Posts Tagged ‘jalapeno’

Billy Goat Cheese & Spinach Quesadilla w/ Pesto

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Organic/natural ingredients taste best.

Be ready to hold people back on this one.

Tangy, spicy, gooey, crunchy, rich, terrific with beer or natural carbonated drink or even hot tea.

Very adaptable and delicious as an appetizer or light lunch.

You’ll need:

6 Large 8 inch soft Taco size Flour Tortillas: white, wheat, or your choice
5-1/2 Ounce container Goat Cheese, contents in bowl
3 Tablespoons Basil Pesto or your choice
2 Scallions, Green part only, minced
1 Large handful Spinach leaves only
2 Cloves Garlic minced
Salt & Pepper to taste
Salsa for dipping, your choice

NOTE: Can add minced jalapeno, chipotle, or other hot pepper for more heat. Suggest using latex gloves to handle them.

Large or 12” heavy skillet (not nonstick) very thinly oiled with light cooking oil

To prepare:

In a medium saucepan, steam spinach in about 1/2 inch of water till totally wilted. Drain and when cool, squeeze out removing as much water as possible. Chop and add to goat cheese with garlic and chopped scallions. Mix all together. Add salt and pepper to taste. Spread each of three tortillas with a thin/medium layer of goat cheese mix. On the other three tortillas spread a thin layer of pesto and place on top of goat cheese pesto side down. Heat skillet over medium heat. Wait until skillet heats through, about 3 minutes. Toast one quesadilla pressing down gently with a spatula until golden maybe 3 minutes. Turn over gently and press again. Mixture should be melting and soft. Toast second side till golden. Remove to cutting board and repeat with rest of quesadillas. Cut eat into quesadilla into 8 wedges and arrange on serving dish with salsa. Incredible!

Knock Your Socks Off Chicken Chili

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Organic/natural ingredients taste best.

chickchiliServes 6-8+

— you will want to double this one for seconds all around.

It hits the spot for a
chili night.

(yes, pun intended)

You’ll need:

4 Tablespoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1-1/2-2 Pounds +/- cut into 3/4“ chunks Chicken (or Turkey)
1 Small Package Organic Frozen (your choice) — defrosted Mixed Veggies
1 Small Package Organic Frozen & unsweetened — defrosted Corn Niblets
1 Medium diced Onion
5 Cloves Garlic or to your taste, mashed ‘n minced
3 teaspoons dried Oregano
1+ Tablespoon dried Cumin or to taste
2-3 Jalapenos Ribs & seeds partially, all, or none removed
You decide the heat level: more ribs ‘n seeds, more heat
Use hotter chilies if you prefer even more heat
1 teaspoon fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
1 28-oz. can Crushed Tomatoes or 3-4 Cups fresh
3+ Cups Organic Chicken Broth depends on how thick you like it
1 Can – Black Beans 15-ounces drained
1 Can – Pinto Beans 15 ounces drained
1 Can Kidney Beans – 15 ounces drained
1 Cup Cilantro chopped or to your taste (I love it so I use a lot)
1-1/2 teaspoons Black Pepper
1-1/2 teaspoons Sea Salt

On-the-side: lime wedges, sour cream, avocado slices with one big crusty whole wheat or sourdough artisan bread or a pile of warm pan toasted tortillas

Large, heavy porcelain/cast iron or stainless steel pot & lid is best
About one hour cooking time

NOTE: I recommend using latex gloves when handling hot peppers

To prepare:

Heat oil in pot on low/medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic till they are aromatic, a few minutes. Add chicken chunks and continue sautéing for a few minutes. Mix in veggies and niblets and cook on medium heat for a few minutes. Add oregano, cumin, jalapenos and mix through. Add tomatoes with juice, chicken broth, lemon juice, all beans, salt & pepper. Bring heat down to simmer for 45 minutes. Add cilantro and adjust flavors to your taste. Simmer 15 minutes more. Serve with the sides. S-mokin’!

Fast ‘n Easy Fish Tacos with Tangy Mango Salsa

Sunday, January 11th, 2009

Organic/natural ingredients taste best.

fishtacoThis taco is a winner for lunch,

brunch,

snack or dinner.



You’ll need:

Salsa:

1 Mango cut from pit into chunks
3 Plum Tomatoes cut in half
One very small wedge of Red Onion about 1/2 inch wide
1/2 Cup Cilantro leaves chopped
1 Jalapeno – small piece without rib and seeds. Can add more later for
more HEAT or add ribs ‘n seeds
Fresh Lime Juice from 1-2 limes
Dash of Sea Salt

Filling:

1 Pound Halibut or other flaky white fish
2-3 Tablespoons Canola Oil
1 Tablespoon fresh Lime Juice
1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder
Salt & Pepper to taste
1 teaspoon Organic Sugar
1 Cup very thinly shredded Green/red Cabbage or Lettuce if you prefer
6 Whole Wheat Tortillas or other good quality
Small bowl of Sour Cream

2 Cans Organic Black Beans with liquid
5 Tablespoons Toasted Sesame Oil
2+ Cloves minced Garlic
4 Scallions Sliced crosswise small rounds
2+ teaspoons Organic Shoyu Soy Sauce or to taste

Avocado slices and lime or lemon wedges

One medium sized heavy skillet (NOT nonstick)
Baking pan oiled
Blender
Oven on broil, rack on 2nd level from top
4 Servings or 1-2 more if less fish is used for each tortilla

To prepare:

Fish:
In a small dish marinate halibut turning on both sides in oil, lime juice, chili powder, sugar, salt & pepper just until salsa is done.

For the Salsa:
In a blender put in all Salsa ingredients and pulse till chunky. Pour into bowl, cover and set aside.

Beans:
Heat skillet on medium flame and add sesame oil. Allow to heat for about 2 minutes. Add black beans and garlic and sauté till liquid is almost gone. Add Shoyu/soy sauce to taste. Add scallions and mix. Turn off heat and allow to stand.

Fish:
Turn oven to broil. Cut fish into 4 pieces. Broil fish until just done, about 5 minutes. Check that it’s opaque and flakes easily. Allow to cool.

Meanwhile warm the tortillas in the medium skillet. Flake each fillet and fill each tortilla with 1 fillet, cabbage or lettuce, and salsa. Top with sour cream. Serve tacos with side of black beans, slices of avocado, and lime wedges. This one is fun!

ABOUT: Wellness Chef Helen Sandler
Lecturer, personal chef, teacher, wellness coach, & speaker, Helen promotes a healthier lifestyle through common sense, organic / natural approach to a happier, positive life.

Helen Sandler is used to being an innovator and at the cutting edge of whole foods whole grains awareness. After graduating from SUNY, New York with a teaching degree, she began to follow her real passion for healthy cooking which took her from Los Angeles to Boston to attend the cooking school of the late and great master Japanese natural chef, Aveline Kushi. Later that passion took her to Kyoto, Japan to continue her studies, where she spent four more years learning the art of healthy Japanese cooking (Seishoku).

As Wellnes Chef Helen she is the featured authority at CTNgreen /wellness with articles in the library there and the virtual paperless magazine at CTNGreen Magazine



970-618-0731
helskitchen@gmail.com