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Asian Peanut Butter Pork Recipe by Leah

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Asian Peanut Butter Pork.  Anything with peanut butter in my house is certain to be a hit and this is no exception.  I’ve made this Asian Peanut Butter Pork in the slow cooker before, but wanted to try it in the pressure cooker.  Even better!  Serve over rice and you absolutely HAVE to serve it with Once Upon A Chef’s fabulous Thai Crunch Salad with Peanut Dressing.

 

 

Ag

 

 

Asian Peanut Butter Pork Pressure Cooker

yield: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

1 1/2 – 2 lbs pork tenderloin

1 onion, sliced in rings

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

3 Tbsp water

2 garlic cloves, chopped

1/2 cup creamy natural peanut butter

2 Tbsp chopped peanuts

1 lime, cut in wedges

prepared rice

PREPARATION

  1. Turn your pressure cooker to saute function and saute the pork on all sides, approximately 2-4 minutes per side.  Set aside.
  2. Add onion to the pot and saute until tender.
  3. Put remaining ingredients in the pot and add the pork.
  4. Cook 2 minutes then natural release for 15.
  5. Let the pork rest, then slice into medallions.  Serve over rice.  Top the pork with sauce, peanuts, and lime juice.

*Note: Recipe created using the Power Pressure Cooker.  Time and button functions may vary with other brands of pressure cookers.

Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges Recipe by Leah

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Potato Perfection!  The potatoes are crispy with gooey cheese, served with a creamy ranch dipping sauce.  Want to win over a crowd?  Serve these!

 

Ah

 

Bacon Cheddar Potato Wedges

 

INGREDIENTS

12 slices bacon

4 lbs russet potatoes

2 Tbsp melted butter

2 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 tsp smoked paprika

8oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz aged white cheddar cheese, shredded

1 bunch scallions, diced

your favorite ranch dip

 

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
  2. Cook bacon crisp and rough chop.  Set aside. Reserve bacon fat.
  3. Cut potatoes into uniform-size wedges.  Place potatoes in a large bowl and add bacon fat, melted butter, salt, garlic powder, and smoked paprika.  Toss well to coat.
  4. Pour out potatoes onto a sheet pan in a single layer and roast for 15 minutes.  Flip and roast for another 10-15 minutes, or until browned and cooked through.
  5. Cover the potatoes with white cheddar cheese, then bacon, then sharp cheddar cheese.  Place the pan back in the oven for 2-3 minutes to melt the cheese.
  6. Sprinkle with scallions and serve with ranch dipping sauce.

Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes with Dill Aioli Recipe by Leah

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This potato dish is mostly make-ahead.  I’ve prepared them in the morning, stuck them in the refrigerator, and roasted them when I got home at the end of the day.  They feel fancy, taste good, and have a simple list of ingredients that I always have on hand.

 

 

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Crispy Smashed Roasted Potatoes with Dill Aioli

INGREDIENTS

Dill Aioli

1/3 cup + 1 Tbsp olive oil mayonnaise

1 1/2 Tbsp lemon juice

3/4 tsp dried dill

1/8 tsp garlic powder

salt, to taste

Potatoes

15 yellow potatoes (about 1 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter)

2 3/4 tsp kosher salt

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil

PREPARATION

Dill Aioli

Combine all the ingredients and stir together.  Chill until ready to use.

Potatoes

  1. Put the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with at least an inch of water.  Add 2 tsp kosher salt to the water.  Bring the water to a boil over high heat, reduce to a simmer, and cook the potatoes until they are completely tender and can be easily pierced with a metal or wood skewer.  Make sure they are cooked through but don’t overcook.
  2. While the potatoes are cooking set up a layer of clean dishtowels on your countertop.  As the potatoes finish cooking, remove them individually from the water, and let them drain and sit for just a minute or two on the dishtowels.
  3. Using another dishtowel, gently press down on one potato with the palm of your hand.  They don’t need to be flattened much, just make sure they’ve opened.  Repeat with remaining potatoes.
  4. Lay parchment paper on a rimmed baking sheet.  Transfer the potatoes carefully to the baking sheet and let them cool completely at room temperature. Refrigerate or roast.
  5. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F.  Sprinkle the potatoes with about 3/4 tsp salt and pour the olive oil over them.  Lift the potatoes gently to make sure some of the oil goes underneath them and that they are well coated on both sides.
  6. Roast the potatoes until they’re crispy and deep brown around the edges, about 30-40 minutes.  Turn over once gently with a spatula or tongs halfway through cooking.  Serve hot with the chilled aioli for dipping.

