Pork Barbacoa

This is a combination of many recipes I found and put together.  It is suppose to be "Cafe Rio" pork, but I really don't think it tastes much like it.  But it is sweet and spicy and delicious.

5-6 lb. pork roast

3 cups Dr. Pepper 

1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup white sugar

2 clove garlic, minced
7 oz. can chipotle chilies in adobo sauce
6-ish oz. red taco sauce (I used medium)
2 T dry mustard

1 T cumin
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix ingredients (besides pork) until sugar dissolves.  I didn’t keep the actual chilies, I dumped the can into a bowl and added enough Dr. Pepper to get all the sauce off of the chilies, then I strained them, and then added the rest of the ingredients.  I also rinsed out the can with Dr. Pepper for more adobo goodness.  If you LOVE hotness, then blend everything + 2 or 3 chilies in the blender.  (Also, the adobo sauce tends to stain plastic, using a glass or metal mixing bowl will make your clean-up of adobo sauce considerably less frustrating).

Add mixture to the roast and cook in crockpot for 8-10 hours. Shred roast into sauce and cook for 2 more hours.  At this point the meat was so tender it practically shredded itself.

Spicy Chicken Tacos

While many North Americans think of tacos as having crisp, fried shells, authentic Mexican tacos are made with soft, fresh corn tortillas. The traditional preparation is the smart choice, as unfried corn tortillas are low in fat and made with whole grains.

4 servings, 2 tacos each 
Active Time: 20 minutes | Total Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients:

• 8 corn tortillas
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, trimmed of fat and cut into thin strips
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons canola oil, divided
• 1 large onion, sliced
• 1 large green bell pepper, seeded and sliced
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1/2 - 1 cup prepared hot salsa, plus more for garnish
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
• Sliced scallions, chopped fresh tomatoes and reduced-fat sour cream, for garnish

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Wrap tortillas in foil and bake until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, season chicken with salt. Heat 1 teaspoon oil in a large heavy skillet over high heat until very hot. Add chicken and cook, stirring until browned on all sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
3. Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring, until they start to brown around the edges, 3 to 5 minutes. Add bell pepper, garlic, jalapeño and cumin. Cook, stirring, until peppers are bright green but still crisp, 2 to 3 minutes more.
4. Stir in salsa and reserved chicken. Cook, stirring, until chicken is heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in cilantro. Spoon into warmed tortillas and garnish with scallions, tomatoes and sour cream.

Nutrition
Per serving (without garnishes):
303 calories; 6 g fat (1 g sat, 2 g mono); 66 mg cholesterol; 32 g carbohydrates; 1 g added sugars; 31 g protein; 5 g fiber; 421 mg sodium; 533 mg potassium.
Nutrition Bonus: Vitamin C (68% daily value); Folate (25% dv); Fiber (20% dv).

Found @ Eatingwell.com

Quinoa with Black Beans, Corn & Chipotle Pepper, Lime & Honey Dressing

From the kitchen of Cookin' Canuck-A great blog I just discovered!

www.cookincanuck.com

1 cup quinoa
2 cups water
2 tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp honey
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp seeded & minced chipotle peppers (sold in cans as chipotle peppers in adobo sauce) (I used more to taste)
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 cup plus 1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 cup cooked black beans
1/2 cup fresh or frozen (defrosted) corn kernels
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Combine quinoa and water in medium saucepan set over high heat. Once the water boils, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook until all of the water is absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Fluff with a fork and transfer to a serving bowl.

In a small bowl, whisk together honey, lime juice, ground cumin, salt, and chipotle pepper. While whisking constantly, slowly add 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil to the chipotle mixture to form a dressing. Set aside.

Stir black beans and corn kernels into the quinoa. Add the chipotle dressing to the quinoa and gently toss to combine. Stir in cilantro. Serve.

Serves 4 to 6 as side dish.

 

I threw some tomatoes in it because I had it.  And left the corn out cause I didn't have it and it was fab.  

Grilled Lemon Chicken

This simple method yields tangy-sweet and super moist chicken.  

Serves 6

Ingredients:

1 t lemon zest
juice of one lemon
1/4 chopped fresh basil or oregano
1 T honey
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 t salt
1/4 t black pepper
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
6 (4 to 5 ounce) boneless skinless chicken breast halves
1/4 cup pitted kalamata olives, halved (We used capers cause that's what we had)

To prepare the dressing, whisk together the lemon zest and juice, the basil, honey, mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.  Whisking constantly, add the olive oil in a slow stream.  Set aside. 

