups filtered water

Instructions:

Step One: If using a juicer, add all ingredients to the juicer and press (omit water)

Step Two: Enjoy the juice fresh. Cover and refrigerate leftovers for 2-3 days, though best in the first 12-24 hours for mineral and vitamin content

Carrot Pineapple Juice

Created on 9/16/2024

Ingredients:

  • 7 – 9 large carrots
  • 1/4 pineapple (about 1 cup), flesh only
  • 1-inch knob of ginger, peeled

Instructions:

Step One: Scrub and rinse the carrots well. If the tops are clean-looking, you can leave them on. If not, trim off the very top 1/2 inch or so. If using carrots with the leafy green tops, you can juice the whole thing, but your juice color may change.

Juice according to your equipment and enjoy

Notes: The juice will keep nicely in an airtight container for up to 48 hours in the fridge but is best fresh within a few hours. Give a good stir before drinking.

Makes about 2 cups.

Carrot Cake

Created on 8/16/2024

Ingredients:

Bread Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups (315 g) all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar
  • 1 cup (200 g) light or dark brown sugar¹ firmly packed
  • 1 ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 cup (235 ml) cooking oil use canola, avocado, or vegetable oil
  • ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter melted
  • 4 large eggs room temperature
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups (340 g) grated carrots² peel before grating
  • 1 cup (125 g) chopped walnuts or pecans optional

Cream Cheese

  • ½ cup (1 stick) (113 g) unsalted butter softened
  • 8 oz (226 g) cream cheese softened (brick-style, not spreadable)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups (500 g) powdered sugar

Baking Instructions:

Step One: Preheat oven to 350F and prepare a 9×13″ pan by lining the bottoms with parchment paper and lightly greasing and flouring the sides

Step Two: In a large bowl, whisk together your flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg

Step Three: Add your canola oil and melted butter and stir well (batter will be pretty stiff and thick at this point, I usually use an electric mixer or my stand mixer to combine everything nicely)

Step Four: Add eggs, one at a time, stirring well after each addition. Then stir in vanilla extract. Then Stir in carrots and nuts (if using) until ingredients are well-combined

Step Five: Evenly divide carrot cake batter into prepared baking pans and bake on 350F for approximately 45-50 minutes

Step Six: Allow cakes to cool in the pans for 10 minutes, then run a knife around the edge and invert onto cooling rack to cool completely

Cream Cheese Instructions:

Step One: Combine butter and cream cheese in a large bowl and use an electric mixer to beat until creamy, well-combined, and lump-free

Step Two: Add vanilla extract and sprinkle salt into the bowl and stir well to combine

Step Three: With mixer on low, gradually add powdered sugar until ingredients are completely combined (be sure to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl with a spatula)

Step Four: Once your cake has cooled completely, cover with frosting