Weekly Menu Planner: Will make your life easier

When it comes to 30-minute meals there is no doubt that the famous Rachael Ray is one of the best in the area of easy and quick meals.

Her magazine Every Day with Rachael Ray offer readers new tasteful ideas and provides useful tips on cooking. One of my favorite sections of the magazines is the Menu Planner, where you can find dinner ideas for every night of the week and also you can create the shopping list for the specific meals.

Most of the recipes are simple to make and the great thing about them is that with less than a $100 per week you will get a varied menu.

You can go to her website to sign up to get a weekly new menu or to get different tips and cooking ideas.

Argentinian Choripan: Quick and Simple

One the quick and easy things that my husband prepares and I like to eat are Argentinian Choripanes.

The word Choripan is the combination of two words; Chori which is short for Chorizo(sausage) and Pan which is bread in spanish.

To make choripan all you need is:

• Grilled Chorizo (Sausage)
• Bread Roll
• Chimichurri Sauce
  

I also like to add lettuce, tomatoes, a little bit of mustard and a slice of cheese.

Assemble Your Own Meals

We all live hectic lives and realistically there are many times when our busy schedule doesn't allow us to cook.

When there is not enough time to prepare a meal you do not have to worry. Mr Food no-fuss Meals provides busy people the option to buy meals that are ready to cook.

With two stores in South Florida; one in Fort Lauderdale and the other one in Coconut Creek, customers can choose main dishes, side dishes and desserts from an assorted menu that changes every month.

The customers have the following options:

• No-fuss Sessions: Customer go to the store and assemble their own meals.


• Grab 'n' Go: The store will assemble the meals of choosen by the customer and they need to do is pick them up at the store.


• Delivery: (This is only offer in some store). The store will drop off the assemble meals right at your door.

Looking at the menu from April prices range from $35.95 for the Garlic and Pepper-Crusted Sirloin for a large portion (4 to 6 people) to $24.95 for the Crunchy Chicken Ceasar large portion (6 servings). Sides dishes are between $4.95 to $6.95 for a large portion.

They also have one store in Melbourne, FL, another store in Charlotte, NC, and one in Buffalo, NY.

If you want more information about their meals or to see the menus visit their website.

Bringing a little bit of Colombia to your table

In my past blogs, I have posted several recipes from different parts of the world but I felt that I was leaving behind the food from my native country.

I am going to share with you some pictures and recipes of Colombian Fast Food that easy and quick to make.

Ensalada de Frutas (Fruit Salad)













Colombian Style Hot Dog













Salchipapas (Fries with Hod Dog)

Flavorful Peruvian Food

The Peruvian cuisine offers a mix of different cultures, wikipedia states that the biggest influence of Peruvian food comes from the Spanish cuisine with a mix of native ingredients.

Peruvian food is also influence by the Chinese, Japanese and Italian cuisine. Today, I am going to share with you the quick recipes of some of the most famous Peruvian dishes.

• Causa: Mashed yellow potatoes seasoned with aji and lime.
• Ceviche: Fish fillets cooked with lime juice, served with corn and sweet potatoes.
• Papa a la Huancaina: Potatoes with spicy cheese sauce.
• Tallarines Verdes: Green Spaghetti.

Here it is a video of Peru so you can know a little bit about the country

Food and meals you can freeze

Keeping frozen food or frozen meals handy is a good alternative for busy people but you have to consider different things to make sure you are storing your food in a safe way.

According to the USDA website, in order to safely store food in the freezer the temperature should be 0 °F. This will help to preserve the vitamin content, color, flavor and texture of the food.

The website also recommends to check for any strange odor in the food before using it. Remember that the longer you keep the food in the freezer the more likely it is that the quality of the food will be affected.

Here are some useful links that will help you to understand things from how to freeze food to how long food will last in the freezer:

1. Make-ahead meals and time they last in the freezer
2. Tips for freezing food
3. How long will food last in the freezer?
4. How to freeze different types of food?

Tapas: Famous Spanish Little Plattes

One the most famous dishes in Spain are Tapas. The website Spain.info says that you may find over 100 varieties of tapas.

