Suck It, Starbucks!: The Q No one seems to understand why iced coffee costs so much more than the regular stuff. Sure, some theories exist: that it's more labor-intensive, that plastic cups are more expensive than paper ones. But on an unseasonably warm spring day recently--when people were lined up out the door of the Starbucks across from my office, waiting to buy iced coffees that cost 30 percent more than hot ones--another idea occurred to me. Well, coffee barons, your days of ripping us off are officially over. Here's how I do it: • Pour about a third of a pound of freshly ground coffee into a 48-ounce French press.* (This makes a much stronger coffee concentrate than some recipes, but I prefer it that way; you can always weaken a strong concentrate by adding water.) • Fill the press with cold water and stir to wet the coffee grounds. • Place the French-press lid over the coffee (don't press the plunger) and leave at room temperature for at least 12 hours.
Cheesy Chicken, Bacon and Avocado Quesadillas What is it about bacon & avocado that I absolutely love?? And these quesadillas… with their buttery, crispy, heavenly tortilla shells… are seriously yum. Don’t let the green scare ya, avocados have a really delicious taste. Let’s start with the bacon. Now take about a tbsp of the bacon drippings and add to a skillet over medium heat. Add bite-sized pieces of chicken in a single layer, season with salt & pepper, and cook for about 5 mins or until chicken is golden and cooked through, flipping just once during cooking. Remove the chicken & scallions to a plate and rinse out the skillet. Then add a little butter over medium heat… And when foamy, add a tortilla and swirl it around to get it nice and buttery. Now we can start layering with the good stuff. Bacon. Avocado. Do you know how to pick out a good avocado? A little cheese.. Now use some tongs to flip the other side of the tortilla over. And pat down in place. Oh my stars. Super easy. Cheesy Chicken, Bacon & Avocado Quesadillas
Orange Blossom Frescas - A beverage for the Morning After I know this is a strange day to post about a refreshing, cold beverage, being we’re in a midst of a Snow Advisory but I’ve been drinking Orange Blossoms with Cranberry and Mint all day long and it’s just too good not to share. I started making Infused Waters out of necessity. Being a poor college student and wanting some variety in my daily menu, I just took fresh fruit and picked some mint that was growing wild on campus and let it ferment for a few hours in ice cold water. But I had no idea that my inexpensive yet delicious beverage actually had roots in Spanish Cuisine a.k.a Aguas Frescas or Fresh (cold) Water! But you can make it more complicated by adding several different fruits or herbs. Sometimes I like to add a tsp or so of Rose Water to give the beverage a delicious fragrance. If you’re serving this to a group of people, have a few pitchers infusing in the refrigerator for refills. I must have refilled this same glass 8 or 9 times and look…no residue at all!
Chicken with Coconut-Lime Peanut Sauce Recipe: Thai, Asian Inspired The Super Bowl is this Sunday and I am finally diverting from my Valentine’s recipes and sharing a dish that would be great alongside all those mini bite appetizers. There have been so many awesome recipes passed around the internet the past few weeks in preparation for the game. Do I even know who is playing, no. Do I know what I will be eating, sure. This Chicken with Coconut-Lime Peanut Sauce is a fun alternative to chili. When it comes to spectator sports it is all about the food for me. I added some bright green asparagus. This sauce tastes even better the next day after the flavors have a chance to combine. I like to make a big batch of this chicken dish so we have enough for a few days. What are you serving for the Super Bowl? Chicken with Coconut-Lime Peanut Sauce Ingredients Sauce Chicken 2 pounds Chicken Breast, cut into 1 inch pieces 1/2 cup diced Onion a few Garlic Cloves, chopped 1 teaspoon unrefined Coconut Oil 1 cup chopped Asparagus Spears, cut into 1 inch pieces Method Notes