Inside Out Inspired Meal by Leah

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(Before the recipe, Inside Out is copyrighted by Walt Disney Pictures, via Pixar Animation Studios, which are all trademarked.  This recipe is inspired by the movie, but all characters and descriptions belong to Walt Disney Pictures.  They will not be marked individually, so this is a blanket statement of being inspired by their creations.)

 

Our Inside Out Disney Dinner was more a of a feast than a dinner.  When the movie first came out in theaters Disney reworked some of their Disneyland recipes to fit the theme of the movie.  That was so fun to me!  We have eaten some fantastic meals at Disneyland, so I’m always excited to try one of the Disney parks recipes.  I knew when we were planning the Inside Out movie night I’d want to find those recipes.  I’m so glad I did.  They were delicious!

 

 

Joy was Joy’s More-is-More S’mores  

Sadness was Sadness’s No-Cry-Comfort Food Mac and Cheese 

Disgust was Is-That-Broccoli? Pizza

Anger was Anger’s Hot-Headed Tuna 

Fear was Fear’s Panko-Protected Long Beans

 

 

Creative, aren’t they?  We also added some cotton candy for Bing Bong and multicolored sixlets for thought bubbles.

We enjoyed all of the recipes.  The macaroni and cheese was appreciated by both the children and adults.  The broccoli pizza was surprisingly good.  More surprisingly, my children didn’t pick the broccoli off, but actually ate it.  The tuna was “exploding in flavor”.  We’ll be making that one again soon.  The long beans were tasty, but I didn’t think they were worth the effort.  My family disagreed.  Our favorite, by far, was the S’mores bake.  That was unbelievably good.  Every single one of us said we were too full to have much dessert, ate our portion, and then went back for seconds!

 

 

 

Inside Out 1

 

Joy’s More is More S’mores

Chocolate and marshmallows fresh out of the oven just ooze happiness, right?

Inspired by the S’mores Bake at Disneyland Park’s Big Thunder Ranch Barbecue

yield: 8 servings

 

INGREDIENTS

1 (10.5 oz) box fudge brownie mix

1 (1 lb) bag large marshmallows

1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp hot fudge sauce, warmed

8 graham crackers

 

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Spray a 9×13 cake pan with cooking spray.  Prepare brownie batter per package directions and pour into prepared cake pan.  Bake 20-22 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out with moist crumbs clinging to it.
  2. Turn oven to broil.
  3. Place marshmallows over brownies.  Leaving oven door ajar, place marshmallow-topped brownies under broiler 1 1/2 – 2 minutes or until marshmallows are golden brown, watching very closely to avoid burning.
  4. Drizzle hot fudge sauce over top of toasted marshmallows.
  5. Take half of the graham crackers and break them into planks; crush other half of graham crackers into crumbs.
  6. Sprinkle crushed graham crackers over top of toasted marshmallows, and place graham cracker planks randomly into toasted marshmallows.  Serve immediately.

 

***

 

Inside Out 2

 

Sadness’s No-Cry Comfort Food Macaroni & Cheese

For those times you need a good cry, try this mac.  With its FOUR cheeses, it’s better than tears.

Inspired by the Macaroni & Cheese at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Jiko – The Cooking Place

yield: 4-6 servings

 

 

INGREDIENTS

3 Tbsp unsalted butter

3 Tbsp all-purpose flour

2 1/2 cups whole milk

1/4 tsp coarse salt

8 oz shredded Italian four-cheese blend

1/4 tsp ground black pepper

1 lb elbow macaroni, cooked and kept warm

 

PREPARATION

  1. Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat.  Add flour, strring until combined.  Cook, stirring frequently, for 5 minutes, or until golden (do not let brown).
  2. Add milk to butter mixture, whisking until completely smooth.
  3. Simmer mixture, stirring frequently, until sauce coats the back of a spoon, 5-8 minutes.
  4. Add cheese to saucepan in bathches, stirring until completely melted.  Add salt and pepper, stirring to combine.
  5. Place cooked macaroni in a large bowl.  Add cheese sauce, stirring to combine.  Serve immediately.

 

 

***

 

Inside Out 5

 

Disgust’s Is-That-Broccoli? Pizza

While broccoli normally triggers Disgust’s defenses, this version passes inspection.

