PORK AND NOODLES

Some noodles for today. Pork and Noodles. I will use some egg noodles. I love this kind of noodles. They are firm and delicious. And perfect with pork. And vegetables. And spices. Les’t start cooking.

Ingredients:

A package of egg noodles
½ chopped onion
½ chopped carrot
½ cup frozen corn
1 cup frozen broccoli
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped ginger
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon peppercorns
½ teaspoon turmeric
Some salt to taste
Some vegetable oil
½ pound pork, cubed
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
1 teaspoon soy sauce
Some drops of sesame oil
Some drops of lime juice

First we will prepare the noodles. Heat some water. Bring it to a boil. Then, add some salt and oil. Add the pasta and have it boiling for the minutes the package says. Once it is ready, drain it and reserve.
While we are preparing the pasta we can cut the vegetables.
The next thing will be to prepare the spices. We will grind the cumin, the coriander and the peppercorns in a mortar.
Then it is time to prepare the pork. We will cut it in little pieces.
Now we will put some vegetable oil in a pan and we will heat it. When it is hot, we will put the onion and the carrot in it. We will sauté it for some minutes. Then we will add the pork to the pan. After cooking for five minutes, add the spices along with the turmeric. Then we will add the garlic and the ginger. Cook for a couple of minutes and then add the corn and the broccoli. Now we will add the soy sauce. When we see that the vegetables are almos done, we will add the noodles and we will sauté them for two more minutes.
Finally, we will add some sesame oil, just some drops. We can add some salt to taste if is necessary. The last touch will be adding the chopped cilantro and the lime juice.
And then you will have a delicious dish, Pork and Noodles. You can adapt it to your taste, for example adding your favourite vegetables: eggplant, celery…
Enjoy!

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ROAST BEEF

Meat for today. Roast Beef made at home. Why not? It will not be difficult. And it will be very rewarding. Imagine. Your own Roast Beef. Let’s cook!

Ingredients:

1 ½ pounds eye round roast
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
A pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon freshly ground dried garlic
Some salt to taste
Some extra virgin olive oil

I will make my own Roast Beef. My way. This time, I will use eye round roast.
To start, let’s prepare a marinade. To do that, we will put some olive oil in a dish. Then we will add the spices, that is to say, oregano, basil, nutmeg, ground black pepper, dried garlic and some salt to taste. Mix well with the oil. We will put the meat on a tray. Then we will rub the meat with the marinade. We can leave it to marinate for about half an hour.
After that, we will place the tray with the meat in the oven. The oven will have to be preheated to maximum temperature. We will roast the beef at that high temperature for about 20 minutes. Then, we will set the temperature to 350°F. We will have to go on cooking now for about 80-85 minutes.
And then our Roast Beef shoud be ready. Of course, you will have to be alert because every oven is different. You might need to be roasting your beef for fewer minutes or more minutes. Check your oven.
Once it is ready, you will only have to carve your Roast Beef. You can make delicious sandwiches or serve it the way you want. Use your imagination.
Enjoy!

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ANCHOVY AND PICKLE SALAD

A very easy salad for today. Easy and delicious. Perfect as an appetizer. If you like anchovies and pickle, you will love this salad. Let’s start.

Ingredients:

1 can (2 ounces) anchovies in extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons roasted chopped red pepper
1 teaspoon capers
12 pitted black olives
12 pitted green olives
A piece of dill pickle
Some garlic (fresh or dried)
Some extra virgin olive oil

Ingredients:

It will not take us long to prepare our Anchovy and Pickle Salad. We just have to cut the anchovies, the roasted red pepper, the dill pickle and the olives in little pieces. Then we will put all that in a bowl. The next thing is adding the capers and the garlic. You can use fresh garlic, previously chopped, or dried garlic grounded at the very moment of serving. Finally, we will add some extra virgin olive oil.
Really delicious. Enjoy!

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BATTERED SHRIMP

Some shrimp for today. Battered Shrimp, something delicious. A good tapa or appetizer. Very typical of Spain, where I come from, but something that you can find in many countries. Maybe with a different batter. But it is always good. Let’s cook.

Ingredients:

Some peeled shrimp
1 egg
1 teaspoon baking powder
Some flour
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon chili powder
Salt to taste
Some extra virgin olive oil

First of all we will have to prepare the batter. To do this, we will take a container and we will beat an egg in it. Once the egg is ready, we will add the baking powder. And then we will add the turmeric and the chili powder. If it is necessary, we can add some salt to taste. We will mix well and then we will add the flour. We have to do this little by little. The batter has to be smooth but sticky at the same time. We have to avoid lumps.
When we have the batter, we will add the peeled shrimp to the container with the batter. The batter must cling to the shrimp in a perfect way.
Then we will heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan. We only have to fry our Battered Shrimp and make sure we do not overcook the shrimp. A couple of minutes will be more than enough. When the shrimp are ready, leave them on kitchen paper towel to get rid of some oil.
And your Battered Shrimp are ready. Really good as an appetizer or a tapa. Enjoy!

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MINESTRONE SOUP

A delicious soup for today. Easy to make and full of ingredients: pasta, beans and lots of vegetables. I cannot wait to make it. Let’s cook.

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
½ small squash
1 green onion
½ green pepper
½ carrot
1 clove of garlic
3 cups beef broth or water
½ cup cooked red beans
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon thyme
½ teaspoon rosemary
½ teaspoon parsley
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 small tomato
1 oz conch shells pasta

First we will start preparing the vegetables. We will chop them finely. After that, heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and when this is hot enough, sauté the pepper and the carrot. Then we will add the other vegetables. We should do this two minutes later. Three minutes later we will cover the vegetables with the broth or the water.
If we want a vegetarian Minestrone, something healthier, we can use water instead of the beef broth. On the contrary, if we want a more authentic Minestrone, though less healthy, we can use the broth and we can sauté some little pieces of bacon along with the vegetables.
Now we will add the cooked beans. Make sure they are well washed if they are from a can. This is the moment of adding the spices and the Worcestershire sauce. A bit later we will add the tomato, previously finely chopped. Then we will add the pasta and we will have our Minestrone Soup when the pasta is ready. We will add some salt and pepper to taste and we will serve.
Enjoy!

