Dairy Free

Mongolian Pork Chop

Created on

Ingredients

  • ½ cup hoisin sauce
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
  • 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 2 teaspoons white sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons hot sauce
  • ½ teaspoon ground white pepper
  • ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 (10 ounce) thick bone-in center cut pork chops

Instructions:

Step One: Make marinade: Combine hoisin sauce, garlic, soy sauce, ginger, red wine vinegar, rice vinegar, sherry vinegar, sesame oil, sugar, hot sauce, white pepper, and black pepper in a large bowl. Whisk thoroughly until combined

Step Two: Place pork chops in a resealable plastic freezer bag; pour slightly more than 1/2 of the marinade into the freezer bag over pork chops. Seal the bag and refrigerate for 6 to 8 hours. Reserve remaining marinade

Step Three: Preheat an outdoor grill for high heat. Lightly oil the grate

Step Four: Remove pork chops from marinade; pat dry with paper towels. Discard used marinade

Step Five: Cook pork chops on the preheated grill until brown grill marks appear, about 4 minutes per side

Step Six: Move pork chops to indirect medium heat and continue cooking, brushing reserved marinade on each side, until no longer pink inside, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the centers should read at least 145 degrees F (63 degrees C)

May 24, 2023

Black Cod with Miso

Created on 4/23/2023

Ingredients:

  • Four 6 ounce filets of sablefish
  • 1/4 sake
  • 1/4 mirin
  • 1/4 white miso paste
  • 2 tablespoons sugar

Instructions:

Step One: Add sake and mirin to a small sauce pan and cook for about 5 minutes, until the alcohol has evaporated

Step Two: Turn the heat down to medium to medium low and add in the miso paste. Stir this until the miso is fully incorporated

Step Three: Add in the sugar. Mix the sugar until it is full incorporated. Let the mixture cool. Pour the mixture over the fridge and let it marinate for 24 hours – 3 days (the longer the better)

Step Four: Turn on the broiler in the oven to high. Place the fish on a baking sheet and cook under the broiler for about 5 minutes each side. You want to see the sides of the fish start to turn brown and carmelize

Notes: Serve with soba noodles and bok choy to replicate this Nobu dish.

Apr 14, 2023

Grilled Chicken Brussel Sprout Salad

Created on 4/10/2023

Ingredients:

Salad

  • 1 lb grilled chicken breast, sliced into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 lb brussel sprouts, halved vertically
  • 1/2 cup pomegranates
  • 1/2 green apple, sliced into tiny pieces
  • Goat cheese
  • Salt and pepper

Vinegarette

  • 3/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
  • 1/8 teaspoon dijon mustard
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Step One: Grill the chicken with spices of choice. Olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt/pepper and rosemary is a great marinade for this chicken

Step Two: Roast brussel sprouts tossed with salt and pepper in oven until a little charred and tender

Step Three: Create the vinegarette by combining all ingredients in a mason jar or bowl, stir or shake until well combined

Step Four: Add the brussel sprouts to the vinegarette, add the apple and pomegranate. Top the salad with chicken and goat cheese and serve

Note: This recipe is even better with crispy bacon added to the salad

Story: During the apocalyptic period of COVID, Mandi and I went to a local restaurant called Austin’s and ordered this amazing salad on repeat. The green apple with goat cheese and brussels makes this salad both healthy and satisfying!

Apr 10, 2023

Chimichurri Sauce

Created on 3/23/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
  • 3-4 cloves garlic , finely chopped or minced
  • 2 small red chilies , or 1 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped (about 1 tablespoon finely chopped chili)
  • 3/4 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 level teaspoon coarse salt
  • pepper , to taste (about 1/2 teaspoon)

Instructions:

Step One: Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Allow to sit for 5-10 minutes to release all of the flavors into the oil before using. Ideally, let it sit for more than 2 hours, if time allows

Step Two: Chimichurri can be prepared earlier than needed, and refrigerated for 24 hours, if needed

Step Three: Use to baste meats (chicken or steaks) while grilling or barbecuing. This can also be used as a marinade, although that is not authentic to South America

Notes: This is excellent on seafood like scallops, shrimp and white fish

Mar 20, 2023

Kayla’s Vinegarette

Created on 3/10/2023

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 shallot, minced
  • 1 medium sized garlic clove, minced
  • One tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 fresh bunch dill, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 lemon, squeezed
  • Salt and freshly ground pepper

Instructions:

Step One: Add all ingredients to a mason jar or salad dressing jar and shake vigorously to emulsify the ingredients. If you prefer a thinner dressing, add a tablespoon of water at a time, shake vigorously, then assess the consistency. Add more water if desired.

