Marinated Sour Orange Chicken Salad

 

Marinated chicken makes the best chicken salad.  The results you get are super moist
chunks that are so tender, you can cut with a fork.  It is packed with a complete balance of earthy from the goat cheese, savory from the dill, sweet from the dates, tangy from the orange, and crunchy from the celery and almonds.  Serve this salad for lunch, as a sandwich, or whip it up into an appetizer.  Serve with pretzels, corn chips, or toast triangles.  Either way, you serve it, it will be the hit of any get-together.

Ingredients:
4 large chicken breasts (skinless/boneless)
1 cup Sour Orange Marinade (La Lechonera)
1 cup mayonnaise
4 ozs goat cheese, softened
1/3 cup red onion, chopped fine
1 TBS orange zest
6 dates, chopped fine
1/2 cup celery, ( 1 stalk), chopped fine
2 TBS fresh dill, chopped fine
1/4 cup slivered almonds

Directions:
1.  Season the chicken with salt and pepper, on both sides.  Place the chicken breasts into a large sealable bag, with the mojo.  Place on a plate with a slight lip to prevent any liquid to leak out of the seal.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.  Remove the chicken from the bag.  Pat dry with paper towels.  Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.  Place the chicken into the pan.  Cover with aluminum foil.  Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 40 mins.  Remove the chicken from the oven and let cool.  Chop the chicken into small shredded pieces.
2.  In a medium-size mixing bowl whisk together the mayonnaise and goat cheese.  Stir in the onion, zest, dates, celery, and dill.  Taste and season with salt and pepper, if needed.  Fold in the almonds.  Serve warm or chill in the refrigerator, covered.

Serves 8 people

Quahog Fried Clams

Quahog is a hard shell clam native to the easter shores of North America and Central America.

2 lbs Quahog clams or another hardshell clam, shucked

4 cups cooking oil

Coating Mix Ingredients:  Mix all ingredients in a bowl

1 cup cornmeal, finely ground

1 cup gluten-free flour

1 TBS paprika

1 tsp salt

Batter Ingredients:  Beat all ingredients, in a bowl

1 cup buttermilk

1 egg, beaten

Directions:

1. If clams are wet drain on paper towels to absorb excess liquid.

2.  Add clams to buttermilk/egg mixture, remove with a slotted spoon to drain excess liquid.

3.  Add clams to the flour mixture, tossing to coat thoroughly.

4.  Heat oil in a preferably cast iron deep pan to 350 - 375 degrees.  Drop a few clams into the oil and fry for approx. 1 min or until they turn golden brown.  Place on a baking sheet lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil

Serve with tartar sauce and lemon wedges.  

 

Marinated /Grilled Beef Chuck and Poblanos

 Marinated / Grilled Beef Chuck and Poblanos

I have always purchased beef chuck for making beef stew.  I would saute it then 

I would cook it over a burner for at least a couple of hours in gravy, with potatoes and vegetables. 

I never thought to marinate the meat first.  But, what a wonderful next trick that will save me time.

Not only was the meat tender, but it was also absolutely delicious.  Now, you do have to marinate the meat

overnight, but I call this downtime.  You can sleep while it's marinating.  

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs Beef Chuck Steak

1 cup La Lechonera Natural Mojo

3 TBS olive oil

1 large sweet onion, sliced

4 poblano peppers, sliced (seeded and stems removed)

2 cloves garlic, minced

Directions:

1. Cut the chuck steak into 2-inch strips. Season the steak with salt and pepper. Place the steak into a zip bag, with the mojo. Place in the refrigerator and leave for at least 8 hours or overnight. If possible, rotate the bag often to ensure all sides of the meat are getting marinated. 

2. Remove from the bag and gently pat dry with a paper towel. Sear the meat on a pre-heated grill for approx. 4 mins on each side, to get char marks. Remove from the grill and let sit for 10 mins.

3. In a large skillet, heat oil on med/high heat. Stir in the onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Saute for 5 mins—cut meat into bite-size pieces. Stir in the beef to the skillet. Saute for an additional 15 mins with the cover. 

Side Dish Suggestions: 

Mexican Rice: See my recipe

Grilled Plantains

 

Beef Bulgogi and Noodles (Korean BBQ Beef)

 

Bulgogi bool-GOH-gee literally means "fire meat".  Marinated, thin cuts of good quality meat such as sirloin, ribeye or flank, seared over a hot fire.  You can also use chicken or fish, such as salmon.  The marinating only takes 30 minutes for this dish, which allows this time for prepping other ingredients at that time.  This meat can be served alone or with rice noodles or your favorite rice.  