Place the chicken on a cutting board and lay a sheet of wax paper over it.  Using the flat side of a meat mallet, pound the chicken slightly is it is an even thickness.  Place the chicken in a shallow baking dish just large enough to hold it.  Pour half of the dressing (about 1/3 cup) over the chicken and turn the breast once or twice to coat.  Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 2 hours if possible, and up to 8 hours, turning at least once.
Stir the olives (or capers) into the remaining dressing and set aside until ready to serve.

If using a gas or charcoal grill, spray the grill with olive oil and prepare a medium-hot grill.  If using a grill pan, spray it with olive oil and heat over med-high heat. Discard the marinade and grill the chicken until it is opaque in the center, 5 to 6 mins per side.  Serve the chicken with a drizzle of the dressing.

Nutritional facts:
Cal: 227 cal Fat 11.1 g Protein: 26.6 g Carb: 3.9 g Sodium 395.4 mg

Found in The Master your Metabolism Cookbook pg 122

Roasted Rosemary Butternut Squash

Serves 4

Make this simple autumn side dish with acorn squash instead of butternut squash, if desired. Parsnips make a delicious substitution for the carrots, too.

Ingredients

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 3/4 inch cubes
1 medium carrot, peeled and cut into 1/2 inch cubes
1 small onion, peeled and chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt, to taste
Ground pepper, to taste

Directions

Preheat oven to 400°F. In a medium bowl, toss butternut squash, carrot, onion, rosemary, and olive oil together until evenly coated with oil and herbs. Season with salt and pepper. Place evenly on a non-stick baking sheet and roast until tender, about 1/2 hour. 

 

Nutrition

Per serving (about 5oz/131g-wt.): 110 calories (60 from fat), 7g total fat, 1g saturated fat, 0mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium, 13g total carbohydrate (3g dietary fiber, 3g sugar), 1g protein 

 

Found on Whole Foods iphone app.

Black Bean and Tomato Quinoa

1 cup quinoa, dry
1 can black beans rinsed and drained (I sometimes used pre-seasoned beans)
1 small box sweet cherry tomatoes, diced in half
1 bunch green onions, chopped
1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
1/4 cup fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped (I leave out the parsley and use more cilantro)
1 lemon
1 lime
extra virgin olive oil
sea salt and pepper to taste

1. Prepare 1 cup dry quinoa according to package directions.

2. Place cooked quinoa in a large bowl and add the black beans, tomatoes, green onions, cilantro and parsley.

3. Squeeze the juice of the lemon and lime in the bowl. Pour in the olive oil using just enough to coat all the ingredients or until it looks good to you. Add salt and pepper to taste.

From Sunflower Farmers Markets simple suppers.

Beef With Asparagus and Mushrooms

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 20 minutes | Serves: 4

Details:

Wood-scented rosemary, nutty garlic, and zesty lemon give an otherwise ordinary steak and vegetable dish a touch of sophistication.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 pounds London broil, 1" thick
• 4 garlic cloves, minced, divided
• 4 teaspoons crushed dried rosemary, divided
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 small onion, sliced lengthwise
• 1 pound white mushrooms, sliced
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper 

Directions:

1. Score both sides of steak in a diamond pattern by carefully making 1/8-inch-deep diagonal cuts with a sharp knife at 1" intervals. Rub half of the garlic and 2 teaspoons of the rosemary into both sides of meat and season with salt and pepper.
2. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add steak and cook, turning once, about 4 minutes per side for medium-rare. Transfer to a plate and loosely cover with foil to keep warm.
3. Heat remaining oil in the same skillet. Add onion and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add remaining garlic and cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add asparagus and mushrooms and cook, stirring often, until asparagus is crisp-tender and almost all the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon zest and remaining rosemary; season to taste with salt and pepper.
4. Cut steak into thin slices and serve with the vegetables 

Nutritional Information:

370 calories,17 g fat (4.5 g sat), 12 g carbohydate, 42 g protein, 3 g dietary fiber, 180 mg sodium 

 

Found on Southbeachdiet.com

Basil Chicken with Vegetables

This is a quick, easy, and tasty method. The suggested vegetables and meats are only a starting place, both in quantity and variety - you can really use almost any vegetable and meat combonation. Broocoli, cauliflower, and onions are good additions. You can also substitute pesto sauce for the basil and garlic if you wish.