Notes: This dressing tastes amazing on this wrap.

Mar 14, 2023

Carmelized Onions

Created on 2/10/2018

Ingredients:

  • Several medium or large onions, yellow, white, or red
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Butter, optional
  • Kosher salt
  • Sugar, optional
  • Balsamic vinegar, optional

Instructions:

Step One: Slice 1/2-inch off the stem ends of the onions and the roots off of the root end. Place the onions cut side down on the cutting board. Cut them in half through the root end. Peel back the peels from the onions.

Lay the onions cut side down and make angled cuts into each onion, aimed at the center, cutting almost all the way, but not completely through the root end. Make the cuts to your desired level of thickness.

The root end will help hold the onion together as you cut it, making it easier to cut. Then cut a V in the root end to cut out the tough root holding the slices together.

Step Two: Use a wide, thick-bottomed sauté pan for maximum pan contact with the onions. Coat the bottom of the pan with olive oil, or a mixture of olive oil and butter, if using (about 1 teaspoon per onion).

Heat the pan on medium high heat until the oil is shimmering. Add the onion slices and stir to coat the onions with the oil. Spread the onions out evenly over the pan and let cook, stirring occasionally.

Depending on how strong your stovetop burner is you may need to reduce the heat to medium or medium low to prevent the onions from burning or drying out.

After 10 minutes, sprinkle some salt over the onions, and if you want, you can add some sugar to help with the caramelization process. (I add only about a teaspoon of sugar for 5 onions, you can add more.) One trick to keeping the onions from drying out as they cook is to add a little water to the pan.

Step Three: Let the onions cook for 30 minutes to 1 hour more, stirring every few minutes. As soon as the onions start sticking to the pan, let them stick a little and brown, but then stir them before they burn.

The trick is to leave them alone enough to brown (if you stir them too often, they won’t brown), but not so long so that they burn. After the first 20 to 30 minutes you may want to lower the stove temperature a little, and add a little more oil, if you find the onions are verging on burning.

A metal spatula will help you scrape up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan as the caramelization proceeds. As the onions cook down, you may find you need to scrape the pan every minute, instead of every few minutes.

Continue to cook and scrape, cook and scrape, until the onions are a rich, browned color. At the end of the cooking process you might want to add a little balsamic vinegar or wine to help deglaze the pan and bring some additional flavor to the onions.

Store refrigerated for several days in an air-tight container.

Notes: Add these onions to this horseradish sauce for a full and rich sauce.

Mar 13, 2023

Shrimp Red Curry

Created on 2/24/2023

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • ½ jar Marion’s Kitchen Thai Red Curry Paste
  • 14 fl oz coconut milk
  • 1 lb prawns, peeled, deveined, tails intact
  • 1 cup of vegetables (we used green beans and sliced bamboo shoots)
  • 1-2 tsp fish sauce, or to taste
  • shredded makrut leaves, to serve (optional)
  • finely sliced fresh red chilli, to serve (optional)
  • steamed rice, to serve

Instructions:

Step One: Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat and cook the paste for a minute or so until it smells yum.

Step Two: Stir through the coconut milk. Add prawns, vegetables and 1/2 cup of water. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes or until your chosen additions are cooked through.

Step Three: Taste and season with fish sauce to your liking. Top with lime leaves and red chilli, if using. Serve with steamed rice. Enjoy!

