Beef Fajitas

Ok so last night we made fajitas

We took a flank steak (way over priced for the cut of meat) about 6 bucks a pound
Marinated it overnight in olive oil, cilantro, lime juice, and chipotle peppers mixed up in a blender.  (I just kind of eyeballed it didn't measure)  Next time will need a food processor because the chipotle peppers didn't really blend in.
Then put the whole flank steak on the grill for 5 minutes a side (not long enough) had high heat but didn't even come close to cooking it through.  Paige of course yelled about the pink content of my meat so I cut it up and then cooked it on the stove for a few more minutes.  Cut up bell peppers and onions and fry them in some olive oil. then put in some tortillas (shredded cheese, sour cream, hot sauce etc.)  I also put some garlic salt on mine because they lacked a little flavour.  But they were very good and the kids loved them except for Jenna who refuses to eat meat (a vegan at 4,.........you got to be kidding me.......must get that from Paige's side of the family)

PF Changs Lettuce Wraps

Paige loves PF Changs particularly the Kung Pao Chicken.  Last time we were there we had the lettuce wraps.  We both liked them so Paige wanted PF Changs but can't go out becuase she has pneumonia.  So I cooked her some lettuce wraps here at home.

I got the recipe from a cook book and changed it up a little.
I cut up some chicken titties 1.5lbs real thin slices.
Put them in a bowl with 2 tsp sherry, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp corn starch, 1 tsp H2O some salt and pepper. and 1 tsp vegetable oil.  Stir it all up to coat the chicken and stick in fridge to marinate.

Need some dried shitake mushrooms.  I used two packages next time probably only one.  These need rehydrated.  Hot water in a bowl.  Soak the shrooms for about 25-30 minutes.  I warn you they stink.  I've smelled stuff that came out of our dogs that smells better.

Mince up two or three cloves of garlic, 2 green onions (next time I will double the green onions and garlic)  Also about a tsp of fresh minced ginger and a tsp of chopped up dried chilli.  Put all this in a bowl and set aside.

Chop up a cup of bamboo shoots and a cup of water chestnuts.  Also chop up the mushrooms.  All this should go into another bowl.

In another bowl put 4 tsp hoisin sauce, 1 tsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sherry, 2 tsp oyster sauce, 2 tsp H2O, 1 tsp sesame oil, 1 tsp sugar, 2 tsp corn starch.  Mix it all up and set aside.

Also need to cook a cup and a half of cellophane noodles.  (not really necessary they just go on the plate for the chicken stuff to sit on)  I won't do them again

Once everything is ready put 3 tbsp vegetable oil in wok,  when hot add the chicken and cook until done.  Remove the chicken.  I chopped up the chicken into small bits and put aside in a bowl.

Add 2 tbsp oil to wok and heat it up.  Dump the bowl with the green onions, garlic, chillis, and ginger into the wok and stir fry for about a minute.  Then dump the bowl with the shrooms, bamboo, and water chestnuts into the wok and stir fry for a few more minutes.  Add the chicken and then dump the bowl with the sauce into the wok and stir fry until hot and thickened. 

Put the cellophane noodles on the serving plate and then dump the chicken mixture on top.
Use Bibb or iceberg lettuce leaves to wrap the mixture in.

Also for dipping sauce I put some potsticker sauce in a small bowl 4-5 tbsp.  Then added 1 tsp or more of chinese hot mustard and red chilli paste.  More can be added to taste.  I spoon this stuff over the chicken stuff in my lettuce wrap.  Some people dip it but I can never keep the chicken in if I dip it.

Chicken Marsala, Roasted Garlic and New Potatoes, and Green Beans

So I made some chicken marsala.

Take 4 big chicken titties and slice them in half length-wise (make them thinner)
Mix some flour and Emerils essence in a bowl (about 1/2 cup and a tbsp or two of the essence)
I used a wok to cook everything.  so enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the wok.  add 2 tbsp of butter and heat it up.  Dredge the chicken in the flour and shake it off.  Put it in a couple pieces at a time and brown flip and brown the other side then remove and set aside for later.  Add another couple tbsps of olive oil and a tbsp of butter to the pan.  Add a container of sliced white mushrooms (you know the foam container wrapped in plastic)  Brown the mushrooms.
When the mushrooms are browned add 3/4 cup marsala.  When marsala has reduced by 1/2 add a cup of chicken broth.  Let it cook down a couple minutes then add the chicken.
Let it cook until the chicken is done and the sauce thickens up a bit.  I ended up adding a little corn starch and water to thicken it in the end.  Salt and pepper to taste then serve.

