How to Cooking Tips

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Buffalo Chicken Wings

Buffalo Chicken Wings is a popular appetizer and meat-based meal in the United States. These chicken wings are traditionally deep-fried unbreaded and coated with special sauce.

Trivia: Buffalo wings were created in Buffalo, New York. (source: Wikipedia)

 

Ingredients:

  • 3      pounds        Chicken wings
  •  Salt and pepper
  • 1      Bottle Crystal's sauce

 

—–FOR DIP—–

  • 1      ounce Crumbled bleu cheese
  • 1/3  cup           Mayonnaise
  • 2      tablespoons   Milk
  • Celery sticks

 

Steps:

  • Lop the tips off the chicken wings and cut into drummettes. Discard tips or use for stock.  Bake drummettes in a flat pan at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.
  • Drain pan juices into stock pot for future use. Add Crystal's Sauce, either medium or hot, and cook another 20 minutes. Prepare dip by mixing and arrange all on a platter while piping hot. The wings are traditionally served with bleu cheese and celery.

 

 

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Chocolate Macadamia Nut Ice Cream

A meal is not complete without desserts. Desserts are every sweet-toothed person's utmost delight. Hence, try making this simple recipe at home. It is easy to do. I also guarantee you that you will love its heavenly and blissful taste.

Trivia: Chocolate has been known for releasing the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is responsible for producing feelings of happiness. (Wikipedia)

Ingredients:

  • 6 egg yolks
  • 1/2 cup of sugar
  • 1 cup table cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • 4 oz semi-sweet chocolate
  • 1 cup whipping cream
  • 1 pinch of salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 5 oz can Macadamia nuts

Steps:

  • Beat eggs yolks in bowl; beat in sugar. Heat table cream and milk in a pan over medium heat. Melt chocolate over low heat. When milk is hot, mix a small amount into chocolate and stir until blended. Repeat with small amounts of milk until all milk is added.
  • Add hot milk/chocolate mix to eggs, stirring as you add. Cool, add whipping cream, vanilla and salt. Chop Macadamia nuts. Freeze in ice cream maker. When almost frozen, add nuts.

 

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California Chicken Salad

This dish is a refreshing meal that reminds us much of Summer picnics and the great outdoors.  The spicy green chiles kick up the flavor. It is also good for the body because of its white meat and vegetables  combination. Thus, giving us an ample amount of protein and vitamins.  You may freely garnish the salad and match it with your favorite corn chips, tortillas or salad dressing.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups cooked chicken — chopped
  • 1/2  cup Monterey jack cheese — shredded
  • 1/2  cup cheddar cheese — shredded
  • 1 avocado — diced
  • 1/2  cup olives — chopped
  • 1 tomatillos — chopped (also known as a Mexican Cherry tomato)
  • 1/2  teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/4  teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onions — chopped (** Use a dash of onion juice instead of minced onions if preferred)
  • black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • 1 teaspoon green chiles — minced
  • 2 teaspoons sun-dried tomatoes, oil-packed — minced

 

Steps:

  • Lightly mix the first 10 ingredients together.
  •  Moisten with mayonnaise, using more or less as desired.
  •  Mound in 4 decorative serving dishes, sprinkle the minced green chilies and minced sun-dried tomatoes on top.

 

Chill for 1 hour. Serve with corn chips or crisp-fried tortillas as a light lunch.

 

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Tomato Mozzarella Tart

This appetizer looks and tastes like a gourmet delicacy. Surprisingly, whipping this up is quite quick and easy. With just a fresh bunch of tomatoes, mozzarella and some pastries on hand, then you are good to go. Other than that, these mozzarella cheese tarts are healthy to the body.

Trivia: The Lycopene that we get from the tomatoes have antioxidant properties. These  prevent us from cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and even male infertility. (Wikipedia)

 

Ingredients:

  • olive oil
  • 1/2  pkg frozen puff pastry sheets — thawed
  • 8 ozs mozzarella cheese — grated
  • 1 1/2 lbs plum tomatoes
  • 1/2 c Parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp chopped thyme or 1 t. dried — crumbled

 

Steps:

  • Position rack in center of oven and preheat to 375 degrees. Brush 9×13 baking sheet lightly with olive oil. Roll out pastry sheet on lightly floured surface to 16×12″ rectangle.
  • Transfer pastry to prepared pan and gently press into place. Trim edges of pastry, leaving 1/2″ overhang. Crimp edges. Pierce crust all over with fork.
  • Bake until golden brown, piercing with fork every 5 min to deflate if necessary, about 15 min. Sprinkle crust with mozzarella and set aside.  (Can be prepared 4 hours ahead.  Let stand at room temperature.) Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.
  • Blanch tomatoes in large pot of boiling water 20 seconds. Drain and cool slightly.  Peel and core tomatoes. Cut into thin rounds. Place rounds on double thickness of paper towels; pat dry.
  • Arrange tomatoes on crust in slightly overlapping rows, covering completely. Season generously with salt and pepper. Sprinkle Parmesan, 1 T olive oil and thyme over.
  • Bake tart until tomatoes are heated through and cheeses melt, about 9 min. Cut tart into large squares.

 

 

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Ricotta Cheese and Basil Lasagna

Lasagna is an Italian dish that has satisfied the taste of many. This meal is the perfect harmony of flat pasta, meat sauces, and fresh herbs, baked well in an oven. Try this ricotta cheese and basil lasagna recipe. For sure, it will awaken your senses and appease your cravings. (Wikipedia)

 

Ingredients:

  • 1 pound fresh lasagna noodles
  • 4 tablespoons   butter
  • 2 tablespoons   flour — sifted salt and white pepper
  • pinch of nutmeg
  • 2 cups milk — warmed
  • 1 1/2  tablespoons   fresh basil — finely chopped
  • 1/2  cup ricotta cheese
  • 1/2  cup Parmesan cheese — grated
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons fresh basil — chopped

 

Steps:

  • Cook the lasagna sheets in boiling salted water, a few at a time, until al dente.  Remove carefully and drain between dish towels. Melt butter in a saucepan and stir in flour.
  • Add a little salt, pepper and nutmeg and cook over a gentle heat until flour begins to change color. Slowly whisk in warm milk until sauce is smooth and thickened.
  • Remove from heat and stir in 1 tablespoon basil, the ricotta and half the Parmesan. Check seasonings. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. In a greased baking dish, or lasagna pan, place a sheet of pasta, followed by a thin layer of ricotta mixture.
  • Sprinkle this with some Parmesan and extra basil. Continue to layer in this order, finishing with the last of the sauce and Parmesan. Bake for just 20 minutes and serve hot.

Serving Ideas : Serve as an appetizer or luncheon entree.