Tapas can be made with can serrano ham, cheeses, shrimp, croquettes, chorizo, pickles and many more ingredients.

I found the recipes for some of the most popular tapas and here they are:

Potato Omelette (Tortilla de Patata)

Prawn and Bacon Brochettes

Shrimp Fritters

Bread With Olive Oil

I also found on the Tapeña Spanish Wine website a varied selection of recipes to make quick tapas.

Desserts that are ready in just a couple of minutes

Without a doubt one the most popular postings on my blog has been the Brazilian Mousse De Maracuya recipe.

For all of you dessert lovers, I was able to find more easy and tasteful options that you can prepare in a couple of minutes.

• Peaches over Meringue
• Summer Cannoli
• Coco Cola
• Key Lime Pie

Tasty and Easy Chicken Marsala

Sometimes I find myself thinking of different ways on how to cook chicken. A different option to make it is with mushrooms and Marsala wine, the famous Italian meal Chicken Marsala.

I have tried this meal at different restaurants but I did not know how to make it. The good thing about it, is that this is an easy, elegant and exquisite dish that you can prepare for a special occasion or just if you want to surprise your family.

Ingredients

• 2 skinless, boneless, chicken breasts
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup all purpose flour or corn starch for gluten-free
• up to 1/2 cup olive or vegetable oil
• 8 ounces container of mushroom, sliced and cleaned
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup sweet Marsala wine
• 1/4 cup chicken stock
• 1/4 cup sherry or dry white wine
• Optional: 2 tablespoons heavy cream
• Garnish with chopped parsley or oregano
  

Directions:

Split each chicken breast in the middle to make 2 pieces. Place plastic wrap over them and pound each one flat using a meat tenderizer/mallet until they are about a quarter inch thick. Season a good amount of salt and pepper on both sides of each piece. Place some flour on a plate and dredge each piece of chicken in it.

Heat the oil over medium-high heat and when the oil is hot fry each piece of chicken for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are golden brown (this may require you to do this in 2 batches). Remove chicken and place them on your serving platter covering them with foil.

Reduce the heat to medium and add butter and mushrooms. Saute mushrooms for 4-5 minutes making sure to season them with salt and pepper lightly. Add marsala wine, sherry, cream, and chicken stock allowing the liquid to reduce slightly – approx. 3 minutes. Pour mushrooms and sauce over chicken and serve.

Recipe by Savory Sweet Life

Watch the video to see how it is made:

Not Your Typical Mexican Food

If you like Mexican food but are tired of always eating the same. No need to worry, here are some videos on how to make a variety of Mexican food.

• Sopa de Jitomate and Rajas (Roasted Poblano Chile and Tomato Soup)

• Mexican Style Stuf 'n' turf

• Chilaquiles and Tomatillo Salsa
• Spinach Enchilada with Tomatillo Sauce

Enjoy

Breakfast Smoothie

If you are always on the run and do not have enough time to eat breakfast. You can try this delicious and refreshing smoothie taken from the Biggest Loser Family Cookbook.

Strawberry-Peach Paradise Smoothie (1 Serving)

• 1 cup frozen peach slices
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 2/3 cup fat-free milk
• 1/4 cup fat-free, sugar-free vanilla yogurt
• 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice

In a blender with ice-crushing ability, combine the peach, strawberry, milk, yogurt, and lime juice. Blend on the puree or ice crush setting until the ingredients are relatively smooth. Serve immediately.

Also, if you are Biggest Loser fan. I hope you have fun watching the following video.

Today's Dinner: Argentinian Spinach and Beef Pie (Tarta de Carne y Espinacas)

Being married with an Argentinian has open up a world of different kinds of food and new flavors.

One of my husband's favorite dishes are pies or Tartas as Argentinians called them. They are served either for lunch or dinner and they can be made with different ingredients.

The filling is usually a mixture of vegetables and cheese but the one I made today has beef. If you you are a vegetarian you can skip the beef and add any other vegetables that you like.

Today, I am going to share with you a recipe my mother-in-law taught me.

