Chic Fil A Grilled Chicken Nuggets

Created on 8/21/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1/2 cup dill pickle juice
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • 2 tsp powdered sugar
  • 2 tsp Christie Vanover’s Chicken Rub or use: 2 tsps powdered sugar, 1 tsp kosher salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1/4 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp paprika, 1/4 tsp celery salt

Instructions:

Step One: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces. Place in a bowl with pickle juice and milk. Marinate for 30 minutes

Step Two: Remove from marinade and pat dry

Step Three: In a small bowl, combine powdered sugar and Chicken Rub. Sprinkle all over chicken

Step Four: Heat grill to high. Grill chicken for 3 minutes per side until cooked through

Step Five: Serve with honey mustard dipping sauce

Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese

Created on 8/21/2023

Ingredients:

Tomato Soup

  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 15 oz crushed tomato, 1 can
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon pepper

Grilled Cheese

  • 2 pieces sourdough bread
  • 1 ½ tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1 ½ tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 2 slices cheddar cheese
  • 2 slices greyere cheese
  • Pesto

Instructions:

Step One: Make the tomato soup: melt the butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the onion and stir for 6-8 minutes, until the onions just start to brown

Step Two: Add the garlic and stir for another minute. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, chicken broth, heavy cream, salt, and pepper

Step Three: Bring the soup to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes

Step Four: Remove the soup from heat and transfer to a blender. Remove vent so that steam can escape. Blend for 2 minutes, until the soup is smooth and thick. Alternatively, leave the soup in the pot and use an immersion blender

Step Five: On a cutting board, butter each piece of bread with butter on one side. Flip the bread over and spread each piece of bread with mayonnaise

Step Six: Place the cheese on the buttered side of one piece of bread. Add pesto on top of the cheese. Top it with the second piece of bread, mayonnaise side out

Step Seven: Heat a nonstick pan over medium low heat. Place the sandwich on the pan, mayonnaise side down

Step Eight: Cook for 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. Using a spatula, flip the sandwich over and continue cooking until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes

Avgolomeno Soup

Created on 8/17/2023

Ingredients:

  • 6 pieces small-medium size chicken thighs (bone-in and skin on) – about 1¾ pounds total, pat the chicken dry with paper towels
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup diced onion
  • 1½ tablespoons minced garlic
  • 6 cups low-sodium chicken broth
  • ¾ cup uncooked long-grain white rice, (rinsed and drained)
  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt, (optional)
  • 3 egg yolks
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 2 teaspoons fresh dill (optional)
  • Parsley, chopped for garnish

Instructions:

Step One: Season the chicken thighs with salt and black pepper. Press the “Sauté” key and when the instant pot displays “hot”, heat the oil and sear the chicken for 5 minutes on each side. Set aside

Step Two: Add the onion, cook until tender for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, cook just until fragrant. Add in the broth. Be sure to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of pan to flavor the soup and to prevent burning

Step Three: Add the rinsed rice, salt (optional), and the seared chicken thighs back into the pot. Secure the lid and set it to “manual” on high for 5 minutes. Once the cooking cycle is completed, let the pressure release naturally for at least 15 minutes then move the valve to venting to release the remaining pressure. Transfer the chicken thighs to a plate and shred into small pieces

Step Four: Fill a blender with a cup of rice and broth mixture, egg yolks, lemon juice and dill (optional). Puree until smooth. Return the pureed soup and shredded chicken into the pot, simmer until thickened slightly for a few minutes. Do not let it come to a boil, stirring often. Add more salt, pepper, and/ or lemon if necessary and according to your liking. Garnish with parsley

Notes: Don’t forget to rinse and drain the rice before cooking. If more lemon juice is needed, add in small increments of 1 teaspoon at a time. If you want a thinner soup you can add more broth later. Do not fill your Instant Pot more than ⅔ full

