If you crave for more variety in your life, try these different types of rice, each with its own unique taste.
Today, rice is a staple for almost half the world's population- especially in parts of Asia and the Caribbean. The major rice-growing states in the United States are Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Texas, Missouri and Mississippi.
Rice is usually classified by its size- long, medium and short grain.
Yet, when a recipe calls for Forbidden rice, that is the trademark name for a medium- grain Chinese black rice. It is rich in iron and has a fragrant aroma, nutty taste and black to purple color. It is certified organic from Lotus Foods. It takes about 30 minutes to cook.
Welhani: Developed by the Lundberg Family Farms. The fragrant rice is a reddish- brown hybrid of Indian basmati and long grain brown rice. Takes about 45 minutes to cook.
Jasmine: This, a more familiar name rice, is originally from Thailand. Though, it is now also grown in the USA. It contains 10% rice bran, giving it a light tan color and an aroma and flavor similar to popcorn or roasted nuts. Takes about 45 minutes to cook.
When cooking these items you can simmer-in flavor. Use flavorful broth, instead of water to cook rice. You can also crush a few cloves of garlic and simmer with your rice.
Try topping or mixing in a pasta sauce, pesto, tamari or a coconut curry sauce.
You can "veg" out and go nuts. Saute assorted vegetables or nuts in olive oil, butter or macadamia nut oil, and add cooked rice. Also try mushrooms and shallots; celery, onions, and slivered almonds; spinach, garlic, sliced artichokes hearts, and pine nuts.....the combinations you can create are endless
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Puerto Rico's Backyard and Fried Okra
Not sure, but few Borinqueneers have ventured to the sister island of Vieques on a regular bases. Located 6 miles to the east. it is a strange jewel of glamour in the Caribbean.
Today, the NYT Travel reports the opening of El Blok. A 22 room, boutique inn with Chef Jose Enrique at the helm of its culinary section. Chef Jose, a young chef whose creative take on jibaro Puerto Rico cuisine earned him a James Beard nomination last year.
The inn is located in Esperanza, Vieques's main seaside town. Part of the draw will be the inn's design.
With its round-edged concrete exterior, and colored hydraulic tiles, takes one back to the style of San Juan in the 1950s.
Rates for double rooms will hoover around $175. Twice as much as I paid for a room back in the '90s, on my last visit.
Saturday at the FryBar, we featured fried okra with a tomato mayonaise sauce. Nope, Vange made sure it was fresh, simple and not slimy.
1 pound Fresh okra
1 cup self rising cornmeal in a dipping dish ( plus 1cup self rising flour, or bread crumbs will work)
1 cup buttermilk in a bowl ( use half and half with a teaspoon of lemon or vinegar added)
Tony's creole seasoning or salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil, plus 1/2 cup bacon dripping
Starting from the tip, gentle smash each okra with a small meat mallet
They should slightly burst open. this can also be done with hand preasure
Season cornmeal mixture to taste
Working from left to right, dip okra in buttermilk and then dredgepelau2@yahoo.com in cornmeal, coating fully
In a skillet, saute okra in batches, till lightly golden brown, about 4 minutes @ 375 degrees
Serve with a tomato/mayo sauce (optional, keep off those calories!)
Today, the NYT Travel reports the opening of El Blok. A 22 room, boutique inn with Chef Jose Enrique at the helm of its culinary section. Chef Jose, a young chef whose creative take on jibaro Puerto Rico cuisine earned him a James Beard nomination last year.
The inn is located in Esperanza, Vieques's main seaside town. Part of the draw will be the inn's design.
With its round-edged concrete exterior, and colored hydraulic tiles, takes one back to the style of San Juan in the 1950s.
Rates for double rooms will hoover around $175. Twice as much as I paid for a room back in the '90s, on my last visit.
Saturday at the FryBar, we featured fried okra with a tomato mayonaise sauce. Nope, Vange made sure it was fresh, simple and not slimy.
1 pound Fresh okra
1 cup self rising cornmeal in a dipping dish ( plus 1cup self rising flour, or bread crumbs will work)
1 cup buttermilk in a bowl ( use half and half with a teaspoon of lemon or vinegar added)
Tony's creole seasoning or salt and pepper to taste
Vegetable oil, plus 1/2 cup bacon dripping
Starting from the tip, gentle smash each okra with a small meat mallet
They should slightly burst open. this can also be done with hand preasure
Season cornmeal mixture to taste
Working from left to right, dip okra in buttermilk and then dredgepelau2@yahoo.com in cornmeal, coating fully
In a skillet, saute okra in batches, till lightly golden brown, about 4 minutes @ 375 degrees
Serve with a tomato/mayo sauce (optional, keep off those calories!)
Thursday, June 19, 2014
Macaroni Milanaise
This is just an upgraded Mac & Cheese from the NYT magazine. A real comfort food that is even better the next day. You can use whatever dried pasta on hand: penne, elbows or bowties.
1/2 pound pasta
4 slices ham, about 2 ozs. cut into ribbons
4 ozs. mushrooms, sliced thin
2 T tomato puree
1/4 cup Madeira or red wine
3 T Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses, grated
2 T butter
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 T flat leaf parsley, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cook pasta in salted water just to al dente, following box's instructions
Meanwhile, in small saute pan, put the mushroom, ham and tomato puree
Pour Madeira wine into the pan and cook over medium high heat until liquid has reduced to a glaze.