Ingredients:
1 lb sirloin (cut in 4-1/4 inch pieces)
1/3 cup tamari sauce, (soy)
1/4 cup sweetener (sugar or honey)
2 TBS mirin or rice wine 
2 TBS sesame oil
1/4 cup Asian pear, shredded (or pear or pineapple juice)
1 TBS ginger, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 red bell pepper
1 cup onions, chopped
1 carrot, shredded
4 ozs rice noodles, cooked
1 cup scallions
2 TBS sesame seeds

Directions:
1.  Season meat with salt and pepper.  In a dish with sides (to hold marinade without leaking out) lay meat flat on the bottom.  In a separate bowl mix the soy, sugar, mirin, sesame oil, pear, ginger, and garlic.  Pour over top of the meat, to cover.  Flip over meat a few times to get it nice and coated with the marinade.  Place in the refrigerator for 30 mins.  
2.  While meat is marinating, chop your peppers and onions.  Next, shred your carrot.  Heat a medium-size saute pan with 1 TBS cooking oil, on medium/high heat.  Stir in the peppers and onions and cook for 3-5 mins or until soft.  Stir in carrots and turn off the burner.  
3.  Grease your grill with oil.  Heat grill on high heat.  Remove meat from the marinade.  Add the marinade to your saute pan, with the peppers and onions.  Place meat on the grill and let sear 3-4 mins on each side or to desired redness.  Remove from the grill and cut into thin slices.  Add the meat to the marinade.
4.  Cook noodles according to your package.  Drain noodles, reserving approx. 1/4 cup of starch water and stir it into the marinade.  Toss noodles and meat together.  Top with scallions and sesame seeds.  

Serves 4

Note:  This recipe can easily be doubled

Smashed Potatoes

These smashed potatoes are a healthy and crispy way of eating potatoes.

I like using a thin red skin potato.  They are easy to work with and come in the perfect

size, for serving. Just pop them in the oven and within minutes they are done.

Top them with vinegar, lemon or lime juice at the end with a sprinkle of fresh cilantro.

You will want to make these for breakfast or serve as a nice side dish.

Ingredients:

8 red skin potatoes, medium

2 TBS butter, melted

3 TBS red wine vinegar, or lime

3 TBS cilantro leaves, chopped fine

Directions:

1.  Pierce potatoes with a sharp knife.  One pierce on top and one on the bottom.  (By doing this you are

allowing steam to escape.  Otherwise, they will explode).

2.  Place on a microwave-safe plate.  Cook on high for approx. 6-8 mins (depending on microwave)

Test by poking the knife through the potato.  The knife should go all the way through.  

3.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

4.  Remove from the microwave and slice potatoes in half.  Cover the potato with a sheet of wax paper or plastic baggie.  With a small plate or bowl press down on each potato to flatten (approx. 1/8-1/4 inch).  Place on a greased baking sheet.  Brush melted butter on each potato half.  Season with salt and pepper.  

Bake in the oven for approx. 15-20 mins, until they become crispy.  

5.  Remove potatoes from the oven.  Drizzle vinegar over the top of potatoes.  Serve with cilantro

 

Gluten Free Breaded Chicken Thighs

Ingredients:

8 boneless skinless chicken thighs

1 cup mojo citrus marinade

fry oil

1 cup gluten-free flour

2 eggs, beaten

2 cups gluten-free seasoned bread crumbs

Directions:

1.  Season chicken with salt and pepper.  Lay chicken flat in a zip lock bag.  Add mojo marinade.  Place bag on a dish, preferably with a rim so the sealed end can rest on, to prevent leakage.  Refrigerate for 4 hrs or overnight.  

2.  Remove chicken from bag and pat dry with paper towels.

3.  Add your favorite fry oil to a skillet.  Heat on med/high temperature.  

4.  Set up three bowls at your work station.  Place flour, eggs, and crumbs into each separate bowls.  Dredge each piece of chicken into flour, then into the beaten egg, then into bread crumbs, covering completely with each ingredient.

Place coated chicken into the hot oil.  Fry on both sides until golden brown.  Add to a baking sheet or dish.  

5.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Bake chicken for approx. 10-15 mins depending on the thickness of chicken.  Season with sea salt.

Tips:  Separate family packed chicken and place the desired amount into freezer bags.  

Add approx 1 cup of Mojo marinade to bags.  Fold up sealed end and tape to bag to prevent leaking.  Place flat in the freezer.  Thaw in the refrigerator when ready to use.

To Spice things up:  Add a few drops of hot sauce to the beaten eggs.  

Italian Wedding Soup

The term "wedding soup" comes from the Italian language phrase "minestra." 

(married soup).  It is referenced to the flavor produced by the combination marriage of

greens and meat.  This is a simple but delicious soup with escarole greens cooked

in chicken broth with tiny meatballs.

Meatball Ingredients:

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp onion powder

1 TBS parsley, dry

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup bread crumbs, seasoned

2 TBS grated cheese

1 lb lean ground beef (or any ground meat)

Soup Ingredients:

8 cups broth

2 cups onions, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 head escarole, rinsed and chopped

2 eggs 

3 TBS grated cheese

Directions:

1.  Add all ingredients, except the meat, into a medium-size bowl.  Mix well with a spoon.  Let sit for approx. 5 mins until bread crumbs become moist.  Add ground beef to the bowl.  Season with salt and pepper.  With a spoon or with your hands, fold together to incorporate.  With a small cookie scoop (about 1 TBS), start making meatballs.  Roll each ball in the palm of your hand to make it perfectly round.  Put aside.

2.  In a large stockpot, add broth, onions, and garlic.  Heat on med/high heat.  Chop escarole into bite-size pieces.  Place in a large strainer and rinse well.   Add to the pot.  Cook for 20 mins or until escarole is soft.  Drop meatballs into the stockpot with the soup.  Gently stir and cook for 8-10 mins.  

3.  In a small mixing bowl, beat the eggs.  Add the grated cheese and stir together.  Pour all of the egg/cheese mixtures into the soup.  Stir and cook for 5 mins.