Eat – weareatdo

Ground Lamb Tacos

These tacos were absolutely divine. I surprised my damn self!

I got some ground lamb from a local butcher. It ran me about $22 for two and a half pounds. If that is not in your budget, Kroger has ground lamb for $6.99 per pound. But I must say, the fresh lamb from the butcher is worth the extra money.

I did a cucumber tomato “salsa” (it’s just like cucumber tomato salad that most southerner’s have at cookouts), an avocado crema and fresh feta cheese. Not the pre crumbled kind.

Ingredients

2 lbs of ground lamb

2 tbsp of chili pepper flakes

1 tbsp of cumin

2 tbsp of kosher salt

2 tbsp of mint

2 tbsp of fresh parsley

1 tsp of cayenne pepper

1 tbsp of thyme

5 cloves of garlic, thinly sliced

fresh feta (it comes in a brine) it will be in the cheese section at your grocer

Package of flour tortilla shells

Cucumber tomato salsa

1 cucumber

1 tomato

1 red onion

3 tbsp of red wine (it can be cooking wine)

Avocado Crema

1 large avocado

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/2 cup of plain greek yogurt

2 tbsp of virgin olive oil

2 tbsp of water

dash of garlic salt

kosher salt to taste

Instructions

In a large skillet, add 1 tbsp of olive oil and make sure the whole skillet is coated. Add the sliced garlic and sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the ground lamb to the skillet. Season with spices above. Lamb is funny and you do have to season it until the flavor goes all the way through. I added a little bit more salt and all the flavor bursts through.

While the lamb is still cooking, start on the cucumber tomato salsa. Chop all ingredients into 1/2″ pieces and add to a bowl and then mix the red wine into it. set to the side.

For the avocado crema, place all the ingredients into a blender until all ingredients are blended well together. Pour into bowl and set aside.

Crumble the feta cheese into a small bowl. Not the water, just the cheese.

Heat oven to 425. Place the tortilla shells on the middle oven rack until the puff up into a circle. Take them out the oven and place on a cookie sheet and then press down the middle with a fork to deflate it.

Place the lamb in the shell, add the salsa, the cheese and then the creme on top. If you don’t want to use the crema, just add avocado.

These tacos are absolutely amazing and I hope you enjoy.

Jerk Chicken Tacos with Honey Jalapeño Slaw

I wanted something different for dinner and had been saying I was going to make jerk chicken for ages so I made these tacos. I was winging it with the seasonings and it all worked out. The slaw was an experiment as well, but it was oh so good! The slaw really makes the tacos so don’t leave it off of them or you won’t get the full flavor experience.

Ingredients

4 chicken breasts

package of flour tortillas

1/3 cup of brown sugar

1/4 cup of olive oil

2 teaspoons ground thyme

1 teaspoon dried parsley

1 teaspoon ground allspice

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

1 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon hot pepper flakes

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

2 teaspoons salt

2 teaspoons sugar

3 garlic cloves sliced thinly

1 small yellow onion

Slaw Ingredients

Small head of cabbage, cut thinly

1/4 cup of olive oil

3 tbsp of honey

1 fresh jalapeño pepper, sliced thinly

fresh cracked pepper to taste

Instructions

Mix all the spices except the brown sugar, together in a small bowl and place to the side. In a larger bowl, mix the olive oil and the sliced garlic together. Add the brown sugar a little at a time so that the mix does not get clumpy. If it does get clumpy, add some more olive oil. Once that is mixed well, add the other spices to the mix. If it is too thick, add more olive oil. Once the marinade is at a good consistency, put the chicken breasts in the marinade and cover with foil or saran wrap and set aside for 10 minutes.

While the chicken is marinating, chop up one small onion. I prefer yellow.

Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, once it is warm add one tablespoon of olive oil until the skillet is completely coated. Add the chopped onions to the olive oil and saute until translucent. Once they are translucent, add the chicken and the marinade to the skillet. Brown the chicken on both sides and then turn the eye down to medium heat.