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TZATZIKI SAUCE

We will make a delicious sauce today. A sauce from the Mediterranean. Something delicious and easy to make. Perfect for gyros, kebabs, falafels…
Let’s cook.

Ingredients:

1 cucumber
2 cloves of garlic
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 Greek yogurt
½ teaspoon mint leaves
½ teaspoon dill herb
1 teaspoon lemon juice

First we will prepare the cucumber. After peeling it, we will grate have of it, and we will cube the other half. Make the cubes very small. Then we will chop the garlic.
Now we will put the oil in a bowl. Then we will add the yogurt and we will mix. We will add the cucumber and the garlic. Then we will add the mint and the herb. We will mix well. Finally we will add the lemon juice.
We can add some drops of extra virgin olive oil. And it will be ready to be served or to be used with your choice of gyros, falafels, etc. Enjoy!

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SURIMI CAZUELA

Today we will cook something different. Not very expensive and really delicious. To top it off, it is also very easy to make. Let’s go to the kitchen.

Ingredients:

½ pound surimi sticks
2 cloves of garlic, chopped
1 dried red chili
1 teaspoon curry powder
Some extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

We will start preparing the surimi sticks. Surimi is made of several kinds of fish. In fact Surimi means minced fish. It is something that is very rewarding. Good taste for little money. To prepare it, we will cut the surimi sticks to get a fibrous texture.
Now we will heat some oil, not too much, in a frying pan. Then we will add the surimi, the garlic and the chili, which we will have chopped previously. We will cook for about three minutes. Now we will lower the heat and we will add the curry powder and some salt to taste. We will cook for two more minutes. It is important to be stirring it continuously.
And in a while we will have our Surimi Cazuela ready. Perfect as an appetizer or as a tapa. Perfect to be served with some grilled fish too. You can put your Surimi Cazuela on a dish, and on top of it your favourite fish.
Enjoy!

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CORN CHOWDER

A delicious chowder for today. A delicious soup and very easy to make. I discovered it in the United States. I love American chowders. They are really rewarding. I think we should use spoons much more. You know what I mean. Talking about spoons, I love those round bowl soup spoons. I had never seen them till I came to the States. They are really good. But let’s make our Corn Chowder.

Ingredients:

Some extra virgin olive oil
½ chopped onion
½ chopped carrot
2 tablespoons chopped bacon
2 tablespoons chopped ham
½ cup chopped celery
½ cup frozen corn
1 potato, peeled and diced
2 bay leaves
½ teaspoon paprika
½ liter milk
2 tablespoons cornstarch
Salt to taste
Freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon parsley

First we will put some oil in a pan and let it heat. Once is hot enough, we will put the bacon, the ham, the onion and the carrot in the pan. We will cook it for a couple of minutes. Then we will add the celery, the corn, the potato, the bay leaves and the paprika. The next step is adding one cup of water and bring it to a boil. Cook gently, with the lid on, for about ten minutes or till the potatoes are almost done. We should stir it from time to time.
Now, in a container, we will mix the milk with the cornstarch. Once it is well mixed, we will add it to the pan little by little. It is important to keep on stirring. Keep on adding the milk, but little by little and stirring. Bring to a gentle boil and remove from the fire.
Add some salt and pepper to taste.
And finally, add the thyme and the parsley and serve.
Enjoy!

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TAPENADE

Olives and anchovies. I love Tapenade. It is perfect to spread on your favourite bread. And it is really easy to make. Let’s make it.

Ingredients:

7 ounces black olives, pitted
2 ounces green olives, pitted
1 teaspoon capers
1 can (2 ounces) anchovies in extra virgin olive oil
1 clove of chopped garlic
4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

First we will start preparing the anchovies. To do that we will have to rinse the anchovies in water and then dry them with kitchen paper towel. Then we will put the olives, the capers, the anchovies and the garlic in a blender. We will add a tablespoon of olive oil and we will start blending our Tapenade. I do not like to blend too much. We will add more olive oil little by little and keep on blending till we get the Tapenade we want according to our taste.
Before serving, taste it to see if we need to add some salt. It will not be very probable. You can serve it spread on bread. Toasted bread or not. On crackers… It is up to you. Delicious. Enjoy!

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BOMBAY DUCKS

They are not ducks. Bombay Ducks are fish. This is a recipe that comes from India. A different and particular dish. An acquired taste too. I have not tasted fresh Bombay Ducks. I have only tried dried and preserved ones. People that have tasted the fresh ones say they are different. I will have to stick to my preserved Bombay Ducks by now. Let’s cook.

Ingredients:

1 small chopped onion
2 small potatoes, peeled and cubed
½ chopped green pepper
1 small chopped tomato
Some Reichada Masala
½ lb Boneless Masala Bombay Ducks, shredded
Some vegetable oil
Some water
Some salt to taste

First we will put some oil in a saucepan and we will heat it. When it is hot, we will add the onion, the potatoes and the green pepper. We will sauté these vegetables for a couple of minutes and then we will add the tomato.
We will cook for one minute and then we will add the Reichada Masala. The amount of masala will depend on the brand of the Reichada. Some brands are stronger than other. So, it is a good idea to be careful about the amount of masala we use.
We will add the shredded Bombay Ducks now. We will cook for two minutes and then we will add some water. Not much. We will have to add more but it is better to do it little by little.
Now we will only have to keep on cooking. The fire must be low. And we will have to add water if we see that our Bombay Ducks need it. Do not forget to stir it from time to time. Your Bombay Ducks will be ready when the potatoes are tender.
You can serve them with some basmati rice. Enjoy!

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CHIPS

We will cook some delicious potato chips today. Not many people cook potato chips nowadays. It is easier to go to the supermarket and get them. But you can also make them at home. We will make them now.