Homemade Coffee Creamer My friends tell me the one thing they can’t give up is their flavored coffee creamer. I can understand. Creamy, sweet, smooth, with all sorts of different flavors to choose from. The problem is the ingredients. Have you ever read what’s in those bottles? They are full of artificial colors, flavors, preservatives, refined sugars, high fructose corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils. So if you’re hooked on store-bought creamer then today’s your day. Next time you have friends over for a gathering, make a few batches of homemade coffee creamer, put them in cute bottles and have a coffee bar. A great alternative to regular coffee is herbal coffee. *Since posting these recipes in September 2010, I have developed a few new recipes: Caramel Coffee Creamer and Honey Vanilla Coffee Creamer, Sugar Free and Dairy Free Coffee Creamer **Teeccino contains barley, so if you need to avoid gluten an organic decaf would be a better option. Homemade Cinnamon Strudel Coffee Creamer
14 Easy Meals Ever Guy Should Know How to Make I never understood why more guys don't cook. Food is delicious. You can make it yourself. 14. Making a stir-fry is crazy easy, universally flexible, and takes next to no time at all to throw together. 13. So, your ass is broke. 12. This is one you need to figure out on your own, but you need to have down pat, so that you can make it when you feel like the whole world has shat inside your head. 11. Woah, woah, back the fuck up, a recipe on how to reheat pizza? 10. I’m sorry man, but hard-shell tacos? 9. A basic pancake recipe is worth memorizing. 8. For chocolate emergencies, nothing beats the emergency chocolate cake. 7. If you buy vegetable stock, you’re doing it wrong. 6. The only people on the planet who don’t like grilled cheese sandwiches are the lactose intolerant, and that’s only because they’re jealous. 5. Another easy recipe bound to impress, especially for vegetarian eaters. 4. 3. Gordon Ramsey is a bit of a cock, there’s no denying it. 2. 1. Yeah, you were surprised?
Brazilian Lemonade This is my most favorite drink. Ever. Maybe I’d feel differently if I drank (as in alcohol), but there is nothing I love more than a warm, breezy afternoon and a pitcher of Brazilian lemonade. I didn’t try it for a long, long time because I was very put off by putting sweetened condensed milk in with citrus fruit. It seemed very wrong. It starts off with fresh, juicy limes. You pop them in a blender with some sugar water and pulse just a few times. Pour the mixture from the blender through a strainer and into a pitcher, thus saving all of the flavorful liquid. Then the secret ingredient: sweetened condensed milk. Brazilian LemonadeOur Best Bites Ingredients: 4 juicy limes (try and find ones with thin, smooth skins; they’re the juiciest and the thin skin cuts down on the chance of your drink being bitter) 1 c. sugar 6 c. cold water 6 Tbsp. sweetened condensed milk Instructions: Mix cold water and sugar very well and chill until ready to use. Place 1/2 of the limes in your blender.
‘Super Evil’ Bacon Meatballs | Evil Shenanigans - Baking & Cooking Blog I would like to ask my cardiologist to forgive me for what I am about to do … When ever you see a show about ‘extreme’ cuisine, or read an article about the ultimate (Insert Food Item Here), there is a pretty good chance that the ‘extreme’ item will include some bacon. Bacon has reached almost mythical status in the food world. Its presence in a recipe can create instant appeal and desirability. So, while I was contemplating how to incorporate bacon into a hamburger recipe, creating my own version of an ‘extreme ‘ burger I saw on television, I wondered what a bacon meatball would taste like. These are, bar none, the best meatballs I have ever had. ‘Super Evil’ Bacon Meatballs Author: Kelly Jaggers Recipe type: Main Cuisine: Italian Prep time: Cook time: Total time: Serves: 10 Enjoy! *To make these meatballs a sub you will need the following: © 2011 – 2012, Evil Shenanigans – Baking & Cooking Blog.
How to Make Almond Joy Hot Chocolate - Almond Milk Hot Chocolate Recipe Today we’re going to take that delicious almond milk we talked about in the last blog post and make–what’s that? You haven’t made almond milk yet? Well, what are you waiting for? It’s awesome! Go make some right now. I’ll wait. Almond Joy Hot Chocolateyield: 2 small mugs of chocolate Ingredients 1 cup almond milk, preferably homemade1/4 cup coconut milk3.5 oz (about 1/2 cup) milk or semi-sweet chocolate, or mix of chocolates. This first step isn’t mandatory, at all, but I must recommend it because it makes your hot chocolate mugs look ever so cute. Or dip the wet chocolate tops into the toasted coconut! Combine the almond milk and the coconut milk in a small saucepan. Once your liquids are mixed, add the chocolate you previously melted to the saucepan, and place the pan over medium heat. Whisk the chocolate and milks together over medium heat. And as the chocolate heats, everything will even out and become beautifully thick and smooth.