The potatoes took a little longer.
I used about 3 lbs of potatoes and quartered them up (the larger ones  I cut up a little more  about 1 inch pieces).  I also took 6 heads of garlic and chopped the tops off (leave the head whole just chop off the top so you have all the cloves exposed and their tops or chopped off)  I arrange all this on a large baking sheet with sides on it.  Mix the garlic heads around with the potatoes (i.e. don't put all the garlic on one side)  Then i dripped some olive oil all over the potatoes and spooned a little into the tops of the garlic.  Then I followed this up with some Reisling I made last year (about 1/2 cup of the oil and the wine.)  Any white wine will work  (since you can't have mine unless you come get it) just sprinkle on the potatoes and spoon into the heads of garlic.  Then I sprinkled some sea salt and black pepper and a touch of smoked paprika on everything.  I then took some fresh rosemary and chopped it up and sprinkled it over everything.  Cover everything in aluminum foil and bake for 45 minutes.  Then remove foil and bake another 20 minutres or until the potatoes are done.

The green beans were fresh.  I fried 3 pieces of bacon in a pan.  Removed the bacon. I then added about 1/2 a white onion chopped up and fried it in the bacon grease.  Then I added the green beans, some minced garlic, salt and pepper.  After about 2 minutes I added a cup of chicken broth (hot water and bullion cube) and  let it cook.  I chopped up the bacon and added it to the beans.  I cooked it all down until the beans were cooked and the broth was thick (about 15 minutes).

Plate it all up and dig in.

Oh yeah just like the pictures show I forgot.  Chop up some green onions to put on top of the chicken.

Chicken Parmesan ala Hank

Well tonight went pretty well.  Everyone ate it.  Not to bad if I say so myself.

What I did was take 4 chicken titties and slice them in half to make them thinner.
Then I had a plate with flour on it, a plate with bread crumbs on it, and a bowl with 2 eggs and a little milk in it.  I sprinkled some sea salt and Emerils Essence on the chicken (both sides) and started pre heating the oven to 400 degrees (make sure your rack is near the top of the oven second slot down from the top).  Also started heating some olive oil (2-3 tbsp) in a pan and boiling water for the pasta.
Then coated the chicken 2 at a time with flour, egg wash, then bread crumbs and put the smooth side down in the olive oil.  Cooked for about 3-4 minutes until browned then flipped and browned the other side.  Then I put them in a big glass baking dish.  Once all the chicked were browned on both sides and in the baking dish.  I spooned some Prego sauce on them.  Then sprinkled some parmesan and topped it off with mozzerella cheese.  About this time the water was boiling so I started the spaghetti.  And started warming the rest of the sauce.  I generally add a couple of tbsps of sugar and some minced garlic to the sauce (we like garlic and a sweeter sauce in this house) The chicken then go into the oven for about 4 minutes until the cheese was melted.  Then set the oven to broil until the cheese was bubbling and starting to turn golden and browned a little.  Then pull the chicken out plate up the spaghetti and chicken and serve.
I have to say tonight I shoulda been on Iron Chef.  I kicked butt.

Dinner tonight

I have been told I am making chicken parmesan tonight.  Not sure how that will turn out.  Keep your fingers crossed.  I will let y'all know how it turns out. (after I figure out how to make it)

Breakfast Tacos

So tonight my wife is down with pneumonia.  On the menu for the night is breakfast tacos.  They have eggs bacon and potatoes in them.  I try something new with the potatoes and it did not turn out so good.  I took the potatoes and used a grater on them to make hashbrowns.  Then Paige always puts onion and garlic in them so I did that.  I then tried to fry them in butter and it just turned into a mess.  Needless to say I don't think daddy can cook tonight.  The good news is I still have some beer.

Bean Dip

Paige was sick last night.
Which meant dad had to come up with his own dinner unless he wanted hotdogs.
Had ham sandwiches for lunch so thought he needed something other than processed meat for dinner.

Bean dip. 
2 cans of refried beans
1 can of nacho cheese (Mexican aisle of grocery store Giant Eagle here in PA)
1 large bottle of taco sauce.

dump it all in a pot and heat it up.
Dip chips in it.
Then you get it for lunch the next day also.  And will still have some left. (and probably chase Paige out of the bed at night)