Ingredients:

Some potatoes
Some flour
Some extra virgin olive oil

Few ingredients. We will not need more ingredients. It is easy, isn’t it?
First we will have to prepare the potatoes. We will wash them, peel them and wash them again. Then, using a mandoline, we will make thin slices. The mandoline is a very useful tool. With it, it is very easy to make chips.
The next thing will be to put the potato slices in a container and add some flour. We will mix well.
We will heat some olive oil in a pan and when it is hot enough, we will add the potato slices. Do this little by little. Do not put too many chips in the pan at the same time. It is very important that the oil is really hot. Brown the chips and when they are ready, leave them on kitchen paper towel. Repeat this as many times as you need to do it.
And then you will have your chips. Ready to serve with whatever you want. Of course, you can eat them just like that. I usually do it. And now, enjoy!

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BRATWURST CHILI

We will cook some chili today. Another American classic. I will make my chili with ground beef but you can also use stew meat. You cannot be in a hurry to make chili. And you should not be in a hurry to eat it your chili once cooked. This is because chili gets better over time. So let’s cook out slow motion chili.

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon oil
1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 pound ground beef
½ can kidney beans (16 oz
1 can cubed tomatoes (28 oz)
2 tablespoons roasted chopped red pepper
1 chili pepper, chopped
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 teaspoons chili powder
Some water
Some tomato paste
Some salt to taste

First we will heat the oil in a pan. When it is hot, we will add the green pepper and the onion. We will sauté them for some minutes. Then we will add the garlic and the ground beef. We will cook till the beef starts getting a brownish color. Now we will add the beans and the cubed tomatoes. We will turn the fire very low and keep on cooking. Some minutes later we will add the chopped red pepper, the chili pepper, the bay leaf, the oregano, the cumin, the chili powder and the tomato paste. We will salt to taste. We will add some water. Just the one we think we need. Do not add too much now. You can always add it later if it is needed.
Now we will cook our slow motion chili. It is important that the fire is low. We will cover the pan and cook for about an hour. It is a good idea to stir from time to time. If you see that your chili needs water, add some.
And after some time and some patience we will have our chili ready. Do not forget to remove the bay leaf. Mix well and then it will be ready to be served.
Perfect for a Bratwurst sandwich with chips. I am sure you will have your own ideas for your chili. Enjoy!

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FISH SOUP WITH RICE

We will cook soup today. Something rewarding and delicious. I remember the fish soup my mom used to make. I loved that soup. I will make it today. A good Fish Soup with Rice.

Ingredients:

Some fish bones
Some little pieces of fish
½ onion
1 bay leaf
3 tablespoons rice
Some drops of Tabasco sauce
Some saffron
½ teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
½ teaspoon dill herb
Some freshly ground pepper to taste
Salt to taste

First we will have to make the fish broth. To do that, we will put some water in a pan and we will add the fish bones, the pieces of fish, the onion and the bay leaf. If we want, we can also add some carrots, celery or leek. We will cook for about half an hour in a low heat. When the broth is ready, we will strain the broth through a colander to get rid of the fish bones. We can add the pieces of fish too to the broth. Once we have our broth in the pan again, we will add the rice to the pan. Then we will add the Tabasco sauce, the saffron, the turmeric, the garlic, the dill herb and the ground pepper. We will salt to taste too. It is not a bad idea to add some onion and celery very finely chopped. We will let our soup cook till the rice is ready. Then we will have a delicious soup: fish and rice. Enjoy!

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CABALLA EN ESCABECHE

We will make an escabeche today. A delicious recipe from Spain. And I will use one of my favourite fish, mackerel, in Spanish caballa. Escabeches are popular in Spain. I love Spanish canned preserves. You can find wonderful fish and seafood (tuna, mackerel, mussels…) canned and preserved in escabeche. They are really good. Some people would say that a very good preserve improves the quality of the original. To this I have to say that some times this is true. Anyway, we will not make a preserve today. Let’s start cooking our Caballa en Escabeche.

Ingredients:

3 mackerel
1 carrot, peeled and cut in sticks
1 sliced onion
1 chopped green onion or 1 chopped leek
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
2 bay leaves
Some extra virgin olive oil
½ cup wine vinegar
½ cup water
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon sweet pimentón
10 black peppercorns
Salt to taste

First of all we will prepare the fish. If the fish is not cleaned already, we have to clean the mackerel properly. We will remove the head, the bones and the guts from the mackerel. We want our mackerel in fillets.
Then we will prepare the vegetables. We will cut the carrot, slice the onion and chop the green onion and the garlic.
Now we will put some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and we will heat it. Then we will start sautéing the carrot, the onion and the green onion. Two minutes later we will add the garlic. We will add the bay leaves, the thyme, the parsley, the sweet pimentón and the black peppercorns too.
Two minutes later we will add the vinegar and the water. We will keep on cooking for about 15 minutes. Then we will add the mackerel. We will bring to a boil. Then we will cover the pan, turning off the fire. We will let it rest for some minutes.
Then we will have our Caballas en Escabeche ready to eat. In fact, you can eat them hot or cold. Enjoy!

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TANGERINE AND BANANA DESSERT

We will make a dessert today. Something refreshing and without many calories. Tangerines and bananas. But you can also use oranges if you want. The almonds and the mint will give us a special touch.

Ingredients:

2 tangerines
2 bananas
10 almonds, peeled and chopped
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon chopped mint leaves

This dessert is very easy to make. First we just have to prepare the fruit. We will peel the bananas and cut them in slices. Then we will peel the tangerines and we will split them into segments. We can cut these segments in pieces, but do not cut them too small. Do this preparation over a bowl where you will put the fruit and you will get the juice from the tangerines.
Now, with all the fruit in the bowl, we will add the almonds, the honey and the mint leaves. We will mix well but carefully so as not to break the fruit. We will taste it, and if we feel like it, we can add some sugar. If that is the case, mix again and serve. And enjoy!

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EMPANADA

We will go to Spain today. We will cook Empanada, a stuffed bread dish typical in Spain and also in Portugal. There are also little empanadas or empanadillas that are popular in South America too. Maybe the most famous Empanada is the Empanada Gallega. Let’s cook!