This is what you need:

• 1 package (2 sheets) of masa pascualina or pie pastry dough
• 1 big onion, chopped
• 20 oz of cooked spinach, drained
• 1 cup of mozzarella cheese
• 1/2 pound of lean ground beef
• Salt
• Seasoning mixture (oregano, paprika, bay leaf powder and white pepper)
• 1/2 Tbsp. of olive oil

1. Heat oil in a large pan on medium-high heat. Add onion and saute for about 3 minutes.

2. Meanwhile preheat oven to 350 F.

3. Add ground beef, and sprinkle with seasoning mixture, cooked until the beef is not longer pink. Remove from heat.

4. Place one pastry sheet over greased, round baking dish.

5. In a big bowl mix cooked spinach, beef and cheese.

6. Pour mixture into the pastry sheet.

7. Place remaining pastry sheet over mixture; fold and tuck pastry edges.

8. Brush surface with a little bit of milk; pierce pastry several times.

9. Bake for 35 minutes or until top is golden brown.

Makes 7-8 servings

If you want to see more Argentinian recipes, click here.

Adios

Homemade Chicken Soup

I have always heard that there is nothing better for the flu than a chicken soup. Last night, my husband was not feeling well so I decided to prepare him a Colombian style chicken soup to help overcome his sickness.

The difference between this soup and the traditional chicken soup is that I added rice and cilantro, which gives a different taste to the soup. Also to add more flavor to it I used chicken thighs instead of chicken breast.

Here is what you need:

• 7 cups of water
• 4 chicken thighs without skin
• 1 1/2 cubes of chicken bouillon
• 1/2 cup of white rice
• 1 1/2 of frozen carrots and peas
• 1 chopped small yellow onion
• Cilantro (optional)

Directions:

In a large pot place the water, chicken, bouillon cubes and yellow onion. Bring it to a boil and then reduce heat to low. Add the frozen peas and carrots, and the rice. Simmer it for about 30 to 40 minutes until the chicken is tender.

When you are ready to serve add a teaspoon of fresh chopped cilantro.

I hope that you enjoy this recipe. If you have a different recipe please let me know.

Bye

Food The Kids Will Love

There are some children that when it comes to food are not easy to satisfy . If you are a parent that is always trying to find new recipes that your children will love.

You may find helpful the websites below, where you will come across different options for the children and the meals are not difficult to prepare.

They have a variety of breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snack ideas. Some of the recipes that I look delicious not only for your children but also for yourself.

These are the websites:

1. Kraft Foods
2. Family Fun
3. Moms Who Think

I hope you enjoy cooking these recipes.

Vegetarian Food: Fun and Easy to cook

I've notice that most of the recipes that I have posted contain meat or poultry, but I have forgotten to include vegetarian recipes.

Today's posting is for my vegetarian readers or people who like to eat vegetables. I found several recipes that you will enjoy.

Cauliflower Purée

• 1 head of cauliflower, trimmed and broken into large florets.
• 2 tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese
• 2 tablespoons butter
• Salt

Place cauliflower in a large saucepan with 1 inch of water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat to medium. Simmer, covered, until very tender, 15 to 20 minutes.

Then transfer cauliflower to a food processor; add Parmesan, butter, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt. Process until very smooth.

Zucchini ribbons with mint

1. Using a harp-shape vegetable peeler, peel 1 1/2 pounds (4 to 6) small zucchini lengthwise in ribbons. Transfer to a large bowl; toss with 1/2 teaspoon of coarse salt. Let sit until zucchini releases some of its liquids, about 10 minutes. Pour off accumulated liquid; blot zucchini dry with paper towels.
2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice and 1 tablespoon olive oil; season with salt and ground pepper. Pour mixture over zuchinni. Add 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves and 1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion; toss gently, and serve immediately.

Tomato-cucumber salad with basil dressing

• 3 beefsteak tomatoes, cored, each cut into 8 wedges
• 1 English cucumber, peeled, quartered lenghtwise
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil

Cut each tomato wedge into four pieces; cut cucumber into 3/4-inch chuncks. In a bowl, whisk vinegar with 3/4 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, oil, and basil. Add tomatoes and cucumber; toss gently.

Recipes taken from Food Every Day Magazine

Chicken Tostones Recipe

Tostones, also known as "Patacones" in some Latin American countries are a common side dish but they can also be a snack or an appetizer.

