Lil Chef's Aid--The Cooking Hot Spot

Broccoli And Cauliflower Salad

2009-07-02T12:12:00.001-04:00

1 sm broccoli, bunch

1 sm cauliflower, head

1 lg onion

10 each bacon, slices cooked crispy

1 dressing

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

Slice broccoli and cauliflower very thin. Chop onion. Mix dressing and add to vegetables. Crumble bacon on top is desired. Cover and store in refrigerator up to several days.

Mini Corn Dogs

2009-07-01T12:57:00.004-04:00

Ingredients

1 cup reduced-fat milk
1 package active dry yeast
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for greasing
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
1 cup fine yellow cornmeal
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting and kneading
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or paprika
9 reduced-fat hot dogs, halved crosswise
1 large egg, beaten
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds (optional)

Directions

Warm the milk to about 110 degrees in a saucepan; pour into a medium bowl. Sprinkle in the yeast and let soften for about 2 minutes. Stir in the olive oil, brown sugar and cornmeal with a wooden spoon. Add the flour, salt, baking soda and cayenne pepper; stir to make a sticky dough.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead, adding more flour if needed, until smooth but still slightly tacky, about 5 minutes. Shape the dough into a ball, place in a lightly oiled bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, 45 minutes to 1 hour. Meanwhile, insert a wooden stick or small skewer into each hot dog half, about 1 inch deep; set aside.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees and lightly oil a large baking sheet. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface; divide into 18 pieces. With your palms, roll each piece into a 10-inch length. Wrap each piece around a hot dog half, tucking and pressing the edges to seal; place on the baking sheet.

Brush the dough-wrapped dogs with the beaten egg; sprinkle with sesame seeds, if desired. Bake until golden, 15 minutes.

Healthy Breakfast Smoothie

2009-06-10T11:51:00.002-04:00

I found this healthy breakfast smoothie. If you don't have time to sit down and enjoy breakfast, here is a meal replacement that is wicked healthy for you!

Ingredients:

1 cup of frozen berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and/or strawberries)
1 scoop of whey powder
1 Tbs. flaxseed oil
1Tbs. ground flaxseed
2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. unsweetened cranberry juice
1 pack of Stevia
8 ice cubes
1 cup water

Blend until smooth and if needed you can add a few ice cubes to thiken it up. Make a little over sixteen ounces, so it will a good size to go cup and you can take a quick shot of the extra before you head out the door.

Garlic Burgers

2009-05-18T12:02:00.002-04:00

2 lb Lean ground beef

2 ea Pieces bread, 1 x Torn in small pieces

1 ea Egg

1 x Minced fresh garlic

1 x Garlic powder

1 x Cooking oil

In a mixing well, place the beef, bread and egg. Add as much minced fresh garlic and garlic powder as you want -- half a jar of powder, 10-15 cloves of garlic, or whatever makes you happy. Using your hands, blend all the ingredients together. Shape the meat mixture into small football-shaped ovals. In a large skillet, heat several tablespoons of the oil. Pan fry the burgers until well done and the garlic smell is throughout your house. Drain on paper towels. These burgers are delicious hot, but even better when chilled and eaten cold.

Baked Mac 'N' Cheese

2009-05-13T12:06:00.002-04:00

1 can Campbell's Condensed Cheddar-Cheese Soup (10.75 oz)

1/2 can Milk (use soup can)

1 t Prepared mustard

1/8 t Pepper

2 c Hot cooked elbow or medium-shell macaroni (~1.5 c dry)

2 t Margarine or butter, melted

1 T Dry bread crumbs

1. In 1 quart casserole, combine soup, milk, mustard and pepper. Stir

in macaroni. 2. In cup, combine margarine and bread crumbs. Sprinkle over

casserole. 3. Bake at 400'F. 20 minutes or until hot and bubbling.

Makes 2 1/2 cups, 2 main dish or 4 side dish servings.