Ingredients:

Dough,

1 cup and 1 tablespoon water
¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
½ tablespoon salt
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon Spanish pimentón
½ tablespoon yeast

Stuffing,

1 chopped green pepper
1 chopped onion
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1 chopped Spanish chorizo
3 slices of ham
1 tomato
1 roasted chopped red pepper
1 teaspoon parsley
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon Spanish pimentón
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Salt to taste

To brush the Empanada,

1 beaten egg

First we will prepare the dough. I will use my bread machine to make the Empanada dough, but, of course, you can knead your dough by hand. I will use the machine because it is very convenient. You can use a stand mixer as well.
With the bread machine, we will put the ingredients in this order: water, oil, salt, flour, pimentón and yeast. We will select the program just to knead the dough and turn the bread machine on. The machine will knead the dough and then it will let it grow.
In case you want to make your dough by hand, you can do it placing the flour on a counter top making a well with the water inside. Then add the rest of the ingredients and make the dough. Finally you will have to knead the dough properly. Do this till the dough is elastic. Then, let it rise in a bowl covered by a wet cloth.
We will have to prepare the filling too. We will start sautéing the green pepper and the onion in a frying pan with hot oil. A couple of minutes later we will add the garlic and the chorizo. A bit later we will add the ham, cut in little pieces. The next to add is the tomato, the red pepper, the parsley, the ground pepper and the pimentón. We will keep on cooking turning the fire low for about five more minutes. When our filling is ready, we will reserve it.
Now we will come back to our dough. We will split the dough in half. With the help of a rolling pin we will take a half of the dough and we will make the base of our Empanada. When it is thin enough, we will put it on an oven tray. Of course, the tray will have to be slightly greased. We will put our filling on top of that dough. Then we will take the other half of the dough and we will make the top of the Empanada helping us with the rolling pin. We will cover the filling with this and then we will seal the Empanada by putting the outer part of the dough that is below over the top part. Once the Empanada is sealed, we will make a hole in the middle of the Empanada. With a fork we will also make some little holes in the surface of the Empanada. This will be helpful to cook our Empanada.
Now we will brush the Empanada with the beaten egg. And we just have to take it to a preheated oven to 425ºF and let it cook for about 25 minutes.
And then we will have our Empanada ready. Let it cool for a while before serving. Enjoy!

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RAMEN AND VEGETABLE SOUP

I know, I know. Cooking with Ramen Noodles? Why not? Cooked with some vegetables, Ramen Noodles make a healthy and tasty meal. Let’s cook this delicious Ramen and Vegetable Soup.

Ingredients:

A packet of Ramen Noodles
½ chopped onion
1 chopped carrot
2 cloves of chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
3 sliced okras
5 frozen chopped green beans
½ cup frozen corn
½ cup frozen broccoli
½ cup frozen spinach
8 frozen butter beans
1 boiled potato, cut in little pieces
1 small tomato, cut in little pieces
½ cup chopped celery
1 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

First we will prepare the vegetables for our recipe. As I use fresh and frozen vegetables, first we will start sautéing the onion and the carrot in a saucepan with hot extra virgin olive oil. Just a couple of minutes. Then we will add the ginger, the garlic and the okra. Then we will add water to the saucepan. Now we will add the frozen vegetables: the green beans, the corn, the broccoli and the spinach. We will bring it to a boil and when the vegetables are almost done, we will add the potatoes, the tomato and the celery. Now we will add the ramen noodles and the soy sauce. We will let them be cooked till they are done. Add some pepper and check if you need more salt. But probably with the soy sauce will be enough as for salt. When our noodles are ready, serve them hot. Slurp and enjoy!

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BANANAS FOSTER

We will make some dessert today. A delicacy with bananas. And something very easy to make. Few ingredients but a great recipe. Delicious.

Ingredients:

2 ripe bananas
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup rum
Some vanilla ice cream

First we will have to melt the butter. We will do this in a frying pan on low heat. We will add the sugar little by little. It is very important to stir continuously. When the butter and the sugar are well mixed, we will add the cinnamon and half the rum. We will mix well and then we will add the bananas. We will cook the bananas. Do this always on low heat. Cook the bananas till they are tender.
Now we will heat the rest of the rum in another pan. Then we will pour it onto the pan with the bananas. Flame the rum very carefully.
Then serve it with vanilla ice cream. And just enjoy!

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CRAB AND FISH CAKES

We will cook some Crab Cakes today, but they will have fish too. Crab cakes are quite popular in the United States. When I came to the States I learned to appreciate crab cakes. I will show how I make my Crab and Fish Cakes. Enjoy.

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon ground mustard
1 teaspoon mayonnaise sauce
½ teaspoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon regular mustard
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon dried parsley
¼ cup bread crumbs
1 chopped green onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon minced onion
1 (6 ounce) can crab meat
5 fish fingers, half cooked
Some flour
More extra virgin olive oil to fry the cakes

Let’s cook our cakes.
The preparation is very easy. We just have to mix the ingredients in a container, all of them except the oil to fry the cakes. We have to get a consistent mixture.
With the help of some flour we will shape the cakes. Then we will heat the oil in a frying pan. Once the oil is hot, we will fry the cakes in batches of three. When they are a bit done on one side, we will turn them over and keep on frying. We will go on till we have all the cakes done.
You can serve your Crab and Fish Cakes with different sauces. Mix some mayonnaise, ketchup and Tabasco sauce to make a delicious sauce. You can mix some sour cream, garlic powder and parsley or cilantro to make a different sauce. You can make your own sauce, of course. The one you prefer. You can also serve your cakes with fries, chips, vegetables… Just enjoy!

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ESCALIVADA

A typical dish from Catalonia, in Spain. A wonderful vegetarian dish. Roasted vegetables served, of course, with olive oil. An explosion of flavor.

Ingredients:

1 eggplant
1 green pepper
1 red pepper
1 onion
1 tomato
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Some salt to taste
Some extra virgin olive oil

First we will prepare our oven. It has to be preheated to 400ºF. We will rub all the vegetables, except the tomato, with some oil. Then we will put these vegetables on an oven tray and we will take it to the oven. We will put the tomato inside the oven 25 minutes later. The vegetables must be in the oven for about 50-55 minutes. Then we will remove the vegetables from the oven and we will wrap the eggplant, the peppers and the onion with a newspaper or a paper bag. We do not need to do this with the tomato. Now we will let the vegetables outside the oven for about 20 minutes. The reason for wrapping the vegetables with paper is to make it easier to peel them afterwards. And this is what we will have to do once the vegetables are not too hot. We will peel the skin of the vegetables now. While we do this, we can cut the vegetables in strips. We will do the same with the tomato. Then we will the garlic. We will season it with salt and we will add some extra virgin olive oil. Mix well and serve.
It is better to serve the Escalivada once it is ready. Do not prepare it the day before.
Just enjoy it!

