Enchiladas Verdes (Mild, Cali-Mex Version)

Enchiladas Verdes (Mild, Cali-Mex Version)
As shared from the kitchen of Once Upon a Plate by Mari
Makes 12 Enchiladas


I've adapted this recipe from an old Sunset Magazine "Food Processor Cook Book", 1978.  In spite of its name, it is not an authentic Mexican recipe but it tastes very good ~ and is perfect if you have family members or friends who cannot tolerate spicy food.  When I make these I usually add cooked, shredded chicken along with the cheese to half of the batch to satisfy the meat-eaters at the table.


The original recipe called for 1 can (10 3/4 oz.) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted.  I prefer to make a quick Cream/Chicken flavored Bechamel (white) sauce instead. Directions below the main recipe.  I usually make the Bechamel first, keeping it warm while proceeding with the the recipe.


To make the recipe vegetarian friendly; omit the chicken both in the tortillas, and in the Bechamel sauce (stir in a little green taco sauce, or salsa to the finished sauce to boost the flavor a bit.)


12 ounces jack cheese
2 large onions
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
Additional vegetable oil for frying tortillas
1 dozen corn tortillas
2 or 3 green onions, white and green parts
1/2 package (10 or 12 ounce size) frozen spinach, thawed, squeezed dry
OR
1/2 cup fresh spinach, lightly blanched, squeezed dry
1 can (4 oz.) whole California green chilies (seeds removed)
1 recipe Chicken- Bechamel sauce (see below)
OR
1 can 10 3/4 oz. condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup sour cream
Optional additional filling: cooked, shredded chicken
Optional for garnish:  
Cilantro springs, tomato and/or avocado wedges, black olives, salsa of your choice


Food Processor Method:
Insert shredding disc into work bowl of food processor; shred cheese and set aside. With a knife, cut onions in chunks. Switch to metal blade and process onion with on-off burst until coarsely chopped. Heat the 1 tablespoon oil in a wide frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until soft (about 5 minutes). Stir in the salt.
In a small frying pan heat 1/2 inch oil over medium heat. One at a time, dip tortillas in oil for a few seconds on each side until just soft. Drain on paper towels. 
Sprinkle 2 tablespoons each cooked onion and cheese across the middle of each tortilla (add chicken if you wish), roll tortilla to enclose the filling. Please filled tortillas, seam side down in a shallow, greased 9 x 13-inch baking pan.


Cut green onions into 1-inch lengths. Process until chopped. Add spinach, chiles, bechamel (or the undiluted soup) and sour cream and process until pureed.  Spoon sauce over tortillas and sprinkle remaining cheese over all.


To serve bake in 350*(F) oven, uncovered for 30 minutes, or until hot and bubbling.


Chicken flavored Bechamel Sauce:


2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons flour
3/4 cups milk or half & half, heated
3/4 cups richly flavored chicken stock, or broth, heated
Salt
Freshly ground pepper


Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan. Stir in the flour and cook, stirring constantly, until the paste cooks and bubbles a bit, but don't let it brown — about 2 minutes. Add the hot milk and chicken stock/broth, continuing to stir as the sauce thickens. Bring it to a boil. Add salt and pepper to taste, lower the heat, and cook, stirring for 2 to 3 minutes more. Keep warm over very low heat until tortillas are assembled.

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Vegetable Frittata with Italian Herb Blend

One of the meals I make when it appears as if there is little to eat in the house is an egg based frittata (essentially a flat, baked omelet.) It's a great way to use up bits of vegetables, some cheese and/or meat (either are optional.) ~ Add a green salad and perhaps serve with toast, garlic bread, or warm rolls and you have a satisfying meal in minutes. It's budget friendly and perfect for times when the pantry and cupboards seem bare. I like the fact that they can be served hot, warm, or at room temperature ~ and a slice is a great snack any time of day or night. Frittatas are perfectly portable as well,  sometimes I'll make one to take along on a picnic, when it has cooled I cut and wrap individual portions ~ add some fruit, a baguette, your beverage of choice and you're all set for a nice al fresco treat.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

You're probably familiar with how to make a frittata ~

Here's how I make mine:  I start mine in an oven-safe skillet (well seasoned cast iron works great). A smallish pan for a few portions, larger if you have a crowd to feed. 

Select and cut the fillings, whisk up some eggs (I always just estimate the number of eggs, you need enough eggs to just cover the ingredients in the pan), add Ariosto seasoning of choice (or herbs and salt and pepper.) 