Turn the heat off and set aside.
Reserve a cup of pasta water, and drain pasta well. Return the pasta to pot, then add the cheeses, butter, and stir to combine.
Add the seasonings, and stir some more, adding a little reserved pasta water to loosen the pasta and help melt the cheeses.
Add the mushroom mixture, stir to combine and serve.
1/2 pound pasta
4 slices ham, about 2 ozs. cut into ribbons
4 ozs. mushrooms, sliced thin
2 T tomato puree
1/4 cup Madeira or red wine
3 T Parmesan and Gruyere cheeses, grated
2 T butter
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 T flat leaf parsley, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Cook pasta in salted water just to al dente, following box's instructions
Meanwhile, in small saute pan, put the mushroom, ham and tomato puree
Pour Madeira wine into the pan and cook over medium high heat until liquid has reduced to a glaze.
Turn the heat off and set aside.
Reserve a cup of pasta water, and drain pasta well. Return the pasta to pot, then add the cheeses, butter, and stir to combine.
Add the seasonings, and stir some more, adding a little reserved pasta water to loosen the pasta and help melt the cheeses.
Add the mushroom mixture, stir to combine and serve.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Self Healing
The WSJ reports, the key to better health is being more actively involved in your own care. Studies show that the more engaged patients are, they have lower costs and better health outcomes. When more engaged with care, patients and families can help prevent drastic mistakes or oversights, such as identifying a wrong drug or dose they get from the pharmacy, or notifying a doctor about medication side effects.
One thing, I would like, is to check my medical records online, making sure it is correct. Also, notice your doctor is writing while they asked you questions? I want access to those notes.
I think we should be familiar with one's own health records. To better understand one's condition and then one can have an informed conversation with doctor. It is time we become a partner in our health.
Eat your veggies!
One thing, I would like, is to check my medical records online, making sure it is correct. Also, notice your doctor is writing while they asked you questions? I want access to those notes.
I think we should be familiar with one's own health records. To better understand one's condition and then one can have an informed conversation with doctor. It is time we become a partner in our health.
Eat your veggies!
Rellenos de Papa
Stuffed Potato Balls
Saw the recipe while playing with my phone last Thursday. First time I made these, they were a blast. Since then, I found out the basic recipe is from Carmen Aboy Vaalldejuli. She is the author of Cocina Criolla.
The trickiest part is filling the potato and sealing it. You can also leave them plain.
While in Puerto Rico, my go to place for these was Palo Seco. After doing the Bacardi tour, it is a great place to get this authentic food. Can be filled with crab, chicken, shrimp, lobster, cheese etc.
Sazon is found in the Hispanic section of your grocery store. It adds flavor to dishes. The filling should also have some sofrito.
I ended up making 12 balls, some enjoyed at FryBar the next day. Not sure how they freeze ?
I used Yukon Gold potatoes, they have a succulent texture. Bought at Aldi, $2.69/ 5 lbs. Not sure how a russet will work.
2 1/2 pounds potatoes, cooked fork tender, 15-20 minutes, drain and peel
2 ozs. butter
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pack Sazon, con culantrto y achiote (optional)
1 Tablespoon cornstarch, plus extra for coating hands
Picadillo filling, (or any other filling) made with 1 pound ground beef
Mash peeled potatoes while hot
Add butter, egg, salt, cornstarch and Sazon, cool to room temperature
Divide mixture into 12 balls.
Dab palm with cornstarch, take a ball and make an indention to fit a tablespoon of filling (or
flatten in palm, place filling in center and fold to cover mixture, shaping back into a ball)
Close opening, sealing with a little cornstarch
Repeat for remaining balls
Deep fry at 375 degrees F., until golden brown, about 4- 5 minutes
Drain on paper towel
Saw the recipe while playing with my phone last Thursday. First time I made these, they were a blast. Since then, I found out the basic recipe is from Carmen Aboy Vaalldejuli. She is the author of Cocina Criolla.
The trickiest part is filling the potato and sealing it. You can also leave them plain.
While in Puerto Rico, my go to place for these was Palo Seco. After doing the Bacardi tour, it is a great place to get this authentic food. Can be filled with crab, chicken, shrimp, lobster, cheese etc.
Sazon is found in the Hispanic section of your grocery store. It adds flavor to dishes. The filling should also have some sofrito.
I ended up making 12 balls, some enjoyed at FryBar the next day. Not sure how they freeze ?
I used Yukon Gold potatoes, they have a succulent texture. Bought at Aldi, $2.69/ 5 lbs. Not sure how a russet will work.
2 1/2 pounds potatoes, cooked fork tender, 15-20 minutes, drain and peel
2 ozs. butter
1 egg
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 pack Sazon, con culantrto y achiote (optional)
1 Tablespoon cornstarch, plus extra for coating hands
Picadillo filling, (or any other filling) made with 1 pound ground beef
Mash peeled potatoes while hot
Add butter, egg, salt, cornstarch and Sazon, cool to room temperature
Divide mixture into 12 balls.
Dab palm with cornstarch, take a ball and make an indention to fit a tablespoon of filling (or
flatten in palm, place filling in center and fold to cover mixture, shaping back into a ball)
Close opening, sealing with a little cornstarch
Repeat for remaining balls
Deep fry at 375 degrees F., until golden brown, about 4- 5 minutes
Drain on paper towel
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