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PAPAS CON MOJO

A Spanish dish today. From the Canary Islands, to be more precise. Potatoes and a delicious sauce. Simple but delicious. The Canary Islands. That paradise off the African coast. A bridge between Spain, Africa and America.

Ingredients:

4 red new potatoes
4 tablespoons of salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
½ teaspoon Spanish pimentón
1 teaspoon chopped parsley
Some drops of Tabasco sauce

First we will wash the potatoes thoroughly. It is better if the potatoes are not too big. I prefer small red potatoes for this recipe. We will put the potatoes in a pot that can be closed with a tight-fitting lid. We will add water just to cover the potatoes. Now we will add the salt. It is not a problem to add so much salt. In fact, that will make our potatoes to be delicious and they will not seem too salty. I promise. We have to boil the potatoes on a strong fire. We will cover the pot with the lid. If the lid is not tight-fitting, we can put a kitchen cloth between the lid and the pot so that it is tighter. We will shake the pot from time to time. We will do this to make sure that the potatoes do not get burned. When there is not much water left the potatoes will be ready. We will turn off the fire then.
We will have to prepare the sauce, the mojo. To do this, we will mix the olive oil, the vinegar, the garlic, the pimento, the parsley and the Tabasco sauce.
Now we will only have to serve our potatoes, our papas. Open the potatoes in half and pour some mojo over them. Put the rest of the mojo in a bowl to have more sauce at the table. Enjoy!

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STUFFED CHICKEN BREASTS

More stuffing. We will stuff some chicken breasts today. This is one of those recipes that I remember from my childhood. Chicken breasts, cheese and red pepper. Something creamy and delicious. You can make it using other ingredients. I will show you how I make it though. Let’s cook.

Ingredients:

1 chicken breast
Some flour
1 egg
Some breadcrumbs
Some grated parmesan cheese
Some parsley
Some salt to taste
Some freshly ground black pepper
2 pieces of roasted red pepper
2 slices sharp cheddar cheese
Some vegetable oil

First we have to start with the chicken. I normally use frozen chicken breasts for this recipe. I do this because I can cut the chicken in the way I need it in an easier way. The trick is cutting the chicken breast before is completely thawed. Then it is easy to cut the chicken breast to be stuffed later. Do not cut the chicken completely. It is important to leave the chicken in one piece but with a bit cut in the middle, like slicing a pouch in the meat. I do not usually pound the meat thin but you can do it. Add some salt and pepper to the chicken.
Now we will have some flour ready and prepare one container or bowl with one beaten egg and another one in which we will mix the breadcrumbs, the parmesan cheese and the parsley. We will mix the contents of this container and then we will start with the meat. First we will dredge the chicken in the flour. But do not use too much flour. The next step is to put the chicken in the bowl with the beaten egg. Now we will put the roasted pepper and the slice of cheddar cheese inside the chicken breasts. Now we will coat the chicken breast with the mixture of breadcrumbs, parmesan and parsley.
While we do this, we will heat some vegetable oil in a frying pan. When it is hot enough, about 325ºF, we will start frying the Stuffed Chicken Breasts. We will cook the breasts on both sides for some minutes. When they are done, being sure they have been cooked thoroughly inside, we will remove them from the frying pan and will put them on kitchen paper towel. You will get rid of some oil by doing this.
And then your Stuffed Chicken Breasts will be ready to serve. Enjoy them with your favourite side!

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MACKEREL RACHEADO

Let’s go back to India today. In fact, we will go to Goa. A paradise in India, with an important Portuguese influence. We will cook some fish today. Mackerel. A cheap but delicious fish. You can cook it in many ways. We will cook it with a masala today. Racheado.

Ingredients:

2 mackerel
3 tablespoons Racheado masala

I normally use prepacked Indian Racheado masala. It is very convenient and not very difficult to find. But of course, you can try to make it at home. To make your own masala grind five red chillies (kashmiri, for example), two cloves of garlic, ½ teaspoon cumin, ½ teaspoon coriander, three cloves, five peppercorns and a piece of ginger. Then mix all that with vinegar and two tablespoons of tamarind water. With this you will get a paste that will be a good masala for your mackerel.
Racheado, or recheado, in fact, is a Portuguese word that means “stuffed”. So what we will do is stuffing the mackerel with this wonderful masala.
First we will prepare the fish. We will clean it thoroughly. We have to be sure it is well cleaned. Remove the bones of the fish. The fins too. And of course the head. Once the fish is cleaned, we will have to stuff the mackerel with some of the masala. Apply some masala outside also. Then we will let the mackerel marinate for a couple of hours.
And after that we will only have to grill our Mackerel Racheado. Grill the fish for 4-5 minutes on each side. Do not overcook.
And now, enjoy your Mackerel Racheado!

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PAN CON TOMATE

A delicious recipe from my country. A Mediterranean pleasure. Bread, olive oil, tomato and garlic. Simple but delicious. A wonderful side and a brilliant way of preparing bread for a sandwich. This means that you can eat it just like that or using the preparation of Pan con Tomate to make your favourite sandwich. Let’s start.

Ingredients:

Your favourite bread, baguettes, ciabatta… But do not use just regular white bread.
Ripe tomatoes
Some cloves of garlic
Some extra virgin olive oil
Some salt to taste

Not much, is it? It is enough, believe me. Just that. Do not add anything else.
We just have to cut the bread. Do it in the way you prefer. Bear in mind that we will have to rub the tomato on the bread.
Once you have the bread ready, cut some tomatoes in half and rub them on the bread. You will do the same with the cloves of garlic. Cut them in half and rub them on your pieces of bread. Chop more garlic and add the little pieces of garlic to the bread.
And finally, add some extra virgin olive oil to the bread. Add some salt to taste and enjoy this wonderful Spanish delicacy.

