Sloppy Ro*tels

I recently tweeted about a pasta salad I made with a can of Ro*tel Tomatoes, and Ro*tel heard about it…and sent me a sample of their new Zesty Tomato and Green Chili Sauce (Mild).

A taste-test was obviously in order, so I sorted through the stack of delicious sounding recipe suggestions Ro*tel packed in the box but couldn’t make up my mind.  Would it be the Spicy Chicken Enchiladas or the beef?  Maybe the Mexican Cornbread Casserole?  I couldn’t decide which one.  I knew I wanted to use it in something that would feature the taste so I could make a fair assessment of the flavors.  But what?

Then, I hit upon a great idea.  I would make my regular sloppy joes and substitute my plain tomato sauce with the Ro*tel sauce.  I mixed up the meat and prepared to serve the sandwiches, but...the green chilies in the sauce gave the meat a mild tacoey-tasting flavor unlike my run-of-the-mill joes, so I felt inspired to top each with shredded Tillamook cheddar and lettuce.  After that small adjustment, I took them to the table and waited for the jury to assess the results.

I honestly didn’t think such a small change would make such a big difference, but they loved it.  Absolutely loved it...and asked when I would make it again.  The new Ro*tel sauce was a hit!

Will I purchase this Ro*tel Zesty Tomato and Green Chili Sauce?  Definitely.  Will I try the spicier “Original” version?  Oh, most certainly.  Should you try it?  Yes!

Ingredients:

1lb ground beef

1 8ox can Mild or Original Ro*tel Zesty Tomato and Green Chili Sauce
1T tomato paste

1/4c water

2T fine bread crumbs

1T Worcestershire sauce

1t onion powder

1t garlic powder

2t sugar

1t salt (more or less to taste)

3oz shredded cheese

1c shredded lettuce

6 toasted hamburger buns

Instructions:

-Brown and drain hamburger

-Stir in sauce, paste, water, bread crumbs, and spices.  Simmer until thickened.

-Divide meat mixture among buns

-Top with cheese and lettuce

-Eat and enjoy!

Roasted and Toasted

I was strolling through the produce section and spied big, gorgeous heads of cauliflower.  According to the World’s Healthiest Food website, cauliflower and the other veggies in the Brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, collards, kale, rutabagas, turnips, arugula, radishes, and more) should be eaten 4-5 times a week due to their fabulous cancer fighting, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiac health, and detox abilities (not to mention that one cup of cauliflower also has almost a day’s worth of Vitamin C).

Yes, roasted cauliflower soup would be perfect for dinner as a side for my delicious cheese bread.  (I know the bread is supposed to be the side, but my family is so enamored with this new style of bread I’ve been making, they more often than not put it in the center of the table and the main course over at the edge).

Below is a recipe for the rich and thick, nutritious and delicious soup I made…and a few pictures! (I’ve been hearing my blog needs more pictures…so here they are.  While you are cooking, please excuse me while I go clean the flour off my camera…)

Roasted Cauliflower Soup

Roast Cauliflower Ingredients:

1 head cauliflower, cut into small florets

2T extra virgin olive oil

6 whole cloves garlic

1t salt

1t fresh ground black pepper

1/4t fresh grated nutmeg (love my Microplane grater!) 

Instructions:

-Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and toss to coat cauliflower.

 

-Roast in single layer on parchment-lined cookie sheet in 450 degree oven for 20-25 minutes until cauliflower is soft and browned.

Soup Ingredients:

1 medium onion, finely diced

1T olive oil

1T butter

3T flour

2c chicken stock (homemade!)

1c milk (or half-n-half for a richer soup - I used milk)

3T sherry

Instructions:

-Add olive oil and butter to large sauce pan over med heat until bubbly.
-Reduce heat to med-low and saute onion until soft and golden (about 10 minutes). 

-Sprinkle flour over onions and stir for 1-2 minutes until completely combined and bubbly. 

-Add stock and milk all at once and whisk constantly over medium heat just until thickened. 

-Remove from heat. 

-Add cauliflower and puree with hand mixer until smooth (taking care not to splash hot soup on your neck like I did last night).

-Adjust salt and pepper as necessary.

-Stir in sherry (more or less to taste).

-Eat and enjoy! (Makes four servings)

 

I served our soup with homemade Artisan Bread in Five Minutes cheese bread (made with Tillamook cheddar) topped with grated Tillamook Garlic White Cheddar and toasted under the broiler until bubbly and golden!

A 'choke by any other name

I went to our local farmer’s market on Saturday determined to find something new.  The first thing that caught my eye was a bin of Jerusalem artichokes (also known as sunchokes or earth apples).  Not only had I never eaten them or cooked with them, I'd never even seen one in person.  I picked out a pound of the ginger looking vegetables and brought them home. (They do look like ginger, don't they?)

 Photo by Susan Wenzel

I sent out an APB for recipes on twitter and found a real winner on Saffron & Honey’s blog.  She suggested I try her Jerusalem artichokes with garlic, rosemary, and chives.  I just happened to have a ton of beautiful rosemary and decided to cook up a batch.