Melt about a tablespoon or so of butter or olive oil in the medium-hot pan, add the filling/s to the pan to heat. When hot pour in the beaten, seasoned eggs, give the pan a shake or a stir to distribute the eggs evenly around the filling and while still on the heat, allow the mixture to just begin to set. Transfer the pan to a 350* oven (middle rack) and bake until just firm. Usually 10 to 20 minutes, (the amount of time will depend upon the size of the pan, density of ingredients, etc.) Best baked until firm, but not over-done or the texture will be rubbery.

 Optional:  A couple of minutes before the frittata is done baking sprinkle some cheese on top (your choice of cheese, or cheeses)  place back in the oven until cheese is melted and bubbling.

If you like you can place the pan under the broiler element for a couple of moments to give it a nice golden finish.

Notes:

Vegetable Frittata with Italian Herb Seasoning

For the filling I generally use cooked vegetables; any kind you wish. Of course if you choose to use something like scallions/green onions, tomatoes, baby spinach, etc. ~ those need not be cooked. If using cheese, you can add it to the beaten egg mixture before pouring it over the filling, but this can cause the frittata to stick.  To prevent this I usually sprinkle a light layer of cheese on top during the last few minutes of baking. 

This time I had left over, cooked, whole potatoes so I peeled them (optional) and sliced them about 1/4-inch thick. For extra flavor and texture I  lightly browned them in a skillet with a combination of half olive oil and half butter.  As they were browning, I sprinkled them generously with Ariosto Seasoning for Potatoes*, a delicious herb blend imported from Italy. (Alternately you could roast the potatoes; generously drizzle a shallow rimmed baking pan with olive oil and toss the potato slices in the pan to coat, then dot liberally with butter and sprinkle with  the herb blend, place in hot oven until as crisp and brown as you like ~ turning once or twice so they brown evenly.)

Usually I add some herbs to all frittatas, but the enticing aroma from this particular blend of herbs actually brought compliments from everyone in the house as the potatoes were cooking! *

*Herbs, not spices, No preservatives

Sea Salt, garlic, rosemary, sage, juniper, basil, marjoram, oregano, laurel (bay), coriander and parsley. 

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Carnitas ~ Little Pieces of Browned Pork

Carnitas ~ Little Pieces of Browned Pork

As shared from the kitchen of Once Upon a Plate

I've been making this dish for well over 30 years, it is one of my all-time favorite Mexican foods and a much requested recipe in my family. It is difficult to believe that three ingredients (pork, water and salt) cook into such a satisfying and delicious dish. If I could only eat one Mexican food for the rest of my life, this would be it. If you try it, I hope it becomes a favorite of yours, too.

Carnitas are a popular snack in central Mexico, served with a fresh tomato salsa and wrapped in a warm tortilla (I prefer flour tortillas for this recipe) they makes a most delicious snack. Usually served with additional condiments such as chopped cilantro, sliced radishes, avocado (or guacamole), chopped onion or scallions, sour cream, etc.

Ingredients:
3 pounds pork shoulder, butt, or boneless country-style pork spareribs, etc.
Cold water to barely cover
2 teaspoons salt, or to taste


This dish requires some fat on the meat in order to make the finished meat succulent and juicy, if you are looking for a low-fat dish you would be better off choosing something else.


Cut the meat, with the fat into strips about 2" x 3/4", or 1 1/2" to 2" cubes. Place meat in a large pot and barely cover with water, add salt and bring to a boil over high heat (don't cover the pot.)


When pot boils lower the heat a bit and allow to cook briskly until all liquid has evaporated; the meat should be cooked through but not falling apart. Lower the heat once again and continue cooking until the fat has rendered out. Continue turning the meat until it is lightly brown all over and slightly crisp. this usually takes between 45 to 70 minutes. Taste and add additional salt if needed.


Tips:
-No need for an expensive cut of meat, you want cuts with a fair amount of fat so the meat browns properly later.
-The meat will cook more evenly if the pot is large (and rather shallow if possible)
-Do not add too much water at the beginning, or the meat will fall apart when frying later
-If the meat is still rather firm when water has evaporated then add a little more water and continue cooking.

Recipe adapted from Diana Kennedy's "The Cuisines of Mexico", an excellent resource.

I highly recommend.

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Mushroom Tarte Tatin

Mushroom Tatin ~

Shared from the kitchen of Once Upon a Plate

A gem of a recipe, adapted from a recipe by Donna Hay,

in her book No Time To Cook

2 servings

If you follow my blog you know I adore Donna's recipes, and this cookbook in particular because most of the recipes are designed to serve two. But they can be easily doubled, tripled, etc.

This makes an exquisite lunch or dinner when served with a simple green salad, or cut into small wedges it would be very nice served as an appetizer.

I made a couple of adjustments to the recipe, which I've noted below.