Tzaziki Sauce

Created on 8/15/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup Full-Fat Greek Yogurt
  • 1 tablespoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
  • 2 teaspoons Lemon Juice
  • 2 teaspoons Fresh Dill
  • 2 teaspoons Fresh Parsley
  • 2 cloves Garlic (minced)
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt
  • 1 ½ cups Cucumber (minced or grated; ~ 1 medium 8-ounce cucumber)

Instructions:

Step One:  In a medium bowl, whisk together all ingredients except the cucumber

Step Two: Wrap the minced cucumber in a kitchen towel and squeeze over the sink to release as much water as possible

Step Three: Stir the cucumber into the bowl

Notes: This sauce pairs well with this doner kebab and it’s also great on sandwiches!

Beef Doner Kebob

Created on 8/15/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1 large onion
  • 2lb ground beef (15% fat)
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon cumin
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon isot pepper (or paprika)
  • 4 tablespoons yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons milk
  • 2 tablespoons butter to cook döner

Instructions:

Step One: Puree the onion in a food processor. Sieve its juice into a large mixing bowl. We just need the juice

Step Two: Put the ground beef, döner kebab seasoning, salt, yogurt and milk in the same bowl. Combine them well using your hand. Give it a log shape

Step Three: Transfer it on a baking paper and wrap it tightly.  Let it rest in the fridge for 2 hours. Then transfer it to the freezer and let it sit there for 8 hours or overnight

Step Four: Remove it from the freezer and let it sit on the counter for 5 minutes. Hold the döner log with a piece of baking paper and carefully make large thin slices using a sharp knife

Step Five: Heat one teaspoon butter in a non stick pan over high heat. Line sliced döner pieces in a single layer and cook both sides until nicely brown

Step Six: Cook döner in batches and never overload the pan

Notes: Drizzle this tzatziki sauce on top for extra flavor!

Lamb Ragu

Created on 8/11/2023

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1 ½ pounds lamb shoulder, excess fat trimmed and diced into 1-inch cubes (see Recipe Notes)
  • 2 medium carrots, finely diced
  • 1 stalk celery, finely diced
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup dry red wine (such as Chianti)
  • 1 cup low-sodium beef stock
  • 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 sprig fresh rosemary
  • 8–10 sprigs fresh thyme
  • kosher salt and ground black pepper, to season
  • 16–24 ounces pasta (pappardelle, bucatini, rigatoni, etc.) or gnocchi
  • 1/4 – 1/3 cup grated parmesan (roughly 1 tablespoon per serving)
  • ¼ – 1/3 cup heavy cream (roughly 1 tablespoon per serving)
  • for serving, as desired: additional grated parmesan, finely chopped fresh herbs, etc.

Instructions

Step One: Brown the lamb shoulder – Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to an instapot using the Saute mode. Use paper towel to pat the lamb as dry as possible, then season generously with 1 teaspoon each kosher salt & ground black pepper. Add the seasoned lamb to the instapot and cook until deeply browned on all sides, about 2-3 minutes per side. Work in batches as needed to avoid overcrowding the pot, which prevents browning. Transfer the lamb to a plate and set aside

Step Two: Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pot & reduce the heat to medium. Once the oil is hot & shimmers, add in the onion, carrots, and celery, seasoning with 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the veggies are softened & deeply browned, 15-20 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook until fragrant, 1-2 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, stirring to coat the veggies, and cook for 1-2 minutes more, caramelizing the tomato paste

Step Three: Slowly pour the red wine into the instapot, using a wooden spoon to scrape up the browned bits that have formed at the bottom of the pot – that’s where all the flavor is! Let the red wine reduce by about half (this goes by quickly!), then pour in the beef stock, crushed tomatoes, and herbs. I like to use kitchen twine to tie them into a little bundle for easy removal. Return the lamb to the instapot

Step Four: Cover & seal the pressure cooker. Cook on manual high pressure for 45 minutes. Allow the pressure cooker to naturally release pressure for 15 minutes before carefully flicking the valve to its “venting” position to vent out any residual pressure When it’s ready, the lamb should shred very easily – it’ll be tender enough that you should be able to shred it right in the ragu by using the back of a wooden spoon. Remove & discard the spent bay leaves & herbs. Shred the lamb & stir to combine. At this point, you can cool & store for later use (see Recipe Notes for storage & freezing instructions), or proceed with prepping lamb ragu pappardelle or gnocchi (below).