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DAL

We will cook a vegetarian dish today. And we will go back to India. Lentils. I love lentils. And if someone tells me that Dal is not good, there is only one possibility. I am sure they have not tasted it. I will cook some Dal, in a humble way. I will not say that my Dal is as good as the ones you can find in India. But mine is good too. I enjoy it and I am sure you will enjoy it as well.

Ingredients:

1 cup masoor dal (split red lentils) (you can use a different type of dal too)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
Some vegetable oil
½ chopped onion
½ chopped green pepper
½ cup chopped squash
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1-2 dried red chillies
8 black peppercorns
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
4 green cardamom pods (without the pods)
Some salt to taste
1 teaspoon chopped cilantro
½ teaspoon ground cardamom
Some cooked basmati rice

First we will prepare the lentils. To do this we will rinse the dal thoroughly. Do this till the water is clear. Then we will put four cups of water in a pan and bring to boil. Now we will add the dal. Cook gently and before they are completely cooked remove from the fire and reserve.
While the dal is being cooked, we will prepare some spices. We will take a mortar and will grind the chillies, the peppercorns, the mustard seeds, the coriander seeds, the cumin seeds, and the cardamom pods. The next step will be to put some vegetable oil in a frying pan and sauté the onion and the green pepper. A couple of minutes later we will add the squash. Finally we will add the ginger and the garlic. We can use other vegetables too. For example, eggplant is a good idea. Now we will add the spices to the frying pan with the onion, the green pepper, the ginger and the garlic. We will stir well.
We will add this to the dal now. We will cook the dal for five minutes more, simmering on low heat. If we need to add more water, we will do it now. This water should be warm.
Just before serving, add some salt if it is needed, the cilantro and the ground cardamom. Serve with basmati rice. Enjoy your Dal!

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HUMMUS

More Mediterranean food. And today we will prepare a delicious Hummus. A delicacy for everyone, not only for vegetarians. Chickpeas could not taste better. This is one of those recipes that, despite being so simple, gives us a lot of pleasure. Chickpeas, olive and sesame oil, lemon, spices… Let’s make it.

Ingredients:

1 can chickpeas
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sesame oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
½ tablespoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon hot paprika
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
1 tablespoon parsley or cilantro
Some pita bread

We will start with the chickpeas. First, as I use a can of chickpeas, I will rinse and drain the chickpeas. Do this properly. Instead of using a can of chickpeas, you can also cook some chickpeas, but then the process will be longer because you will have to soak them overnight first and then cook them.
Once we have the chickpeas ready, we will put them in a food processor. We will add the garlic, which will be slightly chopped. We will also add the extra virgin olive oil, the sesame oil, the lemon juice, the cumin and the hot paprika.
You can use tahini instead of sesame oil but I prefer sesame oil. You can add more garlic too. Remember that you can adapt the recipe to your taste.
We will turn on the food processor. We must get a soft mixture. We might have to add more olive oil, or if you like your Hummus strong, you can add more sesame oil.
Once you have your Hummus ready, serve it with some sweet paprika, parsley or cilantro and pita bread. Some drops of extra virgin olive oil will be a good idea now.
Enjoy!

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CHICKEN SOUVLAKI

We will travel to Greece. I wish I could go there again in real life. But we will go to Greece by cooking. Today we will cook Chicken Souvlaki.
More meat cooked in skewers. This time it will be chicken, but normally pork is the meat chosen for this recipe. Souvlaki is very popular in Greece, and as you surely know, you can find meat in skewers in many countries. They have different names, they are cooked in different ways, different meats, vegetables or even fish are used with the skewers. But all of them are delicious. Now, Chicken Souvlaki.

Ingredients:

½ pound breast chicken
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons red wine
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
½ cup sliced onion
½ cup sliced green pepper
Some extra virgin olive oil to sauté the onion and the green pepper
Some pita bread
Half a lemon

First we will prepare the chicken cutting it in cubes. Once the chicken is cut, we will put the chicken pieces in a container. We will add the oregano, the salt, the black pepper, the olive oil, the red wine and the garlic powder. We will mix everything well and we will let it marinate for about four hours.
To make your Souvlaki you can use wooden or metal skewers. I will use metal skewers this time. If you use wooden ones, you should soak them in water for some minutes before threading the meat.
When the chicken is ready, we will thread the pieces of chicken on the skewers. We will put the skewers with the chicken on an oven tray and will put the tray in the oven. The oven must be preheated to 400ºF. Cook the chicken for about 20 minutes or till they are done.
While the chicken is being cooked, we will heat some extra virgin olive oil in a pan and we will sauté the onion and the green pepper slices. Just for a couple of minutes.
Remove the chicken from the skewers.
Once we have the chicken and the onion and green pepper ready, we will serve them on pita bread. Squeeze the lemon on the dish and enjoy your Chicken Souvlaki.

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COCIDO

We will go to Spain today. Cocido is a recipe you can find in many regions in Spain. Almost every region has its own Cocido. I will cook mine with the ingredients I could find here in the States. I will use a pressure cooker. You can do it in a more traditional way, of course, but pressure cookers are very useful and they give you good results.
Cocido is like a stew with meat and vegetables. Normally it contains lots of fat. But I will make a low fat Cocido. Let’s start.

Ingredients:

2 cups garbanzos (chickpeas)
3 small potatoes
1 carrot
1 green pepper
½ onion
1 clove of garlic
½ chicken breast
1 pork loin fillet
A little serrano ham
1 chorizo
1 morcilla
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
Some water
Some salt to taste
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 teaspoon parsley
½ teaspoon turmeric
½ teaspoon sweet pimentón
3 oz fideo (vermicelli pasta)