Ingredients:

3 1/2 Tablespoons butter

1 leek, trimmed, cleaned and sliced or chopped

4 field mushrooms, thickly sliced (I used 2 large portabellas and a few chanterelles)

3 sprigs thyme

sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper

2 sheets store-bought puff pastry dough, thawed

beaten egg, for brushing top

Preheat oven to 355* (F), 180* (C)

Melt 1/2 of the butter in an 8 or 9-inch ovenproof frying pan. Add leek and cook approximately 1 to 2 minutes. Remove leek from pan, set aside. Add other half of butter to pan and saute mushrooms in batches for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. I add a splash of dry (non-sweet) sherry at the end of cooking time. Place thyme in pan and return leek and mushroom on top, arranging as you like.

Cut 2 rounds of pasty dough to fit just inside of the perimeter of pan. Place both (stacked) on top of the mushroom leek mixture. Brush with beaten egg, bake in preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes** or until pastry has risen, is golden and has pulled away from edges of the pan. To serve, place a large plate, or a bread board on top of the tarte and invert, slice into wedges to serve.

**Note: I do not think the two layers of puff pastry are necessary, I would just use one next time and invert carefully.

I hope you enjoy!

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Parmesan French Toast with Wilted Garlic Spinach Topping

Parmesan French Toast with Wilted Garlic Spinach Topping

serves 4

4 large eggs

Scant 1 tablespoon milk
1 cup grated parmesan (use the best quality, and finely grate it yourself ~ it makes a difference)
sea salt and cracked black pepper
2 tablespoons butter (you may need a little bit more)
4 slices bread*
1 clove garlic, crushed
8 ounces baby spinach leaves, two to three big handfuls
finely grated parmesan, extra
lemon wedges, to serve

Note: In the original recipe the bread is simply dipped into the egg mixture, however, since I was using slices of more dense homemade 5-minute-a-day bread, I actually soaked the bread, turning occasionally for about 30 t0 45 minutes, then cooked it over lower heat, for longer that in indicated in the recipe below. If you are using a commercial French or Sourdough bread, there is probably no need to do this.

Directions:

In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, parmesan* , salt and pepper until blended.

Melt half the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat until butter is hot. Dip the bread into the egg mixture, add to pan and cook, in batches, for 2–3 minutes each side or until golden. Remove from the pan and keep warm.

Add the remaining butter and garlic to the pan and cook for 1 minute. Add the spinach and cook for a further minute or until just wilted.

Serve the French toast with the spinach, parmesan and lemon wedges. Serves 4.

* Thick white sourdough is a great bread for this dish as it soaks up the egg cheese mixture.

Recipe adapted from Donna Hay by Once Upon a Plate

I hope you like it as much as we did!

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5-Star Portobello "Pepper-Steak" ~ Vegetarian

Five Star Portobello "Pepper-Steak" ~ Vegetarian

2 to 4 servings

Ingredients:

2 to 4 cloves minced garlic
1 large onion, cut into slim wedges from stem to root end

water or broth for sauteeing (I use Pacific Natural Foods brand low sodium chicken broth)*
1 large green bell pepper, sliced into approximately 1/4-inch strips
1 medium red bell pepper, sliced into approximately 1/4-inch strips
1 or 2 large (4-6" diameter) portobello mushrooms (or a few shitake mushrooms, thickly sliced)
I use portobellos, sliced approximately the same size as the bell peppers

2 Tablespoons no salt added tomato paste
Fresh oregano and/or thyme; I like lots of herbs~ use as much or as little as you like, plus extra for garnish (May use dried, start with a scant teaspoon if using dried.)

Low sodium soy sauce to taste (about 2 to 3 teaspoons, or less --to your taste)
hot sauce, cayenne pepper or hot pepper oil to taste (I use Chinese Chili Oil ~a little goes a long way)
freshly ground black pepper to taste

Method:

In a large non-stick skillet over medium high heat, saute the minced garlic and onion in broth or water until onions are translucent. Add the red and green bell peppers and mushroom slices and cook for about 5-10 minutes, or until mushrooms release their liquid.

Add the remaining ingredients and mix well.

I serve this with steamed brown rice.

Adapted from kwvegan

*Use water to keep this Vegan acceptable.

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Gnafron

Gnafron
4 to 6 servings, depending upon the size of ramekins used

An unusual dish from Lyon, France; a tender flavorful flan baked within leafy greens, and served with a delightful Garlic Cream.

Perfect for a light lunch, dinner, or an appetizer ~ don't limit the delicious Garlic Cream to only this recipe; it is fabulous on vegetables and simply prepared chicken or fish, too!