Inspired by the “Congratulations San Francisco, You’ve Ruined Pizza” at Pixar Animation Studios’ Luxo Cafe

yield: 10-inch pizza

 

INGREDIENTS

store-bought pizza dough

1/2 can San Marzano tomatoes

1/4 head broccoli, cut into bite-sized pieces

1/2 garlic clove, smashed and minced

1/2 garlic clove, thinly sliced

2 oz marinara sauce

semolina

zest and juice from 1/4 lemon

grated mozzarella cheese

chile flakes

Parmesan reggiano

sea salt, to taste

extra virgin olive oil, to taste

 

PREPARATION

San Marzano Tomatoes

Drain a 1/2 can of San Marzano tomatoes and slice in half carefully.  Squeeze seeds out and grate the “meat” of the tomatoes on a box grater.  Season with sea salt and olive oil to taste.  Add 1/2 garlic clove, smashed and minced.

Slow-Cooked Broccoli

Heat 1 tsp of olive oil in a large saute pan.  Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 20 seconds.  Add broccoli, chile flake, and enough olive oil to coat.  Turn heat to low and cook, stirring occasionally until broccoli is cooked, but still has texture.  Fold in lemon zest and season to taste with lemon juice and salt.

Assembling Pizza

Heat oven to 425 degrees F.  Arrange store-bought pizza dough on a peel with a generous dusting of semolina.  Spread 2 oz marinara over dough.  Sprinkle grated mozzarella cheese over the top to taste, then finish with chile flakes and broccoli.  Place in the oven on a pre-heated pizza stone or sheet tray.  Bake until the dough is cooked to your liking and the cheese is melted.  Grate fresh parmesan reggiano cheese over the pizza and serve.

 

***

 

Inside Out 3

 

Anger’s Hot-Headed Tuna

It’s exploding with flavor – those Sichuan peppercorns have the same fiery spirit that fuels Anger.

Inspired by the Citrus & Sichuan Peppercorn-Crusted Yellow fin Tuna Loin with Vegetables and Carrot Coconut-Curried Infusion at Disney’s Boardwalk Resort Flying Fish Cafe.

yield: 4 servings

 

INGREDIENTS

peppercorn crust

2 Tbsp Sichuan peppercorns

1 tsp turbinado sugar or raw sugar

1 orange, zested and juiced

1 lemon, zested and juiced

1 lime, zested and juiced

1/2 tsp, coarse salt

crusted tuna

4 (6 oz) tuna loin steaks

2 Tbsp canola oil, divided

Citrus-Sichuan Peppercorn Crust

Fresh Cilantro for garnish, optional

 

INSTRUCTIONS

peppercorn crust

  1. Pulse-grind Sichuan peppercorns in a small grinder until coarse ground.  Add turbinado or raw sugar, pulse to blend and slightly grind.
  2. Combine zest of orange, lemon, and lime in small mixing bowl.
  3. Add ground Sichuan peppercorn-sugar mixture to zest.  Add coarse salt and blend well.  Set aside.

crusted tuna

  1. Place large non-stick saute pan over high heat.  While pan is heating, lightly coat tuna steaks with 1 Tbsp canola oil and lightly dust evenly with prepared citrus-Sichuan peppercorn crust.  Do not overcoat.
  2. Add 1 Tbsp canola oil to pan and immediately add tuna steaks.  Cook evenly on both sides to create a well-caramelized crust, about 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning.  Remove from pan and transfer to a small sheet pan to rest.  Tuna is best done rare to medium-rare.  For more well-done, finish off in a 375 degree F oven.
  3. Slice tuna steaks on bias.
  4. Garnish with cilantro as desired.  Serve immediately.

 

***

 

 

Inside Out 4

 

Fear’s Panko-Protected Long Beans

Vegetables? Never Fear.  Fried to a golden brown – this one is mouth-wateringly risk free.

Inspired by the Panko Crusted Chinese Long Beans with Sriracha Mayonnaise at Disneyland Hotel Trader Sam’s Enchanted Tiki Bar

yield: 4 servings

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp seafood spice

1 Tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp coarse salt

4 eggs, beaten

1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

3/4 lb Chinese long beans or thin green beans, cut into 4-inch long pieces

2 cups panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

coarse salt, to taste

 

PREPARATION

  1. Combine flour, seafood spice, cornstarch, garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper in a shallow bowl.
  2. Line a baking sheet with paper towels; set aside.
  3. Pour oil in a deep pot to a depth of 1-inch.  Heat over medium-high heat to 350 degrees F.
  4. Moisten long beans; dredge in flour mixture.  Dip in beaten eggs, then roll in panko.
  5. Working in batches, gently place in hot oil until golden brown about 2-3 minutes, using tongs or a slotted spoon to gently turn beans every 45 seconds.
  6. Transfer fried beans to prepared baking sheet and season lightly with salt.