Idiot proof way to poaching eggs. | NARCISSISM IS NECESSARY How to poach an egg: Boil water, add some vinegar, stir water to create a whirpool-like effect, crack an egg into the eye of the “whirpool” and voila……poached eggs! Easy peasy right? Nope. Not even close. Poaching eggs is one of the single most difficult and frustrating things I’ve ever done in the kitchen. My eggs always disintegrate in the water. They say you should use the freshest eggs but hello I don’t live on a farm and I don’t always want to eat poached eggs immediately after buying new eggs. So imagine how happy I was, when I managed to catch an episode of Master Chef Australia which taught the contestants how to poach an egg in a way entirely different from what I’ve read or watched before. All you need are: Clingwrap filmEggsOil # – First, tear out a clingwrap film about 25 cm by 25 cm for one egg. # – Lay the film over a small bowl or in my case, a muffin tray. # – Now crack an egg into the hole. # – Gather all the excess cling film and twist. # – Then tie a knot, like this.
Step-by-Step: Amazing Spiced Chai Concentrate – Tasty Kitchen Blog Warm spices, strong tea and steamed milk swirling around in my tummy make chai lattes a favorite during the winter months. It warms me from the inside out in a way that puts coffee and tea to shame. Unfortunately, the chai concentrate from certain coffee chains is too sweet. But there is something better. It never occurred to me to make my own chai. Here are the ingredients you’ll need: cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, star anise, cloves, black pepper, nutmeg, orange zest, tea bags, brown sugar, honey, and vanilla. Start by bringing 4 1/2 cups water to the boil on the stove. Then you need some orange zest. The recipe says to use a piece of ginger. Once the water has come to a boil, remove the pot from the heat and add the tea bags. Then add your cinnamon sticks (we only add two—it just looks like we’re using four because we broke them in half). Then add your star anise and seven cardamom pods. Add sugar, vanilla and honey and then let this steep for 15-20 minutes. Thanks again, thecatnipcat!
Pizza Monkey Bread Recipe Ok are you ready for Pizza Monkey Bread. It will kinda change your life. And maybe your waistline. I’ve seen Monkey Bread made from scratch or with pre-made biscuit dough from the market. Stick these suckers in mini bundt pans and into the oven they go! Ingredients 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast1 cup warm water1 tsp sugar2 cups Bread flour1 cup AP flour2 tsp salt1/2 cup Butter, melted2/3 cup Pecorino Romano cheese, grated3 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped5 Scallions, chopped10 Basil Leaves, chopped5 cloves garlic, mincedSalt and Pepper1 cup Marinara or Pizza sauce Instructions Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.In a medium bowl, combine the Bread flour, AP flour and salt. Tags: Bread, bread flour, breads, bundt pans, dip, monkey bread, Pizza, pizza bread, pizza bread recipe, pizza dip, Pizza Monkey Bread, pizza sauces, sauce, savory monkey bread
Bacon-wrapped Jalapeno Chicken Bites 610K+Add bacon to anything and it will fly off the table. That’s what a caterer once told me and I believe it. Certainly applies here. Whether you’re planning a cookout this weekend or cooking indoors (rain predicted here in Texas), grill up a few of these sizzling treats for a quick appetizer or serve as an entree. If you don’t like hot, leave out the jalapenos or skimp a bit. Bacon-Wrapped Jalapeno Chicken Bites Author: Recipe adapted from Home Cooking with Trisha Yearwood 8 chicken tenders, flattened and cut in two3-ounce package softened cream cheese1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely chopped8 slices bacon, cut in half Dab ½ teaspoon (more or less) of cream cheese on top of each chicken tender. Be sure to wear plastic gloves when handling fresh jalapenos. Crispy Jalapeno Cheese SnacksBacon-Wrapped MeatloafHearty Baked BeansCheesy Jalapeno Mashed Potatoes