Let the chicken cook for about 12-15 minutes or until no longer pink once cut. While the chicken is cooking, start preparing the slaw.

Slaw Instructions:

Chop the head of cabbage up into thin pieces. In a medium bowl, mix the olive oil and honey together. Add the cut up cabbage and mix. Then add the jalapeños and the cracked black pepper. I just added black pepper and honey until the slaw had the flavor I wanted so if you need more honey or black pepper, add as much or as little as you like.

Once the chicken is done cooking, place on a chopping board. I get my chicken into perfect strips by sticking a large fork into the chicken and then cutting the chicken between the fork lines.

Cut all the chicken up as such and then place back into the skillet.

Heat your oven to 425 and then place the flour tortillas on the middle oven rack. I bake them for about 2 minutes or until they have puffed up into a circle. Remove tortillas from oven. Place your fork in the center of the shell to deflate it.

Assembly

You can assemble however you please, I place the slaw first, then the chicken on top. I added some Monterey jack cheese, the kind from the cheese section, not the pre packaged kind, it taste way better, trust me. And then you can add avocado or sour cream or whatever you like to the tacos for additional fixings! Just don’t forget the slaw!

White Chicken Chili

This is my most favorite thing to make in the winter. It is savory and delicious and surprisingly healthy.

INGREDIENTS:

One package of ground chicken

2 cans of great northern beans

1 can of black beans

2 cans of Rotel

2 cups of chicken broth

1 yellow onion, chopped

1 lime

2 tbsp of fresh cilantro

*optional- I add 3 tbsp of a Mexican beer if I have one handy.

Chili seasoning mix

1/2 tbsp of salt

1 tsp of pepper

1/2 tsp of cumin

1/2 tsp of corriander

1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp of chili powder

1/2 tsp of garlic powder

*mix all ingredients in a bowl and set aside*

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INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Sauté onion in 1 tbsp of olive oil in a large pot until translucent.

2.Turn heat to medium and add ground chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Drain once done (about 12 minutes)

3. Dump chicken back into the pot and add the chicken broth, beans (please wash black beans prior to adding to mixture), Rotel and seasoning mix. Bring to a boil.

4. Turn heat down to medium low and add the beer, if using, juice of half the lime and the fresh cilantro.

I allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes before serving. You can simmer longer if time permits.

Add your favorite chili fixins. I do avocado, tortilla chips, shredded cheese and sour cream.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Pancakes are my most favorite breakfast food. I try to make some every Sunday and switch up the flavor so I don’t get bored with them. A few weeks ago, I decided to make some sweet potato pancakes.

Lissen…

They touched my soul and gave me instant itis…

This is a perfect Sunday morning treat and I would say healthy because sweet potatoes are healthy, right?

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon of brown sugar

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup buttermilk

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/4 tsp of ginger

1 tbsp of vanilla extract

1 tsp of orange extract (optional)

1 sweet potato, cooked ( I used a microwaved sweet potato) peeled and mashed.

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INSTRUCTIONS

Heat griddle to 400.

1. Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix the melted butter, egg, buttermilk, and extracts together. Make a well in the dry ingredients, pour the wet ingredients in and whisk together. Then add the mashed sweet potato. It will be clumpy.

2)Melt butter on the griddle and Use a ladle or a 1/2 cup measuring spoon to pour batter on the griddle. When you see the batter bubbling, flip over and cook until done.

Mango Chutney Chicken Tacos

As many of my recipes come about, I was searching for something to eat and just combined some stuff that I had handy and it was delightful.

These tacos are sweet and spicy and down right succulent.

Ingredients

4 boneless chicken breasts, sliced into 1″ slices

1/2 purple onion, sliced (optional)

1/4 cup of mango chutney ( I get mine from Kroger in the international food aisle)

1/2 tsp of Curry powder

1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper

1/2 tsp of cumin

2 tbsp of olive oil

Salt and pepper to taste

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INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Turn stove to medium and place skillet on eye to warm.