Feb 22, 2023

Homemade Pasta Dough

Created on 2/28/2023

Ingredients:

  • 400 g 00’ Flour (3 cups spooned and leveled)
  • 4 large eggs free range
  • 1 egg yolk free range

Instructions:

Step One: Place the flour on a clean work surface, make a well in the middle and add the eggs

Step Two: Using a fork whisk the eggs whilst slowly incorporating the flour until combined and looks like a very rough dough. You may need to use your hands once most of the egg is incorporated to help it along

Step Three: Bring the dough together with your hands to form a ball. Knead the dough for 10 minutes until smooth and pliable. Wrap the dough in cling film and leave to rest for 30 minutes, out of the fridge

Step Four: Once the dough is rested it’s time to roll it out. Cut the dough in half so it’s easier to roll out and flatten it with the palm of your hand so it will fit through the first setting on the pasta machine

Step Five: Pass the dough through the widest setting once then fold one side over the other as shown on photos 9 and 10. Flatten the dough with the palm of your hand again so it will fit through the widest setting and roll it through again

Step Six: Repeat this process folding the sides in and passing it through the widest setting four times. Once you’ve done that pass the dough through each setting once from the widest to the second last setting

Notes: This pasta dough can be used for any pasta – even lasagna

Feb 22, 2023

Chicken Veggie Pastina Soup

Created on: 2/14/2023

Ingredients:

  • 32 oz chicken or veggie broth
  • 2 stalks of celery, chopped fine
  • 2 large carrots, chopped fine
  • 2 shallots, minced
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons pastina (this is traditional Italian, but feel free to add more, no more than 4 tablespoons)
  • 1 egg
  • 1/2 lemon

Instructions:

Step One: Add chopped carrots, celery, shallots and garlic to a medium/large pot. Saute until transulets and fragrant

Step Two: Add broth. Bring to a simmer. Allow to cook for 15 – 20 minutes. Taste and add appropriate salt and pepper

Step Three: Add pastina. Cook for three minutes. Make sure the broth is only at a light simmer. Then add the egg. Stir egg around. Add a squeeze of lemon. Serve

Notes: Add a dash of hot sauce. For a more protein rich meal, add some leftover rotisserie chicken

Feb 14, 2023

Shepheard’s Pie

Created on

Ingredients:

Meat Filling

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 1 lb. 90% lean ground beef -or ground lamb
  • 2 teaspoons dried parsley leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves -minced
  • 2 tablespoons all purpose flour (can sub with gluten-free flour)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth
  • 1 cup frozen mixed peas & carrots*
  • 1/2 cup frozen corn kernels

Potato Topping

  • 1 ½ – 2 lb. russet potatoes -about 2 large potatoes peeled and cut into 1 inch cubes
  • 8 tablespoons unsalted butter -1 stick
  • 1/3 cup half & half
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1/4 cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

Make Meat Filling

Step One: Add the oil to a large skillet and place it over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Add the onions. Cook 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

Step Two: Add the ground beef (or ground lamb) to the skillet and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Add the parsley, rosemary, thyme, salt, and and pepper. Stir well. Cook for 6-8 minutes, until the meat is browned, stirring occasionally

Step Three: Add the Worcestershire sauce and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook for 1 minute

Step Four: Add the flour and tomato paste. Stir until well incorporated and no clumps of tomato paste remain

Step Five: Add the broth, frozen peas and carrots, and frozen corn. Bring the liquid to a boil then reduce to simmer. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

Step Six: Set the meat mixture aside. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F

Make Potato Topping

Step One: Place the potatoes in a large pot. Cover the potatoes with water. Bring the water to a boil. Reduce to a simmer. Cook until potatoes are fork tender, 10-15 minutes.

Step Two: Drain the potatoes in a colander. Return the potatoes to the hot pot. Let the potatoes rest in the hot pot for 1 minute to evaporate any remaining liquid.

Step Three: Add butter, half & half, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Mash the potatoes and stir until all the ingredients are mixed together.

Step Four: Add the parmesan cheese to the potatoes. Stir until well combined.

Assemble Casserole

Pour the meat mixture into a 9×9 (or 7×11) inch baking dish. Spread it out into an even layer. Spoon the mashed potatoes on top of the meat. Carefully spread into an even layer. If the baking dish looks very full, place it on a rimmed baking sheet so that the filling doesn’t bubble over into your oven. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes.** Cool for 15 minutes before serving

Notes: To make this dairy and gluten-free, sub out the flour for almond flour and the half and half/butter with a milk alternative

Jan 31, 2023