Adapted from “Simple Soirees” by Peggy Knickerbocker
Recipe yields 6 ramekins

For the Gnafron

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 carrot, diced
½ pound andouille sausage or other distinctively flavored, spicy sausage, finely chopped
1 medium onion, minced
2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Splash of white wine
1 Napa cabbage, separated, tough parts of the core removed (16 to 20 leaves)*
2 tablespoons unsalted butter for greasing the ramekins
4 large eggs
¼ cup heavy cream

For the Garlic Cream

3 cloves garlic
Pinch of sugar
Pinch of salt
Splash of white wine
½ cup heavy cream

To make the Gnafron~

Melt the butter in the olive oil in a heavy saucepan, add sausage, carrot, onion, thyme and bay leaf. Season with salt and pepper. Simmer slowly for 15 minutes; as the mixture becomes dry add the white wine. Allow to simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes; remove pan from hat and allow the sausage mix to cool for about 10 minutes.

While the sausage mix is cooking, bring about 4 cups of water to a boil in a deep skillet or pot. Salt generously, reduce heat to simmer and blanch the cabbage leaves (tender parts only)* a few at a time. Remove with tongs and allow to drain and cool on clean kitchen towels.

Butter interiors of 6 small ramekins, or soufflé dishes with butter. Line the dishes with cabbage
leaves allowing them to overlap so when the egg-sausage mixture is spooned into them they can be folded over to enclose the filling.

In a medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs with the cream, add a bit of salt and pepper. Stir the
cooled sausage mixture; mix well. Divide the mixture among the lined ramekins and fold the
overlapping leaves over the top. Do not be concerned if the mixture leaks out around the leaves.

Preheat oven to 350* (F)

Place the ramekins in a deep baking pan, large enough to hold them all. Pour warm water around them so it comes ¾ of the way up the sides of the ramekins.

Place the pan in the oven and bake for about 1 hour (begin checking at 30 minutes; mine were done in 45 minutes. When they are done, the Gnafron will be set and the top will be firm to the touch. If the tops begin to brown place a sheet of foil loosely over the tops. It’s okay if the tops get golden brown.

To make the garlic cream:

While the Gnafron bakes, make the garlic cream. In a small heavy pot combine the garlic, sugar, salt and splash of water; cook over medium low heat for a few minutes. Add a splash of dry white wine; continue to cook for about 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the garlic to steep in the cream until the Gnafron come out of the oven. Reheat the garlic cream over low heat (it will be thin); remove and discard the garlic.

To serve, run a knife around the sides of the ramekins to loosen the mixture. Turn out onto a platter or individual plates (or serve right in the ramekins.) Serve with a little garlic cream over the tops.


*Note on blanching the cabbage leaves: I blanch the leaves whole, then when they have drained and cooled, cut a “v” to remove the tough core part (center rib) of each leaf (cutting them out afterwards makes the leaves easier to handle and not as apt to tear while blanching.)

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Asparagus & Lemon Risotto

The recipe I used this time is from British chef Nigel Slater, from his BBC television program "The Kitchen Diaries."

Asparagus and Lemon Risotto
Serves 2 generously


Nigel's notes: "You could use vegetable stock instead of chicken stock. The flavour will be much the same, but your risotto will lack the soul, not to mention the silky texture, that can only be achieved with a fine, gelatinous chicken stock. "


Ingredients:



50g/1¾ ounces butter

1 small onion, finely chopped

200g/7 ounces arborio rice

125ml/4½ fluid ounceswhite wine or white vermouth

1 litre/1¾ pints hot chicken stock

400g/14 ounces asparagus, chopped

salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 lemons, zest and juice

3 tbsp grated parmesan


Method:



I keep the stock/broth on a low flame near the risotto pan, it is crucial that the stock/broth be hot when stirring into the rice.



Melt the butter in a wide, high-sided pan over a very low heat. Peel the onion and chop it finely. Don't fry the finely chopped onion, instead allow it to soften in the butter, stirring from time to time so that it does not brown but instead becomes "translucent and silky".



Stir in the rice, folding the grains over briefly in the butter with a wooden spoon. Pour in the wine or vermouth and allow it to gently simmer until the wine has nearly all evaporated. While the wine is reducing slice asparagus into 1/2 to 3/4-inch pieces. (I reserve all of the tips for garnish, steam or microwave them until just crisp tender, and still bright green.)



Add a large ladleful (about 8 ounces) of hot stock to the rice, turn the heat up a bit, then let the liquid almost disappear before adding the pieces of asparagus and a second ladle of stock. Continue adding the stock as it boils down to almost nothing.



Stir the rice often, grating and squeezing the lemons as the rice is cooking.



Season with salt, pepper, the lemon zest and juice and continue cooking till the rice is creamy but has a bit of texture left in it. Stir in the cheese and eat immediately.







Recipe adapted from Nigel Slater.

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