Dump Cake Recipe by Leah

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Grandmothers’ kitchens are always so special, aren’t they?  They seem to be imbued with love, tenderness, and warmth.  My grandmother was Dutch and fit ALL the stereotypes of a Dutch woman: strong (in body and spirit), thrifty, resourceful, tall, addicted to cheese, and an excellent baker.  Though she made her fair share of traditional Dutch desserts, this cake is one she picked up later in life.  It became one of her favorites, both for flavor and ease of preparation.  The smell is amazing!  Best of all, smelling this cake immediately takes me right back to my grandmother’s kitchen.

 

 

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Dump Cake

Yield: approx 18 servings

INGREDIENTS

2 cans (about 40 oz total) crushed pineapple

2 cans (about 40 oz total) Comstock Cherry Pie Filling

1 pkg yellow cake mix

3/4 cup butter

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9×13-inch pan.
  2. Gently press out some of the pineapple juice.  Pour crushed pineapple and remaining juice into the pan and spread.
  3. Pour cherry pie filling over the pineapple and spread.
  4. Pour cake powder over the cherries and dot the butter over the top.  Bake for 1 hour.  If you want it Grandma-style serve with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Cheddar Garlic Bread Recipe by Leah

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I love bread and cheese!  It’s a little embarrassing to admit but I could eat it at every meal.  It certainly wouldn’t be the healthiest choice but I’ve definitely been tempted.  This bread is lovely because it comes together quickly and has a fantastic cheesy, garlicky flavor.

 

 

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Cheddar Garlic Bread

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all-purpose flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 tsp garlic powder

2 Tbsp sugar

2 1/2 cups grated extra sharp cheddar cheese, divided

12 oz ginger ale

PREPARATION

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9 1/4-inch loaf pan.
  2. Mix together flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder, and sugar.  Mix in  2 1/4 cups cheese.  Add ginger ale and mix well.
  3. Spoon into the bread pan.  Top with remaining 1/4 cup cheese and bake for about 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
  4. Let bread sit in the pan for 10 minutes before inverting the bread to cool on a wire rack.

Mexican Caesar Salad Recipe by Leah

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While Crunchy Bean Tacos and Sweet Corn Tomalito are delicious, they don’t make a meal all on their own.  They need some veggies!  So here is the Mexican Caesar Salad we love to eat.

 

 

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Mexican Caesar Salad

INGREDIENTS

dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 tsp chopped garlic

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1/4 cup chopped green onion

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

1 Tbsp Dijon mustard

1/4 cup queso fresco

salad

1 large head romaine lettuce

tortilla strips

3 julienned roasted red peppers, stemmed, peeled, and seeded

4 oz queso fresco

4 cilantro sprigs*

 

PREPARATION

dressing

Combine 2 Tbsp of the mayonnaise and the remaining ingredients in a blender or food processor.  Blend until mixed.  Transfer to a mixing bowl.  Whisk in the remaining mayonnaise, blending well.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

salad

Trim the lettuce leaves.  Cut into 1/4-inch pieces, and then wash and dry them thoroughly.  In a large mixing bowl toss with tortilla strips and dressing.  Top with bell peppers, cheese, and cilantro*.  Serve immediately.

*Georgia’s Nerdy Note: If you are unable to eat cilantro, you can swap parsley for it.  Some people have the same genes, OR6A2, which cause cilantro to taste like soap due to picking up other scents that those without the gene set detect.  Parsley is an easy swap, so you don’t miss out!

Sweet Corn Tomalito Recipe by Leah

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Have you ever eaten at Chevy’s® or Rio Bravo®?  Most of their meals include a small, seemingly insignificant mound of corn pudding.  Insignificant until you taste it, that is.  Wildly popular, their Sweet Corn Tomalito is my favorite thing about eating there.