2) slice chicken into 1″ slices. Season with salt and pepper

3) Cook chicken (and onion if using) in olive oil until no longer pink.

4) Once the chicken is no longer pink, add the mango chutney, cayenne, cumin, and curry. Bring to a slight boil.

5) Once the mixture has started bubbling, continuously stir and then turn the heat down to low.

6) While the chicken is simmering, Heat the oven to 425. Place desired amount of flour tortillas in oven, flat. I bake them for about 2 minutes, but I like my shells a tad crunchy. If you don’t like them very crunchy, only bake for 1 minute. The shells will puff up, but once you take them out of the oven, they will flatten.

7) Place the chicken in the taco shells and dress with your favorite toppings. I use spinach, avocado, and Colby jack cheese.

*If these help you, please donate a little something so I can bring you more and better content. Paypal is tioradavis@yahoo.com*

Savory Sausage Pasta

I LOVE PASTA!!

It’s quick and easy and delicious. One Sunday, I wanted to try something besides chicken so I decided to make a pasta with turkey Italian sausage. Once I learned how to make my own Alfredo sauce, I never looked back and I hope you don’t either!

Ingredients

1 package of sweet or spicy turkey Italian sausage (or pork)

1 package of fresh sage (wash and pat dry)

1 package of portobello mushrooms

1 box of bow tie pasta

1/2 cup of heavy cream

1 block of Asiago cheese (shredded)

3 gloves of fresh garlic

4 tbsp of butter, unsalted

2 tbsp of Olive Oil

salt, peper, Italian seasoning, basil to season

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INSTRUCTIONS

1. Heat a large skillet to medium high heat and add the sausage, still in the casing and cook until no longer pink

2. While the sausage is cooking, chop up the fresh sage and mushrooms (I get pre-sliced mushrooms if available) and cook pasta according to packaged directions.

3. Once the sausage is no longer pink, remove from heat and place on a cutting board. Cut the sausage into 1″ pieces ( I achieve this by piercing the sausage with a large fork and then cutting between the two slits of the fork). Place the sausage back in the skillet with the mushrooms and the fresh sage and toss around. I add a little pepper and basil to the mixture for taste. Turn heat down to medium low and let it continue to cook.

4. Heat another skillet to medium low and melt butter. Add the sliced garlic cloves and sauté until golden brown. Add the heavy cream and stir until bubbly. Once the cream starts to form small bubbles, add the Asiago cheese and stir until all is creamy. Season sauce with Italian seasoning and a dash of salt and pepper.

5. Drain the pasta and toss the sauce and the sausage mixture together. Add cream if you would like your dish to be more creamy.

*This takes a little longer than 30 minutes. Maybe 45*

Cajun Chicken Pasta

Ingredients

1 pint of heavy cream
3 cloves of fresh garlic
2 tbsp of butter
Romana cheese or Parmesan cheese (in the fancy cheese section, not the pre-shredded kind)
1 lb of Penne Pasta
1 package of boneless, skinless chicken breast

1 cup of mushrooms

1 tomato, diced

Salt

Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Garlic powder
Onion powder

Directions

Shred cheese and set aside.

Cut chicken into strips and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Sear on medium high heat until no longer pink. Then turn the heat down to medium low and let cook for an additional 15 minutes.

Boil pasta according to package directions.

Heat medium size skillet on medium low heat. While the skillet is getting hot, peel garlic cloves and then chop into tiny pieces.
Sauté the garlic for about 3 minutes, add 1 cup of the heavy cream.
Stir the cream and the garlic around until the cream starts bubbling. Once you see it bubbling, add the cheese and stir around until all ingredients are mixed. Then add 1/4 tsp of cayenne pepper and black pepper. Taste and make sure that it is spicy enough for you. If it is, you are done. If you want it a bit spicier, add more cayenne until it reaches your liking.