Potato-Corn Chowder

2009-05-08T10:24:00.003-04:00

1 md Onion, chopped

3 md Potatoes, diced

2 md Carrots, sliced

1 lg Celery stalk, chopped

2 ea Bay leaves

2 tb Vegetable oil

3 c Frozen corn

14 oz Can tomatoes, chopped

1 1/2 ts Coriander

1 ts Savory

1/2 ts Thyme

Salt & pepper to taste 1 c Water, stock

Place onions, potatoes, carrots, celery, bay leaves & oil in large soup pot. Add just enough stock to cover. Bring to a boil & simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Add the corn, tomatoes with their liquid & simmer for 10 minutes. Add the seasonings & simmer for another 10 minutes. Remove 3/4 cup of potatoes & mash well. Return to the pot with the 1 cup of stock. Stir well. Simmer for another 5 minutes, or until you are ready to serve it.

Mexican Salsa

2009-05-04T12:08:00.003-04:00

1 each 8 oz. can tomato sauce

2 Tbsp crushed red chili

½ tsp cumin powder

½ tsp oregano

1 tsp salt

2 each garlic cloves, minced (or ¼ tsp garlic powder)

2 tsp vinegar

1 each juice of half a lemon

• Combine all ingredients and mix well.

• Let stand for 3 hours.

• Excellent with tacos or as a dip for tortilla chips.

Chinese Hot And Spicy Chicken

2009-05-01T11:41:00.004-04:00

4 tablespoon Oil

1 Scallion

2 Hot peppers, or more

1 tablespoon Shredded ginger

1 tablespoon Sherry

2 tablespoon Light soy sauce

2 pound Fryer

1/2 cup Chicken broth

1 tablespoon Light soy sauce

2 tablespoon Wine vinegar

1 tablespoon Sugar

1/2 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Anise pepper, or 2

1 tablespoon Cornstarch

Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces, marinate 15-20 minutes in ginger, sherry, soy sauce mixture. Cut scallion and hot peppers diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Grind anise pepper to powder. Mix chicken broth, soy sauce, wine vinegar, sugar, salt and pepper. Heat oil. Add scallion, and stir fry several times. Add ginger, sherry, soy mixture and chicken to scallions and hot pepper, and stir-fry for 1-2 minutes more. Add chicken broth mixture, mix well. Cook over low heat until chicken pieces are tender. Add cornstarch to thicken. Serve.

Chocolate Coffee

2009-04-27T12:31:00.002-04:00

2 Tb Instant coffee

1/4 c Sugar

1 ds Salt

1 oz Squares unsweetened chocolate

1 c Water

3 c Milk

Whipped cream In saucepan combine coffee, sugar, salt, chocolate, and water; stir over low heat until chocolate has melted. Simmer 4 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk, stirring constantly until heated. When piping hot, remove from heat and beat with rotary beater until mixture is frothy. Pour into cups and sail a dollop of whipped cream on the surface of each. Makes 6 servings.

Cajun Chicken Wings

2009-04-23T11:41:00.003-04:00

2 1/2 pound chicken wings, separated

3/4 cup plain yogurt

2/3 cup hot sauce, Louisiana style

2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 cup flour

1/2 cup cajun seasoning

In a bowl, mix together yogurt, hot sauce and garlic. Add chicken and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. The following day, mix together flour and cajun seasonings in a bowl. Remove chicken from the marinade and coat evenly in flour mixture. In a wok or deep fryer, heat oil to 370F. This can be achieved by heating over medium high heat. Use enough oil to cover 4 to 5 chicken wings at a time. Deep fry wings for approximately 8 minutes. Drain on paper towel. Serves 2 to 4

Antipasto Pasta Salad

2009-04-22T12:48:00.001-04:00

1 lb Penne, Rotini, etc. uncooked

12 oz Roasted peppers, strips

12 oz Marinated artichoke hearts

1 c Diced muenster, brick, or provolone cheese, etc

1 c Mushrooms, sliced

1/2 c Chopped red onion

1/3 c Chopped fresh basil

2/3 c Low fat Caesar or Italian salad dressing

Freshly ground pepper Sliced pepperoncine peppers Prepare pasta according to package directions. While pasta is cooking, combine pepper strips, artichoke hearts, cheese, mushrooms, onion and basil in a large bowl. When pasta is done, drain and rinse with cold water. Drain well and add pasta and dressing to bowl; toss well. Cover; refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving.

