Month: July 2024

Instant Pot Pork Carnitas

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 3 lb. skinless, boneless pork shoulder (Boston Butt), cut into 2″ pieces
  • 2 jalapeños, cut in half lengthwise, stems removed
  • 4 large garlic cloves
  • 1 Tbsp. Diamond Crystal or 1¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt
  • 1 tsp. dried oregano
  • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tsp. ground coriander
  • 1 tsp. ground cumin
  • Corn tortillas, pico de gallo, lime wedges, guacamole, pickled onions, chopped cilantro, shredded cabbage, and/or crema (for serving; optional)

Instructions:

Step One: Place pork, jalapeños, garlic, salt, oregano, pepper, coriander, and cumin in Instant Pot. Toss with your hands until well combined. Seal lid and cook on high pressure for 35 minutes

Step Two: Release pressure manually. Using a slotted spoon, transfer pork to a large bowl; fish out jalapeños and garlic and discard. Shred meat with two forks or your hands. Pour cooking liquid over meat and toss to combine

Step Three: Working in batches, transfer shredded pork to a large nonstick skillet set over high heat and cook, undisturbed, until underside is well browned, about 5 minutes. Toss and continue to cook, tossing occasionally, until some of the edges are caramelized and crisp, 5–7 minutes longer. Using a slotted spoon, transfer to a paper towel–lined baking sheet. Cover with foil to keep warm and moist

Gluten Free Cinnamon Bread

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 ¾ cups (245 g) all purpose gluten free flour blend (I used Better Batter; please click thru for appropriate blends)
  • 1 teaspoon xanthan gum omit if your blend already contains it
  • 10 tablespoons (54 g) cornstarch
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ¾ cup (150 g) granulated sugar
  • 6 tablespoons (84 g) unsalted butter at room temperature
  • 1 cup (8 fluid ounces) buttermilk at room temperature
  • 2 (100 g (weighed out of shell)) eggs at room temperature, beaten
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

FOR THE CINNAMON-SUGAR MIXTURE

  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

FOR THE (OPTIONAL) GLAZE

  • 1 cup (115 g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk plus more by the 1/4 teaspoonful as needed

Instructions:

Step One: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Grease and line with unbleached parchment paper a standard 9-inch x 5-inch loaf pan and set it aside

Step Two: In a large bowl, place the flour, xanthan gum, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar, and whisk to combine well

Step Three: Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients and add the butter, buttermilk, eggs, and vanilla, mixing to combine after each addition. The batter will be thick and fluffy

Step Four: In a small bowl, place the granulated sugar and cinnamon, and mix to combine well

Step Five: Scrape half of the quick bread batter into the prepared loaf pan, and spread into an even layer with a wet spatula

Step Six: Place half of the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top and shake into an even layer

Step Seven: Place the remaining batter on top followed by the remaining cinnamon-sugar mixture, in the same manner

Step Eight: Using a wet butter knife at an angle perpendicular to the bottom of the loaf pan, carefully swirl the batter in all directions. The top of the batter should be craggy and uneven

Step Nine: Place the loaf pan in the center of the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes at 350°F

Step Ten: Lower the oven temperature to 325°F, rotate the loaf pan 180°, and continue to bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf comes out with no more than a few moist crumbs attached, and the top is light golden brown and firm to the touch (about another 15 minutes)

Step Eleven: Remove from the oven and allow to cool in the baking pan for 15 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely

Cajun Chicken with Peach Salsa

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6)
  • 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning
  • 1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided
  • 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, divided
  • 2 ripe peaches, peeled, cut into ½” pieces
  • Zest and juice of 1 lime
  • 1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems

Instructions:

Step One: Toss 1½ lb. skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 6) with 2 Tbsp. Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, and 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a medium bowl to coat

Step Two: Toss 2 ripe peaches, peeled, cut into ½” pieces, and remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt in a mesh sieve set inside another medium bowl to combine; set aside

Step Three: Heat remaining 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium. Cook chicken in a single layer, turning halfway through, until charred in spots and cooked through, 12–16 minutes. Transfer to a platter

Step Four: Discard (or drink; it’s delicious!) any juice in bowl. Transfer peaches to bowl and add zest and juice of 1 lime and 1 cup cilantro leaves with tender stems and toss gently to combine. Taste peach salsa and season with more salt if needed. Spoon over chicken thighs

Brussel Sprouts and Sausage Stir Fry

Created on 7/8/2024

Ingredients:

  • 1 Tbsp. (or more) vegetable oil
  • 1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
  • 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced
  • 1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 Tbsp. soy sauce
  • 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar
  • 2½ tsp. five-spice powder

Instructions

Step One: Heat a dry large nonstick skillet or wok over high. Add 1 Tbsp. vegetable oil, then 1 lb. hot Italian sausage, casings removed. Using a wooden spoon, break up sausage into bite-size pieces and cook, stirring every couple of minutes, until sausage is mostly cooked through with some golden brown edges, 6–8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer sausage to a plate. Pour fat in skillet into a small heatproof bowl or measuring glass

Step Two: Add 1 Tbsp. fat back to pan and cook 1 medium onion, thinly sliced, tossing every 30 seconds or so, until softened but not floppy, about 3 minutes. Stir in 4 garlic cloves, thinly sliced, and 1 small jalapeño, thinly sliced, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 2 minute. Transfer to plate with sausage

Step Three: Heat another 3 Tbsp. fat (or vegetable oil if you’ve run out of fat) in same pan. Add 1 lb. brussels sprouts, halved, season with kosher salt, and toss to combine. Arrange brussels sprouts so each piece has as much contact with pan as possible. Let cook, undisturbed, until golden brown around edges underneath, about 3 minutes. Toss and pour in 2 Tbsp. soy sauce and ½ cup water. Reduce heat to medium, cover pan, and cook until brussels sprouts are just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and return sausage and onion mixture back to pan if you have room. Add 1 Tbsp. sherry vinegar or red wine vinegar and 2½ tsp. five-spice powder and toss to combine. (If you don’t have enough room in the pan, toss everything together in a large bowl.)