Recipe of the Week: Sofrito (1/31/13)

Recipe of the Week: Sofrito

Sofrito is a versatile, aromatic puree of tomatoes, peppers, cilantro, onions, and garlic. It's the foundation of many Spanish influenced dishes. There are many variations of this recipe. This one uses ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery store for those who do not live near a Caribbean or West Indian grocer. I find using Sofrito that I tend to use it in a lot of things from making rice extra yummy, to adding it to eggs. It is super easy to make and a perfect pairing to a lot of dishes.

Store sofrito in a glass container in the refrigerator for immediate use or freeze sofrito in 1/4 to 1/2 cup portions for use at any time.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Yields: 1 quart

Ingredients:

• 2 medium green peppers, seeds removed
• 1 red sweet pepper, seeds removed
• 2 large tomatoes
• 2 medium onions, peeled
• 1 head of garlic, peeled
• 1 bunch cilantro leaves
• 1/2 bunch parsley leaves

Preparation:

1. Chop and blend all the ingredients in a food processor or blender.

2. Store in glass container in the fridge or freezer for use any time to add a flare to your food. 

ENJOY My friends!

Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe

All this month I have been trying to post Holiday recipes you will all enjoy. Today is no different. Im rounding out towards the end with Old Fashioned Stuffing Recipe! Super yummy and SUPER Easy for sure.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season!

Yummy Healthy Egg Breakfast

I was browsing facebook, and I get tons of great ideas by doing this, thanks to all the great people I am subscribed to. I came a across a great tutorial I had to share with all of you!

First cut bell peppers into slices, leave the pieces round. Not to thick, but not to thin. Crack an egg, and pour HALF into the middle. Add a thin slice of tomato onto in he middle on top of the egg, then pour the rest of the egg on top. Sprinkle with some freshly ground pepper. I also add a dash of adobo on top. Cook till egg is done to your liking. Serve with toast or biscuits  Very very yummy! I loved it. It is becoming a staple at my breakfast table. The whole family adores it. I hope you will to.

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Hope you and your family are having a Happy Holiday Season! Please let me know how you like this recipe. 

Perfect Pumpkin Pie Recipe

So I got a bit delayed making the recipe image for last nights blog post, so here it is today. The most perfect pumpkin pie recipe I have ever used. Its from Martha Stewart, with a tad adjusting to taste. I think you will adore  this recipe. I sure do. This will be a yummy Christmas pie your whole family will enjoy!

Happy Holidays & Enjoy your baking ;)

Rum Raisin Cookie: Recipe Of The Week!

Hello all you beautiful friends... The Holiday Season is in full swing, and I thought I would start making the recipe of the week make its full comeback. I couldn't think of a better comfort cookie than my Run Raisin's! They are easy to make and scrumptious... perfect for a holiday snack. Enjoy!

(CLICK TO MAKE IMAGE LARGER FOR RECIPE)

What type of recipe would you fancy seeing next week. Feel free to comment and let me know.
From mine to yours, Happy Holidays!

Recipe of The Week: Homemade Hamburger Helper!

Hi my lovelies... The recipe of the week, will be followed up with pictures next time I make it, which should be very soon. I apologize for lack of visuals lately. Bear with me friends.

Since I always seem to cook for an army lol, Buying Hamburger helper seems wrong to me. Stuff is a little bland for my tastes as well. This version will hopefully prove just how easy it is to make your own yummy concoction.

Now you can adjust for larger/smaller servings.... This isn't exact.. so feel free to experiment.

1 to 2 pounds of hamburger meat. Add Adobo... I use Goya's! I tend to lean towards always buying the variety with pepper.  Use about 2 tablespoons. Brown until done in skillet. Drain any grease really well in a strainer. Set to the side, until ready to add.

In a large pot, Add 2 cups of milk. I use 2 percent milk, but that's totally up to you. Add 4 cups water. Bring to boil.

Now add in half of a block of velveeta cheese. Make sure you cube it into small pieces first, as this helps to make it melt faster. Once it is melted proceed to next step.




Now add in to the pot 2 packages of egg noodles. I use Pennsylvania Dutch Broad egg noodles, but you can use whichever brand you prefer. Let boil for a few minuits. Turn down heat to medium before your noodles are completely cooked. This ensures they are not over cooked by the time the dish is all the way done.



Now you can add in your cooked and drained hamburger. Stir well until its mixed in evenly. After about 2 min. reduce heat to low.

Stir in 2 heaping tablespoons of Sour Cream. Add a few more dashes of Adobo as well. If you like your dishes with a lil kick, add in a small dash of red pepper flakes. Mix well.

Now add in half of a container of French's Cheddar French Fried Onions. Stir in well so its evenly mixed.


Let cook on low until noodles are perfectly done. Turn off heat. Once heat is off, if its not fully thickened yet, it will when you let it rest. Just make sure you keep your pot stirred well at all times, so it does not stick on bottom.

Top with some shredded cheddar cheese, and a handful of the french fried onions & enjoy!
Now if you try this out, I want some feedback, comments and even some of your own pics. Lemme know guys what you think. My family loves it and so do I. I make this almost every week!

St. Patrick's Day Cookies: Rainbows!

St. Patricks Day Rainbow Cookies!!!!!!!

Hi guys, I was recently looking for some festive ideas online to do for St. Patrick's day that is coming up and since I love anything rainbow, I decided to share these darling and very yummy cookies with all of you to.

Play Dough Cookies (allrecipes.com) (I altered recipe slightly to fit my taste better btw)
* 3/4 cup butter, softened
* 3 ounces cream cheese
* 1 and a half  cup sugar
* 1 egg
* 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* assorted colors of paste food coloring (to make your rainbow colorful)
* 24 lollipop sticks (optional if you want them to be like cookie lollys)

1. In the electric mixer, cream butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until smooth.
2. In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add dry ingredients to the creamed mixture. Stir till soft dough forms. Divide dough into fourths. Tint each with a different food color. Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
3. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Working with half of each color, shape dough into 3/4 inch balls and for each cookie place 1 pink, 1 green, 1 blue and 1 orange ball together to make 1 rainbow.  Place cookies 3 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Carefully insert lollipop sticks into bottoms of cookies if you want to make them into cookie lolly's.
4. Bake cookies for 8 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool and store in an airtight container. 

I made 2 batches already to test and they came out great. The second batch I made with sugar sprinkles on to adorn them further.  Make them however you feel like decorating them, or just leave them how they are. I plan to put them on a gold plated platter, to associate the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

Enjoy!