Friday, August 26, 2016

Who needs tomato sauce....Zucchini Sauce

Image result for zucchiniI HATE tomato sauce.  I know I am weird, but if it is not covered in tons of cheese and possibly pepperoni. ..I am not eating it.
So....what do i use instead...
Alfredo sauce? 
LOVE IT
Butter and cheese?
OMG heaven
However they both have a ton of calories......soooooo
I came up with this recipe when I was making baby food and surprisingly...I kinda love it!! I do have the urge to add a pound of cheese but I want to do that on every meal.  But for a quick, healthy, and easy dinner...this is perfect. I recommend  serving this with chicken or shrimp.
This recipe makes diner for 2-3  adults.

WHAT YOU NEED
1  large massive zucchini  or 2 small to regular zucchinis
2 cloves of garlic
Salt
Pepper
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1/4 tsp lemon juice

WHAT YOU DO
1~Cute the zucchini into pieces.   Honestly  this can be diced or sliced..it does not matter you are blending it.
2~ Put on a plate and microwave for 5 minutes.
3~ Let cool a little. Put in blender with Olive oil and the garlic cloves.  USE A TOWEL ON TOP TO HELP WITH STEAM OTHER YOU MAY BURN YOURSELF.
Blend until pureed.
4~Taste add salt, pepper and lemon juice.
You are done this is perfect to go over pasta and/or chicken.  It is also a fabulous way to sneak veggies into kids.
Oh and add a little  cheese on top if you want....or a lot ....
Enjoy!!

Sunday, August 14, 2016

Ranch Chicken wings~the husband new favorite

Image result for ranch dressingThis recipe came from a gift.  The gift of a bunch of ranch packets.  My mother in law decided to get me like 100 Ranch Packets because we can not get them in Korea.
This is sooooo thoughtful and sweet but what do you do with 100 packets???
So I decided to try making Ranch Chicken Wings and it was a HUGE success.  This is my husbands new favorite thing I make...it is super easy...healthy and goes great with a salad with ranch dressing.
Image result for seminolesWHAT YOU NEED
1 package of chicken wing, chicken legs, or drumettes.
1 package of Ranch dressing and dip mix.



WHAT TO DO
1~ THE NIGHT BEFORE is best but this can be done 5 minutes before you bake the chicken too. Put the chicken and ranch mix in a plastic bag and shake until  the chicken is evenly coated.  Let sit until ready to bake.
2~Lay out evenly on a baking sheet and cover with Aluminum  Foil.  Bake for 30 minutes of 300 degrees F.
3~Remove the Aluminum foil and broil untill the skin turns a golden brown...normally 3-6 minutes.  So watch closely or you will have burnt chicken.
4~Remove and you are ready to eat. 
I typed it was simply didn't I?? This is a great prep ahead and make for friends or a tail gate party.  

Go Noles.  It is also easy when you are exhausted from taking care of a baby all day or working or both.  Add a salad and some rolls and TA- DA  you look like Susie or Stuart homemaker!!!

Cucumber Gazpacho

Ok~ Before we start ..
YES~ I know it looks like hummus. 
But it tastes so good and refreshing who cares!!!

After making Tomato Gazpacho, I decided to experiment with more cold soups. I mean it was sooooo easy and tasty.
 Ok fine
I had lots of cucumbers!!!

Now the trick to this recipe is hot sauce.  I used tabisco sauce but pick whatever you like best.

By the way this pairs great with a cheese quesidilla or sandwich.

WHAT YOU NEED
2 Cucumbers 
3 cloves of garlic
1 slice of bread
1/4 cup of Olive Oil
1 tsp Apple Cider Vinegar 
Salt 
Pepper
1/4 tsp Hot Sauce
1/4 cup Parmescan Cheese

WHAT YOU DO
1~ Put cucumbers, garlic, Olive Oil, Vinegar, hot sauce, salt and pepper in the blend.  Blend until 
2~TASTE IT!!  If it taste good, add the 
Slice of bread and blend again.
OPTIONAL ~Run the soup through a strainer to get a smoother texture.
3~ Put in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes or until cold.
4~ Pour  the soup into a bowl.  Add the fancy stuff.  Drizzle on hot sauce and Olive Oil.  Sprinkle extra Parmescan Cheese.
 

Gazpacho or how I got rid of a ton of tomatoes

AGES and ages ago I went to Barcelona with my Mom. 
Fine~only 2 years ago.  But after my little bouncing ball of joy...2 years ago seems like a decade.
While in Spain, my mom and I took a fabulous cooking class.  It was amazing.  Then I returned to Korea and totally forgot all I learned.
Well....until a few days ago...
A friend gave me tomatoes...like a lot of tomatoes....
And I had no clue what to do with them...I made pasta, sandwiches, stuffed tomatoes, salad.......NO I did not make tomato sauce because I do not like it.  My father says it is because of an incriminating photo of me eating it with my hands as a baby.  But.....THERE IS NO PROOF SUCH A PHOTO EXISTS....ANYMORE
So what to do....
Normally I would make homemade tomato soup but it is summer and HOT.
Then it hit me like a ton of tomatoes...
gazpacho
So I dusted off my memories from a lifetime ago when sleep and drinking wine occured.
And it was the perfect dinner for a summer night.  I paired with with a BTC( Bacon Tomato and Cheese) sandwich and PERFECTION.
Gazpacho~this makes 2 servicings
WHAT YOU NEED
~1/2 lb tomoatoes
~1/2 a large cucumber
~1 tsp apple cider vinegar/red wine vinegar 
~2 cloves of garlic
~salt
~pepper
~1/4 tsp cayenne paper (OPTIONAL)
~1 piece of bread
~1~2 tbsps of Olive Oil

TO TOP 
~Hot sauce
~diced cucumbers
~diced tomatoes
~Olive oil

WHAT TO DO

1~ Roast the tomatoes.  This can be done in a pan or the oven.  You want to cook the tomatoes long enough so the skin blisters but not too long that they turn black.  BLACK=BURNT
This is a step you skip if you are pressed for time or you prefer your tomatoes RAW.
2~Put the tomatoes, cucumbers, garlic in the blender or food processor and puree.  As it blends pour in 1 tbsp of Olive Oil. 
3~Next add the Vinegar, cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.  Blend again.
4~ Taste.   Add more  salt and vinegar if it is bland.  Add more Olive Oil if it is too thick.
5~ Lastly add the bread and puree one last time. 
The Gazpacho is ready.  I recommend  refrigerating it for 30 minutes so it is nice and refreshing but that is not necessary.  You can all put this through a strainer to get a smoother consistency. .but I am too lazy for that.
TO LOOK FANCY~~~Before you serve, place diced cucumbers and tomatoes in the center on top of the soup and drizzle Olive Oil and Hot sauce around the edge.
And TA DA...an nice and impressive way to spend a summer evening.  Ps~it is healthy and dairy free.
Enjoy!!!

Saturday, August 13, 2016

So I had a baby.....like 6 months ago

Well, it has been a while...a long while that is an eternity in internet time.  The world has changr there has been at least 2 new iphones, Britain left the EU and Trump is runnng for President. 

Gosh...I have missed a lot.  Well not really. ..I have been pregnant then a new mom.  So honestly if I have remember to shower and turn off the stove...it is a good day.

However I have missed you....oh fabulous internet.  I have missed you so much...whi else can I share my crazy food exploits with.

So not we begin a new chapter....one where I got a baby and still live in Korea...so there will be some Asian Fusion, baby recipes and pretty much the same old same old.

Welcome back to my crazy,  off beat style....welcome back to Somewhat Gourmet...