Friday, May 19, 2017

Corn & Jicama Salad

This was a pretty tasty salad and makes a great side dish for a BBQ supper. But I think it would be even yummier with chili flavored Fritos in it. Not as healthy but yummy! ;)

Mix in large bowl:

white frozen corn

drained black beans

1 chopped, seeded Roma tomato

thinly sliced red & yellow bell pepper (mini peppers work nicely)

chopped red onion

finely chopped seeded jalapeno

peeled, sliced jicama

minced garlic

Toss in bowl.  Add equal amounts of sour cream and mayonnaise until it is how you like it. We like ours drier than some people do.  Add juice of 1/2 lime, salt, pepper, chili powder to taste.

Stir well and chill for a couple of hours before serving.



Shrimp & Jicama Salad

This is a very simple and refreshing salad for a hot summer day.

Mix ingredients in bowl:

peeled & sliced jicama

thinly sliced red & yellow bell peppers (mini peppers work nicely)

chopped red onion

chopped cucumber

peeled fresh orange segments

cilantro

cooked shrimp

Squeeze the juice of 1 lime over the salad and toss. Sprinkle with salt, chili pepper and paprika to taste.


Mexican Grilled Steaks

This makes a FANTASTIC steak! Tender, spicy and absolutely delicious!

Mix these ingredients in a small bowl:

1 Tablespoon salt, chili powder, garlic powder and oregano

1 teaspoon cumin and cracked black pepper

Rub into steaks and place in zipper bag.

Pour 1/3 cup vinegar into bag.

Lay flat in fridge and let marinade at least 4 hours before grilling.

Grill over hot coals.

Brush with a little bit of olive oil garlic mixture from grilled red peppers.

This is good just on a plate or as fajitas with a grilled onion.


Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Pressure Cooker Saudi-Style Chicken & Rice

I taught a class on the history and culture of Saudi Arabia and adjusted a recipe I found for a chicken and rice for the pressure cooker. I liked it so much, I've had it three times now. It's sweet aromatic spices are delicious and different.

I served it with pita, hummus and dates as sides.

Saute 2-3 boneless skinless chicken thighs cut into small pieces on the meat setting. Add 1/3 cup of chopped fresh onion. After a few minutes add 1 heaping Tablespoon of minced garlic.


Add 3/4 cup basmati rice, 3/4 cup chicken broth, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 7 cardamom pods, 1 cinnamon stick, 1/4 cup raisins, 1/2 can diced tomatoes.


Stir well and cook on rice setting for 6 minutes. Let natural release for 10 minutes.


Stir again and pick out the cinnamon stick and cardamom. You don't want to eat those. LOL


Pressure Cooker Pork Curry

This smelled amazing while it was cooking! I cooked it in the pressure cooker stacked with a pot of brown rice. It's a bit soupy but is very good over the rice.



Preheat pot on meat setting. Add 1 heaping tablespoon of coconut oil. When melted begin to saute 1/2 cup chopped onion.



After a few minutes, add 1 Tablespoon minced garlic and 1 teaspoon minced ginger. Continue to saute for a minute.

Add 1 pound of pork shoulder roast cut into large chunks. Cook until the meat turns "white."


Add 1/2 Tablespoons of curry powder and cumin, 1/2 teaspoon of turmeric and salt/pepper to taste. Stir well and continue to saute for 1-2 minutes.


Stir in 1 cup of bouillon (I use a bit of chicken and beef mixed together) and 1/2 can of diced tomatoes.

Put the steamer tray on top with a small pot of 1 cup brown rice and 10 oz water.



Cook on brown rice setting (18 minutes). Let natural release for 10 minutes.

Stir in 1/3 cup coconut milk.



Serve in bowls over the rice.

Garnish with cilantro and green onions (I used chives from my garden).



Pressure Cooker Brown Rice

I have never made brown rice before. I guess I just really don't care about being healthy that much... ;)  I had no idea it would take THREE times longer than white rice. But it turned out great! We may just have to start being more healthy... LOL

1 cup brown rice
10 oz water

Cook on rice setting for 18 minutes. Push rice button and then the cook time adjustment button once so it says 18:00.



Let it natural release for 10 minutes.


Monday, May 15, 2017

Pressure Cooker Bacon Ranch Potato Salad

My pressure cooker has made my favorite, already easy to make potato salad even easier! Hooray!

Wash and scrub as many red potatoes as you would like,

Cut them into large bite-sized chunks.




Place them in pressure cooker with 1 cup water. Cook on veggie setting for 3 minutes.



Quick release and drain in colander.


Place potatoes immediately into a large mixing/serving bowl. While the potatoes are still hot stir in ranch salad dressing, frozen peas and black pepper to taste. Mix well.


Chill salad in fridge until cold.

At this point you may want to stir in more ranch dressing so it isn't too dry. But you can also just leave it as it is. Just depends on how wet you like your potato salad.

Stir in crumbled cooked bacon pieces just before serving.