Notes: My preferred cut of lamb for this braised lamb ragu is lamb shoulder, though lamb shanks will work very well, too. Because of the long cooking time involved, avoid lean cuts like lamb chops.

Birria Tacos

Created on 8/8/2023

Ingredients:

  • 3 pounds beef (chuck roast, beef shank, short ribs, oxtail), lamb, or goat meat
  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 3 dried ancho chilis (very mild, smoky, 1000 – 2000 SHU)
  • 3 dried guajillo chilis (sweet, smoky, not very spicy, 2500–5000 SHU)
  • 1 new Mexican dried chiles (mild, sweet 800 – 1400 SHU)
  • Optional: 1 dried chile de árbol (quite spicy, 15000 – 30000 SHU)
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 6 garlic cloves, chopped
  • 2 bay leaves
  • ½ cinnamon stick or ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
  • 2 teaspoons dried Mexican oregano or oregano
  • 1½ teaspoon cumin seeds, ground
  • 1 teaspoon coriander, ground
  • 2 teaspoons tomato paste
  • 2 cups unsalted chicken stock or high-quality unsalted beef stock
  • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon regular soy sauce
  • Optional: 1 tablespoon fish sauce
  • Salt & ground black pepper

Garnish:

  • 8 – 12 corn tortillas
  • Good melting cheese (i.e. Oaxaca cheese or mozzarella cheese), freshly grated
  • White onion, diced
  • Cilantro, finely chopped
  • Lime slices

Instructions:

Step One: Prepare Dried Chiles – Remove stems and seeds from dried chiles, then cut chiles into smaller pieces. Toast Dried Chiles in Instant Pot – Put all dried chiles in Instant Pot. Press “Saute” button to “Sauté More” to heat up the Instant Pot. Stir occasionally. Once you smell the chiles’ aroma (~4 to 5 mins), remove and set aside the toasted chiles

Step Two: Brown Meat in Instant Pot – Wait until the Instant Pot says “HOT”. Pat dry your meat. Season one side of beef with salt & black pepper. Add 1 tbsp vegetable oil in inner pot, and ensure to coat the oil all over the whole bottom of the pot. Carefully place the seasoned side of beef in Instant Pot. Season the other side of beef with more salt & black pepper. Brown one side for 5 minutes before flipping the meat, then brown the other side for another 5 minutes. Set aside the browned meat

Step Three: Saute Onions and Garlic – Add another 1 tbsp vegetable oil to Instant Pot. Add in sliced onions, then saute for 3 minutes. Add in garlic cloves, 2 bay leaves, ½ cinnamon stick, 2 tsp dried Mexican oregano, 1½ tsp ground cumin seeds, 1 tsp ground coriander, and 2 tsp tomato paste, then saute for another minute

Step Four: Deglaze Instant Pot – Pour in 1 cup unsalted chicken stock, then deglaze by scrubbing all the flavorful brown bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon. Give it a quick mix

Step Five: Pressure Cook Birria – Add in 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, 1 tbsp (15ml) regular soy sauce, 1 tbsp fish sauce, and another cup of unsalted chicken stock, then give it a quick mix. Add in toasted dried chiles (make sure all chiles are submerged in the cooking liquid). Layer browned beef on top. With Venting Knob in Venting Position, close the lid, then turn Venting Knob to Sealing Position. Cook the Beef Shank & Chuck Roast Pieces on High Pressure for 1 hour then Natural Release for 15 minutes