Photo by Susan Wenzel

I followed her recipe but used regular garlic (instead of Elephant garlic because that’s what I had) and completely forgot about the bay leaves she suggests.  Nonetheless, they were delicious – crispy and flavorful and a texture akin to nothing I’ve ever had before (ok, maybe they were a little bit like fresh water chestnuts).  Everyone loved them – even the picky eaters – and asked when we can have them again.  I insist you check out the recipe if you have a pile of ‘chokes and no idea what to do with them.  Or, even better, make a point of buying some and trying them.  

   

But, now that I knew how to cook them (further perusal indicates they play like any other root veggie - stewed, mashed, pureed), I had to find out WHAT they were.  

Ok, first thing…they are not the same thing as the regular pine cone looking artichokes (Cynara cardunculus).  Second…they have nothing to do with Jerusalem.  Jerusalem artichokes (Helianthus tuberosus) are actually the tuber of a type of sunflower.  The aforementioned green, spiky artichokes are closely related to thistles (which explains their prickly appearance).  However…both artichokes and Jerusalem artichokes are in the daisy family (Asteraceae) along with dahlias, Echinacea, chrysanthemums, zinnias, and iceberg lettuce.  But, I digress…

The name still stumps me.  Some say the second half of the name is because these taste like the thistle-related artichoke, but I don’t buy it.  I also read that the Jerusalem part is, in theory, based on an age-old mispronunciation.  Girasole is the Italian word for sunflower and sounds like “Jerusalem” – sorta.  But, I don’t necessarily believe that either.  The name "sunchoke" makes more sense...because of the whole sunflower thing...but still...

Never mind why they are called what they are…I’ll just call them delicious!

PS - I've always vowed to be 100% honest about everything I write, so be forewarned...sunchokes are rich in vitamin C, phosphorus, potassium, and inulin.  Inulin is an...ahem...potent source of dietary fiber.  Which means these are healthy for your intestines...if you catch wind of what I am trying to say.  

Meatless Magic Meal

I was cold and wanted a simple supper that would warm me to the core.  I wanted easy and satisfying, and I wanted flavor and nutrition.  Oh, and it had to be something everyone would enjoy.   You may think this a steep list of demands for a one-pot dish, but, believe it or not, Kitchri magically fits the bill.

Kitchri is an Indian dish consisting of red lentils and basmati rice – and not a whole lot more.  It gets its flavor from fried onions and garam masala.  Garam masala is an Indian spice blend traditionally containing coriander, cumin, black peppercorns, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

 

This Spice House carries my usual blend in its whole and ground forms. Theirs uses Moroccan coriander, cardamom from Tamil Nadu, India, Tellicherry pepper, cinnamon, kalonji (aka black cumin) caraway, Zanzibar cloves, China #1 ginger and nutmeg.  (I buy the whole and grind it myself in my spice grinder – aka cheap coffee grinder – on an as needed basis).

I assembled my ingredients and discovered…I was out of the aforementioned seasoning staple.  But…all was not lost.  I happened to have some newly purchased Ras El Hanout.  My cousin, Peter, fell in love with this Middle Eastern spice blend when he was in Morocco with the Peace Corps and, at one point, suggested I give it a try.  Thank goodness I did or my perfect dinner idea would have to be scratched.

 

Ras El Hanout, translated as “Top of the Shop,” is typically made from the best of the spices the merchant has to offer (hence the name).  It contains a range of flavorful ingredients.  My Spice House version is packed with Tellicherry black pepper, cardamom, salt, ginger, cinnamon, mace, turmeric, allspice, nutmeg, and saffron.  It was close enough for me and for my kitchri (but probably my old Indian grandmother – if I had one).

The recipe follows, but please note - only long grain basmati rice will do.  Short grain rice will not break down into the texture required for this dish and instant rice...yuck.  Don't even get me started on that. 

A great (and permissible) shortcut can be found in the aisles of many Asian and Middle Eastern grocery stores.  Instead of frying two onions in the butter (or ghee), sometimes I use half a cup of fried onions - and not the one's used on green bean casserole.  These are sold also as "fried shallots" or Bawang Goreng.  They are usually only a couple of bucks for a poundish (500g) bag and work nicely in a pinch.   

Kitchri
Ingredients:

1c basmati rice (no substitutions on this one!)

1c red lentils

2T butter (or ghee if you have it)

2 onions sliced thin (or .5c fried onions)

5.5c hot water

2-3t salt (to taste)

1.5t garam masala (ground)

Instructions:

-Rinse lentils removing any bad ones or impurities and set aside

-Melt butter in large stock pot over med heat.  When bubbly, add onions (if using) and cook until browned.

-Add rice and lentils and stir constantly for 3 minutes

-Add salt and garam masala (and fried onions if using instead of fresh)

-Turn heat to med-high and add hot water all at once (beware of the hot burst of steam) and give a quick stir.

-Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low.

-DO NOT peak, stir, maim, or harass for 25 minutes until lentils and rice are cooked.

-Stir rapidly to achieve smooth, porridge consistency (add .5c more hot water and cook on low 10 more minutes for softer texture if desired)

-Eat and enjoy!

The flavor might not have been exactly authentic, but the Ras El Hanout was an excellent substitute and had the exotic flavor I craved.  Oh…and as a bonus, it is meat free!