Citrus Shrimp

2009-04-15T13:52:00.003-04:00

2 tb Vegetable oil

1/4 lb Snow peas, stringed

2 Stalks bok choy or Napa cabb

1 lb Large shrimp, peeled and deveined

1/2 ts Salt

2 tb Lemon juice

1/3 c Orange juice

1 ts Grated orange rind

1/2 ts Grated lemon rind

1 ts Cornstarch mixed with 1 T co

1 pn Black pepper

Heat oil over high heat in a wok or large skillet. Add snow peas, bok choy and shrimp. Stir-fry 3 minutes, or until shrimp are pink. Add salt, pepper, lemon juice, orange juice, orange and lemon rinds, and cook for 2 minutes, covered. Uncover the pan, add the cornstarch mixture, and stir until slightly thickened. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Chicken With Pineapple Salsa

2009-04-08T15:17:00.002-04:00

6 broiler-fryer chicken breast-halves, skinned and boned

2 Tb cilantro, chopped

2 ts ginger root, minced

3/8 ts salt, divided

1 c Roma tomato, seeded

3/4 c fresh pineapple, diced

1/2 c red onions, sliced

1 4 oz can diced green-chilies, drained

1 Tb Lemon juice

2 Tb Butter

Make pineapple salsa by mixing together in small bowl, cilantro, ginger root, 1/8 tsp salt, tomato, pineapple, onion, chilies and lemon juice. Set aside. In fry pan, place butter and melt over medium heat. Add chicken and sprinkle with remaining 1/4 tsp salt. Saute, turning, about 6 minutes or until light brown on all sides. Cover and reduce heat to medium low. Cook about 5 minutes or until fork can be inserted in chicken with ease. Arrange chicken on serving platter and spoon pineapple salsa over chicken. Garnish with sprigs of cilantro. Serves 6.

BBQ Beef Ribs

2009-04-03T13:26:00.006-04:00

Now this is what I am talking about! BBQ Beef Ribs yum yum!!! Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty on this one guys...enjoy!!

3 pounds Beef short ribs

1/2 cup Chopped onions

1 tablespoon Margarine

1/2 teaspoon Pepper

4 teaspoons Sugar

1 teaspoon Dry mustard

1 teaspoon Salt

1 teaspoon Paprika

4 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1/2 cup Ketchup

1/4 cup White vinegar

1/4 cup Water

Saute the onions in on high heat with margarine and add remaining ingredients once the onions are browned. Simmer for 30 minutes. Baste the ribs with this sauce after and bake at 350 degrees for 2 hours. Drain off fat, baste again and bake at 300 degrees for 1 hour.

Spicy Bruschetta Romana Piccante

2009-04-02T14:45:00.003-04:00

3/4 ts Red wine vinegar

1/4 c Olive oil

6 tb Parsley, chopped

3 tb Basil, chopped

1/2 ts Garlic, minced

1/8 ts Red pepper flakes -OR-

1 ea Red chili, minced

2 tb Fresh breadcrumbs, if needed

6 sl Italian country-style bread,

-- cut 3/4" to 1" thick & -- halved 1 tb Olive oil

Whisk together the vinegar & oil. Stir in the parsley & basil. Add the garlic & pepper flakes. Leave for 2 hours to let the flavours meld. If the mixture seems to thin, add the breadcrumbs. Grill or toast the bread slices. While they are still warm, brush with a little olive oil, spread with the bruschetta topping & serve.

Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp

2009-04-02T14:37:00.004-04:00

12 ea Shrimp, med, shelled

1 x -12 slices

1 ea Red bell pepper,

1 1/2 tb Teriyaki sauce

1 x -cut into 12 strips

1 1/2 tb Chili sauce

1 tb Hoisin sauce

1. Place bacon on rack; cover with paper towel. Microwave on High 1

minutes; pat dry on paper towel. Let cool slightly. 2. Wrap one shrimp and one pepper strip in each piece of bacon; secure

with wooden pick. Place in 11x7" baking dish. 3. In small bowl, combine the teriyaki, chili and hoisin sauces with 2

T. water; pour over shrimp. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours, turning once. 4. Uncover and microwave on High 3-4 minutes, until shrimp is cooked through. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

History of Coffee

2009-03-26T13:55:00.003-04:00

According to some of the legends out there, coffee was supposedly discovered in Ethiopia, where coffee grew wild everywhere. Some shepherds with their sheep, have discovered that their flocks didn't sleep during the night after eating coffee that was growing in the wild.