To cook our Cocido we will have to prepare the garbanzos first. We will soak them in water overnight.
We will prepare the vegetables. We will peel and cut the potatoes in medium pieces. We will chop the carrot, the green pepper and the onion. We will chop finely the garlic. You can add other vegetables if you want. For example, you can add celery and leek. Cauliflower is added in many cocidos. Feel free to do it if you like it.
Now we will prepare the meat we will use in our Cocido. We will have to cut the chorizo, the pork, the serrano ham, the chicken and the morcilla. Morcilla is like a kind of blood sausage. There are several kinds of morcilla. I like using one that has rice in it. You can use the one you can get, if you can get any.
Now we will take the pressure cooker and put some water in it. It will be enough water to cook the garbanzos. Do not put too much water, though. We will bring it to a boil and then we will add the garbanzos. Then we will boil the garbanzos for about five minutes. Now is the moment of adding the rest of the ingredients. We have to make sure we have enough water. If you need it, you will have to add some water so that all the ingredients are covered with liquid.
I add some turmeric to give my Cocido some colour. This is not really orthodox but I prefer turmeric to one of those artificial food colourings. You do not really need these artificial products.
Once we have all the ingredients in the pressure cooker, we will follow the instructions of the cooker. We will close the pressure cooker and, in my case, with my cooker, I will have it cooking for 20 minutes, starting to count when the cooker starts steaming. You just have to follow the instructions of your pressure cooker.
When we can open the cooker, as we should wait till it cools a bit, we will prepare a soup with the fideos. To do this we will remove some of the liquid from the cooker and we will cook the fideos using that liquid. We will do this in another pan. This is very good. By doing this you will have this delicious fideo soup that will be a part of our Cocido.
Serve the fideo soup and the Cocido and enjoy it.

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GROUND BEEF TACOS

Let’s cook some tacos. Mexican? Tex-Mex? Good, anyway. This is what I call comfort food. And you can use your imagination to make your tacos. You can fill them with the ingredients you like. I will show you the tacos I made today. Tomorrow they may be different.

Ingredients:

Some vegetable oil
½ chopped onion
½ cup chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
½ lb ground beef
½ cup cubed squash
½ cup frozen corn
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon oregano
1 chopped arbol chili
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Some fresh cilantro
4 tablespoons mole
½ chopped tomato
Some lettuce
Some salt to taste
Some taco shells
Some sour cream
Some shredded cheese
Some guacamole

We will start preparing all the ingredients. First we will cut the vegetables. Then we will heat some oil in a pan. Not too much oil. We will sauté the onion and the green pepper. Do not use all the onion now because we will need some later. We will add the garlic in a couple of minutes. And then we will add the ground beef. We can add the frozen corn now too. We will stir the ground beef and let it cook for some minutes. When the ground beef gets a brown color, we will add the spices. Add the cumin, the oregano, the arbol chili, the black pepper and some salt to taste. Stir again. Then we will add the cilantro and let it cook for one more minute.
We have to prepare the mole too. To do this we will use another pan. We will heat the mole in the pan for three minutes. That will be enough.
Now we will prepare a little salad for our tacos. We will mix the tomato, the lettuce and the rest of the onion.
We only have to serve our tacos. We will fill them with some of the ground mixture, some mole, some salad, some sour cream, some shredded cheese and some guacamole.
And now enjoy your tacos!

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TOFU CURRY

We will make a curry today. But it is going to be a special curry. A Tofu Curry. That means that today we will cook vegetarian.
Tofu is made of soy beans. There are different kinds of tofu. I prefer the hard to the soft tofu. You can use the one you like. And if you have not tried it yet, this is a good moment to do it. Let’s make our Tofu Curry.

Ingredients:

½ small chopped onion
1 small chopped carrot
½ cup chopped green pepper
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
Some bamboo shoots
½ cup chopped squash
½ cup chopped mushrooms
½ cup chopped eggplant
1 14 oz. packet firm tofu
1 tablespoon tamarind from a compressed block
1 teaspoon star aniseed teaspoon
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Some salt to taste
1 inch cinnamon stick
3 cloves
2 teaspoons cumin seeds
2 teaspoons coriander seeds
4 green cardamom pods (without the pods)
1 teaspoon ground turmeric
1 teaspoon ground chilli powder
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
½ cup coconut milk

To make our Tofu Curry we will start preparing the vegetables. We will cut and chop the vegetables. We will also cut the tofu in cubes. The next thing is to prepare the spice mix. We will do that in a mortar. We will put in the mortar the star aniseed, the black pepper, the cinnamon, the cloves, the cumin seeds, the coriander seeds, the cardamoms, the turmeric and the chilli powder. We will work on them to get a mix of spices. Do not powder them too much, though.
Now we will prepare the tamarind. To do this we will put the piece of tamarind in a container. Then we will add some warm water. We will let the tamarind soak for some minutes. We can use our fingers to press the tamarind and release the juice of the tamarind. Then we can use a sieve to get the juice we need.
Once we have everything ready, we will start cooking our curry. First we will heat the oil in a wok. Then we will sauté the onion, the carrot and the green pepper. When these are a bit done, we will add the rest of the vegetables. We will keep on cooking for a couple of minutes. Then we will add the mix of spices. We will stir well. We will add some salt to taste. Then we will add the tamarind and the tofu. We will cook for a minute. Now we will add the coconut milk. We will turn the fire low and cook for five more minutes.
And the curry is ready. You can serve it with some basmati rice. Enjoy your Tofu Curry.

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HAMBURGER BUNS

Today I will make my own Hamburger Buns. And I will make them because I do not like the usual industrial bread made to serve with your hamburgers. The good thing about making your own bread is that you can make it the way you like it. You can choose flours. You can make it soft or crispy. You decide. Let me start.

Ingredients:

1 cup and 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 tablespoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup bread flour
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons yeast
Some sesame seeds

Ingredients:

It is not difficult to make your own Hamburger Buns. I know that it is easier to get them in a store but if you have some time and you like to try doing new things, this could be your thing. If you have a bread machine, it will not be that hard. I will use my bread machine.
Let’s start. First I will put the water. Then I will add the oil, the sugar and the salt. Now I will add the flour. If I use different kinds of flour, and this is the case, what I usually do is mixing all the flour before I put it in the bread machine. Once I have added the flour, I will add the yeast. Now, following the machine’s directions, we will let the bread machine knead the dough. When the dough cycle of the machine is over, we will leave the dough in the machine for sixty minutes. Then we will remove it from the machine and let it rest outside the machine, in a warm place, for thirty more minutes. Now we will make our Hamburger Buns. We will make six buns. Sprinkle some sesame seeds on the buns. We will have the oven preheated to 400ºF. When I bake my buns, I normally keep them in the oven for about 20 minutes. When they are done, I remove them from the oven. They are ready for your burgers. Enjoy your burgers made with your own Hamburger Buns!