Step Six: Blend and Shred Beef – Transfer beef to a large mixing bowl. Find and discard the bay leaves & cinnamon stick. Keep all the chiles in Instant Pot. Blend the birria sauce with an immersion hand blender. With two forks, shred the beef, then transfer the shredded beef back to the Instant Pot

Step Seven: Season Birria: Taste and adjust the seasoning by adding more salt (for reference: we added roughly 4 – 6 large pinches of salt)

Heat up a skillet over medium heat. Dip corn tortillas in the birria sauce. Make sure the birria sauce is fully covering both sides of corn tortillas because the tortillas will break if they’re too dry. If you’re using a cast-iron skillet, grease pan with oil to prevent tortillas from sticking. You can use a bit of oil for a non-stick pan. It’s important your skillet is hot enough before you start to pan-fry the tortillas. Place corn tortilla on the heated skillet. Layer a handful of grated melting cheese on corn tortilla, then let the cheese melt. Once the cheese has melted and the corn tortilla is a bit crisped, layer some birria meat on the cheese. Fold corn tortilla in half. Serve these birria tacos immediately with dipping sauce and lime slices

Notes: Make extras for the freezer!

Ahi Tuna Burger

Created on 7/25/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 Sushi grade Ahi Tuna per burger
  • Marinade in homemade teriyaki sauce overnight
  • 1/2 cup kewpie mayonnaise
  • 1/2 lime
  • 1 tablespoon Sriracha
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
  • Handful of spinach per burger
  • 1/2 avocado, sliced thin, per burger
  • Hamburger buns

Instructions:

Step One: Put portioned Ahi Tuna into homemade marinade overnight

Step Two: Combine kewpie mayo, lime, Sriracha and apple cider vinegar in a small bowl the night before

Step Three: Remove the tuna from the marinade. Sear the tuna on high heat on a grill or stove for two minutes per side. The goal is to keep the inside of the fish filet raw

Step Four: Assemble the burger. Toast to hamburger buns. Add spinach to the bottom bun. Add the tuna. Add the sauce on top. Add avocado on top of the sauce. And add the top bun

Elote Corn and Chicken Burritos

Created on 7/27/2023

Ingredients for chicken:

  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 6 oz chipotle peppers in adobo, finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon vegetable oil

Ingredients for elote:

  • 4 ½ cups Corn (cooked, about 5 cobs of corn, see notes)
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 6 Garlic Cloves (minced)
  • 1 Lime Zested
  • 2 ½ tablespoons Lime Juice (freshly squeezed)
  • 1 ½ teaspoons Kosher Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Chili Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Paprika
  • 1/8 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (optional)
  • 5 tablespoons Cotija Cheese (crumbled)
  • 3 tablespoons Cilantro (finely chopped)
  • Add Kosher Salt
  • Add Black Pepper

Instructions:

Step One: On a cutting board, season the chicken all over with salt and pepper

Step Two: Transfer the chicken to a large zip-top bag with the chopped chipotles and mix until the chicken is fully coated. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, up to overnight

Step Three: Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, 4 minutes per side

Step Four: Remove the chicken from the pan with tongs and place on a cutting board. Let cool for 5 minutes. Cut the chicken into bite-sized pieces

Step Five: Transfer the chicken back to the pan over medium-high heat and cook, stirring frequently, for 2-3 minutes, until all pieces are browned

Now on to the elite

Step Six: In a small bowl, whisk together all of the ingredients except the Cotija cheese and cilantro. Make sure the sauce is nice and smooth. Pour the sauce over the corn and give everything a nice stir. If it isn’t creamy enough to your liking, add another 1-2 tablespoons of mayonnaise

Step Seven: Sprinkle with Cotija cheese and cilantro. Taste for additional salt and pepper. Serve warm with tortilla chips or as a side dish

Notes: I also like adding black beans and white rice for this burrito.