 

Ingredients:

• 1 pound boneless chicken meat, cut into bitesized pieces
• 1 red Bell pepper, chopped
• 8 oz mushrooms, sliced
• 2 cups sliced zuchinni or other summer squash
• 8 oz fresh basil, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
• 3 Tablespoons olive oil
• Salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

Heat oil in large skillet on high heat, and sprinkle salt and pepper on chicken. Cook chicken on one side. Add the vegetables and stir. When food is nearly cooked, push it to one side and add the garlic. After about 30 seconds, stir it all together and add the basil. Cook another 30-60 seconds and serve. Pesto (homemade or store-bought) can be substitued for the garlic and basil.

Nutritional Information: Makes three servings. Each serving has 6.5 grams effective carbohydrate plus 6 grams fiber, 40 grams protein, and 353 calories.

 

By Laura Dolson, About.com Guide Updated August 26, 2006

Creole-Seasoned and Pan-Fried Pork Cutlets with Tomato and Red Bell Pepper Salsa

 We served this over brown rice.  (2 portions)

(Makes 4 servings, recipe created by Kalyn)

4 center cut pork loin boneless chops (about 1/2 inch thick)
1-2 tsp. olive oil (amount of oil will depend on the pan)

Pork Rub:
2 tsp. Creole Seasoning
1 tsp. brown sugar
1-2 pinches of salt (do not add salt if the Creole Seasoning you use contains salt)

Salsa:
1 red bell pepper, finely chopped (about 2/3 cup finely chopped peppers)
1/2 cup finely sliced green onion, white and green parts
1 cup finely diced cherry tomatoes (we used canned diced tomatoes Rotel style (for a little kick) and a few cherry tomatoes and it work great.)
1/2 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro (or parsley)
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
salt to taste (I used less than 1/2 tsp. fine sea salt)
Some times I will had an avocado too.  

Chop red bell pepper, tomatoes, and cilantro and thinly slice green onions and combine in a plastic or glass bowl. Add lime juice and salt and stir until well combined. Let salsa flavors blend while you prep and cook the pork cutlets.

In a small dish, combine Creole Seasoning, brown sugar, and salt. (Don't add salt if the Creole Seasoning you're using already contains salt). Stir to combine.

Trim fatty edges of pork chops and discard. Rub pork chops on both sides with Creole Seasoning mixture, then use a meat mallet or the edge of a heavy pan to pound pork into cutlets 1/4 inch thick. Be sure the pork pieces are an even thickness so they will all cook in the same amount of time.

Heat olive oil in a heavy frying pan until the oil is shimmery and pan is hot, about 1 minute at medium-high heat. (I would use a pan that's not non-stick for this.) When pan and oil is hot, add pork cutlets and turn heat to medium. Cook pork pieces for 3 minutes on the first side, or until lightly browned. Turn cutlets over and cook 2-3 minutes on the second side, just until pork is barely firm and cooked through; don't overcook. (I cooked mine for 2 1/2 minutes on the second side.)

Serve hot, with a generous amount of salsa spooned over each piece of pork.


This printable recipe from KalynsKitchen.com.

Tangy Tomato Tilapia

This could be used with any fish really.  It's tasty and fairly quick and easy.  Makes the fish super moist too.

Serves 2

Ingredients:
2 tilapia fillets
2 T olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
1 lemon, haved
1/2 cup white wine (if using cooking wine make sure to adjust salt)
1 15 oz can of diced tomatoes (we have used tomatoes with chiles when that was all we had on hand and it was good too)
3 T capers
1 T butter

Directions:
1. Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat.  Drizzle fillets with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.  Place fillets in skillet and sprinkle with the juice of half the lemon. Cook 3 mins per side, or until fish flakes easily with a fork.  Transfer fillets to a plate and keep warm.

2. Add wine, remaining lemon juice, tomatoes, capers and salt and pepper to the skillet.  Increase heat to medium high and boil for 2 mins to burn off alcohol.  Reduce heat to low and return fillet to the pan.  Cover and simmer 2 more mins then transfer fish to serving dish.

3. Again increase the heat to medium high and whisk in butter and boil to desired consistency.  Spoon sauce over fish and serve. 

Adapted from a few recipes we have used to cook fish.