Another legend that I have discovered gives us the name for coffee or "mocha". An Arabian was banished to the desert with his group to die with no food. In desperation, Omar the name of the banished man had his friends boil and eat the fruit from a plant unknown to them. Not only did the juice of the unknown plant save them who were banished, but their survival was taken as a religious sign by the residents of the nearest town called Mocha. The plant and its juice that was formed were named Mocha to honor this event that has happened.

In the 9th century in the Muslim world, coffee began to be use as a medicine, was liked for taste and became a pleasurable drink among the Muslims.
During the 14th century some coffee trees were transplanted to Arabia. They named it Kiawah.

One early use for coffee is has little appeal today. The Galla tribe from Ethiopia. Used coffee, but not as a drink. They would wrap the beans in animal fat as their only source of nutrition while on prowling. The Turks were the first country to adopt it as a drink, often adding spices such as clove, cinnamon, cardamom and anise to the brew.

By 1500 it was already in Turkey and then in Italy. In 1720 Gabriel Mathieu de Chieu, a French Marine Official, brought to Martinica three coffee trees from Paris. Only one of these trees survived the trip. From this surviving tree, coffee growing started in the New World.

Coffee shops began to open in the late 1600's in country's capital cities then in the larger cities and from then on into the beginnings of domestic use.

The Benefits of Olive Oil

2009-03-19T18:08:00.004-04:00

I have been hearing for a while, that olive oil is healthy for you. What makes this oil from olives so healthy? What is the benefits of olive oil? I did some research and this is what's up:
The greatest promoter of monounsaturated fat is olive oil. Olive oil is a natural juice which preserves the taste, aroma, vitamins and properties of the olive fruit. Olive oil is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is - freshly pressed from the fruit. The useful health effects of olive oil are due to both its high content of monounsaturated fatty acids and its high content of antioxidant substances. Studies have shown that olive oil offers a protection against heart disease by controlling and mantaining LDL, bad cholesterol levels while raising HDL, the good cholesterol levels. No other naturally produced oil has as large an amount of monounsaturated as olive oil -mainly oleic acid.
Studies have shown that people who consumed an estimate of 25 milliliters, roughly about 2 tablespoons of virgin olive oil each day for 1 week showed less oxidation of LDL cholesterol and higher levels of antioxidant compounds, mainly phenols, in the blood. But while all the types of olive oils are sources of monounsaturated fat, extra virgin olive oil, from the first pressing of the olives, contains the higher levels of antioxidants, particularly vitamin E and phenols, because it is less processed. Olive oil is clearly one of the good oils to consume, one of the healing fats. Most people do well with it since it does not upset or interfere the critical omega 6 to omega 3 ratio and most of the fatty acids in olive oil are actually omega-9 oil which is monounsaturated.

Different Kind of Kitchen Supplies

2009-03-12T18:26:00.007-04:00

Here is some great kitchen equipment!

Some Info On Baking Pans

2009-03-06T12:44:00.007-05:00

Don't over crowd the oven. The pans should never touch each other or the sides of the oven, or be placed over or under each other on the racks.

Grease pans using a piece of paper towel; rub a small amount of shortening, butter or margarine evenly over the bottom and on sides of pans, if intended for. A small amount of pan spray may be used and spread over the pan, also using the paper towel method.

Prevent sharp edges on muffins, cookies or quick breads by greasing the muffin cups or pans only on the bottom and halfway up the sides so the batter is higher than the grease line. This is one time you might not want to use a pan spray.

Some Info On Woks

2009-03-05T18:13:00.006-05:00

Although the district cuisines of China and other Asian countries vary in flavors and ingredients, the unify link between these districts is the use of this wonderful tool the wok as the prime cooking vessel.

The wok was changed centuries ago as a result of lost of fuel. Its rounded shape and long sloping sides provide an extensive cooking surface,
which may be heated to very high temperatures with little fuel. The wok is most commonly related with the technique of stir-frying, but can be used to deep-fry, braise, roast, steam, and simmer.

Cooking with a Wok

There are a few general strategies for doing any cooking with a wok that should be kept in mind.

Preparation and cooking are two separate actions. Carefully read the entire recipe, if you are using one before beginning any cooking. All ingredients should be arranged before cooking.

Attention to the cooking process is very important because most foods are cooked over extreme heat in a matter of minutes. The strength of the heat used for wok cooking is important. In most cases, easily controlled high heat is needed. For this reason, a gas range with its instant heat control is normally more efficient than an electric range or electric wok.