 

 

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Sweet Corn Tomalito

yield: 6 servings

 

 

INGREDIENTS

1 cup masa harina

3/4 cup low sodium chicken broth

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 Tbsp onion powder

1 tsp cumin powder

1/2 Tbsp chili powder

1/3 cup pork lard

6 cups corn kernels, fresh or frozen

1 cup milk, divided

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup sugar

3/4 cup cornmeal

3/4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

 

PREPARATION

  1. In a bowl add masa harina and broth.  Allow to sit about 20 minutes to soften.  Then, mix together until a dough forms.
  2. Sprinkle the salt, onion powder, cumin, and chili powder over the dough and mix again until well combined.
  3. In a mixing bowl whip the lard with an electric mixer about 3 minutes or until fluffy.  Add the dough to the lard a little at a time, until well combined.  (It should be the consistency of peanut butter.  If it’s too dry add some water or broth. If it’s too wet add more masa harina.)
  4. Divide dough in half.  Set aside one half to use in the tomalito and refrigerate the remaining dough to use another day.
  5. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.  Blend 3 cups of corn kernels and 3/4 cup milk in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  6. Whip the butter, masa dough, and sugar together in the food processor until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes.

7.  To the food processor add blended corn, whole corn kernels, sugar, cornmeal,                     baking powder, salt and remaining 1/4 cup milk.  Mix well.

  1. Pour the mixture into a 9×13-inch pan.  Cover tightly with aluminum foil.  Set the pan in a large roasting pan.  Pour enough cool water into the roasting pan to reach 3/4-inch up the outside of the 9×13 pan.
  2. Bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours, or until the corn mixture is set and registers 175 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer.  Scoop out portions of the pudding and serve hot.

Crunchy Bean Tacos

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Whenever I make refried beans I always make extra so we can make these tacos. Tacos are always a hit and these bean tacos are perfect for a meatless meal.  My 10 year old is a little carnivore and she doesn’t even notice the lack of meat.  Now that’s saying something!  Recently I tried making these tacos with canned refried beans and with a little additional seasoning they were great! Since that takes a 2 step meal to 1 that’s the recipe I’m sharing.

 

 

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Crunchy Bean Tacos

yield: 15 tacos

INGREDIENTS

1 (15oz) can Refried Black Beans

1/2 cup minced red onion

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp paprika

2 Tbsp cilantro, chopped

6 oz pepper jack cheese, shredded

2 Tbsp olive oil

pinch of salt and pepper

15 corn tortillas

avocado

hot sauce

salsa

sour cream

PREPARATION

  1. In a medium bowl, add beans along with red onion, cilantro, and spices.  Add a pinch of salt and mix all ingredients together.  Mix in your cheese.
  2. In a large, non-stick skillet, add a couple Tbsp of olive oil and heat over medium-high heat.
  3. Add one corn tortilla at a time and let each get hot in the oil for a few seconds.  Then add about 2 Tbsp of the bean filling to half of the tortilla.
  4. Fold the tortilla in half, forming a shell, and gently press down until it holds its shape.  Set aside.  Repeat with remaining tortillas and filling.
  5. Add as many tacos back to the skillet as will fit.  You may need to add some more oil.  Cook about 3 minutes per side until they are nicely browned and crispy.
  6. When flipping the taco to cook on the other side use a spatula and flip the taco toward the fold so the fillling does’t fall out.
  7. Serve tacos with toppings like hot sauce, salsa, avocados, and sour cream.

Note:

Corn tortillas are resilient to heat.  Don’t worry about burning them.  They are very flexible.  Just be sure to cook them on each side long enough to get them really crispy.

Barbecue Chicken Wrap Recipe by Leah

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Red Robin’s Whiskey River Barbecue Chicken Wrap© is wildly popular.  It’s certainly one of my favorite things to eat there and we long ago started making them at home.  They’re not complicated at all, which is exactly my kind of meal.  The only cooking required is the chicken, and if you happen to already have some chicken on hand, then you’re already set.  Remember my Everything Chicken?  Now is the perfect time to use it. My 10 year old always asks me if I’ll make extra so she’ll have a few to pack in her lunchbox.  You might want to make a few extra too 🙂

 

 

 

Barbecue Chicken Wrap

yield: 4 wraps

 

INGREDIENTS

4 spinach or flour tortillas

4 thighs of Everything Chicken (or grilled chicken), cut into strips

1/2 cup barbecue sauce

1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

1/4 cup ranch dressing

tortilla strips

2 cups shredded lettuce

 

PREPARATION

  1. If you’re chicken is cold from the refrigerator warm it.  Then, place the chicken in a medium-size bowl and toss with the barbecue sauce.
  2. Lay out your tortillas.  Divide the chicken among the 4 tortillas and place in a row down the center of the tortilla.
  3. Do the same with the cheese, covering the chicken.  Add the ranch, tortilla strips, and finally the lettuce.
  4. Fold down the edges at the top and the bottom of the row.  Then roll the other edges to form your wrap.