Today, I would like to share with you a quick recipe for an appetizer that I tried at Bahama Breeze.

This recipe adds a different twist to the tostones and the combination of flavors is very rich and tasty.

Watch the next video to see how it is made:

To get the recipe, click here.

Healthy Low Calorie Desserts

If you are the kind of person that loves dessert but don't want to feel guilty about eating a lot of calories or if you are trying to lose weight but don't know any recipes that are healthy.

Here are two quick recipes that you can try. The fruit parfait is only 109 calories and the chocolate sandwich 151 calories.

Pineapple-Raspberry Parfaits

(Makes 4 servings)

Ingredients

• 2 8-ounce containers (2 cups) nonfat peach yogurt
  
• 1/2 pint fresh raspberries, (about 1 1/4 cups)
  
• 1 1/2 cups fresh, frozen or canned pineapple chunks

Preparation

1. Divide and layer yogurt, raspberries and pineapple into 4 glasses.

If you are a chocolate lover you can try the following recipe:

Grilled Dark Chocolate Sandwich

(Makes 8 servings)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup fat-free evaporated milk
  
• 3 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons butter, softened
  
• 8 slices thin whole-wheat or white sandwich bread
  
• 3 tablespoons bittersweet or semisweet chocolate chips
  
• 2 tablespoons chopped toasted hazelnuts, (optional)

Preparation

1. Heat evaporated milk just until boiling. Add chocolate, let stand for 1 minute, then whisk until smooth. Let cool slightly.
   
2. Spread butter on one side of each slice of bread. Divide the chocolate mixture on the unbuttered side of 4 slices, leaving a little border. Press chocolate chips and nuts, if using, into the chocolate. Cover with the remaining slices of bread, buttered-side up, and press lightly.
   
3. Cook the sandwiches in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes. Turn over, press with a spatula, and cook until nicely browned and the chocolate is barely melted, 30 seconds to 1 minute. Serve warm.

Recipes taken by Eating Well

Cooking for Pets?

It may sound crazy to some people but for others it is a pleasure and it is very common. A few animal lovers enjoy cooking and trying on new recipes for their beloved pets.

If you have pets and currently cook for them. According to a story from the The Early Show you should consider the following:

• Don't substitute pet food for regular food.
• Pets cannot eat the same things humans can.
• It is important to have guidance from a veterinarian nutritionist when cooking for pets.
• Cats and dogs are differente, therefore, they need different diets.
  

One website that can help and give you nutritional advice is http://www.petdiets.com

If you cook for your pets remember to be careful and consult with you veterinarian. If you want to read the whole article, click here.

Less Ingredients Equals Quick cooking

When it comes to quick cooking the less ingredients you use the less time you will spend in the kitchen preparing meals.

Searching on the internet, I found several websites that offer a variety of ideas on five-ingredient meals (salt, pepper and oil do not count).

Click on the links below to take a look at the recipes:

• Five-Ingredient Cookbook: Fresh Food Fast
• Quick & Easy Five-Ingredients Recipes
• Five-Ingredient Dinners

You can also check out these videos to see three great recipes:






Next time you want to prepare something remember, less is better.

Put on your apron with Publix Supermarket

Publix Apron's gives customers the option to learn how to cook quick and easy recipes and to be able to find all the necessary ingredients right at the convenience of the store.

Not only do you have the opportunity to get the recipes and see how they are prepared at the store but you can also go online to get them and watch videos.

According to the web site of Publix Supermarket's, this program was created to help customer discover or re-discover the joy of cooking.

Nothing is quiet as gratifying as creating something delightful in the kitchen and gathering with your loved ones to savor it. And that's why we created Publix Apron's.

These are just a few meal ideas:

25 - 30 minutes meals

• Carne Asada with Salsa and Zesty Pinto Beans
• Ham and Cheese Crescent With Vegetable and Dip
• Chicken and Dumplings Soup With Southern Green Beans
• Citrus Chicken Salad and Cheese Crisps

Check out this video clip for more cooking ideas.



Until next time.

