Simple Ratatouille

Ratatouille (/?r�t?'tu?i?/ rat-?-TOO-ee; French: [?ata'tuj]) is a traditional French Proven�al stewed vegetable dish, originating in Nice. The full name of the dish is ratatouille ni�oise.[1]

Origin
The word ratatouille comes from Occitan ratatolha and the recipe comes from Occitan cuisine. Ratatouille originated in the area around present day Occitan Proven�a (French: Provence) and Ni�a (French: Nice); the Catalan samfaina and the Majorcan tombet are versions of the same dish.[2] The southern Italian ciambotta is a related spring vegetable dish.
To read more click the link below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ratatouille

Piperade Mixture/ Sauce:
 1 Onion chopped
 2 Carrots unpeeled and grated 
4 Celery sticks 
1 Tablespoons Minced garlic 
1 Red bell pepper Charred, peeled, seeds and ribs removed 
1 yellow bell pepper charred, peeled , seeds and ribs removed 
2 Red chillies charred, peeled, seeds and ribs removed. (Optional) 
850 grams tomato sauce
2-3 Tablespoons Olive oil 
6 Fresh basil leaves. 
Salt and Pepper to taste

Vegetables:  
2 Zucchinis sliced 
2 Japanese or Chinese eggplants sliced 
6 Roma tomatoes sliced 

Procedure for the piperade mixture: 
1. Saute the onion with the olive oil until translucent ( do not brown). Add the celery, carrots, garlic and continue to saute until softened. 
2. Mix in the bell peppers,chillies and the tomato sauce.
Add salt and pepper to taste, then simmer until done. Add the basil leaves. Set aside
3. In a blender, blend the whole mixture into a thick sauce. Pour the mixture into a large pan (oven proof) / casserole dish. 

To Assemble the ratatouille:
4. Take a slice of each vegetable, put them together and stick them half way in the sauce 
5. Repeat the process until the pan is full of vegetables in a circular or preferred design. 

6. Finally, drizzle some olive oil on top, salt, pepper and some dried herbs (basil, oregano and thyme). Cover with an aluminium foil. 
7. Bake it in the oven (300 F for about 2 hours). Remove the foil and bake for 45 minutes at 350 F to caramelize. Serve and Enjoy.


Contributed by: Gabriel Eli Ndegwa

If yellow squash is available you can add it for this recipe

Now, it is time to watch the ratatouille movie :) 

More about → Simple Ratatouille

Stuffed Potato ( Relyenong patatas)

Affordable, easy and yummy. Try it.

Ingredients for 3 servings:
3 pieces potato Medium size
100 grams ground beef
1 carrot ( grated)
1/2 cup chopped broccoli
1 clove garlic (minced)
1 onion (minced)
salt and pepper to taste


Procedure:
1. Boil the potatoes and remove the skin then cut into halves, remove some part in the middle to make a space for stuffing, then set aside.
2. Saute the garlic and onion then add the ground beef and simmer for 2 minutes add the carrots and broccoli, stir well then add salt and pepper to taste and simmer for a minute and turn off the heat.
3. Get the potatoes and fill each slice with the  filling, put together each pair with a toothpick, dip in a beaten egg and roll over the bread crumbs, secure with a toothpick, then bake in a pre-heated oven for 13 minutes at 200C.

4. Remove the toothpicks, slice then serve and enjoy.

The potato parts  that I removed to make a space for stuffing, I also sliced it and add to the filling. :-)

More about → Stuffed Potato ( Relyenong patatas)

Cabbage Roll

I prepared this dish for a special family gathering, simple but a very attractive center table item that will surely capture the eyes of your guests and loved ones. This is also very affordable.

Ingredients for 24 rolls:
2 cloves garlic (minced)
1 onion (minced)
600 grams ground beef or pork
4 pieces big potatoes (finely diced)
3 big carrots ( finely diced)
1/2  cup minced bell pepper ( mixed colors if available)
24 cabbage leaves or more
200 ml All purpose cream ( Nestle, Alaska or any brand)
100 ml water
100 ml evaporated or fresh milk
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Saute garlic and onion then add the ground meat and stir until pinkish color is gone.
2. Add the potatoes, carrots, bell pepper, salt and pepper  then stir well  and continue cooking until done. Set aside.