The kind of oil used is also very important. A vegetable oil is normally used in wok cooking. It may be heated to a high temperature without smoking is essential. Peanut oil, corn oil, and soybean oil also works well. Other kinds of fats or greases, such as olive oil, sesame oil, or butter should not be used because they burn easily and tend to smoke more easily.

Due to the variables, such as kinds of foods, type of heat, and the kind of cooking equipment used, cooking times that are directed in recipes should be used as estimate times; it is not enforced to cook at the specific time that is given to you.

Individual wok accessories aren't needed to ensure great cooking, but they can make wok cooking more at ease. If you will be doing a great amount of wok cooking, you might want to stock your kitchen with some good utensils that are made for the wok specifically. Looking for some supplies for your kitchen? Shop here at Lil Chef's Aid.Com

Cast Iron Cookware....is it better?

2009-03-04T16:01:00.004-05:00

There are several reasons that people ramble about their cast-iron cookware. Besides being an ideal heat composer, cast iron heats evenly and constantly, it is low-cost and will last a lifetime with proper care, and it is an old-fashioned way to cook fat free. When well seasoned, a cast-iron pan will be stick resistant and require no additional oil.
The benefits of cast-iron pans are wonderful: Foods move smoothly out of it as from no pan made with Teflon; it goes from stove to oven; no special utensils are needed to cook in it; it won't warp, and cleanup is a easy task. It's time people realize the culinary wonder that a cast-iron pan can be! Shop now for some great cast iron cookware at Kitchen Supplies

Chocolate Truffles Yuummm!!

2009-03-03T17:37:00.011-05:00

Chocolate Truffles are a rich and tasteful, bite-sized petit four made with a smooth mixture of chocolate, cream, and butter to which various flavorings are added (liqueurs, extracts, nuts, coffee, purees, spices, candied or dried fruits). This mixture is really a Gouache that is rolled into random rounds to look like the real truffle fungus that grows around the roots of trees in France and Italy. Once the truffles are formed they are then rolled in cocoa powder to replicate the 'dirt' that the real truffles grow in. While cocoa powder is the time-honored coating, truffles can also be coated in confectioners (powdered or icing) sugar, toasted and chopped nuts, tempered chocolate, shredded coconut, or even shaved chocolate.

Portuguese Food

2009-03-02T12:15:00.010-05:00

Where I left off in my last post, was the upcoming entree after a great bowl of Portuguese soup. There are so many different types of entrees Portuguese people. I'm going to talk about a few. One type of Portuguese food that is famous is bacalhau (cod fish). But the word almost always refers to salt cod and the dishes made from it, as fresh cod is rarely consumed in Portugal. There are so many ways to cook this wonderful fish. Bacalhau à Gomes de Sá is one way I find popular out there. It is essentially a casserole of cod, potatoes and onion. You made add more ingredients, desire to your taste. It is a specialty from city of Porto, being now the popular dish throughout Portugal, and is thought to be one of Portugal's greatest bacalhau recipes. Served with some great wines such as Alentejo Wine, Dão Wine or Douro Wine. This is a great meal to enjoy.

Let's Talk About Steak....The Other White Meat!!

2009-02-23T11:56:00.008-05:00

I don't know about you...but thinking about steak makes me happy!! Anything to do with beef, makes life better. Living in Little Portugal, we come a long some great Portuguese steak plates. There are plenty of Portuguese restaurants that offer steak plates. From the tender beef, to the crispy fries, and the wonderful garlic on top. These Portuguese restaurants knows how to stir up your taste buds! Portuguese food is filling and full-flavored dishes and is an example of a Mediterranean cuisine. Mutual influence between Portuguese and Spanish food is common. The influence of Portuguese food is the spices used. These spices include pepper (a lot of it) and black pepper, as well as cinnamon, vanilla and saffron. Olive oil is one of the bases of Portuguese cuisine both for cooking and flavoring meals. Garlic is widely used, as are herbs such as coriander and parsley. During breakfast time, it comes down to hot Portuguese rolls and coffee. Lunch and dinner usually starts with a bowl of soup. A common soup is caldo verde with potato, shredded cabbage, and chunks of chourico sausage. Then after the soup is finished, comes the main entree.......to be continued!