Homemade dinner: Simply Bake Breaded Flounder

During the weekend, I went grocery shopping and while checking for food at the frozen aisle, I came across the Breaded Flounder Simply Bake by Treasures from the Sea.

This is only one kind of many varieties of seafood that the company offers. They also have Crab, Catfish, Halibut, Mahi Mahi, Tilapia and many more.

What I like most about the breaded flounder? It is the idea that I did not have to season the fish and I did not need to thaw it before preparing it.

The only thing I had to do was to preheat the oven to 400° and bake the fillets for about 20 minutes.

While waiting for the fish, I made a lettuce, tomatoes, heart of palms and artichoke salad with an oil and vinegar dressing and voila, dinner was ready.

After a long day at work, cooking gets easier if I have things that are ready to cook and do not required a lot of preparation.

Things you should have in your pantry and freezer

Going grocery shopping can be a hassle sometimes. Trying to find the right ingredients, buying products that are not only good for one dish but that can be the basis for other dishes.

Flipping through the pages of Better Homes and Gardens magazine , I found an interesting article about the 10 things that you should have in your pantry and freezer to cook healthy and quick meals.

Some of these items you may have already purchased or are part of your shopping list and if you don't buy them you may consider them, because they could be helpful when you are in a hurry and want prepare something quick.

The chef Ellie Krieger from Food Network recommends to have the following:

• canned beans
• frozen shimp
• whole wheat pasta
• dried lentils
• canned tomatoes
• roasted red peppers
• canned salmon
• wheat berries
• frozen edamame
• nuts

For ideas on how to prepare meals with these ingredients , click here.
I am sure, I am going to try the Garlic-Basil Shrimp recipe. I will keep you posted on how it goes.

Seven Layers of Funtastic Dip

Who will win the Super Bowl? That might be a question that you are not asking yourself right now. You may be wondering what to cook to the keep the hungry fans satisfied before, during, and after the game.

As you start getting ready to plan your feast. I though it would be helpful to find a fast and colorful recipe that will help you to begin your bash on a happy note.

The Seven Layer dip combines two of my favorites - guacamole and refried beans. Best of all, it will only take you 20 minutes or less to prepare it. What can be better than that?

Ingredients:

• 3 avocados
• 1lb (450 g) of refried canned beans
• 1/4 tsp chili powder
• 12 oz (340 g) drained black olives, halved
• 1/2 red onion, chopped
• Juice of 1 lime or lemon
• 17 fl oz (500 ml) sour cream
• 2 green peppers, deseeded and finely chopped
• 8 tomatoes, chopped
• 1 lb 10 oz (750 g) Cheddar or Monterrey Jack cheese, coarsely grated

Directions:

Peel and mash the avocados with the lime juice, using a fork.

To assemble, layer the refried beans over the base of a large glass dish. Add the mashed avocados and then the sour cream and sprinkle the chili powder on top.

For the green pepper layer, sprinkle the chopped pepper around the perimeter of the dish first, to ensure that the pepper is visible, and sprinkle the rest evenly over the center. Layer the halved olives carefully on top ans spoon over the chopped tomatoes and red onions. Finally, add the cheese. Chill until ready to serve.

Serve with tortilla chips or toasted flat breads.

Recipe by iVillageFOOD

To give it a personal touch you can add your favorite ingredients to this recipe. If you have any suggestions or ideas for this blog they will always be welcome.

May the best team win and to get you in the mood for the Super Bowl, enjoy this commercial from last year.

The Sweet Taste of Passion Fruit

Are you looking for an easy and tasty dessert?

One of my favorite desserts is the Brazilian Mousse de Maracuja (Passion Fruit Mousse).

It is really simple and easy to make. It will take you only a couple of minutes to prepare it, but it will sure make a big impression on your family and friends.

Here is what you need:

• 1 can of condensed milk
  
• 2 cans of table cream (This can by found in Latin or Ethnic supermarkets. Please note that this is not the same as half and half or heavy cream.)
  
• 1 can of passion fruit juice (use the condensed milk can to measure the juice)

Mix all the ingredients in a blender, pour the mixture in a glass container or in separate glass containers, and chill until ready to serve.

Enjoy the dessert!!!