Toss the pasta sauce and mushrooms in with the pasta until mixed well. Top with strips of chicken, tomato and sprinkle any leftover cheese you have and serve.

Chicken and Sun Dried Tomato Pizza

Ingredients

1 pack of boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 jar of Sun Dried tomatoes (drained)
1 package of mushrooms
1 jar of Alfredo Sauce
1 jar of pizza sauce
White cooking wine
Pre made thin pizza crust ( I use Mama Mia or Boboli)
Fresh mozzarella
Salt
Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Parsley
Olive Oil
Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Cut Chicken into 1″ chunks and season with black pepper, salt and Italian Pepper

Cook chicken in 1 tbsp of olive oil in a skillet over medium high heat until no longer pink, about 15 minutes. Set aside.

Grate your fresh mozzarella and set aside.

Mix 1/4 cup of the pizza sauce with 1/2 cup of the Alfredo sauce to make a pink sauce. Add 1 tbsp of the white wine to the mixture.

Brush the crust with enough olive oil to cover the surface. Spread the sauce on the pizza crust. Just enough to cover it, you don’t want your pizza to be soggy.

Top the sauce with the tomatoes, mushrooms and then the chicken. Top with the mozzarella cheese and spread evenly. Place pizza in the oven for 8 minutes. Remove and sprinkle with the parsley.

Quick and easy meal, especially on a Friday night.

Grilled Chicken over Cilantro Lime Rice

This recipe came about from some leftovers,hunger and using what I had in my kitchen. This meal takes about 15 maybe 20 minutes to make.

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, curry and a dash of paprika. Sear on both sides on medium high heat in olive oil. Turn the heat to medium low and let simmer for fifteen minutes.

Cilantro Lime Rice

2 cups of water
1 cup of rice
Juice of 1 lime
1/4 cup of fresh cilantro

Directions: Cook rice according to package instructions. While the rice is cooking,start on the pineapple salsa.
Come back to the rice and add the lime and the cilantro. I add a dash of salt, pepper, and cayenne pepper. Stir together.

Pineapple Salsa

1/2 chopped red onion
1 tomato
1/4 cup of chopped jalepeno peppers
3/4 cup of chopped fresh pineapple
juice of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon of fresh cilantro
Combine all ingredients except the juice of the lime and mix with fork. Once all ingredients are mixed, add the juice of the lime and stir again. Set aside.

Measure one cup of the rice out and place on plate. Top with the piece of chicken and then
spoon some of the salsa on top of the dish. Voila! Dinner is served!

South on Main

The first time I went to South on Main was January of this year and I have been addicted ever since. I went to see my good friend, Epiphany, perform but the kitchen was still open so I said, why not? I ordered the Rabbit Boudin with creamed greens and cornbread. Lissen. The boudin was melt in your mouth and the greens tasted like Madea was back there in the kitchen churning them out. I had to stop the Chef, Matt Bell, and ask him how he made those greens and how much I had to pay him for the recipe!

The last time I was there, it was for lunch. Now I have to really love a place to go to lunch solo. I do not go to lunch by myself ,judge your mother. But the Blue Plate Special of the day was Duck Andouille with rice grits and brown beans and I just had to have it. I was not disappointed. The flavors of all the components of the meal were just excellent. I was so full, but a happy plate had to happen.

If you haven’t figured it out by now, I am a frequent visitor of South on Main and I am not ashamed of my addiction. The atmosphere is very southern and the food has southern roots with modern twists. Chef Matt Bell is one of the nicest people that I have ever met and his staff is wonderful. If you haven’t had a chance to go, I highly suggest that you give them a visit. They have a great lunch and dinner menu and their bar selection is excellent. The desserts are to die for, and I know desserts. They have everything from Cronuts to Dessert Jars. So head on down to South on Main and Treat Yoself.

http://southonmain.com

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