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BULGOGI

We will fly to Korea today. We will cook Bulgogi, a delicious Korean recipe. We will make a beef Bulgogi and I will use sirloin steak to make it. This is a wonderful recipe that combines different flavours. I like Korean food. I have not tried it much, but I like all the dishes I have tried. Today I will cook my humble Bulgogi.

Ingredients:

1 pound sirloin steak
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
2 chopped green onions
1 teaspoon sesame seed
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon vinegar
¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
¾ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon sesame oil
1 teaspoon vegetable oil

The first thing will be to prepare the meat. We should use a meat mallet to try to get a thin steak. Once we have our steak ready, we will cut it in little pieces.
Now we will prepare the marinade. In a container we will mix the garlic, the ginger, the chopped green onions, the sesame seeds, the soy sauce, the vinegar, the black pepper, the sugar, the sesame oil and the vegetable oil. Then we will add the meat and mix everything well. We will cover the container and let it marinate in the fridge for some hours. Four hours will be enough.
And now we will start grilling our Bulgogi. We will take the meat and put it in a grill pan. Of course the pan must be hot. We will add some marinade to the pan to help the meat to be cooked. In the end the marinade will be absorbed by the meat. When it is done and tender, we will serve it with some white rice previously cooked and some cucumber kimchi.
You can also cook the whole steak first and then, once it is done, cut it in thin pieces. I prefer cooking my Bulgogi in the way I have described.
Now, enjoy your Bulgogi!

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MUFFALETTA BREAD

We will bake some Muffaletta Bread. I will use a bread machine for the dough and then I will bake the loaves in the oven. I will make individual loaves.
It is very convenient to make the dough in a bread machine but you can also do it by hand. It is harder, though.
I like to use some whole wheat flour in my Muffaletta. These are the ingredients.

Ingredients:

1 cup and 1 tablespoon water
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup bread flour
1 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
2 teaspoons yeast
1 tablespoon sesame seeds

If you use a bread machine, you should follow the directions of your machine.
What I do with mine is the following. The first thing is to put the ingredients in the machine. I put the water first, then the olive oil, the sugar and the salt. Then I will mix the bread flour, the unbleached all purpose flour and the whole wheat flour. I will do this in a bowl and once this is done, I will add all the flour to the machine. Then I will add the yeast. I will use my bread machine to knead the dough selecting the program for it. When the dough cycle is over, I will leave the dough in the machine for an hour. That should make the dough grow a bit, but do not let the dough collapse. If you see that the dough is collapsing, remove it from the machine.
The next step is making the Muffaletta loaves. I will grease a tray and take the dough from the machine. I will make four loaves with the dough, giving the loaves the shape we want. When making the loaves, it is important not to manipulate the dough too much. Once the loaves are shaped, I will sprinkle some sesame seeds on them. Now we will let the loaves rest for half an hour.
And the next step is baking. We will preheat the oven to 425ºF. I will put the loaves in the oven and I will keep them there for about 25 minutes. Have a look to your bread and when it is ready, turn off the oven.
Now you will have your Muffaletta loaves, ready to make your sandwich. Enjoy your Muffaletta!

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MUFFALETTA

Muffaletta, or whatever you want to spell it, as you will find it spelt in many different ways, is a wonderful sandwich. Typical of New Orleans, one of my favourite cities. I still remember my first Muffaletta. I ate it there, in New Orleans, at Central Grocery, the place that is supposed to have made the first Muffaletta. I love New Orleans and its food.

Ingredients:

Muffaletta bread
¼ cup black olives, chopped
¼ cup green olives, chopped
¼ cup roasted chopped red pepper
1 tablespoon chopped garlic
1 tablespoon capers, chopped
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon basil
Some freshly ground black pepper
2 slices serrano ham or prosciutto
6 slices salami
2 slices deli chicken breast (or turkey)
2 slices deli ham
Some slices of tomato
Some slices of onion
2 slices or cheddar cheese
Some grated provolone cheese
Some grated mozzarella cheese
Some mayonnaise sauce
Some mustard

These are the ingredients I used this time. Of course, you can put the ones you like. You can use your favourite deli products.
To make my Muffaletta I will start making my olive salad mix. I use a chopper in which I will put the olives, the red pepper, the garlic and the capers. I do not like to chop them too much but, of course, you can do it the way you like. Once this is chopped, I add the olive oil, the vinegar, the lemon juice, the oregano, the thyme, the basil and the black pepper. I do not add salt because the olives and ham and deli products are already salted, but, you know, it is up to you if you want to add some salt. You can also add some chopped anchovies, pepperoncini, etc.
Now, we only have to make our sandwich. We will open our Muffaletta Bread and spread some of the olive mix that we have prepared before. And then we will add the slices of ham, salami and deli meats. Then we will add the tomato, the onion, all the cheese, the mayonnaise sauce and the mustard.
And now, well, I do not have to tell you what is next. Enjoy your Muffaletta!

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PATATAS BRAVAS

A wonderful tapa from Spain. Something easy and delicious. And it is cheap too. Sometimes you do not need to spend too much to eat something really good.
You can find Patatas Bravas anywhere in Spain. I miss them and when I go back to Spain, one of the first things I always do is going to a tapas bar and order a dish of Patatas Bravas. Now we will cook them together.

Ingredients:

3 potatoes
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Some salt to taste
3 tablespoons mayonnaise sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
½ teaspoon Tabasco sauce

Few ingredients and nothing complicated.
We will start washing and peeling the potatoes. Once this is done, we will cut the potatoes in little pieces.
Now we will heat the olive oil in a frying pan. When it is hot enough, we will fry the potatoes. I like stirring the potatoes from time to time. The moment you see that the potatoes are starting to be done, remove them from the heat. You can put them on some kitchen paper towel to get rid of some oil. We only have to serve our Patatas Bravas. Serve them with some mayonnaise sauce, some ketchup and some drops of Tabasco sauce. Mix everything and enjoy. Wonderful. I’ll cook some Patatas Bravas for me now!

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