3. Boil or steam the cabbage for 3 minutes then drain and allow to cool. If cabbage leaves are too big you can cut it into two (halves).
4. Flatten the cabbage leaf then put the filling and wrap well.

5. When done rolling, arrange well in a cooking pan then put the fresh  Milk, water, all purpose cream, salt and pepper then bring to a boil, when boiling adjust the heat to low then simmer for 5 minutes and turn off the heat. Serve and enjoy. 

Note: If you want it more saucy just double the portion of water and cream

More about → Cabbage Roll

Weekly Menu

Hope you have an extended weekend with President's Day tomorrow!  I know I am taking the day off (as well as the rest of the week).  Depending on how frigid it is tomorrow, may go to the Columbus Zoo because it is free admission (half price admission the rest of February in celebration of 2014 attendance records).

This weekend we celebrated both my birthday and Valentine's Day (of course), but the real celebration comes later this week with a tropical getaway!  :)  We made delicious Ohio lamb kabobs, which made the whole house smell like grilling season.  Then finishing off my birthday with a birthday cake cookie from the Cravory!  When a baker says these are the best cookies ever, you should probably order a box!  ;)

We kept the whole weekend kind of chill (because it was way below freezing outside) and stayed in for Valentine's dinner with crab cakes and steamed broccoli... nothing like a $9 meal for two on Valentine's!  Even a reservation at White Castle would have cost more!

 

 

Isn't the Snoopster so cute?!?  He was being good sitting in the back of the Jeep on his way to grandma and grandpa's house where he is getting spoiled all week long.

So this week's menu is short because of vacation, so you can also check out some other meal plans here...

spaghetti and meatballs
chicken and potato waffles
vegetarian crunchwraps

What are you planning on making this week?

More about → Weekly Menu

Fried Dried Fish

Simple yet special for me, oh how I love this fried fish at breakfast table,  a good appetizer . Wash your hands and grab the fried rice now :-). 

To fry it, simply heat the oil then fry the dried fish to your desired doneness, when done remove from oil then put in a paper towel to remove excess oil.
Serve and enjoy.

More about → Fried Dried Fish

Tortiglioni with Bacon

Tortiglioni is a short tube kind of pasta that has a good texture that's why I like it. This is good also with tomato sauce but I cooked it this way because my friends want to replace the rice with this, only light in taste to go perfectly with our viands.


Ingredients for 6 Servings:
1/2 kilo tortiglioni
1/4 kilo bacon (sliced)
3 cloves garlic finely minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Tortiglioni Pasta

Procedure:
1. Cook the tortiglioni according to its packaging procedure then set aside.
2. Heat the pan and put the bacon stir until the natural oil comes out, then continue cooking until crispy, remove from oil and put in a paper towel to remove excess oil.
3. Heat the olive oil, add the garlic and stir until light brown, add the tortiglioni and bacon then mix well, sprinkle with salt and pepper then stir and turn off the heat.
4. Serve hot with a smile :-).

More about → Tortiglioni with Bacon

Bean Sprouts Salad

Bean Sprouts are one of the common cooking ingredients that we can find at the market, this is very nutritious, in fact it is more nutritious than the original bean where it came from according to what I've read.  Low in calories ( 31 calories for 104 grams) but a good source of folate,  folate helps your body produce DNA, amino acids and red blood cells,  that are important in preventing anemia and birth defects. Make it a habit to include bean sprouts in your diet because it also a good source of protein and dietary fiber. 
Here is a simple salad recipe to enjoy. This salad goes well with any meat and fish dishes.

Ingredients for 4 servings:
2 cups bean sprouts ( wash well)
1 tablespoons lemon or calamansi juice
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoons soy sauce ( if balsamic coy sauce is available it is better)
2 tomatoes ( slice to your desired size)
some lettuce
salt and pepper to taste

Procedure:
1. Combine the tomato and bean sprouts, set aside, in a serving dish, arrange the lettuce properly then put the combined tomatoes and sprouts.
2. Sprinkle with lemon juice, olive oil, soy sauce, salt and pepper then serve and enjoy. :-)

More about → Bean Sprouts Salad